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SUMMIT   COUNTY, 


"WITH       -A-IsT       CCTTLIITE       SICETCH       0:F; 


OHIO. 


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EDITED     BY     WILLIAM     HENRY      PERRIN 

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II_iILjXJSTK.A.TEID. 


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CHICAGO : 

BASKIN  &  BATTEY,  HISTORICAL  PUBLISHERS, 

1 86  Dearborn  Street. 


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Call  No. 

Author 

Title 


LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS  -  BINDING  RECORD 

F497.S9P4  r^„..        10-21-76 


Date 


PERRIN 


HISTORY  OF   SUMMIT  COUNTY,    OHIO 


No.    of  vols. 


24-24      (rev  4/72) 


PREFACE 


;;75i 


i^'M'yVUE  history  of  Summit  County,  after  '.  onths  of  arduous  toil,  is  now  completed. 


,vv 


(/^p.„  Every  important  field  of  research  has  been  minutely  scanned  by  those  engaged 
'^^''^^^  in  its  preparation;  no  subject  of  universal  public  value  has  been  omitted,  save 
where  protracted  effort  failed  to  secure  trustworthy  results.  The  necessarily  limited  natiu'e 
of  the  work,  the  impossibility  of  ingrafting  upon  its  pages,  the  vast  fund  of  the  county's 
historic  information,  and  the  proper  omission  of  many  valueless  details  and  events,  have 
compelled  the  publishers  to  be  brief  on  all  subjects  presented.  Fully  aware  of  om-  inabil- 
ity to  furnish  a  perfect  history  from  meager  public  documents,  inaccm-ate  private  corre- 
spondence and  numberless  conflicting  traditions,  we  make  no  pretension  of  having  prepared 
a  work  devoid  of  blemish.  Through  the  courtesy  and  the  generous  assistance  met  with 
everywhere,  we  have  been  enabled  to  rescue  fi'om  oblivion  the  greater  portion  of  important 
events  that  have  transpired  in  Summit  County  in  past  years.  We  feel  assured  that  all 
thoughtful  people  ir^  the  county,  at  present  and  in  future,  will  recognize  and  appreciate  the 
importance  of  the  undertaking,  and  the  gi^eat  public  benefit  that  has  been  accomplished. 

It  will  be  observed  that  a  dry  statement  of  fact  has  been  avoided;  and  that  the  rich 
romance  of  border  incident  has  been  woven  in  with  statistical  details,  thus  foiming  an 
attractive  and  graphic  narrative,  and  lending  beauty  to  the  mechanical  execution  of  the 
volume,  and  additional  value  to  it  as  a  work  for  perusal.  We  claim  superior  excellence  in 
our  manner  of  collecting  material;  in  the  division  of  the  subject  matter  into  distinct  and 
appropriate  chapters;  in  giving  a  separate  chapter  to  every  town,  township  and  important 
subject,  and  in  the  systematic  arrangement  of  the  individual  chapters.  ^Tiile  we  acknowl- 
edge the  existence  of  unavoidable  errors,  we  claim  to  have  prepared  a  work  fully  up  to  the 
standard  of  our  promises,  and  as  accui-ate  and  comprehensive  as  could  be  expected  under 

the  circumstances. 

THE  PUBLISHEKS. 

May,  1881. 


:v 


J^'. 


y_ 


CONTENTS. 


PART    I. 
HISTOKY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  OHIO. 

PAGE. 

CHAPTER  I. — Introductory — Topography— Geology — Primitive 

Races — Antiquities — Indian  Tribes 11 

CHAPTER  II.— Explorations  in  the  West 19 

CHAPTER  III.— English    Explorations— Traders— French   and 

Indian  War  in  theWest — English  Possession 37 

CHAPTER  IV. — Pontlac's  Conspiracy — Its  Failure — Bouquet's 

Expedition— Occupation  by  the  English 48 

CHAPTER  V. — American  Exploration — Dunmore's  War — Cam- 
paign of  George  Rogers  Clarke — Land  Troubles — Spain  in 
the  Revolution — Murder  of  the  Moravian  Indians 52 

CHAPTER  VI. — American  Occupation — Indian  Claims — Early 
Land  Companies — Compact  of  1787 — Organization  of  the 
Territory — Early  American  Settlements  in  the  Ohio  Val- 
ley— First  Territorial  OflScers — Organization  of  Counties...  60 

CHAPTER  VII.— Indian  War  of  1795— Harmar's  Campaign— 
St.  Clair's  Campaign — Wayne's  Campaign — Close  of  the 
War 73 

CHAPTER  VIII.— Jay's  Treaty— The  Question  of  State  Rights 
and  National  Supremacy — Extension  of  Ohio  Settlements 
— Land  Claims — Spanish  Boundary  Question 79 

CHAPTER  IX. — First  Territorial  Representatives  in  Congress 
— Division  of  the  Territory — Formation  of  States — Mari- 
etta Settlement — Other  Settlements — Settlements  in  the 
Western  Reserve — Settlement  of  the  Central  Valleys — 
Further  Settlements  in  the  Reserve  and  Elsewhere 85 

CHAPTER  X.— Formation  of  the  State  Government— Ohio  a 
State — The  State  Capitals — Legislation — The  "  Sweeping" 
Resolutions 121 

CHAPTER  XI.— The  War  of  1812— Growth  of  the  State— Canal, 
Railroads  and  other  Improvements — Development  of  State 
Resources 127 

CHAPTER  XII.— Mexican  War— Continued  Growth  of  the  State 

—War  of  the  Rebellion— Ohio's  Part  in  the  Conflict 132 

CHAPTER  XIII.— Ohio  in  the  Centennial— Address  of  Edward 

D.  Mansfield,  L.L  D.,  Philadelphia,  August  9, 1876 138 

CHAPTER  XIV.— Education— Eariy  School  Laws— Notes— In- 
stitutions and  Educational  Journals — School  System — 
School  Funds — Colleges  and  Universities 148 

CHAPTER  XV.— Agriculture— Area  of  the  State— Early  Agri- 
culture in  the  West — Markets — Live  Stock — Nurseries, 
Fruits,  etc. — Cereals,  Root  and  Cucurbitaceous  Crops — 
Agricultural  Implements — Agricultural  Societies — Pomo- 

logical  and  Horticultural  Societies 151 

CHAPTER  XVL— Climatology— Outline— Variation  in  Ohio- 
Estimate  in  Degrees — Amount  of  Variability 163 

CHAPTER  XVII.— Public  Lands— Early  Contest  on  Bight  of 
Soil  and  Jurisdiction — The  Western  Reserve — Origin  and 
Organization— Social  and  Material  Growth 165 


PART   II. 
HISTORY  OF  SUMMIT  COUNTY. 

PAGE 

CHAPTER  I.— Introductory— Physical  Features— Geological 
Structure— The  Different  Shales — Coal  Measures — Agri- 
culture and  Agricultural  Societies — Statistics,  etc 181 

CHAPTER  II— Prehistoric  Races— Traces  and  Relics  of  the 
Mound  Builders — The  Indian  Tribes — Their  Occupa- 
tion of  Summit  County — Sketches  of  Them — The  Bor- 
der Wars 207 

CHAPTER  III.— Settlement  and  Organization  of  the  County- 
Its  Civil  Divisions — The  Early  Judiciary — County  Build- 
ings— Their  Cost  and  Character — Officials,  etc 226 

CHAPTER  IV.— War  Record— Our  Struggle  for  Independence 
—1812— The  Mexican  War— Our  Late  Civil  War- 
Sketches  of  Regiments — Aid  Societies — Monuments,  etc..  249 

CHAPTER  v.— Religious— The  Gospel  on  the  Frontier— A 
Tax  for  its  Support — Educational — School  Statistics — The 
County  Press — Railroads,  Canals,  etc 271 

CHAPTER    VI.— The    Professions— Early    Lawyers— Summit 
County  Bar— The  Lawyers  of   the  Present — Medical —  ^ 
Pioneer  Doctors — Early  Practice — The    Modern    Physi--         Se 
cians 301 

CHAPTER  VII.— Portage  Township— Descriptive  and  Topo- 
graphical— Coming  of  the  Pioneers — Their  Primitive 
Life — Development  of  Resources — Schools,  Churches,  etc.  321 

CHAPTER  VIII.— City  of  Akron— Original  Plat— Ita  Growth 
as  a  Village — An  Incorporated  City — Municipal  Govern- 
ment— Statistics — Secret  and  Other  Societies .330 

CHAPTER  IX.— City  of  Akron— Its  Manufactuiing  Interests 
— Their  Growth  and  Development — The  Buckeye  Reaper 
— Potteries — Mills — Other  Establishments 344 

CHAPTER  X.— City  of  Akron— Religious  History— Early 
Christianity  and  Pioneer  Preachers — Advancement  of 
the  Gospel — Churches  of  the  Present  Day — Sabbath 
Schools,  etc 366 

CHAPTER  XL— City  of  Akron— Formation  of  the  Public 
Schools — Akron  School  Law — Present  Educational  Facili- 
ties—Sketch of  Buchtel  College 381 

CHAPTER  XII.— Town  of  Middlebury— Its  Settlement— Early 
Glory  and  Importance — Water  Power— Growth  of  Manu- 
facturing Industries— Present  Business 399 

CHAPTER  XIII.— Hudson  Township— Its  Early  History- 
Topograpy — The  Settlement  by  the  Whites — Pioneer  In- 
cidents— Growth  and  Development  of  Industries 409 

CHAPTERXIV.— Hudson  Township— Early  Society— Organiza- 
tion—Tlie  Village  of  Hudson  Laid  Out — Its  Business  and 
Growth — Religious  and  Educational 426 

CHAPTER  XV.— Hudson  Village — Educational  Institutions- 
Location  of  College — Questions  of  Difference — OflBcers  and 
Faculty — Libiary,  Preparatory  School,  etc 446 


y\: 


■^ 


^1 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XVI.— Cuyahoga  Falls— Settlement  by  Whites- 
Early  History — Grottoes,  Caverns  and  Kavines — Organiza- 
tion as  a  Township — Its  Officers,  etc.,  etc 466 

CHAPTER  XVII.— Cuyahoga  Falls— Growth  and  Prosperity- 
Manufacturing  Interests — Incorporation — Schools  and 
Teachers — Religious — Sketches  of  the  Churches 478 

CHAPTER  XVIII.— Northampton  Township— Descriptive- 
Early  History  and  Settlement — Development  of  Re- 
sources— Early  Schools — Statistics — Religious — Dififerent 
Churches 497 

CH.APTER  XIX.— Stow  Township— Description  and  Topog- 
raphy— The  Whites — Improvement  and  Development — 
Villages — Religious — Educational,  etc 511 

CHAPTER  XX.— Coventry  Township — Topographical — Boun- 
daries— Lakes — The  Palefaces — Their  Life  in  the  Wilder- 
ness— Industries — Schools  and  Churches 521 

CHAPTER  XXI. — Boston  Township — Its  Ownership— General 
Description — Occupancy  of  the  Whites — Unlawful  Opera- 
tions— Towns — Educational,  etc 532 

CHAPTER  XXII.— Springfield  Township— General  Description 
— Wealth  and  Resources — Coal  Mines — The  Palefaces — 
Pioneer  Industries — Schools  and  Teachers — Religious 545 

CHAPTER  XXIII.— Tallmadge  Township— Physical  Features 
—Early  History — The  Whites — Pioneer  Vicissitudes — 
Growth  and  Prosperity — Schools,  Churches,  etc 552 

CHAPTER  XXIV.— Northfield  Township— Its  Physical  Geo- 
graphy— Settlement  by  the  Whites— Growth  and  Im- 
provement— Statistical — Religious — Villages 567 

CHAPTER  XXV.— Norton  Township— Descriptive  and  Topo- 
graphical— White'  Settlement — Pioneer  Industries — Ad- 
vancement in  Civilization — Schools  and  Teachers — 
Churches — The  Villages,  etc 578 

CHAPTER  XXVI.— Green  Township— Physical  Features- 
Original  Boundaries — Pioneer  Occupancy — The  Germans 
— Growth  and  Development — Villages — Churches  and 
Schools .593 

CHAPTER  XXVII.— Richfield  Township— General  Description 
— Coming  of  the  AVhites — Growth  and  Prosperity — Pion- 
neer  Industries — Schools  and  Teachers — Christianity, 
etc 608 

CHAPTER  XXVIII.— Bath  Township— Boundaries  and  Topog- 
raphy— White  Settlement — Wealth  and  Prosperity — 
Pioneer  Achievements — Churches  and  Preachers — 
Schools,  etc 617 

CHAPTER  XXIX.— Franklin  Township— Topographicdl— 
Early  History — Coming  of  the  Pioneers — Early  Improve- 
ments and  Industries — A'illages — Scliools,  Churches,  etc...  627 

CHAPTER  XXX.— Copley  Township- Descriptive  and  Topo- 
graphical— The  White  Settlement — Early  Industries — 
Their  Growth  and  Development— Educational  and  Re- 
ligious   639 

CHAPTER  XXXI.— Twinsburg  Township— Description  and 
Early  Features — The  Coming  of  the  Whites — Pioneer 
Improvements — Anecdotes — Educational  and  Religious....  649 


PART   III. 

BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  pj^^^ 

Akron,  City  of. 661 

Bath  Township 1014 

Boston  Township 891 

Copley  Township 1026 

Coventry  Township 876 

Cuyahoga  Falls  Township 841 

Franklin  Township '. 1026 

Green  Township 08u 

Hudson  Township K23 

Northampton  Township 853 

Northfield  Township. : 933 

Norton  Township 963 

Portage  Township - , 806 

Richfield  Township 997 

Springfield  Township 908 

Stow  Township 863 

Tallmadge  Township 920 

Twinsburg  Township 1039 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

POKTR.4ITS. 

PAOK. 

Ailing,  Ethan  (Biography  on  page  1039) 648 

Buchtel,  John 440 

I'osworth,  Delos  (Biography  on  page  1029) 616 

Burgess,  Joseph  (Biography  on  page  965) 632 

Brewster,  Alexander  (Biography  on  page  682) 504 

Brown,  C.  W.  (Biography  on  page  679) 488 

Crotzer,  William  F.  (Biography  on  page  910) £R8 

Cotter,  A.  L.  (Biography  on  page  687) 520 

Conger,  A.  L.  (Biography  on  page  695) 424 

Crouse,  G.  W.  (Biography  on  page  694) 472 

Emmitt,  William  (Biography  on  page  699) 544 

Hill,  John  (Biography  on  page  909) 584 

Hine,  Daniel  (Biography  on  page  024) 600 

Lane,  S.  A.  (Biography  on  page  728) 228 

Miller,  George  (Biography  on  page  815) 32i> 

Miller,  Lewis  (Biography  on  page  739) 5:^6 

Quigley,  Martin  (Biography  on  page  760) 408 

Sumner,  I.  (Biography  on  page  767)  260 

Sumner,  J.  A.  (Biography  on  page  767) 456 

Sumner,  Charles  (Biography  on  page  769) 292 

Stone,  N.  B.  (Biography  on  page  766) 376 

Schumacher,  Ferd.  (Biography  on  page  771) 344 

Taplin,  J.  B.  (Biography  on  page  784) 392 

Voris,  A.  C.  (Biography  on  page  786' 360 

Wright,  Amos  (Biograjihy  on  page  932) 552 

VIEAVS. 
Summit  County  Court  House 180 


liL 


HISTORY  OF  OHIO. 


BY     A..    A..     GR-A-IiAJVt 


CHAPTER      I. 

INTRODUCTORY  —TOPOGRAPHY  -GEOLOGY  —PRIMITIVE -RACES  —ANTIQUITIES  —INDIAN 

TRIBES. 


THE  present  State  of  Ohio,  comprisins;  an 
extent  of  country  210  miles  north  and  south, 
220  miles  east  and  west,  in  length  and  breadth — 
25,576,969  acres— is  a  part  of  the  Old  Northwest 
Territory.  This  Territoiy  embraced  all  of  the 
present  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan, 
Wisconsin  and  so  much  of  Minnesota  as  lies  east 
of  the  Mississippi  River.  It  became  a  corporate 
existence  soon  after  the  formation  of  the  Virginia 
Colony,  and  when  that  colony  took  on  the  dignity 
of  State  government  it  became  a  county  thereof, 
whose  exact  outline  was  unknown.  The  county 
embraced  in  its  limits  more  territoiy  than  is  com- 
prised in  all  the  New  England  and  Middle  States, 
and  was  the  largest  county  ever  known  in  the 
United  States.  It  is  watered  by  the  finest  system 
of  rivers  on  the  globe ;  while  its  inland  seas  are 
without  a  parallel.  Its  entire  southern  boundary 
is  traversed  by  the  beautiful  Ohio,  its  western  by 
the  majestic  Mississippi,  and  its  northern  and  a 
part  of  its  eastern  are  bounded  by  the  fresh-water 
lakes,  whose  clear  waters  preserve  an  even  temper- 
ature over  its  entire  surface.  Into  these  reservoirs 
of  commerce  flow  innumerable  streams  of  limpid 
water,  which  come  from  glen  and  dale,  from 
mountain  and  valley,  from  forest  and  prairie — all 
avenues  of  health,  commerce  and  prosperity. 
Ohio  is  in  the  best  part  of  this  territory — south 
of  its  river  are  tropical  heats ;  north  of  Lake  Erie 
are  polar  snows  and  a  polar  climate. 

The  territory  comprised  in  Ohio  has  always  re- 
mained the  same.  Ohio's  history  differs  somewhat 
from  other  States,  in  that  it  was  never  under  Ter- 
ritorial government.  When  it  was  created,  it  was 
made  a  State,  and  did  not  pass  through  the  stage 
incident  to  the  most  of  other  States,  i.  e.,  exist  a.s 
a  Territory  before  being  advanced  to  the  powers  of 


a  State.  Such  was  not  the  case  with  the  other 
States  of  the  West ;  all  were  Territories,  with  Terri- 
torial forms  of  government,  ere  they  became  States. 

Ohio's  boundaries  are,  on  the  north,  Lake  Eria, 
and  Michigan ;  on  the  west,  Indiana ;  on  the  south, 
the  Ohio  River,  separating  it  from  Kentucky; 
and,  on  the  east,  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia. 
It  is  situated  between  38°  25'  and  42°  north 
latitude ;  and  80°  30'  and  84°  50'  west  longitude 
from  Greenwich,  or  3°  30'  and  7°  50'  west  from 
Washington.  Its  greatest  length,  from  north 
to  south,  is  210  miles;  the  extreme  width,  from 
east  to  west,  220  miles.  Were  this  an  exact  out- 
line, the  area  of  the  State  would  be  46,200  square 
miles,  or  29,568,000  acres ;  as  the  outlines  of  the 
State  are,  however,  rather  irregular,  the  area  is 
estimated  at  39,964  square  miles,  or  25,576,960 
acres.  In  the  last  census — 1870 — the  total  num- 
ber of  acres  in  Ohio  is  given  as  21,712,420,  of 
which  14,469,132  acres  are  improved,  and  6,883,- 
575  acres  are  woodland.  By  the  last  statistical 
report  of  the  State  Auditor,  20,965,371  f  acres  are 
reported  as  taxable  lands.  This  omits  many  acres 
untaxable  for  various  reasons,  which  would  make  the 
estimate,  25,576,960,  nearly  correct. 

The  face  of  the  country,  in  Ohio,  taken  as  a 
whole,  presents  the  appearance  of  an  extensive 
monotonous  plain.  It  is  moderately  undulating 
but  not  mouufainous,  and  is  excavated  in  places  by 
the  streams  coursing  over  its  surface,  whose  waters 
have  forced  a  way  for  themselves  through  cliffs  of 
sandstone  rock,  lca^^ng  abutments  of  this  material 
in  bold  outline.  There  are  no  mountain  ranges, 
geological  uplifts  or  peaks.  A  low  ridge  enters  the 
State,  near  the  northeast  corner,  and  crosses  it  in  a 
southwesterly  direction,  emerging  near  the  inter- 
section of  the  40th  decree  of  north  latitude  with 


the  western  boundary  of  the  State.  This  "  divide  " 
separates  the  lake  and  Ohio  River  v?aters,  and  main- 
tains an  elevation  of  a  little  more  than  thirteen 
hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  ocean.  The 
highest  part  is  in  Logan  County,  where  the  eleva- 
tion is  1,550  feet. 

North  of  this  ridge  the  surface  is  generally  level, 
with  a  gentle  inclination  toward  the  lake,  the  ine- 
qualities of  the  surface  being  caused  by  the  streams 
which  empty  into  the  lake.  The  central  part  of 
Ohio  is  almost,  in  general,  a  level  plain,  about  one 
thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  slightly 
inclining  southward.  The  Southern  part  of  the 
State  is  rather  hilly,  the  valleys  growing  deeper  as 
they  incline  toward  the  great  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
which  is  several  hundred  feet  below  the  general 
level  of  the  State.  In  the  southern  counties,  the 
surfice  is  generally  diversified  by  the  inequalities 
produced  by  the  excavating  power  of  the  Ohio 
River  and  its  tributaries,  exercised  through  long 
periods  of  time.  There  are  a  few  prairies,  or  plains, 
in  the  central  and  northwestern  parts  of  the  State, 
but  over  its  greater  portion  originally  existed  im- 
mense growths  of  timber. 

The  "  divide,"  or  water-shed,  referred  to,  between 
the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  and  the  Ohio  River,  is 
less  elevated  in  Ohio  than  in  New  York  and  Penn- 
sylvania, though  the  difference  is  small.  To  a  per- 
son passing  over  the  State  in  a  balloon,  its  surface 
presents  an  unvarymg  plain,  while,  to  one  sailing 
down  the  Ohio  River,  it  appears  mountainous. 
On  this  river  are  bluffs  ranging  from  two  hundred 
and  fifty  to  six  hundred  feet  in  height.  As  one 
ascends  the  tributaries  of  the  river,  these  bluffs 
diminish  in  height  until  they  become  gentle  undu- 
lations, while  toward  the  sources  of  the  streams, 
in  the  central  part  of  the  State,  the  banks  often 
become  low  and  marshy. 

The  principal  rivers  are  the  Ohio,  Muskingum, 
Scioto  and  Miami,  on  the  southern  slope,  emptying 
into  the  Ohio ;  on  the  northern,  the  Maumee, 
Sandusky,  Huron  and  Cuyahoga,  emptying  into 
Lake  Erie,  and,  all  but  the  first  named,  entirely  in 
Ohio. 

The  Ohio,  the  chief  river  of  the  State,  and  from 
which  it  derives  its  name,  with  its  tributaries,  drains 
a  country  whose  area  is  over  two  hundred  thousand 
sfpiare  miles  in  extent,  and  extending  from  the 
water-shed  to  Alabama.  The  river  was  first  dis- 
covered by  La  Salle  in  1669,  and  was  by  him  nav- 
igated as  far  as  the  Falls,  at  Louisville,  Ky.  It  is 
formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Alleghany  and 
Monongahela  rivers,  in  Pennsylvania,  whose  waters 


unite  at  Pittsburgh.  The  entire  length  of  the 
river,  from  its  source  to  its  mouth,  is  950  miles, 
though  by  a  straight  line  from  Pittsburgh  to  Cairo, 
it  is  only  615  miles.  Its  current  is  very  gentle, 
hardly  three  miles  per  hour,  the  descent  being  only 
five  inches  per  mile.  At  high  stages,  the  rate  of 
the  current  increases,  and  at  low  stages  decreases. 
Sometimes  it  is  barely  two  miles  per  hour.  The 
average  range  between  high  and  low  water  mark  is 
fifty  feet,  although  several  times  the  river  has  risen 
more  than  sixty  feet  above  low  water  mark.  At 
the  lowest  stage  of  the  river,  it  is  fordable  many 
places  between  Pittsburgh  and  Cincinnati.  The 
river  abounds  in  islands,  some  of  which  are  exceed- 
ingly fertile,  and  noted  in  the  history  of  the  West. 
Others,  known  as  "  tow-heads,"  are  simply  deposits 
of  sand. 

The  Scioto  is  one  of  the  largest  inland  streams 
in  the  State,  and  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  riv- 
ers. It  rises  in  Hardin  County,  flows  southeast- 
erly to  Columbus,  where  it  receives  its  largest 
affluent,  the  Olentangy  or  Whetstone,  after  which 
its  direction  is  southerly  until  it  enters  the  Ohio  at 
Portsmouth.  It  flows  through  one  of  the  rich- 
est valleys  in  the  State,  and  has  for  its  compan- 
ion the  Ohio  and  Erie  Canal,  for  a  distance  of 
ninety  miles.  Its  tributaries  are,  besides  the  Whet- 
stone, the  Darby,  Walnut  and  Paint  Creeks. 

The  Muskingum  River  is  formed  by  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Tuscarawas  and  Waldhoning  Rivers, 
which  rise  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State  and 
unite  at  Coshocton.  From  the  junction,  the  river 
flows  in  a  southeastern  course  about  one  hundred 
miles,  through  a  rich  and  populous  valley,  to  the 
Ohio,  at  Marietta,  the  oldest  settlement  in  the 
State.  At  its  outlet,  the  Muskingum  is  over  two 
hundred  yards  wide.  By  improvements,  it  has 
been  made  navigable  ninety-five  miles  above  Mari- 
etta, as  far  as  Dresden,  where  a  side  cut,  three 
miles  long,  unites  its  waters  with  those  of  the  Ohio 
Canal.  All  along  this  stream  exist,  in  abundant 
profusion,  the  remains  of  an  ancient  civiliza- 
tion, whose  history  is  lost  in  the  twilight  of  antiq- 
uity. Extensive  mounds,  earthworks  and  various 
fortifications,  are  everywhere  to  be  found,  inclosing 
a  mute  history  as  silent  as  the  race  that  dwelt  here 
and  left  these  traces  of  their  evistence.  The  same 
may  be  said  of  all  the  other  valleys  in  Ohio. 

The  Miami  River — the  scenes  of  many  exploits 
in  pioneer  days — rises  in  Hardin  County,  near  the 
headwaters  of  the  Scioto,  and  runs  southwesterly, 
to  the  Ohio,  passing  Troy,  Dayton  and  Hamilton. 
It  is  a  beautiful  and  ra])id  stream,  flowing  through 


:?■ 


>^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


13 


a  highly  productive  and  populous  valley,  in  which 
limestone  and  hard  timb'jr  are  abundant.  Its  total 
length  is  about  one  hunared  and  fifty  miles. 

The  Maumee  is  the  largest  river  in  the  northern 
part  of  Ohio.  It  rises  in  Indiana  and  flows  north- 
easterly, into  Lake  Ene.  About  eighty  miles  of 
its  course  are  in  Ohio.  It  is  navigable  as  far  as 
Perrysburg,  eighteen  miles  from  its  mouth.  The 
other  rivers  north  of  the  divide  are  all  small, 
rapid-running  streams,  affording  a  large  amount  of 
good  water-power,  much  utilized  by  mills  and  man- 
ufactories. 

A  remarkable  feature  of  the  topography  of 
Ohio  is  its  almost  total  absence  of  natural  lakes  or 
ponds.  A  few  very  small  ones  are  found  near  the 
water-shed,  but  all  too  small  to  be  of  any  practical 
value  save  as  watering-places  for  stock. 

Lake  Erie,  which  forms  nearly  all  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  State,  is  next  to  the  last  or  lowest 
of  America's  "  inland  seas."  It  is  290  miles  long, 
and  57  miles  wide  at  its  greatest  part.  There  are 
no  islands,  except  in  the  shallow  water  at  the  W'est 
end,  and  very  few  bays.  The  greatest  depth  of 
the  lake  is  off  Long  Point,  where  the  water  is  312 
feet  deep.  The  shores  are  principally  drift-clay  or 
hard-pan,  upon  which  the  waves  are  continually 
encroaching.  At  Cleveland,  from  the  first  sur- 
vey, in  1796,  to  1842,  the  encroachment  was  218 
feet  along  the  entire  city  front.  The  entire  coast 
is  low,  seldom  rising  above  fifty  feet  at  the  water's 
edge. 

Lake  Erie,  like  the  others,  has  a  variable  sur- 
face, rising  and  falling  with  the  seasons,  like  great 
rivers,  called  the  "  annual  fluctuation,"  and  a  gen- 
eral one,  embracing  a  series  of  years,  due  to  mete- 
orological causes,  known  as  the  "  secular  fluctua- 
tion." Its  lowest  known  level  was  in  February, 
1819,  rising  more  or  less  each  year,  until  June, 
1838,  in  the  extreme,  to  six  feet  eight  inches. 

Lake  Erie  has  several  excellent  harbors  in  Ohio, 
among  which  are  Cleveland,  Toledo,  Sandusky, 
Port  Clinton  and  Ashtabula.  Valuable  improve- 
ments have  been  made  in  some  of  these,  at  the 
expense  of  the  General  Grovernment.  In  1818, 
the  first  steamboat  was  launched  on  the  lake. 
Owing  to  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  it  could  go  no 
farther  east  than  the  outlet  of  Niagara  Eiver. 
Since  then,  however,  the  opening  of  the  Welland 
Canal,  in  Canada,  allows  vessels  drawing  not  more 
than  ten  feet  of  water  to  pass  from  one  lake  to 
the  other,  gi-eatly  facilitating  navigation. 

As  early  as  1836,  Dr.  S.>.  Hiidreth,  Dr.  John 
Locke,  Prof.  J.  H.  Riddle  and  Mr.  I.  A.  Lapham, 


were  appointed  a  committee  by  the  Legislature  of 
Ohio  to  report  the  "  best  method  of  obtaining  a 
complete  geological  survey  of  the  State,  and  an 
estimate  of  the  probable  cost  of  the  same."  In  the 
preparation  of  their  report,  Dr.  Hiidreth  examined 
the  coal-measures  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
State,  Prof  Riddle  and  Mr.  Lapham  made  exam- 
inations in  the  western  and  northern  counties, 
while  Dr.  Locke  devoted  his  attention  to  chemical 
analyses.  These  investigations  resulted  in  the 
presentation  of  much  valuable  infonuation  con- 
cerning the  mineral  resources  of  the  State  and  in 
a  plan  for  a  geological  survey.  In  accordance 
with  the  recommendation  of  this  Committee,  the 
Legislature,  in  1837,  passed  a  bill  appropriating 
$12,000  for  the  prosecution  of  the  work  during 
the  next  year.  The  Geological  Corps  appointed 
consisted  of  W.  W.  Mather,  State  Geologist,  with 
Dr.  Hiidreth,  Dr.  Locke,  Prof  J.  P.  Kirtland,  J. 
W.  Foster,  Charles  Whittlesey  and  Charles  Briggs, 
Jr.,  Assistants.  The  results  of  the  first  year's 
work  appeared  in  1838,  in  an  octavo  volume  of  134 
pages,  with  contributions  fi-om  Mather,  Hiidreth, 
Briggs,  Kirtland  and  Whittlesey.  In  1838,  the 
Legislature  ordered  the  continuance  of  the  work, 
and,  at  the  close  of  the  year,  a  second  report,  of 
286  pages,  octavo,  was  issued,  containing  contribu- 
tions from  all  the  members  of  the  survey. 

Succeeding  Legislatures  failed  to  provide  for  a 
continuance  of  the  work,  and,  save  that  done  by 
private  means,  nothing  was  accomplished  till 
1869,  when  the  Legislature  again  took  up  the 
work.  In  the  interim,  individual  enterprise  had 
done  much.  In  1841,  Prof.  James  Hall  passed 
through  the  State,  and,  by  his  indentification  of 
several  of  the  formations  with  those  of  New  York, 
for  the  first  time  fixed  their  geological  age.  The 
next  year,  he  issued  the  first  map  of  the  geology 
of  the  State,  in  common  with  the  geological  maps 
of  all  the  region  between  the  Alleghanies  and  the 
Mississippi.  Similar  maps  were  published  by  Sir 
Charles  Lyell,  in  1845 ;  Prof  Edward  Hitchcock, 
in  1853,  and  by  J.  Mareon,  in  1856.  The  first 
individual  map  of  the  geology  of  Ohio  was  a  very 
small  one,  published  by  Col.  Whittlesey,  in  1848, 
in  Howe's  History.  In  1856,  he  published  a 
larger  map,  and,  in  1865,  another  was  issued  by 
Prof  Nelson  Sayler.  In  1867,  Dr.  J.  S.  Newberry 
published  a  geological  map  and  sketch  of  Ohio  in 
the  Atlas  of  the  State  issued  by  H.  S.  Stebbins. 
LTp  to  this  time,  the  geological  knowledge  was  very 
general  in  its  character,  and,  consequently,  errone- 
ous in  many  of  its  details.     Other  States  had  been 


VL 


14 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


accurately  surveyed,  yet  Ohio  remained  a  kind  of 
terra  incognita,  of  •which  the  geology  was  less 
known  than  any  part  of  the  surrounding  area. 

In  18G9,  the  Legislature  appropriated,  for  a  new 
survey,  $13,900  for  its  support  during  one  year, 
and  appointed  Dr.  Newberry  Chief  Geologist ;  E. 
B.  Andrews,  Edward  Orton  and  J.  H.  Klippart 
were  appointed  Assistants,  and  T.  G.  Wormley, 
Chemist.  The  result  of  the  first  year's  work 
was  a  volume  of  164  pages,  octavo,  published  in 
1870. 

This  report,  accompanied  by  maps  and  charts, 
for  the  first  time  accurately  defined  the  geological 
formations  as  to  age  and  area.  Evidence  was  given 
which  set  at  rest  questions  of  nearly  thirty  years' 
standing,  and  established  the  fiict  that  Ohio  in- 
cludes nearly  double  the  number  of  formations  be- 
fore supposed  to  exist.  Since  that  date,  the  sur- 
veys have  been  regularly  made.  Each  county  is 
being  surveyed  by  itself,  and  its  formation  ac- 
curately determined.  Elsewhere  in  these  pages, 
these  results  are  given,  and  to  them  the  reader  is 
refeiTed  for  the  specific  geology  of  the  county. 
Only  general  results  can  be  noted  here. 

On  the  general  geological  map  of  the  State,  are 
two  sections  of  the  State,  taken  at  each  northern 
and  southern  extremity.  These  show,  with  the 
map,  the  general  outline  of  the  geological  features 
of  Ohio,  and  are  all  that  can  be  given  here.  Both 
sections  show  the  general  arrangements  of  the 
formation,  and  prove  that  they  lie  in  sheets  resting 
one  upon  another,  but  not  horizontally,  a.s  a  great 
arch  traverses  the  State  from  Cincinnati  to  the 
lake  shore,  between  Toledo  and  Sandusky.  Along 
this  line,  which  extends  southward  to  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  all  the  rocks  are  raised  in  a  ridge  or  fold, 
once  a  low  mountain  chain.  In  the  lapse  of 
ages,  it  has,  however,  been  extensively  worn 
away,  and  now,  along  a  large  part  of  its  course, 
the  strata  which  once  arched  over  it  are  re- 
moved from  its  summit,  and  are  found  resting  in 
regular  order  on  either  side,  dipping  away  from  its 
axis.  Where  the  ridge  was  highest,  the  erosion 
has  been  greatest,  that  being  the  reason  why  the 
oldest  rocks  are  exposed  in  the  region  about  Cin- 
cinnati. By  following  the  line  of  this  great  arch 
from  Cincinnati  northward,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
Helderberg  limestone  (No.  4),  midway  of  the  State, 
is  still  unbroken,  and  stretches  from  side  to  side  ; 
while  the  Oriskany,  the  Corniferous,  the  Hamilton 
and  the  Huron  formations,  though  generally  re- 
moved from  the  crown  of  the  arch,  still  remain 
over  a  limited  area  near  Bellefontaine,  where  they 


form  an  island,  which  proves  the  former  continuity 
of  the  strata  which  compose  it. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  great  anticlinal  axis,  the 
rocks  dip  down  into  a  basin,  which,  for  several 
hundred  miles  north  and  south,  occupies  the  inter- 
val between  the  Nashville  and  Cincinnati  ridge  and 
the  first  fold  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains.  In 
this  basin,  all  the  strata  form  trough-like  layers, 
their  edges  outcropping  eastward  on  the  flanks 
of  the  Alleghanies,  and  westward  along  the  anti- 
clinal axis.  As  they  dip  from  this  margin  east- 
ward toward  the  center  of  the  trough,  near  its 
middle,  on  the  eastern  border  of  the  State,  the 
older  rocks  are  deeply  buried,  and  the  surface  is 
here  underlaid  by  the  highest  and  most  recent  of 
our  rock  formations,  the  coal  measures.  In  the 
northwestern  corner  of  the  State,  the  strata  dip 
northwest  from  the  anticlinal  and  pass  under  the 
Michigan  coal  basin,  precisely  as  the  same  forma- 
tions east  of  the  anticlinal  dip  beneath  the  Alle- 
ghany coal-field,  of  which  Ohio's  coal  area  forms  a 
part. 

The  rocks  underlying  the  State  all  belong  to 
three  of  the  great  groups  which  geologists  liave 
termed  "  systems,"  namely,  the  Silurian,  Devonian 
and  Carboniferous.  Each  of  these  are  again  sub- 
divided, for  convenience,  and  numbered.  Thus 
the  Silurian  system  includes  the  Cincinnati  group, 
the  Medina  and  Clinton  groups,  the  Niagara 
group,  and  the  Salina  and  Water-Line  groups. 
The  Devonian  system  includes  the  Oriskany  sand- 
stone, the  Carboniferous  limestone,  the  Hamilton 
group,  the  Huron  shale  and  the  Erie  shales.  The 
Carboniferous  system  includes  the  Waverly  group, 
the  Carboniferous  Conglomerate,  the  Coal  Meas- 
ures and  the  Drift.  This  last  includes  the  surface, 
and  has  been  divided  into  six  parts,  numbering 
from  the  lowest,  viz.:  A  glacialed  surface,  the  Gla- 
cial Drift,  the  Erie  Clays,  the  Forest  Bed,  the  Ice- 
berg Drift  and  the  Terraces  or  Beaches,  which 
mark  intervals  of  stability  in  the  gradual  recession 
of  the  water  surface  to  its  present  level. 

"  The  history  we  may  learn  fi-om  these  forma- 
tions," says  the  geologist,  "  is  something  as  fol- 
lows: 

"  First.  Subsequent  to  the  Tertiary  was  a  period 
of  continual  elevation,  during  which  the  topog- 
raphy of  the  country  was  much  the  same  as  now, 
the  draining  streams  following  the  lines  they  now 
do,  but  cutting  down  their  beds  until  they  flowed 
sometimes  two  hundred  feet  lower  than  they  do  at 
present.  In  the  latter  part  of  this  period  of  ele- 
vation,   glaciers,    descending   from   the    Canadian 


'^  (5" 
\ 


'.^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


15 


islands,  excavated  and  occupied  the  valleys  of  the 
great  lakes,  and  covered  the  lowlands  down  nearly 
to  the  Ohio. 

'^Second.  By  a  depression  of  the  land  and  ele- 
vation of  temperature,  the  glaciers  retreated  north- 
ward, leaving,  in  the  interior  of  the  continent,  a 
great  basin  of  fresh  water,  in  which  the  Erie  clays 
were  deposited. 

"  Third.  This  water  was  drained  away  until  a 
broad  land  surface  was  exposed  within  the  drift 
area.  Upon  this  surface  grew  forests,  largely  of 
red  and  white  cedar,  inhabited  by  the  elephant, 
mastodon,  giant  beaver  and  other  large,  now  ex- 
tinct, animals. 

"Fourth.  The  submergence  of  this  ancient  land 
and  the  spreading  over  it,  by  iceberg  agency,  of 
gravel,  sand  and  bowlders,  distributed  just  as  ice- 
bergs now  spread  their  loads  broadcast  over  the 
sea  bottom  on  the  banks  of  Newfoundland. 

"Fifth.  The  gradual  draining-off  of  the  waters, 
leaving  the  land  now  as  we  find  it,  smoothly  cov- 
ered with  all  the  layers  of  the  drift,  and  well  pre- 
pared for  human  occupation." 

"  In  six  days,  the  Lord  made  the  heavens  and 
the  earth,  and  rested  the  seventh  day,"  records  the 
Scriptures,  and,  when  all  was  done,  He  looked 
upon  the  work  of  His  own  hands  and  pronounced 
it  "good."  Surely  none  but  a  divine,  omnipotent 
hand  could  have  done  all  this,  and  none  can  study 
the  "work  of  His  hands"  and  not  marvel  at  its 
completeness. 

The  ancient  dwellers  of  the  Mississippi  Valley 
will  always  be  a  subject  of  great  interest  to  the 
antiquarian.  Who  they  were,  and  whence  they 
came,  are  still  unanswered  questions,  and  may 
remain  so  for  ages.  All  over  this  valley,  and, 
in  fact,  in  all  parts  of  the  New  World,  evidences 
of  an  ancient  civilization  exist,  whose  remains  are 
now  a  wonder  to  all.  The  aboriginal  races  could 
throw  no  light  on  these  questions.  They  had 
always  seen  the  remains,  and  knew  not  whence 
they  came.  Explorations  aid  but  little  in  the  solu- 
tion of  the  problem,  and  only  conjecture  can  be 
entertained.  The  remains  found  in  Ohio  equal 
any  in  the  Valley.  Indeed,  some  of  them  are  vast 
in  extent,  and  consist  of  forts,  fortifications,  moats, 
ditches,  elevations  and  mounds,  embracing  many 
acres  in  extent. 

"It  is  not  yet  determined,"  says  Col.  Charles 
Whittlesey,  "whether  we  have  discovered  the  first 
or  the  original  people  who  occupied  the  soil  of 
Ohio.  Modern  investigations  are  bringing  to  light 
evidences  of  earlier  races.     Since  the  presence  of 


man  has  been  established  in  Europe  as  a  cotempor- 
ary  of  the  fossil  elephant,  mastodon,  rhinoceros 
and  the  horse,  of  the  later  drift  or  glacial  period, 
we  may  reasonably  anticipate  the  presence  of  man 
in  America  in  that  era.  Such  proofs  are  already 
known,  but  they  are  not  of  that  conclusive  charac- 
ter which  amounts  to  a  demonstration.  It  is,  how- 
ever, known  that  an  ancient  people  inhabited  Ohio 
in  advance  of  the  red  men  who  were  found  here, 
three  centuries  since,  by  the  Spanish  and  French 
explorers. 

"  Five  and  six  hundred  years  before  the  an-ival 
of  Columbus,"  says  Col.  Charles  Whittlesey,  "the 
Northmen  sailed  from  Norway,  Iceland  and  Green- 
land along  the  Atlantic  coast  as  far  as  Long  Island. 
They  found  Indian  tribes,  in  what  is  now  New  En- 
gland, closely  resembling  those  who  lived  upon  the 
coast  and  the  St.  Lawrence  when  the  French  and 
English  came  to  possess  these  regions. 

"  These  red  Indians  had  no  traditions  of  a  prior 
people ;  but  over  a  large  part  of  the  lake  country 
and  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  earth-works, 
mounds,  pyramids,  ditches  and  forts  were  discov- 
ered— the  work  of  a  more  ancient  race,  and  a  peo- 
ple far  in  advance  of  the  Indian.  If  they  were 
not  civilized,  they  were  not  barbarians.  They 
wei'e  not  mere  hunters,  but  had  fixed  habitations, 
cultivated  the  soil  and  were  possessed  of  consider- 
able mechanical  skill.  We  know  them  as  the 
Mound  Builders ^  because  they  erected  over  the 
mortal  remains  of  their  principal  men  and  women 
memorial  mounds  of  earth  or  unhewn  stone — of 
which  hundreds  remain  to  our  own  day,  so  large 
and  high  that  they  give  rise  to  an  impression  of 
the  numbers  and  energy  of  their  builders,  such  as 
we  receive  from  the  pyramids  of  Egypt." 

Might  they  not  have  been  of  the  same  race  and 
the  same  civiUzation  ?  Many  competent  authori- 
ties conjecture  they  are  the  work  of  the  lost  tribes 
of  Israel ;  but  the  best  they  or  any  one  can  do  is 
only  conjecture. 

"  In  the  burial-mounds,"  continues  Col.  Whit- 
tlesey, "  there  are  always  portions  of  one  or  more 
human  skeletons,  generally  partly  consumed  by 
fire,  with  ornaments  of  stone,  bone,  shells,  mica 
and  copper.  The  largest  mound  in  Ohio  is  near 
Miamisburg,  Montgomery  County.  It  is  the 
second  largest  in  the  West,  being  nearly  seventy 
feet  high,  originally,  and  about  eight  hundred  feet 
in  circumference.  This  would  give  a  superficial 
area  of  nearly  four  acres.  In  1864,  the  citizens 
of  Miamisburg  sunk  a  shaft  from  the  summit  to 
the    natural    surface,    without   finding  the   bones 


:^ 


IG 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


or  ashes  of  the  great  man  for  whom  it  was 
intended.  The  exploration  has  considerably 
lowered  the  mound,  it  being  now  about  sixty  feet 
in  height. 

"  Fort  Ancient,  on  the  Little  Miami,  is  a  good 
specimen  of  the  military  defenses  of  the  Mound- 
Builders.  It  is  well  located  on  a  long,  high,  nar- 
row, precipitous  ridge.  The  parapets  are  now 
from  ten  to  eighteen  feet  high,  and  its  perimeter 
is  sufficient  to  hold  twenty  thousand  fighting  men. 
Another  prominent  example  of  their  works  exists 
near  Newark,  Licking  County.  This  collection 
presents  a  great  variety  of  figures,  circles,  rectan- 
gles, octagons  and  parallel  banks,  or  highways, 
covering  more  than  a  thousand  acres.  The  county 
fiiir-ground  is  permanently  located  within  an 
ancient  circle,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  diameter, 
with  an  embankment  and  interior  ditch.  Its  high- 
est place  was  over  twenty  feet  from  the  top  of  the 
moat  to  the  bottom  of  the  ditch." 

One  of  the  most  curious-sliaped  works  in  this 
county  is  known  as  the  "Alligator,"  from  its  sup- 
posed resemblance  to  that  creature.  When  meas- 
ured, several  years  ago,  while  in  a  good  state  of 
preservation,  its  dimensions  were  two  hundred 
and  ten  feet  in  length,  average  width  over  sixty 
feet,  and  height,  at  the  highest  point,  seven  feet. 
It  appears  to  be  mainly  composed  of  clay,  and  is 
overgrown  with  grass. 

Speaking  of  the  writing  of  these  people,  Col. 
Whittlesey  says  :  "  There  is  no  evidence  that  they 
had  alphabetical  characters,  picture-writing  or 
hieroglyphics,  though  they  must  have  had  some 
mode  of  recording  events.  Neither  is  there  any  proof 
that  they  used  domestic  animals  for  tilling  the  soil, 
or  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  the  imposing  earth- 
Avorks  they  have  left.  A  very  coarse  cloth  of 
hemp,  flax  or  nettles  has  been  found  on  their 
burial-hearths  and  around  skeletons  not  consumed 
by  fire. 

"  The  most  extensive  earthworks  occupy  many 
of  the  sites  of  modern  towns,  and  are  always  in 
the  vicinity  of  excellent  lajid.  Those  about  the 
lakes  are  generally  irregular  earth  forts,  while 
those  about  the  rivers  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
State  are  generally  altars,  pyramids,  circles,  cones 
and  rectangles  of  earth,  among  which  fortresses  or 
strongholds  are  exceptions. 

'•'  Those  on  the  north  may  not  have  been  cotem- 
porary  or  have  been  built  by  the  same  people. 
They  are  far  less  prominent  or  extensive,  which 
indicates  a  people  less  in  numbers  as  well  as  indus- 
try, and  whose  principal  occupation  was  war  among 


themselves  or  against  their  neighbors.  This  style 
of  works  extends  eastward  along  the  south  shore 
of  Lake  Ontario,  through  New  York.  In  Ohio, 
there  is  a  space  along  the  water-shed,  between  the 
lake  and  the  Ohio,  where  there  are  few,  if  any, 
ancient  earthworks.  It  appears  to  have  been  a 
vacant  or  neutral  ground  between  different  nations. 

"The  Indians  of  the.  North,  dres.sed  in  skins, 
cultivated  the  soil  very  sparingly,  and  manufactured 
no  woven  cloth.  ()n  Lake  Sujierior,  there  are 
ancient  copper  mines  wrought  by  the  Mound- 
Builders  over  fifteen  hundred  years  ago."  Copper 
tools  are  occasionally  found  tempered  sufficiently 
hard  to  cut  the  hardest  rucks.  No  knowledge  of 
such  tempering  exists  now.  The  Indians  can  give 
no  more  knowledge  of  the  ancient  mines  than  they 
can  of  the  mounds  on  the  river  bottoms. 

"  The  Indians  did  not  occupy  the  ancient  earth- 
works, nor  did  they  construct  such.  They  were 
found  as  they  are  now — a  hunter  race,  wholly 
averse  to  labor.  Their  abodes  were  in  rock  shel- 
ters, in  caves,  or  in  temporary  sheds  of  bark  and 
boughs,  or  skins,  easily  moved  from  place  to  place. 
Like  most  savage  races,  their  habits  are  unchange- 
able ;  at  least,  the  example  of  white  men,  and 
their  efforts  during  three  centuries,  have  made 
little,  if  any,  impression." 

A\nien  white  men  came  to  the  territory  now  em- 
braced in  the  State  of  Ohio,  they  found  dwelling 
here  the  Iroquois,  Delawares,  Shawanees,  Miamis, 
Wyandots  and  Ottawas.  Each  nation  was  com- 
posed of  several  tribes  or  clans,  and  each  was 
often  at  war  with  the  others.  The  first  mentioned 
of  these  occupied  that  part  of  the  State  whose 
northern  boundary  was  Lake  Erie,  as  far  west  as 
the  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga  Eiver,  where  the  city 
of  Cleveland  now  is  ;  thence  the  boundary  turned 
southward  in  an  irregular  line,  until  it  touched  the 
Ohio  River,  up  which  stream  it  continued  to  the 
Pennsylvania  State  line,  and  thence  northward  to 
the  lake.  This  nation  were  the  implacable  foes  of 
the  French,  owing  to  the  flict  that  Champlain,  in 
1G09,  made  war  against  them.  They  occupied  a 
large  part  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  and 
were  the  most  insatiate  conquerors  among  the 
aborigines.  When  the  French  first  came  to  the 
lakes,  these  monsters  of  the  wilderness  were  engaged 
in  a  war  against  their  neighbors,  a  war  that  ended 
in  their  conquering  them,  p  )ssessing  their  terri- 
tory, and  absorbing  the  remnants  of  the  tribes  into 
their  own  nation.  At  the  date  of  Champlain's 
visit,  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie  was  occupied 
by  the  Eries,  or,  as  the  orthography  of  the  word  is 


'A 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


17 


sometimes  given,  Erigos,  or  Errienous.*  About 
forty  years  afterward,  the  Iroquois  ( Five  Nations) 
fell  upon  them  with  such  fury  and  in  such  force 
that  the  nation  was  annihilated.  Those  who 
escaped  the  slaughter  were  absorbed  among  their 
C(in((uerors,  but  allowed  to  live  on  their  own  lands, 
paying  a  sort  of  tribute  to  the  Iroquois.  This  was 
the  policy  of  that  nation  in  all  its  conquests.  A 
few  years  after  the  conquest  of  the  Eries,  the 
Iroquois  again  took  to  the  war-path,  and  swept 
through  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois,  even  attacking 
the  Mississippi  tribes.  But  for  the  intervention 
and  aid  of  the  French,  these  tribes  would  have 
shared  the  fate  of  the  Hurons  and  Eries.  Until 
the  year  1700,  the  Iroquois  held  the  south  shore 
of  Lake  Erie  so  finnly  that  the  French  dared  not 
trade  or  travel  along  that  side  of  the  lake.  Their 
missionaries  and  traders  penetrated  this  part  of 
Ohio  as  early  as  1650,  but  generally  suffered 
death  for  their  zeal. 

Having  completed  the  conquest  of  the  Hurons 
or  Wyandots,  about  Lake  Huron,  and  murdered 
the  Jesuit  missionaries  by  modes  of  torture  which 
only  they  could  devise,  they  permitted  the  residue 
of  the  Hurons  to  settle  around  the  west  end  of 
Lake  Erie.  Here,  with  the  Ottawas,  they  resided 
when  the  whites  came  to  the  State.  Their  country 
was  bounded  on  the  south  by  a  line  running 
through  the  central  part  of  Wayne,  Ashland, 
Richland,  Crawford  and  Wyandot  Counties.  At 
the  western  boundary  of  this  county,  the  line  di- 
verged northwesterly,  leaving  the  State  near  the 
northwest  corner  of  Fulton  County.  Their  north- 
ern boundary  was  the  lake ;  the  eastern,  the  Iro- 
quois. 

The  Delawares,  or  "  Lenni  Lenapes,"  whom  the 
Iroquois  had  subjugated  on  the  Susquehanna,  were 
assigned  by  their  conquerors  hunting-grounds  on 
the  Muskingum.  Their  eastern  boundary  was  the 
country  of  the  Iroquois  (before  defined),  and  their 
northern,  that  of  the  Hurons.     On  the  west,  they 


♦  Father  Loui8  Hennepin,  in  his  work  published  in  1684,  thus 
alludes  to  the  Erii-s:  ■'These  good  fathers,"  referring  to  the 
priests,  "  were  great  friends  of  the  Hurons,  who  told  them  that  the 
Iroquois  went  to  war  beyond  Viririnia,  or  New  Sweden,  near  a  lake 
which  they  called  ^ Eriqe,^  or  'Erie,'  which  signifies  'the  cat,'  or 
'  nalion  of  the  cat,'  and  because  these  savages  brought  captives  from 
this  nation  in  returning  to  their  cantons  along  this  lake,  the 
Hurons  named  it,  in  their  language,  '  Erige,'  or  '  Erike,'  'the  lake  of 
th"  cat.'  and  which  our  Canadians,  in  softening  the  word,  have 
called  '  Lake  Erie.'  "  . 

Charlevoix,  writing  in  1721,  says:  "The  name  it  bears  is  that 
of  an  Indian  nation  of  the  Huron  (Wyandot)  language,  which  was 
formerly  seated  on  it^  banks,  and  who  have  been  entirely  destroyed 
by  the  Iroquois.  Erie,  in  that  language,  signifies  'cat,'  and,  in 
some  acounts,  this  nation  is  called  the  '  cat  nation.'  This  name, 
probably,  comes  from  the  large  numbers  of  that  animal  found  in 
this  region." 


extended  as  far  as  a  line  drawn  from  the  central 
part  of  Richland  County,  in  a  semi-circular  direc- 
tion, south  to  the  mouth  of  Leading  Creek.  Their 
southern  boundary  was  the  Ohio  River. 

West  of  the  Delawares,  dwelt  the  Shawanees,  a 
troublesome  people  as  neighbors,  whether  to  whites 
or  Indians.  Their  country  was  bounded  on  the 
north  by  the  Hurons,  on  the  east,  by  the  Dela- 
wares ;  on  the  south,  by  the  Ohio  River.  On  the 
west,  their  boundary  was  determined  by  a  line 
drawn  southwesterly,  and  again  southeasterly — 
semi-circular — from  a  point  on  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  Hurons,  near  the  southwest  corner 
of  Wyandot  County,  till  it  intersected  the  Ohio 
River. 

All  the  remainder  of  the  State — all  its  western 
part  from  the  Ohio  River  to  the  Michigan  line — 
was  occupied  by  the  Miamis,  Mineamis,  Twigtwees, 
or  Tawixtawes,  a  powerful  nation,  whom  the  Iro- 
quois were  never  fully  able  to  subdue. 

These  nations  occupied  the  State,  partly  by  per- 
mit of  the  Five  Nations,  and  partly  by  inheritance, 
and,  though  composed  of  many  tribes,  were  about 
all  the  savages  to  be  found  in  this  part  of  the 
Northwest. 

No  sooner  had  the  Americans  obtained  control 
of  this  country,  than  they  began,  by  treaty  and 
purchase,  to  acquire  the  lands  of  the  natives. 
They  could  not  stem  the  tide  of  emigration  ;  peo- 
ple, then  as  now,  would  go  West,  and  hence  the 
necessity  of  peacefully  and  rightfully  acquiring  the 
land.  "  The  true  basis  of  title  to  Indian  territory 
is  the  right  of  civilized  men  to  the  soil  for  pur- 
poses of  cultivation."  The  same  maxim  may  be 
applied  to  all  uncivilized  nations.  When  acquired 
by  such  a  right,  either  by  treaty,  purchase  or  con- 
quest, the  right  to  hold  the  same  rests  with  the 
power  and  development  of  the  nation  thus  possess- 
ing the  land. 

The  English  derived  title  to  the  territory 
between  the  Alleghanies  and  the  Mississippi  partly 
by  the  claim  that,  in  discovering  the  Atlantic  coast, 
they  had  possession  of  the  land  from  "ocean  to 
ocean,"  and  partly  by  the  treaty  of  Paris,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1763.  Long  before  this  treaty  took  place, 
however,  she  had  granted,  to  individuals  and  colo- 
nies, extensive  tracts  of  land  in  that  part  of  Amer- 
ica, based  on  the  right  of  di.scovcry.  The  French 
had  done  better,  and  had  acquired  title  to  the  land 
by  discovering  the  land  itself  and  by  consent  of 
the  Indians  dwelling  thereon.  The  right  to  pos- 
sess this  country  led  to  the  French  and  Indian 
war,  ending  in  the  supremacy  of  the  English. 


18 


HISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


The  Five  Nations  claimed  the  territory  in  ques- 
tion by  right  of  conquest,  and,  though  professing 
friendship  to  the  EngUsh,  watched  them  with  jeal- 
ous eyes.  In  1684,  and  again  in  1726,  that  con- 
federacy made  cessions  of  lands  to  the  English, 
and  these  treaties  and  cessions  of  lands  were  re- 
garded as  sufficient  title  by  the  English,  and  were 
insisted  on  in  all  subsequent  treaties  with  the 
Western  Nations.  The  following  statements  were 
collected  by  Col.  Charles  Whittlesey,  which 
show  the  principal  treaties  made  with  the  red  men 
wherein  land  in  Ohio  was  ceded  by  them  to  the 
whites : 

In  September,  1726,  the  Iroquois,  or  Six  Na- 
tions, at  Albany,  ceded  all  their  claims  west  of 
Lake  Erie  and  sixty  miles  in  width  along  the 
south  shore  of  Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario,  from  the 
Cuyahoga  to  the  Oswego  River. 

In  1744,  this  same  nation  made  a  treaty  at 
Lancaster,  Penn.,  and  ceded  to  the  English  all 
their  lands  "that  may  be  within  the  colony  of 
Virginia." 

In  1752,  this  nation  and  other  Western  tribes 
made  a  treaty  at  Logstown,  Penn.,  wherein  they 
confirmed  the  Lancaster  treaty  and  consented  to 
the  settlements  south  of  the  Ohio  River. 

February  13,  1763,  a  treaty  was  made  at  Paris, 
France,  between  the  French  and  English,  when 
Canada  and  the  eastern  half  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley  were  ceded  to  the  English. 

In  1783,  all  the  territory  south  of  the  Lakes, 
and  east  of  the  Mississippi,  was  ceded  by  England 
to  America — the  latter  country  then  obtaining  its 
independence — by  which  means  the  country  was 
gained  by  America. 

October  24,  1784,  the  Six  Nations  made  a 
treaty,  at  Fort  Stanwix,  N.  Y.,  with  the  Ameri- 
cans, and  ceded  to  them  all  the  country  claimed 
by  the  tribe,  west  of  Pennsylvania. 

In  1785,  the  Chippewas,  Delawares,  Ottawas, 
and  Wyandots  ceded  to  the  United  States,  at 
Fort  Mcintosh,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Beaver, 
all  their  claims  east  and  south  of  the  "  Cayahaga," 
the  Portage  Path,  and  the  Tuscarawas,  to  Fort 
Laurens  (Bolivar),  thence  to  Loramie's  Fort  (in 
Shelby  County) ;  thence  along  the  Portage  Path  to 
the  St.  Mary's  River  and  down  it  to  the  "Omee," 
or  Maumee,  and  along  the  lake  shore  to  the 
"  Cayahaga." 

January  3,  1786,  the  Shawanees,  at  Fort  Fin- 
ney, near  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  (not 
owning  the  land  on  the  Scioto  occupied  by  them), 
were  allotted  a  tract   at    the   heads  of  the  two 


Miamis  and  the  Wabash,  west  of  the  Chippewas, 
Delawares  and  Wyandots. 

February  9,  1789,  the  Iroquois  made  a  treaty 
at  Fort  Harmar,  wherein  they  confirmed  the  Fort 
Stanwix  treaty.  At  the  same  time,  the  Chippewas, 
Ottawas,  Delawares,  and  Wyandots — to  which  the 
Sauks  and  Pottawatomies  assented — confirmed  the 
treaty  made  at  Fort  Mcintosh. 

Period  of  war  now  existed  till  1795. 

August  3,  1795,  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  on 
behalf  of  the  United  States,  made  a  treaty  with 
twelve  tribes,  confirming  the  boundaries  estab- 
lished by  the  Fort  Harmar  and  Fort  Mcintosh 
treaties,  and  extended  the  boundary  to  Fort  Re- 
covery and  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky  River. 

In  June,  1796,  the  Senecas,  represented  by 
Brant,  ceded  to  the  Connecticut  Land  Company 
their  rights  east  of  the  Cuyahoga. 

In  1805,  at  Fort  Industry,  on  the  Maumee,  the 
Wyandots,  Delawares,  Ottawas,  Chippewas,  Shawa- 
nees, Menses,  and  Pottawatomies  relinquished  all 
their  lands  west  of  the  Cuyahoga,  as  far  west  as 
the  western  line  of  the  Reserve,  and  south  of  the 
line  from  Fort  Laurens  to  Loramie's  Fort. 

July  4,  1807,  the  Ottawas,  Chippewas,  Wyan- 
dots, and  Pottawatomies,  at  Detroit,  ceded  all  that 
part  of  Ohio  north  of  the  Maumee  River,  with 
part  of  Michigan. 

November  25,  1808,  the  same  tribes  with  the 
Shawanees,  at  Brownstown,  Mich.,  granted  the 
Government  a  tract  of  land  two  miles  wide,  from 
the  west  line  of  the  Reserve  to  the  rapids  of  the 
Maumee,  for  the  purpose  of  a  road  through  the 
Black  Swamp. 

September  18,  1815,  at  Springwells,  near  De- 
troit, the  Chippewas,  Ottawas,  Pottawatomies,  Wy- 
andots, Delawares,  Senecas  and  Miamis,  having 
been  engaged  in  the  war  of  1812  on  the  British 
side,  were  confined  in  the  grants  made  at  Fort 
Mcintosh  and  Greenville  in  1785  and  1795. 

September  29,  1817,  at  the  rapids  of  the 
Maumee,  the  Wyandots  ceded  their  lands  west  of 
the  line  of  1805,  as  far  as  Loramie's  and  the  St. 
Mary's  River  and  north  of  the  Maumee.  The 
Pottawatomies,  Chippewas,  and  Ottawas  ceded  the 
territory  west  of  the  Detroit  line  of  1807,  and 
north  of  the  Maumee. 

October  6,  1818,  the  Miamis,  at  St.  Mary's, 
m'ade  a  treaty  in  which  they  surrendered  the  re- 
maining Indian  territory  in  Ohio,  north  of  the 
Greenville  treaty  line  and  west  of  St.  Mary's  River. 

The  numerous  treaties  of  peace  with  the  West- 
ern Indians  for  the  delivery  of  prisoners  were — 


[iL 


HISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


19 


one  by  Gen.  Forbes,  at  Fort  Du  Quesne  (Pitts- 
burgh), in  1758  ;  one  by  Col.  Bradstreet,  at  Erie, 
in  August,  1764 ;  one  by  Col.  Boquet,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Walhouding,  in  November,  1764; 
in  May,  1765,  at  Johnson's,  on  the  Mohawk,  and 
at  Philadelphia,  the  same  year;  in  1774,  by  Lord 
Dunmore,  at  Camp  Charlotte,  Pickaway  County. 
By  the  treaty  at  the  Maumee  Bapids,  in  1817, 
reservations  were  conveyed  by  the  United  States 
to  all  the  tribes,  with  a  view  to  induce  them  to 
cultivate  the  soil  and  cease  to  be  hunters.  These 
were,  from  time  to  time,  as  the  impracticability  of 
the  plan  became  manifest,  purchased  by  the  Gov- 
ernment, the  last  of  these  being  the  Wyandot 
Beserve,  of  twelve  miles  square,  around  Upper 
Sandusky,  in  1842,  closing  out  all  claims  and  com- 
posing all  the  Indian  difficulties  in  Ohio.  The 
open  war  had  ceased  in  1815,  with  the  treaty  of 
Ghent. 

"  It  is  estimated  that,  from  the  Freijch  war  of 
1754  to  the  battle  of  the  Maumee  Ilapids,  in 
1794,  a  period  of  forty  years,  there  had  been  at 
least  5,000  people  killed  or  captured  west  of  the 


Alleghany  Mountains.  Eleven  organized  military 
expeditions  had  been  carried  on  against  the  West- 
ern Indians  prior  to  the  war  of  1812,  seven  regu- 
lar engagements  fought  and  about  twelve  hundred 
men  killed.  Mure  whites  were  slain  in  battle  than 
there  were  Indian  braves  killed  in  military  expedi- 
tions, and  by  private  raids  and  murders ;  yet,  in 
1811,  all  the  Ohio  tribes  combined  could  not  mus- 
ter 2,000  warriors." 

Attempts  to  determine  the  number  of  persons 
comprising  the  Indian  tribes  in  Ohio,  and  their 
location,  have  resulted  in  nothing  better  than 
estimates.  It  is  supposed  that,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Bevolution,  there  were  about  six 
thousand  Indians  in  the  present  confines  of  the 
State,  but  their  villages  were  little  more  than 
movable  camps.  Savage  men,  like  savage  beasts, 
are  engaged  in  continual  migrations.  Now,  none 
are  left.  The  white  man  occupies  the  home  of 
the  red  man.     Now 

"The  verdant  hills 
Are  covered  o'er  with  growing  grain, 
And  white  men  till  the  soil, 
Where  once  the  red  man  used  to  reign." 


CHAPTER    II, 


EARLY  EXPLORATIONS  IN  THE  WEST. 


WHEN  war,  when  ambition,  when  avarice 
fail,  religion  pushes  onward  and  succeeds. 
In  the  discovery  of  the  New  World,  wherever 
man's  aggrandizement  was  the  paramount  aim, 
failure  was  sure  to  follow.  When  this  gave  way, 
the  followers  of  the  Cross,  whether  Catholic  or 
Protestant,  came  on  the  field,  and  the  result  before 
attempted  soon  appeared,  though  in  a  different  way 
and  through  different  means  than  those  supposed. 
The  first  permanent  efforts  of  the  white  race  to 
penetrate  the  Western  wilds  of  the  New  World 
preceded  any  permanent  English  settlement  north 
of  the  Potomac.  Years  before  the  Pilgrims 
anchored  their  bark  on  the  cheerless  shores  of  Cape 
Cod,  "the  Boman  Catholic  Church  had  been  plann- 
ed by  missionaries  from  France  in  the  Eastern 
moiety  of  Maine;  and  LeCaron,  an  ambitious 
Franciscan,  the  companion  of  Champlain,had  passed 
into  the  hunting-grounds  of  the  Wyandots,  and, 
bound  by  the  vows  of  his  life,  had,  on  foot  or  pad- 
dling a  bark  canoe,  gone  onward,  taking  alms  of  the 
savages   until    he   reached  the    rivers    of    Lake 


Huron."  This  was  in  1615  or  1616,  and  only 
eight  years  afler  Champlain  had  sailed  up  the  wa- 
ters of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  on  the  foot  of  a  bold 
cliff  laid  the  foundation  of  the  present  City  of 
Quebec.  From  this  place,  founded  to  hold  the 
country,  and  to  perpetuate  the  religion  of  his  King, 
went  forth  those  emissaries  of  the  Cross,  whose  zeal 
has  been  the  admiration  of  the  world.  The  French 
Colony  in  Canada  was  suppressed  soon  after  its  es- 
tablishment, and  for  five  years,  until  1622,  its  im- 
munities were  enjoyed  by  the  colonists.  A  grant 
of  New  France,  as  the  country  was  then  known,  was 
made  by  Louis  XIII  to  Biehelieu,  Champlain, 
Bazilly  and  others,  who,  immediately  after  the  res- 
toration of  Quebec  by  its  English  conquerors,  entered 
upon  the  control  and  government  of  their  province. 
Its  limits  embraced  the  whole  ba.sin  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  of  such  other  rivers  in  New  France 
as  flowed  directly  into  the  sea.  AVhile  away  to 
the  south  on  the  Gulf  coast,  was  also  included  a 
country  rich  in  foliage  and  claimed  in  virtue  of 
the  unsuccessful  efibrts  of  Coligny. 


20 


HISTOEY    OF    OHIO. 


Religious  zeal  as  much  as  commercial  prosperity 
had  influenced  France  to  obtain  and  retain  the  de- 
pendency of  Canada.  The  commercial  monopoly 
of  a  privileged  company  could  not  foster  a 
colony ;  the  climate  was  too  vigorous  for  agricult- 
ure, and,  at  first  there  was  little  else  except  relig- 
ious enthusiasm  to  give  vitality  to  the  province. 
Champlain  had  been  touched  by  the  simplicity  of 
the  Order  of  St.  Francis,  and  had  selected  its  priests 
to  aid  him  in  his  work.  But  another  order,  more 
in  favor  at  the  Court,  was  interested,  and  succeed- 
ed in  excluding  the  mendicant  order  from  the  New 
World,  established  themselves  in  the  new  domain 
and,  by  thus  enlarging  the  borders  of  the  French 
King,  it  became  entrusted  to  the  Jesuits. 

This  "Society  of  Jesus,"  founded  by  Loyola 
when  Calvin's  Institutes  first  saw  the  light,  saw  an 
unequaled  opportunity  in  the  conversion  of  the 
heathen  in  the  Western  wilds;  and,  as  its  mem- 
bers, pledged  to  obtain  power  only  by  influence  of 
mind  over  mind,  sought  the  honors  of  opening  the 
way,  there  was  no  lack  of  men  ready  for  the  work. 
Through  them,  the  motive  power  in  opening  the 
wilds  of  the  Northwest  was  relio-ion.  "  Reliiiious 
enthusiasm,"  says  Bancroft,  "colonized  New  Eng- 
land, and  religious  enthusiasm  founded  Montreal, 
made  a  concjuest  of  the  wilderness  about  the  upper 
lakes,  and  explored  the  Mississippi."   . 

Thi'ough  these  priests — ^  increased  in  a  few  years 
to  fifteen — a  way  was  made  across  the  West  from 
Quebec,  above  the  regions  of  the  lakes,  below 
which  they  dared  not  go  for  the  relentless  Mohawks. 
To  the  northwest  of  Toronto,  near  the  Lake  Iro- 
quois, a  bay  of  Lake  Huron,  in  September,  1634, 
they  raised  the  first  humble  house  of  the  Society  of 
Jesus  among  the  Hurons.  Through  them  they 
learned  of  the  great  lakes  beyond,  and  resolved 
one  day  to  explore  them  and  carry  the  Gospel  of 
peace  to  the  heathen  on  their  shores.  Before  this 
could  be  done,  many  of  them  were  called  upon  to 
give  up  their  lives  at  the  martyr's  stake  and  re- 
ceive a  martyr's  crown.  But  one  by  one  they 
went  on  in  their  good  work.  If  one  fell  by  hun- 
ger, cold,  cruelty,  or  a  terrible  death,  others  stood 
ready,  and  carrying  their  lives  in  their  hands, 
established  other  missions  about  the  eastern  shores 
of  Lake  Huron  and  its  adjacent  waters.  The 
Five  Nations  were  for  many  years  hostile  toward 
the  French  and  murdered  them  and  their  red 
allies  whenever  opportunity  presented.  For  a 
quarter  of  century,  they  retarded  the  advance  of 
the  missionaries,  and  then  only  after  wearied  with 
a  long  struggle,  in  which  they  began  to  see  their 


power  declining,  did  they  relinquish  their  warlike 
propensities,  and  allow  the  Jesuits  entrance  to  their 
country.  While  this  was  going  on,  the  traders 
and  Jesuits  had  penetrated  farther  and  farther 
westward,  until,  when  peace  was  declared,  they 
had  seen  the  southwestern  shores  of  Lake  Superior 
and  the  northern  shores  of  Lake  Michigan,  called 
by  them  Lake  Illinois.*  In  August,  1654,  two 
young  adventurers  penetrated  the  wilds  bordering 
on  these  western  lakes  in  company  with  a  band  of 
Ottawas.  Returning,  they  tell  of  the  wonderful 
country  they  have  seen,  of  its  vast  forests,  its 
abundance  of  game,  its  mines  of  copper,  and  ex- 
cite in  their  comrades  a  desire  to  see  and  explore 
such  a  country.  They  tell  of  a  vast  expanse  of 
land  before  them,  of  the  powerful  Indian  tribes 
dwelling  there,  and  of  their  anxiety  to  become  an- 
nexed to  the  Frenchman,  of  whom  they  have 
heard.  The  request  is  at  once  granted.  Two 
missionaries,  Gabriel  Dreuillettes  and  Leonard 
Gareau,  w«re  selected  as  envoys,  but  on  their  way 
the  fleet,  propelled  by  tawny  rowers,  is  met  by  a 
wandering  band  of  Mohawks  and  by  them  is  dis- 
persed. Not  daunted,  others  stood  ready  to  go. 
The  lot  fell  to  Rene  Mesnard.  He  is  charged  to 
visit  the  wilderness,  select  a  suitable  place  for  a 
dwelling,  and  found  a  mission.  With  only  a  short 
warning  he  is  ready,  "trusting,"  he  says,  "in  the 
Providence  which  feeds  the  little  birds  of  the 
desert  and  clothes  the  wild  flowers  of  the  forest." 
In  October,  1660,  he  reached  a  bay,  which  he 
called  St.  Theresa,  on  the  south  shore  of  Lak  > 
Superior.  After  a  residence  of  eight  months,  he 
yielded  to  the  invitation  of  the  Hurons  who  had 
taken  refuge  on  the  Island  of  St.  IMichael,  and 
bidding  adieu  to  his  neophytes  and  the  French,  he 
departed.  While  on  the  way  to  the  Bay  of  Che- 
goi-me-gon,  probably  at  a  portage,  he  became 
separated  from  his  companion  and  was  never  after- 
ward heard  of  Long  after,  his  cassock  and  his 
breviary  were  kept  as  amulets  among  the  Sioux. 
Difficulties  now  arose  in  the  management  of  the 
colony,  and  for  awhile  it  was  on  the  verge  of  dis- 
solution. The  King  sent  a  regiment  under  com- 
mand of  the  aged  Tracy,  as  a  safeguard  against 
the  Iroquois,  now  proving  themselves  enemies  to 

*  Mr.  C.  W.  Bntterfield,  author  of  Cran- ford's  Campaign,  and 
good  authority,  says:  "John  Nicholet,  a  Frenchman,  lelt  Quebec 
and  Three  Rivers  in  the  summer  of  1034,  and  visitel  the  Hurons  on 
Georgian  Bay,  the  Cliippewas  «t  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  and  the  Win- 
nebagoes  in  Wisronsin,  returning  to  Quebec  in  the  summer  of  U35. 
This  was  the  first  white  man  to  see  any  part  of  the  Northwest 
Territory.  In  1641,  two  Jesuit  priests  were  at  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie 
for  a  brief  time.  Tlien  two  Frencli  traders  reached  Lalie  Superior, 
and  after  them  came  that  tide  of  emigration  ou  which  the  French 
based  their  claim  to  the  country." 


-4* 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


21 


the  French.  Accompanying  him  were  Courcelles, 
as  Governor,  and  M.  Talon,  who  subsequently  fig- 
ures in  Northwestern  history.  By  1(31)5,  affairs 
were  settled  and  new  attemjits  to  found  a  mission 
iimong  the  lake  tribes  were  projected. 

"  With  better  hopes  —  undismayed  by  the  sad 
fate  of  their  predecessors"  in  August,  Claude 
Allouez  embarked  on  a  mission  by  way  of  Ottawa 
to  the  Far  West.  Early  in  September  he  reached 
the  rapids  "through  which  rush  the  waters  of  the 
lakes  to  Huron.  Sailing  by  lofty  sculptured  rocks 
and  over  waters  of  crystal  purity,  he  reached  the 
Chippewa  village  just  as  the  young  warriors  were 
bent  on  organizing  a  war  expedition  against  the 
Sioux.  Commanding  peace  in  the  name  of  his 
King,  he  called  a  council  and  offered  the  commerce 
and  protection  of  his  nation.  He  was  obeyed,  and 
soon  a  chapel  arose  on  the  shore  of  the  bay,  to 
which  admiring  crowds  from  the  south  and  west 
gathered  to  listen  to  the  story  of  the  Cross. 

The  scattered  Hurons  and  Ottawas  north  of 
Lake  Superior ;  the  Pottawatomies  from  Lake  Mich- 
igan; the  Sacs  and  Foxes  from  the  Far  West;  the 
Illinois  from  the  prairies,  all  came  to  hear  him,  and 
all  besought  him  to  go  with  them.  To  the  last 
nation  Allouez  desired  to  go.  They  told  him  of  a 
"  great  river  that  flowed  to  the  .sea,  "and  of  "their 
vast  prairies,  where  herds  of  buffalo,  deer  and 
other  animals  grazed  on  the  tall  grass."  "Their 
country,"  said  the  missionary,  "is  the  best  field 
for  the  Grospel.  Had  I  had  leisure,  I  would  have 
gone  to  their  dwellings  to  see  with  my  own  eyes 
all  the  good  that  was  told  me  of  them." 

He  remained  two  years,  teaching  the  natives, 
studying  their  language  and  habits,  and  then 
returned  to  Quebec.  Such  was  the  account  that 
he  gave,  that  in  two  days  he  was  joined  by 
Louis  Nicholas  and  was  on  his  way  back  to  his 
mission. 

Peace  being  now  established,  more  missionaries 
came  from  France.  Among  them  were  Claude 
Dablon  and  Jacques  Marquette,  both  of  whom 
went  on  to  the  mission  among  the  Chippewas  at  the 
Sault.  They  reached  there  in  1668  and  found 
Allouez  busy.  The  mission  was  now  a  reality  and 
given  the  name  of  St.  Mary.  It  is  often  written 
"  Sault  Ste.  Marie,"  afler  the  French  method,  and 
is  the  oldest  settlement  by  white  men  in  the  bounds 
of  the  Northwest  Territory.  It  has  been  founded 
over  two  hundred  years.  Here  on  the  inhospitable 
northern  shores,  hundreds  of  miles  away  from 
friends,  did  this  triumvirate  employ  themselves  in 
extending;  their  religion  and  the  influence  of  their 


King.  Traversing  the  shores  of  the  great  lakes 
near  them,  they  pass  down  the  western  bank  of 
Lake  Michigan  as  far  as  Green  Bay,  along  the 
southern  shore  of  Lake  Superior  to  its  western  ex- 
tremity, everywhere  preaching  the  story  of  Jesus. 
"  Though  suffering  be  their  lot  and  martyrdom 
their  crown,"  they  went  on,  only  conscious  that 
they  were  laboring  for  their  Master  and  would,  in 
the  end,  win  the  crown. 

The  great  river  away  to  the  West  of  which  they 
heard  so  much  was  yet  unknown  to  them.  To  ex- 
plore it,  to  visit  the  tribes  on  its  banks  and  preach 
to  them  the  Gospel  and  secure  their  trade,  became 
the  aim  of  Marquette,  who  originated  the  idea  of 
its  discovery.  While  engaged  at  the  mission  at  the 
Sault,  he  resolved  to  attempt  it  in  the  autumn  of 
1669.  Delay,  however,  intervened  —  for  Allouez 
had  exchanged  the  mission  at  Che-goi-me-gon  for 
one  at  Green  Bay,  whither  Marquette  was  sent. 
AV^hile  here  he  employed  a  young  Illinois  Indian 
to  teach  him  the  language  of  that  nation,  and  there- 
by prepare  himself  for  the  enterprise. 

Continued  commerce  with  the  Western  Indians 
gave  protection  and  confirmed  their  attachment. 
Talon,  the  intendant  of  the  colony  of  New  France, 
to  further  spread  its  power  and  to  learn  more  of  the 
country  and  its  inhabitants,  convened  a  congress 
of  the  Indians  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary,  to  which 
he  sent  St.  Lusson  on  his  behalf  Nicholas  Perrot 
sent  invitations  in  every  direction  for  more  than  a 
hundred  leagues  round  about,  and  fourteen  nations, 
among  them  Sacs,  Foxes  and  Miamis,  agreed  to  be 
present  by  their  embassadors. 

The  congress  met  on  the  fourth  day  of  June, 
1671.  St.  Lusson,  through  Allouez,  his  interpre- 
ter, announced  to  the  assembled  natives  that  they, 
and  through  them  their  nations,  were  placed  under 
the  protection  of  the  French  King,  and  to  him 
were  their  furs  and  peltries  to  be  traded.  A  cross 
of  cedar  was  raised,  and  amidst  the  groves  of  ma- 
ple and  of  pine,  of  elm  and  hemlock  that  are  so 
strangely  intermingled  on  the  banks  of  the  St. 
Mary,  the  whole  company  of  the  French,  bowing 
before  the  emblem  of  man's  redemption,  chanted  to 
its  glory  a  hymn  of  the  seventh  century  : 

"The  banners  of  heaven's  King  advance; 
The  mysteries  of  the  Cross  shines  forth."* 

A  cedar  column  was  planted  by  the  cross  and 
marked  with  the  lilies  of  the  Bourbons.  Tlie 
power  of  France,  thus  uplifted  in  the  West  of 
which  Ohio  is  now  a  part,  was,  however,  not  destined 


■  Bancroft. 


>-" 


22 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


to  endure,  and  the  ambition  of  its  monurchs  was 
to  have  only  a  partial  fulfillment. 

The  same  year  that  the  congress  was  held,  Mar- 
quette had  founded  a  mission  among  the  Hurons 
at  Point  St.  Ignace,  on  the  continent  north  of  the 
peninsula  of  Michigan.  Although  the  climate 
was  severe,  and  vegetation  scarce,  yet  fish  abounded, 
and  at  this  establishment,  long  maintained  as  a 
key  to  further  explorations,  prayer  and  praise  were 
heard  daily  for  many  years.  Here,  also,  Marquette 
gained  a  footing  among  the  founders  of  Michigan. 
While  he  was  doing  this,  Allouez  and  Dablon  were 
exploring  countries  south  and  west,  going  as  far  as 
the  Mascoutins  and  Kickapoos  on  the  Milwaukee, 
and  the  Miamis  at'  the  head  of  Lake  Michigan. 
Allduez  continued  even  as  far  as  the  Sacs  and  Foxes 
on  the  river  which  bears  their  name. 

The  discovery  of  the  Mississippi,  heightened  by 
these  explorations,  was  now  at  hand.  The  enter- 
prise, projected  by  Marquette,  was  received  with 
fiivor  by  M.  Talon,  who  desired  thus  to  perpetuate 
his  rule  in  New  France,  now  drawing  to  a  close. 
He  was  joined  by  Joliet,  of  Quebec,  an  emissary 
of  his  King,  commissioned  by  royal  magnate  to 
take  possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  the 
French.  Of  him  but  little  else  is  known.  This 
one  excursion,  however,  gives  him  immortality, 
and  as  long  as  time  shall  last  his  name  and  that  of 
Marquette  will  endure.  When  Marquette  made 
known  his  intention  to  the  Pottawatomies,  they 
were  filled  with  wonder,  and  endeavored  to  dis- 
suade him  from  his  purpose.  "Those  distant  na- 
tions," said  they,  "  never  spare  the  strangers;  the 
Great  River  abounds  in  monsters,  ready  to  swal- 
low both  men  and  canoes;  there  are  great  cataracts 
and  rapids,  over  which  you  will  be  dashed  to 
pii-ees;  the  excessive  heats  will  cause  your  death." 
"  I  shall  gladly  lay  down  my  life  for  the  salvation 
of  souls,"  replied  the  good  man;  and  the  docile 
nation  joined  him. 

On  the  9th  day  of  June,  1673,  they  reached 
the  village  on  Fox  River,  where  were  Kickapoos, 
Mascoutins  and  Miamis  dwelling  together  on  an 
expanse  of  lovely  prairie,  dotted  here  and  thereby 
groves  of  magnificent  trees,  and  where  was  a 
cross  gai-landed  by  wild  flowers,  and  bows  and  ar- 
rows, and  skins  and  belts,  oiferings  to  the  Great 
Manitou.  Allouez  had  been  here  in  one  of  his 
wanderings,  and,  as  was  his  wont,  had  left  this 
emblem  of  his  faith. 

Assembling  the  natives,  Marquette  said,  "  My 
companion  is  an  envoy  of  France  to  discover  new 
countries ;  and  I  am  an  embassador  from   God   to 


enlighten  them  with  the  Gospel."  Offering  pres- 
ents, he  begged  two  guides  for  the  morrow.  The 
Indians  answered  courteously,  and  gave  in 
return  a  mat  to  serve  as  a  couch  during  the  long 
voyage. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  next  day,  the  10th 
of  June,  with  all  nature  in  her  brightest  robes, 
these  two  men,  with  five  Frenchmen  and  two  Al- 
gonquin guides,  set  out  on  their  journey.  Lifting 
two  canoes  to  their  shoulders,  they  quickly  cross 
the  narrow  portage  dividing  the  Fox  from  the 
Wisconsin  River,  and  prepare  to  embark  on  its 
clear  waters.  "Uttering  a  special  prayer  to  the 
Immaculate  Virgin,  they  leave  the  stream,  that, 
flowing  onward,  could  have  borne  their  greetings 
to  the  castle  of  Quebec.  'The  guides  returned,' 
says  the  gentle  Marquette,  'leaving  us  alone  in 
this  unknown  land,  in  the  hand  of  Providence.' 
France  and  Christianity  stood  alone  in  the  valley 
of  the  Mississippi.  Embarking  on  the  broad 
Wiscon.sin,  the  discoverers,  as  they  sailed  west, 
went  solitarily  down  the  stream  between  alternate 
prairies  and  hillsides,  beholding  neither  man  nor 
the  wonted  beasts  of  the  forests;  no  sound  broke 
the  silence  but  the  ripple  of  the  canoe  and  the 
lowing  of  the  buffalo.  In  seven  days,  '  they  en- 
tered happily  the  Great  River,  with  a  joy  that 
could  not  be  expressed;'  and  the  two  birchbark 
canoes,  raising  their  happy  sails  under  new  skies 
and  to  unknown  breezes,  floated  down  the  calm 
magnificence  of  the  ocean  stream,  over  the  broad, 
clear  sand-bars,  the  resort  of  innumerable  water- 
fowl-^—gliding  past  islets  that  swelled  from  the 
bosom  of  the  stream,  with  their  tufts  of  massive 
thickets,  and  between  the  wild  plains  of  Illinois 
and  Iowa,  all  garlanded  with  majestic  forests,  or 
checkered  by  island  groves  and  the  open  vastness 
of  the  prairie."* 

Continuing  on  down  the  mighty  stream,  they 
saw  no  signs  of  human  life  until  the  25th  of 
June,  when  they  discovered  a  small  foot-path  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  river,  leading  away  into  the 
prairie.  Leaving  their  companions  in  the  canoes, 
Marquette  and  Joliet  followed  the  path,  resolved 
to  brave  a  meeting  alone  with  the  savages.  After 
a  walk  of  six  miles  they  came  in  sight  of  a  village 
on  the  banks  of  a  river,  while  not  fiir  away  they 
discovered  two  others.  The  river  was  the  "  I\Iou- 
in-gou-e-na,"  or  Moingona,  now  corrupted  into 
Des  Moines.  These  two  men,  the  first  of  their 
race  who  ever  trod  the  soil  west  of    the   Great 


liL 


HISTORY    or    OHIO. 


23 


River,  commended  themselves  to  God,  and,  uttering 
a  loud  cry,  advanced  to  the  nearest  village. 
The  Indians  hear,  and  thinking  their  visitors 
celestial  beings,  four  old  men  advance  with  rever- 
ential mien,  and  oifer  the  pipe  of  peace.  "  We 
are  Illinois,"  said  they,  and  they  offered  the  calu- 
met. They  had  heard  of  the  Frenchmen,  and 
welcomed  them  to  their  wigwams,  followed  by  the 
devouring  gaze  of  an  astonished  crowd.  At  a 
great  council  held  soon  after,  Marquette  published 
to  them  the  true  God,  their  Author.  He  also 
spoke  of  his  nation  and  of  his  King,  who  had 
chastised  the  Five  Nations  and  commanded  peace. 
He  questioned  them  concerning  the  Great  River 
and  its  tributaries,  and  the  tribes  dwelling  on  its 
banks.  A  magnificent  feast  was  spread  before 
them,  and  the  conference  continued  several  days. 
At  the  close  of  the  sixth  day,  the  chieftains  of  the 
tribes,  with  numerous  trains  of  waiTiors,  attended 
the  visitors  to  their  canoes,  and  selecting  a  peace- 
pipe,  gayly  caparisoned,  they  hung  the  sacred 
calumet,  emblem  of  peace  to  all  and  a  safeguard 
:iin;ing  the  nations,  about  the  good  Father's  neck, 
and  bid  the  strangers  good  speed.  "I  did  not 
fear  death,"  writes  Marquette;  "I  should  have 
esteemed  it  the  greatest  happiness  to  have  died 
for  the  glory  of  God."  On  their  journey,  they 
passed  the  perpendicular  rocks,  whose  sculptured 
sides  showed  them  the  monsters  they  should  meet. 
Farther  down,  they  pass  the  turgid  flood  of  the 
Missouri,  known  to  them  by  its  Algonquin  name, 
Pekitanoni.  Resolving  in  his  heart  to  one  day 
explore  its  flood,  Marquette  rejoiced  in  the,  new 
world  it  evidently  could  open  to  him.  A  little 
farther  down,  they  pass  the  bluffs  where  now  is  a 
mighty  emporium,  then  silent  as  when  created.  In 
a  little  less  than  forty  leagues,  they  pass  the  clear 
waters  of  the  beautiful  Ohio,  then,  and  long  after- 
ward, known  as  the  Wabash.  Its  banks  were  in- 
habited by  numerous  villages  of  the  peaceful 
Shawanees,  who  then  quailed  under  the  incursions 
of  the  dreadful  Iroquois.  As  they  go  on  down  the 
mighty  stream,  the  canes  become  thicker,  the  insects 
more  fierce,  the  heat  more  intolerable.  The  prairies 
and  their  cool  breezes  vanish,  and  forests  of  white- 
wood,  admirable  for  their  vastness  and  height,  crowd 
close  upon  the  pebbly  shore.  It  is  observed  that  the 
Chickasaws  have  guns,  and  have  learned  how  to 
use  them.  Near  the  latitude  of  33  degrees,  they 
encounter  a  great  village,  whose  inhabitants  pre- 
sent an  inhospitable  and  warlike  front.  The  pipe 
of  peace  is  held  aloft,  and  instantly  the  savage  foe 
drops    his  arms  and  extends  a  friendly  greeting. 


Remaining  here  till  the  next  day,  they  are  escorted 
for  eight  or  ten  leagues  to  the  village  of  Akansea. 
They  are  now  at  the  limit  of  their  voyage.  The 
Indians  speak  a  dialect  unknown  to  them.  The 
natives  show  furs  and  axes  of  steel,  the  latter  prov- 
ing they  have  traded  with  Europeans.  The  two 
travelers  now  learn  that  the  Father  of  Wa- 
ters went  neither  to  the  Western  sea  nor  to  the 
Florida  coast,  but  straight  south,  and  conclude  not 
to  encounter  the  burning  heats  of  a  tropical  clime, 
but  return  and  find  the  outlet  again.  They 
had  done  enough  now,  and  must  report  their  dis- 
covery. 

On  the  17th  day  of  July,  1673,  one  hundred 
and  thirty-two  years  after  the  disastrous  journey 
of  De  Soto,  which  led  to  no  permanent  results, 
jNIarquette  and  Joliet  left  the  village  of  Akansea 
on  their  way  back.  At  the  38th  degree,  they  en- 
counter the  waters  of  the  Illinois  which  they  had 
before  noticed,  and  which  the  natives  told  them 
afforded  a  much  shorter  route  to  the  lakes.  Pad- 
dling up  its  limpid  waters,  they  see  a  country  un- 
surpassed in  beauty.  Broad  prairies,  beautiful  up- 
lands, luxuriant  groves,  all  mingled  in  excellent 
harmony  as  they  ascend  the  river.  Near  the  head 
of  the  river,  they  pause  at  a  great  village  of  the 
Illinois,  and  across  the  river  behold  a  rocky  prom- 
ontory .standing  boldly  out  against  the  landscape. 
The  Indians  entreat  the  gentle  missionary  to  re- 
main among  them,  and  teach  them  the  way  of  life. 
He  cannot  do  this,  but  promises  to  return  when  he 
can  and  instruct  them.  The  town  was  on  a  plain 
near  the  present  village  of  Utica,  in  La  Salle 
County,  111.,  and  the  rock  was  Starved  Rock, 
afterward  noted  in  the  annals  of  the  Northwest. 
One  of  the  chiefs  and  some  young  men  conduct 
the  party  to  the  Chicago  River,  where  the  present 
mighty  city  is,  from  where,  continuing  their  iour- 
ney  along  the  western  shores  of  the  lake,  they 
reach  Green  Bay  early  in  September. 

The  great  valley  of  the  West  was  now  open. 
The  "Messippi"  rolled  its  mighty  flood  to  a  south- 
ern sea,  and  must  be  sully  explored.  INIarquette's 
health  had  keenly  suffered  by  the  voyage  and  he 
concluded  to  remain  here  and  rest.  Joliet  hasten- 
ed on  to  Quebec  to  report  his  discoveries.  During 
the  journey,  each  had  preserved  a  description  of 
the  route  they  had  passed  over,  as  well  as  the 
country  and  its  inhabitants.  While  on  the  way 
to  Quebec,  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids  near  Montreal, 
by  some  means  one  of  Joliet's  canoes  became  cap- 
sized, and  by  it  he  lost  his  box  of  papers  and  two 
of    his   men.     A    greater    calamity    could   have 


24 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


liarcUy  happened  him.  lu  a  letter  to  Gov, 
Froutenac,  Joliet  says : 

"  I  had  escaped  every  peril  from  the  Indians  ;  I 
had  passed  forty-two  rapids,  and  was  on  the  point 
of  disembarking,  full  of  joy  at  the  success  of  so 
Ling  and  difficult  an  enterprise,  when  my  canoe 
capsized  after  all  the  danger  seemed  over.  I  lost 
my  two  men  and  box  of  papers  within  sight  of  the 
French  settlements,  which  I  had  left  almost  two 
years  before.  Nothing  remains  now  to  me  but 
my  life,  and  the  ardent  desire  to  employ  it  in  any 
service  you  may  please  to  direct." 

When  Joliet  made  known  his  discoveries,  a 
Te  Dcum  was  chanted  in  the  Cathedral  at  Quebec, 
and  all  Canada  was  filled  with  joy.  The  news 
crossed  the  ocean,  and  the  French  saw  in  the  vista 
of  coming  years  a  vast  dependency  arise  in  the  val- 
ley, partially  explored,  which  was  to  extend  her 
domain  and  enrich  her  treasury.  Fearing  En- 
gland might  profit  by  the  discovery  and  claim  the 
country,  she  attempted  as  far  as  possible  to  prevent 
the  news  from  becoming  general.  Joliet  was  re- 
warded by  the  gift  of  the  Island  of  Anticosti,  in 
the  St.  Lawrence,  while  Marquette,  conscious  of 
his  service  to  his  Master,  was  content  with  the 
salvation  of  souls. 

jSIarquette,  left  at  Green  Bay,  suffered  long  with 
his  malady,  and  was  not  permitted,  until  the  au- 
tumn of  the  following  year  (1674),  to  return  and 
teach  the  Illinois  Indians.  With  this  purpose  in 
view,  he  left  Green  Bay  on  the  25th  of  October 
with  two  Frenchmen  and  a  number  of  Illinois  and 
Pottawatomie  Indians  for  the  villages  on  the 
Chicago  and  Illinois  Rivers.  Entering  Lake 
Michigan,  they  encountered  adverse  winds  and 
waves  and  were  more  than  a  month  on  the  way. 
Going  some  distance  up  the  Chicago  River,  they 
found  Marquette  too  weak  to  proceed  farther,  his 
malady  having  assumed  a  violent  form,  and  land- 
ing, they  erected  two  hut.s  and  prepared  to  pass 
the  winter.  The  good  missionary  taught  the  na- 
tives here  daily,  in  spite  of  his  afflictions,  while 
his  companions  supplied  him  and  themselves  with 
food  by  fishing  and  hunting.  Thus  the  winter 
wore  away,  and  Marquette,  renewing  his  vows,  pre- 
pared to  go  on  to  the  village  at  the  foot  of  the 
rocky  citadel,  where  he  had  been  two  years  before. 
On  the  13th  of  March,  1675,  they  left  their  huts 
and,  rowing  on  up  the  Chicago  to  the  portage  be- 
tween that  and  the  Desplaines,  embarked  on  their 
way.  Amid  the  incessant  rains  of  spring,  they 
were  rapidly  borne  down  that  stream  to  the  Illi- 
nois, on  whose  rushing   flood  they  floated  to  the 


object  of  their  destination.  At  the  great  town  the 
missionary  was  received  as  a  heavenly  messenger, 
and  as  he  preached  to  them  of  heaven  and  hell, 
of  angels  and  demons,  of  good  and  bad  deeds, 
they  regarded  him  as  divine  and  besought  him  to 
remain  among  them.  The  town  then  contained  an 
immense  concourse  of  natives,  drawn  hither  by  the 
reports  they  heard,  and  assembling  them  before  him 
on  the  plain  near  their  village,  where  now  are  pros- 
perous farms,  he  held  before  their  astonished  gaze 
four  large  pictures  of  the  Holy  Virgin,  and  daily 
harangued  them  on  the  duties  of  Christianity  and 
the  necessity  of  conforming  their  conduct  to  the 
words  they  heard.  His  strength  was  fast  declining 
and  warned  him  he  could  not  long  remain.  Find- 
ing he  must  go,  the  Indians  furnished  him  an 
escort  as  far  as  the  lake,  on  whose  turbulent  waters 
he  embarked  with  his  two  faithful  attendants. 
They  turned  their  canoes  for  the  Mackinaw  Mis- 
sion, which  the  afllicted  missionary  hoped  to  reach 
before  death  came.  As  they  coasted  along  the 
eastern  shores  of  the  lake,  the  vernal  hue  of  May 
began  to  cover  the  hillsides  with  robes  of  green, 
now  dimmed  to  the  eye  of  the  departing  Father,  who 
became  too  weak  to  view  them.  By  the  19th  of 
the  month,  he  could  go  no  farther,  and  requested 
his  men  to  land  and  build  him  a  hut  in  which  he 
might  pass  away.  That  done,  he  gave,  with  great 
composure,  directions  concerning  his  burial,  and 
thanked  God  that  he  was  permitted  to  die  in  the 
wilderness  in  the  midst  of  his  work,  an  unshaken 
believer  in  the  faith  he  had  so  earnestly  preached. 
As  twilight  came  on,  he  told  his  weary  attendants 
to  rest,  promising  that  when  death  should  come  he 
would  call  them.  At  an  early  hour,  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  20th  of  May,  1675,  they  heard  a  feeble 
voice,  and  hastening  to  his  side  found  that  the  gen- 
tle spirit  of  the  good  missionary  had  gone  to  heav- 
en. His  hand  grasped  the  crucifix,  and  his  lips 
bore  as  their  last  sound  the  name  of  the  Virgin. 
They  dug  a  grave  near  the  banks  of  the  stream 
and  buried  him  as  he  had  requested.  There  in  a 
lonely  wilderness  the  peaceful  soul  of  Marquette 
had  at  last  found  a  rest,  and  his  weary  labors  closed. 
His  companions  went  on  to  the  mission,  where 
the  news  of  his  death  caused  great  sorrow,  for  he 
was  one  beloved  by  all. 

Three  years  after  his  burial,  the  Ottawas,  hunting 
in  the  vicinity  of  his  grave,  determined  to  carry 
his  bones  to  the  mission  at  their  home,  in  accor- 
dance with  an  ancient  custom  of  their  tribe.  Hav- 
ing opened  the  grave,  at  whose  head  a  cross  had 
been  planted,  they  carefully  removed  the  bones  and 


"77 


:v 


'^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


25 


cleaning  them,  a  funeral  proces.si(in  of  thirty  canoes 
bore  them  to  the  Mackiuaw  Mission,  singing  the 
songs  he  had  taught  them.  At  the  shores  of  the 
mission  the  bones  were  received  by  the  priests,  and, 
with  great  ceremony,  buried  under  the  floor  of  the 
rude  chapel. 

While  Marquette  and  Joliet  were  exploring  the 
head-waters  of  the  "Great  River,"  another  man, 
fearless  in  purpose,  pious  in  heart,  and  loyal  to 
his  country,  was  living  in  Canada  and  watching 
the  operations  of  his  fellow  countrymen  with 
keen  eyes.  When  the  French  first  saw  the  in- 
hospitable shores  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  in  1535, 
under  the  lead  of  Jacques  Cartier,  and  had  opened 
a  new  country  to  their  crown,  men  were  not 
lacking  to  further  extend  the  discovery.  In  1608, 
Champlain  came,  and  at  the  foot  of  a  cliff"  on  that 
river  founded  Quebec.  Seven  years  after,  he 
brought  four  RecoUet  monks ;  and  through  them 
and  the  Jesuits  the  discoveries  already  narrated 
occurred.  Champlain  died  in  1G35,  one  hundred 
years  after  Cartier's  first  visit,  but  not  until  he 
had  explored  the  northern  lakes  as  fiir  as  Lake 
Huron,  on  whose  rocky  shores  he,  as  the  progenitor 
of  a  mighty  race  to  follow,  set  his  feet.  He,  with 
others,  held  to  the  idea  that  somewhere  across  the 
country,  a  river  highway  extended  to  the  Western 
ocean.  The  reports  from  the  missions  whose 
history  has  been  given  aided  this  belief;  and  not 
until  Marquette  and  Joliet  returned  was  the  delu- 
sion in  any  way  dispelled.  Before  this  was  done, 
however,  the  man  to  whom  reference  has  been 
made,  Robert  Cavalier,  better  known  as  La  Salle, 
had  endeavored  to  solve  the  mystery,  and,  while 
living  on  his  grant  of  land  eight  miles  above 
Montreal,  had  indeed  eff'ected  important  discoveries. 

La  Salle,  the  next  actor  in  the  field  of  explor- 
ation after  Champlain,  was  born  in  1643.  His 
father's  family  was  among  the  old  and  wealthy 
burghers  of  Rouen,  France,  and  its  members 
were  frequently  entrusted  with  important  govern- 
mental positions.  He  early  exhibited  such  traits 
of  character  as  to  mark  him  among  his  associates. 
Coming  from  a  wealthy  family,  he  enjoyed  all  the 
advantages  of  his  day,  and  received,  for  the  times, 
an  excellent  education.  He  was  a  Catholic, 
though  liis  subsequent  life  does  not  prove  him 
to  have  been  a  religious  enthusiast.  From  some 
cause,  he  joined  the  Order  of  Loyola,  but  the  cir- 
cumscribed sphere  of  action  set  for  him  in  the 
order  illy  concurred  with  his  independent  dis- 
position, and  led  to  his  separaticm  from  it.  This 
was  eff'ected,  however,  in  a  good   spirit,  as  they 


considered  him  fit  for  a  different  field  of  action 
than  any  presented  by  the  order.  Having  a 
brother  in  Canada,  a  member  of  the  order  of  St. 
Sulpice,  he  determined  to  join  him.  By  his 
connection  with  the  Jesuits  he  had  lost  his  share 
of  his  lather's  estate,  but,  by  some  means,  on  his 
death,  which  occurred  about  this  time,  he  was 
given  a  small  share;  and  with  this,  in  1666, 
he  arrived  in  Montreal.  All  Canada  was  alive 
with  the  news  of  the  explorations;  and  La 
Salle's  mind,  actively  grasping  the  ideas  he 
afterward  carried  out,  began  to  mature  plans  for 
their  perfection.  At  Montreal  he  found  a  semi- 
nary of  priests  of  the  St.  Sulpice  Order  who  were 
encouraging  settlers  by  grants  of  land  on  easy 
terms,  hoping  to  establish  a  barrier  of  settlements 
between  themselves  and  the  Indians,  made  ene- 
mies to  the  French  by  Champlain's  actions  when 
founding  Quebec.  The  Superior  of  the  seminary, 
learning  of  La  Salle's  arrival,  gratuitously  off"ered 
him  a  grant  of  land  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  eight 
miles  above  Montreal.  The  grant,  though  danger- 
ously near  the  hostile  Indians,  was  accepted,  and 
La  Salle  soon  enjoyed  an  excellent  trade  in  furs. 
While  employed  in  developing  his  claim,  he  learned 
of  the  great  unknown  route,  and  burned  with  a 
desire  to  solve  its  existence.  He  applied  himself 
closely  to  the  study  of  Indian  dialects,  and  in 
three  years  is  said  to  have  made  great  progress 
in  their  language.  While,  on  his  farm  his 
thoughts  often  turned  to  the  unknown  land  away 
to  the  west,  and,  like  all  men  of  his  day,  he 
desired  to  explore  the  route  to  the  Western  sea, 
and  thence  obtain  an  ea.sy  trade  with  China  and 
Japan.  The  "  Great  River,  which  flowed  to  the 
sea,"  must,  thought  they,  find  an  outlet  in  the 
Gulf  of  California.  While  musing  on  these 
things,  Marquette  and  Joliet  were  preparing  to 
descend  the  Wisconsin;  and  LaSalle  himself 
learned  from  a  wandering  band  of  Senecas  that  a 
river,  called  the  Ohio,  arose  in  their  country  and 
flowed  to  the  sea,  but  at  such  a  di.stance  that  it 
would  require  eight  months  to  reach  its  mouth. 
This  must  be  the  Great  River,  or  a  part  of  it : 
for  all  geographers  of  the  day  considered  the 
Mississippi  and  its  tributary  as  one  stream.  Plac- 
ing great  confidence  on  this  hy])othesis.  La  Salic 
repaired  to  Quebec  to  obtain  the  sanction 
of  Gov.  Courcelles.  His  plausible  statements 
soon  won  him  the  Governor  and  M.  Talon,  and 
letters  patent  were  issued  granting  the  exploration. 
No  pecuniary  aid  was  offered,  and  La  Salle,  hav- 
ing  expended   all   his   means   in   improving    his 


26 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


estate,  was  obliged  to  sell  it  to  procure  the 
necessary  outfit.  The  Superior  of  the  seminary 
being  favorably  disposed  toward  him,  purchased 
the  greater  part  of  his  improvement,  and  realiz- 
ing 2,800  livres,  he  purchased  four  canoes  and  the 
necessary  supplies  for  the  expedition.  The  semi- 
nary was,  at  the  same  time,  preparing  for  a  similar 
exploration.  The  priests  of  this  order,  emulating 
the  Jesuits,  had  established  missions  on  the  north- 
ern shore  of  Lake  Ontario.  Hearing  of  populous 
tribes  still  further  west,  they  resolved  to  attempt 
their  conversion,  and  deputized  two  of  their  number 
for  the  purpose.  On  going  to  Quebec  to  procure 
the  necessary  supplies,  they  were  advised  of  La 
Salle's  expedition  down  the  Ohio,  and  resolved  to 
unite  themselves  with  it.  La  Salle  did  not  alto- 
gether fiivor  their  attempt,  as  he  believed  the 
Jesuits  already  had  the  field,  and  would  not  care 
to  have  any  aid  from  a  rival  order.  His  dispo- 
sition also  would  not  well  brook  the  part  they 
assumed,  of  asking  him  to  be  a  co-laborer  rather 
than  a  leader.  However,  the  expeditions,  merged 
into  one  body,  left  the  mission  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence on  the  6th  of  July,  16G9,  in  seven  canoes. 
The  party  numbered  twenty-four  persons,  who 
were  accompanied  by  two  canoes  filled  with 
Indians  who  had  visited  La  Salle,  and  who  now 
acted  as  guides.  Their  guides  led  them  up  the 
St.  Lawrence,  over  the  expanse  of  Lake  Ontario, 
to  their  village  on  the  banks  of  the  Genesee, 
where  they  expected  to  find  guides  to  lead  them 
on  to  the  Ohio.  As  La  Salle  only  partially  under- 
stood their  language,  he  was  compelled  to  confer 
with  them  by  means  of  a  Jesuit  stationed  at  the 
village.  The  Indians  refused  to  furnish  him  the 
expected  aid,  and  even  burned  before  his  eyes  a 
prisoner,  the  only  one  who  could  give  him  any 
knowledge  he  desired.  He  surmised  the  Jesuits 
were  at  the  bottom  of  the  matter,  fearful  lest  the 
disciples  of  St.  Sulpice  should  gain  a  foothold  in 
the  west.  He  lingered  here  a  month,  with  the 
hope  of  accomplishing  his  object,  when,  by  chance, 
there  came  by  an  Iroquois  Indian,  who  assured 
them  that  at  his  colony,  near  the  head  of  the  lake, 
they  could  find  guides ;  and  off"ered  to  conduct 
them  thither.  Coming  along  the  southern  shore 
of  the  lake,  they  passed,  at  its  western  extremity, 
the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River,  where  they  heard 
for  the  first  time  the  thunder  of  the  mighty  cata- 
ract between  the  two  lakes.  At  the  village  of  the 
Iroquois  they  met  a  friendly  reception,  and  were 
informed  by  a  Shawanese  prisoner  that  they  could 
reach  the  Ohio  in  six  weeks'  time,  and  that  he 


would  guide  them  there.  While  preparing  to 
commence  the  journey,  they  heard  of  the  missions 
to  the  northwest,  and  the  priests  resolved  to  go 
there  and  convert  the  natives,  and  find  the  river 
by  that  route.  It  appears  that  Louis  Joliet  met 
them  here,  on  his  return  from  visiting  the  copper 
mines  of  Lake  Superior,  under  command  of  M. 
Talon.  He  gave  the  priests  a  map  of  the  country, 
and  informed  them  that  the  Indians  of  those 
regions  were  in  great  need  of  spiritual  advisers. 
This  strengthened  their  intention,  though  warned 
by  La  Salle,  that  the  Jesuits  were  undoubtedly 
there.  The  authority  for  Joliet's  visit  to  them 
here  is  not  clearly  given,  and  may  not  be  true, 
but  the  same  letter  which  gives  the  account  of 
the  discovery  of  the  Ohio  at  this  time  by  La  Salle, 
states  it  as  a  fact,  and  it  is  hence  inserted.  The 
missionaries  and  La  Salle  separated,  the  former  to 
find,  as  he  had  predicted,  the  followers  of  Loyola 
already  in  the  field,  and  not  wanting  their  aid. 
Hence  they  return  from  a  fruitless  tour. 

La  Salle,  now  left  to  himself  and  just  recovering 
from  a  violent  fever,  went  on  his  journey.  From 
the  paper  from  which  these  statements  are  taken, 
it  appears  he  went  on  to  Onondaga,  where  he  pro- 
cured guides  to  a  tributary  of  the  Ohio,  down 
which  he  proceeded  to  the  principal  stream,  on 
whose  bosom  he  continued  his  way  till  he  came  to 
the  falls  at  the  present  city  of  Louisville,  Ky.  It 
has  been  asserted  that  he  went  on  down  to  its 
mouth,  but  that  is  not  well  authenticated  and  is 
hardly  true.  The  statement  that  he  went  as  far  as 
the  falls  is,  doubtless,  correct.  He  states,  in  a  letter 
to  Count  Frontenac  in  1677,  that  he  discovered 
the  Ohio,  and  that  he  descended  it  to  the  falls. 
Moreover,  Joliet,  in  a  measure  his  rival,  for  he  was 
now  preparing  to  go  to  the  northern  lakes  and 
from  them  search  the  river,  made  two  maps  repre- 
senting the  lakes  and  the  Mississippi,  on  both  of 
which  he  states  that  La  Salle  had  discovered  the 
Ohio.  Of  its  course  beyond  the  falls,  La  Salle 
does  not  seem  to  have  learned  anything  definite, 
hence  his  discovery  did  not  in  any  way  settle  the 
great  question,  and  elicited  but  little  comment. 
Still,  it  stimulated  La  Salle  to  more  efi"ort,  and 
while  musing  on  his  plans,  Joliet  and  Marquette 
push  on  from  Grrecn  Bay,  and  discover  the  river 
and  ascertain  the  general  course  of  its  outlet.  On 
Joliet's  return  in  1673,  he  seems  to  drop  from 
further  notice.  Other  and  more  venturesome  souls 
were  ready  to  finish  the  work  begun  by  himself 
and  the  zealous  JMarquette,  who,  left  among  the 
for-away  nations,  laid  down  his  life.     The  spirit  of 


^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


29 


La  Salle  was  equal  to  the  enterprise,  and  as  lie  now 
had  returned  from  one  voyage  of  discovery,  he 
stood  ready  to  solve  the  mystery,  and  gain  the 
country  for  his  King.  Before  this  could  be  ac- 
complished, however,  he  saw  other  things  must  be 
done,  and  made  pi'eparations  on  a  scale,  for  the 
time,  truly  marvelous. 

Count  Frontenac,  the  new  Governor,  had  no 
sooner  established  himself  in  power  than  he  gave  a 
searching  glance  over  the  new  realm  to  see  if  any 
undeveloped  resources  lay  yet  unnoticed,  and  what 
country  yet  remained  open.  He  learned  from  the 
exploits  of  La  Salle  on  the  Ohio,  and  from  Joliet, 
now  returned  from  the  West,  of  that  immense 
country,  and  resolving  in  his  mind  on  some  plan 
whereby  it  could  be  formally  taken,  entered 
heartily  into  the  plans  of  La  Salle,  who,  anxious  to 
solve  the  mystery  concerning  the  outlet  of  the 
Great  River,  gave  him  the  outline  of  a  plan,  saga- 
cious in  its  conception  and  grand  in  its  compre- 
hension. La  Salle  had  also  informed  him  of  the 
endeavors  of  the  English  on  the  Atlantic  coast  to 
divert  the  trade  with  the  Indians,  and  partly  to 
counteract  this,  were  the  plans  of  La  Salle  adopted. 
They  were,  briefly,  to  build  a  chain  of  forts  from 
Canada,  or  New  France,  along  the  lakes  to  the 
Mississippi,  and  on  down  that  river,  thereby  hold- 
ing the  country  by  power  as  well  as  by  discovery. 
A  fort  was  to  be  built  on  the  Ohio  as  soon  as  the 
means  could  be  obtained,  and  thereby  hold  that 
country  by  the  same  policy.  Thus  to  La  Salle 
alone  may  be  ascribed  the  bold  plan  of  gaining  the 
whole  West,  a  plan  only  thwarted  by  the  force  of 
arms.  Through  the  aid  of  Frontenac,  he  was 
given  a  proprietary  and  the  rank  of  nobility,  and 
on  his  proprietary  was  erected  a  fort,  which  he,  in 
honor  of  his  Governor,  called  Fort  Frontenac.  It 
stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Kingston, 
Canada.  Through  it  he  obtained  the  trade  of  the 
Five  Nations,  and  his  fortune  was  so  far  assured. 
He  next  repaired  to  France,  to  perfect  his  arrange- 
ments, secure  his  title  and  obtain  means. 

On  his  return  he  built  the  fort  alluded  to,  and 
prepared  to  go  on  in  the  prosecution  of  his  plan. 
A  civil  discord  arose,  however,  which  for  three 
years  prevailed,  and  seriously  threatened  his 
projects.  As  soon  as  he  could  extricate  himself, 
he  again  repaired  to  France,  receiving  additional 
encouragement  in  money,  grants,  and  the  exclusive 
privilege  of  a  trade  in  buffalo  skins,  then  consid- 
ered a  source  of  great  Avealth.  On  his  return,  he 
was  accompanied  by  Henry  Tonti,  son  of  an  illus- 
trious Italian  nobleman,  who  had  fled  from  his 


own  country  during  one  of  its  political  revolutions. 
Coming  to  France,  he  made  himself  famous  as  the 
founder  of  Tontine  Life  Insurance.  Henry  Tonti 
possessed  an  indomitable  will,  and  though  he  had 
suffered  the  loss  of  one  of  his  hands  by  the  ex- 
plosion of  a  grenade  in  one  of  the  Sicilian  wars, 
his  courage  was  undtniuied,  and  his  ardor  un- 
dimmed.  La  Salle  also  brought  recruits,  mechanics, 
sailors,  cordage  and  sails  tor  rigging  a  ship,  and 
merchandise  for  traffic  with  the  natives.  At 
Montreal,  he  secured  the  services  of  M.  LaMotte,  a 
person  of  much  energy  and  integrity  of  character. 
He  also  secured  several  missionaries  before  he 
reached  Fort  Frontenac.  Among  them  were 
Louis  Hennepin,  Gabriel  Ribourde  and  Zenabe 
Membre.  All  these  were  Flemings,  all  Recollets. 
Hennepin,  of  all  of  them,  proved  the  best  assist- 
ant. They  arrived  at  the  fort  early  in  the  autumn 
of  1678,  and  preparations  were  at  once  made  to 
erect  a  vessel  in  which  to  navigate  the  lakes,  and 
a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River.  The 
Senecas  were  rather  adverse  to  the  latter  proposals 
when  La  Motte  and  Hennepin  came,  but  by 
the  eloquence  of  the  latter,  they  were  pacified 
and  rendered  friendly.  After  a  number  of  vexa- 
tious delays,  the  vessel,  the  Griffin,  the  first  on  the 
lakes,  was  built,  and  on  the  7th  of  August,  a  year 
after  La  Salle  came  here,  it  was  launched,  passed 
over  the  waters  of  the  northern  lakes,  and,  after  a 
tempestuous  voyage,  landed  at  Green  Bay.  It  was 
soon  after  stored  with  furs  and  sent  back,  while 
La  Salle  and  his  men  awaited  its  return.  It  was 
never  afterward  heard  of.  La  Salle,  becoming 
impatient,  erected  a  fort,  pushed  on  with  a 
part  of  his  men,  leaving  part  at  the  fort, 
and  passed  over  the  St.  Joseph  and  Kankakee 
Rivers,  and  thence  to  the  IlHnois,  down  whose 
flood  they  proceeded  to  Peoria  Lake,  where 
he  was  obliged  to  halt,  and  return  to  Canada 
for  more  men  and  supplies.  He  left  Tonti 
and  several  men  to  complete  a  fort,  called 
Fort "  Crevecoeur  " — broken-hearted.  The  Indians 
drove  the  French  away,  the  men  mutinied,  and 
Tonti  was  obliged  to  flee.  When  La  Salle  returned, 
he  found  no  one  there,  and  going  down  as  far  as 
the  mouth  of  the  Illinois,  he  retraced  his  steps,  to 
find  some  trace  of  his  garrison.  Tonti  was  found 
safe  among  the  Pottawatomies  at  Green  Bay,  and 
Hennepin  and  his  two  followers,  sent  to  explore 
the  head-waters  of  the  IMississippi,  were  again 
home,  after  a  captivity  among  the  Sioux. 

La  Salle  renewed  his  force  of  men,  and  the  third 
time  set  out  for  the  outlet  of  the  Great  River. 


-\ 


30 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


He  left  Canada  early  in  December,  1G81,  and  by 
February  Ci,  1682,  reached  the  majestic  flood  of 
the  mighty  stream.  On  the  24th,  they  ascended 
the  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  and,  while  waiting  to  find 
a  sailor  who  had  strayed  away,  erected  Fort  Prud- 
homme.  They  passed  several  Indian  villages  fur- 
ther down  the  river,  in  some  of  which  they  met 
with  no  little  opposition.  Proceeding  onward,  ere- 
long they  encountered  the  tide  of  the  sea,  and 
April  0,  they  emerged  on  the  broad  bosom  of  the 
Gulf,  "to.ssing  its  restless  billows,  limitless,  voice- 
less and  lonely  as  when  born  of  chaos,  without  a 
sign  of  life." 

Coasting  about  a  short  time  on  the  shores  of 
the  Gulf,  the  party  returned  until  a  sufficiently 
dry  place  was  reached  to  effect  a  landing.  Here 
another  cross  was  raised,  also  a  column,  on  which 
was  inscribed  these  words : 

"  Louis  le  Grand,  Roi  de  France  et  de  Navarre, 
Regne;   Le  Neuvieme,  Avril,  1682."  * 

"  The  whole  party,"  says  a  "  proces  verbal,"  in 
the  archives  of  France,  "  chanted  the  Te  Deuni, 
the  Exaudiat  and  the  Domiiiesalvum  fac  Regem^ 
and  then  after  a  salute  of  fire-arras  and  cries  of 
Vive  le  Hoi,  La  Salle,  standing  near  the  column, 
said  in  a  loud  voice  in  French  : 

"In  the  name  of  the  most  high,  mighty,  invin- 
cible and  victorious  Prince,  Louis  the  Great,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  King  of  France  and  of  Navarre, 
Fourteenth  of  that  name,  this  ninth  day  of  April, 
one  thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty  two,  I,  in 
virtue  of  the  commission  of  His  Majesty,  which  I 
hold  in  my  hand,  and  which  may  be  seen  by  all 
whom  it  may  concern,  have  taken,  and  do  now 
take,  in  the  name  of  His  Majesty  and  of  his  suc- 
cessors to  the  crown,  possession  of  this  country  of 
Louisiana,  the  seas,  harbor,  ports,  bays,  adjacent 
straights,  and  all  the  nations,  people,  provinces,  cities, 
towns,  villages,  mines,  minerals,  fisheiies,  streams 
and  rivers,  comprised  in  the  extent  of  said  Louisiana, 
from  the  north  of  the  great  river  St.  Louis,  other- 
wise called  the  Ohio,  Alighin,  Sipore  or  Chukago- 
na,  and  this  with  the  consent  of  the  Chavunons, 
Chickachaws,  and  other  people  dwelling  therein, 
with  whom  we  have  made  alliance;  as  also  along 
the  river  Colbert  or  Mississippi,  and  rivers  which 
discharge  themselves  therein  from  its  source  beyond 
the  Kious  or  Nadouessious,  and  this  with  their 
consent,  and  with  the  consent  of  the  Illinois,  Mes- 
igameas,  Natchez,  Koroas,  which  are  the  most  con- 
siderable nations  dwelling  therein,  with  whom  also 

*  Lmiis  the  Groat,  King  of  France  and  of  Navarre,  reigning  the 
ninth  day  of  April,  10b2. 


we  have  made  alliance,  either  by  ourselves  or  others 
in  our  behalf,  as  far  as  its  mouth  at  the  sea  or 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  about  the  twenty-seventh  degree 
of  its  elevation  of  the  North  Pole,  and  also  to  the 
mouth  of  the  River  of  Palms;  upon  the  assurance 
which  we  have  received  from  all  these  nations  that 
we  are  the  first  Europeans  who  have  descended  or 
ascended  the  river  Colbert,  hereby  protesting 
against  all  those  who  may  in  future  undertake  to 
invade  any  or  all  of  these  countries,  peoples  or 
lands,  to  the  prejudice  of  the  right  of  His  Majesty, 
acquired  by  the  consent  of  the  nations  herein 
named." 

The  whole  assembly  responded  with  shouts  and 
the  salutes  of  fire-arms.  The  Sieur  de  La  Salle 
caused  to  be  planted  at  the  foot  of  the  column  a 
plate  of  lead,  on  one  side  of  which  was  inscribed 
the  arms  of  France  and  the  following  Latin  inscrip- 
tion: 

Robertvs  Cavellier,  cvm  Domino  de  Tonly,  Legato, 
R.  P.  Zenobi  Membro,  RecoUecto,  et,  Viginti  Gallis 
Primos  Hoc  Flvmen  inde  ab  ilineorvm  Pago,  enavigavil, 
ejvsqve  ostivm  fecit  Pervivvm,  nono  Aprilis  cio  ioc 
LXXXIL 

The  whole  proceedings  were  acknowledged  be- 
fi)re  La  ]\Ietaire,  a  notary,  and  the  conquest  was 
considered  complete. 

Thus  was  the  foundation  of  France  laid  in  the 
new  republic,  and  thus  did  she  lay  claim  to  the 
Northwest,  which  now  includes  Ohio,  and  the 
county,  whose   history   this   book  perpetuates. 

La  Salle  and  his  party  returned  to  Canada  soon 
after,  and  again  that  country,  and  France  itself, 
rang  with  anthems  of  exultation.  He  went  on  to 
France,  where  he  received  the  highest  honors. 
He  was  given  a  fleet,  and  sailors  as  well  as  colon- 
ists to  return  to  the  New  World  by  way  of  a  south- 
ern voyage,  expecting  to  find  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi  by  an  ocean  course.  Sailing  past  the 
outlets,  he  was  wrecked  on  the  coast  of  Texas,  and 
in  his  vain  endeavors  to  find  the  river  or  return  to 
Canada,  he  became  lost  on  the  plains  of  Arkansas, 
where  he,  in  1087,  was  basely  murdered  by  one  of 
his  followers.  "  You  are  down  now,  Grand  BashaAV," 
exclaimed  his  slayer,  and  despoiling  his  remains,  they 
left  them  to  be  devoured  by  wild  beasts.  To  such 
an  ignominious  end  came  this  daring,  bold  adven- 
turer. Alone  in  the  wilderness,  he  was  left,  with 
no  monument  but  the  vast  realm  he  had  discov- 
ered, on  whose  bosom  he  was  left  without  cover- 
ing and  without  protection. 

"  For  force  of  will  and  vast  conception ;  for  va- 
rious knowledge,  and  quick  adaptation  of  his  genius 


•-^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


31 


to  untried  circumstances;  for  a  sublime  magnani- 
mity, that  resigned  itself  to  the  will  of  Heaven, 
and  yet  triumphed  over  affliction  by  energy  of 
purpose  and  unfaltering  hope — he  had  no  superior 
among  his  countrymen.  He  had  won  the  affec- 
tions of  the  governor  of  Canada,  the  esteem  of 
Colbert,  the  confidence  of  Seignelay,  the  favor  of 
Louis  XIV.  After  the  beginning  of  the  coloniza- 
tion of  Upper  Canada,  he  perfected  the  discovery 
of  the  Mississippi  from  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony 
to  its  mouth ;  and  he  will  be  remembered  through 
all  time  as  the  father  of  colonization  in  the  great 
central  valley  of  the  West."* 

Avarice,  passion  and  jealousy  were  not  calmed  by 
the  blood  of  La  Salle.  All  of  his  conspirators  per- 
ished by  ignoble  deaths,  while  only  seven  of  the  six- 
teen succeeded  in  continuing  the  journey  until 
they  reached  Canada,  and  thence  found  their  way 
to  France. 

Tonti,  who  had  been  left  at  Fort  St.  Louis,  on 
"  Starved  Rock"  on  the  Illinois,  went  down  in 
search  of  his  beloved  commander.  Failing  to  find 
him,  he  returned  and  remained  here  until  1700, 
thousands  of  miles  away  from  friends.  Then  he 
went  down  the  Mississippi  to  join  D'Iberville,  who 
had  made  the  discovery  of  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi by  an  ocean  voyage.  Two  years  later,  he 
went  on  a  mission  to  the  Chickasaws,  but  of  his 
subsequent  history  nothing  is  known. 

The  West  was  now  in  possession  of  the  French. 
La  Salle's  plans  were  yet  feasible.  The  period  of 
exploration  was  now  over.  The  great  river  and 
its  outlet  was  known,  and  it  only  remained  for  that 
nation  to  enter  in  and  occupy  what  to  many  a 
Frenchman  was  the  "Promised  Land."  Only 
eighteen  years  had  elapsed  since  Marquette  and 
Joliet  had  descended  the  river  and  shown  the 
course  of  its  outlet.  A  spirit,  less  bold  than  La 
Salle's  would  never  in  so  short  a  time  have  pene- 
trated for  more  than  a  thousand  miles  an  unknown 
wilderness,  and  solved  the  mystery  of  the  world. 

When  Joutel  and  his  companions  reached  France 
in  1688,  all  Europe  was  on  the  eve  of  war.  Other 
nations  than  the  French  wanted  part  of  the  New 
World,  and  when  they  saw  that  nation  greedily 
and  rapidly  accumulating  territory  there,  they  en- 
deavored to  stay  its  progress.  The  league  of  Augs- 
burg was  formed  in  1 687  by  the  princes  of  the  Em- 
pire to  restrain  the  ambition  of  Louis  XIV,  and 
in  1688,  he  began  hostilities  by  the  capture  of 
Philipsburg.     The  next  year,  England,  under  the 


lead  of  William  III,  joined  the  alliance,  and  Louis 
found  himself  compelled,  with  only  the  aid  of  the 
Turks,  to  contend  against  the  united  forces  of  the 
Empires  of  England,  Spain,  Holland,  Denmark, 
Sweden  and  Norway.  Yet  the  tide  of  battle  wa- 
vered. In  1689,  the  French  were  defeated  at 
Walcourt,  and  the  Turks  at  Widin;  but  in  1690, 
the  French  were  victorious  at  Charleroy,  and  the 
Turks  at  Belgrade.  The  next  year,  and  also  the 
next,  victory  inclined  to  the  French,  but  in  1693, 
Louvois  and  Luxemberg  were  dead  and  Namur 
surrendered  to  the  allies.  The  war  extended  to  the 
New  World,  where  it  was  maintained  with  more 
than  equal  success  by  the  French,  though  the  En- 
glish population  exceeded  it  more  than  twenty  to  one. 
In  1688,  the  French  were  estimated  at  about 
twelve  thousand  souls  in  North  America,  while  the 
English  were  more  than  two  hundred  thousand. 
At  first  the  war  was  prosecuted  vigorously.  In 
1689,  De.  Ste.  Helene  and  D'Iberville,  two  of  the 
sons  of  Charles  le  Morne,  crossed  the  wilderness 
and  reduced  the  English  forts  on  Hudson's  Bay. 
But  in  August  of  the  same  year,  the  Iroquois,  the 
hereditary  foes  of  the  French,  captured  and  burned 
Montreal.  Frontenac,  who  had  gone  on  an  ex- 
pedition against  New  York  by  sea,  was  recalled. 
Fort  Frontenac  was  abandoned,  and  no  French 
posts  left  in  the  West  between  Trois  Rivieres  and 
Mackinaw,  and  were  it  not  for  the  Jesuits  the  en- 
tire West  would  now  have  been  abandoned.  To 
recover  their  influence,  the  French  planned  three 
expeditions.  One  resulted  in  the  destruction  of 
Schenectady,  another,  Salmon  Falls,  and  the  third, 
Casco  Bay.  On  the  other  hand.  Nova  Scotia  was 
reduced  by  the  colonies,  and  an  expedition  against 
Montreal  went  as  far  as  to  Lake  Champlain,  where 
it  failed,  owing  to  the  dissensions  of  the  leaders. 
Another  expedition,  consisting  of  twenty-four  ves- 
sels, arrived  before  Quebec,  which  also  failed 
through  the  incompetency  of  Sir  William  Phipps. 
During  the  succeeding  years,  various  border  con- 
flicts occurred,  in  all  of  which  border  scenes  of 
savage  cruelty  and  savage  ferocity  were  enacted. 
The  peace  of  Ryswick,  in  1697,  closed  the  war. 
France  retained  Hudson's  Bay,  and  all  the  places 
of  which  she  was  in  possession  in  1688;  but  the 
boundaries  of  the  English  and  French  claims  in 
the  New  World  were  still  unsettled. 

The  conclusion  of  the  conflict  left  the  French 
at  liberty  to  pursue  their  scheme  of  colonization 
in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  In  1698,  D'Iberville 
was  sent  to  the  lower  province,  which,  erelong, 
was  made  a  separate  independency,  called  Louisiana. 


33 


IIISTOKY    OF    OHIO. 


Forts  were  erected  on  Mobile  Bay,  and  the  division 
of  the  territory  between  the  French  and  the 
Spaniards  was  settled.  Trouble  existed  between 
the  French  and  the  Chickasaws,  ending  in  the 
cruel  deaths  of  many  of  the  leaders,  in  the 
fruitless  endeavors  of  the  Canadian  and  Louisi- 
anian  forces  combining  against  the  Chickasaws. 
For  many  years  the  conflict  raged,  with  unequal 
successes,  until  the  Indian  power  gave  way  before 
superior  military  tactics.  In  the  end,  New  Orleans 
was  founded,  in  1718,  and  the  French  power 
secured. 

Before  this  was  consummated,  however,  France 
became  entangled  in  another  war  against  the 
allied  powers,  ending  in  her  defeat  and  the  loss 
of  Nova  Scotia,  Hudson's  Bay  and  Newfound- 
land. The  peace  of  Utrecht  closed  the  war 
in  1713. 

The  French,  weary  with  prolonged  strife, 
adopted  the  plan,  more  peaceful  in  its  nature,  of 
giving  out  to  distinguished  men  the  monopoly  of 
certain  districts  in  the  fur  trade,  the  most  pros- 
perous of  any  avocation  then.  Crozat  and 
Cadillac — the  latter  the  founder  of  Detroit,  in 
1701 — were  the  chief  ones  concerned  in  this. 
The  founding  of  the  villages  of  Kaskaskia,  Ca- 
hokia,  Vincennes,  and  others  in  the  Mississippi 
and  Wabash  Valleys,  led  to  the  rapid  develop- 
ment, according  to  the  French  custom  of  all 
these  parts  of  the  West,  while  along  all  the  chief 
water-courses,  other  trading  posts  and  forts  were 
established,  rapidly  fulfilling  the  hopes  of  La 
Salle,  broached  so  many  years  before. 

The  French  had,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  four  principal  routes  to  their 
western  towns,  two  of  which  passed  over  the  soil 
of  Ohio.  The  first  of  these  was  the  one  followed 
by  Marquette  and  Joliet,  by  way  of  the  Lakes  to 
Green  Bay,  in  Wisconsin ;  thence  across  a  portage 
to  the  Wisconsin  River,  down  which  they  floated 
to  the  Mississippi.  On  their  return  they  came 
up  the  Illinois  River,  to  the  site  of  Chicago, 
whence  Joliet  returned  to  Quebec  by  the  Lakes. 
La  Salle's  route  was  first  by  the  Lakes  to  the  St. 
Joseph's  River,  which  he  followed  to  the  portage 
to  the  Kankakee,  and  thence  downward  to  the 
Mississippi.  On  his  second  and  third  attempt, 
he  crossed  the  lower  peninsula  of  Michigan  to 
the  Kankakee,  and  again  traversed  its  waters  to 
the  Illinois.  The  third  route  was  established 
about  1716.  It  followed  the  southern  shores  of 
Lake  Erie  to  the  mouth  of  the  Maumee  River; 
following  this  stream,  the  voyagers  went  on  to  the 


junction  between  it  and  the  St.  Mary's,  which 
they  followed  to  the  "  Oubache  " — Waba.sh — and 
then  to  the  French  villages  in  Vigo  and  Knox 
Counties,  in  Indiana.  Vincennes  was  the  oldest 
and  most  important  one  here.  It  had  been 
founded  in  1702  by  a  French  trader,  and  was,  at 
the  date  of  the  establishment  of  the  third  route, 
in  a  prosperous  condition.  For  many  years,  the 
traders  crossed  the  plains  of  Southern  Illinois  to 
the  French  towns  on  the  bottoms  opposite  St. 
Louis.  They  were  afraid  to  go  on  down  the 
"Waba"  to  the  Ohio,  as  the  Indians  had  fright- 
ened them  with  accounts  of  the  great  monsters 
below.  Finally,  some  adventurous  spirit  went 
down  the  river,  found  it  emptied  into  the  Ohio, 
and  solved  the  problem  of  the  true  outlet  of  the 
Ohio,  heretofore  supposed  to  be  a  tributary  of  the 
Wabash. 

The  fourth  route  was  from  the  southern  shore 
of  Lake  Erie,  at  Presqueville,  over  a  portage  of 
fifteen  miles  to  the  head  of  French  Creek,  at 
Waterford,  Penn.;  thence  down  that  stream  to  the 
Ohio,  and  on  to  the  Mississippi.  Along  all  these 
routes,  ports  and  posts  were  carefully  maintained. 
Many  were  on  the  soil  of  Ohio,  and  were  the  first 
attempts  of  the  white  race  to  possess  its  domain. 
Many  of  the  ruins  of  these  posts  are  yet  found  on 
the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  and  at  the 
outlets  of  streams  flowing  into  the  lake  and  the  Ohio 
River.  The  principal  forts  were  at  Mackinaw,  at 
Presqueville,  at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph's,  on 
Starved  Rock,  and  along  the  Father  of  Waters. 
Yet  another  power  was  encroaching  on  them :  a 
sturdy  race,  clinging  to  the  inhospitable  Atlantic 
shores,  were  coming  over  the  mountains.  The 
murmurs  of  a  conflict  were  already  heard — a  con- 
flict that  would  change  the  fate  of  a  nation. 

The  French  were  extending  their  explorations 
beyond  the  Mississippi;  they  were  also  forming  a 
political  organization,  and  increasing  their  influence 
over  the  natives.  Of  a  passive  nature,  however, 
their  power  and  their  influence  could  not  with- 
stand a  more  aggressive  nature,  and  they  were 
obliged,  finally,  to  give  way.  They  had  the 
fruitful  valleys  of  the  West  more  than  a  century; 
yet  they  developed  no  resources,  opened  no  mines 
of  wealth,  and  left  the  country  as  passive  as  they 
found  it. 

Of  the  growth  of  the  West  under  French  rule, 
but  little  else  remains  to  be  said.  The  sturdy 
Anglo-Saxon  race  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  their 
progenitors  in  England,  began,  now,  to  turn  their 
attention  to  this  vast  country.     The  voluptuousness 


■■^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


33 


of  the  French  court,  their  neglect  of  the  true 
basis  of  wealth,  agriculture,  and  the  repressive 
tendencies  laid  on  the  colonists,  led  the  latter  to 
adopt  a  hunter's  life,  and  leave  the  country  unde- 
veloped and  ready  for  the  people  who  claimed  the 
country  from  "sea  to  sea."  Their  explorers  were 
now  at  work.     The  change  was  at  hand. 

Occasional  mention  has  been  made  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  State,  in  preceding  pages,  of  settle- 
ments and  trading-posts  of  the  French  traders, 
explorers  and  missionaries,  within  the  limits  of 
Ohio.  The  French  were  the  first  white  men  to 
occupy  the  northwestern  part  of  the  New  World, 
and  though  their  stay  was  brief,  yet  it  opened  the 
way  to  a  sinewy  race,  living  on  the  shores  of  the 
Atlantic,  who  in  time  came,  saw,  and  conquered 
that  part  of  America,  making  it  what  the  people 
of  to-day  enjoy. 

As  early  as  1669,  four  years  before  the  discov- 
ery of  the  Mississippi  by  Joliet  and  Marquette, 
La  Salle,  the  fixmous  explorer,  discovered  the  Ohio 
lliver,  and  paddled  down  its  gentle  current  as  far 
as  the  ftills  at  the  present  city  of  Louisville,  but  he, 
like  others  of  the  day,  made  no  settlement  on  its 
banks,  only  claiming  the  country  for  his  King  by 
virtue  of  this  discovery. 

Early  in  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  cent- 
ury, French  traders  and  voyagers  passed  along  the 
southern  shores  of  Lake  Erie,  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Maumee,  up  whose  waters  they  rowed  their  bark 
canoes,  on  their  way  to  their  outposts  in  the  Wa- 
bash and  Illinois  Valleys,  established  between 
1675  and  1700.  As  soon  as  they  could,  without 
danger  from  their  inveterate  enemies,  the  Iroquois, 
masters  of  all  the  lower  lake  country,  erect  a 
trading-post  at  the  mouth  of  this  river,  they  did 
so.  It  was  made  a  depot  of  considerable  note, 
and  was,  probably,  the  first  permanent  habitation 
of  white  men  in  Ohio.  It  remained  until  after 
the  peace  of  1763,  the  termination  of  the  French 
and  Indian  war,  and  the  occupancy  of  this  country 
by  the  English.  On  the  site  of  the  French  trading- 
post,  the  British,  in  1794,  erected  Fort  Miami, 
which  they  garrisoned  until  the  country  came 
under  the  control  of  Americans.  Now,  Maumee 
City  covers  the  ground. 

The  French  had  a  trading-post  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Huron  lliver,  in  what  is  now  Erie  County. 
When  it  was  built  is  not  now  known.  It  was,  how- 
ever, probably  one  of  their  early  outposts,  and 
may  have  been  built  before  1750.  They  had  an- 
other on  the  shore  of  the  bay,  on  or  near  the  site 
of  Sandusky  City.     Both  this  and  the  one  at  the 


mouth  of  the  Huron  lliver  were  abandoned  before 
the  war  of  the  Revolution.  On  Lewis  Evan's  map 
of  the  British  Middle  Colonies,  published  in  1755, 
a  French  fort,  called  "  Fort  Junandat,  built  in 
175-4,"  is  marked  on  the  east  bank  of  the  San- 
dusky lliver,  several  miles  below  its  mouth.  Fort 
Sandusky,  on  the  western  bank,  is  also  noted. 
Several  Wyandot  towns  are  likewise  marked.  But 
very  little  is  known  concerning  any  of  these 
trading-posts.  They  were,  evidently,  only  tempo- 
rary, and  were  abandoned  when  the  English  came 
into  possession  of  the  country. 

The  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga  River  was  another 
important  place.  On  Evan's  map  there  is  marked 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Cuyahoga,  some  distance 
from  its  mouth,  the  words  '■'■French  House^'''  doubt- 
less, the  station  of  a  French  trader.  The  ruins 
of  a  house,  found  about  five  miles  from  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  on  the  west  bank,  are  supposed  to 
be  those  of  the  trader's  station. 

In  1786,  the  Moravian  missionary,  Zeisberger, 
with  his  Indian  converts,  left  Detroit  in  a  vessel 
called  the  Mackinaw,  and  sailed  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Cuyahoga.  From  there  they  went  up  the 
river  about  ten  miles,  and  settled  in  an  abandoned 
Ottawa  village,  where  Independence  now  is,  which 
place  they  called  "  Saint's  Rest."  Their  stay  was 
brief,  for  the  following  April,  they  left  for  the 
Huron  River,  and  settled  near  the  site  of  IMilan, 
Erie  County,  at  a  locality  they  called  New  Salem. 

There  are  but  few  records  of  settlements  made 
by  the  French  until  after  1750.  Even  these  can 
hardly  be  called  settlements,  as  they  were  simply 
trading-posts.  The  French  easily  afiiliated  with 
the  Indians,  and  had  little  energy  beyond  trading. 
They  never  cultivated  fields,  laid  low  forests,  and 
subjugated  the  country.  They  were  a  half-Indian 
race,  so  to  speak,  and  hence  did  little  if  anything 
in  developing  the  West. 

About  1749,  some  English  traders  came  to  a 
place  in  what  is  now  Shelby  County,  on  the 
banks  of  a  creek  since  known  as  Loramic's 
Creek,  and  established  a  trading-station  with  the 
Indians.  This  was  the  first  English  trading-place 
or  attempt  at  settlement  in  the  State.  It  was  here 
but  a  short  time,  however,  when  the  French,  hear- 
ing of  its  existence,  sent  a  party  of  soldiers  to  the 
Twigtwees,  among  whom  it  was  founded,  and  de- 
manded the  traders  as  intruders  upon  French  ter- 
ritory. The  Twigtwees  refusing  to  deliver  up 
their  friends,  the  French,  assisted  by  a  large  party 
of  Ottawas  and  Chippewas,  attacked  the  trading- 
house,  probably  a  block-house,  and,  after  a  severe 


:\ 


34 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


battle,  captured  it.  The  traders  were  taken  to 
Canada.  This  fort  was  called  by  the  English 
"  Pickawillauy,"  from  which  "Piqua"  is  probably 
derived.  About  the  time  that  Kentucky  was  sot- 
tied,  a  Canadian  Frenchman,  named  Loramio, 
established  a  store  on  the  site  of  the  old  fort.  He 
was  a  bitter  enemy  of  the  Americans,  and  for  a 
long  time  Loramie's  store  was  the  headquarters  of 
mischief  toward  the  settlers. 

The  French  had  the  faculty  of  endearing  them- 
selves to  the  Indians  by  their  easy  assimilation  of 
their  habits;  and,  no  doubt,  Loramie  was  equal  to 
any  in  this  respect,  and  hence  gained  great  influ- 
ence over  them.  Col.  Johnston,  many  years  an 
Indian  Agent  from  the  United  States  among  the 
Western  tribes,  stated  that  he  had  often  seen  the 
"  Indians  burst  into  tears  when  speaking  of  the 
times  when  their  French  father  had  dominion 
over  them ;  and  their  attachment  always  remained 
unabated." 

So  much  influence  had  Loramie  with  the  In- 
dians, that,  when  Gen.  Clarke,  from  Kentucky, 
invaded  the  Miami  Valley  in  1782,  his  attention 
was  attracted  to  the  spot.  He  came  on  and  burnt 
the  Indian  settlement  here,  and  destroyed  the  store 
of  the  Frenchman,  selling  his  goods  among  the 
men  at  auction.  Loramie  fled  to  the  Shawanees, 
and,  with  a  colony  of  that  nation,  emigrated  west 
of  the  Mississippi,  to  the  Spanish  possessions, 
where  he  again  began  his  life  of  a  trader. 

In  1794,  during  the  Indian  war,  a  fort  was 
built  on  the  site  of  the  store  by  Wayne,  and 
named  Fort  Loramie.  The  last  ofiicer  who  had 
command  here  was  Capt.  Butler,  a  nephew  of 
Col.  Ilichard  Butler,  who  fell  at  St.  Clair's  defeat. 
While  here  with  his  family,  he  lost  an  interesting 
boy,  about  eight  years  of  age.  About  his  grave, 
the  sorrowing  father  and  mother  built  a  substantial 
picket-fence,  planted  honeysuckles  over  it,  which, 
long  after,  remained  to  mark  the  grave  of  the 
soldier's  boy. 

The  site  of  Fort  Loramie  was  always  an  im- 
portant point,  and  was  one  of  the  places  defined 
on  the  boundary  line  at  the  Greenville  treaty. 
Now  a  barn  covers  the  spot. 

At  the  junction  of  the  Auglaize  and  Maumee 
Rivers,  on  the  site  of  Fort  Defiance,  built  by  Gen. 
Wayne  in  1794,  was  a  settlement  of  traders, 
established  some  time  before  the  Indian  war 
began.  "On  the  high  ground  extending  from  the 
Maumee  a  quarter  of  a  mile  up  the  Auglaize, 
about  two  hundred  yards  in  Avidth,  was  an  open 
S])ace,  on  the  west  and  south  of  which  were  oak 


woods,  with  hazel  undergrowth.  Within  this 
opening,  a  few  hundred  yards  above  the  point,  on 
the  steep  bank  of  the  Auglaize,  were  five  or  six 
cabins  and  log  houses,  inhabited  principally  by 
Indian  traders.  The  most  northerly,  a  large 
hewed-log  house,  divided  below  into  three  apart- 
ments, was  occupied  as  a  warehouse,  store  and 
dwelling,  by  George  Ironside,  the  most  wealthy 
and  influential  of  the  traders  on  the  point.  Next 
to  his  were  the  houses  of  Pirault  (Pero)  a  French 
baker,  and  McKenzie,  a  Scot,  who,  in  addition  to 
merchandising,  followed  the  occupation  of  a  silver- 
smith, exchanging  with  the  Indians  his  brooches, 
ear-drops  and  other  silver  ornaments,  at  an 
enormous  profit,  for  skins  and  furs. 

Still  further  up  were  several  other  fami- 
lies of  French  and  English;  and  two  Ameri- 
can prisoners,  Henry  Ball,  a  soldier  taken  in  St. 
Clair's  defeat,  and  his  wife,  Polly  JMeadows, 
captured  at  the  same  time,  were  allowed  to  live 
here  and  pay  their  masters  the  price  of  their 
ransom — he,  by  boating  to  the  rapids  of  the  ]\Iau- 
mee,  and  she  by  washing  and  sewing.  Fronting 
the  house  of  Ironside,  and  about  fifty  yards  from 
the  bank,  was  a  small  stockade,  inclosing  two 
hewed-log  houses,  one  of  which  was  occupied  by 
James  Girty  (a  brother  of  Simon),  the  other, 
occasionally,  by  Elliott  and  McKee,  British 
Indian  Agents  living  at  Detroit."* 

The  post,  cabins  and  all  they  contained  fell 
under  the  control  of  the  Americans,  when  the 
British  evacuated  the  shores  of  the  lakes. 
While  they  existed,  they  were  an  undoubted 
source  of  Indian  discontent,  and  had  much  to  do 
in  prolonging  the  Indian  war.  The  country 
hereabouts  did  not  settle  until  some  time  after 
the  creation  of  the  State  government. 

As  soon  as  the  French  learned  the  true  source 
of  the  Ohio  and  Wabash  Rivers,  both  were  made 
a  highway  to  convey  the  products  of  their  hunt- 
ers. In  coursing  down  the  Ohio,  they  made 
trading-places,  or  depots,  where  they  could  obtain 
furs  of  the  Indians,  at  accessible  points,  generally 
at  the  mouths  of  the  rivers  emptying  into  the 
Ohio.  One  of  these  old  forts  or  trading-places 
stood  about  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  the  outlet 
of  the  Scioto.  It  was  here  in  1740;  but  when 
it  was  erected  no  one  could  tell.  The  locality 
must  have  been  pretty  well  known  to  the  whites, 
however;  for,  in  1785,  three  years  before  the 
settlement   of  IMarietta   was  made,  four  families 


♦Narrative  of  0.  M.  Spencer. 


-^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


35 


made  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  settle  near  the  same 
place.  They  were  from  Kentucky,  but  were 
driven  away  by  the  Indians  a  short  time  after 
they  arrived,  not  being  allowed  to  build  cabins, 
and  had  only  made  preparations  to  plant  corn 
and  other  necessaries  of  life.  While  the  men 
were  encamped  near  the  vicinity  of  Piketown, 
in  Pike  County,  when  on  a  hunting  expedition, 
they  were  surprised  by  the  Indians,  and  two  of 
them  slain.  The  others  hastened  back  to  the 
encampment  at  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto,  and 
hurriedly  gathering  the  families  together,  fortu- 
nately got  them  on  a  flat-boat,  at  that  hour  on  its 
way  down  the  river.  By  the  aid  of  the  boat, 
they  were  enabled  to  reach  Maysville,  and  gave 
up  the  attempt  to  settle  north  of  the  Ohio. 

The  famous  "old  Scioto  Salt  Works,"  in  Jack- 
son County,  on  the  banks  of  Salt  Creek,  a  tributary 
of  the  Scioto,  were  long  known  to  the  whites  before 
any  attempt  was  made  to  settle  in  Ohio.  They 
were  indicated  on  the  maps  published  in  1755. 
They  were  the  resort,  for  generations,  of  the  In- 
dians in  all  parts  of  the  West,  who  annually  came 
here  to  make  salt.  They  often  brought  white 
prisoners  with  them,  and  thus  the  salt  works  be- 
came known.  There  were  no  attempts  made  to 
settle  here,  however,  until  after  the  Indian  war, 
which  closed  in  1795.  As  soon  as  peace  was  as- 
sured, the  whites  came  here  for  salt,  and  soon  after 
made  a  settlement.  Another  early  salt  spring 
was  in  what  is  now  Trumbull  County.  It  is  also 
noted  on  Evan's  map  of  1755.  They  were  occu- 
pied by  the  Indians,  French,  and  by  the  Americans 
as  early  as  1780,  and  perhaps  earlier. 

As  early  as  1761  Moravian  missionaries  came 
among  the  Ohio  Indians  and  began  their  labors. 
In  a  few  years,  under  the  lead  of  Revs.  Fredrick 
Post  and  John  Heckewelder,  permanent  stations 
were  established  in  several  parts  of  the  State,  chief- 
ly on  the  Tuscarawas  River  in  Tuscarawas  County. 
Here  were  the  three  Indian  villages — Shocnburn, 
Gnadcnhutten  and  Salem.  The  site  of  the  first  is 
about  two  miles  south  of  New  Philadelphia;  Gna- 
dcnhutten was  seven  miles  further  south,  and  about 
five  miles  still  on  was  Salem,  a  short  distance  from 
the  present  village  of  Port  Washington.  The  first 
and  last  named  of  these  villages  were  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Tuscarawas  River,  near  the  margin  of 
the  Ohio  Canal.  Gnadcnhutten  was  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river.  It  was  here  that  the  brutal 
massacre  of  these  Christian  Indians,  by  the  rangers 
under  Col.  Williamson,  occurred  March  8,  1782. 
The  account  of  the  massacre   and  of  these  tribes 


appears  in  these  pages,  and  it  only  remains  to 
notice  what  became  of  them. 

The  hospitable  and  friendly  character  of  these 
Indians  had  extended  beyond  their  white  breth- 
ren on  the  Ohio.  The  American  people  at  large 
looked  on  the  act  of  Williamson  and  his  men  as  an 
outrage  on  humanity.  Congress  felt  its  influence, 
and  gave  them  a  tract  of  twelve  thousand  acres, 
embracing  their  former  homes,  and  induced  them 
to  return  from  the  northern  towns  whither  they  had 
fled.  As  the  whites  came  into  the  country,  their 
manners  degenerated  until  it  became  necessary  to 
remove  them.  Through  Gen.  Cass,  of  Michigan, 
an  agreement  was  made  with  them,  whereby  Con- 
gress paid  them  over  $G,000,  an  annuity  of  $400, 
and  24,000  acres  in  some  territory  to  be  designated 
by  the  United  States.  This  treaty,  by  some  means, 
was  never  effectually  carried  out,  and  the  princi- 
pal part  of  them  took  up  their  residence  near  a 
Moravian  missionary  station  on  the  River  Thames, 
in  Canada.  Their  old  churchyard  still  exists  on 
the  Tuscarawas  River,  and  here  rest  the  bones  of 
several  of  their  devoted  teachers.  It  is  proper 
to  remark  here,  that  Mary  Heckewelder,  daughter 
of  the  missionary,  is  generally  believed  to  have 
been  the  first  white  child  born  in  Ohio.  How- 
ever, this  is  largely  conjecture.  Captive  women 
among  the  Indians,  before  the  birth  of  Mary 
Heckewelder,  are  known  to  have  borne  children, 
which  afterward,  with  their  mothers,  were  restored 
to  their  friends.  The  assertion  that  Mary 
Heckewelder  was  the  first  child  born  in  Ohio,  is 
therefore  incorrect.  She  is  the  first  of  whom  any 
definite  record  is  made. 

These  outposts  are  about  all  that  are  known 
to  have  existed  prior  to  the  settlement  at  Mari- 
etta. About  one-half  mile  below  Bolivar,  on 
the  western  line  of  Tuscarawas  County,  are  the 
remains  of  Fort  Laurens,  erected  in  1778,  by 
a  detachment  of  1,000  men  under  Gen.  Mc- 
intosh, from  Fort  Pitt.  It  was,  however,  occu- 
pied but  a  short  time,  vacated  in  Aug-ust,  1770.  as 
it  was  deemed  untenable  at  such  a  distance  from 
the  frontier. 

During  the  existence  of  the  six  years'  Indian 
war,  a  settlement  of  French  emigrants  was  made 
on  the  Ohio  River,  that  deserves  notice.  It  illus- 
trates very  clearly  the  extreme  ignorance  and 
credulity  prevalent  at  that  day.  In  IMay  or  June 
of  1788,  Joel  Barlow  left  this  country  for  Europe, 
"  authorized  to  dispose  of  a  very  large  body  of 
land  in  the  West.  "  In  1790,  he  distributed  pro- 
posals in   Paris  for  the  disposal  of  lands  at  five 


V 


fk 


36 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


shillings  per  acre,  which,  says  Volney,  "  promised 
a  climate  healthy  and  delightful ;  scarcely  such  a 
thing  as  a  frost  in  the  winter ;  a  river,  called  by 
way  of  eminence  '  The  Beautiful, '  abounding  in 
fish  of  an  enormous  size ;  magnificent  forests  of  a 
tree  from  which  sugar  flows,  and  a  shrub  which 
yields  candles  ;  venison  in  abundance  ;  no  military 
enrollments,  and  no  quarters  to  find  for  soldiers." 
Purchasers  became  numerous,  individuals  and 
whole  families  sold  their  property,  and  in  the 
course  of  1791  many  embarked  at  the  various 
French  sea-ports,  each  with  his  title  in  his  pocket. 
Five  hundred  settlers,  among  whom  were  many 
wood  carvers  and  guilders  to  His  Majesty,  King  of 
France,  coachmakers,  friseurs  and  peruke  makers, 
and  other  artisans  and  artistes,  equally  well  fitted 
for  a  frontier  Hfe,  arrived  in  the  United  States  in 
1791-92,  and  acting  without  concert,  traveling 
without  knowledge  of  the  language,  customs  and 
roads,  at  last  managed  to  reach  the  spot  designated 
for  their  residence.  There  they  learned  they  had 
been  cruelly  deceived,  and  that  the  titles  they  held 
were  worthless.  Without  food,  shelterless,  and 
danger  closing  around  them,  they  were  in  a  position 
that  none  but  a  Frenchman  could  be  in  without 
despair.  Who  brought  them  thither,  and  who  was 
to  blame,  is  yet  a  disputed  point.  Some  affirm 
that  those  to  whom  large  grants  of  land  were  made 
when  the  Ohio  Company  procured  its  charter,  were 
the  real  instigators  of  the  movement.  They  failed 
to  pay  for  their  lands,  and  hence  the  title  reverted 
to  the  Government.  This,  coming  to  the  ears  of 
the  poor  Frenchmen,  rendered  their  situation  more 
distressing.  They  never  paid  for  their  lands^  and 
only  through  the  clemency  of  Congress,  who  after- 
ward gave  them  a  grant  of  land,  and  confirmed 
them  in  its  title,  were  they  enabled  to  secure  a  foot- 
hold.    Whatever  doubt  there  may  be  as  to  the 


causes  of  these  people  being  so  grossly  deceived, 
there  can  be  none  regarding  their  sufierings.  They 
had  followed  a  jack-o-lantern  into  the  howling 
wilderness,  and  must  work  or  starve.  The  land 
upon  which  they  had  been  located  was  covered 
with  immense  forest  trees,  to  level  which  the  coach- 
makers  were  at  a  loss.  At  last,  hoping  to  conquer 
by  a  coup  de  main,  they  tied  ropes  to  the  branches, 
and  while  a  dozen  pulled  at  them  as  many  fell  at 
the  trunk  with  all  sorts  of  edged  tools,  and  thus 
soon  brought  the  monster  to  the  earth.  Yet  he 
was  a  burden.  He  was  down,  to  be  sure,  but  as 
much  in  the  way  as  ever.  Several  lopped  off  the 
branches,  others  dug  an  immense  trench  at  his  side, 
into  which,  with  might  and  main,  all  rolled  the 
large  log,  and  then  buried  him  from  sight.  They 
erected  their  cabins  in  a  cluster,  as  they  had  seen 
them  in  their  own  native  land,  thus  afibrding  some 
protection  from  marauding  bands  of  Indians. 
Though  isolated  here  in  the  lonely  wilderness,  and 
nearly  out  of  funds  with  which  to  purchase  pro- 
visions from  descending  boats,  yet  once  a  week 
they  met  and  drowned  care  in  a  merry  dance, 
greatly  to  the  wonderment  of  the  scout  or  lone 
Indian  who  chanced  to  witness  their  revelry. 
Though  their  vivacity  could  work  wonders,  it  would 
not  pay  for  lands  nor  buy  provisions.  Some  of  those 
at  Gallipolis  (for  such  they  called  their  settlement, 
from  Gallia,  in  France)  went  to  Detroit,  some  to 
Kaskaskia,  and  some  bought  land  of  the  Ohio 
Company,  who  treated  them  liberally.  Congress, 
too,  in  1795,  being  informed  of  their  sufFering^, 
and  how  they  had  been  deceived,  granted  them 
24,000  acres  opposite  Little  Sandy  River,  to  which 
grant,  in  1798,  12,000  acres  more  were  added. 
The  tract  has  since  been  known  as  French  Grant. 
The  settlement  is  a  curious  episode  in  early  West- 
ern history,  and  deserves  a  place  in  its  annals. 


":?" 


1^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


37 


ENGLISH    EXPLORATIONS 


CHAPTER    III. 

-TRADERS— FRENCH    AND    INDIAN    WAR    IN    THE    WEST. 
POSSESSION. 


■ENGLISH 


AS  has  been  noted,  the  French  title  rested  on 
the  discoveries  of  their  missionaries  and 
traders,  upon  the  occupation  of  the  country,  and 
upon  the  construction  of  the  treaties  of  Ryswick, 
Utrecht  and  Aix  la  Chapelle.  The  English 
claims  to  the  same  region  were  based  on  the  fact 
of  a  prior  occupation  of  the  corresponding  coast, 
on  an  opposite  construction  of  the  same  treaties, 
and  an  alleged  cession  of  the  rights  of  the 
Indians.  The  rights  acquired  by  discovery  were 
conventional,  and  in  equity  were  good  only 
between  European  powers,  and  could  not  affect  the 
rights  of  the  natives,  but  this  distinction  was  dis- 
regarded by  all  European  powers.  The  inquiry  of 
an  Indian  chief  embodies  the  whole  controversy: 
"  Where  are  the  Indian  lands,  since  the  French 
claim  all  on  the  north  side  of  the  Ohio  and  the 
English  all  on  the  south  side  of  it?" 

The  English  charters  expressly  granted  to  all 
the  original  colonies  the  country  westward  to  the 
South  Sea,  and  the  claims  thus  set  up  in  the  West, 
though  held  in  abeyance,  were  never  relinquished. 
The  primary  distinction  between  the  two  nations 
governed  their  actions  in  the  New  World,  and  led 
finally  to  the  supremacy  of  the  English.  They 
were  fixed  agricultural  communities.  The  French 
were  mere  trading-posts.  Though  the  French 
were  the  prime  movers  in  the  exploration  of  the 
West,  the  English  made  discoveries  during  their 
occupation,  however,  mainly  by  their  traders,  who 
penetrated  the  Western  wilderness  by  way  of  the 
Ohio  River,  entering  it  from  the  two  streams  which 
uniting  form  that  river.  Daniel  Coxie,  in  1722, 
published,  in  London,  "A  description  of  the 
English  province  of  Carolina,  by  the  Spaniards 
called  Florida,  and  by  the  French  called  La  Louis- 
iane,  as  also  the  great  and  famous  river  Mescha- 
cebe,  or  Mississippi,  the  five  vast  navigable  lakes 
of  fresh  water,  and  the  parts  adjacent,  together 
with  an  account  of  the  commodities  of  the  growth 
and  production  of  the  said  province."  The  title 
of  this  work  exhibits  very  clearly  the  opinions  of 
the  English  people  respecting  the  West.  As  early 
as  1 G30,  Charles  I  granted  to  Sir  Robert  Heath 
"All  that  part  of  America  lying  between  thirty- 


one  and  thirty-six  degrees  north  latitude,  from  sea 
to  sea,"  out  of  which  the  limits  of  Carolina  were 
afterward  taken.  This  immense  grant  was  con- 
veyed in  1638,  to  the  Earl  of  Arundel,  and  after- 
ward came  into  the  possession  of  Dr.  Daniel  Coxie. 
In  the  prosecution  of  this  claim,  it  appeared  that 
Col.  Wood,  of  Virginia,  from  165-1  to  1664,  ex- 
plored several  branches  of  the  Ohio  and  "  Mescha- 
cebe,"  as  they  spell  the  Mississippi.  A  Mr.  Need- 
ham,  who  was  employed  by  Col.  Wood,  kept  a 
journal  of  the  exploration.  There  is  also  the  ac- 
count of  some  one  who  had  explored  the  Missis- 
sippi to  the  Yellow,  or  Missouri  River,  before  1676. 
These,  and  others,  are  said  to  have  been  there 
when  La  Salle  explored  the  outlet  of  the  Great 
River,  as  he  found  tools  among  the  natives  which 
were  of  European  manufacture.  They  had  been 
brought  here  by  English  adventurers.  Also,  when 
Iberville  was  colonizing  the  lower  part  of  Louis- 
iana, these  same  persons  visited  the  Chickasaws 
and  stirred  them  up  against  the  French.  It  is  also 
stated  that  La  Salle  found  that  some  one  had  been 
among  the  Natchez  tribes  when  he  returned  from 
the  discovery  of  the  outlet  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
excited  them  against  him.  There  is,  however,  no 
good  authority  for  these  statements,  and  they  are 
doubtless  incorrect.  There  is  also  an  account  that 
in  1678,  several  persons  went  from  New  England 
as  far  south  as  New  Mexico,  "  one  hundred  and 
fifty  leagues  beyond  the  Meschacebe,"  the  narrative 
reads,  and  on  their  return  wrote  an  account  of  the 
expedition.  This,  also,  cannot  be  traced  to  good 
authority.  The  only  accurate  account  of  the 
English  reaching  the  West  was  when  Bienville 
met  the  British  vessel  at  the  "English  Turn," 
about  1700.  A  few  of  their  traders  may  have 
been  in  the  valley  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mount- 
ains before  1700,  though  no  reliable  accounts  are 
now  found  to  confirm  these  suppositions.  Still, 
from  the  earliest  occupation  of  the  Atlantic  Coast 
by  the  EngHsh,  they  claimed  the  country,  and, 
though  the  policy  of  its  occupation  rested  for  a 
time,  it  was  never  ftilly  abandoned.  Its  revival 
dates  from  1710  properly,  though  no  immediate 
endeavor  was  made  for  many  years  after.     That 


:^ 


38 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


year,  Alexander  Spottswood  was  made  Governor  of 
Virginia.  No  sooner  did  he  assume  the  functions 
of  ruler,  than,  casting  his  eye  over  his  dominion,  he 
saw  the  great  West  beyond  the  Alleghany  Mount- 
ains unoccupied  by  the  English,  and  rapidly  filling 
with  the  French,  who  he  observed  were  gradually 
confining  the  English  to  the  Atlantic  Coast.  His 
prophetic  eye  saw  at  a  glance  the  animus  of  the 
whole  scheme,  and  he  determined  to  act  promptly 
on  the  defensive.  Through  his  representation,  the 
Virginia  Assembly  was  induced  to  make  an  appro- 
priation to  defray  the  expense  of  an  exploration  of 
the  mountains,  and  see  if  a  suitable  pass  could  not 
then  be  found  where  they  could  be  crossed.  The 
Governor  led  the  expedition  in  person.  The  pass 
was  discovered,  a  route  marked  out  for  future  em- 
igrants, and  the  party  returned  to  Williamsburg. 
There  the  Governor  established  the  order  of  the 
"Knights  of  the  Golden  Horseshoe,"  presented 
his  report  to  the  Colonial  Assembly  and  one  to  his 
King.  In  each  report,  he  exposed  with  great  bold- 
ness the  scheme  of  the  French,  and  advised  the 
building  of  a  chain  of  forts  across  to  the  Ohio,  and 
the  formation  of  settlements  to  counteract  them. 
The  British  Government,  engrossed  with  other 
matters,  neglected  his  advice.  Forty  years  after, 
they  remembered  it,  only  to  regret  that  it  was  so 
thoughtlessly  disregarded. 

Individuals,  however,  profited  by  his  advice.  By 
1730,  traders  began  in  earnest  to  cross  the  mount- 
ains and  gather  from  the  Indians  the  stores  beyond. 
They  now  began  to  adopt  a  system,  and  abandoned 
the  heretofore  renegade  habits  of  those  who  had 
superseded  them,  many  of  whom  never  returned  to 
the  Atlantic  Coast.  In  1742,  Joan  Howard  de- 
scended the  Ohio  in  a  skin  canoe,  and,  on  the 
Mississippi  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  French.  His 
captivity  did  not  in  the  least  deter  others  from 
coming.  Indeed,  the  date  of  his  voyage  was  the 
commencement  of  a  vigorous  trade  with  the  In- 
dians by  the  English,  who  crossed  the  Alleghanies 
by  the  route  discovered  by  Gov.  Spottswood.  In 
1748,  Conrad  Weiser,  a  German  of  Herenberg,  who 
had  acquired  in  early  life  a  knowledge  of  the  jMo- 
hawk  tongue  by  a  residence  among  them,  was  sent 
on  an  embas.sy  to  the  Shawanees  on  the  Ohio.  He 
went  as  far  as  Logstown,a  Shawanee  village  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Ohio,  about  seventeen  miles  bc- 
k)W  the  site  of  Pittsburgh.  Here  he  met  the  chiefs 
in  coun.sel,  and  secured  their  promise  of  aid  against 
the  French. 

The  principal  ground  of  the  claims  of  the 
English  in  the  Northwest  was  the  treaty  with  the 


Five  Nations — the  Iroquois.  This  powerful  confed- 
eration claimed  the  jurisdiction  over  an  immense 
extent  of  country.  Their  policy  differed  considera- 
bly from  other  Indian  tribes.  They  were  the  only 
confederation  which  attempted  any  form  of  gov- 
ernment in  America.  They  were  often  termed  the 
"  Six  Nations,"  as  the  entrance  of  another  tribe 
into  the  confederacy  made  that  number.  Tliey 
were  the  conquerors  of  nearly  all  tribes  from  Lower 
Canada,  to  and  beyond  the  Mississippi.  They  only 
exacted,  however,  a  tribute  from  the  conquered 
tribes,  leaving  them  to  manage  their  own  internal 
affairs,  and  stipulating  that  to  them  alone  did  the 
right  of  cession  belong.  Their  country,  under 
these  claims,  embraced  all  of  America  north  of  the 
Cherokee  Nation,  in  Virginia;  all  Kentucky,  and 
all  the  Northwest,  save  a  district  in  Ohio  and  Indi- 
ana, and  a  small  section  in  Southwestern  Illinois, 
claimed  by  the  Miami  Confederacy.  The  Iroquois, 
or  Six  Nations,  were  the  terror  of  all  other  tribes. 
It  was  they  who  devastated  the  Illinois  country 
about  Rock  Fort  in  1680,  and  caused  wide-spread 
alarm  among  all  the  Western  Indians.  In  16S4, 
Lord  Howard,  Governor  of  Virginia,  held  a  treaty 
with  the  Iroquois  at  Albany,  when,  at  the  request 
of  Col.  Duncan,  of  New  York,  they  placed  them- 
selves under  the  protection  of  the  English.  They 
made  a  deed  of  sale  then,  by  treaty,  to  the  British 
Government,  of  a  vast  tract  of  country  south  and 
east  of  the  Illinois  River,  and  extending  into  Can- 
ada. In  1726,  another  deed  was  drawn  up  and 
signed  by  the  chiefs  of  the  national  confederacy  by 
which  their  lands  were  conveyed  in  trust  to 
England,  "  to  be  protected  and  defended  by  His 
Majesty,  to  and  for  the  use  of  the  grantors  and 
their  heirs."* 

If  the  Six  Nations  had  a  good  claim  to  the  West- 
ern country,  there  is  but  little  doubt  but  England 
was  justified  in  defending  their  country  against  the 
French,  as,  by  the  treaty  of  Uti-echt,  they  had 
agreed  not  to  invade  the  lands  of  Britain's  Indian 
allies.  This  claim  was  vigorously  contested  by 
France,  as  that  country  claimed  the  Iroquois  had 
no  lawful  jurisdiction  over  the  West.  In  all  the 
disputes,  the  interests  of  the  contending  nations 
was,  however,  the  paramount  consideration.  The 
rights  of  the  Indians  were  little  regarded. 

The  British  also  purchased  land  by  the  treaty 
of  Lancaster,  in  1744,  wherein  they  agreed  to  pay 
the  Six  Nations  for  land  settled  unlawfully  in 
Pennsylvania,  Virginia  and   Maryland.     The  In- 

*  Annals  of  the  West. 


l£ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


39 


(lians  were  given  goods  and  gold  amounting  to 
near  a  thousand  pounds  sterling.  They  were  also 
promised  the  protection  of  the  English.  Had  this 
latter  provision  been  faithfully  carried  out,  much 
blood  would  have  been  saved  in  after  years.  The 
treaties  with  the  Six  Nations  were  the  real  basis 
of  the  claims  of  Great  Britain  to  ihe  West ;  claims 
that  were  only  settled  by  war.  The  Shawanee  In- 
dians, on  the  Ohio,  were  also  becoming  hostile  to 
the  English,  and  began  to  assume  a  threatening 
exterior.  Peter  Chartier,  a  half-breed,  residing  in 
Philadelphia,  escaped  from  the  authorities,  those 
by  whom  he  was  held  for  a  violation  of  the  laws, 
and  joining  the  Shawanees,  persuaded  them  to  join 
the  French.  Soon  after,  in  1743  or  1744,  he 
placed  himself  at  the  head  of  400  of  their  war- 
riors, and  lay  in  wait  on  the  Alleghany  River  for 
the  provincial  traders.  He  captured  two,  exhib- 
ited to  them  a  captain's  commission  from  the 
French,  and  seized  their  goods,  worth  £1,600. 
The  Indians,  after  this,  emboldened  by  the  aid 
given  them  by  the  French,  became  more  and  more 
hostile,  and  Weiser  was  again  sent  across  the  mount- 
ains in  1748,  with  presents  to  conciliate  them  and 
sound  them  on  their  feelings  for  the  rival  nations, 
and  also  to  see  what  they  thought  of  a  settlement 
of  the  English  to  be  made  in  the  West.  The  visit 
of  Conrad  Weiser  was  successful,  and  Thomas  Lee, 
with  twelve  other  Virginians,  among  whom  were 
Lawrence  and  Augustine  AVashington,  brothers  of 
George  Washington,  formed  a  company  which 
they  styled  the  Ohio  Company,  and,  in  1748,  peti- 
tioned the  King  for  a  grant  beyond  the  mountains. 
The  monarch  approved  the  petition  and  the  gov- 
ernment of  Virginia  was  ordered  to  grant  the  Com- 
pany 500,000  acres  within  the  bounds  of  that 
colony  beyond  the  Alleghanies,  200,000  of  which 
were  to  be  located  at  once.  This  provision  was  to 
hold  good  for  ten  years,  free  of  quit  rent,  provided 
the  Company  would  settle  100  families  within 
seven  years,  and  build  a  fort  sufficient  for  their 
protection.  These  terms  the  Company  accepted, 
and  sent  at  once  to  London  for  a  cargo  suitable  for 
the  Indian  trade.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
English  Companies  in  the  West;  this  one  forming 
a  prominent  part  in  the  history  of  Ohio,  as  will 
be  .seen  hereafter.  Others  were  also  formed  in 
Virginia,  whose  object  was  the  colonization  of  the 
West.  One  of  these,  the  Loyal  Company,  received, 
on  the  12th  of  June,  1749,  a  grant  of  800,000 
acres,  from  the  line  of  Canada  on  the  north  and 
west,  and  on  the  29th  of  October,  1751,  the  Green- 
briar  Company  received  a  grant  of  100,000  acres. 


To  these  encroachments,  the  French  were  by  no 
means  blind.  They  saw  plainly  enough  that  if 
the  English  gained  a  foothold  in  the  West,  they 
would  inevitably  endeavor  to  obtain  the  country, 
and  one  day  the  issue  could  only  be  decided  by 
war.  Vaudreuil,  the  French  Governor,  had  long 
anxiously  watched  the  coming  struggle.  In  1774, 
he  wrote  home  representing  the  consequences  that 
would  surely  come,  should  the  English  succeed  in 
their  plans.  The  towns  of  the  French  in  Illinois 
were  producing  large  amounts  of  bread-stuffs  and 
provisions  which  they  sent  to  New  Orleans.  These 
provinces  were  becoming  valuable,  and  mu.st  not  be 
allowed  to  come  under  control  of  a  rival  power. 
In  1749,  Louis  Celeron  was  sent  by  the  Governor 
with  a  party  of  soldiers  to  plant  leaden  plates,  suit- 
ably inscribed,  along  the  Ohio  at  the  mouths  of 
the  principal  streams.  Two  of  these  plates  were 
afterward  exhumed.  One  was  .sent  to  the  3Iary- 
land  Historical  Society,  and  the  inscription*  deci- 
phered by  De  Witt  Clinton.  On  these  plates  was 
clearly  stated  the  claims  of  France,  as  will  be  seen 
from  the  translation  below. 

England's  claim,  briefly  and  clearly  stated,  read 
as  follows:  "That  all  lands,  or  countries  west- 
ward from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  South  Sea, 
between  48  and  34  degrees  of  North  Latitude, 
were  expres.sly  included  in  the  grant  of  King 
James  the  First,  to  divers  of  his  subjects,  so  long- 
time since  as  the  year  1606,  and  afterwards  con- 
firmed in  the  year  1620;  and  under  this  grant, 
the  colony  of  Virginia  claims  extent  so  far  west 
as  the  South  Sea,  and  the  ancient  colonies  of  Ma.ss- 
achusetts  Bay  and  Connecticut,  were  by  their 
respective  charters,  made  to  extend  to  the  said 
South  Sea,  so  that  not  only  the  right  to  the  sea 
coast,  but  to  all  the  Inland  countries  from  sea  to 
sea,  has  at  all  times  been  asserted  by  the  Crown  of 
England. "f 

To  make  good  their  titles,  both  nations  were  now 
doing  their  utmost.  Professedly  at  peace,  it  only 
needed  a  torch  applied,  as  it  were,  to  any  point,  to 
instantly  precipitate  hostilities.     The  French  were 

*  The  following  is  the  translation  of  the  inscription  of  the  plate 
found  at  Venango  :  "  In  the  year  1749,  reign  of  Louis  XV,  King  of 
France,  we,  Celeron,  commandant  of  a  detiichment  by  Monsieur 
thw  Marquis  of  Giillisoniere,  Commander-in-chief  of  New  France, 
to  establish  tranquillity  in  certain  Indian  villages  in  these  Cantons, 
have  buried  this  plate  at  the  confluence  of  the  Toraclakoin,  this 
twenty-ninth  of  July,  near  the  River  Ohio,  otherwise  Beautiful 
River,  as  a  monument  of  renewal  of  possession  which  we  have  taken 
of  the  said  river,  and  all  its  tributaries;  and  of  all  the  land  on  both 
sides,  as  far  as  the  sources  of  said  rivers;  inasmuch  as  th"  preceding 
Kings  of  France  have  enjoyed  it,  and  maintained  it  by  tlnir  arras 
and  by  treaties;  especially  by  those  of  Eyswick,  Utrecht,  and  Aix 
La  Chapelle." 

1  Colonial  Records  of  Pennsylvania. 


"V 


40 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


bu.silj  engaged  erecting  forts  from  the  southern 
shores  of  Lake  Erie  to  the  Ohio,  and  on  down  in 
the  Illinois  Valley  ;  up  at  Detroit,  and  at  all  its 
posts,  preparations  were  constantly  going  on  for  the 
crisis,  now  sure  to  come.  The  issue  between  the 
two  governments  was  now  fully  miule  up.  It  ad- 
mitted of  no  compromise  but  the  sword.  To  that, 
however,  neither  power  desired  an  immediate  ap- 
peal, and  both  sought  rather  to  establish  and  fortify 
their  interests,  and  to  conciliate  the  Indian  tribes. 
The  English,  through  the  Ohio  Company,  sent  out 
Christopher  Gist  in  the  fall  of  1750,  to  explore  the 
regions  west  of  the  mountains.  He  was  instructed 
to  examine  the  passes,  trace  the  courses  of  the 
rivers,  mark  the  falls,  seek  for  valuable  lands,  ob- 
serve the  strength,  and  to  conciliate  the  friendship 
of  the  Indian  tribes.  He  was  well  fitted  for  such 
an  enterprise.  Hardy,  sagacious,  bold,  an  adept  in 
Indian  character,  a  hunter  by  occupation,  no  man 
was  better  qualified  than  he  for  such  an  undertak- 
ing. He  visited  Logstown,  where  he  w^as  jealously 
received,  passed  over  to  the  Muskingum  River  and 
Valley  in  Ohio,  where  he  found  a  village  of  Wyan- 
dots,  divided  in  sentiment.  At  this  village  he  met 
Crogaii,  another  equally  famous  frontiersman,  who 
had  been  sent  out  by  Pennsylvania.  Together 
they  held  a  council  with  the  chiefs,  and  received 
assurance  of  the  friendship  of  the  tribe.  This 
done,  they  passed  to  the  Shawnee  towns  on  the 
Scioto,  received  their  assurances  of  friendship,  and 
went  on  to  the  Miami  Valley,  which  they  crossed, 
remarking  in  Crogan's  journal  of  its  great  fertili- 
ty. They  made  a  raft  of  logs  on  which  they 
crossed  the  Grreat  Miami,  visited  Piqua,  the  chief 
town  of  the  Pickawillanies,  and  here  made  treaties 
with  the  Weas  and  Piankeshaws.  While  here,  a 
deputation  of  the  Ottawas  visited  the  Miami  Con- 
federacy to  induce  them  to  unite  with  the  French. 
They  were  repulsed  through  the  influence  of  the 
English  agents,  the  Miamis  sending  Gist  word  that 
they  would  "  stand  like  the  mountains.  "  Crogan 
now  returned  and  published  an  account  of  their 
wanderings.  Gist  followed  the  IMiami  to  its 
mouth,  passed  down  the  Ohio  till  within  fifteen 
miles  of  the  falls,  then  returned  by  way  of  the 
Kentucky  River,  over  the  highlands  of  Kentucky 
to  Virginia,  arriving  in  May,  1751.  He  had 
visited  the  Mingoes,  Delawares,  Wyandots,  Shawa- 
nees  and  Miamis,  proposed  a  union  among  these 
tribes,  and  appointed  a  grand  council  to  meet  at 
Logstown  to  form  an  alliance  among  themselves 
and  with  Virginia.  His  journey  was  marvelous 
for  the  day.     It  was  extremely  hazardous,  as  he 


was  part  of  the  time  among  hostile  tribes,  who 
could  have  captured  him  and  been  well  rewarded 
by  the  French  Government.  But  Gist  knew  how 
to  act.  and  was  successful. 

While  Gist  was  doing  this,  some  English  traders 
established  themselves  at  a  place  in  what  is  now 
known  as  Shelby  County,  Ohio,  and  opened  a 
store  for  the  purpose  of  trading  with  the  Indians. 
This  was  clearly  in  the  limits  of  the  West,  claimed 
by  the  French,  and  at  once  aroused  them  to  action. 
The  fort  or  stockade  stood  on  the  banks  of  Loramie's 
Creek,  about  sixteen  miles  northwest  of  the  present 
city  of  Sydney.  It  received  the  name  Loramie 
from  the  creek  by  the  French,  which  received 
its  name  in  turn  from  the  French  trader  of 
that  name,  who  had  a  trading-post  on  this 
creek.  Loramie  had  fled  to  the  Spanish  country 
west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  for  many  years 
was  a  trader  there  ;  his  store  being  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Kansas  and  Missouri,  near  the  present 
city  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.  When  the  English 
traders  came  to  Loramie's  Creek,  and  erected 
their  trading-place,  they  gave  it  the  name  of  Pick- 
awillany,  from  the  tribe  of  Indians  there.  The 
Miami  confederacy  granted  them  this  privilege 
as  the  result  of  the  presents  brought  by  Crogan  and 
Gist.  It  is  also  asserted  that  Andrew  Montour, 
a  half-breed,  son  of  a  Seneca  chief  and  the  famous 
Catharine  Montour,  who  was  an  important  fac- 
tor afterward  in  the  English  treaties  with  the 
Indians,  was  with  them,  and  by  his  influence  did 
much  to  aid  in  securing  the  privilege.  Thus  was 
established  the  first  English  trading-post  in  the 
Northwest  Territory  and  in  Ohio.  It,  however, 
enjoyed  only  a  short  duration.  The  French  could 
not  endure  so  clear  an  invasion  of  their  country, 
and  gathering  a  force  of  Ottawas  and  Chippewas, 
now  their  allies,  they  attacked  the  stockade  in 
June,  1752.  At  first  they  demanded  of  the  Miamis 
the  surrender  of  the  fort,  as  they  were  the  real 
cause  of  its  location,  having  granted  the  English 
the  privilege.  The  Miamis  not  only  refused,  but 
aided  the  British  in  the  defense.  In  the  battle  that 
ensued,  fourteen  of  the  Miamis  were  slain,  and  all 
the  traders  captured.  One  account  says  they  were 
burned,  another,  and  probably  the  correct  one, 
states  that  they  were  taken  to  Canada  as  prisoners 
of  war.  It  is  probable  the  traders  were  from  Penn- 
sylvania, as  that  commonwealth  made  the  Miamis 
presents  as  condolence  for  their  warriors  that  were 
slain. 

Blood  had  now  been  shed.     The  opening  gun  of 
the  French  and  Indian  war  had  been  fired,  and  both 


1^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


41 


nations  became  more  deeply  interested  in  affairs  in 
the  West.  The  English  were  determined  to  secure 
additional  title  to  the  West,  and,  in  1752,  sent 
Messrs.  Fry,  Lomax  and  Patton  as  commissioners 
to  Logstown  to  treat  with  the  Indians,  and  confirm 
the  Lancaster  treaty.  They  met  the  Indians  on 
the  9th  of  June,  stated  their  desires,  and  on  the 
11th  received  their  answer.  At  first,  the  sav- 
ages were  not  inclined  to  recognize  the  Lancaster 
treaty,  but  agreed  to  aid  the  English,  as  the  French 
had  already  made  war  on  the  Twigtees  (at  Picka- 
willany),  and  consented  to  the  establishment  of  a 
fort  and  trading-post  at  the  forks  of  the  Ohio. 
This  was  not  all  the  Virginians  wanted,  however, 
and  taking  aside  Andrew  Montour,  now  chief  of  the 
Six  Nations,  persuaded  him  to  use  his  influence 
with  the  red  men.  By  such  means,  they  were  in- 
duced to  treat,  and  on  the  13th  they  all  united  in 
signing  a  deed,  confirming  the  Lancaster  treaty  in 
its  full  extent,  consenting  to  a  settlement  southwest 
of  the  Ohio,  and  covenanting  that  it  should  not  be 
disturbed  by  them.  By  such  means  was  obtained 
the  treaty  with  the  Indians  in  the   Ohio  Valley. 

All  this  time,  the  home  governments  were  en- 
deavoring to  out-maneuver  each  other  with  regard 
to  the  lands  in  the  West,  though  there  the  outlook 
only  betokened  war.  The  French  understood  bet- 
ter than  the  English  how  to  manage  the  Indians, 
and  succeeded  in  attaching  them  firmly  to  their 
cause.  The  English  were  not  honest  in  their 
actions  with  them,  and  hence,  in  after  years,  the 
massacres  that  followed. 

At  the  close  of  1752,  Gist  was  at  work,  in  con- 
formity with  the  Lancaster  and  Logstown  treaties, 
laying  out  a  fort  and  town  on  Chartier's  Creek, 
about  ten  miles  below  the  fork.  Eleven  families 
had  crossed  the  mountains  to  settle  at  Gist's  resi- 
dence west  of  Laurel  Hill,  not  far  from  the  Yough- 
iogheny.  Goods  had  come  from  England  for  the 
Ohio  Company,  which  were  carried  as  fxr  West  as 
Will's  Creek,  where  Cumberland  now  stands  ;  and 
where  they  were  taken  by  the  Indians  and  traders. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  French  were  eatherins; 
cannon  and  stores  on  Lake  Erie,  and,  without 
treaties  or  deeds  of  land,  were  gaining  the  good 
will  of  the  inimical  tribes,  and  preparing,  when  all 
was  ready,  to  strike  the  blow.  Their  fortifications 
consisted  of  a  chain  of  forts  from  Lake  Erie  to 
the  Ohio,  on  the  border.  One  was  at  Presque  Isle, 
on  the  site  of  Erie ;  one  on  French  Creek,  on  the 
site  of  Waterford,  Penn.;  one  at  the  mouth  of 
French  Creek,  in  Venango  County,  Penn.;  while 
opposite  it  was  another,   effectually  commanding 


that  section  of  country.  These  forts,  it  will  be 
observed,  were  all  in  the  limits  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania colony.  The  Governor  informed  the  Assem- 
bly of  their  existence,  who  voted  £600  to  be  used 
in  purchasing  presents  for  the  Indians  n^ar  the 
forts,  and  thereby  hold  their  friendship.  Virginia, 
also,  took  similar  measures.  Trent  was  sent,  with 
guns  and  ammunition  and  presents,  to  the  friendly 
tribes,  and,  while  on  his  mission,  learned  of  the 
plates  of  lead  planted  by  the  French.  In  October, 
1753,  a  treaty  was  consummated  with  representa- 
tives of  the  Iroquois,  Delawares,  Shawanees,  Twig- 
twees  and  Wyandots,  by  commissioners  from 
Pennsylvania,  one  of  whom  was  the  philosopher 
Franklin.  At  the  conferences  held  at  this  time, 
the  Indians  complained  of  the  actions  of  the 
French  in  forcibly  taking  possession  of  the  dis- 
puted country,  and  also  bitterly  denounced  them 
for  using  rum  to  intoxicate  the  red  men,  when 
they  desired  to  gain  any  advantage.  Not  long 
after,  they  had  similar  grounds  of  complaint  against 
the  English,  whose  lawless  traders  cared  for  nothing 
but  to  gain  the  furs  of  the  savage  at  as  little  ex- 
pense as  possible. 

The  encroachments  of  the  French  on  what  was 
regarded  as  English  territory,  created  intense  feel- 
ing in  the  colonies,  especially  in  Virginia.  The 
purpose  of  the  French  to  inclose  the  English  on 
the  Atlantic  Coast,  and  thus  prevent  their  extension 
over  the  mountains,  became  more  and  more  ap- 
parent, and  it  was  thought  that  this  was  the  open- 
ing of  a  scheme  already  planned  by  the  French 
Court  to  reduce  all  North  America  under  the  do- 
minion of  France.  Gov.  Dinwiddle  determined 
to  send  an  ambassador  to  the  French  posts,  to  as- 
certain their  real  intentions  and  to  observe  the 
amount  and  disposition  of  their  forces.  He  selected 
a  young  Virginian,  then  in  his  twenty-first  year, 
a  surveyor  by  trade  and  one  well  qualified  for  the 
duty.  That  young  man  afterward  led  the  Ameri- 
can Colonies  in  their  struggle  for  liberty.  George 
Washington  and  one  companion,  Mr  Gist,  suc- 
cessfully made  the  trip,  in  the  solitude  of  a  severe 
winter,  received  assurance  from  the  French  com- 
mandant that  they  would  by  no  means  abandon 
their  outposts,  and  would  not  yield  unless  com- 
pelled by  force  of  arms.  The  commandant  was 
exceedingly  polite,  but  firm,  and  assured  the  young 
American  that  "  we  claim  the  country  on  the  Ohio 
by  virtue  of  the  discovery  of  La  Salle  (in  1669) 
and  will  not  give  it  up  to  the  English.  Our  orders 
are  to  make  prisoners  of  every  Englishman  found 
trading  in  the  Ohio  Valley." 


42 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


During  Washington's  absence  steps  were  taken 
to  fortify  the  point  formed  by  the  junction  of  the 
Monongahela  and  Alleghany ;  and  when,  on  his 
return,  he  met  seventeen  horses  loaded  with  mate- 
rials and  stores  for  a  fort  at  the  forks  of  the  Ohio, 
and,  soon  after,  some  families  going  out  to  settle, 
he  knew  the  defense  had  begun.  As  soon  as 
Washington  made  his  report,  Gov.  Dinwiddle 
wrote  to  the  Board  of  Trade,  stating  that  the 
French  were  building  a  fort  at  Venango,  and  that, 
in  March,  twelve  or  fifteen  hundred  men  would 
be  ready  to  descend  the  river  with  their  Indian 
allies,  for  which  purpose  three  hundred  canoes  had 
been  collected  ;  and  that  Logstown  was  to  be  made 
headquarters,  while  forts  were  to  be  built  in  other 
places.  He  sent  expresses  to  the  Governors  of 
Pennsylvania  and  New  York,  apprising  them  of  the 
nature  of  affairs,  and  calling  upon  them  for  assist- 
ance. He  also  raised  two  companies,  one  of  which 
was  raised  by  Washington,  the  other  by  Trent. 
The  one  under  Trent  was  to  be  raised  on  the 
frontiers,  and  was,  as  soon  as  possible,  to  repair  to 
the  Fork  and  erect  there  a  fort,  begun  by  the  Ohio 
Company.  Owing  to  various  conflicting  opinions 
between  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  and  his 
Assembly,  and  the  conference  with  the  Six  Nations, 
held  by  New  York,  neither  of  those  provinces  put 
forth  any  vigorous  measures  until  stirred  to  action 
by  the  invasions  on  the  frontiers,  and  until  directed 
by  the  Earl  of  Holderness,  Secretary  of  State. 

The  fort  at  Venango  was  finished  by  the  French 
in  April,  1754.  All  along  the  creek  resounded 
the  clang  of  arms  and  the  preparations  for  war. 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  though  inactive, 
and  debating  whether  the  French  really  had  in- 
vaded English  territory  or  not,  sent  aid  to  the 
Old  Dominion,  now  all  alive  to  the  conquest.  The 
two  companies  had  been  increased  to  six;  Washing- 
ton was  raised  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel, 
and  made  second  under  command  of  Joshua 
Fry.  Ten  cannon,  lately  from  England,  were  for- 
warded from  Alexandria ;  wagons  were  got  ready 
to  carry  westward  provisions  and  stores  through 
the  heavy  spring  roads;  and  everywhere  men  were 
enlisting  under  the  King's  promise  of  two  hundred 
thousand  acres  of  land  to  those  who  would  go. 
They  were  gathering  along  Will's  Creek  and  far 
beyond,  while  Trent,  who  had  come  for  more  men 
and  supplies,  left  a  little  band  of  forty-one  men, 
working  away  in  hunger  and  want  at  the  Fork,  to 
which  both  nations  were  looking  with  anxious  eyes. 
Though  no  enemy  was  near,  and  only  a  few  Indian 
scouts  were  seen,  keen  eyes  had  observed  the  low 


fortifications  at  the  Fork.  Swift  feet  had  borne 
the  news  of  it  up  the  valley,  and  though  Ensign 
Ward,  left  in  command,  felt  himself  secure,  on  the 
17  th  of  April  he  saw  a  sight  that  made  his  heart 
sick.  Sixty  batteaux  and  three  hundred  canoes 
were  coming  down  the  Alleghany.  The  com- 
mandant sent  him  a  summons,  which  evaded  no 
words  in  its  meaning.  It  was  useless  to  contend, 
that  evening  he  supped  with  his  conqueror ;  the 
next  day  he  was  bowed  out  by  the  polite  French- 
man, and  with  his  men  and  tools  marched  up  the 
Monongahela.  The  first  birds  of  spring  were  fill- 
ing the  air  with  iheir  song ;  the  rivers  rolled  by, 
swollen  by  April  showers  and  melting  snows;  all 
nature  was  putting  on  her  robes  of  green  ;  and  the 
fortress,  which  the  English  had  so  earnestly  strived 
to  obtain  and  fortify,  was  now  in  the  hands  of  the 
French.  Fort  Du  Quesne  arose  on  the  incomplete 
fortifications.  The  seven  years'  war  that  followed 
not  only  aff'ected  America,  but  spread  to  all  quar- 
ters of  the  world.  The  war  made  England  a  great 
imperial  power  ;  drove  the  French  from  Asia  and 
America;  dispelled  the  brilliant  and  extended 
scheme  of  Louis  and  his  voluptuous  empire. 

The  active  field  of  operations  was  in  the  Canadas 
principally,  and  along  the  western  borders  of  Penn- 
sylvania. There  were  so  few  people  then  in  the 
present  confines  of  Ohio,  that  only  the  possession 
of  the  country,  in  common  with  all  the  West, 
could  be  the  animus  of  the  conflict.  It  so  much 
concerned  this  part  of  the  New  World,  that  a  brief 
resume  of  the  war  will  be  necessary  to  fully  under- 
stand its  history. 

The  fall  of  the  post  at  the  fork  of  the  Ohio,  Fort 
Du  Quesne,  gave  the  French  control  of  the  West. 
Washington  went  on  with  his  few  militia  to  re- 
take the  post.  Though  he  was  successful  at  first, 
he  was  in  the  end  defeated,  and  surrendered, 
being  allowed  to  return  with  all  his  munitions  of 
war.  The  two  governments,  though  trying  to 
come  to  a  peaceful  solution  of  the  question,  were 
getting  ready  for  the  conflict.  France  went  stead- 
ily on,  though  at  one  time  England  gave,  in  a 
measure,  her  consent  to  allow  the  French  to  retain 
all  the  country  west  of  the  Alleghanies  and  south 
of  the  lakes.  Had  this  been  done,  what  a  difi'erent 
future  would  have  been  in  America !  Other  des- 
tinies were  at  work,  however,  and  the  plan  fell 
stillborn. 

England  sent  Gen.  Braddock  and  a  fine  force 
of  men,  who  marched  directly  toward  the  post  on 
the  Ohio.  His  ill-fated  expedition  resulted  only 
in  the  total  defeat  of  his  army,  and  his  own  death. 


■^ 


HISTOEY    OF    OHIO. 


43 


Washington  saved  a  remnant  of  the  army,  and 
made  his  way  back  to  the  colonies.  The  En- 
gHsh  needed  a  leader.  They  next  planned  four 
campaigns;  one  against  Fort  Du  Quesne;  one 
against  Crown  Point;  one  against  Niagara,  and 
one  against  the  French  settlements  in  Nova  Scotia. 
Nearly  every  one  proved  a  failure.  The  English 
were  defeated  on  sea  and  on  land,  all  owing  to  the 
incapacity  of  Parliament,  and  the  want  of  a  suit- 
able, vigorous  leader.  The  settlements  on  the  front- 
iers, now  exposed  to  a  cruel  foe,  prepared  to  defend 
themselves,  and  already  the  signs  of  a  government 
of  their  own,  able  to  defend  itself,  began  to 
appear.  They  received  aid  from  the  colonies. 
Though  the  French  were  not  repulsed,  they  and 
their  red  allies  found  they  could  not  murder  with 
impunity.  Self-preservation  was  a  stronger  incen- 
tive in  conflict  than  aggrandizement,  and  the 
cruelty  of  the  Indians  found  avengers. 

The  great  Pitt  became  Prime  Minister  June  29, 
1757.  The  leader  of  the  English  now  appeared. 
The  British  began  to  regain  their  losses  on  sea  and 
land,  and  for  them  a  brighter  day  was  at  hand. 
The  key  to  the  West  must  be  retaken,  and  to  Gen. 
Forbes  was  assigned  the  duty.  Preceding  him, 
a  trusty  man  was  sent  to  the  Western  Indians 
at  the  head-waters  of  the  Ohio,  and  along  the  Mg- 
nongahela  and  Alleghany,  to  see  if  some  compro- 
mise with  them  could  not  be  made,  and  their  aid 
secured.  The  French  had  been  busy  through  their 
traders  inciting  the  Indians  against  the  English. 
The  lawless  traders  were  another  source  of  trouble. 
Caring  nothing  for  either  nation,  they  carried  on  a 
distressing  traffic  in  direct  violation  of  the  laws, 
continually  engendering  ill-feeling  among  the  na- 
tives. "Your  traders,"  said  one  of  them,  "bring 
scarce  anything  but  rum  and  flour.  They  bring 
little  powder  and  lead,  or  other  valuable  goods. 
The  rum  ruins  us.  We  beg  you  would  prevent 
its  coming  in  such  quantities  by  regulating  the 
traders.  *  *  *  These  wicked  whisky  sell- 
ers, when  they  have  got  the  Indians  in  liquor,  make 
them  sell  the  very  clothes  ofi"  their  backs.  If  this 
practice  be  continued,  we  must  be  inevitably  ruined. 
We  most  earnestly,  therefore,  beseech  you  to  remedy 
it."  They  complained  of  the  French  traders  the  same 
way.  They  were  also  beginning  to  see  the  animus 
of  the  whole  conflict.  Neither  power  cared  as 
much  for  them  as  for  their  land,  and  flattered  and 
bullied  by  turns  as  served  their  purposes  best. 

The  man  selected  to  go  upon  this  undertaking 
was  Christian  Frederic  Post,  a  Moravian,  who  had 
lived  among  the  Indians  seventeen  years,  and  mar- 


ried into  one  of  their  tribes.  Ho  was  amissionary, 
and  though  obliged  to  cross  a  c(,ini.ry  whose  every 
stream  had  been  dyed  by  blood,  and  every  hillside 
rung  with  the  death-yell,  and  grown  red  with  the 
light  of  burning  huts,  he  went  willingly  on  his  way. 
Of  his  journey,  sufierings  and  doings,  his  own 
journal  tells  the  story.  He  left  Philadelphia  on  the 
15th  of  July,  1758,  and  on  the  7th  of  August 
safely  passed  the  French  post  at  Venango,  went  on 
to  Big  Beaver  Creek,  where  he  held  a  conference 
with  the  chiefs  of  the  Indians  gathered  there.  It 
was  decided  that  a  great  conference  should  be 
held  opposite  Fort  Du  Quesne,  where  there  were 
Indians  of  eight  nations.  "We  will  bear  you  in 
our  bosoms,"  said  the  natives,  when  Post  expressed 
a  fear  that  he  might  be  delivered  over  to  the 
French,  and  royally  they  fulfilled  their  promises. 
At  the  conference,  it  was  made  clear  to  Post  that 
all  the  Western  Indians  were  wavering  in  their 
allegiance  to  the  French,  owing  largely  to  the  fail- 
ure of  that  nation  to  fulfill  their  promises  of  aid  to 
prevent  them  from  being  deprived  of  their  land  by 
the  Six  Nations,  and  through  that  confederacy,  by  the 
English.  The  Indians  complained  bitterly,  more- 
over, of  the  disposition  of  the  whites  in  over-run- 
ning and  claiming  their  lands.  "Why  did  you  not 
fight  your  battles  at  home  or  on  the  sea,  instead  of 
coming  into  our  country  to  fight  them?"  they 
asked  again  and  again,  and  mournfully  shook  their 
heads  when  they  thought  of  the  future  before  them. 
"  Your  heart  is  good,"  said  they  to  Post.  "  You 
speak  sincerely ;  but  we  know  there  is  always  a  great 
number  who  wish  to  get  rich ;  they  have  enough  ; 
look  !  we  do  not  want  to  be  rich  and  take  away 
what  others  have.  The  white  people  think  we 
have  no  brains  in  our  heads ;  that  they  arc  big, 
and  we  are  a  handful ;  but  remember  when  you 
hunt  for  a  rattlesnake,  you  cannot  always  find  it, 
and  perhaps  it  will  turn  and  bite  you  before  you  see 
it."*  When  the  war  of  Pontiac  came,  and  all 
the  West  was  desolated,  this  saying  might  have 
been  justly  remembered.  After  concluding  a  peace. 
Post  set  out  for  Philadelphia,  and  after  incredi- 
ble hardships,  reached  the  settlement  uninjured 
early  in  September.  His  mission  had  more  to  do 
than  at  first  is  apparent,  in  the  success  of  the 
English.  Had  it  not  been  for  him,  a  second  Brad- 
dock's  defeat  might  have  befallen  Forbes,  now  on 
his  way  to  subjugate  Fort  Du  Quesne. 

Through  the  heats  of  August,  the  army  hewed  its 
way  toward  the  West.     Early  in   September  it 

*  Post's  Journal. 


us 


44 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


reached  Raystown,  whither  Washington  had  been 
ordered  with  his  troops.  Sickness  had  prevented 
him  from  being  here  ah-eady.  Two  officers  were 
sent  out  to  reconnoiter  the  fort,  who  returned  and 
gave  a  very  good  account  of  its  condition.  Gen. 
Forbes  desired  to  know  more  of  it,  and  sent  out 
Maj.  Grant,  with  800  men,  to  gain  more  complete 
knowledge.  Maj.  Grant,  supposing  not  more  than 
21 M)  soldiers  to  be  in  the  fort,  marched  near  it  and 
made  a  feint  to  draw  them  out,  and  engage  them 
in  battle.  lie  was  greatly  misinformed  as  to  the 
strength  of  the  French,  and  in  the  engagement 
that  followed  he  was  badly  beaten — 270  of  his  men 
killed,  42  wounded,  and  several,  including  himself, 
taken  prisoners.  The  French,  elated  with  their 
victory,  attacked  the  main  army,  but  were  repulsed 
and  obliged  to  retreat  to  the  fort.  The  army  con- 
tinued on  its  march.  On  the  24th  of  November 
they  reached  Turtle  Creek,  where  a  council  of  war 
was  held,  and  where  Gen.  Forbes,  who  had  been  so 
ill  as  to  be  carried  on  a  litter  from  the  start,  de- 
clared, with  a  mighty  oath,  he  would  sleep  that 
night  in  the  fort,  or  in  a  worse  place.  The  Indi- 
ans had,  however,  carried  the  news  to  the  French 
that  the  English  were  as  plenty  as  the  trees  of  the 
woods,  and  in  their  fright  they  set  fire  to  the  fort  in 
the  night  and  left  up  and  down  the  Ohio  River. 
The  next  morning  the  English,  who  had  heard  the 
explosion  of  the  magazine,  and  seen  the  light  of 
the  burning  walls,  marched  in  and  took  peaceable 
possession.  A  small  fortification  was  thrown  up 
on  the  bank,  and,  in  honor  of  the  great  English 
statesman,  it  was  called  Fort  Pitt.  Col.  Hugh  Mer- 
cer was  left  in  command,  and  the  main  body  of  the 
army  marched  back  to  the  settlements.  It  reached 
Philadelphia  January  17,  1759.  On  the  11th  of 
March,  Gen.  Forbes  died,  and  was  buried  in  the 
chancel  of  Christ's  Church,  in  that  city. 

Post  was  now  sent  on  a  mission  to  the  Six  Na- 
tions, with  a  report  of  the  treaty  of  Easton.  He 
was  again  instrumental  in  preventing  a  coalition  of 
the  Indians  and  the  French.  Indeed,  to  this  ob- 
scure IMoravian  missionary  belongs,  in  a  large 
measure,  the  honor  of  the  capture  of  Fort  Du 
Quesne,  for  by  his  influence  had  the  Indians  been 
restrained  from  attacking  the  army  on  its  march. 

The  garrison,  on  leaving  the  fort,  went  up  and 
down  the  Ohio,  part  to  Presque  Isle  by  land,  part  to 
Fort  Venango,  while  some  of  them  went  on  down 
the  Ohio  nearly  to  the  Mississippi,  and  there,  in 
what  is  now  Massac  County,  HI.,  erected  a  fort, 
called  by  them  Fort  Massac.  It  was  afterward 
named  by  many  Fort  Massacre,  from  the  erroneous 


supposition  that  a  garrison  had  been  massacred 
there. 

The  French,  though  deprived  of  the  key  to 
the  West,  went  on  preparing  stores  and  ammunition, 
expecting  to  retake  the  fort  in  the  spring.  Before 
they  could  do  this,  however,  other  places  demanded 
their  attention. 

The  success  of  the  campaign  of  1758  opened 
the  way  for  the  consummation  of  the  great  scheme 
of  Pitt — the  complete  reduction  of  Canada.  Three 
expeditions  were  planned,  by  which  Canada, 
already  well  nigh  annihilated  and  suffering  for 
food,  was  to  be  subjugated.  On  the  west,  Prideaux 
was  to  attack  Niagara ;  in  the  center,  Amherst  was 
to  advance  on  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point ;  on 
the  east,  Wolfe  was  to  besiege  Quebec.  All  these 
points  gained,  the  three  armies  were  to  be  united 
in  the  center  of  the  province. 

Amherst  appeared  before  Ticonderoga  July  22. 
The  French  blew  up  their  works,  and  retired 
to  Crown  Point.  Driven  from  there,  they  re- 
treated to  Isle  Aux  Nois  and  entrenched  them- 
selves. The  lateness  of  the  season  prevented  fur- 
ther action,  and  Amherst  went  into  winter  quar- 
ters at  Crown  Point.  Early  in  June,  Wolfe 
appeared  before  Quebec  with  an  army  of  8,000 
men.  On  the  night  of  September  12,  he  silently 
ascended  the  river,  climbed  the  heights  of  Abra- 
ham, a  spot  considered  impregnable  by  the 
French,  and  on  the  summit  formed  his  army  of 
5,000  men.  Montcalm,  the  French  commander, 
was  compelled  to  give  battle.  The  British  col- 
umns, flushed  with  success,  charged  his  half-formed 
lines,  and  dispersed  them. 

"They  fly!  they  fly!"  heard  Wolfe,  just  as  he 
expired  from  the  effect  of  a  mortal  wound,  though 
not  till  he  had  ordered  their  retreat  cut  off,  and 
exclaimed,  "Now,  God  be  praised,  I  die  happy." 
Montcalm,  on  hearing  from  the  surgeon  that  death 
would  come  in  a  few  hours,  said,  "  I  am  glad  of  it. 
I  shall  not  live  to  see  the  surrender  of  Quebec."  At 
five  the  next  morning  he  died  happy. 

Prideaux  moved  up  Lake  Ontario,  and  on  the 
6th  of  July  invested  Niagara.  Its  capture  would 
cut  off  the  French  from  the  west,  and  every  en- 
deavor was  made  to  hold  it.  Troops,  destined  to 
take  the  small  garrison  at  Fort  Pitt,  were  held  to 
assist  in  raising  the  siege  of  Niagara.  M.  de 
Aubry,  commandant  in  Illinois,  came  up  with  400 
men  and  200,000  pounds  of  flour.  Cut  off  by  the 
abandonment  of  Fort  Du  Quesne  from  the  Ohio 
route,  he  ascended  that  river  as  far  as  the  Wabash, 
thence  to  portage  of  Fort  Miami,  or  Fort  Wayne, 


*?■ 


-^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


47 


down  the  Maumee  to  Lake  Erie,  and  on  to  Presqu- 
ville,  or  Presque  Isle,  over  the  portage  to  Le  Bceuf, 
and  thence  down  French  Creek  to  Fort  Venango. 
He  was  chosen  to  lead  the  expedition  for  the  relief 
of  Niagara.  They  were  pursued  by  Sir  William 
Johnson,  successor  to  Prideaux,  who  had  lost  his 
life  by  the  bursting  of  a  cannon,  and  were  obliged  to 
flee.  The  next  day  Niagara,  cut  ofl"  from  succor, 
surrendered. 

All  America  rang  with  exultation.  Towns  were 
bright  with  illuminations  ;  the  hillsides  shone  with 
bonfires.  From  press,  from  pulpit,  from  platform, 
and  from  speakers'  desks,  went  up  one  glad  song  of 
rejoicing.  England  was  victorious  everywhere. 
The  colonies  had  done  their  fiiU  share,  and  now 
learned  their  strength.  That  strength  was  needed 
now,  for  ere  long  a  different  conflict  raged  on  the 
soil  of  America — a  conflict  ending  in  the  birth  of 
a  new  nation. 

The  English  sent  Gen.  Stanwix  to  fortify  Fort 
Pitt,  still  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  principal  for- 
tresses in  the  West.  He  erected  a  good  fortifica- 
tion there,  which  remained  under  British  control 
fifteen  years.  Now  nothing  of  the  fort  is  left.  No 
memorial  of  the  British  possession  remains  in  the 
West  but  a  single  redoubt,  built  in  1764  by  Col. 
Bouquet,  outside  of  the  fort.  Even  this  can  hardly 
now  be  said  to  exist. 

The  fall  of  Quebec  did  not  immediately  produce 
the  submission  of  Canada.  M.  de  Levi,  on  whom 
the  command  devolved,  retired  with  the  French 
Army  to  Montreal.  In  the  spring  of  1760,  he  be- 
sieged Quebec,  but  the  arrival  of  an  English  fleet 
caused  him  to  again  retreat  to  Montreal. 

Amherst  and  Johnson,  meanwhile,  effected  a 
union  of  their  forces,  the  magnitude  of  whose 
armies  convinced  the  French  that  resistance  would 
be  useless,  and  on  the  8th  of  September,  M.  de 
Vaudreuil,  the  Governor  of  Canada,  surrendered 
Montreal,  Quebec,  Detroit,  Mackinaw  and  all  other 
posts  in  Canada,  to  the  English  commander-in- 
chief,  Amherst,  on  condition  that  the  French  in- 
habitants should,  during  the  war,  be  "protected 
in  the  full  and  fi-ee  exercise  of  their  religion,  and 
the  full  enjoyment  of  their  civil  rights,  leaving 
their  future  destinies  to  be  decided  by  the  treaty 
of  peace." 

Though  peace  was  concluded  in  the  New  World, 
on  the  continent  the  Powers  experienced  some 
difficulty  in  arriving  at  a  satisfactory  settlement. 
It  was  finally  settled  by  what  is  known  in  history 
as  the  "family  compact."  France  and  Spain  saw 
in  the  conquest  the  growing  power  of  England, 


and  saw,  also,  that  its  continuance  only  extended 
that  power.  Negotiations  were  re-opened,  and  on 
the  3d  of  November,  1762,  preliminaries  were 
agreed  to  and  signed,  and  afterward  ratified  in 
Paris,  in  February,  1763.  By  the  terms  of  the 
compact,  Spain  ceded  to  Great  Britian  East  and 
West  Florida.  To  compensate  Spain,  France 
ceded  to  her  by  a  secret  article,  all  Louisiana  west 
of  the  Mississippi. 

The  French  and  Indian  war  was  now  over. 
Canada  and  all  its  dependencies  were  now  in  pos- 
session of  the  English,  who  held  undisputed  sway 
over  the  entire  West  as  far  as  Mississippi.  It  only 
remained  for  them  to  take  possession  of  the  out- 
posts. Major  Robert  Rogers  was  sent  to  take  pos- 
session ot  Detroit  and  establish  a  garrison  there. 
He  was  a  partisan  officer  on  the  borders  of  New 
Hampshire,  where  he  earned  a  name  for  bravery, 
but  afterward  tarnished  it  by  treasonable  acts.  On 
his  way  to  Detroit,  on  the  7th  of  November,  1760, 
he  was  met  by  the  renowned  chief,  Pontiac,  who 
authoritatively  commanded  him  to  pause  and  ex- 
plain his  acts.  Rogers  replied  by  explaining  the 
conquest  of  Canada,  and  that  he  was  acting  under 
orders  from  his  King.  Through  the  influence  of 
Pontiac,  the  army  was  saved  from  the  Indians 
sent  out  by  the  French,  and  was  allowed  to  pro- 
ceed on  its  way.  Pontiac  had  assured  his  protec- 
tion as  long  as  the  English  treated  him  with  due 
deference.  Beletre,  the  commandant  at  Detroit, 
refused  to  surrender  to  the  English  commander, 
until  he  had  received  positive  assurance  from  his 
Governor,  Vaudreuil,  that  the  country  was  indeed 
conquered.  On  the  29th  of  September,  the  colors 
of  France  gave  way  to  the  ensign  of  Great  Britain 
amid  the  shouts  of  the  soldiery  and  the  astonish- 
ment of  the  Indians,  whose  savage  natures  could 
not  understand  how  such  a  simple  act  declared  one 
nation  victors  of  another,  and  who  wondered  at 
the  forbearance  displayed.  The  lateness  of  the 
season  prevented  further  operations,  but  early  the 
next  spring,  Mackinaw,  Green  Bay,  Ste.  Marie,  St. 
Joseph  and  the  Ouitenon  surrounded,  and  nothing 
was  left  but  the  Illinois  towns.  These  were  se- 
cured as  soon  as  the  necessary  arrangements  could 
be  made. 

Though  the  English  were  now  masters  of  the 
West,  and  had,  while  many  of  these  events  nav 
rated  were  transpiring,  extended  their  settlements 
beyond  the  AUeghanies,  they  were  by  no  means 
secure  in  their  possession.  The  woods  and  prairies 
were  full  of  Indians,  who,  finding  the  English  like 
the  French,  caring  more  for  gain  than  the  welfare 


\1 


48 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


of  the  natives,  began  to  exhibit  impatience  and  re- 
sentment as  they  saw  their  lands  gradually  taken 
from  them.  The  English  policy  differed  very 
materially  from  the  French.  The  French  made 
the  Indian,  in  a  measure,  independent  and  taught 
him  a  desire  for  European  goods.  They  also 
affiliated  easily  with  them,  and  became  thereby 
strongly  endeared  to  the  savage.  The  French 
were  a  merry,  easy-going  race,  fond  of  gayety  and 
delighting  in  adventure.  The  English  were  harsh, 
stern,  and  made  no  advances  to  gain  the  friend- 
ship of  the  savage.  They  wanted  land  to  cultivate 
and  drove  away  the  Indian's  game,  and  forced  him 
farther  west.  "Where  shall  we  go?"  said  the 
Indian,  despondently;  "you  drive  us  farther  and 
farther  west;  by  and  by  you  will  want  all  the 
land."  And  the  Anglo-Saxon  went  sturdily  on, 
paying  no  heed  to  the  complaints.     The  French 


traders  incited  the  Indian  to  resent  the  encroach- 
ment. "  The  English  will  annihilate  you  and  take 
all  your  land,"  said  they.  "  Their  father,  the  King 
of  France,  had  been  asleep,  now  he  had  awakened 
and  was  coming  with  a  great  army  to  reclaim  Can- 
ada, that  had  been  stolen  from  him  while  he  slept." 
Discontent  under  such  circumstances  was  but 
natural.  Soon  all  the  tribes,  from  the  mountains 
to  the  Mississippi,  were  united  in  a  plot.  It  was 
discovered  in  1761,  and  arrested.  The  next  sum- 
mer, another  was  detected  and  arrested.  The 
officers,  and  all  the  people,  failed  to  realize  the 
danger.  The  rattlesnake,  though  not  found,  was 
ready  to  strike.  It  is  only  an  Indian  discontent, 
thought  the  people,  and  they  went  on  preparing  to 
occupy  the  country.  They  were  mistaken — the 
crisis  only  needed  a  leader  to  direct  it.  That 
leader  appeared. 


CHAPTER    IV. 


PONTIAC'S    CONSPIRACY— ITS    FAILURE— BOUQUET'S    EXPEDITION— OCCUPATION    BY    THE 

ENGLISH. 


PONTIAC,  the  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas,  was 
now  about  fifty  years  old.  He  had  watched 
the  conflict  between  the  nations  with  a  jealous  eye, 
and  as  he  saw  the  gradual  growth  of  the  English 
people,  their  encroachment  on  the  lands  of  the  In- 
dians, their  greed,  and  their  assumption  of  the  soil, 
his  soul  was  stirred  within  him  to  do  something 
for  his  people.  He  had  been  a  true  friend  of  the 
French,  and  had  led  the  Indians  at  the  defeat  of 
Braddock.  Amid  all  the  tumult,  he  alone  saw  the 
true  state  of  affairs.  The  English  would  inevit- 
ably crush  out  the  Indians.  To  save  his  race  he 
saw  another  alliance  with  the  French  was  neces- 
sary, and  a  restoration  of  their  power  and  habits 
needed.  It  was  the  plan  of  a  statesman.  It  only 
failed  because  of  the  perfidy  of  the  French.  Matur- 
ing his  plans  late  in  the  autumn  of  1762,  he  sent 
messengers  to  all  the  Western  and  Southern  tribes, 
with  the  black  wampum  and  red  tomahawk,  em- 
blems of  war,  from  the  great  Pontiac.  "On  a  cer- 
tain day  in  the  next  year,"  said  the  messenger,  "all 
the  tribes  are  to  rise,  seize  all  the  English  posts, 
and  then  attack  the  whole  frontier." 

The  great  council  of  all  the  tribes  was  held  at 
the  river  Ecorces,  on  the  27th  of  April,  1763. 
There,  before  the  assembled  chiefs,  Pontiac  deliv- 


ered a  speech,  full  of  eloquence  and  art.  He 
recounted  the  injuries  and  encroachments  of  the 
English,  and  disclosed  their  designs.  The  French 
king  was  now  awake  and  would  aid  them.  Should 
they  resign  their  homes  and  the  graves  of  their 
fathers  without  an  effort?  Were  their  young  men 
no  longer  brave?  Were  they  squaws?  The 
Great  Master  of  Life  had  chided  them  for  their 
inactivity,  and  had  sent  his  commands  to  drive 
the  "Red  Dogs"  from  the  earth.  The  chiefs 
eagerly  accepted  the  wampum  and  the  tomahawk, 
and  separated  to  prepare  for  the  coming  strife. 

The  post  at  Detroit  was  informed  of  the  plot 
the  evening  before  it  was  to  occur,  by  an  Ojibway 
girl  of  great  beauty,  the  mistress  of  the  com- 
mander. Major  Gladwin.  Pontiac  was  foiled  here, 
his  treachery  discovered,  and  he  was  sternly  ordered 
from  the  conference.  A  regular  seige  followed, 
but  he  could  not  prevail.  He  exhibited  a  degree 
of  sagacity  unknown  in  the  annals  of  savage  war- 
fare, but  all  to  no  purpose ;  the  English  were  too 
strong  for  him. 

At  all  the  other  posts,  save  one,  however,  the 
plans  of  Pontiac  were  carried  out,  and  atrocities, 
unheard  of  before  in  American  history,  resulted. 
The  Indians  attacked  Detroit  on  the  first  of  May, 


-^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


49 


and,  foiled  in  their  plans,  a  siege  immediately  fol- 
lowed. On  the  16th,  a  party  of  Indians  appeared 
before  the  fort  at  Sandusky.  Seven  of  them  were 
admitted.  Suddenly,  while  smoking,  the  massacre 
begins.  All  but  Ensign  Paulli,  the  commander, 
fall.     He  is  carried  as  a  trophy  to  Pontiac. 

At  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph's,  the  mission- 
aries had  maintained  a  mission  station  over  sixty 
years.  They  gave  way  to  an  English  garrison  of 
fourteen  soldiers  and  a  few  traders.  On  the 
morning  of  May  25,  a  deputation  of  Pottawato- 
mies  are  allowed  to  enter.  In  less  than  two  min- 
utes, all  the  garrison  but  the  commander  are  slain. 
He  is  sent  to  Pontiac. 

Near  the  present  city  of  Fort  Wayne,  Ind., 
at  the  junction  of  the  waters,  stood  Fort  Miami, 
garrisoned  by  a  few  men.  Holmes,  the  com- 
mander, is  asked  to  visit  a  sick  woman.  He  is 
slain  on  the  way,  the  sergeant  following  is  made 
prisoner,  and  the  nine  soldiers  surrender. 

On  the  night  of  the  last  day  of  May,  the  wam- 
pum reaches  the  Indian  village  below  La  Fayette, 
Ind.,  and  near  Fort  Ouitenon.  The  commander 
of  the  fort  is  lured  into  a  cabin,  bound,  and  his 
garrison  surrender.  Through  the  clemency  of 
French  settlers,  they  are  received  into  their  houses 
and  protected. 

At  Michilimackinac,  a  game  of  ball  is  projected. 
Suddenly  the  ball  is  thrown  through  the  gate  of  the 
stockade.  The  Indians  press  in,  and,  at  a  signal, 
almost  all  are  slain  or  made  prisoners. 

The  fort  at  Presque  Isle,  now  Erie,  was  the 
point  of  communication  between  Pittsburgh  and 
Niagara  and  Detroit.  It  was  one  of  the  most 
tenable,  and  had  a  garrison  of  four  and  twenty 
men.  On  the  22d  of  June,  the  commander,  to 
save  his  forces  from  total  annihilation,  surrenders, 
and  all  are  carried  prisoners  to  Detroit. 

The  capitulation  at  Erie  left  Le  Bceuf  with- 
out hope.  He  was  attacked  on  the  18th, 
but  kept  oif  the  Indians  till  midnight,  when  he 
made  a  successful  retreat.  As  they  passed  Ve- 
nango, on  their  way  to  Fort  Pitt,  they  saw  only 
the  ruins  of  that  garrison.  Not  one  of  its  immates 
had  been  spared. 

Fort  Pitt  was  the  most  important  station  west 
of  the  Alleghanies.  "  Escape  !  "  said  Turtle's 
Heart,  a  Delaware  warrior ;  "  you  will  all  be 
slain.  A  great  army  is  coming."  "There  are 
three  large  English  armies  coming  to  my  aid," 
said  Ecuyer,  the  commander.  "  I  have  enough 
provisions  and  ammunition  to  stand  a  siege  of  three 
years'  time."     A  second  and  third  attempt  was 


made  by  the  savages  to  capture  the  post,  but  all  to 
no  avail.  Baffled  on  all  sides  here,  they  destroy 
Ligonier,  a  few  miles  below,  and  massacre  men, 
women  and  children.  Fort  Pitt  was  besieged  till 
the  last  day  of  July,  but  withstood  all  attacks. 
Of  all  the  outposts,  only  it  and  Detroit  were  left. 
All  had  been  captured,  and  the  majority  of  the 
garrison  slain.  Along  the  frontier,  the  war  was 
waged  with  fury.  The  Indians  were  fighting  for 
their  homes  and  their  hunting-grounds;  and  for 
these  they  fought  with  the  fury  and  zeal  of 
fanatics. 

Detachments  sent  to  aid  Detroit  are  cut  off. 
The  prisoners  are  burnt,  and  Pontiac,  infusing  his 
zealous  and  demoniacal  spirit  into  all  his  savage 
allies,  pressed  the  siege  with  vigor.  The  French 
remained  neutral,  yet  Pontiac  made  requisitions 
on  them  and  on  their  neighbors  in  Illinois,  issuing 
bills  of  credit  on  birch -bark,  all  of  which  were 
faithfully  redeemed.  Though  these  two  posts 
could  not  be  captured,  the  frontier  could  be 
annihilated,  and  vigorously  the  Indians  pursued 
their  policy.  Along  the  borders  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Virginia  a  relentless  warfare  was  waged, 
sparing  no  one  in  its  way.  Old  age,  feeble  infancy, 
strong  man  and  gentle  woman,  fair  girl  and  hope- 
ful boy — all  fell  before  the  scalping-knife  of  the 
merciless  savage.  The  frontiers  were  devastated. 
Thousands  were  obliged  to  flee,  leaving  their 
possessions  to  the  torch  of  the  Indian. 

The  colonial  government,  under  British  direc- 
tion, was  inimical  to  the  borders,  and  the  colonists 
saw  they  must  depend  only  upon  their  own  arms 
for  protection.  Already  the  struggle  for  freedom 
was  upon  them.  They  could  defend  only  them- 
selves. They  must  do  it,  too ;  for  that  defense  is 
now  needed  in  a  different  cause  than  settling  dis- 
putes between  rival  powers.  "  We  have  millions 
for  defense,  but  not  a  cent  for  tribute,"  said  they, 
and  time  verified  the  remark. 

Gen.  Amherst  bestirred  himself  to  aid  the 
frontiers.  He  sent  Col.  Henry  Bouquet,  a  native 
of  Switzerland,  and  now  an  officer  in  the  English 
Army,  to  relieve  the  garrison  at  Fort  Pitt.  They 
followed  the  route  made  by  Gen.  Forbes,  and  on 
the  way  relieved  Forts  Bedford  and  Ligonier,  both 
beleaguered  by  the  Indians.  About  a  day's  jour- 
ney beyond  Ligonier,  he  was  attacked  by  a  body 
of  Indians  at  a  place  called  Bushy  Run.  For 
awhile,  it  seemed  that  he  and  all  his  army  would 
be  destroyed ;  but  Bouquet  was  bold  and  brave 
and,  under  a  feint  of  retreat,  routed  the  savages. 
He  passed  on,  and  relieved  the  garrison  at   Fort 


:^ 


50 


HISTORY   or    OHIO. 


Pitt,  and  thus  secured  it  against  the  assaults  of 
the  Indians. 

The  campaign  had  been  disastrous  to  the  En- 
glish, but  fatal  to  the  plans  of  Pontiac.  He  could 
not  capture  Detroit,  and  he  knew  the  great  scheme 
must  fail.  The  battle  of  Bushy  Run  and  the 
relief  of  Fort  Pitt  closed  the  campaign,  and  all 
hope  of  co-operation  was  at  an  end.  Circum- 
stances were  combined  against  the  confederacy, 
and  it  was  fast  falling  to  pieces.  A  proclamation 
was  issued  to  the  Indians,  explaining  to  them  the 
existing  state  of  affairs,  and  showing  to  them  the 
futility  of  their  plans.  Pontiac,  however,  would 
not  give  up.  Again  he  renewed  the  siege  of  De- 
troit, and  Gren.  Gage,  now  in  command  of  the 
army  in  the  colonies,  resolved  to  carry  the  war 
into  their  own  country.  Col.  Bradstreet  was  or- 
dered to  lead  one  army  by  way  of  the  lakes, 
against  the  Northern  Indians,  while  Col.  Bouquet 
was  sent  against  the  Indians  of  the  Ohio.  Col. 
Bradstreet  went  on  his  way  at  the  head  of  1,200 
men,  but  trusting  too  much  to  the  natives  and 
their  promises,  his  expedition  proved  largely  a  fail- 
ure. He  relieved  Detroit  in  August,  1764,  which 
had  been  confined  in  the  garrison  over  fifteen 
months,  and  dispersed  the  Indians  that  yet  lay 
around  the  fort.  But  on  his  way  back,  he  saw  how 
the  Indians  had  duped  him,  and  that  they  were 
still  plundering  the  settlements.  His  treaties  were 
annulled  by  Gage,  who  ordered  him  to  destroy 
their  towns.  The  season  was  far  advanced,  his 
provisions  were  getting  low,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
return  to  Niagara  chagrined  and  disappointed. 

Col.  Bouquet  knew  well  the  character  of  the 
Indians,  and  shaped  his  plans  accordingly.  He 
had  an  army  of  1,500  men,  500  regulars  and  1,000 
volunteers.  They  had  had  experience  in  fighting 
the  savages,  and  could  be  depended  on.  At  Fort 
Loudon,  he  heard  of  Bradstreet's  ill  luck,  and  saw 
through  the  deception  practiced  by  the  Indians. 
He  arrived  at  Fort  Pitt  the  17th  of  September, 
where  he  arrested  a  deputation  of  chiefs,  who  met 
him  with  the  same  promises  that  had  deceived 
Bradstreet.  He  sent  one  of  their  number  back, 
threatening  to  put  to  death  the  chiefs  unless  they 
allowed  his  messengers  to  safely  pass  through  their 
country  to  Detroit.  The  decisive  tone  of  his 
words  convinced  them  of  the  fate  that  awaited 
them  unless  they  complied.  On  the  3d  of  Octo- 
ber the  army  left  Fort  Pitt,  marched  down  the 
river  to  and  across  the  Tuscarawas,  arriving  in  the 
vicinity  of  Fredrick  Post's  late  mission  on  the  17th. 
There  a  conference  was  held  with  the  assembled 


tribes.  Bouquet  sternly  rebuked  them  fur  their 
faithlessness,  and  when  told  by  the  chiefs  they  could 
not  restrain  their  young  men,  he  as  sternly  told 
them  they  were  responsible  for  their  acts.  He 
told  them  he  would  trust  them  no  longer.  If  they 
delivered  up  all  their  prisoners  within  twelve  days 
they  might  hope  for  peace,  otherwise  there  would 
be  no  mercy  shown  them.  They  were  completely 
humbled,  and,  separating  hastily,  gathered  their 
captives.  On  the  25th,  the  army  proceeded  down 
to  the  Tuscarawas,  to  the  junction  with  White 
Woman  River,  near  the  town  of  Coshocton,  in 
Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  and  there  made  prepa- 
rations for  the  reception  of  the  captives.  There 
they  remained  until  the  18th  of  November;  from 
day  to  day  prisoners  were  brought  in — men,  women 
and  children — and  delivered  to  their  friends.  Many 
were  the  touching  scenes  enacted  during  this  time. 
The  separated  husband  and  wife  met,  the  latter 
often  carrying  a  child  born  in  captivity.  Brothers 
and  sisters,  separated  in  youth,  met ;  lovers  rushed 
into  each  other's  arms ;  children  found  their 
parents,  mothers  their  sons,  fathers  their  daughters, 
and  neighbors  those  from  whom  they  had  been 
separated  many  years.  Yet,  there  were  many  dis- 
tressing scenes.  Some  looked  in  vain  for  long-lost 
relatives  and  friends,  that  never  should  return. 
Others,  that  had  been  captured  in  their  infancy, 
would  not  leave  their  savage  friends,  and  when 
force  was  used  some  fled  away.  One  mother 
looked  in  vain  for  a  child  she  had  lost  years  be- 
fore. Day  by  day,  she  anxiously  watched,  but  no 
daughter's  voice  reached  her  ears.  One,  clad  in 
savage  attire,  was  brought  before  her.  It  could 
not  be  her  daughter,  she  was  grown.  So  was  the 
maiden  before  her.  "  Can  not  you  remember  some 
mark?"  asked  Bouquet,  whose  sympathies  were 
aroused  in  this  case.  "There  is  none,"  said  the 
anxious  and  sorrowful  mother.  "Sing  a  song  you 
sang  over  her  cradle,  she  may  remember,"  suggested 
the  commander.  One  is  sung  by  her  mother.  As 
the  song  of  childhood  floats  out  among  the  trees 
the  maiden  stops  and  listens,  then  approaches. 
Yes,  she  remembers.  Mother  and  daughter  are 
held  in  a  close  embrace,  and  the  stern  Bouquet 
wipes  away  a  tear  at  the  scene. 

On  the  18th,  the  army  broke  up  its  encamp- 
ment and  started  on  its  homeward  march.  Bouquet 
kept  six  principal  Indians  as  hostages,  and  re- 
turned to  the  homes  of  the  captives.  The  Indians 
kept  their  promises  faithfully,  and  the  next  year 
representatives  of  all  the  Western  tribes  met  Sir 
William  Johnson,  at  the  German  Flats,  and  made 


^: 


■^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


51 


a  treaty  of  peace.  A  tract  of  land  in  the  Indian 
country  was  ceded  to  the  whites  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who  had  suffered  in  the  late  war.  The  In- 
dians desired  to  make  a  treaty  with  Johnson, 
whereby  the  Alleghany  River  should  be  the  west- 
ern boundary  of  the  English,  but  he  excused  him- 
self on  the  ground  of  proper  power. 

Not  long  after  this  the  Illinois  settlements,  too 
remote  to  know  much  of  the  struggle  or  of  any  of 
the  great  events  that  had  convulsed  an  empire,  and 
changed  the  destiny  of  a  nation,  were  brought 
under  the  English  rule.  There  were  five  villages 
at  this  date:  Kaskaskia,  Cahokia,  St.  Philip,  Yin- 
cennes  and  Prairie  du  Rocher,  near  Fort  Chartres, 
the  military  headquarters  of  these  French  posses- 
sions. They  were  under  the  control  or  command 
of  M.  de  Abadie,  at  New  Orleans.  They  had  also 
extended  explorations  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
made  a  few  settlements  in  what  was  Spanish  terri- 
tory. The  country  had  been,  however,  ceded  to 
France,  and  in  February,  1764,  the  country  was 
formally  taken  possession  of  and  the  present  city 
of  St.  Louis  laid  out. 

As  soon  as  the  French  knew  of  the  change  of 
government,  many  of  them  went  to  the  west  side  of 
the  river,  and  took  up  their  residence  there.  They 
were  protected  in  their  religion  and  civil  rights  by 
the  terms  of  the  treaty,  but  preferred  the  rule  of 
their  own  King. 

The  British  took  possession  of  this  country  early 
in  1765.  Gen.  G-age  sent  Capt.  Stirling,  of  the 
English  Army,  who  arrived  before  summer,  and  to 
whom  St.  Ange,  the  nominal  commandant,  surren- 
dered the  authority.  The  British,  through  a  suc- 
cession of  commanders,  retained  control  of  the  coun- 
try until  defeated  by  George  Rogers  Clarke,  and 
his  "ragged  Virginia  militia." 

After  a  short  time,  the  French  again  ceded  the 
country  west  of  the  Mississippi  to  Spain,  and  re- 
linquished forever  their  control  of  all  the  West  in 
the  New  World. 

The  population  of  Western  Louisiana,  when  the 
exchange  of  governments  occurred,  was  estimated 
to  be  13,538,  of  which  891  were  in  the  Illinois 
country — as  it  was  called — west  of  the  Mississippi. 
East  of  the  river,  and  before  the  French  crossed 
into  Spanish  country,  the  population  was  estimated 
to  be  about  3,000.  All  these  had  grown  into 
communities  of  a  peculiar  character.  Indeed,  that 
peculiarity,  as  has  been  observed,  never  changed 
until  a  gradual  amalgamation  with  the  American 
people  effected  it,  and  that  took  more  than  a  cen- 
tury of  time  to  accomplish. 


The  English  now  owned  the  Northwest.  True, 
they  did  not  yet  occupy  but  a  small  part  of  it,  but 
traders  were  again  crossing  the  mountains,  ex- 
plorers for  lands  were  on  the  Ohio,  and  families 
for  settlement  were  beginning  to  look  upon  the 
West  as  their  future  home.  Companies  were  again 
forming  to  purchase  large  tracts  in  the  Ohio  coun- 
try, and  open  them  for  emigration.  One  thing  yet 
stood  in  the  way — a  definite  boundary  line.  That 
line,  however,  was  between  the  English  and  the 
Indians,  and  not,  as  had  heretofore  been  the  case, 
between  rival  European  Powers.  It  was  necessary 
to  arrange  some  definite  boundarj"  before  land  com- 
panies, who  were  now  actively  pushing  their  claims, 
could  safely  survey  and  locate  their  lands. 

Sir  William  Johnson,  who  had  at  previous  times 
been  instrumental  in  securing  treaties,  wrote  re- 
peatedly to  the  Board  of  Trade,  who  controlled  the 
greater  part  of  the  commercial  transactions  in  the 
colonies — and  who  were  the  first  to  exclaim  against 
extending  English  settlements  beyond  a  limit 
whereby  they  would  need  manufactures,  and  there- 
by become  independent  of  the  Mother  Country — 
urging  upon  them,  and  through  them  the  Crown,  the 
necessity  of  a  fixed  boundary,  else  another  Indian 
war  was  probable.  The  Indians  found  themselves 
gradually  hemmed  in  by  the  growing  power  of  the 
whites,  and  began  to  exhibit  hostile  feelings.  The 
irritation  became  so  great  that  in  the  summer  of 
1767,  Gage  wrote  to  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania 
concerning  it.  The  Governor  communicated  his 
letter  to  the  General  Assembly,  who  sent  repre- 
sentatives to  England,  to  urge  the  immediate  set- 
tlement of  the  question.  In  compliance  with  these 
requests,  and  the  letters  of  prominent  citizens, 
Franklin  among  the  number,  instructions  were  sent 
to  Johnson,  ordering  him  to  complete  the  purchase 
from  the  Six  Nations,  and  settle  all  differences. 
He  sent  word  to  all  the  Western  tribes  to  meet 
him  at  Fort  Stanwix,  in  October,  1768.  The  con- 
ference was  held  on  the  24:th  of  that  month,  and 
was  attended  by  colonial  representatives,  and  by 
Indians  from  all  parts  of  the  Northwest.  It  was 
determined  that  the  line  should  begin  on  the  Ohio, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Cherokee  (Tennessee),  thence 
up  the  river  to  the  Alleghany  and  on  to  Kittan- 
ning,  and  thence  across  to  the  Susquehanna.  By 
this  line,  the  whole  country  south  of  the  Ohio  and 
Alleghany,  to  which  the  Six  Nations  had  any 
claim,  was  transferred.  Part  of  this  land  was 
made  to  compensate  twenty-two  traders,  whose  goods 
had  been  stolen  in  1763.  The  deeds  made,  wore 
upon  the  express  agreement  that  no  claims  should 

--« S) 


19 


^- 


53 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


ever  be  based  on  the  treaties  of  Lancaster,  Logs- 
town,  etc.,  and  were  signed  by  the  chiefs  of  the  Six 
Nations  for  themselves,  their  alUes  and  dependents, 
and  the  Shawanees,  Delawares,  Mingoes  of  Ohio, 
and  others;  though  the  Shawanees  and  Delaware 
deputies  did  not  sign  them.  On  this  treaty,  in  a 
great  measure,  rests  the  title  by  purchase  to  Ken- 
tucky, Western  Virginia  and  Western  Pennsylva- 
nia. The  rights  of  the  Cherokees  were  purchased 
by  Col.  Donaldson,  either  for  the  King,  Virginia, 
or  for  himself,  it  is  impossible  to  say  which. 

The  grant  of  the  northern  confederacy  was  now 
made.  The  white  man  could  go  in  and  possess 
these  lands,  and  know  that  an  army  would  protect 
him  if  necessary.  Under  such  a  guarantee,  West- 
ern lands  came  rapidly  into  market.  In  addition 
to  companies  already  in  existence  for  the  purchase 
of  land,  others,  the  most  notable  of  these  being  the 
"Walpole"  and  the  "Mississippi"  Land  Companies, 
were  formed.  This  latter  had  among  its  organizers 
such  men  as  Francis  Lightfoot  Lee,  Richard 
Henry  Lee,  George  Washington  and  Arthur  Lee. 
Before  any  of  these  companies,  some  of  whom  ab- 
sorbed the  Ohio  Company,  could  do  anything,  the 
Revolution  came  on,  and  all  land  transactions  were 
at  an  end.  After  its  close,  Congress  would  not 
sanction  their  claims,  and  they  fell  through.  This 
did  not  deter  settlers,  however,  from  crossing  the 
mountains,  and  settling  in  the  Ohio  country.     In 


spite  of  troubles  with  the  Indians — some  of  whom 
regarded  the  treaties  with  the  Six  Nations  as  un- 
lawftil,  and  were  disposed  to  complain  at  the  rapid 
influx  of  whites — and  the  failure  of  the  land  com- 
panies, settlers  came  steadily  during  the  decade 
from  1768  to  1778,  so  that  by  the  close  of  that 
time,  there  was  a  large  population  south  of  the 
Ohio  River ;  while  scattered  along  the  northern 
banks,  extending  many  miles  into  the  wilderness, 
were  hardy  adventurers,  who  were  carving  out 
homes  in  the  magnificent  forests  everywhere  cov- 
ering the  country. 

Among  the  foremost  speculators  in  Western 
lands,  was  George  Washington.  As  early  as  1763, 
he  employed  Col.  Crawford,  afterward  the  leader  in 
"  Crawford's  campaign,"  to  purchase  lands  for  him. 
In  1770,  he  crossed  the  mountains  in  company 
with  several  gentlemen,  and  examined  the  country 
along  the  Ohio,  down  which  stream  he  passed  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kanawha,  where  he  shot 
some  buffalo,  then  plenty,  camped  out  a  few  nights, 
and  returned,  fully  convinced,  it  seems,  that  one 
day  the  West  would  be  the  best  part  of  the  New- 
World.  He  owned,  altogether,  nearly  fifty  thou- 
sand acres  in  the  West,  which  he  valued  at  $3.33 
per  acre.  Had  not  the  war  of  the  Revolution  just 
then  broken  out,  he  might  have  been  a  resident  of 
the  West,  and  would  have  been,  of  course,  one  of 
its  most  prominent  citizens. 


CHAPTER    V. 

AMERICAN    EXPLORATIONS— DUNMORE'S    WAR— CAMPAIGN    OF    GEORGE    ROGERS    CLARKE- 
LAND    TROUBLES  — SPAIN    IN    THE    REVOLUTION  — MURDER    OF 
THE    MORAVIAN    INDIANS. 

MEANWHILE,  Kentucky  was  filling  with 
citizens,  and  though  considerable  trouble 
was  experienced  with  the  Indians,  and  the  operations 
of  Col.  Richard  Henderson  and  others,  who  made 
unlawful  treaties  with  the  Indians,  yet  Daniel 
Boone  and  his  associates  had  established  a 
commonwealth,  and,  in  1777,  a  county  was 
formed,  which,  erelong,  was  divided  into  three. 
Louisville  was  laid  out  on  land  belonging  to 
Tories,  and  an  important  start  made  in  this  part 
of  the  West.  Emigrants  came  down  the  Ohio 
River,  saw  the  northern  shores  were  inviting,  and 
sent  back  such  accounts  that  the  land  north  of  the 
river  rapidly  grew  in   favor  with  Eastern   people. 


One  of  the  most  important  Western  characters, 
Col.  (afterward  Gen.)  George  Rogers  Clarke,  had 
had  much  to  do  in  forming  its  character.  He 
was  born  November  19,  1752,  in  Albemarle 
County,  Va.,  and  early  came  West.  He  had  an 
unusually  sagacious  spirit,  was  an  excellent  sur- 
veyor and  general,  and  took  an  active  interest  in 
all  State  and  national  affairs.  He  understood  the 
animus  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  prepared  to 
do  his  part.  Col.  Clarke  was  now  meditating  a 
move  unequaled  in  its  boldness,  and  one  that  had 
more  to  do  with  the  success  of  America  in  the 
struggle  for  independence  than  at  first  appears. 
He  saw  through  the  whole  plan  of  the   British, 


'.iL 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


53 


who  held  all  the  outposts,  Kaskaskia,  Detroit, 
Vincennes  and  Niagara,  and  determined  to  circuna- 
vent  them  and  wrest  the  West  from  their  power. 
The  British  hoped  to  encircle  the  Americans  by 
these  outposts,  and  also  unite  the  Indians  in  a 
common  war  against  them.  That  had  been 
attempted  by  the  French  when  the  English  con- 
quered them.  Then  the  French  had  a  powerful 
ally  in  the  person  of  Pontiac,  yet  the  brave  front- 
iersmen held  their  homes  in  many  places,  though 
the  Indians  "  drank  the  blood  of  many  a  Briton, 
scooping  it  up  in  the  hollow  of  joined  hands." 
Now  the  Briton  had  no  Pontiac  to  lead  the  scat- 
tered tribes — tribes  who  now  feared  the  unerring 
aim  of  a  settler,  and  would  not  attack  him  openly — 
Clarke  knew  that  the  Delawares  were  divided  in 
feeling  and  that  the  Shawanees  were  but  imperfectly 
united  in  favor  of  England  since  the  murder  of 
their  noted  chiefs.  He  was  convinced  that,  if  the 
British  could  be  driven  from  the  Western  posts, 
the  natives  could  easily  be  awed  into  submission, 
or  bribed  into  neutrality  or  friendship.  They 
admired,  from  their  savage  views  of  valor,  the 
side  that  became  victorious.  They  cared  little  for 
the  cause  for  which  either  side  was  fighting. 
Clarke  sent  out  spies  among  them  to  ascertain  the 
feasibility  of  his  plans.  The  spies  were  gone 
from  April  20  to  June  22,  and  fully  corroborated 
his  views  concerning  the  English  policy  and  the 
feelings  of  the  Indians  and  French. 

Before  proceeding  in  the  narrative  of  this  expe- 
dition, however,  it  will  be  well  to  notice  a  few  acts 
transpiring  north  of  the  Ohio  River,  especially  re- 
lating to  the  land  treaties,  as  they  were  not  without 
effect  on  the  British  policy.  Many  of  the  Indians 
north  and  south  of  the  Ohio  would  not  recognize 
the  validity  of  the  Fort  Stanwix  treaty,  claiming 
the  Iroquois  had  no  right  to  the  lands,  despite 
their  conquest.  These  discontented  natives  har- 
assed the  emigrants  in  such  a  manner  that  many 
Indians  were  slain  in  retaliation.  This,  and  the 
working  of  the  French  traders,  who  at  all  times 
were  bitterly  opposed  to  the  English  rule,  filled  the 
breasts  of  the  natives  with  a  malignant  hate,  which 
years  of  bloodshed  could  not  wash  out.  The 
murder  of  several  Indians  by  lawless  whites  fanned 
the  coal  into  a  blaze,  and,  by  1774,  several  retalia- 
tory murders  occurred,  committed  by  the  natives 
in  revenge  for  their  fallen  friends.  The  Indian 
slew  any  white  man  he  found,  as  a  revenge  on  some 
friend  of  his  slain  ;  the  frontiersman,  acting  on  the 
same  principle,  made  the  borders  extremely  dan- 
gerous to  invaders  and   invaded.     Another  cause 


of  fear  occurred  about  this  time,  which  threatened 
seriously  to  retard  emigration. 

Pittsburgh  had  been  claimed  by  both  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Virginia,  and,  in  endeavoring  to  settle 
the  dispute,  Lord  Dunmore's  war  followed.  Dr. 
John  Connelly,  an  ambitious,  intriguing  person, 
induced  Lord  Dunmore  to  assert  the  claims  of  Vir- 
ginia, in  the  name  of  the  King.  In  attempting  to 
carry  out  his  intentions,  he  was  arrested  by  Arthur 
St.  Clair,  representing  the  proprietors  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  was  at  Pittsburgh  at  the  time.  Con- 
nelly was  released  on  bail,  but  went  at  once  to 
Staunton,  where  he  was  sworn  in  as  a  Justice  of 
Peace.  Returning,  he  gathered  a  force  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  suddenly  took  possession  of 
Pittsburgh,  refused  to  allow  the  magistrates  to 
enter  the  Court  House,  or  to  exercise  the  functions 
of  their  ofiices,  unless  in  conformity  to  his  will. 
Connelly  refused  any  terms  offered  by  the  Penn- 
sylvania deputies,  kept  possession  of  the  place, 
acted  very  harshly  toward  the  inhabitants,  stiiTed 
up  the  neutral  Indians,  and,  for  a  time,  threatened 
to  make  the  boundary  line  between  the  two  colonies 
a  very  serious  question.  His  actions  led  to  hostile 
deeds  by  some  Indians,  when  the  whites,  no  doubt 
urged  by  him,  murdered  seven  Indians  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Captina  River,  and  at  the  house  of 
a  settler  named  Baker,  where  the  Indians  were 
decoyed  under  promises  of  friendship  and  offers  of 
rum.  Among  those  murdered  at  the  latter  place, 
was  the  entire  family  of  the  famous  Mingoe  chief, 
Logan.  This  has  been  charged  to  Michael  Cresap ; 
but  is  untrue.  Daniel  Grreathouse  had  command 
of  the  party,  and  though  Cresap  may  have  been 
among  them,  it  is  unjust  to  lay  the  blame  at  his 
feet.  Both  murders,  at  Captina  and  Yellow  Creek, 
were  cruel  and  unwarranted,  and  were,  without 
doubt,  the  cause  of  the  war  that  followed,  though 
the  root  of  the  matter  lay  in  Connelly's  arbitrary 
actions,  and  in  his  needlessly  alarming  the  Indians. 
Whatever  may  have  been  the  facts  in  relation  to 
the  murder  of  Logan's  family,  they  were  of  such 
a  nature  as  to  make  all  feel  sure  of  an  Indian  war, 
and  preparations  were  made  for  the  conflict. 

An  army  was  gathered  at  Wheeling,  which, 
some  time  in  July,  under  command  of  Col.  Mc- 
Donald, descended  the  Ohio  to  the  mouth  of  Cap- 
tina Creek.  They  proposed  to  march  against  an 
Indian  town  on  the  Muskingum.  The  Indians 
sued  for  peace,  but  their  pretensions  being  found 
spurious,  their  towns  and  crops  were  destroyed. 
The  army  then  retreated  to  Williamsburg,  having 
accomplished  but  little. 


■  T 


54 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


The  Delawares  were  anxious  for  peace ;  even  the 
Mingoes,  whose  relatives  had  been  slain  at  Yellow 
Creek,  and  Captina,  were  restrained;  but  Logan, 
who  had  been  turned  to  an  inveterate  foe  to  the 
Americans,  came  suddenly  upon  the  Monongahela 
settlements,  took  thirteen  scalps  in  revenge  for  the 
loss  of  his  family,  returned  home  and  expressed 
himself  ready  to  treat  with  the  Long  Knives,  the 
Virginians.  Had  Connelly  acted  properly  at  this 
juncture,  the  war  might  have  been  ended;  but 
his  actions  only  incensed  both  borderers  and  In- 
dians. So  obnoxious  did  he  become  that  Lord 
Dunmore  lost  faith  in  him,  and  severely  repri- 
manded him. 

To  put  a  stop  to  the  depredations  of  the  Indians, 
two  large  bodies  of  troops  were  gathered  in  Vir- 
ginia, one  under  Gren.  Andrew  Lewis,  and  one 
under  command  of  Dunmore  himself  Before 
the  armies  could  meet  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great 
Kanawha,  their  objective  point,  Lewis'  army,  which 
arrived  first,  was  attacked  by  a  furious  band  of  Dela- 
wares, Shawanees,  Iroquois  and  Wyandots.  The 
conflict  was  bitterly  prolonged  by  the  Indians,  who, 
under  the  leadership  of  Cornstalk,  were  deter- 
mined to  make  a  decisive  effort,  and  fought  till 
late  at  night  (October  10,  1774),  and  then  only  by 
a  strategic  move  of  Lewis'  command — which  re- 
sulted in  the  defeat  of  the  Indians,  compelling  them 
to  cross  the  Ohio — was  the  conflict  ended.  Mean- 
while, Dunmore's  army  came  into  the  enemy's 
country,  and,  being  joined  by  the  remainder  of 
Lewis'  command,  pressed  forward  intending  to  an- 
nihilate the  Indian  towns.  Cornstalk  and  his 
chiefs,  however,  sued  for  peace,  and  the  conflict 
closed.  Dunmore  established  a  camp  on  Sippo 
Creek,  where  he  held  conferences  with  the  natives 
and  concluded  the  war.  When  he  left  the  country, 
he  stationed  100  men  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great 
Kanawha,  a  few  more  at  Pittsburgh,  and  another 
corps  at  Wheeling,  then  called  Fort  Fincastle. 
Dunmore  intended  to  return  to  Pittsburgh  the 
next  spring,  meet  the  Indians  and  form  a  definite 
peace ;  but  the  revolt  of  the  colonies  prevented. 
However,  he  opened  several  offices  for  the  sale  of 
lands  in  the  West,  some  of  which  were  in  the  limits 
of  the  Pennsylvania  colony.  This  led  to  the  old 
boundary  dispute  again;  but  before  it  could  be 
settled,  the  Revolution  began,  and  Lord  Duamore's, 
as  well  as  almost  all  other  land  speculations  in  the 
West,  were  at  an  end. 

In  1775  and  1776,  the  chief  events  transpiring 
in  the  West  relate  to  the  treaties  with  the  Indians, 
and  the  endeavor  on  the  part  of  the  Americans  to 


have  them  remain  neutral  in  the  family  quarrel  now 
coming  on,  which  they  could  not  understand.  The 
British,  like  the  French,  however,  could  not  let 
them  alone,  and  finally,  as  a  retaliatory  measure. 
Congress,  under  advice  of  Washington,  won  some  of 
them  over  to  the  side  of  the  colonies,  getting  their 
aid  and  holding  them  neutral.  The  colonies  only 
offered  them  rewards  for  prisoners  ;  never,  like  the 
British,  offering  rewards  for  scalps.  Under  such 
rewards,  the  atrocities  of  the  Indians  in  some  quar- 
ters were  simply  horrible.  The  scalp  was  enough 
to  get  a  reward,  that  was  a  mark  of  Indian  valor, 
too,  and  hence,  helpless  innocence  and  decrepit  old 
age  were  not  spared.  They  stirred  the  minds  of 
the  pioneers,  who  saw  the  protection  of  their  fire- 
sides a  vital  point,  and  led  the  way  to  the  scheme 
of  Col.  Clarke,  who  was  now,  as  has  been  noted,  the 
leading  spirit  in  Kentucky.  He  saw  through  the 
scheme  of  the  British,  and  determined,  by  a  quick, 
decisive  blow,  to  put  an  end  to  it,  and  to  cripple 
their  power  in  the  West. 

Among  the  acts  stimulating  Clarke,  was  the  attack 
on  Fort  Henry,  a  garrison  about  one-half  mile 
above  Wheeling  Creek,  on  the  Ohio,  by  a  renegade 
white  man,  Simon  Girty,  an  agent  in  the  employ  of 
the  British,  it  is  thought,  and  one  of  the  worst 
wretches  ever  known  on  the  frontier.  When  Girty 
attacked  Fort  Henry,  he  led  his  red  allies  in  regu- 
lar military  fashion,  and  attacked  it  without  mercy. 
The  defenders  were  brave,  and  knew  with  whom 
they  were  contending.  Great  bravery  was  displayed 
by  the  women  in  the  fort,  one  of  whom,  a  Miss 
Zane,  carried  a  keg  of  gunpowder  from  a  cabin 
to  the  fort.  Though  repeatedly  fired  at  by  the  sav- 
ages, she  reached  the  fort  in  safety.  After  awhile, 
however,  the  effect  of  the  frontiersmen's  shots  began 
to  be  felt,  and  the  Indians  sullenly  withdrew. 
Re-enforcements  coming,  the  fort  was  held,  and 
Girty  and  his  band  were  obliged  to  flee. 

Clarke  saw  that  if  the  British  once  got  con- 
trol over  the  Western  Indians  the  scene  at  Fort 
Henry  would  be  repeated,  and  would  not  likely, 
in  all  cases,  end  in  fiivor  of  the  Americans.  With- 
out communicating  any  of  his  designs,  he  left  Har- 
rodsburg  about  the  1st  of  October,  1777,  and 
reached  the  capital  of  Virginia  by  November  5. 
Still  keeping  his  mind,  he  awaited  a  favorable  op- 
portunity to  broach  his  plans  to  those  in  power, 
and,  in  the  meanwhile,  carefully  watched  the  exist- 
ing state  of  feeling.  When  the  opportunity  came, 
Clarke  broached  his  plans  to  Patrick  Henry,  Gov- 
ernor of  Virginia,  who  at  once  entered  warmly 
into    them,   recognizing    their    great    importance. 


HISTOKY    OF    OHIO. 


iL 


Through  his  aid,  Clarke  procured  the  necessary  au- 
thority to  prosecute  his  plans,  and  returned  at  once 
to  Pittsburgh.  He  intended  raising  men  about 
this  post,  but  found  them  fearful  of  leaving  their 
homes  unprotected.  However,  he  secured  three 
companies,  and,  with  these  and  a  number  of  volun- 
teers, picked  up  on  the  way  down  the  Ohio  River, 
he  fortified  Corn  Island,  near  the  falls,  and  made 
ready  for  his  expedition.  He  had  some  trouble  in 
keeping  his  men,  some  of  those  from  Kentucky 
refusing  to  aid  in  subduing  stations  out  of  their 
own  country.  He  did  not  announce  his  real  inten- 
tions till  he  had  reached  this  point.  Here  Col. 
Bowman  joined  him  with  his  Kentucky  militia, 
and,  on  the  24tli  of  June,  1778,  during  a  total 
eclipse  of  the  sun,  the  party  left  the  fort.  Before 
his  start,  he  learned  of  the  capture  of  Burgoyne, 
and,  when  nearl}'  down  to  Fort  3Iassac,  he  met 
some  of  his  spies,  who  informed  him  of  the  exag- 
gerated accounts  of  the  ferocity  of  the  Long 
Knives  that  the  French  had  received  from  the 
British.  By  proper  action  on  his  part,  Clarke  saw 
both  these  items  of  information  could  be  made 
very  beneficial  to  him.  Leaving  the  river  near 
Fort  Massac,  he  set  out  on  the  march  to  Kaskas- 
kia,  through  a  hot  summer's  sun,  over  a  country 
fiill  of  savage  foes.  They  reached  the  town  un- 
noticed, on  the  evening  of  July  4,  and,  before 
the  astonished  British  and  French  knew  it,  they 
were  all  prisoners.  M.  Rocheblave,  the  English 
commander,  was  secured,  but  his  wife  adroitly  con- 
cealed the  papers  belonging  to  the  garrison.  In 
the  person  of  M.  Gibault,  the  French  priest,  Clarke 
found  a  true  friend.  When  the  true  character  of 
the  Virginians  became  apparent,  the  French  were 
easily  drawn  to  the  American  side,  and  the  priest 
secured  the  surrender  and  allegiance  of  Cahokia 
through  his  personal  influence.  M.  Gibault  told 
him  he  would  also  secure  the  post  at  St.  Vincent's, 
which  he  did,  returning  from  the  mission  about 
the  1st  of  AugTist.  During  the  interval,  Clarke  re- 
enlisted  his  men,  formed  his  plans,  sent  his  pris- 
oners to  Kentucky,  and  was  ready  for  ftiture  action 
when  M.  Gibault  arrived.  He  sent  Capt.  Helm 
and  a  single  soldier  to  Vincennes  to  hold  that  fort 
until  he  could  put  a  garrison  there.  It  is  but 
proper  to  state  that  the  English  commander,  Col. 
Hamilton,  and  his  band  of  soldiers,  were  absent  at 
Detroit  when  the  priest  secured  the  village  on  the 
"  Ouabache."  When  Hamilton  returned,  in  the 
autumn,  he  was  greatly  surprised  to  see  the  Amer- 
ican flag  floating  from  the  ramparts  of  the  fort, 
and  when  approaching  the  gate  he  was  abruptly 


halted  by  Capt.  Helm,  who  stood  with  a  lighted  fuse 
in  his  hand  by  a  cannon,  answering  Hamilton's 
demand  to  surrender  with  the  imperative  inquiry, 
"Upon  what  terms,  sir?"  "LTpon  the  honors  of 
war,"  answered  Hamilton,  and  he  marched  in 
greatly  chagrined  to  see  he  had  been  halted  by 
two  men.  The  British  commander  sat  quietly 
down,  intending  to  go  on  down  the  river  and  sub- 
due Kentucky  in  the  spring,  in  the  mean  time 
off'ering  rewards  for  American  scalps,  and  thereby 
gaining  the  epithet "  Hair-buyer  General."  Clarke 
heard  of  his  actions  late  in  January,  1779,  and,  as 
he  says,  "  I  knew  if  I  did  not  take  him  he  would 
take  me,"  set  out  early  in  February  with  his  troops 
and  marched  across  the  marshy  plains  of  Lower 
Illinois,  reaching  the  Wabash  post  by  the  22d  of 
that  month.  The  unerring  aim  of  the  Westerner 
was  eff"ectual.  "  They  will  shoot  your  eyes  out," 
said  Helm  to  the  British  troops.  "  There,  I  told 
you  so,"  he  further  exclaimed,  as  a  soldier  vent- 
ured near  a  port-hole  and  received  a  shot  directly 
in  his  eye.  On  the  24th  the  fort  surrendered. 
The  American  flag  waved  again  over  its  ramparts. 
The  "Hair-buyer  General"  was  sent  a  prisoner  to 
Virginia,  where  he  was  kept  in  close  confinement 
for  his  cruel  acts.  Clarke  returned  to  Kaskaskia, 
perfected  his  plans  to  hold  the  Illinois  settlements, 
went  on  to  Kentucky,  from  where  he  sent  word  to 
the  colonial  authorities  of  the  success  of  his  expe- 
dition. Had  he  received  the  aid  promised  him, 
Detroit,  in  easy  reach,  would  have  fallen  too,  but 
Gen.  Green,  failing  to  send  it  as  promised,  the  capt- 
ure of  that  important  post  was  delayed. 

Had  Clarke  failed,  and  Hamilton  succeeded,  the 
whole  West  would  have  been  swept,  from  the  Alle- 
ghanies  to  the  Mississippi.  But  for  this  small 
army  of  fearless  Virginians,  the  union  of  all  the 
tribes  from  Georgia  to  Maine  against  the  colonies 
might  have  been  effected,  and  the  whole  current 
of  American  history  changed.  America  owes 
Clarke  and  his  band  more  than  it  can  ever  pay. 
Clarke  reported  the  capture  of  Kaskaskia  and  the 
Illinois  country  early  after  its  surrender,  and  in 
October  the  county  of  Illinois  was  established, 
extending  over  an  unlimited  expanse  of  country, 
by  the  Virginia  Legislature.  John  Todd  was 
appointed  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  Civil  Governor. 
In  November,  Clarke  and  his  men  received  the 
thanks  of  the  same  body,  who,  in  after  years, 
secured  them  a  grant  of  land,  which  they  selected 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Ohio  River,  opposite 
Louisville.  They  expected  here  a  city  would  rise 
one  day,  to  be  the  peer  of  Louisville,  then  coming 


J 


:v 


56 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


into  prominence  as  an  important  place.  By  some 
means,  their  expectations  failed,  and  only  the 
dilapidated  village  of  Clarkesburg  perpetuates 
their  hopes. 

The  conquest  of  Clarke  changed  the  face  of 
aifairs  in  relation  to  the  whole  country  north  of 
the  Ohio  River,  which  would,  in  all  probability, 
have  been  made  the  boundary  between  Canada  and 
the  United  States.  When  this  was  proposed,  the 
strenuous  arguments  based  on  this  conquest,  by 
the  American  Commissioners,  secured  the  present 
boundary  line  in  negotiating  the  treaty  of  1793. 

Though  Clarke  had  failed  to  capture  Detroit, 
Congress  saw  the  importance  of  the  post,  and 
resolved  on  securing  it.  Gren.  McCosh,  commander 
at  Fort  Pitt,  was  put  in  command,  and  $1,000,- 
000  and  3,000  men  placed  at  his  disposal.  By 
some  dilatory  means,  he  got  no  further  than  the 
Tuscarawas  River,  in  Ohio,  where  a  half-way 
house,  called  Fort  Laurens,  for  the  President  of 
Congress,  was  built.  It  was  too  far  out  to  be  of 
practicable  value,  and  was  soon  after  abandoned. 

Indian  troubles  and  incursions  by  the  British 
were  the  most  absorbing  themes  in  the  West. 
The  British  went  so  far  as  Kentucky  at  a  later 
date,  while  they  intended  reducing  Fort  Pitt,  only 
abandoning  it  when  learning  of  its  strength. 
Expeditions  against  the  Western  Indians  were  led 
by  Gen.  Sullivan,  Col.  Daniel  Broadhead,  Col. 
Bowman  and  others,  which,  for  awhile,  silenced 
the  natives  and  taught  them  the  power  of  the 
Americans.  They  could  not  organize  so  readily 
as  before,  and  began  to  attach  themselves  more 
closely  to  the  British,  or  commit  their  depredations 
in  bands,  fleeing  into  the  wilderness  as  soon  as 
they  struck  a  blow.  In  this  way,  several  localities 
suffered,  until  the  settlers  became  again  exasper- 
ated ;  other  expeditions  were  formed,  and  a  second 
chastisement  given.  In  1781,  Col.  Broadhead 
led  an  expedition  against  the  Central  Ohio  Indians. 
It  did  not  prove  so  successful,  as  the  Indians  were 
led  by  the  noted  chief  Brant,  who,  though  not 
cruel,  was  a  foe  to  the  Americans,  and  assisted  the 
British  greatly  in  their  endeavors  to  secure  the  West. 

Another  class  of  events  occun-ed  now  in  the 
West,  civil  in  their  relations,  yet  destined  to  form 
an  important  part  of  its  history — its  land  laws. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  that  Virginia  claimed 
the  greater  portion  of  the  country  north  of  the 
Ohio  River,  as  well  as  a  large  part  south.  The 
other  colonies  claimed  land  also  in  the  West  under 
the  old  Crown  grants,  which  extended  to  the 
South  or  Western  Sea.     To  more  complicate  mat- 


ters, several  land  companies  held  proprietary  rights 
to  portions  of  these  lands  gained  by  grants  from 
the  Crown,  or  from  the  Colonial  Assemblies. 
Others  were  based  on  land  warrants  issued 
in  1763;  others  on  selection  and  survey  and 
still  others  on  settlement.  In  this  state  of 
mixed  afiairs,  it  was  difficult  to  say  who  held  a 
secure  claim.  It  was  a  question  whether  the  old 
French  grants  were  good  or  not,  especially  since 
the  change  in  government,  and  the  eminent  pros- 
pect of  still  another  change.  To,  in  some  way, 
aid  in  settling  these  claims,  Virginia  sent  a  com- 
mission to  the  West  to  sit  as  a  court  and  determine 
the  proprietorship  of  these  claims.  This  court, 
though  of  as  doubtful  authority  as  the  claims 
themselves,  went  to  work  in  Kentucky  and  along 
the  Ohio  River  in  1779,  and,  in  the  course  of  one 
year,  granted  over  three  thousand  certificates. 
These  were  considered  as  good  authority  for  a 
definite  title,  and  were  so  regarded  in  after  pur- 
chases. Under  them,  many  pioneers,  like  Daniel 
Boone,  lost  their  lands,  as  all  were  required  to 
hold  some  kind  of  a  patent,  while  others,  who 
possessed  no  more  principle  than  "land-sharks" 
of  to-day,  acquired  large  tracts  of  land  by  holding 
a  patent  the  court  was  bound  to  accept.  Of  all 
the  colonies,  Virginia  seemed  to  have  the  best 
title  to  the  Northwest,  save  a  few  parcels,  such  as 
the  Connecticut  or  Western  Reserve  and  some 
similar  tracts  held  by  New  York,  Massachusetts 
and  New  Jersey.  When  the  territory  of  the 
Northwest  was  ceded  to  the  General  Government, 
this  was  recognized,  and  that  country  was  counted 
as  a  Virginia  county. 

The  Spanish  Government,  holding  the  region 
west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  a  portion  east  toward 
its  outlet,  became  an  important  but  secret  ally  of 
the  Americans.  When  the  French  revolt  was 
suppressed  by  O'Reilly,  and  the  Spanish  assumed 
the  government  of  Louisiana,  both  Upper  and 
Lower,  there  was  a  large  tract  of  country,  known 
as  Florida  (East  and  West),  claimed  by  England, 
and  duly  regarded  as  a  part  of  her  dominion. 
The  boundaries  had  been  settled  when  the  French 
first  occupied  Lower  Louisiana.  The  Spaniards 
adopted  the  patriarchal  form  of  rule,  as  much  as 
was  consistent  with  their  interests,  and  allowed  the 
French  full  religious  and  civil  liberty,  save  that  all 
tribunals  were  after  the  Spanish  fashion,  and 
governed  by  Spanish  rules.  The  Spaniards,  long 
jealous  of  England's  growing  power,  secretly  sent 
the  Governors  of  Louisiana  word  to  aid  the 
Americans  in  their  struggle  for  freedom.     Though 


n 


HISTOKY    OF    OHIO. 


57 


they  controlled  the  Mississippi  River,  they  allowed 
an  American  officer  (Capt.  Willing)  to  descend  the 
river  in  January,  1778,  with  a  party  of  fifty  men, 
and  ravage  the  British  shore  from  Manchez  Bayou 
to  Natchez. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  1779,  Spain  declared  war 
against  Great  Britain;  and,  on  the  8th  of  July, 
the  people  of  Louisiana  were  allowed  to  take  a 
part  in  the  war.  Accordingly,  Galvez  collected  a 
force  of  1,400  men,  and,  on  the  7th  of  September, 
took  Fort  Manchac.  By  the  21st  of  September, 
he  had  taken  Baton  Rouge  and  Natchez.  Eight 
vessels  were  captured  by  the  Spaniards  on  the 
Mississippi  and  on  the  lakes.  In  1780  Mobile 
fell;  in  March,  1781,  Pensacola,  the  chief  British 
post  in  West  Florida,  succumbed  after  a  long 
siege,  and,  on  the  9th  of  May,  all  West  Florida 
was  surrendered  to  Spain. 

This  war,  or  the  war  on  the  Atlantic  Coast,  did 
not  immediately  affect  Upper  Louisiana.  Great 
Britain,  however,  attempted  to  capture  St.  Louis. 
Though  the  commander  was  strongly  suspected  of 
being  bribed  by  the  English,  yet  the  place  stood 
the  siege  fi-om  the  combined  force  of  Indians  and 
Canadians,  and  the  assailants  were  dispersed.  This 
was  done  during  the  summer  of  1680,  and  in  the 
autumn,  a  company  of  Spanish  and  French  resi- 
dents, under  La  Balme,  went  on  an  expedition 
against  Detroit.  They  marched  as  far  north  as 
the  British  trading-post  Ke-ki-ong-a,  at  the  head 
of  the  Maumee  River,  but  being  surprised  in  the 
night,  and  the  commander  slain,  the  expedition 
was  defeated,  having  done  but  little. 

Spain  may  have  had  personal  interests  in  aiding 
the  Americans.  She  was  now  in  control  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi River,  the  natural  outlet  of  the  Northwest, 
and,  in  1780,  began  the  troubles  relative  to  the 
navigation  of  that  stream.  The  claims  of  Spain 
were  considered  very  unjust  by  the  Continental 
Congress,  and,  while  deliberating  over  the  question, 
Virginia,  who  was  jealously  alive  to  her  Western 
interests,  and  who  yet  held  jurisdiction  over  Ken- 
tucky, sent  through  Jefferson,  the  Governor,  Gen. 
George  Rogers  Clarke,  to  erect  a  fort  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio.  This  proceeding  was  rather 
unwarrantable,  especially  as  the  fort  was  built  in 
the  country  of  the  Chickasaws,  who  had  thus  far 
been  true  friends  to  the  Americans,  and  who  looked 
upon  the  fort  as  an  innovation  on  their  territory. 
It  was  completed  and  occupied  but  a  short  time, 
Clarke  being  recalled. 

Virginia,  in  1780,  did  a  very  important  thing; 
namely,  establishing  an  institution  for  higher  edu- 


cation. The  Old  Dominion  confiscated  the  lands 
of  "Robert  McKenzie,  Henry  Collins  and  Alex- 
ander McKee,  Britons,  eight  thousand  acres,"  and 
invested  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  in  a  public  semi- 
nary. Transylvania  University  now  lives,  a  monu- 
ment to  that  .spirit. 

While  Clarke  was  building  Fort  Jefferson,  a  force 
of  British  and  Indians,  under  command  of  Capt. 
Bryd,  came  down  from  Canada  and  attacked  the 
Kentucky  settlements,  getting  into  the  country  be- 
fore any  one  was  aware.  The  winter  before  had 
been  one  of  unusual  severity,  and  game  was  ex- 
ceedingly scarce,  hence  the  army  was  not  prepared 
to  conduct  a  campaign.  After  the  capture  of  Rud- 
dle's Station,  at  the  south  fork  of  the  Licking,  Bryd 
abandoned  any  further  attempts  to  reduce  the  set- 
tlements, except  capturing  Martin's  Station,  and 
returned  to  Detroit. 

This  expedition  gave  an  additional  motive  for 
the  chastisement  of  the  Indians,  and  Clarke,  on  his 
return  from  Fort  Jefferson,  went  on  an  expedition 
against  the  Miami  Indians.  He  destroyed  their 
towns  at  Loramie's  store,  near  the  present  city  of 
Sydney,  Ohio,  and  at  Piqua,  humbling  the  natives. 
While  on  the  way,  a  part  of  the  army  remained 
on  the  north  bank  of  the  Ohio,  and  erected  two 
block-houses  on  the  present  site  of  Cincinnati. 

The  exploits  of  Clarke  and  his  men  so  effectually 
chastised  the  Indians,  that,  for  a  time,  the  West 
was  safe.  During  this  period  of  quiet,  the  meas- 
ures which  led  to  the  cession  of  Western  lands  to 
the  General  Government,  began  to  assume  a  defi- 
nite form.  All  the  colonies  claiming  Western 
lands  were  willing  to  cede  them  to  the  Government, 
save  Virginia,  which  colony  wanted  a  large  scope 
of  Southern  country  southeast  of  the  Ohio,  as  far 
as  South  Carolina.  All  recognized  the  justice  of 
all  Western  lands  becoming  public  property,  and 
thereby  aiding  in  extinguishing  the  debts  caused  by 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  now  about  to  close. 
As  Virginia  held  a  somewhat  different  view,  the 
cession  was  not  made  until  1783. 

The  subject,  however,  could  not  be  allowed  to 
rest.  The  war  of  the  Revolution  was  now  drawing 
to  a  close ;  victory  on  the  part  of  the  colonies  was 
apparent,  and  the  Western  lands  must  be  a  part  of 
the  public  domain.  Subsequent  events  brought 
about  the  desired  cession,  though  several  events 
transpired  before  the  plan  of  cession  was  consum- 
mated. 

Before  the  close  of  1780,  the  Legislature  of 
Virginia  passed  an  act,  establishing  the  "town  of 
Louisville,"  and  confiscated  the   lands   of    John 


:V 


:^ 


58 


HISTOKY    OF    OHIO. 


Connelly,  who  was  one  of  its  original  proprietors, 
and  who  distinguished  himself  in  the  commence- 
ment of  Lord  Dunmore's  war,  and  who  was  now  a 
Tory,  and  doing  all  he  could  against  the  patriot 
cause.  The  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  his  lands  were 
divided  between  Virginia  and  the  county  of  Jefferson. 
Kentucky,  the  next  year,  was  divided  into  three 
counties,  Jefferson,  Lincoln  and  Fayette.  Courts 
were  appointed  in  each,  and  the  entry  and  location 
of  lands  given  into  their  hands.  Settlers,  in  spite 
of  Lidian  troubles  and  British  intrigue,  were 
pouring  over  the  mountains,  particularly  so  during 
the  years  1780  and  1781.  The  expeditions  of 
Clarke  against  the  Miami  Indians ;  Boone's  cap- 
tivity, and  escape  from  them ;  their  defeat  when 
attacking  Boonesboro,  and  other  places  —  all 
combined  to  weaken  their  power,  and  teach  them 
to  respect  a  nation  whose  progress  they  could  not 
stay. 

The  pioneers  of  the  West,  obliged  to  depend  on 
themselves,  owing  to  the  struggle  of  the  colonies 
for  freedom,  grew  up  a  hardy,  self-reliant  race, 
with  all  the  vices  and  virtues  of  a  border  life,  and 
with  habits,  manners  and  customs  necessary  to 
their  peculiar  situation,  and  suited  to  their  peculiar 
taste.  A  resume  of  their  experiences  and  daily 
lives  would  be  quite  interesting,  did  the  limits  of 
this  history  admit  it  here.  In  the  part  relating 
directly  to  this  county,  the  reader  will  find  such 
lives  given;  here,  only  the  important  events  can 
be  noticed. 

The  last  event  of  consequence  occurring  in  the 
West  before  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  is  one 
that  might  well  have  been  omitted.  Had  such 
been  the  case,  a  great  stain  would  have  been  spared 
the  character  of  Western  pioneers.  Reference  is 
made  to  the  massacre  of  the  Moravian  Christian 
Indians. 

These  Indians  were  of  the  Delaware  nation 
chiefly,  though  other  Western  tribes  were  visited 
and  many  converts  made.  The  first  converts  were 
made  in  New  York  and  Connecticut,  where,  after 
a  good  start  had  been  made,  and  a  prospect  of 
many  souls  being  saved,  they  incurred  the  enmity 
of  the  whites,  who,  becoming  alarmed  at  their  suc- 
cess, persecuted  them  to  such  an  extent  that  they 
were  driven  out  of  New  York  into  Pennsylvania, 
where,  in  1744,  four  years  after  their  arrival  in 
the  New  World,  they  began  new  missions.  In 
1748,  the  New  York  and  Connecticut  Indians  fol- 
lowed their  teachers,  and  were  among  the  founders 
of  Friedenshutten,  "Tents  of  Peace,"  a  hamlet 
near   Bethlehem,  where  their  teachers  were   sta- 


tioned. Other  hamlets  grew  around  them,  until 
in  the  interior  of  the  colony,  existed  an  Indian 
community,  free  from  all  savage  vices,  and  grow- 
ing up  in  Christian  virtues.  As  their  strength 
grew,  lawless  whites  again  began  to  oppress  them. 
They  could  not  understand  the  war  of  1754,  and 
were,  indeed,  in  a  truly  embarrassing  position. 
The  savages  could  form  no  conception  of  any  cause 
for  neutrality,  save  a  secret  sympathy  with  the 
English ;  and  if  they  could  not  take  up  the  hatchet, 
they  were  in  the  way,  and  must  be  removed.  Fail- 
ing to  do  this,  their  red  brothers  became  hostile. 
The  whites  were  but  little  better.  The  old  suspi- 
cions which  drove  them  from  New  York  were 
aroused.  They  were  secret  Papists,  in  league  with 
the  French,  and  furnished  them  with  arms  and  in- 
telligence; they  were  interfering  with  the  liquor 
traffic;  they  were  enemies  to  the  Government, 
and  the  Indian  and  the  white  man  combined  against 
them.  They  were  obliged  to  move  from  place  to 
place;  were  at  one  time  protected  nearly  a  year, 
near  Philadelphia,  from  lawless  whites,  and  finally 
were  compelled  to  go  far  enough  West  to  be  out 
of  the  way  of  French  and  English  arms,  or  the 
Iroquois  and  Cherokee  hatchets.  They  came 
finally  to  the  Muskingum,  where  they  made  a  set- 
tlement called  Schonbrun,  "beautiful  clear  spring," 
in  what  is  now  Tuscarawas  County.  Other  settle- 
ments gathered,  from  time  to  time,  as  the  years 
went  on,  till  in  1772  large  numbers  of  them  were 
within  the  borders  of  the  State. 

Until  the  war  of  independence  broke  out,  they 
were  allowed  to  peacefully  pursue  their  way.  When 
that  came,  they  were  between  Fort  Pitt  and  De- 
troit, one  of  which  contained  British,  the  other 
Americans.  Again  they  could  not  understand  the 
struggle,  and  could  not  take  up  the  hatchet.  This 
brought  on  them  the  enmity  of  both  belligerent 
parties,  and  that  of  their  own  forest  companions, 
who  could  not  see  wherein  their  natures  could 
change.  Among  the  most  hostile  persons,  were 
the  white  renegades  McKee,  Girty  and  Elliott. 
On  their  instigation,  several  of  them  were  slain, 
and  by  their  advice  they  were  obliged  to  leave  their 
fields  and  homes,  where  they  had  many  comforts, 
and  where  they  had  erected  good  chapels  in  which 
to  worship.  It  was  just  before  one  of  these  forced 
removals  that  Mary,  daughter  of  the  missionary 
Hecke welder,  was  born.  She  is  supposed  to  be 
the  first  white  female  child  born  north  of  the  Ohio 
River.  Her  birth  occurred  April  16,  1781.  It 
is  but  proper  to  say  here,  that  it  is  an  open  ques- 
tion, and  one  that  will  probably  never  be  decided, 


r'v 


.^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


59 


L  e.  Who  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Ohio  ? 
In  all  probability,  the  child  was  born  during  the 
captivity  of  its  mother,  as  history  plainly  shows 
that  when  white  women  were  released  from  the 
Indians,  some  of  them  carried  children  born  while 
among  the  natives. 

When  the  Moravians  were  forced  to  leave  their 
settlements  on  the  Muskingum,  and  taken  to  San- 
dusky, they  left  growing  fields  of  corn,  to  which 
they  were  obliged  to  return,  to  gather  food.  This 
aroused  the  whites,  only  wanting  some  pretext 
whereby  they  might  attack  them,  and  a  party, 
headed  by  Col.  David  Williamson,  determined  to 
exterminate  them.  The  Moravians,  hearing  of  their 
approach,  fled,  but  too  late  to  warn  other  settle- 
ments, and  Gnadenhutten,  Salem  and  one  or  two 
smaller  settlements,  were  surprised  and  taken. 
Under  deceitful  promises,  the  Indians  gave  up  all 
their  arms,  showed  the  whites  their  treasures,  and 
went  unknowingly  to  a  terrible  death.  When  ap- 
prised of  their  fate,  determined  on  by  a  majority 
of  the  rangers,  they  begged  only  time  to  prepare. 
They  were  led  two  by  two,  the  men  into  one,  the 
women  and  children  into  another  "slaughter- 
house," as  it  was  termed,  and  all  but  two  lads  were 
wantonly  slain.  An  infamous  and  more  bloody 
deed  never  darkened  the  pages  of  feudal  times ; 
a  deed  that,  in  after  years,  called  aloud  for  venge- 
ance, and  in  some  measure  received  it.  Some  of 
Williamson's  men  wrung  their  hands  at  the  cruel 
fate,  and  endeavored,  by  all  the  means  in  their 
power,  to  prevent  it;  but  all  to  no  purpose.  The 
blood  of  the  rangers  was  up,  and  they  would  not  spare 
"man,  woman  or  child,  of  all  that  peaceful  band." 

Having  completed  their  horrible  work,  (March 
8,  1782),  Williamson  and  his  men  returned  to 
Pittsburgh.  Everywhere,  the  Indians  lamented 
the  untimely  death  of  their  kindred,  their  savage 
relatives  determining  on  their  revenge;  the  Chris- 
tian ones  could  only  be  resigned  and  weep. 

Williamson's  success,  for  such  it  was  viewed  by 
many,  excited  the  borderers  to  another  invasion, 
and  a  second  army  was  raised,  this  time  to 
go  to  the  Sandusky  town,  and  annihilate  the 
Wyandots.  Col.  William  Crawford  was  elected 
leader ;  he  accepted  reluctantly ;  on  the  way, 
the  army  was  met  by  hordes  of  savages  on  the  5th  of 


June,  and  totally  routed.  They  were  away  north, 
in  what  is  now  Wyandot  County,  and  were  obliged 
to  flee  for  their  lives.  The  blood  of  the  murdered 
Moravians  called  for  revenge.  The  Indians  de- 
sired it ;  were  they  not  relatives  of  the  fallen 
Christians?  Crawford  and  many  of  his  men  fell 
into  their  hands  ; .  all  sufi"ered  unheard-of  tortures, 
that  of  Crawford  being  as  cruel  as  Indian  cruelty 
could  devise.  He  was  pounded,  pierced,  cut  with 
knives  and  burned,  all  of  which  occupied  nearly 
three  hours,  and  finally  lay  down  insensible  on  a  bed 
of  coals,  and  died.  The  savage  captors,  in  demoni- 
acal glee,  danced  around  him,  and  upbraided  him 
for  the  cruel  murder  of  their  relatives,  giving  him 
this  only  consolation,  that  had  they  captured  Will- 
iamson, he  might  go  free,  but  he  must  answer  for 
Williamson's  brutality. 

The  war  did  not  cease  here.  The  Indians,  now 
aroused,  carried  their  attack  as  far  south  as  into 
Kentucky,  killing  Capt.  Estill,  a  brave  man,  and 
some  of  his  companions.  The  British,  too,  were 
active  in  aiding  them,  and  the  14th  of  August  a 
large  force  of  them,  under  Girty,  gathered  silently 
about  Bryant's  Station.  They  were  obliged  to  re- 
treat. The  Kentuckians  pursued  them,  but  were 
repulsed  with  considerable  loss. 

The  attack  on  Bryant's  Station  aroused  the  peo- 
ple of  Kentucky  to  strike  a  blow  that  would  be 
felt.  Gen.  Clarke  was  put  at  the  head  of  an  army 
of  one  thousand  and  fifty  men,  and  the  Miami 
country  was  a  second  time  destroyed.  Clarke  even 
went  as  far  north  as  the  British  trading-post  at  the 
head  of  the  Miami,  where  he  captured  a  great 
amount  of  property,  and  destroyed  the  post.  Other 
outposts  also  fell,  the  invading  army  suffering  but 
little,  and,  by  its  decisive  action,  practically  closing 
the  Indian  wars  in  the  West.  Pennsylvania  suf- 
fered some,  losing  Hannahstown  and  one  or  two 
small  settlements.  Williamson's  and  Crawford's 
campaigns  aroused  the  fury  of  the  Indians  that 
took  time  and  much  blood  and  war  to  subdue.  The 
Revolution  was,  however,  drawing  to  a  close.  Amer- 
ican arms  were  victorious,  and  a  new  nation  was 
now  coming  into  existence,  who  would  change  the 
whole  current  of  Western  matters,  and  make  of  the 
Northwest  a  land  of  liberty,  equality  and  union. 
That  nation  was  now  on  the  stage. 


•i< 


:^ 


^ 


® w_ 


60 


^ ® 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

AMERICAN    OCCUPATION— INDIAN    CLAIMS— SURVEYS  — EARLY    LAND    COMPANIES— COMPACT 
OF    1787  — ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    TERRITORY— EARLY    AMERICAN   SETTLE- 
MENTS    IN     THE     OHIO     VALLEY  — FIRST     TERRITORIAL 
OFFICERS— ORGANIZATION    OF    COUNTIES. 


THE  occupation  of  the  West  by  the  American, 
really  dates  from  the  campaign  of  Gen.  Clarke  in 
1778,  when  he  captured  the  British  posts  in  the 
Illinois  country,  and  Vincennes  on  the  Wabash. 
Had  he  been  properly  supported,  he  would  have 
reduced  Detroit,  then  in  easy  reach,  and  poorly  de- 
fended. As  it  was,  however,  that  post  remained  in 
charge  of  the  British  till  after  the  close  of  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  They  also  held  other  lake 
posts ;  but  these  were  included  in  the  terms  of 
peace,  and  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Ameri- 
cans. They  were  abandoned  by  the  British  as 
soon  as  the  different  commanders  received  notice 
from  their  chiefs,  and  British  rule  and  English 
occupation  ceased  in  that  part  of  the  New  World. 

The  war  virtually  closed  by  the  surrender  of 
Lord  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  October  19, 
1781.  The  struggle  was  prolonged,  however,  by 
the  British,  in  the  vain  hope  that  they  could  re- 
trieve the  disaster,  but  it  was  only  a  useless  waste 
of  men  and  money.  America  would  not  be  sub- 
dued. "If  we  are  to  be  taxed,  we  will  be  repre- 
sented," said  they,  "else  we  will  be  a  free  govern- 
ment, and  regulate  our  own  taxes."  In  the  end, 
they  were  free. 

Provisional  articles  of  peace  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain  were  signed  in  Paris  on 
the  30th  of  November,  1782.  This  was  followed 
by  an  armistice  negotiated  at  Versailles  on  the  20th 
of  January,  1783;  and  finally,  a  definite  treaty  of 
peace  was  concluded  at  Paris  on  the  3d  of  the  next 
September,  and  ratified  by  Congress  on  the  4th  of 
January,  1784.  By  the  second  article  of  the  defi- 
nite treaty  of  1783,  the  boundaries  of  the  United 
States  were  fixed.  A  glance  at  the  map  of  that 
day  shows  the  boundary  to  have  been  as  follows: 
Beginning  at  Passamaquoddy  Bay,  on  the  coast  of 
Maine,  the  line  ran  north  a  little  above  the  forty- 
fifth  parallel  of  latitude,  when  it  diverged  southwest- 
erly, irregularly,  until  it  reached  that  parallel,  when 
it  followed  it  until  it  reached  the  St.  Lawrence  River. 
It  followed  that  river  to  Lake  Ontario,  down  its 
center ;  up  the  Niagara  River  ;  through  Lake  Erie, 


up  the  Detroit  River  and  through  Lakes  Huron  and 
Superior,  to  the  northwest  extremity  of  the  latter. 
Then  it  pursued  another  irregular  western  course 
to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  when  it  turned  south- 
ward to  the  Mississippi  River.  The  commissioners 
insisted  that  should  be  the  western  boundary,  as 
the  lakes  were  the  northern.  It  followed  the  Mis- 
sissippi south  until  the  mouth  of  Red  River  was 
reached,  when,  turning  east,  it  followed  almost  a 
direct  line  to  the  Atlantic  Coast,  touching  the 
coast  a  little  north  of  the  outlet  of  St.  John's 
River. 

From  this  outline,  it  will  be  readily  seen  what 
boundary  the  United  States  possessed.  Not  one- 
half  of  its  present  domain. 

At  this  date,  there  existed  the  original  thirteen 
colonies :  Virginia  occupying  all  Kentucky  and 
all  the  Northwest,  save  about  half  of  Michigan  and 
Wisconsin,  claimed  by  Massachusetts ;  and  the  upper 
part  of  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois,  and  the  lower 
part  (a  narrow  strip)  of  Michigan,  claimed  by  Con- 
necticut. Georgia  included  all  of  Alabama  and 
Mississippi.  The  Spaniards  claimed  all  Florida 
and  a  narrow  part  of  lower  Georgia.  All  the  coun- 
try west  of  the  Father  of  Waters  belonged  to  Spain, 
to  whom  it  had  been  secretly  ceded  when  the  fam- 
ily compact  was  made.  That  nation  controlled  the 
Mississippi,  and  gave  no  small  uneasiness  to  the 
young  government.  It  was,  however,  happily  set- 
tled finally,  by  the  sale  of  Louisana  to  the  United 
States. 

Pending  the  settlement  of  these  questions  and 
the  formation  of  the  Federal  Union,  the  cession  of 
the  Northwest  by  Virginia  again  came  before 
Congress.  That  body  found  itself  unable  to  fulfill 
its  promises  to  its  soldiers  regarding  land,  and 
again  urged  the  Old  Dominion  to  cede  the  Terri- 
tory to  the  General  Government,  for  the  good  of 
all.  Congress  forbade  settlers  from  occupying  the 
Western  lands  till  a  definite  cession  had  been 
made,  and  the  title  to  the  lands  in  question  made 
good.  But  speculation  was  stronger  than  law, 
and  without  waiting  for  the  slow  processes  of  courts, 


^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


61 


the  adventurous  settlers  were  pouring  into  the 
country  at  a  rapid  rate,  only  retarded  by  the  rifle 
and  scalping-knife  of  the  savage — a  temporary 
check.  The  policy  of  allowing  any  parties  to  obtain 
land  from  the  Indians  was  strongly  discouraged 
by  Washington.  He  advocated  the  idea  that  only 
the  General  Government  could  do  that,  and,  in  a 
letter  to  James  Duane,  in  Congress,  he  strongly 
urged  such  a  course,  and  pointed  out  the  danger 
of  a  border  war,  unless  some  such  measure  was 
stringently  followed. 

Under  the  circumstances,  Congress  pressed  the 
claims  of  cession  upon  Virginia,  and  finally  in- 
duced the  Dominion  to  modify  the  terms  proposed 
two  years  before.  On  the  20th  of  December, 
1783,  Virginia  accepted  the  proposal  of  Congress, 
and  authorized  her  delegates  to  make  a  deed  to 
the  United  States  of  all  her  right  in  the  territory 
northwest  of  the  Ohio. 

The  Old  Dominion  stipulated  in  her  deed  of 
cession,  that  the  territory  should  be  divided  into 
States,  to  be  admitted  into  the  Union  as  any  other 
State,  and  to  bear  a  proportionate  share  in  the 
maintenance  of  that  Union;  that  Virginia  should 
be  re-imbursed  for  the  expense  incurred  in  subduing 
the  British  posts  in  the  territory;  that  the  French 
and  Canadian  inhabitants  should  be  protected  in  their 
rights ;  that  the  grant  to  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clarke 
and  his  men,  as  well  as  all  other  similar  grants, 
should  be  confirmed,  and  that  the  lands  should  be 
considered  as  the  common  property  of  the  United 
States,  the  proceeds  to  be  applied  to  the  use  of  the 
whole  country.  Congress  accepted  these  condi- 
tions, and  the  deed  was  made  March  1,  1784. 
Thus  the  country  came  from  under  the  dominion 
of  Virginia,  and  became  common  property. 

A  serious  difficulty  arose  about  this  time,  that 
threatened  for  awhile  to  involve  England  and 
America  anew  in  war.  Virginia  and  several 
other  States  refused  to  abide  by  that  part  of  the 
treaty  relating  to  the  payment  of  debts,  especially 
so,  when  the  British  carried  away  quite  a  number 
of  negroes  claimed  by  the  Americans.  This  re- 
fusal on  the  part  of  the  Old  Dominion  and  her 
abettors,  caused  the  English  to  retain  her  North- 
western outposts,  Detroit,  Mackinaw,  etc.  She 
held  these  till  1786,  when  the  questions  were 
finally  settled,  and  then  readily  abandoned  them. 

The  return  of  peace  greatly  augmented  emigra- 
tion to  the  West,  especially  to  Kentucky.  When 
the  war  closed,  the  population  of  that  county  (the 
three  counties  having  been  made  one  judicial  dis- 
trict, and  Danville  designated  as  the  seat  of  gov- 


ernment) was  estimated  to  be  about  twelve  thousand. 
In  one  year,  after  the  close  of  the  war,  it  increased 
to  30,0U0,  and  steps  for  a  State  government  were 
taken.  Owing  to  the  divided  sentiment  among  its 
citizens,  its  perplexing  questions  of  land  titles 
and  proprietary  rights,  nine  conventions  were  held 
before  a  definite  course  of  action  could  be  reached. 
This  prolonged  the  time  till  1792,  when,  in  De- 
cember of  that  year,  the  election  for  persons  to 
form  a  State  constitution  was  held,  and  the  vexed 
and  complicated  questions  settled.  In  1783,  the 
first  wagons  bearing  merchandise  came  across  the 
mountains.  Their  contents  were  received  on  flat- 
boats  at  Pittsburgh,  and  taken  down  the  Ohio  to 
Louisville,  which  that  spring  boasted  of  a  store, 
opened  by  Daniel  Broadhead.  The  next  year, 
James  Wilkinson  opened  one  at  Lexington. 

Pittsburgh  was  now  the  principal  town  in  the 
West.  It  occupied  the  same  position  regarding 
the  outposts  that  Omaha  has  done  for  several  years 
to  Nebra.ska.  The  town  of  Pittsburgh  was  laid 
out  immediately  after  the  war  of  1764,  by  Col. 
Campbell.  It  then  consisted  of  four  squares  about 
the  fort,  and  received  its  name  from  that  citadel. 
The  treaty  with  the  Six  Nations  in  1768,  con- 
veyed to  the  proprietaries  of  Pennsylvania  all  the 
lands  of  the  Alleghany  below  Kittanning,  and  all 
the  country  south  of  the  Ohio,  within  the  limits  of 
Penn's  charter.  This  deed  of  cession  was  recog- 
nized when  the  line  between  Pennsylvania  and 
Virginia  was  fixed,  and  gave  the  post  to  the  Key- 
stone State.  In  accordance  with  this  deed,  the 
manor  of  Pittsburgh  was  withdrawn  from  market 
in  1769,  and  was  held  as  the  property  of  the  Penn 
family.  When  Washington  visited  it  in  1770,  it 
seems  to  have  declined  in  consequence  of  the 
afore-mentioned  act.  He  mentions  it  as  a  "  town  of 
about  twenty  log  houses,  on  the  Monongahela, 
about  three  hundred  yards  from  the  fort."  The 
Penn's  remained  true  to  the  King,  and  hence  all 
their  land  that  had  not  been  surveyed  and  returned 
to  the  land  office,  was  confiscated  by  the  common- 
wealth. Pittsburgh,  having  been  surveyed,  was 
still  left  to  them.  In  the  spring  of  1784,  Tench 
Francis,  the  agent  of  the  Penns,  was  induced  to 
lay  out  the  manor  into  lots  and  offer  them  for  sale. 
Though,  for  many  years,  the  place  was  rather  un- 
promising, it  eventually  became  the  chief  town  in 
that  part  of  the  West,  a  position  it  yet  holds.  In 
1786,  John  Scull  and  Joseph  Hall  started  the 
Pittsburgh  Gazette,  the  first  paper  published  west 
of  the  mountains.  In  the  initial  number,  appeared  a 
lengthy  article  from  the  pen  of  H.  H.  Brackenridge, 


-^1 Si 


63 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


afterward  one  of  the  most  prominent  members 
of  the  Pennsylvania  bar.  He  had  located  in 
Pittsburgh  in  1781.  His  letter  gives  a  most  hope- 
ful prospect  in  store  for  the  future  city,  and  is  a 
highly  descriptive  article  of  the  Western  country. 
It  is  yet  preserved  in  the  "Western  Annals,"  and 
is  well  worth  a  perusal. 

Under  the  act  of  peace  in  1783,  no  provision  was 
made  by  the  British  for  their  allies,  especially  the 
Six  Nations.  The  question  was  ignored  by  the 
English,  and  was  made  a  handle  by  the  Americans 
in  gaining  them  to  their  cause  before  the  war  had 
fully  closed.  The  treaties  made  were  regarded  by 
the  Indians  as  alliances  only,  and  when  the  En- 
glish left  the  country  the  Indians  began  to  assume 
rather  a  hostile  bearing.  This  excited  the  whites, 
and  for  a  while  a  war  with  that  formidable  con- 
federacy was  imminent.  Better  councils  prevailed, 
and  Congress  wisely  adopted  the  policy  of  acquiring 
their  lands  by  purchase.  In  accordance  with  this 
policy,  a  treaty  was  made  at  Fort  Stanwix  with 
the  Six  Nations,  in  October,  1784.  By  this  treaty, 
all  lands  west  of  a  line  drawn  from  the  mouth  of 
Oswego  Creek,  about  four  miles  east  of  Niagara, 
to  the  mouth  of  Buffalo  Creek,  and  on  to  the 
northern  boundary  of  Pennsylvania,  thence  west 
along  that  boundary  to  its  western  extremity, 
thence  south  to  the  Ohio  River,  should  be  ceded 
to  the  United  States.  (They  claimed  west  of  this  line 
by  conquest.)  The  Six  Nations  were  to  be  secured 
in  the  lands  they  inhabited,  reserving  only  six  miles 
square  around  Oswego  fort  for  the  support  of  the 
same.  By  this  treaty,  the  indefinite  claim  of  the 
Six  Nations  to  the  West  was  extinguished,  and  the 
question  of  its  ownership  settled. 

It  was  now  occupied  by  other  Western  tribes, 
who  did  not  recognize  the  Iroquois  claim,  and  who 
would  not  yield  without  a  purchase.  Especially 
was  this  the  case  with  those  Indians  living  in  the 
northern  part.  To  get  possession  of  that  country 
by  the  same  process,  the  United  States,  through 
its  commissioners,  held  a  treaty  at  Fort  Mcintosh 
on  the  21st  of  January,  1785.  The  Wyandot, 
Delaware,  Chippewa  and  Ottawa  tribes  were  pres- 
ent, and,  through  their  chiefs,  sold  their  lands  to 
the  Government.  The  Wyandot  and  Delaware 
nations  were  given  a  reservation  in  the  north  part 
of  Ohio,  where  they  were  to  be  protected.  The 
others  were  allotted  reservations  in  Michigan.  To 
all  was  given  complete  control  of  their  lands,  allow- 
ing them  to  punish  any  white  man  attempting  to 
settle  thereon,  and  guaranteeing  them  in  their 
rights. 


By  such  means  Congress  gained  Indian  titles  to 
the  vast  realms  north  of  the  Ohio,  and,  a  few 
months  later,  that  legislation  was  commenced  that 
should  determine  the  mode  of  its  disposal  and  the 
plan  of  its  settlements. 

To  facilitate  the  settlement  of  lands  thus  acquired, 
Congress,  on  May  20, 1785,  passed  an  act  for  dispos- 
ing of  lands  in  the  Northwest  Territory.  Its  main 
provisions  were :  A  surveyor  or  surveyors  should  be 
appointed  from  the  States ;  and  a  geographer,  and 
his  assistants  to  act  with  them.  The  surveyors 
were  to  divide  the  territory  into  townships  of  six 
miles  square,  by  lines  running  due  north  and 
south,  and  east  and  west.  The  starting-place 
was  to  be  on  the  Ohio  River,  at  a  point  where  the 
western  boundary  of  Pennsylvania  crossed  it. 
This  would  give  the  first  range,  and  the  first 
township.  As  soon  as  seven  townships  were 
surveyed,  the  maps  and  plats  of  the  same  were  to 
be  sent  to  the  Board  of  the  Treasury,  who  would 
record  them  and  proceed  to  place  the  land  in  the 
market,  and  so  on  with  all  the  townships  as  fast  as 
they  could  be  prepared  ready  for  sale.  Each  town- 
ship was  to  be  divided  into  thirty-six  sections,  or 
lots.  Out  of  these  sections,  numbers  8,  11,  26  and 
29  were  reserved  for  the  use  of  the  Government, 
and  lot  No.  16,  for  the  establishment  of  a  common- 
school  fund.  One-third  of  all  mines  and  minerals  was 
also  reserved  for  the  United  States.  Three  townships 
on  Lake  Erie  were  reserved  for  the  use  of  officers, 
men  and  others,  refiigees  from  Canada  and  from 
Nova  Scotia,  who  were  entitled  to  grants  of  land. 
The  Moravian  Indians  were  also  exempt  from 
molestation,  and  guaranteed  in  their  homes.  Sol- 
diers' claims,  and  all  others  of  a  like  nature,  were 
also  recognized,  and  land  reserved  for  them. 

Without  waiting  for  the  act  of  Congress,  settlers 
had  been  pouring  into  the  country,  and,  when  or- 
dered by  Congress  to  leave  undisturbed  Indian 
lands,  refused  to  do  so.  They  went  into  the  In- 
dian country  at  their  peril,  however,  and  when 
driven  out  by  the  Indians  could  get  no  redress 
from  the  Government,  even  when  life  was  lost. 

The  Indians  on  the  Wabash  made  a  treaty  at 
Fort  Finney,  on  the  Miami,  January  31,  1786, 
promising  allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  were 
allowed  a  reservation.  This  treaty  did  not  include 
the  Piankeshaws,  as  was  at  first  intended.  These, 
refusing  to  live  peaceably,  stirred  up  the  Shawa- 
nees,  who  began  a  series  of  predatory  excursions 
against  the  settlements.  This  led  to  an  expedition 
against  them  and  other  restless  tribes.  Gen.  Clarke 
commanded  part  of  the  army  on  that  expedition. 


liL 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


65 


but  got  no  farther  than  Vincennes,  when,  owing  to 
the  discontent  of  his  Kentucky  troops,  he  was 
obliged  to  return.  Col.  Benjamin  Logan,  how- 
ever, marched,  at  the  head  of  four  or  five  hundred 
mounted  riflemen,  into  the  Indian  country,  pene- 
trating as  far  as  the  head-waters  of  Mad  River. 
He  destroyed  several  towns,  much  corn,  and  took 
about  eighty  prisoners.  Among  these,  was  the 
chief  of  the  nation,  who  was  wantonly  slain, 
greatly  to  Logan's  regret,  who  could  not  restrain 
his  men.  His  expedition  taught  the  Indians  sub- 
mission, and  that  they  must  adhere  to  their  con- 
tracts. 

Meanwhile,  the  difficulties  of  the  navigation  of 
the  Mississippi  arose.  Spain  would  not  relinquish 
the  right  to  control  the  entire  southern  part  of  the 
river,  allowing  no  free  navigation.  She  was  secretly 
hoping  to  cause  a  revolt  of  the  Western  provinces, 
especially  Kentucky,  and  openly  favored  such  a 
move.  She  also  claimed,  by  conquest,  much  of  the 
land  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  The  slow  move- 
ments of  Congress;  the  failure  of  Virginia  to 
properly  protect  Kentucky,  and  the  inherent  rest- 
lessness in  some  of  the  Western  men,  well-nigh 
precipitated  matters,  and,  for  a  while,  serious  results 
were  imminent.  The  Kentuckians,  and,  indeed, 
all  the  people  of  the  West,  were  determined  the 
river  should  be  free,  and  even  went  so  far  as  to 
raise  a  regiment,  and  forcibly  seize  Spanish  prop- 
erty in  the  West.  Great  Britain  stood  ready,  too, 
to  aid  the  West  should  it  succeed,  providing  it 
would  make  an  alliance  with  her.  But  while  the 
excitement  was  at  its  height,  Washington  coun- 
seled better  ways  and  patience.  The  decisive  tone 
of  the  new  republic,  though  almost  overwhelmed 
with  a  burden  of  debt,  and  with  no  credit,  debarred 
the  Spanish  from  too  forcible  measures  to  assert 
their  claims,  and  held  back  the  disloyal  ones  from 
attempting  a  revolt. 

New  Y^ork,  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  ceded 
their  lands,  and  now  the  United  States  were  ready 
to  fulfill  their  promises  of  land  grants,  to  the  sol- 
diers who  had  preserved  the  nation.  This  did 
much  to  heal  the  breach  in  the  West,  and  restore 
confidence  there ;  so  that  the  Mississippi  question 
was  overlooked  for  a  time,  and  Kentucky  forgot  her 
animosities. 

The  cession  of  their  claims  was  the  signal  for 
the  formation  of  land  companies  in  the  East ;  com- 
panies whose  object  was  to  settle  the  Western  coun- 
try, and,  at  the  same  time,  enrich  the  founders  of 
the  companies.  Some  of  these  companies  had  been 
formed  in  the  old  colonial  days,  but  the  recent  war 


had  put  a  stop  to  all  their  proceedings.  Congress 
would  not  recognize  their  claims,  and  new  com- 
panies, under  old  names,  were  the  result.  By  such 
means,  the  Ohio  Company  emerged  from  the  past, 
and,  in  1786,  took  an  active  existence. 

Benjamin  Tupper,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and 
since  then  a  government  surveyor,  who  had  been 
west  as  far  as  Pittsburgh,  revived  the  question. 
He  was  prevented  from  prosecuting  his  surveys  by 
hostile  Indians,  and  returned  to  Massachusetts. 
He  broached  a  plan  to  Gen.  Bufus  Putnam,  as  to 
the  renewal  of  their  memorial  of  1788,  which  re- 
sulted in  the  publication  of  a  plan,  and  inviting  all 
those  interested,  to  meet  in  February  in  their  re- 
spective counties,  and  choose  delegates  to  a  con- 
vention to  be  held  at  the  "  Bunch-of-grapes  Tav- 
ern." in  Boston,  on  the  first  of  March,  1786.  On 
the  day  appointed,  eleven  persons  appeared,  and 
by  the  3d  of  March  an  outline  was  drawn  up,  and 
subscriptions  under  it  began  at  once.  The  leading 
features  of  the  plan  were  :  "  A  fund  of  $1 ,000,000, 
mainly  in  Continental  certificates,  was  to  be  raised 
for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  lands  in  the  Western 
country;  there  were  to  be  1,000  shares  of  $1,000 
each,  and  upon  each  share  $10  in  specie  were  to 
be  paid  for  contingent  expenses.  One  year's  inter- 
est was  to  be  appropriated  to  the  charges  of  making 
a  settlement,  and  assisting  those  unable  to  move 
without  aid.  The  owners  of  every  twenty  shares 
were  to  choose  an  agent  to  represent  them  and 
attend  to  their  interests,  and  the  agents  were  to 
choose  the  directors.  The  plan  was  approved,  and 
in  a  year's  time  from  that  date,  the  Company  was 
organized."* 

By  the  time  this  Company  was  organized,  all 
claims  of  the  colonies  in  the  coveted  territory  were 
done  away  with  by  their  deeds  of  cession,  Connect- 
icut being  the  last. 

While  troubles  were  still  existing  south  of  the 
Ohio  River,  regarding  the  navigation  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  many  urged  the  formation  of  a  sepa- 
rate, independent  State,  and  while  Congress  and 
Washington  were  doing  what  they  could  to  allay 
the  feeling  north  of  the  Ohio,  the  New  England 
associates  were  busily  engaged,  now  that  a  Com- 
pany was  formed,  to  obtain  the  land  they  wished 
to  purchase.  On  the  8th  of  March,  1787,  a  meet- 
ing of  the  agents  chose  Gen.  Parsons,  Gen.  Put- 
nam and  the  Rev.  Mannasseh  Cutler,  Directors  for 
the  Company.  The  last  selection  was  quite  a 
fitting  one  for  such  an  enterprise.     Dr.  Cutler  was 


*  Historical  CoUectionB. 


'^ 


66 


HISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


an  accomplished  scholar,  an  excellent  •gentleman, 
and  a  firm  believer  in  freedom.  In  the  choice  of 
him  as  the  agent  of  the  Company,  lies  the  fact, 
though  unforeseen,  of  the  beginning  of  anti-slavery 
in  America.  Through  him  the  famous  "  compact 
of  1787,"  the  true  corner-stone  of  the  Northwest, 
originated,  and  by  him  was  safely  passed.  He 
was  a  good  "wire-puller,"  too,  and  in  this  had  an 
advantage.  Mr.  Hutchins  was  at  this  time  the 
geographer  for  the  United  States,  and  was,  prob- 
ably, the  best-posted  man  in  America  regarding 
the  West.  Dr.  Cutler  learned  from  him  that  the 
mo.st  desirable  portions  were  on  the  Muskingum 
River,  north  of  the  Ohio,  and  was  advised  by  him 
to  buy  there  if  he  couH. 

Congress  wanted  money  badly,  and  many  of  the 
members  favored  the  plan.  The  Southern  mem- 
bers, generally,  were  hostile  to  it,  as  the  Doctor 
would  listen  to  no  grant  which  did  not  embody 
the  New  England  ideas  in  the  charter.  These 
members  were  finally  won  over,  some  bribery  be- 
ing used,  and  some  of  their  favorites  made  officers 
of  the  Territory,  whose  formation  was  now  going 
on.  This  took  time,  however,  and  Dr.  Cutler,  be- 
coming impatient,  declared  they  would  purchase 
from  some  of  the  States,  who  held  small  tracts  in 
various  parts  of  the  West.  This  intimation  brought 
the  tardy  ones  to  time,  and,  on  the  23d  of  July, 
Congress  authorized  the  Treasury  Board  to  make 
the  contract.  On  the  26th,  Messrs.  Cutler  and 
Sargent,  on  behalf  of  the  Company,  stated  in 
writing  their  conditions;  and  on  the  27th,  Con- 
gress referred  their  letter  to  the  Board,  and  an 
order  of  the  same  date  was  obtained.  Of  this  Dr. 
Cutler's  journal  says: 

"  By  this  grant  we  obtained  near  five  millions 
of  acres  of  land,  amounting  to  $3,500,000 ;  1 ,500,- 
000  acres  for  the  Ohio  Company,  and  the  remainder 
for  a  private  speculation,  in  which  many  of  the 
principal  characters  of  America  are  concerned. 
Without  connecting  this  peculation,  similar  terms 
and  advantages  for  the  Ohio  Company  could  not 
have  been  obtained." 

Messrs.  Cutler  and  Sargent  at  once  closed  a  ver- 
bal contract  with  the  Treasury  Board,  which  was 
executed  in  form  on  the  27th  of  the  next  Octo- 
ber.* 

By  this  contract,  the  vast  region  bounded  on  the 
south  by  the  Ohio,  west  by  the  Scioto,  east  by  the 
seventh  range  of  townships  then  surveying,  and 
north  by  a  due  west  line,  drawn  from  the  north 

*  Land  Laws. 


boundary  of  the  tenth  township  from  the  Ohio, 
direct  to  the  Scioto,  was  sold  to  the  Ohio  associ- 
ates and  their  secret  copartners,  for  $1  per  acre, 
subject  to  a  deduction  of  one-third  for  bad  lands 
and  other  contingencies. 

The  whole  tract  was  not,  however,  paid  for  nor 
taken  by  the  Company — even  their  own  portion  of 
a  million  and  a  half  acres,  and  extending  west  to  the 
eighteenth  range  of  townships,  was  not  taken ;  and 
in  1792,  the  boundaries  of  the  purchase  proper 
were  fixed  as  follows:  the  Ohio  on  the  south,  the 
seventh  range  of  townships  on  the  east,  the  six- 
teenth range  on  the  west,  and  a  line  on  the  north 
so  drawn  as  to  make  the  grant  750,000  acres,  be- 
sides reservations ;  this  grant  being  the  portion 
which  it  was  originally  agreed  the  Company  might 
enter  into  at  once.  In  addition  to  this,  214,285 
acres  were  granted  as  army  bounties,  under  the 
resolutions  of  1779  and  1780,  and  100,000  acres 
as  bounties  to  actual  settlers;  both  of  the  latter 
tracts  being  within  the  original  grant  of  1787,  and 
adjoining  the  purchase  as  before  mentioned. 

While  these  things  were  progressing.  Congress 
was  bringing  into  form  an  ordinance  for  the  gov- 
ernment and  social  organization  of  the  North- 
west Territory.  Virginia  made  her  cession  in 
March,  1784,  and  during  the  month  following  the 
plan  for  the  temporary  government  of  the  newly 
acquired  territory  came  under  discussion.  On  the 
19th  of  April,  Mr.  Spaight,  of  North  Carolina, 
moved  to  strike  from  the  plan  reported  by  Mr. 
Jefferson,  the  emancipationist  of  his  day,  a  provis- 
ion for  the  prohibition  of  slavery  north  of  the  Ohio 
after  the  year  1800.  The  motion  prevailed.  From 
that  day  till  the  23d,  the  plan  was  discussed  and 
altered,  and  finally  passed  unanimously  with  the  ex- 
ception of  South  Carolina.  The  South  would  have 
slavery,  or  defeat  every  measure.  Thus  this  hide- 
ous monster  early  began  to  assert  himself.  By  the 
proposed  plan,  the  Territory  was  to  have  been 
divided  into  States  by  parallels  of  latitude  and  merid- 
ian lines.  This  division,  it  was  thought,  would  make 
ten  States,  whose  names  were  as  follows,  beginning 
at  the  northwest  corner,  and  going  southwardly : 
Sylvania,  Michigania,  Cheresonisus,  Assenispia, 
Metropotamia,  Illinoia,  Saratoga,  Washington, 
Polypotamia  and  Pelisipia.* 

A  more  serious  difficulty  existed,  however,  to 
this  plan,  than  its  catalogue  of  names — the  number 
of  States  and  their  boundaries.  The  root  of  the  evil 
was  in  the  resolution  passed  by  Congress  in  October, 

*  Spark's  Washington. 


:ii 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


67 


1 780,  which  fixed  the  size  of  the  States  to  be  formed 
from  the  ceded  lands,  at  one  hundred  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  square.  The  terms  of  that  resolu- 
tion being  called  up  both  by  Virginia  and  Massa- 
chusetts, further  legislation  was  deemed  necessary 
to  change  them.  July  7,  1786,  this  subject  came 
up  in  Congress,  and  a  resolution  passed  in  favor  of 
a  division  into  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than 
five  States.  Virginia,  at  the  close  of  1788,  assented 
to  this  proposition,  which  became  the  basis  upon 
which  the  division  should  be  made.  On  the  29th 
of  September,  Congress  having  thus  changed  the 
plan  for  dividing  the  Northwestern  Territory  into 
ten  States,  proceeded  again  to  consider  the  terms  of 
an  ordinance  for  the  government  of  that  region.  At 
this  juncture,  the  genius  of  Dr.  Cutler  displayed 
itself  A  graduate  in  medicine,  law  and  divinity  ; 
an  ardent  lover  of  liberty ;  a  celebrated  scientist, 
and  an  accomplished,  portly  gentleman,  of  whom 
the  Southern  senators  said  they  had  never  before 
seen  so  fine  a  specimen  from  the  New  England  colo- 
nies, no  man  was  better  prepared  to  form  a  govern- 
ment for  the  new  Territory,  than  he.  The  Ohio 
Company  was  his  real  object.  He  was  backed  by 
them,  and  enough  Continental  money  to  purchase 
more  than  a  million  acres  of  land.  This  was  aug- 
mented by  other  parties  until,  as  has  been  noticed, 
he  represented  over  five  million  acres.  This  would 
largely  reduce  the  public  debt.  Jefi'erson  and  Vir- 
ginia were  regarded  as  authority  concerning  the 
land  Virginia  had  just  ceded  to  the  Greneral  Gov- 
ernment. Jefferson's  policy  was  to  provide  for  the 
national  credit,  and  still  check  the  growth  of  slavery. 
Here  was  a  good  opportunity.  Massachusetts 
owned  the  Territory  of  Maine,  which  she  was  crowd- 
ing into  market.  She  opposed  the  opening  of 
the  Northwest.  This  stirred  Virginia.  The  South 
caught  the  inspiration  and  rallied  around  the  Old 
Dominion  and  Dr.  Cutler.  Thereby  he  gained  the 
credit  and  good  will  of  the  South,  an  auxiliary  he 
used  to  good  purpose.  Massachusetts  could  not 
vote  against  him,  because  many  of  the  constituents 
of  her  members  were  interested  in  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany. Thus  the  Doctor,  using  all  the  arts  of  the 
lobbyist,  was  enabled  to  hold  the  situation.  True  to 
deeper  convictions,  he  dictated  one  of  the  most  com- 
pact and  finished  documents  of  wise  statesmanship 
that  has  ever  adorned  any  statute-book.  Jefferson 
gave  it  the  term,  "Articles  of  Compact,"  and 
rendered  him  valuable  aid  in  its  construction.  This 
"  Compact"  preceded  the  Federal  Constitution,  in 
both  of  which  are  seen  Jefferson's  master-mind. 
Dr.  Cutler  followed  closely  the  constitution  of  Mas- 


sachusetts, adopted  three  years  before.  The  prom- 
inent features  were  :  The  exclusion  of  slavery  from 
the  Territory  forever.  Provision  for  public  schools, 
giving  one  township  for  a  seminary,  and  eveiy  six- 
teenth section.  (That  gave  one  thirty-sixth  of  all 
the  land  for  public  education.)  A  provision  pro- 
hibiting the  adoption  of  any  constitution  or  the 
enactment  of  any  law  that  would  nullify  pre-exist- 
ing contracts. 

The  compact  further  declared  that  "  Religion, 
morality  and  knowledge  being  necessary  to  good 
government  and  the  happiness  of  mankind,  schools 
and  the  means  of  education  shall  always  be  en- 
couraged." 

The  Doctor  planted  himself  firmly  on  this  plat- 
form, and  would  not  yield.  It  was  that  or  nothing. 
Unless  they  could  make  the  land  desirable ,  it  was 
not  wanted,  and,  taking  his  horse  and  buggy,  he 
started  for  the  Constitutional  Convention  in  Phil- 
adelphia. His  influence  succeeded.  On  the  13th 
of  July,  1787,  the  bill  was  put  upon  its  passage 
and  was  unanimously  adopted.  Every  member 
from  the  South  voted  for  it ;  only  one  man,  Mr. 
Yates,  of  New  York,  voted  against  the  measure ; 
but  as  the  vote  was  made  by  States,  his  vote  was 
lost,  and  the  "  Compact  of  1787  "  was  beyond  re- 
peal. Thus  the  great  States  of  the  Northwest 
Territory  were  consecrated  to  freedom,  intelligence 
and  morality.  This  act  was  the  opening  step  for 
freedom  in  America.  Soon  the  South  saw  their 
blunder,  and  endeavored,  by  all  their  power,  to  re- 
peal the  compact.  In  1803,  Congress  referred  it 
to  a  committee,  of  which  John  Randolph  was 
chairman.  He  reported  the  ordinance  was  a  com- 
pact and  could  not  be  repealed.  Thus  it  stood, 
like  a  rock,  in  the  way  of  slavery,  which  still,  in 
spite  of  these  provisions,  endeavored  to  plant  that 
infernal  institution  in  the  West.  Witness  the 
early  days  of  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois.  But  the 
compact  could  not  be  violated  ;  New  England  ideas 
could  not  be  put  down,  and  her  sons  stood  ready 
to  defend  the  soil  of  the  West  from  that  curse. 

The  passage  of  the  ordinance  and  the  grant  of 
land  to  Dr.  Cutler  and  his  associates,  were  soon  fol- 
lowed by  a  request  from  John  Cleve  Symmes,  of 
New  Jersey,  for  the  country  between  the  Miamis. 
Symmes  had  visited  that  part  of  the  West  in  178G, 
and,  being  pleased  with  the  valleys  of  the  Miamis, 
had  applied  to  the  Board  of  the  Treasury  for 
their  purchase,  as  soon  as  they  were  open  to  set- 
tlement. The  Board  was  empowered  to  act  by 
Congress,  and,  in  1788,  a  contract  was  signed,  giv- 
ing him  the  country  he  desired.     The  terms  of  his 


j<, 


:\: 


J^l 


G8 


HISTOEY   OF    OHIO. 


purchase  were  similar  to  those  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany. His  appHcation  was  followed  by  others, 
whose  success  or  failure  will  appear  in  the  narrative. 

The  New  England  or  Ohio  Company  was  all 
this  time  busily  engaged  perfecting  its  arrange- 
ments to  occupy  its  lands.  The  Directors  agreed 
to  reserve  5,760  acres  near  the  confluence  of  the 
Ohio  and  Muskingum  for  a  city  and  commons,  for 
the  old  ideas  of  the  English  plan  of  settling  a 
country  yet  prevailed.  A  meeting  of  the  Direct- 
ors was  held  at  Bracket's  tavern,  in  Boston,  No- 
vember 23,  1787,  when  four  surveyors,  and  twen- 
ty-two attendants,  boat-builders,  carpenters,  black- 
smiths and  common  workmen,  numbering  in  all 
forty  persons,  were  engaged.  Their  tools  were 
purchased,  and  wagons  were  obtained  to  transport 
them  across  the  mountains.  Gen.  Rufus  Putnam 
was  made  superintendent  of  the  company,  and 
Ebenezer  Sproat,  of  Rhode  Island,  Anselm  Tup- 
per  and  John  Matthews,  from  Massachusetts,  and 
R.  J.  Meigs,  from  Connecticut,  as  surveyors.  At 
the  same  meeting,  a  suitable  person  to  instruct  them 
in  religion,  and  prepare  the  way  to  open  a  school 
when  needed,  was  selected.  This  was  Rev.  Daniel 
Storey,  who  became  the  first  New  England  minis- 
ter in  the  Northwest. 

The  Indians  were  watching  this  outgrowth  of 
affairs,  and  felt,  from  what  they  could  learn  in  Ken- 
tucky, that  they  would  be  gradually  surrounded  by 
the  whites.  This  they  did  not  relish,  by  any 
means,  and  gave  the  settlements  south  of  the  Ohio 
no  little  uneasiness.  It  was  thought  best  to  hold 
another  treaty  with  them.  In  the  mean  time,  to 
insure  peace,  the  Grovernor  of  Virginia,  and  Con- 
gress, placed  troops  at  Venango,  Forts  Pitt  and 
Mcintosh,  and  at  Miami,  Vincennes,  Louisville, 
and  Muskingum,  and  the  militia  of  Kentucky 
were  held  in  readiness  should  a  sudden  outbreak 
occur.  These  measures  produced  no  results,  save 
insuring  the  safety  of  the  whites,  and  not  until 
January,  1789,  was  Clarke  able  to  carry  out  his 
plans.  During  that  month,  he  held  a  meeting  at  Fort 
Harmar,*  at  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum,  where 
the  New  England  Colony  expected  to  locate. 

The  hostile  character  of  the  Indians  did  not 
deter  the  Ohio  Company  from  carrying  out  its 
plans.     In  the  winter  of  1787,  Gen.   Rufus  Put- 


*FortIIarmar  was  built  in  1785,  by  a  detachment  of  TJni  tod  States 
soldiers,  under  command  of  Maj.  John  Doughty.  It  was  named  in 
honor  of  Col.  Josiah  Harmar,  to  whose  regiment  Maj.  Doughty  was 
attached.  It  was  the  first  military  post  erected  by  the  Americans 
wit'iin  the  limits  of  Ohio,  except  Fort  Laurens,  a  temporary  struct- 
ure liuilt  in  1778.  When  Marietta  was  founded  it  was  the  military 
post  of  that  part  of  the  country,  and  was  for  many  years  au  impor- 
tant station. 


nam  and  forty-seven  pioneers  advanced  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Youghiogheny  River,  and  began 
building  a  boat  for  transportation  down  the  Ohio 
in  the  spring.  The  boat  was  the  largest  craft  that 
had  ever  descended  the  river,  and,  in  allusion  to 
their  Pilgrim  Fathers,  it  was  called  the  Mayflower. 
It  was  45  feet  long  and  12  feet  wide,  and  esti- 
mated at  50  tons  burden.  Truly  a  formidable  affair 
for  the  time.  The  bows  were  raking  and  curved 
like  a  galley,  and  were  strongly  timbered.  The 
sides  were  made  bullet-proof,  and  it  was  covered 
with  a  deck  roof.  Capt.  Devol,  the  first  ship- 
builder in  the  West,  was  placed  in  command.  On 
the  2d  of  April,  the  Mayflower  was  launched, 
and  for  five  days  the  little  band  of  pioneers  sailed 
down  the  Monongahela  and  the  Ohio,  and,  on  the 
7th,  landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum. 
There,  opposite  Fort  Harmar,  they  chose  a  loca- 
tion, moored  their  boat  for  a  temporary  shelter, 
and  began  to  erect  houses  for  their  occupation. 

Thus  was  begun  the  first  English  settlement  in 
the  Ohio  Valley.  About  the  1st  of  July,  they 
were  re-enforced  by  the  arrival  of  a  colony  from 
Massachusetts.  It  had  been  nine  weeks  on  the 
way.  It  had  hauled  its  wagons  and  driven  its 
stock  to  Wheeling,  where,  constructing  flat-boats, 
it  had  floated  down  the  river  to  the  settlement. 

In  October  preceding  this  occurrence,  Arthur 
St.  Clair  had  been  appointed  Governor  of  the  Ter- 
ritory by  Congress,  which  body  also  appointed 
Winthrop  Sargent,  Secretary,  and  Samuel  H. 
Parsons,  James  M.  Varnum  and  John  Armstrong 
Judges.  Subsequently  Mr.  Armstrong  declined 
the  appointment,  and  3Ir.  Symmes  was  given  the 
vacancy.  None  of  these  were  on  the  ground 
when  the  first  settlement  was  made,  though  the 
Judges  came  soon  after.  One  of  the  first  things  the 
colony  found  necessary  to  do  was  to  organize 
some  form  of  government,  whereby  difficulties 
might  be  settled,  though  to  the  credit  of  the  colony 
it  may  be  said,  that  during  the  first  three  months 
of  its  existence  but  one  diff'erence  arose,  and  that 
was  settled  by  a  compromise.*  Indeed,  hardly  a 
better  set  of  men  for  the  purpose  could  have  been 
selected.  Washington  wrote  concerning  this 
colony : 

"  No  colony  in  America  was  ever  settled  under 
such  favorable  auspices  as  that  which  has  com- 
menced at  the  Muskingum.  Information,  prop- 
erty and  strength  will  be  its  characteristics.  I 
know  many  of  the  settlers  personally,  and  there 


♦"Western  Monthly  Magazine." 


■^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


69 


never  were  men  better  calculated  to  promote  the 
welfare  of  such  a  community." 

On  the  2d  of  July,  a  meeting  of  the  Directors 
and  agents  was  held  on  the  banks  of  the  Mus- 
kingum for  the  purpose  of  naming  the  newborn 
city  and  its  squares.  As  yet,  the  settlement  had 
been  merely  "The  Muskingum;"  but  the  name 
Marietta  was  now  formally  given  it,  in  honor  of 
Marie  Antoinette.  The  square  upon  which  the 
blockhouses  stood  was  called  Campus  Martius; 
Square  No.  19,  Capitolium ;  Square  No.  61,  Ce- 
cilia., and  the  great  road  running  through  the 
covert- way.  Sacra  Via.*  Surely,  classical  scholars 
were  not  scarce  in  the  colony. 

On  the  Fourth,  an  oration  was  delivered  by 
James  M.  Varnum,  one  of  the  Judges,  and  a 
public  demonstration  held.  Five  days  after,  the 
Governor  arrived,  and  the  colony  began  to  assume 
form.  The  ordinance  of  1787  provided  two  dis- 
tinct grades  of  government,  under  the  first  of 
which  the  whole  power  was  under  the  Governor 
and  the  three  Judges.  This  form  was  at  once 
recognized  on  the  arrival  of  St.  Clair.  The  first 
law  established  by  this  court  was  passed  on  the 
25th  of  July.  It  established  and  regulated  the 
militia  of  the  Territory.  The  next  day  after  its 
publication,  appeared  the  Governor's  proclamation 
erecting  all  the  country  that  had  been  ceded  by 
the  Indians  east  of  the  Scioto  River,  into  the 
county  of  Washington.  Marietta  was,  of  course, 
the  county  seat,  and,  from  that  day,  went  on 
prosperously.  On  September  2,  the  first  court 
was  held  with  becoming  ceremonies.  It  is  thus 
related  in  the  American  Pioneer: 

"The  procession  was  formed  at  the  Point 
(where  the  most  of  the  settlers  resided),  in  the 
following  order:  The  High  Sheriff",  with  his 
drawn  sword;  the  citizens;  the  officers  of  the 
garrison  at  Fort  Harmar;  the  members  of  the 
bar ;  the  Supreme  Judges ;  the  Governor  and 
clergyman ;  the  newly  appointed  Judges  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Gens.  Rufus  Putnam 
and  Benjamin  Tupper. 

"They  marched  up  the  path  that  had  been 
cleared  through  the  forest  to  Campus  Martius 
Hall  (stockade),  where  the  whole  countermarched, 
and  the  Judges  (Putnam  and  Tupper)  took  their 
seats.  The  clergyman,  Rev.  Dr.  Cutler,  then 
invoked  the  divine  blessing.  The  Sheriff,  Col. 
Ebenezer  Sproat,  proclaimed  with  his  solemn  '  Oh 
yes ! '  that  a  court  is  open  for  the  administration  of 

*  "  Carey's  Museum,"  Vol.  4 


even-handed  justice,  to  the  poor  and  to  the  rich, 
to  the  guilty  and  to  the  innocent,  without  respect 
of  persons;  none  to  be  punished  without  a  trial  of 
their  peers,  and  then  in  pursuance  of  the  laws  and 
evidence  in  the  case. 

"  Although  this  scene  was  exhibited  thus  early 
in  the  settlement  of  the  West,  few  ever  equaled  it 
in  the  dignity  and  exalted  character  of  its  princi- 
pal participators.  Many  of  them  belonged  to  the 
history  of  our  country  in  the  darkest,  as  well  as 
the  most  splendid,  period  of  the  Revolutionary 
war." 

Many  Indians  were  gathered  at  the  same  time 
to  witness  the  (to  them)  strange  spectacle,  and  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  a  treaty,  though  how 
far  they  carried  this  out,  the  Pioneer  does  not 
relate. 

The  progress  of  the  settlement  was  quite  satis- 
factory during  the  year.  Some  one  writing  a 
letter  from  the  town  says: 

"The  progress  of  the  settlement  is  sufficiently 
rapid  for  the  first  year.  We  are  continually  erect- 
ing houses,  but  arrivals  are  constantly  coming 
faster  than  we  can  possibly  provide  convenient 
covering.  Our  first  ball  was  opened  about  the 
middle  of  December,  at  which  were  fifteen  ladies, 
as  well  accomplished  in  the  manner  of  polite 
circles  as  any  I  have  ever  seen  in  the  older  States. 
I  mention  this  to  show  the  progress  of  society  in 
this  new  world,  where,  I  believe,  we  shall  vie  with, 
if  not  excel,  the  old  States  in  every  accom- 
plishment necessary  to  render  life  agreeable  and 
happy." 

The  emigration  westward  at  this  time  was, 
indeed,  exceedingly  large.  The  commander  at 
Fort  Harmar  reported  4,500  persons  as  having 
passed  that  post  between  February  and  June, 
1788,  many  of  whom  would  have  stopped  there, 
had  the  associates  been  prepared  to  receive  them. 
The  settlement  was  fi-ee  from  Indian  depredations 
until  January,  1791,  during  which  interval  it 
daily  increased  in  numbers  and  strength. 

Symmes  and  his  friends  were  not  idle  during  this 
time.  He  had  secured  his  contract  in  October, 
1787,  and,  soon  after,  issued  a  pamphlet  stating 
the  terms  of  his  purchase  and  the  mode  he  intended 
to  follow  in  the  disposal  of  the  lands.  His  plan 
was,  to  issue  warrants  for  not  less  than  one-quarter 
section,  which  might  be  located  anywhere,  save  on 
reservations,  or  on  land  previously  entered.  The 
locator  could  enter  an  entire  section  should  he  de- 
sire to  do  so.  The  price  was  to  be  60f  cents  per 
acre  till  May,  1788  ;  then,  till  November,  SI ;  and 


70 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


after  that  time  to  be  regulated  by  the  demand  for 
hind.  Each  purchaser  was  bound  to  begin  im- 
provements within  two  years,  or  forfeit  one-sixth 
of  the  land  to  whoever  would  settle  thereon  and 
remain  seven  years.  Military  bounties  might  be 
taken  in  this,  as  in  the  purchase  of  the  associates. 
For  himself,  Symmes  reserved  one  township  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Miami.  On  this  he  intended  to 
build  a  great  city,  rivaling  any  Eastern  port.  He 
offered  any  one  a  lot  on  which  to  build  a  house, 
providing  he  would  remain  three  years.  Conti- 
nental certificates  were  rising,  owing  to  the  demand 
for  land  created  by  these  two  purchases,  and  Con- 
gress found  the  burden  of  debt  correspondingly 
lessened.  Symmes  soon  began  to  experience  diffi- 
culty in  procuring  enough  to  meet  his  payments. 
He  had  also  some  trouble  in  arranging  his  boundary 
with  the  Board  of  the  Treasury.  These,  and  other 
causes,  laid  the  foundation  for  another  city,  which  is 
now  what  Symmes  hoped  his  city  would  one  day  be. 

In  January,  1788,  Mathias  Denman,  of  New 
Jersey,  took  an  interest  in  Symmes'  purchase, 
and  located,  among  other  tracts,  the  sections  upon 
which  Cincinnati  has  since  been  built.  Retaining 
one-third  of  this  purchase,  he  sold  the  balance  to 
Robert  Patterson  and  John  Filson,  each  getting 
the  same  share.  These  three,  about  August,  agreed 
to  lay  out  a  town  on  their  land.  It  was  designated 
as  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Licking  River,  to 
which  place  it  was  intended  to  open  a  road  from 
Lexington,  Ky.  These  men  little  thought  of  the 
great  emporium  that  now  covers  the  modest  site  of 
this  town  they  laid  out  that  summer.  Mr.  Filson, 
who  had  been  a  schoolmaster,  and  was  of  a  some- 
what poetic  nature,  was  appointed  to  name  the 
town.  In  respect  to  its  situation,  and  as  if  with 
a  prophetic  perception  of  the  mixed  races  that 
were  in  after  years  to  dwell  there,  he  named  it  Los- 
antiville,*  "  which,  being  interpreted,"  says  the 
"  Western  Annals,"  "  means  ville^  the  town ;  aiiti^ 
opposite  to  ;  os,  the  mouth  ;  7/,  of  Licking.  This 
may  well  put  to  the  blush  the  Campus  Martins 
of  the  Marietta  scholars,  and  the  Fort  Solon  of 
the  Spaniards." 

Meanwhile,  Symmes  was  busy  in  the  East,  and, 
by  July,  got  thirty  people  and  eight  four-horse 
wagons  under  way  for  the  West.  These  reached 
Limestone  by  September,  where  they  met  Mr. 
Stites,   with  several  persons  from  Redstone.     All 


♦Judge  Burnett,  in  his  notes,  disputes  the  above  account  of  the 
origin  of  the  city  of  Cincinnati.  Ho  says  the  name  "  Loaantiville  " 
was  determined  on,  but  not  adopted,  when  the  town  was  laid  out. 
This  version  is  probably  the  correct  one,  and  will  be  found  fully 
given  in  the  detailed  history  of  the  settlements. 


came  to  Symmes'  purchase,  and  began  to  look  for 
homes. 

Symmes'  mind  was,  however,  ill  at  rest.  He 
could  not  meet  his  fii-st  payment  on  so  vast  a  realm, 
and  there  also  arose  a  difference  of  opinion  be- 
tween him  and  the  Treasury  Board  regarding  the 
Ohio  boundary.  Symmes  wanted  all  the  land  be- 
tween the  two  Miamis,  bordering  on  the  Ohio, 
while  the  Board  wished  him  confined  to  no  more 
than  twenty  miles  of  the  river.  To  this  proposal 
he  would  not  agree,  as  he  had  made  sales  all  along 
the  river.  Leaving  the  bargain  in  an  unsettled 
state,  Congress  considered  itself  released  from  all 
its  obligations,  and,  but  fur  the  representations  of 
many  of  Symmes'  friends,  he  would  have  lost  all 
his  money  and  labor.  His  appointment  as  Judge 
was  not  favorably  received  by  many,  as  they 
thought  that  by  it  he  would  accjuire  unlimited 
power.  Some  of  his  associates  also  complained  of 
him,  and,  for  awhile,  it  surely  seemed  that  ruin 
only  awaited  him.  But  he  was  brave  and  hope- 
ful, and  determined  to  succeed.  On  his  return 
from  a  visit  to  his  purchase  in  September,  1788, 
he  wrote  Jonathan  Dayton,  of  New  Jersey,  one  of 
his  best  friends  and  associates,  that  he  thought 
some  of  the  land  near  the  Great  Miami  "positively 
worth  a  silver  dollar  the  acre  in  its  present  state." 

A  good  many  changes  were  made  in  his  original 
contract,  growing  out  of  his  inability  to  meet  his 
payments.  At  first,  he  was  to  have  not  less  than 
a  million  acres,  under  an  act  of  Congress  passed  in 
October,  1787,  authorizing  the  Treasury  Board  to 
conti-act  with  any  one  who  could  pay  for  such 
tracts,  on  the  Ohio  and  Wabash  Rivers,  whose 
fronts  should  not  exceed  one-third  of  their  depth. 

Dayton  and  JMarsh,  Symmes'  agents,  contracted 
with  the  Board  for  one  tract  on  the  Ohio,  begin- 
ning twenty  miles  up  the  Ohio  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Great  Miami,  and  to  run  back  for  quantitj^  be- 
tween the  Miami  and  a  line  drawn  from  the  Ohio, 
parallel  to  the  general  course  of  that  river.  In 
1791,  three  years  after  Dayton  and  IMarsh  made 
the  contract,  Symmes  found  this  would  throw  the 
purchase  too  far  back  from  the  Ohio,  and  apj^lied 
to  Congress  to  let  him  have  all  between  the  ]Mi- 
amies,  running  back  so  as  to  include  1,000,000 
acres,  which  that  body,  on  April  12,  1792,  agreed 
to  do.  When  the  lands  were  surveyed,  however,  it 
was  found  that  a  line  drawn  from  the  head  of  the 
Little  Miami  due  west  to  the  Great  Miami,  would 
include  south  of  it  less  than  six  hundred  thousand 
acres.  Even  this  Symmes  could  not  pay  for,  and 
when  his  patent  was  issued  in  September,  179-1,  it 


HISTORY   OP    OHIO. 


71 


gave  him  and  his  associates  248,540  acres,  exclu- 
sive of  reservations  which  amounted  to  63,142 
acres.  This  tract  was  bounded  by  the  Ohio,  the 
two  Miamis  and  a  due  east  and  west  Une  run  so 
as  to  inckide  the  desired  quantity.  Symmes,  how- 
ever, made  no  further  payments,  and  the  rest  of 
his  purchase  reverted  to  the  United  States,  who 
gave  those  who  had  bought  under  him  ample  pre- 
emption rights. 

The  Government  was  able,  also,  to  give  him  and 
his  colonists  but  little  aid,  and  as  danger  from  hos- 
tile Indians  was  in  a  measure  imminent  (though  all 
the  natives  were  friendly  to  Symmes),  settlers  were 
slow  to  come.  However,  the  band  led  by  Mr. 
Stites  arrived  before  the  1st  of  January,  1789, 
and  locating  themselves  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Little  Miami,  on  a  tract  of  10,000  acres  which 
Mr.  Stites  had  purchased  from  Symmes,  formed 
the  second  settlement  in  Ohio.  They  were  soon 
afterward  joined  by  a  colony  of  twenty-six  persons, 
who  assisted  them  to  erect  a  block-house,  and 
gather  their  corn.  The  town  was  named  Columbia. 
While  here,  the  great  flood  of  January,  1789,  oc- 
curred, which  did  much  to  ensure  the  future 
growth  of  Losantiville,  or  more  properly,  Cincin- 
nati. Symmes  City,  which  was  laid  out  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Great  Miami,  and  which  he  vainly 
strove  to  make  the  city  of  the  future,  Marietta 
and  Columbia,  all  suffered  severely  by  this  flood, 
the  greatest,  the  Indians  said,  ever  known.  The 
site  of  Cincinnati  was  not  overflowed,  and  hence 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  settlers.  Denman's 
warrants  had  designated  his  purchase  as  opposite 
the  mouth  of  the  Licking;  and  that  point  escap- 
ing the  overflow,  late  in  December  the  place  was 
visited  by  Israel  Ludlow,  Symmes'  surveyor,  Mr. 
Patterson  and  Mr.  Denman,  and  about  fourteen  oth- 
ers, who  left  JMaysville  to  "form  a  station  and  lay 
ofi"  a  town  opposite  the  Licking."  The  river  was 
filled  with  ice  "from  shore  to  shore;"  but,  says 
Symmes  in  May,  1789,  "Perseverance  triumphing 
over  difficulty,  and  they  landed  safe  on  a  most  de- 
lightful bank  of  the  Ohio,  where  they  founded 
the  town  of  Losantiville,  which  populates  consid- 
erably." The  settlers  of  Losantiville  built  a  few 
log  huts  and  block-houses,  and  proceeded  to  im- 
prove the  town.  Symmes,  noticing  the  location, 
says:  "Though  they  placed  their  dwellings  in  the 
most  marked  position,  yet  they  suffered  nothing 
from  the  freshet."  This  would  seem  to  give  cre- 
dence to  Judge  Burnett's  notes  regarding  the  origin 
of  Cincinnati,  who  states  the  settlement  was  made 
at  this  time,  and  not  at  the  time  mentioned  when 


jMr.  Filson  named  the  town.  It  is  further  to  be 
noticed,  that,  before  the  town  was  located  by  Mr. 
Ludlow  and  Mr.  Patterson,  Mr.  Filson  had  been 
killed  by  the  Miami  Indians,  and,  as  he  had  not  paid 
for  his  one-third  of  the  site,  the  claim  was  sold  to 
Mr.  Ludlow,  who  thereby  became  one  of  the  origi- 
nal owners  of  the  place.  Just  what  day  the  town 
was  laid  out  is  not  recorded.  All  the  evidence 
tends  to  show  it  must  have  been  late  in  1788,  or 
early  in  1789. 

While  the  settlements  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Ohio  were  thus  progressing,  south  of  it  fears  of  the 
Indians  prevailed,  and  the  separation  sore  was 
kept  open.  The  country  was,  however,  so  torn  by 
internal  factions  that  no  plan  was  likely  to  suc- 
ceed, and  to  this  fact,  in  a  large  measure,  may  be 
credited  the  reason  it  did  not  secede,  or  join  the 
Spanish  or  French  faction,  both  of  which  were 
intriguing  to  get  the  commonwealth.  During 
this  year  the  treasonable  acts  of  James  Wilkinson 
came  into  view.  For  a  while  he  thought  success 
was  in  his  grasp,  but  the  two  governments  were  at 
peace  with  America,  and  discountenanced  any  such 
efforts.  Wilkinson,  like  all  traitors,  relapsed  into 
nonentity,  and  became  mistrusted  by  the  govern- 
ments he  attempted  to  befriend.  Treason  is  al- 
ways odious. 

It  will  be  borne  in  mind,  that  in  1778  prepa- 
rations had  been  made  for  a  treaty  with  the  Indi- 
ans, to  secure  peaceful  possession  of  the  lands 
owned  in  the  West.  Though  the  whites  held 
these  by  purchase  and  treaty,  yet  many  Indians, 
especially  the  Wabash  and  some  of  the  Miami  In- 
dians, objected  to  their  occupation,  claiming  the 
Ohio  boundary  as  the  original  division  line.  Clarke 
endeavored  to  obtain,  by  treaty  at  Fort  Harmar, 
in  1778,  a  confirmation  of  these  grants,  but  was 
not  able  to  do  so  till  January,  9,  1789.  Rep- 
resentatives of  the  Six  Nations,  and  of  the  Wyan- 
dots,  Delawares,  Ottawas,  Chippewas,  Pottawato- 
mies  and  Sacs,  met  him  at  this  date,  and  confirmed 
and  extended  the  treaties  of  Fort  Stanwix  and 
Fort  Mcintosh,  the  one  in  1784,  the  other  in 
1785.  This  secured  peace  with  the  most  of  them, 
save  a  few  of  the  Wabash  Indians,  whom  they 
were  compelled  to  conquer  by  arms.  When  this 
was  accomplished,  the  borders  were  thought  safe, 
and  Virginia  proposed  to  withdraw  her  aid  in  sup- 
port of  Kentucky.  This  opened  old  troubles,  and 
the  separation  dogma  came  out  afresh.  Virginia 
offered  to  allow  the  erection  of  a  separate  State, 
providing  Kentucky  would  assume  part  of  the  old 
debts.     This  the  young  commonwealth  would  not 


:V 


73 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


do,  and  sent  a  remonstrance.  Virginia  withdrew 
the  proposal,  and  ordered  a  ninth  convention, 
which  succeeded  in  evolving  a  plan  whereby  Ken- 
tucky took  her  place  among  the  free  States  of  the 
Union. 

North  of  the  Ohio,  the  prosperity  continued. 
In  1789,  Rev.  Daniel  Story,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed missionary  to  the  West,  came  out  as  a 
teacher  of  the  youth  and  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel. 
Dr.  Cutler  had  preceded  him,  not  in  the  capacity 
of  a  minister,  though  he  had  preached  ;  hence  Mr. 
Story  is  truly  the  first  missionary  from  the  Prot- 
estant Church  who  came  to  the  Ohio  Valley  in 
that  capacity.  When  he  came,  in  1789,  he  found 
nine  associations  on  the  Ohio  Company's  purchase, 
comprising  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons  in  all ; 
and,  by  the  close  of  1790,  eight  settlements  had 
been  made:  two  at  Belpre  (belle  prairie),  one  at 
Newbury,  one  at  Wolf  Creek,  one  at  Duck  Creek, 
one  at  the  mouth  of  Meigs'  Creek,  one  at  Ander- 
son's Bottom,  and  one  at  Big  Bottom.  An  ex- 
tended sketch  of  all  these  settlements  will  be  found 
farther  on  in  this  volume. 

Symmes  had,  all  this  time,  strenuously  endeav- 
ored to  get  his  city — called  Cleves  City — favorably 
noticed,  and  filled  with  people.  Pie  saw  a  rival  in 
Cincinnati.  That  place,  if  made  military  head- 
quarters to  protect  the  Miami  Valley,  would  out- 
rival his  town,  situated  near  the  bend  of  the 
Miami,  near  its  mouth.  On  the  15th  of  June, 
Judge  Symmes  received  news  that  the  Wabash 
Indians  threatened  the  Miami  settlements,  and  as 
he  had  received  only  nineteen  men  for  defense,  he 
applied  for  more.  Before  July,  Maj.  Doughty 
arrived  at  the  "Slaughter  House" — as  the  Miami 
was  sometimes  called,  owing  to  previous  murders 
that  had,  at  former  times,  occurred  therein. 
Through  the  influence  of  Symmes,  the  detach- 
ment landed  at  the  North  Bend,  and,  for  awhile, 
it  was  thought  the  fort  would  be  erected  there. 
This  was  what  Symmes  wanted,  as  it  would 
secure  him  the  headquarters  of  the  military,  and 
aid  in  getting  the  headquarters  of  the  civil  gov- 
ernment. The  truth  was,  however,  that  neither 
the  proposed  city  on  the  Miami — North  Bend,  as 
it  afterward  became  known,  from  its  location — or 
South  Bend,  could  compete,  in  point  of  natural 
advantages,  with  the  plain  on  which  Cincinnati  is 
built.  Had  Fort  Washington  been  built  elsewhere, 
after  the  close  of  the  Indian  war,  nature  would 
have  asserted  her  advantages,  and  insured  the 
growth  of  a  city,  where  even  the  ancient  and  mys- 
terious dwellers  of  the  Ohio  had  reared  the  earthen 


walls  of  one  of  their  vast  temples.  Another  fact 
is  given  in  relation  to  the  erection  of  Fort  Wash- 
ington at  Losantiville,  which  partakes  somewhat  of 
romance.  The  Major,  while  waiting  to  decide  at 
which  place  the  fort  should  be  built,  happened  to 
make  the  acquaintance  of  a  black-eyed  beauty,  the 
wife  of  one  of  the  residents.  Her  husband,  notic- 
ing the  affair,  removed  her  to  Losantiville.  The 
Major  followed;  he  told  Symmes  he  wished  to  see 
how  a  fort  would  do  there,  but  promised  to  give  his 
city  the  preference.  He  found  the  beauty  there,  and 
on  his  return  Symmes  could  not  prevail  on  him  to 
remain.  If  the  story  be  true,  then  the  importance 
of  Cincinnati  owes  its  existence  to  a  trivial  circum- 
stance, and  the  old  story  of  the  ten  years'  war 
which  terminated  in  the  downfall  of  Troy,  which 
is  said  to  have  originated  owing  to  the  beauty  of 
a  Spartan  dame,  was  re-enacted  here.  Troy  and 
North  Bend  fell  because  of  the  beauty  of  a  wo- 
man ;  Cincinnati  was  the  result  of  the  downfall  of 
the  latter  place. 

About  the  first  of  January,  1790,  Governor  St. 
Clair,  with  his  officers,  descended  the  Ohio  River 
from  Marietta  to  Fort  Washington.  There  he  es- 
tablished the  county  of  Hamilton,  comprising  the 
immense  region  of  country  contiguous  to  the 
Ohio,  from  the  Hocking  River  to  the  Great 
Miami;  appointed  a  corps  of  civil  and  military 
officers,  and  established  a  Court  of  Quarter  Ses- 
sions. Some  state  that  at  this  time,  he  changed 
the  name  of  the  village  of  Losantiville  to  Cin- 
cinnati, in  allusion  to  a  society  of  that  name 
which  had  recently  been  formed  among  the  officers 
of  the  Revolutionary  army,  and  established  it  as 
the  seat  of  justice  for  Hamilton.  This  latter  fact 
is  certain;  but  as  regards  changing  the  name  of 
the  village,  there  is  no  good  authority  for  it.  With 
this  importance  attached  to  it,  Cincinnati  began  at 
once  an  active  growth,  and  from  that  day  Cleves' 
city  declined.  The  next  summer,  frame  houses 
began  to  appear  in  Cincinnati,  while  at  the  same 
time  forty  new  log  cabins  appeared  about  the 
fort. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  the  Governor  arrived  at 
the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  on  his  way  to  establish  a 
government  at  Vincennes  and  Kaskaskia.  From 
Clarkesville,  he  dispatched  a  messenger  to  Major 
Hamtramck,  commander  at  Vincennes,  with 
speeches  to  the  various  Indian  tribes  in  this  part 
of  the  Northwest,  who  had  not  fully  agreed  to  the 
treaties.  St.  Clair  and  Sargent  followed  in  a  few 
days,  along  an  Indian  trail  to  Vincennes,  where  he 
organized  the  county  of  Knox,  comprisir?^  all  the 


^i^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


73 


country  along  the  Ohio,  from  the  Miami  to  the 
Wabash,  and  made  Vincennes  the  county  seat. 
Then  they  proceeded  across  the  lower  part  of  Illi- 
nois to  Ka.skaskia,  where  he  established  the  county 
of  St.  Clair  (so  named  by  Sargent),  comprising  all 
the  country  from  the  Wabash  to  the  Mississippi. 
Thus  the  Northwest  was  divided  into  three  coun- 
ties, and  courts  established  therein.  St.  Clair 
called  upon  the  French  inhabitants  at  Vincennes 
and  in  the  Illinois  country,  to  show  the  titles  to 
their  lands,  and  also  to  defray  the  expense  of  a 
survey.  To  this  latter  demand  they  replied  through 
their  priest,  Pierre  Gibault,  showing  their  poverty, 
and  inability  to  comply.  They  were  confirmed  in 
their  grants,  and,  as  they  had  been  good  friends  to 
the  patriot  cause,  were  relieved  from  the  expense 
of  the  survey. 

While  the  Governor  was  managing  these  affairs. 
Major  Hamtramck  was  engaged  in  an  effort  to  con- 
ciliate the  Wabash  Indians.  For  this  purpose,  he 
sent  Antoine  Gamelin,  an  intelligent  French  mer- 
chant, and  a  true  friend  of  America,  among  them  to 
carry  messages  sent  by  St.  Clair  and  the  Govern- 
ment, and  to  learn  their  sentiments  and  dispositions. 
Gamelin  performed  this  important  mission  in  the 
spring  of  1790  with  much  sagacity,   and,  as  the 


French  were  good  friends  of  the  natives,  he  did 
much  to  conciliate  these  half-hostile  tribes.  He 
visited  the  towns  of  these  tribes  along  the  Wabash 
and  as  far  north  and  east  as  the  Miami  village, 
Ke-ki-ong-ga — St.  Mary's — at  the  junction  of  the 
St.  Mary's  and  St.  Joseph's  Rivers  (Fort  Wayne). 

Gamelin's  report,  and  the  intelligence  brought  by 
some  traders  from  the  Upper  Wabash,  were  con- 
veyed to  the  Governor  at  Kaskaskia.  The  reports 
convinced  him  that  the  Indians  of  that  part  of  the 
Northwest  were  preparing  for  a  war  on  the  settle- 
ments north  of  the  Ohio,  intending,  if  possible,  to 
drive  them  south  of  it;  that  river  being  still  consid- 
ered by  them  as  the  true  boundary.  St.  Clair  left 
the  administration  of  affairs  in  the  Western  counties 
to  Sargent,  and  returned  at  once  to  Fort  Washing- 
ton to  provide  for  the  defense  of  the  frontier. 

The  Indians  had  begun  their  predatory  incur- 
sions into  the  country  settled  by  the  whites,  and 
had  committed  some  depredations.  The  Kentuck- 
ians  were  enlisted  in  an  attack  against  the  Scioto 
Indians.  April  18,  Gen.  Harmar,  with  100 
regulars,  and  Gen.  Scott,  with  230  volunteers, 
marched  from  Limestone,  by  a  circuitous  route,  to 
the  Scioto,  accomplishing  but  little.  The  savages 
had  fled. 


CHAPTER    VII. 


THE    INDIAN     WAR    OF    1795— HARMAR'S     CAMPAIGN— ST.   CLAIR'S    CAMPAIGN— WAYNE'S 

CAMPAIGN— CLOSE    OF    THE    WAR. 


A  GREAT  deal  of  the  hostility  at  this  period 
was  directly  traceable  to  the  British.  They 
yet  held  Detroit  and  several  posts  on  the  lakes,  in 
violation  of  the  treaty  of  1783.  They  alleged  as 
a  reason  for  not  abandoning  them,  that  the  Ameri- 
cans had  not  fulfilled  the  conditions  of  the  treaty 
regarding  the  collection  of  debts.  Moreover,  they 
did  nil  they  could  to  remain  at  the  frontier  and  en- 
joy the  emoluments  derived  from  the  ftir  trade. 
That  they  aided  the  Indians  in  the  conflict  at  this 
time,  is  undeniable.  Just  how,  it  is  difiicult  to 
say.  But  it  is  well  known  the  savages  had  all  the 
ammunition  and  fire-arms  they  wanted,  more  than 
they  could  have  obtained  from  American  and 
French  renegade  traders.  They  were  also  well 
supplied  with  clothing,  and  were  able  to  prolong 
the  war  some  time.  A  great  confederation  was  on 
the  eve  of  formation.     The  leading  spirits  were 


Cornplanter,  Brant,  Little  Turtle  and  other  noted 
chiefs,  and  had  not  the  British,  as  Brant  said, 
"encouraged  us  to  the  war,  and  promised  us  aid, 
and  then,  when  we  were  driven  away  by  the  Amer- 
icans, shut  the  doors  of  their  fortresses  against  us 
and  refused  us  food,  when  they  saw  us  nearly  con- 
quered, we  would  have  effected  our  object." 

McKee,  Elliott  and  Girty  were  also  actively  en- 
gaged in  aiding  the  natives.  All  of  them  were  in 
the  interest  of  the  British,  a  fact  clearly  proven 
by  the  Indians  themselves,  and  by  other  traders. 

St.  Clair  and  Gen.  Harmar  determined  to  send 
an  expedition  against  the  IMaumee  towns,  and  se- 
cure that  part  of  the  country.  Letters  were  sent 
to  the  militia  ofiicers  of  Western  Pennsylvania, 
Virginia  and  Kentucky,  calling  on  them  for  militia 
to  co-operate  with  the  regular  troops  in  the  cam- 
paign.    According  to  the  plan  of  the  campaign. 


:v 


jLI 


74 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


300  militia  were  to  rendezvous  at  Fort  Steuben 
( Jefferson ville),  march  thence  to  Fort  Knox,  at 
Vincennes,  and  join  Maj.  Hamtramck  in  an  expe- 
dition up  the  Wabash  ;  700  were  to  rendezvous  at 
Fort  Washington  to  join  the  regular  army  against 
the  Maumee  towns. 

While  St.  Clair  was  forming  his  army  and  ar- 
ranging for  the  campaign,  three  expeditions  were 
sent  out  against  the  Miami  towns.  One  against 
the  Miami  villages,  not  far  from  the  Wabash,  was 
led  by  Gen.  Harmar.  He  had  in  his  army  about 
fourteen  hundred  men,  regulars  and  militia.  These 
two  parts  of  the  army  could  not  be  made  to  affili- 
ate, and,  as  a  consequence,  the  expedition  did  little 
beyond  burning  the  villages  and  destroying  corn. 
The  militia  would  not  submit  to  discipline,  and  would 
not  serve  under  regular  officers.  It  will  be  seen 
what  this  spirit  led  to  when  St.  Clair  went  on  his 
march  soon  after. 

The  Indians,  emboldened  by  the  meager  success 
of  Harmar's  command,  continued  their  depreda- 
dations  against  the  Ohio  settlements,  destroying 
the  community  at  Big  Bottom.  To  hold  them  in 
check,  and  also  punish  them,  an  army  under  Charles 
Scott  went  against  the  Wabash  Indians.  Little 
was  done  here  but  destroy  towns  and  the  standing 
corn.  In  July,  another  army,  under  Col.  Wilkin- 
son, was  sent  against  the  Eel  River  Indians.  Be- 
coming entangled  in  extensive  morasses  on  the 
river,  the  army  became  endangered,  but  was  finally 
extricated,  and  accomplished  no  more  than  either 
the  other  armies  before  it.  As  it  was,  however,  the 
three  expeditions  directed  against  the  Miamis  and 
Shawanees,  served  only  to  exasperate  them.  The 
burning  of  their  towns,  the  destruction  of  their 
corn,  and  the  captivity  of  their  women  and  chil- 
dren, only  aroused  them  to  more  desperate  efforts 
to  defend  their  country  and  to  harass  their  in- 
vaders. To  accomplish  this,  the  chiefs  of  the 
Miamis,  Shawanees  and  the  Delawares,  Little 
Turtle,  Blue  Jacket  and  Buckongahelas,  were  en- 
gaged in  forming  a  confederacy  of  all  the  tribes  of 
the  Northwest,  strong  enough  to  drive  the  whites 
beyond  the  Ohio.  Pontiac  had  tried  that  before, 
even  when  he  had  open  allies  among  the  French. 
The  Indians  now  had  secret  allies  among  the  Brit- 
ish, yet,  in  the  end,  they  did  not  succeed.  While 
they  were  preparing  for  the  contest,  St.  Clair  was 
gathering  his  forces,  intending  to  erect  a  chain  of 
forts  from  the  Ohio,  by  way  of  the  Miami  and 
Maumee  valleys,  to  the  lakes,  and  thereby  effect- 
ually hold  the  savages  in  check.  Washington 
warmly  seconded   this  plan,  and   designated   the 


junction  of  the  St.  Mary's  and  St.  Joseph's  Rivers  as 
an  important  post.  This  had  been  a  fortification 
almost  from  the  time  the  English  held  the  valley, 
and  only  needed  little  work  to  make  it  a  formid- 
able fortress.  Glen.  Knox,  the  Secretary  of  War, 
also  favored  the  plan,  and  gave  instructions  con- 
cerning it.  Under  these  instructions,  St.  Clair 
organized  his  forces  as  rapidly  as  he  could,  although 
the  numerous  drawbacks  almost,  at  times,  threat- 
ened the  defeat  of  the  campaign.  Through  the 
summer  the  arms  and  accouterments  of  the  army 
were  put  in  readiness  at  Fort  Washington.  Many 
were  found  to  be  of  the  poorest  quality,  and  to  be 
badly  out  of  repair.  The  militia  came  poorly 
armed,  under  the  impression  they  were  to  be  pro- 
vided with  arms.  While  waiting  in  camp,  habits 
of  idleness  engendered  themselves,  and  drunken- 
ness followed.  They  continued  their  accustomed 
freedom,  disdaining  to  drill,  and  refused  to  submit 
to  the  regular  officers.  A  bitter  spirit  broke  out 
between  the  regular  troops  and  the  militia,  which 
none  could  heal.  The  insubordination  of  the  mi- 
litia and  their  officers,  caused  them  a  defeat  after- 
ward, which  they  in  vain  attempted  to  fasten  on 
the  busy  General,  and  the  regular  troops. 

The  army  was  not  ready  to  move  till  September 
17.  It  was  then  2,300  strong.  It  then  moved 
to  a  point  upon  the  Great  Miami,  where  they 
erected  Fort  Hamilton,  the  first  in  the  proposed 
chain  of  fortresses.  After  its  completion,  they 
moved  on  forty -four  miles  farther,  and,  on  the  12th 
of  October,  began  the  erection  of  Fort  Jefferson, 
about  six  miles  south  of  the  present  town  of  Green- 
ville, Darke  County.  On  the  24th,  the  army  again 
took  up  its  line  of  march,  through  a  wilderness, 
marshy  and  boggy,  and  full  of  savage  foes.  The 
army  rapidly  declined  under  the  hot  sun ;  even  the 
commander  was  suffering  from  an  indisposition. 
The  militia  deserted,  in  companies  at  a  time,  leav- 
ing the  bulk  of  the  work  to  the  regular  troops. 
By  the  3d  of  November,  the  army  reached  a 
stream  twelve  yards  wide,  which  St.  Clair  sup- 
posed to  be  a  branch  of  the  St.  Mary  of  the  Mau- 
mee, but  which  in  reality  was  a  tributary  of  the 
Wabash.  Upon  the  banks  of  that  stream,  the 
army,  now  about  fourteen  hundred  strong,  en- 
camped in  two  lines.  A  slight  protection  was 
thrown  up  as  a  safeguard  against  the  Indians,  who 
were  known  to  be  in  the  neighborhood.  The  Gen- 
eral intended  to  attack  them  next  day,  but,  about 
half  an  hour  before  sunrise,  just  after  the  militia 
had  been  dismissed  from  parade,  a  sudden  attack 
was  made  upon  them.     The  militia  were  thrown 


^  a 


-^ 


HISTOKY   or    OHIO. 


75 


into  confiision,  and  disregarded  the  command  of 
the  officers.  They  had  not  been  sufficiently  drilled, 
and  now  was  seen,  too  late  and  too  plainly,  the  evil 
effects  of  their  insubordination.  Through  the 
morning  the  battle  waged  furiously,  the  men  falling 
by  scores.  About  nine  o'clock  the  retreat  began, 
covered  by  Maj.  Cook  and  his  troops.  The  re- 
treat was  a  disgraceful,  precipitate  flight,  though, 
after  four  miles  had  been  passed,  the  enemy  re- 
turned to  the  work  of  scalping  the  dead  and 
wounded,  and  of  pillaging  the  camp.  Through 
the  day  and  the  night  their  dreadful  work  con- 
tinued, one  squaw  afterward  declaring  "  her  arm 
was  weary  scalping  the  white  men."  The  army 
reached  Fort  Jefferson  a  little  after  sunset,  having 
thrown  away  much  of  its  arms  and  baggage,  though 
the  act  was  entirely  unnecessary.  After  remain- 
ing here  a  short  time,  it  was  decided  by  the  officers 
to  move  on  toward  Fort  Hamilton,  and  thence  to 
Fort  Washington. 

The  defeat  of  St.  Clair  was  the  most  terrible  re- 
verse the  Americans  ever  suffered  from  the  Indi- 
ans. It  was  greater  than  even  Braddock's  defeat. 
His  army  consisted  of  1,200  men  and  86  officers, 
of  whom  714  men  and  G3  officers  were  killed  or 
wounded.  St.  Clair's  army  consisted  of  1,400 
men  and  86  officers,  of  whom  890  men  and  16 
officers  were  killed  or  wounded.  The  comparative 
effects  of  the  two  engagements  very  inadequately 
represent  the  crushing  effect  of  St.  Clair's  defeat. 
An  unprotected  frontier  of  more  than  a  thousand 
miles  in  extent  was  now  thrown  open  to  a  foe  made 
merciless,  and  anxious  to  drive  the  whites  from  the 
north  side  of  the  Ohio.  Now,  settlers  were  scat- 
tered along  all  the  streams,  and  in  all  the  forests,  ex- 
posed to  the  cruel  enemy,  who  stealthily  approached 
the  homes  of  the  pioneer,  to  murder  him  and  his 
family.  Loud  calls  arose  from  the  people  to  defend 
and  protect  them.  St.  Clair  was  covered  with  abuse 
for  his  defeat,  when  he  really  was  not  alone  to  blame 
for  it.  The  militia  would  not  be  controlled.  Had 
Clarke  been  at  their  head,  or  Wayne,  Avho  succeeded 
St.  Clair,  the  result  might  have  been  different.  As 
it  was,  St.  Clair  resigned ;  though  ever  after  he  en- 
joyed the  confidence  of  Washington  and  Congress. 

Four  days  after  the  defeat  of  St.  Clair,  the  army, 
in  its  straggling  condition,  reached  Fort  Washing- 
ton, and  paused  to  rest.  On  the  9th,  St.  Clair 
wrote  fully  to  the  Secretary  of  War.  On  the  12th, 
Gen.  Knox  communicated  the  information  to  Con- 
gress, and  on  the  26th,  he  laid  before  the  Presi- 
dent two  reports,  the  second  containing  sugges- 
tions  regarding   future    operations.     His  sugges- 


tions urged  the  establishment  of  a  strong  United 
States  iVrmy,  as  it  was  plain  the  States  could  not 
control  the  matter.  He  also  urged  a  thorough 
drill  of  the  soldiers.  No  more  insubordination 
could  be  tolerated.  General  Wayne  was  selected 
by  Washington  as  the  commander,  and  at  once  pro- 
ceeded to  the  task  assigned  to  him.  In  June,  1792, 
he  went  to  Pittsburgh  to  organize  the  army  now 
gathering,  which  was  to  be  the  ultimate  argu- 
ment with  the  Indian  confederation.  Through  the 
summer  he  was  steadily  at  work.  "Train  and  dis- 
cipline them  for  the  work  they  are  meant  for," 
wrote  Washington,  "and  do  not  spare  powder  and 
lead,  so  the  men  be  made  good  marksmen."  In 
December,  the  forces,  now  recruited  and  trained, 
gathered  at  a  point  twenty-two  miles  below  Pitts- 
burgh, on  the  Ohio,  called  Legionville,  the  army 
itself  being  denominated  the  Legion  of  the  United 
States,  divided  into  four  sub-legions,  and  provided 
with  the  proper  officers.  Meantime,  Col.  Wilkinson 
succeeded  St.  Clair  as  commander  at  Fort  Wash- 
ington, and  sent  out  a  force  to  examine  the  field  of 
defeat,  and  bury  the  dead.  A  shocking  sight  met 
their  view,  revealing  the  deeds  of  cruelty  enacted 
upon  their  comrades  by  the  savage  enemj'. 

While  Wayne's  army  was  drilling,  peace  meas- 
ures were  pressed  forward  by  the  United  States 
with  equal  perseverance.  The  Iroquois  were  in- 
duced to  visit  Philadelphia,  and  partially  secured 
from  the  general  confederacy.  They  were  wary, 
however,  and,  expecting  aid  from  the  British,  held 
aloof.  Brant  did  not  come,  as  was  hoped,  and  it 
was  plain  there  was  intrigue  somewhere.  Five 
independent  embassies  were  sent  among  the  West- 
ern tribes,  to  endeavor  to  prevent  a  war,  and  win 
over  the  inimical  tribes.  But  the  victories  they 
had  won,  and  the  favorable  whispers  of  the  British 
agents,  closed  the  ears  of  the  red  men,  and  all 
propositions  were  rejected  in  some  form  or  other. 
All  the  embassadors,  save  Putnam,  suffered  death. 
He  alone  was  able  to  reach  his  goal — the  Wabash 
Indians — and  effect  any  treaty.  On  the  27th  of 
December,  in  company  with  Heckewelder,  the  Mo- 
ravian missionary,  he  reached  Vincennes,  and  met 
thirty-one  chiefs,  representing  the  Weas,  Pianke- 
shaws,  Kaskaskias,  Peorias,  Illinois,  Pottawatomies, 
Mascoutins,  Kickapoos  and  Eel  River  Indians,  and 
concluded  a  treaty  of  peace  with  them. 

The  fourth  article  of  this  treaty,  however,  con- 
tained a  provision  guaranteeing  to  the  Indians 
their  lands,  and  when  the  treaty  was  laid  before 
Congress,  February  13,  1793,  that  body,  after 
much  discussion,  refused  on  that  account  to  ratify  it. 


-^ 


*i- 


76 


HISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


A  great  council  of  the  Indians  was  to  be  held 
at  Auglaize  during  the  autumn  of  1702,  when 
the  assembled  nations  were  to  discuss  fully  their 
means  of  defense,  and  determine  their  future  line 
of  action.  The  council  met  in  October,  and  was 
the  largest  Indian  gathering  of  the  time.  The 
chiefs  of  all  the  tribes  of  the  Northwest  were  there. 
The  representatives  of  the  seven  nations  of  Canada, 
were  in  attendance.  Cornplanter  and  forty-eight 
chiefs  of  the  New  York  (Six  Nations)  Indians  re- 
paired thither.  "  Besides  these,"  said  Cornplanter, 
"there  were  so  many  nations  we  cannot  tell  the 
names  of  them.  There  were  three  men  from  the 
Gora  nation ;  it  took  them  a  whole  season  to  come ; 
and,"  continued  he,  "  twenty -seven  nations  from 
beyond  Canada  were  there."  The  question  of 
peace  or  war  was  long  and  earnestly  debated.  Their 
future  was  solemnly  discussed,  and  around  the 
council  fire  native  eloquence  and  native  zeal 
shone  in  all  their  simple  strength.  One  nation 
after  another,  through  their  chiefs,  presented  their 
views.  The  deputies  of  the  Six  Nations,  who  had 
been  at  Philadelphia  to  consult  the  "Thirteen 
Fires,"  made  their  report.  The  Western  bound- 
ary was  the  principal  question.  The  natives,  with 
one  accord,  declared  it  must  be  the  Ohio  River. 
An  address  was  prepared,  and  sent  to  the  President, 
wherein  their  views  were  stated,  and  agreeing  to 
abstain  from  all  hostilities,  until  they  could  meet 
again  in  the  spring  at  the  rapids  of  the  Maumee, 
and  there  consult  with  their  white  brothers.  They 
desired  the  President  to  send  agents,  "who  are 
men  of  honesty,  not  proud  land-jobbers,  but  men 
who  love  and  desire  peace."  The  good  work  of 
Penn  was  evidenced  here,  as  they  desired  that  the 
embassadors  "be  accompanied  by  some  Friend  or 
Quaker." 

The  armistice  they  had  promised  was  not,  how- 
ever, faithfully  kept.  On  the  6th  of  November, 
a  detachment  of  Kentucky  cavalry  at  Fort  St. 
Clair,  about  twenty-five  miles  above  Fort  Hamil- 
ton, was  attacked.  The  commander,  Maj.  Adair, 
was  an  excellent  ofiicer,  well  versed  in  Indian  tac- 
tics, and  defeated  the  savages. 

This  infraction  of  their  promises  did  not  deter 
the  United  States  from  taking  measures  to  meet 
the  Indians  at  the  rapids  of  the  Maumee  "  when 
the  leaves  were  fully  out."  For  that  purpose,  the 
President  selected  as  commissioners,  Charles  Car- 
roll and  Charles  Thompson,  but,  as  they  declined 
the  nomination,  he  appointed  Benjamin  Lincoln, 
Beverly  Randolph  and  Timothy  Pickering,  the  1st 
of  March,  1793,  to  attend  the  convention,  which, 


it  was  thought  best,  should  be  held  at  the  San- 
dusky outpost.  About  the  last  of  April,  these 
commissioners  left  Philadelphia,  and,  late  in  May, 
reached  Niagara,  where  they  remained  guests  of 
Lieut.  Gov.  Simcoe,  of  the  British  Government. 
This  officer  gave  them  all  the  aid  he  could,  yet  it 
was  soon  made  plain  to  them  that  he  would  not 
object  to  the  confederation,  nay,  even  rather  fav- 
ored it.  They  speak  of  his  kindness  to  them,  in 
grateful  terms.  Gov.  Simcoe  advised  the  Indians 
to  make  peace,  but  not  to  give  up  any  of  their 
lands.  That  was  the  pith  of  the  whole  matter. 
The  British  rather  claimed  land  in  New  York, 
under  the  treaty  of  1783,  alleging  the  Americans 
had  not  fully  complied  with  the  terms  of  that 
treaty,  hence  they  were  not  as  anxious  for  peace 
and  a  peaceful  settlement  of  the  difficult  boundary 
question  as  they  sometimes  represented. 

By  July,  "the  leaves  were  fully  out,"  the  con- 
ferences among  the  tribes  were  over,  and,  on  the 
15th  of  that  month,  the  commissioners  met  Brant 
and  some  fifty  natives.  In  a  strong  speech,  Brant 
set  forth  their  wishes,  and  invited  them  to  accom- 
pany him  to  the  place  of  holding  the  council.  The 
Indians  were  rather  jealous  of  Wayne's  continued 
preparations  for  war,  hence,  just  before  setting  out 
for  the  Maumee,  the  commissioners  sent  a  letter  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  asking  that  all  warlike 
demonstrations  cease  until  the  result  of  their  mis- 
sion be  known. 

On  21st  of  July,  the  embassy  reached  the  head 
of  the  Detroit  River,  where  their  advance  was 
checked  by  the  British  authorities  at  Detroit,  com- 
pelling them  to  take  up  their  abode  at  the  house 
of  Andrew  Elliott,  the  famous  renegade,  then  a 
British  agent  under  Alexander  McKee.  McKee 
was  attending  the  council,  and  the  commissioners 
addressed  him  a  note,  borne  by  Elliott,  to  inform 
him  of  their  arrival,  and  asking  when  they  could 
be  received.  Elliott  returned  on  the  29th,  bring- 
ing with  him  a  deputation  of  twenty  chiefs  from 
the  council.  The  next  day,  a  conference  was  held, 
and  the  chief  of  the  Wyandots,  Sa-wagh-da-wunk, 
presented  to  the  commissioners,  in  writing,  their 
explicit  demand  in  regard  to  the  boundary,  and 
their  purposes  and  powers.  "The  Ohio  must  be 
the  boundary,"  said  he,  "  or  blood  will  flow." 

The  commissioners  returned  an  answer  to  the 
proposition  brought  by  the  chiefs,  recapitulating 
the  treaties  already  made,  and  denying  the  Ohio 
as  the  boundary  line.  On  the  16th  of  August, 
the  council  sent  them,  by  two  Wyandot  runners, 
a  final   answer,  in   which  they  recapitulated  their 


^Fl 


1£ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


77 


former  assertions,  and  exhibited  great  powers  of 
reasoning  and  clear  logic  in  defense  of  their  po- 
sition. The  commissioners  reply  that  it  is  impos- 
ble  to  accept  the  Ohio  as  the  boundary,  and  declare 
the  negotiation  at  an  end. 

This  closed  the  efforts  of  the  Government  to  ne- 
gotiate with  the  Indians,  and  there  remained  of 
necessity  no  other  mode  of  settling  the  dispute 
but  war.  Liberal  terms  had  been  offered  them, 
but  nothing  but  the  boundary  of  the  Ohio  River 
would  suffice.  It  was  the  only  condition  upon 
which  the  confederation  would  lay  down  its  arms. 
"  Among  the  rude  statesmen  of  the  wilderness, 
there  was  exhibited  as  pure  patriotism  and  as  lofty 
devotion  to  the  good  of  their  race,  as  ever  won  ap- 
plause among  civilized  men.  The  white  man  had, 
ever  since  he  came  into  the  country,  been  encroach- 
ing on  their  lands.  He  had  long  occupied  the 
regions  beyond  the  mountains.  He  had  crushed 
the  conspiracy  formed  by  Pontiac,  thirty  years  be- 
fore. He  had  taken  possession  of  the  common 
hunting-ground  of  all  the  tribes,  on  the  faith  of 
treaties  they  did  not  acknowledge.  He  was 
now  laying  out  settlements  and  building  forts  in 
the  heart  of  the  country  to  which  all  the  tribes 
had  been  driven,  and  which  now  was  all  they  could 
call  their  own.  And  now  they  asked  that  it  should 
be  guaranteed  to  them,  that  the  boundary  which 
they  had  so  long  asked  for  should  be  drawn,  and 
a  fijQal  end  be  made  to  the  continual  aggressions  of 
the  whites ;  or,  if  not,  they  solemnly  determined  to 
stake  their  all,  against  fearful  odds,  in  defense  of 
their  homes,  their  country  and  the  inheritance  of 
their  children.  Nothing  could  be  more  patriotic 
than  the  position  they  occupied,  and  nothing  could 
be  more  noble  than  the  declarations  of  their 
council."* 

They  did  not  know  the  strength  of  the  whites, 
and  based  their  success  on  the  victories  already 
gained.  They  hoped,  nay,  were  promised,  aid  from 
the  British,  and  even  the  Spanish  had  held  out  to 
them  assurances  of  help  when  the  hour  of  conflict 
came. 

The  Americans  were  not  disposed  to  yield  even 
to  the  confederacy  of  the  tribes  backed  by  the  two 
rival  nations,  forming,  as  Wayne  characterized  it,  a 
"  hydra  of  British,  Spanish  and  Indian  hostility." 
On  the  16th  of  August,  the  commissioners  re- 
ceived the  final  answer  of  the  council.  The  17th, 
they  left  the  mouth  of  the  Detroit  River,  and  the 
23d,  arrived  at  Fort  Erie,  where  they  immediately 

*  Annals  of  the  West. 


dispatched  messengers  to  Gen.  Wayne  to  inform 
him  of  the  issue  of  the  negotiation.  Wayne  had 
spent  the  winter  of  1792-93,  at  Legionville,  in  col- 
lecting and  organizing  his  army.  April  30,  1793, 
the  army  moved  down  the  river  and  encamped  at 
a  point,  called  by  the  soldiers  "  Hobson's  choice," 
because  from  the  extreme  height  of  the  river  they 
were  prevented  from  landing  elsewhere.  Here 
Wayne  was  engaged,  during  the  negotiations  for 
peace,  in  drilling  his  soldiers,  in  cutting  roads,  and 
collecting  suj^plies  for  the  army.  He  was  ready 
for  an  immediate  campaign  in  case  the  council 
failed  in  its  object. 

While  here,  he  sent  a  letter  to  the  Secretarj^  of 
War,  detailing  the  circumstances,  and  suggesting 
the  probable  course  he  should  follow.  He  re- 
mained here  during  the  summer,  and,  when  apprised 
of  the  issue,  saw  it  was  too  late  to  attempt  the 
campaign  then.  He  sent  the  Kentucky  militia 
home,  and,  with  his  regular  soldiers,  went  into 
winter  quarters  at  a  fort  he  built  on  a  tributary 
of  the  Great  Miami.  He  called  the  fort  Green- 
ville. The  present  town  of  Greenville  is  near  the 
site  of  the  fort.  During  the  winter,  he  sent  a  de- 
tachment to  visit  the  scene  of  St.  Clair's  defeat. 
They  found  more  than  six  hundred  skulls,  and 
were  obliged  to  "scrape  the  bones  together  and 
carry  them  out  to  get  a  place  to  make  their  beds." 
They  buried  all  they  could  find.  Wayne  was 
steadily  preparing  his  forces,  so  as  to  have  every- 
thing ready  for  a  sure  blow  when  the  time  came. 
All  his  information  showed  the  faith  in  the  British 
which  still  animated  the  doomed  red  men,  and 
gave  them  a  hope  that  could  end  only  in  defeat. 

The  conduct  of  the  Indians  fully  corroborated 
the  statements  received  by  Gen.  Wayne.  On  the 
30th  of  June,  an  escort  of  ninety  riflemen  and 
fifty  dragoons,  under  command  of  Maj.  3IcMahon, 
was  attacked  under  the  walls  of  Fort  Recovery  by 
a  force  of  more  than  one  thousand  Indians  under 
charge  of  Little  Turtle.  They  were  repulsed  and 
badly  defeated,  and,  the  next  day,  driven  away. 
Their  mode  of  action,  their  arms  and  ammunition, 
all  told  plainly  of  British  aid.  They  also  ex- 
pected to  find  the  cannon  lost  by  St.  Clair  Novem- 
ber 4,  1791,  but  which  the  Americans  had  secured. 
The  26th  of  July,  Gen.  Scott,  with  1,600 
mounted  men  from  Kentucky,  joined  Gen.  Wayne 
at  Fort  Greenville,  and,  two  days  after,  the  legion 
moved  forward.  The  8th  of  August,  the  army 
reached  the  junction  of  the  Auglaize  and  Mau- 
mee,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  erect  Fort  Defiance, 
where  the  waters  meet.   The  Indians  had  abandoned 


:^ 


78 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


their  towns  on  the  approach  of  the  army,  and 
were  congregating  further  northward. 

While  engaged  on  Fort  Defiance,  Wayne 
received  continual  and  full  reports  of  the  Indians — 
of  their  aid  from  Detroit  and  elsewhere;  of  the 
nature  of  the  ground,  and  the  circumstances, 
favorable  or  unfavorable.  From  all  he  could 
learn,  and  considering  the  spirits  of  his  army, 
now  thoroughly  disciplined,  lie  determined  to 
march  forward  and  settle  matters  at  once.  Yet, 
true  to  his  own  instincts,  and  to  the  measures  of 
peace  so  forcibly  taught  by  Washington,  he  sent 
Christopher  Miller,  who  had  been  naturalized 
among  the  Shawanees,  and  taken  prisoner  by 
Wayne's  spies,  as  a  messenger  of  peace,  offering 
terms  of  friendship. 

Unwilling  to  waste  time,  the  troops  began  to 
move  forward  the  15th  of  August,  and  the  next 
day  met  Miller  with  the  message  that  if  the  Amer- 
icans would  wait  ten  days  at  Auglaize  the  Indians 
would  decide  for  peace  or  war.  Wayne  knew  too 
well  the  Indian  character,  and  answered  the  mes- 
sage by  simply  marching  on.  The  18th,  the  legion 
had  advanced  forty-one  miles  from  Auglaize,  and, 
being  near  the  long-looked-for  foe,  began  to  take 
some  measures  for  protection,  should  they  be  at- 
tacked. A  slight  breastwork,  called  Fort  Deposit, 
was  erected,  wherein  most  of  their  heavy  baggage 
was  placed.  They  remained  here,  building  their 
works,  until  the  20th,  when,  storing  their  baggage, 
the  army  began  again  its  march.  After  advancing 
about  five  miles,  they  met  a  large  force  of  the  ene- 
my, two  thousand  strong,  who  fiercely  attacked 
them.  Wayne  was,  however,  prepared,  and  in  the 
short  battle  that  ensued  they  were  routed,  and 
large  numbers  slain.  The  American  loss  was  very 
slight.  The  horde  of  savages  were  put  to  flight, 
leaving  the  Americans  victorious  almost  under 
the  walls  of  the  British  garrison,  under  Maj. 
Campbell.  This  ofiicer  sent  a  letter  to  Gen. 
Wayne,  asking  an  explanation  of  his  conduct  in 
fighting  so  near,  and  in  such  evident  hostility  to 
the  British.  Wayne  replied,  telling  him  he  was 
in  a  country  that  did  not  belong  to  him,  and  one 
he  was  not  authorized  to  hold,  and  also  charKintr 
him  with  aiding  the  Indians.  A  spirited  corre- 
spondence followed,  which  ended  in  the  American 
commander  marching  on,  and  devastating  the  In- 
dian country,  even  burning  IMcKee's  house  and 
stores  under  the  muzzles  of  the  English  guns. 

The  14lh  of  September,  the  army  marched  from 
Fort  Defiance  for  the  IVliami  village  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  St.  Mary's  and  St.  Joseph  Rivers.     It 


reached  there  on  the  17th,  and  the  next  day  Gen. 
Wayne  selected  a  site  for  a  fort.  The  22d  of  Oc- 
tober, the  fort  was  completed,  and  garrisoned  by  a 
detachment  under  Maj.  Hamtramck,  who  gave  to  it 
the  name  of  Fort  Wayne.  The  l-lth  of  October, 
the  mounted  Kentucky  volunteers,  who  had  be- 
come dissatisfied  and  mutinous,  were  started  to 
Fort  Washington,  where  they  were  immediately 
mustered  out  of  service  and  discharged.  The  28th 
of  October,  the  legion  marched  from  Fort  Wayne 
to  Fort  Greenville,  where  Gen.  Wayne  at  once 
established  his  headquarters. 

The  campaign  had  been  decisive  and  short,  and 
had  taught  the  Indians  a  severe  lesson.  The  Brit- 
ish, too,  had  failed  them  in  their  hour  of  need,  and 
now  they  began  to  see  they  had  a  foe  to  contend 
whose  resources  were  exhaustless.  Under  these 
circumstances,  losing  faith  in  the  English,  and  at 
last  impressed  with  a  respect  for  American  power, 
after  the  defeat  experienced  at  the  hands  of  the 
"Black  Snake,"  the  various  tribes  made  up  their 
minds,  by  degrees,  to  ask  for  peace.  During  the 
winter  and  spring,  they  exchanged  prisoners,  and 
made  ready  to  meet  Gen.  Wayne  at  Greenville,  in 
June,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  definite  treaty, 
as  it  had  been  agreed  should  be  done  by  the  pre- 
liminaries of  January  24. 

During  the  month  of  June,  1795,  representa- 
tives of  the  Northwestern  tribes  began  to  gather  at 
Greenville,  and,  the  16th  of  the  month.  Gen.  Wayne 
met  in  council  the  Delawares,  Ottawas,  Pottawato- 
mies  and  Eel  River  Indians,  and  the  conferences, 
which  lasted  till  August  10,  began.  The  21st 
of  June,  Buckongahelas  arrived  ;  the  23d,  Little 
Turtle  and  other  Miamis ;  the  13th  of  July, 
Tarhe  and  other  Wyandot  chiefs  ;  and  the  18th, 
Blue  Jacket,  and  thirteen  Shawanees  and  Massas 
with  twenty  Chippewas. 

Most  of  these,  as  it  appeared  by  their  statements, 
had  been  tampered  with  by  the  English,  especially 
by  McKee,  Girty  and  Brant,  even  after  the  pre- 
liminaries of  January  24,  and  while  IMr.  Jay  was 
perfecting  his  treaty.  They  had,  however,  all  de- 
termined to  make  peace  with  the  "Thirteen  Fires," 
and  although  some  difficulty  as  to  the  ownership  of 
the  lands  to  be  ceded,  at  one  time  seemed  likely  to 
arise,  the  good  sense  of  Wayne  and  the  leading 
chiefs  prevented  it,  and,  the  30th  of  July,  the  treaty 
was  agreed  to  which  should  bury  the  hatchet  for- 
ever. Between  that  day  and  the  3d  of  August, 
it  was  engro.ssed,  and,  having  been  signed  by  the 
various  nations  upon  the  day  last  named,  it  was 
finally  acted  upon  the  7th,  and  the  presents  from 


:^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


79 


the  United  States  distributed.  The  basis  of  this 
treaty  was  the  previous  one  made  at  Fort  Harmar. 
The  boundaries  made  at  that  time  were  re-affirmed  ; 
the  whites  were  secured  on  the  lands  now  occu- 
pied by  them  or  secured  by  former  treaties  ;  and 
among  all  the  assembled  nations,  presents,  in  value 
not  less  than  one  thousand  pounds,  were  distributed 
to  each  through  its  representatives,  many  thousands 
in  all.     The  Indians  were  allowed  to  remove  and 


punish  intruders  on  their  lands,  and  were  permitted 
to  hunt  on  the  ceded  lands. 

"  This  great  and  abiding  peace  document  wa.s 
signed  by  the  various  tribes,  and  dated  August  3, 
1795.  It  was  laid  before  the  Senate  December  9, 
and  ratified  the  22d.  So  closed  the  old  Indian 
wars  in  the  West."  * 


*  Aanals  of  the  West." 


CHAPTER    VIII. 


JAY'S   TREATY— THE   QUESTION   OF   STATE    RIGHTS    AND   NATIONAL   SUPREMACY— EXTENSION 
OF   OHIO   SETTLEMENTS— LAND    CLAIMS— SPANISH   BOUNDARY   QUESTION. 


WHILE  these  six  years  of  Indian  wars  were 
in  progress,  Kentucky  was  admitted  as  a 
State,  and  Pinckney's  treaty  with  Spain  was  com- 
pleted. This  last  occurrence  was  of  vital  impor- 
tance to  the  West,  as  it  secured  the  free  navigation 
of  the  Mississippi,  charging  only  a  fair  price  for 
the  storage  of  goods  at  Spanish  ports.  This, 
though  not  all  that  the  Americans  wished,  was  a 
great  gain  in  their  favor,  and  did  much  to  stop 
those  agitations  regarding  a  separation  on  the  part 
of  Kentucky.  It  also  quieted  affairs  further 
south  than  Kentucky,  in  the  Georgia  and  South 
Carolina  Territory,  and  put  an  end  to  French 
and  Spanish  intrigue  for  the  Western  Territory. 
The  treaty  was  signed  November  24,  1794. 
Another  treaty  was  concluded  by  Mr.  John  Jay 
between  the  two  governments,  Lord  Greenville 
representing  the  English,  and  Mr.  Jay,  the  Ameri- 
cans. The  negotiations  lasted  from  April  to 
November  19,  1795,  when,  on  that  day,  the  treaty 
was  signed  and  duly  recognized.  It  decided 
effectually  all  the  questions  at  issue,  and  was  the 
signal  for  the  removal  of  the  British  troops  from 
the  Northwestern  outposts.  This  was  effected  as 
soon  as  the  proper  transfers  could  be  made.  The 
second  article  of  the  treaty  provided  that,  "His 
Majesty  will  withdraw  all  his  troops  and  garrisons 
from  all  posts  and  places  within  the  boundary 
lines  assigned  by  the  treaty  of  peace  to  the  United 
States.  This  evacuation  shall  take  place  on  or 
before  the  1st  day  of  June,  1796,  and  all  the 
proper  measures  shall  be  taken,  in  the  interval,  by 
concert,  between  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  and  His  Majesty's  Governor  General  in 
America,   for  settling  the  previous  arrangements 


which  may  be  necessary  respecting  the  delivery 
of  the  said  posts;  the  United  States,  in  the  mean 
time,  at  their  discretion,  extending  their  settle- 
ments to  any  part  within  the  said  boundary  line, 
except  within  the  precincts  or  jurisdiction  of  any 
of  the  said  posts. 

"  All  settlers  and  all  traders  within  the  precincts 
or  jurisdiction  of  the  said  posts  shall  continue  to 
enjoy,  unmolested,  all  their  property  of  every 
kind,  and  shall  be  protected  therein.  They  shall 
be  at  full  liberty  to  remain  there  or  to  remove 
with  all,  or  any  part,  of  their  effects,  or  retain  the 
property  thereof  at  their  discretion ;  such  of  them 
as  shall  continue  to  reside  within  the  said  boundary 
lines,  shall  not  be  compelled  to  become  citizens  of 
the  United  States,  or  take  any  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  Government  thereof;  but  they  shall  be  at 
full  liberty  so  to  do,  if  they  think  proper;  they 
shall  make  or  declare  their  election  one  year  after 
the  evacuation  aforesaid.  And  all  persons  who 
shall  continue  therein  after  the  expiration  of  the 
said  year,  without  having  declared  their  intention 
of  remaining  subjects  to  His  Britannic  Majesty, 
shall  be  considered  as  having  elected  to  become 
citizens  of  the  United  States." 

The  Indian  war  had  settled  all  fears  from  that 
source ;  the  treaty  with  Great  Britain  had  estab- 
lished the  boundaries  between  the  two  countries 
and  secured  peace,  and  the  treaty  with  Spain  had 
secured  the  privilege  of  navigating  the  IMississippi, 
by  paying  only  a  nominal  sum.  It  had  also  bound 
the  people  of  the  West  together,  and  ended  the 
old  separation  question.  There  was  no  danger 
from  that  now.  Another  difficulty  arose,  however, 
relating  to  the  home  rule,  and  the  organization  of 


:v 


80 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


the  home  government.  There  were  two  parties  in 
the  country,  known  as  Federalist  and  Anti-Federal- 
ist. One  favored  a  central  government,  whose  au- 
thority should  be  supreme  ;  the  other,  only  a 
compact,  leaving  the  States  supreme.  The  worth- 
lessness  of  the  old  colonial  system  became,  daily, 
mure  apparent.  While  it  existed  no  one  felt  safe. 
There  was  no  prospect  of  paying  the  debt,  and, 
hence,  no  credit.  When  Mr.  Hamilton,  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury,  offered  his  financial  plan  to  the 
country,  favoring  centralization,  it  met,  in  many 
places,  violent  opposition.  Washington  was  strong 
enough  to  carry  it  out,  and  gave  evidence  that  he 
would  do  so.  When,  therefore,  the  excise  law 
passed,  and  taxes  on  whisky  were  collected,  an 
open  revolt  occurred  in  Pennsylvania,  known  as 
the  "Whisky  Insurrection."  It  was  put  down, 
finally,  by  military  power,  and  the  malcontents 
made  to  know  that  the  United  States  was  a  gov- 
ernment, not  a  compact  liable  to  rupture  at  any 
time,  and  by  any  of  its  members.  It  taught  the 
entire  nation  a  lesson.  Centralization  meant  pres- 
ervation. Should  a  "  compact "  form  of  government 
prevail,  then  anarchy  and  ruin,  and  ultimate  sub- 
jection to  some  foreign  power,  met  their  view. 
That  they  had  just  fought  to  dispel,  and  must  it 
all  go  for  naught  ?  The  people  saw  the  rulers 
were  right,  and  gradually,  over  the  West,  spread  a 
spirit  antagonistic  to  State  supremacy.  It  did  not 
revive  till  Jackson's  time,  when  he,  with  an  iron 
hand  and  iron  will,  crushed  out  the  evil  doctrine 
of  State  supremacy.  It  revived  again  in  the  late 
war,  again  to  be  crushed.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
ever  thus  will  be  its  fiite.  "  The  Union  is  insepa- 
rable," said  the  Grovernment,  and  the  people  echoed 
the  words. 

During  the  war,  and  while  all  these  events  had 
been  transpiring,  settlements  had  been  taking  place 
upon  the  Ohio,  which,  in  tlieir  influence  ujjon  the 
Northwest,  and  especially  upon  the  State,  as  soon 
as  it  was  created,  were  deeply  felt.  The  Virginia 
and  the  Connecticut  Reserves  were  at  this  time 
peopled,  and,  also,  that  part  of  the  Miami  Valley 
about  Dayton,  which  city  dates  its  origin  from  that 
period. 

As  early  as  1787,  the  reserved  lands  of  the  Old 
Dominion  north  of  the  Ohio  were  examined,  and, 
in  August  of  that  year,  entries  were  made.  As 
no  good  title  could  be  obtained  from  Congress  at 
this  time,  the  settlement  practically  ceased  until 
1790,  when  the  prohibition  to  enter  them  was 
withdrawn.  As  soon  as  that  was  done,  surveying 
began   again.     Nathaniel  Massie  was  amons;  the 


foremost  men  in  the  survey  of  this  tract,  and  lo- 
cating the  lands,  laid  off  a  town  about  twelve  miles 
above  Maysville.  The  place  was  called  Manchester, 
and  yet  exists.  From  this  point,  Massie  continued 
through. all  the  Indian  war,  despite  the  danger,  to 
survey  the  surrounding  country,  and  prepare  it  for 
settlers. 

Connecticut  had,  as  has  been  stated,  ceded  her 
lands,  save  a  tract  extending  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  beyond  the  western  boundary  of 
Pennsylvania.  Of  this  Connecticut  Reserve,  so 
far  as  the  Indian  title  was  extinguished,  a  survey 
was  ordered  in  October,  1786,  and  an  office  opened 
for  its  disposal.  Part  was  soon  sold,  and,  in  1792, 
half  a  million  of  acres  were  given  to  those  citizens 
of  Connecticut  who  had  lost  property  by  the  acts 
of  the  British  troops  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  at  New  London,  New  Haven  and  elsewhere. 
These  lands  thereby  became  known  as  "  Fire  lands  " 
and  the  "Sufferer's  lands,"  and  were  located  in  the 
western  part  of  the  Reserve.  In  May,  1795,  the 
Connecticut  Legislature  authorized  a  committee  to 
dispose  of  the  remainder  of  the  Reserve.  Before 
autumn  the  committee  sold  it  to  a  company  known 
as  the  Connecticut  Land  Company  for  $1,200,000, 
and  about  the  5th  of  September  quit-claimed  the 
land  to  the  Company.  The  same  day  the  Company 
received  it,  it  sold  3,000,000  acres  to  John  Mor- 
gan, John  Caldwell  and  Jonathan  Brace,  in  trust. 
Upon  these  quit-claim  titles  of  the  land  all  deeds 
in  the  Reserve  are  based.  Surveys  were  com- 
menced in  1796,  and,  by  the  close  of  the  next 
year,  all  the  land  east  of  the  Cuyahoga  was  divided 
into  townships  five  miles  square.  The  agent  of  the 
Connecticut  Land  Company  was  Gen.  Moses  Cleve- 
land, and  in  his  honor  the  leading  city  of  the  Re- 
serve was  named.  That  township  and  five  others 
were  reserved  for  private  sale;  the  balance  were 
disposed  of  by  lottery,  the  first  drawing  occurring 
in  February,  1798. 

Dayton  resulted  from  the  treaty  made  by  Wayne. 
It  came  out  of  the  boundaiy  ascribed  to  Symmes, 
and  for  a  while  all  such  lands  were  not  recognized 
as  sold  by  Congress,  owing  to  the  failure  of 
Symmes  and  his  associates  in  paying  for  them. 
Thereby  there  existed,  for  a  time,  considerable  un- 
easiness regarding  the  title  to  these  lands.  In 
1799,  Congress  was  induced  to  issue  patents  to  the 
actual  settlers,  and  thus  secure  them  in  their  pre- 
emption. 

Seventeen  days  after  Wayne's  treaty,  St.  Clairs 
Wilkinson,  Jonathan  Dayton  and  Israel  Ludlow 
contracted  with  Symmes  for  the  seventh  and  eighth 


liL 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


83 


ranges,  between  Mad  River  and  the  Little  Miami. 
Three  settlements  were  to  be  made:  one  at  the 
mouth  of  Mad  lliver,  one  on  the  Little  Miami,  in 
the  seventh  range,  and  another  on  Mad  River.  On 
the  21st  of  September,  1795,  Daniel  C.  Cooper 
started  to  survey  and  mark  out  a  road  in  the  pur- 
chase, and  John  Dunlap  to  run  its  boundaries, 
which  was  completed  before  October  4.  On  No- 
vember 4,  Mr.  Ludlow  laid  oiF  the  town  of  Day- 
ton, which,  like  land  in  the  Connecticut  Reserve, 
was  sold  by  lottery. 

A  gigantic  scheme  to  purchase  eighteen  or 
twenty  million  acres  in  Michigan,  and  then  pro- 
cure a  good  title  from  the  Government — who  alone 
had  such  a  right  to  procure  land — by  giving  mem- 
bers of  CongTcss  an  interest  in  the  investment, 
appeared  shortly  after  Wayne's  treaty.  When 
some  of  the  members  were  approached,  however, 
the  real  spirit  of  the  scheme  appeared,  and,  instead 
of  gaining  ground,  led  to  the  exposure,  resulting 
iu  the  reprimanding  severely  of  Robert  Randall, 
the  principal  mover  in  the  whole  plan,  and  in  its 
speedy  disappearance. 

Another  enterprise,  equally  gigantic,  also  ap- 
peared. It  was,  however,  legitimate,  and  hence 
successful.  On  the  20th  of  February,  1795,  the 
North  American  Land  Company  was  formed  in 
Philadelphia,  under  the  management  of  such  pat- 
riots as  Robert  Morris,  John  Nicholson  and  James 
Greenleaf.  This  Company  purchased  large  tracts 
in  the  West,  which  it  disposed  of  to  actual  settlers, 
and  thereby  aided  greatly  in  populating  that  part 
of  the  country. 

Before  the  close  of  1795,  the  Governor  of  the 
Territory,  and  his  Judges,  published  sixty-four 
statutes.  Thirty-four  of  these  were  adopted  at 
Cincinnati  during  June,  July  and  August  of  that 
year.  They  were  known  as  the  Maxwell  code, 
from  the  name  of  the  publisher,  but  were  passed 
by  Governor  St.  Clair  and  Judges  Symmes  and 
Turner.  Among  them  was  that  which  provided 
that  the  common  law  of  England,  and  all  its  stat- 
utes, made  previous  to  the  fourth  year  of  James 
the  First,  should  be  in  full  force  within  the  Terri- 
tory. "  Of  the  system  as  a  whole,"  says  Mr.  Case, 
"  with  its  many  imperfections,  it  may  be  doubted 
that  any  colony,  at  so  early  a  period  after  its  first 
establishment,  ever  had  one  so  good  and  applicable 
to  all." 

The  Union  had  now  safely  passed  through  its 
most  critical  period  after  the  close  of  the  war  of 
independence.  The  danger  from  an  irruption  of 
its  own  members ;  of  a  war  or  alliance  of  its  West- 


ern portion  with  France  and  Spain,  and  many 
other  perplexing  questions,  were  now  effectually 
settled,  and  the  population  of  the  Territory  began 
rapidly  to  increase.  Before  the  close  of  the  year 
17 96,  the  Northwest  contained  over  five  thousand 
inhabitants,  the  requisite  number  to  entitle  it  to 
one  representative  iu  the  national  Congress. 

Western  Pennsylvania  also,  despite  the  various 
conflicting  claims  regarding  the  land  titles  in  that 
part  of  the  State,  began  rapidly  to  fill  with  emigrants. 
The  "Triangle"  and  the  " Struck  District  "  were 
surveyed  and  put  upon  the  market  under  the  act 
of  1792.  Treaties  and  purchases  from  the  various 
Indian  tribes,  obtained  control  of  the  remainder  of 
the  lands  in  that  part  of  the  State,  and,  by  1796, 
the  State  owned  all  the  land  within  its  boundaries. 
Towns  were  laid  off,  land  put  upon  the  market,  so 
that  by  the  year  1800,  the  western  part  of  the 
Keystone  State  was  divided  into  eight  counties,  viz.. 
Beaver,  Butler,  Mercer,  Crawford,  Erie,  Warren, 
Venango  and  Armstrong. 

The  ordinance  relative  to  the  survey  and  dis- 
posal of  lands  in  the  Northwest  Territory  has 
already  been  given.  It  was  adhered  to,  save  in 
minor  cases,  where  necessity  required  a  slight 
change.  The  reservations  were  recognized  by 
Congi'ess,  and  the  titles  to  them  all  confirmed  to 
the  grantees.  Thus,  Clarke  and  his  men,  the 
Connecticut  Reserve,  the  Refugee  lands,  the 
French  inhabitants,  and  all  others  holding  patents 
to  land  from  colonial  or  foreign  governments,  were 
all  confirmed  in  their  rights  and  protected  in  their 
titles. 

Before  the  close  of  1796,  the  upper  North- 
western posts  were  all  vacated  by  the  British, 
under  the  terms  of  Mr.  Jay's  treaty.  Wayne  at 
once  transferred  his  headquarters  to  Detroit,  where 
a  county  was  named  for  him,  including  the  north- 
western part  of  Ohio,  the  northeast  of  Indiana, 
and  the  whole  of  Michigan. 

The  occupation  of  the  Territory  by  the  Ameri- 
cans gave  additional  impulse  to  emigration,  and  a 
better  feeling  of  security  to  emigrants,  who  fol- 
lowed closely  upon  the  path  of  the  army.  Na- 
thaniel Masf-ie,  who  has  already  been  noticed  as 
the  founder  of  Manchester,  laid  out  the  town  of 
Chillicothe,  on  the  Scioto,  in  1796.  Before  the 
close  of  the  year,  it  contained  several  stores, 
shops,  a  tavern,  and  was  well  populated.  With 
the  increase  of  settlement  and  the  security  guar- 
anteed by  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  the  arts  of 
civilized  life  began  to  appear,  and  their  influence 
upon  pioneers,  especially  those  born  on  the  frontier, 


tv 


^1 


-rf 5) 


84 


HISTOEY    or    OHIO. 


began  to  manifest  itself.  Better  dwellings,  schools, 
churches,  dress  and  manners  prevailed.  Life 
began  to  assume  a  reality,  and  lost  much  of 
that  recklessness  engendered  by  the  habits  of  a 
frontier  life. 

Cleveland,  Cincinnati,  the  Miami,  the  Mus- 
kingum and  the  Scioto  Valleys  were  filling  with 
people.  Cincinnati  had  more  than  one  hundred 
log  cabins,  twelve  or  fifteen  frame  houses  and  a 
population  of  more  than  six  hundred  persons.  In 
1796,  the  first  house  of  worship  for  the  Presby- 
terians in  that  city  was  built. 

Before  the  close  of  the  same  year,  ManchcvSter 
contained  over  thirty  families ;  emigrants  from 
Virginia  were  going  up  all  the  valleys  from  the 
Ohio;  and  Ebenezer  Zane  had  opened  a  bridle- 
path from  the  Ohio  River,  at  Wheeling,  across  the 
country,  by  Chillicothe,  to  Limestone,  Ky.  The 
next  year,  the  United  States  mail,  for  the  first 
time,  traversed  this  route  to  the  West.  Zane  was 
given  a  section  of  land  for  his  path.  The  popu- 
lation of  the  Territory,  estimated  at  from  five  to 
eight  thousand,  was  chiefly  distributed  in  lower 
valleys,  bordering  on  the  Ohio  River.  The  French 
still  occupied  the  Illinois  country,  and  were  the 
principal  inhabitants  about  Detroit. 

South  of  the  Ohio  River,  Kentucky  was  pro- 
gressing favorably,  while  the  ''  Southwestern  Ter- 
ritory," ceded  to  the  United  States  by  North 
Carolina  in  1790,  had  so  rapidly  populated  that, 
in  1793,  a  Territorial  form  of  government  was 
allowed.  The  ordinance  of  1787,  save  the  clause 
prohibiting  slavery,  was  adopted,  and  the  Territory 
named  Tennessee.  On  June  6,  179(3,  the  Terri- 
tory contained  more  than  seventy-five  thousand 
inhabitants,  and  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a 
State.  Four  years  after,  the  census  showed  a 
population  of  105,002  souls,  including  13,584 
slaves  and  persons  of  color.  The  same  year 
Tennessee  became  a  State,  Samuel  Jackson  and 
Jonathan  Sharpless  erected  the  Redstone  Paper 
Mill,  four  miles  east  of  Brownsville,  it  being  the 
first  manufactory  of  the  kind  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies. 

In  the  month  of  December,  1796,  Gen.  Wayne, 
who  had  done  so  much  for  the  development  of  the 
West,  while  on  his  way  from  Detroit  to  Philadel- 
phia, was  attacked  with  sickness  and  died  in  a 
cabin  near  Erie,  in  the  north  part  of  Pennsylvania, 
lie  was  nearly  fifty-one  years  old,  and   was  one  of 


the  bravest  officers  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
one  of  America's  truest  patriots.  In  1809,  his 
remains  were  removed  Irom  Erie,  by  his  sou,  Col. 
Isaac  Wayne,  to  the  Radnor  churchyard,  near  the 
place  of  his  birth,  and  an  elegant  monument  erected 
on  his  tomb  by  the  Pennsylvania  Cincinnati  So- 
ciety. 

After  the  death  of  Wayne,  Gen.  Wilkinson  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Western  anny. 
While  he  was  in  command,  Carondelet,  the  Spanish 
governcjr  of  West  Florida  and  Louisiana,  made  one 
more  effort  to  separate  the  Union,  and  set  up  either 
an  independent  government  in  the  West,  or,  Avliat 
was  more  in  accord  with  his  wishes,  effect  a 
union  with  the  Spanish  nation.  In  June,  1797, 
he  sent  Power  again  into  the  Northwest  and  into 
Kentucky  to  sound  the  existing  feeling.  Now, 
however,  they  were  not  easily  won  over.  The 
home  government  was  a  certainty,  the  breaches  had 
been  healed,  and  Power  was  compelled  to  abandon 
the  mission ,  not,  however,  until  he  had  received  a 
severe  reprimand  from  many  who  saw  through  his 
plan,  and  openly  exposed  it.  His  mission  closed 
the  eff'orts  of  the  Spanish  authorities  to  attempt 
the  dismemljerment  of  the  Union,  and  showed 
them  the  coming  downfall  of  their  power  in  Amer- 
ica. They  wei'e  obliged  to  surrender  the  posts 
claimed  by  the  United  States  under  the  treaty  of 
1795,  and  not  many  years  after,  sold  their  Amer- 
ican possessions  to  the  United  States,  rather  than 
see  a  rival  European  power  attain  control  over  them. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  1798,  Congress  passed  an 
act,  appointing  Winthrop  Sargent,  Secretary  of  the 
Northwest  Territory,  Governor  of  the  Territory  of 
tlie  INIississippi,  formed  the  same  day.  In  1801, 
the  boundary  between  America  and  the  Spanish  pos- 
sessions was  definitely  fixed.  The  Spanish  retired 
from  the  disputed  territory,  and  henceforward  their 
attempts  to  dissolve  the  American  Union  ceased. 
The  seat  of  the  Mississippi  Territory  was  fixed  at 
Loftus  Heights,  six  miles  north  of  the  thirty-first 
degree  of  latitude. 

The  appointment  of  Sargent  to  the  charge  of  the 
Southwest  Territory,  led  to  the  choice  of  William 
Henry  Harrison,  who  had  been  aid-de-camp  to 
Gen.  Wayne  in  1794,  and  whose  cliaracter  stood 
very  high  among  the  people  of  the  West,  to  the 
Secretaryship  of  the  Northwest,  which  place  he  held 
until  appointed  to  represent  that  Territory  in  Con- 
gress. 


_< f) 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


85 


CHAPTER    IX. 

FIRST  TERRITORIAL  REPRESENTATIVES  IN  CONGRESS— DIVISION   OF   THE   TERRITORY— FORMA- 
TION OF  STATES— MARIETTA  SETTLEMENT— OTHER   SETTLEMENTS— SETTLEMENTS  IN 
THE   WESTERN    RESERVE  — SETTLEMENT    OF    THE    CENTRAL   VALLEYS- 
FURTHER  SETTLEMENTS  IN  THE  RESERVE  AND  ELSEWHERE. 


THE  ordinance  of  1787  provided  that  as  soon 
as  there  were  5,000  persons  in  the  Territory, 
it  was  entitled  to  a  representative  assembly.  On 
October  29,  1798,  Governor  St.  Clair  gave  notice 
by  proclamation,  that  the  required  population  ex- 
isted, and  directed  that  an  election  be  held  on  the 
third  Monday  in  December,  to  choose  representa- 
tives. These  representatives  were  required,  when 
assembled,  to  nominate  ten  persons,  whose  names 
were  sent  to  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
who  selected  five,  and  with  the  advice  and  consent 
of  the  Senate,  appointed  them  for  the  legislative 
council.  In  this  mode  the  Northwest  passed  into 
the  second  grade  of  a  Territorial  government. 

The  representatives,  elected  under  the  proclama- 
tion of  St.  Clair,  met  in  Cincinnati,  January  22, 
1799,  and  under  the  provisions  of  the  ordinance 
of  1787,  nominated  ten  persons,  whose  names  were 
sent  to  the  President.  On  the  2d  of  March,  he 
selected  from  the  list  of  candidates,  the  names  of 
Jacob  Burnet,  James  Findlay,  Henry  Vander- 
burgh, Robert  Oliver  and  David  Vance.  The 
next  day  the  Senate  confirmed  their  nomination, 
and  the  first  legislative  council  of  the  Northwest 
Territory  was  a  reality. 

The  Territorial  Legislature  met  again  at  Cincin- 
nati, September  16,  but,  for  want  of  a  quorum, 
was  not  organized  until  the  24th  of  that  month. 
The  House  of  Representatives  consisted  of  nine- 
teen members,  of  whom  seven  were  from  Hamilton 
County,  four  from  Ross — erected  by  St.  Clair  in 
1798;  three  from  Wayne — erected  in  1796;  two 
from  Adams — erected  in  1797;  one  from  Jeifer- 
son — erected  in  1797  ;  one  from  Washington — 
erected  in  1788 ;  and  one  from  Knox — Indiana 
Territory.  None  seem  to  have  been  present  from 
St.  Clair  County  (Illinois  Territory). 

After  the  organization  of  the  Legislature,  Gov- 
ernor St.  Clair  addressed  the  two  houses  in  the  Rep- 
resentatives' Chamber,  recommending  such  meas- 
ures as,  in  his  judgment,  were  suited  to  the  con- 
dition of  the  country  and  would  advance  the  safety 
and  prosperity  of  the  people. 


The  Legislature  continued  in  session  till  the  19th 
of  December,  when,  having  finished  their  business, 
they  were  prorogued  by  the  Governor,  by  their 
own  request,  till  the  first  Monday  in  November, 
1800.  This  being  the  first  session,  there  was,  of 
necessity,  a  gTeat  deal  of  business  to  do.  The 
transition  from  a  colonial  to  a  semi-independent 
form  of  government,  called  for  a  general  revision 
as  well  as  a  considerable  enlargement  of  the  stat- 
ute-book. Some  of  the  adopted  laws  were  re- 
pealed, many  others  altered  and  amended,  and  a 
long  list  of  new  ones  added  to  the  code.  New 
offices  were  to  be  created  and  filled,  the  duties  at- 
tached to  thcai  prescribed,  and  a  plan  of  ways  and 
means  devised  to  meet  the  increased  expenditures, 
occasioned  by  the  change  which  had  now  occurred. 

As  Mr.  Burnet  was  the  principal  lawyer  in  the 
Council,  much  of  the  revision,  and  putting  the  laws 
into  proper  legal  form,  devolved  upon  him.  He 
seems  to  have  been  well  fitted  for  the  place,  and 
to  have  performed  the  laborious  task  in  an  excel- 
lent manner. 

The  whole  number  of  acts  passed  and  approved 
by  the  Governor,  was  thirty-seven.  The  most  im- 
portant related  to  the  militia,  the  administration  of 
justice,  and  to  taxation.  During  the  session,  a  bill 
authorizing  a  lottery  was  passed  by  the  council, 
but  rejected  by  the  LegisUiture,  thus  interdicting 
this  demoralizing  feature  of  the  disposal  of  lands 
or  for  other  purposes.  The  example  has  always  been 
followed  by  subsequent  legislatures,  thus  honorably 
characterizing  the  Assembly  of  Ohio,  in  this  re- 
spect, an  example  Kentucky  and  several  other 
States  might  well  emulate. 

Before  the  Assembly  adjourned,  they  issued  a 
congratulatory  address  to  the  people,  enjoining 
them  to  "  Inculcate  the  principles  of  humanity, 
benevolence,  honesty  and  ])unctuality  in  dealing, 
sincerity  and  charity,  and  all  the  social  afiections." 
At  the  same  time,  they  issued  an  address  to  the 
President,  expressing  entire  confidence  in  the  wis- 
dom and  purity  of  his  government,  and  their 
warm    attachment  to  the   American  Constitution. 


:^ 


86 


HISTOEY   OF   OHIO. 


The  vote  on  this  address  proved,  however,  that  the 
differences  of  opinion  agitating  the  Eastern  States 
had  penetrated  the  West.  Eleven  Representatives 
voted  for  it,  and  five  against  it. 

One  of  the  important  duties  that  devolved  on 
this  Legislature,  was  the  election  of  a  delegate  to 
Congress.  As  soon  as  the  Governor's  proclama- 
tion made  its  appearance,  the  election  of  a  person 
to  fill  that  position  excited  general  attention.  Be- 
fore the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  public  opinion 
had  settled  down  on  William  Henry  Harrison,  and 
Arthur  St.  Clair,  Jr.,  who  eventually  were  the  only 
candidates.  On  the  3d  of  October,  the  two  houses 
met  and  proceeded  to  a  choice.  Eleven  votes  were 
cast  for  Harrison,  and  ten  for  St.  Clair.  The  Leg- 
islature prescribed  the  form  of  a  certificate  of  the 
election,  which  was  given  to  Harrison,  who  at  once 
resigned  his  office  as  Secretary  of  the  Territory, 
proceeded  to  Philadelphia,  and  took  his  seat.  Con- 
gress being  then  in  session. 

"  Though  he  represented  the  Territory  but  one 
year,  "  says  Judge  Burnett,  in  his  notes,  "  he  ob- 
tained some  important  advantages  for  his  constitu- 
ents. He  introduced  a  resolution  to  sub-divide 
the  surveys  of  the  public  lands,  and  to  offer  them 
for  sale  in  smaller  tracts  ;  he  succeeded  in  getting 
that  measure  through  both  houses,  in  opposition  to 
the  intei-est  of  speculators,  who  were,  and  who 
wished  to  be,  the  retailers  of  the  land  to  the  poorer 
classes  of  the  community.  His  proposition  be- 
came a  law,  and  was  hailed  as  the  most  beneficent 
act  that  Congress  had  ever  done  for  the  Territory. 
It  put  in  the  power  of  every  industrious  man,  how- 
ever poor,  to  become  a  freeholder,  and  to  lay  a 
foundation  for  the  future  support  and  comfort  of 
his  family.  At  the  same  session,  he  obtained  a 
liberal  extension  of  time  for  the  pre-emptioners  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  Miami  purchase,  which 
enabled  them  to  secure  their  farms,  and  eventually 
to  become  independent,  and  even  wealthy." 

The  first  session,  as  has  been  noticed,  closed 
December  19.  Gov.  St.  Clair  took  occasion  to 
enumerate  in  his  speech  at  the  close  of  the  session, 
eleven  acts,  to  which  he  saw  fit  to  apply  his  veto. 
These  he  had  not,  however,  returned  to  the  Assem- 
bly, and  thereby  saved  a  long  struggle  between  the 
executive  and  legislative  branches  of  the  Territory. 
Of  the  eleven  acts  enumerated,  six  related  to  the 
formation  of  new  counties.  These  were  mainly 
disproved  by  St  Clair,  as  he  always  sturdily  main- 
tained that  the  power  to  erect  new  counties  was 
vested  alone  in  the  Executive.  This  free  exercise 
of  the  veto  power,  especially  in  relation  to  new 


counties,  and  his  controversy  with  the  Legislature, 
tended  only  to  strengthen  the  popular  discontent 
regarding  the  Governor,  who  was  never  fully  able 
to  regain  the  standing  he  held  before  his  in- 
glorious defeat  in  his  campaign  against  the  Indians. 

While  this  was  being  agitated,  another  question 
came  into  prominence.  Ultimately,  it  settled  the 
powers  of  the  two  branches  of  the  government, 
and  caused  the  removal  of  St.  Clair,  then  very 
distasteful  to  the  people.  The  opening  of  the 
present  century  brought  it  fully  before  the 
people,  who  began  to  agitate  it  in  all  their 
assemblies. 

The  great  extent  of  the  Territory  made  the 
operations  of  government  extremely  uncertain, 
and  the  power  of  the  courts  practically  worthless. 
Its  division  was,  therefore,  deemed  best,  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  by  Congress  to  inquire 
into  the  matter.  This  committee,  the  3d  of 
March,  1800,  reported  upon  the  subject  that,  "In 
the  three  western  counties,  there  has  been  but 
one  court  having  cognizance  of  crimes  in  five 
years.  The  immunity  which  offenders  experience, 
attracts,  as  to  an  asylum,  the  most  vile  and  aban- 
doned criminals,  and,  at  the  same  time,  deters 
useful  and  virtuous  citizens  from  making  settle- 
ments in  such  society.  The  extreme  necessity  of 
judiciary  attention  and  assistance  is  experienced 
in  civil  as  well  as  criminal  cases.  The  supplying 
to  vacant  places  such  necessary  officers  as  may  be 
wanted,  such  as  clerks,  recorders  and  others  of 
like  kind,  is,  from  the  impossibility  of  correct 
notice  and  information,  utterly  neglected.  This 
Territory  is  exposed  as  a  frontier  to  foreign  nations, 
whose  agents  can  find  sufficient  interest  in  exciting 
or  fomenting  insurrection  and  discontent,  as 
thereby  they  can  more  easily  divert  a  valuable 
trade  in  furs  from  the  United  States,  and  also  have 
a  part  thereof  on  which  they  border,  which  feels 
so  little  the  cherishing  hand  of  their  proper  gov- 
ernment, or  so  little  dreads  its  energy,  as  to  render 
their  attachment  perfectly  uncertain  and  am- 
biguous. 

"  The  committee  would  further  suggest,  that 
the  law  of  the  3d  of  March,  1791,  granting  land 
to  certain  persons  in  the  western  part  of  said  Ter- 
ritory, and  directing  the  laying-out  of  the  same, 
remains  unexecuted;  that  great  discontent,  in 
consequence  of  such  neglect,  is  excited  in  those 
who  are  interested  in  the  provisions  of  said  laws, 
which  require  the  immediate  attention  of  this 
Legislature.  To  minister  a  remedy  to  these  evils, 
it  occurs  to  this  committee,  that  it  is  expedient 


:7: 


-^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


8T 


that  a  division  of  said  Territory  into  two  distinct 
and  separate  governments  should  be  made  ;  and 
that  such  division  be  made  by  a  Una  beginning  at 
the  mouth  of  the  great  Miami  River,  running 
directly  north  until  it  intersects  the  boundary 
between  the  United  States  and  Canada."  * 

The  recommendations  of  the  committee  were 
favorably  received  by  Congress,  and,  the  7th 
of  jMay,  an  act  was  passed  dividing  the  Ter- 
ritory. The  main  provisions  of  the  act  are  as 
follows : 

"  That,  from  and  after  the  4th  of  July  next, 
all  that  part  of  the  territory  of  the  United  States 
northwest  of  the  Ohio  River,  which  lies  to  the 
westward  of  a  line  beginning  at  the  Ohio,  opposite 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky  River,  and  running 
thence  to  Fort  Recovery,  and  thence  north  until 
it  intersects  the  territorial  line  between  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  shall,  for  the  purpose  of  tem- 
porary government,  constitute  a  separate  Territory, 
and  be  called  the  Indiana  Territory. 

"There  shall  be  established  within  the  said  Ter- 
ritory a  government,  in  all  respects  similar  to  that 
provided  by  the  ordinance  of  Congress  passed  July 
13,  1797."  t 

The  act  further  provided  for  representatives,  and 
for  the  establishment  of  an  assembly,  on  the  same 
plan  as  that  in  force  in  the  Northwest,  stipulating 
that  until  the  number  of  inhabitants  reached  five 
thousand,  the  whole  number  of  representatives  to 
the  Greneral  Assembly  should  not  be  less  than  seven, 
nor  more  than  nine ;  apportioned  by  the  Governor 
among  the  several  counties  in  the  new  Terri- 
tory. 

The  act  further  provided  that  "  nothing  in  the 
act  should  be  so  construed,  so  as  in  any  manner 
to  affect  the  government  now  in  force  in  the  terri- 
tory of  the  United  States  northwest  of  the  Ohio 
River,  further  than  to  prohibit  the  exercise  thereof 
within  the  Indiana  Territory,  from  and  after  the 
aforesaid  4th  of  July  next. 

"  Whenever  that  part  of  the  territory  of  the 
United  States,  which  lies  to  the  eastward  of  a  line 
beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  River, 
and  running  thence  due  north  to  the  territorial 
line  between  the  United  States  and  Canada,  shall 
be  erected  into  an  independent  State,  and  admitted 
into  the  Union  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  orig- 
inal States ;  thenceforth  said  line  shall  become  and 
remain  permanently,  the  boundary  line  between 
such  State  and  the  Indiana  Territory." 

*AniPri'-an  State  Papers. 
fLand  Laws. 


It  was  further  enacted,  "  that,  until  it  shall  be 
otherwise  enacted  by  the  legislatures  of  the  said 
tei'ritories,  respectively,  Chillicothe,  on  the  Scioto 
River,  shall  be  the  seat  of  government  of  the  ter- 
ritory of  the  United  States  northwest  of  the  Ohio 
River;  and  that  St.  Vincent's,  on  the  Wabash 
River,  shall  be  the  seat  of  government  for  the 
Indiana  Territory."  * 

St.  Clair  was  continued  as  Governor  of  the  old 
Territory,  and  William  Henry  Harrison  appointed 
Governor  of  the  new. 

Connecticut,  in  ceding  her  territory  in  the  West 
to  the  Genei'al  Government,  reserved  a  portion, 
known  as  the  Connecticut  Reserve.  When  she 
afterward  disposed  of  her  claim  in  the  manner 
narrated,  the  citizens  found  themselves  without  any 
government  on  which  to  lean  for  support.  At  that 
time,  settlements  had  begun  in  thirty-five  of  the 
townships  into  which  the  Reserve  had  been  divided  ; 
one  thousand  persons  had  established  homes  there  ; 
mills  had  been  built,  and  over  seven  hundred  miles 
of  roads  opened.  In  1800,  the  settlers  petitioned 
for  acceptance  into  the  Union,  as  a  part  of  the 
Northwest ;  and,  the  mother  State  releasing  her  judi- 
ciary claims.  Congress  accepted  the  ti-ust,  and 
granted  the  request.  In  December,  of  that  year, 
the  population  had  so  increased  that  the  county  of 
Trumbull  was  erected,  including  the  Reserve. 
Soon  after,  a  large  number  of  settlers  came  from 
Pennsylvania,  from  which  State  they  had  been 
driven  by  the  dispute  concerning  land  titles  in  its 
western  part.  Unwilling  to  cultivate  land  to 
which  they  could  only  get  a  doubtful  deed,  they 
abandoned  it,  and  came  where  the  titles  were 
sure. 

Congress  having  made  Chillicothe  the  capital  of 
the  Northwest  Territory,  as  it  now  existed,  on  the 
3d  of  November  the  General  Assembly  met  at  that 
place.  Gov.  St.  Clair  had  been  made  to  feel  the 
odium  cast  upon  his  previous  acts,  and,  at  the  open- 
ing of  this  session,  expressed,  in  strong  terms,  his 
disapprobation  of  the  censure  cast  upon  him.  He 
had  endeavored  to  do  his  duty  in  all  cases,  he  said, 
and  yet  held  the  confidence  of  the  President  and 
Congress.  He  still  held  the  office,  notwithstanding 
the  strong  dislike  against  him. 

At  the  second  session  of  the  Assembly,  at  Chil- 
licothe, held  in  the  autumn  of  1801,  so  much  out- 
spoken enmity  wa-s  expressed,  and  so  much  abuse 
heaped  upon  the  Governor  and  the  Assembly,  that 
a  law  was  passed,  removing  the  capital  to  Cincinnati 

*  Land  Laws. 


:^ 


X 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


again.  It  was  not  destined,  however,  that  the 
Territorial  Assembly  should  meet  again  anywhere. 
The  unpopularity  of  the  Governor  caused  many  to 
long  for  a  State  government,  where  they  could 
choose  their  own  rulers.  The  unpopularity  of  St. 
Clair  arose  partly  from  the  feeling  connected  with 
his  defeat ;  in  part  from  his  being  connected  with 
the  Federal  party,  fast  falling  into  disrepute;  and, 
in  part,  from  his  assuming  powers  which  most 
thought  he  had  no  right  to  exercise,  especially  the 
power  of  subdividing  the  counties  of  the  Terri- 
tory. 

The  opposition,  though  powerful  out  of  the 
Assembly,  was  in  the  minority  there.  During  the 
month  of  December,  1801,  it  was  forced  to  protest 
against  a  measure  brought  forward  in  the  Council, 
for  changing  the  ordinance  of  1787  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  make  the  Scioto,  and  a  line  drawn  from 
the  intersection  of  that  I'iver  and  the  Indian 
boundary  to  the  western  extremity  of  the  Reserve, 
the  limits  of  the  most  eastern  State,  to  be  formed 
from  the  Territory.  Had  this  change  been  made, 
the  formation  of  a  State  government  beyond  the 
Ohio  would  have  been  long  delayed.  Against  it, 
IleprcsentativesWortliington,Langham,  Darlington, 
Massie,  Dunlavy  and  Morrow,  recorded  their  pro- 
test. Not  content  with  this,  they  sent  Thomas 
Worthington,  who  obtained  a  leave  of  absence,  to 
the  seat  of  government,  on  behalf  of  the  objectors, 
there  to  protest,  before  Congress,  against  the  pro- 
posed boundary.  While  Worthington  was  on  his 
way,  Massie  presented,  the  4th  of  January,  1802, 
a  resolution  for  choosing  a  committee  to  address 
Congress  in  respect  to  the  proposed  State  govern- 
ment. This,  the  next  day,  the  House  refused  to 
do,  by  a  vote  of  twelve  to  five.  An  attempt 
was  next  made  to  procure  a  census  of  the  Ter- 
ritory, and  an  act  for  that  purpose  passed  the 
House,  but  the  Council  postponed  the  considera- 
tion of  it  until  the  next  session,  which  would  com- 
mence at  Cincinnati,  the  fourth  iMonday  of  No- 
vember. 

Meanwhile,  Worthington  pursued  the  ends  of 
his  mission,  vising  his  influence  to  effect  that  organ- 
ization, "which,  terminating  the  influence  of  tyr- 
anny," was  to  "meliorate  the  circumstances  of  thou- 
sands, by  freeing  them  from  the  domination  of  a 
despotic  chief"  His  efforts  wore  siiccessful,  and, 
the  -Ith  of  March,  a  report  was  made  to  the 
House  in  favor  of  authorizing  a  State  convention. 
This  report  was  based  on  the  assumption  that  there 
were  now  over  sixty  thousand  inhabitants  in  the 
proposed  boundaries,  estimating  that  emigration  had 


increased  the  census  of  1800,  which  gave  the  Ter- 
ritory forty-five  thousand  inhabitants,  to  that  num- 
ber. The  convention  was  to  ascertain  whether  it 
were  expedient  to  form  such  a  government,  and  to 
prepare  a  constitution  if  such  organization  were 
deemed  best.  In  the  formation  of  the  State,  a 
change  in  the  boundaries  was  proposed,  by  which 
all  the  territory  north  of  a  line  drawn  due  east 
from  the  head  of  Lake  Michigan  to  Lake  Ei'ie  was 
to  be  excluded  from  the  new  government  about  to 
be  called  into  existence. 

The  committee  appointed  by  Congress  to  report 
upon  the  feasibility  of  forming  the  State,  suggested 
that  Congress  reserve  out  of  every  township  sections 
numbered  8,  11,  26  and  29.  for  their  own  use,  and 
that  Section  16  be  reserved  for  the  maintenance 
of  schools.  The  committee  also  suggested,  that, 
"religion,  education  and  morality  being  necessary 
to  the  good  government  and  happiness  of  mankind, 
schools  and  the  means  of  education  shall  be  forever 
encouraged." 

Various  other  recommendations  were  given  by 
the  committee,  in  accordance  with  which,  Congress, 
April  30,  passed  the  resolution  authorizing  the 
calling  of  a  convention.  As  tliis  accorded  with 
the  feelings  of  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Northwest,  no  opposition  was  experienced ;  even 
the  Legislature  giving  way  to  this  embryo  gov- 
ernment, and  failing  to  assemble  according  to  ad- 
journment. 

The  convention  met  the  1st  of  November.  Its 
aiembers  were  generally  Jeffersonian  in  their  na- 
tional politics,  and  had  been  opposed  to  the  change 
of  boundaries  proposed  the  year  before.  Before 
proceeding  to  business.  Gov.  St.  Clair  proposed  to 
address  them  in  his  official  character.  This  propo- 
sition was  resisted  by  several  of  the  members;  but, 
after  a  motion,  it  was  agreed  to  allow  him  to  speak 
to  them  as  a  citizen.  St.  Clair  did  so,  advising 
the  postponement  of  a  State  government  until  the 
people  of  the  original  eastern  division  were  plainly 
entitled  to  demand  it,  and  were  not  subject  to  be 
bovind  by  conditi(ms.  This  advice,  given  as  it  was, 
caused  Jefferson  instantly  to  remove  St.  Clair,  at 
which  time  his  office  ceased.*  "When  the  vote 
was  taken,"  says  Judge  Burnet,  "upon  doing  what 

*  After  thiH,  St.  Clair  returned  to  his  old  home  in  the  Ligonier 
Valley,  Pennsylviinia,  where  ho  lived  with  his  children  in  alnio-st 
abject  poverty.  He  had  lost,  money  in  his  jmblic  life,  as  he  gave 
close  attention  to  public  affairs,  to  the  detriment  of  his  own  business. 
He  presented  a  claim  to  Congress,  afterward,  for  supplies  furnished 
to  the  army,  but  the  cbiira  was  outlawed.  After  trying  in  vain  to 
get  the  claim  allowed,  he  returned  to  his  home.  Pennsylvania, 
le!jrning  of  his  distress,  granted  him  an  annuity  of  $.350,  afterward 
raised  to  S'>'^0.  He  lived  to  enjoy  this  but  a  short  time,  his  death 
occurring  August  31,  1818.     He  was  eighty-four  years  of  age. 


"7" 


±^ 


HISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


89 


he  advised  them  not  to  do,  but  one  of  thirty-three 
(Ephraim  Cutler,  of  Washington  County)  voted 
with  the  Grovernor." 

On  one  point  only  were  the  proposed  boundaries 
of  the  new  State  altered. 

"  To  every  person  who  has  attended  to  this  sub- 
ject, and  who  has  consulted  the  maps  of  the  West- 
ern country  extant  at  the  time  the  ordinance  of 
1787  was  passed,  Lake  Michigan  was  believed  to 
bo,  and  was  represented  by  all  the  maps  of  that 
day  as  being,  very  far  north  of  the  position  which 
it  has  since  been  ascertained  to  occupy.  I  have 
seen  the  map  in  the  Department  of  State  which 
was  before  the  committee  of  Congress  who  framed 
and  reported  the  ordinance  for  the  government  of 
the  Territory.  On  that  map,  the  southern  bound- 
ary of  Michigan  was  represented  as  being  above 
the  forty-second  degree  of  north  latitude.  And 
there  was  a  pencil  line,  said  to  have  been  made  by 
the  committee,  passing  through  the  southern  bend 
of  the  lake  to  the  Canada  line,  which  struck  the 
strait  not  far  below  the  town  of  Detroit.  The 
line  was  manifestly  intended  by  the  committee 
and  by  Congress  to  be  the  northern  boundary  of 
our  State;  and,  on  the  principles  by  which  courts 
of  chancery  construe  contracts,  accompanied  by 
plats,  it  would  seem  that  the  map,  and  the  line 
referred  to,  should  be  conclusive  evidence  of  our 
boundary,  without  reference  to  the  real  position  of 
the  lakes. 

"When  the  convention  sat,  in  1802,  the  under- 
derstanding  was,  that  the  old  maps  were  nearly 
correct,  and  that  the  line,  as  defined  in  the  ordi- 
nance, would  terminate  at  some  point  on  the  strait 
above  the  Maumee  Bay.  While  the  convention 
was  in  session,  a  man  who  had  hunted  many  years 
on  Lake  Michigan,  and  was  well  acquainted  with 
its  position,  happened  to  be  in  Chillicothe,  and,  in 
conversation  with  one  of  the  members,  told  him 
that  the  lake  extended  much  farther  south  than 
was  generally  supposed,  and  that  a  map  of  the 
country  which  he  had  seen,  placed  its  southern 
bend  many  miles  north  of  its  true  position.  This 
information  excited  some  uneasiness,  and  induced 
the  convention  to  modify  the  clause  describing  the 
north  boundary  of  the  new  State,  so  as  to  guard 
against  its  being  depressed  below  the  most  north- 
ern cape  of  the  Maumee  Bay."* 

With  this  change  and  some  extension  of  the 
school  and  road  donations,  the  convention  agreed 
to  the  proposal  of  Congress,  and,  November  29, 

*  Historical  Transactions  of  Ohio, — Judof,  Burnett. 


their  agreement  was  ratified  and  signed,  as  was 
also  the  constitution  of  the  State  of  Ohio — so 
named  from  its  river,  called  by  the  Shawanees  Ohio, 
meaning  beautiful — forming  its  southern  bound- 
ary. Of  this  nothing  need  be  said,  save  that  it 
bore  the  marks  of  true  democratic  feeling — of  full 
faith  in  the  people.  By  them,  however,  it  was 
never  voted  for.  It  stood  firm  until  1852,  when 
it  was  superseded  by  the  present  one,  made  neces- 
sary by  the  advance  of  time. 

The  General  Assembly  was  required  to  meet  at 
Chillicothe,  the  first  Tuesday  of  March,  1803. 
Tins  change  left  the  territory  northwest  of  the 
Ohio  River,  not  included  in  the  new  State,  in  the 
Territories  of  Indiana  and  Michigan.  Subse- 
quently, in  181G,  Indiana  was  made  a  State,  and 
confined  to  her  present  limits.  Illinois  was  made 
a  Territory  then,  including  Wisconsin.  In  1818, 
it  became  a  State,  and  Wisconsin  a  Territory  at- 
tached to  Michigan.  This  latter  was  made  a  State 
in  1837,  and  Wisconsin  a  separate  Territory,  which, 
in  1847,  was  made  a  State.  Minnesota  was  made 
a  Territory  the  same  year,  and  a  State  in  1857, 
and  the  five  contemplated  States  of  the  territory 
were  complete. 

Preceding  pages  have  shown  how  the  territory 
north  of  the  Ohio  E-iver  was  peopled  by  the 
French  and  English,  and  how  it  came  under  the 
rule  of  the  American  people.  The  war  of  the 
Revolution  closed  in  1783,  and  left  all  America  in 
the  hands  of  a  new  nation.  That  nation  brought 
a  change.  Before  the  war,  various  attempts  had 
been  made  by  residents  in  New  England  to  people 
the  country  west  of  the  Alleghanies.  Land  com- 
panies were  formed,  principal  among  which  were 
the  Ohio  Company,  and  the  company  of  which 
John  Cleves  Symmes  was  the  agent  and  chief 
owner.  Large  tracts  of  land  on  the  Scioto  and 
on  the  Ohio  were  entered.  The  Ohio  Company 
were  the  first  to  make  a  settlement.  It  was  or- 
ganized in  the  autumn  of  1787,  November  27. 
They  made  arrangements  for  a  party  of  forty-seven 
men  to  set  out  for  the  West  under  the  supervision  of 
Gen.  Rufus  Putnam,  Superintendent  of  the  Com- 
pany. Early  in  the  winter  they  advanced  to  the 
Youghiogheny  River,  and  there  built  a  strong  boat, 
which  they  named  "Mayflower."  It  was  built  by 
Capt.  Jonathan  Devol,  the  first  ship-builder  in  the 
West,  and,  when  completed,  was  placed  under  his 
command.  The  boat  was  launched  x\pril  2,  1788, 
and  the  band  of  pioneers,  like  the  Pilgrim  Fathers, 
began  their  voyage.  The  7th  of  the  month, 
they  arrived  at   the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum, 


90 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


their  destination,  opposite  Fort  Harmar,*  erected 
in  the  autumn  of  1785,  by  a  detachment  of 
United  States  troops,  under  command  of  Maj. 
John  Doughty,  and,  at  the  date  of  the  Mayflower's 
arrival  in  possession  of  a  company  of  soldiers. 
Under  the  protection  of  these  troops,  the  little  band 
of  men  began  their  labor  of  laying  out  a  town, 
and  commenced  to  erect  houses  for  their  own  and 
subsequent  emigrants'  occupation.  The  names  of 
these  pioneers  of  Ohio,  as  far  as  can  now  be 
learned,  are  as  follows: 

Gen.  Putnam,  Return  Jonathan  Meigs,  Win- 
throp  Sargeant  (Secretary  of  the  Territory ),  Judges 
Parsons  and  Varnum,  Capt.  Dana,  Capt.  Jonathan 
Devol,  Joseph  Barker,  Col.  Battelle,  Maj.  Tyler, 
Dr.  True,  Capt.  Wm.  Gray,  Capt.  Lunt,  the 
Bridges,  Ebenezer  and  Thomas  Cory,  Andrew  Mc- 
Clurc,  Wm.  Mason,  Thomas  Lord,  Wm.  Gridley, 
Gilbert  Devol,  Moody  Russels,  Deavens,  Oakes, 
Wright,  Clough,  Green,  Shipman,  Dorance,  the 
Masons,  and  others,  whose  names  are  now  be- 
yond recall. 

On  the  19th  of  July,  the  first  boat  of  families 
arrived,  after  a  nine-weeks  journey  on  the  way. 
They  had  traveled  in  their  wagons  as  f\ir  as  Wheel- 
ing, where  they  built  large  flat-boats,  into  which 
they  loaded  their  efiects,  including  their  cattle,  and 
thence  passed  down  the  Ohio  to  their  destination. 
The  families  were  those  of  Gen.  Tupper,  Col. 
Ichabod  Nye,  Col.  Cushing,  Maj.  Coburn,  and 
Maj.  Goodale.  In  these  titles  the  reader  will  ob- 
serve the  preponderance  of  military  distinction. 
Many  of  the  founders  of  the  colony  had  served 
with  much  valor  in  the  war  for  freedom,  and  were 
well  prepared  for  a  life  in  the  wilderness. 

They  began  at  once  the  construction  of  houses 
from  the  forests  about  the  confluence  of  the  rivers, 
guarding  their  stock  by  day  and  penning  it  by 
night.  Wolves,  bears  and  Indians  were  all  about 
them,  and,  here  in  the  remote  wilderness,  they 
were  obliged  to  always  be  on  their  guard.  From 
the  ground  where  they  obtained  the  timber  to  erect 
their  houses,  they  soon  produced  a  few  vegetables, 
and  when  the  families  arrived  in  August,  they 
were  able  to  set  before  them  food  raised  for  the 


♦The  outlines  of  Fort  Harmar  formed  a  regular  pentagon, 
embracing  within  the  area  about  three-fourths  of  an  acre.  Its 
walls  were  formed  of  large  horizontal  timbers,  and  the  bastions 
of  large  uprighttimberaaboutfourteen  feet  in  height,  fastened  to  each 
other  by  strips  of  timber,  tree-nailed  into  each  picket.  In  the  rear 
of  the  fort  Maj.  Doughty  laid  out  fine  gardens.  It  continued  to  be 
occupied  by  United  States  troops  until  September  1700,  when 
they  were  ordered  to  Cincinnati.  A  company,  under  Capt.  Haskell, 
continued  to  raako  the  fort  their  headquarters  during  the  Indian 
war,  occasionally  assisting  the  colonists  at  Marietta,  Belpre  and 
Waterford  against  the  Indians.  When  not  needed  by  the  troops, 
the  fort  was  used  by  the  people  of  Marietta. 


first  time  by  the  hand  of  American  citizens  in  the 
Ohio  Valley.  One  of  those  who  came  in  August, 
was  Mr.  Thomas  Guthrie,  a  settler  in  one  of  the 
western  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  who  brought  a 
bushel  of  wheat,  which  he  sowed  on  a  plat  of 
ground  cleared  by  himself,  and  from  which  that 
fall  he  procured  a  small  crop  of  wheat,  the  first 
grown  in  the  State  of  Ohio. 

The  Marietta  settlement  was  the  only  one  made 
that  summer  in  the  Territory.  From  their  arrival 
until  October,  when  Governor  St.  Clair  came,  they 
were  busily  employed  making  houses,  and  prepar- 
ing for  the  winter.  The  little  colony,  of  which 
Washington  wrote  so  favorably,  met  on  the  2d  day 
of  July,  to  name  their  newborn  city  and  its  pub- 
lic sqares.  Until  now  it  had  been  known  as  "  The 
Muskingum"  simply,  but  on  that  day  the  name 
Marietta  was  formally  given  to  it,  in  honor  of  Ma- 
rie Antoinette.  The  4th  of  July,  an  ovation  was 
held,  and  an  oration  delivered  by  James  M.  Var- 
num, who,  with  S.  H.  Parsons  and  John  Arm- 
strong, had  been  appointed  Judges  of  the  Terri- 
tory. Thus,  in  the  heart  of  the  wilderness, 
miles  away  from  any  kindred  post,  in  the  forests 
of  the  Great  West,  was  the  Tree  of  Liberty  watered 
and  given  a  hearty  growth. 

On  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  July,  Governor 
St.  Clair  arrived,  and  the  colony  began  to  assume 
form.  The  ordinance  of  1787  had  provided  for 
a  form  of  government  under  the  Governor  and 
the  three  Judges,  and  this  form  was  at  once  put 
into  force.  The  25th,  the  first  law  relating  to  the 
militia  was  published,  and  the  next  day  the  Gov- 
ernor's proclamation  appeared,  creating  all  the 
country  that  had  been  ceded  by  the  Indians,  east 
of  the  Scioto  River,  into  the  county  of  Washing- 
ton, and  the  civil  machinery  was  in  motion.  From 
that  time  forward,  this,  the  pioneer  settlement  in 
Ohio,  went  on  prosperously.  The  2d  of  Septem- 
ber, the  first  court  in  the  Territory  was  held,  but 
as  it  related  to  the  Territory,  a  narrative  of  its  pro- 
ceedings will  be  found  in  the  history  of  that  part 
of  the  country,  and  need  not  be  repeated  here. 

The  15th  of  July,  Gov.  St.  Clair  had  published 
the  ordinance  of  1787,  and  the  commissions  of 
himself  and  the  three  Judges.  He  also  assembled 
the  people  of  the  settlement,  and  explained  to 
them  the  ordinance  in  a  speech  of  considerable 
length.  Three  days  after,  he  sent  a  notice  to  the 
Judges,  calling  their  attention  to  the  subject  of 
organizing  the  militia.  Instead  of  attending  to 
this  important  matter,  and  thus  providing  for  their 
safety  should  trouble  with  the   Indians  arise,  the 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


91 


Judges  did  not  even  reply  to  the  Governor's  letter, 
but  sent  him  what  they  called  a  "project"  of  a 
law  for  dividing  real  estate.  The  bill  was  so 
loosely  drawn  that  St.  Clair  immediately  rejected 
it,  and  set  about  organizing  the  militia  himself. 
He  divided  the  militia  into  two  classes,  "Senior" 
and  "Junior,"  and  organized  them  by  appointing 
their  officers. 

In  the  Senior  Class,  Nathan  Cushing  was  ap- 
pointed Captain;  George  Ingersol,  Lieutenant, 
and  James  Backus,  Ensign. 

In  the  Junior  Class,  Nathan  Groodale  and  Charles 
Knowls  were  made  Captains ;  Watson  Casey  and 
Samuel  Stebbins,  Lieutenants,  and  Joseph  Lincoln 
and  Arnold  Colt,  Ensigns. 

The  Governor  next  erected  the  Courts  of  Pro- 
bate and  Quarter  Sessions,  and  proceeded  to  ap- 
point civil  officers.  Rufus  Putnam,  Benjamin 
Tupper  and  Winthrop  Sargeant  were  made  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace.  The  30th  of  August,  the  day 
the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  was  appointed, 
Archibald  Cary,  Isaac  Pierce  and  Thomas  Lord 
were  also  appointed  Justices,  and  given  power  to 
hold  this  court.  They  were,  in  fact.  Judges  of  a 
Court  of  Common  Pleas.  Return  Jonathan  Meigs 
was  appointed  Clerk  of  this  Court  of  Quarter 
Sessions.  Ebenezer  Sproat  was  appointed  Sheriff  of 
Wa.shington  County,  and  also  Colonel  of  the  militia; 
William  Callis,  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court; 
Rufus  Putnam,  Judge  of  the  Probate  Court,  and 
R.  J.  Meigs,  Jr.,  Clerk.  Following  these  appoint- 
ments, setting  the  machinery  of  government  in 
motion,  St.  Clair  ordered  that  the  25th  of  Decem- 
ber be  kept  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving  by  the  infant 
colony  for  its  safe  and  propitious  beginning. 

During  the  fall  and  winter,  the  settlement  was 
daily  increased  by  emigrants,  so  much  so,  that  the 
greatest  difficulty  was  experienced  in  finding  them 
lodging.  During  the  coldest  part  of  the  winter, 
when  ice  covered  the  river,  and  prevented  navi- 
gation, a  delay  in  arrivals  was  experienced,  only  to 
be  broken  as  soon  as  the  river  opened  to  the  beams 
of  a  spring  sun.  While  locked  in  the  winter's 
embrace,  the  colonists  amused  themselves  in  vari- 
ous ways,  dancing  being  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent. At  Christmas,  a  grand  ball  was  held,  at 
which  there  were  fifteen  ladies,  "whose  grace," 
says  a  narrator,  "equaled  any  in  the  East." 
Though  isolated  in  the  wilderness,  they  knew  a 
brilliant  prospect  lay  before  them,  and  lived  on  in 
a  joyous  hope  for  the  future. 

Soon  after  their  arrival,  the  settlers  began  the 
erection  of  a   stockade  fort  (Campus    Martius), 


which  occupied  their  time  until  the  winter  cf 
1791.  During  the  interval,  fortunately,  no  hos- 
tilities from  the  Indians  were  experienced,  though 
they  were  abundant,  and  were  frequent  visitors  to 
the  settlement. 

From  a  communication  in  the  American  Pioneer, 
by  Dr.  S.  P.  Hildreth,  the  following  description  of 
Campus  Martius  is  derived.  As  it  will  apply,  in 
a  measure,  to  many  early  structures  for  defense  in 
the  West,  it  is  given  entire : 

"  The  fort  was  made  in  the  form  of  a  regular 
parallelogram,  the  sides  of  each  being  180  feet. 
At  each  corner  was  erected  a  strong  block-house, 
surmounted  by  a  tower,  and  a  sentry  box.  These 
houses  were  twenty  feet  square  below  and  twenty- 
four  feet  square  above,  and  projected  six  feet  be- 
yond the  walls  of  the  fort.  The  intermediate  walls 
were  made  up  with  dwelling-houses,  made  of  wood, 
whose  ends  were  whip-sawed  into  timbers  four 
inches  thick,  and  of  the  requisite  width  and  length. 
These  were  laid  up  similar  to  the  structure  of  log 
houses,  with  the  ends  nicely  dove-tailed  together. 
The  whole  were  two  stories  high ,  and  covered  with 
shingle  roofs.  Convenient  chimneys  were  erected 
of  bricks,  for  cooking,  and  warming  the  rooms.  A 
number  of  the  dwellings  were  built  and  owned  by 
individuals  who  had  families.  In  the  west  and 
south  fronts  were  strong  gateways ;  and  over  the 
one  in  the  center  of  the  front  looking  to  the  Mus- 
kingum River,  was  a  belfry.  The  chamber  beneath 
was  occupied  by  Winthrop  Sargeant,  as  an  office, 
he  being  Secretary  to  the  Governor,  and  perform- 
ing the  duties  of  the  office  during  St.  Clair's  ab- 
sence. This  room  projected  over  the  gateway, like 
a  block-house,  and  was  intended  for  the  protection 
of  the  gate  beneath,  in  time  of  an  assault.  At 
the  outer  corner  of  each  block-house  was  erected  a 
bastion,  standing  on  four  stout  timbers.  The  floor 
of  the  bastion  was  a  little  above  the  lower  story  of 
the  block -house.  They  were  square,  and  built  up 
to  the  height  of  a  man's  head,  so  that,  when  he 
looked  over,  he  stepped  on  a  narrow  platform  or 
"  banquet "  running  around  the  sides  of  the  bulwark. 
Port-holes  were  made,  for  musketry  as  well  as  for 
artillery,  a  single  piece  of  which  was  mounted  in 
the  southwest  and  northeast  bastions.  In  these, 
the  sentries  were  regularly  posted  every  night,  as 
more  convenient  than  the  towers  ;  a  door  leading 
into  them  from  the  upper  story  of  the  block-houses. 
The  lower  room  of  the  southwest  block-house  was 
occupied  as  a  guard-house. 

"  Running  from  corner  to  corner  of  the  block- 
houses was  a  row  of  palisades,  sloping  outward. 


~~® 


^ 


92 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


and  resting  on  stout  rails.  Twenty  feet  in  advance 
of  these,  was  a  row  of  very  strong  and  large  pick- 
ets, set  upright  in  the  earth.  Gateways  through 
these,  admitted  the  inmates  of  the  garrison.  A 
few  feet  beyond  the  row  of  outer  palisades  was 
placed  a  row  of  abattis,  made  from  the  tops  and 
branches  of  trees,  sharpened  and  pointing  outward, 
so  that  it  would  have  been  very  difficult  for  an 
enemy  to  have  penetrated  within  their  outworks. 
The  dwelling-houses  occupied  a  space  from  fifteen 
to  thirty  feet  each,  and  were  sufficient  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  forty  or  fifty  families,  and  did 
actually  contain  from  two  hundred  to  three  hun- 
dred persons  during  the  Indian  war. 

"  Before  the  Indians  commenced  hostilities,  the 
block-houses  were  occupied  as  follows :  The  south- 
west one,  by  the  family  of  Gov.  St.  Clair ;  the 
northeast  one  as  an  office  fur  the  Directors  of  the 
Company.  The  area  within  the  walls  was  one 
hundred  and  forty-four  feet  square,  and  afi'orded  a 
fine  parade  ground.  In  the  center,  was  a  well 
eighty  feet  in  depth,  for  the  supply  of  water  to  the 
inhabitants,  in  case  of  a  siege.  A  large  sun-dial 
stood  for  many  years  in  the  square,  placed  on  a 
handsome  post,  and  gave  note  of  the  march  of 
time. 

"  After  the  war  commenced,  a  regular  military 
corps  was  organized,  and  a  guard  constantly  kept 
night  and  day.  The  whole  establishment  formed 
a  very  strong  work,  and  reflected  great  credit  on 
the  head  that  planned  it.  It  was  in  a  manner  im- 
pregnable to  the  attacks  of  Indians,  and  none 
but  a  regular  army  with  cannon  could  have  reduced 
it.     The  Indians  possessed  no  such  an  armament. 

"  The  garrison  stood  on  the  verge  of  that  beauti- 
ful plain  overlooking  the  Muskingum,  on  which 
are  seated  those  celebrated  remains  of  antiquity, 
erected  probably  for  a  similar  purpose — the  defense 
of  the  inhabitants.  The  ground  descends  into  shal- 
low ravines  on  the  north  and  south  sides ;  on  the 
west  is  an  abrupt  descent  to  the  river  bottoms  or 
alluvium,  and  the  east  passed  out  to  a  level  plain. 
On  this,  the  ground  was  cleared  of  trees  beyond 
the  reach  of  rifle  shots,  so  as  to  affiird  no  shelter 
to  a  hidden  foe.  Extensive  fields  of  corn  were 
grown  in  the  midst  of  the  standing  girdled  trees  be- 
yond, in  after  years.  The  front  wall  of  palisades 
was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the 
Muskingum  River.  The  ajipearance  of  the  fort 
from  without  was  imposing,  at  a  little  distance  re- 
sembling the  military  castles  of  the  feudal  ages. 
Between  the  outer  palisades  and  the  river  were 
laid  out  neat  gardens  for  the  use  of  Gov.  St.  Clair 


and  his  Secretary,  with  the  officers  of  the  Com- 
pany. 

"  Opposite  the  fort,  on  the  shore  of  the  river, 
was  built  a  substantial  timber  wharf,  at  which  was 
moored  a  fine  cedar  barge  for  twelve  rowers,  built 
by  Capt.  Jonathan  Devol,  for  Gen.  Putnam ;  a 
number  of  pii'ogues,  and  the  light  canoes  of  the 
country  ;  and  last,  not  least,  the  Mayflower,  or 
'  Adventure  Galley,'  in  which  the  first  detach- 
ments of  colonists  were  transported  from  the  shores 
of  the  '  Yohiogany '  to  the  banks  of  the  Muskingum. 
In  these,  especially  the  canoes,  during  the  war, 
most  of  the  communications  were  carried  on  between 
the  settlements  of  the  Company  and  the  more  re- 
mote towns  above  on  the  Ohio  River.  Traveling 
by  land  was  very  hazardous  to  any  but  the  rangers 
or  spies.  There  were  no  roads,  nor  bridges  across 
the  creeks,  and,  for  many  years  after  the  war  had 
ceased,  the  traveling  was  nearly  all  done  by  canoes 
on  the  river." 

Thus  the  first  settlement  of  Ohio  provided  for 
its  safety  and  comfort,  and  provided  also  for  that 
of  emigrants  who  came  to  share  the  toils  of  the 
wilderness. 

The  next  spring,  the  influx  of  emigration  was 
so  great  that  other  settlements  were  determined, 
and  hence  arose  the  colonies  of  Belpre,  Waterford 
and  Duck  Creek,  where  they  began  to  clear  land,  sow 
and  plant  crops,  and  build  houses  and  stockades. 
At  Belpre  (French  for  "beautiful  meadow"),  were 
built  three  stockades,  the  upper,  lower  and  middle, 
the  last  of  which  was  called  "  Farmers'  Castle," 
and  stood  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  nearly  oppo- 
site an  island,  afterward  famous  in  Western  history 
as  Blennerhasset's  Island,  the  scene  of  Burr's  con- 
spiracy. Among  the  persons  settling  at  the  upper 
stockade,  were  Capts.  Dana  and  Stone,  Col.  Bent, 
William  Browning,  Judge  Foster,  John  Rowse, 
Israel  Stone  and  a  Mr.  Keppel.  At  the  Farmers' 
Castle,  were  Cols.  Gushing  and  Fisher,  Maj.  Has- 
kell, Aaron  Waldo  Putnam,  Mr.  Sparhawk,  and, 
it  is  believed,  George  and  Israel  Putnam,  Jr.  At 
the  lower,  were  Maj.  Goodale,  Col.  Rice,  Esquire 
Pierce,  Judge  Israel  Loring,  Deacon  Miles,  Maj. 
Bradford  and  Mr.  Goodenow.  In  the  summer  of 
1789,  Col.  Ichabod  Nye  and  some  others,  built  a 
block-house  at  Newberry,  below  Belpre.  Col.  Nye 
sold  his  lot  there  to  Aaron  W.  Clough,  who,  with 
Stephen  Guthrie,  Joseph  Leavins,  Joel  Oakes, 
]^]leazer  Curtis,  JVIr.  Denham  J.  Littleton  and  Mr. 
Brown,  was  located  at  that  place. 

"Every  exertion  possible,"  says  Dr.  Hildreth, 
who  has  preserved  the  above  names  and  incidents, 


HISTORY"    OF    OHIO. 


93 


"for  men  in  these  circumstances,  was  made  to  se- 
cure food  for  future  difficulties.  Col.  Oliver,  3Iuj. 
Hatfield  White  and  John  Dod<z;e,  of  the  Water- 
ford  settlement,  began  mills  oa  Wolf  Creek,  about 
three  miles  from  the  fort,  and  got  them  running; 
and  these,  the  first  mills  in  Ohio,  were  never  de- 
stroyed during  the  subsequent  Indian  war,  though 
the  proprietors  removed  their  faniiles  to  the  fort 
at  Marietta.  Col.  E.  Sproat  and  Enoch  Shep- 
herd began  mills  on  Duck  Creek,  three  miles  from 
Marietta,  from  the  completion  of  which  they  were 
driven  by  the  Indian  war.  Thomas  Stanley  be- 
gan mills  farther  up,  near  the  Duck  Creek  settle- 
ment. These  were  likewise  unfinished.  The  Ohio 
Company  built  a  large  horse  mill  near  Campus 
Martius,  and  soon  after  a  floating  mill." 

The  autumn  before  the  settlements  at  Belpre, 
Duck  Creek  and  Waterford,  were  made,  a  colony 
was  planted  near  the  mouth  of  the  Little  IMiami 
River,  on  a  tract  of  ten  thousand  acres,  purchased 
from  Sy mines  by  Maj.  Benjamin  Stites.  In  the  pre- 
ceding pages  may  be  found  a  history  of  Symmes' 
purchase.  This  colony  may  be  counted  the  second 
settlement  in  the  State.  Soon  after  the  colony  at 
Marietta  was  founded,  steps  were  taken  to  occupy 
separate  portions  of  Judge  Symmes'  purchase,  be- 
tween the  Miami  Rivers.  Three  parties  were 
formed  for  this  purpose,  but,  owing  to  various 
delays,  chiefly  in  getting  the  present  colony  stead- 
fast and  safe  from  future  encroachments  by  the 
savages,  they  did  not  get  started  till  late  in  the  fall. 
The  first  of  these  parties,  consisting  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  men,  led  by  31  aj.  Stites,  landed  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Little  Miami  in  November,  1788, 
and,  constructing  a  log  fort,  began  to  lay  out  a 
village,  called  by  them  Columbia.  It  soon  grew 
into  prominence,  and,  before  winter  had  thoroughly 
set  in,  they  were  well  prepared  for  a  fi-ontier  life. 
In  the  party  were  Cols.  Spencer  and  Brown,  Majs. 
Gauo  and  Kibbey,  Judges  Goforth  and  Foster, 
Rev.  John  Smith,  Francis  Dunlavy,  Capt.  Flina, 
Jacob  White,  John  Riley,  and  Mr.  Hubbell. 

All  these  were  men  of  energy  and  enterprise, 
and,  with  their  comrades,  were  more  numerous 
than  either  of  the  other  parties,  who  commenced 
their  settlements  below  them  on  the  Ohio.  This 
village  was  also,  at  first,  more  flourishing;  and,  for 
two  or  three  years,  contained  more  inhabitants 
than  any  other  in  the  Miami  purchase. 

The  second  IMiami  party  was  formed  at  Lime- 
stone, under  Matthias  Denham  and  Robert  Pat- 
terson, and  consisted  of  twelve  or  fifteen  persons. 
They  landed  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Ohio,  oppo- 


site the  mouth  of  the  Licking  River,  the  24th  of 

December,  1788.  They  intended  to  establish  a 
station  and  lay  out  a  town  on  a  plan  prepared  at 
Limestone.  Some  statements  affirm  that  the  town 
was  to  be  called  "  L-vs-aati-vilk-,'^  by  a  romantic 
school-teacher  named  Filson.  However,  be  this  as 
it  may,  Mr,  Filson  was,  unfortunately  for  himself, 
not  long  after,  slain  by  the  Indians,  and,  with  him 
probably,  the  name  disappeared.  He  was  to  have 
one-third  interest  in  the  proposed  city,  which, 
when  his  death  occurred,  was  transferred  to  Israel 
Ludlow,  and  a  new  plan  of  a  city  adopted.  Israel 
Ludlow  surveyed  the  proposed  town,  who.se  lots  were 
principally  donated  to  settlers  upon  certain  condi- 
tions as  to  settlement  and  improvement,  and  the 
embryo  city  named  Cincinnati.  Gov.  St.  Clair 
very  likely  had  something  to  do  with  the  naming 
of  the  village,  and,  by  some,  it  is  asserted  that  he 
changed  the  name  from  Losantiville  to  Cincinnati, 
when  he  created  the  county  of  Hamilton  the  en- 
suing winter.  Tlie  original  purchase  of  the  city'.'j 
site  was  made  by  Mr.  Denham.  It  included  about 
eight  hundred  acres,  for  which  he  paid  5  shillings 
per  acre  in  Continental  certificates,  then  worth,  in 
specie,  about  5  shillings  per  pound,  gross  weight. 
Evidently,  the  original  site  was  a  good  investment, 
could  Mr.  Denham  have  lived  long  enough  to  see 
its  present  condition. 

The  third  party  of  settlers  for  the  Miami  pur- 
chase, were  under  the  care  of  Judge  Symmes, 
himself  They  left  Limestone,  January  20,  1789, 
and  were  much  delayed  on  their  downward  jour- 
ney by  the  ice  in  the  river.  They  reached  the 
'•  Bend,''  as  it  was  then  known,  early  in  February. 
The  Judge  had  intended  to  found  a  city  here, 
which,  in  time,  would  be  the  rival  of  the  Atlantic 
cities.  As  each  of  the  three  settlements  aspired 
to  the  same  position,  no  little  rivalry  soon  mani- 
fested itself  The  Judge  named  liis  proposed  city 
North  Bend,  from  the  fact  that  it  was  the  most 
northern  bend  in  the  Ohio  below  the  mouth  of  the 
Great  Kanawha.  These  three  settlements  ante- 
dated, a  few  months,  those  made  near  Marietta, 
already  described.  They  arose  so  soon  after,  partly 
fi-om  the  extreme  desire  of  Judge  Symmes  to  settle 
his  purchase,  and  induce  emigration  here  instead 
of  on  the  Ohio  Company's  purchase.  The  Judge 
labored  earnestly  for  this  purpose  and  to  further 
secure  him  in  his  title  to  the  land  he  had  acquired, 
all  of  which  he  had  so  far  been  unable  to  retain, 
owing  to  his  inability  to  meet  his  payments. 

All  these  emigrants  came  down  the  river  in  the 
flat-boats  of  the  day,  rude  affairs,  sometimes  called 


r^ 


94 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


"  Arks,"  and  then  the  only  safe  mode  of  travel  in 
the  West. 

Judge  Symmcs  found  he  must  provide  for  the 
safety  of  the  settlers  on  his  purchase,  and,  after 
earnestly  soliciting  Gen.  Harmar,  commander  of 
the  Western  posts,  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  de- 
tachment of  forty-eight  men,  under  Capt.  Kearsey, 
to  protect  the  improvements  just  commencing  on 
the  Miami.  This  detachment  reached  Limestone 
in  December,  1788.  Part  was  at  once  sent  for- 
ward to  guard  Maj.  Stites  and  his  pioneers.  Judge 
Symmes  and  his  party  started  in  January,  and, 
about  February  2,  reached  Columbia,  where  the 
Captain  expected  to  find  a  fort  erected  for  his  use 
and  shelter.  The  flood  on  the  river,  however,  de- 
feated his  purpose,  and,  as  he  was  unprepared  to 
erect  another,  he  determined  to  go  on  down  to  the 
garrison  at  the  falls  at  Louisville.  Judge  Symmes 
was  strenuously  opposed  to  his  conduct,  as  it  left 
the  colonies  unguarded,  but,  all  to  no  purpose;  the 
Captain  and  his  command,  went  to  Louisville  early 
in  March,  and  left  the  Judge  and  his  settlement 
to  protect  themselves.  Judge  Symmes  immedi- 
ately sent  a  strong  letter  to  Maj.  Willis,  command- 
ing at  the  Falls,  complaining  of  the  conduct 
of  Capt.  Kearsey,  representing  the  exposed  situ- 
ation of  the  Miami  settlements,  stating  the  indi- 
cations of  hostility  manifested  by  the  Indians, 
and  requesting  a  guard  to  be  sent  to  the  Bend. 
This  request  was  at  once  granted,  and  Ensign 
Luce,  with  seventeen  or  eighteen  soldiers,  sent. 
They  were  at  the  settlement  but  a  short  time, 
when  they  were  attacked  by  Indians,  and  one  of 
their  number  killed,  and  four  or  five  wounded. 
They  repulsed  the  savages  and  saved  the  set- 
tlers. 

The  site  of  Symmes  City,  for  such  he  designed  it 
should  ultimately  be  called,  was  above  the  reach  of 
water,  and  sufficiently  level  to  admit  of  a  conven- 
ient settlement.  The  city  laid  out  by  Symmes 
was  truly  magnificent  on  paper,  and  promised  in 
the  future  to  fulfill  his  most  ardent  hopes.  The 
plat  included  the  village,  and  extended  across  the 
peninsula  between  the  Ohio  and  Miami  Rivers. 
Each  settler  on  this  plat  was  promised  a  lot  if  he 
would  improve  it,  and  in  conformity  to  the  stipu- 
lation, Judge  Symmes  soon  found  a  large  number 
of  persons  applying  for  residence.  As  the  number 
of  these  adventurers  increased,  in  consequence  of 
this  provision  and  the  protection  of  the  military, 
the  Judge  was  induced  to  lay  out  another  village 
six  or  seven  miles  up  the  river,  which  he  called 
South  Bend,  where  he  disposed  of  some  donation 


lots,  but  the  project  failing,  the  village  site  was  de- 
serted, and  converted  into  a  farm. 

During  all  the  time  these  various  events  wei-e 
transpiring,  but  little  trouble  was  experienced  with 
the  Indians.  They  were  not  yet  disposed  to  evince 
hostile  feelings.  This  would  have  been  their  time, 
but,  not  realizing  the  true  intent  of  the  whites  until 
it  was  too  late  to  conquer  them,  they  allowed  them 
to  become  prepared  to  withstand  a  warfare,  and  in 
the  end  were  obliged  to  suff'er  their  hunting-grounds 
to  be  taken  from  them,  and  made  the  homes  of  a 
race  destined  to  entirely  supersede  them  in  the 
New  World. 

By  the  means  sketched  in  the  foregoing  pages, 
were  the  three  settlements  on  the  Miami  made.  By 
the  time  those  adjacent  to  Marietta  were  well  estab- 
lished, these  were  firmly  fixed,  each  one  striving  to 
become  the  rival  city  all  felt  sure  was  to  arise.  For 
a  time  it  was  a  matter  of  doubt  which  of  the  rivals, 
Columbia,  North  Bend  or  Cincinnati,  would  event- 
ually become  the  chief  seat  of  business. 

In  the  beginning,  Columbia,  the  eldest  of  the 
three,  took  the  lead,  both  in  number  of  its  in- 
habitants and  the  convenience  and  appearance  of 
its  dwellings.  For  a  time  it  was  a  flourishing  place, 
and  many  believed  it  would  become  the  great  busi- 
ness town  of  the  Miami  country.  That  apparent 
fact,  however,  lasted  but  a  short  time.  The  garri- 
son was  moved  to  Cincinnati,  Fort  Washington 
built  there,  and  in  spite  of  all  that  Maj.  Stites,  or 
Judge  Symmes  could  do,  that  place  became  the 
metropolis.  Fort  Washington,  the  most  extensive 
garrison  in  the  West,  was  built  by  Maj.  Doughty, 
in  the  summer  of  1789,  and  from  that  time  the 
growth  and  future  greatness  of  Cincinnati  were 
assured. 

The  first  house  in  the  city  was  built  on  Front 
street,  east  of  and  near  Main  street.  It  was 
simply  a  strong  log  cabin,  and  was  erected  of  the 
forest  trees  cleared  away  from  the  ground  on  which 
it  stood.  The  lower  part  of  the  town  was  covered 
with  sycamore  and  maple  trees,  and  the  upper  with 
beech  and  oak.  Through  this  dense  forest  the 
streets  were  laid  out,  and  their  cornel's  marked  on 
the  trees. 

The  settlements  on  the  Miami  had  become 
sufficiently  numerous  to  warrant  a  separate  county, 
and,  in  January,  171H),  Gov.  St.  Clair  and  his 
Secretary  arrived  in  Cincinnati,  and  organized  the 
county  of  Hamilton,  so  named  in  honor  of  the 
illustrious  statesman  by  that  name.  It  included 
all  the  country  north  of  the  Ohio,  between  the 
Miamis,  as  far  as  a  line  running  "  due  east  from  the 


•^ 


HISTOEY   OF    OHIO. 


95 


Standing  Stone  forks  "  of  Big  Miami  to  its  inter- 
section with  the  Little  Miami.  The  erection  of 
the  new  county,  and  the  appointment  of  Cincin- 
nati to  be  the  seat  of  justice,  gave  the  town  a  fresh 
impulse,  and  aided  greatly  in  its  growth. 

Through  the  summer,  but  little  interruption  in 
the  growth  of  the  settlements  occurred.  The 
Indians  had  permitted  the  erection  of  defensive 
works  in  their  midst,  and  could  not  now  destroy 
them.  They  were  also  engaged  in  traffic  with  the 
whites,  and,  though  they  evinced  signs  of  discon- 
tent at  their  settlement  and  occupation  of  the 
country,  yet  did  not  openly  attack  them.  The 
truth  was,  they  saw  plainly  the  whites  were  always 
prepared,  and  no  opportunity  was  given  them  to 
plunder  and  destroy.  The  Indian  would  not 
attack  unless  success  was  almost  sure.  An  oppor- 
tunity, unfortunately,  came,  and  with  it  the  hor- 
rors of  an  Indian  war. 

In  the  autumn  of  1790,  a  company  of  thirty- 
six  men  went  from  Marietta  to  a  place  on  the 
Muskingum  known  as  the  Big  Bottom.  Here 
they  built  a  block-house,  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
river,  four  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Meigs  Creek. 
They  were  chiefly  young,  single  men,  but  little 
ac((uainted  with  Indian  warfare  or  military  rules. 
The  savages  had  given  signs  that  an  attack  on  the 
settlement  was  meditated,  and  several  of  the  know- 
ing ones  at  the  strongholds  strenuously  opposed 
any  new  settlements  that  fall,  advising  their  post- 
ponement until  the  next  spring,  when  the  question 
of  peace  or  war  would  probably  be  settled.  Even 
Gren.  Putnam  and  the  Directors  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany advised  the  postponement  of  the  settlement 
until  the  next  spring. 

The  young  men  were  impatient  and  restless,  and 
declared  themselves  able  to  protect  their  fort 
against  any  number  of  assailants.  They  might 
have  easily  done  so,  had  they  taken  the  necessary 
precautions ;  but,  after  they  had  erected  a  rude 
block-house  of  unchinked  logs,  they  began  to  pass 
the  time  iu  various  pursuits ;  setting  no  guard,  and 
taking  no  precautionary  measures,  they  left  them- 
selves an  easy  prey  to  any  hostile  savages  that 
might  choose  to  come  and  attack  them. 

About  twenty  rods  from  the  block-house,  and  a 
little  back  from  the  bank  of  the  river,  two  men, 
Francis  and  Isaac  Choate,  members  of  the  com- 
pany, had  erected  a  cabin,  and  commenced  clearing 
lots.  Thomas  Shaw,  a  hired  laborer,  and  James 
Patten,  another  of  the  a.ssociates,  lived  with  them. 
About  the  same  distance  below  the  block-house 
was   an    old  "Tomahawk    Improvement"   and    a 


small  cabin,  which  two  men,  Asa  and  Eleazur 
BuUard,  had  fitted  up  and  occupied.  The  Indian 
war-path,  from  Sandusky  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Muskingum,  passed  along  the  opposite  shore  of 
the  river. 

"  The  Indians,  who,  during  the  summer,"  says 
Dr.  Hildreth,  "  had  been  hunting  and  loitering 
about  the  Wolf  Creek  and  Plaiufield  settlements, 
holding  frequent  and  friendly  intercourse  with  the 
settlers,  selling  them  venison  and  bear's  meat  in  ex- 
change for  green  corn  and  vegetables,  had  with- 
drawn and  gone  up  the  river,  early  in  the  au- 
tumn, to  their  towns,  preparatory  to  going  into 
winter  quarters.  They  very  seldom  entered  on 
any  warlike  expeditions  during  the  cold  weather. 
But  they  had  watched  the  gradual  encroach- 
ment of  the  whites  and  planned  an  expedition 
against  them.  They  saw  them  in  fancied  security 
in  their  cabins,  and  thought  their  capture  an  easy 
task.  It  is  said  they  were  not  aware  of  the  Big 
Bottom  settlement  until  they  came  in  sight  of  it, 
on  the  opposite  shore  of  the  river,  in  the  afternoon. 
From  a  high  hill  opposite  the  garrison,  they  had  a 
view  of  all  that  part  of  the  bottom,  and  could  see 
how  the  men  were  occupied  and  what  was  doing 
about  the  block-house.  It  was  not  protected  with 
palisades  or  pickets,  and  none  of  the  men  were 
aware  or  prepared  for  an  attack.  Having  laid 
their  plans,  about  twilight  they  crossed  the  river 
above  the  garrison,  on  the  ice,  and  divided  their 
men  into  two  parties — the  larger  one  to  attack  the 
block-house,  the  smaller  one  to  capture  the  cabins. 
As  the  Indians  cautiously  approached  the  cabin 
they  found  the  inmates  at  supper.  Part  entered, 
addressed  the  whites  in  a  friendly  manner,  but 
soon  manifesting  their  designs,  made  them  all  pris- 
oners, tieing  tbem  with  leather  thongs  they  found 
in  the  cabin." 

At  the  block-house  the  attack  was  far  different. 
A  stout  Mohawk  suddenly  burst  open  the  door, 
the  first  intimation  the  inmates  had  of  the  pres- 
ence of  the  foe,  and  while  he  held  it  open  his 
comrades  shot  down  those  that  were  within.  Rush- 
ing in,  the  deadly  tomahawk  completed  the  on- 
slaught. In  the  assault,  one  of  the  savages  was 
struck  by  the  wife  of  Isaac  Woods,  with  an  ax, 
but  only  slightly  injured.  The  heroic  woman  was 
immediately  slain.  All  the  men  but  two  were 
slain  before  they  had  time  to  secure  their  arms, 
thereby  paying  for  their  failure  to  properly  secure 
themselves,  with  their  lives.  The  two  excepted 
were  John  Stacy  and  his  brother  Philip,  a  lad  six- 
teen years   of  age.     John   escaped    to   the   roof, 


\ 


96 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


where  he  was  shot  by  the  Indians,  while  begging 
for  his  Ufe.  The  firing  at  the  block-house  alarmed 
the  Bullards  in  their  cabin,  and  hastily  barring  the 
door,  and  securing  their  arms  and  ammunition,  they 
fled  to  the  woods,  and  escaped.  After  the  slaughter 
was  over,  the  Indians  began  to  collect  the  plunder, 
and  in  doing  so  discovered  the  lad  Philip  Stacy. 
They  were  about  to  dispatch  him,  but  his  entrea- 
ties softened  the  heart  of  one  of  the  chiefs,  who 
took  him  as  a  captive  with  the  intention  of  adopt- 
ing him  into  his  family.  The  savages  then  piled 
the  dead  bodies  on  the  floor,  covered  them  with 
other  portions  of  it  not  needed  for  that  purpose, 
and  set  fire  to  the  whole.  The  building,  being 
made  of  green  logs,  did  not  burn,  the  flames  con- , 
suming  only  the  floors  and  roof,  leaving  the  walls 
standing. 

There  were  twelve  persons  killed  in  this  attack, 
all  of  whom  were  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  valuable 
aid  to  the  settlements.  They  were  well  provided 
with  arms,  and  had  they  taken  the  necessary  pre- 
cautions, always  pressed  upon  them  when  visited 
by  the  older  ones  from  Marietta,  they  need  not 
have  suffered  so  terrible  a  fate. 

The  Indians,  exultant  over  their  horrible  victory, 
went  on  to  Wolf's  mills,  but  here  they  found  the 
people  prepared,  and,  after  reconnoitering  the  place, 
made  their  retreat,  at  early  dawn,  to  the  great  re- 
lief of  the  inhabitants.  Their  number  was  never 
definitely  known. 

The  news  reached  IMarietta  and  its  adjacent 
settlements  soon  after  the  massacre  occurred,  and 
struck  terror  and  dismay  into  the  hearts  of  all. 
Many  had  brothers  and  sons  in  the  ill-fated  party, 
and  mourned  their  loss.  Neither  did  they  know 
what  place  would  fall  next.  The  Indian  hostilities 
had  begun,  and  they  could  only  hope  for  peace 
when  the  savages  were  eff"ectually  conquered. 

The  next  day,  Capt.  Ptogers  led  a  party  of  men 
over  to  the  Big  Bottom.  It  was,  indeed,  a  melan- 
choly sight  to  the  poor  borderers,  as  they  knew  not 
now  how  soon  the  same  fate  might  befall  them- 
selves. The  fire  had  so  disfigured  their  comrades 
that  but  two,  Ezra  Putnam  and  William  Jones, 
were  recognized.  As  the  ground  was  frozen  out- 
side, a  hole  was  dug  in  the  earth  underneath  the 
block-house  floor,  and  the  bodies  consigned  to  one 
grave.  No  further  attempt  was  made  to  settle 
here  till  after  the  peace  of  1795. 

The  outbreak  of  Indian  hostilities  put  a  check 
on  further  settlements.  Those  that  were  estab- 
lished were  put  in  a  more  active  state  of  defense, 
and  every  preparation  made  that  could  be   made 


for  the  impending  crisis  all  felt  sure  must  come. 
Either  the  Indians  must  go,  or  the  whites  must 
retreat.  A  few  hardy  and  adventurous  persons 
ventured  out  into  the  woods  and  made  settle- 
ments, but  even  these  were  at  the  imminent  risk 
of  their  lives,  many  of  them  perishing  in  the 
attempt. 

The  Indian  war  that  followed  is  given  fully  in 
preceding  pages.  It  may  be  briefly  sketched  by 
stating  that  the  first  campaign,  under  Gen  Ilar- 
mar,  ended  in  the  defeat  of  his  army  at  the  Indian 
villages  on  the  Miami  of  the  lake,  and  the  rapid 
retreat  to  Fort  Washington.  St.  Clair  v/as  next 
commissioned  to  lead  an  army  of  nearly  three  thou- 
sand men,  but  these  were  furiously  attacked  at 
break  of  day,  on  the  morning  of  November  4, 
1791,  and  utterly  defeated.  Indian  outrages 
sprung  out  anew  after  each  defeat,  and  the  borders 
were  in  a  continual  state  of  alarm.  The  most  ter- 
rible sufi"erings  were  endured  by  prisoners  in  the 
hands  of  the  savage  foe,  who  thought  to  annihilate 
the  whites. 

The  army  was  at  once  re-organized.  Gen.  An- 
thony Wayne  put  in  command  by  Washington, 
and  a  vigorous  campaign  inaugurated.  Though 
the  savages  had  been  given  great  aid  by  the  Brit- 
ish, in  direct  violation  of  the  treaty  of  1783,  Gen. 
Wayne  pursued  them  so  vigorously  that  they  could 
not  withstand  his  army,  and,  the  l^Oth  of  August, 
1794,  defeated  them,  and  utterly  annihilated  their 
forces,  breaking  up  their  camps,  and  laying  waste 
their  country,  in  some  places  under  the  guns  of 
the  British  forts.  The  victory  showed  them  the 
hopelessness  of  contending  against  the  whites,  and 
led  their  chiefs  to  sue  for  peace.  The  British,  as 
at  former  times,  deserted  them,  and  they  were  again 
alone,  contending  against  an  invincible  foe.  A 
grand  council  was  held  at  Greenville  the  3d  day 
of  August,  1795,  where  eleven  of  the  most  power- 
ful chiefs  made  peace  with  Gen.  Wayne  on  terms 
of  his  own  dictation.  The  boundary  established 
by  the  old  treaty  of  Fort  Mcintosh  was  confirmed, 
and  extended  westward  from  Loramie's  to  Fort 
Recovery,  and  thence  southwest  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Kentucky  River.  He  also  purchased  all  the 
territory  not  before  ceded,  within  certain  limits, 
comprehending,  in  all,  about  four-fifths  of  the  State 
of  Ohio.  The  line  was  long  known  as  "  The  Green- 
ville Treaty  line."  Upon  these,  and  a  few  other 
minor  conditions,  the  United  States  received  the 
Indians  under  their  protection,  gave  them  a  large 
number  of  presents,  and  practically  closed  the  war 
with  the  savages. 


:£. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


97 


The  only  settlement  of  any  consequence  made  dur- 
ing the  Indian  war,  was  that  on  the  plat  of  Hamilton, 
laid  out  by  Israel  Ludlow  in  December,  1794.  Soon 
after,  Darius  C.  Orcutt,  John  Green,  William  Mc- 
Clennan,  John  Sutherland,Jolin  Torrence,  Benjamin 
F.Randolph,  Benjamin  Davis,  Isaac  Wiles,  Andrew 
Christy  and  William  Hubert,  located  here.  The 
town  was  laid  out  under  the  name  of  Fairfield,  but 
was  known  only  a  short  time  by  that  name.  Until 
1801,  all  the  lands  on  the  west  side  of  the  Great 
Miami  were  owned  by  the  General  Government ; 
hence,  vintil  after  that  date,  no  improvements  were 
made  there.  A  single  log  cabin  stood  there  until 
the  sale  of  lands  in  April,  1801,  when  a  company 
purchased  the  site  of  Rossville,  and,  in  March, 
180-1,  laid  out  that  town,  and,  before  a  year  had 
passed,  the  town  and  country  about  it  was  well 
settled. 

The  close  of  the  war,  in  1795,  insured  peace, 
and,  from  that  date,  Hamilton  and  that  part  of  the 
Miami  Valley  grew  remarkably  fast.  In  1803, 
Butler  County  was  formed,  and  Hamilton  made 
the  county  seat. 

On  the  site  of  Hamilton,  St.  Clair  built  Fort 
Hamilton  in  1791.  For  some  time  it  was  under 
the  command  of  Maj.  Rudolph,  a  cruel,  arbitrary 
man,  who  was  displaceSHBy  Gen.  Wayne,  and  who, 
it  is  said,  perished  ignobly  on  the  high  seas,  at  the 
hands  of  some  Algerine  pirates,  a  fitting  end  to  a 
man  who  caused,  more  than  once,  the  death  of 
men  under  his  control  for  minor  offenses. 

On  the  return  of  peace,  no  part  of  Ohio  grew 
more  rapidly  than  the  Miami  Valley,  especially 
that  part  comprised  in  Butler  County. 

While  the  war  with  the  Indians  continued,  but 
little  extension  of  settlements  was  made  in  the 
State.  It  was  too  perilous,  and  the  settlers  pre- 
ferred the  security  of  the  block-house  or  to  engage 
with  the  army.  Still,  however,  a  few  bold  spirits 
ventured  away  from  the  settled  parts  of  the  Terri- 
tory, and  began  life  in  the  wilderness.  In  tracing 
the  histories  of  these  settlements,  attention  will  be 
paid  to  the  order  in  which  they  were  made.  They 
will  be  given  somewhat  in  detail  until  the  war  of 
1812,  after  which  time  they  become  too  numerous 
to  follow. 

The  settlements  made  in  Washington — Marietta 
and  adjacent  colonies — and  Hamilton  Counties 
have  already  been  given.  The  settlement  at  Gal- 
lia is  also  noted,  hence,  the  narration  can  be  re- 
sumed where  it  ends  prior  to  the  Indian  war  of 
1795.  Before  this  war  occurred,  there  were  three 
small  settlements  made,   however,  in  addition  to 


those  in  Washington  and  Hamilton  Counties. 
They  were  in  what  are  now  Adams,  Belmont  and 
Morgan  Counties.  They  were  block-house  settle- 
ments, and  were  in  a  continual  state  of  defense. 
The  first  of  these,  Adams,  was  settled  in  the  winter 
of  1790-91  by  Gen.  Nathaniel  Massie,  near  where 
Manchester  now  is.  Gen.  Massie  determined  to 
settle  here  in  the  Virginia  Military  Tract— in  the 
winter  of  1790,  and  sent  notice  throughout  Ken- 
tucky and  other  Western  settlements  that  he  would 
give  to  each  of  the  first  twenty-five  families  who 
would  settle  in  the  town  he  proposed  laying  out, 
one  in-lot,  one  out-lot  and  one  hundred  acres  of 
land.  Such  liberal  terms  were  soon  accepted,  and 
in  a  short  time  thirty  families  were  ready  to  go 
with  him.  After  various  consultations  with  his 
friends,  the  bottom  on  the  Ohio  River,  opposite 
the  lower  of  the  Three  Islands,  was  selected  as 
the  most  eligible  spot.  Here  Massie  fixed  his  sta- 
tion, and  laid  off  into  lots  a  town,  now  called 
iManchester.  The  little  confederacy,  with  Massie 
at  the  helm,  went  to  work  with  spirit.  Cabins 
were  raised,  and  by  the  middle  of  March, 
1791,  the  whole  town  was  inclosed  with  strong 
pickets,  with  block-houses  at  each  angle  for  de- 
fense. 

This  was  the  first  settlement  in  the  bounds  of 
the  Virginia  District,  and  the  fourth  one  in  the 
State.  Although  in  the  midst  of  a  savage  foe, 
now  inflamed  with  war,  and  in  the  midst  of  a 
cruel  conflict,  the  settlement  at  Manchester  suf- 
fered less  than  any  of  its  cotemporaries.  This 
was,  no  doubt,  due  to  the  watchful  care  of  its  in- 
habitants, who  were  inured  to  the  rigors  of  a  front- 
ier life,  and  who  well  knew  the  danger  about  them. 
"  These  were  the  Beasleys,  Stouts,  Washburns, 
Ledoms,  Edgingtons,  Denings,  Ellisons,  Utts, 
McKcnzies,  Wades,  and  others,  who  were  fully 
equal  to  the  Indians  in  all  the  savage  arts  and 
stratagems  of  border  war." 

As  soon  as  they  had  completed  preparations  for 
defense,  the  whole  population  went  to  work  and 
cleared  the  lowest  of  the  Three  Islands,  and  jilanted 
it  in  corn.  The  soil  of  the  island  was  very  rich, 
and  produced  abundantly.  The  woods  supplied  an 
abundance  of  game,  while  the  river  furnished  a 
variety  of  excellent  fish.  The  inhabitants  thus 
found  their  simple  wants  fully  supplied.  Their 
nearest  neighbors  in  the  new  Territory  were  at 
Columbia,  and  at  the  French  settlement  at  Gallip- 
olis;  but  with  these,  owing  to  the  state  of  the 
country  and  the  Indian  war,  they  could  hold  little, 
if  any,  intercourse. 


rV 


98 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


The  station  being  established,  Massie  continued 
to  make  locations  and  surveys.  Great  precautions 
were  necessary  to  avoid  the  Indians,  and  even  the 
closest  vigilance  did  not  always  avail,  as  the  ever- 
watchful  foe  was  always  ready  to  spring  upon  tlie 
settlement,  could  an  unguarded  moment  be  ob- 
served. During  one  of  the  spring  months.  Gen. 
Massie,  Israel  Donalson,  William  Lytle  and  James 
Little,  while  out  on  a  survey,  were  surprised,  and 
Mr.  Donalson  captured,  the  others  escaping  at 
great  peril.  Mr.  Donalson  escaped  during  the 
march  to  the  Indian  town,  and  made  his  way  to 
the  town  of  Cincinnati,  after  suffering  great  hard- 
ships, anc\  almost  perishing  from  hunger.  In  the 
spring  of  1793,  the  settlers  at  Manchester  com- 
menced clearing  the  out-lots  of  the  town.  While 
doing  so,  an  incident  occurred,  which  shows  the 
danger  to  which  they  were  daily  exposed.  It  is 
thus  related  in  Howe's  Collections  : 

"  Mr.  Andrew  Ellison,  one  of  the  settlers, 
cleared  an  out-lot  immediately  adjoining  the  fort. 
He  had  completed  the  cutting  of  the  timber,  rolled 
the  logs  together,  and  set  them  on  fire.  The  next 
morning,  before  daybreak,  Mr.  Ellison  opened  one 
of  the  gates  of  the  fort,  and  went  out  to  throw  his 
logs  together.  By  the  time  he  had  finished  the 
job,  a  number  of  the  heaps  blazed  up  brightly,  and, 
as  he  was  passing  from  one  to  the  other,  he  ob- 
served, by  the  light  of  the  fires,  three  men  walking 
briskly  toward  him.  This  did  not  alarm  him  in 
the  least,  although,  he  said,  they  were  dark-skinned 
fellows ;  yet  he  concluded  they  were  the  Wades, 
whose  complexions  were  very  dark,  going  early  to 
hunt.  He  continued  to  right  his  log-heaps,  until 
one  of  the  fellows  seized  him  by  the  arms,  calling 
out,  in  broken  English,  '  How  do  ?  how  do  ?  '  He 
instantly  looked  in  their  faces,  and,  to  his  surprise 
and  horror,  found  himself  in  the  clutches  of  three 
Indians.     To  resist  was  useless. 

"  The  Indians  quickly  moved  off  with  him  in 
the  direction  of  Paint  Creek.  When  breakfast 
was  ready,  Mrs.  Ellison  sent  one  of  her  children 
to  ask  its  father  home ;  but  he  could  not  be  found 
at  the  log-heaps.  His  absence  created  no  immedi- 
ate alarm,  as  it  was  thought  he  might  have  started 
to  hunt,  after  completing  his  work.  Dinner-time 
arrived,  and,  Ellison  not  returning,  the  family 
became  uneasy,  and  began  to  suspect  some  acci- 
dent had  happened  to  him.  His  gun-rack  was 
examined,  and  there  hung  his  rifles  and  his  pouch. 
Gen.  Massie  raised  a  party,  made  a  circuit  around 
the  place,  finding,  after  some  search,  the  trails  of 
four  men,  one  of  whom  had  on  shoes;  and  the 


fact  that  Mr.  Ellison  was  a  prisoner  now  became 
apparent.  As  it  was  almost  night  at  the  time  the 
trail  was  discovered,  the  party  returned  to  the 
station.  Early  the  next  morning,  preparations 
were  made  by  Gen.  Massie  and  his  friends  to  con- 
tinue the  search.  In  doing  this,  they  found  great 
difiiculty,  as  it  was  so  early  in  the  spring  that  the 
vegetation  was  not  grovrn  sufficiently  to  show 
plainly  the  trail  made  by  the  savages,  who  took 
the  precaution  to  keep  on  high  and  dry  ground, 
where  their  feet  would  make  little  or  no  impres- 
sion. The  party  were,  however,  as  unerring  as  a 
pack  of  hounds,  and  followed  the  trail  to  Paint 
Creek,  when  they  found  the  Indians  gained  so 
fast  on  them  that  pursuit  was  useless. 

"The  Indians  took  their  prisoner  to  Upper 
Sandusky,  where  he  was  compelled  to  run  the 
gantlet.  As  he  was  a  large,  and  not  very  active, 
man,  he  received  a  severe  flogging.  He  was  then 
taken  to  Lower  Sandusky,  and  again  compelled  to 
run  the  gantlet.  He  was  then  taken  to  Detroit, 
where  he  was  ransomed  by  a  British  officer  for 
^100.  The  officer  proved  a  good  friend  to  him. 
He  sent  him  to  Montreal,  whence  he  returned 
home  before  the  close  of  the  summer,  much  to  the 
joy  of  his  family  and  friends,  whose  feehngs  can 
only  be  imagined." 

"Another  incident  occurred  about  this  time," 
says  the  same  volume,  "which  so  aptly  illustrates 
the  danger  of  frontier  life,  that  it  well  deserves  a 
place  in  the  history  of  the  settlements  in  Ohio. 
John  and  Asahel  Edgington,  with  a  comrade, 
started  out  on  a  hunting  expedition  toward  Brush 
Creek.  They  camped  out  six  miles  in  a  northeast 
direction  from  where  West  Union  now  stands,  and 
near  the  site  of  Treber's  tavern,  on  the  road  from 
Chillicothe  to  JMaysville.  They  had  good  success 
in  hunting,  killing  a  number  of  deer  and  bears. 
Of  the  deer  killed,  they  saved  the  skins  and  hams 
alone.  They  fleeced  the  bears ;  that  is,  they  cut 
off  all  the  meat  which  adhered  to  the  hide,  with- 
out skinning,  and  left  the  bones  as  a  skeleton. 
They  hung  up  the  proceeds  of  their  hunt,  on  a  scaf- 
fold out  of  the  reach  of  wolves  and  other  wild  ani- 
mals, and  returned  to  Manchester  for  pack-horses. 
No  one  returned  to  the  camp  with  the  Edgingtons. 
As  it  was  late  in  December,  few  apprehended  dan- 
ger, as  the  winter  season  was  usually  a  time  of  re- 
pose from  Indian  incursions.  When  the  Edgingtons 
arrived  at  their  camp,  they  alighted  from  their 
horses  and  were  preparing  to  start  a  fire,  when  a 
platoon  of  Indians  fired  upon  them  at  a  distance 
of    not    more  than   twenty    paces.       They    had 


~® 


'k* 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


101 


evidently  found  the  results  of  the  white  men's  labor, 
and  expected  they  would  return  for  it,  and  pre- 
pared to  waylay  them.  Asahel  Edgington  fell 
dead.  John  was  more  fortunate.  The  sharp 
crack  of  the  rifles,  and  the  horrible  yells  of  the 
savages  as  they  leaped  from  their  place  of  ambush, 
frightened  the  horses,  who  took  the  track  for 
home  at  full  speed.  John  was  very  active  on  foot, 
and  now  an  opportunity  offered  which  required  his 
utmost  speed.  The  moment  the  Indians  leaped 
from  their  hiding-place,  they  threw  down  their 
guns  and  took  after  him,  yelling  with  all  their 
power.  Edgington  did  not  run  a  booty  race.  For 
about  a  mile,  the  savages  stepped  in  his  tracks  al- 
most before  the  bending  grass  could  rise.  The 
uplifted  tomahawk  was  frequently  so  near  his  head 
that  he  thought  he  felt  its  edge.  He  exerted 
himself  to  his  utmost,  while  the  Indians  strove 
with  all  their  might  to  catch  him.  Finally,  he  be- 
gan to  gain  on  his  pursuers,  and,  after  a  long  race, 
distanced  them  and  made  his  escape,  safely  reach- 
ing home.  This,  truly,  was  a  most  fearful  and 
well-contested  race.  The  big  Shawanee  chief,  Capt. 
John,  who  headed  the  Indians  on  this  occasion, 
after  peace  was  made,  in  narrating  the  particulars, 
said,  "The  white  man  who  ran  away  was  a  smart 
fellow.  The  white  man  run ;  and  I  run.  He  run 
and  run ;  at  last,  the  white  man  run  clear  off  from 
me." 

The  settlement,  despite  its  dangers,  prospered, 
and  after  the  close  of  the  war  continued  to  grow 
rapidly.  In  two  years  afler  peace  was  declared, 
Adams  County  was  erected  by  proclamation  of 
Gov.  St.  Clair,  the  next  year  court  was  held,  and 
in  1804,  West  Union  was  made  the  county  seat. 

During  the  war,  a  settlement  was  commenced 
near  the  present  town  of  Bridgeport,  in  Belmont 
County,  by  Capt.  Joseph  Belmont,  a  noted  Dela- 
ware Revolutionary  officer,  who,  because  his  State 
could  furnish  only  one  company,  could  rise  no 
higher  than  Captain  of  that  company,  and  hence 
always  maintained  that  grade.  He  settled  on  a 
beautiful  knoll  near  the  present  county  seat,  but 
erelong  suffered  from  a  night  attack  by  the  In- 
dians, who,  though  unable  to  drive  him  and  his 
companions  from  the  cabin  or  conquer  them, 
wounded  some  of  them  badly,  one  or  two  mortally, 
and  caused  the  Captain  to  leave  the  frontier  and 
return  to  Newark,  Del.  The  attack  was  made 
in  the  spring  of  1791,  and  a  short  time  after, 
the  Captain,  having  provided  for  the  safety  of  his 
family,  accepted  a  commission  in  St.  Clair's  army, 
and  lost  his  life  at  the  defeat  of  the  General  in 


November.  Shortly  after  the  Captain  settled,  a 
fort,  called  Dillie's  Fort,  was  built  on  the  Ohio, 
opposite  the  mouth  of  Grave  Creek.  About  two 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  below  this  fort,  an  old 
man,  named  Tato,  was  shot  d(jwn  at  his  cabin  door 
by  the  Indians,  just  as  he  was  in  the  act  of  entering 
the  house.  His  body  was  pulled  in  by  his  daugh- 
ter-in-law and  grandson,  who  made  an  heroic  de- 
fense. They  were  overpowered,  the  woman  slain, 
and  the  boy  badly  wounded.  He,  however,  man- 
aged to  secrete  himself  and  afterward  escaped  to 
the  fort.  The  Indians,  twelve  or  thirteen  in  num- 
ber, went  off  unmolested,  though  the  men  in  the 
fort  saw  the  whole  transaction  and  could  have 
punished  them.  Why  they  did  not  was  never 
known. 

On  Captina  Creek  in  this  same  county,  occurred, 
in  May,  1794,  the  "battle  of  Captina,"  a  fa- 
mous local  skirmish  between  some  Virginians  from 
Fort  Baker,  and  a  party  of  Indians.  Though  the 
Indians  largely  outnumbered  the  whites,  they  were 
severely  punished,  and  compelled  to  abandon  the 
contest,  losing  several  of  their  bravest  warriors. 

These  were  the  only  settlements  made  until 
1795,  the  close  of  the  war.  Even  these,  as  it  will 
be  observed  from  the  foregoing  pages,  were  tem- 
porary in  all  cases  save  one,  and  were  maintained 
at  a  great  risk,  and  the  loss  of  many  valuable  lives. 
They  were  made  in  the  beginning  of  the  war,and  such 
were  their  experiences  that  further  attempts  were 
abandoned  until  the  treaty  of  Greenville  was  made, 
or  until  the  prospects  for  peace  and  safety  were 
assured. 

No  sooner,  however,  had  the  prospect  of  quiet 
been  established,  than  a  revival  of  emigration  be- 
gan. Before  the  war  it  had  been  large,  now  it 
was  largely  increased. 

Wayne's  treaty  of  peace  with  the  Indians  was 
made  at  Greenville,  in  what  is  now  Darke  County, 
the  3d  of  August,  1795.  The  number  of  Indians 
present  was  estimated  at  1,300,  divided  among  the 
principal  nations  as  follows :  180  Wyandots,  381 
Delawares,  143  Shawanees,  45  Ottawas,  46  Chip- 
pewas,  240  Fottawatomies,  73  Miamis  and  Eel 
River,  12  Weas  and  Piankeshaws,  and  10  Kicka- 
poos  and  Kaskaskias.  The  principal  chiefs  were 
Tarhe,  Buckongahelas,  Black  Hoof,  Blue  Jacket 
and  Little  Turtle.  Most  of  them  had  been  tam- 
pered with  by  the  British  agents  and  traders,  but 
all  had  been  so  thoroughly  chastised  by  Wayne,  and 
found  that  the  British  only  used  them  as  tools, 
that  they  were  quite  anxious  to  make  peace  with 
the  "  Thirteen  Fires."    By  the  treaty,  former  ones 


103 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


were  established,  the  boundary  lines  confirmed  and 
enlarged,  an  exchange  and  delivery  of  prisoners 
effected,  and  permanent  peace  assured. 

In  the  latter  part  of  September,  after  the  treaty 
of  Greenville,  Mr.  Bedell,  from  New  Jersey, 
selected  a  site  for  a  home  in  what  is  now  Warren 
County,  at  a  place  since  known  as  "  Bedell's  Sta- 
lion,"  about  a  mile  south  of  Union  Village.  Here 
he  erected  a  block-house,  as  a  defense  against  the 
Indians,  among  whom  were  many  renegades  as 
among  the  whites,  who  would  not  respect  the 
terms  of  the  treaty.  Whether  Mr.  Bedell  was 
alone  that  fall,  or  whether  he  was  joined  by  others, 
is  not  now  accurately  known.  However  that  may 
be,  he  was  not  long  left  to  himself;  for,  ere  a  year 
had  elapsed,  quite  a  number  of  settlements  were 
made  in  this  part  of  the  Territory.  Soon  after 
his  settlement  was  made.  Gen.  David  Sutton,  Capt. 
Nathan  Kelley  and  others  began  pioneer  life  at 
Deerfield,  in  the  same  locality,  and,  before  three 
yeai's  had  gone  by,  a  large  number  of  New  Jersey 
people  were  established  in  their  homes;  and,  in 
18U3,  the  county  was  formed  from  Hamilton. 
Among  the  early  settlers  at  Deerfield,  was  Capt. 
Robert  Benham,  who,  with  a  companion,  in  1779, 
sustained  themselves  many  days  when  the  Captain 
had  lost  the  use  of  his  legs,  and  his  companion 
his  arms,  from  musket-balls  fired  by  the  hands  of 
the  Indians.  They  were  with  a  large  party  com- 
manded by  Maj.  Rodgers,  and  were  furiously 
attacked  by  an  immense  number  of  savages,  and 
all  but  a  few  slain.  The  event  happened  during 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  before  any  attempt 
was  made  to  settle  the  Northwest  Territory.  The 
party  were  going  down  the  Ohio,  probably  to  the 
falls,  and  were  attacked  when  near  the  site  of 
Cincinnati.  As  mentioned,  these  two  men  sus- 
tained each  other  many  days,  the  one  having  per- 
fect legs  doing  the  necessary  walking,  carrying  his 
comrade  to  water,  driving  up  game  for  him  to 
shoot,  and  any  other  duties  necessary;  while  the 
one  who  had  the  use  of  his  arms  could  dress  his 
companion's  and  his  own  wounds,  kill  and  cook 
the  game,  and  perform  his  share.  They  were 
rescued,  finally,  by  a  flat-boat,  whose  occupants, 
for  awhile,  passed  them,  fearing  a  decoy,  but, 
becoming  convinced  that  such  was  not  the  case, 
took  them  on  down  to  Louisville,  where  they  were 
nursed  into  perfect  health. 

A  settlement  was  made  near  the  present  town  of 
Lebanon,  the  county  seat  of  Warren  County,  in 
the  spring  of  1796,  by  Henry  Taylor,  who  built  a 
mill   one  mile  west  of  the  town  site,   on   Turtle 


Creek.  Soon  after,  he  was  joined  by  Ichabod 
Corwin,  John  Osbourn,  Jacob  Vorhees,  Samuel 
Shaw,  Daniel  Bonte  and  a  Mr.  Manning.  When 
Lebanon  was  laid  out,  in  1803,  the  two-story  log 
house  built  in  1797  by  Ichabod  Corwin  was  the 
only  building  on  the  plat.  It  was  occupied  by 
Ephraim  Hathaway  as  a  tavern.  He  had  a  black 
horse  painted  on  an  immense  board  for  a  sign,  and 
continued  in  business  here  till  1810.  The  same 
year  the  town  was  laid  out,  a  store  was  opened  by 
John  Huston,  and,  from  that  date,  the  growth  of 
the  county  was  very  pro.sperous.  Three  years 
after,  the  Western  Star  was  established  by 
Judge  John  McLain,  and  the  current  news  of 
the  day  given  in  weekly  editions.  It  was  one  of 
the  first  newspapers  established  in  the  Territory, 
outside  of  Cincinnati. 

As  has  been  mentioned,  the  opening  of  naviga- 
tion in  the  spring  of  179(5  brought  a  great  flood 
of  emigration  to  the  Territory.  The  little  settle- 
ment made  by  Mr.  Bedell,  in  the  autumn  of  1795, 
was  about  the  only  one  made  that  fall ;  others  made 
preparations,  and  many  selected  sites,  but  did  not 
settle  till  the  following  spring.  That  spring,  colo- 
nies were  planted  in  what  are  now  Montgomery, 
Hoss,  Madison,  Mahoning,  Trumbull,  Ashtabula 
and  Cuyahoga  Counties,  while  preparations  were 
in  turn  made  to  occupy  additional  territory  that 
will  hereafter  be  noticed. 

The  settlement  made  in  Montgomery  County 
was  begun  early  in  the  spring  of  1796.  As  early 
as  1788,  the  land  on  which  Dayton  now  stands  was 
selected  by  some  gentlemen,  who  designed  laying- 
out  a  town  to  be  named  Venice.  They  agreed 
with  Judge  Symmes,  whose  contract  covered  the 
place,  for  the  purchase  of  the  lands.  The  Indian 
war  which  broke  out  at  this  time  prevented  an 
extension  of  settlements  from  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  the  parent  colonies,  and  the  proj- 
ect was  abandoned  by  the  purchasers.  Soon  after 
the  treaty  of  1795,  a  new  company,  composed  of 
Gens.  Jonathan  Dayton,  Arthur  St.  Clair,  James 
Wilkinson,  and  Col.  Israel  Ludlow,  purchased  the 
land  between  the  Miamis,  around  the  mouth  of 
Mad  River,  of  Judge  Symmes,  and,  the  4th  of 
November,  laid  out  the  town.  Arrangements  were 
made  for  its  settlement  the  ensuing  spring,  and 
donations  of  lots,  with  other  privileges,  were  offered 
to  actual  settlers.  Forty-six  persons  entered  into 
engagements  to  remove  from  Cincinnati  to  Day- 
ton, but  during  the  winter  most  of  them  scat- 
tered in  different  directions,  and  only  nineteen  ful- 
filled   their    contracts.     The     first    families    who 


3?: 


HISTORY  OF   OHIO. 


103 


made  a  permanent  residence  here,  arrived  on  the 
first  day  of  April,  1796,  and  at  once  set  about 
establishing  homes.  Judge  Symmes,  however, 
becoming  unable  soon  after  to  pay  for  his  purchase, 
the  land  reverted  to  the  United  States,  and  the  set- 
tlers in  and  about  Dayton  found  themselves  with- 
out titles  to  their  lands.  Congress,  however,  came 
to  the  aid  of  all  such  persons,  wherever  they  had 
purchased  land  of  Symmes,  and  passed  a  pre-emp- 
tion law,  under  which  they  could  enter  their  lands 
at  the  regular  government  price.  Some  of  the  set- 
tlers entered  their  lands,  and  obtained  titles  directly 
from  the  United  States  ;  others  made  arrangements 
with  Daniel  C.  Cooper  to  receive  their  deeds  from 
him,  and  he  entered  the  residue  of  the  town  lands. 
He  had  been  the  surveyor  and  agent  of  the  first 
company  of  proprietors,  and  they  assigned  to  him 
certain  of  their  rights  of  pre-emption,  by  which  he 
became  the  titular  owner  of  the  land. 

When  the  State  government  was  organized  in 
1803,  Dayton  was  made  the  seat  of  justice  for 
Montgomery  County,  erected  the  same  year.  At 
that  time,  owing  to  the  title  question,  only  five 
families  resided  in  the  place,  the  other  settlers  hav- 
ing gone  to  farms  in  the  vicinity,  or  to  other 
parts  of  the  country.  The  increase  of  the  town 
was  gradual  until  the  war  of  1812,  when  its 
growth  was  more  rapid  until  1820,  when  it  was 
again  checked  by  the  general  depression  of  busi- 
ness. It  revived  in  1827,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  Miami  Canal,  and  since  then  its  growth  has 
always  been  prosperous.  It  is  now  one  of  the 
best  cities  in  Ohio.  The  first  canal  boats  fi-om 
Cincinnati  arrived  at  Dayton  January  25,  1829, 
and  the  first  one  from  Lake  Erie  the  24th  of 
June,  1845.  In  1825,  a  weekly  line  of  stages 
was  established  between  Columbus  and  Cincinnati, 
via  Dayton.  One  day  was  occupied  in  coming 
from  Cincinnati  to  Dayton. 

On  the  18th  of  September,  1808,  the  Dayton 
Repertory  was  established  by  William  McClureand 
George  Smith.  It  was  printed  on  a  foolscap  sheet. 
Soon  after,  it  was  enlarged  and  changed  from  a 
weekly  to  a  daily,  and,  ere  long,  found  a  number 
of  competitors  in  the  field. 

In  the  lower  part  of  Miamisburg,  in  this  county, 
are  the  remains  of  ancient  works,  scattered  about 
over  the  bottom.  About  a  mile  and  a  quarter 
southeast  of  the  village,  on  an  elevation  more  than 
one  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Miami, 
is  the  largest  mound  in  the  Northern  States,  ex- 
cepting the  mammoth  mound  at  Grave  Creek,  on 
the  Ohio,  below  Wheeling,  which  it  nearly  equals 


in  dimensions.  It  is  about  eight  hundred  feet 
around  the  base,  and  rises  to  a  height  of  nearly 
seventy  feet.  When  first  known  it  was  covered 
with  forest  trees,  whose  size  evidenced  great  age. 
The  Indians  could  give  no  account  of  the  mound. 
Excavations  revealed  bones  and  charred  earth, 
but  what  was  its  use,  will  always  remain  a  con- 
jecture. 

One  of  the  most  important  early  settlements 
was  made  cotemporary  with  that  of  Dayton,  in 
what  is  now  Ross  County.  The  same  spring, 
1796,  quite  a  colony  came  to  the  banks  of  the 
Scioto  River,  and,  near  the  mouth  of  Paint  Creek, 
began  to  plant  a  crop  of  corn  on  the  bottom.  The 
site  had  been  selected  as  early  as  1792,  by  Col. 
Nathaniel  Massie*  and  others,  who  were  so  de- 
lighted with  the  country,  and  gave  such  glowing 
descriptions  of  it  on  their  return — which  accounts 
soon  circulated  through  Kentucky — that  portions 
of  the  Presbyterian  congregations  of  Caneridge  and 
Concord,  in  Bourbon  County,  under  Rev.  Robert 
W.  Finley,  determined  to  emigrate  thither  in  a 
body.  They  were,  in  a  measure,  induced  to  take 
this  step  by  their  dislike  to  slavery,  and  a  desire 
for  freedom  from  its  baleful  influences  and  the  un- 
certainty that  existed  regarding  the  validity  of  the 
land  titles  in  that  State.  The  Rev.  Finley,  as  a 
preliminary  step,  liberated  his  slaves,  and  addressed 
to  Col.  Massie  a  letter  of  inquiry,  in  December, 
1794,  regarding  the  land  on  the  Scioto,  of  which 
he  and  his  people  had  heard  such  glowing  ac- 
counts. 

"The  letter  induced  Col.  Massie  to  visit  Mr. 
Finley  in  the  ensuing  March.  A  large  concourse 
of  people,  who  wished  to  engage  in  the  enterprise, 
assembled  on  the  occasion,  and  fixed  on  a  day  to 
meet  at  the  Three  Islands,  in  Manchester,  and 
proceed  on  an  exploring  expedition.  Mr.  Finley 
also  wrote  to  his  friends  in  Western   Pennsylvania 

*  Nathaniel  Massie  was  born  in  Gfoochland  County,  Va.,  Decem- 
ber 28, 17G3.  In  1780,  he  engaged,  for  a  short  time,  in  the  Kevolu- 
tionary  war.  In  1783,  he  left  for  Kentucliy,  where  he  acted  as  a 
surveyor.  He  was  afterward  made  a  Government  surveyor,  and 
labored  much  in  that  capacity  for  early  Ohio  proprietors,  being  paiil 
in  lands,  the  amounts  graded  by  the  danger  attached  to  the  surv.y. 
In  1791,  he  established  the  settlement  at  Manchester,  and  a  year  or 
two  after,  continued  liis  surveys  up  the  Scioto.  Here  he  was  con- 
tinually in  great  danger  from  the  Iiuiians,  but  knew  well  how  to 
guard  against  them,  and  thus  jireserved  himself.  In  1790,  he  estab- 
lished the  Cbillicotho  settlement,  and  made  bis  home  in  the  Scioto 
Valley,  being  now  an  extensive  land  owner  by  reason  of  his  long 
surveying  service.  In  18(l7,  he  and  Return  J.  Meigs  were  compet- 
itors for  the  office  of  Governor  of  Ohio.  Meigs  was  elected,  but 
Massie  contested  his  eligibility  to  the  office,  on  the  grounds  of  his 
absence  from  the  State  and  insuflnciency  of  time  as  a  resident,  as 
required  by  the  Constitution.  Meigs  was  declared  inelicible  by  the 
General  Assembly,  and  Massie  declared  Governor.  He,  however, 
renigned  the  office  at  once,  not  desiring  it.  He  waa  often  Repre- 
Bentative  afterward.     He  died  November  13,  1813. 


104 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


informing  tliem  of  the  time  and  place  of  rendez- 
vous. 

"  About  sixty  men  met,  according  to  appoint- 
ment, who  were  divided  into  three  companies, 
under  Massie,  Finley  and  Falenash.  They  pro- 
ceeded on  their  route,  without  interruption,  until 
they  struck  the  falls  of  Paint  Creek.  Proceeding 
a  short  distance  down  that  stream,  they  suddenly 
found  themselves  in  the  vicinity  of  some  Indians 
who  had  encamped  at  a  place,  since  called  Reeve's 
Crossing,  near  the  present  town  of  Bainbridge. 
The  Indians  were  of  those  who  had  refused  to 
attend  Wayne's  treaty,  and  it  was  determined  to 
give  them  battle,  it  being  too  late  to  retreat  with 
safety.  The  Indians,  on  being  attacked,  soon  fled 
with  the  loss  of  two  killed  and  several  wounded. 
One  of  the  whites  only,  Joshua  Robinson,  was 
mortally  wounded,  and,  during  the  action,  a  Mr. 
Armstrong,  a  prisoner  among  the  savages,  escaped 
to  his  own  people.  The  whites  gathered  all  their 
plunder  and  retreated  as  far  as  Scioto  Brush 
Creek,  where  they  were,  according  to  expectation, 
attacked  early  the  next  morning.  Again  the  In- 
dians were  defeated.  Only  one  man  among  the 
whites,  Allen  Gilfillan,  was  wounded.  The  party 
of  whites  continued  their  retreat,  the  next  day 
reached  Manchester,  and  separated  for  their  homes. 

"  After  Wayne's  treaty,  Col.  Massie  and  several 
of  the  old  explorers  again  met  at  the  house  of 
Rev.  Finley,  formed  a  company,  and  agreed  to 
make  a  settlement  in  the  ensuing  spring  (1796), 
and  raise  a  crop  of  corn  at  the  mouth  of  Paint 
Creek.  According  to  agreement,  they  met  at  Man- 
chester about  the  first  of  April,  to  the  number  of 
forty  and  upward,  from  Mason  and  Bourbon 
Counties.  Among  them  were  Joseph  McCoy, 
Benjamin  and  William  Rodgers,  David  Shelby, 
James  Harrod,  Henry,  Bazil  and  Reuben  Abrams, 
William  Jamison,  James  Crawford,  Samuel,  An- 
thony and  Robert  Smith,  Thomas  Dick,  William 
and  James  Kerr,  George  and  James  Kilgrove, 
John  Brown,  Samuel  and  Robert  Templeton,  Fer- 
guson Moore,  William  Nicholson  and  James  B. 
Finley,  later  a  prominent  local  Methodist  minister. 
On  starting,  they  divided  into  two  companies,  one 
of  which  struck  across  the  country,  while  the 
other  came  on  in  pirogues.  The  first  arrived 
earliest  on  the  spot  of  their  intended  settlement, 
and  had  commenced  erecting  log  huts  above  the 
mouth  of  Paint  Creek,  at  the  'Prairie  Station,' 
before  the  others  had  come  on  by  water.  About 
three  hundred  acres  of  the  prairie  were  cultivated 
in  corn  that  season. 


"  In  August,  of  this  year — 1796 — Chillicothe* 
was  laid  out  by  Col.  Massie  in  a  dense  forest.  He 
gave  a  lot  to  each  of  the  first  settlers,  and,  by  the 
beginning  of  winter,  about  twenty  cabins  were 
erected.  Not  long  after,  a  ferry  was  established 
across  the  Scioto,  at  the  north  end  of  Walnut 
street.  The  opening  of  Zane's  trace  produced  a 
great  change  in  travel  westward,  it  having  pre- 
viously been  along  the  Ohio  in  keel-boats  or  canoes, 
or  by  land,  over  the  Cumberland  Mountains, 
through  Crab  Orchard,  in  Kentucky. 

"  The  emigrants  brought  corn-meal  in  their  pi- 
rogues, and  after  that  was  gone,  their  principal 
meal,  until  the  next  summer,  was  that  pounded  in 
hominy  mortars,  which  meal,  when  made  into 
bi'ead,  and  anointed  with  bear's-oil,  was  quite  pal- 
atable. 

"  When  the  settlers  first  came,  whisky  was  S-4.50 
per  gallon;  but,  in  the  spring  of  1797,  when  the 
keel-boats  began  to  run,  the  Monongahela  whisky- 
makers,  having  found  a  good  market  for  their  fire- 
water, rushed  it  in,  in  such  quantities,  that  the 
cabins  were  crowded  with  it,  and  it  soon  fell  to  50 
cents.  Men,  women  and  children,  with  some  excep- 
tions, drank  it  freely,  and  many  who  had  been 
respectable  and  temperate  became  inebriates. 
Many  of  Wayne's  soldiers  and  camp-women  settled 
in  the  town,  so  that,  for  a  time,  it  became  a  town 
of  drunkards  and  a  sink  of  corruption.  There 
was,  however,  a  little  leaven,  which,  in  a  few 
months,  began  to  develop  itself 

'•  In  the  spring  of  1797,  one  Brannon  stole  a 
great  coat,  handkerchief  and  shirt.  He  and  his 
wife  absconded,  were  pursued,  caught  and  brought 
back.  Samuel  Smith  was  appointed  Judge,  a 
jury  impanneled,  one  attorney  appointed  by  the 
Judge  to  manage  the  prosecution,  and  another  the 
defense ;  witnesses  were  examined,  the  case  argued, 
and  the  evidence  summed  up  by  the  Judge.  The 
jury,  having  retired  a  few  moments,  returned  with 
a  verdict  of  guilty,  and  that  the  culprit  be  sen- 
tenced according  to  the  discretion  of  the  Judge. 
'The  Judge  soon  announced  that  the  criminal 
should  have  ten  lashes  on  his  naked  back,  or  that 
he  should  sit  on  a  bare  pack-saddle  on  his  pony, 
and  that  his  wife,  who  was  supposed  to  have  had 
some  agency  in  the  theft,  should  lead  the  pony  to 
every  house  in  the  village,  and  proclaim,  'This  is 

♦Chillicothe  appears  to  have  been  a  favorite  name  among  the 
Indians,  as  many  localities  were  known  by  that  name.  Col.  John 
Johnston  says  :  "Chillicothe  is  the  name  of  one  of  the  principal 
tribes  of  the  Shawanees.  They  would  say,  Chil-i-cotheotany,  i.  e., 
Chillicothe  town.  The  Wyandots  would  say,  for  Chillicothe  town, 
Tat-a-ra-ra,  Do-tia,  or  town  at  the  leaning  of  the  bank." 


•^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


105 


Brannon,  who  stole  the  great  coat,  handkerchief 
and  shirt ; '  and  that  James  B.  Finley,  afterward 
Chaplain  in  the  State  Penitentiary,  should  see  the 
sentence  faithfully  carried  out.  Brannon  chose 
the  latter  sentence,  and  the  ceremony  was  faith- 
fully performed  by  his  wife  in  the  presence  of 
every  cabin,  under  Mr.  Finley 's  care,  after  which 
the  couple  made  off.  This  was  rather  rude,  but 
effective  j  urisprudence. 

"  Dr.  Edward  Tiffin  and  Mr.  Thomas  Worth- 
ington,  of  Berkley  County,  Va.,  were  brothers-in-law, 
and  being  moved  by  abolition  principles,  liberated 
their  slaves,  intending  to  remove  into  the  Ter- 
ritory. For  this  purpose,  Mr.  Worthington  visited 
Chillicothe  in  the  autumn  of  1797,  and  purchased 
several  in  and  out  lots  of  the  town.  On  one  of  the 
former,  he  erected  a  two-story  frame  house,  the 
first  of  the  kind  in  the  village.  On  his  return, 
having  purchased  a  part  of  a  farm,  on  which  his 
family  long  afterward  resided,  and  another  at  the 
north  fork  of  Paint  Creek,  he  contracted  with  Mr. 
Joseph  Yates,  a  millwright,  and  Mr.  George  Haines, 
a  blacksmith,  to  come  out  with  him  the  following 
winter  or  spring,  and  erect  for  him  a  grist  and  saw 
mill  on  his  north-fork  tract.  The  summer,  fall 
and  following  winter  of  that  year  were  marked  by 
a  rush  of  emigration,  which  spead  over  the  high 
bank  prairie,  Pea-pea,  Westfall  and  a  few  miles 
up  Paint  and  Deer  Creeks. 

"  Nearly  all  the  first  settlers  were  either  regular 
members,  or  had  been  raised  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Toward  the  fall  of  1797,  the  leaven  of 
piety  retained  by  a  portion  of  the  first  settlers  be- 
gan to  diffuse  itself  through  the  mass,  and  a  large 
log  meeting-house  was  erected  near  the  old  grave- 
yard, and  Rev.  William  Speer,  from  Pennsylvania, 
took  charge.  The  sleepers  at  first  served  as  seats  for 
hearers,  and  a  split-log  table  was  used  as  a  pulpit. 
Mr.  Speer  was  a  gentlemanly,  moral  man,  tall  and 
cadaverous  in  person,  and  wore  the  cocked  hat  of 
the  Revolutionary  era. 

"  Thomas  Jones  arrived  in  February,  1798, 
bringing  with  him  the  first  load  of  bar-iron  in  the 
Scioto  Valley,  and  about  the  same  time  Maj.  Eli?, 
Langham,  an  officer  of  the  Revolution,  arrived.  Dr. 
Tiffin,  and  his  brother,  Joseph,  arrived  the  same 
month  from  Virginia  and  opened  a  store  not  far 
from  the  log  meeting-house.  A  store  had  been 
opened  previously  by  John  McDougal.  The  17th 
of  April,  the  families  of  Col.  Worthington  and 
Dr.  Tiffin  arrived,  at  which  time  the  first  marriage 
in  the  Scioto  Valley  was  celebrated.  The  parties 
were  George  Kilgore  and  Elizabeth  Cochran.    The 


ponies  of  the  attendants  were  hitched  to  the  trees 
along  the  streets,  which  were  not  then  cleared  out, 
nearly  the  whole  town  being  a  wilderness.  Joseph 
Yates,  George  Haines,  and  two  or  three  others, 
arrived  with  the  families  of  Tiffin  and  Worthing- 
ton. On  their  arrival  there  were  but  four  shingled 
roofs  in  town,  on  one  of  which  the  shingles 
were  fastened  with  pegs.  Col.  Worthington's 
house  was  the  only  one  having  glass  windows.  The 
sash  of  the  hotel  windows  was  filled  with  greased 
paper. 

"  Col.  Worthington  was  appointed  by  Gen.  Ru- 
fus  Putnam,  Surveyor  General  of  the  Northwest 
Territory,  surveyor  of  a  large  district  of  Congress 
lands,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Scioto,  and  INIaj. 
Langham  and  a  Mr.  Matthews,  were  appointed  to 
survey  the  residue  of  the  lands  which  afterward 
composed  the  Chillicothe  land  district. 

"The  same  season,  settlements  were  made  about 
the  Walnut  Plains  by  Samuel  McCulloh  and 
others;  Springer,  Osbourn,  Dyer,  and  Thomas  and 
Elijah  Chenowith,  on  Darly  Creek;  Lamberts  and 
others  on  Sippo ;  on  Foster's  Bottom,  the  Fosters. 
Samuel  Davis  and  others,  while  the  following  fam- 
ilies settled  in  and  about  Chillicothe:  John  Crouse, 
William  Keys,  William  Lamb,  John  Carlisle,  John 
McLanberg,  William  Chandless,  the  Stoctons, 
Greggs,  Bates  and  some  others. 

"Dr.  Tiffin  and  his  wife  were  the  first  Metho- 
dists in  the  Scioto  Valley.  He  was  a  local  preacher. 
In  the  fall,  Worthington's  grist  and  saw  mills  on 
the  north  fork  of  Paint  Creek  were  finished,  the 
first  mills  worthy  the  name  in  the  valley. 

"  Chillicothe  was  the  point  from  which  the  set- 
tlements diverged.  In  May,  1799,  a  post  office 
was  established  here,  and  Joseph  Tiffin  made  Post- 
master. Mr.  Tiffin  and  Thomas  Gregg  opened 
taverns;  the  first,  under  the  sign  of  Gen.  Anthony 
Wayne,  was  at  the  corner  of  Water  and  Walnut 
streets;  and  the  last,  under  the  sign  of  the  'Green 
Tree,'  was  on  the  corner  of  Paint  and  Water 
streets.  In  1801,  Nathaniel  Willis  moved  in  and 
established  the  Scioto  Gazette,  probably,  the  sec- 
ond paper  in  the  Territory."* 

In  1800,  the  seat  of  government  of  the  North- 
west Territory  was  removed,  by  law  of  Congress, 
from  Cincinnati  to  Chillicothe.  The  sessions  of 
the  Territorial  Assembly  for  that  and  the  nest 
year  were  held  in  a  small  two-story,  hewed-log 
house,  erected  in  1798,  by  Bazil  Abrams.  A  wing 
was  added   to  the  main    part,  of    two  stories   in 


*  Recollections  of  Hon.  Thomas  Scott,  of  Chillicothe — Howe's 
"Annals  of  Ohio. 


:V 


106 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


height.  In  the  lower  room  of  this  wing,  Col. 
Thomas  Gibson,  Auditor  of  the  Territory,  kept 
his  office,  and  in  the  upper  room  a  small  family 
lived.  In  the  upper  room  of  the  main  building 
a  billiard  table  was  kept.  It  was  also  made  a  re- 
sort of  gamblers  and  disreputable  characters.  The 
lower  room  was  used  by  the  Legislature,  and  as  a 
cqurt  room,  a  church  or  a  school.  In  the 
war  of  1812,  the  building  was  a  rendezvous  and 
barracks  for  soldiers,  and,  in  IS-IO,  was  pulled 
down. 

The  old  State  House  was  commenced  in  1800, 
and  finished  the  next  year  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  Legislature  and  the  courts.  It  is  said  to 
be  the  first  public  stone  edifice  erected  in  the  Ter- 
ritory. Alaj.  William  Rutledge,  a  Revolutionary 
soldier,  did  the  mason  work,  and  William  Guthrie, 
the  carpenter.  In  1801 ,  the  Territorial  Legislature 
held  their  first  session  in  it.  In  it  was  also  held 
the  Constitutional  Convention  of  Ohio,  which  be- 
gan its  sessions  the  first  Monday  in  November, 
1802.  In  March,  1803,  the  first  State  Legislature 
met  in  the  house,  and  continued  their  sessions  here 
until  1810.  The  sessions  of  1810-11,  and  1811- 
12,  were  held  in  Zanesville,  and  from  there  re- 
moved back  to  Chiliicothe  and  held  in  the  old 
State  House  till  1816,  when  Columbus  became  the 
permanent  capital  of  the  State. 

INIaking  Chiliicothe  the  State  capital  did  much 
to  enhance  its  growth.  It  was  incorporated  in 
1802,  and  a  town  council  elected.  In  1807,  the 
town  had  fourteen  stores,  six  hotels,  two  newspa- 
pers, .  two  churches — both  brick  buildings — and 
over  two  hundred  dwellings.  The  removal  of  the 
capital  to  Columbus  checked  its  growth  a  little,  still, 
being  in  an  excellent  country,  rapidly  filling  with 
settlers,  the  town  has  always  remained  a  prominent 
trading  center. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  Chiliicothe  was  made 
a  rendezvous  for  United  States  soldiers,  and  a 
prison  established,  in  which  many  British  prison- 
ers were  confined.  At  one  time,  a  conspiracy  for 
escape  was  discovered  just  in  time  to  prevent  it. 
The  plan  was  for  the  prisoners  to  disarm  the 
guard,  proceed  to  jail,  release  the  officers,  burn  the 
town,  and  escape  to  Canada.  The  plot  was  fortu- 
nately disclosed  by  two  senior  British  officers,  upon 
which,  as  a  measure  of  security,  the  officers  and 
chief  conspirators  were  sent  to  the  penitentiary 
at  Frankfort,  Kentucky. 

Two  or  three  miles  northwest  of  Chiliicothe,  on 
a  beautiful  elevation,  commanding  an  extensive 
view  of  the  valley  of  the  Scioto,  Thomas  Worth-- 


ington,*  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential 
men  of  his  day,  afterward  Governor  of  the  State, 
in  1806,  erected  a  large  stone  mansion,  the  wonder 
of  the  valley  in  its  time.  It  was  the  most  elegant 
mansion  in  the  West,  crowds  coming  to  see  it 
when  it  "was  completed.  Gov.  Worthington  named 
the  place  Adena,  "  Paradise  " — a  name  not  then 
considered  hyperbolical.  The  large  panes  of  glass, 
and  the  novelty  of  papered  walls  especially  attracted 
attention.  Its  architect  was  the  elder  Latrobe,  of 
Washington  City,  from  which  place  most  of  the 
workmen  came.  The  glass  was  made  in  Pitts- 
burgh, and  the  fireplace  fronts  in  Philadelphia,  the 
latter  costing  seven  dollars  per  hundred  pounds  for 
transportation.  The  mansion,  built  as  it  was,  cost 
nearly  double  the  expense  of  such  structures  now. 
Adena  was  the  home  of  the  Governor  till  his  death, 
in  1827. 

Near  Adena,  in  a  beautiful  situation,  is  Fruit 
Hill,  the  seat  of  Gen.  Duncan  McArthur,!  and 
later  of  ex-Gov.  William  Allen.  Like  Adena,  Fruit 
Hill  is  one  of  the  noted  places  in  the  Scioto  Val- 
ley. Many  of  Ohio's  best  men  dwelt  in  the  valley ; 
men  who  have  been  an  honor  and  ornament  to  the 
State  and  nation. 

Another  settlement,  begun  soon  after  the  treaty 
of  peace  in  1795,  was  that  made  on  the  Licking 
River,  about  four  miles  below  the  present  city  of 
Nev/ark,  in  Licking  County.  In  the  fall  of  1798, 
John  RatlifF  and  Elias  Hughes,  while  prospecting 
on  this  stream,  found  some  old  Indian  cornfields, 
and  determined  to  locate.  They  were  from  West- 
ern Virginia,  and  were  true  pioneers,  living  mainly 
by  hunting,  leaving  the  cultivation  of  their  small 
cornfields  to  their  wives,  much  after  the  style  of 


*  Gov.  Worthington  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Va.,  about  the 
yearl70'J.  He  sytiU-din  Oliio  in  17;i8.  He  was  a  firm  believer  in 
liberty  and  came  to  the  Territory  al'tiT  liberating  his  slaves.  He  was 
oiie  of  the  niosi  eflicifiit  men  of  his  day;  was  a  member  of  the 
Constitutional  Convention,  and  was  sent  on  an  important  mission 
to  Congress  relative  to  the  admiosion  of  Ohio  to  the  Union.  He 
was  afterward  a  Senator  to  Congress,  and  then  Governor.  On 
the  expiration  of  his  guSernatorial  term,  he  was  appointed  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Public  Works,  in  which  cajiacity  ho  did  umch 
to  advance  the  canals  and  ral roads,  and  other  public  improve- 
ments.    He  remained  in  this  office  till  his  death. 

t  Gen.  Mc.\rthur  was  born  in  Dutchess  County,  N.  T.,  in  1772. 
When  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  removed  to  ApVesteru  Pennsyl- 
vania. When  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  served  in  Harmar's 
campaign.  In  1792,  he  was  a  very  elficient  soldier  among  the  front- 
iersmen, and  gained  their  ajiprobation  by  liis  bravery.  In  1793,  he 
was  connected  with  Gen.  jlassie,  and  afterward  was  engaged  in 
land  speculations  and  became  very  wealthy.  He  was  made  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Legislature,  in  1805  ;  in  1800,  a  Colonel,  and  in  1808,  a 
Major  Ganeral  of  the  militia.  In  this  capacity  he  was  in  Hull's 
surrender  at  Detroit.  On  his  return  he  was  elected  to  Congress, 
and  in  1813  commissioned  Brigadier  General.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  efticient  officers  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  held  many  important 
posts.  After  the  war,  he  was  again  sent  to  the  Legislature  ;  in  1822 
to  Congress,  ar]d  in  1830  elected  Governor  of  the  State.  By  an  un- 
fortunate accident  in  1830,  he  was  maimed  for  life,  and  gradually 
declined  till  death  came  a  few  years  after. 


i^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


107 


their  dusky  neighbors.  They  were  both  inveterate 
Indian-haters,  and  never  allowed  an  opportunity  to 
pass  without  carrying  out  their  hatred.  For  this, 
they  were  apprehended  after  the  treaty;  but, 
though  it  was  clearly  proven  they  had  murdered 
some  iuolFensive  Indians,  the  state  of  feeling  was 
such  that  they  were  allowed  to  go  unpunished. 

A  short  time  after  their  settlement,  others  joined 
them,  and,  in  a  few  years,  quite  a  colony  had 
gathered  on  the  banks  of  the  Licking.  In  1802, 
Newark  was  laid  out,  and,  in  three  or  four  years, 
there  were  twenty  or  thirty  families,  several  stores 
and  one  or  two  hotels. 

The  settlement  of  G-ranville  Township,  in  this 
county,  is  rather  an  important  epoch  in  the  history 
of  this  part  of  the  State.  From  a  sketch  pub- 
lished by  Rev.  Jacob  Little  in  18-48,  in  Howe's 
Collections,  the  subjoined  statements  are  taken: 

"In  1804,  a  company  was  formed  at  Granville, 
Mass.,  with  the  intention  of  making  a  settlement 
in  Ohio.  This,  called  the  Scioto  Company,  was 
the  third  of  that  name  which  effected  settlemen1;g 
in  Ohio.  The  project  met  with  great  favor,  and 
much  enthusiasm  was  elicited,  in  illustration  of 
which  a  song  was  composed  and  sung  to  the 
tune  of  '  Pleasant  Ohio '  by  the  young  people  in 
the  house  and  at  labor  in  the  field.  We  annex 
two  stanzas,  which  are  more  curious  than  poetical: 

"'When  rambling  o'er  these  mountains 

And  rocks  where  ivies  grow 
Thick  as  the  hairs  upon  your  head, 

"Mongst  which  you  cannot  go — 
Great  storms  of   snow,    cold  winds  that  blow, 

We  scarce  can  undergo — 
Says  I,  my  boys,  we'll  leave  this  place 

For  the  pleasant  Ohio. 

"  <Our  precious  friends  that  stay  behind. 

We're  sorry  now  to  leave; 
But  if  they'll  stay  and  break  their  shins, 

For  them  we'll  never  grieve. 
Adieu,  my  friends! — Come  on,  my  dears, 

This  journey  we'll  forego. 
And  settle  Licking  Creek, 

In  yonder  Ohio.'  " 

"  The  Scioto  Company  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  proprietors,  who  made  a  purchase  of 
twenty-eight  thousand  acres.  In  the  autumn  of 
1805,  two  hundred  and  thirty-four  persons,  mostly 
from  East  Granville,  Mass.,  came  on  to  the  pur- 
chase. Although  they  had  been  forty-two  days  on 
the  road,  their  first  business,  on  their  arrival,  hav- 
ing organized  a  church  before  they  left  the  East, 
was  to  hear  a  sermon.     The  first  tree  cut  was  that 


by  which  public  worship  was  held,  which  stood 
just  in  front  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

On  the  first  Sabbath,  November  16,  although 
only  about  a  dozen  trees  had  been  felled,  they  held 
divine  service,  both  forenoon  and  afternoon,  on 
that  spot.  The  novelty  of  worshiping  in  the 
woods,  the  forest  extending  hundreds  of  miles  each 
way  ;  the  hardships  of  the  journey,  the  winter  set- 
ting in,  the  thoughts  of  home,  with  all  the  friends 
and  privileges  left  behind,  and  the  impression  that 
such  must  be  the  accommodations  of  anew  country, 
all  rushed  on  their  minds,  and  made  this  a  day  of 
varied  interest.  When  they  began  to  sing,  the 
echo  of  their  voices  among  the  trees  was  so  differ- 
ent from  what  it  was  in  the  beautiful  meeting- 
house they  had  left,  that  they  could  no  longer 
restrain  their  tears.  They  ivept  when  they  remem- 
bered Zion.  The  voices  of  part  of  the  choir  were, 
for  a  season,  suppressed  with  emotion. 

"An  incident  occurred,  which  many  said  Mrs. 
Sigourney  should  have  put  into  verse.  Deacon 
Theophilus  Reese,  a  Welsh  Baptist,  had,  two  or 
three  years  before,  built  a  cabin,  a  mile  and  a  half 
north,  and  lived  all  this  time  without  public  wor- 
ship. He  had  lost  his  cattle,  and,  hearing  a  low- 
ing of  the  oxen  belonging  to  the  Company,  set  out 
toward  them.  As  he  ascended  the  hills  overlook- 
ing the  town  plot,  he  heard  the  singing  of  the 
choir.  The  reverberation  of  the  sound  from  hill- 
tops and  trees,  threw  the  good  man  into  a  serious 
dilemma.  The  music  at  first  seemed  to  be  behind, 
then  in  the  tree-tops,  or  in  the  clouds.  He  stopped, 
till,  by  accurate  listening,  he  caught  the  direction 
of  the  sound ;  went  on  and  passing  the  brow  of 
the  hill,  he  saw  the  audience  sitting  on  the 
level  below.  He  went  home  and  told  his  wife  that 
'  the  promise  of  God  is  a  bond  ' ;  a  Welsh  proverb, 
signifying  that  we  have  security,  equal  to  a  bond, 
that  religion  will  prevail  everywhere.  He  said : 
'  These  must  be  good  people.  I  am  not  afraid  to 
go  among  them.'  Though  he  could  not  under- 
stand English,  he  constantly  attended  the  reading 
meeting.  Hearing  the  music  on  that  occasion 
made  such  an  impression  on  his  mind  that,  when 
he  became  old  and  met  the  first  settlers,  he  would 
always  tell  over  this  story.  The  first  cabin  built 
was  that  in  which  they  worshiped  succeeding 
Sabbaths,  and,  before  the  close  of  the  winter,  they 
had  a  schoolhouse  and  a  school.  That  church,  in 
forty  years,  received  more  than  one  thousand  per- 
sons into  its  membership. 

"Elder  Jones,  in  1806,  preached  the  first  ser- 
mon  in   the   log   church.     The    Welsh    Baptist 


:^ 


\^ 


108 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


Church  was  organized  in  the  cabin  of  David 
Thomas,  Septen^^ber  4,  1808.  April  21,  1827, 
the  Grranville  members  were  organized  into  the 
Granville  Church,  and  the  corner-stone  of  their 
house  of  worship  laid  September  21,  1829.  In 
the  fall  of  1810,  the  first  Methodist  sermon  was 
preached  here,  and,  soon  after,  a  class  organized. 
In  1824,  a  church  was  built.  An  Episcopal 
church  was  organized  in  May,  1827,  and  a 
church  consecrated  in  1888.  In  1849,  there 
were  in  this  township  405  families,  of  whom  214 
sustain  family  worship ;  1431  persons  over  four- 
teen years  of  age,  of  whom  over  800  belong  to 
church.  The  town  had  150  families,  of  whom  80 
have  family  worship.  In  1846,  the  township 
furnished  70  school  teachers,  of  whom  62  prayed 
in  school.  In  1846,  the  township  took  621  peri- 
odical papers,  besides  three  small  monthlies.  The 
first  temperance  society  west  of  the  mountains  was 
organized  July  15,  1828,  in  this  township;  and, 
in  1831,  the  Congregational  Church  passed  a  by- 
law to  accept  no  member  who  trafficked  in  or  used 
ardent  spirits." 

It  is  said,  not  a  settlement  in  the  entire  West 
could  present  so  moral  and  upright  a  view  as  that 
of  Granville  Township;  and  nowhere  could  so 
perfect  and  orderly  a  set  of  people  be  found. 
Surely,  the  fact  is  argument  enough  in  favor  of 
the  religion  of  Jesus. 

The  narrative  of  Mr.  Little  also  states  that, 
when  Granville  was  first  settled,  it  was  supposed 
that  Worthington  would  be  the  capital  of  Ohio, 
between  which  and  Zanesville,  Granville  would 
make  a  great  half-way  town.  At  this  time,  wild 
animals,  snakes  and  Indians  abounded,  and  many 
are  the  marvelous  stories  preserved  regarding  the 
destruction  of  the  animals  and  reptiles  —  the 
Indians  being  bound  by  their  treaty  to  remain 
peaceful.  Space  forbids  their  repetition  here. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that,  as  the  whites  increased,  the 
Indians,  animals  and  snakes  disappeared,  until 
now  one  is  as  much  a  curiosity  as  the  other. 

The  remaining  settlement  in  the  southwest- 
ern parts  of  Ohio,  made  immediately  after  the 
treaty — fall  of  1795  or  year  of  1796 — was  in 
what  is  now  Madison  County,  about  a  mile  north 
of  where  the  village  of  Amity  now  stands,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Big  Darby.  This  stream  received  its 
name  from  the  Indians,  from  a  Wyandot  chief, 
named  Darby,  who  for  a  long  time  resided  upon  it, 
near  the  Union  County  line.  In  the  fall  of  1795, 
Benj  amin  Springer  came  from  Kentucky  and  selected 
some  land  on  the  banks  of  the  Big  Darby,  cleared 


the  ground,  built  a  cabin,  and  returned  for  his 
family.  The  next  spring,  he  brought  them  out, 
and  began  his  life  here.  The  same  summer  he  was 
joined  by  William  Lapin,  Joshua  and  James  Ew- 
ing  and  one  or  two  others. 

When  Springer  came,  he  found  a  white  man 
named  Jonathan  Alder,  who  for  fifteen  years  had 
been  a  captive  among  the  Indians,  and  who  could 
not  speak  a  word  of  English,  living  with  an  Indian 
woman  on  the  banks  of  Big  Darby.  He  had  been 
exchanged  at  Wayne's  treaty,  and,  neglecting  to 
profit  by  the  treaty,  was  still  living  in  the  Indian 
style.  When  the  whites  became  numerous  about 
him  his  desire  to  find  his  relatives,  and  adopt  the 
ways  of  the  whites,  led  him  to  discard  his  squaw — 
giving  her  an  unusual  allowance — learn  the  English 
language,  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  be- 
come again  civihzed.  Fortunately,  he  could  remem- 
ber enough  of  the  names  of  some  of  his  parents' 
neighbors,  so  that  the  identity  of  his  relatives  and 
friends  was  easily  established,  and  Alder  became  a 
most  useful  citizen.  He  was  very  influential  with 
the  Indians,  and  induced  many  of  them  to  remain 
neutral  during  the  war  of  1812.  It  is  stated  that 
in  1800,  Mr.  Ewing  brought  four  sheep  into  the  com- 
munity. They  were  strange  animals  to  the  Indians. 
One  day  when  an  Indian  hunter  and  his  dog  were 
passing,  the  latter  caught  a  sheep,  and  was  shot  by 
Mr.  Ewing.  The  Indian  would  have  shot  Ewing  in 
retaliation,  had  not  Alder,  who  was  fortunately 
present,  with  much  difficulty  prevailed  upon  him 
to  refrain. 

While  the  southern  and  southwestern  parts  of 
the  State  were  filling  with  settlers,  assured  of  safety 
by  Wayne's  victories,  the  northern  and  eastern 
parts  became  likewise  the  theater  of  activities. 
Ever  since  the  French  had  explored  the  southern 
shores  of  the  lake,  and  English  traders  had  car- 
ried goods  thither,  it  was  expected  one  day  to  be 
a  valuable  part  of  the  West.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  Connecticut  had  ceded  a  large  tract  of 
land  to  the  General  Government,  and  as  soon  as 
the  cession  was  confirmed,  and  land  titles  became 
assured,  settlers  flocked  thither.  Even  before  that 
time,  hardy  adventurers  had  explored  some  of  the 
country,  and  pronounced  it  a  "goodly  land," 
ready  for  the  hand  of  enterprise. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  Western  Reserve, 
and,  indeed,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  was 
made  at  the  mouth  of  Conneaut*  Creek,  in  Ash- 
tabula County,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1796.     That 


'Conneaut,  in  the  Seneca  language,  signifiea  "many  fish." 


.£. 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


109 


day,  the  first  surveying  party  landed  at  the  mouth 
of  this  creek,  and,  ou  its  eastern  bank,  near  the 
lake  shore,  in  tin  cups,  pledged — as  they  drank  the 
limpid  waters  of  the  lake — their  country's  welfare, 
with  the  ordnance  accompaniment  of  two  or  three 
fowling-pieces,  discharging  the  required  national 
salute. 

The  whole  party,  on  this  occasion,  numbered 
fifty-two  persons,  of  whom  two  were  females  (Mrs. 
Stiles  and  Mrs.  Gunn)  and  a  child,  and  all  deserve 
a  lusting  place  in  the  history  of  the  State. 

The  next  day,  they  began  the  erection  of  a  large 
log  building  on  the  sandy  beach  on  the  east  side 
of  the  stream.  When  done,  it  was  named  "  Stow 
Castle,"  after  one  of  the  party.  It  was  the  dwell- 
ing, storehouse  and  general  habitation  of  all  the 
pioneers.  The  party  made  this  their  headquar- 
ters part  of  the  summer,  and  continued  busily 
engaged  in  the  survey  of  the  Reserve.  James 
Kingsbury,  afterward  Judge,  arrived  soon  after 
the  party  began  work,  and,  with  his  family,  was 
the  first  to  remain  here  during  the  winter  follow- 
ing, the  rest  returning  to  the  East,  or  going  south- 
ward. Through  the  winter,  Mr.  Kingsbury's 
family  suffered  greatly  for  provisions,  so  much  so, 
that,  during  the  absence  of  the  head  of  the  family 
in  New  York  for  provisions,  one  child,  born  in  his 
absence,  died,  and  the  mother,  reduced  by  her  suf- 
ferings and  solitude,  was  only  saved  by  the  timely 
arrival  of  the  husband  and  father  with  a  sack  of 
flour  he  had  carried,  many  weary  miles,  on  his 
back.  He  remained  here  but  a  short  time,  re- 
moving to  Cleveland,  which  was  laid  out  that  same 
fall.  In  the  spring  of  1798,  Alexander  Harper, 
William  McFarland  and  Ezra  Gregory,  with  their 
flimilies,  started  from  Harpersfield,  Delaware  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  arrived  the  last  of  June,  at  their  new 
homes  in  the  Far  West.  The  whole  population  on 
the  Reserve  then  amounted  to  less  than  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  persons.  These  were  at  Cleveland, 
Youngstown  and  at  Mentor.  During  the  summer, 
three  famiHes  came  to  Burton,  and  Judge  Hudson 
settled  at  Hudson.  All  these  pioneers  suffered 
severely  for  food,  and  from  the  fever  induced  by 
chills.  It  took  several  years  to  become  accli- 
mated. Sometimes  the  entire  neighborhood 
would  be  down,  and  only  one  or  two,  who  could 
wait  on  the  rest  "between  chills,"  were  able  to  do 
anything.     Time  and  courage  overcame,  finally. 

It  was  not  until  1798,  that  a  permanent  settle- 
ment was  made  at  the  mouth  of  Conneaut  Creek. 
Those  who  came  there  in  1796  went  on  with  their 
surveys,  part  remaining  in  Cleveland,  laid  out  that 


summer.  Judge  Kingsbury  could  not  remain  at 
Conneaut,  and  went  nearer  the  settlements  made 
about  theCuyahoga.  Inthespring  of  1798,  Thomas 
Montgomery  and  Aaron  Wright  settled  here  and 
remained.  Up  the  stream  they  found  some  thirty 
Indian  cabins,  or  huts,  in  a  good  state  of  preserva- 
tion, which  they  occupied  until  they  could  erect 
their  own.  Soon  after,  they  were  joined  by  others, 
and,  in  a  year  or  two,  the  settlement  was  permanent 
and  prosperous. 

The  site  of  the  present  town  of  Austinburg  in 
Ashtabula  County  was  settled  in  the  year  1799, 
by  two  families  from  Connecticut,  who  were  in- 
duced to  come  thither,  by  Judge  Austin.  The 
Judge  preceded  them  a  short  time,  driving,  in 
company  with  a  hired  man,  some  cattle  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  through  the  woods,  follow- 
ing an  old  Indian  trail,  while  the  rest  of  the  party 
came  in  a  boat  across  the  lake.  When  they  ar- 
rived, there  were  a  few  families  at  Harpersburg ; 
one  or  two  families  at  Windsor,  twenty  miles 
southwest;  also  a  few  families  at  Elk  Creek,  forty 
miles  northeast,  and  at  Vernon,  the  same  distance 
southeast.  All  these  were  in  a  destitute  condition 
for  provisions.  In  1800,  another  family  moved 
from  Norfolk,  Conn.  In  the  spring  of  1801,  sev- 
eral families  came  from  the  same  place.  Part  came 
by  land,  and  part  by  water.  During  that  season, 
wheat  was  carried  to  an  old  mill  on  Elk  Creek, 
forty  miles  away,  and  in  some  instances,  half  was 
given  for  carrying  it  to  mill  and  returning  it  in 
flour. 

Wednesday,  October  21,  1801,  a  church  of  six- 
teen members  was  constituted  in  Austinburg. 
This  was  the  first  church  on  the  Reserve,  and  was 
founded  by  Rev.  Joseph  Badger,  the  first  mission- 
ary there.  It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  note,  that  in 
1802,  Mr.  Badger  moved  his  family  fi-om  Buffalo 
to  this  town,  in  the  first  wagon  that  ever  came 
from  that  place  to  the  Reserve.  In  1803,  noted 
revivals  occurred  in  this  part  of  the  West,  attended 
I  by  the  peculiar  bodily  phenomenon  known  as  the 
I  "  shakes  "  or  "jerks." 

I  The  surveying  party  which  landed  at  the  mouth 
I  of  Conneaut'^ Creek,  July  4,  1796,  soon  completed 
j  their  labors  in  this  part  of  the  Reserve,  and  ex- 
!  tended  them  westward.  By  the  first  of  September, 
I  they  had  explored  the  lake  coast  as  fiir  west  as  the 
outlet  of  the  Cuyahoga*  River,  then   considered 


*  Cuyahoga,  id   the    Indian  language,    signifies  "crooked."— 
Boioe'H  Cnlleclions. 

"The  liuiians  called  the  river  'Cnyahoghan-uk,'  'Lake  River 
It  is,  emphaticiUy,  a  Lake  river.     It  rises  in  lakes  and  empties  into 
a  \a]i.e."—Atwate'-'s  Hi  lory  of  Ohio. 


110 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


by  all  an  important  Western  place,  and  one  des- 
tined to  be  a  great  commercial  mart.  Time  has 
verified  the  prophecies,  as  now  the  city  of  Cleve- 
land covers  the  site. 

As  early  as  1755,  the  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga 
River  was  laid  down  on  the  maps,  and  the  French 
had  a  station  here.  It  was  also  considered  an  im- 
portant post  during  the  war  of  the  Ilevolution,, 
and  later,  of  1812.  The  British,  who,  after  the 
Ilevolution,  refused  to  abandon  the  lake  country 
west  of  the  Cuyahoga,  occupied  its  shores  until 
1790.  Their  traders  had  a  house  in  Ohio  City, 
north  of  the  Detroit  road,  on  the  point  of  the  hill 
near  the  river,  when  the  surveyors  arrived  in 
1796.  Washington,  Jefferson,  and  all  statesmen 
of  that  day,  regarded  the  outlet  of  the  Cuyahoga 
as  an  important  place,  and  hence  the  early  at- 
tempt of  the  surveyors  to  reach  and  lay  out  a  town 
here. 

The  corps  of  surveyors  arrived  early  in  Septem- 
ber, 1796,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  lay  out  a  town. 
It  was  named  Cleveland,  in  honor  of  Gen.  Moses 
Cleveland,  the  Land  Company's  agent,  and  for 
years  a  very  prominent  man  in  Connecticut,  where 
he  lived  and  died.  By  the  18th  of  October,  the 
surveyors  had  completed  the  survey  and  left  the 
place,  leaving  only  Job  V.  Stiles  and  family,  and 
Edward  Paine,  who  were  the  only  persons  that 
passed  the  succeeding  winter  in  this  place.  Their 
residence  was  a  log  cabin  that  stood  on  a  spot  of 
ground  long  afterward  occupied  by  the  Commercial 
Bank.  Their  nearest  neighbors  were  at  Conne- 
aut,  where  Judge  Kingsbury  lived;  at  Fort 
Mcintosh,  on  the  south  or  east,  at  the  mouth  of 
Big  Beaver,  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Raisin, 
on  the  west. 

The  next  season,  the  surveying  party  came  again 
to  Cleveland,  which  they  made  their  headquarters. 
Early  in  the  spring,  Judge  Kingsbury  came  over 
from  Conneaut,  bringing  with  him  Elijah  Gunn, 
who  had  a  short  time  before  joined  him.  Soon 
after,  Maj.  Lorenzo  Carter  and  Ezekiel  Hawley 
came  with  their  fiimilies.  These  were  about  all 
who  are  known  to  have  settled  in  this  place  that 
summer.  The  next  year,  1798,  Rodolphus  Ed- 
wards and  Nathaniel  Doane  and  their  families  set- 
tled in  Cleveland.  Mr.  Doane  had  been  ninety- 
two  days  on  his  journey  from  Chatham,  Conn.  In 
the  latter  part  of  the  summer  and  fill,  nearly  every 
person  in  the  settlement  was  down  with  the  bil- 
ious fever  or  with  the  ague.  Mr.  Doane's  family 
consisted  of  nine  persons,  of  whom  Seth,  a  lad  six- 
teen years  of  age,  was  the  only  one  able  to  care  for 


them.  Such  was  the  severity  of  the  fever,  that 
any  one  having  only  the  ague  was  deemed  quite 
fortunate.  Much  suffering  for  proper  food  and 
.  medicines  followed.  The  only  way  the  Doane 
family  was  supplied  for  two  months  or  more,  was 
through  the  exertions  of  this  boy,  who  went  daily, 
after  having  had  one  attack  of  the  chills,  to  Judge 
Kingsbury's  in  Newburg — five  miles  away,  where 
the  Judge  now  lived — got  a  peck  of  corn,  mashed  it 
in  a  hand-mill,  waited  until  a  second  attack  of  the 
chills  passed  over,  and  then  returned.  At  one  time, 
for  several  days,  he  was  too  ill  to  make  the  trip, 
during  which  turnips  comprised  the  chief  article 
of  diet.  Fortunately,  Maj.  Carter,  having  only 
the  ague,  was  enabled  with  his  trusty  rifle  and  dogs 
to  procure  an  abundance  of  venison  and  other  wild 
game,  His  family,  being  somewhat  acclimated, 
suffered  less  than  many  others.  Their  situation  can 
hardly  now  be  realized.  "  Destitute  of  a  physician, 
and  with  few  medicines,  necessity  taught  them  to 
use  such  means  as  nature  had  placed  within  their 
reach.  They  substituted  pills  from  the  extract  of 
the  bitternut  bark  for  calomel,  and  dogwood  and 
cherry  bark  for  quinine." 

In  November,  four  men,  who  had  so  far  recov- 
ered as  to  have  ague  attacks  no  oftener  than  once 
in  two  or  three  days,  started  in  the  only  boat  for 
Walnut  Creek,  Penn.,  to  obtain  a  winter's  supply 
of  flour.  When  below  Euclid  Creek,  a  storm 
drove  them  ashore,  broke  their  boat,  and  compelled 
their  return.  During  the  winter  and  summer  fol- 
lowing, the  settlers  had  no  flour,  except  that 
ground  in  hand  and  coffee  mills,  which  was,  how- 
ever, considered  very  good.  Not  all  had  even  that. 
During  the  summer,  the  Connecticut  Land  Com- 
pany opened  the  first  road  on  the  Reserve,  which 
commenced  about  ten  miles  south  of  the  lake 
shore,  on  the  Pennsylvania  State  line,  and  extended 
to  Cleveland.  In  January,  1799,  Mr.  Doane 
moved  to  Doane's  Corners,  leaving  only  Maj.  Car- 
ter's family  in  Cleveland,  all  the  rest  leaving  as 
soon  as  they  were  well  enough.  For  fifteen  months, 
the  Major  and  his  fxmily  were  the  only  white  per- 
sons left  on  the  town  site.  During  the  spring, 
Wheeler  W.  Williams  and  Maj.  Wyatt  built  the 
first  grist-mill  on  the  Reserve,  on  the  site  of  New- 
burg. It  was  looked  upon  as  a  very  valuable  acces- 
sion to  the  neighborhood.  Prior  to  this,  each  fam- 
ily had  its  own  hand-mill  in  one  of  the  corners  of 
the  cabin.  The  old  mill  is  thus  described  by  a 
pioneer : 

"  The  stones  were  of  the  common  grindstone 
grit,  about  four  inches  thick,  and  twenty  in  diame- 


L±* 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


Ill 


ter.  The  runner,  or  upper,  was  turned  by  band, 
by  a  pole  set  in  the  top  of  it,  near  the  outer  edge. 
The  upper  end  of  the  pole  was  inserted  into  a  hole 
in  a  board  fastened  above  to  the  joists,  immedi- 
ately over  the  hole  in  the  verge  of  the  runner. 
One  person  fed  the  corn  into  the  eye — a  hole  in 
the  center  of  the  runner — while  another  turned. 
It  was  very  hard  work  to  grind,  and  the  operators 
alternately  exchanged  places." 

In  1800,  several  settlers  came  to  the  town  and 
a  more  active  life  was  the  result.  From  this  time, 
Cleveland  began  to  progress.  The  4th  of  July, 
1801,  the  first  ball  in  town  was  held  at  Major 
Carter's  log  cabin,  on  the  hill-side.  John  and 
Benjamin  Wood,  and  R.  H.  Bhnn  were  managers; 
and  Maj.  Samuel  Jones,  musician  and  master  of 
ceremonies.  The  company  numbered  aboutthirty, 
very  evenly  divided,  for  the  times,  between  the 
sexes.  "  Notwithstanding  the  dancers  had  a  rough 
puncheon  floor,  and  no  better  beverage  to  enliven 
their  spirits  than  sweetened  whisky,  yet  it  is  doubt- 
ful if  the  anniversary  of  American  independence 
was  ever  celebrated  in  Cleveland  by  a  more  joyful 
and  harmonious  company  than  those  who  danced 
the  scamper-down,  double-shuffle,  western-swing 
and  half-moon,  that  day,  in  Maj.  Carter's  cabin." 
The  growth  of  the  town,  fi-om  this  period  on,  re- 
mained prosperous.  The  usual  visits  of  the  Indi- 
ans were  made,  ending  in  their  drunken  carousals 
and  fights.  Deer  and  other  wild  animals  furnished 
abundant  meat.  The  settlement  was  constantly 
augmented  by  new  arrivals,  so  that,  by  181-1,  Cleve- 
land was  incorporated  as  a  town,  and,  in  1836,  as 
a  city.  Its  harbor  is  one  of  the  best  on  the  lakes, 
and  hence  the  merchandise  of  the  lakes  has  always 
been  attracted  thither.  Like  Cincinnati  and  Chil- 
licothe,  it  became  the  nucleus  of  settlements  in  this 
part  of  the  State,  and  now  is  the  largest  city  in 
Northern  Ohio. 

One  of  the  earliest  settlements  made  in  the 
Western  Reserve,  and  by  some  claimed  as  the  first 
therein,  was  made  on  the  site  of  Youngstown,  Ma- 
honing County,  by  a  Mr.  Young,  afterward  a  Judge, 
in  the  summer  of  1796.  During  this  summer, 
before  the  settlements  at  Cuyahoga  and  Conueaut 
were  made,  Mr.  Young  and  Mr.  Wilcott,  proprie- 
tors of  a  township  of  land  in  Northeastern  Ohio, 
came  to  their  possessions  and  began  the  survey  of 
their  land.  Just  when  they  came  is  not  known. 
They  were  found  here  by  Col.  James  Hillman, 
then  a  trader  in  the  employ  of  Duncan  &  Wilson, 
of  Pittsburgh,  "  who  had  been  forwarding  goods 
across    the  country  by  pack-saddle  horses  since 


1786,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga,  thence  to  be 
shipped  on  the  schooner  Mackinaw  to  Detroit. 
Col.  Hillman  generally  had  charge  of  all  these 
caravans,  consisting  sometimes  of  ninety  horses 
and  ten  men.  They  commonly  crossed  the  Big 
Beaver  four  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  She- 
nango,  thence  up  the  left  bank  of  the  Mahoning — 
called  by  the  Indians  "  Mahoni"  or  "  Mahonick" 
signifying  the  "  lick"  or  "  at  the  lick  " — crossing 
it  about  three  miles  below  the  site  of  Youngstown, 
thence  by  way  of  the  Salt  Springs,  over  the  sites 
of  Milton  and  Ravenna,  crossing  the  Cuyahoga  at 
the  mouth  of  Breakneck  and  again  at  the  mouth 
of  Tinker's  Creek,  thence  down  the  river  to  its 
mouth,  where  they  had  a  log  hut  in  which  to 
store  their  goods.  This  hut  was  there  when  the 
surveyors  came,  but  at  the  time  unoccupied.  At 
the  mouth  of  Tinker's  Creek  were  a  few  log  huts 
built  by  iMoravian  Missionaries.  These  were  used 
only  one  year,  as  the  Indians  had  gone  to  the  Tus- 
carawas River.  These  and  three  or  four  cabins  at 
the  Salt  Springs  were  the  only  buildings  erected 
by  the  whites  prior  to  1796,  in  Northeastern  Ohio. 
Those  at  the  Salt  Springs  were  built  at  an  early 
day  for  the  accommodation  of  whites  who  came 
from  Western  Pennsylvania  to  make  salt.  The 
tenants  were  dispossessed  in  1785  by  Gen.  Harmar. 
A  short  time  after,  one  or  two  white  men  were 
killed  by  the  Indians  here.  In  1788'  Col.  Hill- 
man settled  at  Beavertown,  where  Duncan  & 
Wilson  had  a  store  for  the  purpose  of  trading 
with  the  Indians.  He  went  back  to  Pittsburgh 
soon  after,  however,  owing  to  the  Indian  war,  and 
remained  there  till  its  close,  continuing  in  his  busi- 
ness whenever  opportunity  offered.  In  1796, 
when  returning  from  one  of  his  trading  expeditions 
alone  in  his  canoe  down  the  Mahoning  River,  he 
discovered  a  smoke  on  the  bank  near  the  present 
town  of  Youngstown,  and  on  going  to  the  spot 
found  Mr.  Young  and  Mr.  Wolcott,  as  before  men- 
tioned. A  part  of  Col.  Hillman's  cargo  consisted 
of  whisky,  a  gallon  or  so  of  which  he  still  had. 
The  price  of  "fire-water  "  then  was  81  per  quart 
in  the  currency  of  the  country,  a  deerskin  being 
legal  tender  for  $1,  and  a  doeskin  for  50  cents. 
Mr.  Young  proposed  purchasing  a  quart,  and 
having  a  frolic  on  its  contents  during  the  even- 
ing, and  insisted  on  paying  Hillman  his  cus- 
tomary price.  Hillman  urged  that  inasmuch  as 
they  were  strangers  in  the  country,  civility  re- 
quired him  to  furnish  the  means  for  the  entertain- 
ment. Young,  however,  insisted,  and  taking  the 
deerskin   used  for  his  bed — the  only  one  he  had — 


~$)  "V 


113 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


paid  for  his  quart  of  whisky,  and  an  evening's 
froUc  "was  the  result. 

"  HiUman  remained  a  few  days,  when  they  ac- 
companied him  to  Beaver  Town  to  celebrate  the 
4th,  and  then  all  returned,  and  Hilhnan  erected  a 
cabin  on  the  site  of  Youngstown.  It  is  not  cer- 
tain that  they  remained  here  at  this  time,  and 
hence  the  priority  of  actual  settlement  is  generally 
conceded  to  Conneaut  and  Cleveland.  The  next 
year,  in  the  fall,  a  Mr.  Bi'own  and  one  other  per- 
son came  to  the  banks  of  the  Mahoning  and  made 
a  permanent  settlement.  The  same  season  Uriah 
Holmes  and  Titus  Hayes  came  to  the  same  locality, 
and  before  winter  quite  a  settlement  was  to  be  seen 
here.  It  proceeded  quite  prosperously  until  the 
wanton  murder  of  two  Indians  occurred,  which, 
for  a  time,  greatly  excited  the  whites,  lest  the  In- 
dians should  retaliate.  Through  the  efforts  of 
Col.  Hilhnan,  who  had  great  influence  with  the 
natives,  they  agreed  to  let  the  murderers  stand  a 
trial.  They  were  acquitted  upon  some  technicality. 
The  trial,  however,  pacified  the  Indians,  and  no 
trouble  came  from  the  unwarranted  and  unfortu- 
nate circumstance,  and  no  check  in  the  emigration 
or  prosperity  of  the  colony  occurred."* 

As  soon  as  an  efifective  settlement  had  been  es- 
tablished at  Youngstown,  others  were  made  in  the 
surrounding  country.  One  of  these  was  begun  by 
William  Feuton  in  1798,  on  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent town  of  Warren,  in  Trumbull  County.  He 
remained  here  alone  one  year,  when  he  was  joined 
by  Capt.  Ephraim  Quimby.  By  the  last  of  Sep- 
tember, the  next  year,  the  colony  had  increased  to 
sixteen,  and  from  that  date  on  continued  prosper- 
ously. Once  or  twice  they  stood  in  fear  of  the 
Indians,  as  the  result  of  quarrels  induced  by 
whisky.  Sagacious  persons  generally  saved  any 
serious  outbreak  and  pacified  the  natives.  Mr. 
Badger,  the  first  missionary  on  the  Reserve,  came 
to  the  settlement  here  and  on  the  Mahoning,  as 
soon  as  each  was  made,  and,  by  his  earnest  labors, 
succeedcid  in  forming  churches  and  schools  at  an 
early  day.  He  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  men 
on  the  Reserve,  and  throughout  his  long  and  busy 
life,  was  well  known  and  greatly  respected.  He 
died  in  18-46,  aged  eighty-nine  years. 

The  settlements  given  are  about  all  that  were 
made  before  the  close  of  1797.  In  following  the 
narrative  of  these  settlements,  attention  is  paid  to 
the  chronological  order,  as  far  as  this  can  be  done. 
Like  those  settlements  already  made,  many  which 

*  Recollections  of  Col.  HiUman. — Boive's  AnnaU. 


are  given  as  occurring  in  the  next  year,  1798, 
were  actually  begun  earlier,  but  were  only  tem- 
porary preparations,  and  were  not  considered  as 
made  until  the  next  year. 

Turning  again  to  the  southern  portion  of  Ohio, 
the  Scioto,  Muskingum  and  Miami  Valleys  come 
prominently  into  notice.  Throughout  the  entire 
Eastern  States  they  were  still  attracting  attention, 
and  an  increased  emigration,  busily  occupying  their 
verdant  fields,  was  the  result.  All  about  Chilli- 
cothe  was  now  well  settled,  and,  up  the  banks  of 
that  stream,  prospectors  were  selecting  sites  for 
their  future  homes. 

In  1797,  Robert  Armstrong,  George  Skidmore, 
Lucas  Sullivant,  William  Domigan,  James  Mar- 
shall, John  Dill,  Jacob  Grubb,  Jacob  Overdier, 
Arthur  O'Hara,  John  Brickell,  Col.  Culbertson, 
the  Deardorfs,  McElvains,  Selles  and  others,  came 
to  what  is  now  Franklin  County,  and,  in  August, 
Mr.  Sullivant  and  some  others  laid  out  the  town  of 
Franklinton,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Scioto,  oppo- 
site the  site  of  Columbus.  The  country  about  this 
locality  had  long  been  the  residence  of  the  Wyan- 
dots,  who  had  a  large  town  on  the  city's  site,  and 
cultivated  extensive  fields  of  corn  on  the  river  bot- 
toms. The  locality  had  been  visited  by  the  whites 
as  early  as  1780,  in  some  of  their  expeditions,  and 
the  fertility  of  the  land  noticed.  As  soon  as  peace 
was  assured,  the  whites  came  and  began  a  settle- 
ment, as  has  been  noted.  Soon  after  Franklinton 
was  established,  a  Mr.  Springer  and  his  son-in-law, 
Osborn,  settled  on  the  Big  Darby,  and,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1798,  a  scattering  settlement  was  made  on 
Alum  Creek.  About  the  same  time  settlers  came 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Gahannah,  and  along  other 
water-courses.  Franklinton  was  the  point  to  which 
emigrants  came,  and  from  which  they  always  made 
their  permanent  location.  For  several  years  there 
was  no  mill,  nor  any  such  commodity,  nearer  than 
Chillicothe.  A  hand-mill  was  constructed  in 
Franklinton,  which  was  commonly  used,  unless  the 
settlers  made  a  trip  to  Chillicothe  in  a  canoe. 
Next,  a  horse-mill  was  tried ;  but  not  till  1805, 
when  Col.  Kilbourne  built  a  mill  at  Worthington, 
settled  in  1803,  could  any  efficient  grinding  be 
done.  In  1789,  a  small  store  was  openedin  Frank- 
linton, by  James  Scott,  but,  for  seven  or  eight 
years,  Chillicothe  was  the  nearest  post  office. 
Often,  when  the  neighbors  wanted  mail,  one  of 
their  number  was  furnished  money  to  pay  the 
postage  on  any  letters  that  might  be  waiting,  and 
sent  for  the  mail.  At  first,  as  in  all  new  localities, 
a  great  deal  of  sickness,  fever  and  ague,  prevailed. 


IE 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


113 


As  the  people  became  acclimated,  this,  however, 
disappeared. 

The  township  of  Sharon  in  this  county  has  a 
history  similar  to  that  of  Granville  Township  in 
Licking  County.  It  was  settled  by  a  "  Scioto 
Company,"  formed  in  Granby,  Conn.,  in  the  winter 
of  1801-02,  consisting  at  first  of  eight  associates. 
They  drew  up  articles  of  association,  among  which 
was  one  limiting  their  number  to  forty,  each  of 
whom  must  be  unanimously  chosen  by  ballot,  a 
single  negative  being  sufiBcient  to  prevent  an  election. 
Col.  James  Kilbourne  was  sent  out  the  succeeding 
spring  to  explore  the  country  and  select  and  pur- 
chase a  township  for  settlement.  He  returned  in 
the  fall  without  making  any  purchase,  through 
fear  that  the  State  Constitution,  then  about  to  be 
formed,  would  tolerate  slavery,  in  which  case  the 
project  would  have  been  abandoned.  While  on 
this  visit.  Col.  Kilbourne  compiled  from  a  variety 
of  sources  the  first  map  made  of  Ohio.  Although 
much  of  it  was  conjectured,  and  hence  inaccurate, 
it  was  veiy  valuable,  being  correct  as  far  as  the 
State  was  then  known. 

"As  soon  as  information  was  received  that  the 
constitution  of  Ohio  prohibited  slavery,  Col.  Kil- 
bourne purchased  the  township  he  had  previously 
selected,  within  the  United  States  military  land 
district,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1803,  returned  to 
Ohio,  and  began  improvements.  By  the  succeed- 
ing December,  one  hundred  settlers,  mainly  from 
Hartford  County,  Conn.,  and  Hampshire  County, 
Mass.,  arrived  at  their  new  home.  Obeying  to  the 
letter  the  agreement  made  in  the  East,  the  first 
cabin  erected  was  used  for  a  schoolhouse  and  a 
church  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  denomination ; 
the  first  Sabbath  after  the  arrival  of  the  colony, 
divine  service  was  held  therein,  and  on  the  arrival 
of  the  eleventh  family  a  school  was  opened.  This 
early  attention  to  education  and  religion  has  left 
its  favorable  impress  upon  the  people  until  this  day. 
The  first  4th  of  July  was  uniquely  and  appropri- 
ately celebrated.  Seventeen  gigantic  trees,  em- 
blematical of  the  seventeen  States  forming  the 
Union,  were  cut,  so  that  a  few  blows  of  the  ax,  at 
sunrise  on  the  4th,  prostrated  each  successively 
with  a  tremendous  crash,  forming  a  national  salute 
novel  in  the  world's  history."* 

The  growth  of  this  part  of  Ohio  continued 
without  interruption  until  the  establishment  of  the 
State  capital  at  Columbus,  in  1816.  The  town  was 
laid  out  in  1812,  but,  as  that  date  is  considered  re- 

*IIowe's  Collections. 


mote  in  the  early  American  settlements,  its  history 
will  be  left  to  succeeding  pages,  and  there  traced 
when  the  history  of  the  State  capital  and  State 
government  is  given. 

The  site  of  Zanesville,  in  Muskingum  County, 
was  early  looked  upon  as  an  excellent  place  to  form 
a  settlement,  and,  had  not  hostilities  opened  in 
1791,  with  the  Indians,  the  place  would  have  been 
one  of  the  earliest  settled  in  Ohio.  As  it  was,  the 
war  so  disarranged  matters,  that  it  was  not  till 
1797  that  a  permanent  settlement  was  effected. 

The  Muskingum  country  was  principally  occu- 
pied, in  aboriginal  times,  by  the  Wyanduts,  Dela- 
wares,  and  a  few  Senecas  and  Shawanees.  An  In- 
dian town  once  stood,  years  before  the  settlement 
of  the  country,  in  the  vicinity  of  Duncan's  Falls, 
in  Muskingum  County,  from  which  circumstance 
the  place  is  often  called  "Old  Town."  Near  Dres- 
den, was  a  large  Shawanee  town,  called  \5^.akato- 
maca.  The  graveyard  was  quite  large,  and,  when 
the  whites  first  settled  here,  remains  of  the  town 
were  abundant.  It  was  in  this  vicinity  that  the 
venerable  Maj.  Cass,  father  of  Lewis  Cass,  lived 
and  died.  He  owned  4,000  acres,  given  him  for 
his  military  services. 

The  first  settlers  on  the  site  of  Zanesville  were 
William  McCulloh  and  Henry  Crooks.  The  lo- 
cality was  given  to  Ebenezer  Zane,  who  had  been 
allowed  three  sections  of  land  on  the  Scioto,  Mus- 
kingum and  Hockhocking,  wherever  the  road 
crossed  these  rivers,  provided  other  prior  claims 
did  not  interfere,  for  opening  "Zane's  trace." 
When  he  located  the  road  across  the  Muskingum, 
he  selected  the  place  where  Zanesville  now  stands, 
being  attracted  there  by  the  excellent  water  privi- 
leges. He  gave  the  section  of  land  here  to  his 
brother  Jonathan  Zane,  and  J.  Mclntire,  who 
leased  the  ferry,  established  on  the  road  over  the 
Muskingum,  to  William  McCulloh  and  Henry 
Crooks,  who  became  thereby  the  first  settlers.  The 
ferry  was  kept  about  where  the  old  upper  bridge 
was  afterward  placed.  The  ferry-boat  was  made 
by  fastening  two  canoes  together  with  a  stick. 
Soon  after  a  flat-boat  was  used.  It  was  brought 
from  Wheeling,  by  Mr.  Mclntire,  in  1797,  the 
year  after  the  ferry  was  established.  The  road  cut 
out  through  Ohio,  ran  from  Wheeling,  Va.,  to 
Maysville,  Ky.  Over  this  road  the  mail  was  car- 
ried, and,  in  1798,  the  first  mail  ever  carried 
wholly  in  Ohio  was  brought  up  fi"om  Marietta  to 
McCulloh's  cabin  by  Daniel  Convers,  where,  by 
arrangement  of  the  Postmaster  General,  it  met 
a  mail   from  Wheeling  and  one  from   Maysville. 


\ 


114 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


McCuIIoh,  who  could  hardly  read,  was  authorized 
to  assort  the  mails  and  send  each  package  in  its 
proper  direction.  For  this  service  he  received 
SoU  per  annum  ;  but  owing  to  his  inability  to  read 
well,  Mr.  Convers  generally  performed  the  duty. 
At  that  time,  the  mails  met  here  once  a  week. 
Four  years  after,  the  settlement  had  so  increased 
that  a  regular  post  office  was  opened,  and  Thomas 
Dowden  appointed  Postmaster.  He  kept  his  office 
in  a  wooden  building  near  the  river  bank. 

Messrs.  Zane  and  Mclntire  laid  out  a  town  in 
1799,  which  they  called  Westbourn.  When  the 
post  office  was  established,  it  was  named  Zanesville, 
and  in  a  short  time  the  village  took  the  same  name. 
A  few  families  settled  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
soon  after  McCulloh  arrived,  and  as  this  locality 
grew  well,  not  long  after  a  store  and  tavern  was 
opened  here.  Mr.  Mclntire  built  a  double  log 
cabin,  which  was  used  as  a  hotel,  and  in  which 
Louis  Philippe,  King  of  France,  was  once  enter- 
tained. Although  the  fire  and  accommodations 
were  of  the  pioneer  period,  the  honorable  guestseems 
to  have  enjoyed  his  visit,  if  the  statements  of  Lewis 
Cass  in  his  "  Camp  and  Court  of  Louis  Philippe" 
may  be  believed. 

In  1804,  Muskingum  County  was  formed  by  the 
Legislature,  and,  for  a  while,  strenuous  efforts  made 
to  secure  the  State  capital  by  the  citizens  of  Zanes- 
ville. They  even  erected  buildings  for  the  use  of 
the  Legislature  and  Governor,  and  during  the  ses- 
sion of  1810-11,  the  temporary  seat  of  govern- 
ment was  fixed  here.  When  the  permanent  State 
capital  was  chosen  in  181G,  Zanesville  was  passed 
by,  and  gave  up  the  hope.  It  is  now  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  towns  in  the  Muskingum  Valley. 

During  the  summer  of  1797,  John  Knoop,  then 
living  ft)ur  miles  above  Cincinnati,  made  several 
expeditions  up  the  Miami  Valley  and  selected  the 
land  on  which  he  afterward  located.  The  next 
spring  Mr.  Knoop,  his  brother  Benjamin,  Henry 
G-arard,  Benjamin  Hamlet  and  John  Tildus  estab- 
lished a  station  in  what  is  now  Miami  County,  near 
the  present  town  of  Staunton  Village.  That  sum- 
mer, Mrs.  Knoop  planted  the  first  apple-tree  in 
the  Miami  *  country.  They  all  lived  together  for 
greater  safety  for  two  years,  during  which  time 
they  were  occupied  clearing  their  farms  and  erect- 
ing dwellings.  During  the  summer,  the  site  of 
Piquawas  settled,  and  three  young  men  located  at  a 
place  known  as  "  Freeman's  Prairie."     Those  who 

*The  word  Miami  in  the  Indian  tongue  signified  mother.  The 
Miamis  wore  the  original  owners  of  the  valley  by  that  name,  and 
affirmed  they  were  created  there. 


settled  at  Piqua  were  Samuel  Hilliard,  Job  Garard, 
Shadrac  Hudson,  Jonah  Rollins,  Daniel  Cox, 
Thomas  Rich,  and  a  Mr.  Hunter.  The  last  named 
came  to  the  site  of  Piqua  first  in  1797,  and 
selected  his  home.  Until  1799,  these  named  were 
the  only  ones  ia  this  locality  ;  but  that  year  emi- 
gration set  in,  and  very  shortly  occupied  almost  all 
the  bottom  land  in  Miami  County.  With  the 
increase  of  emigration,  came  the  comforts  of  life, 
and  mills,  stores  and  other  necessary  aids  to  civil- 
ization, were  ere  long  to  be  seen. 

The  site  of  Piqua  is  quite  historic,  being  the 
theater  of  many  important  Indian  occurrences, 
and  the  old  home  of  the  Shawanees,  of  which 
tribe  Tecumseh  was  a  chief.  During  the  Indian 
war,  a  fort  called  Fort  Piqua  was  built,  near  the 
residence  of  Col.  John  Johnston,  so  long  the  faith- 
ful Indian  Agent.  The  fort  was  abandoned  at  the 
close  of  hostilities. 

When  the  Miami  Canal  was  opened  through  this 
part  of  the  State,  the  country  began  rapidly  to 
improve,  and  is  now  probably  one  of  the  best  por- 
tions of  Ohio. 

About  the  same  time  the  Miami  was  settled,  a 
company  of  people  fi'om  Pennsylvania  and  Vir- 
ginia, who  were  principally  of  German  and  Irish 
descent,  located  in  Lawrence  County,  near  the  iron 
region.  As  soon  as  that  ore  was  made  available, 
that  part  of  the  State  rapidly  filled  with  settlers, 
most  of  whom  engaged  in  the  mining  and  working 
of  iron  ore.     Now  it  is  very  prosperous. 

Another  settlement  was  made  the  same  season, 
1797,  on  the  Ohio  side  of  the  river,  in  Columbiana 
County.  The  settlement  progressed  slowly  for  a 
while,  owing  to  a  few  difficulties  with  the  Indians. 
The  celebrated  Adam  Poe  had  been  here  as  early 
as  1782,  and  several  localities  are  made  locally 
famous  by  his  and  his  brother's  adventures. 

In  this  county,  on  Little  Beaver  Creek,  near  its 
mouth,  the  second  paper-mill  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies  was  erected  in  1805-6.  It  was  the  pioneer 
enterprise  of  the  kind  in  Ohio,  and  was  named  the 
Ohio  Paper-Mill.  Its  proprietors  were  John 
Bever  and  John  Coulter. 

One  of  the  most  noted  localities  in  the  State  is 
comprised  in  Greene  County.  The  Shawanee 
town,  "Old  Chillicothe,"  was  on  the  Little  Miami, 
in  this  county,  about  three  miles  north  of  the  site 
of  Xenia.  This  old  Indian  town  was,  in  the  an- 
nals of  the  West,  a  noted  place,  and  is  frequently 
noticed.  It  is  first  mentioned  in  1773,  by  Cajit. 
Thomas  Bullitt,  of  Virginia,  who  boldly  advanced 
alone  into  the  town  and  obtained   the  consent  of 


HISTOEY    OF    OHIO. 


115 


the  Indians  to  go  on  to  Kentucky  and  make  his 
settlement  at  the  falls  of  the  Ohio.  His  audacious 
bravery  gained  his  request.  Daniel  Boone  was 
taken  prisoner  early  in  1778,  with  twenty-seven 
others,  and  kept  for  a  time  at  Old  Chillicothe. 
Through  the  influence  of  the  British  Governor, 
Hamilton,  who  had  taken  a  great  fancy  to  Boone, 
he  and  ten  others  were  sent  to  Detroit.  The  In- 
dians, however,  had  an  equal  fancy  for  the  brave 
frontiersman,  and  took  him  back  to  Chillicothe, 
and  adopted  him  into  their  tribe.  About  the  1st 
of  June  he  escaped  from  them,  and  made  liis  way 
back  to  Kentucky,  in  time  to  prevent  a  universal 
massacre  of  the  whites.  In  July,  1779,  the  town 
was  destroyed  by  Col.  John  Bowman  and  one 
hundred  and  sixty  Kentuckians,  and  the  Indians 
dispersed. 

The  Americans  made  a  permanent  settlement  in 
this  county  in  1797  or  1798.  This  latter  year,  a 
mill  was  erected  in  the  confines  of  the  county, 
which  implies  the  settlement  was  made  a  short 
time  previously.  A  short  distance  east  of  the 
mill  two  block-houses  were  erected,  and  it  was  in- 
tended, should  it  become  necessary,  to  surround 
them  and  the  mill  with  pickets.  The  mill  was 
used  by  the  settlers  at  "  Dutch  Station,"  in  Miami 
County,  fully  thirty  miles  distant.  The  richness 
of  the  country  in  this  part  of  the  State  attracted  a 
great  number  of  settlers,  so  that  by  1803  the 
county  was  established,  and  Xenialaid  out,  and  des- 
ignated as  the  county  seat.  Its  first  court  house, 
a  primitive  log  structure,  was  long  preserved  as  a 
curiosity.     It  would  indeed  be  a  curiosity  now. 

Zane's  trace,  passing  from  Wheeling  to  Mays- 
ville,  crossed  the  Hockhocking*  River,  in  Fairfield 
County,  where  Lancaster  is  now  built.  Mr.  Zane 
located  one  of  his  three  sections  on  this  river, 
covering  the  site  of  Lancaster.  Following  this 
trace  in  1797,  many  individuals  noted  the  desira- 
bleness of  the  locality,  some  of  whom  determined 
to  return  and  settle.  "  The  site  of  the  city  had 
in  former  times  been  the  home  of  the  Wyandots, 
who  had  a  town  here,  that,  in  1790,  contained 
over  500  wigwams  and  more  than  1 ,000  souls. 
Their  town  was  called  Tarhee^  or,  in  English,  the 
Crane-toivn,  a,nd  derived  its  name  from  the  princi- 

*  The  word  Hock-hock-ing  in  the  Delaware  langviago  signifies 
a  bottle:  tlie  Shawanees  have  it  Wen-lha-kiigh-qua  sope,  ie ;  hoUle 
rioer.  John  White  in  the  Amprican  Pioiietr  says:  "Aliout  seven 
miles  nort  'wcst  of  Lancaster,  tlipre  is  a  fall  In  the  Hockhocking  of 
about  twuity  feet.  Above  the  fall  for  a  short  distance,  the  creek 
is  very  narrow  and  straight  forming  a  neck,  while  at  the  falls  it 
suddenly  widens  on  each  sideand  swells  into  the  appearance  of  the 
body  of  a  bottle.  The  whole,  when  seen  from  above,  appears  exactly 
in  the  shape  of  a  bottle,  and  from  this  fact  the  Indians  called  the 
river  Hock-hock-ing."' — Howe's  CoUeciioiix. 


pal  chief  of  that  tribe.  Another  portion  of  the 
tribe  then  lived  at  Toby-town,  nine  miles  west  of 
Tarhe-town  (now  Royaltown),  and  was  governed 
by  an  inferior  chief  called  Toby.  The  chief's  wig- 
wam in  Tarhe  stood  on  the  bank  of  the  prairie, 
near  a  beautiful  and  abundant  spring  of  water, 
whose  outlet  was  the  river.  The  wigwams  of  the 
Indians  were  built  of  the  bark  of  trees,  set  on 
poles,  in  the  form  of  a  sugar-camp,  with  one  square 
open,  fronting  a  fire,  and  about  the  height  of  a 
man.  The  Wyandot  tribe  that  day  numbered 
about  500  warriors.  By  the  treaty  of  Greenville, 
they  ceded  all  their  territory,  and  the  majority,  un- 
der their  chief,  removed  to  Upper  Sandusky.  The 
remainder  lingered  awhile,  loath  to  leave  the  home 
of  their  ancestors,  but  as  game  became  scarce,  they, 
too,  left  for  better  hunting-grounds."* 

In  April,  1798,  Capt.  Joseph  Hunter,  a  bold, 
enterprising  man,  settled  on  Zane's  trace,  on  the 
bank  of  the  prairie,  west  of  the  crossings,  at  a 
place  since  known  as  "  Hunter's  settlement."  For 
a  time,  he  had  no  neighbors  nearer  than  the  set- 
tlers on  the  Muskingum  and  Scioto  Rivers.  He 
lived  to  see  the  country  he  had  found  a  wilderness, 
full  of  the  homes  of  industry.  His  wife  was  the 
first  white  woman  that  settled  in  the  valley,  and 
shared  with  him  all  the  privations  of  a  pioneer 
life. 

Mr.  Hunter  had  not  been  long  in  the  valley  till 
he  was  joined  by  Nathaniel  Wilson,  John  and  Al- 
len Green,  John  and  Joseph  McMullen,  Robert 
Cooper,  Isaac  Shaefer,  and  a  few  others,  who 
erected  cabins  and  planted  corn.  The  next  year, 
the  tide  of  emigration  came  in  with  great  force. 
In  the  spring,  two  settlements  were  made  in  Green- 
field Township,  each  settlement  containing  twenty 
or  more  families.  One  was  called  the  Forks  of 
the  Hockhocking,  the  other,  Yankeetowu.  Set- 
tlements were  also  made  along  the  river  below 
Hunter's,  on  Rush  Creek,  Raccoon  and  Indian 
Creeks,  Pleasant  Run,  Felter's  Run,  at  Tobeytown, 
Muddy  Prairie,  and  on  Clear  Creek.  In  the  fall, 
— 1799 — Joseph  Loveland  and  Hezekiah  Smith 
built  a  log  grist-mill  at  the  Upper  Falls  of  the 
Hockhocking,  afterward  known  as  Rock  31111. 
This  was  the  first  mill  on  this  river.  In  the  latter 
part  of  the  year,  a  mail  route  was  established  over 
the  trace.  The  mail  was  earned  through  on  horse- 
back, and,  in  the  settlements  in  this  locality,  was 
left  at  the  cabin  of  Samuel  Coates,  who  lived  on 
the  prairie  at  the  crossings  of  the  river. 

*  Lecture  of  George  Sanderson. — Howe's  CollecHont. 


\ 


116 


HISTOKY    OF    OHIO. 


In  the  fall  of  the  next  year,  Ebenezer  Zane  laid 
out  Lancaster,  which,  until  1805,  was  known  as 
New  Lancaster.  The  lots  sold  very  rapidly,  at 
$50  each,  and,  in  less  than  one  year,  quite  a  vil- 
lage appeared.  December  9,  the  Governor  and 
Judges  of  the  Northwest  Territory  organized 
Fairfield  County,  and  made  Lancaster  the  county 
seat.  The  year  following,  the  Rev.  John  Wright, 
a  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  came,  and 
from  that  time  on  schools  and  churches  were  estab- 
lished and  tliereafter  regularly  maintained  at  this 
place. 

Not  far  from  Lancaster  are  immense  mural  es- 
carpments of  sandstone  formation.  They  were 
noted  among  the  aborigines,  and  were,  probably, 
used  by  them  as  places  of  outlook  and  defense. 

The  same  summer  Fairfield  County  was  settled, 
the  towns  of  Bethel  and  Williamsburg,  in  Cler- 
mont County,  were  settled  and  laid  out,  and  in 
1800,  the  county  was  erected. 

A  settlement  was  also  made  immediately  south 
of  Fairfield  County,  in  Hocking  County,  by  Chris- 
tian Westenhaver,  a  German,  from  near  Hagers- 
town,  Md.  He  came  in  the  spring  of  1798,  and 
was  soon  joined  by  several  families,  who  formed 
quite  a  settlement.  The  territory  included  in  the 
county  remained  a  part  of  Ptoss,  Athens  and 
Fairfield,  until  1818,  when  Flocking  County  was 
erected,  and  Logan,  which  had  been  laid  out  in 
181(3,  was  made  the  county  seat. 

The  country  comprised  in  the  county  is  rather 
broken,  especially  along  the  Hockhocking  River. 
This  broken  country  was  a  favorite  resort  of  the 
Wyandot  Indians,  who  could  easily  hide  in  the 
numerous  grottoes  and  ravines  made  by  the  river 
and  its  affluents  as  the  water  cut  its  way  through 
the  sandstone  rocks. 

In  1798,  soon  after  Zane's  trace  was  cut  through 
the  country,  a  Mr.  Graham  located  on  the  site  of 
Cambridge,  in  Guernsey  County.  His  was  then 
the  only  dwelling  between  Wheeling  and  Zanes- 
ville,  on  the  trace.  He  remained  here  alone  about 
two  years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  George  Bey- 
mer,  from  Somerset,  Penn.  Both  these  persons 
kept  a  tavern  and  ferry  over  Will's  Creek.  In 
April,  1803,  Mr.  Beymer  was  succeeded  by  John 
Beatty,  who  came  from  Loudon,  Va.  His  family 
consisted  of  eleven  persons.  The  Indians  hunted 
in  this  vicinity,  and  were  frequent  visitors  at  the 
tavern.  In  June,  1806,  Cambridge  was  laid  out, 
and  on  the  day  the  lots  were  offered  for  sale,  sev- 
eral families  from  the  British  Isle  of  Guernsey, 
near  the  coast  of  France,  stopped  here  on   their 


way  to  the  West.  They  were  satisfied  with  the 
location  and  purchased  many  of  the  lots,  and  some 
land  in  the  vicinity.  They  were  soon  followed  by 
other  families  from  the  same  place,  all  of  whom 
settling,  in  this  locality  gave  the  name  to  the  county 
when  it  was  erected  in  1810. 

A  settlement  was  made  in  the  central  part  of  the 
State,  on  Darby  Creek,  in  Union  County,  in  the 
summer  of  1798,  by  James  and  Joshua  Ewing, 
The  next  year,  they  were  joined  by  Samuel  and 
David  Mitchell,  Samuel  Mitchell,  Jr.,  Samuel 
Kirkpatrick  and  Samuel  McCullough,and,  in  1800, 
by  George  and  Samuel  Reed,  Robert  Snodgrass 
and  Paul  Hodgson. 

"James  Ewing's  farm  was  the  site  of  an  an- 
cient and  noted  Mingo  town,  which  was  deserted 
at  the  time  the  Mingo  towns,  in  what  is  now  Logan 
County,  were  destroyed  by  Gen.  Logan,  of  Ken- 
tucky, in  1786.  When  Mr.  Ewing  took  posses- 
sion of  his  farm,  the  cabins  were  still  standing, 
and,  among  others,  the  remains  of  a  blacksmith's 
shop,  with  coal,  cinders,  iron-dross,  etc.  Jonathan 
Alder,  formerly  a  prisoner  among  the  Indians, 
says  the  shop  was  carried  on  by  a  renegade  white 
man,  named  Butler,  who  lived  among  the  Mingoes. 
Extensive  fields  had  formerly  been  cultivated  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  town."* 

Soon  after  the  settlement  was  established.  Col. 
James  Curry  located  here.  He  was  quite  an  influ- 
ential man,  and,  in  1820,  succeeded  in  getting  the 
county  formed  from  portions  of  Delaware,  Frank- 
lin, Madison  and  Logan,  and  a  part  of  the  old  In- 
dian Territory.  Marysville  was  made  the  county 
seat. 

During  the  year  1789,  a  fort,  called  Foi-t  Steu- 
ben, was  built  on  the  site  of  Steuben ville,  but 
was  dismantled  at  the  conclusion  of  hostilities  in 
1795.  Three  years  after,  Bezaleel  Wells  and  Hon. 
James  Ross,  for  whom  Ross  County  was  named, 
located  the  town  of  Steubenville  about  the  old 
fort,  and,  by  liberal  offers  of  lots,  soon  attracted 
quite  a  number  of  settlers.  In  1805,  the  town 
was  incorporated,  and  then  had  a  population  of 
several  hundred  persons.  Jefferson  County  was 
created  by  Gov.  St.  Clair,  July  29,  1797,  the  year 
before  Steubenville  was  laid  out.  It  then  included 
the  large  scope  of  country  west  of  Pennsylvania ; 
east  and  north  of  a  line  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Cuyahoga  ;  southwardly  to  the  Muskingum,  and 
east  to  the  Ohio  ;  including,  in  its  territories,  the 
cities  of  Cleveland,  Canton,  Steubenville  and  War- 


■  Howe's  Collections. 


rV 


>^ 


IIISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


119 


ren.  Only  a  short  time,  however,  was  it  allowed 
to  retain  this  size,  as  the  increase  in  emigration 
rendered  it  necessary  to  erect  new  counties,  which 
was  rapidly  done,  especially  on  the  adoption  c  "  the 
State  government. 

The  county  is  rich  in  early  history,  prior  to  its 
settlement  by  the  Americans.  It  was  the  home  of 
the  celebrated  Mingo  chief,  Logan,  who  resid  id 
awhile  at  an  old  Mingo  town,  a  few  miles  below  t  le 
site  of  Steubenville,  the  place  where  the  troo  )s 
under  Col.  WilHamson  rendezvoused  on  their  i  i- 
famous  raid  against  the  Moravian  Indians ;  ar  d 
also  where  Col.  Crawford  and  his  men  met,  whf  n 
starting  on  their  unfortunate  expedition. 

In  the  Reserve,  settlements  were  often  made 
remote  from  populous  localities,  in  accordance  with 
the  wish  of  a  proprietor,  who  might  own  a  tract  of 
country  twenty  or  thirty  miles  in  the  interior.  In 
the  present  county  of  Geauga,  three  families  located 
at  Burton  in  1798.  They  lived  at  a  considerable 
distance  from  any  other  settlement  for  some  time, 
and  were  greatly  inconvenienced  for  the  want  of 
mills  or  shops.  As  time  progressed,  however, 
these  were  brought  nearer,  or  built  in  their  midst, 
and,  ere  long,  almost  all  parts  of  the  Reserve  could 
show  some  settlement,  even  if  isolated. 

The  next  year,  1799,  settlements  were  made  at 
Ravenna,  Deerfield  and  Palmyra,  in  Portage 
County.  Hon.  Benjamin  Tappan  came  to  the  site 
of  Ravenna  in  June,  at  which  time  he  found  one 
white  man,  a  Mr.  Honey,  living  there.  At  this  date, 
a  solitary  log  cabin  occupied  the  sites  of  Buffalo  and 
Cleveland.  On  his  journey  from  New  England, 
My.  Tappan  fell  in  with  David  Hudson,  the  founder 
of  the  Hudson  settlement  in  Summit  County. 
After  many  days  of  travel,  they  landed  at  a  prairie  in 
Summit  County.  Mr.  Tappan  left  his  goods  in  a 
cabin,  built  for  the  purpose,  under  the  care  of  a  hired 
man,  and  went  on  his  way,  cutting  a  road  to  the 
site  of  Ravenna,  where  his  land  lay.  On  his  return 
for  a  second  load  of  goods,  they  found  the  cabin 
deserted,  and  evidences  of  its  plunder  by  the  In- 
dians. Not  long  after,  it  was  learned  that  the  man 
left  in  charge  had  gone  to  Mr.  Hudson's  settle- 
ment, he  having  set  out  immediately  on  his  arrival, 
for  his  own  land.  Mr.  Tappan  gathered  the  re- 
mainder of  his  goods,  and  started  back  for  Ravenna. 
On  his  way  one  of  his  oxen  died,  and  he  found 
himself  in  a  vast  forest,  away  from  any  habitation, 
and  with  one  dollar  in  money.  He  did  not  falter 
a  moment,  but  sent  his  hired  man,  a  faithful  fellow, 
to  Erie,  Penn.,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  miles 
through  the  wilderness,  with  the  compass  for  his 


guide,  requesting  from  Capt.  Lyman,  the  com- 
mander at  the  fort  there,  a  loan  of  money.  At 
the  same  time,  he  followed  the  township  lines  to 
Youngstown,  where  he  became  acquainted  with 
Col.  James  Hillman,  who  did  not  hesitate  to  sell 
him  an  ox  on  credit,  at  a  fair  price.  He  returned 
to  his  load  in  a  few  days,  found  his  ox  all  right, 
hitched  the  two  together  and  went  on.  He  was 
soon  joined  by  his  hired  man,  with  the  money,  and 
together  they  spent  the  winter  in  a  log  cabin.  He 
gave  his  man  one  hundred  acres  of  land  as  a  reward, 
and  paid  Col.  Hillman  for  the  ox.  In  a  year  or 
two  he  had  a  prosperous  settlement,  and  when  the 
county  was  erected  in  1807,  Ravenna  was  made 
the  seat  of  justice. 

About  the  same  time  Mr.  Tappan  began  his 
settlement,  others  were  commenced  in  other  locali- 
ties in  this  county.  Early  in  May,  1799,  Lewis 
Day  and  his  son  Horatio,  of  Granby,  Conn.,  and 
Moses  Tibbals  and  Green  Frost,  of  Granville, 
Mass.,  left  their  homes  in  a  one-horse  wagon,  and, 
the  29th  of  May,  arrived  in  what  is  now  Deerfield 
Township.  Theirs  was  the  first  wagon  that  had 
ever  penetrated  farther  westward  in  this  region 
than  Canfield.  The  country  west  of  that,  place 
had  been  an  unbroken  wilderness  until  within  a 
few  days.  Capt.  Caleb  Atwater,  of  Wallingford, 
Conn.,  had  hired  some  men  to  open  a  road  to 
Township  No.  1,  in  the  Seventh  Range,  of  which 
he  was  the  owner.  This  road  passed  through 
Deerfield,  and  was  completed  to  that  place  when 
the  party  arrived  at  the  point  of  their  destination. 
These  emigrants  selected  sites,  and  commenced 
clearing  the  land.  In  July,  Lewis  Ely  arrived 
from  Granville,  and  wintered  here,  while  those 
who  came  first,  and  had  made  their  improvements, 
returned  East.  The  4th  of  March,  1800,  Alva 
Day  (son  of  Lewis  Day),  John  Campbell  and 
Joel  Thrall  arrived.  In  April,  George  and  Rob- 
ert Taylor  and  James  Laughlin,  fi-om  Pennsylvania, 
with  their  families,  came.  Mr.  Laughlin  built  a 
grist-mill,  which  was  of  great  convenience  to  the 
settlers.  July  29,  Lewis  Day  returned  with 
his  family  and  his  brother-in-law,  Maj.  Rogers, 
who,  the  next  year,  also  brought  his  family. 

"  Much  suffering  was  experienced  at  first  on 
account  of  the  scarcity  of  provisions.  They  were 
chiefly  supplied  from  the  settlements  east  of  the 
Ohio  River,  the  nearest  of  which  was  Georgetown, 
forty  miles  away.  The  provisions  were  brought 
on  pack-horses  through  the  wilderness.  August 
22,  Mrs.  Alva  Day  gave  birth  to  a  child — a  fe- 
male— the    first    child    born    in    the    township. 


±i^ 


120 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


November  7,  the  first  wedding  took  place.  John 
Campbell  and  Sarah  Ely  were  joined  in  wedlock 
by  Calvin  Austin,  Esq.,  of  Warren.  He  was 
accompanied  from  Warren,  a  distance  of  twenty- 
seven  miles,  by  Mr.  Pease,  then  a  lawyer,  after- 
ward a  well-known  Judge.  They  came  on  foot, 
there  being  no  road;  and,  as  they  threaded  their 
way  through  the  woods,  young  Pease  taught  the 
Justice  the  marriage  ceremony  by  oft  repetition. 

"  In  1802,  Franklin  Township  was  organized,  em- 
bracing all  of  Portage  and  parts  of  Trumbull  and 
Summit  Counties.  About  this  time  the  settlement 
received  accessions  from  all  parts  of  the  East.  In 
February,  1801,  Rev.  Badger  came  and  began  his 
labors,  and  two  years  later  Dr.  Shadrac  Bostwick 
organized  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church.*  The 
remaining  settlement  in  this  county.  Palmyra,  was 
begun  about  the  same  time  as  the  others,  by  David 
Daniels,  from  Salisbury,  Conn.  The  next  year  he 
brought  out  his  family.  Soon  after  he  was  joined 
by  E.  N.  and  W.  Bacon,  E.  Cutler,  A.  Thurber, 
A.  Preston,  N.  Bois,  J.  T.  Baldwin,  T.  and  C. 
Gilbert,  D.  A.  and  S.  Waller,  N.  Smith,  Joseph 
Fisher,  J.  Tuttle  and  others. 

"  When  this  region  was  first  settled,  there  was 
an  Indian  trail  commencing  at  Fort  Mcintosh 
(Beaver,  Penn.),  and  extending  westward  to  San- 
dusky and  Detroit.  The  trail  followed  the  highest 
ground.  Along  the  trail,  parties  of  Indians  were 
frequently  seen  passing,  for  several  years  after  the 
whites  came.  It  seemed  to  be  the  great  aboriginal 
thoroughfare  from  Sandusky  to  the  Ohio  River. 
There  were  several  large  piles  of  stones  on  the 
trail  in  this  locality,  under  which  human  skeletons 
have  been  discovered.  These  are  supposed  to  be 
the  remains  of  Indians  slain  in  war,  or  murdered 
by  their  enemies,  as  tradition  says  it  is  an  Indian 
custom  for  each  one  to  cast  a  stone  on  the  grave 
of  an  enemy,  whenever  he  passes  by.  These  stones 
appear  to  have  been  picked  up  along  the  trail,  and 
cast  upon  the  heaps  at  diiFerent  times. 

"At  the  point  where  this  trail  crosses  Silver 
Creek,  Fredrick  Daniels  and  others,  in  1814,  dis- 
covered, painted  on  several  trees,  various  devices, 
evidently  the  work  of  Indians.  The  bark  was 
carefully  shaved  off  two-thirds  of  the  way  around, 
and  figures  cut  upon  the  wood.  On  one  of  these 
was  delineated  seven  Indians,  equipped  in  a  par- 
ticular manner,  one  of  whom  was  without  a  head. 
This  was  supposed  to  have  been  made  by  a  party 
on   their  return  westward,  to  give  intelligence  to 

*  Howe's  Collections. 


their  friends  behind,  of  the  loss  of  one  of  their 
party  at  this  place  ;  and,  on  making  search,  a  hu- 
man skeleton  was  discovered  near  by."  * 

The  celebrated  Indian  hunter,  Brady,  made  his 
remarkable  leap  across  the  Cuyahoga,  in  this 
county.  The  county  also  contains  Brady's  Pond, 
a  large  sheet  of  water,  in  which  he  once  made  his 
escape  from  the  Indians,  from  which  circumstance 
it  received  its  name. 

The  locality  comprised  in  Clark  County  was 
settled  the  same  summer  as  those  in  Summit  County. 
John  Humphries  came  to  this  part  of  the  State 
with  Gen.  Simon  Kenton,  in  1799.  With  them 
came  six  families  from  Kentucky,  who  settled 
north  of  the  site  of  Springfield.  A  fort  was 
erected  on  Mad  River,  for  security  against  the  In- 
dians. Fourteen  cabins  were  soon  built  near  it, 
all  being  surrounded  by  a  strong  picket  fence. 
David  Lowery,  one  of  the  pioneers  here,  built  the 
first  flat-boat,  to  operate  on  the  Great  Miami,  and, 
in  1800,  made  the  first  trip  on  that  river,  coming 
down  from  Dayton.  He  took  his  boat  and  cargo 
on  down  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  disposed  of  his 
load  of  "  five  hundred  venison  hams  and  bacon." 

Springfield  was  laid  out  in  March,  1801.  Griffith 
Foos,  who  came  that  spring,  built  a  tavern,  which 
he  completed  and  opened  in  June,  remaining  in 
this  place  till  1814.  He  often  stated  that  when 
emigrating  West,  his  party  were  four  days  and  a 
half  getting  from  Franklinton,  on  the  Scioto,  to 
Springfield,  a  distance  of  forty-two  miles.  When 
crossing  the  Big  Darby,  they  were  obliged  to  carry 
all  their  goods  over  on  horseback,  and  then  drag 
their  wagons  across  with  ropes,  while  some  of  the 
party  swam  by  the  side  of  the  wagon,  to  prevent 
its  upsetting.  The  site  of  the  town  was  of  such 
practical  beauty  and  utility,  that  it  soon  attracted 
a  large  number  of  settlers,  and,  in  a  few  years, 
Springfield  was  incorporated.  In  1811,  a  church 
was  built  by  the  residents  for  the  use  of  all  denom- 
inations. 

Clark  County  is  made  famous  in  aboriginal 
history,  as  the  birthplace  and  childhood  home  of 
the  noted  Indian,  Tecumseh."}"     He   was  born    in 


*  Howe's  Collections. 

f  Tecumseh,  or  Tecumshe,  was  a  son  of  Puckeshinwa,  a  member 
of  the  Kiscopoke  tribe,  and  Methoataske,  of  the  Turtle  tribe  of  the 
Shawanee  nation.  They  removed  from  Florida  to  Ohio  soon  after 
their  marriage.  The  father,  Puckeshinwa,  rose  to  the  rank  of  a  chief, 
and  fell  at  the  battle  of  Point  Pleasant,  in  1774.  After  his  death, 
the  mother,  Methoata-ke,  returned  to  the  south,  where  she  died  at 
an  advanced  age.  Tecum°eh  was  born  about  the  year  1768.  He 
early  showsd  a  passion  for  war,  and,  when  only  27  years  of  age,  was 
made  a  chief.  The  next  year  he  removed  to  Deer  Creek,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Urbana.  and  from  there  to  the  site  of  Piqua,  on  the 
Great  Miami.  In  1798  he  accepted  the  invitation  of  the  Delawares 
in  the  vicinity  of  White  River,  Indiana,  and  from  that  time  made 


'.^- 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


121 


the  old  Indian  town  of  Piqua,  the  ancient  Piqua 
of  the  Shawanees,  on  the  north  side  of  Mad  River, 
about  five  miles  west  of  Springfield.  The  town 
was  destroyed  by  the  Kentucky  Rangers  under 
Gen.  (xeorge  Rogers  Clarke  in  1780,  at  the  same 
time  he  destroyed  "  Old  Chillicothe."  Immense 
fields  of  standing  corn  about  both  towns  were  cut 
down,  compelling  the  Indians  to  resort  to  the  hunt 
with  more  than  ordinary  vigor,  to  sustain  them- 
selves and  their  wives  and  children.  This  search 
insured  safety  for  some  time  on  the  borders.  The 
site  of  Cadiz,  in  Harrison  County,  was  settled  in 
April,  1799,  by  Alexander  Henderson  and  his 
family,  from  Washington  County,  Penn.  When 
they  arrived,  they  found  neighbors  in  the  persons 
of  Daniel  Peterson  and  his  family,  who  lived  near 
the  forks  of  Short  Creek,  and  who  had  preceded 
them  but  a  very  short  time.  The  next  year,  emi- 
grants began  to  cross  the  Ohio  in  great  numbers, 
and  in  five  or  six  years  large  settlements  could  be 
seen  in  this  part  of  the  State.  The  county  was 
erected  in  1814,  and  Cadiz,  laid  out  in  1803,  made 
the  county  seat. 

While  the  settlers  were  locating  in  and  about 
Cadiz,  a  few  families  came  to  what  is  now  Monroe 
County,  and  settled  near  the  present  town  of 
Beallsville.  Shortly  after,  a  few  persons  settled  on 
the  Clear  Fork  of  the  Little  IMuskingum,  and  a 
few  others  on  the  east  fork  of  Duck  Creek.     The 


next  season  all  these  settlements  received  addi- 
tions and  a  few  other  localities  were  also  occupied. 
Before  long  the  town  of  Beallsville  was  laid 
out,  and  in  time  became  quite  populous.  The 
county  was  not  erected  until  1813,  and  in  1815 
Woodsfield  was  laid  out  and  made  the  seat  of 
justice. 

The  opening  of  the  season  of  1800 — the  dawn 
of  a  new  century — saw  a  vast  emigration  west 
ward.  Old  settlements  in  Ohio  received  immense 
increase  of  emigrants,  while,  branching  out  in  all 
directions  like  the  radii  of  a  circle,  other  settle- 
ments were  constantly  formed  until,  in  a  few  years, 
all  parts  of  the  State  knew  the  presence  of  the 
white  man. 

Towns  sprang  into  existence  here  and  there ; 
mills  and  factories  were  erected;  post  ofiices  and 
post-routes  were  established,  and  the  comforts  and 
conveniences  of  life  began  to  appear. 

With  this  came  the  desire,  so  potent  to  the  mind 
of  all  American  citizens,  to  rule  themselves  through 
representatives  chosen  by  their  own  votes.  Hith- 
erto, they  had  been  ruled  by  a  Governor  and  Judges 
appointed  by  the  President,  who,  in  turn,  appointed 
county  and  judicial  officers.  The  arbitrary  rulings 
of  the  Governor,  St.  Clair,  had  arrayed  the  mass 
of  the  people  against  him,  and  made  the  desire  for 
the  second  grade  of  government  stronger,  and 
finally  led  to  its  creation. 


CHAPTER    X. 


FORMATION    OF   THE    STATE    GOVERNMENT— OHIO    A    STATE— THE    STATE    CAPITALS— LEGIS- 
LATION—THE  "SWEEPING   RESOLUTIONS"— TERRITORIAL  AND   STATE  GOVERNORS. 


SETTLEMENTS  increased  so  rapidly  in  that 
part  of  the  Northwest  Territory  included  in 
Ohio,  during  the  decade  from  1788  to  1798, 
despite  the  Indian  war,  that  the  demand  for  an 
election  of  a  Territorial  Assembly  could  not  be 
ignored  by  Gov.  St.  Clair,  who,  having  ascertained 
that  5,000  free  males  resided  within  the  limits  of 
the  Territory,  issued  his  proclamation  October  29, 
1798,  directing  the  electors  to  elect  representatives 
to  a  General  Assembly.     He  ordered  the  election 

hia  home  with  them.  He  was  most  active  in  the  war  of  1812 
against  the  Americans,  and  from  the  time  he  began  his  work  to 
unite  the  tribes,  his  history  is  so  closely  identified  therewith  that 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  history  of  that  war  in  succeeding  pages. 
It  may  not  be  amiss  to  say  that  all  stories  regarding  the  manner 
of  his  death  are  considered  erroneous.  He  was  undoubtedly  killed 
in  the  outset  of  the  battle  of  the  Thames  in  Canada  in  1814,  and  his 
body  secretly  buried  by  the  Indians. 


to  be  held  on  the  third  Monday  in  December,  and 
directed  the  representatives  to  meet  in  Cincinnati 
January  22,  1799. 

On  the  day  designated,  the  representatives  * 
assembled  at  Cincinnati,  nominated  ten  persons, 
whose  names  were  sent  to  the  President,  who 
selected  five  to  constitute  the  Legislative  Council, 


*  Those  elected  were:  from  Washington  Clounty,  Return  Jona- 
than Meigs  and  Paul  Fearing;  from  Hamilton  County,  William 
Goforth,  William  McMillan,  John  Smith,  John  Ludlow,  Robert 
Benham,  Aaron  Caldwell  and  Isaac  Martin;  from  St.  Clair  County 
(Illinois),  Shadrach  Bond;  from  Knox  County  (Indiana),  John 
Small;  from  Kandolph  County  (Illinois),  John  Edgar;  from  Wayne 
County,  Solomon  Sibley,  Jacob  Visgar  and  Charles  F.  (  habert  de 
Joncaire;  from  Adams  County,  Joseph  Darlington  and  Nathaniel 
Massie;  from  Jefferson  County,  James  Pritchard;  fiom  Uoss  County, 
Thomas  Worthington,  Elias  Langham,  Samuel  Findley  and  Edward 
Ti£Bn.  The  five  gentlemen,  except  Vanderburgh,  chosen  as  the 
Upper  House  were  all  from  counties  afterward  included  in  Ohio. 


:^ 


122 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


or  Upper  House.  These  five  were  Jacob  Burnet, 
James  Findley,  Henry  Vanderburgh,  Robert 
OHver  and  David  Vance.  On  the  3d  of  March, 
the  Senate  confii-med  their  nomination,  and  the 
Territorial  Government  of  Ohio* — or,  more  prop- 
erly, the  Northwest — was  complete.  As  this 
comprised  the  essential  business  of  this  body,  it 
was  prorogued  by  the  Governor,  and  the  Assembly 
directed  to  meet  at  the  same  place  September  16, 
1799,  and  proceed  to  the  enactment  of  laws  for 
the  Ten-itory. 

That  day,  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  again 
at  Cincinnati,  but,  for  want  of  a  quorum,  did  not 
organize  until  the  24th.  The  House  consisted  of 
nineteen  members,  seven  of  whom  were  from  Ham- 
ilton County,  four  from  Ross,  three  from  Wayne, 
two  from  Adams,  one  from  Jefferson,  one  from 
Washington  and  one  from  Knox.  Assembling 
both  branches  of  the  Legislature,  Gov.  St.  Clair 
addressed  them,  recommending  such  measures  to 
their  consideration  as,  in  his  judgment,  were  suited 
to  the  condition  of  the  country.  The  Council 
then  organized,  electing  Henry  Vanderburgh,  Presi- 
dent ;  William  C.  Schenck,  Secretary;  George 
Howard,  Doorkeeper,  and  Abraham  Carey,  Ser- 
geant-at-arms. 

The  House  also  organized,  electing  Edward  Tif- 
fin, Speaker ;  John  Reilly,  Clerk ;  Joshua  Row- 
land, Doorkeeper,  and  Abraham  Carey,  Sergeant- 
at-arms. 

This  was  the  first  legislature  elected  in  the  old 
Northwestern  Territory.  During  its  first  session, 
it  passed  thirty  bills,  of  which  the  Governor  vetoed 
eleven.  They  also  elected  Wilham  Henry  Harri- 
son, then  Secretary  of  the  Territory,  delegate  to 
Congress.  The  Legislature  continued  in  session 
till  December  19,  having  much  to  do  in  forming 
new  laws,  when  they  were  prorogued  by  the  Gov- 
ernor, until  the  first  Monday  in  November,  1800. 
The  second  session  was  held  in  Chillicothe,  which 
had  been  designated  as  the  seat  of  government  by 
Congress,  until  a  permanent  capital  should  be 
selected. 

May  7,  1800,  Congress  passed  an  act  establish- 
ing Indiana  Territory,  including  all  the  country 
west  of  the  Great  Miami  River  to  the  Mississippi, 
and  appointed  William  Henry  Harrison  its  Gov- 
ernor.    At  the  autumn  session  of  the  Legislature 

*  Ohio  never  existed  as  a  Territory  proper.  It  was  known,  both 
before  and  after  the  division  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  as  the 
"Territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio  River."  Still,  as  the  country 
comprised  in  its  limits  was  the  principal  theater  of  action,  the  short 
resume  given  here  is  made  necessary  in  the  logical  course  of  events. 
Ohio,  as  Ohio,  never  existed  until  the  creation  of  the  State  in 
March,  1803. 


of  the  eastern,  or  old  part  of  the  Territory,  Will- 
iam McMillan  was  elected  to  the  vacancy  caused 
by  this  act.  By  the  organization  of  this  Territory, 
the  counties  of  Knox,  St.  Clair  and  Randolph, 
were  taken  out  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  old  Ter- 
ritory, and  with  them  the  representatives,  Henry 
Vandenburgh,  Shadrach  Bond,  John  Small  and 
John  Edgar. 

Before  the  time  for  the  next  Assembly  came,  a 
new  election  had  occurred,  and  a  few  changes  were 
the  result.  Robert  Oliver,  of  Marietta,  was  cho- 
sen Speaker  in  the  place  of  Henry  Vanderburgh. 
There  was  considerable  business  at  this  session ; 
several  new  counties  were  to  be  erected  ;  the  coun- 
try was  rapidly  filling  with  people,  and  where  the 
scruples  of  the  Governor  could  be  overcome,  some 
organization  was  made.  He  was  very  tenacious  of 
his  power,  and  arbitrary  in  his  rulings,  affirming 
that  he,  alone,  had  the  power  to  create  new  coun- 
ties. This  dogmatic  exercise  of  his  veto  power, 
his  rights  as  ruler,  and  his  defeat  by  the  Indians, 
all  tended  against  him,  resulting  in  his  displace- 
ment by  the  President.  This  was  done,  however, 
just  at  the  time  the  Territory  came  from  the  second 
grade  of  government,  and  the  State  was  created. 

The  third  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature 
continued  from  November  24,  1801,  to  January 
23,  1802,  when  it  adjourned  to  meet  in  Cincin- 
nati, the  fourth  Monday  in  November,  but 
owing  to  reasons  made  obvious  by  subsequent 
events,  was  never  held,  and  the  third  session 
marks  the  decline  of  the  Territorial  government. 

April  30,  1802,  Congress  passed  an  act  "  to 
enable  the  people  of  the  eastern  division  of  the 
territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio  River,  to  form  a 
constitution  and  State  government,  and  for  the 
admission  of  such  States  into  the  Union  on 
an  equal  footing  with  the  original  States,  and  for 
other  purposes."  In  pursuance  of  this  act,  an 
election  had  been  held  in  this  part  of  the  Territory, 
and  members  of  a  constitutional  convention  cho- 
sen, who  were  to  meet  at  Chillicothe,  November 
1,  to  perform  the  duty  assigned  them. 

The  people  throughout  the  country  contemplat- 
ed in  the  new  State  were  anxious  for  the  adoption 
of  a  State  government.  The  arbitrary  acts  of  the 
Territorial  Governor  had  heightened  this  feeling  ; 
the  census  of  the  Territory  gave  it  the  lawful 
number  of  inhabitants,  and  nothing  stood  in  its 
way. 

The  convention  met  the  day  designated  and 
proceeded  at  once  to  its  duties.  When  the  time 
arrived  for  the  opening  of  the  Fourth  Territorial 


1^ 


HISTOKY    OF    OHIO. 


123 


Legislature,  the  convention  was  in  session  and  had 
evidently  about  completed  its  labors.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  Legislature  (eight  of  whom  were  mem- 
bers of  the  convention)  seeing  that  a  speedy 
termination  of  the  Territorial  government  was  inev- 
itable, wisely  concluded  it  was  inexpedient  and 
unnecessary  to  hold  the  proposed  session. 

The  convention  concluded  its  labors  the  29th  of 
November.  The  Constitution  adopted  at  that  time, 
though  rather  crude  in  some  of  its  details,  was  an 
excellent  organic  instrument,  and  remained  almost 
entire  until  1851,  when  the  present  one  was 
adopted.  Either  is  too  long  for  insertion  here, 
but  either  will  well  pay  a  perusal.  The  one  adopted 
by  the  convention  in  1802  was  never  submitted 
to  the  people,  owing  to  the  circumstances  of  the 
times ;  but  it  was  submitted  to  Congress  February 
19,  1803,  and  by  that  body  accepted,  and  an  act 
passed  admitting  Ohio  to  the  Union. 

The  Territorial  government  ended  March  3, 
1803,  by  the  organization,  that  day,  of  the  State 
government,  which  organization  defined  the  pres- 
ent limits  of  the  State. 

"  We,  the  people  of  the  Eastern  Division  of  the  Ter- 
ritory of  tlie  United  States,  Northwest  of  tlie  River 
Ohio,  liaving  the  right  of  admission  into  the  General 
Government  as  a  member  of  the  Union,  consistent  with 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  the  Ordinance 
of  Congress  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
seven,  and  of  the  law  of  Congress,  entitled  '  An  act  to 
enable  the  people  of  the  Eastern  Division  of  the  Terri- 
tory of  the  United  States  Northwest  of  the  River  Ohio, 
to  form  a  Constitution  and  a  State  Government,  and  for 
the  admission  of  such  State  into  the  Union  on  an  equal 
footing  with  the  original  States,  and  for  other  purpo- 
ses ;'  in  order  to  establish  justice,  promote  the  well- 
fare  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves 
and  our  posterity,  do  ordain  and  establish  the  follow- 
ing Constitution  or  form  of  government;  and  do  mu- 
tually agree  with  each  other  to  form  ourselves  into  a 
free  and  independent  State,  by  the  name  of  the  State 
of  Ohio."* — Preamble,   Constitution  of  180S. 

When  the  convention  forming  the  Constitution, 
completed  its  labors  and  presented  the  results  to 
Congress,  and  that  body  passed  the  act  forming 


*  The  name  of  the  State  is  derived  from  the  river  forming  its 
southern  lioimdaiy.  Its  origin  \<i  somewliat  obscure,  liut  is  com- 
monly ascribed  to  the  Indians.  On  this  point.  Col.  Johnston  says: 
"  The  Sliawanoese  called  the  Ohio  River ' Ki'<-ke-pi-la,  Sepe,  i.  e.,  '■Engle 
Etver.'  The  Wyamlots  were  in  the  country  generations  before  the 
Sliawanoese,  and,  consequently,  their  name  of  the  river  is  the  prim- 
itive one  and  should  stand  in  preference  to  all  others.  Ohio  may 
be  called  an  improvement  on  the  expression,  '0-he-zuh,'  and  was,  no 
doubt,  adopted  by  the  early  French  voyagers  in  their  boat-songs, 
and  is  substantially  the  same  wori  as  used  by  the  Wyandots:  the 
meaning  applied  by  the  French,  fair  and  beautiful  '  la  belle  river,' 
being  the  same  precisely  as  that  meant  by  the  Indians — 'great, 
grand  and  fair  to  look  upon.'  " — Howe's  CoUeclioiis. 

Webster's  Dictionary  gives  the  word  as  of  Indian  origin,  and  its 
meaning  to  be,  "  Beautiful." 


the  State,  the  territory  included  therein  was  di- 
vided into  nine  counties,  whose  names  and  dates  of 
erection  were  as  follows: 

Washington,  July  27,  1788;  Hamilton,  Janu- 
ary 2,  1790;  (owing  to  the  Indian  war  no  other 
counties  were  erected  till  peace  was  restored);  Ad- 
ams, July  10,  1797;  Jeiferson,  July  29,  1797; 
Koss,  August  20,  1798;  Clermont,  Fairfield  and 
Trumbull,  December  9,  1800;  Belmont,  Septem- 
ber 7,  1801.  These  counties  were  the  thickest- 
settled  part  of  the  State,  yet  many  other  localities 
needed  organization  and  were  clamoring  for  it,  but 
owing  to  St.  Clair's  views,  he  refused  to  grant 
their  requests.  One  of  the  first  acts  on  the  as- 
sembling of  the  State  Legislature,  March  1,  1803, 
was  the  creation  of  seven  new  counties,  viz.,  Gal- 
lia, Scioto,  Geauga,  Butler,  Warren,  Greene  and 
Montgomery. 

Section  Sixth  of  the  "Schedule"  of  the  Consti- 
tution required  an  election  for  the  various  oflicers 
and  Representatives  necessary  under  the  new  gov- 
ernment, to  be  held  the  second  Tuesday  of  Janu- 
ary, 1803,  these  ofiicers  to  take  their  seats  and  as- 
sume their  duties  March  3.  The  Second  Article 
provided  for  the  regular  elections,  to  be  held  on 
the  second  Tuesday  of  October,  in  each  year.  The 
Governor  elected  at  first  was  to  hold  his  oflice 
until  the  first  regular  election  could  be  held,  and 
thereafter  to  continue  in  oifice  two  years. 

The  January  elections  placed  Edward  TiSin  in 
the  Governor's  office,  sent  Jeremiah  Morrow  to 
Congress,  and  chose  an  Assembly,  who  met  on  the 
day  designated,  at  Chillicothe.  Michael  Baldwin 
was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House,  and  Nathaniel 
Massie,  of  the  Senate.  The  Assembly  appointed 
William  Creighton,  Jr.,  Secretary  of  State  ;  Col. 
Thomas  Gibson,  Auditor ;  William  McFarland, 
Treasurer;  Return  J.  Meigs,  Jr.,  Samuel  Hun- 
tington and  William  Sprigg,  Judges  of  the  Su- 
preme Court ;  Francis  Dunlevy,  Wyllys  Silliman 
and  Calvin  Pease,  President  Judges  of  the  First, 
Second  and  Third  Districts,  and  Thomas  Worth- 
ington  and  John  Smith,  United  States  Senators. 
Charles  Willing  Byrd  was  made  the  United  States 
District  Judge. 

The  act  of  Congress  forming  the  State,  con- 
tained certain  requisitions  regarding  public  schools, 
the  "  salt  springs,"  public  lands,  taxation  of  Gov- 
ernment lands,  Symmes'  purchase,  etc.,  which  the 
constitutional  convention  agreed  to  with  a  few 
minor  considerations.  These  Congress  accepted, 
and  passed  the  act  in  accordance  thereto.  The 
First  General  Assembly  found  abundance  of  work 


:f- 


A: 


124 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


to  do  regarding  these  various  items,  and,  at  once, 
set  themselves  to  the  task.  Laws  were  passed  re- 
garding all  these  ;  new  counties  created  ;  officers 
appointed  for  the  same,  until  they  could  be  elected, 
and  courts  and  machinery  of  government  put  in 
motion.  President  Judges  and  lawyers  traveled 
their  circuits  holding  courts,  often  in  the  open  air 
or  in  a  log  shanty ;  a  constable  doing  duty  as 
guard  over  a  jury,  probably  seated  on  a  log  under 
a  tree,  or  in  the  bushes.  The  President  Judge  in- 
structed the  officers  of  new  counties  in  their  duties, 
and  though  the  whole  keeping  of  matters  accorded 
with  the  times,  an  honest  feeling  generally  pre- 
vailed, inducing  each  one  to  perform  his  part  as 
effectually  as  his  knowledge  permitted. 

The  State  continually  filled  with  people.  New 
towns  arose  all  over  the  country.  Excepting  the 
occasional  sicknesses  caused  by  the  new  climate  and 
fresh  soil,  the  general  health  of  the  people  im- 
proved as  time  went  (5n.  They  were  fully  in  ac- 
cord with  the  President,  Jefferson,  and  carefully 
nurtured  those  principles  of  personal  liberty  en- 
grafted in  the  fundamental  law  of  1787,  and  later, 
in  the  Constitution  of  the  State. 

Little  if  any  change  occurred  in  the  natural 
course  of  events,  following  the  change  of  govern- 
ment until  Burr's  expedition  and  plan  of  secession 
in  1805  and  1806  appeared.  What  his  plans 
were,  have  never  been  definitely  ascertained.  His 
action  related  more  to  the  Greneral  Government, 
yet  Ohio  was  called  upon  to  aid  in  putting  down 
his  insurrection — for  such  it  was  thought  to  be — 
and  defeated  his  purposes,  whatever  they  were. 
His  plans  ended  only  in  ignominious  defeat ;  the 
breaking-up  of  one  of  the  finest  homes  in  the 
Western  country,  and  the  expulsion  of  himself  and 
all  those  who  were  actively  engaged  in  his  scheme, 
whatever  its  imports  were. 

Again,  for  a  period  of  four  or  five  years,  no 
exciting  events  occurred.  Settlements  continued  ; 
mills  and  factories  increased ;  towns  and  cities 
grew  ;  counties  were  created  ;  trade  enlarged,  and 
naught  save  the  common  course  of  events  trans- 
pired to  mark  the  course  of  time.  Other  States 
were  made  from  the  old  Northwest  Territory,  all 
parts  of  which  were  rapidly  being  occupied  by 
settlers.  The  danger  from  Indian  hostilities  was 
little,  and  the  adventurous  wliites  were  rapidly 
occupying  their  country.  One  thing,  however, 
was  yet  a  continual  source  of  annoyance  to  the 
Americans,  viz.,  the  British  interference  with  the 
Indians.  Their  traders  did  not  scruple,  nor  fail 
on  every  opportunity,   to  aid  these  sons  of   the 


forest  with  arms  and  ammunition  as  occasion 
offered,  endeavoring  to  stir  them  up  against  the 
Americans,  until  events  here  and  on  the  high  seas 
culminated  in  a  declaration  of  hostilities,  and  the 
war  of  1812  was  the  result.  The  deluded  red 
men  found  then,  as  they  found  in  1795,  that  they 
were  made  tools  by  a  stronger  power,  and  dropped 
when  the  time  came  that  they  were  no  longer 
needed. 

Before  the  opening  of  hostilities  occurred,  how- 
ever, a  series  of  acts  passed  the  Greneral  Assembly, 
causing  considerable  excitement.  These  were  the 
famous  "Sweeping  Resolutions,"  passed  in  1810. 
For  a  few  years  prior  to  their  passage,  considera- 
ble discontent  prevailed  among  many  of  the  legis- 
lators regarding  the  rulings  of  the  courts,  and  by 
many  of  these  embryo  law-makers,  the  legislative 
power  was  considered  omnipotent.  They  could 
change  existing  laws  and  contracts  did  they  desire 
to,  thought  many  of  them,  even  if  such  acts  con- 
flicted with  the  State  and  National  Constitutions. 
The  "  Sweeping  Resolutions  "  were  brought  about 
mainly  by  the  action  of  the  judges  in  declaring 
that  justices  of  the  peace  could,  in  the  collection 
of  debts,  hold  jurisdiction  in  amounts  not  exceed- 
ing fifty  dollars  without  the  aid  of  a  jury.  The 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  gave  the  jury 
control  in  all  such  cases  where  the  amount  did  not 
exceed  twenty  dollars.  Tiiere  was  a  direct  con- 
tradiction against  the  organic  law  of  the  land — to 
which  every  other  law  and  act  is  subversive,  and 
when  the  judges  declared  the  legislative  act  uncon- 
stitutional and  hence  null  and  void,  the  Legisla- 
ture became  suddenly  inflamed  at  their  independ- 
ence, and  proceeded  at  once  to  punish  the  admin- 
istrators of  justice.  The  legislature  was  one  of 
the  worst  that  ever  controlled  the  State,  and  was 
composed  of  many  men  who  were  not  only  igno- 
rant of  common  law,  the  necessities  of  a  State,  and 
the  dignity  and  true  import  of  their  office,  but 
were  demagogues  in  every  respect.  Having  the 
power  to  impeach  officers,  that  body  at  once  did 
so,  having  enough  to  carry  a  two-thirds  majority, 
and  removed  several  judges.  Further  maturing 
their  plans,  the  "  Sweepers,"  as  they  were  known, 
construed  the  law  appointing  certain  judges  and 
civil  officers  for  seven  years,  to  mean  seven  years 
from  the  organization  of  the  State,  whether  they 
had  been  officers  that  length  of  time  or  not.  All 
officers,  whether  of  new  or  old  counties,  were  con- 
strued as  included  in  the  act,  and,  utterly  ignoring 
the  Constitution,  an  act  was  passed  in  January, 
1810,  removing  every  civil  officer  in  the  State. 


-^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


125 


February  10,  they  proceeded  to  fill  all  these  va- 
cant offices,  from  State  officers  down  to  the  lowest 
county  office,  either  by  appointment  or  by  ordering 
an  election  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  law. 

The  Constitution  provided  that  the  office  of 
judges  should  continue  for  seven  years,  evidently 
seven  years  from  the  time  they  were  elected,  and 
not  from  the  date  of  the  admission  of  the  State, 
which  latter  construction  this  headlong  Legisla- 
ture had  construed  as  the  meaning.  Many  of  the 
counties  had  been  organized  but  a  year  or  two, 
others  three  or  four  years ;  hence  an  indescribable 
confusion  arose  as  soon  as  the  new  set  of  officers 
were  appointed  or  elected.  The  new  order  of 
things  could  not  be  made  to  work,  and  finally,  so 
utterly  impossible  did  the  injustice  of  the  proceed- 
ings become,  that  it  was  dropped.  The  decisions 
of  the  courts  were  upheld,  and  the  invidious  doc- 
trine of  supremacy  in  State  legislation  received 
such  a  check  that  it  is  not  likely  ever  to  be  repeated. 

Another  act  of  the  Assembly,  during  this  pe- 
riod, shows  its  construction.  Congress  had  granted 
a  township  of  land  for  the  use  of  a  university,  and 
located  the  township  in  Symmes'  purchase.  This 
Assembly  located  the  university  on  land  outside 
of  this  purchase,  ignoring  the  act  of  Congress,  as 
they  had  done  before,  showing  not  only  ignorance 
of  the  true  scope  of  law,  but  a  lack  of  respect  un- 
becoming such  bodies. 

The  seat  of  government  was  also  moved  from 
Chillicothe  to  Zanesville,  which  vainly  hoped  to  be 
made  the  permanent  State  capital,  but  the  next 
session  it  was  again  taken  to  Chillicothe,  and  com- 
missioners appointed  to  locate  a  permanent  capital 
site. 

These  commissioners  were  James  Findley,  Jo- 
seph Darlington,  Wyllys  Silliman,  Reason  Beall, 
and  William  McFarland.  It  is  stated  that  they 
reported  at  first  in  favor  of  Dublin,  a  small  town 
on  the  Scioto  about  fourteen  miles  above  Colum- 
bus. At  the  session  of  1812-13,  the  Assembly 
accepted  the  proposals  of  Col.  James  Johnston, 
Alexander  McLaughlin,  John  Kerr,  and  Lyne 
Starling,  who  owned  the  site  of  Columbus.  The 
Assembly  also  decreed  that  the  temporary  seat  of 
government  should  remain  at  Chillicothe  until  the 
buildings  necessary  for  the  State  officers  should  be 


erected,  when  it  would  be  taken  there,  forever  to 
remain.  This  was  done  in  1816,  in  December  of 
that  year  the  first  meeting  of  the  Assembly  being 
held  there. 

The  site  selected  for  the  capital  was  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  Scioto,  about  a  mile  below  its  junction 
with  the  Olentangy.  Wide  streets  were  laid  out, 
and  preparations  for  a  city  made.  The  expecta- 
tions of  the  founders  have  been,  in  this  respect,  re- 
alized. The  town  was  laid  out  in  the  spring  of  1812, 
under  the  direction  of  Moses  Wright.  A  short 
time  after,  the  contract  for  making  it  the  capital  was 
signed.  June  18,  the  same  day  war  was  declared 
against  Great  Britain,  the  sale  of  lots  took  place. 
Among  the  early  settlers  were  George  McCor- 
mick,  George  B.  Harvey,  John  Shields,  Michael 
Patton,  Alexander  Fatten,  William  Altman,  John 
Collett,  William  McElvain,  Daniel  Kooser,  Peter 
Putnam,  Jacob  Hare,  Christian  Heyl,  Jarvis,  George 
and  Benjamin  Pike,  William  Long,  and  Dr.  John 
M.  Edminson.  In  1814,  a  house  of  worship  was 
built,  a  school  opened,  a  newspaper — The  Wtstern 
Intelligencer  and  Columbus  Gazette^  now  the 
Ohio  State  Journal — was  started,  and  the  old 
State  House  erected.  In  1816,  the  "Borough  of 
Columbus"  was  incorporated,  and  a  mail  route  once 
a  week  between  Chillicothe  and  Columbus  started. 
In  1819,  the  old  United  States  Court  House  was 
erected,  and  the  seat  of  justice  removed  from 
Franklinton  to  Columbus.  Until  1826,  times  were 
exceedingly  "  slow  "  in  the  new  capital,  and  but  lit- 
tle growth  experienced.  The  improvement  period 
revived  the  capital,  and  enlivened  its  trade  and 
growth  so  that  in  1834,  a  city  charter  was  granted. 
The  city  is  now  about  third  in  size  in  the  State, 
and  contains  many  of  the  most  prominent  public 
institutions.  The  present  capitol  building,  one  of 
the  best  in  the  West,  is  patterned  somewhat  after 
the  national  Capitol  at  Washington  City. 

From  the  close  of  the  agitation  of  the  "  Sweeping 
Resolutions,"  until  the  opening  of  the  war  of  1812, 
but  a  short  time  elapsed.  In  fact,  scarcely  had 
one  subsided,  ere  the  other  was  upon  the  country. 
Though  the  war  was  national,  its  theater  of  opera- 
tions was  partly  in  Ohio,  that  State  taking  an  act- 
ive part  in  its  operations.  Indeed,  its  liberty 
depended  on  the  war. 


^^         '' 


.Jk s 


126 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


LIST  OF  TERRITORIAL  AND  STATE  GOVERNORS, 


From  the  organization  of  the  first  civil  government  in  the  Northwest  Territory   ( 1 ' 

Ohio  was  apart,  until  the  year  1880. 


to  1802),  of  which  the  State  of 


NAME. 


(a)  Arthur  St.  Clair 

*Charles  Willing  Byrd 

(6)  Edward  Tiiiin 

(c)  fThomas  Kirker 

Samuel  Huntington 

(d)  Return  Jonathan   Meigs. 

fOthniel  Looker 

Thomas  Worthington , 

(e)  Ethan  Allen  Brown 

fAllen  Trimble 

Jeremiah  Morrow 

Allen  Trimble 

Duncan  McArthur 

Robert  Lucas 

Joseph  Vance 

Wilson  Shannon 

Thomas  Corwin 

(/)  Wilson  Shannon 

JThomas  W.  Bartley , 

Mordecai  Bartley 

William  Bebb , 

(g)  Seabury  Ford 

(h)  Reuben  Wood 

(i)^  William  Medill 

Salmon  P.  Chase 

William  Dennison 

David  Tod 

(k)  John  Brough 

gCharles  Anderson 

Jacob  D.  Cox , 

Rutherford  B.  Hayes , 

Edward  F.  Noyes , 

William  Allen 

(I)  Rutherford  B.  Hayes 

(m)  Thomas  L.  Young 

Richard  M.  Bishop 

Charles  Foster 


COUNTY. 


Hamilton 

Ross , 

Adams 

Trumbull 

Washington.. 

Hamilton 

Ross 

Hamilton 

Highland 

Warren 

Highland 

Ross , 

Pike 

Champaign  .., 

Belmont - 

Warren 

Belmont , 

Richland 

Richland 

Butler 

Geauga 

Cuyahoga 

Fairfield 

Hamilton 

Franklin 

Mahoning 

Cuyahoga 

Montgomery. 

Trumbull , 

Hamilton , 

Hamilton 

Ross 

Sandusky 

Hamilton 

Hamilton 

Sandusky  


Term 
Commenced. 


July  13 
Nov. 

March  3 
March  4 
Dec.  12 
Dec. 

April  14 
Dec, 


Dec. 
Jan. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec, 


April  13 
Dec 


Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

July 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Aug. 

Jan 

.Jan. 

Jan. 

.Jan. 

Jan. 


March  2 
Jan.  14 
Jan.   14 


1788 
1802 
,  1803 
,  1807 
,  1808 
,  1810 
,  1814 
,  1814 
,  1818 
,  1822 
,  1822 
,  1826 
,  1830 
,  1832 
,  1836 
,  1838 
,  1840 
,  1842 
,  1844 
,  1844 
,  1846 
,1849 
,  1850 
,  1853 
,  1856 
.  1860 
,  1862 
,  1864 
,  1 
,  1866 
,  1868 
,  1 
,  1874 
,  1876 
,  1877 
,  1878 
,  1880 


Term  Ended. 


Nov. 

March  3 
March  4 
Dec.  12 
Dec.  8 
March  25 
Dec.   8 


Dec. 
Jan. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 


April  13 
Dec.   3 


Dec. 
Jan. 
Dec. 


July   15 
Jan.   14 


Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 


Aug.  29 
Jan.    9 


13 

8 

12 

14 

March  2 
Jan.  14 
Jan.   14 


Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 


1802 
1803 
1807 
1808 
1810 
1814 
1814 
1818 
1822 
1822 
1826 
1830 
1832 
1836 
1838 
1840 
1842 
1844 
1844 
1846 
1849 
1850 
1853 
1856 
1860 
1862 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1868 
1872 
1874 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1880 


(a)  Arthur  St.  Clair, of  Pennsylvania,  was  Governor  of  the  North- 
west Territory,  of  which  Ohio  was  a  part.from  July  13, 1788,  when  the 
first  civil  government  was  estahliehed  in  the  Territory,  until  about 
the  close  of  the  year  1802,  when  he  was  removed  by  the  President. 

♦Secretary  of  the  Territory,  and  was  acting  Governor  of  the 
Territory  after  the  removal  of  Gov.  St.  Clair. 

ib)  Resigned  March  3,  1807,  to  accept  the  office  of  U.  S.  Senator. 

(c)  Return  Jonathan  Meigs  was  elected  Governor  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  October,  1807,  over  Nathaniel  Massie,  who  contested  the 
election  of  Meigs,  on  the  ground  that  "he  had  not  been  a  resident  of 
this  State  for  four  years  next  preceding  the  election,  as  required  by 
the  ConstHution,"'  and  the  General  Assembly,  in  joint  convention, 
declared  that  he  was  not  eligible.  The  office  was  not  given  to 
Massie,  nor  does  it  appear,  from  the  records  that  he  claimed  it,  but 
Thomas  Kirker,  acting  Governor,  continued  to  discharge  the  duties 
of  the  office  until  December  12,1808,  when  Samuel  Huntington  was 
inaugurated,  he  having  been  elected  on  the  second  Tuesday  of 
October  in  that  year. 

(d)  Resigned  March  25, 1814,  to  accept  the  office  of  Postmaster- 
General  of  the  United  States. 


(«)  Resigned  January  4, 1822.  to  accept  the  office  of  United 
States  !?enator. 

(/)  Resigned  April  13,  1844,  to  accept  the  office  of  Minister  to 
Mexico. 

(3)  The  result  of  the  election  in  1848  was  not  finally  determined  in 
joint  convention  of  the  two  bouses  of  the  General  Asaembly  until 
January  19,1849,  and  the  inauguration  did  not  take  place  until  the 
22dof  that  month. 

(h)  Resigned  July  15, 1853  to  accept  the  office  of  Consul  to  Val- 
paraiso. 

0)  Elected  in  October,  1853,  for  the  regular  term,  to  commence 
on  tlie  second  Monday  of  January,  1854. 

(k)  Died  August  29,  18G5. 

t  Acting  Governor. 

i  Acting  Governor,  vice  Wilson  Shannon,  resigned. 

^  Acting  Governor,  vice  Reuben  Wood,  resigned. 

^  Acting  Governor,  vice  John  Brough,  deceased. 

(I)  Resigned  March  2,  1877,  to  accept  the  office  of  President  of 
the  United  States. 

(m)  Vice  Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  resigned. 


-^ 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


127 


CHAPTER    XI. 

THE  WAR  OF  1812— GROWTH  OF  THE  STATE— CANAL,  RAILROADS  AND  OTHER  IMPROVEMENTS 

—DEVELOPMENT   OF   STATE   RESOURCES. 


IN  June,  1812,  war  was  declared  against  Great 
Britain.  Before  this,  an  act  was  passed  by  Con- 
gress, authorizing  the  increase  of  the  regular  army 
to  thirty-five  thousand  troops,  and  a  large  force  of 
volunteers,  to  serve  twelve  months.  Under  this 
act.  Return  J.  Meigs,  then  Governor  of  Ohio,  in 
April  and  May,  1812,  raised  three  regiments  of 
troops  to  serve  twelve  months.  They  rendez- 
voused at  Dayton,  elected  their  officers,  and  pre- 
pared for  the  campaign.  These  regiments  were 
numbered  First,  Second  and  Third.  Duncan  Mc- 
Arthur  was  Colonel  of  the  First ;  James  Findlay, 
of  the  Second,  and  Lewis  Cass,  of  the  Third. 
Early  in  June  these  troops  marched  to  Urbana, 
where  they  were  joined  by  Boyd's  Fourth  Regiment 
of  regular  troops,  under  command  of  Col.  Miller, 
who  had  been  in  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe.  Near 
the  middle  of  June,  this  little  army  of  about 
twenty-five  hundred  men,  under  command  of  Gov. 
William  Hull,  of  Michigan,  who  had  been  author- 
ized by  Congress  to  raise  the  troops,  started  on 
its  northern  march.  By  the  end  of  June,  the 
army  had  reached  the  Maumee,  after  a  very  severe 
march,  erecting,  on  the  way.  Forts  McArthur,  Ne- 
cessity and  Findlay.  By  some  carelessness  on  the 
part  of  the  American  Government,  no  ofiicial  word 
had  been  sent  to  the  frontiers  regarding  the  war, 
while  the  British  had  taken  an  early  precaution  to 
prepare  for  the  crisis.  Gov.  Hull  was  very  care- 
ful in  military  etiquette,  and  refused  to  march,  or 
do  any  ofi"ensive  acts,  unless  commanded  by  his 
superior  officers  at  Washington.  While  at  the 
Maumee,  by  a  careless  move,  all  his  personal 
effects,  including  all  his  plans,  number  and  strength 
of  his  army,  etc.,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
His  campaign  ended  only  in  ignominious  defeat, 
and  well-nigh  paralyzed  future  efi"orts.  All  Mich- 
igan fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British.  The  com- 
mander, though  a  good  man,  lacked  bravery  and 
promptness.  Had  Gen.  Harrison  been  in  com- 
mand no  such  results  would  have  been  the  case, 
and  the  war  would  have  probably  ended  at  the 
outset. 

Before   Hull   had  surrendered,  Charles  Scott, 
Governor  of    Kentucky,  invited    Gen.  Harrison, 


Governor  of  Indiana  Territory,  to  visit  Frankfort, 
to  consult  on  the  subject  of  defending  the  North- 
west. Gov.  Harrison  had  visited  Gov.  Scott,  and 
in  August,  1812,  accepted  the  appointment  of 
Major  General  in  the  Kentucky  militia,  and,  by 
hasty  traveling,  on  the  receipt  of  the  news  of  the 
surrender  of  Detroit,  reached  Cincinnati  on  the 
morning  of  the  27th  of  that  month.  On  the  30th 
he  left  Cincinnati,  and  the  next  day  overtook  the 
army  he  was  to  command,  on  its  way  to  Dayton. 
After  leaving  Dayton,  he  was  overtaken  by  an  ex- 
press, informing  him  of  his  appointment  by  the 
Government  as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  armies 
of  the  Indiana  and  Illinois  Territories.  The  army 
reached  Piqua,  September  3.  From  this  place 
Harrison  sent  a  body  of  troops  to  aid  in  the  de- 
fense of  Fort  Wayne,  threatened  by  the  enemy. 
On  the  6th  he  ordered  all  the  troops  forward,  and 
while  on  the  march,  on  September  17,  he  was 
informed  of  his  appointment  as  commander  of  the 
entire  Northwestern  troops.  He  found  the  army 
poorly  clothed  for  a  winter  campaign,  now  ap- 
proaching, and  at  once  issued  a  stirring  address  to 
the  people,  asking  for  food  and  comfortable  cloth- 
ing. The  address  was  not  in  vain.  After  his 
appointment.  Gen.  Harrison  pushed  on  to  Au- 
glaize, where,  leaving  the  army  under  command  of 
Gen.  Winchester,  he  returned  to  the  interior  of  the 
State,  and  establishing  his  headquarters  at  Frank- 
liuton,  began  active  measures  for  the  campaign. 

Early  in  March,  1812,  Col.  John  Miller  raised, 
under  orders,  a  regiment  of  infantry  in  Ohio,  and 
in  July  assembled  his  enlisted  men  at  Chillicothe, 
where,  placing  them — only  one  hundred  and  forty 
in  number — under  command  of  Captain  Ang-us 
Lewis,  he  sent  them  on  to  the  frontier.  They  erect- 
ed a  block-house  at  Piqua  and  then  went  on  to 
Defiance,  to  the  main  body  of  the  armv. 

In  July,  1812,  Gen.  Edward  W.  ^Tupper,  of 
Gallia  County,  raised  one  thousand  men  for  six 
months'  duty.  Under  orders  from  Gen.  Winches- 
ter, they  marched  through  Chillicothe  and  Urbana, 
on  to  the  Maumee,  where,  near  the  lower  end  of 
the  rapids,  they  made  an  ineffectual  attempt  to 
drive  off"  the  enemy.     Failing  in  this,  the  enemy 


:i- 


A^ 


128 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


attacked  Tupper  and  his  troops,  who,  though  worn 
down  with  the  march  and  not  a  Httle  disorganized 
through  the  jealousies  of  the  officers,  withstood 
the  attack,  and  repulsed  the  British  and  their  red 
allies,  who  returned  to  Detroit,  and  the  Americans 
to  Fort  McArthur. 

In  the  fall  of  1812,  Gcii.  Harrison  ordered  a 
detachment  of  six  hundred  men,  mostly  mounted, 
to  destroy  the  Indian  towns  on  the  Missisineway 
River,  one  of  the  head-waters  of  the  Wabash. 
The  winter  set  in  early  and  with  unusual  severity. 
At  the  same  time  this  expedition  was  carried  on, 
Bonaparte  was  retreating  from  Moscow.  The  expe- 
dition accomplished  its  design,  though  the  troops 
suffered  greatly  from  the  cold,  no  less  than  two 
hundred  men  being  more  or  less  frost  bitten. 

Gen.  Harrison  determined  at  once  to  retake 
Michigan  and  establish  a  line  of  defense  along  the 
southern  shores  of  the  lakes.  Winchester  was 
sent  to  occupy  Forts  Wayne  and  Defiance;  Perkins' 
brigade  to  Lower  Sandusky,  to  fortify  an  old 
stockade,  and  some  Pennsylvania  troops  and  artil- 
lery sent  there  at  the  same  time.  As  soon  as 
Gen.  Harrison  heard  the  results  of  the  Missis- 
ineway expedition,  he  went  to  Chillicothe  to  con- 
sult with  Gov.  Meigs  about  further  movements, 
and  tlie  best  methods  to  keep  the  way  between  the 
Upper  Miami  and  the  Maumee  continually  open. 
He  also  sent  Gen.  Winchester  word  to  move  for- 
ward to  the  rapids  of  the  Maumee  and  prepare  for 
winter  quarters.  This  Winchester  did  by  the 
middle  of  January,  1813,  establishing  himself  on 
the  northern  bank  of  the  river,  just  above  Wayne's 
old  battle-ground.  He  was  well  fixed  here,  and 
was  enabled  to  give  his  troops  good  bread,  made  from 
corn  gathered  in  Indian  corn-fields  in  this  vicinity. 

While  here,  the  inhabitants  of  Frenchtown,  on 
the  Raisin  River,  about  twenty  miles  from  Detroit, 
sent  Winchester  word  claiming  protection  from  the 
threatened  British  and  Indian  invasion,  avowing 
themselves  in  sympathy  with  the  Americans.  A 
council  of  war  decided  in  favor  of  their  request, 
and  Col.  Lewis,  with  550  men,  sent  to  their  relief 
Soon  afler.  Col.  Allen  was  sent  with  more  troops, 
and  the  enemy  easily  driven  away  from  about 
Frenchtown.  Word  was  sent  to  Gen.  Winchester, 
who  determined  to  march  with  all  the  men  he 
could  spare  to  aid  in  holding  the  post  gained.  He 
lefl,  the  19th  of  January,  with  250  men,  and  ar- 
rived on  the  evening  of  the  20th.  Failing  to 
take  the  necessary  precaution,  from  some  unex- 
plained reason,  the  enemy  came  up  in  the  night, 
established  his  batteries,  and,  the   next  day,  sur- 


prised and  defeated  the  American  Army  with  a 
terrible  loss.  Gen.  Winchester  was  made  a  pris- 
oner, and,  finally,  those  who  were  intrenched  in 
the  town  surrendered,  under  promise  of  Proctor, 
the  British  commander,  of  protection  from  the 
Indians.  This  promise  was  grossly  violated  the 
next  day.  The  savages  were  allowed  to  enter  the 
town  and  enact  a  massacre  as  cruel  and  bloody  as 
any  in  the  annals  of  the  war,  to  the  everlasting 
ignominy  of  the  British  General  and  his  troops. 

Those  of  the  American  Army  that  escaped,  ar- 
rived at  the  rapids  on  the  evening  of  the  22d  of 
January,  and  soon  the  sorrowful  news  spread 
throughout  the  army  and  nation.  Gen.  Harrison 
set  about  retrieving  the  disaster  at  once.  Delay 
could  do  no  good.  A  fort  was  built  at  the  rapids, 
named  Fort  Meigs,  and  troops  from  the  south  and 
west  hurriedly  advanced  to  the  scene  of  action. 
The  investment  and  capture  of  Detroit  was  aban- 
doned, that  winter,  owing  to  the  defeat  at  French- 
town,  and  expiration  of  the  terms  of  service  of 
many  of  the  troops.  Others  took  their  places, 
all  parts  of  Ohio  and  bordering  States  sending 
men. 

The  erection  of  Fort  Meigs  was  an  obstacle  in 
the  path  of  the  British  they  determined  to  remove, 
and,  on  the  28th  of  February,  1813,  a  large  band 
of  British  and  Indians,  under  command  of  Proc- 
tor, Tecumseh,  Walk-in-the-water,  and  other  In- 
dian chiefs,  appeared  in  the  Maumee  in  boats,  and 
prepared  for  the  attack.  Without  entering  into 
details  regarding  the  investment  of  the  fort,  it  is 
only  necessary  to  add,  that  after  a  prolonged  siege, 
lasting  to  the  early  part  of  May,  the  British  were 
obliged  to  abandon  the  fort,  having  been  severely 
defeated,  and  sailed  for  the  Canadian  shores. 

Next  followed  the  attacks  on  Fort  Stephenson, 
at  Lower  Sandusky,  and  other  predatory  excur- 
sions, by  the  British.  All  of  these  failed  of  their 
design;  the  defense  of  Maj.  Croghan  and  his  men 
constituting  one  of  the  most  brilliant  actions  of  the 
war.  For  the  gallant  defense  of  Fort  Stephenson  by 
Maj.  Croghan,  then  a  young  man,  the  army  merited 
the  highest  honors.  The  ladies  of  Chillicothe  voted 
the  heroic  Major  a  fine  sword,  while  the  whole 
land  rejoiced  at  the  exploits  of  him  and  his  band. 

The  decisive  efforts  of  the  army,  the  great  num- 
bers of  men  offered — many  of  whom  Gen.  Harrison 
was  obliged  to  send  home,  much  to  their  disgust — 
Perry's  victory  on  Lake  Erie,  September  10, 
1813 — all  presaged  the  triumph  of  the  American 
arms,  soon  to  ensue.  As  soon  as  the  battle  on 
the  lake  was  over,  the  British  at  Maiden  burned 


[ii 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


129 


their  stores,  and  fled,  wliile  the  Americans,  under 
their  gallant  commander,  followed  them  in  Perry's 
vessel  to  the  Canada  shore,  overtaking  them  on 
the  River  Thames,  October  5.  In  the  battle  that 
ensued,  Tecumseh  was  slain,  and  the  British  Army 
routed. 

The  war  was  now  practically  closed  in  the  "West. 
Ohio  troops  had  done  nobly  in  defending  their 
northern  frontier,  and  in  regaining  the  Northwest- 
ern country.  Gen.  Harrison  was  soon  after  elected 
to  Congress  by  the  Cincinnati  district,  and  Gen. 
Duncan  McArthur  was  appointed  a  Brigadier 
General  in  the  regular  army,  and  assigned  to  the 
command  in  his  place.  Gen.  McArthur  made  an 
expedition  into  Upper  Canada  in  the  spring  of 
1814,  destroying  considerable  property,  and  driv- 
ing the  British  farther  into  their  own  dominions. 
Peace  was  declared  early  in  1815,  and  that  spring, 
the  troops  were  mustered  out  of  service  at  Chilli- 
cothe,  and  peace  with  England  reigned  supreme. 

The  results  of  the  war  in  Ohio  were,  for  awhile, 
similar  to  the  Indian  war  of  1795.  It  brought 
many  people  into  the  State,  and  opened  new  por- 
tions, before  unknown.  Many  of  the  soldiers  im- 
mediately invested  their  money  in  lands,  and  became 
citizens.  The  war  drove  many  people  from  the 
Atlimtic  Coast  west,  and  as  a  result  much  money, 
for  awhile,  circulated.  Labor  and  provisions  rose, 
which  enabled  both  workmen  and  tradesmen  to 
enter  tracts  of  land,  and  aided  emigration.  At  the 
conclusion  of  Wayu-^'s  war  in  1795,  probably 
not  more  than  five  thousand  people  dwelt  in  the 
limits  of  the  State  ;  at  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812, 
that  number  was  largely  increased,  even  with  the 
odds  of  war  against  them.  After  the  last  war,  tlie 
emigration  was  constant  and  gradual,  building  up 
the  State  in  a  manner  that  betokened  a  healthful 
life. 

As  soon  as  the  effects  of  the  war  had  worn  off, 
a  period  of  depression  set  in,  as  a  result  of  too 
free  speculation  indulged  in  at  its  close.  Gradu- 
ally a  stagnation  of  business  ensued,  and  many 
who  found  the'inselves  unable  to  meet  contracts 
made  in  "flush"  times,  found  no  alternative  but 
to  fail.  To  relieve  the  pressure  in  all  parts  of 
the  West,  Congress,  about  1815,  reduced  the 
price  of  public  lands  from  $2  to  $1.25 
per  acre.  This  measure  worked  no  little 
hardship  on  those  who  owned  large  tracts  of 
lands,  for  portions  of  which  they  had  not  fully 
paid,  and  as  a  consequence,  these  lands,  as  well 
as  all  others  of  this  class,  reverted  to  the 
Government.     The  general    market   was   in  New 


Orleans,  whither  goods  were  transported  in  flat- 
boats  built  especially  for  this  pupose.  This  com- 
merce, though  small  and  poorly  repaid,  was  the 
main  avenue  of  trade,  and  did  much  for  the  slow 
prosperity  prevalent.  The  few  banks  in  the  State 
found  their  bills  at  a  discount  abroad,  and  gradu- 
ally becoming  di-ained  of  their  specie,  either  closed 
business  or  failed,  the  major  part  of  them  adopt- 
ing the  latter  course. 

The  steamboat  began  to  be  an  important  factor 
in  the  river  navigation  of  the  West  about  this 
period.  The  first  boat  to  descend  the  Ohio  was 
the  Orleans,  built  at  Pittsburg  in  1812,  and  in 
December  of  that  year,  while  the  fortunes  of  war 
hung  over  the  land,  she  made  her  first  trip  fi-om  the 
Iron  City  to  New  Orleans,  being  just  twelve  days 
on  the  way.  The  second,  built  by  Samuel  Smith, 
was  called  the  Comet,  and  made  a  trip  as  far 
south  as  Louisville,  in  the  summer  of  1813.  The 
third,  the  Vesuvius,  was  built  by  Fulton,  and  went 
to  New  Orleans  in  1814.  The  fourth,  built  by 
Daniel  French  at  Brownsville,  Penn.,  made  two 
trips  to  Louisville  in  the  summer  of  1814.  The 
next  vessel,  the  ^tna,  was  built  by  Fulton  & 
Company  in  1815.  So  fast  did  the  business 
increase,  that,  four  years  after,  more  than 
forty  steamers  floated  on  the  Western  waters. 
Improvements  in  machinery  kept  pace  with  the 
building,  until,  in  1838,  a  competent  writer  stated 
there  were  no  less  than  four  hundred  steamers  in 
the  West.  Since  then,  the  erection  of  railways 
has  greatly  retarded  ship-building,  and  it  is  alto- 
gether probable  the  number  has  increased  but 
little. 

The  question  of  canals  began  to  agitate  the 
Western  country  during  the  decade  succeeding  the 
war.  They  had  been  and  were  being  constructed 
in  older  countries,  and  presaged  good  and  prosper- 
ous times.  If  only  the  waters  of  the  lakes  and 
the  Ohio  River  could  be  united  by  a  canal  run- 
ning through  the  midst  of  the  State,  thought  the 
people,  prosperous  cities  and  towns  would  arise  on 
its  banks,  and  commerce  flow  through  the  land. 
One  of  the  firmest  friends  of  such  improvements 
was  De  Witt  Clinton,  who  had  been  the  chief  man 
in  forwarding  the  "  Clinton  Canal,"  in  New  York. 
He  was  among  the  first  to  advocate  the  feasibility 
of  a  canal  connecting  Lake  Erie  and  the  Ohio 
River,  and,  by  the  success  of  the  New  York  canals, 
did  much  to  bring  it  about.  Popular  writers  of  the 
day  all  urged  the  scheme,  so  that  when  thi;  Assem- 
bly met,  early  in  December,  1821,  the  resolution, 
offered  by    Micajah   T.  Williams,  of   Cincinnati, 


:f^ 


*^- 


130 


HISTOEY    OF    OHIO. 


for  the  appointment  of  a  committee  of  five  mem- 
bers to  take  into  consideration  so  much  of  the 
Governor's  message  as  related  to  canals,  and  see  if 
some  feasible  plan  could  not  be  adopted  whereby  a 
beginning  could  be  made,  was  quickly  adopted. 

The  report  of  the  committee,  advising  a  survey 
and  examination  of  routes,  met  with  the  approval 
of  the  Assembly,  and  commissioners  were  ap- 
pointed who  were  to  employ  an  engineer,  examine 
the  country  and  report  on  the  practicability  of  a 
canal  between  the  lakes  and  the  river.  The  com- 
missioners employed  James  Gleddes,  of  Onondaga 
County,  N.  Y.,  as  an  engineer.  He  arrived  in 
Columbus  in  June,  1822,  and,  before  eight  months, 
the  corps  of  engineers,  under  his  direction,  had 
examined  one  route.  During  the  next  two  sum- 
mers, the  examinations  continued.  A  number  of 
routes  were  examined  and  surveyed,  and  one,  from 
Cleveland  on  the  lake,  to  Portsmouth  on  the  Ohio, 
was  recommended.  Another  canal,  from  Cincin- 
nati to  Dayton,  on  the  Miami,  was  determined  on, 
and  preparations  to  commence  work  made.  A 
Board  of  Canal  Fund  Commissioners  was  created, 
money  was  borrowed,  and  the  morning  of  July 
4,  1825,  the  first  shovelful  of  earth  was  dug  near 
Newark,  with  imposing  ceremonies,  in  the  presence 
of  De  Witt  Clinton,  Grovernor  of  New  York,  and 
a  mighty  concourse  of  people  assembled  to  witness 
the  auspicious  event. 

Gov.  Clinton  was  escorted  all  over  the  State  to 
aid  in  developing  the  energy  everywhere  apparent. 
The  events  were  important  ones  in  the  history  of 
the  State,  and,  though  they  led  to  the  creation  of 
a  vast  debt,  yet,  in  the  end,  the  canals  were  a 
benefit. 

The  main  canal — the  Ohio  and  Erie  Canal — 
was  not  completed  till  1832.  The  Maumee  Canal, 
from  Dayton  to  Cincinnati,  was  finished  in  1834. 
They  cost  the  State  about  $G,000,UOO.  Each  of 
the  main  canals  had  branches  leading  to  important 
towns,  where  their  construction  could  be  made 
without  too  much  expense.  The  Miami  and  Mau- 
mee Canal,  from  Cincinnati  northward  along  the 
Miami  River  to  Piqua,  thence  to  the  Maumee 
and  on  to  the  lake,  was  the  largest  canal  made, 
and,  for  many  years,  was  one  of  the  most  important 
in  the  State.  It  joined  the  Wabash  Canal  on  the 
eastern  boundary  of  Indiana,  and  thereby  saved 
the  construction  of  many  miles  by  joining  this 
great  canal  from  Toledo  to  Evansville. 

The  largest  artificial  lake  in  the  world,  it  is  said, 
was  built  to  supply  water  to  the  Miami  Canal.  It 
exists  yet,  though  the  canal  is  not  much  used.     It 


is  in  the  eastern  part  of  Mercer  County,  and  is 
about  nine  miles  long  by  from  two  to  four  wide. 
It  was  formed  by  raising  two  walls  of  earth  from 
ten  to  thirty  feet  high,  called  respectively  the  east 
and  west  embankments  ;  the  first  of  which  is  about 
two  miles  in  length  ;  the  second,  about  four.  These 
walls,  with  the  elevation  of  the  ground  to  the 
north  and  south,  formed  a  huge  basin,  to  retain 
the  water.  The  reservoir  was  commenced  in  1837, 
and  finished  in  1845,  at  an  expense  of  several 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  When  first  built,  dur- 
ing the  accumulation  of  water,  much  malarial 
disease  prevailed  in  the  surrounding  country,  owing 
to  the  stagnant  condition  of  the  water.  The  citi- 
zens, enraged  at  what  they  considered  an  innova- 
tion of  their  rights,  met,  and,  during  a  dark  night, 
tore  out  a  portion  of  the  lower  wall,  letting  the 
water  flow  out.  The  damage  cost  thousands  of 
dollars  to  repair.  All  who  participated  in  the 
proceedings  were  liable  to  a  severe  imprisonment, 
but  the  state  of  feeling  was  such,  in  Mercer  County, 
where  the  offense  was  committed,  that  no  jury 
could  be  found  that  would  try  them,  and  the  affair 
gradually  died  out. 

The  canals,  so  efficacious  in  their  day,  were, 
however,  superseded  by  the  railroads  rapidly  find- 
ing their  way  into  the  West.  From  England, 
where  they  were  early  used  in  the  collieries,  the 
transition  to  America  was  easy. 

The  first  railroad  in  the  United  States  was  built 
in  the  summer  of  1826,  from  the  granite  quarry 
belonging  to  the  Bunker  Hill  Monument  Associa- 
tion to  the  wharf  landing,  three  miles  distant.  The 
road  was  a  slight  decline  from .  the  quarry  to 
the  wharf,  hence  the  loaded  cars  were  pro- 
pelled by  their  own  gravity.  On  their  return, 
when  empty,  they  were  drawn  up  by  a  single 
horse.  Other  roads,  or  tramways,  quickly  followed 
this.  They  were  built  at  the  Pennsylvania  coal 
mines,  in  South  Carolina,  at  New  Orleans,  and  at 
Baltimore.  Steam  motive  power  was  used  in  1831 
or  1832,  first  in  America  on  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
Railroad,  and  in  Charlestown,  on  a  railroad  there. 

To  transfer  these  highways  to  the  West  was  the 
question  of  but  a  few  years'  time.  The  prairies  of 
Illinois  and  Indiana  offered  superior  inducements 
to  such  enterprises,  and,  early  in  1835,  they  began 
to  be  agitated  there.  In  1838,  the  first  rail  was 
laid  in  Illinois,  at  Meredosia,  a  little  town  on  the 
Illinois  River,  on  what  is  now  the  Wabash  Railway. 

"The  first  railroad  made  in  Ohio,"  writes  Caleb 
Atwater,  in  his  "History  of  Ohio,"  in  1838,  "was 
finished  in  1836  by  the  people  of  Toledo,  a  town 


>^  <s~ 


>^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


131 


some  two  years  old  then,  situated  near  the  mouth 
of  Maumee  River.  The  road  extends  westward  in- 
to Michigan  and  is  some  thirty  miles  in  length. 
There  is  a  road  about  to  be  made  from  Cincinnati 
to  Springfield.  This  road  follows  the  Ohio  River 
up  to  the  Little  Miami  River,  and  there  turns 
northwardly  up  its  valley  to  Xenia,  and,  passing 
the  Yellow  Springs,  reaches  Springfield.  Its  length 
must  be  about  ninety  miles.  The  State  will  own 
one-half  of  the  road,  individuals  and  the  city  of 
Cincinnati  the  other  half  This  road  will,  no 
doubt,  be  extended  to  Lake  Erie,  at  Sandusky 
City,  within  a  few  short  years." 

"There  is  a  railroad."  continues  Mr.  Atwater, 
"about  to  be  made  from  Painesville  to  the  Ohio 
River.  There  are  many  charters  for  other  roads, 
which  will  never  be  made." 

Mr.  Atwater  notes  also,  the  various  turnpikes  as 
well  as  the  famous  National  road  from  Baltimore 
westward,  then  completed  only  to  the  mountains. 
This  latter  did  as  much  as  any  enterprise  ever  en- 
acted in  building  up  and  populating  the  West. 
It  gave  a  national  thoroughfare,  which,  for  many 
years,  was  the  principal  wagon-way  from  the  At- 
lantic to  the  Mississippi  Valley. 

The  railroad  to  which  Mr.  Atwater  refers  as 
about  to  be  built  from  Cincinnati  to  Springfield, 
was  what  was  known  as  the  Mad  River  Railroad. 
It  is  commonly  conceded  to  be  the  first  one  built 
in  Ohio.*  Its  history  shows  that  it  was  chartered 
March  11,  1836,  that  work  began  in  1837;  that 
it  was  completed  and  opened  for  business  from 
Cincinnati  to  Milford,  in  December,  1842;  to  Xe- 
nia, in  August,  1845,  and  to  Springfield,  in  Au- 
gust, 1846.  It  was  laid  with  strap  rails  until 
about  1848,  when  the  present  form  of  rail  was 
adopted. 

One  of  the  earliest  roads  in  Ohio  was  what  was 
known  as  the  Sandusky,  Mansfield  &  Newark  Rail- 
road. It  was  chartered  at  first  as  the  Monroeville 
&  Sandusky  City  Railroad,  March  9,  1835.  March 
12,  1836,  the  Mansfield  &  New  Haven  road  was 
chartered;  the  Columbus  &  Lake  Erie,  March  12, 

1845,  and  the  Huron   &  Oxford,  February  27, 

1846.  At  first  it  ran  only  from  Sandusky  to 
Monroeville,  then  from  Mansfield  to  Huron.  These 

*  Hon.  E  D.  Mansfield  states,  in  1873,  that  the  "  first  actual  piece 
of  railroad  laid  in  Ohio,  was  made  on  the  Cincinnati  &  Sandusky 
Railroad;  hut,  about  the  same  time  we  have  the  Little  Miami  Rail- 
road, which  was  surveyed  in  1836  and  1837.  If  this,  the  generally 
accepted  opinion,  is  correct,  then  Mr.  Atwater's  statement  as  given, 
is  wrong.  His  history  is,  however,  generally  conceded  to  be  correct. 
Written  in  1838,  he  surely  ought  to  know  whereof  he  was  writing, 
as  the  railroads  were  then  only  in  construction  ;  but  few,  if  any, 
in  operation. 


two  were  connected  and  consolidated,  and  then  ex- 
tended to  Newark,  and  finally,  by  connections,  to 
Columbus. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  follow  closely  the  history  of 
these  improvements  through  the  years  succeeding 
their  introduction.  At  first  the  State  owned  a 
share  in  nearly  all  railroads  and  canals,  but  finally 
finding  itself  in  debt  about  $15,00U,000  for  such 
improvements,  and  learning  by  its  own  and  neigh- 
bors' experiences,  that  such  policy  was  detrimental 
to  the  best  interests  of  the  people,  abandoned  the 
plan,  and  allowed  private  parties  entire  control  of 
all  such  works.  After  the  close  of  the  Mexican 
war,  and  the  return  to  solid  values  in  1 854  or  there- 
abouts, the  increase  of  railroads  in  all  parts  of  Ohio, 
as  well  as  all  parts  of  the  West,  was  simply  marvel- 
ous. At  this  date  there  are  more  than  ten  thou- 
sand miles  of  railroads  in  Ohio,  alongside  of  which 
stretch  innumerable  lines  of  telegraph,  a  system  of 
swift  messages  invented  by  Prof  Morse,  and  adopted 
in  the  United  States  about  1851. 

About  the  time  railroad  building  began  to  as- 
sume a  tangible  shape,  in  1840,  occurred  the  cele- 
brated political  campaign  known  in  history  as  the 
"  Hard  Cider  Campaign."  The  gradual  encroach- 
ments of  the  slave  power  in  the  West,  its  arrogant 
attitude  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  and 
in  several  State  legislatures  :  its  forcible  seizure  of 
slaves  in  the  free  States,  and  the  enactment  and 
attempted  enforcement  of  the  "fugitive  slave"  law 
all  tended  to  awaken  in  the  minds  of  the  Northern 
people  an  antagonism,  terminating  only  in  the  late 
war  and  the  abolishment  of  that  hideous  system  in 
the  United  States. 

The  "Whig  Party"  strenuously  urged  the 
abridgment  or  confinement  of  slavery  in  the 
Southern  States,  and  in  the  contest  the  party  took 
a  most  active  part,  and  elected  William  Henry 
Harrison  President  of  the  United  States.  As  he 
had  been  one  of  the  foremost  leaders  in  the  war  of 
1812,  a  resident  of  Ohio,  and  one  of  its  most  pop- 
ular citizens,  a  log  cabin  and  a  barrel  of  cider  were 
adopted  as  his  exponents  of  popular  opinion,  as 
expressive  of  the  rule  of  the  common  people  repre- 
sented in  the  cabin  and  cider,  in  turn  representing 
their  primitive  and  simple  habits  of  life.  He 
lived  but  thirty  days  after  his  inauguration,  dying 
on  the  9th  of  April,  1841,  when  John  Tyler,  the 
Vice  President,  succeeded  him  as  Chief  Executive 
of  the  nation. 

The  building  of  railroads ;  the  extension  of  com- 
merce ;  the  settlement  of  all  parts  of  the  State ; 
its  growth  in  commerce,  education,  reHgion  and 


©_ 


132 


HISTOKY    OF    OHIO. 


population,  are  the  chief  events  from  1841  to  the 
Mexican  war.  Hard  times  occurred  about  as  often 
as  they  do  now,  preceded  by  "  flush"  times,  when 
speculation  ran  rife,  the  people  all  infatuated  with 


an  insane  idea  that  something  could  be  had  for 
nothing.  The  bubble  burst  as  often  as  inflated, 
ruining  many  people,  but  seemingly  teaching  few 
lessons. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

MEXICAN    WAR— CONTINUED    GROWTH    OF    THE    STATE— WAR    OF    THE    REBELLION— OHIO'S 

PART    IN    THE    CONFLICT. 


THE  Mexican  War  grew  out  of  the  question  of 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  then  a  province  of 
Mexico,  whose  territory  extended  to  the  Indian 
Territory  on  the  north,  and  on  up  to  the  Oregon 
Territory  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  Texas  had  been 
settled  largely  by  Americans,  who  saw  the  condi- 
tion of  aft'airs  that  would  inevitably  ensue  did  the 
country  remain  under  Mexican  rule.  They  first 
took  steps  to  secede  from  Mexico,  and  then  asked 
the  aid  of  America  to  sustain  them,  and  annex  the 
country  to  itself. 

The  Whig  party  and  many  others  opposed  this, 
chiefly  on  the  grounds  of  the  extension  of  slave 
territory.  But  to  no  avail.  The  war  came  on, 
Mexico  was  conquered,  the  war  lasting  from  April 
20,  1846,  to  May  30,  1848.  Fifty  thousand  vol- 
unteers were  called  for  the  war  by  the  Congress, 
and  $10,000,000  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the 
President,  James  K.  Polk,  to  sustain  the  army  and 
prosecute  the  war. 

The  part  that  Ohio  took  in  the  war  may  be 
briefly  summed  up  as  follows :  She  had  five  vol- 
unteer regiments,  five  companies  in  the  Fifteenth 
Infantry,  and  several  independent  companies,  with 
her  full  proportion  among  the  regulars.  When 
war  was  declared,  it  was  something  of  a  crusade  to 
many ;  full  of  romance  to  others ;  hence,  many 
more  were  offiered  than  could  be  received.  It  was 
a  campaign  of  romance  to  some,  yet  one  of  reality, 
ending  in  death,  to  many. 

When  the  first  call  for  troops  came,  the  First, 
Second  and  Third  Regiments  of  infantry  responded 
at  once.  Alexander  Mitchell  was  made  Colonel  of 
the  First;  John  E.  Wellerits  Lieutenant  Colonel ; 
and  Major  L.  Giddings,  of  Dayton,  its  Major, 
Thos.  L.  Hamer,  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  in  Ohio, 
started  with  the  First  as  its  Major,  but,  before  the 
regiment  left  the  State,  he  was  made  a  Brigadier 
General  of  Volunteers,  and,  at  the  battle  of  Mon- 
terey, distinguished  himself;  and  there  contracted 


disease  and  laid  down  his  life.  The  regiment's 
Colonel,  who  had  been  wounded  at  Monterey,  came 
home,  removed  to  Minnesota,  and  there  died. 
Lieut.  Col.  Weller  went  to  California  after  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  was  United  States  Senator 
from  that  State  in  the  halls  of  Congress,  and,  at 
last,  died  at  New  Orleans. 

The  Second  Regiment  was  commanded  by  Col. 
George  W.  Morgan,  now  of  Mount  Vernon  ;  Lieut. 
Col.  William  Irwin,  of  Lancaster,  and  Maj.  Will- 
iam Wall.  After  the  war  closed,  Irwin  settled  in 
Texas,  and  remained  there  till  he  died.  Wall  lived 
out  his  days  in  Ohio.  The  regiment  was  never  in 
active  field  service,  but  was  a  credit  to  the  State. 

The  ofiicers  of  the  Third  Regiment  were.  Col. 
Samuel  R.  Curtis;  Lieut.  Col.  G.  W.  McCookand 
Maj.  John  Love.  The  first  two  are  now  dead ; 
the  Major  lives  in  McConneUsville. 

At  the  close  of  the  first  year  of  the  war,  these 
regiments  (First,  Second  and  Third)  were  mustered 
out  of  service,  as  their  term  of  enlistment  had 
expired. 

When  the  second  year  of  the  war  began,  the 
call  for  more  troops  on  the  part  of  the  Government 
induced  the  Second  Ohio  Infantry  to  re-organize, 
and  again  enter  the  service.  William  Irwin,  of  the 
former  organization,  was  chosen  Colonel ;  William 
Latham,  of  Columbus,  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and 
William  H.  Link,  of  Circleville,  Major.  Nearly 
all  of  them  are  now  dead. 

The  regular  army  was  increased  by  eight  Ohio 
companies  of  infantry,  the  Third  Dragoons,  and 
the  Voltigeurs — light-armed  soldiers.  In  the  Fif- 
teenth Regiment  of  the  United  States  Army,  there 
were  five  Ohio  companies.  The  others  were  three 
from  Michigan,  and  two  from  Wisconsin.  Col. 
Moi'gan,  of  the  old  Second,  was  made  Colonel  of 
the  Fifteenth,  and  John  Howard,  of  Detroit,  an 
old  artillery  ofiicer  in  the  regular  army.  Lieutenant 
Colonel.     Samuel  Wood,  a  captain    in   the   Sixth 


^< 


:!t. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


133 


United  States  Inftintry,  was  made  Major  ;  but  was 

afterward  succeeded  by  Mill,  of  Vermont. 

The  Fifteenth  was  in  a  number  of  skirmishes  at  first, 
and  later  in  the  battles  of  Contreras,  Cherubusco 
and  Chapultepec.  At  the  battle  of  Cherubusco, 
the  Colonel  was  severely  wounded,  and  Maj.  Mill, 
with  several  oflacers,  and  a  large  number  of  men, 
killed.  For  gallant  service  at  Contreras,  Col.  Mor- 
gan, though  only  twenty-seven  years  old,  was  made 
a  Brevet  Brigadier  General  in  the  United  States 
Army.  Since  the  war  he  has  delivered  a  number 
of  addresses  in  Ohio,  on  the  campaigns  in  Mex- 
ico. 

The  survivors  of  the  war  are  now  few.  Though 
seventy-five  thousand  men  from  the  United  States 
went  into  that  conflict,  less  than  ten  thousand  now 
survive.  They  are  now  veterans,  and  as  such  de- 
light to  recount  their  reminiscences  on  the  fields  of 
Mexico.  They  are  all  in  the  decline  of  life,  and 
ere  a  generation  passes  away,  few,  if  any,  will  be 
left. 

After  the  war,  the  continual  growth  of  Ohio, 
the  change  in  all  its  relations,  necessitated  a  new 
organic  law.  The  Constitution  of  1852  was  the 
result.  It  re-affirmed  the  political  principles  of 
the  "ordinance  of  1787"  and  the  Constitution  of 
1802,  and  made  a  few  changes  necessitated  by  the 
advance  made  in  the  interim.  It  created  the 
office  of  Lieutenant  Governor,  fixing  the  term  of 
service  at  two  years.  This  Constitution  yet  stands 
notwithstanding  the  prolonged  attempt  in  1873-74: 
to  create  a  new  one.  It  is  now  the  organic  law  of 
Ohio. 

From  this  time  on  to  the  opening  of  the  late  war, 
the  prosperity  of  the  State  received  no  check. 
Towns  and  cities  grew ;  railroads  multiplied ;  com- 
merce was  extended;  the  vacant  lands  were  rapidly 
filled  by  settlers,  and  everything  tending  to  the 
advancement  of  the  people  was  well  prosecuted. 
Banks,  after  much  tribulation,  had  become  in  a 
measure  somewhat  secure,  their  only  and  serious 
drawback  being  their  isolation  or  the  confinement 
of  their  circulation  to  their  immediate  localities. 
But  signs  of  a  mighty  contest  were  apparent.  A 
contest  almost  without  a  parallel  in  the  annals  of 
history ;  a  contest  between  freedom  and  slavery ; 
between  wrong  and  right ;  a  contest  that  could 
only  end  in  defeat  to  the  wrong.  The  Republican 
party  came  into  existence  at  the  close  of  President 
Pierce's  term,  in  1855.  Its  object  then  was,  prin- 
cipally, the  restriction  of  the  slave  power ;  ultimately 
its  extinction.  One  of  the  chief  exponents  and  sup- 
porters of  this  growing  party  in  Ohio,  was  Salmon  P. 


Chase ;  one  who  never  faltered  nor  lost  faith ;  and 
who  was  at  the  helm  of  State;  in  the  halls  of  Con- 
gress; chief  of  one  the  most  important  bureaus  of 
the  Government,  and,  finally,  Chief  Justice  of  the 
United  States.  When  war  came,  after  the  election 
of  Abraham  Lincoln  by  the  Republican  party,  Ohio 
was  one  of  the  first  to  answer  to  the  call  for  troops. 
Mr.  Chase,  while  Governor,  had  re-organized  the 
militia  on  a  sensible  basis,  and  rescued  it  from  the 
ignominy  into  which  it  had  fallen.  When  Mr. 
Lincoln  asked  for  seventy-five  thousand  men, 
Ohio's  quota  was  thirteen  regiments.  The  various 
chaotic  regiments  and  militia  troops  in  the  State 
did  not  exceed  1,500  men.  The  call  was  issued 
April  15,  1861  ;  by  the  18th,  two  regiments  were 
organized  in  Columbus,  whither  these  companies 
had  gathered;  before  sunrise  of  the  19th  the  Jirst 
and  second  regiments  were  on  their  way  to  Wash- 
ington City.  The  President  had  only  asked  for 
thirteen  regiments;  thirty  were  gathering;  the 
Government,  not  yet  fully  comprehending  the 
nature  of  the  rebellion,  refused  the  surplus  troops, 
but  Gov.  Dennison  was  authorized  to  put  ten 
additional  regiments  in  the  field,  as  a  defensive 
measure,  and  was  also  authorized  to  act  on  the 
defensive  as  well  as  on  the  offensive.  The  immense 
extent  of  southern  border  made  this  necessary, 
as  all  the  loyal  people  in  West  Virginia  and  Ken- 
tucky asked  for  help. 

In  the  limits  of  this  history,  it  is  impossible  to 
trace  all  the  steps  Ohio  took  in  the  war.  One  of 
her  most  talented  sons,  now  at  the  head  of  one  of 
the  greatest  newspapers  of  the  world,  says,  regard- 
ing the  action  of  the  people  and  their  Legislature : 

"In  one  part  of  the  nation  there  existed  a  grad- 
ual growth  of  sentiment  against  the  Union,  ending 
in  open  hostility  against  its  integrity  and  its  Con- 
stitutional law ;  on  the  other  side  stood  a  resolute, 
and  determined  people,  though  divided  in  minor 
matters,  firmly  united  on  the  question  of  national 
supremacy.  The  people  of  Ohio  stood  squarely 
on  this  side.  Before  this  her  people  had  been  di- 
vided up  to  the  hour  when — 

'"That  fierce  and  sudden  flash  across  the  rugged  black- 
ness broke, 

And,  with  a  voice  that  shook  the  land,  the  guns  of  Sum- 
ter spoke ; 
********* 

And   whereso'er   the   summons  came,  there   rose   the 
angry  din, 

As  when,  upon  a  rocky  coast,  a  stormy  tide  sets  in.' 

"  All  waverings  then  ceased  among  the  people 
and  in  the  Ohio  Legislature.     The  Union  must  be 


rT 


134 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


preserved.  The  white  heat  of  patriotism  and  fe- 
alty to  the  flag  that  had  been  victorious  in  three 
wars,  and  had  never  met  but  temporary  defeat 
then  melted  all  parties^  and  dissolved  all  hesitation, 
and,  April  18,  1861,  by  a  unanimous  vote  of 
ninety-nine  Representatives  in  its  favor,  there  was 
passed  a  bill  appropriating  $500,000  to  carry  into 
effect  the  requisition  of  the  President,  to  protect 
the  National  Government,  of  which  sum  $4.50,000 
were  to  purchase  arms  and  equipments  for  the 
troops  recjuired  by  that  requisition  as  the  quota  of 
Ohio,  and  $50,000  as  an  extraordinary  contingent 
fund  for  the  Governor.  The  commissioners  of  the 
State  Sinking  Fund  were  authorized,  by  the  same 
bill,  to  borrow  this  money,  on  the  0  per  cent  bonds 
of  the  State,  and  to  issue  for  the  same  certificates, 
freeing  such  bonds  from  taxation.  Then  followed 
other  such  legislation  that  declared  the  property  of 
volunteers  free  from  execution  for  debt  during 
their  term  of  service;  that  declared  any  resident 
of  the  State,  who  gave  aid  and  comfort  to  the 
enemies  of  the  Union,  guilty  of  treason  against 
the  State,  to  be  punished  by  imprisonment  at  hard 
labor  for  life;  and,  as  it  had  become  already  evi- 
dent that  thousands  of  militia,  beyond  Ohio's 
quota  of  the  President's  call,  would  volunteer,  the 
Legislature,  adopting  the  sagacious  suggestion  of 
Gov.  Dennison,  resolved  that  all  excess  of  volunteers 
should  be  retained  and  paid  for  service,  under 
direction  of  the  Governor.  Thereupon  a  bill 
was  passed,  authorizing  the  acceptance  of  volunteers 
to  form  ten  regiments,  and  providing  $500,000 
for  their  arms  and  equipments,  and  $1,500,000 
more  to  be  disbursed  for  troops  in  case  of  an  in- 
vasion of  the  State.  Then  other  legislation  was 
enacted,  looking  to  and  providing  against  the  ship- 
ment from  or  through  the  State  of  arms  or  mu- 
nitions of  war,  to  States  either  assuming  to  be 
neutral  or  in  open  rebellion ;  organizing  the  whole 
body  of  the  State  militia;  providing  suitable  offi- 
cers for  duty  on  the  staff  of  the  Governor;  re- 
quiring contracts  for  subsistence  of  volunteers  to 
be  let  to  the  lowest  bidder,  and  authorizing  the 
appointment  of  additional  general  officers. 

"  Before  the  adjournment  of  that  Legislature, 
the  Speaker  of  the  House  had  resigned  to  take 
command  of  one  of  the  regiments  then  about  to 
start  for  Washington  City ;  two  leading  Senators 
had  been  appointed  Brigadier  Generals,  and  many, 
in  fact  nearly  all,  of  the  other  members  of  both 
houses  had,  in  one  capacity  or  another,  entered  the 
military  service.  It  was  the  first  war  legislature 
ever  elected  in  Ohio,  and,  under  sudden  pressure. 


nobly  met  the  first  shock,  and  enacted  the  first 
measures  of  law  for  war.  Laboring  under  difficul- 
ties inseparable  from  a  condition  so  unexpected, 
and  in  the  performance  of  duties  so  novel,  it  may 
be  historically  stated  that  for  patriotism,  zeal  and 
ability,  the  Ohio  Legislature  of  1861  was  the 
equal  of  any  of  its  successors ;  while  in  that  exu- 
berance of  patriotism  which  obliterated  party  lines 
and  united  all  in  a  common  effort  to  meet  the 
threatened  integrity  of  the  United  States  as  a 
nation,  it  surpassed  them  both. 

"  The  war  was  fought,  the  slave  power  forever 
destroyed,  and  under  additional  amendments  to  her 
organic  law,  the  L^nited  States  wiped  the  stain  of 
human  slavery  from  her  escutcheon,  liberating  over 
four  million  human  beings,  nineteen-twentieths  of 
whom  were  native-born  residents. 

"  When  Lee  surrendered  at  Appomattox  Court 
House,  Ohio  had  two  hundred  regiments  of  all 
arms  in  the  National  service.  In  the  course  of 
the  war,  she  had  furnished  two  hundred  and  thirty 
regiments,  besides  twenty-six  independent  batteries 
of  artillery,  five  independent  companies  of  cavalry, 
several  companies  of  sharpshooters,  large  parts  of 
five  regiments  credited  to  the  West  Virginia  con- 
tingent, two  regiments  credited  to  the  Kentucky 
contingent,  two  transferred  to  the  United  States 
colored  troops,  and  a  large  proportion  of  the  rank 
and  file  of  the  Fifty-fourth  and  Sixty-fifth  Massa- 
chusetts Regiments,  also  colored  men.  Of  these  or- 
ganizations, twenty-three  were  infantry  regiments 
furnished  on  the  first  call  of  the  President,  an  ex- 
cess of  nearly  one-half  over  the  State's  quota  ;  one 
hundred  and  ninety-one  were  infantry  regiments, 
furnished  on  subsequent  calls  of  the  President — 
one  hundred  and  seventeen  for  three  years,  twenty- 
seven  for  one  year,  two  for  six  months,  two  for 
three  months,  and  forty-two  for  one  hundred  days. 
Thirteen  were  cavalry,  and  three  artillery  for  three 
years.  Of  these  three-years  troops,  over  twenty 
thousand  re-enlisted,  as  veterans,  at  the  end  of 
their  long  term  of  service,  to  fight  till  the  war 
would  end." 

As  original  members  of  these  organizations,  Ohio 
furnished  to  the  National  service  the  magnificent 
army  of  310,654  actual  soldiers,  omitting  from 
the  above  number  all  those  who  paid  commuta- 
tion money,  veteran  enlistments,  and  citizens  who 
enlisted  as  soldiers  or  sailors  in  other  States.  The 
count  is  made  from  the  reports  of  the  Provost 
Marshal  General  to  the  War  Department,  Penn- 
sylvania gave  not  quite  28,000  more,  while  Illinois 
fell    48,000     behind;      Indiana,     116,000     less; 


-^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


137 


Kentucky,  235,000,  and  Massachusetts,  164,000. 
Thus  Ohio  more  than  maintained,  in  the  National 
army,  the  rank  among  her  sisters  which  her  popu- 
lation supported.  Ohio  furnished  more  troops  than 
the  President  ever  required  of  her  ;  and  at  the 
end  of  the  war,  with  more  than  a  thousand  men  in 
the  camp  of  the  State  who  were  never  mustered 
into  the  service,  she  still  had  a  credit  on  the  rolls 
of  the  War  Department  for  4,332  soldiers,  beyond 
the  aggregate  of  all  quotas  ever  assigned  to  her; 
and,  besides  all  these,  6,479  citizens  had,  in  lieu  of 
personal  service,  paid  the  commutation ;  while  In- 
diana, Kentucky,  Pennsylvania  and  New  York 
were  all  from  five  to  one  hundred  thousand  behind 
their  quotas.  So  ably,  through  all  those  years  of 
trial  and  death,  did  she  keep  the  promise  of  the 
memorable  dispatch  from  her  first  war  Governor  : 
''  If  Kentucky  refuses  to  fill  her  quota,  Ohio  will 
fill  it  for  her." 

"Of  these  troops  11,237  were  killed  or  mor- 
tally wounded  in  action,  and  of  these  6,563  were 
left  dead  on  the  field  of  battle.  They  fought  on 
well-nigh  every  battle-field  of  the  war.  Within 
forty-eight  hours  after  the  first  call  was  made  for 
troops,  two  regiments  were  on  the  way  to  Wash- 
ington. An  Ohio  brigade  covered  the  retreat  from 
the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run.  Ohio  troops  formed 
the  bulk  of  army  that  saved  to  the  Union  the 
territory  afterward  erected  into  West  Virginia  ; 
the  bulk  of  the  army  that  kept  Kentucky  from 
seceding ;  a  large  part  of  the  army  that  captured 
Fort  Donelson  and  Island  No.  10 ;  a  great  part  of 
the  army  that  from  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga, 
and  Mission  Ridge  and  Atlanta,  swept  to  the  sea 
and  captured  Fort  McAllister,  and  north  through 
the  Carolinas  to  Virginia." 

When  Sherman  started  on  his  famous  march  to 
the  sea, someone  said  to  President  Lincoln,  "T  hey 
will  never  get  through;  they  will  all  be  captured, 
and  the  Union  will  be  lost."  "  It  is  impossible," 
replied  the  President ;  "it  cannot  be  done.  There 
is  a  'mighty  sight  of  fight  iji  one  hundred  thou- 
sand   Western  men^ 

Ohio  troops  fought  at  Pea  Ridge.  They  charged 
at  Wagner.  They  helped  redeem  North  Carolina. 
They  were  in  the  sieges  of  Vicksburg,  Charleston, 
Mobile  and  Richmond.  At  Pittsburg  Landing, 
at  Antietam,  Gettysburg  and  Corinth,  in  the 
Wilderness,  at  Five  Forks,  before  Nashville  and 
Appomattox  Court  House;  "their bones,  reposing 
on  the  fields  they  won  and  in  the  graves  they  fill,  are 
a  perpetual  pledge  that  no  flag  shall  ever  wave  over 
their  graves  but  that  flag  they  died  to  maintain." 


Ohio's  soil  gave  birth  to,  or  furnished,  a  Grant, 
a  Sherman,  a  Sheridan,  a  McPherson,  a  Rosecrans, 
a  McClellan,  a  McDowell,  a  Mitchell,  a  Gilmore,  a 
Hazen,a  Sill,  a  Stanley,  a  Steadmau,and  others — all 
but  one,  children  of  the  country,  reared  at  West  Point 
for  such  emergencies.  Ohio's  war  record  shows 
one  General,  one  Lieutenant  General,  twenty  Major 
Generals,  twenty  seven  Brevet  Major  Generals,  and 
thirty  Brigadier  Generals,  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  Brevet  Brigadier  Generals.  Her  three  war 
Governors  were  William  Dennison,  David  Todd,  and 
John  Brough.  She  furnished,  at  the  same  time, 
one  Secretary  of  War,  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  and 
one  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Salmon  P.  Chase. 
Her  Senators  were  Benjamin  F.  Wade  and  John 
Sherman.  At  least  three  out  of  five  of  Ohio's 
able-bodied  men  stood  in  the  line  of  battle.  On 
the  head  stone  of  one  of  these  soldiers,  who  gave 
his  life  for  the  country,  and  who  now  lies  in  a 
National  Cemetery,  is  inscribed  these  words : 

"  We  charge  the  living  to  preserve  that  Constitution  we 
have  died  to  defend." 

The  close  of  the  war  and  return  of  peace  brought 
a  period  of  fictitious  values  on  the  country,  occa- 
sioned by  the  immense  amount  of  currency  afloat. 
Property  rose  to  unheard-of  values,  and  everything 
with  it.  Ere  long,  however,  the  decline  came,  and 
with  it  "  hard  times."  The  climax  broke  over  the 
country  in  1873,  and  for  awhile  it  seemed  as  if 
the  country  was  on  the  verge  of  ruin.  People 
found  again,  as  preceding  generations  had  found, 
that  real  value  was  the  only  basis  of  true  prosper- 
ity, and  gradually  began  to  work  to  the  fact.  The 
Government  established  the  specie  basis  by 
gradual  means,  and  on  the  1st  day  of  January, 
1879,  began  to  redeem  its  outstanding  obligations 
in  coin.  The  efi"ect  was  felt  everywhere.  Busi- 
ness of  all  kinds  sprang  anew  into  life.  A  feeling 
of  confidence  grew  as  the  times  went  on,  and  now, 
on  the  threshold  of  the  year  1880,  the  State  is  en- 
tering on  an  era  of  steadfast  prosperity  ;  one  which 
has  a  sure  and  certain  foundation. 

Nearly  four  years  have  elaped  since  the  great 
Centennial  Exhibition  was  held  in  Philadelphia ; 
an  exhibition  that  brought  from  every  State  in  the 
Union  the  best  products  of  her  soil,  factories,  and 
all  industries.  In  that  exhibit  Ohio  made  an  ex- 
cellent display.  Her  stone,  iron,  coal,  cereals, 
woods  and  everything  pertaining  to  her  welfare  were 
all  represented.  Ohio,  occupying  the  middle  ground 
of  the  Union,  was  expected  to  show  to  foreign  na- 
tions what  the  valleys  of  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio 


V 


Jl- 


-it ® 


138 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


could  produce.  The  State  nobly  stood  the  test 
and  ranked  foremost  among  all  others.  Her  cen- 
tennial building  was  among  the  first  completed 
and  among  the  neatest  and  best  on  the  grounds. 
During  the  summer,  the  Centennial  Commission 
extended  invitations  to  the  Governors  of  the  several 
States  to  appoint  an  orator  and  name  a  day  for  his 


delivery  of  an  address  on  the  history,  progress  and 
resources  of  his  State.  Gov.  Hayes  named  the 
Hon.  Edward  D.  Mansfield  for  this  purpose,  and 
August  9th,  that  gentleman  delivered  an  address 
so  valuable  for  the  matter  which  it  contains,  that 
we  here  give  a  synopsis  of  it. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

OHIO    IN    THE    CENTENNIAL— ADDRESS    OF    EDWARD    D.    MANSFIELD,    LL.    D.,  PHILADELPHIA, 

AUGUST    9,    1876. 


ONE  hundred  years  ago,  the  whole  territory, 
from  the  Alleghany  to  the  Rocky  Mountains 
was  a  wilderness,  inhabited  only  by  wild  beasts  and 
Indians.  The  Jesuit  and  Moravian  missionaries 
were  the  only  white  men  who  had  penetrated  the 
wilderness  or  beheld  its  mighty  lakes  and  rivers. 
While  the  thirteen  old  colonies  were  declaring 
their  independence,  the  thirteen  new  States,  which 
now  lie  in  the  western  interior,  had  no  existence, 
and  gave  no  sign  of  the  future.  The  solitude  of 
nature  was  unbroken  by  the  steps  of  civilization. 
The  wisest  statesman  had  not  contemplated  the 
probability  of  the  coming  States,  and  the  boldest 
patriot  did  not  dream  that  this  interior  wilderness 
should  soon  contain  a  greater  population  than  the 
thirteen  old  States,  with  all  the  added  growth  of 
one  hundred  years. 

Ten  years  after  that,  the  old  States  had  ceded 
their  Western  lands  to  the  General  Government, 
and  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  had  passed 
the  ordinance  of  1785,  for  the  survey  of  the  pub- 
lic territory,  and,  in  17 87,  the  celebrated  ordinance 
which  organized  the  Northwestern  Territory,  and 
dedicated  it  to  freedom  and  intelligence. 

Fifteen  years  after  that,  and  more  than  a  quarter 
of  a  century  after  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence, the  State  of  Ohio  was  admitted  into  the 
Union,  being  the  seventeenth  which  accepted  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States.  It  has  since 
grown  up  to  be  great,  populous  and  prosperous 
under  the  influence  of  those  ordinances.  At  her 
admittance,  in  1803,  the  tide  of  emigration  had 
begun  to  flow  over  the  Alleghanies  into  the  Valley 
of  the  Mississippi,  and,  although  no  steamboat,  no 
railroad  then  existed,  nor  even  a  stage  coach  helped 
the  immigrant,  yet  the  wooden  "  ark  "  on  the 
Ohio,  and  the  heavy  wagon,  slowly  winding  over 


the  mountains,  bore  these  tens  of  thousands  to  the 
wilds  of  Kentucky  and  the  plains  of  Ohio.  In 
the  spring  of  1788 — the  first  year  of  settlement — 
four  thousand  five  hundred  persons  passed  the 
mouth  of  the  Muskingum  in  three  months,  and 
the  tide  continued  to  pour  on  for  half  a  century  in 
a  widening  stream,  mingled  with  all  the  races  of 
Europe  and  America,  until  now,  in  the  hundredth 
year  of  America's  independence,  the  five  States  of  the 
Northwestern  Territory,  in  the  wilderness  of  1776, 
contain  ten  millions  of  people,  enjoying  all  the 
blessings  which  peace  and  prosperity,  freedom  and 
Christianity,  can  confer  upon  any  people.  Of  these 
five  States,  born  under  the  ordinance  of  1787,  Ohio 
is  the  first,  oldest,  and,  in  many  things,  the  greatest. 
In  some  things  it  is  the  greatest  State  in  the  Union. 
Let  us,  then,  attempt,  in  the  briefest  terms,  to 
draw  an  outline  portrait  of  this  great  and  remark- 
able commonwealth. 

Let  us  observe  its  physical  aspects.  Ohio  is 
just  one-sixth  part  of  the  Northwestern  Territory 
— 10,000  square  miles.  It  lies  between  Lake  Erie 
and  the  Ohio  River,  having  200  miles  of  navigable 
waters,  on  one  side  flowing  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean, 
and  on  the  other  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Through 
the  lakes,  its  vessels  touch  on  G,000  miles  of 
interior  coast,  and,  through  the  Mississippi,  on 
36,000  miles  of  river  coast;  so  that  a  citizen  of 
Ohio  may  pursue  his  navigation  through  42,000 
miles,  all  in  his  own  country,  and  all  within  naviga- 
ble reach  of  his  own  State.  He  who  has  circumnavi- 
gated the  globe,  has  gone  but  little  more  than 
half  the  distance  which  the  citizen  of  Ohio  finds 
within  his  natural  reach  in  this  vast  interior. 

Looking  upon  the  surface  of  this  State,  we  find 
no  mountains,  no  barren  sands,  no  marshy  wastes, 
no  lava-covered    plains,   but  one  broad,    compact 


<s~ 


-^ 


HISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


139 


body  of  arable  land,  intersected  with  rivers  and 
streams  and  running  waters,  while  the  beautiful 
Ohio  flows  tranquilly  by  its  side.  More  than  three 
times  the  surface  of  Belgium,  and  one-third  of  the 
whole  of  Italy,  it  has  more  natural  resources  in 
proportion  than  either,  and  is  capable  of  ultimately 
supporting  a  larger  population  than  any  equal  sur- 
face in  Europe.  Looking  from  this  great  arable 
surface,  where  upon  the  very  hills  the  grass  and 
the  forest  trees  now  grow  exuberant  and  abundant, 
we  find  that  underneath  this  surface,  and  easily 
accessible,  lie  10,000  square  miles  of  coal,  and 
4,000  square  miles  of  iron — coal  and  iron  enough 
to  supply  the  basis  of  manufacture  for  a  world ! 
All  this  vast  deposit  of  metal  and  fuel  does  not  in- 
terrupt or  take  from  that  arable  surface  at  all. 
There  you  may  find  in  one  place  the  same  machine 
bringing  up  coal  and  salt  water  from  below,  while 
the  wheat  and  the  corn  grow  upon  the  surface 
above.  The  immense  masses  of  coal,  iron,  salt  and 
freestone  deposited  below  have  not  in  any  way 
diminished  the  fertility  and  production  of  the  soil. 

It  has  been  said  by  some  writer  that  the  char- 
acter of  a  people  is  shaped  or  modified  by  the 
character  of  the  country  in  which  they  live.  If 
the  people  of  Switzerland  have  acquired  a  certain 
air  of  liberty  and  independence  from  the  rugged 
mountains  around  which  they  live;  if  the  people 
of  Southern  Italy,  or  beautifiil  France,  have  ac- 
quired a  tone  of  ease  and  politeness  from  their 
mild  and  genial  clime,  so  the  people  of  Ohio, 
placed  amidst  such  a  wealth  of  nature,  in  the  tem- 
perate zone,  should  show  the  best  fruits  of  peace- 
ful industry  and  the  best  culture  of  Christian 
civilization.  Have  they  done  so?  Have  their 
own  labor  and  arts  and  culture  come  up  to  the  ad- 
vantages of  their  natural  situation?  Let  us  exam- 
ine this  growth  and  their  product. 

The  first  settlement  of  Ohio  was  made  by  a 
colony  from  New  England,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Muskingum.  It  was  literally  a  remnant  of  the 
officers  of  the  Revolution.  Of  this  colony  no 
praise  of  the  historian  can  be  as  competent,  or  as 
strong,  as  the  language  of  Washington.  He  says, 
in  answer  to  inquiries  addressed  to  him:  "No  col- 
ony in  America  was  ever  settled  under  such  favor- 
able auspices  as  that  which  has  just  commenced  at 
the  Muskingum.  Information,  prosperity  and 
strength  will  be  its  characteristics.  I  know  many 
of  the  settlers  personally,  and  there  never  were 
men  better  calculated  to  promote  the  welfare  of 
such  a  community,"  and  he  adds  that  if  he  were 
a  young  man,  he  knows  no  country  in  which  he 


would  sooner  settle  than  in  this  Western  region." 
This  colony,  left  alone  for  a  time,  made  its  own 
government  and  nailed  its  laws  to  a  tree  in  the  vil- 
lage, an  early  indication  of  that  law-abiding  and 
peaceful  spirit  which  has  since  made  Ohio  a  just 
and  well-ordered  community.  The  subsequent 
settlements  on  the  Miami  and  Scioto  were  made  by 
citizens  of  New  Jersey  and  Virginia,  and  it  is  cer- 
tainly remarkable  that  among  all  the  early  immi- 
gration, there  were  no  ignorant  people.  In  the 
language  of  Washington,  they  came  with  "  infor- 
mation," qualified  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the 
community. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  on  the  Muskingum 
and  the  Miami,  the  great  wave  of  migration 
flowed  on  to  the  plains  and  valleys  of  Ohio  and  Ken- 
tucky. Kentucky  had  been  settled  earlier,  but  the 
main  body  of  emigrants  in  subsequent  years 
went  into  Ohio,  influenced  partly  by  the  great 
ordinance  of  1787,  securing  freedom  and  schools 
forever,  and  partly  by  the  greater  security  of 
titles  under  the  survey  and  guarantee  of  the 
United  States  Grovernment.  Soon  the  new  State 
grew  up,  with  a  rapidity  which,  until  then,  was 
unknown  in  the  history  of  civilization.  On  the 
Muskingum,  where  the  buffalo  had  roamed;  on 
the  Scioto,  where  the  Shawanees  had  built  their 
towns ;  on  the  Miami,  where  the  great  chiefs  of 
the  Miamis  had  reigned  ;  on  the  plains  of  San- 
dusky, yet  red  with  the  blood  of  the  white  man  ; 
on  the  Maumee,  where  Wayne,  by  the  victory  of 
the  "  Fallen  Timbers,"  had  broken  the  power  of 
the  Indian  confederacy — the  emigrants  fi-om  the 
old  States  and  from  Europe  came  in  to  cultivate 
the  fields,  to  build  up  towns,  and  to  rear  the  insti- 
tutions of  Christian  civilization,  until  the  single 
State  of  Ohio  is  greater  in  numbers,  wealth,  and 
education,  than  was  the  whole  American  Union 
when  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  made. 

Let  us  now  look  at  the  statistics  of  this  growth 
and  magnitude,  as  they  are  exhibited  in  the  cen- 
sus of  the  United  States.  Taking  intervals  of 
twenty  years,  Ohio  had:  In  1810,  230,760;  in 
1830,  937,903;  in  1850,  1,980,329;  in  1870, 
2,665,260.  Add  to  this  the  increase  of  population 
in  the  last  six  years,  and  Ohio  now  has,  in  round 
numbers,  3,000,000  of  people — half  a  million 
more  than  the  thirteen  States  in  1776 ;  and 
her  cities  and  towns  have  to-day  six  times  the 
population  of  all  the  cities  of  America  one  hund- 
red years  ago.  This  State  is  now  the  third  in 
numbers  and  wealth,  and  the  first  in  some  of 
those    institutions    which    mark  the  progress  of 


:\" 


140 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


mankind.  That  a  small  part  of  the  wilderness  of 
1771)  should  be  more  populous  than  the  whole 
Union  was  then,  and  that  it  should  have  made  a 
social  and  moral  advance  greater  than  that  of  any 
nation  in  the  same  time,  must  be  regarded  as  one 
of  the  most  startling  and  instructive  facts  which 
attend  this  year  of  commemoration.  If  such  has 
been  the  social  growth  of  Ohio,  let  us  look  at  its 
physical  development ;  this  is  best  expressed  by  the 
aggregate  productions  of  the  labor  and  arts  of  a 
people  applied  to  the  earth.  In  the  census  statistics 
of  the  United  States  these  are  expressed  in  the 
aggregate  results  of  agriculture,  mining,  manufact- 
ures, and  commerce.  Let  us  simplify  these  statis- 
tics, by  comparing  the  aggregate  and  ratios  as 
between  several  States,  and  between  Ohio  and  some 
countries  of  Europe. 

The  aggregate  amount  of  grain  and  potatoes — 
farinaceous  food,  produced  in  Ohio  in  1870  was 
134,938,413  bushels,  and  in  1874,  there  were  157,- 
323,597  bushels,  being  the  largest  aggregate 
amount  raised  in  any  State  but  one,  Illinois,  and 
larger  per  square  mile  than  Illinois  or  any  other 
State  in  the  country.  The  promises  of  nature 
were  thus  vindicated  by  the  labor  of  man  ;  and 
the  industry  of  Ohio  has  fulfilled  its  whole  duty 
to  the  sustenance  of  the  country  and  the  world. 
She  has  raised  more  grain  than  ten  of  the  old 
States  together,  and  more  than  half  raised  by 
Great  Britain  or  by  France.  I  have  not  the 
recent  statistics  of  Europe,  but  McGregor,  in  his 
statistics  of  nations  for  1832 — a  period  of  pro- 
found peace — gives  the  following  ratios  for  the 
leading  countries  of  Europe :  Great  Britain,  area 
120,324  miles;  amount  of  grain,  262,500,000 
bushels;  rate  per  square  mile,  2,190  to  1; 
Austria — area  258,003  miles  ;  amount  of  grain, 
366,800,000  bushels;  rate  per  square  mile,  1,422  to 
1 ;  France — area  215,858  miles  ;  amount  of  grain, 
233,847,300  bushels  ;  rate  per  square  mile,  1,080 
to  1.  The  State  of  Ohio — area  per  square  miles, 
40,000  ;  amount  of  grain,  150,000,000  bushels  ; 
rate  per  square  mile,  3,750.  Combining  the  great 
countries  of  Great  Britain,  Austria,  and  France, 
we  find  that  they  had  594,785  square  miles  and 
produced  863,147,300  bushels  of  grain,  which  was,  at 
the  time  these  statistics  were  taken,  1 ,450  bushels  per 
square  mile,  and  ten  bushels  to  each  one  of  the 
population.  Ohio,  on  the  other  hand,  had  3,750 
bushels  per  square  mile,  and  fifty  bushels  to  each 
one  of  the  population ;  that  is,  there  was  five 
times  as  much  gi-ain  raised  in  Ohio,  in  proportion 
to  the  people,  as  in  these  great  countries  of  Europe. 


As  letters  make  words,  and  words  express  ideas,  so 
these  dry  figures  of  statistics  express  facts,  and 
these  facts  make  the  whole  history  of  civilization. 

Let  us  now  look  at  the  statistics  of  domestic 
animals.  These  are  always  indicative  of  the  state 
of  society  in  regard  to  the  physical  comforts.  The 
horse  must  furnish  domestic  conveyances ;  the 
cattle  must  furnish  the  products  of  the  dairy,  as 
well  as  meat,  and  the  sheep  must  furnish  wool. 

Let  us  see  how  Ohio  compares  with  other  States 
and  with  Europe  :  In  1870,  Ohio  had  8,818,000 
domestic  animals ;  Illinois,  6,925,000  ;  New  York, 
5,283,000;  Pennsylvania,  4,493,000;  and  other 
States  less.  The  proportion  to  population  in  these 
States  was,  in  Ohio,  to  each  person,  3.3  ;  Illinois, 
2.7;  New  York,  1.2;  Pennsylvania,  1.2. 

Let  us  now  see  the  proportion  of  domestic  ani- 
mals in  Europe.  The  results  given  by  McGregor's 
statistics  are  :  In  Great  Britain,  to  each  person, 
2.44;  Russia,  2.00;  France,  1.50  ;  Prussia,  1.02; 
Austria,  1.00.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  proportion 
in  Great  Britain  is  only  two-thirds  that  of  Ohio ; 
in  France,  only  one-half;  and  in  Austria  and 
Prussia  only  one-third.  It  may  be  said  that,  in 
the  course  of  civilization,  the  number  of  animals 
diminishes  as  the  density  of  population  increases  ; 
and,  therefore,  this  result  might  have  been  ex- 
pected in  the  old  countries  of  Europe.  But  this 
does  not  apply  to  Russia  or  Germany,  still  less  to 
other  States  in  this  country.  Russia  in  Europe 
has  not  more  than  half  the  density  of  population 
now  in  Ohio.  Austria  and  Prussia  have  less  than 
150  to  the  square  mile.  The  whole  of  the  north 
of  Europe  has  not  so  dense  a  population  as  the 
State  of  Ohio,  still  less  have  the  States  of  Illinois 
and  Missouri,  west  of  Ohio.  Then,  therefore, 
Ohio  showing  a  larger  proportion  of  domestic  ani- 
mals than  the  north  of  Europe,  or  States  west  of 
her,  with  a  population  not  so  dense,  we  see  at  once 
there  must  be  other  causes  to  produce  such  a 
phenomenon. 

Looking  to  some  of  the  incidental  results  of  this 
vast  agricultural  production,  we  see  that  the  United 
States  exports  to  Europe  immense  amounts  of 
grain  and  provisions ;  and  that  there  is  manufact- 
ured in  this  country  an  immense  amount  of  woolen 
goods.  Then,  taking  these  statistics  of  the  raw 
material,  we  find  that  Ohio  produces  one-fifth  of 
all  the  wool ;  one-seventh  of  all  the  cheese ;  one- 
eighth  of  all  the  corn,  and  one-tenth  of  all  the 
wheat ;  and  yet  Ohio  has  but  a  fourteenth  part  of 
the  population,  and  one-eightieth  part  of  the  sur- 
face of  this  country. 


~e) 


■^ 


HISTOEY    OF    OHIO. 


141 


Let  us  take  another — a  commercial  view  of  this 
matter.  We  have  seen  that  Ohio  raises  five  times 
as  much  grain  per  square  mile  as  is  raised  per 
square  mile  in  the  empires  of  Great  Britain,  France 
and  Austria,  taken  together.  After  making  allow- 
ance for  the  differences  of  living,  in  the  working 
classes  of  this  country,  at  least  two-thirds  of  the 
food  and  grain  of  Ohio  are  a  surplus  beyond  the 
necessities  of  life,  and,  therefore,  so  much  in  the 
commercial  balance  of  exports.  This  corresponds 
with  the  fact,  that,  in  the  shape  of  grain,  meat, 
liquors  and  dairy  products,  this  vast  surplus  is  con- 
stantly moved  to  the  Atlantic  States  and  to  Europe. 
The  money  value  of  this  exported  product  is  equal 
to  $100,000,000  per  annum,  and  to  a  solid  capital 
of  $1,500,000,000,  after  all  the  sustenance  of  the 
people  has  been  taken  out  of  the  annual  crop. 

We  are  speaking  of  agriculture  alone.  We  are 
speaking  of  a  State  which  began  its  career  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century  after  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  was  made.  And  now,  it  may  be 
asked,  what  is  the  real  cause  of  this  extraordinary 
result,  which,  without  saying  anything  invidious  of 
other  States,  we  may  safely  say  has  never  been 
surpassed  in  any  country?  We  have  already 
stated  two  of  the  advantages  possessed  by  Ohio. 
The  first  is  that  it  is  a  compact,  unbroken  body  of 
arable  land,  surrounded  and  intersected  by  water- 
courses, equal  to  all  the  demands  of  commerce  and 
navigation.  Next,  that  it  was  secured  forever  to 
freedom  and  intelligence  by  the  ordinance  of  1787. 
The  intelligence  of  its  future  people  was  secured 
by  immense  grants  of  public  lands  for  the  purpose 
of  education ;  but  neither  the  blessings  of  nature, 
nor  the  wisdom  of  laws,  could  obtain  such  results 
without  the  continuous  labor  of  an  intelligent 
people.  Such  it  had,  and  we  have  only  to  take 
the  testimony  of  Washington,  already  quoted,  and 
the  statistical  results  I  have  given,  to  prove  that 
no  people  has  exhibited  more  steady  industry,  nor 
has  any  people  directed  their  labor  with  more  in- 
telligence. 

After  the  agricultural  capacity  and  production 
of  a  country,  its  most  important  physical  feature 
is  its  mineral  products;  its  capacity  for  coal  and 
iron,  the  two  great  elements  of  material  civiliza- 
tion. If  we  were  to  take  away  from  Great  Britain 
her  capacity  to  produce  coal  in  such  vast  quanti- 
ties, we  should  reduce  her  to  a  third-rate  position, 
no  longer  numbered  among  the  great  nations  of  the 
earth.  Coal  has  smelted  her  iron,  run  her  steam 
engines,  and  is  the  basis  of  her  manufactures. 
But  when   we   compare  the  coal   fields  of  Great 


Britain  with  those  of  this  country,  they  are  insig- 
nificant. The  coal  fields  of  all  Europe  are  small 
compared  with  those  of  the  central  United  States. 
The  coal  district  of  Durham  and  Northumberland, 
in  England,  is  only  880  square  miles.  There  are 
other  districts  of  smaller  extent,  making  in  the 
whole  probably  one-half  the  extent  of  that  in 
Ohio.  The  English  coal-beds  are  represented  as 
more  important,  in  reference  to  extent,  on  account 
of  their  thickness.  There  is  a  small  coal  district 
in  Lancashire,  where  the  workable  coal-beds  are  in 
all  150  feet  in  thickness.  But  this  involves,  as  is 
well  known,  the  necessity  of  going  to  immense 
depths  and  incurring  immense  expense.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  workable  coal-beds  of  Ohio  are 
near  the  surface,  and  some  of  them  require  no  ex- 
cavating, except  that  of  the  horizontal  lead  from 
the  mine  to  the  river  or  the  railroad.  In  one 
county  of  Ohio  there  are  three  beds  of  twelve,  six 
and  four  feet  each,  within  fifty  feet  of  the  surface. 
At  some  of  the  mines  having  the  best  coal,  the 
lead  from  the  mines  is  nearly  horizontal,  and  just 
high  enough  to  dump  the  coal  into  the  railroad 
cars.  These  coals  are  of  all  qualities,  from  that 
adapted  to  the  domestic  fire  to  the  very  best  qual- 
ity for  smelting  or  manufacturing  iron.  Recollect- 
ing these  facts,  let  us  try  to  get  an  idea  of  the  coal 
district  of  Ohio.  The  bituminous  coal  region  de- 
escending  the  western  slopes  of  the  Alleghanies, 
occupies  large  portions  of  Western  Pennsylvania, 
West  Virginia,  Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  I 
suppose  that  this  coal  field  is  not  less  than  fifty 
thousand  square  miles,  exclusive  of  Western  iMary- 
land  and  the  southern  terminations  of  that  field  in 
Georgia  and  Alabama.  Of  this  vast  field  of  coal, 
exceeding  anything  found  in  Europe,  about  one- 
fifth  part  lies  in  Ohio.  Prof  Mather,  in  his 
report  on  the  geology  of  the  State  (first  Geologi- 
cal Report  of  the  State)  says: 

"  The  coal-measures  within  Ohio  occupy  a  space 
of  about  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles  in  length  by 
eighty  in  breadth  at  the  widest  part,  with  an  area 
of  about  ten  thousand  square  miles,  extending 
along  the  Ohio  from  Trumbull  County  in  the  north 
to  near  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto  in  the  south. 
The  regularity  in  the  dip,  and  the  moderate  incli- 
nation of  the' strata,  afford  facilities  to  the  mines 
not  known  to  those  of  most  other  countries,  espe- 
cially Great  Britain,  where  the  strata  in  which  the 
coal  is  imbedded  have  been  broken  and  thrown  out 
of  place  since  its  deposit,  occasioning  many  slips 
and  faults,  and  causing  much  labor  and  expense  in 
again  recovering  the  bed.     In  Ohio  there  is  very 


Is 


^1 


142 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


little  difficulty  of  this  kind,  the  faults  being  small 
and  seldom  found." 

Now,  taking  into  consideration  these  geological 
facts,  let  us  look  at  the  extent  of  the  Ohio  coal 
field.  It  occupies,  wholly  or  in  part,  thirty-six 
counties,  including,  geographically,  14,000  square 
miles  ;  but  leaving  out  fractions,  and  reducing  the 
Ohio  coal  field  within  its  narrowest  limits,  it  is 
10,000  S(piare  miles  in  extent,  lies  near  the  surface, 
and  has  on  an  average  twenty  feet  thickness  of  work- 
able coal-beds.  Let  us  compare  this  with  the  coal 
mines  of  Durham  and  Northumberland  (England), 
the  largest  and  best  coal  mines  there.  That  coal 
district  is  estimated  at  850  square  miles,  twelve 
feet  thick,  and  is  calculated  to  contain  9,000,000,- 
000  tons  of  coal.  The  coal  field  of  Ohio  is  twelve 
times  larger  and  one-third  thicker.  Estimated  by 
that  standard,  the  coal  field  of  Ohio  contains  180,- 
000,000,000  tons  of  coal.  Marketed  at  only  $2 
per  ton,  this  coal  is  worth  $360,000,000,000,  or, 
in  other  words,  ten  times  as  much  as  the  whole 
valuation  of  the  United  States  at  the  present  time. 
But  we  need  not  undertake  to  estimate  either  its 
quantity  or  value.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  it  is  a 
quantity  which  we  can  scarcely  imagine,  which  is 
tenfold  that  of  England,  and  which  is  enough  to 
supply  the  entire  continent  for  ages  to  come. 

After  coal,  iron  is  beyond  doubt  the  most  val- 
uable mineral  product  of  a  State.  As  the  mate- 
rial of  manufacture,  it  is  the  most  important. 
What  are  called  the  "  precious  metals  "  are  not  to 
be  compared  with  it  as  an  element  of  industry  or 
profit.  But  since  no  manufactures  can  be  success- 
fully carried  on  without  fuel,  coal  becomes  the  first 
material  element  of  the  arts.  Iron  is  unquestion- 
ably the  next.  Ohio  has  an  iron  district  extending 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto  River  to  some  point 
north  of  the  Mahoning  River,  in  Trumbull  County. 
The  whole  length  is  nearly  two  hundred  miles,  and 
the  breadth  twenty  miles,  making,  as  near  as  we  can 
ascertain,  4,000  square  miles.  The  iron  in  this  dis- 
trict is  of  various  qualities,  and  is  manufactured 
largely  into  bars  and  castings.  In  this  iron  dis- 
trict are  one  hundred  furnaces,  forty-four  rolling- 
mills,  and  fifteen  rail-mills,  being  the  largest  num- 
ber of  either  in  any  State  in  the  Union,  except 
only  Pennsylvania. 

Althoughonly  the  seventeenth  State  inits  admis- 
sion, I  find  that,  by  the  census  statistics  of  1870, 
it  is  the  third  State  in  the  production  of  iron  and  iron 
manufactures.  Already,  and  within  the  life  of 
one  man,  this  State  begins  to  show  what  must  in 
future  time  be  the  vast  results  of  coal   and  iron. 


applied  to  the  arts  and  manufactures.  In  the 
year  1874,  there  were  420,000  tons  of  pig  iron 
produced  in  Ohio,  which  is  larger  than  the  prod- 
uct of  any  State,  except  Pennsylvania.  The 
product  and  the  manufacture  of  iron  in  Ohio 
have  increased  so  rapidly,  and  the  basis  for 
increase  is  so  great,  that  we  may  not  doubt  that 
Ohio  will  continue  to  be  the  greatest  producer  of 
iron  and  iron  fabrics,  except  only  Pennsylvania. 
At  Cincinnati,  the  iron  manufacture  of  the  Ohio 
Valley  is  concentrating,  and  at  Cleveland  the  ores 
of  Lake  Superior  are  being  smelted. 

After  coal  and  iron,  we  may  place  salt  among 
the  necessaries  of  life.  In  connection"  with  the 
coal  region  west  of  the  Alleghanies,  there  lies  in 
Pennsylvania,  West  Virginia,  and  Ohio,  a  large 
space  of  country  underlaid  by  the  salt  rock,  which 
already  produces  immense  amounts  of  salt.  Of 
this,  Ohio  has  its  full  proportion.  In  a  large 
section  of  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  State, 
salt  is  produced  without  any  known  limitation. 
At  Pomeroy  and  other  points,  the  salt  rock  lies 
about  one  thousand  feet  below  the  surface,  but 
salt  water  is  brought  easily  to  the  surface  by  the 
steam  engine.  There,  the  salt  rock,  the  coal 
seam,  and  the  noble  sandstone  lie  in  successive 
strata,  while  the  green  corn  and  the  yellow  wheat 
bloom  on  the  surface  above.  The  State  of  Ohio 
produced,  in  1874,  3,500,000  bushels  of  salt, 
being  one-fifth  of  all  produced  in  the  United 
States.  The  salt  section  of  Ohio  is  exceeded  only 
by  that  of  Syracuse,  New  York,  and  of  Saginaw, 
Michigan.  There  is  no  definite  limit  to  the 
underlying  salt  rock  of  Ohio,  and,  therefore,  the 
production  will  be  proportioned  only  to  the  extent 
of  the  demand. 

Having  now  considered  the  resources  and  the 
products  of  the  soil  and  the  mines  of  Ohio,  we 
may  properly  ask  how  far  the  people  have  employed 
their  resources  in  the  increase  of  art  and  manu- 
facture. We  have  two  modes  of  comparison,  the 
rate  of  increase  within  the  State,  and  the  ratio 
they  bear  to  other  States.  The  aggregate  value 
of  the  products  of  manufacture,  exclusive  of 
mining,  in  the  last  three  censuses  were:  in  1850, 
$62,692,000;  in  1860,  $121,691,000;  in  1870, 
$269,713,000. 

The  ratio  of  increase  was  over  100  per  cent  in 
each  ten  years,  a  rate  far  beyond  that  of  the  in- 
crease of  population,  and  much  beyond  the  ratio  of 
increase  in  the  whole  country.  In  1850,  the  man- 
ufiictures  of  Ohio  were  one-sixteenth  part  of  the 
aggregate  in  the  country ;  in  1860,  one-fifteenth 


-^ 


HISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


143 


part;  in  1870,  one-twelfth  part.  In  addition  to 
this,  we  find,  from  the  returns  of  Cincinnati  and 
Cleveland,  that  the  value  of  the  manufactured  prod- 
ucts of  Ohio  in  1875,  must  have  reached  $400,- 
000,000.  and,  by  reference  to  the  census  tables,  it 
will  be  seen  that  the  ratio  of  increase  exceeded  that 
of  the  great  manufacturing  States  of  New  York, 
Massachusetts  and  Connecticut.  Of  all  the  States 
admitted  into  the  Union  prior  to  Ohio,  Pennsylvania 
alone  has  kept  pace  in  the  progress  of  manufacture. 
Some  little  reference  to  the  manufacture  of  leading 
articles  may  throw  some  light  on  the  cause  of  this. 
In  the  production  of  agricultural  machinery  and 
implements,  Ohio  is  the  first  State  ;  in  animal  and 
vegetable  oils  and  in  pig  iron,  the  second;  in  cast 
iron  and  in  tobacco,  the  third  ;  in  salt,  in  machinery 
and  in  leather,  the  fourth.  These  facts  show  how 
largely  the  resources  of  coal,  iron  and  agriculture 
have  entered  into  the  manufactures  of  the  State. 
This  great  advance  in  the  manufactures  of  Ohio, 
when  we  consider  that  this  State  is,  relatively  to 
its  surface,  the  first  agricultural  State  in  the 
country,  leads  to  the  inevitable  inference  that  its 
people  are  remarkably  industrious.  When,  on 
forty  thousand  square  miles  of  surface,  three  mill- 
ions of  people  raise  one  hundred  and  fifty  million 
bushels  of  grain,  and  produce  manufactures  to  the 
amount  of  $269,000,000  (which  is  fifty  bushels 
of  breadstuff  to  each  man,  woman  and  child,  and 
$133  of  manufacture),  it  will  be  difficult  to  find 
any  community  surpassing  such  results.  It  is  a 
testimony,  not  only  to  the  State  of  Ohio,  but  to 
the  industry,  sagacity  and  energy  of  the  American 
people. 

Looking  now  to  the  commerce  of  the  State,  we 
have  said  there  are  six  hundred  miles  of  coast  line, 
which  embraces  some  of  the  principal  internal  ports 
of  the  Ohio  and  the  lakes,  such  as  Cincinnati,  Cleve- 
land, Toledo  and  Portsmouth,  but  whose  commerce 
is  most  wholly  inland.  Of  course,  no  comparison 
can  be  made  with  the  foreign  commerce  of  the 
ocean  ports.  On  the  other  -hand,  it  is  well  known 
that  the  inland  trade  of  the  country  far  exceeds 
that  of  all  its  foreign  commerce,  and  that  the  larg- 
est part  of  this  interior  trade  is  carried  on  its 
rivers  and  lakes.  The  materials  for  the  vast  con- 
sumption of  the  interior  must  be  conveyed  in  its 
vessels,  whether  of  sail  or  steam,  adapted  to  these 
waters.  Let  us  take,  then,  the  ship-building,  the 
navigation,  and  the  exchange  trades  of  Ohio,  as 
elements  in  determining  the  position  of  this  State 
in  reference  to  the  commerce  of  the  country.  At 
the  ports  of  Cleveland,  Toledo,  Sandusky  and  Cin- 


cinnati, there  have  been  built  one  thousand  sail  and 
steam  vessels  in  the  last  twenty  years,  making  an 
average  of  fifty  each  year.  The  number  of  sail, 
steam  and  all  kinds  of  vessels  in  Ohio  is  eleven 
hundred  and  ninety,  which  is  equal  to  the  number 
in  all  the  other  States  in  the  Ohio  Valley  and  the 
Upper  Mississippi. 

When  we  look  to  the  navigable  points  to  which 
these  vessels  are  destined,  we  find  them  on  all  this 
vast  coast  line,  which  extends  from  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  to  the  Yellowstone,  and  from  Duluth  to 
the  St.  Lawrence. 

Looking  again  to  see  the  extent  of  this  vast  in- 
terior trade  which  is  handled  by  Ohio  alone,  we 
find  that  the  imports  and  exports  of  the  principal 
articles  of  Cincinnati,  amount  in  value  to  $500,- 
000,000;  and  when  we  look  at  the  great  trade  of 
Cleveland  and  Toledo,  we  shall  find  that  the  an- 
nual trade  of  Ohio  exceeds  $700,000,000.  The 
lines  of  railroad  which  connect  with  its  ports,  are 
more  than  four  thousand  miles  in  length,  or  rather 
more  than  one  mile  in  length  to  each  ten  square 
miles  of  surface.  This  great  amount  of  railroads  is 
engaged  not  merely  in  transporting  to  the  Atlantic 
and  thence  to  Europe,  the  immense  surplus  grain 
and  meat  in  Ohio,  but  in  carrying  the  largest  part 
of  that  greater  surplus,  which  exists  in  the  States 
west  of  Ohio,  the  granary  of  the  West.  Ohio 
holds  the  gateway  of  every  railroad  north  of  the 
Ohio,  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Atlantic,  and 
hence  it  is  that  the  great  transit  lines  of  the  coun- 
try pass  through  Ohio. 

Let  us  now  turn  from  the  progress  of  the  arts 
to  the  progress  of  ideas ;  from  material  to  intellect- 
ual development.  It  is  said  that  a  State  consists 
of  men,  and  history  shows  that  no  art  or  science, 
wealth  or  power,  will  compensate  for  the  want  of 
moral  or  intellectual  stability  in  the  minds  of  a 
nation.  Hence,  it  is  admitted  that  the  strength 
and  perpetuity  of  our  republic  must  consist  in  the 
intelligence  and  morality  of  the  people.  A  re- 
public can  last  only  when  the  people  are  enlight- 
ened. This  was  an  axiom  with  the  early  legislators 
of  this  country.  Hence  it  was  that  when  Vir- 
ginia, Connecticut  and  the  original  colonies  ceded 
to  the  General  Government  that  vast  and  then  un- 
known wilderness  which  lay  west  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  in  the  valleys  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  thoy 
took  care  that  its  future  inhabitants  should  be  an 
educated  people.  The  Constitution  was  not  formed 
when  the  celebrated  ordinance  of  1787  was  passed. 

That  ordinance  provided  that,  "  Religion,  mor- 
ality,   and    knowledge   being    necessary    to   good 


sW*" 


t. 

j^®- 


144 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


government  and  the  happiness  of  mankind,  schools 
and  the  means  of  education  shall  be  forever  en- 
couraged;" and  by  the  ordinance  of  1785  for  the 
survey  of  public  lands  in  the  Northwestern  Terri- 
tory, Section  16  in  each  township,  that  is,  one 
thirty-sixth  part,  was  reserved  for  the  maintenance 
of  public  schools  in  said  townships.  As  the  State 
of  Ohio  contained  a  little  more  than  twenty-five 
millions  of  acres,  this,  together  with  two  special 
grants  of  three  townships  to  universities,  amounted 
to  the  dedication  of  740,000  acres  of  land  to  the 
maintenance  of  schools  and  colleges.  It  was  a 
splendid  endowment,  but  it  was  many  years  before 
it  became  available.  It  was  sixteen  years  after  the 
passage  of  this  ordinance  (in  1803),  when  Ohio 
entered  the  Union,  and  legislation  upon  this  grant 
became  possible.  The  Constitution  of  the  State 
pursued  the  language  of  the  ordinance,  and  de- 
clared that  "schools  and  the  means  of  education 
shall  forever  be  encouraged  by  legislative  provision." 
The  Governors  of  Ohio,  in  successive  messages, 
urged  attention  to  this  subject  upon  the  people; 
but  the  thinness  of  settlement,  making  it  impossi- 
ble, except  in  few  districts,  to  collect  youth  in  suf- 
ficient numbers,  and  impossible  to  sell  or  lease 
lands  to  advantage,  caused  the  delay  of  efficient 
school  system  for  many  years.  In  1825,  however, 
a  general  law  establishing  a  school  system,  and  levy- 
ing a  tax  for  its  support,  was  passed. 

This  was  again  enlarged  and  increased  by  new 
legislation  in  183(3  and  1846.  From  that  time  to 
this,  Ohio  has  had  a  broad,  liberal  and  efficient  sys- 
tem of  public  instruction.  The  taxation  for  schools, 
and  the  number  enrolled  in  them  at  different  pe- 
riods, will  best  show  what  has  been  done.  In 
1855  the  total  taxation  for  school  purposes  was 
$2,672,827.  The  proportion  of  youth  of  school- 
able age  enrolled  was  67  per  cent.  In  1874  the 
amount  raised  by  taxation  was  $7,425,135.  The 
number  enrolled  of  schoolable  age  was  70  per 
cent,  or  707,943. 

As  the  schoolable  age  extends  to  twenty-one 
years,  and  as  there  are  very  few  youth  in  school 
after  fifteen  years  of  age,  it  follows  that  the  70 
per  cent  of  schoolable  youths  enrolled  in  the  ])ub- 
lic  schools  must  comprehend  nearly  the  whole 
number  between  four  and  fifteen  years.  It  is  im- 
portant to  observe  this  fact,  because  it  has  been 
inferred  that,  as  the  whole  number  of  youth  be- 
tween five  and  twenty-one  have  not  been  enrolled, 
therefore  they  are  not  educated.  This  is  a 
mistake;  nearly  all  over  fifteen  years  of  age  have 
been  in    the    public  schools,  and    all    the  native 


youth  of  the  State,  and  all  foreign  born,  young 
enough,  have  had  the  benefit  of  the  public  schools. 
But  in  consequence  of  the  large  number  who 
have  come  from  other  States  and  from  foreign 
countries,  there  are  still  a  few  who  are  classed  by 
the  census  statistics  among  the  "illiterate;"  the 
proportion  of  this  class,  however,  is  less  in  propor- 
tion than  in  twenty-eight  other  States,  and  less  in 
proportion  than  in  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts, 
two  of  the  oldest  States  most  noted  for  popular 
education.  In  fact,  every  youth  in  Ohio,  under 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  may  have  the  benefit  of  a 
public  education  ;  and,  since  the  system  of  graded 
and  high  schools  has  been  adopted,  may  obtain  a 
common  knowledge  from  the  alphabet  to  the  classics. 
The  enumerated  branches  of  study  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Ohio  are  thirty-four,  including 
mathematics  and  astronomy,  French,  German  and 
the  classics.  Thus  the  State  which  was  in  the 
heart  of  the  wilderness  in  1776,  and  was  not  a 
State  until  the  nineteenth  century  had  begun,  now 
presents  to  the  world,  not  merely  an  unrivaled  de- 
velopment of  material  prosperity,  but  an  unsur- 
passed system  of  popular  education. 

In  what  is  called  the  higher  education,  in  the 
colleges  and  universities,  embracing  the  classics 
and  sciences  taught  in  regular  classes,  it  is  the  pop- 
ular idea,  and  one  which  few  dare  to  question,  that 
we  must  look  to  the  Eastern  States  for  superiority 
and  excellence ;  but  that  also  is  becoming  an  as- 
sumption without  proof;  a  proposition  difficult  to 
sustain.  The  facts  in  regard  to  the  education  of 
universities  and  colleges,  their  faculties,  students 
and  course  of  instruction,  are  all  set  forth  in  the 
complete  statistics  of  the  Bureau  of  Education  for 
1874.  They  show  that  the  State  of  Ohio  had  the 
largest  number  of  such  institutions;  the  largest 
number  of  instructors  in  their  faculties,  except  one 
State,  New  York ;  and  the  largest  number  of  stu- 
dents in  regular  college  classes,  in  proportion  to 
their  population,  except  the  two  States  of  Connect- 
icut and  Massachusetts.  Perhaps,  if  we  look  at 
the  statistics  of  classical  students  in  the  colleges, 
disregarding  preparatory  and  irregular  courses,  we 
shall  get  a  more  accurate  idea  of  the  progress  of 
the  higher  education  in  those  States  which  claim 
the  best.  In  Ohio,  36  colleges,  258  teachers, 
2,139  students,  proportion,  1  in  124;  in  Penn- 
sylvania, 27  colleges,  239  teachers,  2,359  students, 
proportion,  1  in  150;  in  New  York,  26  colleges, 
343  teachers,  2,764  students,  proportion,  1  in  176; 
in  the  six  NewEngland  States,  17  colleges,  252  teach- 
ers, 3,341  students,  proportion,  1  in  105;  in  Illi- 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


145 


nois,   24  colleges,   219  teachers,   1,701   students, 
proportion,  1  in  140. 

This  shows  there  are  more  collegiate  institutions 
in  Ohio  than  in  all  New  England  ;  a  greater  num- 
ber of  college  teachers,  and  only  a  little  smaller  ratio 
of  students  to  the  population  ;  a  greater  number  of 
such  students  than  either  in  New  York  or  Pennsyl- 
vania, and,  as  a  broad,  general  fact,  Ohio  has  made 
more  progress  in  education  than  either  of  the  old 
States  which  formed  the  American  Union.  Such 
a  fact  is  a  higher  testimony  to  the  strength  and  the 
beneficent  influence  of  the  American  Government 
than  any  which  the  statistician  or  the  historian 
can  advance. 

Let  us  now  turn  to  the  moral  aspects  of  the 
people  of  Ohio.  No  human  society  is  found  with- 
out its  poor  and  dependent  classes,  whether  made 
so  by  the  defects  of  nature,  by  acts  of  Providence, 
or  by  the  accidents  of  fortune.  Since  no  society 
is  exempt  from  these  classes,  it  must  be  judged 
not  so  much  by  the  fact  of  their  existence,  as  by 
the  manner  in  which  it  treats  them.  In  the  civil- 
ized nations  of  antiquity,  such  as  Greece  and 
Rome,  hospitals,  infirmaries,  orphan  homes,  and 
asylums  for  the  infirm,  were  unknown.  These 
are  the  creations  of  Christianity,  and  that  must  be 
esteemed  practically  the  most  Christian  State  which 
most  practices  this  Christian  beneficence.  In  Ohio, 
as  in  all  the  States  of  this  country,  and  of  all 
Christian  countries,  there  is  a  large  number  of  the 
infirm  and  dependent  classes;  but,  although  Ohio 
is  the  third  State  in  population,  she  is  only  the 
fourteenth  in  the  proportion  of  dependent  classes. 
The  more  important  point,  however,  was,  how  does 
she  treat  them  ?  Is  there  wanting  any  of  all 
the  varied  institutions  of  benevolence?  How  does 
she  compare  with  other  States  and  countries  in 
this  respect?  It  is  believed  that  no  State  or  coun- 
try can  present  a  larger  proportion  of  all  these 
institutions  which  the  benevolence  of  the  wise  and 
good  have  suggested  for  the  alleviation  of  suffer- 
ing and  misfortune,  than  the  State  of  Ohio.  With 
3,500  of  the  insane  within  h§r  borders,  she  has 
five  great  lunatic  asylums,  capable  of  accommodat- 
ing them  all.  She  has  asylums  for  the  deaf  and 
dumb,  the  idiotic,  and  the  blind.  She  has  the 
best  hospitals  in  the  country.  She  has  schools 
of  reform  and  houses  of  refuge.  She  has  "  homes  " 
for  the  boys  and  girls,  to  the  number  of  800,  who 
are  children  of  soldiers.  She  has  penitentiaries 
and  jails,  orphan  asylums  and  infirmaries.  In 
every  county  there  is  an  infirmary,  and  in  every 
public  institution,  except  the  penitentiary,  there  is  a 


school.  So  that  the  State  has  used  every  human 
means  to  relieve  the  suff'ering,  to  instruct  the  igno- 
rant, and  to  reform  the  criminal.  There  are  in 
the  State  80,000  who  come  under  all  the  various 
forms  of  the  infirm,  the  poor,  the  sick  and  the 
criminal,  who,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  make 
the  dependent  class.  For  these  the  State  has 
made  every  provision  which  humanity  or  justice 
or  intelligence  can  require.  A  young  State,  de- 
veloped in  the  wilderness,  she  challenges,  without 
any  invidious  comparison,  both  Europe  and  Amer- 
ica, to  show  her  superior  in  the  development  of 
humanity  manifested  in  the  benefaction  of  public 
institutions. 

Intimately  connected  with  public  morals  and 
with  charitable  institutions,  is  the  religion  of  a 
people.  The  people  of  the  United  States  are  a 
Christian  people.  The  people  of  Ohio  have  man- 
ifested their  zeal  by  the  erection  of  churches,  of 
Sunday  schools,  and  of  religious  institutions.  So 
far  as  these  are  outwardly  manifested,  they  are 
made  known  by  the  social  statistics  of  the  census. 
The  number  of  church  organizations  in  the  leading 
States  were :  In  the  State  of  Ohio,  6,488  ;  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  5,627  :  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  5,984  ;  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  4,298. 
It  thus  appears  that  Ohio  had  a  larger  number 
of  churches  than  any  State  of  the  Union.  The 
number  of  sittings,  however,  was  not  quite  as 
large  as  those  in  New  York  and  Pennsylvania. 
The  denominations  are  of  all  the  sects  known  in 
this  country,  about  thirty  in  number,  the  majority 
of  the  whole  being  Methodists,  Presbyterians  and 
Baptists.  Long  before  the  American  Independ- 
ence, the  Moravians  had  settled  on  the  Mahoning 
and  Tuscarawas  Rivers,  but  only  to  be  destroyed ; 
and  when  the  peace  with  Great  Britain  was  made, 
not  a  vestige  of  Christianity  remained  on  the 
soil  of  Ohio  ;  yet  we  see  that  within  ninety  years 
from  that  time  the  State  of  Ohio  was,  in  the  num- 
ber of  its  churches,  the  first  of  this  great  Union. 

In  the  beginning  of  this  address,  I  said  that 
Ohio  was  the  oldest  and  first  of  these  great  States, 
carved  out  of  the  Northwestern  Territory,  and  that 
it  was  in  some  things  the  greatest  State  of  the 
American  Union.  I  have  now  traced  the  physi- 
cal, commercial,  intellectual  and  moral  features  of 
the  State  during  the  seventy-five  years  of  its 
constitutional  history.  The  result  is  to  establish 
fully  the  propositions  with  which  I  began.  These 
facts  have  brought  out : 

1.  That  Ohio  is,  in  reference  to  the  square 
miles  of  its  surface,   the  first  State  in  agriculture 


:^ 


:^i 


146 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


of  tlie  American  Union;  this,  too,  notwithstand- 
ing it  has  800,000  in  cities  and  towns,  and  a  large 
development  of  capital  and  products  in  manu- 
factures. 

2.  That  Ohio  has  raised  more  grain  per  square 
mile  than  either  France,  Austria,  or  Great  Britain. 
They  raised  1,450  bushels  per  square  mile,  and 
10  bushels  to  each  person.  Ohio  raised  3,750 
bushels  per  square  mile,  and  50  bushels  to  each 
one  of  the  population  ;  or,  in  other  words,  five 
times  the  proportion  of  grain  raised  in  Europe. 

3.  Ohio  was  the  first  State  of  the  Union  in 
the  production  of  domestic  animals,  being  far  in 
advance  of  either  New  York,  Pennsylvania  or  Illi- 
nois. The  proportion  of  domestic  animals  to  each 
person  in  Ohio  was  three  and  one-third,  and  in 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania  less  than  half  that. 
The  largest  proportion  of  domestic  animals  pro- 
duced in  Europe  was  in  Great  Britain  and  Russia, 
neither  of  which  come  near  that  of  Ohio. 

4.  The  coal-field  of  Ohio  is  vastly  greater  than 
that  of  Great  Britain,  and  we  need  make  no  com- 
parison with  other  States  in  regard  to  coal  or  iron ; 
for  the  10,000  square  miles  of  coal,  and  4,000 
square  miles  of  iron  in  Ohio,  are  enough  to  supply 
the  whole  American  continent  for  ages  to  come. 

5.  Neither  need  we  compare  the  results  of 
commerce  and  navigation,  since,  from  the  ports  of 
Cleveland  and  Cincinnati,  the  vessels  of  Ohio 
touch  on  42,000  miles  of  coast,  and  her  5,000 
miles  of  railroad  carry  her  products  to  every  part 
of  the  American  continent. 

6.  Notwithstanding  the  immense  proportion 
and  products  of  agriculture  in  Ohio,  yet  she  has 
more  th*an  kept  pace  with  New  York  and  New 
England  in  the  progress  of  manufactures  during 
the  last  twenty  years.  Her  coal  and  iron  are  pro- 
ducing their  legitimate  results  in  making  her  a 
great  manuflicturing  State. 

7.  Ohio  is  the  first  State  in  the  Union  as  to 
the  proportion  of  youth  attending  school ;  and  the 
States  west  of  the  Alleghanies  and  north  of  the 
Ohio  have  more  youth  in  school,  proportionably, 
than  New  England  and  New  York.  The  facts  on 
this  subject  are  so  extraordinary  that  I  may  be 
excused  for  giving  them  a  little  in  detail. 

The  proportion  of  youth  in  Ohio  attending 
school  to  the  population,  is  1  in  4.2;  in  Illinois,  1 
in  4.3;  in  Pennsylvania,  1  in  4.8;  in  New  York, 
1  in  5.2 ;  in  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  1  in 
8.7. 

These  proportions  show  that  it  is  in  the  West, 
and  not  in  the  East,  that  education  is  now  advanc- 


ing; and  it  is  here  that  we  see  the  stimulus  given 
by  the  ordinance  of  1787,  is  working  out  its  great 
and  beneficent  results.  The  land  grant  for  educa- 
tion was  a  great  one,  but,  at  last,  its  chief  effort 
was  in  stimulating  popular  education ;  for  the  State 
of  Ohio  has  taxed  itself  tens  of  millions  of  dollars 
beyond  the  utmost  value  of  the  land  grant,  to 
found  and  maintain  a  system  of  public  education 
which  the  world  has  not  surpassed. 

We  have  seen  that  above  and  beyond  all  this 
material  and  intellectual  development,  Ohio  has 
provided  a  vast  benefaction  of  asylums,  hospitals, 
and  infirmaries,  and  special  schools  for  the  support 
and  instruction  of  the  dependent  classes.  There  is 
not  within  all  her  borders  a  single  one  of  the  deaf, 
dumb,  and  blind,  of  the  poor,  sick,  and  insane,  not 
an  orphan  or  a  vagrant,  who  is  not  provided  for 
by  the  broad  and  generous  liberality  of  the  State 
and  her  people.  A  charity  which  the  classic  ages 
knew  nothing  of,  a  beneficence  which  the  splendid 
hierarchies  and  aristocracies  of  Europe  cannot 
equal,  has  been  exhibited  in  this  young  State, 
whose  name  was  unknown  one  hundred  years  ago, 
whose  people,  from  Europe  to  the  Atlantic,  and 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Ohio,  were,  like  Adam 
and  Eve,  cast  out — "  the  world  be/ore  them  where 
to  choose^ 

Lastly,  we  see  that,  although  the  third  in  pop- 
ulation, and  the  seventeenth  in  admission  to  the 
Union,  Ohio  had,  in  1870,  6,400  churches,  the 
largest  number  in  any  one  State,  and  numbering 
among  them  every  form  of  Christian  worship. 
The  people,  whose  fields  were  rich  with  grain, 
whose  mines  were  boundless  in  wealth,  and  whose 
commerce  extended  through  thousands  of  miles 
of  lakes  and  rivers,  came  here,  as  they  came  to 
New  England's  rock-bound  coast — 

"  With  freedom  to  worship  God." 

The  church  and  the  schoolhouse  rose  beside  the 
green  fields,  and  the  morning  bells  rang  forth  to 
cheerful  children  going  to  school,  and  to  a  Chris- 
tian people  going  to  the  church  of  God. 

Let  us  now  look  at  the  possibilities  of  Ohio  in 
the  future  development  of  the  American  Repub- 
lican Republic.  The  two  most  populous  parts  of 
Europe,  because  the  most  food-producing,  are  the 
Netherlands  and  Italy,  or,  more  precisely,  Belgium 
and  ancient  Lombardy  ;  to  the  present  time,  their 
population  is,  in  round  numbers,  three  hundred  to 
the  square  mile.  The  density  of  population  in 
England  proper  is  about  the  same.  We  may 
assume,  therefore,  that  three  hundred  to  the  square 


■^ 


HISTORY    or    OHIO. 


147 


mile  is,  in  round  numbers,  the  limit  of  comfortable 
subsistence  under  modern  civilization.  It  is  true 
that  modern  improvements  in  agricultural  machin- 
ery and  fertilization  have  greatly  increased  the 
capacity  of  production,  on  a  given  amount  of 
land,  with  a  given  amount  of  labor.  It  is  true, 
also,  that  the  old  countries  of  Europe  do  not 
possess  an  equal  amount  of  arable  land  with  Ohio 
in  proportion  to  the  same  surface.  It  would  seem, 
therefore,  that  the  density  of  population  in  Ohio 
might  exceed  that  of  any  part  of  Europe.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  may  be  said  with  truth  that  the 
American  people  will  not  become  so  dense  as  in 
Europe  while  they  have  new  lands  in  the  West 
to  occupy.  This  is  true  ;  but  lands  such  as  those 
in  the  valley  of  the  Ohio  are  now  becoming 
scarce  in  the  West,  and  we  think  that,  with  her 
great  capacity  for  the  production  of  grain  on  one 
hand,  and  of  illimitable  quantities  of  coal  and 
iron  to  manufacture  with  on  the  other,  that  Ohio 
will,  at  no  remote  period,  reach  nearly  the  density 
of  Belgium,  which  will  give  her  10,000,000  of 
people.  This  seems  extravagant,  but  the  tide  of 
migration,  which  flowed  so  fast  to  the  West,  is 
beginning  to  ebb,  while  the  manufactures  of  the 
interior  offer  greater  inducements. 

With  population  comes  wealth,  the  material  for 
education,  the  development  of  the  arts,  advance 
in  all  the  material  elements  of  civilization,  and  the 
still  grander  advancements  in  the  strength  and 
elevation  of  the  human  mind,  conquering  to  itself 
new  realms  of  material  and  intellectual  power, 
acquiring  in  the  future  what  we  have  seen  in  the 
past,  a  wealth  of  resources  unknown  and  undreamed 
of  when,  a  hundred  years  ago,  the  fathers  of  the 
republic  declared  their  independence.  I  know 
how  easy  it  is  to  treat  this  statement  with  easy 
incredulity,  but  statistics  is  a  certain  science ;  the 
elements  of  civilization  are  now  measured,  and  we 
know  the  progress  of  the  human  race  as  we  know 


that  of  a  cultivated  plant.  We  know  the  resources 
of  the  country,  its  food-producing  capacity,  its 
art  processes,  its  power  of  education,  and  the  unde- 
fined and  illimitable  power  of  the  human  mind 
for  new  inventions  and  unimagined  progress.  With 
this  knowledge,  it  is  not  difiicult  nor  unsafe  to  say 
that  the  future  will  produce  more,  and  in  a  far 
greater  ratio,  than  the  past.  The  pictured  scenes 
of  the  prophets  have  already  been  more  than  ful- 
filled, and  the  visions  of  beauty  and  glory,  which 
their  imagination  failed  fully  to  describe,  will  be 
more  than  realized  in  the  bloom  of  that  garden 
which  republican  America  will  present  to  the 
eyes  of  astonished  mankind.  Long  before  another 
century  shall  have  passed  by,  the  single  State  of 
Ohio  will  present  fourfold  the  population  with  which 
the  thirteen  States  began  their  independence,  more 
wealth  than  the  entire  Union  now  has ;  greater 
universities  than  any  now  in  the  country,  and  a 
development  of  arts  and  manufacture  which  the 
world  now  knows  nothing  of.  You  have  seen 
more  than  that  since  the  Constitution  was  adopted, 
and  what  right  have  you  to  say  the  future  shall 
not  equal  the  past  ? 

I  have  aimed,  in  this  address,  to  give  an  exact 
picture  of  what  Ohio  is,  not  more  for  the  sake  of 
Ohio  than  as  a  representation  of  the  products 
which  the  American  Republic  has  given  to  the 
world.  A  State  which  began  long  after  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  in  the  then  unknown 
wilderness  of  North  America,  presents  to-day 
the  fairest  example  of  what  a  republican  govern- 
ment with  Christian  civilization  can  do.  Look 
upon  this  picture  and  upon  those  of  Assyria, 
of  Greece  or  Rome,  or  of  Europe  in  her  best 
estate,  and  say  where  is  the  civilization  of  the 
earth  which  can  equal  this.  If  a  Roman  citizen  could 
say  with  pride,  "  Civis  Romanus  sum,"  with  far 
greater  pride  can  you  say  this  day,  "I  am  an 
American  citizen." 


■"I e) 


r^  Q 


148 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


EDUCATION*  — EARLY    SCHOOL    LAWS  — NOTES  — INSTITUTES    AND    EDUCATIONAL    JOURNALS- 
SCHOOL    SYSTEM  — SCHOOL    FUNDS— COLLEGES     A.ND    UNIVERSITIES. 


WHEN  the  survey  of  the  Northwest  Terri- 
tory was  ordered  by  Congress,  March  20, 
1785,  it  was  decreed  that  every  sixteenth  section 
of  hind  should  be  reserved  for  the  "maintenance 
of  pubhc  schools  within  each  township."  The 
ordinance  of  1787 — thanks  to  the  New  England 
Associates — proclaimed  that,  "  religion,  morality 
and  knowledge  being  essential  to  good  government, 
schools  and  the  means  of  education  should  forever 
be  encouraged."  The  State  Constitution  of  1802 
declared  that  "  schools  and  the  means  of  instruc- 
tion should  be  encouraged  by  legislative  provision, 
not  inconsistent  with  the  rights  of  conscience." 
In  1825,  through  the  persevering  eflforts  of  Nathan 
Guilford,  Senator  from  Hamilton  County,  Ephraim 
Cutler,  Representative  from  Washington  County, 
and  other  friends  of  education,  a  bill  was  passed, 
"  laying  the  foundation  for  a  general  system  of 
common  schools."  This  bill  provided  a  tax  of  one- 
half  mill,  to  be  levied  by  the  County  Commis- 
sioners for  school  purposes ;  provided  for  school 
examiners,  and  made  Township  Clerks  and  County 
Auditors  school  officers.  In  1829,  this  county 
tax  was  raised  to  three-fourths  of  a  mill ;  in  1834 
to  one  mill,  and,  in  1836,  to  one  and  a  half  mills. 
In  March,  1837,  Samuel  Lewis,  of  Hamilton 
County,was  appointed  State  Superintendent  of  Com- 
mon Schools.  He  was  a  very  energetic  worker,  trav- 
eling on  horseback  all  over  the  State,  delivering  ad- 
dresses and  encouraging  school  officers  and  teachers. 
Through    his   efforts   much  good  was  done,  and 

*  From  the  School  Commissioners'  Reports,  principally  those  of 
Thomns  W.  Harvey,  A.  M. 

Note  1. — The  first  school  taught  in  Ohio,  or  in  the  Northwestern 
Territory,  was  iu  1791.  The  first  teacher  was  Maj.  Austin  Tiipper, 
eldestson  of  Gen.  Benjamin  Tnpper,  both  Revolutionary  officers. 
The  room  occupied  was  the  same  as  that  in  which  the  first  Court  was 
held,  and  was  situated  in  the  northwest  block-house  of  the  garrison, 
called  the  stockade,  at  Marietta.  During  the  Indian  war  school 
was  al.so  taught  at  Fort  Harmar,  Point  Marietta,  and  at  other  set- 
tlements. A  meeting  was  held  in  Marietta,  April  29,  1797,  to  con- 
sider the  erection  of  a  school  building  suitable  for  the  instruction 
of  the  youth,  and  for  conducting  religious  services.  Resolutions 
were  adopted  which  led  to  the  erection  of  a  building  called  the 
Muskingum  Academy.  The  building  was  of  frame,  forty  feet  long 
and  twenly-four  feet  wide,  and  is  yet(lS78)standing.  Thebuilding 
was  twelve  ffet  higlj,  with  an  arched  ceiling.  It  stood  upon  astone 
foundation,  three  steps  from  the  ground.  There  were  two  chimneys 
and  a  lobby  projection.  There  was  a  cellar  under  the  whole  build- 
ing. It  stood  upon  a  beaiitiful  lot,  fronting  the  Muskingum  River, 
and  about  sixty  feet  back  fiom   the  street.     Some  large  trees  were 


many  important  features  engrafted  on  the  school 
system.  He  resigned  in  1839,  when  the  office  was 
abolished,  and  its  duties  imposed  on  the  Secretary 
of  State. 

The  most  important  adjunct  in  early  education 
in  the  State  was  the  college  of  teachers  organized 
in  Cincinnati  in  1831.  Albert  Pickett,  Dr.  Joseph 
Ray,  William  H.  McGuffey — so  largely  known  by 
his  Readers — and  Milo  G.  Williams,  were  at  its 
head.  Leading  men  in  all  parts  of  the  West  at- 
tended its  meetings.  Their  published  deliberations 
did  much  for  the  advancement  of  education  among 
the  people.  Through  the  efforts  of  the  college, 
the  first  convention  held  in  Ohio  for  educational 
purposes  was  called  at  Columbus,  January  13, 
1836.  Two  years  after,  in  December,  the  first 
convention  in  which  the  different  sections  of  the 
State  were  represented,  was  held.  At  both  these 
conventions,  all  the  needs  of  the  schools,  both  com- 
mon and  higher,  were  ably  and  fully  discussed, 
and  appeals  made  to  the  people  for  a  more  coi'dial 
support  of  the  law.  No  successful  attempts  were 
made  to  organize  a  permanent  educational  society 
until  December,  1847,  when  the  Ohio  State  Teach- 
ers' Association  was  formed  at  Akron,  Summit 
County,  with  Samuel  Galloway  as  President;  T. 
W.  Harvey,  Recording  Secretary;  M.  D.  Leggett, 
Corresponding  Secretary ;  William  Bowen,  Treas- 
urer, and  M.  F.  Cowdrey,  Chairman  of  the  Executive 
Committee.  This  Association  entered  upon  its 
work  with  commendable  earnestness,  and  has  since 

upon  the  lot  and  on  the  street  in  front.  Across  the  street  was  an 
open  common,  and  beyond  that  the  river.  Immediately  opposite 
tlie  door,  on  entering,  was  a  broad  aisle,  and,  at  the  end  of  the 
aisle,  against  the  wall,  was  a  desk  or  pulpit.  On  the  right  and  left 
of  the  pulpit,  against  the  wall,  and  fronting  the  pulpit,  was  a  row 
of  slips.  On  each  sideof  the  door,  facing  the  pulpit,  were  two  slips, 
and,  at  each  end  of  the  room,  one  slip.  These  slips  were  stationary, 
and  were  fitted  with  desks  that  could  be  let  down,  and  there  were 
boxes  in  the  desks  for  holding  books  and  papers.  In  the  center  of 
the  room  was  an  open  space,  which  could  be  filled  with  movable 
seats.  The  first  school  was  opened  here  in  1800." — Letter  of  A.  T. 
Nye. 

Note  2. — Another  evidence  of  the  character  of  the  New  England 
Associates  is  the  founding  of  a  public  library  as  early  as  1796,  or 
before.  Another  was  also  established  at  Belpre  about  the  same  time. 
Abundant  evidence  proves  the  existence  of  these  libraries,  all  tend- 
ing to  the  fact  that  the  early  settlers,  though  conquering  a  wilder- 
ness and  a  savage  foe,  would  not  allow  their  mental  faculties  to 
lack  for  food.  The  character  of  the  books  shows  that  "solid" 
reading  predominated. 


k^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


149 


never  abated  its  zeal.  Semi-annual  meetings  were 
at  first  held,  but,  since  1858,  only  annual  meetings 
occur.  They  are  always  largely  attended,  and  al- 
ways by  the  best  and  most  energetic  teachers. 
The  Association  has  given  tone  to  the  educational 
interests  of  the  State,  and  has  done  a  vast  amount 
of  good  in  popularizing  education.  In  the  spring 
of  1851,  Lorin  Andrews,  then  Superintendent  of 
the  Massillon  school,  resigned  his  place,  and  be- 
came a  common-school  missionary.  In  July,  the 
Association,  at  Cleveland,  made  him  its  agent,  and 
instituted  measures  to  sustain  him.  He  remained 
zealously  at  work  in  this  relation  until  1853,  when 
he  resigned  to  accept  the  presidency  of  Kenyon 
College,  at  Gambler.  Dr.  A.  Lord  was  then  chosen 
general  agent  and  resident  editor  of  the  Journal 
of  Education,  which  positions  he  filled  two  years, 
with  eminent  ability. 

The  year  that  Dr.  Lord  resigned,  the  ex  officio 
relation  of  the  Secretary  of  State  to  the  common 
schools  was  abolished,  and  the  office  of  school  com- 
missioner again  created.  H.  H.  Barney  was 
elected  to  the  place  in  October,  1853.  The  office 
has  since  been  held  by  Rev.  Anson  Smyth,  elected 
in  1856,  and  re-elected  in  1859  ;  E.  E.  White, 
appointed  by  the  Grovernor,  November  11,  1863, 
to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  C. 
W.  H.  Cathcart,  who  was  elected  in  1862;  John 
A.  Norris,  in  1865;  W.  D.  Henkle,  in  1868; 
Thomas  W.  Harvey,  in  1871;  C.  S.  Smart,  in 
1875,  and  the  present  incumbent,  J.  J.  Burns, 
elected  in  1878,  his  term  expiring  in  1881. 

The  first  teachers'  institute  in  Northern  Ohio 
was  held  at  Sandusky,  in  September,  18-15,  con- 
ducted by  Salem  Town,  of  New  York,  A.  D.  Lord 
and  M.  F.  Cowdrey.  The  second  was  held  at  Char- 
don,  Geauga  Co.,  in  November  of  the  same  year. 
The  first  institute  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
State  was  held  at  Cincinnati,  in  February,  1837; 
the  first  in  the  central  part  at  Newark,  in  March, 
1848.  Since  then  these  meetings  of  teachers  have 
occurred  annually,  and  have  been  the  means  of 
great  good  in  elevating  the  teacher  and  the  public 
in  educational  interests.  In  1848.,  on  petition  of 
forty  teachers,  county  commissioners  were  author- 
ized to  pay  lecturers  from  surplus  revenue,  and  the 
next  year,  to  appropriate  $100  for  institute  pur- 
poses, upon  pledge  of  teachers  to  raise  half  that 
amount.  By  the  statutes  of  1864,  applicants  for 
teachers  were  required  to  pay  50  cents  each  as  an 
examination  fee.  One-third  of  the  amount  thus 
raised  was  allowed  the  use  of  examiners  as  trav- 
eling expenses,  the  remainder  to  be  applied  to  in- 


stitute instruction.  For  the  year  1871,  sixty-eight 
teachers'  institutes  were  held  in  the  State,  at  which 
308  instructors  and  lecturers  were  employed,  and 
7,158  teachers  in  attendance.  The  expense  incurred 
was  $16,361.99,  of  which  $10,127.13  was  taken 
from  the  institute  fund;  $2,730.34,  was  contrib- 
uted by  members;  $680,  by  county  commis- 
sioners, and  the  balance,  $1,371.50,  was  ob- 
tained from  other  sources.  The  last  report  of  the 
State  Commissioners — 1878 — shows  that  eighty- 
five  county  institutes  were  held  in  the  State,  con- 
tinuing in  session  748  days;  416  instructors  were 
employed;  11,466  teachers  attended;  $22,531.47 
were  received  from  all  sources,  and  that  the  ex- 
penses were  $19,587.51,  or  $1.71  per  member. 
There  was  a  balance  on  hand  of  $9,460.74  to  com- 
mence the  next  year,  just  now  closed,  whose  work 
has  been  as  progressive  and  thorough  as  any  former 
year.  The  State  Association  now  comprises  three 
sections;  the  general  association,  the  superintend- 
ents' section  and  the  ungraded  school  section.  All 
have  done  a  good  work,  and  all  report  progress. 

The  old  State  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  con- 
vention in  1802,  was  supplemented  in  1851  by 
the  present  one,  under  which  the  General  Assem- 
bly, elected  under  it,  met  in  1852.  Harvey  Rice, 
a  Senator  from  Cuyahoga  County,  Chairman  of 
Senate  Committee  on  "Common  Schools  and 
School  Lands,"  reported  a  bill  the  29th  of  March, 
to  provide  "for  the  re-organization,  supervision 
and  maintenance  of  common  schools."  This  bill, 
amended  in  a  few  particulars,  became  a  law 
March  14,  1853.  The  prominent  features  of  the 
new  law  were :  The  substitution  of  a  State  school 
tax  for  the  county  tax  ;  creation  of  the  office  of 
the  State  School  Commissioner;  the  creation  of  a 
Township  Board  of  Education,  consisting  of  repre- 
sentatives from  the  subdistricts ;  the  abolition  of 
rate-bills,  making  education  free  to  all  the  youth  of 
the  State ;  the  raising  of  a  fund,  by  a  tax  of  one- 
tenth  of  a  mill  yearly,  "  for  the  purpose  of  fur- 
nishing school  libraries  and  apparatus  to  all  the 
common  schools."  This  "library  tax"  was  abol- 
ished in  1860,  otherwise  the  law  has  remained 
practically  unchanged. 

School  journals,  like  the  popular  press,  have 
been  a  potent  agency  in  the  educational  history  of 
the  State.  As  early  as  1838,  the  Ohio  School 
Director  was  issued  by  Samuel  Lewis,  by  legisla- 
tive authority,  though  after  six  months'  continu- 
ance, it  ceased  for  want  of  support.  The  same 
year  the  Fesfalozzian,  by  E.  L.  Sawtell  and  II. 
K.  Smith,  of  Akron,   and  the    Common    School 


150 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


Advocate,  of  Cincinnati,  were  issued.  In  1846, 
the  School  Journal  began  to  be  published  by  A. 
I).  Lord,  of  Kirtland.  The  same  year  saw  the 
Free  School  Clarion,  by  W.  Bowen,  of  Massillon, 
and  the  School  Friend,  by  W.  B.  Smith  &  Co., 
of  Cincinnati.  The  next  year,  W.  H.  Moore  & 
Co.,  of  Cincinnati,  started  the  Western  School 
Journal.  In  1851,  the  Ohio  Teacher,  by 
Thomas  Rainey,  appeared;  the  News  and  Edu- 
cator, in  1863,  and  the  Educational  Times,  in 
1866.  In  1850,  Dr.  Lord's  Journal  of  Educa- 
tion was  united  with  the  School  Friend,  and 
became  the  recognized  organ  of  the  teachers  in 
Ohio.  The  Doctor  remained  its  principal  editor 
until  1856,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Anson 
Smyth,  who  edited  the  journal  one  year.  In  1857, 
it  was  edited  by  John  D.  Caldwell ;  in  1858  and 
and  1859,  by  W.  T.  Coggeshall;  in  1860,  by  Anson 
Smyth  again,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of 
E.  E.  White,  who  yet  controls  it.  It  has  an 
immense  circulation  among  Ohio  teachers,  and, 
though  competed  by  other  journals,  since  started, 
it  maintains  its  place. 

The  school  system  of  the  State  may  be  briefly 
explained  as  follows:  Cities  and  incorporated  vil- 
lages are  independent  of  township  and  county  con- 
trol, in  the  management  of  schools,  having  boards 
of  education  and  examiners  of  their  own.  Some 
of  them  are  organized  for  school  purposes,  under 
special  acts.  Each  township  has  a  board  of  edu- 
cation, composed  of  one  member  from  each  sub- 
district.  The  township  clerk  is  clerk  of  this  board, 
but  has  no  vote.  Each  subdistrict  has  a  local 
board  of  trustees,  which  manages  its  school  affairs, 
subject  to  the  advice  and  control  of  the  township 
board.  These  officers  are  elected  on  the  first 
Monday  in  April,  and  hold  their  offices  three 
years.  An  enumeration  of  all  the  youth  between 
the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one  is  made  yearly. 
All  public  schools  are  required  to  be  in  session  at 
least  twenty-four  weeks  each  year.  The  township 
clerk  reports  annually  such  facts  concerning  school 
affiiirs  as  the  law  requires,  to  the  county  auditor, 
who  in  turn  reports  to  the  State  Commissioner, 
who  collects  these  reports  in  a  general  report  to 
the  Legislature  each  year. 

A  board  of  examiners  is  appointed  in  each 
county  by  the  Probate  Judge.  This  board  has 
power  to  grant  certificates  for  a  term  not  exceed- 
ing two  years,  and  good  only  in  the  county  in 
which  they  are  executed ;  they  may  be  revoked  on 
sufficient  cause.  In  1864,  a  State  Board  of 
Examiners  was  created,  with  power  to  issue  life  cer- 


tificates, valid  in  all  parts  of  the  State.  Since 
then,  up  to  January  1,  1879,  there  have  been  188 
of  these  issued.  They  are  considered  an  excellent 
test  of  scholarship  and  abiHty,  and  are  very  credit- 
able to  the  holder. 

The  school  funds,  in  1865,  amounted  to  |3,27l,- 
275.66.  They  were  the  proceeds  of  appropriations 
of  land  by  Congress  for  school  purposes,  upon 
which  the  State  pays  an  annual  interest  of  6  per 
cent.  The  funds  are  known  as  the  Virginia  Mili- 
tary School  Fund,  the  proceeds  of  eighteen  quar- 
ter-townships and  three  sections  of  land,  selected 
by  lot  from  lands  lying  in  the  United  States 
Military  Reserve,  appropriated  for  the  use  of 
schools  in  the  Virginia  Military  Reservation;  the 
United  States  Military  School  Fund,  the  proceeds 
of  one  thirty-sixth  part  of  the  land  in  the  United 
States  Military  District,  appropriated  "for  the  u.se 
of  schools  within  the  same;"  the  Western  Reserve 
School  Fund,  the  proceeds  from  fourteen  quarter- 
townships,  situated  in  the  United  States  Military 
District,  and  37,758  acres,  most  of  which  was  lo- 
cated in  Defiance,  Williams,  Paulding,  Van  Wert 
and  Putnam  Counties,  appropriated  for  the  use  of 
the  schools  in  the  Western  Reserve;  Section 
16,  the  proceeds  from  the  sixteenth  section  of 
each  township  in  that  part  of  the  State  in  which 
the  Indian  title  was  not  extinguished  in  1803;  the 
Moravian  School  Fund,  the  proceeds  from  one 
thirty-sixth  part  of  each  of  three  tracts  of 
4,000  acres  situated  in  Tuscarawas  County,  orig- 
inally granted  by  Congress  to  the  Society  of  United 
Brethren,  and  reconveyed  by  this  Society  to  the 
United  States  in  1824.  The  income  of  these  funds 
is  not  distributed  by  any  uniform  rule,  owing  to 
defects  in  the  granting  of  the  funds.  The  territo- 
rial divisions  designated  receive  the  income  in 
proportion  to  the  whole  number  of  youth  therein, 
while  in  the  remainder  of  the  State,  the  rent  of 
Section  16,  or  the  interest  on  the  proceeds 
arising  from  its  sale,  is  paid  to  the  inhabitants  of 
the  originally  surveyed  townships.  In  these  terri- 
torial divisions,  an  increase  or  decrease  of  popula- 
tion must  necessarily  increase  or  diminish  the 
amount  each  youth  is  entitled  to  receive ;  and  the 
fortunate  location  or  judicious  sale  of  the  sixteenth 
section  may  entitle  one  township  to  receive  a  large 
sum,  while  an  adjacent  township  receives  a  mere 
pittance.  This  inequality  of  benefit  may  be  good 
for  localities,  but  it  is  certainly  a  detriment  to  the 
State  at  large.  There  seems  to  be  no  legal  remedy 
for  it.  In  addition  to  the  income  from  the  before- 
mentioned    funds,  a  variable  revenue   is   received 


'-^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


151 


from  certain  fines  and  licenses  paid  to  either  county 
or  township  treasurers  for  the  use  of  schools; 
from  the  sale  of  swamp  lands  ($25,720.07  allotted 
to  the  State  in  1850),  and  from  personal  property 
escheated  to  the  State. 

Aside  from  the  funds,  a  State  school  tax  is  fixed 
by  statute.  Local  taxes  vary  with  the  needs  of 
localities,  are  limited  by  law,  and  are  contingent 
on  the  liberality  and  public  spirit  of  different  com- 
munities. 

The  State  contains  more  than  twenty  colleges 
and  universities,  more  than  the  same  number  of 
female  seminaries,  and  about  thirty  normal  schools 
and  academies.  The  amount  of  property  invested 
in  these  is  more  than  $6,000,000.  The  Ohio 
University  is  the  oldest  college  in  the  State. 

In  addition  to  the  regular  colleges,  the  State 
controls  the  Ohio  State  University,  formerly  the 
Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College,  established 
from  the  proceeds  of  the  land  scrip  voted  by  Con- 
gress to  Ohio  for  such  purposes.  The  amount 
realized  from  the  sale  was  nearly  $500,000.  This 
is  to  constitute  a  permanent  fund,  the  interest  only 
to  be  used.  In  addition,  the  sum  of  $300,000 
was  voted  by  the  citizens  of  Franklin  County,  in 
consideration  of  the  location  of  the  college  in  that 
county.  Of  this  sum  $111,000  was  paid  for  three 
hundred  and  fifteen  acres  of  land  near  the  city  of 
Columbus,  and  $112,000  for  a  college  building. 


the  balance  being  expended  as  circumstances  re- 
quired, for  additional  buildings,  laboratory,  appa- 
ratus, etc.  Thorough  instruction  is  given  in  all 
branches  relating  to  agriculture  and  the  mechanical 
arts.     Already  excellent  results  are  attained. 

By  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  March  14, 1853, 
township  boards  are  made  bodies  politic  and  cor- 
porate in  law,  and  are  invested  with  the  title,  care 
and  custody  of  all  school  property  belonging  to 
the  school  district  or  township.  They  have  control 
of  the  central  or  high  schools  of  their  townships ; 
prescribe  rules  for  the  district  schools  ;  may  appoint 
one  of  their  number  manager  of  the  schools  of  the 
township,  and  allow  him  reasonable  pay  for  his 
services ;  determine  the  text-books  to  be  used  ;  fix 
the  boundaries  of  districts  and  locate  schoolhouse 
sites  ;  make  estimates  of  the  amount  of  money  re- 
quired ;  apportion  the  money  among  the  districts, 
and  are  required  to  make  an  annual  report  to  the 
County  Auditor,  who  incorporates  the  same  in  his 
report  to  the  State  Commissioner,  by  whom  it 
reaches  the  Legislature. 

Local  directors  control  the  subdistricts.  They 
enumerate  the  children  of  school  age,  employ  and 
dismiss  teachers,  make  contracts  for  building  and 
furnishing  schoolhouses,  and  make  all  necessary 
provision  for  the  convenience  of  the  district  schools. 
Practically,  the  entire  management  rests  with 
them. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

AGRICULTURE— AREA    OP    THE    STATE— EARLY    AGRICULTURE    IN    THE    WEST— MARKETS— LIVE 

STOCK  — NURSERIES,     FRUITS,     ETC.  —  CEREALS  —  ROOT     AND     CUCURBITACEOUS 

CROPS— AGRICULTURAL   IMPLEMENTS— AGRICULTURAL   SOCIETIES— 

POMOLOGICAL    AND    HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETIES. 


"  Oft  did  the  harvest  to  their  sickles  yield, 

Their  furrow  oft  the  stubborn  glebe  has  broke  ; 

How  jocund  did  they  drive  their  teams  afield  ! 

How  bowed  the  woods  beneath  their  sturdy  stroke." 

THE  majority  of  the  readers  of  these  pages  are 
farmers,  hence  a  resume  of  agriculture  in  the 
State,  would  not  only  be  appropriate,  but  valuable 
as  a  matter  of  history.  It  is  the  true  basis  of 
national  prosperity,  and,  therefore,  justly  occupies 
a  foremost  place. 

In  the  year  1800,  the  Territory  of  Ohio  con- 
tained a  population  of  45,365  inhabitants,  or  a 
little  more  than  one  person  to  the  square  mile.    At 


this  date,  the  admission  of  the  Territory  into  the 
Union  as  a  State  began  to  be  agitated.  When  the 
census  was  made  to  ascertain  the  legality  of  the 
act,  in  conformity  to  the  "Compact  of  1787,"  no 
endeavor  was  made  to  ascertain  additional  statis- 
tics, as  now ;  hence,  the  cultivated  land  was  not 
returned,  and  no  account  remains  to  tell  how 
much  existed.  In  1805,  three  years  after  the  ad- 
mission of  the  State  into  the  Union,  7,252,856 
acres  had  been  purchased  from  the  General  Gov- 
ernment. Still  no  returns  of  the  cultivated  lands 
were  made.  In  1810,  the  population  of  Ohio  was 
230,760,  and  the  land  purchased  from  the  Gov- 


±1 


152 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


ernment  amounted  to  9,933,150  acres,  of  which 
amount,  however,  3,569,314  acres,  or  more  than 
one-third,  was  held  by  non-residents.  Of  the  lauds 
occupied  by  resident  land-owners,  there  appear  to 
have  been  100,968  acres  of  first-rate,  1,929,600 
of  second,  and  1,538,745  acres  of  third  rate  lands. 
At  this  period  there  were  very  few  exports  from 
the  farm,  loom  or  shop.  The  people  still  needed 
all  they  produced  to  sustain  themselves,  and  were 
yet  in  that  pioneer  period  where  they  were  obliged 
to  produce  all  they  wanted,  and  yet  were  opening- 
new  liirms,  and  bringing  the  old  ones  to  a  productive 
state. 

Kentucky,  and  the  country  on  the  Monongahela, 
lying  along  the  western  slopes  of  the  Alleghany 
Mountains,  having  been  much  longer  settled,  had 
begun,  as  early  as  1795,  to  send  considerable  quan- 
tities of  flour,  whisky,  bacon  and  tobacco  to  the 
lower  towns  on  the  Mississippi,  at  that  time  in  the 
possession  of  the  Spaniards.  At  the  French  set- 
tlements on  the  Ilhnois,  and  at  Detroit,  were 
being  raised  much  more  than  could  be  used,  and 
these  were  exporting  also  large  quantities  of  these 
materials,  as  well  as  peltries  and  such  commodities 
as  their  nomadic  lives  furnished.  As  the  Missis- 
sippi was  the  natural  outlet  of  the  West,  any  at- 
tempt to  impede  its  free  navigation  by  the  various 
powers  at  times  controlling  its  outlet,  would  lead 
at  once  to  violent  outbreaks  among  the  Western 
settlers,  some  of  whom  were  aided  by  unscrupulous 
persons,  who  thought  to  form  an  independent 
Western  country.  Providence  seems  to  have  had 
a  watchful  eye  over  all  these  events,  and  to  have 
so  guided  them  that  the  attempts  with  such  objects 
in  view,  invariably  ended  in  disgi-ace  to  their  per- 
petrators. This  outlet  to  the  West  was  thought 
to  be  the  only  one  that  could  carry  their  produce  to 
market,  for  none  of  the  Westerners  then  dreamed 
of  the  immense  system  of  railways  now  covering 
that  part  of  the  Union.  As  soon  as  ship-building 
commenced  at  Marietta,  in  the  year  1800,  the 
farmers  along  the  borders  of  the  Ohio  and  Musk- 
ingum llivers  turned  their  attention  to  the  culti- 
vation of  hemp,  in  addition  to  their  other  crops.  In  a 
few  years  sufficient  was  raised,  not  only  to  furnish 
cordage  to  the  ships  in  the  West,  but  large  quan- 
tities were  worked  up  in  the  various  rope-walks 
and  sent  to  the  Atlantic  cities.  Iron  had  been 
discovered,  and  forges  on  the  Juniata  were  busy 
converting  that  necessary  and  valued  material  into 
implements  of  industry. 

By  the  year  1805,  two  ships,  seven  brigs  and 
three  schooners  had  been  built  and  rigged   by  the 


citizens  of  Marietta.  Their  construction  gave  a 
fresh  impetus  to  agriculture,  as  by  means  of  them 
the  surplus  products  could  be  carried  away  to  a 
foreign  market,  where,  if  it  did  not  bring  money, 
it  could  be  exchanged  for  merchandise  equally 
valuable.  Captain  David  Devoll  was  one  of  the 
earliest  of  Ohio's  shipwrights.  He  settled  on  the 
fertile  Muskingum  bottom,  about  five  miles  above 
Marietta,  soon  after  the  Indian  war.  Here  he 
built  a  "floating  mill,"  for  making  flour,  and,  in 
1801,  a  ship  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  tons,  called 
the  Muskingum,  and  the  brig  Eliza  Greene,  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  tons.  In  1804,  he  built  a 
schooner  on  his  own  account,  and  in  the  spring 
of  the  next  year,  it  was  finished  and  loaded  for  a 
voyage  down  the  Mississippi.  It  was  small,  only  of 
seventy  tons  burden,  of  a  light  draft,  and  intended 
to  run  on  the  lakes  east  of  New  Orleans.  In 
shape  and  model,  it  fully  sustained  its  name.  Nonpa- 
reil. Its  complement  of  sails,  small  at  first,  was 
completed  when  it  arrived  in  New  Orleans.  It 
had  a  large  cabin  to  accommodate  passengers,  was 
well  and  finely  painted,  and  sat  gracefully  on  the 
water.  Its  load  was  of  assorted  articles,  and  shows 
very  well  the  nature  of  exports  of  the  day.  It  con- 
sisted of  two  hundred  barrels  of  flour,  fifty  barrels  of 
kiln-dried  corn  meal,  four  thousand  pounds  of 
cheese,  six  thousand  of  bacon,  one  hundred  sets 
of  rum  puncheon  shooks,  and  a  few  grindstones. 
The  flour  and  meal  were  made  at  Captain  Devoll's 
floating  mill,  and  the  cheese  made  in  Belpre,  at  that 
date  one  of  Ohio's  most  flourishing  agricultural  dis- 
tricts. The  Captain  and  others  carried  on  boating  as 
well  as  the  circumstances  of  the  days  permitted,  fear- 
ing only  the  hostility  of  the  Indians,  and  the  duty 
the  Spaniards  were  liable  to  levy  on  boats  going 
down  to  New  Orleans,  even  if  they  did  not  take 
it  into  their  erratic  heads  to  stop  the  entire  navi- 
gation of  the  great  river  by  vessels  other  than 
their  own.  By  such  means,  merchandise  was  car- 
ried on  almost  entirely  until  the  construction  of 
canals,  and  even  then,  until  modern  times,  the 
flat-boat  was  the  main-stay  of  the  shipper  inhabit- 
ing the  country  adjoining  the  upper  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Rivers. 

Commonly,  very  little  stock  was  kept  beyond 
what  was  necessary  for  the  use  of  the  family  and 
to  perform  the  labor  on  the  farm.  The  Scioto 
Valley  was  perhaps  the  only  exception  in  Ohio  to 
this  general  condition.  Horses  were  brought  by  the 
emigrants  from  the  East  and  were  characteristic 
of  that  region.  In  the  French  settlements  in  Illi- 
nois and  about  Detroit,  French  ponies,  marvels  of 


-^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


155 


endurance,  were  chiefly  used.  They  were  impractic- 
able in  hauHng  the  immense  emigrant  wagons  over 
the  mountains,  and  hence  were  comparatively 
unknown  in  Ohio.  Until  1828,  draft  horses 
were  chiefly  used  here,  the  best  strains  being 
brought  by  the  "Tunkers,"  "  Mennonites,"  and 
"  Ormish," — three  religious  sects,  whose  members 
were  invariably  agriculturists.  In  Stark,  Wayne, 
Holmes,  and  Richland  Counties,  as  a  general  thing, 
they  congregated  in  communities,  where  the  neat- 
ness of  their  farms,  the  excellent  condition  of 
their  stock,  and  the  primitive  simplicity  of  their 
manners,  made  them  conspicuous. 

In  1828,  the  French  began  to  settle  in  Stark 
County,  where  they  introduced  the  stock  of  horses 
known  as  "  Selim,"  "Florizel,"  "Post  Boy"  and 
"  Timolen."  These,  crossed  upon  the  descents  of 
the  Norman  and  Conestoga,  produced  an  excellent 
stock  of  farm  horses,  now  largely  used. 

In  the  Western  Reserve,  blooded  horses  were  in- 
troduced as  early  as  1825.  John  I.  Van  Meter 
brought  fine  horses  into  the  Scioto  Valley  in  1815, 
or  thereabouts.  Soon  after,  fine  horses  were 
brought  to  Steubenville  from  Virginia  and  Penn- 
sylvania. In  Northern  Ohio  the  stock  was  more 
miscellaneous,  until  the  introduction  of  improved 
breeds  from  1815  to  1835.  By  the  latter  date 
the  strains  of  horses  had  greatly  improved.  The 
same  could  be  said  of  other  parts  of  the  State. 
Until  after  1825,  only  farm  and  road  horses  were 
required.  That  year  a  race-course — the  first  in 
the  State — was  established  in  Cincinnati,  shortly 
followed  by  others  at  Chillicothe,  Dayton  and  Ham- 
ilton. From  that  date  the  race-horse  steadily  im- 
proved. Until  1838,  however,  all  race-courses 
were  rather  irregular,  and,  of  those  named,  it  is 
difiicult  to  determine  which  one  has  priority  of 
date  over  the  others.  To  Cincinnati,  the  prece- 
dence is,  however,  generally  given.  In  1838,  the 
Buckeye  Course  was  established  in  Cincinnati,  and 
before  a  year  had  elapsed,  it  is  stated,  there  were 
fifteen  regular  race-courses  in  Ohio.  The  eifect 
of  these  courses  was  to  greatly  stimulate  the  stock 
of  racers,  and  rather  detract  from  draft  and  road 
horses.  The  organization  of  companies  to  import 
blooded  horses  has  again  revived  the  interest  in 
this  class,  and  now,  at  annual  stock  sales,  these 
strains  of  horses  are  eagerly  sought  after  by  those 
having  occasion  to  use  them. 

Cattle  were  brought  over  the  mountains,  and, 
for  several  years,  were  kept  entirely  for  domestic 
uses.  By  1805,  the  country  had  so  far  settled 
that  the  surplus  stock  was  fattened  on  corn  and 


fodder,  and  a  drove  was  driven  to  Baltimore.  The 
drove  was  owned  by  George  Renick,  of  Chillicothe, 
and  the  feat  was  looked  upon  as  one  of  great  im- 
portance. The  drove  arrived  in  Baltimore  in  ex- 
cellent condition.  The  impetus  given  by  this 
movement  of  Mr.  Renick  stimulated  greatly  the 
feeding  of  cattle,  and  led  to  the  improvement  of 
the  breed,  heretofore  only  of  an  ordinary  kind. 

Until  the  advent  of  railroads  and  the  shipment 
of  cattle  thereon,  the  number  of  cattle  driven  to 
eastern  markets  from  Ohio  alone,  was  estimated  at 
over  fifteen  thousand  annually,  whose  value  was 
placed  at  $600,000.  Besides  this,  large  numbers 
were  driven  from  Indiana  and  Illinois,  whose 
boundless  prairies  gave  free  scope  to  the  herding  of 
cattle.  Improved  breeds,  "Short  Horns,"  "Long 
Horns"  and  others,  were  introduced  into  Ohio  as 
early  as  1810  and  1815.  Since  then  the  stock 
has  been  gradually  improved  and  acclimated,  until 
now  Ohio  produces  as  fine  cattle  as  any  State  in 
the  Union.  In  some  localities,  especially  in  the 
Western  Reserve,  cheesemaking  and  dairy  interests 
are  the  chief  occupations  of  whole  neighborhoods, 
where  may  be  found  men  who  have  grown  wealthy 
in  this  business. 

Sheep  were  kept  by  almost  every  family,  in  pio- 
neer times,  in  order  to  be  supplied  with  wool  for 
clothing.  The  wool  was  carded  by  hand,  spun  in 
the  cabin,  and  frequently  dyed  and  woven  as  well 
as  shaped  into  garments  there,  too.  All  emigrants 
brought  the  best  household  and  farming  imple- 
ments their  limited  means  would  allow,  so  also  did 
they  bring  the  best  strains  of  horses,  cattle  and 
sheep  they  could  obtain.  About  the  year  1809, 
Mr.  Thomas  Rotch,  a  Quaker,  emigrated  to  Stark 
County,  and  brought  with  him  a  small  flock  of 
Merino  sheep.  They  were  good,  and  a  part  of 
them  were  from  the  original  flock  brought  over 
from  Spain,  in  1801,  by  Col.  Humphrey,  United 
States  Minister  to  that  country.  He  had  brought 
200  of  these  sheep,  and  hoped,  in  time,  to  see 
every  part  of  the  United  States  stocked  with  Me- 
rinos. In  this  he  partially  succeeded  only,  owing 
to  the  pi'ejudice  against  them.  In  1816,  Messrs. 
Wells  &  Dickenson,  who  were,  for  the  day,  exten- 
sive woolen  manufacturers  in  Steubenville,  drove 
their  fine  flocks  out  on  the  Stark  County  Plains 
for  the  summer,  and  brought  them  back  for  the 
winter.  This  course  was  pursued  for  several  years, 
until  farms  were  prepared,  when  they  were  per- 
manently kept  in  Stark  County.  This  flock  was 
originally  derived  from  the  Humphrey  importation. 
The  failure  of  Wells  &  Dickenson,  in  1824,  placed 


:^ 


156 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


a  good  portion  of  this  flock  in  the  hands  of  Adam 
Hildebrand,  and  became  the  basis  of  his  celebrated 
flock.  Mr.  T.  S.  Humrickhouse,  of  Coshocton, 
in  a  communication  regarding  sheep,  writes  as  fol- 
lows: 

"  The  first  merinos  brought  to  Ohio  were  doubtr- 
less  by  Seth  Adams,  of  Zanesville.  They  were 
Humphrey's  Merinos — undoubtedly  the  best  ever 
imported  into  the  United  States,  by  whatever 
name  called.  He  kept  them  part  of  the  time  in 
Washington,  and  afterward  in  Muskingum  County. 
He  had  a  sort  of  partnership  agency  from  Gen. 
Humphrey  for  keeping  and  selling  them.  They 
were  scattered,  and,  had  they  been  taken  care  of 
and  appreciated,  would  have  laid  a  better  found- 
ation of  flocks  in  Ohio  than  any  sheep  brought 
into  it  from  that  time  till  1852.  The  precise  date 
at  which  Adams  brought  them  cannot  now  be  as- 
certained ;  but  it  was  prior  to  1813,  perhaps  as 
early  as  1804." 

"The  first  Southdowns,"  continues  Mr.  Hum- 
rickhouse," "  New  Leicester,  Lincolnshire  and  Cots- 
wold  sheep  I  ever  saw,  were  brought  into  Coshocton 
County  from  England  by  Isaac  Maynard,  nephew 
of  the  famous  Sir  John,  in  1834.  There  were 
about  ten  Southdowns  and  a  trio  of  each  of  the 
other  kinds.  He  was  ofi"ered  ^500  for  his  Lin- 
colnshire ram,  in  Buffalo,  as  he  passed  through, 
but  refused.  He  was  selfish,  and  unwilling  to  put 
them  into  other  hands  when  he  went  on  a  farm, 
all  in  the  woods,  and,  in  about  three  years,  most  of 
them  had  perished." 

The  raising  and  improvement  of  sheep  has  kept 
steady  tread  with  the  growth  of  the  State,  and 
now  Ohio  wool  is  known  the  world  over.  In  quan- 
tity it  is  equal  to  any  State  in  America,  while  its 
quality  is  unequaled. 

The  first  stock  of  hogs  brought  to  Ohio  were 
rather  poor,  scrawny  creatures,  and,  in  a  short 
time,  when  left  to  themselves  to  pick  a  livelihood 
from  the  beech  mast  and  other  nuts  in  the  woods, 
degenerated  into  a  wild  condition,  almost  akin  to 
their  originators.  As  the  country  settled,  however, 
they  were  gathered  from  their  lairs,  and,  by  feed- 
ing them  corn,  the  farmers  soon  brought  them  out 
of  their  semi-barbarous  state.  Improved  breeds 
were  introduced.  The  laws  for  their  protection 
and  guarding  were  made,  and  now  the  hog  of  to- 
day shows  what  improvement  and  civilization  can 
do  for  any  wild  animal.  The  chief  city  of  the 
State  has  become  famous  as  a  slaughtering  place ; 
her  bacon  and  sides  being  known  in  all  the  civil- 
ized world. 


Other  domestic  animals,  mules,  asses,  etc.,  have 
been  brought  to  the  State  as  occasion  required. 
Wherever  their  use  has  been  demanded,  they  have 
been  obtained,  until  the  State  has  her  complement 
of  all  animals  her  citizens  can  use  in  their  daily 
labors. 

Most  of  the  early  emigrants  brought  with  them 
young  fruit  trees  or  grafts  of  some  favorite  variety 
from  the  "  old  homestead."  Hence,  on  the  West- 
ern Reserve  are  to  be  found  chiefly — especially  in 
old  orchards — New  England  varieties,  while,  in  the 
localities  immediately  south  of  the  Reserve,  Penn- 
sylvania and  Maryland  varieties  predominate ;  but 
at  Marietta,  New  England  fruits  are  again  found, 
as  well  as  throughout  Southeastern  Ohio.  One  of 
the  oldest  of  these  orchards  was  on  a  Mr.  Dana's 
farm,  near  Cincinnati,  on  the  Ohio  River  bank.  It 
consisted  of  five  acres,  in  which  apple  seeds  and 
seedlings  were  planted  as  early  as  1790.  Part  of 
the  old  orchard  is  yet  to  be  seen,  though  the  trees 
are  almost  past  their  usefulness.  Peaches,  pears, 
cherries  and  apples  were  planted  by  all  the  pioneers 
in  their  gardens.  As  soon  as  the  seed  produced 
seedlings,  these  were  transplanted  to  some  hillside, 
and  the  orchard,  in  a  few  years,  was  a  productive 
unit  in  the  life  of  the  settler.  The  first  fruit 
brought,  was,  like  everything  else  of  the  pioneers, 
rather  inferior,  and  admitted  of  much  cultivation. 
Soon  steps  were  taken  by  the  more  enterprising 
settlers  to  obtain  better  varieties.  Israel  Putnam, 
as  early  as  179G,  returned  to  the  East,  partly  to 
get  scions  of  the  choicest  apples,  and,  partly,  on 
other  business.  He  obtained  quite  a  quantity  of 
choice  apples,  of  some  forty  or  fifty  varieties,  and 
set  them  out.  A  portion  of  them  were  distrib- 
uted to  the  settlers  who  had  trees,  to  ingraft. 
From  these  old  grafts  are  yet  to  be  traced  some  of 
the  best  orchards  in  Ohio.  Israel  Putnam  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  men  in  early  Ohio  days. 
He  was  always  active  in  promoting  the  interests  of 
the  settlers.  Among  his  earliest  efforts,  that  of 
improving  the  fruit  may  well  be  mentioned.  He 
and  his  brother,  Aaron  W.  Putnam,  living  at  Bel- 
pre,  opposite  Blennerhasset's  Island,  began  the 
nursery  business  soon  after  their  arrival  in  the 
West.  The  apples  brought  by  them  from  their 
Connecticut  home  were  used  to  commence  the  busi- 
ness. These,  and  the  apples  obtained  from  trees 
planted  in  their  gardens,  gave  them  a  beginning. 
They  were  the  only  two  men  in  Ohio  engaged  in 
the  business  till  1817. 

In  early  times,  in  the  central  part  of  Ohio, 
there  existed  a  curious  character  known  as  "Johnny 


-^ 


HISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


157 


Appleseed."  His  real  name  was  John  Chapman. 
He  received  his  name  from  his  habit  of  planting, 
along  all  the  streams  in  that  part  of  the  State, 
apple-seeds  from  which  sprang  many  of  the  old 
orchards.  He  did  this  as  a  religious  duty,  think- 
ing it  to  be  his  especial  mission.  He  had,  it  is 
said,  been  disappointed  in  his  youth  in  a  love 
affair,  and  came  West  about  1800,  and  ever  after 
followed  his  singular  life.  He  was  extensively 
known,  was  quite  harmless,  very  patient,  and  did, 
without  doubt,  much  good.  He  died  in  1847,  at 
the  house  of  a  Mr.  Worth,  near  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana,  who  had  long  known  him,  and  oflen 
befriended  him.  He  was  a  minister  in  the  Swed- 
enborgian  Church,  and,  in  his  own  way,  a  zealous 
worker. 

The  settlers  of  the  Western  Reserve,  coming 
from  New  England,  chiefly  from  Connecticut, 
brought  all  varieties  of  fruit  known  in  their  old 
homes.  These,  whether  seeds  or  grafts,  were 
planted  in  gardens,  and  as  soon  as  an  orchard 
could  be  cleared  on  some  favorable  hillside,  the 
young  trees  were  transplanted  there,  and  in  time 
an  orchard  was  the  result.  Much  confusion 
regarding  the  kinds  of  fruits  thus  produced  arose, 
partly  from  the  fact  that  the  trees  grown  from 
seeds  did  not  always  prove  to  be  of  the  same  qual- 
ity as  the  seeds.  Climate,  soil  and  surroundings 
oflen  change  the  character  of  such  fruits. 
Many  new  varieties,  unknown  to  the  growers, 
were  the  result.  The  fruit  thus  produced  was 
often  of  an  inferior  growth,  and  when  grafts  were 
brought  from  the  old  New  England  home  and 
grafted  into  the  Ohio  trees,  an  improvement  as 
well  as  the  old  home  fruit  was  the  result.  After 
the  orchards  in  the  Reserve  began  to  bear,  the 
fruit  was  very  often  taken  to  the  Ohio  River  for 
shipment,  and  thence  found  its  way  to  the  South- 
ern and  Eastern  seaboard  cities. 

Among  the  individuals  prominent  in  introducing 
fi-uits  into  the  State,  were  Mr.  Dille,  of  Euclid,  Judge 
Fuller,  Judge  Whittlesey,  and  Mr.  Lindley. 
George  Hoadly  was  also  very  prominent  and  ener- 
getic in  the  matter,  and  was,  perhaps,  the  first  to 
introduce  the  pear  to  any  extent.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  persistent  and  enthusiastic  amateurs  in 
horticulture  and  pomology  in  the  West.  About 
the  year  1810,  Dr.  Jared  Kirtland,  father  of 
Prof.  J.  P.  Kirtland,  so  favorably  known 
among  horticulturists  and  pomologists,  came  from 
Connecticut  and  isettled  in  Poland,  Mahoning 
County,  with  his  family.  This  family  has  done 
more  than  any   other  in  the    State,    perhaps,    to 


advance  fruit  culture.  About  the  year  1824, 
Prof  J.  P.  Kirtland,  in  connection  with  his  brother, 
established  a  nursery  at  Poland,  then  in  Trumbull 
County,  and  brought  on  from  New  England  above 
a  hundred  of  their  best  varieties  of  apples,  cherries, 
peaches,  pears,  and  smaller  fruits,  and  a  year  or 
two  afler  brought  from  New  Jersey  a  hundred  of 
the  best  varieties  of  that  State ;  others  were  ob- 
tained in  New  York,  so  that  they  possessed  the  larg- 
est and  most  varied  stock  in  the  Western  country. 
These  two  men  gave  a  great  impetus  to  fruit  cult- 
ure in  the  West,  and  did  more  than  any  others 
of  that  day  to  introduce  improved  kinds  of  all 
fi-uits  in  that  part  of  the  United  States. 

Another  prominent  man  in  this  branch  of  indus- 
try was  Mr.  Andrew  H.  Ernst,  of  Cincinnati. 
Although  not  so  early  a  settler  as  the  Kirtlands, 
he  was,  like  them,  an  ardent  student  and  propa- 
gator of  fine  fi'uits.  He  introduced  more  than 
six  hundred  varieties  of  apples  and  seven  hun- 
dred of  pears,  both  native  and  foreign.  His 
object  was  to  test  by  actual  experience  the  most 
valuable  sorts  for  the  diversified  soil  and  climate 
of  the  Western  country. 

The  name  of  Nicholas  Longworth,  also  of  Cin- 
cinnati, is  one  of  the  most  extensively  known  of  any 
in  the  science  of  horticulture  and  pomology.  For 
more  than  fifty  years  he  made  these  his  especial 
delight.  Having  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the 
lower  part  of  Cincinnati,  he  established  nurseries, 
and  planted  and  disseminated  every  variety  of 
fruits  that  could  be  found  in  the  United  States — 
East  or  West — making  occasional  importations 
from  European  countries  of  such  varieties  as 
were  thought  to  be  adapted  to  the  Western  climate. 
His  success  has  been  variable,  governed  by  the 
season,  and  in  a  measure  by  his  numerous  experi- 
ments. His  vineyards,  cultivated  by  tenants,  gen- 
erally Gi-ermans,  on  the  European  plan,  during  the 
latter  years  of  his  experience  paid  him  a  hand- 
some revenue.  He  introduced  the  famous  Catawba 
grape,  the  standard  grape  of  the  West.  It  is 
stated  that  Mr.  Longworth  bears  the  same  relation 
to  vineyard  culture  that  Fulton  did  to  steam  navi- 
gation. Others  made  earlier  effort,  but  he  was  the 
first  to  establish  it  on  a  permanent  basis.  He  has 
also  been  eminently  successful  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  strawberry,  and  was  the  first  to  firmly  establish 
it  on  Western  soil.  He  also  brought  the  Ohio  Ever- 
bearing Raspberry  into  notice  in  the  State,  and 
widely  disseminated  it  throughout  the  country. 

Other  smaller  fi-uits  were  brought  out  to  the 
West  like  those  mentioned.     In  some  cases  fruits 


158 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


indigenous  to  the  soil  were  cultivated  and  improved, 
and  as  improved  fruits,  are  known  favorably  where- 
ever  used. 

In  chronology  and  importance,  of  all  the  cereals, 
corn  stands  foremost.  During  the  early  pioneer 
period,  it  was  the  staple  article  of  food  for  both 
man  and  beast.  It  could  be  made  into  a  variety 
of  forms  of  food,  and  as  such  was  not  only  palata- 
ble but  highly  nutritious  and  strengthening. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  determine  whether  corn 
originated  in  America  or  in  the  Old  World.  Many 
prominent  botanists  assert  it  is  a  native  of  Turkey, 
and  originally  was  known  as  "  Turkey  wheat."  Still 
others  claimed  to  have  found  mention  of  maize  in 
Chinese  writings  antedating  the  Turkish  discovery. 
Grains  of  maize  were  found  in  an  Egyptian  mum- 
my, which  goes  to  prove  to  many  the  cereal  was 
known  in  Africa  since  the  earliest  times.  Maize 
was  found  in  America  when  first  visited  by  white 
men,  but  of  its  origin  Indians  could  give  no  ac- 
count. It  had  always  been  known  among  them, 
and  constituted  their  chief  article  of  vegetable  diet. 
It  was  cultivated  exclusiveFy  by  their  squaws,  the 
men  considering  it  beneath  their  dignity  to  engage 
in  any  manual  labor.  It  is  altogether  probable  corn 
was  known  in  the  Old  World  long  before  the  New 
was  discovered.  The  Arabs  or  Crusaders  probably 
introduced  it  into  Europe.  How  it  was  introduced 
into  America  will,  in  all  probability,  remain  un- 
known. It  may  have  been  an  indigenous  plant, 
like  many  others.  Its  introduction  into  Ohio  dates 
with  the  settlement  of  tlie  whites,  especially  its 
cultivation  and  use  as  an  article  of  trade.  True, 
the  Indians  had  cultivated  it  in  small  quantities  ; 
each  lodge  a  little  for  itself,  but  no  effort  to  make 
of  it  a  national  support  began  until  the  civilization 
of  the  white  race  became  established.  From  that 
time  on,  the  increase  in  crops  has  grown  with  the 
State,  and,  excepting  the  great  corn  States  of  the 
West,  Ohio  produces  an  amount  equal  to  any  State 
in  the  Union.  The  statistical  tables  printed  in 
agricultural  reports  show  the  acres  planted,  and 
bushels  grown.  Figures  speak  an  unanswerable 
logic. 

Wheat  is  probably  the  next  in  importance  of  the 
cereals  in  the  State.  Its  origin,  like  corn,  is  lost 
in  the  mists  of  antiquity.  Its  berry  was  no  doubt 
used  as  food  by  the  ancients  for  ages  anterior  to 
any  historical  records.  It  is  often  called  corn  in 
old  writings,  and  under  that  name  is  frequently 
mentioned  in  the  Bible. 

"As  far  back  in  the  vistas  of  ages  as  human 
records  go,  we  find  that  wheat  has  been  cultivated. 


and,  with  corn,  aside  from  animal  food,  has  formed 
one  of  the  chief  alimfentary  articles  of  all  nations  ; 
but  as  the  wheat  plant  has  nowhere  been  found  wild, 
or  in  a  state  of  nature,  the  inference  has  been 
drawn  by  men  of  unquestioned  scientific  ability, 
that  the  original  plant  from  which  wheat  has  been 
derived  was  either  totally  annihilated,  or  else  cul- 
tivation has  wrought  so  great  a  change,  that  the 
original  is  by  no  means  obvious,  or  manifest  to  bot- 
anists." 

It  is  supposed  by  many,  wheat  originated  in 
Persia.  Others  affirm  it  was  known  and  cultivated 
in  Egypt  long  ere  it  found  its  way  into  Persia.  It 
was  certainly  grown  on  the  Nile  ages  ago,  and 
among  the  tombs  are  found  grains  of  wheat  in  a 
perfectly  sound  condition,  that  unquestionably 
have  been  buried  thousands  of  years.  It  may  be, 
however,  that  wheat  was  grown  in  Persia  first,  and 
thence  found  its  way  into  Egypt  and  Africa,  or, 
vice  versa.  It  grew  first  in  Egypt  and  Africa  and 
thence  crossed  into  Persia,  and  from  there  found 
its  way  into  India  and  all  parts  of  Asia. 

It  is  also  claimed  that  wheat  is  indigenous  to 
the  island  of  Sicily,  and  that  from  there  it  spread 
along  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean  into  Asia 
Minor  and  Egypt,  and,  as  communities  advanced, 
it  was  cultivated,  not  only  to  a  greater  extent,  but 
with  greater  success. 

The  goddess  of  agriculture,  more  especially  of 
grains,  who,  by  the  Grreeks,  was  called  Demeter, 
and,  by  the  Romans,  Ceres — hence  the  name  ce- 
reals— was  said  to  have  her  home  at  Euna,  a  fertile 
region  of  that  island,  thus  indicating  the  source 
from  which  the  Greeks  and  Romans  derived  their 
Ceralia.  Homer  mentions  wheat  and  spelt  as 
bread;  also  corn  and  barley,  and  describes  his 
heroes  as  using  them  as  fodder  for  their  horses,  as 
the  people  in  the  South  of  Europe  do  at  present. 
Rye  was  introduced  into  Greece  from  Thrace,  or 
by  way  of  Thrace,  in  the  time  of  Galen.  In 
Caesar's  time  the  Romans  grew  a  species  of  wheat 
enveloped  in  a  husk,  hke  barley,  and  by  them 
called  "Far." 

During  the  excavations  of  Herculaneum  and 
Pompeii,  wheat,  in  an  excellent  state  of  preserva- 
tion, was  frequently  found. 

Dr.  Anson  Hart,  Superintendent,  at  one  time,  of 
Indian  Affiiirs  in  Oregon,  states  that  he  found 
numerous  patches  of  wheat  and  flax  growing  wild 
in  the  Yackemas  country,  in  Upper  Oregon.  There 
is  but  little  doubt  that  both  cereals  were  intro- 
duced into  Oregon  at  an  early  period  by  the  Hud- 
son Bay,  or  other  fur  companies.     Wheat  was  also 


*7- 


^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


159 


found  by  Dr.  Boyle,  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  growing 
in  a  similar  state  in  tbe  Carson  Valley.  It  was, 
doubtless,  brought  there  by  the  early  Spaniards. 
In  153(>,  one  of  Cortez's  slaves  found  several  grains 
of  wheat  accidentally  mixed  with  the  rice.  The 
careful  negro  planted  the  handful  of  grains,  and 
succeeding  years  saw  a  wheat  crop  in  Mexico, 
which  found  its  way  northward,  probably  into 
California. 

Turn  where  we  may,  wherever  the  foot  of  civil- 
ization has  trod,  there  will  we  find  this  wheat 
plant,  which,  like  a  monument,  has  perpetuated 
the  memory  of  the  event;  but  nowhere  do  we  find 
the  plant  wild.  It  is  the  result  of  cultivation  in 
bygone  ages,  and  has  been  produced  by  "progress- 
ive development." 

It  is  beyond  the  limit  and  province  of  these 
pages  to  discuss  the  composition  of  this  important 
cereal ;  only  its  historic  properties  can  be  noticed. 
With  the  advent  of  the  white  men  in  America, 
wheat,  like  corn,  came  to  be  one  of  the  staple  prod- 
ucts of  life.  It  followed  the  pioneer  over  the 
mountains  westward,  where,  in  the  rich  Missis- 
sippi and  Illinois  bottoms,  it  has  been  cultivated 
by  the  French  since  1690.  When  the  hardy  New 
Englanders  came  to  the  alluvial  lands  adjoining 
the  Ohio,  Muskingum  or  Miami  Kivers,  they 
brought  with  them  this  "staiF  of  life,"  and  forth- 
with began  its  cultivation.  Who  sowed  the  first 
wheat  in  Ohio,  is  a  question  Mr.  A.  S.  Guthrie 
answers,  in  a  letter  published  in  the  Agricultural 
Report  of  1857,  as  follows: 

"  My  father,  Thomas  Guthrie,  emigrated  to  the 
Northwest  Territory  in  the  year  1788,  and  arrived 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum  in  July,  about 
three  months  after  Gen.  Putnam  had  arrived  with 
the  first  pioneers  of  Ohio.  My  father  brought  a 
bushel  of  wheat  with  him  from  one  of  the  frontier 
counties  of  Pennsylvania,  which  he  sowed  on  a 
lot  of  land  in  Marietta,  which  he  cleared  for  that 
purpose,  on  the  second  bottom  or  plain,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  where  the  Court  House  now 
stands." 

Mr.  Guthrie's  opinion  is  corroborated  by  Dr. 
Samuel  P.  Hildreth,  in  his  "  Pioneer  Settlers  of 
Ohio,"  and  is,  no  doubt,  correct. 

From  that  date  on  down  through  the  years  of 
Ohio's  growth,  the  crops  of  wheat  have  kept  pace 
with  the  advance  and  growth  of  civilization.  The 
soil  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  growth  of  this  ce- 
real, a  large  number  of  varieties  being  grown,  and 
an  excellent  quality  produced.  It  is  firm  in  body, 
and,  in  many  cases,  is  a  successful  rival  of  wheat 


produced  in  the  great  wheat-producing  regions  of 
the  United  States — Minnesota,  and  the  farther 
Northwest. 

Oats,  rye,  barley,  and  other  grains  were  also 
brought  to  Ohio  from  the  Atlantic  Coast,  though 
some  of  them  had  been  cultivated  by  the  French 
in  Illinois  and  about  Detroit.  They  were  at  first 
used  only  as  food  for  home  consumption,  and,  until 
the  successful  attempts  at  river  and  canal  naviga- 
tion were  brought  about,  but  little  was  ever  sent 
to  market. 

Of  all  the  root  crops  known  to  man,  the  potato 
is  probably  the  most  valuable.  Next  to  wheat, 
it  is  claimed  by  many  as  the  staff  of  life.  In 
some  localities,  this  assumption  is  undoubtedly 
true.  What  would  Ireland  have  done  in  her  fam- 
ines but  for  this  simple  vegetable?  The  potato  is 
a  native  of  the  mountainous  districts  of  tropical 
and  subtropical  America,  probably  from  Chili  to 
Mexico ;  but  there  is  considerable  difficulty  in 
deciding  where  it  is  really  indigenous,  and  where 
it  has  spread  after  being  introduced  by  man. 
Humboldt,  the  learned  savant,  doubted  if  it  had 
ever  been  found  wild,  but  scholars  no  less  fiimous, 
and  of  late  date,  have  expressed  an  opposite 
opinion.  In  the  wild  plant,  as  in  all  others,  the 
tubers  are  smaller  than  in  the  cultivated.  The 
potato  had  been  cultivated  in  America,  and  its 
tubers  used  for  food,  long  before  the  advent  of  the 
Europeans.  It  seems  to  have  been  first  brought 
to  Europe  by  the  Spaniards,  from  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Quito,  in  the  4?eginning  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  and  spread  through  Spain,  the  Netherlands, 
Burgundy  and  Italy,  cultivated  in  gardens  as  an 
ornament  only  and  not  for  an  article  of  food. 
It  long  received  through  European  countries  the 
same  name  with  the  batatas — sweet  potato,  which 
is  the  plant  meant  by  all  English  writers  down  to 
the  seventeenth  century. 

It  appears  that  the  potato  was  brought  from 
Virginia  to  Ireland  by  Hawkins,  a  slave-trader, 
in  1565,  and  to  England  by  Sir  Francis  Drake, 
twenty  years  later.  It  did  not  at  first  attract  much 
notice,  and  not  until  it  was  a  third  time  imported 
from  America,  in  1623,  by  Sir  Walter  Raleigh, 
did  the  Europeans  make  a  practical  use  of  it. 
Even  then  it  was  a  long  time  before  it  was  exten- 
sively cultivated.  It  is  noticed  in  agricultural 
journals  as  food  for  cattle  only  as  late  as  1719. 
Poor  people  began  using  it,  however,  and  finding  it 
highly  nutritious,  the  Royal  Geographical  Society, 
in  1663,  adopted  measures  for  its  propagation. 
About  this  time  it  began  to  be  used  in  Ireland  as 


-7- 


x: 


IGO 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


food,  aad  from  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  cent- 
ury, its  use  hiis  never  declined.  It  is  now  known 
in  every  (juarter  of  the  world,  and  has,  by  cultiva- 
tion, been  greatly  improved. 

The  inhabitants  of  America  learned  its  use 
frorc.  the  Indians,  who  cultivated  it  and  other 
root  crops — rutabagas,  radishes,  etc.,  and  taught 
the  whites  their  value.  When  the  pioneers  of 
Ohio  came  to  its  fertile  valleys,  they  brought 
improved  species  with  them,  which  by  cultiva- 
tion and  soil,  are  now  greatly  increased,  and  are 
among  the  standard  crops  of  the  State. 

The  cucurbitaceous  plants,  squashes,  etc.,  were, 
like  the  potato  and  similar  root  crops,  indigenous 
to  America — others,  like  the  melons,  to  Asia — 
and  were  among  the  staple  foods  of  the  original 
inhabitants.  The  early  French  missionaries  of 
the  West  speak  of  both  root  crops  and  cucurbi- 
taceous plants  as  in  use  among  the  aboriginal  inhab- 
itants. "They  are  very  sweet  and  wholesome," 
wrote  Marquette.  Others  speak  in  the  same  terms, 
though  some  of  the  plants  in  this  order  had  found 
their  way  to  these  valleys  through  the  Spaniards 
and  others  through  early  Atlantic  Coast  and  Mex- 
ican inhabitants.  Their  use  by  the  settlers  of  the 
West,  especially  Ohio,  is  traced  to  New  England, 
as  the  first  settlers  came  from  that  portion  of  the 
Union.  They  grow  well  in  all  parts  of  the  State, 
and  by  cultivation  have  been  greatly  improved  in 
quality  and  variety.  All  cucurbitaceous  plants 
require  a  rich,  porous  soil,  and  by  proper  atten- 
tion to  their  cultivation,  excellent  results  can  be 
attained. 

Probably  the  earliest  and  most  important  im])le- 
ment  of  husbandry  known  is  the  plow.  Grain, 
plants  and  roots  will  not  grow  well  unless  the  soil 
in  which  they  are  planted  be  properly  stirred, 
hence  the  first  requirement  was  an  instrument  that 
would  fulfill  such  conditions. 

The  first  implements  were  rude  indeed  ;  gener- 
ally, stout  wooden  sticks,  drawn  through  the  earth 
by  thongs  attached  to  rude  ox-yokes,  or  fastened 
to  the  animal's  horns.  Such  plows  were  in  use 
among  the  ancient  Egyptians,  and  may  yet  be 
found  among  uncivilized  nations.  The  Old  Testa- 
ment furnishes  numerous  instances  of  the  use  of 
the  plow,  while,  on  the  ruins  of  ancient  cities  and 
among  the  pyramids  of  Egypt,  and  on  the  buried 
walls  of  Babylon,  and  other  extinct  cities,  are  rude 
drawings  of  this  useful  implement.  As  the  use 
of  iron  became  apparent  and  general,  it  was  util- 
ized for  plow-points,  where  the  wood  alone  would 
not  penetrate   the  earth.     They  got   their  plow- 


shares sharpened  in  Old  Testament  days,  also 
coulters,  which  shows,  beyond  a  doubt,  that  iron- 
pointed  plows  were  then  in  use.  From  times 
mentioned  in  the  Bible,  on  heathen  tombs,  and 
ancient  catacombs,  the  improvement  of  the  plow, 
like  other  farming  tools,  went  on,  as  the  race  of 
man  grew  in  intelligence.  Extensive  manors  in 
the  old  country  required  increased  means  of  turning 
the  ground,  and,  to  meet  these  demands,  ingenious 
mechanics,  from  time  to  time,  invented  inqjroved 
plows.  Strange  to  say,  however,  no  improvement 
was  ever  made  by  the  farmer  himself  This  is  ac- 
counted for  in  his  habits  of  life,  and,  too  often, 
the  disposition  to  "take  things  as  they  are."  When 
America  was  settled,  the  plow  had  become  an  im- 
plement capable  of  turning  two  or  three  acres  per 
day.  Still,  and  for  many  years,  and  even  until 
lately,  the  mold-board  was  entirely  wooden,  the 
point  only  iron.  Later  developments  changed  the 
wood  for  steel,  which  now  alone  is  used.  Still 
later,  especially  in  prairie  States,  riding  plows  are 
used.  Like  all  other  improvements,  they  were 
obliged  to  combat  an  obtuse  public  mind  among 
the  ruralists,  who  surely  combat  almost  every 
move  made  to  better  their  condition.  In  many 
places  in  America,  wooden  plows,  straight  ax 
handles,  and  a  stone  in  one  end  of  the  bag,  to  bal- 
ance the  grist  in  the  other,  are  the  rule,  and  for  no 
other  reason  ui  the  world  are  they  maintained  than 
the  laconic  answer: 

"  My  father  did  so,  and  why  should  not  I?  Am 
I  better  than  he?  " 

After  the  plow  comes  the  harrow,  but  little 
changed,  save  in  lightness  and  beauty.  Formerly, 
a  log  of  wood,  or  a  brush  harrow,  supplied  its 
place,  but  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  the  toothed  instru- 
ment has  nearly  always  been  used. 

The  hoe  is  lighter  made  than  formerly,  and  is 
now  made  of  steel.  At  first,  the  common  iron 
hoe,  sharpened  by  the  blacksmith,  was  in  constant 
use.  Now,  it  is  rarely  seen  outside  of  the  South- 
ern States,  where  it  has  long  been  the  chief  imple- 
ment in  agriculture. 

The  various  small  plows  for  the  cultivation  of 
corn  and  such  other  crops  as  necessitated  their  use 
are  all  the  result  of  modern  civilization.  Now, 
their  number  is  large,  and,  in  many  places,  there 
are  two  or  more  attached  to  one  carriage,  whose 
operator  rides.  These  kinds  are  much  used  in  the 
Western  States,  whose  rootless  and  stoneless  soil  is 
admirably  adapted  to  such  machinery. 

When  the  grain  became  ripe,  implements  to  cut 
it  were  in   demand.     In   ancient  times,  the  sickle 


■^ 


HISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


161 


was  the  only  instrument  used.  It  was  a  short, 
curved  iron,  whose  inner  edge  was  sharpened  and 
serrated.  In  its  most  ancient  form,  it  is  doubtful 
if  the  edge  was  but  little,  if  any,  serrated.  It  is 
mentioned  in  all  ancient  works,  and  in  the  Bible  is 
frequently  I'eferred  to. 

"  Thrust  in  the  sickle,  for  the  harvest  is 
ripe,"  wrote  the  sacred  New  Testament,  while 
the  Old  chronicles  as  early  as  the  time  of  Moses : 
"As  thou  beginnest  to  put  the  sickle  to  the 
corn." 

In  more  modern  times,  the  handle  of  the  sickle 
was  lengthened,  then  the  blade,  which  in  time  led 
to  the  scythe.  Both  are  yet  in  use  in  many  parts 
of  the  world.  The  use  of  the  scythe  led  some 
thinking  person  to  add  a  "  finger  "  or  two,  and  to 
change  the  shape  of  the  handle.  The  old  cradle 
was  the  result.  At  first  it  met  considerable  oppo- 
sition from  the  laborers,  who  brought  forward  the 
old-time  argument  of  ignorance,  that  it  would 
cheapen  labor. 

Whether  the  cradle  is  a  native  of  America  or 
Europe  is  not  accurately  decided;  probably  of  the 
mother  country.  It  came  into  common  use  about 
1818,  and  in  a  few  years  had  found  its  way  into 
the  wheat-producing  regions  of  the  West.  Where 
small  crops  are  raised,  the  cradle  is  yet  much  used. 
A  man  can  cut  from  two  to  four  acres  per  day, 
hence,  it  is  much  cheaper  than  a  reaper,  where  the 
crop  is  small. 

The  mower  and  reaper  are  comparatively  mod- 
ern inventions.  A  rude  reaping  machine  is  men- 
tioned by  Pliny  in  the  first  century.  It  was  pushed 
by  an  ox  through  the  standing  grain.  On  its 
front  was  a  sharp  edge,  which  cut  the  grain.  It 
was,  however,  impracticable,  as  it  cut  only  a  por- 
tion of  the  grain,  and  the  peasantry  preferred  the 
sickle.  Other  and  later  attempts  to  make  reapers 
do  not  seem  to  have  been  successful,  and  not  till 
the  present  century  was  a  machine  made  that  would 
do  the  work  required.  In  1826,  Mr.  Bell,  of 
Scotland,  constructed  a  machine  which  is  yet  used 
in  many  parts  of  that  country.  In  America,  Mr. 
Hussey  and  Mr.  McCormick  took  out  patents  for 
reaping  machines  of  superior  character  in  1833 
and  1834.  At  first  the  cutters  of  these  machines 
were  various  contrivances,  but  both  manufacturers 
soon  adopted  a  serrated  knife,  triangular  shaped,  at- 
tached to  a  bar,  and  driven  through  "  finger 
guards  "  attached  to  it,  by  a  forward  and  backward 
motion.  These  are  the  common  ones  now  in  use, 
save  that  all  do  not  use  serrated  knives.  Sincf 
these  pioneer  machines  were  introduced  into   the 


harvest  fields  they  have  been  greatly  improved  and 
changed.  Of  late  years  they  have  been  constructed 
so  as  to  bind  the  sheaves,  and  now  a  good  stout 
boy,  and  a  team  with  a  "  harvester,"  will  do  as 
much  as  many  men  could  do  a  few  years  ago,  and 
with  much  greater  ease. 

As  was  expected  by  the  inventors  of  reapers, 
they  met  with  a  determined  resistance  from  those 
who  in  former  times  made  their  living  by  harvest- 
ing. It  was  again  absurdly  argued  that  they  would 
cheapen  labor,  and  hence  were  an  injury  to  the 
laboring  man.  Indeed,  when  the  first  machines 
were  brought  into  Ohio,  many  of  them  were  torn 
to  pieces  by  the  ignorant  hands.  Others  left  fields 
in  a  body  when  the  proprietor  brought  a  reaper  to 
his  farm.  Like  all  such  fallacies,  these,  in  time, 
passed  away,  leaving  only  their  stain. 

Following  the  reaper  came  the  thresher.  As 
the  country  filled  with  inhabitants,  and  men  in- 
creased their  possessions,  more  rapid  means  than 
the  old  flail  or  roller  method  were  demanded.  At 
first  the  grain  was  trodden  out  by  horses  driven  over 
the  bundles,  which  were  laid  in  a  circular  inclosure. 
The  old  flail,  the  tramping-out  by  horses,  and  the 
cleaning  by  the  sheet,  or  throwing  the  grain  up 
against  a  current  of  air,  were  too  slow,  and 
machines  were  the  result  of  the  demand.  In  Ohio 
the  manufacture  of  threshers  began  in  1846,  in 
the  southwestern  part.  Isaac  Tobias,  who  came 
to  Hamilton  from  Miamisburg  that  year,  com- 
menced building  the  threshers  then  in  use.  They 
were  without  the  cleaning  attachment,  and  simply 
hulled  the  grain.  Two  years  later,  he  began 
manufficturing  the  combined  thresher  and  cleaner, 
which  were  then  coming  into  use.  He  continued 
in  business  till  1851.  Four  years  after,  the  in- 
creased demand  for  such  machines,  consequent 
upon  the  increased  agricultural  products,  induced 
the  firm  of  Owens,  Lane  &  Dyer  to  fit  their  estab- 
lishment for  the  manufacture  of  threshers.  They 
afterward  added  the  manufacture  of  steam  engines 
to  be  used  in  the  place  of  horse  power.  Since 
then  the  manufacture  of  these  machines,  as  well  as 
that  of  all  other  agricultural  machinery,  has  greatly 
multiplied  and  improved,  until  now  it  seems  as 
though  but  little  room  for  improvement  remains. 
One  of  the  largest  firms  engaged  in  the  manufact- 
ure of  threshers  and  their  component  machinery  is 
located  at  Mansfield — the  Aultman  &  Taylor 
Co.  Others  are  at  Massillon,  and  at  other  cities 
in  the  West. 
I  Modern  times  and  modern  enterprise  have  devel- 
I  oped  a  marvelous  variety  of  agricultural  implements 


rv 


162 


HISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


— too  many  to  be  mentioned  in  a  volume  like 
this.  Under  special  subjects  they  will  occasionally 
be  found.  The  farmer's  life,  so  cheerless  in  pioneer 
times,  and  so  full  of  weary  labor,  is  daily  becom- 
ing less  laborious,  until,  if  they  as  a  class  profit 
by  the  advances,  they  can  find  a  life  of  ease 
in  farm  pursuits,  not  attainable  in  any  other 
profession.  Now  machines  do  almost  all  the  work. 
They  sow,  cultivate,  cut,  bind,  thresh,  winnow 
and  carry  the  grain.  They,  cut,  rake,  load,  mow 
and  dry  the  hay.  They  husk,  shell  and  clean  the 
corn.  They  cut  and  split  the  wood.  They  do  al- 
most all ;  until  it  seems  as  though  the  day  may 
come  when  the  farmer  can  sit  in  his  house  and 
simply  guide  the  affairs  of  his  farm. 

Any  occupation  prospers  in  proportion  to  the 
interest  taken  in  it  by  its  members.  This  interest 
is  always  heightened  by  an  exchange  of  views,  hence 
societies  and  periodicals  exercise  an  influence  at 
first  hardy  realized.  This  feeling  among  prominent 
agriculturists  led  to  the  formation  of  agricultural 
societies,  at  first  by  counties,  then  districts,  then 
by  States,  and  lastly  by  associations  of  States. 
The  day  may  come  when  a  national  agricul- 
tural fair  may  be  one  of  the  annual  attractions  of 
America. 

Without  noticing  the  early  attempts  to  found 
such  societies  in  Europe  or  America,  the  narrative 
will  begin  with  those  of  Ohio.  The  first  agricul- 
tural society  oi'ganized  in  the  Buckeye  State  was 
the  Hamilton  County  Agricultural  Society.  Its 
exact  date  of  organization  is  not  now  preserved, 
but  to  a  certainty  it  is  known  that  the  Society  held 
public  exhibitions  as  a  County  Society  prior  to 
1823.  Previous  to  that  date  there  were,  doubt- 
less, small,  private  exhibitions  held  in  older  local- 
ities, probably  at  Marietta,  but  no  regular  organi- 
zation seems  to  have  been  maintained.  The 
Hamilton  County  Society  held  its  fairs  annually, 
with  marked  success.  Its  successor,  the  present 
Society,  is  now  one  of  the  largest  county  societies 
in  the  Union. 

During  the  legislative  session  of  1832— .33,  the 
subject  of  agriculture  seems  to  have  agitated  the 
minds  of  the  people  through  their  representatives, 
for  the  records  of  that  session  show  the  first  laws 
passed  for  their  benefit.  The  acts  of  that  body 
seem  to  have  been  productive  of  some  good,  for, 
though  no  records  of  the  number  of  societies  or- 
ganized at  that  date  exist,  yet  the  record  shows 
that  "  many  societies  have  been  organized  in  con- 
formity to  this  act,"  etc.  No  doubt  many  societies 
held  fairs  from   this  time,   for  a  greater  or  less 


number  of  years.  Agricultural  journals*  were, 
at  this  period,  rare  in  the  State,  and  the  subject  of 
agricultural  improvement  did  not  receive  that  at- 
tention from  the  press  it  does  at  this  time ;  and, 
for  want  of  public  spirit  and  attention  to  sustain 
these  fairs,  they  were  gradually  discontinued  until 
the  new  act  respecting  their  organization  wa.s 
passed  in  184G.  However,  records  of  several 
county  societies  of  the  years  between  1832  and 
1846  yet  exist,  showing  that  in  some  parts  of  the 
State,  the  interest  in  these  fairs  was  by  no  means 
diminished.  The  Delaware  County  Society  re- 
ports for  the  year  1833 — it  was  organized  in  June 
of  that  year — good  progress  for  a  beginning,  and 
that  much  interest  was  manifested  by  the  citizens 
of  the  county. 

Ross  County  held  its  first  exhibition  in  the 
autumn  of  that  year,  and  the  report  of  the  mana- 
gers is  quite  cheerful.  Nearly  all  of  the  exhibited 
articles  were  sold  at  auction,  at  greatly  advanced 
prices  from  the  current  ones  of  the  day.  The  en- 
try seems  to  have  been  ft-ee,  in  an  open  inclosure, 
and  but  little  revenue  was  derived.  Little  was  ex- 
pected, hence  no  one  was  disappointed. 

Washington  County  reports  an  excellent  cattle 
show  for  that  year,  and  a  number  of  premiums 
awarded  to  the  successful  exhibitors.  This  same 
year  the  Ohio  Importation  Company  was  organ- 
ized at  the  Ross  County  fair.  The  Company  began 
the  next  season  the  importation  of  fine  cattle  from 
England,  and,  in  a  few  years,  did  incalculable  good 
in  this  respect,  as  well  as  make  considerable  money 
in  the  enterprise. 

These  societies  were  re-organized  when  the  law 
of  1846  went  into  eff"ect,  and,  with  those  that  had 
gone  down  and  the  new  ones  started,  gave  an  im- 
petus to  agriculture  that  to  this  day  is  felt.  Now 
every  county  Iuls  a  society,  while  district.  State 
and  inter-State  societies  are  annually  held;  all 
promotive  in  their  tendency,  and  all  a  benefit  to 
every  one. 

The  Ohio  State  Board  of  Agriculture  was  organ- 
ized by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  February 
27,  1846.  Since  then  various  amendments  to  the 
organic  law  have  been  passed  from  time  to  time  as 

*The  Western  TiVJerwas  published  in  Cincinnati,  in  1826.  It  was 
"miscellaneous,"  but  cuutaiued  many  excellent  articles  on  agri- 
culture. 

The  Farmers'  Record  was  published  in  Cincinnati,  in  1831,  and 
continued  for  several  years 

The  Ohio  Fanner  was  piitilished  at  Batavia,  Clermont  County,  in 
1833,  by  Hon.  Samuel  Medary. 

These  were  the  early  agricultural  journals,  some  of  which  yet 
suri'ive,  though  in  new  name8,and  under  new  management.  Others 
have,  also,  since  been  added,  some  of  which  havH  an  exceedingly 
large  circulation,  and  are  an  influence  for  much  good  in  the  State. 


>> 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


163 


the  necessities  of  the  Board  and  of  agriculture  in 
the  State  demanded.  The  same  day  that  the  act 
was  passed  creating  the  State  Board,  an  act  was 
also  passed  providing  for  the  erection  of  county  and 
district  societies,  under  which  law,  with  subsequent 
amendments,  the  present  county  and  district  agri- 
cultural societies  are  managed.  During  the  years 
from  1 846  down  to  the  present  time,  great  improve- 
ments have  been  made  in  the  manner  of  conduct- 
ing these  societies,  resulting  in  exhibitions  unsur- 
passed in  any  other  State. 

Pomology  and  horticulture  are  branches  of  in- 
dustry so  closely  allied  with  agriculture  that  a 
brief  resume  of  their  operations  in  Ohio  will  be 
eminently  adapted  to  these  pages.  The  early 
planting  and  care  of  fruit  in  Ohio  has  already  been 
noticed.  Among  the  earliest  pioneers  were  men  of 
fine  tastes,  who  not  only  desired  to  benefit  them- 
selves and  their  country,  but  who  were  possessed 
with  a  laudable  ambition  to  produce  the  best  fruits 
and  vegetables  the  State  could  raise.  For  this  end 
they  studied  carefully  the  topography  of  the  coun- 
try, its  soil,  climate,  and  various  influences  upon 
such  culture,  and  by  careful  experiments  with  fruit 
and  vegetables,  produced  the  excellent  varieties  now 
in  use.  Mention  has  been  made  of  Mr.  Longworth 
and  Mr.  Ernst,  of  Cincinnati ;  and  Israel  and  Aaron 
W.  Putnam,  on  the  Muskingum  River  ;  Mr.  Dille, 


Judges  Fuller  and  Whittlesey,  Dr.  Jared  Kirtland 
and  his  sons,  and  others — all  practical  enthusiasts  in 
these  departments.  At  first,  individual  efforts  alone, 
owing  to  the  condition  of  the  country,  could  be 
made.  As  the  State  filled  with  settlers,  and  means 
of  communication  became  better,  a  desire  for  an  in- 
terchange of  views  became  apparent,  resulting  in 
the  establishment  of  periodicals  devoted  to  these 
subjects,  and  societies  where  diflFerent  ones  could 
meet  and  discuss  these  things. 

A  Horticultural  and  Pomological  Society  was 
organized  in  Ohio  in  1866.  Before  the  organiza- 
tion of  State  societies,  however,  several  distinct  or 
independent  societies  existed  ;  in  fact,  out  of  these 
grew  the  State  Society,  which  in  turn  produced 
good  by  stimulating  the  creation  of  county  societies. 
All  these  societies,  aids  to  agriculture,  have  pro- 
gressed as  the  State  developed,  and  have  done  much 
in  advancing  fine  fruit,  and  a  taste  for  aesthetic  cul- 
ture. In  all  parts  of  the  West,  their  influence  is 
seen  in  better  and  improved  fruit ;  its  culture  and 
its  demand. 

To-day,  Ohio  stands  in  the  van  of  the  Western 
States  in  agriculture  and  all  its  kindred  associa- 
tions. It  only  needs  the  active  energy  of  her 
citizens  to  keep  her  in  this  place,  advancing 
as  time  advances,  until  the  goal  of  her  ambition  is 
reached. 


CLIMATOLOGY— OUTLINE  - 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

-VARIATION    IN    OHIO— ESTIMATE    IN    DEGREES— RAINFALL - 
—VARIABILITY. 


-AMOUNT 


THE  climate  of  Ohio  varies  about  four  degrees. 
Though  originally  liable  to  malaria  in  many 
districts  when  first  settled,  in  consequence  of  a 
dense  vegetation  induced  by  summer  heats  and 
rains,  it  has  became  very  healthful,  owing  to  clear- 
ing away  this  vegetation,  and  proper  drainage. 
The  State  is  as  favorable  in  its  sanitary  char- 
acteristics as  any  other  in  its  locality.  Ohio  is  re- 
markable for  its  high  productive  capacity,  almost 
every  thing  grown  in  the  temperate  climates  being 
within  its  range.  Its  extremes  of  heat  and  cold 
are  less  than  almost  any  other  State  in  or  near  the 
same  latitude,  hence  Ohio  suffers  less  from  the  ex- 
treme dry  or  wet  seasons  which  affect  all  adjoining 
States.  These  modifications  are  mainly  due  to  the 
influence   of  the    Lake  Erie  waters.     These  not 


only  modify  the  heat  of  summer  and  the  cold  of 
winter,  but  apparently  reduce  the  profusion  of 
rainfall  in  summer,  and  favor  moisture  in  dry  pe- 
riods. No  finer  climate  exists,  all  conditions  consid- 
ered, for  delicate  vegetable  growths,  than  that  por- 
tion of  Ohio  bordering  on  Lake  Erie.  This  is 
abundantly  attested  by  the  recent  extensive  devel- 
opment there  of  grape  culture. 

Mr.  Lorin  Blodget,  author  of  "American  Clima- 
tology," in  the  agricultural  report  of  1853,  says; 
"A  district  bordering  on  the  Southern  and  West- 
ern portions  of  Lake  Erie  is  more  favorable  in  this 
respect  (grape  cultivation )  than  any  other  on  the 
Atlantic  side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  it  will 
ultimately  prove  capable  of  a  very  liberal  extension 
of  vine  culture." 


:V 


1G4 


HISTOKY    or    OHIO. 


Experience  has  proven  Mr.  Blodget  correct  in 
his  theory.  Now  extensive  fields  of  grapes  are 
everywhere  found  on  the  Lake  Erie  Slope,  while 
other  small  fruits  find  a  sure  footing  on  its  soil. 

"  Considering  the  climate  of  Ohio  by  isother- 
mal lines  and  rain  shadings,  it  must  be  borne  in 
mind,"  says  Mr.  Blodget,  in  his  description  of 
Ohio's  climate,  from  which  these  ficts  are  drawn, 
"  that  local  influences  often  requii'e  to  be  considered. 
At  the  South,  from  Cincinnati  to  Steubenville,  the 
deep  river  valleys  are  two  degrees  warmer  than  the 
hilly  districts  of  the  same  vicinity.  The  lines  are 
drawn  intermediate  between  the  two  extremes. 
Thus,  Cincinnati,  on  the  plain,  is  2°  warmer  than 
at  the  Observatory,  and  4°  warmer  for  each  year 
than  Hillsboro,  Highland  County — the  one  being 
5U0,  the  other  1,000,  feet  above  sea-level.  The 
immediate  valley  of  the  Ohio,  from  Cincinnati  to 
Gallipolis,  is  about  75°  for  the  summer,  and  54° 
for  the  year;  while  the  adjacent  hilly  districts, 
800  to  500  feet  higher,  are  not  above  73°  and  52° 
respectively.  For  the  summer,  generally,  the 
river  valleys  are  73°  to  75°  ;  the  level  and  central 
portions  72°  to  73°,  and  the  lake  border  70°  to 
72°.  A  peculiar  mildness  of  climate  belongs  to 
the  vicinity  of  Kelley's  Island,  Sandusky  and 
Toledo.  Here,  both  winter  and  summer,  the  cli- 
mate is  2°  warmer  than  on  the  highland  ridge  ex- 
tending from  Norwalk  and  Oberlin  to  Hudson  and 
the  northeastern  border.  This  ridge  varies  from 
500  to  750  feet  above  the  lake,  or  850  to  1,200 
feet  above  sea  level.  This  high  belt  has  a  summer 
temperature  of  70°,  27°  for  the  winter,  and  49° 
for  the  year ;  while  at  Sandusky  and  Kelley's 
Island  the  summer  is  72°,  the  winter  29°,  and  the 
year  50°.  In  the  central  and  eastern  parts  of 
the  State,  the  winters  are  comparatively  cold,  the 
average  falling  to  32°  over  the  more  level  districts, 
and  to  29°  on  the  highlands.  The  Ohio  Kiver 
valley  is  about  35°,  but  the  highlands  near  it  fall 
to  31°  and  32°  for  the  winter." 

As  early  as  1824,  several  persons  in  the  State 
began  taking  the  temperature  in  tlieir  respective 
localities,  for  the  spring,  summer,  autumn  and  win- 
ter, averaging  them  for  the  entire  year.  From  time 
to  time,  these  were  gathered  and  published,  inducing 
others  to  take  a  step  in  the  same  direction.  Not 
long  since,  a  general  table,  from  about  forty  local- 


ities, was  gathered  and  compiled,  covering  a  period 
of  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  This  table, 
when  averaged,  showed  an  average  temperature  of 
52.4°,  an  evenness  of  temperature  not  equaled 
in  many  bordering  States. 

Very  imperfect  observations  have  been  made 
of  the  amount  of  rainfall  in  the  State.  Until 
lately,  only  an  individual  here  and  there  through- 
out the  State  took  enough  interest  in  this  matter 
to  faithfully  observe  and  record  the  averages  of 
several  years  in  succession.  In  consequence  of 
this  fact,  the  illustration  of  that  feature  of  Ohio's 
climate  is  less  satisfactory  than  that  of  the 
temperature.  "The  actual  rainfall  of  different 
months  and  years  varies  greatly,"  says  Mr.  Blod- 
get. "There  may  be  more  in  a  month,  and, 
again,  the  quantity  may  rise  to  12  or  15  inches 
in  a  single  month.  For  a  year,  the  variation  may 
be  from  a  minimum  of  22  or  25  inches,  to  a  maxi- 
mum of  50  or  even  60  inches  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  State,  and  45  to  48  inches  along  the  lake 
border.  The  average  is  a  fixed  quantity,  and, 
although  requiring  a  period  of  twenty  or  twenty- 
five  years  to  fix  it  absolutely,  it  is  entirely  certain 
and  unchangeable  when  known.  On  charts,  these 
average  quantities  are  represented  by  depths 
of  shading.  At  Cincinnati,  the  last  fifteen  years 
of  observation  somewhat  reduce  the  average  of 
48  inches,  of  former  years,  to  46  or  47  inches." 

Spring  and  summer  generally  give  the  most  rain, 
there  being,  in  general,  10  to  12  inches  in  the 
spring,  10  to  14  inches  in  the  summer,  and  8  to 
10  inches  in  the  autumn.  The  winter  is  the  most 
variable  of  all  the  seasons,  the  southern  part  of 
the  State  having  10  inches,  and  the  northern  part 
7  inches  or  less — an  average  of  8  or  9  inches. 

The  charts  of  rainfall,  compiled  for  the  State, 
show  a  fall  of  30  inches  on  the  lake,  and  46  inches 
at  the  Ohio  River.  Between  these  two  points,  the 
fall  is  marked,  beginning  at  the  north,  32,  34,  36 
and  38  inches,  all  near  the  lake.  Farther  down, 
in  the  latitude  of  Tuscarawas,  Monroe  and  Mercer 
Counties,  the  fall  is  40  inches,  while  the  south- 
western part  is  42  and  44  inches. 

The  clearing  away  of  forests,  the  drainage  of 
the  land,  and  other  causes,  have  lessened  the  rain- 
fall, making  considerable  difference  since  the  days 
of  the  aborioines. 


:^ 


'k. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


105 


CHAPTER    XVII.* 

PUBLIC  LANDS  OF  OHIO— THR  MYSTERIES  OF  THE  EARLY  SURVEYS- 
ITS  ORIGIN  AND  ORGANIZATION. 


-THE  NEW  rONNECTICUT— 


TO  the  inexperienced  student  of  the  history  of 
Ohio,  nothing  is  more  perplexing  and  un- 
satisfactory, than  the  account  of  its  pubUc  lands. 
Held  theoretically  by  the  conflicting  claims  of  col- 
onies, each  jealous  of  the  other's  prestige,  and  prac- 
tically controlled  by  the  determined  assertion  of  his 
cLiim  by  the  Indian,  its  territory  came  under  the 
acknowledged  control  of  the  General  Government 
in  a  fragmentary  way,  and  in  the  early  surveys  it 
lacks  that  regular  arrangement  which  marks  the 
larger  part  of  the  old  Northwestern  Territory.  But, 
to  the  early  colonist,  Ohio  was  the  land  of  promise. 
The  reports  of  the  early  explorers  who  had  been 
sent  to  spy  out  the  land  were  such  as  to  stimulate 
the  rapacity  of  greedy  adventurers  to  the  highest 
pitch,  and  Ohio  became  at  once  the  center  of  at- 
traction, not  only  to  that  class,  but  also  to  the  pio- 
neer settlements  of  the  East.  The  spirit  of  land 
speculation  was  fostered  by  the  system  of  royal 
charters  and  favoritism,  and  colonial  officials  were 
rapidly  acquiring  titles  to  large  tracts  of  the  fertile 
lands  of  the  Northwest.  Lord  Dunmore,  who  rep- 
resented the  crown  in  Virginia,  had  made  arrange- 
ments to  secure  a  large  portion  of  this  territory, 
which  were  only  frustrated  by  the  precipitation  of 
the  Revolutionary  struggle.  In  all  these  operations 
the  rights  or  interests  of  the  Indians  were  ignored. 
Might  was  the  measure  of  the  white  man's  right, 
and,  in  the  face  of  formal  treaties  very  favorable  to 
the  whites,  the  lands  reserved  to  the  natives  were 
shamelessly  bought  and  sold.  Titles  thus  secured 
were  obviously  of  no  value  if  the  integrity  of  sol- 
emn treaties  were  to  be  respected,  but,  so  generally 
had  the  public  mind  been  corrupted  by  the  greed 
for  gain,  that  this  consideration  offered  no  hindrance 
whatever  to  this  sort  of  traffic  in  land  titles.  In 
1776,  however,  the  colonies  having  renounced 
their  allegiance  to  the  mother  country,  and  having 
assumed  a  position  as  sovereign  and  independent 
States,  a  summary  end  was  put  to  this  speculation, 
and  all  persons  were  forbidden  to  locate  in  this  ter- 
ritory, until  its  ownership  and  jurisdiction  should 

♦Compiled  from  Howe's  Historical   rollpctions  of  Ohio,  and  a 
pamphlet  by  Judge  W.  W.  Boynton,  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio. 


be  determined.  Each  State  claimed  the  right  of 
soil,  the  jurisdiction  over  the  district  of  country 
embraced  by  the  provisions  of  its  charter,  and  the 
privilege  of  disposing  of  the  land  to  subserve  its 
own  interests.  The  States,  on  the  contrary,  which 
had  no  such  charter,  insisted  that  that  these  lands 
ought  to  be  appropriated  for  the  benefit  of  all  the 
States,  as  the  title  to  them,  if  secured  at  all,  would 
be  by  the  expenditure  of  the  blood  and  moneys  of 
all  alike.  The  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was 
signed  at  Paris,  September  3,  1783,  and  Congress 
at  once  became  urgent  in  seconding  this  demand  of 
the  non  charter-holding  States.  Under  the  char- 
ters held  by  the  individual  State,  the  General  Gov- 
ernment was  powerless  to  fulfill  its  agreement  with 
the  troops,  to  grant  land  to  each  soldier  of  the 
war,  and  the  general  dissatisfaction  occasioned  by 
this  state  of  things,  formed  a  powerful  influence 
which  finally  brought  about  a  general  cession  of 
these  unappropriated  lands,  held  by  the  different 
States.  In  March,  1784,  Virginia  ceded  her  terri- 
tory situated  northwest  of  the  River  Ohio,  reserving 
the  tract  now  known  as  the  Virginia  Military 
Lands.  In  1786,  Connecticut  ceded  her  territory, 
save  the  "  Western  Reserve ;"  reserved  cessions 
were  made  by  Massachusetts  in  1785,  and  by  New 
York  in  1780. 

When  Ohio  was  admitted  into  the  Federal 
Union  in  184)3,  as  an  independent  State,  one  of  the 
terms  of  admission  was,  that  the  fee  simple  to  all 
the  lands  within  its  limits,  excepting  those  pre- 
viously granted  or  sold,  should  vest  in  the  Ignited 
States.  A  large  portion  of  the  State,  however,  had 
been  granted  or  sold  to  various  individuals,  compa- 
nies and  bodies  politic  before  this,  and  subsequent 
dispositions  of  Ohio  public  lands  have  generally 
been  in  aid  of  some  public  State  enterprise.  The 
following  are  the  names  by  which  the  principal 
bodies  of  land  are  designated,  taking  their  titles 
from  the  different  forms  of  transfer: 

1.  Congress  Lands. 

2.  United  States  Military  Lands. 

3.  Ohio  Company's  Purchase. 

4.  Donation  Tract. 


?>MV 


■l±^ 


166 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


5.  Symmes'  Purvliase. 

6.  Refugee  Tract. 

7.  French  Grant. 

8.  Dohrman's  Grrant. 

9.  Moravian  Lands. 

10.  Zane's  Grant. 

11.  Maumee  Road  Lands. 

12.  Turnpike  Lands. 

13.  Ohio  Canal  Lands. 

14.  School  Lands. 

15.  College  Lands. 

16.  Ministerial  Lands. 

17.  Salt  Sections. 

18.  Virginia  Military  Lands. 

19.  Western  Reserve. 

20.  Fire  Lands. 

These  grants,  however,  may  properly  be  di- 
vided into  three  general  classes — Congress  Lands, 
the  Virginia  Reserve  and  the  Connecticut  Reserve  ; 
the  former  including  all  lands  of  the  State,  not 
known  as  the  Virginia  Military  Land  or  the 
W(, stern  Reserve.  Previous  to  any  grants  of  this 
territory,  the  Indian  title  had  to  be  acquired.  Al- 
though the  United  States  has  succeeded  to  the 
rights  acquired  by  the  English  from  the  Iroquois, 
there  were  numerous  tribes  that  disputed  the  right 
of  the  dominant  nation  to  cede  this  territory,  and  a 
treaty  was  accordingly  made  at  Fort  Stanwix,  in 
1784,  and  in  the  following  year  at  Fort  Mcin- 
tosh, by  which  the  Indians  granted  all  east  of  a 
line  drawn  from  the  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga 
River  to  the  Ohio,  and  all  south  of  what  subse- 
quently became  known  as  the  Greenville  Treaty 
line,  or  Indian  boundary  line.  By  this  treaty,  this 
line  extended  from  the  Portage,  between  the  Cuya- 
hoga and  the  Tuscarawas  Branch  of  the  Muskingum, 
"  thence  down  that  branch,  to  the  crossing  above 
Fort  Laurens,  then  westerly  to  the  Portage  of  the 
Big  Miami,  which  runs  into  the  Ohio,  at  the 
mouth  of  which  the  fort  stood,  which  was  taken 
by  the  French  in  1752;  thence  along  said  Portage 
to  the  Great  Miami,  or  Omee  River,"  whence 
the  line  was  extended  westward,  by  the  treaty  of 
Greenville,  in  1705,  to  Fort  Recovery,  and  thence 
southwest  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky  River. 

Congress  Lands  are  so  called  becau.se  they  are 
sold  to  purchasers  by  the  immediate  officers  of  the 
General  Government,  conformably  to  such  laws  as 
are,  or  may  be,  from  time  to  time,  enacted  by 
Congress.  They  are  all  regularly  surveyed  into 
townships  of  six  miles  square  each,  under  the  au- 
thority and  at  the  expense  of  the  National  Govern- 


ment.    All  these  lands,  except  Marietta  and  a  part 
of  Steubenville  districts,  are  numbered  as  follows  : 


6 

5 

4 

3 

2 
11 

1 

7 
18 

8 

9 

10 

12 

17 

16 

15 

14 

13 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

30 

29 

28 

27 

26 

25 

31 

32 

83 

34 

35 

36 

The  seven  Ranges,  Ohio  Company's  Purchase, 
and  Symmes'  Purchase  are  numbered  as  here  ex- 
hibited : 


36 

30 

24 

18 

12 

6 

35 

29 

23 

17 

11 

5 

34 

28 

22 

16 

10 

4 

83 

27 

21 

15 

9 

8 

32 

26 

20 

14 

8 

2 

31 

25 

19 

13 

7 

1 

The  townships  are  again  subdivided  into  sec- 
tions of  one  mile  square,  each-  containing  640  acres, 
by  lines  running  parallel  with  the  township  and 
range  lines.  The  sections  are  numbered  in  two 
different  modes,  as  exhibited  in  the  preceding  fig- 
ures or  diagrams. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  division,  the  sec- 
tions are  again  subdivided  into  four  equal  parts, 
called  the  northeast  quarter-section,  southeast 
quarter  section,  etc.  And  again  by  a  law  of  Con- 
gress, which  went  into  effect  July,  1820,  these 
quarter-sections  are  also  divided  by  a  north-and- 


riV 


'\^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


167 


s 

30  4 

R 
T 

S 

213 
3 

1 

south  line  into  two  equal  parts,  called  the  east  half 
quarter-section  No.  — ,  and  west  half  quarler-sec- 
tion  No.  — ,  which  contain  eighty  acres  each.  The 
minimum  price  was  reduced  by  the  same  law  from 
$2  to  $1.25  per  acre,  cash  down. 

In  establishing  the  township  and  sectional  cor- 
ners, a  post  was  first  planted  at  the  point  of  inter- 
section ;  then  on  the  tree  nearest  the  post,  and 
standing  within  the  section  intended  to  be  desig- 
nated, was  numbered  with  the  marking  iron  the 
range,  township,  and  number  of  the  section,  thus : 

R  21  R  20 

T     4  T    4 

1  S  31  The  quarter  corners  are  marked 
—  1 — 4  south,  merely. 

2R  20 

T     3 

S     6 

Section  No.  16  of  every  township  is  perpet- 
ually reserved  for  the  use  of  sclools,  and  leased  or 
sold  out,  for  the  benefit  ot  schools,  under  the  State 
government.  All  the  others  may  be  taken  up 
either  in  sections,  fractions,  halves,  quarters,  or 
half-quarters. 

For  the  purpose  of  selling  out  these  lands,  they 
were  divided  into  eight  several  land  districts,  called 
after  the  names  of  the  towns  in  which  the  land  of- 
fices are  kept,  viz.,  Wooster,  Steubenville,  Zanes- 
ville,  Marietta,  Chillicothe,  etc.,  etc. 

In  May,  1785,  Congress  passed  an  ordinance  for 
a.scertaining  the  mode  of  disposing  of  these  lands. 
Under  that  ordinance,  the  Jifst  seven  ranges, 
bounded  on  the  north  by  a  line  drawn  due  west 
from  the  Pennsylvania  State  line,  where  it  crosses 
the  Ohio  River,  to  the  United  States  Military 
Lands,  forty-two  miles;  and,  on  the  west,  by  the 
same  line  drawn  thence  south  to  the  Ohio  River, 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  Marietta  Township,  and 
on  the  east  and  south  by  the  Ohio  River,  were 
surveyed  in  1786-87,  and  in  the  latter  year,  and 
sales  were  efl'ected  at  New  York,  to  the  amount  of 
$72,974.  In  1796,  further  portions  of  these  lands 
were  disposed  of  at  Pittsbuigh,  to  the  amount  of 
S43,44B,  and  at  Philadelphia,  amounting  to  $5,- 
120.  A  portion  of  these  lands  were  located  under 
United  States  Military  land  warrants,  and  the  rest 
was  disposed  of  at  the  Steubenville  Land  Office, 
which  was  opened  July  1,  1801. 

United  States  Military  Lands  are  so  called  from 
the  circumstance  of  their  having  been  appropriat- 
ed, by  an  act  of  Congress  of  the  1st  of  June, 
1796,  to  satisfy   certain  claims  of  the  officers  and 


soldiers  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  This  tract  of 
country,  embracing  tlie.se  lands,  is  bounded  as  fol- 
lows :  Beginninir  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
original  seven  ranges  of  townships,  thence  south 
titty  miles,  thence  west  to  the  Scioto  River,  thence 
up  i^aid  river  to  the  Greenville  treaty  line,  thence 
northeasterly  with  said  line  to  old  Fort  Laurens, 
on  the  Tuscarawas  River,  thence  due  east  to  the 
place  of  beginning,  including  a  tract  of  about 
4,000  square  miles,  or  2,560,000  acres  of  land. 
It  is,  of  course,  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Green- 
ville treaty  line,  east  by  the  "  seven  ranges  of  town- 
ships," south  by  the  Congress  and  Refugee  lands, 
and  west  by  the  Scioto  River. 

These  lands  are  surveyed  into  townships  of  five 
miles  square  ;  these  townships  were  then  again, 
originally,  surveyed  into  quarter  townships,  of  two 
and  a  half  miles  square,  containing  4,000  acres 
each;  and,  subsequently,  some  of  these  quarter- 
townships  were  subdivided  into  forty  lots,  of  100 
acres  each,  for  the  accommodation  of  those  soldiers 
holding  warrants  for  only  100  acres  each.  And 
again,  after  the  time  originally  assigned  for  ihe 
location  of  these  warrants  had  expired,  certain 
quarter-townships,  which  had  not  then  been  loca- 
ted, we  re  divided  into  sections  of  one  mile  .square 
each,  and  sold  by  the  General  Government,  like 
the  main  body  of  Congress  lands. 

The  quarter-townships  are  numbered  as  exhib- 
ited in  the  accompanying  figure, 
the  top  being  considered  north. 
.The  place  of  each  township  is  ascer- 
tained by  numbers  and  ranges,  the 
same  as  Congress  lands ;  the  ranges 
being  numbered  from  east  to  west, 
and  the  numbers  from  south  to  north. 

Ohio  Company's  Purchase  is  a  body  of  land 
containing  about  1,500.000  acr>s;  including,  how- 
ever, the  donation  tract,  school  lands,  etc.,  lying 
along  the  Ohio  River  ;  and  including  Meigs,  nearly 
all  of  Athens,  and  a  consideralile  jiart  of  Wash- 
ington and  Gallia  Counties.  This  tract  was  pur- 
chased by  the  General  Government  in  the  year 
1787,  by  Manasseh  Cutler  and  Winthrop  Sar- 
geant,  from  the  neighhorhood  of  Salem,  in  ^Lassa- 
chusetts,  agents  for  the  "  Ohio  Company,"  so 
called,  which  had  then  been  formed  in  Massachu- 
setts, foi-  the  purpo.se  of  a  settlement  in  the  Ohio 
country.  Only  964,285  acres  were  ultimately 
paid  for,  and,  of  cour.se.  patented.  This  body  of 
land  was  then  apportioned  out  into  817  shares,  of 
1,173  acres  each,  and  a  town  lot  of  one-third  of 
an  acre  to  each  share.     These  shares  were  made 


2 

1 

8 

4 

IT^ 


168 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


up  to  each  proprietor  in  tracts,  one  of  640  acres, 
one  of  262,  one  of  160,  one  of  100,  one  of  8,  and 
another  of  3  acres,  besides  the  before-mentioned 
town  lot.  Besides  every  section  16,  set  apart,  as 
elsewhere,  for  the  support  of  schools,  every  Section 
29  is  appropriated  for  the  support  of  religious 
institutions.  In  addition  to  which  were  also 
granted  two  six-mile-square  townships  for  the  use 
of  a  college.  But,  unfortunately  for  the  Ohio 
Company,  owing  to  their  want  of  topographical 
knowledge  of  the  country,  the  body  of  land  selected 
by  ihem,  with  some  partial  exceptions,  is  the 
most  hilly  and  sterile  of  any  tract  of  similar  ex- 
tent in  the  State. 

Donation  Tract  is  a  body  of  100,000  acres,  set 
oif  in  the  northern  limits  of  the  Ohio  Company's 
tract,  and  granted  to  them  by  Congress,  provided 
they  should  obtain  one  actual  settler  upon  each 
hundred  acres  thereof,  within  five  years  from  the 
date  of  the  grant ;  and  that  so  much  of  the  100,- 
000  acres  aforesaid,  as  should  not  thus  be  taken 
up,  shall  revert  to  the  Greneral  Government. 

This  tract  may,  in  some  respects,  be  considered 
a  part  of  the  Ohio  Company's  purchase.  It  is 
situated  in  the  northern  limits  of  Washington 
County.  It  lies  in  an  oblong  shape,  extending 
nearly  seventeen  miles  from  east  to  west,  and  about 
seven  and  a  half  north  to  south. 

Symmes'  Purchase  is  a  tract  of  311,682  acres  of 
land  in  the  southwestern  quarter  of  the  State, 
between  the  Great  and  Little  Miami  Rivers.  It  bor- 
ders on  the  Ohio  River  a  distance  of  twenty-seven 
miles,  and  extends  so  far  back  from  the  latter  between 
the  two  Miamis  as  to  include  the  quantity  of  land 
just  mentioned.  It  was  patented  to  John  Cleves 
Symmes,  in  1794,  for  67  cents  per  acre.  Every 
sixteenth  section,  or  square  mile,  in  each  town- 
ship, was  reserved  by  Congress  for  the  use  of 
schools,  and  Sections  29  for  the  support  of  relig- 
ious institutions,  besides  fifteen  acres  around  Fort 
Washington,  in  Cincinnati.  This  tract  of  land  is 
now  one  of  the  most  valuable  in  the  State. 

Refugee  Tract,  a  body  of  100,000  acres  of  land, 
granted  by  Congress  to  certain  individuals  who 
left  the  British  Provinces  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  and  espoused  the  cause  of  freedom,  is  a  nar- 
row strip  of  country,  four  and  a  half  miles  broad 
from  north  to  south,  and  extending  eastwardly 
from  the  Scioto  River  forty -eight  miles.  It  has 
the  United  States  twenty  ranges  of  military  or  army 
lands  north,  twenty-two  ranges  of  Congress  lands 
south.  In  the  western  borders  of  this  tract  is 
situated  the  town  of  Columbus. 


French  Grant  is  a  tract  of  24,000  acres  of  land, 
bordering  upon  the  Ohio  River,  in  the  south- 
eastern quarter  of  Scioto  County.  A  short  time 
after  the  Ohio  Company's  purchase  began  to  be 
settled,  an  association  was  formed  under  the  name 
of  the  Scioto  Land  Company.  A  contract  was 
made  for  the  purchase  of  a  part  of  the  lands  in- 
cluded in  the  Ohio  Company's  purchases.  Plats 
and  descriptions  of  the  land  contracted  for  were 
made  out,  and  Joel  Barlow  was  sent  as  an  agent 
to  Europe  to  make  sales  of  the  lands  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  company;  and  sales  were  effected  of  a 
considerable  part  of  the  land  to  companies  and 
individuals  in  France.  On  February  19,  1791, 
two  hundred  and  eighteen  of  tlusc  purchasers  left 
Havre  de  Grace,  in  France,  and  arrived  in  Alex- 
andria, J).  C,  on  the  3d  of  May  following.  On 
their  arrival,  they  were  told  that  the  Scioto  Com- 
pany owned  no  land.  The  agent  insisted  that 
they  did,  and  promised  to  secure  them  good  titles 
thereto,  which  he  did,  at  Winchester,  Brownsville 
and  Charleston  (now  Well;>burg).  When  they 
arrived  at  Mai-ietta,  about  fifty  of  them  landed. 
The  rest  of  the  company  proceeded  to  Gallipolis, 
which  was  laid  out  about  that  time,  and  were  as- 
sured by  the  agent  that  the  place  lay  within  their 
purchase.  Every  efi"ort  to  secure  titles  to  the 
lands  they  had  purchased  having  failed,  an  appli- 
cation was  made  to  Congress,  and  in  March,  1795, 
the  above  grant  was  made  to  these  persons 
Twelve  hundred  acres  additional,  were  afterward 
granted,  adjoining  the  above  mentioned  tract  at  its 
lower  end,  toward  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Scioto 
River. 

Dohrman's  Grant  is  one  six-mile-square  town- 
ship of  23,040  acres,  granted  to  Arnold  Henry 
Dohrman,  formerly  a  wealthy  Portuguese  merchant 
in  Lisbon,  fur  and  in  consideration  of  his  having, 
during  the  Revolutionary  war,  given  shelter  and 
aid  to  the  American  cruisers  and  vessels  of  war. 
It  is  located  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Tuscara- 
was County. 

Moravian  Lands  are  three  several  tracts  of 
4,000  acres  each,  originally  granted  by  the  old 
Continental  Congress  in  July,  1787,  and  confirmed 
by  act  of  Congress  of  June  1,  1796,  to  the  Mora- 
vian brethren  at  Bethlehem,  in  Pennsylvania,  in 
trust  and  for  the  use  of  the  Christianized  Indians 
living  thereon.  They  are  laid  out  in  nearly  square 
farms,  on  the  Muskingum  River,  in  what  is  now 
Tuscarawas  County.  They  are  called  by  the  namrs 
of  the  Shoenbrun.  Gnadenhutten  and  Salem  tract.s. 

Zane's  Tracts  are  three  several  tracts  of  one  mile 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


169 


squire  each — one  on  the  Muskingum  River,  which 
incUides  the  town  of  Zuncsville  -  one  at  the  cross 
of  the  Hocking  River,  on  which  the  town  of  Lancas- 
ter is  laid  out,  and  the  third  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Scioto  River,  opposite  Chillicothe.  They  were 
granted  by  Congress  to  one  Ebenezer  Zane,  in 
May,  1786,  on  condition  that  he  should  open  a 
road  tlirough  them,  from  Wheeling,  Va.,  to  Mays- 
ville,  Ky. 

There  are  also  three  other  tracts,  of  one  mile 
square  each,  granted  to  Isaac  Zane,  in  the  year 
1802,  in  consideration  of  his  having  been  taken 
prisoner  by  the  Indians,  when  a  boy,  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  living  with  them  most  of 
his  life ;  and  having  during  that  time  performed 
m;!i)y  acts  of  kindness  and  beneficence  toward  the 
American  people.  These  tracts  are  situated  in 
Champaign  County,  on  King's  Creek,  from  three 
to  five  miles  northwest  from  Urbana. 

The  Maumee  Road's  Lands  are  a  body  of  lauds 
averaging  two  miles  wide,  l^ing  along  one  mile  on 
each  side  ofthe  road,  from  the  Maumee  River,  at  Per- 
rysburg,  to  the  western  limits  of  the  Wesiern  Re- 
serve, a  distance  of  about  forty-six  miles,  and  com- 
prising nearly  60,000  acres.  They  were  originally 
granted  by  the  Indian  owners,  at  the  treaty  of 
Brownstown,  in  1808,  to  enable  the  United  States 
to  miike  a  road  on  the  line  just  mentioned.  The 
General  Grovernment  never  moved  into  the  busi- 
ness until  Fibruary,  1823,  when  Congress  passed 
an  act  making  over  the  aforesaid  lands  to  the 
State  of  Ohio,  provided  she  should,  within  four 
years  thereafter,  make  and  keep  in  repair  a  good 
road  throughout  the  aforei-aid  route  of  forty-six 
miles.  This  road  the  State  government  has 
already  made,  obtained  possession,  and  sold  most 
of  the  land. 

Turnpike  Lands  are  forty-nine  sections,  amount- 
ing to  31,360  acres,  situated  along  the  western 
side  of  the  Columbus  and  Sandusky  turnpike,  in 
the  eastern  parts  of  Seneca,  Crawford  and  Marion 
Counties.  They  were  originally  granted  by  an  act 
of  Congress  on  March  3,  1827,  and  more  specifi- 
cally by  a  supplementary  act  the  year  following. 
The  considerations  for  which  these  lands  were 
granted  were  that  the  mail  stages  and  all  troops 
and  property  of  the  United  States,  which  should 
ever  be  moved  and  transported  along  this  road 
should  pass  free  fi-om  toll. 

The  Ohio  Canal  Lands  are  granted  by  Congress 
to  the  State  of  Ohio,  to  aid  in  constructing  her 
extensive  canals.  These  lands  comprise  over  one 
million  of  acres. 


School  Lan  Js — By  compact  between  the  United 
States  and  the  State  of  Ohio,  when  the  latter  was 
admitted  into  the  Union,  it  was  stipulated,  for  and 
in  consideration  that  the  State  of  Ohio  should  never 
tax  the  Congress  lands  until  after  they  should  have 
been  sold  five  years,  and  in  consideration  tl  at  the 
public  lands  would  thereby  more  readily  sell,  that 
the  one-thirty-sixth  part  of  all  the  territory  in- 
cluded within  the  limits  of  the  State  should  be 
set  apart  for  the  support  of  common  schools  there- 
in. And  for  the  purpose  of  getting  at  lands 
which  should,  in  point  of  quality  of  soil,  be  on  an 
average  with  the  whole  land  in  the  country,  they 
decreed  that  it  should  be  selected  by  lots,  in  small 
tracts  each,  to  wit:  That  it  should  consist  of 
Section  No.  16,  let  that  section  be  good  or 
bad,  in  every  township  of  Congress  land,  also 
in  the  Ohio  Company's  and  in  Symmes'  Pur- 
chases, all  of  which  townvhips  are  composed  of 
thirty-six  sections  each ;  and  for  the  United  States 
military  lands  and  Connecticut  Reserve,  a  num- 
ber of  quarter-townships,  two  and  a  half  miles 
square  each  (being  the  smallest  public  surveys 
therein,  then  made),  should  be  selected  by  the 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury  in  different  townships 
throughout  the  United  States  military  tract, 
equivalent  in  quantity  to  the  one  thirty-sixth 
part  of  those  two  tracts  respectively ;  and,  for 
the  Virginia  military  tract,  Congress  enacted 
that  a  quantity  of  land  equal  to  the  one- 
thirty-sixth  part  of  the  estimated  quantity  of 
land  contained  therein,  should  be  selected  by 
lot,  in  what  was  then  called  the  "  New  Pur- 
chase," in  quarter  -  township  tracts  of  three 
miles  square  each.  Most  of  these  selections  were 
accordingly  made,  but  in  some  instances,  by  the 
carelessness  of'  the  officers  conducting  the  sales,  or 
from  some  other  cause,  a  few  Sections  16  have 
been  sold,  in  which  case  Congress,  when  applied 
to,  has  generally  granted  other  lands  in  lieu 
thereof,  as,  for  instance,  no  Section  16  was  re- 
served in  Montgomery  Township,  in  which  Co- 
lumbus is  situated,  and  Congress  afterward 
granted  therefor  Section  21,  in  township  corner- 
ing thereon  to  the  southwest. 

College  Townships  are  three  six-mile-square 
townships,  granted  by  Congress ;  two  of  them  to 
the  Ohio  Company,  for  the  use  of  a  coll  ge  to  be 
established  within  their  purchase,  and  one  for  the 
use  of  the  inhabitants  of  Symmes'  Purchase. 

Ministerial  Lands — In  both  the  Ohio  Company 
and  the  Symmes'  Purchase  every  Section  29  (equal 
to  every  one-thirty-sixth  part  of  every  township) 


4f 


170 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


3  2 

4  1 


is  reserved  as  a  permanent  fund  for  the  Mipp(jrt  of 
a  settled  minister.  As  the  purchasers  of  these  two 
tracts  came  from  parts  of  the  Union  where  it  was 
customary  and  deemed  necessary  to  have  a  regu- 
lar settled  clergyman  in  every  town,  they  therefore 
stipulated  in  this  original  purchase  that  a  perma- 
nent fund  in  lands  should  thus  he  set  apiirt  for 
this  purchase.  In  no  other  part  of  the  State, 
other  than  these  two  pui'chases,  are  any  lands  set 
apart  f  )r  this  object. 

The  Connecticut  Western  Reserve  and  the 
Fire  Lands  are  surveyed  into  townships  of  about 
five  miles  square  each ;  and  these  townships  are 
then  subdivided  into  four  quarters  ; 
and  these  quarter- townships  are 
numbered  as  in  the  accompanying 
figure,  the  top  being  considered 
north.  And  for  individual  conven- 
ience, these  are  again  subdivided, 
by  private  surveys,  into  lots  of  from  fifty  to  five 
hundi'ed  acres  each,  to  suit  individual  purchasers. 

In  its  history,  the  Western  Reserve  is  far  more 
important  than  any  other  of  the  early  arbitrary 
divisions  of  the  State.  It  was  peopled  by  a  dom- 
inant class  that  brought  to  this  wilderness  social 
forms  and  habits  of  thought  that  had  been  fostered 
in  the  Puritan  persecutions  of  England,  and  crys- 
tallized by  nearly  half  a  century  of  pioneer  life  in 
Connecticut,  into  a  civilization  that  has  not  yet 
lost  its  distinctive  characteristics.  Dating  their 
history  back  to  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  the  true  descendant  of  the  Puritan  points 
with  pride  to  the  permanency  of  their  traditions, 
to  the  progressive  character  of  their  institutions, 
and  marks  their  influence  in  the  commanding 
power  of  the  schoolhouse  and  church. 

The  earliest  measure  which  may  be  said  to  have 
affected  the  history  of  the  Reserve,  originated  in 
1609.  In  this  year,  James  I,  granted  to  a  com- 
pany called  the  London  Company,  a  charter,  under 
which  the  entire  claim  of  Virginia  to  the  soil 
northwest  of  the  Ohio  was  asserted.  It  was 
clothed  with  corporate  powers,  with  most  of  its 
members  living  in  London.  The  tract  of  country 
embraced  within  this  charter  was  immense.  It 
commenced  its  boundaries  at  Point  Comfort,  on 
the  Atlantic,  and  ran  south  200  miles,  and  thence 
west  across  the  continent  to  the  Pacific ;  com- 
mencing again  at  Point  Comfort,  and  running 
200  miles  north,  and  from  this  point  northwest  to 
the  sea.  This  line  ran  through  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania,  crossing  the  eastern  end  of  Lake 
Erie,  and  terminated  in  the  Arctic  Ocean.     The 


vast  empire  lying  between  the  south  line,  the  east 
line,  the  diagonal  line  to  the  northwest,  and  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  was  claimed  by  virtue  of  this  char- 
ter. It  included  over  half  of  the  North  American 
Continent.  Notwithstanding  the  charter  of  the 
London  Company  included  all  the  territory  now 
embraced  witliin  the  boundaries  of  Ohio,  James  I, 
on  the  3d  of  November,  1620,  by  royal  letters 
patent,  granted  to  the  Duke  of  Lenox  and  others, 
to  be  known  as  the  Council  of  Plymouth,  all  the 
territory  lying  between  the  fortieth  and  fortv- 
eighth  degrees  of  north  latitude,  and  bounded  on 
the  east  by  the  Atlantic,  and  on  the  west  by  the 
Pacific.  This  description  embraced  a  large  tract 
of  the  lands  granted  to  the  Virginia  or  London 
Company.  In  1630,  a  portion  of  the  same  ter- 
ritory was  granted  to  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  and 
afterward  confirmed  to  him  by  Charles  I.  In 
1631,  the  Council  of  Plymouth,  acting  by  the 
Earl  of  Warwick,  granted  to  Lord  Brook  and  Vis- 
counts Say  and  Seal,  what  were  supposed  to  be 
the  same  lands,  altliMUgh  by  a  very  imperfect  de- 
scription. In  1662,  Charles  II  granted  a  charter 
to  nineteen  patentees,  with  such  associates  as 
they  should  from  time  to  time  elect.  This  asso- 
ciation was  made  a  body  corporate  and  politic,  by 
the  name  of  the  Governor  and  Company  of  the 
English  Cotiony  of  Connecticut.  This  charter 
constituted  the  organic  law  of  the  State  for  up- 
ward of  one  hundi-ed  and  fifty  years.  The  bound- 
aries were  Massachusetts  on  the  north,  the  sea 
on  the  south,  Narragansett  River  or  Bay  on  the 
east,  and  the  South  Sea  (Pacific  Ocean)  on  the 
west  This  description  embraced  a  strip  of  land 
upward  of  six  miles  wide,  stretching  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  including  a  part  of  New 
York  and  New  Jersey,  and  all  the  territory  now 
known  as  the  Western  Reserve. 

In  1681,  for  the  consideration  of  £16,000  and 
a  fealty  of  two  beaver  skins  a  year,  Charles  II 
granted  to  ^Villiam  Penn  a  charter  embracing 
within  its  limits  the  territory  constituting  the 
present  State  of  Pennsylvania.  This  grant  in- 
cluded a  strip  of  territor}-  running  across  the  en- 
tire length  of  the  State  on  the  north,  and  upward 
of  fifty  miles  wide,  that  was  embraced  within  the 
Connecticut  charter.  Massachusetts,  under  the 
Plymouth  Charter,  claimed  all  the  land  between 
the  forty-first  and  forty-fifth  degrees,  of  north  lati- 
tude. In  1664,  Charles  II  ceded  to  his  brother, 
the  Duke  of  York,  afterward  James  II,  by  Icttei-s 
patent,  all  the  countrybetween  the  St.  Croix  and 
the  Delaware.     After  the  overthrow  of  the  gov- 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


173 


ernnient  of  "  New  Netherlands,"  then  existing 
upon  that  territory,  it  was  chiimed  that  the  grant 
of  the  Duke  of  York  extended  west  into  the  Mis- 
sissippi A'alley. 

Thus  matters  stood  at  the  commencement  of 
the  Revolution.  Virginia  claimed  all  the  territory 
northwest  of  the  Ohio.  Connecticut  strenuously 
urged  her  titles  to  all  lands  lying  between  the  par- 
allels -11°  and  42°  2'  of  north  latitude,  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  Pennsylvania,  under 
the  charter  of  1G81,  had  taken  possession  of  the 
disputed  land  lying  in  that  State,  and  had  granted 
much  of  it  to  actual  settlers.  New  York  and 
Massachusetts  were  equally  emphatic  in  the  asser- 
tion of  ownership  to  land  between  those  lines  of  lat- 
itude. The  contention  between  claimants  under 
the  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania  charters,  on  the 
Susquehanna,  frequently  resulted  in  bloodshed. 
The  controversy  between  those  two  States  was 
finally  submitted  to  a  Court  of  Commissioners,  ap- 
pointed by  Congress,  upon  the  petition  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, under  the  ninth  article  of  the  confederation, 
which  gave  Congress  power  to  establish  a  Court  of 
Commissioners,  to  settle  disputed  boundaries  be- 
tween States,  in  case  of  disagreement.  The  court 
decided  in  favor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  this  decision 
terminated  the  controversy.  The  question  of  the 
title  to  lands  lying  west  of  Pennsylvania,  was  not 
involved  in  this  adjudication,  but  remained  a  sub- 
ject for  future  contention.  A  party  sprung  up 
during  the  war  that  disputed  the  title  of  the 
States  asserting  it,  to  lands  outside  of  State 
limits,  and  which  insisted  upon  the  right  of  the 
States  by  whose  common  treasure,  dominion  was  to 
be  secured,  to  participate  in  the  benefits  and  results 
arising  from  the  joint  and  common  'effort  for  inde- 
pendence. This  party  was  particularly  strong  in 
the  smaller  States.  Those  colonies  that  had  not 
been  the  favored  recipients  of  extensive  land 
grants,  were  little  inclined  to  acquiesce  in  claims, 
the  justice  of  which  they  denied,  and  which  could 
be  secured  to  the  claimants,  only  by  the  success  of 
the  Revolution. 

There  is  little  doubt,  that  the  conflict  in  the 
early  charters,  respecting  boundaries,  grew  out  of 
the  ignorance  of  the  times  in  which  they  were 
granted,  as  to  the  breadth  or  inland  extent  of 
the  American  Continent.  During  the  reign  of 
James  I,  Sir  Francis  Drake  reported,  that,  from 
the  top  of  the  mountains  on  the  Isthmus  of  Pan- 
ama, he  had  seen  both  oceans.  This  led  to  the 
supposition  that  the  continent,  from  east  to  west, 
was  of  no  considerable  extent,  and  that  the  South 


Sea,  by  which  the  grants  were  limited  on  the 
west,  did  not  lie  very  far  from  the  Atlantic  ;  and  as 
late  as  1740,  the  Duke  of  Newcastle  addressed  his 
letters  to  the  ''Island  of  New  Il]ngland."  Hence 
it  was  urged  as  an  argument  against  the  claims  of 
those  States  asserting  title  to  Western  lands,  that 
the  term,  in  the  grants,  of  South  Sea,  being,  by 
mutual  mistake  of  the  parties  to  the  charter,  an 
erroneous  one — the  error  resulting  from  misinfor- 
mation or  want  of  certainty  concerning  the  local- 
ity of  that  sea — the  claiming  State  ought  not  to 
insist  upon  an  ownership  resting  upon  such  a  foot- 
ing, and  having  its  origin  in  such  a  circumstance. 
Popular  feeling  on  the  subject  ran  so  high,  at  times, 
as  to  cause  apprehension  for  the  safety  of  the  confed- 
eration. In  1780,  Congress  urged  upon  the  States 
having  claims  to  the  Western  country,  the  duty  to 
make  a  surrender  of  a  part  thereof  to  the  United 
States. 

The  debt  incurred  in  the  Revolutionary  contest, 
the  limited  resources  for  its  extinguishment,  if  the 
public  domain  was  unavailable  for  the  purpose,  the 
existence  of  the  unhappy  controversy  growing  out 
of  the  asserted  claims,  and  an  earnest  desire  to  ac- 
commodate and  pacify  conflicting  interests  among 
the  States,  led  Congress,  in  1784,  to  an  impressive 
appeal  to  the  States  interested,  to  remove  all  cause 
for  further  discontent,  by  a  liberal  cession  of  their 
domains  to  the  General  Government,  for  the  com- 
mon benefit  of  all  the  States.  The  happy  termi- 
n  .tion  of  the  war  found  the  public  mind  in  a  con- 
dition to  be  easily  impressed  by  appeals  to  its  pat- 
riotism and  liberality.  New  York  had,  in  1780, 
ceded  to  the  United  States,  the  lands  that  she 
claimed,  lying  west  of  a  line  running  south  from 
the  west  bend  qf  Lake  Ontario  ;  and,  in  1785,  Mas- 
sachusetts relinquished  her  claim  to  the  same  lands 
— each  Stat©  reserving  the  same  19,000  square 
miles  of  ground,  and  each  asserting  an  independent 
title  to  it.  This  controversy  between  the  two 
States  was  settled  by  an  equal  division  between 
them,  of  the  disputed  ground.  Virginia  had  given 
to  her  soldiers  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  of  the 
war  between  France  and  England,  a  pledge  of 
bounties  payable  in  Western  lands  ;  and,  reserving 
a  sufiicien  amount  of  land  to  enable  her  to  meet 
the  pledge  thus  given,  on  the  1st  of  March,  1784, 
she  relinquished  to  the  United  States,  her  title  to 
all  other  lands  lying  northwest  of  the  Ohio.  On 
the  14th  day  of  September,  1786,  the  delegates  in 
Congress,  from  the  State  of  Connecticut,  being  au- 
thorized and  directed  so  to  do,  relinquished  to  the 
United  States,  all  the  right,  title,  interest,  jurisdic- 


IK* 


J^« 


174 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


tion  and  claim  that  she  possessed  to  the  hinds  ly- 
ing west  of  a  line  running  north  from  the  41° 
north  latitude,  to  42°  2',  and  being  120  miles  west  of 
the  western  line  of  Pennsylvania.  The  territory 
lying  west  of  Pennsylvania,  for  the  distance  of  120 
miles,  and  between  the  above-named  degrees  of  lat- 
itude, although  not  in  terms  reserved  by  the  in- 
strument of  conveyance,  was  in  fact  reserved — not 
having  been  conveyed — and  by  reason  thereof,  was 
called  the  Western  Reserve  of  Connecticut.  It 
embraces  the  counties  of  Ashtabula,  Trumbull, 
Portage,  Geauga,  Lake,  Cuyahoga,  Medina,  Lorain, 
Huron,  Erie,  all  of  Summit,  save  the  townships  of 
Franklin  and  Greene  ;  the  two  northern  tiers  of 
townships  of  Mahoning;  the  townships  of  Sulli- 
van, Troy  and  Ruggles,  of  Ashland ;  and  the 
islands  lying  north  of  Sandusky,  including  Kelley's 
and  Put-in-Ba3% 

During  the  Revolution,  the  British,  aided  by 
Benedict  Arnold,  made  incursions  in  the  heart  of 
Connecticut,  and  destroyed  a  large  amount  of 
property  in  the  towns  of  Greenwich,  Norwalk, 
Fairfield,  Danbury,  New  and  East  Haven,  New 
London,  Richfield  and  Groton.  There  were  up- 
ward of  2,000  persons  and  families  that  sustained 
severe  losses  by  the  de2")redations  of  the  enemy. 
On  the  10th  of  May,  1792,  the  Legislature  of 
that  State  set  apart  and  donated  to  the  suffering 
inhabitants  of  these  towns,  500,000  acres  of  the 
west  part  of  the  lands  of  the  Reserve,  to  compen- 
sate them  for  the  losses  sustained.  These  lands 
were  to  be  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  shore  of 
Lake  Erie,  south  by  the  base  line  of  the  Reserve, 
west  by  its  western  line,  and  east  by  a  line  par- 
allel with  the  western  line  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
so  far  from  the  west  line  of  the  Reserve  as  to  in- 
clude within  the  described  limits  the  500,000 
acres.  These  are  the  lands  now  embraced  within  the 
counties  of  Huron  and  Erie,  and  the  Township 
of  Ruggles,  in  Ashland  County.  The  islands 
were  not  included.  The  lands  so  given  were  called 
'•  Suff"erers'  Lands,"  and  those  to  whom  they  were 
given  were,  in  1796,  by  the  Legislature  of  Con- 
necticut, incorporated  by  the  name  of  the  "  Pro- 
prietors of  the  half-million  acres  of  land  lying 
south  of  Lake  Erie."  After  Ohio  had  become  an 
independent  State,  this  foreign  corporation  was 
not  found  to  work  well  here,  not  being  subject  to 
her  laws,  and,  to  relieve  the  owners  of  all  embar- 
rassment, on  the  15th  of  April,  1803,  the  Legisla- 
ture of  this  State  conferred  corporate  power  on 
the  owners  and  proprietors  of  the  "  Half-million 
acres  of  land  lying  south  of  Lake  Erie,"  in  the 


county  of  Trumbull,  called  "  Sufferers'  Land." 
An  account  of  the  losses  of  the  inhabitants  had 
been  taken  in  pounds,  shillings  and  pence,  and  a 
price  placed  upon  the  lands,  and  each  of  the  suf- 
ferers received  land  proportioned  to  the  extent  of 
his  loss.  These  lands  subsequently  took  the 
name  of  "  Fire  Lands,"  from  the  circumstance 
that  the  greater  part  of  the  losses  suff"ered  resulted 
from  fire. 

In  1795,  the  remaining  portion  of  the  Reserve 
was  sold  to  Oliver  Phelps  and  thirty-five  others, 
wh  I  formed  what  became  known  as  the  "  Connect- 
icut Land  Company."  Some  uneasiness  concern- 
ing the  validity  of  the  title  arose  fi-om  the  fact 
that,  whatever  interest  Virginia,  Massachusetts  or 
New  York  may  have  had  in  the  lands  reserved, 
and  claimed  by  Connecticut,  had  been  transferred 
to  the  United  States,  and,  if  neither  of  the  claim- 
ing States  had  title,  the  dominion  and  ownership 
passed  to  the  United  States  by  the  treaty  made 
with  England  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution. 
This  condition  of  things  was  not  the  only  source  of 
difficulty  and  trouble.  The  Reserve  was  so  far 
from  Connecticut  as  to  make  it  impracticable  for 
that  State  to  extend  her  laws  over  the  same,  or 
ordain  new  ones  for  the  government  of  the  inhabit- 
ants; and,  having  parted  with  all  interest  in  the 
soil,  her  right  to  provide  laws  for  the  people  was 
not  only  doubted,  but  denied.  Congress  had 
provided  by  the  ordinance  of  1787  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  territory  nurthwest  of  the  Ohio ; 
but  to  admit  jurisdiction  in  the  United  States  to 
govern  this  part  of  that  territory,  would  cast  grave 
doubt  upon  the  validity  of  the  company's  title.  It 
was  therefore  insisted  that  the  regulation.":  pre- 
scribed by  that  instrument  for  the  government  of 
the  Northwest  Territory  had  no  operation  or 
effect  within  the  limits  of  the  Reserve.  To  quiet 
apprehension,  and  to  remove  all  cause  of  anxiety 
on  the  subject.  Congress,  on  April  28,  1800, 
authorized  the  President  to  execute  and  deliver, 
on  the  part  of  the  Unite  1  States,  letters  patent  to 
the  Governor  of  Connecticut,  whereby  the  United 
States  released,  for  the  uses  named,  all  ight  and 
title  to  the  soil  of  the  Reserve,  and  3onfirmed  it 
unto  those  who  had  purchased  it  from  that  State. 
The  execution  and  delivery,  however,  of  the  letters 
patent  were  upon  the  condition  that  Connecticut 
should  forever  renounce  and  release  to  the  United 
States  entire  and  complete  civil  jurisdiction 
over  the  territory  released.  This  condition  was 
accepted,  and  thereupon  Connecticut  transferred 
her  jurisdiction  to  the    United    States,    and    the 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO 


175 


United  States  released  her  claim  and  title  to  the 
soil 

While  this  controversy  was  going  on,  there  was 
another  contestant  in  the  field,  having  the  advan- 
tage of  actual  occupancy,  and  in  no  wise  inclined 
to  recognize  a  title  adverse  to  his,  nor  yield,  upon 
mere  invitation,  a  possession  so  long  enjoyed. 
This  contestant  was  the  Indian.  By  the  treaty  at 
Greenville  in  1795,  preceding  treaties  were  con- 
firmed, and  the  different  tribes  released  their 
claims  to  all  territory  east  of  the  line  of  the  Cuya- 
hoga River  and  south  of  the  Indian  boundary  line. 
This  left  the  larger  part  of  the  territory  of 
the  Western  Reserve  still  in  the  hands  of 
the  savMge.  On  July  4,  18(l5,  a  treaty 
was  made  at  Fort  Industry  with  the  chiefs 
and  warriors  of  the  different  nations  settled 
in  the  northern  and  western  sections  of  the 
State,  by  which  the  Indian  title  to  all  the  lands 
of  the  Reserve,  lying  west  of  the  Cuyahoga,  was 
extinguished.  By  this  treaty  all  the  lands  lying 
between  the  Cuyahoga  and  the  Meridian,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  miles  west  of  Pennsylvania, 
were  ceded  by  the  Indians  for  $20,000  in  goods, 
and  a  perpetual  annuity  of  $9,500,  payable  in 
goods  at  first  cost.  The  latter  clause  has  become 
a  dead  letter,  because  there  is  no  one  to  claim  it. 
Since  this  treaty,  the  title  to  the  land  of  the  Re- 
serve has  been  set  at  rest. 

The  price  for  which  this  vast  tract  of  land  was 
sold  to  the  Connecticut  Land  Company  was 
$1,200,000,  the  subscriptions  to  the  purchase  fund 
ranging  from  $1,683,  by  Sylvanus  Griswold.  to 
$168,185,  by  Oliver  Phelps.  Each  dollar  sub- 
scribed to  this  fund  entitled  the  subscriber  to  one 
twelve  hundred  thousandth  part  in  common  and 
undivided  of  the  land  purchased.  Having  ac- 
quired the  title,  the  Company,  in  the  following 
spring,  commenced  to  survey  the  territory  lying 
east  of  the  Cuyahoga,  and  during  the  years  of  1796 
and  1797,  completed  it.  The  first  surveying 
party  arrived  at  Conneaut,  in  New  Connecticut, 
July  4,  1796,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  celebrate 
the  twentieth  anniversary  of  American  Independ- 
ence. There  were  fifty  persons  in  the  party, 
under  the  lead  of  Gen.  Moses  Cleveland,  of  Can- 
terbury, Conn.  There  will  be  found  in  Whittle- 
sey's Early  History  of  Cleveland  an  extract  from 
the  journal  of  Cleveland,  describing  the  particu- 
lars of  the  celebration.  Among  other  things  noted 
by  him  was  the  following :  ''The  day,  memora 
ble  as  the  birthday  of  American  Independence 
and  freedom  from  British  tyrrany,  and  commemo- 


rated by  all  good,  freeborn  sons  of  America,  and 
memorable  as  the  day  on  which  the  settlement  of 
this  new  country  was  commenced,  and  ( which j  in 
time  may  raise  her  head  among  the  most  enlight- 
ened and  improved  States"  —  a  prophecy  already 
more  than  fulfilled. 

For  the  purposes  of  the  survey,  a  point  wher ; 
the  41st  degree  of  north  latitude  intersected  the 
western  line  of  Pennsylvania,  was  found,  and  from 
this  degree  of  latitude,  as  a  base  line,  meridian  lines, 
five  miles  apart,  were  run  north  to  the  lake. 
Lines  of  latitude  were  then  run,  five  miles  apart, 
thus  dividing  the  territory  into  townships  five 
miles  square.  It  was  not  until  after  the  treaty  of 
1805  that  the  lands  lying  west  of  the  Cuyahoga 
were  surveyed.  The  meridians  and  parallels  were 
run  out  in  1806,  by  Abraham  Tappan  and  his 
assistants.  The  base  and  western  lines  of  the  Re- 
serve were  run  by  Seth  Pease,  for  the  Govern- 
ment. The  range  of  townships  were  numbered 
progressively  west,  from  the  western  boundary  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  first  tier  of  townships,  run- 
ning north  and  south,  lying  along  the  border  of 
Pennsylvania,  is  Range  No.  1  ;  the  adjoining  tier 
west  is  range  No.  2,  and  so  on  throughout  the 
twenty-four  ranges.  The  township  lying  next 
north  of  the  41st  parallel  of  latitude  in  each  range, 
is  Township  No.  1  of  that  range.  The  township 
next  north  is  No.  2,  and  so  on  progressively  to 
the  lake.  It  was  supposed  that  there  were  4,- 
000,000  acres  of  land  between  Pennsylvania  and 
the  Fire  Lands.  If  the  supposition  had  proved 
true,  the  land  would  have  cost  30  cents  per 
acre ;  as  it  resulted,  there  were  less  than  3,000,- 
000  acres.  The  misca'culation  arose  from  the 
mistaken  assumption  that  the  south  shore  of  Lake 
Erie  bore  more  nearly  west  than  it  does,  and  also 
in  a  mistake  made  in  the  length  of  the  east-and- 
west  line.  The  distance  west  from  the  Pennsyl- 
vania line,  surveyed  in  1796-97,  was  only  fifty-six 
miles,  the  survey  ending  at  the  Tuscarawas  River. 
To  reach  the  western  limits  of  the  Reserve  a  dis 
tance  of  sixty-four  miles  was  to  be  made.  Abra- 
ham Tappan  and  Anson  Sessions  entered  into  an 
agreement  with  the  Land  Company,  in  1805,  to 
complete  the  survey  of  the  lands  between  the  P^ire 
Lands  and  the  Cuyahoga.  This  they  did  in  1806, 
and,  from  the  width  of  Range  19,  it  is  very  evident 
that  the  distance  from  the  east  to  the  west  line  of 
the  Reserve  is  less  than  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles.  This  range  of  townships  is  gore-shaped, 
and  is  much  less  than  five  miles  wide,  circum- 
stances leading  the  company  to   divide  all  below 


176 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


Township  6  into  tracts  for  the  purpose  of  equaliza- 
tion. The  west  line  of  Range  19,  from  north  to 
south,  as  originally  run,  bears  to  the  west,  and 
between  it  and  Eange  20,  as  indicated  on  the  map, 
tliere  is  a  strip  of  land,  also  gore-shaped,  that  was 
left  in  the  first  instance  unsurveyed,  the  surveyors 
not  knowing  the  exact  whereabouts  of  the  eastern 
line  of  the  "half-million  acres"  belonging  to  the  suf- 
ferers. In  180G,  Amos  Spafford,  of  Cleveland,  and 
Almon  Ilugiiles,  of  Huron,  were  agreed  on  by  the 
two  companies  to  ascertain  and  locate  the  line  be- 
tween the  Fire  Lands  and  the  lands  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Company.  They  first  surveyed  off  the  "  half- 
million  acres  "  belonging  to  the  "  sufferers,"  and, 
not  agreeing  with  Seth  Pease,  who  had  run  out 
the  base  and  west  lines,  a  dispute  arose  between 
the  two  companies,  which  was  finally  adjusted  be- 
fore the  draft,  by  establishing  the  eastern  line  of 
the  Fire  Lands  wher.)  it  now  is.  This  left  a  strip 
of  land  east  of  the  Fire  Lands,  called  surplus  lands, 
which  was  included  in  range  19,  and  is  embraced 
in  the  western  tier  of  townships  of  Lorain  County. 
The  mode  of  dividing  the  land  among  the  indi- 
vidual purchasers,  was  a  little  peculiar,  though 
evidently  just.  An  equalizing  committee  accom- 
panied the  surveyors,  to  make  such  observations 
and  take  such  notes  of  the  character  of  the  town- 
ships as  would  enable  them  to  grade  them  intelli- 
gently, and  make  a  just  estimate  and  equalization 
of  their  value.  The  amount  of  purchase  money  was 
divided  into  400  shares  of  $3,000  a  share.  Certifi- 
cates were  issued  to  each  owner,  showing  him  to  be 
entitled  to  such  proportion  of  the  entire  land,  as  the 
amount  he  paid,  bore  to  the  purchase  price  of  the 
whole.  Four  townships  of  the  greatest  value  were 
first  selected  from  that  part  of  the  Western  Reserve, 
to  which  the  Indian  t  tie  had  been  extinguished,  and 
were  divided  into  lots.  P]ach  township  was  di- 
vided into  not  less  than  100  lots.  The  number  of 
lots  into  which  the  four  townships  were  divided, 
would,  at  least,  equal  the  400  shares,  or  a  lot  to  a 
share,  and  each  person  or  company  of  persons  en- 
titled to  one  or  more  shares  of  the  Reserve — each 
share  being  one  four-hundredth  part  of  the  Re- 
serve— was  allowed  to  participate  in  the  draft  that 
was  determined  upon  for  the  division  of  the  joint 
property.  The  committee  appointed  to  select  the 
four  most  valuable  townships  for  such  division,  was 
directed  to  select  of  the  remaining  townships,  a 
sufficient  number,  and  of  the  best  quality  and 
greatest  value,  to  be  used  for  equalizing  purposes. 
After  this  selection  was  made,  they  were  to  choose 
the  best  remaining  township,  and  tliis  township  was 


the  one,  to  the  value  of  which  all  others  were 
brought  by  the  equalizing  process  of  annexation, 
and  if  there  were  several  of  equal  value  with  the 
one  so  selected,  no  annexations  were  to  be  made  to 
them.  The  equalizing  townships  were  cut  up  into 
parcels  of  various  size  and  value,  and  these  parcels 
were  annexed  to  townships  inferior  in  value  to  the 
standard  toicnship,  and  annexations  of  land  from 
the  equalizing  townships,  were  made  to  the  inferior 
townships,  in  quantity  and  quality,  sufficient  to 
make  all  equal  in  value  to  the  standard  adopted. 
When  the  townships  had  thus  all  been  equalized, 
they  were  drawn  by  lit.  There  were  ninety-three 
equalized  parcels  drawn  east  of  the  Cuyahoga,  and 
forty-six  on  the  west.  The  draft  of  the  lands  east 
of  the  river,  took  place  prior  to  1800,  and  of  those 
west  of  that  river,  on  the  4th  day  of  April,  18()7. 
]n  the  first  draft,  it  required  an  ownership  of 
$12,903.23  of  the  original  purchase  money,  to  en- 
title the  owner  to  a  township  ;  and  in  the  second 
draft,  it  required  an  ownership  of  §26,087  in  the 
original  purchase-money,  to  entitle  the  owner  to  a 
township. 

The  same  mode  and  plan  were  followed  in  each 
draft.  The  townships  were  nuiubered,  and  the 
numbers,  on  separate  pieces  of  paper,  placed  in  a 
box.  The  names  of  the  proprietors  who  liad  sub- 
scribed, and  were  the  owners  of  a  sufficient  amount 
of  the  purchase-money  to  entitle  them  to  a  township, 
were  arranged  ia  alphabetical  order,  and  when  it 
was  necessary  for  several  persons  to  combine,  be- 
cause not  owning  severally,  a  sufficient  amount  of 
the  purchase-money,  or  number  of  shares,  to  en- 
title them  to  a  township,  the  name  of  the  person  of 
the  company  that  stood  alphabetically  first,  was 
used  to  represent  them  in  the  draft,  and  in  case  the 
small  owners  were  unable,  from  disagreement 
among  themselves,  to  unite,  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  select  and  class  the  proprietors,  and 
those  selected  were  required  to  associate  them- 
selves together,  for  the  purpose  of  the  draft.  The 
township,  or  parcel  of  land,  corresponding  to  the 
first  number  drawn  from  the  box  belonged  to  the 
person  whose  name  stood  first  on  the  list,  or  to  the 
persons  whom  he  represented;  and  the  second 
drawn  belonged  to  the  second  person,  and  so  down 
through  the  list.  This  w'as  the  mode  adopted  to 
sever  the  ownership  in  common,  and  to  secure  to 
each  individual,  or  company  of  individuals,  their 
interest  in  severalty.  Soon  after  the  conveyance  to 
the  land  company,  to  avoid  complications  arising 
from  the  death  of  its  members,  and  to  facilitate  the 
transmission  of  title.'',  the  company  conveyed  the 


>k. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


177 


entire  purchase,  in  trust,  to  John  Morpran,  John 
Cadwell  and  Jonathan  Brace ;  and  as  titles  were 
wanted,  either  before  or  after  the  division  by  draft, 
conveyances  were  made  to  the  purchasers  by  these 
trustees. 

Little  was  known  of  this  country  at  the  time  of 
its  purchase  by  the  Land  Company.  It  was  for- 
merly inhabited  by  a  nation  of  Indians  called  the 
Erigas  or  Eries,  from  which  the  lake  took  its 
name.  This  nation  was  at  an  early  date  destroyed 
by  the  Iroquois.  In  his  '■  History  of  New  France," 
published  in  1744,  in  speaking  of  the  south  shore 
of  Lake  Erie,  Charlevoix  says  :  "All  this  shore  is 
nearly  unknown."  An  old  French  map,  made  in 
1755,  to  be  seen  in  the  rooms  of  the  Western  Re- 
serve Historical  Society,  in  Cleveland,  names  the 
country  between  the  Cuyahoga  and  Sandusky 
Rivers,  as  Cauahogue  ;  and  east  of  the  Cuyahoga, 
as  Gwahoga.  This  is  also  the  name  given  to  that 
river  which  is  made  to  empty  into  Cuyahoga  Bay; 
and  the  country  designated  as  Cauahogue  is  indi- 
cated as  the  seat  of  war,  the  Mart  of  Trade,  and 
the  chief  hunting  grounds  of  the  Six  Nations  of  the 
lake.  The  earliest  settlement  was  on  the  Reserve, 
at  Warren,  in  1798,  though  salt  was  made  in 
Weathersfield,  Mahoning  County,  as  early  as  1755, 
by  whites,  who  made  short  sojourns  there  for  that 
purpose.  The  number  of  settlers  increased  in  this 
section  until,  in  1800,  there  were  some  sixteen  fam- 
ilies. In  1796,  the  first  surveying  party  for  the 
Land  Company,  landed  at  Conneaut,  followed  three 
years  later  by  the  first  permanent  settler.  Then 
followed  settlements  in  Geauga  and  Cuyahoga,  in 
1798;  in  Portage  and  Lake,  in  1799;  Summit,  in 
1800;  Lorain.  1807,  and  iMedina,  in  1811.  "The 
settlement  of  the  Reserve  commenced  in  a  manner 
somewhat  peculiar.  Instead  of  beginning  on  one 
side  of  a  county,  and  progressing  gradually  into 
the  interior,  as  had  usually  been  done  in  similar 
cases,  the  prorrietors  of  the  Reserve,  being  gov- 
erned by  ditterent  and  separate  views,  began  their 
improvements  wherever  their  individual  interests 
led  them.  Here  we  find  many  of  the  first  settlers 
immersed  in  a  dense  forest,  fifteen  or  twenty  miles 
or  more  from  the  abode  of  any  white  inhabitants. 
In  consequence  of  their  scattered  situation,  jour- 
neys were  sometimes  to  be  performed  of  twenty  or 
fifty  miles,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  having  the  staple 
of  an  ox-yoke  mended,  or  some  other  mechanical 
job,  in  itself  trifling,  but  absolutely  essential  for 
the  successful  prosecution  of  business.  These  jour- 
neys had  to  be  performed  through  the  wilderness, 
at  a  great  expense  of  time,  and,  in  many  cases,  the 


only  safe  guide  to  direct  their  course,  were  the 
town.ship  lines  made  by  the  surveyors.  The  want 
of  mills  to  grind  the  first  harvest,  was  in  itself  a 
great  evil.  Prior  to  1800,  many  families  used  a 
small  hand-mill,  properly  called  a  .sweat-mill,  which 
took  the  hard  labor  of  two  hours  to  supply  flour 
enough  for  one  person  a  single  day.  About  the  year 
1800,  one  or  two  grist-mills,  operating  by  water- 
power,  were  erected.  One  of  these  was  at  Newburg, 
now  in  Cuyahoga  Co.  But  the  distance  of  many 
of  the  settlements  from  the  mills,  and  the  want 
of  roads,  often  rendered  the  expense  of  grinding  a 
single  bushel  equal  to  the  value  of  two  or  three,"* 
Speaking  of  the  settlement  of  the  Fire  Lands,  C. 
B.  Squier,  late  of  Sandusky  City,  says :  "  The 
largest  suff'erers,  and,  consequently,  those  who 
held  the  largest  interest  in  the  Fire  LandS;  pur- 
chased the  rights  of  many  who  held  smaller  inter- 
ests. The  proprietors  of  these  lands,  anxious  that 
their  new  territory  should  be  settled,  off"ered  strong 
inducements  for  persons  to  settle  in  this  then  un- 
known region.  It  is  quite  difficult  to  ascertain  who 
the  first  settlers  were,  upon  these  lands.  As  early, 
if  not  prior  to  the  organization  of  the  State,  sev- 
eral persons  had  squatted  upon  the  lands  at  the 
mouth  of  the  streams  and  near  the  shore  of  the  lake, 
led  a  hunter's  life,  and  trafficked  with  the  Indians. 
But  they  were  a  race  of  wanderers,  and  gradually 
disappeared  before  the  regular  progress  of  the  set- 
tlements. Those  devoted  missionaries,  the  Mora- 
vians, made  a  settlement,  which  they  called  New 
Salem,  as  early  as  1790,  on  Huron  River,  about 
two  miles  below  Milan.  The  first  regular  settlers, 
however,  were  Col.  Ji'rard  Ward,  who  came  in  the 
spring  of  1808,  and  Almon  Ruggles  and  Jabez 
Wright,  in  succeeding  autumn."  The  next  year 
brought  a  large  inflow  of  immigration,  which  spread 
over  the  greater  portion  of  both  Erie  and  Huron 
Counties,  though  tlie  first  settlement  in  Sandusky 
City  was  not  made  until  1817. 

It  was  not  until  the  year  1800  that  civil  govern- 
ment was  organized  on  the  Western  Reserve.  The 
Governor  and  Judges  of  the  Northwest  Territory, 
under  the  ordinance  of  1787,  by  proclamation  in 
the  following  year,  organized  the  county  of  Wash- 
ington, and  included  within  it  all  of  the  Western 
Reserve  east  of  the  Cuyahoga;  and  in  1790,  the 
year  of  the  first  occupation  by  the  whites  of  the 
New  Connecticut,  the  county  of  Wayne  was  erected, 
which  included  over  one-ha'f  of  Ohio,  all  of  the 
Western  Reserve  west  of  the  Cuyahoga,  with  a 
part  of  Indiana,  all  of  Michigan^  and  the  Ameri- 

*Juiige  Arazi  Atwater. 


178 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO 


can  ])ortion  of  Lakes  Superior,  Huron,  St.  Clair 
and  Erie,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga,  with  the 
county  scat  at  Detroit.  In  1797,  Jefferson  County 
was  estabUshed,  and  the  Western  lleserve,  east  of 
the  Cuyahoga,  became  a  part  of  it,  by  restricting 
the  hiuits  of  Wiushington.  Connecticut  and  the 
Land  Company  refused  to  recognize  the  right  of 
the  General  Government  to  make  such  disposition 
of  the  Reserve.  The  act  of  including  this  territory 
within  the  counties  of  Washington,  Jefferson  and 
Wayne,  they  declared  to  be  unwarranted,  and  the 
power  of  Congress  to  prescribe  rules  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  same,  they  denied,  and  from  the 
opening  settlement  in  1796,  until  the  transfer  of 
jurisdiction  to  the  General  Government  was  com- 
plete, on  May  30, 1800,  the  new  settlers  were  entirely 
without  municipal  laws.  There  was  no  regulation 
governing  the  transmission  of,  or  success  to,  prop- 
erty on  the  decease  of  the  owner ;  no  regulations 
of  any  kind  securing  the  protection  of  rights,  or 
the  redress  of  wrongs.  The  want  of  laws  for  the 
government  of  the  settlers  was  seriously  felt,  and 
as  early  as  1796,  the  company  petitioned  the 
Legislature  of  Connecticut  to  erect  the  Reserve 
into  a  county,  with  proper  and  suitable  laws  to 
regulate  the  internal  policy  of  the  territory  for  a 
limited  period.  This  petition,  however,  was  not 
granted,  and  for  upward  of  four  years  the  inter- 
course and  conduct  of  the  early  settlers  were  regu- 
lated and  restrained  only  by  their  New  England 
sense  of  justice  and  right.  But  on  the  10th  of 
July,  1800,  after  Connecticut  had  released  her 
jurisdiction  to  the  United  States,  the  Western 
Reserve  was  erected  into  a  county,  by  the  name  of 
Trumbull,  in  honor  of  the  Governor  of  Connecti- 
cut, by  the  civil  authority  of  Ohio.  At  the  elec- 
tion in  the  fall  of  that  year,  Edward  Paine  received 
thirty-eight  votes  out  of  the  forty-two  cast,  for 
member  of  tlie  Territorial  Legislature.  The  elec- 
tion was  held  at  Warren,  the  county  seat,  and 
was  the  first  participation  that  the  settlers  had  in 
the  affaiis  of  government  here.  During  the  same 
year  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  a  tribunal  that 
did  not  survive  the  Constitution  of  1802,  was  es- 
tablished and  organized,  and  by  it  the  ccmnty  was 
divided  into  eight  organized  townships.  The  town- 
ship of  Cleveland  was  one,  and  embraced  a  large 
portion  of  territory  east  of  the  Cuyahoga,  but  all  the 
Reserve  lying  west  of  that  river.  On  December  1 , 
1805,  Geauga  County  was  erected.  It  included 
within  its  limits,  nearly  all  the  present  counties  of 
Ashtabula,  Geauga,  Lake  and  Cuyahoga.  On 
February  10,  1807,  there  was  a  mire  general  di- 


vision into  counties.  That  part  of  the  Western 
Restrve  lying  west  of  the  Cuyahoga  and  north  of 
Township  No.  4,  was  attached  to  Geauga,  to  be  a 
part  thereof  until  Cuyahoga  should  be  organized. 
In  the  same  year  Ashtabula  was  erected  out  of 
Trumbull  aud  Geauga,  to  be  organized  whenever 
its  population  would  warrant  it ;  also,  all  that  part 
of  Trumbull  which  lay  west  of  the  fifth  range  of 
townships,  was  erected  into  a  county  by  the  name 
of  Portage,  all  of  the  Western  Reserve  west  of  the 
Cuyahoga  and  south  of  Townsbip  No.  5,  being 
attached  to  it.  The  C'  unty  of  Cuyahoga  was 
formed  out  of  Geauga,  on  the  same  date,  February 
10,  1807,  to  be  organized  whenever  its  population 
should  be  sufficient  to  require  it,  which  occurred 
in  1810. 

On  February  8,  1809,  Huron  County  was 
erected  into  a  county,  covering  the  Fire  Lands, 
but  to  remain  attached  to  Geauga  and  Portage,  for 
the  time  being,  for  purposes  of  government.  The 
eastern  boundary  of  this  county  was  subsequently, 
in  1811,  moved  forward  to  the  Black  River,  but, 
in  the  year  1822,  it  was  given  its  present  bounda- 
ries, and,  in  1838,  Erie  County  was  erected,  di- 
viding its  territory.  On  the  18th  of  February, 
1812,  Medina  was  formed,  and  comprised  all  the 
territory  between  the  eleventh  range  of  townships 
and  Huron  County,  and  south  of  Township  No. 
5.  It  was  attached  to  Portage,  however,  until 
January  14,  1818,  when  it  received  an  indepcLd- 
ent  organization.  Lorain  County  was  formed  on 
the  2Gth  day  of  December,  1822,  from  the  outly- 
ing portions  of  Huron,  Medina  and  Cuyahoga 
Counties.  It  was  organized  with  an  independent 
local  administration,  January  21,  1824.  In  1840, 
were  organized  Summit  County,  on  March  3,  and 
Lake  County  on  March  G;  the  former  drawing 
from  Medina  and  Portage,  and  taking  two  town- 
ships from  Stark  County,  and  the  latter  being 
formed  from  Geauga  and  Cuyahoga.  '  In  1846, 
Ashland  County  was  formed,  taking  three  town- 
ships of  the  Reserve,  on  February  26,  and  Maho- 
ning, on  March  1,  taking  ten  townships  from 
Trumbull,  leaving  the  boundaries  of  the  Reserve 
as  marked  at  present. 

In  the  history  of  its  social  development,  the 
Western  Reserve  is  not  less  interesting  or  peculiar 
than  in  the  beginning  of  its  material  interests. 
The  history  of  the  mother  State  was  peculiar,  and 
the  Reserve,  it  was  fondly  hoped,  would  be  a  re- 
production of  the  maternal  features  and  graces,  a 
New    Connecticut.     A    chronicler*   of  the  early 

*C'liarles  W.  Elliott. 


'ku 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


179 


history  of  New  England,  writing  of  the  New  Ha- 
ven Colony  of  1G37,  says:  "During  the  first 
year,  little  '  government '  was  needed  or  exercised. 
Each  man  was  a  lord  to  himself.  On  the  4th  of 
June  (1638),  the  settlers  met  in  Mr.  Neuman's 
barn,  and  bound  themselves  by  a  sort  of  Constitu- 
tion. *  *  *  They  decided  to  make  the  Bible 
their  law-book  ;  but  by  and  by  new  towns  were 
made,  and  new  laws  were  needed,  and  they  had 
the  good  sense  to  make  them.  Their  State  was 
founded  upon  their  church,  thus  expressed  in 
their  first  compact,  signed  by  one  hundred  and 
eleven  persons :  '  That  church  members  only 
shall  be  free  Burgesses,  and  that  they  only  shall 
choose  Magistrates  and  officers  among  themselves, 
to  have  the  power  of  transacting  all  publique  civil 
affairs  of  this  plantation,  of  making  and  repealing 
laws,  dividing  of  inheritances,  deciding  of  differ- 
ences that  may  arise,  and  doing  all  things  or  busi- 
nesses of  like  nature.'  "  Twenty-seven  years  later, 
when  circumstances  made  a  union  of  the  two 
Connecticut  Colonies  necessary,  the  greatest  and 
most  lasting  objection  on  the  part  of  the  New  Ha- 
ven Colony  was  the  lessening  of  the  civil  power 
of  the  church  which  would  follow  the  union.  In 
1680,  the  Governor  of  the  United  Colonies,  thus 
describes  the  community:  "The  people  are  strict 
Congregationalists.  There  are  four  or  five  Seven- 
day  men,  and  about  as  many  Quakers.  We  have 
twenty-six  towns  and  twenty-one  churches.  Beg- 
gars and  vagabonds  are  not  suffei-ed,  but  are  bound 
out  to  service."  These  characteristics  of  Connect- 
icut have  been  marked  by  all  historians  as  well  as 
the  facts,  that  she  "  Early  established  and  sup- 
ported schools  and  colleges  ;  her  people  have,  from 
the  outset,  been  industrious  and  honest ;  crime  has 
not  abounded ;  while  talent  and  character,  and 
courage  and  cleanliness,  have  been  common  through 
all  her  history."  It  was  to  reproduce  these 
characteristics  throughout  the  territory  embraced 
within  the  provisions  of  her  charter,  that  the 
mother  State  labored.  For  one  hundred  and 
tliirty  years  she  followed  this  purpose  with  an  un- 
deviating  method.  "  One  tract  after  another,  suf- 
ficient for  a  municipal  government,  was  granted 
to  trusty  men,  who  were  to  form  a  settlement  of 
well  assorted  families,  with  the  church,  the  meet- 
ing house,  the  settled  ministry  of  the  Gospel,  the 
seliool,  the  local  magistracy,  and  the  democratic 
town-meeting  represented  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly. Under  this  method,  se'f-governed  towns  in 
what  is  now  a  part  of  Pennsylvania,  were  once 
represented  in  the  General  Assembly  at  Hartford 


and  New  Haven.'"*  It  was  with  the  hope  of  ex- 
tending this  method  to  the  Reserve  that  Connecti- 
cut so  strenuously  asserted  her  jurisdiction  to  her 
Western  lands ;  but  in  the  years  of  rapid  growth 
succeeding  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  the  old 
method  proved  no  longer  practicable,  and  the  par- 
ent surrendered  her  offspring  to  the  hands  of 
abler  guardians.  But  there  remained  a  field  in 
which  solicitous  regard  could  find  action,  and 
the  impress  of  her  work  in  this  direction  is 
plainly  apparent  to  this  day.  It  was  her  method 
of  "  missions  to  the  new  settlements  "  which  had 
become  crystallized  into  a  system  about  this  time. 
Of  the  scope  and  character  of  this  work.  Rev. 
Leonard  Bacon  thus  speaks :  "  At  first,  individ- 
ual pastors,  encouraged  by  their  brethren,  and  ob- 
taining permission  from  their  churches,  performed 
long  and  weary  journeys  on  horseback  into  Ver- 
mont and  the  great  wilderness  of  Central  New 
York,  that  they  might  preach  the  Word  and  ad 
minister  the  ordinances  of  religion  to  such  mem- 
bers of  their  flocks,  and  others,  as  had  emigrated 
beyond  the  reach  of  ordinary  New  England  priv- 
ileges. By  degrees  the  work  was  enlarged,  and 
arrangements  for  sustaining  it  were  systematized, 
till  in  the  year  1798,  the  same  year  in  which  the 
settlement  of  the  Reserve  brgan,  the  pastors  of 
Connecticut,  in  then-  General  Association,  instituted 
the  Missionary  Society  of  Connecticut.  In  1802, 
one  year  after  the  jurisdiction  of  the  old  State 
over  the  Reserve  was  formally  relinquished,  the 
Trustees  of  the  Missionary  Society  were  incorpo- 
rated. As  early  as  1800,  only  two  years  alter 
the  first  few  families  from  Connecticut  had  planted 
themselves  this  side  of  Northwestern  Pennsylvania, 
the  first  missionary  made  hig  appearance  among 
them.  This  was  the  Rev.  Joseph  Badger,  the 
apostle  of  the  Western  Reserve — a  man  of  large 
and  various  experience,  as  well  as  of  native  force, 
and  of  venerable  simplicity  in  character  and  man- 
ners. In  those  days  the  work  of  the  missionary 
to  the  new  settlements  was  by  no  means  the  same 
with  what  is  now  ca'lcd  '  Home  Missionary  '  work. 
Our  modern  Home  Missionary  has  his  station  and 
his  home ;  his  business  is  to  gather  around  him- 
self a  permanent  congregation ;  his  hope  is  to 
grow  up  with  the  congregation  which  he  gathers, 
and  the  aid  which  he  receives  is  given  to  help  the 
church  support  its  pa-tor.  But  the  old-fashioned 
'  missionary  to  the  new  settlements,'  was  an  itiner- 
ant. He  had  no  station  and  no  settled  home.  If 
he  had  a  family,  his  work  was  continually  calling 

*AJdrrss  by  Leonard  Bacon,  D.  D. 


180 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


him  away  from  them.  He  went  from  one  little 
settlement  to  another — from  one  lonely  cabin  to 
another — preaching  from  house  to  house,  and  not 
often  spending  two  consecutive  Sabbaths  in  one 
place.  The  nature  of  the  emigration  to  the  wilder- 
ness, in  those  days,  required  such  labors. 

"  It  was  soon  felt  that  two  mi-ssionaries  were 
needed  for  the  work  among  the  scattered  settle- 
ments. Accordingly,  the  Rev.  Ezekiel  J.  Chap- 
man was  sent.  He  arrived  on  the  Reserve  at  the 
close  of  the  year  1801,  and  returned  to  Connecti- 
cut in  April,  1803.  His  place  was  soon  supplied 
by  a  young  man  ordained  expressly  to  the  work, 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Robbins,  who  continued  labor- 
ing in  this  field  from  November,  1803,  till  April, 
1806.  In  a  letter  of  his,  dated  June  8,  1805, 
I  find  the  following  statement :  '  Since  the  be- 
ginniag  of  the  present  year,  I  have  been  taking 
pains  to  make  an  actual  enumeration  of  the  fami- 
lies in  this  county.*  The  work  I  have  just  com- 
pleted. There  are  one  or  more  families  in  sixty- 
four  towns.  January  1,  1804,  the  number  of 
families  wa^  about  800.  The  first  of  last  January 
there  were  a  little  more  than  1100,  of  which  450 
are  Yankees.  There  were  twenty- four  schools. 
There  are  seven  churches,  with  a  pr.  spect  that 
two  more  vail  be  organized  soon,  and  more  than 
twenty  places  where  the  worship  of  God  is  regu- 
larly maintained  on  the  Sabbath.'  "  Such  was  the 
beginning  of  an  influence  to  which  the  people  of 
the  Reserve  are  principally  indebted  for  the  early 
and  secure  foundation  of  the  church  and  school, 
and  for  that  individuality  which  marks  them  as  a 
peculiar  and  envied  people  in  a  great  common- 
wealth made  up  of  the  chosen  intellect  and  brawn 
of  a  whole  nation. 

Owing  to  the  peculiar  relation  of  the  Reserve  to 
the  General  Government  in  early  years,  the  history 
of  its  public  school  fund  is  exceptional.  Ry  the  ordi- 
nance of  Congress  in  1785,  it  was  declared  that 
Section  16  of  every  township  should  be  reserved 
for  the  maintenance  of  public  schools  in  the  town- 
ship. The  ordinance  of  1787,  re-afhrmed  the 
policy  thus  declared.  The  provisions  ofthe.se  ordi- 
nances, in  this  respect,  were  not  applicable  to,  nor 
operative  over,  the  region  of  the  Reserve,  because 
of  the  fact  that  the  United  States  did  not  own  its 
soil ;  and,  although  the  entire  amount  paid  to 
Connecticut  by   the  Land  Company  for  the  terri- 

*Trumbull  County  then  iucludcd  the  whole  of  the  Reserye. 


tory  of  the  Reserve  was  set  apart  for,  and  devoted 
to,  the  maintenance  of  public  schools  in  that  State, 
no  part  of  that  fund  was  appropriated  to  purposes 
of  education  here.  There  was  an  inequality  of 
advantages  between  the  people  of  the  Reserve  and 
the  remai.ider  of  the  State,  in  that  respect.  This 
inequality  was,  however,  in  a  measure  removed  in 
1803,  by  an  act  of  Congress,  which  set  apart  and 
appropriated  to  the  Western  Reserve,  as  an  e(|uiv- 
alent  for  Section  16,  a  sufficient  quantity  of  land 
in  the  United  States  Military  District,  to  compen- 
sate the  loss  of  that  section,  in  the  lands  lying  east 
of  the  "Cuyahoga.  This  amount  was  equal  to  one- 
thirty-sixth  of  the  land  of  the  reserve,  to  which 
the  Indian  title  had  before  that  time  been  extin- 
guished. The  Indian  title  to  the  lands  of  the  Re- 
serve west  of  the  Cuyahoga,  not  then  having  been 
extinguished,  the  matter  seemed  to  drop  from 
public  notice,  and  remain  so  until  1829.  At  this 
date,  the  Legislature,  in  a  memorial  to  Congress, 
directed  its  attention  to  the  fact,  that,  by  the  treaty 
of  Fort  Industry,  concluded  in  1805,  the  Indian 
title  to  the  land  west  of  the  Cuyahoga,  had  been 
relinquished  to  the  United  States,  and  prayed  in 
recognition  of  the  fact,  that  an  additional  amount 
of  land  lying  within  the  United  States  Military 
District,  should  be  set  apart  for  the  use  of  the 
public  schools  of  the  Reserve,  and  equal  in  quan- 
tity to  one  thirty-sixth  of  the  territory  ceded 
to  the  United  States  by  that  treaty.  The  memo- 
rial produced  the  desired  result.  In  1834,  Con- 
gress, in  compliance  with  a  request  of  the  Leg- 
islature, granted  such  an  additional  amount 
of  land  to  the  Reserve  for  scho  1  purposes, 
as  to  equalize  its  di.stribu'ion  of  lands  for 
such  purpose,  and  in  furtherance  of  its  ob- 
ject to  carry  into  effect  its  determination  to 
donate  one  thirty-sixth  part  of  the  public  domain 
to  the  purposes  of  education.  The  lands  first 
allotted  to  the  Reserve  for  such  purpose,  were  sit- 
uated in  the  Counties  of  Holmes  and  Tuscarawas, 
and  in  1831,  were  surveyed  and  sold,  the  proceeds 
arising  from  their  sale  as  well  as  the  funds  arising 
from  the  sale  of  those  subsefiuently  appropri- 
ated, being  placed  and  invested  with  other 
school  funds  of  the  State,  and  constitute  one  of 
the  sources  from  which  the  people  of  the  Reserve 
derive  the  means  of  supporting  and  maintaining 
their  common  schools. 


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PART    II. 


HISTORY  OF  SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    I.* 

INTRODUCTORY— DESCRIPTION— TOPOGRAPHY,  ETC.— GEOLOGY— ALTITUDES  IN  THE  COUNTY— THE 
DRIFT— COAL  DEPOSITS— AGRICULTURE,  ETC. 


"And  riper  eras  ask  for  history's  trutli." 

—Vliviir  Wendell  HnJmes. 

ri^^HE  advantages  resulting  from  the  local  his- 
_L  tory  of  cities  and  countries  is  no  longer  a 
matter  of  doubt.  Whether  considered  solel}'  as 
objects  of  interest  or  amusement,  or  as  having  the 
still  wider  utilit}'  of  the  places  they  describe, 
these  records  are  worthy  of  high  consideration. 
And  although  in  a  country  like  ours,  this  depart- 
ment of  history  can  claim  to  chronicle  no  great 
events,  nor  to  relate  any  of  those  local  tradi- 
tions that  make  many  of  the  countries  of  the 
Old  World  so  famous  in  story  and  song,  yet 
they  can  fulfill  the  equal  use  of  directing  the 
attention  of  those  abroad  to  the  rise,  progress 
and  present  standing  of  places  which  ma}'  fairly 
claim,  in  the  future,  what  has  made  others  great 
in  the  past.  And  in  any  age,  when  everj'  en- 
ergy of  the  whole  brotherhood  of  maij  is 
directed  to  the  future,  and  when  mere  utilitari- 
anism has  taken  the  place  of  romance,  it  is  a 
matter  of  more  than  ordinary-  interest  and  value 
to  all,  to  note  the  practical  advancement,  and 
so  to  calculate,  upon  the  basis  of  the  past,  the 
probable  results  of  the  future  of  those  places 
which  seem  to  present  advantages,  either  social 
or  pecuniar}',  to  that  large  class  of  foreigners 
and  others,  who  are  constantly  seeking  for 
homes  or  means  of  occupation  among  us.  Nor 
is  it  to  these  alone  that  such  local  history  is  of 
value.  The  country  already  possesses  much 
unemployed  capital  seeking  for  investment, 
while  many,  having  already  procured  the  means 
of  living  well,  are  seeking  for  homes  more  con- 
genial to  their  tastes  than  the  places  where  they 

*  Contributed  by  W.  II.  Perrin. 


have  lived  but  for  pecuniary  profit.  To  both 
of  these,  the  history  of  individual  localities  is 
an  invaluable  aid  in  helping  the  one  to  discover 
a  means  of  advantageously  employing  his  sur- 
plus money,  and  in  aiding  the  other  to  find  a 
home  possessing  those  social  advantages  which 
will  render  him  comfortable  and  happy.  But 
it  is  to  the  emigrant  foreigner  that  local  his- 
tory is  of  the  greatest  benefit.  Leaving,  as  he 
does,  a  country,  with  whose  resources,  social, 
moral  and  political,  he  is  intimately  acquainted, 
for  one  of  which  he  knows  almost  nothing,  such 
works,  carefully  and  authentically  written,  are 
to  him  what  the  guide-books  of  the  Old  World 
are  to  the  wonder-seeking  traveler ;  they  pre- 
sent him  at  once  with  a  faithful  view  of  the 
land  of  his  adoption,  and  point  out  to  him 
every  advantage  and  disadvantage,  every  chance 
of  profit  or  of  pleasure,  every  means  of  gain, 
every  hope  of  gratification,  that  is  anywhere  to 
be  afforded. 

Impressed  with  these  opinions,  it  is  proposed 
to  present  the  citizens  of  Summit  County  with 
an  authentic  and  impartial  history  ;  one  which 
may  be  implicitly  relied  on  in  its  calcula- 
tions and  statistical  details,  and  which  shall 
present  as  accurate  and  faithful  a  survey  as  can 
bo  obtained  from  any  data  known  to  ihe  writers 
of  the  diflferent  departments,  or  attainable  by 
them.  With  all  the  care  that  may  be  exercised, 
however,  the  record  will  no  doubt  be  found  im- 
perfect; incidents  and  names  be  left  out,  and 
matters  escape  notice  which  many  will  deem 
unpardonable  omissions.  This  is  one  of  the 
things  which  detract  from  the  pleasure  of  writing 
local  annals.      But  it  is  more  or  less  unavoid- 


ip^ 


182 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


able,  as  no  one  can  know  and  remember  every- 
thing, and  both  the  time  and  space  allotted  to 
us  are  limited. 

Summit  County  lies  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  the  State,  witli  but  one  count}^  between  it 
and  the  lake,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Cuyahoga  County,  on  the  east  b}^  Portage,  on 
the  south  by  Stark,  on  the  west  by  Medina, 
and  embraces  within  its  limits  seventeen  town- 
ships (including  Cuyahoga  Falls).  It  is  sit- 
uated on  the  highlands,  or  the  "  summit " 
(from  which  it  derives  the  name  of  Sum- 
mit), which  separate  the  tributaries  of  the 
Ohio  from  the  waters  flowing  north  into  Lake 
Erie,  and  has  an  average  elevation  of  about 
five  hundred  feet  above  the  lake.  "  The  Cuya- 
hoga River,  rising  in  the  northern  part  of 
Geauga  County,  runs  for  forty  miles  in  a 
southwesterly  direction,  then  in  the  center  of 
Summit  County  turns  sharply  to  the  north,  and 
pursues  a  nearly  straight  course  to  the  lake. 
In  Geauga  and  Portage,  the  Cuyahoga  flows  on 
the  surface  of  a  plateau  composed  of  the  car- 
boniferous conglomerate.  At  the  town  of 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  in  this  county,  this  plateau  is 
cut  through  in  a  series  of  cascades  which  give 
rise  to  much  beautiful  scenery.  The  river  here 
falls  220  feet  in  two  miles,  so  that  from  the  vi- 
cinity of  Akron  to  the  north  line  of  the  county, 
it  flows  through  a  narrow  valley  or  gorge  more 
than  three  hundred  feet  deep.  At  frequent  in- 
tervals, the  Cuyahoga  receives  tributaries,  both 
from  the  east  and  the  west,  and  the  valleys  of 
these  streams  contribute  their  part  to  give  va- 
riety to  the  topography  of  the  central  portion 
of  the  county."  * 

In  the  geological  and  physical  features  of 
the  county,  we  shall  draw  our  information  prin- 
cipall}^  from  the  State  Geological  Survey.  It 
is  the  official  report  of  the  State  on  these  sub- 
jects, and  may  be  relied  on  as  substantially 
correct.  And  as  there  were  but  a  limited  num- 
ber of  them  printed,  and  they  are  even  now  be- 
coming scarce,  the  extracts  from  them  incorpo- 
rated in  this  work  will  be  found  of  interest  and 
value  to  our  readers.  We  quote  further,  as 
follows  : 

"  The  highest  lands  in  Summit  are  the  hills 
most  distant  from  the  channels  of  drainage,  in 
Richfield,  Norton,  Green,  Springfield,  Tallmadge, 
and  Hudson.  In  all  these  townships,  summits 
rise  to  the  height  of  650  above  the  lake.     The 

*  Geological  Survey. 


bottom  of  the  Cuyahoga  Valley,  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  Northfield,  is  less  than  fifty  feet 
above  Lake  Erie,  so  that  within  the  county  we 
have  differences  of  level  which  exceed  600  feet. 
The  altitudes  in  Summit  County  ai'e  thus  offi- 
cially given  :  Tallmadge,  Long  Swamp,  above 
Lake  Erie  470  feet  ;  Tallmadge  road,  east  of 
Center,  543  feet ;  Tallmadge,  Coal  No.  1,  New- 
berry's mine,  520  feet ;  Tallmadge,  Coal  No.  1, 
D.  Upson's  mine,  492  feet ;  Tallmadge,  summit 
of  Coal  Hill,  636  feet ;  Akron,  door-sill  of 
court  house,  452.65  feet ;  Akron,  railroad 
depot.  428.13  feet ;  Akron,  summit  level, 
Ohio  Canal,  highwater,  395  feet ;  Akron,  P. 
&  O.  Canal,  370.64  feet  ;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  rail- 
road depot,  428.13  feet  ;  Monroe  Falls,  road 
before  Hickok  house,  460  feet ;  Hudson  Station, 
496  feet  ;  Hudson  town,  547  feet ;  Boston, 
Ohio  Canal,  94.66  feet ;  Peninsula,  Ohio  Ca- 
nal, 125.66  feet ;  Yellow  Creek,  Ohio  Canal, 
180  feet ;  Old  Portage,  Ohio  Canal,  188  feet ; 
Green,  summit  of  Valley  Railroad,  532  feet; 
New  Portage,  street  in  front  of  tavern,  400 
feet ;  lake,  between  New  Portage  and  Johnson's 
Corners,  399  feet ;  Wolf  Creek,  below  Clark's 
mill,  390.74  feet ;  Wolf  Creek,  in  Copley,  one 
mile  west  of  north-and-south  center  road,  419- 
.78  feet ;  Little  Cuyahoga,  Mogadore,  477  feet ; 
Little  Cuyahoga,  at  Gilchrist's  mill-dam,  457 
feet ;  Little  Cuyahoga,  old  forge  at  trestle,  439 
feet ;  Richfield,^East  Center,  531.80  feet ;  Rich- 
field, highest  land  (over),  675  feet ;  Yellow 
Creek,  one-fourth  mile  west  of  Ghent,  371  feet. 
"  The  soil  of  Summit  County  is  somewhat 
varied.  In  the  northern  part,  even  where  un- 
derlaid by  the  conglomerate  in  full  thickness, 
the  soil  derived  from  the  drift  contains  a  great 
deal  of  clay,  and  Northfield,  Twinsburg,  Hudson, 
etc.,  are,  as  a  consequence,  dairy  towns.  The 
southern  half  of  the  countj^,  however,  has  a 
loam  soil,  and  the  attention  of  the  farmers  has 
been  directed  more  to  grain-growing  than  stock- 
raising.  This  difference  of  soil  was  clearly  in- 
dicated by  the  original  vegetable  growth.  In 
Hudson  and  Twinsburg  the  forest  was  com- 
posed, for  the  most  part,  of  beech,  maple,  bass- 
wood  and  elm,  while  in  Stow,  Tallmadge,  and 
southward,  the  prevailing  forest  growth  was 
oak.  In  Franklin  and  Green,  the  soil  is  decid- 
edly gravelly  ;  the  original  timber  was  oak,  in 
groves  and  patches,  and  these  townships  form 
part  of  the  famous  wheat-growing  district  of 
Stark,  Wayne,  etc.     In  the  central  part  of  the 


'-^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


18a 


county,  between  Akron  and  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
a  few  thousand  acres,  called  "  The  Plains," 
formerly  presented  a  marked  contrast  to  the 
rolling  and  densely-  timbered  surface  of  all  the 
surrounding  area.  This  is  a  nearly  level  dis- 
trict of  which  the  peculiar  features  are  mostly- 
obliterated  by  cultivation,  but  when  in  the  state 
of  nature,  it  had  the  aspect  of  the  prairies  of 
the  West.  It  was  almost  destitute  of  timber, 
was  covered  with  grass  and  scrub-oak  (quercus 
baru'steri),  and,  in  spring,  was  a  perfect  flower- 
garden  ;  for  a  much  lai^ger  number  of  wild 
flowers  were  found  here  than  in  any  other  part 
of  the  county.  The  origin  of  these  peculiar 
features  ma}'  be  traced  to  the  nature  of  the 
substructure  of  the  district.  This  area  forms 
a  triangle  between  the  two  branches  of  the 
Cuyahoga  and  the  coal-hills  of  Tallmadge  ; 
the  soil  is  sandy,  und  this  is  underlaid  by  beds 
of  gravel  of  unknown  depth.  It  seems  that 
there  once  existed  here  a  deeply  excavated  rock 
basin,  which  was  subsequently  partly  filled  up 
with  drift  deposits  and  parti}'  by  water ;  in 
other  words,  that  it  was,  for  a  time,  a  lake. 
The  waters  of  this  lake  deposited  the  sand 
which  now  forms  the  soil.  and.  in  its  deeper 
portions,  a  series  of  lacustrine  clays,  which  are 
well  shown  in  the  cutting  recently  made  for  a 
road  on  the  north  side  of  the  valley  of  the  Lit- 
tle Cuyahoga,  near  Akron.  The  sections  of 
these  beds  are  as  follows : 

FKET.  INCHES. 

1.  Stratified  sand 10 

2.  Bkie  clay 4 

3.  Mixed  yellow  and  blue  clay,  stratified  1  1 

4.  Blue  clay 10 

5.  Yellow  clay 10 

6.  Blue  clay 1 

7.  Red  clay 1 

8.  Yellow  clay 1 

9.  Blue  clay 8 

10.  Red  clay 2 

11.  Blue  clay 6 

12.  Redclav 10 

13.  Blue  clay 1             6 

14.  Red  clay 3 

15.  Yellow  clay 1             6 

16.  Blue  clay 3 

17.  Red  clay 1 

18.  Fine  yellow  sand 1 

19.  Yellow  clay 3 

20.  Blue  clay 4 

21.  Yellow  clay 3 

22.  Blue  clay 4 

"  In  another  section,  exposed  neaoly  in  the 
valley  of  the  Little  Cuyahoga,  the  beds  which 
have  been  enumerated  are  seen  to  be  underlaid 


by  about  sixty  feet  of  stratified  sand  and 
gravel  to  the  bed  of  the  stream.  To  what 
depth  they  extend  is  not  known.  On  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  Little  Cuyahoga,  on  the  main 
road  leading  into  Akron,  the  banks  of  the  old 
valley  present  a  very  dirterent  section  from 
either  of  those  to  which  I  have  I'eferred  above. 
There  we  find  a  hill  composed  of  finely  washed 
and  irregularly  stratified  sand,  quite  free  from 
pebbles.  About  ten  or  twelve  feet  of  the  up- 
per part  is  yellow  ;  the  lower  part,  as  far  as  ex- 
posed, white  ;  a  waved  line  separating  the  two 
colors.  East  and  north  of  the  locality  where 
the  detailed  section  given  above  was  taken, 
heavy  beds  of  gravel  are  seen  to  occupy  the 
same  horizon  ;  from  which  we  may  learn  that 
these  finely  laminated  clays  were  deposited  in 
a  basin  of  water,  of  which  the  shore  was  formed 
by  gravel  hills.  A  portion  of  the  city  of  Ak- 
ron is  underlaid  by  thick  beds  of  stratified 
sand  and  gravel.  These  are  often  cross-strati- 
fied, and  show  abundant  evidences  of  current 
action.  They  also  contain  large  angular  blocks 
of  conglomerate  attd  many  fragments  of  coal, 
some  of  which  are  of  considerable  size.  ^Ye 
apparently  have  some  of  the  materials  which 
were  cut  out  of  the  valleys  that  separate  the 
isolated  outliei's  of  the  coal  measures  which  are 
found  in  this  part  of  the  county.  Beds  of 
gravel  and  sand  stretch  away  southward  from 
Akron,  and  form  part  of  a  belt  which  extends 
through  Stark  County,  partially  filling  the  old, 
deeply-cut  valley  of  the  Tuscarawas,  and  ap- 
parently marking  the  line  of  the  southern  ex- 
tension of  the  valley  of  Cuyahoga  when  it  was 
a  channel  of  drainage  from  the  lake  basin  to 
the  Ohio.  This  old  and  partially  obliterated 
channel  has  been  referred  to  in  the  chapter  on 
the  physical  geography  of  the  State,  and  it  will 
be  more  fully  described  in  the  chapters  on  sur- 
face geology  and  those  formed  by  the  reports 
on  Stark  and  Tuscarawas  Counties.  I  will  only 
refer  to  it,  in  passing,  to  say  that  the  line 
of  the  Ohio  Canal,  of  which  the  summit  is 
at  Akron,  was  carried  through  this  old  water 
gap,  because  it  still  forms  a  comparatively  low 
pass.  In  the  western  part  of  the  State,  the 
Miami  Canal  traverses  a  similar  pass,  and  an- 
other, having  nearly  tlie  same  level  with  those 
mentioned,  in  Trumbull  County,  connects  the 
valleys  of  Grand  River  and  the  Mahoning. 

"  The  thick  beds  of  gravel  and  sand  which 
underlie  the  plain  and  stretch  eastward  up  the 


'^P' 


184 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


valley  of  the  Little  Cuj'ahoga,  through  Southern 
Tallmadge,  perhaps  form  part  of  the  great 
gravel  belt  to  which  I  have  already  alluded, 
but  may  be  of  mere  local  origin.  It  seems  to 
me  quite  possible  that  the  Cuyahoga,  in  former 
times,  passed  eastward  of  its  present  course, 
from  Kent  or  Monroe  Falls  to  Akron  ;  that  the 
falls  of  the  Cuyahoga  were  then  near  the  '  Old 
Forge,'  and  that  this  excavated  basin  beneath 
the  '  plains '  was  scooped  out  by  them.  We 
know  that  the  position  of  the  falls  has  been 
constantl}^  changing  ;  that  they  were  once  in 
Cuyahoga  County,  and  have  gradually  receded 
to  their  present  position.  When  they  had 
worked  back  to  the  great  bend  of  the  Cuyahoga, 
the}'  seem  to  have  swung  round  the  circle  for 
some  time  before  starting  on  their  present  line 
of  progress.  In  this  interval,  the  river  appears 
to  have  flowed  over  a  bi'oad  front  of  the  con- 
glomerate, and,  cutting  away  the  shales  below, 
to  have  produced  the  rock  basin  which  has 
been  described.  When  the  falls  of  the  Cuya- 
hoga were  at  the  north  line  of  the  count}',  they 
must  have  had  a  perpendicular  height  of  at 
least  two  hundred  feet,  for  the  hard  layers  in 
the  Cu^'ahoga  shale  which  produce  the  '  Big 
Falls  '  do  not  extend  so  far  north.  The  entire 
mass  of  the  Cuyahoga  shale  there  is  soft  argil- 
laceous material,  which  must  have  been  cut  out 
beneath  the  massive  conglomerate,  producing  a 
cascade  at  least  equal  in  height  to  that  of  Ni- 
agara. 

"  The  north-south  portion  of  the  Cuyahoga 
Valley  seems  to  have  been  once  continued 
southward,  and  to  have  been  connected  with 
the  old  valley  of  the  Tuscarawas,  which  is  ex- 
cavated far  below  the  bed  of  the  present 
stream.  At  the  north  line  of  the  count}',  the 
valley  of  the  Cuyahoga  is  cut  down  two  hun- 
dred and  twent}'  feet  below  the  present  river 
bottom,  as  we  learn  by  wells  bored  for  oil.  The 
bottom  of  the  valley  of  the  Tuscarawas  is,  at 
Canal  Dover,  one  hundred  and  sevent3'-five  feet 
below  the  surface  of  the  stream,  and  there  are 
many  facts  which  indicate  that  there  was  once 
a  powerful  current  of  water  passing  from  the 
lake  basin  to  the  Ohio  through  this  deeply  ex- 
cavated channel.  Subsequently,  this  outlet  was 
dammed  up  by  heav}'  Ijeds  of  drift;  and  the 
Cuyahoga,  cut  from  its  connection  with  the 
Tuscarawas,  to  which  it  had  been  a  tributary, 
was  forced  to  turn  sharpl}'  to  the  north,  form- 
ing the  abrupt  curve  that  has  always  been  re- 


garded as  a  peculiar  feature  in  the  course  of 
this  stream.  The  courses  of  the  tributaries  of 
the  Maumee  are  not  unlike  that  of  the  Cuj-a- 
hoga,  and  are  probably  dependent  upon  the 
same  cause,  namel}-,  the  depression  of  the  lake 
level  and  the  diversion  of  the  drainage  from  the 
Mississippi  system,  with  which  it  was  formerly 
connectecl,  into  the  lake  basin.  The  drift  clays 
which  underlie  the  northern  part  of  Summit 
County  are  plainly  of  northern  origin,  as  they 
contain  innumerable  fragments  of  the  Huron, 
Erie  and  Cuyahoga  shales,  and  no  such  mass  of 
argillaceous  material  could  be  derived  from  the 
conglomerate  and  coal  measures  which  underlie 
all  the  country  toward  the  south.  The  direc- 
tion of  the  glacial  striae  in  the  county  is  nearly- 
northwest  and  southeast,  and  these  clays  are 
plainly  the  result  of  glacial  action.  It  is  inter- 
esting to  note,  however,  that  in  the  drift  cla}'  at 
Hudson  a  large  number  of  masses  of  coal  have 
been  found,  some  of  which  were  several  inches 
in  diameter.  This  fact,  taken  in  connection 
with  the  character  and  histoiy  of  the  drift 
clays,  proves — what  we  had  good  reason  to  be- 
lieve from  other  causes — that  the  coal  rocks 
once  extended  at  least  as  far  north  as  the 
northern  limits  of  the  count}',  and  that  from  all 
the  northern  townships  they  were  removed  and 
the  conglomerate  laid  bare  by  glacial  erosion. 
A  considerable  portion  of  the  drift  gravels  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  county  are  of  foreign 
and  nox'thern  orighi.  As  I  have  elsewhere  re- 
marked, these  gravels  and  the  associated  lands 
show  distinct  marks  of  water  action,  and  have 
apparently  been  sorted  and  stratified  by  the 
sliore  waves  of  the  lake  when  it  stood  several 
hundred  feet  higher  than  now.  The  bowlders 
which  are  strewn  over  the  surface  in  all  parts 
of  the  county  are  mostly  composed  of  Lanren- 
tian  granite  from  Canada,  and  I  have  attributed 
their  transportation  to  icebergs.  In  North- 
ampton, many  huge  bowlders  of  corniferous 
limestone  are  found,  and  these  evidently  came 
from  the  islands  in  Lake  Erie. 

"  One  of  the  most  striking  of  the  surface 
features  of  Summit  County  is  the  great  num- 
ber of  small  lakes  which  are  found  here.  These 
are  generally  beautiful  sheets  of  pure  water,  en- 
closed in  basins  of  drift,  gravel  and  sand.  They 
form  part  of  the  great  series  of  lake  basins 
which  mark  the  line  of  the  water-shed  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Michigan,  and  they  have  been 
described,  and  their  origin  explained,  in   the 


^, 


,\^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


185 


chapter  on  '  Physical  Geography.'  When  a  resi- 
dent of  Summit  County,  I  mapped  and  visited  i 
nearly  one  hundred  of  these  little  lakes  within 
a  circle  of  twenty  miles  radius  drawn  around 
Cu^'ahoga  Falls.  Aside  from  the  variety  and 
beauty  which  these  lakelets  give  to  the  surface, 
they  afford  many  objects  of  scientific  interest. 
They  are  usually  stocked  with  excellent  fish, 
and  many  rare  and  peculiar  plants  grow  in  and 
about  them.  They  also  contain  great  numbers 
of  shells,  some  of  which  are  rare.  Springfield 
Lake,  for  example,  is  the  only  known  locality 
of  Melania  gracilis,  and  Congress  Lake  contains 
two  species  of  lAnnea  {L.  gracilis  and  L.  stag-  ; 
nalis),  both  of  which  are  found  in  few,  if  any.  ; 
other,  localities  in  the  State.  i\Lany  of  these 
are  being  gradually  filled  up  Ijy  a  growth  of 
vegetation  that  ultimately  forms  peat.  Li  all 
those  lakes  where  the  shores  are  marshy  and 
shake  under  the  tread,  peat  is  accumulating.  ! 
We  have  evidence,  too,  that  many  lakelets  have  | 
been  filled  up  and  obliterated  by  this  process  ; 
for  we  find  a  large  number  of  marshes  in  which 
there  is  now  little  water,  but  the  surface  is  un-  { 
derlaid  b}'  peat  and  shell  marl,  sometimes  to 
the  depth  of  twent}' or  thirty  feet.  Every  town- 
ship contains  more  or  less  of  these,  and  some 
of  them  are  quite  extensive.  The  larger  ones 
are  usually  known  as  whortleberry  swamps  or 
cranberry  marshes,  sometimes  as  tamarack 
swamps,  from  the  growth  of  larch  which  fre- 
quently covers  the  surface.  Among  the  largest 
of  these  is  that  west  of  Hudson,  on  Mud  Brook, 
in  which  the  peat  is  fifteen  feet  deep.  Another 
lies  east  of  Hudson,  near  the  county  line.  In 
Stow,  on  Mud  Brook,  is  a  long  peat  swamp,  in 
which  the  peat  is  not  less  than  thirty  feet  deep. 
In  Coventry  is  one  in  which  the  peat  is  said  to 
be  thirty  or  forty  feet  deep,  and  from  this  con- 
siderable peat  of  excellent  quality  has  been 
manufactured  b}^  J.  F.  Brunot.  These  peat 
bogs  have  excited  some  interest  as  possible 
sources  of  supply  of  fuel,  and  yet,  where  coal 
is  as  cheap  and  good  as  in  Summit  County,  it 
seems  hardl3'  probably  that  peat  can  be  profit- 
abl}'  emplo^'ed  as  a  fuel.  The  best  of  peat, 
when  air-dried,  contains  nearly  20  per  cent  of 
water  and  20  per  cent  of  oxygen,  and  has  a  heat- 
ing power  not  greater  than  half  that  of  our 
coals,  while  it  occupies  double  the  space.  Hence, 
unless  it  can  be  produced  at  half  the  price  of 
coal  in  the  markets  of  Summit  County,  it  can 
hardly  compete  with  it.     Peat  is,  however,  an 


excellent    fertilizer,   and    many,   even  of  the 

smaller  peat  bogs,  maj^  be  made  very  valuable 
to  the  agriculturist.  In  some  localities,  such 
deposits  of  peat  have  been  cleared  up  and  cul- 
tivated for  many  years,  without  a  suspicion 
that  there  was  an^'thing  of  interest  or  value 
below  the  surface.  Deposits  of  shell  marl 
are  frequently  found  underl3ang  peat  in  '  cat 
swamps  '  and  filled-up  lakelets.  This  marl  is 
composed  of  the  remains  of  the  shells  of  mol- 
lusks,  which,  after  the  death  of  the  animals  that 
inhabited  them,  have  accumulated  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  water.  In  some  instances,  these 
mai'ls  are  white,  and  nearly  pure  lime  ;  in  others 
they  are  mixed  with  more  or  less  earth}'  and  veg- 
etal3le  matter.  Such  deposits  occur  in  nearly 
every  township  in  the  count}',  but  they  have 
attracted  little  attention,  and  their  valuable 
fertilizing  properties  have  been  very  sparingly 
made  available.  The  deposit  of  shell  marl  on 
the  road  between  Hudson  and  Stow,  on  land 
of  Charles  Darrow,  is  at  least  twelve  feet  deep 
and  very  pure.  Similar  marl-beds,  though  less 
extensive,  are  known  in  Hudson,  Northampton 
and  other  parts  of  the  county.  Usually  a  sheet 
of  peat  or  muck  covers  the  marl,  and  it  is  not 
likely  to  be  discovered,  unless  by  ditching  or 
special  search.  The  simplest  method  of  ex- 
ploring marshes  for  peat  or  shell  marl  is  with  an 
auger  made  from  an  old  two-inch  or  three-inch 
carpenter's  auger  welded  to  a  small,  square  rod 
of  iron,  on  which  a  handle  is  made  to  slide,  and 
fasten  with  a  key.  With  this  all  marshes  may 
be  probed  to  the  depth  of  eight  or  ten  feet  with 
the  greatest  facility. 

"  The  Erie  shale  is  the  lowest  formation  ex- 
posed in  Summit  County,  and  is  visible  only  in 
the  bottom  of  the  valley  of  the  Cuyahoga,  where 
it  is  cut  deepest,  in  the  township  of  Northfield. 
About  one  hundred  feet  of  the  upper  portion  of 
the  Erie  shale  is  exposed  in  the  cliffs  which 
border  the  river,  being  a  continuation  of  the 
outcrops  which  have  been  fully  described  in  the 
report  on  the  geology  of  Cuyahoga  County. 
The  same  fossils  have  been  found  in  the  Erie 
shale  in  Northfield,  as  those  collected  in  the 
valleys  of  Chii)i)ewa  and  Tinker's  Creeks. 

''  The  Lower  Carboniferous  or  Waverly  group 
is  freely  opened  in  the  valley  of  the  Cuyahoga, 
and  we  here  find  some  of  the  most  satisfactory 
sections  of  this  formation  that  can  be  seen  in 
the  State.  It  has  also  yielded,  perhaps,  as 
large  a  number  of  fossils  in  Summit  Countv  as 


:i£k 


186 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


have  been  obtained  from  this  group  in  any 
other  localities.  The  Cleveland  shale  is  the 
bi luminous  shale  which  forms  the  base  of  the 
Waverly  group,  and  has  been  fully  described 
in  the  reports  on  the  counties  which  form  the 
northern  border  of  the  State.  The  outcrops  of 
the  Cleveland  shale  which  are  visible  in  the 
valley  of  the  Cuyahoga  are  continuations  south- 
ward of  those  noticed  in  Cuyahoga  County. 
As  the  dip  of  all  the  strata  is  here  gently 
southward,  and  the  valley  gradually  deepens 
toward  its  mouth,  the  Cleveland  shale,  though 
on  the  north  line  of  the  county  more  than  lUO 
feet  above  the  bed  of  the  stream,  sinks  out  of 
sight  near  Peninsula,  less  than  ten  miles  from 
the  county  line.  The  average  thickness  of  the 
Cleveland  shale  in  Summit  County  is  about 
fifty  feet,  and  it  presents  precisely  the  same 
lithological  characters  here  as  farther  north. 
No  fossils  have  been  discovered  in  it  at  the  lo- 
calities where  it  has  been  examined  in  this 
count}',  but  more  careful  search  would  undoubt- 
edly result  in  the  discovery  of  the  scales  and 
teeth  of  fishes  similar  to  those  found  at  Bed- 
ford. As  in  Trumbull,  Cuyahoga  and  Medina 
Counties,  the  outcrops  of  the  Cleveland  shale  in 
Summit  are  marked  by  oil  and  gas  springs, 
which  are  plainl}'  produced  b}-  the  decomposi- 
tion or  spontaneous  distillation  of  the  lai'ge 
amounts  of  carbonaceous  matter  it  contains. 
Tlie  oil  and  gas  springs  which  have  been  no- 
ticed on  the  sides  of  the  Cuyahoga  Valley  at 
and  below  Peninsula,  are  distinctly'  connected 
with  the  Cleveland  shale,  and  have,  as  a  conse- 
quence, misled  those  who  have  been  influenced 
by  them  to  l)ore  for  oil  in  the  bottom  of  the 
valley. 

'•The  Bedford  shale,  a  member  of  the  Wa- 
verly group,  is  not  well  exposed  in  the  valley 
of  the  Cuyahoga,  though  visible  at  a  number  of 
localities.  It  outcrops  usuall}'  from  slopes 
covered  with  debris.  Where  the  limits  of  the 
formation  are  concealed,  judging  from  the 
glimpses  obtained  of  it,  the  Bedford  shale  is 
apparenily  about  seventy  feet  thick  in  the  valley 
of  the  Cu^'ahoga,  and  consists  mainly  of  soft, 
blue,  argillaceous  strata,  similar  to  those  in  the 
gorge  of  Tinker's  Creek,  at  Bedford.  In  some 
localities  it  is  more  or  less  red,  and  has  been 
here,  as  elsewhere,  used  as  a  mineral  paint.  In 
the  \alley  of  Braudywine  Creek,  below  the 
falls,  the  Bedford  shale  is  fossiliferous,  and 
contains  the  same  species  found  at  Bedford. 


Among  these,  Syringothyrls  typa  is  the  most 
conspicuous  and  abundant,  and  slabs  may  be 
obtained  here  which  are  thickly  set  with  this 
fine  fossil,  forming  beautiful  specimens  for  the 
cabinet. 

'■  The  Berea  sandstone  is  well  exposed  in  the 
valley  of  the  Cu3'ahoga  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  county,  and  forms  two  lines  of  outcrop — 
one  on  each  side  of  the  river — running  from 
Peninsula  to  Independence  on  the  west,  and 
to  Bedford  and  Newburg  on  the  East.  At 
Peninsula,  the  Berea  grit  has  been  extensively 
quarried  for  many  years.  The  base  of  the 
formation  is  here  from  thirty  to  sixt}'  feet  above 
the  canal,  so  that  the  quarries  are  worked 
with  facility,  and  their  product  shipped  with 
comparatively,  Utile  expense.  The  entire  thick- 
ness of  the  formation  in  the  valley'  of  the 
Cuyahoga  is  about  sixty  feet.  The  stone  it 
furnishes  varies  considerably  in  character  in 
the  different  localities  where  it  is  exposed.  At 
the  quarries  of  Mr.  Woods,  at  Peninsula,  it  is 
lighter  in  color  than  at  Independence,  resem- 
bling the  Berea  stone  in  this  respect,  as  also  in 
hardness.  Some  layers  are  nearly  white,  and  a 
large  amount  of  excellent  building  stone  has 
been  shipped  from  this  locality  and  used  for  the 
construction  of  various  public  buildings  at 
Cleveland,  Detroit,  Buffalo,  Oswego,  etc.  This 
stone  is  more  firm  and  durable,  but  is  harder 
and  less  homogeneous  than  that  from  the  Am- 
herst quarries  ;  it  is,  however,  so  highly  es- 
teemed, that  a  read}'  market  has  been  found 
for  all  that  has  been  taken  from  the  quarries. 
During  1871,  the  stone  shipped  from  Peninsula 
was  equal  to  2,800  car  loads  of  ten  tons  each. 
Between  Peninsula  and  the  county  line,  the 
outcrops  of  the  Berea  grit  have  been  but  imper- 
fectly explored.  They  are  much  obscured  b}' 
the  debris  of  the  higher  portion  of  the  clifts, 
and  the  examinations  necessary  to  determine 
the  value  of  the  stone  would  require  the  ex- 
penditure of  considerable  time  and  money. 
There  is  every  probability,  however,  that  good 
quarries  could  be  opened  at  a  great  number  of 
localities,  and  I  think  that  I  am  quite  safe  in 
predicting  that  in  future  j-ears  this  portion  of 
the  valley  of  the  Cu3'ahoga  will  be  the  theater 
of  a  very  active  industr}'  growing  out  of  the 
quarrying  of  Berea  grit  for  the  Cleveland  mar- 
ket. Should  the  railroad,  now  proposed,  be 
constructed  through  the  valle^',  this,  with  the 
canal,  will  supply  such  facilities  for  transporta- 


^W 


fk* 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


187 


tion,  that,  if  the  quality  of  the  stone  should 
be  found  suitable,  this  district  will  contribute 
as  largely  as  any  other  to  the  market  of  the 
great  lakes.  From  the  differences  which  are 
everywhere  exhibited  iia  the  quality  of  the 
stone  in  neighboring  outcrops  of  the  Berea 
grit,  the  banks  of  the  Cuyahoga  should  be 
carefully  examined,  in  order  to  discover  such 
localities  as  will  furnish  stone  of  a  superior 
quality.  It  is  not  too  much  to  expect  that 
some  of  these  will  have  gTeat  pecuniar}'  value. 
The  Berea  grit  forms  the  solid  stratum  that 
produces  the  falls  of  the  Brand^^wine  at  Bran- 
dywine  Mills,  and  it  is  here  considerably  more 
massive  than  at  the  outcrops  further  north  on 
the  same  side  of  the  Cu3-ahoga.  No  fossils 
have  been  found  in  the  Berea  grit  in  Summit 
County.  It  is  elsewhere,  as  a  general  rule,  re- 
markably barren,  and  yet,  at  Chagrin  Falls,  fos- 
sil fishes  have  been  obtained  from  it,  and  at 
Bedford  a  Discina,  a  Lingida  and  an  Annularia. 
These,  and  perhaps  other  fossils,  may  hereafter 
be  met  with  in  the  Cuyahoga  Valley. 

"  The  Cuyahoga  shale  is  the  upper  division 
of  the  Waverly  group,  and  is  better  exhibited  in 
Summit  Count}'  than  in  any  other  part  of  the 
State.  It  has  a  thickness  of  from  150  to  200 
feet,  and  has  been  given  the  name  it  bears,  be- 
cause it  forms  the  greater  pai't  of  the  banks  of  the 
Cuyahoga,  from  Cuyahoga  Falls,  to  the  north 
line  of  the  county.  A  short  distance  above 
Peninsula,  the  Berea  grit  sinks  beneath  the 
river,  and  the  whole  thickness  of  the  Cuyahoga 
shale  is  revealed  in  the  interval  between  that 
rock  and  the  Conglomerate  which  caps  the 
bluffs.  In  this  part  of  the  valley,  the  Cuya- 
hoga shale  exhibits  little  variety  in  composi- 
tion, and  consists  of  a  mass  of  soft  argillaceous 
material,  inter-stratified  with  thin  and  local 
sheets  of  fine  grained  sandstone,  rarel}'  thick 
enough  to  serve  as  flagging.  The  surfaces  of 
these  sheets  are  marked  with  mud  furrows, 
and,  occasionally-,  with  the  impressions  of 
fucoids.  At  the  '  Big  Falls  '  of  the  Cu^'ahoga, 
eighty  feet  below  the  conglomerate,  a  number 
of  layers  of  fine-grained  sandstone,  from  six  to 
twelve  inches  in  thickness,  and  occup3'ing  a 
vertical  space  of  about  twenty  feet,  locall}'  re- 
place the  softer  material  of  the  Cuyahoga 
shale,  and  produce  the  beautiful  waterfall  at 
this  locality.  These  harder  strata  ma}^  be 
traced  for  a  mile  or  more  down  the  river,  but 
are  not  distinguishable  in  the  sections  of  the 


Cuyahoga  shale  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
county.  The  sandstone  of  the  Big  Falls  is  a 
compact,  homogeneous  rock,  almost  identical 
in  character  and  utility  with  the  '  blue  stone ' 
of  the  East  Cleveland  quarries,  although  lying 
at  a  considerably  higher  level ;  the  East  Cleve- 
land stone  being  a  local  modification  of  the 
lower  portion  of  the  Bedford  shale.  The  upper 
part  of  the  Cuyahoga  shale  near  the  Big  Falls, 
has  furnished  a  great  number  of  fine  specimens 
of  'cone-in-cone,'  and  they  are  referred  to  by 
Dr.  Hildreth,  in  his  notes  on  Cuyahoga  Valley, 
published  in  Silinians  Journal  in  1836.  This 
singular  structure  has  given  rise  to  much  specu- 
lation ;  it  was,  at  one  time,  supposed  to  be  or- 
ganic ;  subsequently,  the  result  of  crystalliza- 
tion, and  it  is  now  considered  by  Prof  0.  C. 
Marsh  as  of  purely  mechanical  origin.  The 
'  cone-in-cone '  consist,  as  is  well  known,  of  a 
series  of  hollow  cones,  like  extinguishers,  placed 
one  within  another,  and  it  sometimes  makes  up 
the  entire  mass  of  a  stratum,  several  inches  in 
thickness  and  man}'  feet  in  lateral  extent.  It 
is  by  no  means  confined  to  this  horizon,  but  is 
found  in  the  older  paleozoic  rocks,  in  the  coal 
measures,  and  is,  perhaps,  more  abundant  than 
anywhere  else,  in  the  cretaceous  formation  in 
the  far  West.  This  structure  is  apparently 
confined  to  rocks  of  a  peculiar  chemical  com- 
position, viz.  :  to  earthy  limestones,  or  argilla- 
ceous shales  impregnated  with  lime.  The  con- 
cretions, which  include  the  great  fishes  of  the 
Huron  shale,  not  unfrequentl}'  exhibit  the  '  cone- 
in-cone  '  structure,  and,  in  some  instances,  where 
the  calcareous  material  forms  simply  a  crust  on 
the  fossil,  that  ci'ust  still  shows  more  or  less  of 
it.  From  the  locality  under  consideration,  in 
the  valley  of  the  Cuyahoga.  I  have  obtained 
specimens  of  '  cone-in-cone  '  enveloping  nodules 
of  iron  ore,  and  radiating  in  all  directions  from 
such  nuclei.  Specimens  of  this  character,  and 
the  bones  of  BimchtJii/s,  coated  in  all  their 
irregularities,  with  'cone-in-cone,'  seemed  to 
me  incompatible  with  the  theory  that  this 
structure  is  the  product  of  mechanical  forces, 
and  appear  rather  to  confirm  the  conclusion 
that  it  is  an  imperfect  crystallization.  Through- 
out most  of  its  mass,  and  in  most  places,  the 
Cuyahoga  shale  is. very  barren  of  fossils.  This, 
however,  is  fully  compensated  for  b}'  the  ex- 
treme richness  of  some  layers  and  some  locali- 
ties. This  is  the  rock  which  was  excavated  in 
the  formation  of  the  canal  in  the  valley  of  the 


-^  ry 


188 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUXTY 


Cuyahoga,  below  the  falls,  and  through  which 
an  effort  was  made  to  conduct  the  water  of  the 
river  to  the  proposed  town  of  Summit.  In  this 
excavation,  the  formation  was  fully  opened  for 
several  miles,  and  yet,  with  the  most  careful 
search,  at  various  times  during  the  progress  of 
the  work,  I  was  only  able  to  obtain  a  mere 
handful  of  fossils.  At  the  base  of  the  forma- 
tion, however,  immediately  over  the  Berea  grit, 
the  Cuyahoga  shale  is  sometimes  crowded  with 
millions  of  Linyula  melia  and  Discina  New- 
herryi.  The  same  species  also  occur  at  the 
'  Big  Falls '  of  the  Cuyahoga,  and  the  valley  of 
the  Little  Cuyahoga,  near  Akron.  In  the  up- 
per part  of  the  Cuj-ahoga  shale,  in  vainous 
parts  of  Medina  County,  and  at  Richfield,  in 
Summit  Count}-,  immense  numbers  of  fossils 
are  found,  and  those  which  form  a  long  list  of 
species.  The  Richfield  locality  is  already  quite 
famous,  as  extensive  collections  were  made 
there  before  the  commencement  of  the  present 
survey  by  Messrs.  IMeek  &  Worthen  and  Dr. 
Kellogg.  Quite  a  large  number  of  crinoids 
were  discovered  here  hy  the  latter  gentleman, 
which  proved  new  to  science,  and  were  described 
by  Prof.  James  Hall. 

"The  carboniferous  conglomerate  underlies 
all  the  higher  portions  of  the  county,  and  forms 
the  surface  rock  over  all  the  middle  and  north- 
ern portions,  except  where  cut  through  by  the 
Cuyahoga  and  its  tributaries.  Though  gener- 
ally covered  and  concealed  b}'  beds  of  drift, 
the  conglomerate  is  exposed  and  quarried  in 
all  of  the  townships  north  of  Akron.  It  is, 
however,  best  seen  in  the  valley  of  the  Cuya- 
hoga, where  it  forms  cliffs  sometimes  100  feet 
in  perpendicular  height.  The  rock  is  about 
100  feet  in  thickness,  generally  a  coarse-grained, 
light  drab  sandstone,  but  in  some  localities,  and 
especially  near  the  base  of  the  formation,  be- 
coming a  mass  of  quartz-pebbles,  with  just 
enough  cement  to  hold  them  together.  There 
are  also  some  local  bands  of  the  conglomerate 
which  are  red  or  brown  in  color,  and  furnish  a 
building-stone  of  great  beauty.  At  Cu^'ahoga 
Falls,  such  a  band  has  been  quarried  for  many 
years,  and  has  been  used  for  the  construction 
of  the  best  buildings  in  the  town.  This  stone 
is  brown,  contains  much  iron,  and  is  very  strong 
and  durable.  At  Akron,  a  similar  local  strat- 
um in  the  conglomerate  at  Wolf's  quarry,  has 
a  deep,  reddish-purple  color,  and  forms,  per- 
haps, the  most  beautiful  building-stone  in    the 


State.  This  has  been  quite  extensively  used 
in  Cleveland.  Unfortunately,  the  quantitv  of 
this  variety  of  building  stone  is  not  large.  Its 
peculiar  color  is  probably  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
iron  of  which  it  contains  a  large  quantity,  is  in 
the  condition  of  anh\'drous  sesquioxide,  and  has 
associated  with  it  a  small  percentage  of  manga- 
nese. Splendid  sections  of  the  conglomerate  are 
seen  in  the  gorge  of  the  Cuyahoga,  below  Cuya- 
hoga Falls.  Here,  nearly  the  entire  thickness  of 
the  formation  is  exposed,  and  vertical  and  over- 
hanging walls  of  100  feet  in  height  give  great 
variety  and  beauty  to  the  scener}'.  In  descend- 
ing the  valley  of  the  Cuyahoga,  the  walls  of  con- 
glomerate recede  from  the  river,  of  which  the 
immediate  banks  are  formed  by  the  underlj'ing 
shales.  J^y  the  w^ashing  out  of  these,  the 
Mocks  of  conglomerate  have  been  undermined 
and  thrown  down,  and  thus  the  valley'  has  been 
widened  until  in  Boston  and  Northfield  the  con- 
glomerate cliffs  are  several  miles  apart.  They 
still  preserve  their  typical  character,  however, 
and  this  is  well  exemplified  by  the  'ledges'  in 
Boston,  which — like  those  of  Nelson,  in  Por- 
tage County,  on  the  other  side  of  the  conglom- 
erate plateau — are  favorite  places  of  resort  to 
the  lovers  of  the  picturesque.  The  fossils  of 
the  .conglomerate  are  exclusively  plants.  These 
are  generally  broken  and  floating  fragments, 
but  are  exceedingly  numerous,  their  casts  often 
making  up  a  large  part  of  the  rock.  In  certain 
localities  we  find  evidence  that  they  have  been 
gathered  by  the  waves  into  some  receptacle, 
and  heaped  up  in  a  confused  mass,  like  drift- 
wood on  a  shore  at  the  present  da\'.  Since 
the  conglomerate  is  composed  of  coarse  mate- 
rials which  could  be  only  transported  by  water 
in  rapid  motion,  it  is  evident  all  delicate  plants 
would  be  destroyed  from  the  trituration  they 
would  suflTer  in  the  circumstances  of  its  depo- 
sition; hence,  we  only  find  here  the  remains  of 
woody  plants,  and  of  these  usually  only  frag- 
ments. The  most  common  plants  are  trunks 
and  branches  of  Lepidodendron,  Sigillaria  and 
Calamites,  also  the  nuts  which  have  been  de- 
scribed under  the  name  of  Trigonoearpon.  Of 
all  these,  the  calamites  are  the  most  common, 
and  they  are  sometimes  entire,  showing  not 
only  the  upper  extremity  but  also  the  roots. 
More  frequently,  however,  they  are  broken, 
and  it  is  not  at  all  uncommon  to  find  the  nuts 
to  which  I  have  referred,  in  the  interior  of  a 
calamite,  indicating  that  when  floating  about 


A 


iL 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


189 


they  were  washed  into  the  hollow,  rush-like 
stem.  Grenerall}',  the  plants  of  the  conglomer- 
ate are  represented  simply  by  casts ;  their  car- 
bonaceous matter  having  been  entirely  re- 
moved. Occasionally,  however,  a  sheet  of  coal 
is  found,  surrounding  the  cast  of  each,  and  in 
some  localities  ever}'  plant  is  preserved  in  this 
way,  the  amount  of  coal  enveloping  the  casts 
corresponding  to  the  quantity  of  woody  matter 
in  the  plant.  Still  more  rarely,  when  many 
plants  have  accumulated,  their  carbon  has 
made  an  irregular  coal  seam,  but  never  exceed- 
ing a  few  inches  in  thickness,  and  a  few  rods 
or  feet  in  extent.  These  coal  seams,  however, 
differ  in  many  respects  from  coals  of  the  over- 
lying coal  measure,  as  they  have  no  underclays, 
are  very  limited  in  extent,  and  evidently  rep- 
resent heterogeneous  collections  of  drifted, 
woody  matter.  The  pebbles  of  the  more  peb- 
bl}^  portions  of  the  conglomerate  are  sometimes 
as  large  as  one's  fist,  but  more  generally  range 
from  the  size  of  a  hickory  nut  to  that  of  an 
egg.  They  are  most  alwa}- s  composed  of  quartz, 
but  in  every  locality  where  they  are  abundant, 
more  or  less  of  them  ma}'  be  found  which  are 
composed  of  quartzite  or  silicious  slate,  which 
shows  lines  of  stratification.  Sometimes  these 
quartz  pebbles,  when  in  contact  with  the  im- 
pressions of  plants,  are  distinctly  marked  by 
such  impressions.  This  circumstance  has  given 
rise  to  the  theory  that  they  are  concretionary 
in  character  ;  i.  e.,  that  they  have  been  formed 
where  found,  and  are  not  fragments  of  trans- 
ported quartz  rock.  There  can  be  no  question, 
however,  that  these  pebbles  are  portions  of 
quartz  veins,  which  have  been  brought  hun- 
dreds of  miles  from  some  area  where  meta- 
morphic  crvstalliue  rocks  have  suffered  erosion. 
In  process  of  transportation,  the  attrition  to 
which  these  fragments  were  subjected,  commi- 
nuted all  but  the  most  resistant,  viz.:  the 
quartz.  The  banded,  silicious  slates  which  are 
represented  in  the  pebbles  that  accompany 
those  of  pure  quartz,  as  well  as  the  internal 
structure  of  the  quartz-pebbles  themselves, 
afford  conclusive  evidence  that  their  origin  is 
such  as  I  have  described.       *       *       *       * 

"  All  the  southern  part  of  Summit  County  is 
underlaid  by  the  productive  coal  measures,  and 
workable  seams  of  coal  are  known  to  exist  in 
Tallmadge,  Springfield,  Coventry,  Norton,  Cop- 
ley, Franklin  and  Green  Townships.  The  line 
of  the  margin   of  the   coal  basin  passes  from 


Portage  County  into  Summit  in  the  northeast- 
ern portion  of  Tallmadge.  It  then  runs  west- 
erly nearly  to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  and  then  sweeps 
round  to  inclose  what  is  known  as  Coal  Hill ; 
the  continuity  of  the  coal  measures  being  sev- 
ered by  '  Long  Swamp  '  and  the  valley  of  Camp 
Brook.  On  the  east  side  of  this  stream,  the 
outcrop  of  the  coal  rocks  passes  southward  to 
the  valley  of  the  Little  Cuyahoga  ;  turning  up 
this  to  the  line  of  Portage  County  ;  thence 
sweeping  back  on  the  south  side  of  the  valley 
across  the  township  of  Springfield  to  the  vicin- 
ity of  Middlebury.  It  thence  runs  southwest- 
erly to  New  Portage,  where  it  crosses  the  Tus- 
carawas and  strikes  northwesterly  through 
Norton  and  the  corner  of  Copley  to  the  Medina 
line.  There  is  also  a  narrow  patch  of  coal- 
measure  rocks  forming  an  isolated  hill  (Sher- 
bondy  Hill)  southwest  of  Akron,  on  the  west 
side  of  Summit  Lake.  Along  the  line  I  have 
traced,  we  find  the  outcrops  of  only  the  lowest 
coal  seam — Coal  No.  1  (the  Briar  Hill  coal) — 
and  this  not  with  any  great  constancy,  inas- 
much as  the  coal  occupies  limited  basins,  and 
their  margins  are  exceedingly  sinuous  and  ir- 
regular. A  large  part  of  the  territory  which 
holds  the  place  of  the  coal,  fails  to  hold  the 
coal  itself,  from  one  or  the  other  of  two  causes, 
which  frequently  disappoint  the  miner  in  this 
region,  as  well  as  in  the  valley  of  the  Mahon- 
ing. These  causes  are  :  First,  that  the  lowest 
seam  was  formed  from  peat-like  carbonaceous 
matter  which  accumulated  on  the  irregular 
bottom  of  the  old  coal  marsh,  and  the  margin 
of  this  marsh  ran  into  innumerable  bights  and 
channels,  which  were  separated  by  ridges  and 
hummocks  where  the  coal  was  never  deposited  ; 
second,  in  many  localities  where  the  coal  was 
once  found,  it  was  subsequently  removed  by 
erosion.  The  heavy  bed  of  sandstone  which 
lies  a  little  above  Coal  No.  1,  was  deposited  by 
currents  of  water  moving  rapidly  and  with  such 
force  as  to  cut  away  the  coal  in  many  channels, 
and  leave  in  its  place  beds  of  sand,  which,  sub- 
sequently hardened,  have  become  sandstone. 
These  are  frequently  encountered  by  the  miner, 
and  are  designated  by  him,  as  Iwrsehacks. 
Hence  this  excellent  stratum  of  coal  has  been 
discovered  to  be  wanting  over  much  of  the  area 
where  it  was  supposed  to  exist,  and  has  there- 
fore been  of  less  value  to  Summit  County  than 
was  anticipated  in  the  earlier  days  of  coal  min- 
ing.    The  first  mineral  coal  used  on  the  lake 


190 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


shore  was  sent  to  Cleveland  b\^  ray  father, 
Henry  Newberrj^,  from  his  mines  in  Tallmadge, 
in  1828.  It  was  there  offered  as  a  substitute 
for  wood  in  the  generation  of  steam  on  the  lake 
boats.  Wood,  however,  was  so  abundant,  and 
the  population  was  so  habituated  to  its  use,  that 
it  proved  ver^'  difficult  to  supplant  this  by  an}^ 
other  fuel  ;  and  it  was  necessary  that  nearly 
twenty  years  should  pass  before  the  value  of 
the  coal  beds  of  Summit  County  was  fully  real- 
ized. Then  coal-mining  began  with  real  vigor, 
and  many  thousand  tons  of  excellent  coal  liave 
since  been  sent  every  year  to  Cleveland  from 
the  mines  in  Tallmadge  and  Springfield.  As 
has  been  stated,  the  coal  of  these  townships 
proved  to  be  ver}'  irregular  in  its  distribution, 
and  variable  in  thickness  and  quality.  It  is 
restricted  to  basins  of  limited  extent,  and  is 
wanting  over  much  of  the  area  where  it  was 
supposed  to  be  present.  In  the  deeper  por- 
tions of  the  basins  or  channels  it  occupies,  the 
seam  is  from  four  and  one-half  to  six  feet  in 
thickness,  and  the  coal  a  bright,  handsome 
open-burning  variety,  containing  little  sulphur, 
and  a  small  percentage  of  ash.  It  is  softer  and 
more  bituminous  than  the  coal  of  the  same 
seam  in  Mahoning  and  Trumbull  Counties, 
but  is  still  capable  of  being  used  in  the  raw 
state  in  the  furnace,  and  is  very  highly  valued 
both  as  a  steam  coal  and  a  household  fuel.  In 
the  southern  part  of  the  county.  Coal  No.  1  is 
more  continuous,  and  has  been  proved,  by  recent 
researches  to  exist  over  a  large  part  of  Spring- 
field, Franklin  and  Green,  and  to  reach  into 
Coventry  and  Norton.  Many  mines  have  been 
opened  in  the  townships  referred  to,  and  about 
two  hundred  and  fift}'  thousand  tons  are  now 
sent  from  this  region  annuall}'  to  Cleveland. 
Most  of  this  coal  is  similar  in  quality  to  that  of 
Tallmadge,  but  in  some  localities,  as  at  John- 
son's shaft  in  Franklin,  we  find  a  recurrence  of 
the  block  charactei',  which  distinguishes  the 
coal  of  the  Mahoning  Valley.  In  former  years, 
nearly  all  of  the  coal  used  or  exported  from  the 
count}',  was  mined  in  Tallmadge,  and  this 
mainly  from  '  Coal  Hill,'  which  lies  between  the 
center  of  Tallmadge  and  CuA'alioga  Falls. 
Several  mines  were  once  in  active  operation  in 
this  hill.  Of  these  mines,  that  of  Henry  New- 
berry was  situated  at  the  north  end  of  the  hill, 
and  those  of  Dr.  D.  Upson,  Asaph  Whittlesey 
and  Francis  Wright  on  the  east  side.  On  the 
opposite  side  of  the  valley,  mines  were  opened 


b}'  Mr.  D.  Harris  and  Dr.  Amos  Wright.  In 
all  these  mines  the  coal  has  been  nearly  ex- 
hausted, as  it  was  found  to  rise  and  run  out 
in  the  interior  of  the  hill.  From  this  fact,  a 
belief  has  come  to  be  quite  general,  that  the 
coal  is  pinched  out  in  the  body  of  this  and 
other  hills,  by  the  weight  of  the  superincum- 
bent material ;  whereas,  we  have  here  only  an 
instance  of  what  has  been  before  referred  to,  of 
the  thinning  out  of  the  coal  on  the  margin  of 
the  old  coal  swamp.  In  the  central  and  east- 
ern portion  of  Tallmadge,  most  of  the  land  rises 
high  above  the  coal  level,  and  basins  of  coal  will 
doubtless  be  hereafter  discovered  there,  but  the 
same  causes  which  have  rendered  coal  mining 
so  uncertain  heretofore,  will  undoubtedly  limit 
the  productiveness  of  the  nominally  large  coal 
area  which  is  included  within  the  township  lines. 
In  the  southern  part  of  Tallmadge,  the  surface 
is  occupied  by  heav}'  beds  of  drift,  by  which 
the  underlying  geology  is  very  much  obscured. 
Here,  as  in  the  adjoining  township  of  Brimfield, 
in  Portage  County,  nothing  but  patient  and 
careful  search  will  determine  the  limits  of  the 
basins  of  coal  which  unquestionably  exist  in 
this  vicinity.  As  the  dip  of  the  coal  rocks  is 
toward  the  south  and  east,  in  Springfield, 
Grreen  and  Franklin,  Coal  No.  1  lies  lower  than 
in  the  more  northerly  townships  where  it  occurs  ; 
hence  it  can  only  be  reached  by  boring,  and 
that  sometimes  to  the  depth  of  100  feet  or  per- 
haps even  200  feet.  We  have  every  reason  to 
believe,  however,  that  a  considerable  area  in 
Green  Township  is  underlaid  b}'  Coal  No.  1, 
where  it  lies  far  below  drainage ;  and  it  is 
almost  certain  that  careful  search,  by  boring, 
will  reveal  the  presence  of  basins  of  coal  in  this 
township,  such  as  are  not  now  suspected  to  ex- 
ist, and  such  as  will  contribute  largelj'  to  the 
wealth  of  the  count}-. 

''In  Summit  County  the  lowest  seam  of  coal 
is  usually  separated  from  the  conglomerate  by 
an  interval  of  from  twenty-five  to  fift}'  feet, 
which  is  filled  with  shale  or  shaly  sandstone, 
and,  immediately  beneath  the  coal,  by  a  seam 
of  fire-clay,  from  two  to  six  feet  in  tliickness. 
This  fire-clay  is,  in  some  places,  of  good  qualit}-, 
and  may  be  used  for  fire-brick  and  pottery, 
but  it  is  generally  more  sandy  and  contains 
more  iron  than  the  under-clay  of  the  higher 
seam — Coal  No.  3 — to  which  I  shall  have  occa- 
sion to  refer  again.  Coal  No.  1  is  usually 
overlaid  immediately  by  gray  shale,  from  ten 


k. 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


191 


to  forty  feet  in  thickness.  This  shale  contains, 
especially  where  it  forms  the  roof  of  the  coal, 
large  numbers  of  fossil  plants,  which  are  fre- 
quentl}'  preserved  in  great  beaut}'  and  profu- 
sion. About  150  species  have  already  been 
collected  from  the  shale  of  Coal  No.  1,  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  State,  and  nearh'  all  of 
these  are  found  in  Summit  Count}'. 

"  Coal  No.  2  is  found  thirty  to  fifty  feet  above 
Coal  No.  1  in  many  parts  of  Summit  Count}' — 
as  in  the  Valley  of  the  Mahoning — the  second 
seam  of  coal  in  the  ascending  series,  and  which 
we  have  called  Coal  No.  2.  It  is  usually  from 
twelve  to  eighteen  inches  in  thickness,  and, 
though  persistent  over  a  large  area,  is  nowhere 
in  Summit  County  of  workable  thickness. 
Above  Coal  No.  2,  and  frequently  cutting  it 
out,  is  a  bed  of  massive  sandstone,  which  is  a 
marked  feature  in  "the  geology  of  the  county. 
This  is  well  seen  in  Coal  Hill,  Tallmadge,  and 
extends  through  the  southern  part  of  the  county, 
passing  through  Stark,  where,  in  the  valley  of 
the  Tuscarawas,  about  and  above  Massillon,  it 
is  quarried  in  many  places  along  the  bank  of 
the  canal.  The  thickness  of  this  sandstone 
varies  very  much  in  different  localities,  and  it 
may  be  said  to  range  from  forty  to  one  hundred 
feet.  It  is  also  somewhat  variable  in  character, 
but  is  often  massive,  and  affords  a  building- 
stone  of  excellent  quality.  It  may  generally 
be  distinguished  from  the  sandstones  of  the 
carboniferous  conglomerate  by  the  absence  of 
quartz  pebbles.  So  far  as  I  know,  no  pebbles 
are  found  in  the  sandstone  over  the  coal  in 
Summit  County.  In  Trumbull  and  Medina 
there  are  some  local  exceptions  to  this  rule,  for 
patches  of  conglomerate  are  sometimes  found 
there  immediately  overlying  the  lowest  coal 
seam.  In  Summit  County  the  -pebble  rock,' 
found  in  the  explorations  for  coal,  aflibrds  infall 
ible  evidence,  when  it  is  reached,  that  the  hor- 
izon of  the  coal  has  been  passed. 

"  Coals  Nos.  3  and  4  come  next  in  order. 
Near  Mogadore,  in  Springfield  Township  ;  the 
higher  lands  are  found  to  be  underlaid  by  a 
stratum  of  limestone,  beneath  which  are  usually 
a  thin  seam  of  coal  and  a  thick  stratum  of  fire- 
clay, the  latter  supplying  the  material  from 
which  nearly  all  the  stoneware  of  the  county 
is  manufactured.  From  twenty-five  to  forty 
feet  aboA'e  the  limestone  to  which  I  have  re- 
ferred, is  another,  which  also  overlies  a  coal 
seam.      Both    these   mav    be   seen   in    Green 


Township,  between  Greenburg  and  Greentown, 
and  they  may  be  traced  thence  southerly, 
through  Stark,  Tuscarawas  and  Holmes  Coun- 
ties, and,  indeed,  nearly  or  quite  to  the  Ohio 
River.  These  are  the  limestone  coals  that 
will  be  found  frequently  referred  to  in  the  re- 
ports on  the  counties  that  have  been  mentioned, 
and  those  on  Portage,  Trumbull  and  Mahoning. 
The  lowest  of  these  limestones  lies  from  130  to 
ItiO  above  Coal  No.  1;  the  upper  limestone 
about  150  to  200  feet.  Hent;e  they  will  serve 
as  useful  guides  in  boring  for  the  lower  coal 
seam  in  those  parts  of  the  county  where  it  lies 
considerably  beneath  the  surface. 

"  I  have  already  alluded  to  the  former  pro- 
ductiveness of  the  coal  mines  of  Tallmadge, 
and  have  mentioned  the  fact  that  most  of  these 
mines  are  now  abandoned  ;  the  basins  of  coal 
in  which  they  were  located  having  been  practi- 
cally exhausted.  Considerable  coal  is,  how- 
ever, still  produced  in  the  township,  and  it  is 
altogether  probable,  that  with  proper  search, 
other  basins  will  be  discovered,  from  which  its 
coal  industry  will  be  revived.  The  '  Centre ' 
and  a  large  area  north,  south  and  east  of  it,  lie 
considerably  above  the  coal  level,  and  as  the 
dip  is  southeast,  there  are  some  localities  where 
the  horizon  of  the  coal  is  nearly  one  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  below  the  surface.  Over  most  of 
the  district  I  have  mentioned,  borings  should  be 
made  to  at  least  the  depth  of  one  hundred  feet 
befoi'e  the  search  is  abandoned.  It  should  be 
remembered,  too,  that  the  basins  of  Coal  No.  1 
are  frequently  narrow,  and  the  territory  will 
only  be  fairly  tested  by  borings  made  at  fre- 
quent intervals.  The  principal  center  of  coal 
industry  in  the  county  at  present,  is  in  Spring- 
field and  Coventry.  Steer's  Mine,  the  mines  of 
the  Brewster  Coal  Company,  and  Brewster 
Brothers,  and  the  Middlebury  Shaft — all  located 
near  the  line  between  the  above  mentioned 
townships— are  now  producing  a  large  quantity 
of  coal  for  shipment  to  Akron  and  Cleveland. 
The  maximum  thickness  of  the  coal  seam  here 
is  about  five  feet,  and  it  thins  out  on  all  sides 
toward  the  margin  of  the  basin.  Doubtless  here, 
as  elsewhere,  the  basins  of  coal  are  connected, 
and  future  explorations  will  result  in  tracing 
such  connection  south  and  east  into  other  im- 
portant deposits.       ****** 

"  At  the  Franklin  Coal  Company's  mine,  in 
the  Northern  part  of  Franklin,  the  coal  is  four 
and  a  half  feet  thick,  of  good  quality,  closely 


J^ 


192 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


resembling  that  obtained  at  Massillon.  It  lies 
from  sixty  to  one  hundred  feet  below  the  sur- 
face, the  massive  sand  rock  above  it  ranging 
from  forty  to  fift^^  feet  in  thickness.  In  the 
southwest  corner  of  Franklin  Township,  the  coal 
where  opened  is  not  as  thick  or  as  good  as  in 
the  last-mentioned  localities.  At  Steer's  new 
shaft  in  Coventry,  the  coal  is  4|-  feet  thick, 
90  to  no  feet  from  the  surface,  overlaid  b}^  15 
feet  of  black  shale  and  from  30  to  40  feet  of 
sandstone.  Little  coal  has  yet  been  mined  here, 
but  it  seems  to  be  of  excellent  quality.  A  sec- 
tion taken  near  the  north  line  of  Franklin  Town- 
ship includes  the  following  strata  : 

1.  Sandstone 40  to  60    feet. 

3.  Shale 20  to  30    feet. 

3.  Hard  iron  ore 1   foot. 

4.  Coal 4ifeet. 

"  On  the  land  of  Mr.  Thomas  Britton,  one 
and  a  half  miles  east  of  Middlebury,  is  an  im- 
portant deposit  of  iron  ore,  which  I  refer,  with 
some  hesitation,  to  the  horizon  of  Coal  No.  1. 
The  drift  from  which  the  ore  is  taken  exposes 
four  feet  of  rock,  which  includes  a  thickness  of 
about  two  feet  of  ore.  Sherbondy  Hill,  west  of 
Akron,  is  capped  with  the  coal  rocks,  but  gives 
no  indication  of  any  valuable  deposit  of  coal. 
A  band  of  iron  ore,  similar  in  character  to  that 
referred  to  above,  but  thinner,  is  exposed  in  this 
locality.  A  sheet  of  the  coal  measures  under- 
lies the  surface  in  the  west  part  of  Norton  Town- 
ship, and  a  small  area  in  Copley',  but  up  to  the 
present  time  no  important  coal  strata  have  been 
found  there.  A  boring  made  half  a  mile  north 
of  the  center  of  Norton  revealed  the  following 
section  : 

1.  Earth 17  feet. 

2.  Shale 16  feet. 

3.  Conglomerate 75  feet. 

All  the  borings  made  for  coal  in  the  township 
give  similar  results,  the  conglomerate  being 
struck  after  passing  through  a  thin  bed  of  coal 
shale.       ******** 

"  The  fire-claj^  which  underlies  Coal  No.  3 
has  already  become  one  of  the  important  ele- 
ments of  wealth  to  the  county.  This  deposit,  in 
parts  of  Summit  County,  is  of  unusual  thickness 
and  purity,  making  excellent  stoneware  and  fire- 
brick. It  is  estimated  that  there  are  produced 
from  this  stratum  of  clay  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship alone,  about  one  and  a  half  millions  of  gal- 
lons of  stoneware  each  year ;  and  a  very  large 
amount  of  the  material  is  transported  into  other 
parts  of  the  county  and  State.     It  is  of  interest 


to  notice  in  this  connection  that  this  bed  of  fire- 
clay is  the  same  with  that  worked  at  Atwater, 
in  Portage,  and  still  more  extensively  in  Co- 
lumbiana Count3\  Over  how  large  an  area  in 
Summit  County  it  maintains  the  dimensions 
and  excellence  it  exhibits  in  Springfield,  we 
have,  as  yet,  no  means  of  knowing.  At  East 
Liberty  it  is  apparently  of  good  thickness  and 
quality,  but  in  central  and  southern  Stark 
County — where  exposed  in  the  valleys  of  the 
Nimisiiillen  and  Sandy — it  is  of  less  value.  The 
Springfield  clay  is  eminentl}^  plastic,  and  hence 
better  fitted  for  stoneware  than  fire-brick,  but 
by  mixing  it  largely  with  sand,  and,  still  better, 
with  the  hard  clay  of  Mineral  Point,  Mr.  J. 
Parke  Alexander,  of  Akron,  has  produced  fire- 
brick scarcely  inferior  in  quality  to  an}'-  other 
made  in  the  State,  or  even  any  imported.  To 
get  the  best  results  with  this  clay  alone,  in  mak- 
ing fire-brick,  it  should  be  first  ground,  made 
into  a  paste,  and  this  burned,  then  again  coarsely 
ground  and  the  fragments  cemented  with  one- 
sixth  to  one-tenth  of  fresh  plastered  clay, 
molded  and  burned  again. 

"  The  following  analyses  will  give  additional 
information  in  regard  to  the  useful  minerals  of 
this  countv.  They  were  made  by  Dr.  Worm  ley. 
State  Chemist,  with  the  exception  of  No.  4, 
which  was  made  by  Prof  W.  W.  blather  : 

1.  Peat — Coventry  Peat  Company,  Coventry. 

Ultimate  Composition  in  Normal  State.  Per  cent. 

Carbon 50.56 

Hydroijen 6.43 

Nitrogen 1.23 

Sulplmr 0.33 

Oxygen 34.85 

Ash 6.60 

100.00 

Moisture 10.40 

Consisting  of  hydrogen 4.15 

Oxygen 6.25 

2.  Coal  No.  1 — Johnson's  shaft,  Franklin  Town- 
ship. 

3.  Coal  No.  1 — Franklin  Coal  Company,  Frank- 
lin Township. 

4.  Coal  No.  1 — D.  Upson's  mine,  Tallmadge 
Township. 

5.  Coal  No.  3 — Greentown,  both  benches. 


Specific  gravity 

Water 

Volatile  combust,  matter.. 

Fixed  Carbon 

Ash 


No. 


1.256 

2.70 
37.30 
58.00 

2.00 


100.00 


No.  3.  No.  4. 


No.  5. 


100.00100.00 


3.25 
38.75 
55.05 

2.95 

100.00 


:xr 


;Rr 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


193 


No.  1.  No.  2.  No.  3.         No.  4. 

Sulphur....       0.93  0.799        0.549        1.73 

Ash White.       White White. 

Colie Compact.   Compact Compact. 

6.  Iron  Ore— H.  Roberts,  Middlebury. 

7.  Iron  Ore— Over  Coal  No.  3,  Greentown. 


Specific  gravity 

Moisture  combined. 
Silicious  matter.  . .  . 
Iron,  Carbonate  .  . . . 
Iron,  Sesquioxide. . . 

Alumina 

Manganese 

Lime  phosphate  . . . . 
Lime  carbonate  .... 
Magnesia  carbonate 

Sulphur 

Phosphoric  acid  . .  . 


No.  6. 1  No.  7. 


3.333 
1.24 

21.08 
58.76 
4.53 
1.00 
0.80 
1.81 
4.25 
5.22 
0.41 


3.342 
2.65 

12.23 
70.68 

0.40 
1.65 

7.66 

5.54 

0.17 

0.013 


99.10   100.333 


Metallic  Iron 

Phosphoric  acid 

8.  Fire  Clay — Mogadore. 

9.  Fire  Clay— East  Liberty. 


31.53 
0.83 


34.12 
0.013 


No.  8. 

5.45 
70.70 
21.70 

No.  9. 

Water  (combined) 

7  00 

Silicic  acid 

62.00 

Alumina 

24.80 

Iron 

traces 

Lime 

0.40 
0.37 

1.75 

Magnesia 

0.42 

Potash  and  soda 

3.22 

98.62 

99.39 

The  foregoing  comprises  the  geology  of  Sum- 
mit County,  together  with  its  coal  deposits 
and  mineral  resources.  Closely  connected  with 
the  geology  of  a  country  is  the  science  of  agri- 
culture. Indeed,  "the  geology  of  a  countr3',"  it 
has  been  truthfully  said,  "determines  the  char- 
acter of  the  industrial  vocation  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  that  country."  In  accordance  with  the 
geological  formations,  mining,  farming,  herding 
flocks,  manufacturing,  or  even  fishing,  becomes 
the  prominent  industry.  "From  the  connection 
of  geology  with  agriculture,  mining  and  manu- 
factures, it  ma}^  be  said  that  in  its  different 
branches  this  science  lies  at  the  foundation  of 
our  modern  civilization,  inasmuch  as  the  occu- 
pations, the  wealth  and  power  of  communities 
and  nations,  in  many,  we  may,  perhaps,  sa}'  in 
most,  instances,  depend  directly  upon  the  char- 
acter, structure  and  resources  of  that  portion 
of  the  earth  which  the}^  inhabit."*     From  the 

*  state  Report. 


wealth,  then,  of  Mother  Earth,  we  draw  our 
sustenance,  and  when  we  have  run  out  our 
span  of  life,  we  return  to  her  sheltering  bosom. 

"  Where  is  the  dust  that  has  not  been  alive? 
The  spade,  the  plow,  disturb  our  ancestors; 
From  human  mold  we  reap  our  daily  bread." 

It  is  said  that  the  agriculture  of  the  State  of 
Ohio  may  be  regarded,  in  a  general  sense,  as 
"being  of  a  mixed  character."  The  same  may 
very  truthfully  be  said  of  Summit  County. 
Its  agricultural  resources  are  not  only  exten- 
sive, but  the  adaptability  of  the  soil  in  the  dif- 
ferent sections  of  the  count}^  to  agriculture,  is 
to  be  found  in  but  few  counties  of  the  State. 
In  the  southern  part,  wheat  is  the  main  staple ; 
in  the  central  and  northern  portions,  grazing, 
perhaps,  predominates,  while  corn  is  exten- 
sively grown.  In  the  last  State  Agricultui-al 
Report,  we  find,  pertaining  to  Summit  County, 
the  following  statistics  : 

Wheat,  25,955  acres,  yielding  518,979  bush- 
els ;  rye,  852  acres,  yielding  5,150  bushels  ; 
oats,  14,284  acres,  yielding  542,382  bushels  ; 
barley,  63  acres,  yielding  14,010  bushels  ;  corn, 
15,422  acres,  yielding  1,077,945  bushels;  tim- 
othy, 22,788  acres,  j'ielding  31,951  tons  of  hay  ; 
clover,  4,882  acres,  yielding  6,910  tons  of  hay. 
While  much  attention  is  devoted  to  stock-rais- 
ing, the  breeding  of  fine  stock  is  not  carried  to 
that  extent  that  it  is  in  man}'  sections  of  Ohio. 
More  attention  is  given  to  cattle  and  sheep 
than  to  other  stock,  and  to  the  two  (cattle  and 
sheep)  the  former  is  considered  of  more  value 
in  this  community,  and  the  dairy  business  is 
one  of  the  largest '  interests  of  the  agricultural 
class,  not  only  of  Summit  Count}-  but  of  the 
Western  Reserve.  From  the  State  Report 
above  quoted,  we  extract  the  following  of  this 
county  :  "  Number  of  cattle,  24,348,  value, 
$364,184  ;  number  of  pounds  of  butter,  775,- 
915  ;  number  of  pounds  of  cheese,  1,389,735." 
The  same  report  has  the  following  in  regard  to 
the  dairy  business  of  the  Reserve  :  "  x\lready, 
complaints  are  made  that  dairy  farming  is 
deteriorating  the  soil,  but  this  complaint  can 
scarcely  be  well  founded,  or,  if  well  founded, 
must  have  reference  more  to  the  mechanical 
than  tlie  chemical  condition  of  the  soil.  Soils 
very  similar,  geologically  considered,  haA'e  been 
pastured  and  tilled  in  England  since  the  days 
of  the  Saxon  heptarchy,  and  no  recuperating 
process  practiced  until  within  the  past  hundred 
years,  and  yet  these  British  soils  were  at  no 


Tv 


194 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


time  barren.  There  is  no  distinctive  breed  of 
cattle  recognized  on  the  Reserve  as  being  pecu- 
liarly a  dairy  breed,  but  those  in  highest  favor 
are  generally  a  cross  breed,  such  as  short-horn 
or  Devon  crossed  on  the  '  native.'  *  '"'  * 
The  factory  system  of  cheese-making  was  in- 
troduced some  years  since,  and  has  proved 
eminently  successful.  Having  no  reliable  statis- 
tics at  hand,  there  is  no  hazard  in  stating  that 
there  are  fuU^'  one  hundred  and  fifty  factories  in 
active  operation  at  the  present  time."  Our 
space,  however,  will  not  admit  of  an  extended 
notice  in  this  connection,  but  the  subject  will 
be  alluded  to  again  in  the  several  township 
histories.  In  addition  to  the  cattle  statistics  of 
the  count}'  from  the  same  report,  we  gather  the 
following ;  Number  of  horses,  8,552,  value, 
$-169,010;  number  of  mules,  179,  value,  $8,750  ; 
number  of  hogs,  11,577,  value,  $32,220  ;  num- 
ber of  sheep,  24,965,  value,  $58,817 ;  number 
of  pounds  of  wool  shorn,  75,168. 

Without  going  further  into  this  branch  of  the 
subject,  we  will  now  give  place  to  the  following- 
interesting  sketch  of  the  Agricultural  Society 
of  Summit  County,  prepared  especially  for 
this  work  by  S.  A.  Lane,  Esq.,  and  which  will  be 
found  of  value  to  our  readers  : 

The  loss,  by  fire,  of  the  records  pertaining  to 
the  Agricultural  Societ}-  matters  of  Summit 
County  prior  to  1859,  made  the  task  of  collat- 
ing the  proper  materials  for  the  commencement 
of  this  chapter  somewhat  difficult,  there  being 
radical  differences  in  the  recollections  of  the 
several  living  participants  upon  whom  the  writ- 
er called  for  information.  By  a  patient  search 
of  the  files  of  the  Summit  County  Beacon  of 
those  da^'s,  though  its  columns  were  far  less 
prolific  of  local  news  then  than  now,  we  have 
been  able  to  present  to  the  reader  a  reliable,  if 
not  a  very  attractive,  resume  of  the  matters 
proper  to  be  here  treated  of  Though  for  some 
years  there  had  been  a  growing  interest  in  the 
subject  thi;oughout  the  State,  and,  under  the 
fostering  care  and  aid  given  thereto  b}'  the  Leg- 
islature of  Ohio,  a  State  Agricultural  Society, 
and  quite  a  number  of  county  societies,  had 
been  organized  previous  to  that  date,  the  first 
move  looking  to  the  organization  of  a  society 
in  Summit  County,  was  in  1849.  From  his  po- 
sition as  Auditor  of  the  county,  N.  W.  Good- 
hue, Esq.,  had  abundant  opportunity  to  ascer- 
tain the  views  of  the  people  of  the  county  upon 
the  subject,  and,  believing,   after  consultation 


with  Col.  Simon  Perkins  and  others,  that  a  fa- 
vorable and  hearty  response  would  be  made 
thereto,  on  the  31st  day  of  October,  1849,  Mr. 
Goodhue  caused  to  be  published  in  the  Beacon 
the  following  notice  : 

AGRICULTURAT;   MEETING. 

I,  N.  W.  Goodhue,  Auditor  of  Summit  County, 
Ohio,  hereby  give  notice  that  a  public  meeting  will 
be  held  at  the  court  house,  in  Akron,  on  the  14th 
day  of  November  next,  at  2  o'clock,  P.  M.,  for  the 
purpose  of  perfecting  the  organization  of  a  County 
Agricultural  Society,  the  preliminary  steps  contem- 
plated in  the  act  of  March,  1839,  having  been  al- 
ready taken. 

Nath'l  W.  Goodhue, 
County  Auditor. 
Aiiditor's  Office,  Summit  Co.,  ) 
Akron,  October  31,  1849.       \ 

An  editorial  in  the  same  issue  of  the  Beacon 
thus  calls  attention  to  the  above  notice  : 

Attention  is  called  to  the  notice  of  the  Auditor, 
in  another  cohuiin,  issued  in  pursuance  of  law,  for 
an  agricultural  meeting  on  the  14th  proximo.  We 
rejoice  that  a  move  has  been  made  in  the  matter,  by 
the  agriculturists  of  Summit  County.  The  neigh- 
boring counties  have  their  agricultural  associations 
in  successful  operation.  They  have  seen  and  felt 
the  advantages  flowing  from  them.  And  while  the 
whole  State  seems  to  be  awakening  to  a  new  inter- 
est, and  searching  after  an  improved  agriculture,  it 
would  be  mortifying  to  see  the  experienced  and  en- 
terprising farmers  of  Summit  County  asleep.  Speed 
the  plow  !  Let  tlie  good  work  go  forAvard  in  earn- 
est ! 

In  the  Beacon  of  November  21,  1849,  ap- 
pears the  following  official  report  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  this  preliminary  meeting  : 

AGRIOUIiTURAL   MEETING. 

Agreeably  to  public  notice,  previously  given,  a 
large  number  of  gentlemen  met  in  the  court  house 
in  Akron,  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  November  14, 1849,  for 
the  purpose  of  perfecting  the  organization  of  a 
County  Agricubural  Society.  The  meeting  was 
called  to  order  hy  the  County  xluditor.  A  tempo- 
rary organization  was  liad  by  appointing  Capt. 
Amos  Seward,  President;  H.  G.  Weaver,  Vice  Presi- 
dent and  Nathaniel  W.  Goodhue,  Secretary.  After 
the  object  of  the  meeting  had  been  stated,  the 
Chair,  on  motion,  appointed  a  committee  of  five  to 
report  a  constitution  and  code  of  by-laws  for  tlie 
government  of  tlie  society,  consisting  of  Lucius  W. 
Hitchcock  and  William  A.  Hanford,  of  Tallmadge; 
Talman  Beardsley,  of  Coventry';  Sylvester  H. 
Thompson,  of  Hudson,  and  John  Hoy,  of  Franklin. 
On  motion,  a  committee  of  one  from  each  township 
was  appointed  to  procure  members  to  the  society  as 
follows:  Bath,  William  Hale;  Boston,  Hiram  V. 
Bronson;  Copley,  Jonathan  Starr;  Coventry,  Avery 
Spicer;  Franklin,  John  Hoy;  Green,  Alexander 
Johnston;  Hudson,  Van  R.  Humphrey;  Northamp- 


^ 


[£ 


■^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


195 


ton,  Reese  Jones;  Northfield,  John  C.  Wallace; 
Norton,  Henry  Van  Hyning;  Portage,  Lucius  V. 
Bicrce;  Riclificld,  Isaac  T.  Welton;  Spring-field, 
Henry  G.  Weaver;  Stow,  Edwin  Wetmore:  Tall- 
madge,  Samuel  Treat;  Twinsburg,  Lyman  Cham- 
berlain; Akron,  Lucius  S.  Peck;  Middlebury,  Na- 
thaniel W.  Goodhue;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Henry  Wet- 
more;  Hudson,  Sylvester  H.  Thompson. 

On  motion,  Lucius  V.  Bierce  and  Van  R.  Hum- 
phrey, Esqs.,  were  requested  to  deliver  addresses 
at  the  next  meeting. 

On  motion,  ordered  that  the  proceedings  of  the 
meeting  be  published  in  the  several  papers  of  the 
county.  On  motion,  adjourned  to  meet  in  the  court- 
room "on  Wednesdaj^  the  28th  inst.,  at  10  o'clock 
A.M. 

Amos  Seward,  President. 

H.  G.  Weaver,  Vice  President. 

N.  W.  GooBHUE,  Secretari/. 

From  a  postscript  attached  to  the  foregoing 
report,  it  is  learned,  that  at  this  meeting,  about 
sevent}'  names  were  presented  for  membership. 
In  the  Beacon  of  December  5,  1849,  is  found 
the  full  report  of  the  second  meeting  of  the 
embryo  society,  as  follows  : 

agriculturaIj  meeting. 

The  Summit  County  Agricultural  Society  met 
November  28,  at  1  o'clock  P.  M.,  pursuant  to  ad- 
jom'nment,  and  was  called  to  order  by  Capt.  Amos 
Seward,  Chairman.  In  the  absence  of  Henry  G. 
Weaver,  Vice  President,  Milo  Stone,  Esq.,  of  Tall- 
madge,  was  chosen  Vice  President. 

On  motion,  a  committee  of  one  from  each  town- 
ship represented,  was  appointed  by  the  Chair,  to 
recommend  oflicers  for  the  .society. 

Committee  appointed  at  former  meeting,  reported 
a  constitution  for  the  society,  as  folloAvs: 

■'Article  1.  This  society  shall  be  called  the  Sum- 
mit County  Agricultural  Society. 

"Art.  2.  The  officers  of  this  society  shall  consist 
of  a  President,  Vice  President,  Secretary,  Treasurer 
and  five  managers,  who,  together,  shall  constitute  a 
Board  of  Directors  for  the  general  management  of 
the  affairs  of  the  society;  they  shall  be  elected  an- 
nually by  the  members  of  the  society,  and  hold 
their  offices  until  their  successors  are  appointed. 
The  President  shall  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the 
society,  and  of  the  Board  of  Directors;  sign  orders 
on  the  Treasurer  for  awards  of  premiums  and  other 
appropriations  of  the  Board  of  Directors.  The 
Vice  President,  in  the  absence  of  the  President, 
shall  be  the  presiding  officer  of  the  society  and 
Board.  The  Secretary  shall  keep  an  accurate  record 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  society,  and  of  the  Board 
of  Directors;  attend  to  correspondence  ordered  by 
the  Board,  and  report  annually  to  tlie  State  Board 
of  Agriculture.  The  Treasurer  shall  receive  the 
funds  of  the  society,  and  pay  them  in  accordance 
with  the  awards  of  the  committees  on  premiums, 
and  the  votes  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  upon  the 
order  of  the  President,  and  shall,  at  the  annual 
meeting,  render  a  full  account  of  his  doings.  The 
Board  of  Directors  shall  meet  at  the  call  of  the 


President;  a  majority  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for 
the  transaction  of  business,  and  the  Board  shall 
have  power  to  transact  all  business  for  the  society, 
that  shall  not  conflict  with  this  instrument. 

"art,  3.  Members  of  this  society  must  be  res- 
idents of  this  county,  and  pay  $1  annually  to  the 
Treasurer  of  the  society. 

"Art.  4.  All  competitors  for  premiums  nuist  be 
members  of  the  society. 

"iVRT.  5.  A  list  of  the  premiums  offered  by  the  .so- 
ciety must  be  printed  in  the  several  newspapers  pub- 
lished in  the  county,  at  least  one  month  previous  to 
the  day  of  exhibition. 

"Art.  6.  All  articles  offered  for  premiums  must 
be  owned  by  the  persons  offering  the  same,  or  by 
members  of  their  families,  and  products  of  the  soil, 
or  manufactured  articles,  must  be  produced  or  man- 
ufactured within  the  county. 

"Art.  7.  Premiums  on  grain  and  grass  crops  shall 
not  be  awarded  for  less  than  one  acre. 

"Art.  8.  The  awarding  committees  shall  consist 
of  three  persons  each,  and  shall  be  annually  ap- 
pointed by  the  Directors  of  the  society. 

"Art.  9.  The  annual  exhibition  of  the  society 
shall  be  held  between  the  1st  day  of  September  and 
the  1st  day  of  November  in  each  year,  of  which  no- 
tice shall  be  given  with  the  list  of  premiums  offered. 

"Art.  10.  The  annual  meeting  of  this  society 
shall  be  at  the  court  house,  on  the  third  Wednesday 
in  November  of  each  year,  at  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  at 
which  time  oflicers  of  the  society  shall  be  chosen. 

"Art.  11.  This  Constitution  may  be  amended  at 
any  regular  meeting,  by  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast." 

L.  V.  Bierce,  Esq.,  addressed  the  meeting. 

Committee  reported  oflBcers  for  the  society,  which 
report  was  accepted,  and  the  persons  recommended 
were  unanimously  chosen  officers  of  the  society,  as 
follows  :  Simon  Perkins,  President  ;  Henry  G.  Wea- 
ver, Vice  President ;  William  A.  Hanford,  Secretary  ; 
William  H.  Dewey,  Treasurer ;  John  Hoy,  Sylvester 
H.  Thompson,  Avery  Spicer,  Philo  C.  Stone  aud 
James  W.  Weld,  Managers. 

On  motion— "  Eesohed :  That  the  thanks  of  this 
society  be  presented  to  L.  V.  Bierce,  Esq.,  for  his 
interesting  address,  and  that  he  be  requested  to  fur- 
nish a  copy  for  publication." 

Mr.  J.  Teesdale  presented  a  circular  from  the  St  ate 
Board  of  Agriculture,  which  was  referred  to  the 
President,  Secretary  and  Capt.  Amos  Seward  for 
reply.     On  motion,  adjourned. 

Amos  Seward,  President. 
Mn.o  Stone,  Vice  President. 
N.  W.  Goodhue,  Secretari/. 

Thus  was  the  "  Summit  County  Agricultural 
Society  "  duly  and  legally  organized,  and  en- 
titled to  draw  from  the  county  treasury,  yearly, 
for  its  support,  the  sum  of  $137.50,  as  provided 
by  law.  The  various  oflicers,  directors  and 
committees,  together  with  the  people  of  the 
county,  generally,  both  farmers  and  villagers, 
from  this  time  on  worked  heartily  and  cordially 
for  the  success  of  the  society,  and  for  the 
favorable  outcome  of  its  first  annual  fair.     In 


•y 


ji^ 


196 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


the  Beacon  of  August  21,  1850,  appears  this 
announcement : 

AGRICULTURAL   NOTICE. 

The  Board  of  Directors  for  the  Summit  County 
Agricultural  Society  will  meet  at  the  office  of  L.  V. 
Bierce,  Esq.,  on  Tliursday,  the  22dinst.,  at  1  o'clock 
P.  M.,  to  appoint  committees  to  award  premiums  at 
the  Annual  Fair,  to  be  held  at  Akron,  on  the  2d  and 
3d  days  of  October  next.  Those  who  have  obtained 
members  will  please  forward  the  names  and  money 
to  th(!  Auditor's  office  at  Akron. 

Simon  Perkins,  President. 
W.  A.  IIanpord,  Secretary. 

Akron,  August  19,  1850. 

In  the  Beacon  of  September  11,  1850,  ap- 
pears the  premium  list,  offering  premiums  rang- 
ing from  $1  to  1^8  on  cattle  ;  from  $3  to  $8  on 
horses  ;  from  $2  to  $5  on  sheep  ;  from  $2  to  $4 
on  swine  ;  best  kept  dair}^,  $10  ;  best  butter, 
$3  ;  best  cheese,  $3  ;  from  $1  to  $3  on  farm 
implements ;  from  50  cents  to  $3  on  domestic 
manufactures  ;  from  $2  to  $3  on  factory  flan- 
nels and  cloths  ;  $1  on  grains  and  seeds  ;  from 
$1  to  $2  on  vegetables  and  fruits ;  from  $1  to 
$5  on  field  crops.  Following,  is  a  list  of  the 
awarding  committees :  Cattle — Milo  Stone,  of 
Tallmadge ;  Frederick  Baldwin,  of  Hudson  ; 
Marcus  Newton,  of  Richfield,  Horses — Thad- 
deus  H.  Botsford,  of  Middlebuiy  ;  John  Hoy, 
of  Franklin  ;  Henry  Van  Hyning,  of  Norton. 
Saxony  Sheep — John  Brown  (old  "  Ossawata- 
mie  "  of  Harper's  Ferry  fame),  of  Portage;  Jus- 
tin P.  Goodale,  of  Middlebury ;  Anson  A. 
Brewster,  of  Hudson.  Merino  and  other  Sheep 
— Isaac  T.  Welton,  of  Richfield  ;  Jacob  Allen, 
of  Akron  ;  Jonathan  Starr,  of  Copley.  Swine 
— Miner  Spicer,  of  Akron  ;  William  Wetmore, 
of  Stow  ;  Simon  P.  Starr,  of  Copley.  Dairies 
— Edgar  B.  Ellsworth,  of  Hudson  ;  John  B. 
Clark,  of  Hudson  ;  Ethan  Ailing,  of  Twinsburg. 
Butter  and  Cheese— Mrs.  Dana  D.  Evans,  of 
Akron  ;  Mrs.  Daniel  Hine,  of  Tallmadge  ;  Mrs. 
Amos  Avery,  of  Tallmadge ;  Mrs.  P^dwin  Wet- 
more,  of  Stow.  Farm  Implements — Samuel 
Treat,  of  Tallmadge  ;  Alexander  Johnston,  of 
Green  ;  Mills  Thompson,  of  Hudson.  Domes- 
tic Manufactures — Mrs.  Henry  G.  Weaver,  of 
Springfield ;  Mrs.  George  Kirkum,  of  Akron  ; 
Mrs.  John  Hoy,  of  Franklin  ;  Mrs.  N.  W.  Good- 
hue, of  Middlebury.  Factory  Products — Ros- 
well  Kent,  of  Middlebury  ;  Anson  A.  Brewster, 
of  Hudson  ;  Orlando  Hall,  of  Akron  ;  Grains 
and  Seeds — Nathaniel  Fiuch,  of  Akron  ;  Will- 
iam Hale,  of  Bath  ;  Philo  Atwood,  of  Spring- 


field. Vegetables  and  Fruits — Van  R.  Hum- 
phrey, of  Hudson  ;  Lucius  S.  Peck,  of  Portage  ; 
Prof  Sej-mour,  of  Hudson.  Field  Crops — 
Clark  Sackett,  of  Tallmadge  ;  John  Hall,  of 
Springfield ;  Talmon  Beardsley,  of  Coventiy. 
Non-enumerated  Articles — Joseph  Hawkins,  of 
Twinsburg  ;  Peter  Voris,  of  Bath  ;  Daniel  Hine, 
of  Tallmadge.  A  "  plowing  match  "  was  also 
announced  for  the  second  day  of  the  fair  ;  pre- 
miums, $5  and  $3.  No  trotting  nor  racing  pre- 
miums were  offered. 

The  Beacon  of  September  18, 1850,  editorially 
says  : 

We  are  gratified  to  find  that  much  interest  is 
being  awakened  in  the  approaching  agricultural 
fair  in  this  county.  As  there  has  not  been  an  ex- 
hibition of  that  character  in  the  county  since  its 
organization,  those  who  have  charge  of  the  arrange- 
ments have  not  the  benefit  of  that  amount  of  expe- 
rience they  Avould  like  in  the  performance  of  their 
dutj'.  Still,  they  have  done  and  will  do  what  they 
can.  The  work  of  preparation  should  be  entered 
into  in  earnest.  Hundreds  can  contribute  their  mite 
to  the  interest  of  the  occasion.  Let  the  exhibition 
be  worthy  of  the  object  in  view,  and  let  there  be  a 
gathering  which  will  render  the  day  a  memorable 
one. 

The  First  Fair,  October  2  and  3,  1850.— 
Having  no  grounds  nor  buildings  of  its  own,  by 
permission  of  the  County  Commissioners,  the 
court  house  and  surrounding  grounds  were 
made  use  of  b}'^  the  society  in  giving  its  initial 
exposition.  In  the  Beacon  of  October  16,  1850, 
is  the  official  report  of  President  Perkins  and 
Secretary  Hanford,  together  with  a  full  list  of 
the  premiums  awarded,  aggregating  about  $100 
— quite  a  sum,  when  it  is  considered  that  no 
entrance  fees  on  articles  exhibited  were 
charged,  while  admission  to  the  fair  was  also 
free.  "  A  team  of  thirty-four  3'oke  of  oxen, 
from  Tallmadge,  and  another  of  fifteen  span  of 
horses,  from  the  same  town,  attracted  consider- 
able attention,"  says  the  report.  Gen  L.  V. 
Bierce,  of  Akron,  delivered  the  annual  ad- 
dress. 

The  Beacon  of  same  date  editorially  says  : 

The  highest  expectations  were  more  than  realized. 
The  attendance  on  both  days  was  very  large,  several 
thousand  persons  being  present,  all  of  whom  seemed 
inspired  by  the  happiest  spirit,  and  abundant ly 
compensated  for  what  of  labor  and  care  was  inci- 
dent to  the  exhibition.  *  *  *  The  display  of  stock 
was  unexpectedly  good,  the  arrangements  being 
such  as  to  give  a  fair  opportunity  for  exhibiting  the 
animals  brought  in.  The  specimens  of  fruit,  grain 
and  vegetables  were  exceedingly  fine.  *  *  *  A  va- 
riety of  farming  implements  were  exhibited.     *  *  * 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


197 


The  court-house  was  fitted  up  for  the  horticultural 
exhibition  and  the  handiwork  of  Flora.  The  high- 
est praise  is  due  to  the  ladies  for  their  taste  in  adorn- 
ing the  room,  and  the  myriad  evidences  of  their  skill 
displayed  on  every  hand.  The  pyramid  of  flowers, 
prepared  at  Mrs.  Dodge's,  and  the  various  smaller 
pyramids  and  rich  bouquets  exhibited,  were  the  cen- 
ter of  attraction,  exciting  universal  praise  by  their 
gorgeous  display  of  colors.  The  display  of"  fancy 
needle-work  would  have  excited  admiration  any- 
where. Among  other  things  exhibited  in  the  ladies' 
department,  worthy  of  note,  were  a  variety  of  bed- 
quilts  ;  a  counterpane,  richly  worked  ;  worsted  work  ; 
a  strcm-bonnet  made  from  straw  raised  in  this  county  ; 
.some  fancy  cotton  work,  etc.,  etc.  *  *  *  An  exhi- 
bition terminating  so  propitiously  cannot  but  lead 
the  way  to  others,  and  establish  permanently  a  so- 
ciety whose  first  fruits  are  so  pleasant  to  the  eye  and 
taste.  In  the  awards  of  the  future  the  managers  of 
the  fair  should  not  be  forgotten. 

/Second  Annual  Meeting. — The  second  annual 
meeting  of  the  society  was  held  at  the  court 
house,  November  20,  1850.  Treasurer  Dewey 
reported  :  "  Total  receipts,  $327.58  :  total  pay- 
ments to  date,  $221.86;  balance  in  treasury, 
$105.72 — $100  of  which  is  due  for  premiums." 
Officers  were  chosen  for  the  ensuing-  year,  as 
follows  :  Simon  Perkins,  of  Portage,  President ; 
Amos  Seward,  of  Tallmadge,  Vice  President ; 
Nelson  B.  Stone,  of  Akron,  Treasurer  ;  Nathan- 
iel W.  (loodhue,  of  Middlebury,  Secretary ; 
Henry  Van  Hyning,  of  Norton  ;  Daniel  Hine,  of 
Tallmadge  ;  JNIilo  Stone,  of  Tallmadge  ;  James 
M.  Hale,  of  Akron,  and  Harvey  Baldwin,  of 
Hudson,  Managers.  On  motion,  the  thanks  of 
the  society  were  presented  to  Secretary  Will- 
iam A.  Hanford,  and  his  assistants,  Messrs  N. 
W.  Goodhue  and  C.  B.  Bernard,  for  their  serv- 
ices to  the  societ}'. 

Second  Annual  Fair. — In  the  Beacon  of  Sep- 
tember 10,  1851,  appears  the  notice  of  Presi- 
dent Perkins  and  Secretary  (xoodhue,  announc- 
ing the  second  annual  fair  of  the  society,  to  be 
held  at  the  court  house  in  Akron,  October  16 
and  17,  with  a  somewhat  enlarged  premium  list. 
Committees  ns  follows  :  Cattle — John  Newton, 
of  Richfield  :  Perry  C.  Carotliers.  of  Tallmadge  ; 
Frederick  Baldwin,  of  Hudson.  JMilch  Cows — 
William  II.  Devyey,  of  Akron  ;  Joseph  Haw- 
kins, of  Twinsburg  ;  Clark  Sackett,  of  Tall- 
madge. Oxen — Perley  Mansur,  of  Hudson  ; 
Isaac  T.  Welton,  of  Richfield  ;  Kbenezer  Par- 
dee, of  Norton.  Fat  Oxen — Dennis  A.  Hine, 
of  Middlebury  ;  David  French,  of  Green  ; 
Henry  Van  Hyning.  of  Norton.  Best  ten  yoke  '■ 
oxen  in  a  strin<j:.  from  one  township,  and  best 
ten    span    horses — Jedediah    D.    Cominins.    of  ! 


Akron  ;  Charles  W.  Brown,  of  Portage  ;  Charles 
B.  Cobb,  of  Akron.  Horses — Thaddeus  H. 
Botsford,  of  Middlebury  ;  John  Miller,  of  Nor- 
ton ;  Ezra  Starkweather,  of  Twinsburg.  Long- 
wool  Sheep — Jacob  Allen,  of  Akron  ;  William 
Hale,  of  Bath  ;  Samuel  N.  Goodale,  of  Akron. 
Merinos— James  W.  Wallace,  of  Northfield  ; 
Jonathan  Starr,  of  Copley  ;  Van  R.  Humphrey, 
of  Hudson.  Saxons — William  A.  Hanford,  of 
Cuyahoga  Falls  ;  Lucius  W.  Hitchcock,  of  Tall- 
madge ;  Peter  A.  More,  of  Copley.  Swine — 
Avery  Spicer,  of  Coventry  ;  George  Darrow, 
of  Hudson  ;  John  Hoy,  of  Franklin.  Pottery 
Ware — Allan  Hibbard,  Lorenzo  B.  Austin  and 
James  Christy,  all  of  Akron.  Farming  Imple- 
ments, First  Class — Alexander  Johnston,  of 
Green ;  Benjamin  Bear,  of  Franklin  ;  Samuel 
M.  Combs,  of  Tallmadge.  Second  Class- 
John  B.  Clark,  of  Hudson  ;  George  Lillie,  of 
Northfield ;  Talmon  Beardsley,  of  Coventry. 
Harness  Work — Jonathan  Page,  of  Richfield  ; 
John  Johns,  of  Middlebury  ;  Harvey  S.  Weld, 
of  Richfield.  Boots  and  Shoes — Zebulon  Jones, 
of  Akron  ;  Peter  Voris,  of  Bath  ;  John  M. 
Cutler,  of  Akron.  Stoves,  Castings  and  3Ia- 
chinery — Bradbury  T.  Blodgett,  of  Akron  ; 
Harrison  N.  Gillett,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  ;  Will- 
iam S.  Irish,  of  Middlebury.  Carriages,  etc. — 
David  A.  Scott,  Lewis,  Benjamin  and  Nathan- 
iel Finch,  all  of  Akron.  Musical  Instruments 
— ^Amos  Wright,  of  Tallmadge ;  George  P. 
Ashmun,  of  Hudson  ;  Henry  Bill,  of  Cuyahoga 
Falls.  Cabinet  Ware — Henry  S.  Abbe}',  of 
Akron ;  Joseph  T.  HoUoway,  of  Cuyahoga 
Falls  ;  Henry  B.  Horton,  of  Akron.  Blank 
Books,  etc. — Elisha  N.  Sill,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls ; 
Lucius  S.  Peck  and  Jared  Jennings,  of  Akron. 
Flannels,  etc. — Mrs.  Henry  G.  Weaver,  of 
Springfield ;  Mrs.  Elias  W.  Howard,  Mrs. 
George  Kirkum  and  Mrs.  Allan  Hibbard,  of 
Akron.  Linens — Mrs.  Louisa  A.  Baldwin,  of 
Middlebury  ;  Mrs.  Harvey  Baldwin,  of  Hud- 
son ;  Miss  Sarah  A.  Stone,  of  Tallmadge  ;  Mr. 
Alvin  C.  Voris,  of  Akron.  Stockings,  etc.— 
Mrs.  Dana  D.  Evans,  of  Akron  ;  Mrs.  Ira  Haw- 
kins, of  Portage;  Mrs.  Daniel  Hine  and  3Irs. 
Lucius  C.  Walton,  of  Tallmadge.  Factors- 
Products — Roswell  Kent,  of  Midcllebury ;  Har- 
vey B.  Spell  man,  of  Akron,  and  Ezra  S.  Corn- 
stock,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls.  Grains  and  Seeds 
— Solomon  Markliam,  of  Green  ;  Jeremiah  B. 
Lambert,  of  Bath  ;  Andrew  Harris  of  Spring- 
field. Vegetables  and  Fruits — Daniel  McNaugh- 


■^|C* 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


ton,  of  Middlebury  ;  John  E.  King,  and  Lu- 
cius V.  Bierce,  of  Akron.  Crops — Daniel  Hine, 
of  Tallraadge  ;  Aver}'  Spicer,  of  Coventry  ; 
Edwin  Wetmore,  of  Stow.  Farms — Jolm  C. 
Wallace,  of  Northfield  ;  James  W.  Weld,  of 
Richfield  ;  Andrew  Hale,  of  Bath.  Butter — 
Mrs.  Samuel  M.  Combs,  of  Tallmadge  ;  Mrs. 
John  Hoy,  of  Franklin  ;  Mrs.  William  L. 
Clarke,  and  Mrs.  Frederick  Wadsworth  of  Ak- 
ron. Cheese — Mrs.  Simon  Perkins  and  Mrs. 
Sebried  Dodge,  of  Portage  ;  Mrs.  Mills  Thomp- 
son, of  Hudson  ;  Mrs.  William  L.  Clarke,  of 
Akron.  Fancy-work — Mrs.  Henry  W.  King,  of 
Akron  ;  Mrs.  Lucius  C.  Walton,  of  Tallmadge  ; 
Mrs.  George  E.  Pierce,  of  Hudson  ;  Mrs.  Hoyt 
L.  Henry,  of  Middlebury ;  Mrs.  John  B.  Clark, 
of  Hudson  ;  Mr.  Charles  B.  Bernard,  of  Akron. 

Of  this  second  exhibition,  the  Beacon,  of  Oc- 
tober 22,  1851,  says  : 

The  annual  fair  of  the  Summit  County  Agricult- 
ural Society  was  held  on  Thursday  and  Friday  of 
last  week.  They  were  festive  days  among  the 
farmers  of  Summit,  and  such  a  congregating  to- 
gether of  the  true  nobility  of  our  county — the  toil- 
ing masses,  whose  brows  are  browned  by  heaven's 
sunlight,  whose  hands  are  hardened  by  honest  toil, 
and  whose  hearts  are  softened  by  the  kindlier  sym- 
pathies of  humanity — we  have  rarely  seen.  The 
turn-out  was  tremendous,  exceeding  "largely,  it  is 
thought,  that  of  last  year.  There  was  a  perfect 
jam  in  and  around  the  court  house  throughout  each 
day,  rendering  it  almost  impossible  to  see  many  ob- 
jects of  interest,  and  demonstrating  the  absolute 
necessity  of  erecting  a  suitable  building  for  the  fut- 
ure agricultural  and  mechanical  exhibitions  of  the 
county.  *  *  *  Hon.  Van  R.  Humphrey,  of 
Hudson,  delivered  an  address  to  the  multitude, 
who  were  assembled  in  the  court  house  inclosure 
for  want  of  a  building  of  sufficient  capacity  to  re- 
ceive them.  It  was  listened  to  with  interest  and 
profit,  and  was  in  keeping  with  the  interest  of  the 
occasion.  *^  *  *  It  will  afford  much  gratification 
to  our  citizens  generally  to  learn  that  Col.  Simeon 
Perkins,  the  President  of  the  society,  with  a  munifi- 
cence characteristic  of  the  man,  has  donated  to  the 
society  several  acres  south  of  Akron,  admirably 
adapted  for  future  exhibitions,  the  erection  of  suit- 
able buildings,  etc.,  for  the  use  of  the  society.  A 
subscription'was  started  for  inclosing  the  ground, 
and  we  cannot  permit  ourselves  to  doubt  the  suc- 
cess of  the  laudable  enterprise. 

In  the  BeMcon  of  November  26,  1851,  is  the 
official  report  of  the  annual  meeting  of  the  so- 
ciety for  1851,  held  in  the  court  house  Novem- 
ber 19.  The  officers  elected  for  the  ensuing 
year  were  as  follows  :  President,  Avery  Spicer, 
of  Coventry  ;  Vice  President,  Daniel  Hine,  of 
Tallmadge  ;  Secretary,  Nathaniel  W.  Goodhue, 
of  Middlebury  ;  Treasurer,  Nelson  B.  Stone,  of 


Akron.  Managers — Peter  Voris,  of  Bath ; 
Thomas  H.  Goodwin,  of  Akron  ;  Isaac  T.  Wel- 
ton,  of  Richfield  ;  Samuel  M.  Combs,  of  Tall- 
madge ;  Solomon  Markham,  of  Green.  A  com- 
mittee of  one  from  each  township  and  village 
in  the  county  was  appointed  "to  solicit  sub- 
scriptions to  defray  the  expenses  to  be  incurred 
during  the  coming  year  in  the  erection  of  suit- 
able buildings  and  fences  and  preparing  other 
permanent  fixtures  for  the  use  of  the  society." 
Among  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  is 
found  this    highly  commendable  item : 

Resolved,  That  this  society  will  award  no  premi- 
ums on  anything  that  will  intoxicate. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Directors,  held  at  the 
court  house,  it  was  arranged  that  the  fair  for 
1852  should  be  held  on  Wednesday  and  Thurs- 
da}',  October  6  and  7,  at  the  court  house,  the 
new  grounds  donated  by  Col.  Perkins  not  being 
yet  fitted  up.  The  premium  list,  as  published 
in  the  Beacon  of  September  8,  is  about  the 
same  as  in  1851,  and  the  committees  judi- 
ciously selected  from  every  portion  of  the 
county.  The  court-room  was  used  solely  as  a 
floral  and  fine-art  department.  A  small  admis- 
sion fee  to  this  department  was  charged,  the 
receipts  being  something  over  $100.  The  hall 
was  occupied  by  a  display  of  fashionable  fur- 
niture, stoves,  etc.  On  the  north  side  of  the 
building  was  erected  a  temporary  frame  struct- 
ure, forty  by  sixty  feet,  for  the  display  of 
fancy  work,  mechanical  products,  farming  im- 
plements, vegetables,  fruits,  etc.  Horses,  cattle, 
sheep,  hogs,  poultry,  etc.,  were  grouped,  at  con- 
venience of  exhibitors,  in  various  parts  of  the 
inclosure.  In  its  editorial  notice  of  this  Third 
Annual  Fair,  the  Beacon,  of  October  13,  1852, 
says  :  "  It  was  attended  by  a  larger  number 
of  persons,  and,  what  is  equally  gratifying,  the 
exhibition,  taken  as  a  whole,  was,  undoubtedl}', 
far  in  advance  of  its  predecessors.  *  *  * 
The  gorgeous  flower-tree,  nearly  ten  feet  high, 
blazing  with  dahlias  of  every  conceivable  shade, 
was  a  thing  of  beauty.  *  *  *  From  the 
garden  of  Hon.  E.  N.  Sill,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
as  also  from  the  gardens  of  Col.  Perkins  and 
Mrs.  Dodge,  were  some  of  the  finest  dahlias 
we  have  ever  seen.  A  design  of  cut  flowers 
of  every  variety,  arranged  lay  Mr.  Thomas 
Wills,  Mr.  Sill's  gardener,  excited  universal 
admiration.  *  *  *  But  one  opinion  was 
expressed  on  one  point,  viz. :  the  necessity  of 
the  immediate  erection  of  suitable  buildings 


-ik^ 


^ 6) 


1^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


199 


for  the  agi'icultural  fairs  of  Summit.  It  is 
foll}^  to  expend  more  on  temporary  buildings. 
If  eacli  townsliip  will  move  and  select  a  good 
committee-man,  as  Tallmadge  has  done,  the 
amount  for  the  buildings,  etc.,  ma}'  be  raised  in 
a  fortnight.  Col.  Perkins  is  still  ready  to 
donate  the  use  of  six  acres  of  land  as  the  site. 
If  the  society  does  not  take  the  work  in  hand, 
the  Commissioners  should  do  so."  The  annual 
address  was  delivered  by  Herman  Canfield, 
Esq.,  of  Medina.  \\\  their  report,  the  officers 
of  the  societ}'  say  :  "  The  necessity  of  a  perma- 
nent building  is  apparent  to  all.  The  officers 
of  the  society  labor  under  much  embarrass- 
ment, and  all  that  is  necessary  is  the  co-opera- 
tion of  each  township,  and  the  means  requisite 
for  inclosing  six  acres  of  ground  and  erecting 
a  large  and  commodious  building,  can  be  raised. 
We  hope  that  the  importance  of  immediate 
attention  to  this  matter  will  be  borne  in  mind, 
and  that  measures  will  be  taken  immediately 
for  raising  whatever  sum  is  ne(!essary." 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  society  held  at 
the  court  house  in  Akron,  November  17,  1852, 
officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were  elected  as  fol- 
lows :  President,  Daniel  Hine,  of  Tallmadge  ; 
Vice  President,  Sylvester  H.  Thompson,  of  Hud- 
son ;  Secretaiy,  Nathaniel  W.  Goodhue,  of 
Akron  ;  Treasurer,  Nelson  B.  Stone,  of  Akron  ; 
Directors,  Talmon  Beardsley,  of  Coventry ; 
Andrew  Hale,  of  Bath  ;  William  Payne,  of 
Richfield  ;  Lucius  W.  Hitchcock,  of  Tallmadge  ; 
Henry  W.  Howe,  of  Akron.  A  committee  of 
one  in  each  township  was  appointed  to  solicit 
funds  to  build  permanent  buildings  for  the  use 
of  the  society. 

The  Beacon  of  September  7,  1853,  editorially 
says  :  "  The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Summit 
County  Agricultural  Society  have  contracted 
for  inclosing  the  new  fairgrounds  of  the  society, 
the  erection  of  a  suitable  hall  for  future  exhi- 
bitions, etc.  The  work  is  to  be  completed  by 
October  10  ;  the  expense  to  be  paid  mainl}-  by 
subscriptions,  the  county-  doing  its  share."  The 
grounds,  six  and  a  half  acres,  were  substantially 
fenced,  a  building  40x100  feet  was  erected,  and 
the  grounds  otherwise  fitted  up,  at  a  total  ex- 
pense of  about  $1,800,  and  the  fourth  annual 
fair  was  held  there  on  VVednesday  and  Thurs- 
day October  12  and  13,  1853.  Increased  in- 
terest and  attendance  were  manifested.  A  small 
entrance  fee  of  10  cents  was  charged,  by  which 
between  $700    and    $800    was   realized,    and, 


though  somewhat  in  debt  on  improvements,  the 

society  was  at  last  firmly  established  on  a  sound 
financial  basis. 

The  fifth  annual  meeting  of  the  society  was 
held  at  the  court  house  on  Wednesday,  Novem- 
ber IG,  1853.  Officers  elected — President, 
Daniel  Hine,  of  Tallmadge  ;  A^ice  President, 
James  M.  Hale,  of  Akron  ;  Secretary,  Nathaniel 
W.  Goodhue  ;  Treasurer,  Nelson  B.  Stone  ;  Di- 
rectors, Talmou  Beardsley,  of  Coventry' ;  Samuel 
M.  Bronson,  of  Tallmadge  ;  Henry  W.  HowBj 
of  Akron;  Ethan  Ailing,  of  Twinsburg;  and 
Jeremiah  B.  Lambert,  of  Bath. 

The  fifth  annual  fair  was  held  on  the  grounds 
of  the  society  October  1 1  and  12, 1854.  Though 
the  season  had  been  very  dry.  there  was  a  very 
fine  display  of  field  and  garden  products,  fruits, 
flowers,  etc.,  and,  while  stock  and  other  de- 
partments were  quite  largel}'  represented, 
"Ladies'  Equestrianship "  was  a  prominent 
feature  of  this  exhibition,  and  added  ver^'  ma- 
terially to  the  niterest  as  well  as  to  the  financial 
results  of  the  fair.     Beceipts,  $800. 

The  sixth  annual  meeting  was  held  on  the 
22d  day  of  November,  1854,  at  the  court  house, 
officers  and  Directors  of  previous  year  being 
re-elected. 

The  sixth  annual  fair  was  held  October  3,  4 
and  5,  1855.  Yearly- membership  badges  were 
sold  at  $1  each,  and  a  gate  fee  of  10  cents  was 
collected,  the  total  receipts  with  ground  rents 
being  $903.  Ladies'  horsemanship,  both  driv- 
ing and  equestrianism,  was  the  chief  attraction 
of  the  fair ;  premiums  being  awarded  as  fol- 
lows :  Mi.ss  Harriet  J.  More,  of  Copley,  $20  ; 
Miss  Anna  E.  Howe,  of  Akron,  $15  ;  Miss  C. 
L.  Stauffcr,  of  Springfield,  $10.  A  premium  of 
$20,  donated  by  spectators,  was  also  awarded  to 
Miss  Cordelia  Alden,  of  Medina,  for  her  supe- 
rior equestrianism,  the  awards  of  the  society  be- 
ing confined  to  residents  of  the  county.  At 
this  fair  also  ever\-  department  in  which  pre- 
miums were  offered  was  a  success,  both  in  point 
of  number  and  quality  of  animals  and  articles 
exhibited. 

At  the  seventh  annual  meeting  held  at  the 
court  house  in  Akron  November  21,  1855,  offi- 
cers for  the  ensuing  year  were  elected  as  fol- 
lows :  President,  Talmon  Beardsley,  of  Cov- 
entry ;  Vice  President.  Andrew  Hale,  of  Bath  ; 
Secretary,  Henry  W.  Howe,  of  Akron  ;  Treas- 
urer, Charles  B.  Bern:ird,  of  Akron  ;  Directors, 
Wm.  B.  Ashmun,  of  Tallmadge;  Simon  V.  Starr, 


200 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


of  Copley ;  James  M.  Hale,  of  Akron  ;  Houston 
Sisler,  of  Franklin;  Julius  Pond,  of  Hudson. 

Secretary  Howe  announces,  in  the  Beacon  of 
September  17,  ISoG,  that  the  Summit  County 
Agricultural  Society  have  added  to  tlieir  list 
of  premiums,  to  be  awarded  at  their  next  an- 
nual fair,  the  following  :  "  Fastest  trotting  horse 
owned  within  the  county,  $30  ;  fastest  trotting 
horse,  under  four  years  old,  owned  witliin  the 
county,  $20.  A  half-mile  ring  has  been  pre- 
pared, and  a  lively  competition  may  be  ex- 
pected." In  a  subsequent  issue,  Secretary  Howe 
thus  expatiates  :  "  The  farmers  and  mechanics 
of  the  county  will  remember  that  this  is  es- 
peciall}'  their  festival,  while  all  the  '  rest  of 
mankind '  intend  to  be  there  to  join  them.  The 
list  of  premiums  is  large,  the  grounds  are 
beautiful  and  convenient ;  the  contests,  upon 
two  days,  between  the  fast  trotting  horses,  will 
be  spirited  ;  the  '  ladies  riding,'  upon  the  last 
day  of  the  fair,  will  attract  all  who  love  '  women 
and  horses,'  and  the  smiling  faces  of  friends 
will  everywhere  greet  those  who  are  in  attend- 
ance. *  *  *  Come  all  who  delight  in  seeing 
the  best  of  stock,  the  finest  of  fruits,  grains  and 
vegetables,  who  have  a  taste  for  the  products 
of  the  'glide  housewife,'  andean  appreciate  the 
value  of  churns  and  cultivators,  carpets  and 
carriages.  Come  all  who  can  admire  the  beau- 
tiful in  flowers,  in  needlework,  in  painting  ;  or 
can  find  pleasure  in  '  crowds  of  fair  women  and 
brave  men,'  expecting  a  rare  entertainment,  and 
you  need  not  go  away  disappointed." 

Of  this,  the  Seventh  Annual  Fair,  held  on 
the  8th,  9th  and  lUth  days  of  October,  185G, 
the  Beacon  concludes  a  lengthy  and  enthusiastic 
editorial  as  follows  :  "  On  the  whole,  we  are 
satisfied  that  the  Summit  County  Fair  of  1856, 
not  only  surpassed  all  its  former  fairs,  but,  in 
point  of  numbers  attending  and  of  a  substan- 
tial excellence  of  stock,  grains,  vegetables,  me- 
chanical and  artistic  skill,  and  whatever  else 
makes  up  the  show,  was  beyond  any  county 
fair  of  Ohio  or  any  other  State.  We  feel  con- 
fident that  Summit  is  entitled  to  the  premium. 
In  this  judgment,  we  are  supported  by  the  vol- 
untary expressions  of  manj'  witnesses  who 
were  present  from  abroad."  The  receipts  at 
this  fair  were  $1,230.50,  which,  with  receipts 
from  county  authorized  by  law,  paid  the  entire 
indebtedness  of  the  society,  running  expenses, 
premiums,  balance  due  for  buildings,  etc.,  and 
left  a  surplus  in  the  treasury  of  $224.73. 


At  the  Eighth  Annual  Meeting,  held  No- 
vember 19,  1856,  the  following  officers  were 
elected  :  President,  Talmon  Beardsley,  of  Cov- 
entry ;  Vice  President,  Andrew  Hale,  of  Bath  ; 
Secretar}',  Henry  W.  Howe,  of  Akron  ;  Treas- 
urer, Alvin  C.  Voris,  of  Akron  ;  Directors,  Jo- 
seph Hawkins,  of  Twinsburg  ;  William  John- 
ston, of  Copley;  Lucius  L.  Strong,  of  Tallmadge  ; 
Adam  Yen-ick,  of  Green  ;  John  R.  Buchtel,  of 
Coventry. 

Eighth  Annual  Fair  held  October  7 ,  8  and  9, 
1857.— Increased  number  of  entries,  increased 
interest  and  increased  attendance  ;  nearly  three 
columns  in  the  Beacon  of  October  14  being 
devoted  to  an  editorial  review  of  the  fair.  At 
the  Ninth  Annual  Meeting,  held  on  the  18th 
of  November,  1857,  officers  were  elected  as  fol- 
lows :  President,  Samuel  M.  Combs,  of  Tall- 
madge ;  Vice  President,  Andrew  Hale,  of  Bath  ; 
Secretary,  Dudley  Seward,  of  Akron  ;  Treas- 
urer, Alvin  C.  Voris,  of  Akron ;  Directors, 
Avery  Spicer,  of  Portage  ;  Lucius  L.  Strong, 
of  Richfield ;  William  B.  Ashmun,  of  Tall- 
madge ;  Joseph  Stauffer,  of  Green  ;  Horace  P. 
Cannon,  of  Twinsburg. 

Ninth  Annual  Fair,  October  6,  7  and  8,  1858. 
— The  crowd  upon  and  about  the  little  six-acre 
inclosure,  with  the  teams  of  visitors  and  ani- 
mals for  exhibition,  produced,  according  to  the 
local  reporter,  "  a  perfect  jam,"  and  the  cry  for 
larger  grounds  was  universal.  Total  entries 
for  premiums,  965,  as  follows :  Cattle,  105 ; 
horses,  152  ;  sheep,  48  ;  swine,  10  ;  poultry, 
19  ;  grain  and  seeds,  64  ;  fruits,  40  ;  garden 
products,  154;  field  crops,  9;  butter,  cheese 
and  sugar,  51  ;  farm  implements,  30  ;  domestic 
productions,  124  ;  flowers  and  shrubbery,  44  ; 
carriages  and  harness,  17  ;  boots,  shoes,  etc., 
10  ;  bonnets,  etc.,  7  ;  fine  ax'ts,  17  ;  iron  and 
tin  ware,  7  ;  miscellaneous,  45  ;  female  eques- 
trians, 6.     Total  receipts,  $1,350. 

At  the  Tenth  Annual  meeting,  November  17, 
1858,  the  following  officers  were  elected  :  Presi- 
dent, Samuel  M.  Combs,  of  Tallmadge  ;  Vice 
President,  Horace  P.  Cannon,  of  Twinsburg  ; 
Secretary,  J.  l*ark  Alexander,  of  Akron  ;  Treas- 
urer, John  R.  Buchtel,  of  Akron.  Directors — 
Avery  Spicer,  of  Portage  ;  Lucius  L.  Strong,  of 
Richfield ;  Lewis  Ailing,  of  Twinsburg ;  Ed- 
win Upson,  of  Tallmadge  ;  Charles  Coe,  of 
Norton.  At  this  meeting,  the  question  of  pro- 
curing other  and  more  extensive  grounds  was 
discussed,  and  an  adjourned   meeting  for  the 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


201 


further  consideration  of  the  subject  was  held  at 
the  office  of  Edgerton  &  Sanders,  in  iVkron, 
January  8,  1859.  At  this  meeting,  President 
Combs,  Vice  President  Cannon  and  Treasurer 
Buchtel  "  were  appointed  a  committee  to  re 
ceive  sealed  proposals  from  au}-  of  the  town- 
ships within  the  county  for  the  site  of  fair 
grounds,  and  that  such  proposals  be  established 
by  approved  security  for  the  amount  sub- 
scribed. The  attention  of  those  interested  is 
solicited.  Proposals  te  be  handed  to  Mr.  Buch- 
tel by  October  29." 

Of  this  action,  the  Beacon  of  January  12, 
1859,  editorially,  says  :  "  The  citizens  of  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  we  are  informed,  propose  to  give 
$6,000  for  the  permanent  location  of  the  fair 
grounds  at  or  near  that  village.  The  question  is 
of  importance  to  local  interests  as  well  as  to 
those  of  the  society  itself  The  latter  will  be, 
we  doubt  not,  the  governing  consideration  with 
those  who  will  decide  upon  the  matter.  Other 
things  being  equal,  the  count}'  seat  would  seem 
to  be  the  proper  location  for  a  count}'  society; 
but  there  is  some  plausibility  in  the  claim  that 
Cuyahoga  Falls  is  more  central,  and,  if  the  citi- 
zens of  that  village  subscribe  $G,000  in  good 
faith  for  that  purpose,  the}'  exhibit  a  high  ap- 
preciation of  the  advantages  of  secviring  the 
annual  fair  as  a  permanent  institution.  We 
commend  the  consideration  of  this  subject,  in 
all  its  bearings,  to  the  business  men,  property- 
holders  and  citizens  of  Akron,  only  observing 
that  the  competition  of  the  people  of  Cuyahoga 
Falls  is  formidable  and  may  be  successful." 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  January  29, 
1859,  the  following  proposal  was  submitted  : 
"  The  society  can  have  the  present  location  of 
the  fair  grounds  for  |125  per  acre  by  paying 
$150  down  and  $200  each  January  following, 
with  6  per  cent  annual  interest,  and  that  they 
can  have  more  or  less  land  south  of  the  present 
grounds,  in  addition,  at  $80  per  acre,  or  an  ex- 
change on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road,  acre 
for  acre."  This  proposition  was  accepted  b}'  a 
vote  of  forty-nine  in  favor  to  ten  against.  At 
an  adjourned  meeting,  held  February  19,  1859, 
it  was  voted  "  to  confine  the  society  to  the  pres- 
ent location  of  the  grounds." 

Thus  matters  stood  until  late  in  the  follow- 
ing summer.  In  the  meantime,  not  only  had 
the  contiguous  lands  been  sold  to  other  parties, 
but  there  was  a  rapidly  growing  conviction  in 
the  public  mind  that  the  future  success  of  the 


society  demanded  both  more  room  and  a  more 
eligible  location  than  the  old  grounds  afltbrded. 
So,  too,  in  consequence  of  the  differences  of 
opinion  which  had  obtained  as  to  the  matter  of 
location,  spirited  rivalry  had  grown  up,  not  only 
in  the  two  "  union  "  organizations  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  county,  at  Twinsburg,  and 
the  northwest  corner  of  the  county,  at  Rich- 
field, but  in  the  spirited  "union"  association 
then  being  projected  at  Cuyahoga  Falls.  These 
considerations  stimulated  a  number  of  the  most 
active  promoters  of  the  society,  in  connection 
with  the  officers,  to  a  combined  and  vigorous 
effort  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  desired 
change.  At  this  juncture,  our  public-spirited 
fellow-citizen,  Hon.  David  L.  King,  submitted 
a  proposition,  which,  being  at  once  accepted, 
placed  the  society  in  possession  of  Summit 
Grove — nearly  thirty  acres  overlooking  the  city 
on  the  west— the  beautiful  grounds  now  occu- 
pied by  the  fine  residences  of  Lewis  Miller, 
Esq.,  Capt.  Arthur  L.  Conger,  and  others,  on 
Ash  street  and  Park  place,  and  immediately 
east  of  the  southern  portion  of  the  beautiful 
grounds  of  the  Akron  Rural  Cemetery.  This 
fine  tract  of  land  was  leased  to  the  society  for 
five  years,  at  a  reasonable  annual  rental,  31r 
King  stipulating  to  either  sell  the  ground  to 
the  society,  at  a  price  to  be  named  by  him,  or 
to  pa}-  the  society  for  its  buildings,  fences,  etc., 
at  their  appraised  value,  on  the  expiration  of 
the  lease. 

Of  these  grounds,  and  the  estimation  in 
which  they  were  held  by  the  public,  the  follow- 
ing extracts  from  the  Beacon,  of  September  7 
and  14,  1859,  abundantly  testify  : 

The  spot,  has  been  appropriately  named  Summit 
Grove.  It  is  an  elevated  plateau,  witli  sparse  but 
large  spreading  oaks,  of  native  growth,  fm-uishing 
resting-place  and  shade,  free  from  undergrowth, 
airy  and  dry  ;  in  short,  a  natural  park.  *  *  *  For 
the  purpose  of  securing  and  inclosing  this  elegant 
piece  of  ground,  erecting  the  proper  buildings,  and 
putting  it  in  order  for  this  and  future  fairs,  the  cit- 
izens of  Akron,  responsible  business  men,  have  con- 
tributed something  more  than  $1,500.  *  *  *  We 
have  never  seen  so  much  energy  on  the  part  of  com- 
mittees and  citizens,  in  any  public  enterprise,  as 
has  b(>en  displayed  in  prep'aring  the  County  Fair 
Grounds  at  Summit  Grove.  *  *  *  Nf)t  in  the 
East  or  the  West  has  any  society  a  location  more 
inviting,  etc.,  etc. 

The  buildings,  fences,  etc.,  from  the  old  were 
removed  to  the  new  grounds,  which,  with  the 
necessary  additions,  the  erection  of  sheds,  sta- 


•^^Is r- 


202 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


bles,  pens,  etc.,  the  construction  of  a  superb 
half-mile  track,  and  other  improvements,  in- 
volved an  expense  of  $3,128.60,  of  which 
amount  $1,870.07  was  contributed  by  the  cit- 
izens of  Akron,  and  $1,258.53  was  paid  b}-  the 
societ}-  ;  a  large  amount  of  labor,  of  men  and 
teams,  also  being  donated  by  the  people  of 
Akron  and  contiguous  towns,  in  the  lltting-up 
of  the  grounds. 

From  this  time  forward,  the  Summit  County 
Fair  became,  emphatically,  tlic  Fair  of  Northern 
Ohio,  not  onW  drawing  together,  in  annual 
''  Harvest  Home  Festival,"  in  Octol)er  of  each 
year,  the  great  mass  of  the  people  of  Summit 
County,  but  attracting  man}'  visitors  from  con- 
tiguous counties,  and  even  from  the  more  re- 
mote portions  of  the  State. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  November  1 6.  1859, 
a  new  constitution  was  adopted  increasing  the 
number  of  directors  from  five  to  eighteen — one 
for  each  township.  At  this  meeting,  officers 
were  elected  as  follows  :  President,  Horace  P. 
Caimon,  of  Twinsburg ;  Vice  President,  Will- 
iam Wise,  of  Green  ;  Secrctar}-,  James  Mathews, 
of  Akron ;  Treasurer,  John  II.  Buchtel,  of  Ak- 
ron. Directors  :  Bath,  Andrew  Hale  ;  Boston, 
Edmund  H.  Cole  ;  Coventr}-,  William  Buchtel ; 
Cu3'ahoga  Falls.  George  Sackett ;  Copley,  Vin- 
cent G.  Harris  ;  Franklin,  Henr}'  Daile}- ;  Green, 
George  Crouse  ;  Hudson,  Julius  Pond  ;  Middle- 
bury,  Charles  A.  Collins  ;  Northampton,  Beese 
Jones  ;  Northfield,  John  C.  Wallace  ;  Norton, 
Charles  Coe  ;  Portage,  Avery  Spicer  ;  Rich- 
field, John  E.  Hurlbut ;  Springfield,  John  Ewart ; 
Stow,  Virgil  M.  Thompson  ;  Tailmadge,  Clark 
Sackett ;  Twinsburg,  Lewis  Ailing. 

Resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  ex- 
pressive of  sorrow  and  condolence  at  the  death 
of  Capt.  Amos  Seward,  of  Tailmadge,  the  first 
President  of  the  society  under  its  written  con- 
stitution, and  one  of  its  most  enthusiastic  sup- 
porters. Also  a  resolution  tendering  to  the  re- 
tiring Seci'etary,  J.  Park  Alexander,  the  thanks 
of  the  societ}^  for  his  able  and  efficient  services 
during  the  preceding  year. 

Ax  the  expiration  of  the  time  for  which  the 
grounds  had  been  leased,  Mr.  King,  pursuant  to 
his  agreement,  submitted  a  proposition  to  the 
officers  of  the  society,  to  sell  them  the  entire 
tract  for  $5,000,  on  ver}^  easy  terms  of  payment, 
stipulating  only,  that  should  the  grounds  ever 
cease  to  be  used  for  fair  purposes,  they  should 
revert  back  to  him.  his  heirs,  etc.     This  truly 


munificent  proposition,  unfortunatel}'  for  the 
society  and  the  county,  was  not  accepted,  a 
portion  of  the  management,  comparing  the  price 
named  with  the  value  of  farming  lands  less 
eligibly  situated,  and  more  remote  from  the 
city,  not  being  able  to  appreciate  the  magnificent 
prize  they  were  letting  slip  through  their  fingers 
until  it  was  too  late.  The  society  now  leased, 
for  the  period  of  ten  years,  of  Mr.  P.  D.  Hall, 
about  thirty  acres  of  land,  covered  by  a  fine 
grove  of  original  forest  trees,  in  the  western 
part  of  the  city,  fronting  on  Maple  street  upon 
the  south,  and  Balch  sti-eet  upon  the  west,  and  a 
short  distance  northwest  of  Akron  Rural  Ceme- 
tery. To  these  grounds  was  removed  the  Imild- 
ings,  fences  and  fixtures  from  "  Summit  Grove," 
and  others  were  added,  trotting  track  graded, 
etc.,  at  an  expense  of  over  $1,000  to  the  societ}', 
over  and  above  the  liberal  contributions  of  both 
money  and  labor,  from  the  citizens  of  Akron 
and  surrounding  townships.  These  grounds 
were  first  occupied  by  the  society  in  October, 
1864,  the  fair  of  that  year  not  onl}'  proving  a 
very  great  success,  but  being  followed  up  with 
such  increasing  interest,  year  by  3'ear,  that  the 
management  were  enabled  to  accumulate  a  fund 
of  several  thousand  dollars  in  the  treasury  of 
the  society,  with  which  to  purchase  grounds  at 
the  expiration  of  their  ten  years'  lease.  In  the 
meantime,  however,  the  rapid  growth  of  the  city 
of  Akron  had  so  enhanced  the  value  of  the 
grounds  then  occupied  as  to  place  them  entirely 
bej'ond  the  reach  of  the  societ}^,  while  most  of 
the  lands  adjacent  to  the  cit}^,  suitable  for  fair 
purposes,  had  been  taken  up  and  improved,  or 
were  held  so  high  as  not  to  be  within  the  sup- 
posed ability  of  the  society  to  purchase. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  January,  1870,  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  select  grounds  to 
be  purchased  by  the  societ}',  the  committee 
reporting  to  the  Directors  March  15,  1870,  the 
propositions  which  had  been  made  to  them,  as 
follows  :  S.  W.  Bartges,  thirty-five  acres  of  the 
Mallison  farm,  on  Wooster  avenue,  at  $500  per 
acre;  S.  H.  Coburn  and  Samuel  Thornton, 
thirty  acres,  south  of  city  limits  and  west  of 
Main  street,  at  $400  per  acre  ;  A.  C.  Voris  and 
E.  Steinbacher,  twenty-six  acres,  on  the  south 
line  of  city  and  east  of  Main  street,  at  $500  per 
acre  ;  Messrs.  Falor  and  AUyn,  such  portion 
of  their  lands  on  the  north  line  of  Coventry 
Township  as  the  society  might  need,  at  $400 
per  acre  ;  and  Mr.   J.   H.  Kramer,  a  tract  of 


^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


203 


twenty  acres  along  the  Ohio  Canal,  south  of 
cit}'  limits,  at  $250  per  acre. 

June  4,  1870,  at  a  meeting  of  the  society, 
called  to  consider  these  several  propositions, 
the  vote  to  purchase  grounds  was  reconsidered, 
and  the  matter  for  the  time  being  was  dropped. 
October  24,  1870,  another  resolution  to  pur- 
chase grounds  forthwith  was  adopted,  and  the 
committee,   consisting  of   Edward    Cranz,   of 
Bath,  James  Hammond,  of  Copley,  and  David 
S.   Alexander,  of  Akron,  were,  on  motion  of 
King  J.  Ellet,  of  Springfield,  instructed  to  pur- 
chase the  Coburn  and  Thornton  tract,  at  a  price 
not  to  exceed  $400  per  acre.     At  the  annual 
meeting,  January  18,  1871,  the  minutes  of  the 
October  meeting  were  amended  so  as  to  show 
that  a  resolution  offered  by  William  Wheatley, 
of  Richfield,  was  adopted,  authorizing  the  com- 
mittee to  look  around  and  purchase  grounds 
which,  in  their  judgment,  would  be  for  the  best 
interest  of  the  society  ;  the  committee  in  the 
meantime  having  purchased  of  James  McAl- 
lister thirty  acres  off  from   the  east  portion  of 
his  farm,   on  the   north   side  of  the   Medina 
road,  one  mile  west  of  Akron,  at  $200  per  acre, 
with  a  cash  payment  of  $2,000.     February  14, 
1872,  committee  reported  grounds  all  paid  for, 
with  a  balance  due  the  Treasurer  of  $153.94. 

A  ver}^  considerable  number  of  the  members 
and  patrons  of  the  society,  both  in  the  city  of 
Akron  and  in  the  eastern,  northern  and  south- 
ern townships  of  the  county,  dissatisfied  with 
the  location  which  had  been  selected,  had  so 
agitated  and  discussed  the  question,  that,  at 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  society,  held  January 
20,  1874,  after  quite  a  stormy  debate,  a  resolu- 
tion offered  by  Mr.  Jacob  H.  Wise,  that  it  was 
impracticable  for  the  society  to  use  the  Mc- 
Allister grounds,  and  that  a  committee  be  ap- 
pointed to  sell  said  grounds  and  secure  others, 
accessible  by  railroad  running  through  the 
county,  was  referred  to  the  officers  of  the  so- 
ciet}',  with  instructions  to  report  at  the  next 
annual  meeting.  At  an  adjourned  meeting, 
held  February  7, 1874,  a  resolution  was  adopted 
that  Nelson  V.  Wadsworth,  of  Hudson ;  John 
H.  Christy,  of  Akron  ;  Jared  Barker,  of  Bath  ; 
King  J.  Ellet,  of  Springfield  ;  Daniel  Hine,  of 
Tallmadge  ;  James  Hammond,  of  Copley  ;  and 
Dennis  Treat,  of  Tallmadge,  constitute  a  com- 
mittee to  report  to  the  Directors  at  their  next 
meeting  what,  if  anything,  should  be  done  in 
the  matter  of    disposing    of    the   McAllister 


grounds  and  purchasing  others.     April  9, 1874, 
the  committee  submitted  a  majority  report  in 
favor  of  retaining  and  improving  the  grounds 
owned  by  the  society,  and  a  minority  report 
in  favor  of  disposing  of  those  grounds  and  pur- 
chasing the  Fouse  tract,  near  Bettes'  Corners, 
northeast  of  Akron,  the  majority  report  being 
adopted  by  a  vote  of  ten  to  six.     October  7, 
1874,  the  Directors  resolved,  by  a  vote  of  eight 
to  five,  to  proceed  at  once  to  improve  the  Mc- 
Allister grounds.      January  20,   1875,  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  society,  the  officers  of 
the  society,  to  whom  was  referred  the  resolu- 
tion offered  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Wise,  at  the  previous 
annual  meeting,  reported  in  favor  of  purchas- 
ing the  Fouse  tract,  Mr.  Fouse  submitting  a 
proposition  to  sell  fift^^  acres  to  the  society  at 
$200  per  acre.     Mr.  A.  T.  Burrosvs  also  sub- 
mitted a  proposal  to  sell  forty-five  acres  of  his 
land  on  the  •'  Chuckery,"  at  $400  per  acre,  or 
the  whole  tract  at  $450  per  acre.     A  ballot  on 
grounds  resulted   as  follows :    Burrows  tract, 
336  ;  McAllister  grounds,  218.     March  6, 1875, 
Dennis  Treat,  John  H.  Christy  and  Stephen  H. 
Pitkin  were  appointed  a  committee,  by  ballot, 
and  empowered  to  purchase  the  Burrows  tract 
and  sell  the  McAllister  grounds.      April  24, 
committee  reported  that  they  were  unable  to 
either   buy   or  sell.      A   resolution   was   then 
adopted,  appointing  Dennis  Treat,  of  Tallmadge, 
and  William  Wheatly,  of  Richfield,  who,  with 
a  third  man,  to  be  selected  by  them  from  with- 
out the  county,  should  finally  decide  the  matter. 
May  24,  1875,  Mr.  Treat  reported  that  Hon. 
R.  P.  Cannon,  of  Portage  County,  had  been  se- 
lected as  the  third  member  of  the  committee, 
and  that  a  tract  offered  by  Mr.  Jacob  H.  Wise, 
on  the  "  Chuckery,"  had  been  agreed  upon  by 
a  majority  of  the  committee,  Mr.  Wheatly  dis- 
senting ;  but  that,  since  his  return  home,   Mr. 
Cannon  had  receded  from  his  action,  and  de- 
clined to  make  any  further  report.     A  resolu- 
tion was  adopted,  authorizing  the  committee  to 
call  to  their  aid  Hon  J.  P.  Robinson,  of  Cuya- 
hoga County,  and  that  the  committee,  as  thus 
constituted,  proceed  to  locate  grounds.     June 
19,  1875,  Mr.  Treat  reported  that  the  committee 
had  failed  to  agree  upon  a  location,  ]Mr.  Wheatly 
reporting  that  the  committee   had   failed  for 
want  of  effort,   Mr.   Treat  not  aiding  him  (Mr. 
W.)  in  urging  Dr.   Robinson  for  an  opinion. 
Letters  from  Dr.  Robinson   were  read,  coun- 
seling the  society  to  meet  and  agree  upon  a 


204 


IIISTOllY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


location.     Tlie  following  resolution  was  then 
adopted  : 

Reiiolreil,  That  all  of  the  Directors  meet  June  26, 
and  view  all  the  grounds  offered,  and  then  meet  at 
the  Secretary's  ottice  for  a  final  vote. 

June  26,  1875,  the  Directors  visited  the  Long, 
AUyn,  Howe,  Powder,  Fouse,  Barrows,  Wise, 
Alexander  and  McAllister  tracts,  and  adjourned 
to  July  3.  At  the  adjourned  meeting,  July  3, 
1875,  the  Directors  proceeded  to  ballot  for  lo- 
cation, with  the  following  result :  First  ballot 
— McAllister,  7  ;  Fouse,  5  ;  Burrows,  2  ;  AUyn. 
1  ;  Powder,  6 — 21  votes.  Second  ballot — Mc- 
Allister, 7  ;  Fouse,  2  ;  Burrows,  1 ;  Alexander, 
1;  Powder,  10—21  votes.  Third  ballot— Mc- 
Allister, 7  ;  Fouse,  3  ;  Alexander,  1  ;  Powder, 
10—21  votes.  Fourth  ballot— McAllister,  8  ; 
Fouse,  3  ;  Wise,  1  ;  Powder,  9—21  votes.  Fifth 
ballot — McAllister,  8  ;  Fouse,  1  ;  Wise,  1  ;  Pow- 
der, 11 — 21  votes.  The  Powder  tract  having 
thus  received  the  majority  of  the  ballots  cast, 
it  was  ordered  that  the  President  and  Secretary 
proceed  to  close  a  contract  for  said  tract,  con- 
veying to  the  owners  thereof  the  McAllister 
grounds,  and  executing  the  necessary  papers  to 
secure  to  them  the  balance  of  the  purchase 
price,  $5,000. 

The  grounds  thus  selected,  derisively  called 
the  "Powder  Patch,"  from  the  fact  that  the 
works  of  the  Austin  Powder  Company,  now  of 
Cleveland,  were  originally  located  thereon,  is  a 
tract  of  forty-five  acres,  in  the  valley  of  the 
Little  Cuyahoga  Ptiver,  and  within  the  corpor- 
ate linaits  of  the  city  of  Akron.  It  is  contigu- 
ous to  both  the  New  York,  Pennsjivania  & 
Ohio,  and  the  Cleveland,  Mount  Vernon  &' 
Columbus  Railroads,  while  the  track  of  the 
Valley  Railway,  from  Cleveland  to  Canton, 
which  originally  ran  on  a  high  trestle,  directl3^ 
through  the  grounds,  has  been  thrown  around 
the  southern  edge  of  the  inclosure,  thus  doing 
away  with  one  of  the  main  objections  which 
was  urged  against  their  selection,  while  adding 
very  greatly  to  its  accessibility  and  conven- 
ience in  the  transportation  of  stock  and  visit- 
ors to  and  from  the  fair.  It  is  a  romantic  and 
picturesque  spot,  with  the  ever-limpid  waters 
of  the  Little  Cuyahoga,  meandering  through 
them  from  southeast  to  northwest,  while  in- 
numerable large  springs,  on  the  adjacent  hills, 
furnish  an  abundant  supply  of  water  for  artifi- 
cial lakes,  fountains,  etc  ;  the  name  of  "  Foun- 
tain Park  "■  having  been  given  to  the  grounds 


by  common  consent.  A  substantial  high  picket 
fence  incloses  the  grounds,  and  commodious 
floral,  commercial,  agricultural,  mechanical, 
domestic  and  dining  halls  and  offices  have  been 
erected ;  an  abundant  supply  of  cattle-pens 
and  stables  have  been  provided  ;  one  of  the 
finest  half-mile  trotting  tracks  in  the  State  has 
been  built ;  an  extensive  covered  stand  with 
ample  seating  capacity,  erected  ;  thousands  of 
hitching  posts  provided  ;  ornamental  trees  and 
shrubbery  planted,  and  the  preliminary  work 
done  toward  making  "  Fountain  Park,"  not 
only  one  of  the  most  convenient  and  beautiful 
fair  grounds  in  the  State,  but,  as  contemplated 
improvements  are  completed,  one  of  the  most 
desirable  pleasure  resorts  in  Summit  County. 

The  first  meeting  held  upon  the  society's 
own  grounds,  in  October,  1875,  notwithstanding 
the  bitterness  of  feeling  that  had  been  engen- 
dered in  regard  to  their  selection,  was  a  very 
decided  success,  as  has  been  each  subsequent 
yearly  exposition  of  the  society,  the  growth 
and  steadily  increasing  popularity  of  its  annual 
fairs,  being  well  illustrated  by  its  semi-decennial 
gross  receipts,  from  1850  to  1880,  which,  in 
round  numbers,  were  as  follows  :  For  1850, 
$327  ;  for  1855,  $903  ;  for  1860,  $2,100  ;  for 
1865,  $2,800;  for  1870,  $3,698;  for  1875, 
$5,014  ;  for  1880,  $7,444.  This  munificent  in- 
crease of  patronage,  has  not  only  enabled  the 
society,  besides  pajing  its  heavy  running  ex- 
penses, premiums,  etc.,  to  go  steadily  forward 
with  the  improvement  of  its  grounds,  and  to 
pay  the  interest  and  very  considerably  reduce 
the  principal  of  the  debt  incurred  in  the  pur- 
chase of  the  original  grounds,  and  the  erection 
of  the  necessary  buildings  thereon,  but  has 
warranted  the  management  in  purchasing  be- 
tween seven  and  eight  acres  of  additional  land 
at  $200  per  acre,  the  fair  grounds,  proper,  now 
covering  an  area  of  something  over  fifty-two 
acres.  In  1876,  the  constitution  was  so  amended 
as  to  give  a  Director  to  each  ward  of  the  city  of 
Akron,  thus  making  the  present  number  of 
Directors  of  the  society  twenty-four. 

The  space  assigned  to  this  chapter  not  per- 
mitting a  detailed  statement  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  successive  annual  meetings  of  the  societ}' 
during  its  entire  history,  we  can  only  give,  in 
brief,  the  name,  place  of  residence,  and  term  of 
service,  of  the  several  gentlemen  who  have 
filled  the  offices  of  President,  Vice  President, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  from  1860  to  the  pres- 


ii4i 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


205 


ent  date  (1881).  Presidents — -Perry  C.  Caro- 
thers.  Tallmadge,  1861,  18G2  ;  Horace  P.  Can- 
non, Twinsburg,  1863,  186-4  ;  J.  Park  Alexan- 
der, Akron,  Januar}',  1865,  to  March,  1870, 
when,  tendering  his  resignation,  John  II.  Buch- 
tel,  of  Akron,  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy ; 
James  Hammond,  Cople^',  1871  to  1874,  inclu- 
sive ;  Dennis  Treat,  Tallmadge,  1875,  1876  ; 
John  F.  Moore,  Copley,  1877,  1878,  1879  ;  Ste- 
phen H.  Pitkin,  Portage,  1880  ;  Simeon  Dick- 
erman,  Northampton,  1881.  Vice  Presidents — 
Charles  Coe,  Norton,  1861,  1862,  1863  ;  Den-  ! 
nis  Treat,  Tallmadge,  1864, 1865,  1866  ;  James  | 
Hammond,  Copley,  1867  to  1870,  inclusive  ; 
Dennis  Treat,  Tallmadge,  1871  to  1874,  inclu- 
sive ;  John  F.  Moore,  Cople}^  1875, 1876  ;  King 
J.  Ellet,  Springfield,  1877,  1878;  Wellington 
Miller,  Norton,  1879,  1880,  1881.  Secretaries- 
James  Mathews,  Akron,  1861,  1862  ;  J.  Park 
Alexander,  Akron,  1863,  1864  ;  Hiram  Viele, 
Akron,  elected  for  1865,  but  resigning,  James 
Atkins,  Akron,  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  ;  Jon- 
athan Starr.  Akron,  1866,  1867  ;  Othello  W. 
Hale,  Bath,  Secretary  ;  Hiram  S.  Falor,  Cov- 
entry, Assistant  Secretary.  1868  ^  George  W. 
Crouse,  Akron,  Secretar}^ ;  Hiram  S.  Falor,  As- 
sistant, 1869  ;  Hiram  S.  Falor,  Secretary,  1870  ; 
Stephen  H.  Pitkin,  Portage,  1871  to  1879, 
inclusive  ;  John  H.  Christy,  Akron,  1880,  1881. 
Treasurers— John  K.  Buchtel,  1861,  1862  ;  Ja- 
cob H.  Wise,  Akron,  1863  ;  George  D.  Bates, 
Akron,  1864  to  1870,  inclusive  ;  John  H. 
Christy,  Akron,  1871  to  1875,  inclusive.  Mr. 
Christy  resigning  September  15,  1875,  John  J. 
Wagoner,  Akron,  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  ; 
John  H.  Christ}'  again  elected  for  1876,  but 
again  resigning  September  6,  1876,  William  B. 
Raymond,  Akron,  elected  to  fill  vacancy,  and 
re-elected  for  1877  ;  Herbert  A.  Peck,  Tall- 
madge, 1878  to  1881,  inclusive. 

A  considerable  number  of  the  people  of  the 
western,  northwestern  and  southwestern  por- 
tions of  the  county  being  dissatisfied  with  the 
selection  of  the  "Powder  Patch  "  by  the  Sum- 
mit County  Agricultural  Societ}-,  and  honestly 
believing  that  the  location  was  not  only  ineli- 
gible and  inconvenient,  on  account  of  the  bro- 
ken nature  of  the  ground,  but  absolutely  dan- 
gerous for  stock,  because  of  its  pi'oximity  to 
railroads,  formed  themselves  into  a  joint-stock 
company,  with  a  capital  of  $5,000,  leased  the 
Hall  grounds,  recently  vacated  b}'  the  old  so- 
ciet}',  and,  refitting  them   in  good  stjde  with 


new  buildings,  fences,  sheds,  etc.,  under  the 
name  and  style  of  the  "  Summit  County  Fair 
Association,'"  held  a  very  successful  fair  of  four 
days  in  September,  1875,  with  James  Ham- 
mond, of  Copley,  President ;  Frank  A.  Foster, 
of  Copley,  Vice  President ;  Wellington  Miller, 
of  Norton,  Secretary  ;  and  Philander  D.  Hall, 
Jr.,  of  Akron,  Treasurer.  Vigorous  efforts  were 
made  by  the  officers  and  members  of  the  organ- 
ization to  make  the  "  Summit  County  Fair 
Association  "  one  of  the  permanent  institutions 
of  the  county,  and  its  second  exhibition,  in 
Septembei",  1876,  was  also  reasonably  success- 
ful. Exhibitors  and  visitors,  however,  not  par- 
ticularly desiring  to  contribute  equally  to  the 
support  of  two  rival  fairs  so  near  together  in 
point  of  time  and  locality,  and  the  new  grounds 
of  the  old  societj'  rapidlj^  growing  into  public 
favor,  the  interest  in  the  '•  new  fair  on  the  old 
grounds  "  gradually  died  out,  and  the  associa- 
tion disbanded,  its  affairs  being  placed  in  the 
hands  of  a  receiver  for  liquidation.  The  "  little 
unpleasantness  "  in  regard  to  the  selection  of 
grounds  by  the  old  society  having  given  way 
to  general  good  feeling  among  the  agriculturists, 
manufacturers,  merchants  and  other  fair  pro- 
moters and  supporters,  it  may  be  safel}'  pre- 
dicted that  all  will  henceforth  vie  with  each 
other  to  make  the  Summit  County  Agricultural 
Society  and  its  truly  delightful  grounds  the 
model  institution  of  its  kind  in  Ohio. 

The  great  distance  of  the  extreme  north- 
eastern and  northwestern  townships  of  the 
county  from  the  county  seat,  together  with  the 
remoteness  of  contiguous  townships  in  adjoin- 
ing counties  from  their  respective  county  seats, 
led  to  the  formation  of  prosperous  and  spirited 
union  fair  organizations  in  the  localities  indi- 
cated, some  twenty -five  years  ago.  In  1851,  the 
people  of  Richfield  organized  a  township  soci- 
ety, under  the  name  and  style  of  "  Richfield 
Agricultural  Club,"  the  annual  exhibitions  of 
which  became  so  popular  that,  in  1858,  six 
other  townships,  viz.:  Bath  and  Boston,  in 
Summit;  Brecksville  and  Royalton,  in  Cuya- 
hoga, and  Hinckley  and  Granger,  in  Medina, 
united  with  her  in  an  association  known  as  the 
"  Union  Agricultural  and  Mechanic  Art  So- 
ciety," which  was  admirably  managed  for  a 
number  of  years,  the  grounds  being  leased  for 
the  period  of  ten  years,  and  the  building,  fenc- 
ing, etc..  being  largely  done  by  voluntary  con- 
tributions.    On  the  expiration  of  its  lease,  the 


r 


206 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


association  re-orgauized  as  a  stock  company, 
and  purchased  the  grounds  previously  occu- 
pied, increased  vitality  and  activity  following 
the  re-organization  for  several  years.  As  the 
county  fairs,  however,  of  Summit  and  adjoining 
counties,  increased  their  attractions,  the  inter- 
est in  the  local  organization  began  to  wane, 
and  the  society  disbanded  in  1875,  selling  its 
grounds  and  closing  up  its  affairs  in  1876.  At 
Twinsburg,  also,  after  a  township  exhibition 
upon  the  public  square  for  two  or  three  suc- 
cessive years,  there  was  organized  a  "  union 
fair "  association,  composed  of  the  townships 
of  Twinsburg,  Hudson  and  Northfield,  in 
Summit  Count}' ;  Aurora,  in  Portage  County, 
and  Solon  and  Bedford,  in  Cu^^ahoga  County. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  society  was  in  Septem- 
ber, 1856,  and,  like  the  Richfield  association, 
its  annual  fairs  were,  for  many  years,  very  suc- 
cessful and  popular,  the  society  owning  its  own 
grounds  of  some  thirteen  acres.  The  patrons 
and  promoters  of  this  fair  being  largel}^  inter- 
ested and  engaged  in  dairying,  and  other  kin 
dred  industries,  a  succession  of  dry  and  unpro- 
ductive seasons,  together  with  the  decease  and 
removal  of  a  number  of  its  most  active  sup- 
porters, so  dampened  the  ai'dor  of  its  remain- 
ing members  that  the  meetings  were  at  length 
discontinued,  the  last  fair  of  the  society  being 
held  in  September,  1871,  the  grounds  being  sold 
and  the  affairs  of  the  societj'  closed  in  1872. 

The  Summit  Count}'  Agricultural  Societ}' 
failing  to  accept  the  ver}^  liberal  proposition 
which  had  been  made  by  the  people  of  Cuya- 
hoga Falls  for  the  location  of  the  county  fair 
grounds  at  or  near  that  place,  a  number  of  the 
citizens  of  that  and  adjacent  townships  organ- 
ized a  Union  Fair  Association  in  1859,  and 
fitted  up  grounds,  about  a  mile  north  of  the 
village,  on  the  Hudson  Road.  The  first  regular 
fair  of  the  societj'  was  held  September  1 ,  2  and 
3,  1859,  and  was  in  ever}^  respect  a  first-class 
exhibition,  both  in  point  of  display  and  at- 
tendance, netting  its  projectors  some  $600  over 
and  above  expenses.  In  addition  to  the  usual 
list  of  premiums  offered  for  cattle,  horses  and 
other  farm  stock,  agricultural  and  mechanical 
products,  domestic  manufactures,  etc.,  especial 
encouragement  was  given  to  matters  pertaining 
to  the  turf,  many  local  celebrities  in  the  way  of 
high  and  fast  steppers  being  attracted  thither. 
The  managers,  however,  failing  to  secure  the 
attendance  of  the  intended   "  bis  card  " — the 


then  greatest  of  American  trotters,  Flora  Tem- 
ple— for  the  regular  fiiir,  arranged  for  a  meet- 
ing on  the  28th  day  of  October,  the  same  year, 
at  which  that  renowned  animal  was  pitted 
against  another  reputed  very  fast  nag,  "  Ike 
Cook."  The  weather  proved  to  be  unpropitious 
and  the  track  heav}^,  but  though  the  attendance 
was  meager,  the  match  came  off  on  time,  the 
Beacon  of  November  2  recording  the  result  as 
follows  :  "Flora  Temple,  1,  2,  1  ;  Ike  Cook,  2, 
1,  2.  Time — First  heat,  2.28  ;  second  heat, 
2.34  ;  third  heat,  2.33.  This  enterprise  proved 
a  losing  venture,  absorbing  nearly,  if  not  quite, 
all  the  profits  of  the  September  fair.  Again  in 
1860,  September  5,  6  and  7,  the  regular  annual 
fair  of  the  society  was  held,  also  being  reason- 
ably successful,  though  little  more,  if  any,  than 
paying  the  running  expenses.  The  third  an- 
nual fair  was  held  upon  the  grounds  of  the 
society  September  23,  24  and  25,  1861.  The 
war  of  the  rebellion  was  then  upon  us.  and 
military  displays  at  local  fairs  became  very 
popular.  The  show  was  a  very  fine  one,  but 
the  attendance  was  small,  except  on  the  last  day. 
the  military  display'  and  competition  drawing 
together  quite  a  large  crowd.  There  were  pres- 
ent the  Bath  Guards,  Capt.  Schoonover;  the 
Buckeye  Guards,  of  Copley,  Capt.  Sackett  ; 
and  the  Cowles  Tiger  Zouaves,  from  Bedford,. 
Cuyahoga  County  ;  the  latter,  however,  a  very 
fine  company,  being  excluded  from  competition 
for  the  prize  by  reason  of  being  one  member 
short  of  the  required  number.  After  a  drill 
of  thirty  minutes  each,  the  first  prize,  a  silk 
flag,  was  awarded  to  the  Bath  Guards,  and  the 
second,  a  worsted  flag,  was  awarded  to  the  Cop- 
ley Guards.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  drill, 
a  fantastic  cavalry  company,  consisting  of  some 
seventy-five  or  eighty  horsemen  (representing 
the  secesh  army),  came  upon  the  grounds,  and 
after  skirmishing  around  awhile,  to  the  infinite 
amusement  of  the  crowd,  were  finally  sur- 
rounded, and  the  entire  company  taken  pris- 
oners, by  the  three  companies  of  "  regulars," 
assisted  by  the  Tallmadge  Artillery,  Capt. 
Baimes,  and  the  Young  America  Gun  Squad, 
of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  who  performed  the  batter}- 
service  of  the  occasion.  The  military  and  a 
large  number  of  invited  guests  were  given  a 
free  dinner  upon  the  grounds,  by  the  members 
of  the  society  and  the  citizens  of  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  and  vicinity.  Though  a  success  as  a 
show,  this  third  fair  was  a  financial  unsuccess, 


^" 


-1^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


207 


the  receipts  being  less  tlian  the  disbursements, 
and  war  mattei's  and  other  enterprises  engaging 
the  attention  of  its  promoters,  no  further  meet- 
ings were  held,  and  the  affairs  of  the  society 
were  closed. 

The  writer  trusts  that  no  apology  is  needed 
from  him  for  the  space  devoted  to  the  subject 
of  the  Agricultural  Societ}'  matters  of  Summit 
County.  A  careful  perusal  of  the  foregoing 
pages  not  onl^^  forcibly  illustrates  the  value  of 
harmony  and  unity  of  purpose,  in  all  efforts  to 


promote  the  public  welfare,  but  also  clearly 
shows  the  inestimable  worth  of  such  associa- 
tions, as  educators  of  the  people,  not  alone  in 
matters  of  husbandry,  manufactures  and  sim- 
ilar sciences,  but  also  in  a  social  and  moral 
point  of  view  ;  for  who  does  not  acknowledge 
the  benign  influences  arising  from  the  friendly 
mingling  together  of  the  masses  of  the  people 
from  time  to  time,  in  such  pleasant  and  cheer- 
ful gatherings  as  the  annual  fairs  of  the  Summit 
Count}^  Agricultural  Societ}'  have  grown  to  l)e. 


CHAPTER     IL* 

THE  EARLY    INHABITANTS— A  CLASSIFICATION  OF  TIIK  M()UNl)-15UILDEliS'  WORKS  — rKE-HlSTOHlC 

OCCUPATION  AND  REMAINS  OF  SUMMIT  COUNTV— SKETCHES  OF  THE  INDIAN  TRIBES 

—  CUVAHOGA  VALLEY  INDIANS    DUItlNd  THE  BORDER  AVAIIS. 


"Fought  eye  to  eye,  and  hand  to  hand, 

Alas!  'twas  but  to  die! 
In  vain  the  rifle's  deadlj^  flash 
Scorched  eagle  plume  and  wampum  sash — 

The  hatchet  liissed  on  high  ; 
And  down  they  fell  in  crhnsou  heaps 
Like  the  ripe  corn  the  sickle  reaps." 

I^i  the  remote  past  ages  of  life  upon  the  earth, 
at  a  period  that  lies  wholly  within  the  prov- 
ince of  conjecture,  and  upon  which  the  light  of 
sleepless  inquiry  fails  to  fall,  a  strange  and 
semi-civilized  people,  whose  origin,  customs 
and  final  fate  are  enshrouded  in  comparative 
obscurity,  inhabited  almost  the  entire  territory 
of  the  Western  Continent.  All  attempts  to  un- 
ravel the  mysterj^  enveloping  their  peculiar 
lives  meet  with  an  uncompromising  rebuff,  save 
where  the  fast-decaying  remnants  of  their  works 
cast  a  feeble  ray  of  light  on  the  otherwise  im- 
penetrable darkness.  The  first  thought  that 
enters  the  mind  of  the  antiquarian  in  this  de- 
partment of  research,  is,  Whence  originated 
this  peculiar  people  ?  So  far,  no  satisfactory 
answer  has  been  reached.  Though  many  emi- 
nent men  have  devoted  the  best  years  of  their 
lives  in  endeavoring  to  discover  the  origin  of 
man,  or,  more  specifically,  the  origin  of  the 
Mound-Builders,  yet  no  word  of  encourage- 
ment comes  fi'om  the  past  to  cheer  on  the  pa- 
tient, tireless  worker.  Accepting  the  Mosaic 
account  of  the  creation,  we  are  led  to  believe 
that  the  Mound-Builders  were  the  lineal  de- 
scendants   of    Adam.      When   they   came   to 

*Co!itributcdby  W.  A.  Goodspoed. 


America,  or  how,  does  not  alter  the  significance 
and  unquestionable  correctness  of  the  statement. 
There  were  but  two  persons — Adam  and  Eve — 
created,  and  from  them,  if  we  accept  the  record 
of  Moses,  have  sprung  all  the  countless  hosts 
that  have  ever  peopled  the  earth.  If  the  Mosaic 
account  of  man's  origin  be  rejected,  we  are  still 
in  darkness,  on  the  sea  of  conjecture,  tossed  b}- 
the  wild  waves  of  doubt  and  unbelief,  without 
helm  or  compass  and  with  no  land  in  sight.  This 
perplexing  situation  is  to  be  met,  and  what  can 
l3e  said  ?  Is  the  race  of  man  descended  from 
the  lower  animals,  and  through  them  as  inter- 
mediate states  ?  or  did  it  spring  as  a  separate 
growth  from  the  common  mother  of  life — the 
Earth  ?  Had  all  life,  both  animal  and  vegeta- 
ble, a  common  origin,  or  was  each  species,  of 
whatever  kind,  created  apart  from  its  fellows  ? 
In  either  case,  whence  originated  the  primitive 
germ  or  seed  from  which  life  first  sprung  ? 
Was  it  created  by  a  new  condition  or  relation 
of  its  composing  elements — by  a  new  relation 
of  the  natural  laws  under  which  the  elements 
united  and  quickened  into  life  ?  In  the  proc- 
ess of  the  development  of  natural  laws,  acting 
under  new  conditions,  upon  the  simple  organic 
and  in-organic  elements,  did  that  remarkable 
phenomenon  occur,  bj'  which  the  primitive 
germ  of  life  was  created.  If  so,  why  is  not  a 
repetition  of  the  creative  process  possible  ? 
Has  the  tide  of  evolution  swept  beyond  the 
point  at  which  the  conditions  of  elements  and 
relations  could  originate  life  ?     Is  it  not  true 


i^ 


a1± 


208 


HISTORY  or    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


that  spontaneous  generation,  at  one  stage  of 
evolution,  miglit  have  been  possible,  and  that 
it  also,  at  a  later  period,  might  have  become 
extinct  from  natural  causes  ?  x\ll  these  ques- 
tions are  pertinent  in  discussing  the  origin  of 
the  Mound-Builders  ;  but  no  detinite  answer  is 
received,  and  even  the  manner  and  time  of  their 
appearance  upon  this  continent,  by  whatever 
means,  are  problems  for  coming  generations  to 
solve.  The  most  interesting  point  to  be  deter- 
mined regarding  these  people  is.  Whether  they 
were  created  originally  in  America,  or  are  the 
descendants  of  pre-historic  Asiatics,  who  crossed 
over  by  way  of  Behring's  Straits.  Neither  side 
of  the  question  can  be  answered.  The  majority 
of  authorities  agree  in  sa}- ing  that  the  Indians 
had  no  knowledge,  traditional  or  otherwise,  of 
the  Mound-Builders,  except  what  was  derived 
from  their  works.  They  denied  having  any 
knowledge  of  the  erection  of  the  approximate 
10,000  mounds  scattered  throughout  the  State. 
or  of  the  limitless  number  scattered  throughout 
the  continent.  It  is  urged  that,  inasmuch  as 
the  Indians  kept  no  record  of  events,  their  mea- 
ger and  short-lived  traditions  could  not  cover 
the  lapse  of  time  since  the  Mound-Builders'  oc- 
cupancy of  the  soil,  and  that  possibly  the 
former  were  the  descendants  of  the  latter.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  seems  probable  that,  if  this  be 
true,  the  Indians  would  have  some  traditional 
or  other  knowledge  of  the  mounds,  fortifica- 
tions, sepulchers,  templar  structures  and  va- 
rious species  of  implements,  undoubtedly  be- 
longing to  the  earlier  race.  However,  with  few 
exceptions,  they  profess  utter  ignorance.  In 
opposition  to  this  view,  it  is  claimed  that  the 
Indians  have  deteriorated  in  mental  power- 
have  lost  the  use  of  many  arts,  etc.,  known  to 
their  alleged  remote  ancestors.  And  again,  to 
meet  this,  it  is  asserted  that  many  centuries 
elapsed  from  the  Mound-Builders'  period  to  the 
Indians,  thus  precluding  the  idea  that  the  latter 
were  their  descendants.  From  their  works  is 
derived  all  that  we  know  of  their  history,  hab- 
its, modes  of  life,  degree  of  civilization,  knowl- 
edge of  the  arts  of  peace  and  war,  mental  and 
moral  progress ;  but  their  fate  is  wrapped  in 
darkness.  Many  of  their  mounds  and  other 
earthworks  have  been  found  from  time  to  time 
in  Summit  County ;  and  so  much  interest  has 
been  aroused  regarding  this  almost  unknown 
race  of  people,  and  so  much  light  thrown  b}^ 
patient  labor  upon  their  m3'stei"ious  lives,  that 


a  brief  statement  will  here  be  given  of  the  prog- 
ress that  has  been  made  in  this  branch  of 
archaeological  research,  before  entering  upon 
the  description  of  the  mounds  in  this  county. 

Of  all  States  or  countries  of  the  same  limit, 
Ohio  furnishes  a  greater  number  of  earthworks, 
supposed  to  have  been  erected  by  Mound- 
Builders,  than  any  other.  The  extent,  variety, 
magnitude  and  labyrinthian  intricacy  of  the 
Ohio  mounds  have  rendered  them  of  great  value 
to  antiquarians,  who  have  come  in  pursuit  of 
knowledge  from  distant  parts  of  the  globe. 
Here  may  be  seen  the  perishing  remains  of 
gigantic  artificial  structures,  that  reared  their 
summits  high  in  the  air,  long  years  before  the 
State  was  covered  with  its  present  qualit}'  of 
timber,  and  unknown  3' ears  before  the  Indians' 
occupancy  of  the  soil.  These  structures,  or 
mounds,  have  been  properly  divided  into  mounds 
proper,  effigies  and  iuclosures.  Mounds  proper 
have  been  subdivided  into  sepulchral,  templar, 
sacrificial,  memorial  and  observatory.  Effigies 
are  animal,  emblematic  and  symbolical.  Iu- 
closures are  military,  covered  or  sacred.*  The 
greater  portion  of  the  above  works  were  con- 
structed of  earth,  a  few  of  stone,  and  fewer 
still  of  earth  and  stone  combined.  Sepulchral 
mounds  are  usuall}'  conical,  and  some  of  them, 
notwithstanding  the  lapse  of  time,  are  seventy 
feet  in  height.  Tliey  are  more  numerous  than 
any  other  class,  and  beyond  doubt  were  erected 
as  memorials  to  the  dead.  The}'  always  con- 
tain one  or  more  skeletons,  together  with  im- 
plements and  ornaments  supposed  to  have  been 
placed  there  when  the  individual  was  buried, 
for  use  in  the  Spirit  Land.  The  mounds  are 
of  all  sizes,  and  it  has  been  conjectured  that 
their  magnitude  bears  some  relation  to  the 
prominence  of  the  persons  in  whose  honor  they 
were  erected.  Ashes  and  cliarcoal  are  often 
found  in  proximity  to  the  skeletons,  under  con- 
ditions which  render  it  probable  that  fires  were 
used  in  the  burial  ceremony.  With  the  skel- 
etons are  also  found  specimens  of  mica,  pot- 
tery, bone  and  copper  beads,  and  animal  bones. 
Though  in  this  class  of  mounds,  ordinarily  but 
one  skeleton  is  found,  yet  sometimes  several 
are  unearthed.  A  few  years  ago,  a  mound,  sit- 
uated in  Licking  County,  was  opened,  and 
found  to  contain,  in  whole  or  in  part,  seventeen 
skeletons.  But  the  most  noteworthy  of  all  the 
mounds  was  one  in  Hardin  Count}',  which  con- 

*Isaac  Smucker,  in  Ohio  Statistics. 


^_ 


HISTOEY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


209 


tained  300  crumbling  skeletons.  Col.  Whittle- 
sey and  others,  however,  entertained  the  opin- 
ion that  they  belonged  to  the  Indians,  who  had 
used  the  mounds  for  burial  purposes.  Templar 
mounds  are  few  in  number,  and  are  ordinarily 
circular.  They  are  invariably  truncated,  and 
are  often  surrounded  with  embankments,  in- 
clined planes  or  spiral  pathways  or  steps,  lead- 
ing to  the  summit.  They  are  found  round, 
square,  oblong,  oval  and  octangular,  and  rest 
generally  upon  a  large  base,  but  have  a  lim- 
ited altitude.  It  is  supposed  that  these  eleva- 
tions were  surmounted  with  wooden  temples, 
all  traces  of  which  have  been  removed  by  the 
ravages  of  time.  These  mounds  and  the  build- 
ings at  their  summits  are  thought  to  have  been 
erected  for  religious  purposes.  Sacrificial 
mounds  are  ordinaril}'  stratified,  with  convex 
layers  of  claj-  and  loam  above  a  stratum  of 
sand.  Thej'  generally  contain  ashes,  charcoal, 
igneous  stones,  calcined  animal  bones,  beads, 
stone  implements,  pottery  and  specimens  of 
I'ude  sculpture.  They  are  often  found  within 
inclosures,  which  are  supposed  to  have  been 
connected  with  the  religious  ceremonies  of  the 
Mound-Builders.  Altars  of  igneous  clay  or 
stone  are  often  found.  Evidences  of  fire  upon 
the  altars  A^et  remain,  showing  that  various  ani- 
mals and  probably  human  beings  were  immo- 
lated to  secure  the  favor  of  the  Great  Spirit. 
These  mounds  infrequently  contain  skeletons, 
together  with  implements  of  war  ;  mica  from 
the  Alleghanies  ;  shells  from  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
ico ;  difTerentl}-  colored  varieties  of  obsidian  ; 
red,  purple  and  green  specimens  of  porph3-ry  ; 
and  silver,  copper  and  other  metallic  ornaments 
and  utensils.  Mounds  of  observation  were  ap- 
parentl}-  designed  for  alarm-towers  ■  or  signal 
stations.  Some  writers  have  fancied  that  they 
"  occur  in  chains,  or  regulai  systems,  and  that 
many  of  them  still  bear  traces  of  the  beacon 
fires  that  were  once  burning  upon  them."  They 
are  often  found  built  like  towers  from  the  sum- 
mits of  embankments  surrounding  inclosures. 
One  of  the  latter,  in  Licking  County,  has  a 
height  of  twenty-five  feet.  "  Along  the  Miami 
River,"  says  Judge  Force,  "  are  dotted  small 
mounds  or  projecting  highlands,  which  seem  to 
have  been  built  to  carry  intelligence  by  signals 
along  the  valley."  Memorial  mounds  are  of 
that  class  of  ^(/Hn/7/ intended  to  commemorate 
some  important  event,  or  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  some  distinguished  character.  Most 


of  the  stone  mounds  belong  to  this  class,  and 
usually  contain  no  bones,  for  the  supposed  rea- 
son that  they  were  used  only  for  sepulchers. 
They  are  thought  to  correspond  in  design  with 
the  Bunker  Hill  Monument,  and  with  the  beau- 
tiful marble  column  on  the  field  of  Gettysburg. 
Eflfigies  are  elevations  of  earth  in  the  form  of 
men,  beasts,  birds,  reptiles  and,  occasionally,  of 
inanimate  objects,  varying  in  height  from  one 
foot  to  six  feet  above  the  surrounding  soil, 
and  often  covering  many  acres  of  land.  Mr. 
Schoolcraft  expresses  the  belief  that  this  class 
of  mounds  was  designed  for  "totems"  or  tribu- 
lar  symbols  ;  while  Prof  Daniel  Wilson  and 
other  writers  of  distinction  entertain  the  opin- 
ion that  the}^  were  erected  in  accordance  with 
the  religious  belief  of  the  various  tribes  of 
Mound-Builders,  who  worshiped,  or  in  some 
way  venerated,  the  animals  or  objects  repre- 
sented by  the  elevations.  A  large  mound  near 
Newark  represents  a  bird  of  enormous  size, 
with  its  wings  outspread  in  the  act  of  flight. 
Its  total  length  is  about  200  feet.  An  excava- 
tion in.  this  efflg}'  disclosed  a  clay  and  stone 
altar,  upon  which  were  evidences  of  fire,  to- 
gether with  ashes  and  charcoal.  The  sur- 
roundings indicated  that  the  altar  had  been 
used  for  sacrificial  offerings.  It  is  called  "Eagle 
Mound "  from  its  fancied  resemblance  to  that 
bird.  Another  mound  near  Newark  repre- 
sents a  huge  alligator,  having  a  total  length 
of  200  feet.  Prof  Wilson  believes  that  it 
"symbolizes  some  object  of  special  awe  and 
veneration,  thus  reared  on  one  of  the  chief 
'high  places'  of  the  nation,  with  its  accompanj-- 
ing  altar,  upon  which  these  ancient  people  of 
the  valley  could  witness  the  celebration  of  the 
rites  of  their  worship,  its  site  having  been  ob- 
viousl}'  selected  as  the  most  prominent  feature 
in  a  populous  district  abounding  witli  militarj'. 
civic  and  religious  structures."  The  greatest 
breadth  of  the  bodj'  is  twenty  feet,  and  its 
bod}'  from  hind  legs  to  fore  legs  is  fifty  feet. 
Each  limb  is  twent3'-five  feet  long.  The  prin- 
cipal portions  of  the  animal  are  elevated  about 
six  feet,  wliile  other  portions  are  much  lower. 
The  most  remarkable  mound  in  Ohio  is  in 
Adams  County.  Its  form  is  that  of  an  enor- 
mous serpent,  more  than  a  thousand  feet  in 
length,  with  body  in  graceful,  anfractuos  folds, 
and  tail  ending  in  triple  coils.  The  greatest 
width  of  the  bodj'  is  thirty  feet,  and  the  effigy 
is  elevated  about  five  feet  above  the  surround- 


:fz 


^1 


, — i'  u^ 


210 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUXTY. 


ing  soil  "  The  neck  of  the  figure,"  saj^s  the 
American  Cyclopedia,  "  is  stretched  out  and 
slightly  curved,  and  the  mouth  is  opened  wide, 
as  if  in  the  act  of  swallowing  or  ejecting  an 
oval  figure,  which  rests  partly  within  the  dis- 
tended jaws.  The  combined  figure  has  been 
regarded  by  some  as  a  representation  of  the 
oriental  cosmological  idea  of  the  serpent  and 
the  egg.' 

Defensive  inclosures  are  irregular  in  form,  and 
are  always  on  high  ground,  in  positions  dififl- 
cult  to  approach  b}^  a  savage  foe.  "The  walls," 
sa3-s  the  American  Cyclopedia,  "  generally  wind 
ax'ound  the  borders  of  the  elevations  they  occu- 
py, and  when  the  natui'e  of  the  ground  renders 
some  points  more  accessible  than  others,  the 
height  of  the  wall  and  the  depth  of  the  ditch 
at  these  weak  points  are  proportionally  in- 
creased. The  gateways  are  narrow  and  few  in 
number,  and  well  guarded  by  embankments  of 
earth  placed  a  few  j-ards  inside  of  the  openings 
or  gateways,  and  parallel  with  them,  and  pro- 
jecting somewhat  be^'ond  them  at  each  end, 
thus  fully  covering  the  entrances,  which,  iu  some 
cases,  are  still  further  protected  by  projecting 
walls  on  either  side.  These  works  are  some- 
what numerous,  and  indicate  a  clear  apprecia- 
tion of,  at  least,  the  elements  of  fortification, 
and  unmistakably  point  out  the  purpose  for 
which  they  were  constructed.  A  large  num- 
ber of  these  defensive  woi'ks  consist  of  a  line 
of  ditches  and  embankments,  or  several  lines, 
carried  across  the  neck  of  peninsulas  or  bluff 
headlands,  formed  within  the  bends  of  streams 
— an  easy  and  obvious  mode  of  fortification 
common  to  all  rude  peoples."  The  embank- 
ments of  one  of  this  class  in  Warren  County 
are  nearly  four  miles  in  length,  varying  in 
height  from  ten  to  twenty  feet  to  accord  with 
the  locality  to  be  protected,  and  inclose  several 
hundred  acres.  Covered  ways  or  parallel  walls 
are  often  found,  either  connecting  diflTerent  in- 
closures or  portions  of  the  same.  The}'  were 
undoubtedly  designed  to  protect  those  passing 
back  and  forth  within.  There  are  large  num- 
bers of  sacred  inclosures  in  the  form  of  circles, 
squares,  hexagons,  octagons,  ellipses,  parallelo- 
grams and  others,  many  of  which  were  designed 
with  surprising  geometrical  accuracy.  They 
are  sometimes  found  within  military  inclosures, 
and  very  likely  were  connected  with  the  relig- 
ious rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  people,  as  small 
elevations  are  found  within  them,  which  were 


evidently  used  for  altars,  upon  which  sacrifices 
of  various  kinds  were  offered.  Some  archiBolo- 
gists  maintain  that  many  of  the  so-called  sacred 
inclosures  were  intended  and  used  for  national 
games  and  celebrations,  and  it  is  probable  that 
those  without  the  altar  were  used  as  such. 

The  mounds  and  their  contents  afllbrd  abun- 
dant opportunity  to  speculate  as  to  the  charac- 
ter and  customs  of  the  ancient  people,  of  whom 
notliins;  is  left  save  their  crumblins;  habitation?. 
They  were  a  numerous  people,  as  is  clearly 
proved  by  the  magnitude  and  elaboration  of 
their  works.  Their  presence  here,  beyond  ques- 
tion, antedates  the  coming  of  Columbus,  and 
very  probabl}'  extends  back  a  thousand  years  or 
more.  Perhaps  a  majority  of  intelligent  men 
who  have  made  the  subject  a  stud}',  place  the 
Mound- Builders'  period  back  to  that  of  the 
Egyptians,  Assyrians  and  Babylonians — to  a 
period  two  or  three  or  more  thousand  years  be- 
fore the  Christian  era.  Many  interesting  and 
important  considerations,  too  lengthy  to  be 
narrated  here,  have  been  discovered  in  com- 
paring the  customs  of  the  Mound-Builders  with 
those  of  ancient  nations  in  the  East.  An  un- 
accountable similarity  is  found  in  religion,  in 
the  arts  of  war  and  peace,  in  character  and 
quality  of  habitations,  in  methods  of  agricul- 
ture, in  domestic  alfairs,  and  in  many  other  essen- 
tial particulars.  The  Mound-Builders  were  un- 
questionably subservient  to  rulers,  or  superiors, 
who  had  power  to  enforce  the  erection  of  gigan- 
tic structures,  which,  considering  the  semi- 
barbarous  condition  of  the  people,  their  lack  of 
suitable  implements  of  labor,  and  their  imper- 
fect and  insufficient  knowledge  of  mechanical 
principles,  are  surprisingly  vast  in  extent  and 
ingenious  in  design.  Their  works  indicate  that 
the  people  were  warlike  ;  that  they  were  famil- 
iar with  many  mathematical  and  mechanical 
rules  ;  that  they  were  religious  and  probably 
idolatrous  ;  that  they  were  skilled  in  the  man- 
ufactui'e  of  bone  and  metnllic  ornaments  and 
pottery  ;  that  they  had  attained  no  little  degree 
of  perfection  in  the  working  of  metals  ;  and 
that  they  were  essentially  homogeneous  in  cus- 
toms, pursuits,  religion  and  government.  They 
of  necessity  were  an  agricultural  people,  being 
too  numerous  to  live  by  the  chase  alone.  They 
offered  burnt  and  other  sacrifices  and  oblations, 
to  both  good  and  bad  spirits.  Dr.  Foster  says 
they  worshiped  the  elements,  such  as  fire,  air 
and  water — also  the  sun,  moon  and  stars,  and 


~^ 


=1^ 


^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


211 


offered  human  sacrifices  to  the  gods  the}'  wor- 
shiped. Yet  many  of  these  views  are  specu- 
lative, and  have  but  little  substantial  evidence 
upon  which  to  rest.  Authorities  are  widely  at 
variance  in  their  views.  But  little  can  ever  be 
known  of  the  history  of  these  people,  yet 
throughout  all  the  future,  the  civilized  world 
will  look  with  awe  upon  the  decaying  remnants 
of  their  works,  and  weave  the  bright  fabric  of 
romance  about  their  mysterious  lives. 

This  much  has  been  given  on  the  authority, 
among  others,  of  Schoolcraft,  Wilson,  Pidgeon, 
Smucker,  the  American  Cyclopedia  and  others, 
to  prepare  the  way  for  the  classification  and 
detailed  description  of  the  ancient  earth  and 
stone  works  in  this  county.  While  almost  every 
township  can  boast  of  the  presence  of  these 
works  within  its  limits,  3'et  they  are  found  in 
greatest  number  and  magnitude  along  the  val- 
Ic}'  of  the  Cuyahoga  K-iver,  or  on  the  adjacent 
highlands.  It  not  infrequently  happened  that 
Indian  villages  were  built  on  the  sites  of  these 
ancient  works,  and  care  must  be  used  to  pre- 
vent confounding  Indian  earthworks  with  those 
of  the  Mound-Builders.  A  few  of  the  princi- 
pal mounds  and  inclosures  in  the  county  have 
l)een  personally'  inspected  by  the  writer,  and 
these  and  all  others  of  sufficient  importance 
will  be  described.  The  inclosures  usually  oc- 
cupy naturall}^  strong,  defensive  positions,  and, 
where  necessary,  are  formed  by  earth  embank- 
ments, varying  in  altitude  and  basal  diameter, 
and  protected  on  the  outer  side  by  a  deep  pit 
or  moat.  On  the  farm  of  Milton  Arthur,  Esq., 
Northfield  Township,  is  an  ancient  earth  forti- 
fication, of  which  the  following  description  is 
given  by  Charles  Whittlesey  :  "  The  engineers 
who  selected  the  site  of  this  fortitication  un- 
derstood very  well  the  art  of  turning  natural 
advantages  to  good  account.  Wh}'  they  did 
not  embrace  in  their  plan  the  whole  of  the  level 
space  on  the  crest  of  the  blutf  is  not  easil}'  ex- 
plained, unless  we  presume  that  their  numbers 
were  few,  and  not  sufficient  to  defend  the 
whole.  On  all  sides,  the  gullies  are  from  eighty 
to  one  hundred  and  ten  feet  deep,  and  are  worn 
by  running  water  into  the  blue  and  yellow 
hard-pan  that  here  forms  the  bluffs  along  the 
Cuyahoga  River.  The  earth  is  as  steep  as  it 
will  stand,  and,  in  fact,  is  subject  to  slides,  which 
leave  the  soil  in  terraces,  resembling  platforms 
made  by  art.  Before  the  ground  was  cultivated, 
the  ditches  are  said  by  the  owner  to  have  been 


so  deep  that  a  man  standing  in  them  could  not 
look  over  the  wall.  In  the  gully  on  the  north, 
the  water  is  permanent  at  all  seasons.  But  the 
ancient  inhabitants  appear  to  have  dug  wells 
within  the  fort  at  two  or  more  points,  and  these, 
as  stated  by  old  settlers,  were  stoned  up  like 
our  wells.  On  the  western  face  of  the  bluff, 
near  where  the  road  descends,  is  a  small  spring, 
not  reliable  at  all  seasons.  There  are  double 
earth  embankments  on  each  exposed  side  of 
the  fortification,  though  they  do  not  extend  en- 
tirely across  the  necks  of  land,  there  being  in 
two  or  three  cases  a  small  space  left  at  the  ends, 
apparentl}'  for  a  passage-way.  There  is  one 
small  mound  within  the  inclosure,  and  another 
just  without.  The  approach  is  along  a  sharp 
I'idge,  called  a  hog's  back,  nearly  broad  enough 
for  a  single  road  track,  for  the  distance  of  thirty 
rods,  and  the  sides  are  as  steep  as  any  part  of 
the  bluffs  adjacent.  It  is  not  very  evident  why 
a  few  rods  of  ground  were  cut  off  by  lines  at 
the  southwest  angle,  nor  why  part  of  the  ditch 
was  made  on  the  inside  on  the  north  and  west." 
It  must  be  observed  that  inclosures  of  this 
character  in  the  county  are  formed  by  an  earth 
embankment  and  a  moat  or  ditch  running  along 
its  side,  sometimes  within  and  sometimes  with- 
out the  fort.  There  are  two  or  more  others  in 
Northfield,  similar  in  construction  to  the  one 
described.  One  of  these  is  protected  on  one 
side  by  a  steep  declivity,  while  on  the  exposed 
sides  is  a  semi-circular  embankment  in  the 
form  of  the  curved  portion  of  the  letter  D. 
Near  the  residence  of  John  Hovey,  in  Northamp- 
ton, is  a  fort  which,  in  early  years,  must  have 
been  one  of  the  finest  in  the  county.  The  em- 
bankment inclosed  several  acres,  and  was  five 
or  six  feet  in  height,  and  near  the  walls  were 
sevei'al  low  mounds,  and  small  circular  excava- 
tions, apparently  designed  for  arrow  pits.  The 
walls  can  still  be  traced,  although  they  have 
been  plowed  over  many  3ears.  Several  small 
forts  are  to  be  seen  in  JBoston  Township.  There 
are  mounds  at  the  fai-ms  of  Ambrose  Bliss, 
Mr.  Wetmore,  James  Fairweather,  Mr.  McKay, 
and  the  old  farm  of  Watrous  Mather.  These 
are  usually  some  five  or  six  feet  in  height,  and 
twenty  or  twenty-five  feet  in  diameter  at  the 
base.  Several  have  been  opened,  but  nothing 
noteworthy  was  discovered.  In  the  western 
part  of  Northampton  Township,  where  Hale 
Run  and  Furnace  Run  come  quite  close  to- 
gether, is  perhaps  the  most  important  fortifica- 


i|v 


(2_ 


212 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


tion  of  the  kind  in  the  county.  The  streams 
approach  each  other,  and  form  a  steep,  narrow 
ridge,  barely  wide  enough  for  the  passage  of  a 
wagon.  This  ridge  descends  some  ten  feet  l:)e- 
low  the  mainland,  to  which  it  is  connected,  and 
extends  about  fifteen  rods,  when  it  gradually 
assumes  a  width  of  some  ten  rods,  and,  finally, 
after  a  distance  of  perhaps  eighty  rods  from 
the  mainland  is  reached,  the  blutf  terminates 
perpendicularly-  to  the  railroad  track.  When 
the  ridge  begins  to  widen,  it  ascends  until  on  a 
level  with  the  mainland.  Beyond  the  neck  or 
ridge,  the  summit  of  the  bluff  consists  of  about 
eight  acres,  and  at  the  eastern  extremity,  where, 
on  all  sides  except  the  western,  the  bluff  ter- 
minates as  abruptly  as  the  soil  will  rest,  is  a 
well-defined  earth  fortification.  Back  toward 
the  mainland,  at  a  distance  to  leave  at  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  bluff  about  five  acres,  an  unusually 
large  earth  embankment,  with  its  ditch,  extends 
across  the  ridge  at  right  angles  to  its  course. 
The  embankment  is  much  larger  than  an}' other 
seen  by  the  writer  in  the  county,  and  at  each 
end  is  an  open  space,  evidenth'  designed  as  a 
passage.  On  both  sides  of  these  two  open 
spaces,  are  perhaps  fifteen  small  circular  exca- 
vations, arranged  so  as  to  guard  the  passages, 
and  seemingly  intended  for  arrow  pits.  The 
embankment  is  four  or  five  rods  in  length,  and 
on  the  side  toward  the  extremity  of  the  bluff, 
several  of  the  supposed  arrow  pits  are  found 
at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  open  spaces. 
In  fact,  proceeding  from  the  embankment  to- 
ward the  termination  of  the  bluff,  it  becomes  at 
once  apparent  that  arrow  pits  Avere  dug  along 
the  edge  of  the  bluflf,  to  defend  the  position 
from  an  assaulting  foe,  that  might  make  the 
eflTort  to  ascend  the  steep  sides.  At  the  eastern 
end  of  the  bluff,  within  a  small  area,  are  some 
fifteen  or  twenty  more  arrow  pits,  one  of  them 
being  about  eight  feet  across  and  three  feet 
deep.  This  is  one  of  the  strongest  positions  of 
the  kind  in  the  county. 

In  the  same  neighborhood  are  several  other 
forfs,  two  of  them  being  small  with  quite  high, 
irregular  walls,  which  seem  to  be  strengthened 
by  Ijastions,  though  William  Hale  and  others 
reject  this  idea  as  improbable.  These  inclos- 
ures  comprise  from  two  to  five  square  rods  of 
land,  and  the  interior  has  the  appearance,  as  if 
a  party  of  men,  with  spades,  had  thrown  up 
the  irregular  embankment,  leaving  the  surface 
extremel}'    uneven.       There    are,  also,  in    the 


same  neighborhood,  in  a  cultivated  field,  eight 
mounds,  one  of  them,  over  which  the  plow  has 
run  for  many  years,  being  four  feet  high  and 
eighty  feet  in  diameter  at  the  base.  This  is 
said  to  have  been  over  eight  feet  high  in  early 
years.  An  Indian  skeleton,  in  a  fair  state  of 
preservation,  was  unearthed  a  number  of  3'ears 
ago  on  the  summit  about  two  feet  below  the 
surface.  An  excavation  was  made  to  the  cen- 
ter of  this  mound,  and  a  small  quantit}'  of 
crumbled  and  crumbling  bones  was  found. 
William  Hale,  who  was  present  at  the  time, 
states  that  the  bones  were  found  in  a  position 
to  lead  to  the  inference  that  the  party  or  parties 
were  buried  in  a  sitting  posture,  as  the  bones 
of  the  body,  save  those  of  the  arms  and  legs, 
were  together,  while  the  latter  extended  out 
into  the  sandy  soil  like  lines  of  chalk.  Tlie 
remains,  when  found,  were  sufficiently  well  pre- 
served to  prove  beyond  doubt  that  they  were 
bones,  though  whether  they  were  human  bones 
or  not  is  another  question,  not  quite  so  well 
cleared  up.  The  evidence  satisfied  all  present, 
however,  that  the  remains  were  those  of  human 
beings.  The  other  seven  mounds  are  not  quite 
so  large,  and  those  which  have  been  opened 
contained  nothing  of  importance.  It  is  thought 
that  the  large  mound  contained  the  crumbling 
bones  of  more  than  one  person.  The  quantity 
found,  and  its  state  of  preservation,  would 
lead  to  this  view.  One  of  the  small,  irregular 
forts  referred  to  above  and  found  in  this  neigii- 
borhood  on  quite  low  land,  has  a  double  wall 
on  the  side  adjoining  the  river.  Another  in- 
closure  near  this,  but  on  high  land,  is  an  irregu- 
lar octagon  in  shape,  and  comprises  over  half 
an  acre  of  land.  William  Hale's  residence  is 
situated  in  a  small  valley,  which,  in  his  opinion, 
was  once  a  cultivated  field.  At  the  earliest 
settlement,  the  land  was  covered  with  a  heavy 
forest ;  but,  when  this  was  removed  and  the 
soil  turned  up  by  the  plow,  various  implements 
were  found,  among  which  were  arrow  and  spear 
heads  ;  fleshing  instruments  of  flint  ;  pestles 
and  mortars  ;  a  small,  smooth,  hard,  flat  stone, 
shaped  like  a  diamond,  with  the  central  portion 
elongated  and  perforated  with  a  hole  near  each 
end,  supposed  to  have  been  used  in  weaving  a 
coarse  cloth;  and  a  rough,  irregular  stone,  six 
or  eight  inches  in  diameter,  flat  on  two  sides, 
on  one  of  which  were  from  one  to  six  artificial 
holes,  about  an  inch  deep  and  an  inch  and  a 
half  across,  the  use  of  which  is  extremely  diffi- 


)^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


213 


cult  to  determine.  Many  of  these  various  liinds 
are  found  a  few  rods  north  of  Botzurn  Sta- 
tion, on  the  extremity  of  a  blutf,  through  which 
the  railroad  cut  has  been  made,  in  an  Indian 
burying-ground.  It  comprises  about  an  acre  of 
land,  and  some  forty  skeletons,  the  most  of 
which  were  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation,  have 
been  unearthed,  and  many  more  are  yet  in  the 
ground.  They  were  first  discovered  in  1843, 
when  an  addition  made  to  the  canal  disclosed 
several  at  the  point  of  the  bluff.  When  the 
r.'iilroad  was  cut  through  the  center  of  this 
burying-ground,  thirt}'  or  forty  skeletons  wei'e 
plowed  out  in  almost  as  many  minutes.  They 
were  lying  in  somewhat  irregular  rows,  which 
extended  north  and  south,  v.'hile  the  individ- 
uals la}-  with  their  heads  some  to  the  east  and 
some  to  the  west.  There  were  skeletons  of 
males  and  females,  and  perhaps  one-third  of 
these  belonged  to  children.  Many  crumbled 
to  pieces  immediatel}'  ;  but  quite  a  number  of 
skulls  and  some  of  the  larger  bones  were  pre- 
served for  several  years — are  perhaps  in  exist- 
ence yet.  The  soil  where  each  skeleton  lay, 
was  discolored — was  black — and  in  one  of  the 
graves  was  found  a  stone  kettle,  four  inches 
deep  and  eight  inches  across.  Various  imple- 
ments have  been  found  in  the  soil  and  on  the 
surface.  The  skeletons  were  lying  about  two 
feet  beneath  the  surface.  The  teeth  were  as 
sound  and  white,  apparently,  as  when  their 
owners  used  them.  Ver}'  likely  many  of  the 
owners  of  these  skeletons  had  been  killed  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  b}'  dar- 
ing borderers  from  Virginia  and  Penns^dvania. 
Perhaps  the  grandfathers  of  those  who  assisted 
in  unearthing  these  skeletons,  were  among 
these  borderers.  Probably  the  most  important 
earth  inclosure  in  the  county,  is  in  Copley 
Township,  near  the  residence  of  Delos  Bosworth. 
In  the  center  of  a  swamp  of  muck  and  marl 
and  partially  formed  peat,  is  a  circular  island 
about  twenty-five  rods  across,  which  is  elevated 
from  five  to  fifteen  feet  above  the  surface  of 
the  swamp.  There  is  no  natural  approach  to 
this  island.  It  is  surrounded  on  all  sides  by 
twenty  or  thirty  rods  of  what,  in  earl}^  years, 
must  have  been  an  impassable  swamp.  On 
this  island  and  almost  covering  it,  is  an  artifi- 
cial inclosure  of  earth.  The  embankment  is 
about  two  feet  high,  and  the  ditch  is  on  the 
outside.  There  are  twelve  or  fifteen  openings 
in  the  wall,  and  a  causeway  of  earth  leads  from 


these  across  the  ditch,  down  to  the  edge  of  the 
swamp.     In   some  places,  as  on  the   south,  a 
distance  of  three  or   four  rods   lies  from  the 
swamp  to   the  edge  of  the   wall ;  but  usually 
the  distance  is  much  smaller,  and  in  some  cases 
is  reduced  to  a  minimum.     Supposing  the  sui-- 
rounding  swamp  to  have  been  extremely  wet 
and   nasty  (a  Saxon    word),  as  it  must  have 
been  at  an  early   day,  the   position   was  practi- 
cally impregnable.     The  island  is  covered  with 
large  trees,  mostly  hard  maple,  and  no  critical 
and  extended  examination   has  3'et  been  made 
of   the  soil  and   what  it  contains.     Within  the 
inclosui'e  may  be  seen  numerous  small  mounds, 
but  these  may  have  been  thrown  up  b}'  trees 
that  were  blown  down.     Several  of  these  have 
been  opened  without  any  important  discover}-. 
The  mainland    approaches  closest  on  the  east 
side,  and  here  is  a  large  gateway  in  the  em- 
bankment.    A  goodly  number  of  arrow-heads 
have  been  picked  up  on  the  point  of  mainland 
closest  to  the  fort.     This  island  is  called  "  Fort 
Island."  and  a  short  distance  south  of  it  is  an- 
other called  "  Beech  Island."     On  the  southern 
extremity  of  the  last,  are  a  great  number  of 
small  mounds  which  Gen.  Bierce  conceives  to 
be  Indians'  or  Mound-Builders'  graves.     The 
writer  does  not  concur  in  this  view,  but  refers 
their  formation  to  natural  causes,  or  to  beavers. 
Several   have  been  opened,  but   nothing   was 
found.     Just   south   of  Botzurn  Station   is  a 
very  large  mound,  some  thirty  feet  in  height, 
and  about  a  hundred  feet  in  diameter  at  the 
base.     Tliis  was  opened   a  few  years  ago   by 
students  from  Akron,  but  nothing  was  discov- 
ered, save  evidence  from  the  soil  to  prove  that 
the  mound  was  a  natural  formation.     Tbe  soil 
was  found  to  be  similar  to  that  of  the  adjacent 
bluffs,  and  dissimilar  to  that  in  the  valley  where 
the  mound  stands.     Three  hundred  yards  west 
is  a  very  large  mound,  having  a  truncated  sum- 
mit.    This  is  connected   by  a  low  ridge   with 
the  main   formation  of  bluffs,  and,  in  the  opin- 
ion  of  the  writer,  the  other   mound   was  once 
similarly  connected  to  this  one,  the  whole  form- 
ing a    bluff-projection    into   the   valley.       The 
following   is   kindly   furnished    by  J.   M.    Mc- 
Creery,  of  Akron  :  •'  On  the  land  of  Thomas 
Barnes,  in  Norton  Township,  the  conglomerate 
sandstone    rises    into    a    very    high   knob,  and 
from  the  top  a  view  may  be  had  of  the  country 
beyond  Cuyahoga  Falls  in  one  direction,  and  of 
that  nine  miles  across  the  Tuscarawas  Vallev 


■fv" 


T 


214 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


in  the  other,  while  the  view  north  and  south  is 
ahnost  as  extended.  At  the  time  Mr.  Barnes' 
father  settled  on  this  farm,  some  sixt^-five  or 
seventy  3'ears  ago,  there  was  a  mound  built  of 
"  hardheads"  on  the  highest  point  of  this  knob. 
It  was  about  ten  feet  long  and  eight  feet  wide, 
and,  although  some  of  the  top  stones  had 
fallen  or  been  thrown  down,  it  was  still  about 
three  feet  high.  A  chestnut  tree,  twelve  or 
fourteen  inches  in  diameter,  was  growing  at 
one  corner,  and  in  its  growth  had  thrown  the 
corner  down.  There  seems  to  be  but  little 
doubt,  that  this  elevated  point  was  nsed  as  a 
signal  station,  as  a  fire  on  its  summit  could  be 
seen  farther  than  from  an}"  other  point  for 
miles  around,  though  whether  this  is  Mound- 
Builders'  work,  or  that  of  the  Indians,  is  diffi- 
cult to  determine.  Owing  to  the  scarcity  of 
'  hardheads,'  or  cobble-stones,  in  the  vicinity, 
the  building  of  this  mound  was  quite  a  labori- 
ous task."  Mr.  McCreery  also  says  :  "  Near 
Turkey -Foot  Lake,  are  two  very  singular  works, 
which  are  different  from  any  I  have  ever  seen 
elsewhere.  They  are  funnel-shaped  depres- 
sions, some  ten  or  twelve  feet  across  the  top 
and  eight  or  nine  feet  deep,  running  to  a  point 
at  the  bottom.  They  are  walled  around  with 
small  bowlders,  and  unless  they  were  used  for 
fire  pits,  I  am  unable  to  imagine  any  use  to 
which  they  could  have  been  put,  as  the  stone 
work  is  too  loose  to  suppose  thej'  were  intended 
for  cisterns." 

The  principal  earthworks  in  the  county  have 
now  been  described,  though  there  are  many 
others  which  as  yet  are  comparativel}'  un- 
known, and  which  some  future  searcher  may 
moi'e  fully  disclose.  Quite  a  number  of  small 
circular  inclosures  and  insignificant  mounds 
other  than  those  above  described  are  found 
throughout  the  county,  more  especially  along 
the  valley  of  the  Cuyahoga  and  on  the  adja- 
cent bluffs.  A  special  description  of  these  is 
unnecessar}',  as  they  are  ver}-  similar  in  con- 
struction to  some  of  those  referred  to  above. 
So  far  as  can  be  determined,  all  the  inclosures 
in  the  county  belong  to  the  military  class. 
None  seem  to  have  been  used  as  sacred  or  cov- 
ered. Some  of  the  mounds  are  certainly  sepul- 
chral, and  beyond  question  some  were  me- 
morial. Those  containing  bones  were  sepul- 
chers,  wherein  were  deposited  the  bodies  of  dis- 
tinguished characters,  while  those  without 
bones   and  without   any   evidences   that  they 


once  contained  bones  are  probably  memorial 
mounds.  The  ancient  inhabitants  had  no  need 
to  erect  mounds  of  observation  in  this  count}^, 
as  high  bluffs  in  prominent  positions  furnished 
abundant  natural  facilities  for  watchfulness 
over  a  wide  scope  of  country.  There  are  sev- 
eral places  in  the  county — as  at  Turkey'  Foot 
Lake,  at  the  gigantic  truncated  mound  near 
Botzurn  Station,  at  the  elevated  inclosure  in 
northwestern  Northampton  and  at  various 
other  places  along  the  Cuyahoga  and  through- 
out the  county — where,  beyond  doubt,  fires 
were  kindled  in  ancient  times.  The  stones 
found  at  these  places  reveal  this  fact,  and  in 
some  cases  ashes  and  charcoal  have  been  dis- 
covered. Of  course,  it  is  highly  probable  that 
the  Indians,  and  not  the  mound  builders, 
might  have  kindled  these  fires,  and  possibl}' 
erected  some  of  the  earthworks.  Indian  vil- 
lages were  often  found  on  the  site  of  these 
ancient  works,  and  it  is  to  be  presumed  that 
some  alterations  were  made.  It  is  often  diffi- 
cult, and  sometimes  impossible,  to  distinguish 
the  individual  works  of  these  two  people,  yet  in 
general  no  difficulty  is  experienced  by  persons 
well  informed  on  the  subject. 

It  is  impossible  and  unnecessary  to  give  a 
description  of  all  the  ancient  implements,  orna- 
ments and  utensils  that  have  been  found  in  the 
county.  They  are  numbered  by  the  thousand, 
and  include  all  the  varieties  of  stone  axes, 
mauls,  hammers,  celts,  mortars,  pestles,  flint 
arrow  and  spear  heads,  fleshing  and  skinning 
instruments,  ceremonial  stones,  shuttles,  col- 
ored slate  ornaments,  breast-plates  of  stone  or 
shell,  ornamental  charms  and  totems,  shell  or- 
naments, rude  and  imperfect  specimens  of  pot- 
ter}',  bone  and  metallic  ornaments,  igneous 
stones,  and  a  multitude  more  of  all  sizes  and 
shapes,  whose  uses  are  unknown.  In  April, 
1877,  there  was  found  buried  in  muck,  about 
three  miles  west  of  Akron,  a  heap  of  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety-seven  flint  instruments.  Of 
these,  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  were  evi- 
dentl}'  designed  for  arrow  and  spear  heads, 
though  the  usual  notches  at  one  end  are  lack- 
ing. They  are  probably  unfinished  ari-ow  and 
spear  heads.  They  may  be  seen  in  the  museum 
of  the  cit}"  library  at  Akron.  The  various  im- 
plements, ornaments,  etc.,  just  referred  to,  evi- 
dently belonged  partly  to  the  Indian  and 
partly  to  the  Mound  Builder.  It  may  be  that 
both  races  used  the  same  implements,  as  it  is 


■^FH 


;1^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


215 


quite  likel}-  that  the  Indian  would  learn  some- 
thing from  the  scattered  remnants  of  the 
Mound  Builders'  works.  Will  the  history  of 
this  strange  people  ever  be  known  ?  Can  re- 
search ever  clear  up  the  mystery  of  their  origin 
and  fate  ?  Who  can  sa}-  what  the  human  mind 
will  accomplish  ?  May  not  the  evolution  of 
tliought  into  new  and  numerous  fields  so  widen 
the  human  understanding  tliat  existing  evi- 
dences may  be  sufficient  to  disperse  the  gloom 
enveloping  the  origin  of  man  ?  If  the  theory 
of  evolution  be  true,  and  man  is  spared  upon 
the  earth,  who  can  measure  the  final  result  ? 
the  children  of  men  will  come  and  go  upon  the 
earth  ;  imitated  ideals  will  become  loftier ;  ex- 
cellence in  all  the  arts  of  mind  and  spirit  will 
be  attained  ;  limitless  intelligence  will  assume 
startling  forms  of  power  and  penetration ; 
boundless  wisdom  will  lead  to  prophecy  ; 
prophecy  perfected  will  become  a  science,  by 
which  past  and  future  will  be  blotted  out,  and 
time  be  measured  b}^  the  present ;  new  and 
wonderful  taculties  of  mind  will  be  created  by 
the  developing  laws  of  evokition  ;  new  percep- 
tions and  cognitions  and  emotions  will  open 
Ijroad  fields  of  beauty  to  the  mind  that  before 
were  beyond  the  reach  of  human  capabilities  ; 
man's  capacity  will  be  multiplied  a  thousand- 
fold, and  evidences  will  augment  in  a  similar 
degree  ;  mental  conclusions  will  peer  into  the 
sanctuarj'  of  creation,  and  the  origin  of  life  will 
be  reached.  When  this  state  is  reached,  the 
history  of  the  Mound  Builders  will  be  read  as 
in  a  book,  but,  if  it  be  not  reached,  their  origin 
and  fate  will  never  be  known  until  all  mankind 
shall  stand  face  to  face  before  the  bar  of  God. 
The  Indian  history  of  Summit  County,  though 
somewhat  meager  as  I'egards  prominent  events, 
contains  many  interesting  incidents,  the  princi- 
pal of  which  will  be  recorded.  In  the  3'ear 
l(Ji)U,  the  date  at  which  the  aboriginal  history 
of  Northeastern  Ohio  begins,  a  tribe  of  Indians, 
called  the  Eries,  inhaliited  that  section  of  coun- 
try.* How  far  their  lands  extended  southward 
from  the  lake  is  somewhat  indefinite,  although 
it  is  probable  that  they  included  the  greater 
portion  of  Summit  County,  and,  possibly,  all 
the  soil  within  its  present  limits.  It  is  gener- 
ally admitted  that  the  Eries  were  a  member  of 

*  I'e  Witt  Clintdn  in  hid  Historical  Discourse  ii|)on  tlie  Imlians 
of  North  America;  Louis  llciiiiepin,  a  Franciscan  friar,  whuse 
travels  in  "New  France"  were  piiblislicd  in  1698;  Brant,  the  Mo- 
hawk chief,  in  a  letter  to  Timothy  Pick'jrinjr,  November  20,  17a4, 
and  Charlevoix,  the  historian  of  "  New  France,"  all  assign  the 
Kries  or  Erigas  to  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Erie. 


the  Iroquois  family,  as  distinguished  from  the 
Algonquin  tribes.  At  the  date  above  given, 
the  Iroquois,  consisting  of  the  confederated 
Mohawks,  Oneidas,  Onondagas,  Cayugas  and 
Senecas,  occupied  New  York  and  Northern 
Pennsylvania.  These  confederated  tribes,  called 
the  Five  Nations,  had  formed  their  alliance  as 
early  as  1605  ;  and,  so  powerful  had  they  be- 
come, that  their  lands,  acquired  by  conquest, 
covered  a  large  tract  of  country.  When  the 
Tuscaroras  were  added  to  the  alliance,  the  lat- 
ter were  styled  the  Six  Nations.  AH  other 
Northern  tribes  of  Indians  than  those  men- 
tioned above  were  Algonquins.  The  leading 
tribe  of  the  latter  was  the  Lenni  Lenape,  or 
Delaware,  whose  traditions  declare  it  to  be  the 
parent  stem  whence  other  x\lgonquin  tribes 
have  sprung.  Other  tribes  of  this  family  were 
Wyandots,  Ottawas,  Shawanese,  etc.  The  Iro- 
quois, grown  strong  and  arrogant  b}'  years  of 
confederated  conquest,  steadily  enlarged  their 
lands  from  the  spoils  of  conquered  tribes. 
About  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  eentur}', 
they  drove,  the  Hurons  or  Wyandots  from  their 
home  in  Canada,  and  took  possession  of  their 
lands.  They  likewise  conquered  the  Neutral 
Nation,  the  Andastes,  the  Satanas.  or  Shawanese, 
and  others.  "In  1655,  the}'  turned  against 
their  Erie  brethren,  and  using  their  canoes  as 
scaling  ladders,  invaded  the  Erie  strongholds, 
leaping  down  like  tigers  among  the  defenders 
and  butchering  them  withohj.  mere}'."*  Those 
that  were  not  massacred  or  driven  awa}-,  were 
adopted  by  the  conquerors.  So  powerful  had 
the  Iroquois  become,  that  they  conquered,  with  a 
few  exceptions,  all  the  Indian  tribes  east  of 
the  Mississippi.  They  thus  came  to  own  large 
tracts  of  country,  much  of  which  was  afterward 
ceded  by  treaty  to  the  colonies.  In  1726,  the\' 
ceded  their  lands  to  England  under  certain 
specified  conditions,  and  from  that  time  ceased 
to  occupy  the  arrogant  position  of  conquering 
tribes.  After  1663,  when  the  war  broke  out 
between  the  Iroquois  and  the  Canadian  colo- 
nists, the  former  could  no  longer  continue  their 
conquests  in  Ohio,  and  several  Indian  tribes 
hastened  to  occupy  this  beautiful  country.  In 
1750,  there  were  living  in  Ohio,  among  others, 
the  following  Indian  tribes  :  The  Wyandots 
(called  Hurons  by  the  French) ;  the  Delawares 
and  Shawanese  (both  members  of  the  Algon- 


*Histor)'  of  the   Stat? 
James  W.  Taylor. 


of  Ohio:     Fir.^t  Period,  1G50-1787,  by 


^ 


® w- 


216 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


quin  group)  ;  the  Miamis  (also  called  Twig- 
twees)  ;  the  Mingoes  (a  branch  of  the  Iroquois 
or  Six  Nations),  and  the  Ottawas  and  Chip- 
pewas.  The  Wyandots  occupied  the  countr}^ 
in  the  vicinity  of  Sandusky  River.  The  Dela- 
wares  were  established  on  the  Muskingum  and 
Tuscarawas  Rivers,  and  at  a  few  other  points. 
The  Shawanese  were  chiefly'  found  on  the  Scioto 
and  Mad  Rivers.  The  Miamis  were  on  the 
Great  and  Little  Miami  Rivers.  The  Mingoes 
were  in  great  force  at  Mingo  Bottom,  near  Steu- 
benville  and  at  several  other  points  in  Ohio. 
The  Ottawas  occupied  the  valleys  of  the  Mau- 
mee  and  Sandusky  Rivers,  and  the  Chippewas, 
few  in  number,  were  confined  to  the  southern 
shore  of  Lake  Erie.  From  1750  to  the  war  of 
1812,  these  Indian  tribes  were  found  in  differ- 
ent portions  of  Ohio,  and  a  great  portion  of  the 
time  were  engaged  in  border  wars  with  the 
daring  pioneers.  The  history  of  these  wars 
would  fill  volumes.  Parties  of  savages,  dressed 
in  the  spangled  paraphernalia  of  war,  would 
hover  about  the  settlements,  and,  when  the  ven- 
turesome pioneers  were  off  their  guard,  would 
swoop  down  upon  them,  with  horrid  3'ells,  to 
massacre  and  pillage  and  carry  into  hopeless 
captivity,  or  for  purposes  of  heart-rending  tor- 
ture. To  punish  the  savages,  bands  of  daring 
borderers  would  make  incursions  into  their 
country,  laying  waste  their  homes  and  slaughter- 
ing the  inhabitants.  Some  of  these  Ohio  tribes 
were  almost  constantly  at  war  with  the  whites 
during  the  period  mentioned.  While  members 
of  all  the  tribes  mentioned  above  were  found 
in  Ohio,  only  four  tribes  were,  in  numbers, 
sufficient  to  merit  a  special  sketch.  These  are 
the  Wyandots,  Delawares,  Shawanese  and 
Ottawas. 

The  Wyandots,  as  indicated  by  the  idioms 
and  other  characteristics  of  their  language,  were 
related  to  the  Iroquois,  but  about  the  middle  of 
the  seventeenth  century  they  embraced  the  re- 
ligious faith  of  the  Roman  Catholics,  and,  for 
some  reason  unknown,  severed  their  connection 
with  their  relatives,  the  Iroquois,  and  cast  their 
lot  with  the  powerful  Algonquins.*  Their 
original  residence  was  in  Canada,  some  author- 
ities fixing  their  location  on  Georgian  Bay,  and 
others,  as  Mr.  Schoolcraft,  on  Montreal  Island. 
Their  number  is  estimated  to  have  been  about 
40,000  souls.     Some  time  after  this,  the}^  be- 

♦From  the  American  Cyclopedia  the  sketches  of  these  four 
Indian  tribes  have  been  taken. 


came  involved  in  a  war  with  the  Iroquois,  by 
whom  they  were  nearly  exterminated,  after 
which  they  removed  first  to  Charity  Island  and 
finally  to  Quebec.  They  were  found  south  of 
the  great  lakes,  in  16G0,  by  some  French  trad- 
ers, and,  ten  years  later,  having  become  in- 
volved in  a  war  with  the  powerful  Sioux,  they 
removed  to  Michilimackinac,  and  were  accom- 
panied by  Father  Marquette.  Afterward,  they 
established  themselves  at  Detroit,  their  hunt- 
ing-grounds extending  into  Northern  Ohio.  In 
1778,  remnants  of  the  tribe  were  yet  in  Can- 
ada, while  that  at  Detroit  was  estimated  to  con- 
tain about  one  hundred  and  eighty  warriors. 
In  1829,  a  small  band  of  the  tribe  was  located 
in  Michigan.  They  numbered  about  forty,  and 
were  provided  with  annuities  b}^  the  Govern- 
ment. Immediately  after  the  war  of  1812,  the 
principal  portion  of  the  Wyandots,  numbering 
about  six  hundred,  was  established  on  the  San- 
dusky River  on  a  tract  of  land  eighteen  miles 
long  east  and  west,  and  twelve  miles  wide.  In 
1835,  the  Wyandots  decided  to  sell  a  strip  of 
land  five  miles  wide  on  the  eastern  border  of 
their  reservation,  and  the  land  was  accordingly 
thrown  into  market,  very  likel}'  through  the  in- 
fluence of  the  whites,  who  coveted  the  pos- 
sessions of  the  Indian.  In  1843,  the  Wyan- 
dots were  transferred  to  Kansas,  where  they 
have  since  resided,  and  the  land  of  their  reser- 
vation was  annexed  to  the  adjoining  counties. 
The  Shawanese  are  an  erratic  tribe  of  the 
Algonquin  family.  A  tradition  of  recent  origin 
makes  them  primarily  one  with  the  Kickapoo 
nation  ;  but  they  moved  eastward,  and  a  part 
are  said  to  have  remained,  in  1648,  along  the 
Fox  River,  while  the  main  body  was  met  south 
of  Lake  Erie  by  the  Iroquois,  and  was  driven 
to  the  Cumberland  River.  Some  passed  thence 
to  Florida  and  some  to  Carolina.  One  band 
was  in  Pennsylvania  at  the  close  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  Those  in  Florida  lived  at 
peace  with  the  Spaniards,  and  afterward  be- 
came known  as  Savannahs,  or  Yemassees. 
These  retired  to  the  Creeks,  and  finally-  joined 
the  Northern  Shawanese.  The  Iroquois  claimed 
sovereignty  over  the  Shawanese,  and  drove 
them  West.  In  1731,  they  aided  the  French  ; 
but,  in  1758,  they  sided  with  the  English.  They 
joined  the  conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  and  were 
active  in  war  until  subdued  by  Boquet.  In 
1774,  enraged  at  the  attacks  of  Col.  Cresap, 
they  roused  most  of  the  Western  tribes,  and,  in 


*^ 


[iL 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


217 


October,  defeated  the  Virginians  at  Pleasant 
Point,  but  sued  for  peace  the  following  year. 
Col.  Bowman,  who  marched  against  them  in 
1779,  was  twice  defeated.  They  joined  the 
peace  of  1786  ;  but  took  part  in  the  Miami  war, 
in  the  campaigns  against  Harmar  and  St.  Clair, 
but  were  reduced  by  Gen.  Wayne,  and  then 
entered  the  peace  treaty  of  1795.  The  main 
body  was  at  this  time  on  the  Scioto  ;  but  a  few 
had  gone  to  Missouri,  and  another  band  had 
moved  South.  During  the  war  of  1812,  urged 
In^  Tecumseh  and  his  brother,  the  Prophet,  they 
endeavored  to  unite  the  Western  Indians 
against  the  Americans  ;  but  those  in  Ohio  re- 
mained faithful.  The  Missouri  band  ceded 
their  laud  to  the  Government  in  1825,  and  the 
Ohio  band  in  1831.  In  1854,  the  band  of 
Shawanese  proper,  living  in  that  part  of  the 
Indian  Territory  now  included  in  Kansas,  and 
consisting  of  1,600,000  acres,  numbered  900  ; 
but  at  this  time,  or  soon  after  the  tribal  rela- 
tion was  dissolved  by  treaty,  and  the  lands 
were  divided  in  severalty.  Besides  these,  there 
were,  in  1872,  90  in  the  Quapau  Agency,  and 
663  in  the  Sac  and  Fox  Agency. 

The  Ottawas,  when  first  known  to  the  French 
explorers,  were  located  on  the  Manitoulin 
Islands,  and  on  the  northwest  shore  of  the 
Michigan  peninsula.  The}^  believed  in  Micha- 
l:)ou,  "the  great  hare,"  a  mythical  personage, 
who  formed  the  earth  and  developed  men  from 
animals  ;  in  Mirabichi,  "  god  of  the  water ;"  in 
Missabizi,  "the  great  tiger."  Soon  after  16-49, 
they  fled  before  the  Iroquois  to  Green  Bay, 
thence  west  beyond  the  Mississippi  to  the 
country  of  the  Sioux,  with  whom  they  became 
involved  in  war,  when  they  fell  back  to  Che- 
goimegon,  before  1660,  and  finally  to  Mackin- 
naw.  The  tribe  became  considerably  divided 
here,  one  of  the  divisions  settling  near  Detroit, 
and  the  one  at  Mackinaw  passing  over  to  Ar- 
Iire  Croche.  The  greater  number  of  the  Otta- 
was were  in  the  last  war  with  the  French,  and 
at  its  close  Pontiac,  an  Ottawa  chief,  and  one 
of  the  ablest  Indians  of  any  tribe  that  ever 
lived,  organized  a  vast  conspiracv  for  the  de- 
struction of  the  English.  They  were  under 
English  influence  during  the  Revolution,  and 
at  this  time  numbered  about  1,500.  They  par- 
ticipated in  the  treaties  of  1785, 1789  and  1795, 
and  afterward,  by  other  treaties,  the}"  acquired 
a  tract  of  land  on  the  Miami,  thirty-four  miles 
square.     By   the   treaty  of  1833,    they   ceded 


their  land  around  Lake  Michigan  for  land  south 
of  the  Missouri  River,  and  soon  ceased  to  be  a 
distinct  band.  A  band  of  Ottawas  at  Maumee, 
in  1836,  ceded  49,000  acres  to  Ohio,  and  200 
emigrated  to  the  Osage  River,  locating  south  of 
the  Shawanese.  Some  230  remained  and  be- 
came scattered  in  detached  bands.  In  1867, 
they  became  citizens,  and  in  1870  were  re- 
moved to  a  reservation  of  24,960  acres  in  In- 
dian Territory.  Several  thousand  are  yet  liv- 
ing in  scattei-ed  bands  in  Michigan  and  Canada, 
and  all  are  self-supporting. 

The  Delawares  are  a  tribe  of  the  Algonquin 
family,  and,  when  first  known  to  the  whites, 
were  dwelling  in  detached  bands,  under  sepa- 
rate sachems,  on  the  Delaware  River.  They 
styled  themselves  Renappi,  or,  as  now  written, 
Lenape  or  Lenni  Lenape.  The  Dutch  began 
trading  with  them  in  1616,  and  enjoyed  friendl}' 
intercourse  with  them  until  1632,  when  the  set- 
tlement at  Swanendael  was  utterly  destroyed 
by  a  sudden  attack,  but  trade  was  soon  after- 
ward resumed.  The  Swedes  made  attempts  to 
Christianize  them,  and  had  Luther's  Catechism 
printed  in  their  language.  The  Delawares  claim 
to  have  come  from  the  West  with  the  Minguas, 
who  soon  afterward  reduced  them  to  a  state  of 
vassalage,  and  when  the}'  were  conquered  by 
the  Five  Nations,  they  were  termed  women  by 
the  latter.  The  Delawares  formed  three  fami- 
lies, or  clans — the  Turtle,  the  Turkey  and  the 
Wolf  At  the  time  of  the  "  walking  treat}" " 
made  by  Penn,  the  Delawares  complained  that 
they  had  been  defrauded  in  the  interpretation 
of  the  treaty,  and  showed  a  reluctance  to  "  walk," 
upon  which  the  authorities  called  upon  the  Six 
Nations,  who  ordered  the  Delawai-es,  as  women, 
to  retire.  The  Delawares  were  now  thrown 
among  warring  people,  and,  though  previously 
mild  and  peaceable,  they  now  became  energetic, 
and  conducted  their  wars  with  great  ferocity. 
In  a  war  with  the  Cherokees,  they  reached  the 
Ohio,  where  a  portion  remained  until  1773. 
They  took  up  arms  and  fought  with  the  French 
at  Braddock's  Defeat  and  elsewhere,  but  suffered 
so  much  from  English  attacks  that  they  finally 
treated  for  peace,  part  of  them  in  1757,  and 
the  others  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Du  Quesne. 
They  then  centered  on  the  Susquehanna,  and  a 
small  nuinber  soon  afterward  settled  on  the 
Muskingum.  They  took  up  arms  in  the  border 
war,  but  were  badly  defeated  at  Bushy  Run, 
August,  1763,  by  Boquet.     Their  towns  on  the 


218 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Susquehanna  were  pillaged  and  burned,  many 
were  killed  and  dispersed,  and  in  1768,  they 
emigrated  to  Ohio.  In  1774.  they  were  again 
badly  defeated  at  Pleasant  Point,  and  a  part 
were  afterward  engaged  in  the  Revolution.  In 
1772.  the  Christian  Delawares  settled  on  the 
Muskingum,  but  were  hastily  removed  to  San- 
dusky, in  1781,  by  the  English.  Early  the  fol- 
lowing 3'ear,  ninetj'-four  who  returned  were 
murdered  by  a  party  of  enraged  borderers 
under  Col.  Williamson.  By  the  treaty  of  1785, 
the  Delawares  occupied  the  soil  between 
the  rivers  Cuyahoga  and  Miami.  At  this 
time  there  were  many  scattered  bands  of 
Delawares,  several  of  which  were  Christian, 
and  at  peace  with  the  whites.  The  main  tribe, 
at  Grand  Blaze,  with  480  warriors,  was  hostile, 
and  400  under  Buckongahelas  were  at  the  de- 
feat of  St.  Clair,  in  1791  ;  but  four  3'ears  later, 
they  joined  the  peace  treat}'  at  Greenville.  In 
1808,  there  were  800  at  Wapeminskink,  a  few 
at  Sandusk}',  a  few  on  the  Muskingum,  and  a 
large  bod}-  at  Fairfield,  Canada.  In  1818,  the 
Delawares,  1.800  strong,  ceded  their  lands  to  the 
United  States  and  emigrated  to  Missouri.  In 
1829,  many  went  to  Kansas,  and  some  south  of 
the  Red  River.  In  1853,  they  sold  all  their  lands 
to  the  United  States,  except  that  in  Kansas. 
During  the  last  war,  out  of  201  able-bodied 
warriors,  170  enlisted  and  served  in  the  arm}'. 
The}'  sold  their  lands,  in  1868,  to  the  Missouri 
Railroad,  and  settled  on  the  Verdigris  and  Cone. 
In  1866,  they  became  citizens,  though  their 
clans — Turtle,  Turkey  and  Wolf — still  exist. 

During  the  border  wars  of  the  last  half  of 
the  last  century,  the  Indian  villages,  in  what  is 
now  Summit  County,  were  actively  engaged.* 

*Wheti  these  villagps  wi-rs  first  Pitulilisbed  is  not  definitely 
liiiown  ;  but  from  an  i>l(i  mnp  wliich  Wiis  publisherl  in  1755,  by 
Lewis  Evans  it  is  .ascertained  tliat  at  tU;it  tirue  there  was  a  Mingo 
vilbioje  on  the  west  liarjk  of  the  river,  pnibtbly  in  wliat  is  r,ow 
ensteni  Rath,  and  an  Ottawa  villago  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river  in  Northampton,  i>r  peihaps,  as  'omesay,  in  Boston.  There  is 
also  marUeil  on  the  ni  ip  a  Krench  trading-bouse-,  which  was  located 
eitlicr  in  northwestern  Boiton  Township,  or  on  the  Cuyahoga,  five 
miles  from  its  month  The  bitter  view  is  rendered  improbable, 
from  the  fact,  among  othors,  tint  tlie  house  on  the  map  is  loeati^d 
very  near  the  Ottawa  village.  The  house,  beyond  reasonable  doubt, 
was  located  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  about  forty  rods  north  of 
Boston  Village.  A  few  old  apple  trees  were  found  growing  near  the 
ppotby  the  early  settlers.  These  were  probably  idanted  by  the 
French.  When  the  whites  appeared,  this  place  was  occupied  by  the 
Ottawas,  under  their  Chief  Stigwanisli,  while  a  hatf-milo  northwest 
was  a  Seneca  village  under  the  Chief  Ponty.  There  were  two  other 
Indian  villages,  in  early  years,  at  Cuyahoga  Falls.  On  the  north 
side  of  the  river  was  an  encampment  of  Ilela  wares,  and  on  the  Bonth, 
one  ol  the  Iroquois.  There  vvas  a  Delaware  village  in  Coventry 
Township,  under  Capt.  Pipe,  or  in  the  Indian  language,  Tauhango- 
cauponye,  or  IIopDcan.  There  were  also,  at  times,  temporary  en- 
campments in  almost  every  township  in  the  county.  The  Chippe- 
was  were  found  among  others,  as  were  also  a  few  Wyandots. 


They  sent  numerous  small  bands  to  Western 
Pennsylvania  to  massacre  the  white  pioneers 
on  the  border,  and  destroy  their  habitations. 
It  is  extremely  probable  that  some  of  the 
borderers  who  were  captured  on  these  ex- 
peditions were  tortured  to  death  at  the  vil- 
lages in  Summit  County.  Perhaps  these  spots, 
now  so  quiet  and  peaceful,  once  echoed  with 
the  frenzied  death-cries  of  white  men,  while 
around,  on  every  hand,  circled  the  leaping  and 
exulting  savages,  tearing  up  with  hot  iron 
the  bleeding  flesh  of  the  despairing  sufferers, 
and  filling  the  air  with  their  dreadful  yells 
of  revenge.  Here  the  dusky  savages,  decked 
in  the  gaudy  ornaments  of  border  war,  invoked 
the  favor  of  their  god  before  descending  like 
death  upon  the  defenseless  settlements.  Here 
could  be  heard  their  wild  chants — 

"  Ne-gau  nls-sau — ne-gau  nissau 
Kitchi-mau-li-sau — negau  nissau" — 
(I  will  kill— I  will  kill 
The  white  man — I  will  kill)— 

before  they  started  on  those  expeditions,  of 
which  we  read  in  histories.  In  1759,  there 
lived  in  Cumberland  County,  Penn.,  a  family 
named  Campbell,  consisting  of  the  father  and 
a  bright  little  girl,  about  seven  years  old,  named 
Mary.  Residing  in  the  same  house  was  an 
other  family  named  Stuart,  consisting  of  the 
husband  and  wife,  and  four  or  five  children,  one 
of  these  being  an  infant.  One  day,  when  the 
men  were  absent,  Mrs.  Stuart  left  her  children 
in  charge  of  the  little  girl  Mary,  and  went  a 
mile  or  two  distant  to  the  house  of  a  neighbor. 
In  her  absence,  a  small  band  of  Delaware  In- 
dians took  possession  of  the  cabin,  and  made 
all  the  children  prisoners,  much  to  the  conster- 
nation of  little  Mary,  who  was  old  enough  to 
know  that  some  awful  calamity  was  pending. 
The  Indians,  knowing  that  the  adult  members 
of  the  families  were  not  far  away,  made  prep- 
arations to  receive  them.  As  Mrs.  Stuart,  on 
her  return,  approached  the  house,  she  heard 
the  children  screaming,  and  hurried  forward, 
but  was  instantly  made  prisoner  by  the  savages, 
who  then  thought  it  best  not  to  await  the  re- 
turn of  the  men,  but,  with  their  prisoners, 
started  for  their  camp  in  Armstrong  County. 
They  soon  became  tired  of  carrying  the  in- 
fant, which  was  fretful,  and  one  of  them  finally 
took  it,  and,  in  the  presence  of  its  shrieking 
mother,  dashed  its  brains  out  against  a  tree, 
and  cast  its  quivering  body  in  the  bushes.  The 


"Tl. 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


219 


Indians  pushed  on  rapidly,  uroiug  their  weary 
and  agonized  prisoners  to  their  best  pace,  and 
carrying  those  that  finally  gave  out.  A  little 
boy  about  seven  years  old,  named  Samni}',  was 
carried  upon  the  back  of  one  of  the  Indians 
until  the  latter  was  tired.  On  the  third  day, 
this  Indian  fell  behind  the  others,  and  when  he 
again  appeared,  the  little  boy  was  missing, 
while  at  his  belt  Mrs.  Stuart  recognized  the 
curly  locks  of  her  little  Samni}-.  The  poor 
mother  and  her  children  were  hurried  on  until 
at  last,  weary  and  footsore,  they  reached  the 
Indian  village.  Here  they  were  soon  separated, 
and  one  or  more  of  them  was  adopted  by  the 
Indians.  The  following  3"ear,  Netawatwees,  the 
chief  of  this  band,  removed  with  his  followers 
and  prisoners  to  their  village  at  the  "  Big  Falls  " 
of  the  Cuyahoga,  now  in  Summit  County,  Ohio. 
^liivy  had  been  adopted  by  the  chief,  and  was 
treated  with  uniform  kindness,  occupying  a 
position  of  equality  with  the  Indian  children. 
Here  the  prisoners  I'emained  until  1764,  when 
they  were  delivered  to  Col.  Boquet,  at  his  fort 
in  Tuscarawas  County,  and  soon  afterward 
were  returned  to  their  friends  in  Penns3'lvania. 
It  is  vei'3'  probable  that  other  white  prisoners 
from  the  Indian  villages  in  Summit  County 
were  delivered  up  at  this  treaty.  Col.  Boquet 
had  come  out  with  an  army  of  1,500  men.  The 
appearance  of  this  force  awed  the  Indians,  and 
they  sued  for  peace  in  the  most  abject  manner, 
delivering  up  at  the  same  time,  some  300  white 
captives.  Fathers,  brothers  and  husbands  had 
come  out  in  hopes  of  finding  their  lost  friends, 
and  when  the  captives  were  given  up  the  scene 
beggars  description.  "  There  were  seen,"  says 
a  writer  in  the  Historical  Ilecord,  "  fathers  and 
mothers  recognizing  and  clasping  their  once 
captive  little  ones  ;  husbands  hung  around 
their  newly-recovered  wives  ;  brothers  and  sis- 
ters met  after  long  separation,  scarcely  able  to 
speak  the  same  language,  or  to  realize  that 
they  were  children  of  the  same  parents  !  In  the 
interviews,  there  w^as  inexpressible  J03'  and 
rapture  ;  while,  in  some  cases,  feelings  of  a  very 
different  character  were  manifested  by  looks  or 
language.  Man}'  were  flying  from  place  to 
place,  making  eager  inquiries  after  relatives 
not  found,  trembling  to  receive  answers  to  their 
questions,  distracted  with  doubts,  hopes  and 
fears  ;  distressed  and  grieved  on  obtaining  no 
information  about  the  friends  they  sought,  and, 
in  some  cases,  petrified  into  living  monuments 


of  horror  and  woe  on  learning  their  unhappy 
fate."  "  In  many  cases,"  Albach  says,  "  strong 
attachments  had  grown  up  between  the  savages 
and  their  captives,  so  that  they  were  reluctantly- 
surrendered,  some  even  not  without  tears,  ac- 
companied with  some  token  of  remembrance." 
The  girl,  Mary  Campbell,  and  Mrs.  Stuart  and 
her  children,  were  the  first  white  persons  known 
to  have  lived  in  what  is  now  Summit  County. 
During  and  after  the  Revolution,  the  Indians 
of  the  Cuyahoga  Valley  were  very  troublesome 
to  the  Pennsylvania  pioneers.  The  details  of 
their  savage  barbarity  would  sicken  the  heart. 
All  along  the  Ohio  Iliver,  on  both  sides,  the 
Indians  and  borderers  met  in  terrific  conflicts, 
which  resulted  in  the  death  or  captivity  of  one 
of  the  parties.  Almost  the  entire  half  of  the 
last  century  was  a  succession  of  border  wars. 
So  dreadful  and  frequent  became  the  attacks  of 
the  savages  that  many  expeditions  were  sent 
to  reduce  their  villages  and  slaughter  the  peo- 
ple or  drive  them  far  off  into  the  forest.  Young 
men  on  the  border  were  trained  to  the  one  pur- 
suit of  killing  Indians,  and  the  names  of  Poe, 
Kenton,  Wetzel,  Brady  and  a  host  of  others 
will  ever  bear  a  prominent  place  on  the  page 
of  the  American  border  wars.  The  daring  and 
intrepidity  of  many  of  these  Indian  slayers 
were  astonishing.  They  seemed  to  delight  in 
the  awful  work  and  courted  death  and  torture 
with  a  reckless  courage  that  arouses  the  keen- 
est interest  of  those  who  read  of  their  exploits. 
Hundreds  of  Indians  werfe  killed  without  any 
pretext,  save  the  sport  afforded  the  intrepid 
borderers,  or  to  avenge  wrongs  done  by  the 
savages.  Horse-stealing  became  a  great  pas- 
time, in  which  the  borderers  and  their  savage 
foes  freely  indulged  ;  and  man}-  of  the  fierce 
pei'sonal  conflicts,  read  of  all  over  the  country, 
were  occasioned  by  lawless  incursions  of  this 
character.  Small  armies  were  sent  at  various 
times  to  different  portions  of  Ohio  to  defeat 
the  Indians  or  treat  with  them  for  peace. 
Among  these  were  the  expeditions  of  Cols. 
Bradstreet  and  Boquet,  in  1704,  by  which  com- 
parative peace  was  secured  until  1774,  when  a 
border  war  again  slowly  broke  out.  About 
this  time,  several  unfortunate  attacks  on  the 
Indians  were  made,  in  one  of  which  the  inof- 
fensive relatives  of  Logan,  the  Mingo  chief, 
were  ruthlessly  murdered  by  a  small  command 
under  Col.  Michael  Cresap.  This  barbarous 
act  precipitated  events,  and  the  Indians,  roused 


r 


:^i 


>> 


2'20 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


for  vengeance,  began  scouring  the  border  to 
murder  and  pillage.  The  utmost  terror,  gloom 
and  consternation  pervaded  all  the  frontier  set- 
tlements. Gen.  Mcintosh  conducted  an  expe- 
dition against  the  Indians  in  1778,  and  Col. 
John  Bowman  the  following  year.  Col.  Q.  K. 
Clarke  marched  against  them  in  1780  ;  Gen. 
Daniel  Broadhead  in  1781  ;  Col.  Lowry  the 
same  year  ;  Col.  Williamson  in  1782  ;  Col. 
Crawford  the  same  year ;  Gen.  Clarke  again  in 
1782;  Col.  Benj.  Logan  in  1786;  and,  besides 
these,  there  were  many  others.  It  became  the 
pi'actice  on  the  border  to  organize  small  com- 
panies of  "  rangers,"  who,  when  the  savages 
swept  down  upon  some  family  and  either  killed 
or  captured  the  members,  would  hastil}'  assem- 
ble and  pursue  the  enemy,  to  chastise  them 
and  recover  the  captives.  A  noted  leader  of 
these  rangers,  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  was 
Capt.  Samuel  Brady.  He  was  a  man  of  pro- 
digious size,  strength,  endurance,  activity  and 
courage,  and  became  known  to  all  the  Northern 
Indians,  who  made  desperate  attempts  to  either 
capture  or  kill  him.  A  few  years  previous  to 
this,  his  father  and  brother  had  been  killed  b}' 
the  Indians,  and  he  is  said  to  have  taken  a 
solemn  vow  to  devote  his  future  life  to  revenge. 
The  following  is  quoted  from  Howe's  "  Histori- 
cal Collection  :"  "  Brad3''s  residence  was  on 
Chartier  Creek,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Ohio, 
and  being  a  man  of  herculean  strength,  activity 
and  courage,  he  was  generally  selected  as  the 
leader  of  the  hardy  borderers  in  all  their  in- 
cursions into  the  Indian  Territor}^  north  of  the 
river.  In  about  the  3'ear  1780,  a  large  party 
of  warriors  from  the  falls  of  the  Cuyahoga  and 
the  adjacent  country  had  made  an  inroad  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Ohio,  in  the  lower  part 
of  what  is  now  Washington  County,  on  what 
was  then  known  as  the  settlement  of  '  Cattish 
Camp,'  after  an  old  Indian  of  that  name  who 
had  lived  there  when  the  whites  first  came  into 
the  Moaongahela  Valley.  This  party  had  mur- 
dered several  families,  and  with  the  '  plunder ' 
had  recrossed  the  Ohio  before  effectual  pur- 
suit could  be  made.  Brady  immediatel}'  se- 
lected a  few  chosen  rangers  of  known  courage 
and  activity,  perhaps  twelve  or  fifteen  or  more 
in  number,  and  hastened  on  after  the  Indians, 
who,  having  one  or  two  days  the  start,  could 
not  be  overtaken  in  time  to  prevent  their  re- 
turn to  their  villages.  Near  the  spot  where 
the  town  of  Ravenna  now  stands,  the  Indians 


separated  into  two  parties,  one  of  which  went 
to  the  north  and  the  other  west  to  the  falls  of 
the  Cuyahoga.*  Brady's  men  also  divided,  a 
part  pursuing  the  northern  trail,  and  a  part 
going  with  their  commander  to  the  Indian  vil- 
lage laying  on  the  river  in  the  present  township 
of  Northampton,  in  Summit  County.  Although 
Brady  made  his  approaches  with  the  utmost 
caution,  the  Indians,  expecting  a  pursuit,  were 
on  the  lookout,  and  ready  to  receive  him  with 
numbers  four  times  as  great.  When  Brady's 
men  were  attacked,  it  was  instantly  seen  that 
their  only  safet}'  was  in  hasty  flight,  which, 
from  the  ardor  of  the  pursuit,  soon  became  a 
perfect  rout.  Brady  directed  his  men  to  sep- 
arate, and  each  one  to  take  care  of  himself; 
but  the  Indians  knowing  Brady,  and  having 
a  most  inveterate  hatred  and  dread  of  him, 
from  the  numerous  chastisements  he  had  given 
them,  left  all  the  others,  and,  with  united 
strength,  pursued  him  alone.  The  Cuyahoga 
makes  a  wide  bend  just  liefore  entering  Sum- 
mit County,  thus  forming  a  peninsula  of  sev- 
eral square  miles  of  surface,  within  which  the 
pursuit  was  hotly  contested.  The  Indians,  by 
extending  their  line  to  the  right  and  left,  forced 
him  on  to  the  bank  of  the  stream.  Having,  in 
times  of  peace,  often  hunted  over  this  ground 
with  the  Indians,  and  knowing  ever}^  turn  of 
the  Cuyahoga  as  familiarly  as  the  villager 
knows  the  street?  of  his  own  hamlet,  Brady 
directed  his  course  to  the  river  at  a  spot  where 
the  width  of  the  stream  is  compressed  by  the 
rocky  cliffs,  into  a  narrow  channel  of  only 
twenty-two  feet  across  the  top  of  the  chasm,  al- 
though it  is  considerably  wider  beneath,  near 
the  water,  and  in  height  more  than  twice  that 
number  of  feet  above  the  current.  As  he  ap- 
proached the  chasm,  Brady,  knowing  that  life 
or  death  was  the  issue,  concentrated  his  utmost 
efforts  and  leaped  the  river  at  a  single  bound. 
It  so  happened  that  on  the  opposite  side,  the 
leap  was  favored  by  a  low  place,  into  which  he 
dropped,  and,  grasping  the  bushes,  he  was  thus 
enabled  to  ascend  to  tlie  top  of  the  cliflT.     The 

*A  celebrated  Iiiilian  w;ii'-path,  extending  from  Sandusky  lo 
Bearer  (Fort  Mcfntosh),  passed  through  Summit  Cuuntj'.  This  was 
the  tr«il  traversed  by  the  Indians  of  Northern  Ohio,  in  their  expe- 
ditions af;ainst  the  l)order  settlements  in  Pennsylvania.  The  trail 
crossed  the  Cuyahoga  in  Franklin  Township.  Portage  County,  at 
what  is  called  "  Standing  Slone,"  and  divided  at  Fish  Creek,  the 
northern  branch  extending  across  Stow  and  Northampton  Town- 
ships, to  the  Indian  village  in  tlie  latter,  tlience  across  the  river  to 
the  INlingo  village  in  Bath, and  tlience  westward,  while  the  s  lutliern 
bran'h  extending  somewhat  snuth  of  w.  st,  led  to  the  villages  at 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  thence  on  through  Portage  and  Coventry,  to  the 
Tuscarawas  lliver  and  the  Delawaie  village  in  Coventry. 


^ 


.1^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


331 


Indians,  who  were  in  close  pursuit,  were  for  a 
few  moments  lost  in  wonder  and  admiration, 
and  before  the}^  had  recovered  their  recollection 
he  was  half  way  up  the  side  of  the  opposite 
hill,  but  still  within  reach  of  their  ritles.  They 
could  easily  have  shot  him  at  any  moment  be- 
fore ;  but,  being  bent  on  taking  him  alive  for 
torture  and  to  glut  their  long-delayed  revenge, 
they  forbore  to  use  the  rifle ;  but  seeing  him 
now  likely  to  escape  thej^  all  fired  upon  him, 
one  bullet  severely  wounding  him  in  the  hip, 
liut  not  so  badly  as  to  prevent  his  pi'ogress. 
The  Indians  had  to  make  considerable  of  a  cir- 
cuit before  the}'  could  cross  the  river,  and  b}' 
this  time  Brady  had  advanced  a  good  distance 
ahead.  His  limb  was  growing  stiff  from  the 
wound,  and,  as  the  Indians  were  gaining  on 
him,  he  made  for  the  pond,  which  now  bears 
his  name,  and,  plunging  in.  swam  under  water 
a  considerable  distance,  and  came  up  under  the 
trunk  of  a  large  oak  which  had  fallen  into  the 
pond.  This,  although  leaving  only  a  small 
breathing  place  to  support  life,  still  completely 
sheltered  him  from  their  sight.  The  Indians, 
tracing  him  by  blood  to  the  water,  made  dili- 
gent search  all  around  the  pond  ;  but,  finding 
no  sign  of  his  exit,  finally  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  he  had  sunk  and  was  drowned.  As 
they  were  at  one  time  standing  on  the  very 
tree  beneath  which  be  was  concealed — he,  un- 
derstanding their  language,  was  very  glad  to 
hear  the  result  of  their  deliberations,  and  after 
they  had  gone  he  emerged  from  his  hiding- 
l)lace,  and,  weary,  lame  and  hungry,  made  good 
his  retreat  to  his  own  home.  His  companions 
also  returned  in  safety.  The  chasm  across 
which  he  leaped  is  in  sight  of  the  bridge,  where 
it  crosses  the  Cuyahoga,  and  is  known  in  all 
that  region  as  "Brady's  Leap."  The  pond 
where  he  concealed  himself  is  also  known  as 
Brady's  Pond.  Just  where  he  was  first  at- 
tacked by  the  Indians  is  not  definitel}'  known, 
but  it  was  somewhere  in  Northampton  Town- 
ship. It  is  not  likely  that  the  Indians,  who 
were  expecting  an  attack,  delayed  their  move- 
ment upon  the  rangers  until  the  latter  reached 
their  village.  It  is  probable  that  the}^  were  in 
ambush  not  far  from  their  village,  and  the  cau- 
tion of  the  rangers  alone  prevented  their  being 
caught  in  the  trap.  The  savages  came  on  in 
great  numbers,  and  the  rangers  very  likely  kept 
together  for  several  miles,  or  until  they  were 
somewhere  in  Stow  Township,  when  they  sep- 


arated, and  each  man  provided  for  his  own 
safet}'.  Brady,  on  another  occasion  very  simi- 
lar to  the  one  above  narrated,  leaped  a  stream 
in  Pennsylvania,  twenty-three  feet  wide,  and 
escaped  from  a  large  part}'  of  Indians,  who 
were  almost  upon  him. 

The  Mingo  village  in  Bath  was  no  doubt 
often  visited  by  Logan,  the  famous  Indian 
chief  He  was  the  son  of  Shikellimus,  a  Cay- 
uga chief,  who  dwelt  at  Shamokin,  Penn.,  in 
1742.  The  father  was  a  personal  friend  of 
James  Logan,  the  Secretary'  of  the  Province,  in 
whose  honor  the  sou  was  named.  They  came 
to  Ohio  about  1772,  locating  at  Mingo  Bot- 
tom, near  Steubenville.  Here  it  was  that, 
about  1774,  at  the  breaking-out  of  Lord  Dun- 
more's  war,  Logan's  relatives  were  murdered. 
This  I'oused  him  to  vengeance,  and  he  began 
an  indiscriminate  and  extensive  slaughter  of 
all  the  whites  he  met.  Within  six  or  eight 
months,  Logan  alone  murdered  twenty  or  thirty 
persons.  The  following  speech,  though  im- 
proved by  Jefferson  and  others,  was  delivered 
by  Logan  to  John  Gibson,  an  interpreter,  who 
had  been  sent  out  by  Lord  Dunmore  to  the 
Indian  towns.  According  to  Gibson,  Logan 
asked  him  to  walk  out  in  the  woods,  and  when 
the  two  had  reached  a  lonely  copse  and  had 
sat  down,  Logan,  with  many  tears,  delivered 
his  celebrated  speech : 

I  appeal  to  any  white  man  to  say,  if  ever  he  en- 
tered Logan's  cabin  hungry,  and  he  gave  him  not 
meat;  if  ever  he  came  cold  and  naked,  and  he  clothed 
him  not.  During  the  course  of  the  last  long  and 
bloody  war,  Logan  remained  idle  in  his  cabin,  an 
advocate  for  peace.  Such  was  my  love  for  the 
whites,  that  my  countrymen  pointed  as  they  passed, 
and  said:  "Logan  is  the  friend  of  white  men."  I 
had  even  thought  to  have  lived  with  you,  but  for 
the  injuries  of  one  man.  Col.  Cresap,  the  last 
spring,  in  cold  blood  and  unprovoked,  murdered  all 
the  relations  of  Logan,  not  even  sparing  my  women 
and  children.  There  runs  not  a  drop  of  my  blood 
in  the  veins  of  any  living  creature.  This  called  on 
me  for  revenge.  I  have  sought  it.  I  have  killed 
many.  I  have  fully  glutted  my  vengeance.  For 
my  country,  I  rejoice  at  the  beams  of  peace.  But 
do  not  harbor  a  thought  that  mine  is  the  joy  of 
fear.  Logan  never  felt  fear.  He  will  not  turn  on 
his  heel  to  save  his  life.  Who  is  there  to  mourn 
for  Logan?    Not  one. 

Mr.  Jeflferson  says :  "  I  may  challenge  the 
whole  orations  of  Demosthenes  and  Cicero,  and 
of  any  more  eminent  orator,  if  Europe  has  fur- 
nished any  more  eminent,  to  produce  a  single 
passage  superior  to  the  speech  of  Logan,  the 


»  .. 

^ 


223 


HISTOIIY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Mingo  chief."  It  is  considered  a  masterpiece 
of  Indian  eloquence.  Logan  is  said  to  have 
been  one  of  the  noblest  specimens  of  humanitj^ 
of  any  race,  that  ever  lived.  He  was,  as  he 
said,  the  friend  of  the  whites  ;  but  the  deliberate 
murder  of  his  relatives  inflamed  his  savage 
nature,  and  he  "fully  glutted  his  vengeance." 
He  had  a  high  sense  of  honor,  and  when  trusted 
would  die  sooner  than  betray-  the  trust.  He 
undoubtedly  visited  the  Mingo  village  in  Bath. 
At  the  mouth  of  Yellow  Creek,  in  Northampton, 
is  an  extensive  Indian  cemetery,  which  prob- 
ably belonged  to  the  Mingoes.  This  creek  was 
named  for  the  one  down  the  river  from  Steu- 
benville,  at  which  was  the  Mingo  village,  where 
Logan's  relations  were  murdered.* 

The  Delaware  villages  in  Summit  County, 
about  the  time  of  Lord  Dunmore's  war,  were 
well  populated  ;  though  the  larger  villages  of 
this  tribe,  in  Eastern  Ohio,  were  on  the  Mus- 
kingum. In  the  wars  between  Great  Britain 
and  France  for  an  extension  of  territory  in 
America,  great  efforts  were  made  by  both  na 
tions  to  secure  the  Indians  as  allies,  for  thereby 
a  dreaded  and  powerful  weapon  could  be 
wielded.  Sometimes  the  French  were  success- 
ful, and  then  the  English  pioneers  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Virginia  experienced  the  horrors  of 
barbarous  border  wars.  At  other  times,  the 
English  succeeded  and  the  French  were  made 
to  suffer  in  a  like  manner.  Many  times  tribes 
of  Indians  remained  neutral,  while  the  French 
and  English  were  struggling  for  the  mastery  ; 
or  perhaps  portions  of  some  tribe  would  en- 
gage in  the  wars,  while  others  would  proclaim 
their  neutrality  and  remain  at  peace,  cultivat- 
ing their  fields  and  engaging  in  the  chase. 
After  the  murder  of  the  relatives  of  Logan, 
several  weeks  were  spent  by  the  hostile  Indian 
tribes  to  effect  a  confederation  of  all  the  Ohio 
Indians,  for  the  blood}'  purpose  of  an  extermi- 
nating and  universal  border  war  against  the 
American  settlers.  The  Senecas  and  Shawa- 
nese  were  eager  for  hostilities  to  begin  ;  but 
the  Delawares  refused  to  join  the  confederation 
as  a  nation,  though  many  of  her  young  men 
were  induced  to  take  up  the  hatchet.  They 
could  not  endure   the  derisive  title — Shoioon- 

*This  is  not  positivelj'  known  to  the  writer,  though  thorp  are 
numerous  evidences  to  indicate  its  truth.  No  one  in  the  county 
who  wa'i  intprvicweii  could  tell  why  Yellow  Creek  was  thus  named, 
but  from  tlu-  fact  that,  after  the  murder  of  Logan's  relatives,  the 
Jlingoes,  or  at  least  a  large  band  of  them,  located  in  Bath  near  this 
stream,  it  seems  highly  probable  that  the  stream  received  its  name 
as  stated  iu  the  text. 


noks,  or  white  people — which  their  war-like 
neighbors  threw  in  their  faces.  The  Delaware 
bands  in  Summit  County  remained  at  peace, 
though  beyond  a  doubt  many  of  their  young 
men  joined  the  tide  of  hostilities.  The  neu- 
trality of  the  Delawares,  no  doubt  shortened 
the  war  and  prevented  a  concentration  of  the 
hostile  Indian  forces.  Just  before  the  Ilevolu- 
tion,  when  it  was  seen  that  war  was  inevitable, 
great  efforts  were  made  by  both  the  British  and 
the  Americans  to  secure  the  assistance  of  the 
Indians.  It  was  estimated  that  the  Indians  in 
New  York,  Ohio,  and  near  the  lakes,  could 
bring  10,000  warriors  into  the  field  ;  and,  it 
was  plainly  apparent  that  this  large  force 
might  turn  the  pending  crisis  either  way.  The 
English,  through  their  artful  emissaries,  made 
great  efforts  to  effect  an  alliance,  and  were  gen- 
erally successful.  Four  out  of  the  six  tribes 
of  the  Six  Nations  joined  the  British  ;  but,  a 
majority  of  the  Delawares  and  a  numerous 
party  of  the  Shawanese  were  for  neutralit\'. 
At  the  Pittsburgh  conference,  Capt.  White  Eyes, 
a  distinguished  Delaware  chief,  boldly  advo- 
cated the  American  cause,  much  to  the  anno}'- 
ance  of  the  Senecas,  who  were  for  war  in  the 
interest  of  the  British.  The  Wolf  faction  of 
the  Delawares,  under  Newalike  and  Capt.  Pipe, 
withdrew  toward  Lake  Erie  to  join  the  British  ; 
but  Netawatwees,  the  Delaware  chief,  one  of 
whose  villages  was  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  sustained 
the  view  of  Capt.  White  P]yes,  as  did  also  Big 
Cat,  Capt.  John,  Killbuck  and  others.  These 
chiefs  sent  embassies  to  all  the  hostile  tribes, 
exhorting  them  not  to  take  up  the  hatchet  or 
to  join  either  side.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that 
the  powerful  Delaware  tribe  was  the  only  one 
in  Ohio,  which,  as  a  nation,  refused  to  take 
up  the  hatchet.  In  New  York,  the  friendship 
of  the  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras  was  secured. 
However,  the  Delawares  were  afterward  swept 
into  the  vortex  of  war,  but  not  until  after  the 
French  alliance  had  been  consummated,  where- 
by much  of  the  horror  on  the  border  was  pre- 
vented. By  1777,  the  hostile  Indians  had  be- 
gun their  work  in  earnest,  and  the  white  settlers 
sought  the  protection  of  the  forts,  or  fled  to  the 
colonies  in  the  East.  Numerous  war  parties  of 
savages,  under  their  chiefs,  or  the  white  rene- 
gades, Girty,  McKee,  Elliott,  and  others  of  their 
ilk,  conducted  their  dreadful  expeditions  with 
such  malignant  ferocity  as  to  cast  gloom  and 
terror  over  the  frontier  settlements.     The  Otta- 


■K* 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUXTY. 


223 


was,  Senecas  and  Miiigoes,  of  Summit  County, 
were  active  in  the  war  in  the  cause  of  the  Brit- 
ish, and,  beyond  question,  Simon  Girt}-,  who 
became  a  Seneca  b}-  adoption,  and  George 
Girt}',  wlio  became  a  Delaware,  were  often  at 
these  villages.  The  Delaware  chiefs  mentioned 
above,  who  advocated  neutrality,  had  been 
mostly  converted  by  the  Moravian  missiona- 
ries. The  venerable  Netawatwees,  chief  of  the 
Turtle  branch  of  the  Delawares,  was  among 
the  number.  As  near  as  can  be  learned,  it  was 
a  band  of  the  Turtle  Delawares  that  had  a  vil- 
lage at  Cuj-ahoga  Falls  ;  while,  ver^'  likel}-,  the 
band  in  Coventr}'  was  under  Capt  Pipe,  or 
Kogieschquano-heel,  the  celebrated  Delaware 
war-chief  It  was  almost  whoU}-  due  to  the 
missionaries  and  their  converts  that  the  Dela- 
ware bands  upon  the  Muskingum  refused  to 
take  part  in  the  border  wars.  To  these  men — 
the.se  noble  missionaries — should  be  accorded 
the  honor  of  preventing,  in  a  material  degree, 
man}'  of  the  direful  results  of  the  Indian  bor- 
der wars.  Beyond  all  probability,  these  mis- 
sionaries visited  the  Indian  towns,  in  Summit 
County,  to  conduct  their  good  work  of  spiritual 
regeneration.  Indian  villages  were  strewn  all 
along  the  valle}^  of  the  Tuscarawas,  and  on  the 
portage  path  in  this  county.  So  successful 
were  the  missionaries  in  their  efforts  to  secure 
peace,  that  at  last  the  renegades,  Girty,  McKee 
and  Elliott,  complained  to  the  British  com- 
mandant at  Detroit,  saying  that  the  Moravians 
not  onl}^  prevented  the  Delawares  from  joining 
the  British,  but  held  constant  communication 
with  the  Americans  on  the  state  of  the  war. 
Immediatel}'  after  the  Coshocton  campaign, 
when  the  peace-chiefs  of  the  Delawai'es  were 
subordinated  to  the  war-chiefs,  Buckongahelas 
became  the  controlling  power  at  the  head  of 
this  nation,  and  through  his  influence  the  In- 
dians, including  many  of  those  who  had  been 
converted,  took  up  the  hatchet.  The  Christian 
Indians  were  removed  to  Sandusk}'  ;  but  a 
number  who  afterward  returned  were  cruelly 
murdered  ;  but  their  death  was  bitterly  avenged 
by  the  defeat  of  Crawford,  and  the  awful  death 
of  himself  and  man}'  of  his  command. 

On  the  21st  of  Januar}',  1785,  the  treaty  of 
Fort  Mcintosh  (Beaver)  was  effected,  b}^  which 
the  boundary  line  between  the  United  States 
and  the  Delaware  and  Wyandot  nations  was 
fixed  as  follows  :  To  begin  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Cuyahoga,  thence  up  said  river  to  the  portage 


between  it  and  the  Tuscarawas  ;  thence  down 
said  branch  to  the  forks  above  Fort  Laurens  ; 
thence  west  to  the  portage  of  the  Big  Miami  ; 
thence  along  said  portage  to  the  Ome  River, 
and  down  the  southeast  side  of  the  river  to  its 
month ;  thence  along  the  south  shore  of  Lake 
Erie  to  the  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga.  It  will 
thus  be  seen  that  the  Delawares  and  W3'andots 
were  confined  to  the  west  side  of  the  Cuyahoga, 
the  summit  portage  path,  and  the  Tuscarawas  ; 
while  the  tribes  of  the  Six  Nations  were  east  of 
this  dividing  line.  This  boundary  was  con- 
firmed by  subsequent  treaties  ;  but,  in  1805,  at 
Fort  Industry,  the  Delawares,  Ottawas,  Wyan- 
dots,  Chippewas,  Shawanese,  Menses  and  Pot- 
tawatomies  were  removed  to  the  western  part 
of  the  State,  and  the  celebrated  Cuyahoga 
boundarv  line  became  a  thing  of  the  past.  The 
Senecas  relinquished  their  rights  to  the  land 
east  of  the  Cuyahoga  in  1796.  This  brings  the 
Indian  annals  down  to  the  time  of  the  first  ap- 
pearance of  white  settlers  in  the  county. 

In  the  year  1800,  there  wei'e  living  in  what 
is  now  Summit  County^  bands  of  Delawares, 
Senecas,  Wyandots,  Chippewas,  Ottawas,  Min- 
goes,  and  very  likel}'  members  of  other  tribes. 
But  six  3'ears  before,  the  most  of  these  had 
been  at  war  with  the  whites,  and  it  was  no  wise 
impossible  that  the  savages  might  again  fall 
upon  the  settlers  at  an}-  moment.  All  the  war- 
like customs  of  the  tribes  were  retained  and 
practiced,  probably  to  keep  the  warriors  in 
trim  for  another  struggle,  should  it  break  out. 
By  1805,  many  settlers  had  appeared  in  the 
county,  and  the  movements  of  the  Indians  be- 
gan to  be  closely  observed.  They  mingled  freely 
with  the  whites,  and  although  many  personal 
encounters  occurred,  yet  no  general  outbreak 
was  made.  It  became  the  custom  of  the  white 
hunters,  many  of  whom  had  participated  in  the 
fierce  border  wars,  to  assemble  at  the  Indian 
villages  to  talk  with  the  natives,  trade  with 
them,  race  with  them,  shoot  with  them,  and 
silently  observe  their  peculiar  customs.  The 
Indians,  regardless  of  the  prospect  for  continued 
peace,  still  held  their  war  and  scalp  dances,  and 
engaged  in  all  their  wild  and  savage  customs. 
The  hunters,  when  present,  were  often  invited 
to  join  the  revelry,  which  they  frequently  did, 
but  not  with  the  peculiar  and  graceful  skill  of 
the  natives.  Large  fires  were  lighted,  and  the 
savages,  armed  and  painted  as  if  for  the  war- 
path, surrounded  them  in  circles,  and  then,  with 


•IT 


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324 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


a  wild,  monotonous  song  accompaniment,  they 
began  their  dance  around  the  tire,  springing  up 
and  down,  first  on  one  foot  and  then  on  the 
other,  chanting  in  the  meantime  a  guttural  "  he, 
he,  he  ;  iuiw,  haw,  haw  ! "  blending  their  dance 
with  innumerable  antics,  grimaces  and  contor- 
tions, and  interspersing  their  song  with  wild 
whoops,  made  to  quaver  at  first  by  the  motion 
of  the  hand  on  the  lips,  but  ending  with  a  clear- 
ness and  force  that  made  the  forest  ring.  Liquor 
they  dearl}'  loved,  and,  when  thirsty,  would 
part  with  anything  they  possessed  to  secure  an 
ample  potation  of  their  favorite  beverage.  Un- 
der its  influence,  their  savage  and  warlike 
spirit  became  dominant,  and  they  were  ready 
and  anxious  to  assert  their  demands,  and  en- 
force them  if  the}'  were  denied.  The}'  often 
entered  cabins  and  demanded  whisky,  and,  if 
it  was  denied  them,  they  often  took  it,  espe- 
cially if  the  men  were  away  from  home.  In  a 
case  of  this  kind,  the  women  were  usually  wise 
enough  to  get  rid  of  their  guests  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment,  before  the  liquor  began  to  as- 
sert itself,  as  otherwise  fright,  anxiety,  danger 
and,  possibly,  injur}',  were  sure  to  result.  Some- 
times, however,  the  Indians  refused  to  go,  but 
remained  to  flourish  their  scalping-knives  and 
tomahawks  around  the  heads  of  the  children, 
and  terrify  the  distracted  mother  by  threats  of 
death.  Sometimes  the  husband  and  father 
would  return  while  the  Indians  were  at  the 
height  of  their  deviltry,  in  which  case  a  fight, 
often  accompanied  with  wounds,  was  sure  to 
ensue.  Numerous  instances  of  this  character 
will  be  found  in  the  chapters  of  township 
history.  Capt.  Heman  Oviatt  established  a 
store  in  Hudson  Township,  where  liquor  was 
kept  for  sale.  The  Indians  were  drawn  thither, 
and  numerous  drunken  brawls  occurred  in  the 
neighborhood.  In  the  absence  of  Mr.  Oviatt, 
his  wife  occupied  the  position  behind  the  coun- 
ter (if  there  was  such  a  piece  of  furniture),  and 
dealt  out  goods  and  liquor  to  the  whites  and 
Indians.  On  one  occasion  of  this  kind,  when 
there  was  a  small  temporary  encampment  of 
some  twenty  Indians,  under  the  sub-chief,  Wab- 
raung,  near  the  store,  and  the  men  were  at  work 
in  the  woods,  at  a  considerable  distance  from 
the  house,  and  out  of  sight,  an  Indian  pre- 
sented himself,  saying  that  the  chief,  Wabmung, 
had  sent  him  to  the  store  to  get  a  small  keg  of 
whisky.  The  credit  of  the  chief  was  good, 
and  Mrs.  Oviatt  gave  the  messenger  the  liquor. 


It  occurred  to  her  soon  afterward  that  the  chief 
had  not  sent  for  the  whisky  at  all,  but  that  the 
Indians,  having  no  money  nor  credit,  and  desir- 
ing a  spree,  had  adopted  the  ruse  to  secure  the 
liquor.  She  instantly  made  up  her  mind  to  re- 
gain what  was  left,  at  any  rate.  The  Indians 
were  taking  on  at  a  great  rate,  and  did  not  per- 
ceive her  until  she  had  seized  the  keg,  and  had 
gone  some  distance,  on  the  run,  toward  the 
store.  A  few  half-drunken  ones  immediately 
set  up  a  yell  and  pursued  her,  but  she  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  store  before  the  Indians.  Eliz- 
abeth Walker,  a  hired  girl,  was  holding  the 
door,  and  she  slammed  it  shut  as  soon  as  Mrs. 
Oviatt  had  entered,  but  not  before  the  foremost 
Indian  had  caught  up  a  frying-pan  that  was 
on  a  bench  at  the  side  of  the  house,  and  had 
struck  savagely  at  the  hired  girl,  preventing,  at 
the  same  time,  the  complete  closing  of  the 
door.  He  began  pushing  hai'd  at  the  door,  and 
as  the  two  women  saw  that  he  was  half-helpless 
on  account  of  the  liquor  he  had  drunk,  they 
suddenly  threw  the  door  open,  seized  the  Indian, 
who  had  fallen  prostrate,  dragged  him  into  the 
room,  and  closed  and  barred  the  door  just  as 
several  others  threw  themselves  against  it.  The 
Indian  in  the  room  began  kicking  and  thrashing 
around,  whereupon  the  two  women  got  some 
loose  ropes  and  tied  him  securely.  By  this 
time,  the  Indians  on  the  outside  were  pounding 
loudly  on  the  door,  demanding  admittance  ;  but 
Mrs.  Oviatt  caught  up  a  rifle,  and  pointing  it 
through  the  window,  warned  them  to  leave  or 
she  would  fire,  at  which  they  withdrew  a  short 
distance.  She  directed  Betsy  Walker  to  go  to 
the  loft  and  blow  the  horn  for  the  men,  which 
was  promptly  done,  and  soon  they  appeared, 
whereupon  the  Indians  beat  a  retreat.  The 
captive  Indian  was  kept  until  dark,  when  his 
squaw  appeared,  and  asked  for  the  person  of 
her  recreant  lord,  but  this  was  denied  until  he 
was  completely  sober,  when  he  was  allowed  to 
depart  with  the  ropes  still  about  his  arms.  The 
last  seen  of  the  couple  was  the  tumble  they 
took  together  over  a  rail  fence.*  This  event  is 
narrated  to  illustrate  a  common  occurrence, 
differing  only  in  minor  particulars.  Sometimes 
the  difficulties  resulted  in  severe  fights,  but 
usually  all  the  transactions  between  the  two 
races  were  amicable.      When  the  Indians  ex- 

*Thiis  circumstance  is  narrated  on  the  autliority  of  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth (Walker)  Tappan.  the  hired  girl  who  wslh  present,  and  who  is 
yet  living  in  Boston  Township,  at  the  unnsual  age  of  ninety-three 
yoar-i. 


!)    y 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


225 


pected  to  have  a  "  loud  "  time  with  whisky,  it  was 
their  custom  to  give  up  their  weapons  to  their 
squaws,  so  that  no  lives  would  be  lost.  In 
1806,  their  difficulty  with  Daniel  Diver  occurred, 
by  which  Nicksaw,  a  son-in-law  of  the  chief, 
John  Bigson,  was  shot  by  the  Indian  slayer, 
Jonathan  Williams,  an  account  of  which  will 
be  fouud  in  another  chapter  of  this  volume. 
The  village  of  Stigwanish  was  on  the  Cuyahoga, 
in  Boston  Township.  Here  the  tribe  had 
erected  a  wooden  god,  probably  Missabiza,  "  the 
great  tiger,"  and  when  they  departed  on  their 
hunting  expeditions,  they  were  accustomed  to 
hang  their  choicest  tobacco  around  his  neck. 
Some  of  the  earliest  settlers,  knowing  this,  and 
being  very  fond  of  "  the  weed  "  (not  altogether 
an  unusual  circumstance),  often  shiy  appropri- 
ated it.  So  far  as  known,  no  judgment  was 
ever  sent  against  them  for  the  sacrilegious  act. 
At  the  time  of  the  Diver  difficulty,  the  In- 
dians held  a  council,  in  which  some  of  the  war- 
riors insisted  that  the  Indians  should  begin  an 
indiscriminate  slaughter  of  the  whites  before 
the  latter  had  time  to  unite  on  a  defense.  The 
Indians  were  thoroughly  incensed,  but  after  a 
time  better  counsel  prevailed.  They  saw  that, 
while  they  might  have  a  temporary  advantage, 
and  perhaps  sla}'  many  of  tlie  whites,  the  tide 
of  war  was  sure  to  turn  against  them  with 
overwhelming  force.  The  white  hunters  often 
got  the  Indians  drunk  for  no  other  purpose 
than  to  get  the  better  of  them  in  trade.  When 
their  senses  returned,  the  Indians,  not  recollect- 
ing anything  of  the  affair,  demanded  their  prop- 
erty, and,  in  case  of  a  non-compliance  with 
their  demands,  a  light  was  sure  to  ensue.  As 
winter  approached,  it  was  the  custom  of  the 
Indians  to  lay  in  an  abundance  of  wild  meat 
and  provisions,  and  seek  the  shelter  of  their 
larger  and  permanent  villages,  there  to  remain 
during  the  cold  months  in  comparative  com- 
fort ;  but  when  spring  came,  witli  her  pleasant 
weather  and  green  leaves  and  grass,  the  winter 
residences  became  almost  deserted,  and  the 
tribe,  divided  into  small  bands,  often  compris- 
ing the  members  of  but  one  family,  traveled 
far  and  near,  to  spend  the  warm  months  in 
hunting  and  trapping.  They  pitched  their  wig- 
wams on  the  banks  of  streams  or  by  some 
pleasant  lake  where  an  abundance  of  fish  could 
be  obtained.  It  is  asserted  b}'  the  old  settlers 
that  the  Indians  never  wantonly  slaughtered 
the  game,  allowing  the  meat  to  lie  in  quantity 


on  the  ground.  On  the  contrary,  they  killed 
onl}^  what  they  expected  to  use.  They  were 
often  hired  to  hunt  for  the  settlers.  They 
would  bring  in  a  deer  and  exchange  it  for  pro- 
visions, such  as  potatoes,  turnips,  pumpkins, 
melons,  etc.  At  other  times,  the}'  would  agree 
to  furnish  so  much  game  for  a  specified  quan- 
tit}'  of  whisky,  corn  meal,  flour  or  money. 
Stigwanish,  the  chief  of  the  Ottawas,  and  John 
Bigson,  his  son,  are  said  to  have  been  fine 
specimens  of  the  North  American  Indian.  The 
latter  was  about  six  feet  in  height,  straight  as 
a  reed,  possessing  an  enormous  chest ;  was 
long- armed  and  powerfully  built,  with  a  pair 
of  coal-black  e3'es  that  seemed  to  see  every- 
thing at  once.  In  truth,  he  was  as  fine  a  man 
as  was  ever  pictured  on  the  page  of  Cooper. 
Stigwanish  is  also  said  to  have  been  a  fine  old 
fellow.  He  possessed  some  noble  traits  of 
character  that  made  him  prominent  among  his 
tribe,  and  a  model  for  the  imitation  of  the 
whites. 

Thus  the  years  passed  by,  until  the  war  of 
1812.  A  great  deal  of  apprehension  was  felt 
among  the  settlers  at  this  time,  that  the  Indians 
might  unite  in  the  war  on  the  side  of  the 
British,  as  they  were  almost  sure  to  do,  in 
which  case  a  fearful  time  of  blood  and  death 
might  be  expected.  They  were  numerous,  and 
a  short  time  before  the  war  an  unusual  number 
of  war  and  scalp  dances  were  held,  and  the 
Indians  seemed  livelier  than  they  had  been  for 
ten  3'ears  before.  They  would  brandish  their 
weapons  in  a  menacing  manner,  and  the  set- 
tlers were  aware  that  something  unusual  was 
about  to  transpire.  Some  efforts  were  made  to 
ward  off  the  coming  calamity,  and  it  is  said 
that  a  block-house  was  erected  in  the  western 
part  of  the  county,  where  a  few  settlers  assem- 
bled for  protection.  During  the  early  summer 
of  1811,  the  Indians  became  very  bold  and 
insolent ;  but  finally  they  all  suddenly  van- 
ished, and  a  few  days  later,  news  of  the  battle 
of  Tippecanoe  reached  the  whites.  It  was 
afterward  ascertained  that,  if  the  British  had 
been  successful  at  Tippecanoe,  the  Indians 
would  have  swept  in  fury  upon  the  borderers. 
As  it  was,  they  were  silenced,  and  departed 
towai'd  the  setting  sun.  A  few  afterward  re- 
turned to  the  scenes  they  knew  so  well,  but 
some  of  these  were  killed,  and  the  others  dis- 
persed, and  the  story  of  the  red  man  is  now 
told  as  a  bright  romance  of  the  past. 


Tv 


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I2£ 


226 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


CHAPTER     III.* 


EARLY  SETTLEMENT  OF   THE  WHITES —  ORGANIZATION  OF    THE    COUNTY —PUBLIC   BUILDINGS- 
COUNTY    SEAT     QUESTION  — SETTLED     BY    VOTE  — COUNTY     OFFICIALS  — CON- 
GRESSMEN AND  ELECTORS  — THE  COUNTY  INFIRMARY,  ETC. 


IN  presenting  a  brief  liistory  of  Summit 
County — its  earl}'  settlement,  organization, 
erection  of  public  buildings,  etc. — the  writer  will 
not  attempt  to  rehearse  the  generally  well- 
known  early  history  of  Ohio  and  the  Western 
Reserve,  nor  give  in  detail  the  thrilling  experi- 
ences of  the  hardy,  enterprising  and  patriotic 
pioneers  by  whom  the  several  townships  com- 
posing the  county  were  originally  settled.  It 
is  sufficient  for  the  present  purpose  to  say  that 
the  first  known  settlement  of  whites,  within  the 
present  limits  of  Summit  County,  was  made  in 
Hudson,  in  the  year  1800,  followed  by  North- 
ampton in  1802  ;  Stow  in  1804  ;  Boston,  Cov- 
entry and  Springfield  in  1806  ;  Northfield  and 
Tallmadge  in  1807;  Green  in  1809;  Bath, 
Norton  and  Richfield  in  1810;  Portage  in 
1811;  Copley  and  Franklin  in  1814;  and 
Twinsburg  in  1817;  and  that  to  the  indomi- 
table energy  and  fortitude,  superior  intelligence 
and  unswerving  integrity  of  those  early  set- 
tlers, the  present  owners  and  occupiers  of  the 
finely  cultivated  farms,  and  the  dwellers  in  the 
thriving  villages  and  cities  within  its  borders, 
are  wholly  indebted  for  the  priceless  heritage 
which  they  now  enjoy. 

Of  the  sixteen  townships  composing  Summit 
County,  ten — viz.,  Northfield,  Twinsburg,  Bos- 
ton, Hudson,  Northampton,  Stow,  Portage,  Tall- 
madge, Coventry  and  Springfield — originally 
belonged  to  Portage  County  ;  four — viz.,  Rich- 
field, Bath,  Copley  and  Norton — to  Medina 
County  ;  and  two — viz.,  Green  and  Franklin — 
to  Stark  County.  Interesting  and  appropriate 
sketches  of  the  several  townships  here  enumer- 
ated, with  biographical  sketches  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  and  other  citizens  thereof,  will  be  found 
elsewhere,  under  their  appropriate  titles. 

With  the  opening  of  the  Ohio  Canal,  finished 
from  Cleveland  to  Akron  in  1827,  and  through  to 
Portsmouth  in  1830,  and  the  greatly  increased 

•■■vontrihuted  by  S.  A.  Lane. 


facilities  for  travel  and  transportation  which  it 
afforded,  not  only  were  the  agricultural  interests 
of  the  State,  along  its  entire  line,  ver}-  largely 
stimulated,  but  a  ver^-  marked  impetus  was  there- 
by given  to  commercial  and  manufacturing  in- 
terests, also.  Thus,  while  the  ver}-  considerable 
business  operations  previousl}'  existing  at  Mid- 
dlebury,  and  one  or  two  other  points  in  the 
Cuyahoga  Valley,  were  materially  increased 
thereby,  the  completion  of  the  canal  was  imme- 
diately followed  b}'  the  utmost  activity  at  Ak- 
ron and  Cuyahoga  Falls,  then  just  springing 
into  existence  as  manufacturing  villages,  both 
being  largely  supplied  with  water-power — at 
that  early  day  the  great  desideratum  in  all  man- 
ufacturing enterprises. 

So  rapid  was  the  development  of  these  vil- 
lages, and  the  several  townships  contiguous  to 
the  great  "  thoroughfare,"  that  the  people  soon 
began  to  feel  that  their  respective  seats  of  jus- 
tice, Ravenna,  JMedina  and  Canton,  where  they 
were  compelled  to  go  to  serve  as  jurors  and  wit- 
nesses, and  for  the  payment  of  their  taxes,  were 
too  far  from  their  business  centers,  and,  as  early 
as  1835,  began  to  talk  "  new  count}'."  The 
proposition  was  not  at  all  kindly  received  by 
the  county  officials,  and  the  people  of  the  more 
remote  portions  of  Portage,  Medina  and  Stark, 
out  of  whose  fair  proportions  the  required  ter- 
ritory for  the  new  county,  if  erected,  would 
have  to  be  carved,  and  nothing  was  definitely 
accomplished  in  that  direction  until  1840. 

In  the  fall  of  1839,  by  a  special  effort  nnd 
united  action  of  the  voters — both  Whigs  and 
Deraocrats^of  the  two  tiers  of  townships  which 
it  was  proposed  to  detach  from  Portage  County. 
Rufus  P.  Spalding,  Esq.,  then  practicing  law  in 
Ravenna,  and  E|)hraim  B.  Hubbard,  an  influen- 
tial farmer  of  Deerfield  Township,  were  elected 
as  Representatives  to  the  State  Legislature, 
both  of  those  gentlemen  being  Democrats,  but 
pledged  to  the  new  county  project,  thus  l)eing 


A 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY, 


227 


elected  over  the  regular  Whig  nominees,  Por- 
tage County  at  that  time,  pai'ticularly  the  west 
era  portion,  being  largely  Whig,  on  strict  party 
issues  ;  Simon  Perkins,  Jr.,  tlien  as  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Portage  Township,  a  member  of  the 
Whig  party,  being  at  the  time  a  member  of  the 
State  Senate. 

The  Legislature  convened  and  organized  on 
the  2d  day  of  December,  1839,  and,  on  the  17th 
day  of  the  same  month,  Hon.  James  Hoagland, 
of  Holmes  County,  as  Chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  new  counties,  reported  to  the  house 
"  a  bill  to  erect  the  county  of  Summit,"  which 
was  read  the  first  time.  The  Stark  Count}- 
Representatives,  Hons.  John  Smith  and  James 
Welch,  the  Medina  County  Representative,  Hon. 
James  S.  Carpenter  and  the  Lorain  County 
Representative,  Hon.  Albert  A.  Bliss,  all  di- 
rectly and  vigorously  opposed  the  movement ; 
the  first  three  because  of  the  curtailment  of 
their  respective  counties,  in  providing  the  re- 
quisite territory  for  the  proposed  new  county, 
and  the  last  because  of  the  proposition  to  trans- 
fer the  townships  of  Spencer  and  Homer  from 
Lorain  to  Medina,  to  keep  the  territory  of  the 
latter  up  to  the  constitutional  requirement,  after 
being  shorn  of  her  eastern  tier  of  townships. 
Representatives  of  several  other  counties  in 
different  portions  of  the  State,  in  danger  of  be- 
ing dismembered  by  similar  new  county  proj- 
ects, also  earnestly  opposed  the  measure,  so 
that  it  had  to  be  fought  through  inch  bj^  inch, 
passing  the  House  by  a  majority  of  three  only, 
on  the  6th  day  of  February,  1840. 

In  the  Senate,  also,  the  struggle  was  equall}^ 
determined  and  severe.  Senators  Hostetter,  of 
Stark,  Birch,  of  Lorain,  Nash,  of  Meigs,  and 
Thomas,  of  Miami,  actively  and  energetically 
opposing  the  bill.  Active  and  influential  "lob- 
bjnsts,"  both  for  and  against  the  measure,  were 
also  in  attendance  in  full  force,  and  the  various 
tactics  and  devices  resorted  to  in  promoting 
the  measure  on  the  one  hand,  and  retarding  it 
on  the  other,  would  make  a  good-sized  volume 
of  "mighty  interesting  reading"  if  it  could  be 
correctly  written  up.  The  progress  of  the  bill 
through  the  House  and  Senate,  as  briefly  re- 
corded in  the  proceedings  of  the  two  Houses, 
will  give  the  reader  a  pretty  fair  idea  of  the 
bitterness  of  the  fight,  though  b}-  no  means 
conveying  to  the  mind  anything  like  an  ade- 
quate conception  of  the  vast  amount  of  argu- 
ment, eloquence,  repartee,  vituperation,  ridicule 


and  fun  indulged  in  during  the  four  months, 
nearly,  that  it  was  under  consideration. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Spalding,  the  bill  was  taken 
up  for  consideration,  December  21,  when,  on 
motion  of  Mr.  Welch,  the  further  consideration 
of  the  bill  was  postponed  until  the  second 
Thursday  in  January.     Yeas,  42  ;  nays,  28. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Spalding,  the  bill  was 
again  taken  up,  January  11,  when  Mr.  Welch 
moved  to  recommit  the  bill  to  the  Committee 
on  New  Counties,  with  instructions  to  report 
the  number  of  petitioners  and  remonstrants  for 
and  against  the  project — which  was  agreed  to. 

The  committee  having  made  its  report,  on  mo- 
tion of  Mr.  Spalding,  the  bill  was  again  taken 
up,  Januar}'  17,  when  Mr.  Welch  moved  to 
postpone  the  further  consideration  of  the  bill 
until  the  first  Monday  of  December  next, 
which  was  lost — j'eas,  28  ;  nays  32.  The  bill 
was  then  laid  on  the  table. 

Mr.  Spalding  moved  to  take  the  bill  from  the 
table,  January  27,  which  was  lost — yeas,  25  ; 
na^'S  30. 

Feb.  6. — On  motion  of  Mr.  Spalding,  the  bill 
was  again  taken  up,  and,  after  some  delay, 
caused  by  Mr.  Welch  moving  a  call  of  the 
House,  was  put  upon  its  passage  and  carried — 
yeas,  34  ;  naj'S,  31. 

The  bill,  as  received  from  the  House,  was 
read  for  the  first  time  in  the  Senate  February  7, 
and  February  27,  Mr.  Hostetter,  of  Stark, 
moved  to  strike  out  of  the  bill  that  part  of 
the  territory  belonging  to  Stark  County.  Lost 
— yeas,  15  ;  na\^s,  18. 

'Mr.  Nash,  of  Meigs,  moved  to  strike  out 
that  portion  of  the  bill  exempting  the  people 
resident  in  the  Stark  County  townships  from 
taxation  for  the  erection  of  the  public  build- 
ings for  the  proposed  new  county.  Lost — 
3'eas,  14  ;  nays,  19. 

On  being  read  the  third  time,  February  28, 
Mr.  Thomas,  of  3Iiami,  moved  to  recommit  the 
bill  to  the  Committee  on  New  Counties,  with 
instructions  to  so  amend  as  to  strike  out  that 
part  exempting  Green  and  Franklin  Townships 
from  taxation  for  public  buildings.  Lost — 
yeas,  13  ;  nays,  21. 

Mr.  Hostetter  then  moved  that  the  further 
consideration  of  the  bill  be  postponed  until  the 
first  Monday  of  December  next.  Lost — yeas, 
7  ;  nays,  27. 

Mr.  Birch,  of  Lorain,  moved  to  refer  the  bill 
to  the  Judiciarv  Committee,  with  instructions 


^ 


228 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


to  so  amend  as  to  strike  out  the  two  Lorain 
townsliips.     Lost — yeas,  9  ;  nays,  25. 

Mr.  Hostetter  moved  to  amend  so  as  to  leave 
the  matter  to  the  voters  of  the  proposed  new 
county,  at  the  next  October  election.  Lost — 
yeas,  10  ;  nays,  24. 

The  question  then  recurring  on  the  final  pas- 
sage of  the  bill,  Mr.  Hostetter  demanded  the 
yeas  and  nays,  which  were  ordered,  and  were 
as  follows:  yeas,  19;  nays,  15.  The  bill  as 
passed  is  as  follows  : 

.Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  AssenMy 
of  tlie  State  of  Ohio,  That  so  much  of  the  counties 
of  Portage,  Medina  and  Stark,  as  comes  within  the 
following  boundaries,  be,  and  the  same  is  liereby 
erected  into  a  separate  countj'.  which  shall  be  known 
by  the  name  of  Summit,  to  wit  :  Beginning  at  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  county  of  Portage  ;  tlience 
east  on  the  county  line  to  the  northeast  corner  of 
the  township  of  Twinsburg,  in  said  county  of  Port- 
age ;  thence  south  on  the  line  between  the  ninth  and 
tenth  ranges  of  townships  of  the  Western  Reserve 
to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township  of  Spring- 
field, in  said  county  ;  thence  west  on  the  line  be- 
tween the  counties  of  Portage  and  Stark  to  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  township  of  Green,  in  said 
Stark  Coimty  ;  thence  south  on  tlie  east  line  of  said 
township  of  Green,  to  the  southeast  corner  of  tlie 
same  ;  thence  west  on  the  south  line  of  the  town- 
ships of  Green  and  Franklin,  in  saidcoiuity  of  Stark, 
to  the  soiitlnvest  corner  of  said  township  of  Frank- 
lin ;  thence  north  on  the  line  between  the  counties 
of  Stark  and  Wayne  to  the  soutli  line  of  the  county 
of  Medina  ;  thence  west  on  the  south  line  of  the 
county  of  ]\Iedina  to  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
township  of  Norton,  in  said  county  ;  thence  north 
on  the  line  between  the  tw^dfth  and  thirteenth 
ranges  of  townships  of  the  Western  Reserve  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  township  of  Richfield,  in 
said  county  ;  thence  east  on  the  north  line  of  said 
county  to  tlie  southwest  corner  of  tlie  township  of 
Nortlifield,  in  Portage  County  ;  tlience  north  on  th(> 
west  line  of  said  Portage  County  to  the  place  of 
beginning;  and  for  the  purpose  of  restoi-ing  the 
county  of  Medina  to  its  constitutional  limits;  the 
townships  of  Spencer  and  Homer,  in  the  county  of 
Lorain,  be,  and  the  same  are  hereby,  attached  to,  and 
made  a  part  of,  the  said  county  of  Medina. 

Sec.  2.  That  all  suits,  whether  of  a  civil  or 
criminal  nature,  which  shall  be  pending  within  the 
limits  of  those  parts  of  the  comities  of  Portage, 
Medina  and  Stark,  so  to  be  set  off  and  erected  into 
a  new  county  previous  to  the  organization  of  said 
county  of  Summit;  and  all  suits  pending  within  the 
limits  of  said  townships  of  Spencer  and  Homer,  pre- 
vious to  the  taking  effect  of  this  act,  shall  be  prose- 
cuted to  final  judgment  and  execution  within  the 
counties  of  Portage,  Medina,  Stark  and  Lorain,  re- 
spectively, in  the  same  manner  they  would  have 
been  if  said  county  of  Summit  had  not  been  erected, 
and  the  said  townships  of  Spencer  and  Homer  had 
not  been  attaclied  to  and  made  a  part  of  said  Me- 
dina County  ;  and  the  Slicriffs,  Coroners  and  Consta- 


bles of  the  said  counties,  respectively,  shall  execute 
all  such  process  as  shall  be  necessary  to  carry  into 
effect  sncli  suits,  prosecutions  and  judgments,  and 
the  collectors  of  the  taxes  for  said  counties,  respect- 
ively, shall  collect  all  taxes  that  shall  be  levied  and 
unpaid  within  the  parts  of  the  aforesaid  counties, 
previous  to  the  taking  effect  of  this  act. 

Sec.  3.  That  all  Justices  of  the  Peace  within 
those  parts  of  the  counties  of  Portage,  Medina  and 
Stark,  which  by  this  act  are  erected  into  a  new 
county;  and  also  within  said  townships  of  Spencer 
and  Homer,  shall  continue  to  exercise  the  duties  of 
their  offices  until  their  times  of  service  shall  expire, 
in  the  same  manner  as  if  they  had  been  commis- 
sioned for  the  counties  of  Summit  and  Medina,  re- 
spectively. 

Sec.  4.  That  on  the  first  Monday  of  April  next, 
the  legal  voters  residing  Avithin  the  county  of  Sum- 
mit shall  assemble  within  their  respective  townships 
at  the  usual  places  of  holding  elections,  and  proceed 
to  elect  their  different  county  officers,  who  shall 
hold  their  offices  until  the  next  annual  election,  and 
until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.  5.  That  the  Courts  of  Common  Pleas  and 
Supreme  Court  of  said  county  shall  be  holden  at 
some  convenient  house  in  the  town  of  Akron  until 
the  permanent  seat  of  justice  for  said  county  shaU 
be  esta1)lished. 

Sec.  6.  That  Commissioners  shall  be  appointed 
agreeably  to  the  act  entitled,  "An  act  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  seats  of  justice,"  to  fix  upon  a  perma- 
nent seat  of  justice  for  said  count}'  of  Summit, 
agreeably  to  tlie  provisions  of  the  above-recited  act; 
and  the  Commissioners  aforesaid  shall  receive  a  com- 
pensation for  their  services  out  of  the  treasury  of 
said  county  of  Summit  ;  and  said  Commissioners 
shall  be  authorized  to  receive  propositions  for  the 
erection  of  suitalde  county  buildings  by  the  citizens 
of  such  towns  and  villages  as  ma_y  desire  to  have  the 
seat  of  justice  of  said  county  established  within  their 
respective  limits ;  and  in  no  event  shall  an}'  tax  for 
the  erection  of  county  buildings  for  said  county  of 
Summit  be  imposed  upon  the  citizens  of  the  town- 
ships of  Franklin  aiul  Green,  which  townships  are 
taken  from  the  county  of  Stark,  for  and  during  th(; 
term  of  fifty  years  from  and  after  the  passage  of 
this  act. 

Thomas  J.  Buchanan, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
William  McLaughlin, 

Speaker  of  the  Senate. 

Makch  3,  1840. 

The  next  thing  in  order  was  the  passage  of 
a  joint  resolution  appointing  Commissioners  to 
locate  the  county  seat,  which  was  adopted  by 
the  House,  February  7,  and  concurred  in  by 
the  Senate,  February  10,  as  follows: 

Besolved,  By  the  Senate  and  House  of  Represent- 
atives, that  Jacob  J.  Williard,  of  Columbiana 
County,  James  McConnell,  of  Holmes  County,  and 
Warren  Sabin,  of  Clinton  County,  be,  and  they  are 
hereby  appointed  Commissioners  to  establish  the 
seat  of  justice  for  Summit  County,  pursuant  to  an 


"  "iry 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


229 


act  entitled  "An  act  establishing  seats  of  justice," 
passed  Februaiy  33,  1834. 

Thomas  J.  Buchanan, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
William  McLaughlin, 
Speaker  of  tJie  Senate. 

The  next  stage  in  the  proceedings,  was  the 
passage  of  a  bill  to  organize  the  new  county, 
which  passed  the  House  without  opposition, 
on  the  -Jrth  da}"  of  March,  1840,  and  unani- 
mousl}'  concurred  in  by  the  Senate,  March  10, 
as  follows: 

Sec  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  State  of  Ohio:  That  the  county  of  Summit  be, 
'  and  the  same  is  hereby  organized  into  a  separate 
and  distinct  county. 

Sec  2.  All  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  Constables 
within  the  territory  taken  from  Portage,  Medina 
and  Stark  Counties,  shall  continue  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  their  resi3ective  offices  until  their  com- 
missions or  terms  of  office  shall  expire,  and  until 
their  successors  shall  be  chosen  and  qualified;  and 
suits  commenced  before  the  taking  effect  of  this 
act,  shall  proceed  and  be  prosecuted  as  though  this 
act  had  not  been  passed.  Provided,  That  all  writs 
and  other  legal  process  to  be  issued  after  the  tirst 
Monday  of  April  next,  shall  be  styled  of  Summit 
County,  instead  of  Portage,  Medina  or  Stark  County. 

Sec  3.  That  on  the  tirst  Monday  of  April  next, 
the  legal  voters  residing  within  the  limits  of  the 
County  of  Summit,  shall  assemble  in  their  respect- 
ive townships,  at  the  usual  places  of  holding  elec- 
tions, and  proceed  to  elect  their  different  county 
officers  in  the  same  manner  pointed  out  in  the  act 
to  regulate  elections,  who  shall  hold  their  offices 
until  the  next  annual  election,  and  until  their  suc- 
cessors are  chosen  and  qualified. 

Sec  4.  It  shall  be  The  duty  of  the  Commission- 
ers of  said  county  of  Summit,  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  June  next,  to  take  charge  of  all  paupers, 
idiots  and  insane  persons  belonging  to  either  of  the 
townships  included  in  said  county  of  Summit,  and 
now  supported  by  either  of  the  counties  of  Portage, 
Medina  or  Stark,  and  the  same  to  maintain  there- 
after at  the  proper  expense  of  said  Summit  Count}'. 

Sec  5.  The  countj^  of  Summit,  for  judicial  pur- 
poses, is  hereby  attached  to  the  Third  Judicial  Cir- 
cuit, and  the  first  Court  of  Common  Pleas  to  be 
holden  in  said  county,  shall  commence  its  session 
in  the  town  of  Akron,  on  the  second  day  of  July 
next,  and  the  second  term  of  said  court  shall  com- 
mence on  the  eighth  day  of  December  next. 

Sec.  6.  That''  the  Auditor  of  State  in  the  re-ap- 
apportionment  of  the  surplus  revenue  received  from 
the  General  Government,  according  to  the  enumer- 
ation of  the  year  1839,  shall  apportion  to  the  county 
of  Summit  "that  snnount,  which  according  to  the 
enumeration  of  the  several  townshii^s  taken  from 
the  Counties  of  Portage,  Medina  and  Stark,  said 
county  will  l)e  entitled  to  receive,  wliicli  revenue 
shall  be  paid  to  the  order  of  the  Fund  Commis- 
sioners of  said  county  on  the  first  day  of  January. 
1841.  Provided,  If  within  three  months  from  said 
first  day  of  January,  1841,  said  Fund  Commission- 


ers do  not  draw  for  said  revenue,  the  Auditor  of 
State  shall  be  governed  in  the  disposition  of  the 
same  by  the  first  section  of  the  act  to  provide  for 
the  distril)ution  and  investment  of  the  State's  pro- 
portion of  the  surplus  revenue,  pas.sed  March  88, 
1837. 

Sec  7.  That  in  all  elections  for  members  of  Con- 
gress, the  count}'  of  Summit  shall  be  attached  to  the 
Fifteenth  Congressional  District. 

Thomas  J.  Buchanan, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
William  McLAr(;iii,[N, 
Speaker  of  the  Senate. 

As  soon  as  the  news  of  the  final  passage  of 
the  bill  erecting  the  new  county  reached  Akron, 
by  the  arrival  of  the  overland  mail  from  Co- 
lumbus, on  Monday  evening,  March  2,  1840, 
(the  bill  having  passed  the  Senate  the  previous 
Saturday,  February  28,  though  not  engrossed 
and  signed  by  the  Speakers  of  the  two  houses 
until  March  3),  there  being  no  railroads  or  tele- 
graphs in  those  days,  an  impromptu  jollifica- 
tion took  place,  which  is  thus  graphically  de- 
scribed in  one  of  the  local  journals  of  the  da}'  : 
''  With  the  rapidity  of  lightning,  the  news  was 
spread  from  house  to  house,  and  in  less  than 
half  an  hour  the  whole  town  was  in  motion. 
Cheers,  congratulations,  bonfires  and  illumina- 
tions were  the  order  of  the  day,  while  the  deep- 
toned  thunder  of  our  cannon  continued  to  pro- 
claim the  birth  of  the  new  count}'  to  all  the 
surrounding  country.  Such  a  spontaneous  and 
universal  burst  of  feeling  has  seldom  been  wit- 
nessed under  any  circumstances.  It  was  a 
scene  to  be  looked  upon,  but  cannot  be  de- 
scribed ;  such  a  noise  as  the  shrouds  make  at 
sea  in  a  stiff  tempest,  as  loud,  and  to  as  many 
tunes.  Hats,  caps  and  cloaks,  I  think,  flew  up, 
and,  had  their  faces  then  been  loose,  this  night 
had  lost  them."  In  fact,  the  recollection  of 
the  writer  is  to-day  vivid  and  distinct,  looking 
back  through  the  dim  vista  of  the  forty-one 
intervening  years,  that  through  the  entire  night, 
"  until  broad  daylight  in  the  morning,"  both 
solid  and  liquid  jollity  and  liappiness  prevailed. 
Nor  did  the  citizens  of  Akron  confine  the  re- 
joicing over  the  glorious  result  to  themselves 
alone,  but  immediately  took  the  initiatory 
steps  for  a  general  new  county  celebration  on 
Wednesday,  March  4.  A  committee  of  twelve 
citizens  of  Akron  and  one  from  each  town- 
ship was  appointed,  and  measures  taken  to 
spread  the  ''  glad  tidings  "  as  widely  as  possi- 
ble. Dr.  Jedediah  D.  Commins  was  made 
President  of  the  day  ;  Col.  James  W.  Phillips, 


;t^ 


'll 


.k 


230 


HISTORY  or    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Col.  Justus  Gale  and  Jacob  Brown,  Esq.,  of  j 
Akron,   and    Col.    Frederick    A.   Sprague   and  i 
Benjamin  Rouse,  Esq.,  of  Kichfield,  and  Col.  ; 
Solomon  Markham,  of  Green,  Vice  Presidents  ; 
Gen.  Lucius  V.  Bierce,  of  Akron,  was  consti- 
tuted Chief  Marshal,  with  Col.  Erastus  Torrey 
and  Maj.  Ithiel  Mills,  of  Akron,  as  assistants. 
A   national   salute   was   fired   from   the   high 
ground  between  the  two  villages,  North  and  i 
South  Akron  (the  present  court  house  site)  at 
sunrise.     The  militar}^  display  was  very  fine, 
being  participated  in  by  the  Summit  Guards, 
the  Akron  Light  Infantry  and    Cavalry,   the 
Copley  Light  Artillery,  the  Akron  Band,  under 
the  leadership  of  Mr.  Henry  S.  Abbey,  and  the 
Military  Band,  under  the  lead  of  Capt.  Cleve- 
land.    The  procession  of  several  thousand  men 
and    boys,    after    marching    through    several 
streets,  was  joined  by  a  large  cortege  of  ladies, 
dressed  uniformly  alike  and  carrying  parasols, 
who  took  their  position  between  the  Committee 
of  Arrangements  and  the  military,  and  marched 
the  balance  of  the  route  to  the  place  of  feast- 
ing, on  the  present  court  house  grounds.    After 
dinner  (abundant  and  toothsome),  the  following 
regular  toasts  were  announced  and  responded 
to  by  the  firing  of  cannon,  music  and  cheers  : 
1.   The   Legislature    of    Ohio — They   have    at 
length  done  justice  to  themselves  and  us.    Bet- 
ter late  than  never  !     2.    Our  Senator  and  Rep- 
resentatives— Many   have  done  well,  but,  these 
have   excelled    them    all  !     3.    The    County  of 
Summit — An   infant   Hercules.     Give    him   a 
wide  berth,  for  he'll  be  a  whopper  !     4.   Our 
Struggle — Almost  another  Trojan  siege.     The 
pangs  and  throes  it  has  cost  our  parents  to 
bring  us  forth  are  a  certain  presage  of  future 
greatness.     5.  Akron — Look  at  her  as  she  was, 
as  she  is,  and  as  she  iviU  be  !     6.    Our  Young 
County — The  pride  of  our  affections  ;  unsur- 
passed in  the  elements  of  future  greatness  ;  al- 
ready  populous  and  wealthy.     If  such  is  its 
childhood,  what  will  it  be  when  it  becomes  a 
man?     7.   Portage,  Stark  aiul  Medina — Among 
them  they  have  hatched   a  young  eagle,  full- 
fledged  and  on  the  wing.     She  will  soar  above 
them  all  !     8.    The  Buckeye  State — A  germ  of 
future  empire,  marching  right  ahead  in  the  road 
of  prosperity.     She  will  not  be  turned  aside 
from  the  high  destiny  that  awaits  her.     9.   Our 
Canals     and     Public    Improvements— \t    such 
things  be  done  in  the  green  tree,  what  will  be 
done  in  the  dry?      10.   The   Late    Meeting  at 


Ravenna — Malignity  feeding  on  envy  ;  daws 
pecking  at  eagles  ;  a  striking  instance  of  folly 
re-acting  on  itself  !  11.  The  Memory  of  Greg- 
ory Powers — We  mourn  the  untimely  fate  of 
this  patriot,  statesman  and  jurist.  His  memory 
will  long  be  cherished  in  the  county  of  Summit, 
his  native  and  resting  place.  12.  The  memory 
of  George  Washington — The  greatest  and  best 
man  ever  produced  in  the  tide  of  time.  When 
nature  had  formed  him,  she  broke  the  mold,  that 
he  might  stand  peerless  and  alone  !  13.  The 
Ladies  of  Summit — It  is  the  summit  of  our  ambi- 
tion to  stand  in  the  summit  of  their  affections  ! 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  regular  toasts,  volun- 
teer toasts  were  oflfered  by  Benjamin  Rouse, 
Esq.,  of  Richfield  ;  Gen.  Samuel  D.  Harris,  of 
Ravenna  ;  Hiram  Bowen,  Esq.,  editor  of  the 
Beacon,  Akron  ;  Dr.  Joseph  Cole,  Akron  ;  Col. 
Justus  Gale,  Akron  ;  Maj.  Ithiel  Mills,  Akron  ; 
Col.  Erastus  Torrey,  Akron  ;  Capt.  Philo 
Chamberlin,  Akron  ;  John  Hunsberger,  Esq.,  of 
Green  ;  Dr.  Jedediah  D.  Commins,  Akron  ; 
Julius  A.  Sumner,  of  Springfield  ;  Robert  K. 
Dubois,  Akron  ;  Col.  James  W.  Phillips,  Ak- 
ron ;  Dr.  Asa  Field,  Akron,  and  others.  These 
"  sentiments  "  would,  no  doubt,  be  interesting 
to  the  readers  of  these  pages,  but  are  altogether 
too  voluminous  for  the  space  at  our  disposal 
in  this  chapter.  In  the  evening,  a  convivial 
party  partook  of  a  very  fine  supper  at  the 
Ohio  Exchange  (present  site  of  Woods'  Block, 
corner  of  Main  and  Market  streets),  and,  says 
the  local  reporter.  "  the  day  was  closed  with- 
out accident  or  other  untoward  circumstance 
to  mar  the  festivities,  amid  bonfires  and  every 
demonstration  of  joy.  The  4th  of  March,  1840, 
will  long  be  remembered  in  Akron  !  " 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  bill 
to  organize  the  new  county,  an  election  for 
county  officers  was  held  on  the  first  Monday  of 
April,  1840,  both  Whigs  and  Democrats  placing 
tickets  in  the  field,  the  Whigs  securing  the  as- 
cendency, and  electing  their  entire  ticket  as 
follows  : 

Commissioners — John  Hoy,  of  Franklin  ; 
Jonathan  Starr,  of  Copley,  and  Augustus  E. 
Foote,  of  Twinsburg. 

Auditor — Birdsey  Booth,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls. 

Treasurer — William  O'Brien,  of  Hudson. 

Recorder — -Alexander  Johnston,  of  Green. 

Sheriff"— Thomas  Wilson,  of  Northfield. 

Prosecuting  Attorney — George  Kirkum,  of 
Akron. 


s 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


231 


Coroner — Elisha  Hinsdale,  of  Norton. 

Real  Estate  Appraiser — Frederick  A.  Sprague, 
of  Kichfield. 

Assistant  Appraisers — Milo  Stone,  of  Tall- 
madge,  and  Thomas  E.  Jones,  of  Franklin. 

The  Clerlv  of  tlie  Court  of  Common  Pleas, 
was  at  that  time  appointed  by  the  Judges  of 
the  Court ;  the  Judges,  in  turn,  being  appointees 
of  the  Legislature.  The  offices  of  Probate 
Judge  and  County  Surve^-ors  were  then  un- 
known among  the  County  officials  of  Ohio. 

Having  given  the  requisite  notice,  the  Com- 
missioners elect,  Messrs  Hoy,  Starr  and  Foote, 
met,  according  to  the  record,  at  "  McDonald's 
Tavern,"  northeast  corner  of  Main  and  Ex- 
change streets  (a  portion  of  the  same  buikling 
still  remains  standing  in  the  same  site),  on  the 
9th  da}'  of  April,  1840,  for  the  organization  of 
the  county  offices.  The  Commissioners  having 
had  the  usual  oath  of  office  administered  to  them 
l)y  the  one  of  Justices  of  the  Peace  of  Portage 
Township,  one  of  their  number  administered  a 
similar  oath  to  the  other  officers  elect,  and  the 
organization  of  the  county  was  complete. 

At  this  meeting,  proposals  for  the  I'ent  of 
rooms  for  county  offices  and  court  purposes, 
pending  the  permanent  location  of  the  seat  of 
justice,  and  the  erection  of  county  buildings, 
were  received  from  Jacob  Brown,  Esq.,  for 
May's  Block,  corner  of  Main  and  Exchange 
streets,  now  the  Clarendon  Hotel,  owned  by  F. 
Schumacher,  Esq.  ;  Benjamin  W.  Stephens, 
Esq.,  for  his  three-story  brick  block  on  South 
Main  street,  now  part  of  Merrill's  Pottery,  and 
from  Hii-am  Payne,  Esq..  for  the  upper  part  of 
the  large  three-story  stone  block,  corner  of 
Howard  and  JMarket  streets,  on  the  site  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  fine  brick  stores  of  M.  W.  Henry, 
Esq.,  and  Major  E.  Steinbacher. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  Commission- 
ers, held  on  the  11th  day  of  ^lay,  the  proposi- 
tion of  Mr.  Payne  was  accepted,  the  large  room 
in  the  third  story,  afterward  for  several  years 
known  as  "  Military  Hall,"  being  used  as  a 
court-room,  with  entrance  from  Market  sti'cet, 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  hall  being  partitioned 
off  for  a  jail,  the  county  offices  being  located  in 
other  portions  of  the  second  and  thii'd  stories 
of  the  building. 

The  Locating  Commissioners,  ^lessrs.  Will- 
iard,McConnell  and  Sal)in,  assembled  in  Akron 
and  entered  upon  the  task  assigned  to  them 
about  the  middle  of  3Lay,  1840.     In  the  mean- 


time, not  onl}'  had  a  sharp  rivalry  sprung  up 
between  North  and  South  Akron  for  the  prize, 
but  Cuyahoga  Falls  also  put  forth  a  vigorous 
effort  to  wrest  it  from  both,  claiming,  with  a 
good  degree  of  plausibility  and  justice,  not  only 
superior  water-power  for  manufacturing  pur- 
poses, but  also  to  be  considerably  nearer  to  the 
geographical  center  of  the  county  than  Akron 
was  ;  and  also  claiming  for  that  village  superi- 
or healthfulness,  and  a  more  advantageous  lo- 
cation for  the  building-up  of  a  large  manufact- 
uring town  or  city,  while  the  completion  of  the 
Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Canal,  then  about  to 
be  opened  through  from  Akron  to  the  Ohio 
River,  would  give  them  transportation  facilities 
fully  equal  to  those  of  Akron. 

At  that  time,  too,  "  The  Portage  Canal  and 
Manufacturing  Company."  with  a  capital  stock 
of  $500,000,  was  in  the  full  tide  of  "  prospective  " 
prosperity.  The  managers  of  that  corporation 
claimed  that  on  the  consummation  of  their 
project  of  bringing  the  entire  waters  of  the 
Big  Cuyahoga  River,  through  the  race  they 
were  then  constructing,  to  "  Summit  Citv," 
now  known  under  the  chaste  and  classical  name 
of  the  "  Chucker}',"  just  north  of  the  present 
limits  of  the  citj-  of  Akron,  and  one  of  its  most 
pleasant  suburbs,  a  great  manufacturing  town 
— a  second  Lowell — would  immediately  spring 
into  existence.  As  a  compromise,  therefore, 
between  Akron  and  Cuyahoga  Falls,  as  well  as 
in  its  own  behalf,  and  in  the  intei'ests  of  the 
people  of  the  county  at  large,  the  "  Chuckery  " 
put  in  its  claim  for  the  location  of  the  seat  of 
justice  of  the  new  county  within  its  borders, 
and,  through  its  officers,  urged  the  advantages 
of  the  location  upon  the  attention  of  the  Com- 
missioners. 

After  visiting  and  fully  examining  the  sev- 
eral localities  named,  and  patieatlv  listening  to 
the  arguments  of  the  several  claimants,  pro  and 
con,  the  Commissioners  decided  unanimously  in 
favor  of  Akron,  and  accordingly  proceeded,  in 
the  presence  of  a  large  concourse  of  interested 
and  jubilant  spectators,  to  stick  the  stakes  for 
the  county  buildings  upon  the  "  gore  "  (where 
they  still  stand),  then  a  wedge-shaped  piece  of 
unplatted  land  between  North  and  South  Akron, 
belonging  to  Gen.  Simon  Perkins,  of  Warren, 
the  father  of  our  present  venerable  fellow-citi- 
zen. Col.  Simon  Perkins,  of  Akron. 

The  people  of  Akron  were,  of  course,  greatly 
elated  over  the  decision  of  the  Commissioners 


h 


^H 


A-. 


232 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


in  their  favor,  and  as  tlie  buildings  liad  been 
located  upon  neutral  ground,  about  as  t»con- 
venient  to  the  one  as  to  the  other,  local  jeal- 
ousies were  for  the  time  being  subordinated  to 
the  common  weal,  and  the  people  of  the  two 
rival  villages,  cordially  "  shaking  hands  across 
the  yore-y  chasm,"  set  themselves  vigorously 
and  unanimously  at  work  to  raise  the  neces- 
sary amount  of  money  and  materials  to  con- 
struct the  public  buildings,  which,  together 
with  the  grounds,  were  to  be  provided  free  of 
expense  to  the  tax-payers  of  the  county.  The 
land  was  donated  by  Gen.  Perkins,  by  deed  re- 
ceived by  the  Commissioners,  July  14,  1840, 
and  the  building  fund  was  raised  by  voluntary- 
contributions  ;  the  contract  for  the  erection  of 
the  court  house  and  jail  being  entered  into  be- 
tween the  Count}'  Commissioners  and  Simon 
Perkins,  Jr.,  and  others,  as  Trustees,  on  the 
24th  da}'  of  September,  1840.  The  sub-con- 
tractors, Maj.  Ithiel  Mills,  of  Akron,  upon  the 
court  house,  and  Sebbeus  Saxton,  of  Norton, 
upon  tlie  jail,  commenced  work  at  once,  the 
foundations  of  both  structures  being  completed 
before  the  closing  in  of  winter  the  same  3'ear. 
The  term  of  Mr.  Perkins,  as  State  Senator, 
having  expired,  Elisha  N.  Sill,  Esq.,  of  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  was  chosen  as  his  successor  in  Oc- 
tober, 1840.  Though  Mr.  Sill,  in  behalf  of  the 
people  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  had  made  a  valiant 
tight  for  the  location  of  the  seat  of  justice  within 
the  limits  of  that  enterprising  village,  there 
was  very  little  if  any  opposition  made  to  his 
nomination  and  election  by  the  people  of  Akron, 
for  the  reason  that  it  was  supposed  that,  the 
location  having  been  legally  and  fairl}-  made, 
and  the  public  buildings  commenced,  ajfinality 
had  been  reached,  and  that  the  arrangement 
could  not  be  disturbed.  Through  the  influence 
of  Senator  Sill,  however,  aided  largely  by  the 
same  interests,  if  not  the  same  men,  that  had 
opposed  the  erection  of  the  new  county  the 
3'ear  before,  the  question  of  location  was  re- 
opened, during  the  winter  of  1840-41,  Summit 
County's  Representative  in  the  House,  Hon. 
Henry  0.  AVeaver,  of  Springfield,  making  a 
vigorous  but  unsuccessful  opposition  against 
the  scheme.  The  following  is  the  new  act  in 
relation  to  the  matter  : 

An  Act  to  Review  and  Estabt.isii  the  Seat  of 
Justice  of  Summit  County  : 
Section  1 .     Be  it  enncted  by  the  Oeneral  Assembly 
of  the  State  of  Ohio:  That  Jacob  C.   Hoaglaud,  of 


Highland  County,  Valentine  "Winters,  of  Montgom- 
ery .County,  and  William  Kendall,  of  Scioto  County, 
be,  and  they  are,  hereby  appointed  Commissioners 
to  review  the  scat  of  justice  of  Summit  County;  and 
if,  in  their  opinion,  the  public  interest  requires  it, 
t )  relocate  said  seat  of  justice  at  such  point  in  said 
connty  of  Summit  as  they  may  deem  most  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  put)lic  interest  and  convenience; 
and  said  Commissioners  shall  be  governed,  in  all 
their  doings,  by  an  act  passed  February  3,  1824,  es- 
tablishing seats  of  justice. 

Sec  2."  That  if  the  above-named  Commissioners 
shall,  upon  review,  change  the  location  of  said 
county  seat,  all  su))scriptions  of  money  and  land, 
and  ail  bonds  shall  be  void  which  have  been  made 
to  the  County  Commissioners  of  said  Summit 
County,  and  which  were  conditioned  upon  the  loca- 
tion of  the  county  seat  at  its  present  location;  and 
all  sums  of  money  or  other  propertj',  if  any,  which 
may  have  been  paid  on  account  of  said  subscrip- 
tions to  the  Commissioners  of  said  Summit  County, 
shall  be  repaid  by  the  Commissioners  to  the  said 
subscribers  having  so  paid  the  same;  or  if  said 
money  or  other  property  has  been  expended  by  said 
Commissioners  according  to  law,  the  same  shall  be 
repaid,  as  above,  out  of  the  subscriptions  provided 
for  in  the  third  section  of  this  act;  and  the  property 
for  which  said  expenditures  may  have  been  made 
shall  be  appropriated  by  said  Commissioners  toward 
erecting  the  county  buildings  of  said  county  where 
the  county  seat  shall  be  relocated. 

Sec  3.  That  the  above-named  Commissioners 
shall  be  authorized  to  receive  subscriptions,  payable 
to  the  Connty  Commissioners,  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting  county  buildings  for  said  Summit  County, 
and  said  Committee  of  review,  hereby  appointed, 
shall  relocate  said  county  seat  only  upon  condition 
that  said  county  buildings  shall  be  erected  b}'  such 
subscriptions  at  the  place  where  said  committee 
shall  so  relocate. 

Sec  4.     That  each  of  said  Commissioners  shall 
receive  the  sum  of  |3  for  each  day  he  may  be  em- 
ployed in  the  discliarge  of  his  duties  under  this  act, 
and  |3  for  each  twenty  miles  travel  in  going  to  and 
returning  from  the  seat  of  justice  of  said  county,  to 
be  paid  out  of  the  treasury  of  said  county. 
Seabuky  Ford, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
William  M.  McLaughlin, 

March  25,  1841.  ^i'"'^''''  ^^  *^''  ^''"'*''- 

The  reviewing  Commissioners,  Messrs.  Hoag- 
land.  Winters  and  Kendall,  came  upon  the 
ground  early  in  the  summer  of  1841.  After 
examining  the  several  localities  named,  they 
resolved  themselves  into  a  high  court  of  inqui- 
I'y,  at  the  stone  church — then  Universalist, 
now  Baptist — on  North  High  street,  when  the 
claims  of  the  different  points  were  exhaustively 
argued  before  them  by  the  following  gentle- 
men, viz.:  Hon.  R.  P.  Spalding,  for  Akron; 
Hon.  E.  N.  Sill,  for  Cuyahoga  Falls,  and  Dr. 
E.  W.  Crittenden,  for  Summit  City:  the  church. 


*:?1; 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


233 


throughout,  being  crowded  to  its  utmost  capac- 
ity by  tlie  anxious,  and,  at  times,  demonstra- 
tive, baclvers  of  the  respective  speakers.  After 
listening  to  the  able  and  eloquent  addresses 
from  the  gentlemen  named,  and  "  sleeping  over 
it "  during  an  intervening  night,  the  committee 
proceeded  the  next  morning  to  the  "  chuckery," 
and,  upon  the  first  narrow  bench  of  level  land 
north  of  the  Little  Cuyahoga  River,  at  a  point 
about  where  the  house  of  Mr.  11.  A.  Grimwood 
now  stands,  commenced  measuring  off  the 
ground  and  formally  sticking  the  stakes  for 
the  count}'  buildings,  in  the  presence  of  a  large 
crowd  of  interested,  as  well  as  indignant  specta- 
tors. While  thus  engaged.  Dr.  Daniel  Upson,  of 
Tallmadge,  who,  though  living  and  having  large 
property  interests  somewhat  nearer  to  Cuyaho- 
ga Falls  than  Akron,  rather  favored  the  latter 
place,  rode  up  from  the  direction  of  Bettes'  Cor- 
ners. After  watching  the  proceedings  for  a 
few  minutes,  the  old  Doctor,  with  the  emphatic 
tone  of  voice  and  the  peculiar  curl  of  lip,  so 
characteristic  of  him  when  aroused,  exclaimed  : 
'■  Nobody  but  fools  or  knaves  would  think  of 
locating  county  buildings  in  such  a  place  as 
that!" 

The  bluff  old  Doctors  indignant  remax'k  so 
aroused  the  ire  of  the  majority  of  the  Commis- 
sioners, already  probaljly  somewhat  prejudiced 
against  xlkron,  that  they  forthwith  gathered  up 
their  locating  paraphernalia  and  drove  straight 
to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  they  struck  the  stakes 
for  the  county  buildings,  on  the  very  handsome 
site  now  occupied  by  the  Congregational 
Church,  on  the  south  side  of  Broad  street,  and 
between  Broad  and  Second  streets  east  and 
west. 

The  relocating  committee  were  not  unani- 
mous, however,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following 
extract  from  the  journal  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  of  July  23.  1841  : 

In  the  matter  of  the  revieio  and  relocation  of  the 
seat  of  justice  for  Suinmit  County,  Jacob  C.  Hoag- 
land  and  Valentine  Winter.s,  two  of  the  Commis- 
sioner.s  appointed  by  the  Legislature  to  review  and 
locate  the  seat  of  justice  of  Summit  County,  having 
returned  to  the  oflfiee  of  the  Clerk  of  this  Court  their 
joint  report,  and  WiHiam  Kendall,  the  other  Com- 
missioner, having  returned  to  the  Clerk  of  this  Court 
his  separate  report,  this  day  George  Kirkuni,  Esq., 
a  citizen  and  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  said  count}^ 
presented  the  same  reports  to  the  Coiu't,  and  moved 
that  the  report  of  said  Hoagland  and  Winters  be 
filed  and  entered  of  record.  Whereupon,  the  Com- 
missioners of  said  county  of  Summit  appear  hy  their 


attorney  and  object  to  the  filing  and  entering  of  said 
reports  of  record,  for  various  reasons  by  them  set 
forth,  and  the  parties  were  heard  by  counsel,  and 
the  Court,  being  ec(ually  divided  in  opinion:  It  is 
ordered  that  the  said  George  Kirkum,  Esq,,  take 
nothing  by  his  said  motion. 

The  Court  being  thus  divided  as  to  the  legal- 
ity of  the  proceedings,  and  the  County  Com- 
missioners also  being  divided  in  opinion  on  the 
same  subject.  Commissioner  Foote  favoring  the 
majority  report,  and  Messrs.  Starr  and  Hoy  the 
minority  report,  the  county  ofticers  also  assum- 
ing the  prerogative  of  deciding,  each  for  him- 
self, where  his  office  should  be  kept.  Auditor 
Booth  establishing  his  headquarters  at  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  and  Treasurer  O'Brien  having  his 
main  office  at  the  Falls,  though  maintaining  a 
branch  office  in  Akron,  no  further  action  was 
had  in  regard  to  the  public  buildings,  the  work 
already  commenced  in  Akron  remaining  in  statu 
quo  until  the  following  year. 

At  the  October  election,  in  1841,  the  county- 
seat  question  being  the  issue,  Rufus  P.  Spald- 
ing and  Simon  Perkins,  Jr.,  were  elected  to  the 
Legislature,  Summit  Count}*  that  year  being  en- 
titled to  two  members  of  the  House,  Represent- 
atives, under  the  old  constitution,  being  elected 
annually,  instead  of  bienniall}',  as  now.  Sen- 
ators, then,  as  now,  being  elected  for  two  years. 
Mr.  Sill  of  course  held  his  position  during  the 
session  of  1841-42.  Through  the  exertions  of 
Messrs.  Spalding  and  Perkins,  the  following 
fjill,  submitting  the  question  to  popular  vote, 
was  enacted,  the  filibustering  tactics  to  retard 
and  defeat  it  being  much  less  determined  and 
persistent  in  the  House  than  upon  the  original 
bill  for  the  erection  of  the  new  county,  but  vig- 
orousl}'  opposed  in  the  Senate,  the  vote  stand- 
ing, in  the  House,  3'eas,  45  ;  na3's,  19  ;  and  in 
the  Senate,  3'eas,  20  ;  nays,  16,  on  the  final  pas- 
sage of  the  bill,  as  follows  : 

An  Act  to  establish  permanently  the  Seat  of 
Justice  of  Summit  County: 
Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  hi/  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  State  of  Ohio:  That  the  (pialified  electors  of 
Summit  County  shall  be  authorized  to  express  their 
preference  for  either  Akron,  or  Cuj^ahoga  Falls,  as 
the  seat  of  justice  for  said  coiuity,  by  placing  on 
their  ticket.s',  at  the  township  elections,  to  be  held 
on  the  first  Monda.y  of  April  ne.xl,  the  words:  "Seat 
of  Justice  at  Akroii,"  or,  "Seat  of  Justice  at  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,"  as  their  choice  maj'  be;  and  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  Trustees  or  Judges  of  the  Election, 
in  the  several  townships  in  said  county,  to  make  re- 
turn of  the  said  votes  in  regard  to  the  seat  of  justice 
within   three   da^'s   thereafter  to  the  Clerk  of  the 


IV 


231 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  said  county,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  canvass  said  votes,  in  the  same  man- 
ner that  by  law  he  is  required  to  canvass  votes  for 
State  and  county  officers. 

Sec.  2.  ff  eitlier  one  of  said  towns  shall  receive  a 
majorit}^  of  all  the  votes  given,  the  same  shall  be 
thenceforward  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  for 
said  (;ounty  of  Summit;  but  if  neither  shall  receive 
such  majority,  then,  and  in  that  case,  the  subject 
shall  remain  open  for  the  future  action  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  Clerk  to  return 
to  the  Coui't  of  Common  Pleas  of  said  county,  next 
to  be  held  after  the  said  election,  an  abstract  of  said 
votes,  duly  certified,  that  tiie  same  may  be  entered 
upon  the  journal  of  said  court. 

Sec.  4.  Nothing  herein  contained  shall  be  so  con- 
strued, as  to  release,  or  in  any  way  discharge  any 
subscription  of  land,  money,  or  materials  lieretofore 
made,  for  the  pm-pose  of  erecting  a  court  house  and 
jail  at  the  place  that  may  be  selected  by  the  people 
as  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  for  said  county. 

Sec.  5.  The  electors  of  Summit  County  shall  be 
notified  of  the  passage  of  this  act.  by  publication  of 
the  same  in  some  newspaper  printed  in  said  county, 
at  least  two  weeks  previous  to  said  election. 

Rupus  P.  Spalding, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  RepresentaUves. 
James  J.  Fakan, 

March  2,  1842.  Speaker  of  the  Senate. 

On  the  passage  of  this  bill,  a  lively  election- 
eering campaign  immediately  commenced,  the 
different  parties  in  interest  holding  meetings, 
making  speeches,  circulating  documents,  etc., 
in  ever}-  portion  of  the  count}',  the  activity  and 
bitterness  of  a  modern  political  campaign  be- 
ing moderation  and  mildness  itself  compared 
with  it. 

The  result  of  the  active  measures  thus  taken, 
was  a  very  full  vote,  almost  two-thirds  declar- 
ing in  favor  of  Akron,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
fcjUowing  abstract  taken  from  the  journal  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  May  term,  1842, 
as  certified  to  by  Lucian  Swift,  Esq.,  Clerk  of 
said  court. 

To  the  Honorable,  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of 
the  County  of  Summit,  next  to  be  holden  in  and  for 
said  county:  I  do  hereby  certify  that  the  following 
is  the  a!)stract  of  votes  given  for  the  seat  of  justice 
of  said  county,  at  the  election  held  on  the  lirst  Mon- 
day of  April,  1842,  pursuant  to  an  act  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  entitled  "an  act  to  establish  perma- 
nently the  seat  of  Justice  for  Summit  County," 
passed  March  2,  1842,  as  the  same  were  returned  to 
me  by  the  township  authorities,  respectively,  and 
as  the  same  were  canvassed;  as  witness  my  hand 
and  seal  of  office,  this  sixth  day  of  April  A.  I).  1842. 
Lucian  Swift,  Clerk     [Seal]. 

State  of  Ohio,  Summit  County,  ss.  : 

We  do  hereby  certify  that  at  an  election  held  on 
the  4t]!  day  of  April,  inst.,  in  pursuance  of  a  law 


passed  by  the  Fortieth  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
of  Ohio,  entitled  "An  act  to  establish  permanently 
the  seat  of  justice  of  Summit  County"  there  were 
two  thousand,  nine  hundred  and  seventy-eight  votes 
given  for  the  "seat  of  justice  at  Akron;"  one 
thousand,  three  hundred  and  eighty -four  votes  given 
for  the  "seat  of  justice  at  Cuyahoga  Falls;"  one 
hundred  and  one  votes  given  for  the  "seat  of  jus- 
tice at  Summit,"  two  votes  "North  Akron"  and 
twent.y-two  blanks. 

H.  II.  Johnson,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

L.  L.  Howard,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Lucian  Swift,  Clerk  of  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  for  Summit  County. 
April  6,  A.  D.  1842. 

abstract  of  votes. 


Akron. 

y-  r. 

6 

S  --3 

c 

Bath 

191 

66 

271 

232 

250 

289 

16 

29 

30 

295 

621 

153 

348 

6 

181 

41 
54 

1 

2 
60 

1 

Boston 

'^ 

Copley 

1 

Coventry 

Franklin 

4 

1 

235 

132 

143 

1'^ 

Green 

'?, 

Hudson 

Northampton  . .  . 
Northfield 

7 
9 

2 

Norton 

Portage 

5 

16 

15 

361 

177 
199 

15 

1 

1 

Richfield 

Springfield 

Stow 

1 

1 

Tallmadge 

Twinsburg 

7 

1 

Total 

2978 

1384 

101     1     2 

2'>, 

For  Akron 2978 

Total  Opposition 1509 

Majority  for  Akron 1469 

The  "vexed  question"  of  location  being  now 
definitely  settled,  the  public  buildings  were 
again  proceeded  with  ;  though,  building  opera- 
tions not  being  conducted  as  rapidly  then  as 
now,  the}^  were  not  completed  until  late  in  the 
following  3'car,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following 
extract  from  the  proceedings  of  the  Count}' 
Commissioners,  under  date  December  5,  1843: 

Dec.  5,  1843.  Simon  Perkins,  Jr.,  Jedediah  D. 
Commins  and  Richard  Howe,  the  trustees  for  build- 
ing the  court  house  and  jail,  and  Ithiel  Mills,  the 
court  house  contractor,  submitted  the  court  house 
for  inspection  of  the  board  for  their  acceptance. 

Dec.  6.  Having  examined  the  court  house,  the 
board  proposed,  as  an  offset  to  the  general  bad 
character  of  the  work,  which  the  building  trustees 


37i' 


J^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


235 


fully  admitted,  to  accept  it,  if  the  windows  were 
made  to  work  freely  up  and  down,  the  doors  better 
hung  or  fastened,  and  provided  with  more  suitable 
latches  and  locks,  and  the  windows  in  the  Auditor's, 
Clerk's  and  Recorder's  offices  secured  by  iron  blinds 
or  shutters,  made  and  fitted  into  them. 

The  contractor  on  the  jail,  Mr.  Sebbens  Sax- 
ton,  having  died  in  August,  1841,  on  the  final 
settlement  of  the  question  of  location  the  con- 
tract was  assumed  by  his  younger  brother, 
Mr.  Harve}^  Saxton,  and  the  structure  com- 
pleted by  him.  Though  the  jail  was  accepted 
by  the  Commissioners,  and  though,  at  the  time, 
it  was  regarded  as  well  built,  and  as  really  a 
model  institution  of  its  kind,  it  did  not  prove 
to  be  remarkably  safe,  as  the  ver}^  first  batch 
of  prisoners,  some  eight  or  nine  in  number, 
confined  therein,  made  their  escape  the  very 
first  night,  by  pushing  from  the  wall  one  of 
the  blocks  of  stone  of  which  it  was  composed. 
This  defect  was  subsequently  remedied  by  the 
insertion  of  iron  dowels,  and  no  escapes  from 
that  cause  have  since  been  made,  though  often 
attempted.  The  jail  building  remains  the  same 
as  when  constructed,  with  the  exception  of  the 
small  brick  wing  upon  the  north  side,  added 
some  thirty  years  ago,  and  some  slight  interior 
improvements.  Though  the  doweling  of  the 
walls  has  prevented  the  prisoners  from  pushing 
out  the  blocks  of  stone,  as  in  the  instance 
named,  at  least  a  score  of  escapes  have  since 
been  effected  through  other  weak  spots,  and, 
from  the  experience  which  the  writer  has  had 
therewith,  he  unhesitatingly  affirms  that  both 
in  a  sanitar}^  point  of  view,  as  well  as  in  the 
matter  of  safety  and  convenience,  a  new  jail 
structure  is  an  immediate  and  pressing  public 
necessity. 

The  court  house,  however,  has  been  very 
raateriall}^  changed.  The  two  wings,  with  the 
porch  and  sustaining  columns  in  front,  have 
been  added  upon  the  west  end,  and  the  smaller 
porch  upon  the  east  end,  while  the  court-room 
and  public  offices  have  been  correspondingly 
enlarged,  the  additions  and  improvements  being 
authorized  by  a  special  act  of  the  Legislature, 
passed  March  29, 1867.  The  entire  space  upon 
the  north  side  of  the  hall,  upon  the  ground 
floor,  is  now  occupied  by  the  County  Treasurer, 
greatl}'  to  the  conA^enience  of  that  officer,  as 
well  of  the  tax-paying  public,  the  same  space 
having  originally  been  divided  up  into  a  grand 
jurj-  room  upon  the  west,  the  Sheriff's  office 
upon  the  east,  with  the  Treasurer's  office  in  the 


center,  only  one- third  its  present  dimensions. 
On  the  south  side  of  the  hall  the  Probate 
Judge  formerly  occupied  the  room  upon  the 
east  end,  now  occupied  by  the  Sheriff,  the  en- 
tire space  now  occupied  by  the  Auditor's  and 
Commissioner's  oflices  having  been  originally 
about  equally  divided  between  the  Auditor, 
Clerk  and  liecorder.  On  the  upper  floor,  a 
stairwa}^,  ante-room  and  jury-room,  occupj'ing 
about  twelve  feet  of  the  east  end  of  the  build- 
ing, have  been  thrown  into  the  court-room, 
greatly  to  the  convenience  of  the  court  and  bar 
and  all  persons  having  business  thei'ein.  The 
upper  floor  of  the  north  wing  is  devoted  to  a 
jury-room  and  a  consultation-room,  and  the 
lower  floor  to  the  joint  use  of  the  Recorder  and 
Surveyor,  while  the  upper  floor  of  the  south 
wing  is  occupied  by  the  County  Clerk,  and  the 
lower  floor  by  the  Probate  Judge.  Notwith- 
standing these  improvements,  taking  increase 
of  population  and  a  corresponding  increase  of 
the  public  business,  the  present  structure — to 
say  nothing  of  its  yearl}'  increasing  condition 
of  dilapidation — is  wholly  inadequate  to  the 
public  requirements,  and  Summit  County  can- 
not do  itself  a  more  important  service  than  b}- 
immediately  inaugurating  a  movement  for  the 
erection  of  a  new  court  house — one  that  will 
not  only  be  commensurate  with  the  public 
necessities,  but  a  credit,  also,  to  the  proverbial 
good  taste  and  public  spirit  of  its  people. 

On  the  5th  day  of  March,  1851,  Hosea  Paul 
and  others  presented  to  the  County  Commis- 
sioners a  numerously  signed  petition  for  the 
creation  of  the  township  of  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
and  the  board,  being  satisfied  that  the  proper 
preliminary  steps  had  been  taken,  unanimously 
granted  the  petition,  the  necessary  territory', 
an  average  of  about  two  miles  square,  being 
taken  from  the  northeast  corner  of  Portage,  the 
northwest  corner  of  Tallmadge,  the  southwest 
corner  of  Stow  and  the  southeast  corner  of 
Northampton  Townships,  the  incorporated  vil- 
lage of  Cuyahoga  Falls  also  occupying  a  por- 
tion of  said  territor}'. 

The  township  of  Middlebury  was  also,  in 
like  manner,  erected  in  March,  1857,  the  nec- 
essary territory  being  taken  fi'om  Portage, 
Tallmadge,  Springfield  and  Coventry.  Subse- 
quently, the  township  of  Middlebury  became, 
by  legal  annexation,  the  Sixth  Ward  of  the  city 
of  Akron,  though  still  retaining  a  distinctive 
township  organization,  to  the  extent  of  electing 


^ 


236 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


for  itself  a  Justice  of  tlie  Peace  and  one  Con- 
stable. 

Under  the  old  constitution  of  Ohio,  the  local 
judiciary  consisted  of  a  Circuit  or  President 
Judge,  having  jurisdiction  over  from  four  to 
twelve  counties,  with  three  Associate  Judges  for 
each  county,  all  of  whom  were  appointed  by 
the  Legislature,  their  respective  terms  of  office 
being  seven  years,  "(/'so  long  tliey  behave  tcell." 
All  Probate  business  was  at  that  time  trans- 
acted by  Common  Pleas  Courts,  one  or  more 
of  the  Associate  Judges  ofliciating  for  that  pui*- 
pose,  as  occasion  required,  during  vacation. 

Summit  County  on  its  organization  became 
a  part  of  the  Third  Judicial  Circuit,  embracing, 
as  reconstructed  under  the  act  of  April  11, 
1840,  the  counties  of  Ashtabula,  Trumbull, 
Portage  and  Summit.  Hon.  Yan  E.  Humphre}', 
of  Hudson,  was  the  Presiding  Judge  of  the 
Circuit  on  the  accession  of  Summit  thereto. 
Hon.  Eben  Newton,  of  Canfield,  then  in  Trum- 
bull Count}',  now  Mahoning,  succeeded  Judge 
Humphrey  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  in  IS-t-l. 
Judge  Newton  resigned  his  position  on  the  bench 
in  the  winter  of  1846-47,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Hon.  Benjamin  F.  Wade,  of  Jefferson,  Ashta- 
bula Count}',  who  in  turn  resigned  on  being 
elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  March  15, 
1851,  Gov.  HeubenWood  filling  the  vacancy  by 
the  appointment  of  Hon.  (leorge  Bliss,  of  Akron, 
who  held  the  position  onh'  nntil  the  taking 
effect  of  the  new  constitution  in  February,  1852, 
Common  Pleas  Judges  thereafter  being  elected 
by  the  people,  one  Judge  only  sitting  in  place 
of  the  three  or  four  under  the  old  rule. 

The  first  term  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
for  the  new  county  of  Summit,  convened  in 
Akron  on  the  2d  day  of  July,  1840,  pre- 
sided over  by  Hon.  Van  E,.  Humphrey,  with 
Hon.  Robert  K.  Dubois,  of  Akron,  Hon.  Charles 
Sumner,  of  Middlebury,  and  Hon.  Hugh  R. 
Caldwell,  of  Franklin,  as  Associate  Judges: 
though  considerable  probate  and  other  busi- 
ness, proper  to  be  transacted  in  vacation,  had 
previously  been  done  by  one  or  the  other  of  the 
Associate  Judges. 

In  1845,  Judges  Sumner  and  Dubois  de- 
ceased, the  former  June  19  and  the  latter  Oc- 
tober 14.  They  were  succeeded  b}'  Hon.  John 
B.  Clark,  of  Hudson,  and  Hon.  James  R.  Ford, 
of  Akron  ;  Hon.  Sylvester  H.  Thompson,  of  Hud- 
son, in  turn  succeeding  Judge  Clark,  on  the  res- 
ignation of  the  latter  in  1846. 


Judge  Caldwell  was  succeeded  by  Hon.  John 
Hoy,  of  Frankhn,  in  April,  1847.  Hon.  Samuel 
A.  Wheeler,  of  Akron,  also  succeeding  Judge 
Ford  on  the  death  of  the  latter  gentleman,  at 
the  April  term  in  1849. 

Judge  Wheeler  resigning  his  position  on 
leaving  for  California  in  the  spring  of  1850, 
Hon.  Peter  Yoris,  of  Bath,  was  appointed  his 
successor  ;  Judges  Thompson,  Ho}^  and  Yoris 
serving  thenceforth  until  the  taking  effect  of  the 
new  constitution  in  February,  1852.  Though 
none  of  the  Associate  Judges  named  were  bred 
lawyers,  their  duties,  often  delicate  and  intricate, 
were  discharged  to  the  general  satisfaction  of 
the  people  of  the  county  during  their  respective 
terms  of  service. 

On  the  taking  effect  of  the  new  constitution, 
in  1852,  Summit  Count}'  was  attached  to  the 
Second  Subdivision  of  the  Fourth  Judicial  Dis- 
trict of  the  State,  this  subdivision  embracing 
Summit,  Medina  and  Lorain  Counties.  Hon. 
Samuel  Humphreville,  of  Medina,  was  elected 
Common  Pleas  Judge,  in  October,  1851,  for  five 
years,  serving  his  full  term.  Hon.  James  S. 
Carpenter,  of  Akron,  was  elected  Judge  in  Oc- 
tober, 1856,  also  serving  his  full  term  of  five 
years. 

There  appearing  to  be  an  excess  of  business 
upon  the  dockets  of  the  several  counties  of  the 
subdistrict,  on  petition  of  the  members  of  the 
bar  of  said  counties,  an  extra  judgeship  was 
created  for  said  subdistrict,  by  an  act  passed 
by  the  Legislature  in  April,  1858.  Hon.  Will- 
iam H.  Canfield,  of  Medina,  was  elected  to  said 
extra  Judgeship  in  October,  1858,  for  five 
years.  Legal  business  becoming  largely  dimin- 
ished, in  the  earlier  years  of  the  war,  the  extra 
judgeship  was  abolished,  at  the  close  of  Judge 
Canfield's  term,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature, 
passed  April  16,  1862.  Hon.  Stephenson 
Burke,  of  Elyria,  was  elected  as  Judge  Carpen- 
ter's successor  in  October,  1861,  and  re-elected 
in  1866,  but  resigned  the  position  and  retired 
from  the  bench,  about  two  years  before  the  ex- 
piration of  his  second  term.  Hon.  Washington 
W.  Boynton,  of  Elyria,  was  appointed  by  Gov. 
Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  in  the  spring  of  1869,  to 
fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  resignation 
of  Judge  Burke,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the 
time  for  which  he  was  appointed,  in  October, 

1871,  was   elected   for   five   years,  from    May, 

1872,  serving,  besides  the  fraction   of  Judge 
Burke's  term,  a  single  full  term  only,  because 


^ 


HISTORY  or    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


237 


of  his  election  to  tlie  Supreme  Bench  of  Ohio, 
in  October,  1S76. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  legal  business 
again  began  to  accumulate,  and,  at  length,  be- 
came altogether  too  great  for  a  single  Judge  to 
properly  perform.  An  extra  judgeship,  for 
the  Second  Subdivision,  was  accordingl}'  created 
by  act  of  the  Legislature,  in  the  spring  of  1870. 
Hon.  Samuel  W.  McClure,  of  Akron,  was  elected 
to  this  new  Judgeship,  in  October,  1870,  serving 
to  the  end  of  his  term,  and  declining  to  be  a  can- 
didate for  a  second  term.  Hon.  Newell  D.  Tib- 
bals,  of  Akron,  as  Judge  McClure's  successoi", 
was  elected  in  October,  1875,  for  five  years,  from 
Mav,  1876,  and  re-elected  for  a  second  term  in 
October,  1880.  Hon.  John  C.  Hale,  of  Elyria, 
as  Judge  Boynton's  successor,  on  the  latter's 
accession  to  the  Supreme  Bench,  was  elected  in 
October,  1876,  taking  his  seat  upon  the  bench 
in  May,  1877,  for  the  term  of  five  years. 

It  is.  perhaps,  proper  to  remark  that,  while 
the  present  judicial  system  of  Ohio  has  been, 
generally,  and  particularh-,  a  vei'y  great  im- 
provement over  the  old  system,  though  still 
^■ery  far  from  perfect,  the  manner  in  which  its 
functions  ha^■e  been  performed  b}'  the  several 
successive  Judges  of  the  Second  Subdivision  of 
the  Fourth  Judicial  District,  will  take  and 
hold  a  commanding  rank  in  the  judicial  pro- 
ceedings of  Ohio,  or  any  sister  State. 

As  heretofore  mentioned,  up  to  the  adoption 
of  the  new  constitution,  in  1851,  the  probate 
business  of  the  State  had  been  done  by  the 
Common  Pleas  Courts.  Charles  G.  Ladd,  of 
Akron,  was  elected  Probate  Judge  of  Summit 
Count}',  in  October  1851,  for  the  term  of  three 
3-ears.  Judge  Ladd's  health  failing  soon  after 
his  election  to  the  office,  Alvin  C.  Voris,  Esq., 
was  appointed  as  his  Deputy  Clerk,  and,  for  the 
most  part,  performed  the  functions  of  the  office 
until  the  death  of  Judge  Ladd,  in  August,  1852. 
Roland  0.  Hammond,  of  Akron,  was  appointed 
b}-  Gov.  Reuben  Wood,  to  fill  the  vacancy  oc- 
casioned by  the  deatli  of  Judge  Ladd,  to  serve 
until  the  next  annual  election,  and  until  his 
successor  was  elected  and  qualified.  Constant 
Br3-an,  of  Akron,  was  elected  in  October,  1852, 
for  the  balance  of  Judge  Ladd's  term,  two  years. 
Noah  M.  Humphrey,  of  Richfield,  was  elected 
in  1854,  and  re-elected  in  1857.  holding  the  po- 
sition two  full  terms,  of  three  years  each.  Will- 
iam M.  Dodge,  of  Akron,  was  elected  in  October, 
1860,  for  three  years,  but  died  in  July,  1861. 


Samuel  A.  Lane,  of  Akron,  without  solicita- 
tion on  the  part  of  either  himself  or  his  friends, 
was,  on  the  24th  day  of  July,  1861,  appointed 
and  commissioned  as  Judge  Dodge's  successor, 
by  Gov.  William  Dennison,  but  declined  to  ac- 
cept the  honor.  Asahel  H.  Lewis,  of  Akron, 
on  petition  of  himself  and  friends,  was  then  ap- 
pointed to  fill  the  vacancy  until  the  next  gen- 
eral election.  Stephen  H.  Pitkin,  of  Hudson, 
was  elected  in  October,  1861,  for  the  balance  of 
Judge  Dodge's  term,  two  3'ears  ;  re-elected  in 
1863,  and  again  in  1866,  holding  the  office 
eight  years.  Ulysses  L.  Marvin,  of  xlkron, 
elected  in  October,  1869.  and  re-elected  in  1872, 
serving  two  full  terms  of  three  3-ears  each. 
Samuel  C.  Williamson,  of  Akron,  elected  in 
October,  1875,  and  re-elected  in  1878. 

On  the  first  organization  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas,  under  the  old  constitution,  in 
1840,  at  a  special  term,  held  April  9,  Rufus  P. 
Spalding,  Esq.,  was  appointed  Clerk  pro  tem., 
and  was  re-appointed  at  the  first  regular  ses- 
sion of  said  court,  Jul}-  2, 1840  ;  Clerks  at  that 
time  being  appointed  b}-  the  Judges  of  the 
courts  in  which  the}*  were  to  serve,  instead  of 
being  elected  by  the  people,  as  now.  Mr. 
Spalding  held  the  office,  his  brother-in-law,  Mr. 
Lucian  Swift,  acting  as  his  deputy,  until  De- 
cember 14,  1840,  when,  tendering  his  resigna- 
tion as  Clerk  pro  tem.,  Mr.  Swift  was  appointed 
Clerk  for  the  term  of  seven  j^ears,  resigning  his 
office  ten  days  before  the  expiration  of  his 
term,  on  the  3d  da}'  of  December,  1847.  Lu- 
cius S.  Peck,  of  Akron,  appointed  to  fill  the 
vacancy  occasioned  by  the  resignation  of  Mr. 
Swift,  December  3,  1847,  and  also  for  the  full 
term  of  seven  years.  The  adoption  of  the  new 
constitution  in  1851  brought  Mr.  Peck's  term 
of  office  to  a  close  after  a  service  of  about  four 
years.  Nelson  B.  Stone,  of  Akron,  was  elected 
first  Clerk  under  the  new  Constitution,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1851,  for  three  3'ears,  serving  one  term 
onl3-.  Edwin  P.  Green,  of  Akron,  elected  in 
October,  1854,  and  re-elected  in  1857,  serving 
two  full  terms.  John  A.  Means,  of  Northfield, 
was  elected  in  October,  1860,  for  three  years. 
In  1861,  Clerk  [Means  entered  the  army,  the 
duties  of  the  office  being  performed  by  his 
son,  Mr.  Nathan  A.  Means,  during  the  I'e- 
mainder  of  the  term.  Charles  Rinehart,  of 
Franklin,  elected  in  October,  1863,  and  re- 
elected in  1866,  serving  two  full  terms  of  three 
years  each.     Capt.  John  A.  Means  was  again 


238 


HISTORY  or    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


elected  in  October,  1864,  serviug  a  single  term 
onl}'.  George  W.  Weeks,  of  Copley,  was  elected 
in  October,  1872,  and  re-elected  in  1875,  serv- 
ing two  full  terms.  Sumner  Nash,  of  Akron, 
elected  in  October,  1878,  for  three  years  from 
February,  1879. 

William  M.  Dodge,  of  Akron,  was  elected 
Prosecuting  Attorney  at  the  first  election  for 
county  officers  held  in  the  new  county,  in 
April,  1840,  and  i-e-elected  in  October  of  the 
same  year  for  two  years.  George  Kirkum,  of 
Akron,  was  elected  in  October,  1842,  serving  a 
single  term  of  two  years  only.  William  S.  C. 
Otis,  of  Akron,  was  elected  in  October,  1844, 
also  serving  but  one  term.  Samuel  W.  Mc- 
Clure,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  was  elected  in  Octo- 
ber, 1846,  serving  but  a  single  term.  William 
H.  Upson,  of  Akron,  was  elected  in  October, 
1848,  holding  the  position  but  two  years. 
Harvc}'  Wheedon,  of  Hudson,  was  elected  in 
October,  1850,  also  retiring  at  the  end  of  two 
years.  Sidney  Edgerton,  of  Akron,  was  elected 
in  October,  1852,  and  re-elected  in  1854,  holding 
the  office  four  years.  Henrj'  McKinney,  of 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  was  elected  in  October,  1856, 
and  re-elected  in  1858.  N.  D.  Tibbals,  of 
Akron,  was  elected  in  October,  I860,  and  re- 
elected in  1862.  Mr.  Tibbals  going  into  the 
100-days  service  in  1864,  E.  P.  Green  was  ap- 
pointed, and  served  as  Prosecuting  Attorney 
ad  interim.  Edward  Oviatt,  of  Akron,  was 
elected  in  October,  1864,  and  re-elected  in  1866. 
Jacob  A.  Kohler,  of  Akron,  was  elected  in  Oc- 
tober, 1868,  and  re-elected  in  1870.  Henry  C. 
Sanford,  of  Akron,  was  elected  in  October, 
1872,  retaining  the  office  but  a  single  term. 
James  M.  Poulson,  of  Akron,  was  elected  in 
October,  1874,  holding  the  position  but  a  single 
term.  P]dward  W.  Stuart,  of  Akron,  was  elected 
in  October,  1876,  and  re-elected  in  1878,  serv- 
ing two  full  terms.  Charles  Baird,  of  Akron, 
was  elected  in  October,  1880. 

Thomas  Wilson,  of  Northfield,  was  elected 
Sheriff  in  April,  1840,  to  serve  until  the  next 
annual  election ;  was  re-elected  in  October, 
1840,  and  again  in  1842,  serving,  in  all,  four 
years  and  seven  months,  notwithstanding  the 
constitutional  provision  that  no  Sheriff  shall 
serve  more  than  four  years,  in  any  consecutive 
six  years — a  provision  for  which  no  reason  can 
be  assigned  that  would  not  equally  apply  to  any 
other  county  or  State  official.  Lewis  M.  Janes, 
of  Boston,  elected  in  October,  1844  ;  re-elected 


in  1846.  William  L.  Clarke,  of  Middlebury, 
elected  in  October,  1848  ;  re-elected  in  1850. 
Dudley  Seward,  of  Tallmadge,  elected  in  Octo- 
ber, 1852  ;  re-elected  in  1854.  Samuel  A. 
Lane,  of  Akron,  elected  in  October,  1856,  and 
re-elected  in  1858.  During  his  first  term,  the 
law  was  changed  so  as  to  give  Sheriffs  elect 
possession  of  their  offices  on  the  first  Monday 
of  Januar}'  instead  of  the  first  Monday  of 
November,  after  their  election,  so  that  the  con- 
stitution was  again  "  fractured  "  by  this  incum- 
bent holding  the  office  four  years  and  two 
months,  though  supposed  to  have  been  mended 
by  his  filing  a  new  bond  for  the  extra  two  months. 
Jacob  Chisnell,  of  Green,  elected  in  October, 
1860  ;  re-elected  in  1862.  James  Burlison,  of 
Middlebury,  elected  in  October,  1864  ;  re-elected 
in  1866.  Augustus  Curtiss,  of  Portage,  elected 
in  October,  1868,  and  re-elected  in  1870. 
Levi  J.  McMurray,  of  Franklin,  elected  in  Oc- 
tober, 1872  ;  and  re-elected  in  1874.  Samuel 
A.  Lane,  after  an  interregnum  of  sixteen  years, 
then  sixty-one  years  of  age,  was  again  elected 
Sheriff  in  October,  1876,  and  re-elected  in  1878, 
holding  the  position,  in  all,  eight  years,  a  dis- 
tinction accorded  to  no  other  incumbent  of  the 
office  in  the  history  of  the  county.  William 
McKinney,  of  Twinsburg,  elected  in  October, 
1880. 

Birdsey  Booth,  of  Cu3'ahoga  Falls,  was 
elected  County  Auditor  in  April,  1840,  to  serve 
until  the  next  annual  election,  and  re-elected  in 
October,  1840,  for  the  term  of  two  years.  The- 
ron  A.  Noble,  of  Middlebury,  elected  in  Octo- 
ber, 1842  ;  re-elected  in  1844  and  again  in 
1846,  serving  in  all  six  3'ears.  Nathaniel  W. 
Goodhue,  of  Middlebury,  elected  in  October, 
1848  ;  re-elected  in  1850.  Henr}'  Newberry,  of 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  elected  in  October,  1852,  serv- 
ing but  a  single  term.  Charles  B.  Bernard,  of 
Akron,  elected  in  October,  1854  ;  re-elected  in 
1856.  George  W.  Crouse,  of  Akron,  elected  in 
October,  1858,  and  re-elected  in  1860.  Treasur- 
er, Sullivan  S.  Wilson,  having  resigned  his  office, 
the  Count}"  Commissioners  appointed  Mr.  Crouse 
to  fill  the  vacancy,  to  serve  from  the  16th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1863,  till  the  first  Monday  of  the  follow- 
ing September,  Mr.  Crouse  resigning  his  position 
as  Auditor  (m  his  accession  to  the  treasurershi p. 
Sanford  M.  Burn  ham,  of  Akron,  elected  in 
October,  1862.  Two  weeks  before  the  time 
fixed  by  law  for  taking  possession,  Mr.  Burn- 
bam  was  appointed   by  the  County   Commis- 


3<i: 


J^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUi^TY. 


239 


sioners  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  b^'^  the 
resignation  of  Auditor  Grouse  to  take  the 
treasurership.  Mr.  Burnham  was  successiA^ely 
re-elected  in  1864,  1866  and  1868.  B.y  act  of 
the  Legislature,  passed  April  18,  1870,  the  time 
for  taking  possession  of  the  office  was  changed 
from  the  first  of  March  to  the  second  Monday 
of  November,  the  then  incumbents  holding  over 
until  that  time.  Before  the  expiration  of  his 
term,  as  thus  extended,  Mr.  Ijurnham  was 
chosen  to  represent  the  people  of  Summit 
County  in  the  State  Legislature,  and  resigned 
his  position  as  Auditor  October  9,  1871,  hav- 
ing served  in  all  nearly  eight  years  and  eight 
months.  Hosea  Paul,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  was 
appointed  b}'  the  Commissioners  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy occasioned  by  the  resignation  of  Auditor 
Burnham,  from  October  9  until  the  second 
Tuesday  in  November.  1871  ;  Mr.  Burnham, 
however,  continuing  to  perform  the  duties  of 
the  office  as  Mr.  Paul's  clerk,  until  the  close  of 
the  term.  Edward  Buckingham,  of  Middle- 
bury,  was  elected  in  October,  1871,  and  suc- 
cessively re-elected  in  1873,  1875  and  1877, 
the  last  time  for  three  years,  an  act  changing 
the  term  of  service  from  two  to  three  j'ears, 
having  been  passed  March  28,  1877,  being  in 
continuous  service  nine  3'ears ;  Aaron  Wag- 
oner, of  Akron,  elected  in  October,  1880. 

William  O'Brien,  of  Hudson,  was  elected 
County  Treasurer,  April,  1840,  to  serve  until 
the  next  annual  election,  and  re-elected  for  two 
3-ears  in  October,  1840,  dying  before  the  expi- 
ration of  his  term,  in  February,  1842  ;  Greorge 
Y.  Wallace,  of  Northfield,  was  appointed  by 
the  County  Commissioners,  February  15,  1842, 
to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  b}'  the  death  of 
Treasurer  O'Brien  ;  Milton  Arthur,  of  North- 
field,  elected  in  October,  1842,  re-elected  in 
1844,  and  again  in  1846;  William  H.  Dewey, 
of  Akron,  elected  in  October,  1848,  holding  the 
office  for  one  term  only  ;  Frederick  Wadsworth, 
of  Akron,  elected  in  October,  1850,  also  serv- 
ing but  a  single  term  ;  Chester  W.  Rice,  of 
Cu3-ahoga  Falls,  elected  in  October,  1852,  oue 
term  only  ;  Houston  Sisler.  of  Franklin,  elected 
in  October,  1854,  and  re-elected  in  1856  ;  Sul- 
livan S.  Wilson,  of  Northampton,  elected  in 
October,  1858,  and  re-elected  in  1860,  resign- 
ing his  office  in  Februar}-,  1863  ;  Treasurers 
under  the  law,  not  taking  possession  of  their 
offices  until  the  first  Monday  in  September 
(nearly  a  j'ear)  after  their  election  ;  George  W. 


Crouse,  of  Akron,  appointed  by  the  Commis- 
sioners to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  bj'  the 
resignation  of  Treasurer  Wilson,  to  serve  from 
February  16,  1863,  till  the  first  Monday  of  the 
following  September,  a  little  over  seven  months; 
Israel  E.  Carter,  of  Akron,  elected  in  October, 
1862,  and  re-elected  in  1864  ;  Arthur  L.  Con- 
ger, of  Boston,  elected  in  October,  1866,  and 
re-elected  in  1868  ;  Schuyler  R.  Oviatt,  of 
Richfield,  elected  in  October,  1870,  and  re- 
elected in  1872  ;  David  R.  Paige,  of  Akron, 
elected  in  October,  1874,  and  re-elected  in  1876  ; 
Henry  C.  Viele,  of  Akron,  elected  in  October, 
1878,  and  re-elected  in  1880. 

[Note. — Under  the  present  State  Constitu- 
tion, Count}^  Treasurers,  like  Sheriffs,  are  pro- 
hibited from  serving  more  than  four  3'ears  in 
an}'  consecutive  six  years,  a  provision  for  whicli 
it  is  difficult  to  find  a  good  and  valid  reason.] 

Alexander  Johnston,  of  Green,  was  elected 
County  Recorder  in  April,  1840,  and  again  for 
a  full  term  of  three  3-ears  in  October,  of  the 
same  year  ;  Nahum  Fa^',  of  Akron,  was  elected 
in  October,  1843,  and  re-elected  in  1846;  Jared 
Jennings,  of  New  Portage,  was  elected  in  Oc- 
tober, 1849,  serving  one  term  onl}- ;  Henr^' 
Purdy,  of  Springfield,  was  elected  in  October, 
1852,  and  re-elected  in  1855  ;  Philip  P.  Bock, 
of  Akron,  elected  in  October,  1858,  and  re- 
elected in  1861  ;  James  A.  Lantz,  of  Akron, 
elected  in  October,  1864,  and  re-elected  in 
1867  ;  Grenville  Thorp,  of  Bath,  elected  in  Oc- 
tober, 1870,  and  died  before  the  expiration  of 
his  first  term  in  Februar}^,  1872  ;  Henry  C. 
Viele,  of  Akron,  appointed  by  the  Count}-  Com- 
missioners to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  b}'  the 
death  of  Recorder  Thorp,  to  serve  until  the 
next  annual  election ;  George  H.  Payne,  of 
Akron,  elected  in  October,  1872,  and  re-elected 
in  1875  ;  Albert  A.  Bartlett,  of  Akron,  elected 
in  October,  1878. 

Russell  H.  Ashmun,  ofTallmadge.  was  elected 
Count}'  Survej'or,  in  April,  1840.  and  again  elect- 
ed for  a  full  term  of  three  j'^ears,  the  following 
October ;  Peter  A^oris,  of  Bath,  elected  in  Oc- 
tober, 1843,  serving  one  term  onl}' ;  Frederick 
Seward,  of  Tallmadge,  elected  in  October,  1846, 
also  holding  the  office  but  one  terra ;  Dwight 
Newton,  of  Akron,  elected  in  October,  1849,  for 
one  term  onl}^ ;  Schuyler  R.  Oviatt,  of  Rich- 
field, elected  in  October,  1852,  for  a  single  term 
onl}- ;  Hosea  Paul,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  elected 
in  October,  1855,  and  re-elected  successively  in 


V3' 


[^ 


240 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


1858,  1861,  1864  and  1867,  dying  in  June, 
1870,  after  continuously  holding  the  office  for 
nearly  fifteen  3'ears  ;  Robert  S.  Paul,  of  Akron, 
appointed  by  the  Commissioners  to  fill  the 
vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  his  father, 
Hosea  Paul,  in  June,  1870,  and  elected  to  the 
office  in  October  of  the  same  3'ear ;  Jacob 
Mishler,  of  Springfield,  elected  in  October, 
1873,  after  qualifying,  resigned  without  enter- 
ing upon  the  duties  of  the  office  ;  Robert  S. 
Paul,  appointed  by  the  Commissioners,  Feb- 
ruary' 3,  1874,  to  fill  the  vacancy,  until  the 
next  annual  election  ;  John  W.  Seward,  of 
Tallmadge,  elected  in  October,  1874,  serving  a 
single  term  of  three  years  only  ;  Robert  S.  Paul, 
of  Akron,  elected  in  October,  1877,  and  re- 
elected in  1880. 

Elisha  Hinsdale,  of  Xorton,  was  elected 
County  Coroner  in  April,  1840,  and  again  in 
the  following  October  for  a  full  term  of  two 
years,  and  re-elected  in  1842  ;  Ithiel  Mills,  of 
Akron,  elected  in  October  1844,  and  re-elected 
in  1846  ;  Joseph  T.  Holloway,  of  Cu3'ahoga 
Falls,  elected  in  October,  1848,  holding  a  single 
term  only  ;  John  Nash,  of  3Iiddlebury,  elected 
in  October,  1850,  re-elected  in  1852,  died  Sep- 
tember 7,  1853  ;  Oliver  E.  Gross  of  Stow,  elect- 
ed in  October  1853.  serving  a  single  term  only; 
William  L.  Clarke,  of  Akron,  elected  in  Octo- 
ber, 1855,  serving  but  one  term  ;  Noah  Inger- 
soll,  of  Coventry,  elected  in  October,  1857,  and 
re-elected  in  1859  ;  Joseph  T.  Holloway,  of 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  elected  in  October,  1861,  hold- 
ing as  before,  but  a  single  terra ;  Porter  Gr. 
Somers,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  elected  in  October, 
1863,  re-elected  in  1865,  and  by  reason  of  a  lapse 
in  the  election  of  that  officer,  in  1867,  holding 
over  until  the  election  of  his  successor  in  1868  ; 
Oliver  E.  Gross,  of  Stow,  elected  in  October, 
1868,  and  re-elected  in  1870  ;  Almon  Brown,  of 
Middlebury,  elected  in  October,  1872,  and  suc- 
cessively re-elected  in  1874,  1876,  1878  and 
1880. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  served  as 
County  Commissioners — Augustus  E.  Foote, 
of  Twinsburg,  from  April,  1840,  to  December, 
1843  ;  Jonathan  Starr,  of  Coplev,  from  April, 
1840,  to  December,  1844  ;  John  Hoy,  of  Frank- 
lin, from  April,  1840,  to  December,  1845  ;  Mills 
Thompson,  of  Hudson,  from  December,  1843, 
to  December,  1849  ;  James  W.  Weld,  of  Rich- 
field, from  December,  1844,  to  December,  1853  : 
Henry  G.  Weaver,  of  Springfield,  from  Decem- 


ber, 1845,  to  December,  1851  ;  Edwin  Wetmore, 
of  Stow,  from  December,  1849,  to  December, 
1 858  ;  Hiram  Weston,  of  3Iiddlebury,  from  De- 
cember, 1851,  to  December,  1854;  James  A. 
Metlin,  of  Norton,  from  December,  1853,  to  De- 
cember, 1856  ;  Ambrose  W.  Bliss,  of  North- 
field,  from  December,  1854,  to  December,  1860  ; 
John  S.  Gilcrest,  of  Spiingfleld,  from  Decem- 
ber, 1856,  to  December,  1862  ;  John  McFarlin, 
of  Bath,  from  December,  1858,  to  December. 
1861  ;  Nelson  Upson,  of  Twinsburg,  from  De- 
cember, 1860,  to  March,  1866.  when  he  resigned  ; 
George  Buel,  of  Akron,  from  December,  1861, 
to  Ma}-,  1864,  when  he  resigned  ;  David  E. 
Hill,  of  Middlebury,  from  December,  1862,  to 
December,  1868  ;  George  D.  Bates,  of  Akron, 
appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the 
resignation  of  Mr.  Buel,  from  Mav,  1864.  to 
December,  1864  ;  Sidney  P.  Conger,  of  Boston, 
appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  b}'  the 
resignation  of  Nelson  Upson,  from  Ma}',  1866, 
to  December,  1866  ;  John  McFarlin,  of  Bath, 
from  December,  1864,  to  December,  1867  ;  John 
C.  Johnston,  of  Northampton,  from  December, 
1866,  to  December,  1872  ;  George  Sackett,  of 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  from  Decembei'.  1867,  to  De- 
cember, 1870  ;  Orson  M.  Oviatt,'  of  Richfield, 
from  December,  1868,  to  December,  1874  ; 
John  Hill,  of  Norton,  from  December,  1870,  to 
December,  1879;  George  W.  Crouse,  of  Akron, 
from  December,  1872,  to  December,  1875  ;  Giles 
L'Hommedieu,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  from  De- 
cember, 1874,  to  December,  1877  ;  William  Sis- 
ler,  of  Akron,  elected  in  October,  1875,  re- 
elected in  October,  1878  ;  Moses  D.  Call,  of 
Stow,  elected  in  October,  1877,  and  re-elected  in 
October,  1880  ;  Hiram  Hart,  of  Richfield, 
elected  in  October,  1879. 

Summit  County  has  been  represented  in  the 
State  Legislature  by  the  following  gentlemen  : 
Rufus  P.  Spalding  and  Ephraim  B.  Hubbard, 
in  office  at  time  of  erection  of  Summit  County, 
winter  of  1839-40  ;  Henry  G.  Weaver,  of  Spring- 
field, elected  October,  1840,  term,  one  year  ; 
Rufus  P.  Spalding  and  Simon  Perkins,  of  Ak- 
ron, elected  in  October,  1841,  for  one  year; 
Amos  Seward,  of  Tallmadge,  elected  in  Octo- 
ber, 1842;  for  one  year  ;  John  H.  McMillen,  of 
Middlebury,  and  Augustus  E.  Foote.  of  Twins- 
burg. elected  in  October,  1843,  for  one  year  ; 
George  Kirkum,  of  Akron,  elected  in  October, 
1844,  for  one  year  ;  Hiram  Bowen,  of  Akron, 
elected  in  October,  1845,  for  one  year  ;  Alex- 


w 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


241 


fk* 


auder  Johnston,  of  Grreen,  elected  in  October, 
1 84G,  for  one  3'ear  ;  Peter  Voris,  of  Bath,  and 
Amos  Seward  of  Tallmadge,  elected  in  October, 
1847,  for  one  3'ear,  Mr.  Seward  being  elected 
as  a  "  float,"  jointly-  by  Summit  and  Portage 
Counties  ;  Samuel  W.  McClure,  of  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  elected  in  October,  1848,  for  one  year  ; 
Harvey  B.  Spelman,  of  Akron,  elected  in  Octo- 
ber, 1849,  for  one  year ;  Nathaniel  Finch,  of 
Akron,  elected  in  October,  1850,  for  one  year. 
The  new  Constitution  of  Ohio,  adopted  in  1851, 
made  the  term  of  office  for  Representative  two 
years  instead  of  one  year,  as  under  the  old  Con- 
stitution. Noah  M.  Humphrey,  of  Richfield, 
elected  in  October,  1851,  for  two  years  ;  Porter 
Gr.  Somers,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  elected  in  October, 
185o,  for  two  3-ears  ;  Mendall  Jewett,  of  Mog- 
adore,  elected  in  October,  1855,  for  two  years  ; 
Ira  P.  Sperry,  of  Tallmadge,  elected  in  October, 
1857,  for  two  years  ;  Sylvester  H.  Thompson, 
of  Hudson,  and  Alvin  C.  Voris,  of  Akron, 
elected  in  1859,  for  two  years  ;  John  Johnston 
of  Middlebury,  elected  in  October,  1861,  and 
re-elected  in  1863,  four  years  ;  John  Encell,  of 
Cople}',  elected  in  October,  1865,  for  two  years  ; 
William  Sisler,  of  Franklin,  elected  in  October, 
1867,  for  two  years  ;  Alfred  Wolcott,  of  Boston, 
elected  in  October,  1869,  for  two  years  :  Sanford 
M.  Burnham,  of  Akron,  elected  in  October,  1871, 
for  two  years  ;  Hiram  H.  Mack,  of  Bath,  elected 
in  October,  1873,  for  two  years ;  Orrin  P. 
Nichols,  of  Twinsburg,  elected  in  October,  1875, 
but  died  before  the  expiration  of  his  term,  in 
1877  ;  Hiram  H.  Mack,  of  Bath,  again  elected 
in  October,  1877,  for  two  years  ;  John  Hill,  of 
Norton,  and  Leonidas  S.  Ebright,  of  Akron, 
elected  in  October,  1879,  for  two  years. 

The  following  have  been  State  Senators  from 
Summit  and  Portage  Counties :  Simon  Per- 
kins, Jr.,  in  office  at  time  of  erection  of  Summit 
County,  in  the  winter  of  1839-40  ;  Elisha  N. 
Sill,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  elected  in  October, 
1840,  for  twoj'ears  ;  John  E.  Jackson,  of  Port- 
age County,  elected  in  October,  1842,  for  two 
years  ;  William  Wetmore,  of  Stow,  elected  in 
October,  1844,  fortwo3ears  ;  Asahel  H.  Lewis, 
of  Portage  County,  elected  in  October,  1846, 
for  two  years  ;  Lucian  Swift,  of  Akron,  elected 
in  October,  1848,  for  two  years  ;  Darius  Lyman, 
of  Portage  County,  elected  in  October,  1850, 
for  two  years,  but  cut  off  at  the  end  of  one  year 
by  new  constitution  ;  Ransom  A.  Grillette,  of 
Portage  County,  elected  in  October,   1851,  for 


two  3'ears  ;  William  H.  Upson,  of  Akron,  elect- 
ed in  October,  1853,  for  two  3-ears  ;  Oliver  P. 
Brown,  of  Portage  Count}',  elected  in  October, 
1855,  for  two  years  ;  George  P.  Ashmun,  of 
Hudson,  elected  in  October,  1857,  for  two  years  ; 
James  A.  Garfield,  of  Portage  Count}^,  elected 
in  October,  1859,  for  two  3'ears ;  Lucius  Y. 
Bierce,  of  Akron,  elected  in  October,  1861,  for 
two  3'ears  ;  Luther  Da3',  of  Portage  .bounty, 
elected  in  October,  1863,  but,  being  placed  in 
nomination  as  a  Judge  of  the  Supreuie  Court, 
in  1864,  resigned  his  position  as  State  Senator  ; 
Alphonso  Hart,  of  Portage  Count3',  elected  in 
October,  1864,  for  one  year,  to  fill  vacanc}' 
caused  b3'  resignation  of  Senator  Day  ;  Newell 
D.  Tibbals,  of  Akron,  elected  in  October,  1865, 
for  two  years  ;  Philo  B.  Conant,  Of  Portage 
County,  elected  in  October,  1867,  for  two  years, 
but  resigned  after  serving  one  year  ;  William 
Stedman,  of  Portage  County,  elected  in  Octo- 
ber, 1868,  for  one  3'ear,  to  fill  vacanc3' ;  Henr3'' 
McKinney,  of  Akron,  elected  in  October,  1869, 
for  two  3^ears ;  Alphonso  Hart,  of  Portage 
County,  elected  in  October,  1871,  for  two  3'ears  ; 
Nathaniel  W.  Goodhue,  of  Akron,  elected  in 
October,  1873,  for  two  3'ears  ;  Marvin  Kent,  of 
Portage  County,  elected  in  October,  1875,  for 
two  years  ;  David  Duncan  Beebe,  of  Hudson, 
elected  in  October,  1877,  and  re-elected  in  Oc- 
tober, 1879 — the  first  successive  re-election  of 
an  incumbent  of  that  office  in  the  district. 

Following  the  county  officers  and  Representa- 
tives, it  is  not  inappropriate  to  mention  the 
names  of  those  who  have  been  called  to  repre- 
sent our  count3'  in  still  higher  stations  of  the 
public  service.  Of  these  higher  dignitaries,  we 
will  notice,  first,  our  Representatives  in  Con- 
gress. 

Summit  County  has  been  represented  in  the 
Lower  House  of  the  National  Legislature,  in 
common  with  other  counties  associated  with 
her  in  Congressional  Districts,  as  follows  :  In 
1840,  Fifteenth  District,  composed  of  Cuya- 
hoga, Portage,  Summit,  Medina  and  Lorain — 
Hon.  Sherlock  J.  Andrews,  of  Cuyahoga,  Whig, 
one  term.  In  1842-44,  Nineteenth  District,  com- 
posed of  Trumbull,  part  of  Mahoning,  Portage 
and  Summit — Hon.  Daniel  R.  Tilden,  of  Portage, 
Whig,  two  terms.  In  1846-48,  Nineteenth  Dis- 
trict, same  counties  as  above — Hon.  John  Crow- 
ell,  of  Trumbull,  Whig,  two  terms.  In  1850, 
Nineteenth  District,  same  as  above — Hon.  Eben 
Newton,  of  Mahoning.  Whig,  one  term.      In 


^<t^ 


242 


HISTORY  OF  su:\rMiT  cou:n^ty. 


1852,  Eighteenth  District,  composed  of  Port- 
age, Summit  and  Starli — Hon.  George  Bliss,  of 
Summit,  Democrat,  one  term.  In  1854-56, 
Eighteenth  District,  same  as  al)ove — Hon.  Ben- 
jamin F.  Leiter,  of  Starli,  Republican,  two 
terms.  In  1858-60,  Eigliteenth  District,  same 
as  above — Hon.  Sidney  Edgerton,  of  Summit, 
Republican,  two  terms.  In  1862-64-66,  Eight- 
eenth District,  composed  of  Lalce,  Cuyahoga 
and  Summit — Hon.  Rufus  P.  Spalding,  of  Cuy- 
ahoga, Republican,  three  terms.  In  1868-70, 
Eighteenth  District,  same  as  above — Hon.  Will- 
iam H.  Upson,  of  Summit,  Republican,  two 
terms.  In  1872-74-76-78,  Eighteenth  District, 
composed  of  Lorain,  Medina,  Waj-ne  and  Sum- 
mit--Hou.  James  Monroe,  of  Lorain,  Repub- 
lican, four  terms.  In  1880,  Eighteenth  Dis- 
trict, same  as  above — Hon.  Addison  S.  3Ic- 
Clure,  of  Wayne,  Republican. 

Since  the  organization,  in  April,  1840,  Sum- 
mit County  has  been  associated,  Congression- 
ally,  in  various  combinations,  with  Cuyahoga, 
Lake,  Portage,  Trumbull,  part  of  Mahoning, 
Stark,  Wayne,  Medina  and  Lorain  Counties, 
and  in  Districts  Fifteen,  Eighteen  and  Nine- 
teen. In  each  of  the  twelve  Presidential  elec- 
tions which  have  been  held,  the  district  to' 
which  Summit  County  was  for  the  time  being 
attached,  was  represented  in  the  Electoral  Col- 
lege b^'  the  following-named  gentlemen,  the  po- 
litical party  l\y  which  they  were  elected,  and 
the  candidates  for  President  and  Vice  President 
for  whom  the}'  severally  voted,  also  being  des- 
ignated :  In  1840,  Fifteenth  District,  composed 
of  Cuyahoga,  Portage,  Summit,  Medina  and 
Lorain,  Hon.  David  King,  of  Medina,  Wiiig — 
voted  for  William  Henry  Harrison,  of  Ohio,  for 
President,  and  John  Tyler,  of  Virginia,  for  Vice 
President.  In  1844,  Nineteenth  District,  com- 
posed of  Trumbull,  part  of  Mahoning,  Portage 
and  Summit  Counties,  Hon.  Jacob  H.  Baldwin,  of 
Trumbull,  Whig — voted  for  Henry  Clay,  of  Ken- 
tuck}-,  forPresident,  and  Theodore  Frelinghuy- 
sen,of  New  York,  for  Vice  President.  In  1848, 
Nineteenth  District,  same  counties  as  above,  Hon. 
John  Caldwell,  of  Trumbull,  Democrat — voted 
for  Lewis  Cass,  of  Michigan,  for  President,  and 
William  0.  Butler,  of  Kentucky,  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. In  1852,  Eighteenth  District,  composed 
of  Portage,  Summit  and  Stark  Counties,  Hon. 
Samuel  D.  Harris,  of  Portage,  Democrat — 
voted  for  Franklin  Pierce,  of  New  Hampshire, 
for  President,  and  William  R.  King,  of  Ala- 


bama, for  Vice  President.  In  1856,  Eighteenth 
District,  same  as  above,  Hon.  John  S.  Herrick, 
of  Portage,  Republican — voted  for  John  C. 
Fremont,  of  California,  for  President,  and  Will- 
iam L.  Dayton,  of  New  Jersey,  for  Vice  Presi- 
dent. In  1860.  Eighteenth  District,  same  as 
above,  Hon.  William  K.  IJpham,  of  Stark,  Re- 
publican— voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  of  Illi- 
nois, for  President,  and  Hannibal  Hamlin,  of 
Maine,  for  Vice  President.  In  1864,  Eight- 
eenth District,  composed  of  Cu3^ahoga,  Lake 
and  Summit  Counties,  Hon.  Seth  Marshall,  of 
Lake,  Republican — voted  for  Abraham  Lincohi, 
of  Illinois,  for  President,  and  Andrew  Johnson, 
of  Tennessee,  for  Vice  President.  In  1868,  Eigh- 
teenth District,  same  as  above,  Hon.  Stephen  H. 
Pitkin,  of  Summit,  Republican — voted  for  Ulys- 
ses S.  Grant,  of  Illinois,  for  President,  and 
Schuyler  Colfax,  of  Indiana,  for  Vice  President. 
In  1872,  Eighteenth  District,  composed  of  Sum- 
mit, Wayne,  Medina  and  Lorain  Counties,  Hon. 
John  R.  Buchtel,  of  Summit,  Republican — 
voted  for  Ulysses  S.  Grant  for  President,  and 
Henry  Wilson,  of  Massachusetts,  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. In  1876,  Eighteenth  District,  same  as 
above,  Hon.  Samuel  G.  Barnard,  of  Medina,  Re- 
publican— voted  for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  of 
Ohio,  for  President,  and  William  A.  AVheeler, 
of  New  York,  for  Vice  President.  In  1880, 
Eighteenth  District,  same  as  above,  Hon.  Na- 
thaniel W.  Goodhue,  of  Summit,  Republican — ■ 
voted  for  James  A.  Garfield,  of  Ohio,  for  Pres- 
ident, and  Chester  A.  Arthur,  of  New  York,  for 
Vice  President. 

William  S.  C.  Otis,  Esq.,  of  Akron,  was  Summit 
County's  representative  to  the  State  Constitu- 
tional Convention  of  1850.  The  convention 
met  on  the  6th  day  of  Ma}',  1850,  in  Columbus. 
July  9,  adjourned  to  meet  in  Cincinnati  on  the 
first  Monday  in  December.  The  convention 
completed  its  labors  and  adjourned  sine  die 
March  10,  1851.  The  constitution  was  adopted 
for  twenty  years  at  a  special  election  held  on 
the  21st  day  of  June,  1851,  the  vote  of  Sum- 
mit County  standing  2,025  "for"  and  2,013 
"  against,"  being  a  majority  of  twelve  only  in 
its  favor.  Gen.  Alvin  C.  Voris,  of  Akron,  was 
the  Summit  County  member  of  the  Ohio  Consti- 
stitutional  Convention  of  1873.  The  convention 
met  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  in  Colum- 
bus, May  13, 1873.  On  the  8th  day  of  August,  the 
convention  adjourned  to  meet  in  Cincinnati  on 
the  2d  dav  of  December.     On  concluding  its 


^w 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


243 


business,  the  convention  adjourned  on  the  3d 
da}^  of  Februar}-,  1874.  The  new  constitution, 
as  presented  by  the  convention,  tliougli  re- 
garded by  man}'  of  the  most  intelligent  people 
of  the  State  as  a  great  improvement  upon  the 
constitution  of  1850,  was  rejected  by  the  peo- 
ple of  Ohio  at  a  special  election  held  August 
18,  1874,  the  vote  of  Summit  Count}'  standing 
2,112  "  for"  and  2,774  "  against,"  being  a  neg- 
ative majorit}'  of  662. 

In  this  chapter,  devoted  as  it  is  to  matters 
pertaining  to  the  count}'  at  large,  we  should 
not  omit  an  extended  mention  of  the  Summit 
Count}'  Infirmary.  Up  to  1849,  the  poor  of  the 
county  had  been  provided  for  in  the  temporary 
quarters  leased  for  the  purpose,  but  altogether 
inadequate  for  the  proper  accommodation  and 
care  of  that  unfortunate  portion  of  our  popula- 
tion. On  the  12th  day  of  January,  1849,  the 
County  Commissioners,  Messrs.  Mills  Thomp- 
son, of  Hudson,  James  W.  Weld,  "of  Richfield, 
and  Henry  G.  Weaver,  of  Springfield,  purchased 
the  McCune  farm,  one  mile  west  of  the  corpor- 
ate limits  of  Akron,  consisting  of  147  49-100 
acres  of  land,  for  the  sum  of  $3,953.33,  pay- 
ments to  be  made  as  follows  :  $400  April  1, 
1849;  $800  Februarv  1.  1850;  $1,000  February 
1,  1851;  $1,000  February  1,  1852;  $753.33  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1853  ;  interest  at  the  rate  of  6  per  cent 
to  be  paid  annually. 

On  the  21st  day  of  January,  1849,  the 
County  Commissioners  contracted  with  Mr. 
Leander  Starr,  of  Hudson,  for  the  erection  of 
the  necessary  buildings  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  poor  of  the  county  for  the  sum  of  $1,- 
958,  the  work  to  be  completed  by  the  1st  day 
of  July  of  the  same  year,  the  dwelling-house 
already  upon  the  premises  being  devoted  to 
the  use  of  the  Superintendent  of  the  Infirmary 
and  his  assistants.  Mr.  Starr's  job  was  finished 
on  time,  and  formally  accepted  July  10,  1849, 
with  an  allowance,  in  addition  to  the  contract 
price,  of  $8  for  extra  labor. 

On  the  11th  day  of  July,  1849,  the  Commis- 
sioners appointed  Messrs.  Roswell  Kent,  of 
Middlebury,  Avery  Spicer,  of  Coventry,  and 
Lucius  V.  Bierce,  of  Akron,  as  1he  first  regu- 
larly constituted  Board  of  Directors  for  the 
management  of  the  farm  and  the  care  of  the 
poor  of  the  county,  to  hold  their  offices  until 
the  next  ensuing  October  election.  The  board 
organized  by  electing  Roswell  Kent,  President, 
and  L.  V.  Bierc6,  Clerk,  and  by  the  appoint- 


ment of  Abraham  Siehley  as  Superintendent. 
Under  the  fostei'ing  care  of  these  four  gentle- 
men, aided  by  the  County  Commissioners,  the 
foundation  was  laid  firm  and  broad  for  the  sys- 
tematic and  liberal  care  of  our  poor,  which, 
steadily  growing  and  improving  from  year  to 
year,  has  made  the  Summit  County  Infirmary 
one  of  the  very  best  local  charitable  institu- 
tions in  the  State. 

The  buildings  originally  provided,  as  above 
stated,  with  sundry  additions  which  had  been 
made  from  time  to  time  as  necessity  required, 
becoming  considerably  dilapidated  and,  as  our 
population  increased,  altogether  too  straitened 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  inmates,  the 
County  Commissioners  and  Infirmary  Direct- 
ors, in  1863,  determined  on  the  erection  of  a 
more  commodious  and  substantial  structure. 
To  this  end,  legislative  authority  was  invoked, 
resulting  in  the  passage,  on  the  23d  dav  of 
March,  1864,  of 

An  Act  to  Authorize  the  County  op  Summit 
TO  Build  a  County  Infirmary,  make  Con- 
tracts AND    Increase  the  tax  levy  upon 

THE  TAXABLE  PROPERTY  OF  SAID  COUNTY: 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  State  of  Ohio:  That  the  County  Commission- 
er.s  of  Summit  County  be,  and  they  are  hereby, 
authorized  to  build  a  County  Infirmary  for  the  use 
of  said  county,  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  $16,000,  upon 
such  plan  and  in  such  manner  as,  in  their  opinion, 
will  be  conducive  to  the  best  interests  of  the  count J^ 
and  make  all  contracts  necessary  to  carry  out  the 
23rovisious  of  this  act. 

Sec.  2.  To  anticipate  the  receipts  which  may 
come  into  the  County  Treasury  by  virtue  of  the  tax 
levied  under  the  authority  of  this  act,  said  Com- 
missioners are  hereby  authorized  to  temporarily 
transfer  from  moneys  in  the  treasury  of  said  county 
belonging  to  the  railroad  fund,  not  exceeding  fo.OOO, 
and  may  also  use,  in  the  construction  of  said  build- 
ing, any  unexpended  money  heretofore  levied  for 
building  purposes  in  said  count}^ 

Sec.  3.  That  for  the  purpose  of  providing  money 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  building  said  infirmary, 
and  to  re-imburse  the  money  transferred  from  the 
railroad  fund,  so  provided  in  Section  2  of  tliis  act, 
said  Commissioners  are  hereby  authorized  to  in- 
crease the  tax  levy  upon  the  "taxable  property  of 
said  county  one  lialf  mill  on  the  dollar  in  each  of 
the  years  1864  and  186.5. 

Sec  4.  This  act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after 
its  passage. 

The  making  of  the  brick  was  done  upon  the 
infirmary  farm — most  excellent  clay  for  the 
purpose  being  foinid  thereon — under  the  super- 
intendence of  3Ir.  Elijah  C.  Briggs,  of  Akron. 
The  farm  help,  and,  so  far  as  practicable,  pauper 


244 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


labor,  was  emplo3-ed  in  the  manufacture  of  brick, 
not  only  for  the  buildings  in  question,  but  to  a 
considerable  extent  for  market,  several  hundred 
thousand  having  been  sold  in  and  hauled  to 
the  cit}-  during  the  progress  of  the  work,  thus 
bringing  the  material  for  the  work  within  com- 
paratively low  figures.  The  stone  for  the  found- 
ations, of  a  most  durable  quality,  were  quarried 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  bought  by  the  perch, 
delivered  upon  the  ground.  The  mechanical 
labor  upon  the  foundation  and  walls  was  done 
b}^  the  day,  under  the  superintendence  of  3Ir. 
George  Allison,  of  Tallmadge,  a  practical  brick- 
mason. 

The  wood-work  was  done  on  contract  by  Mr. 
George  Thomas,  of  Akron,  the  architect  being- 
Col.  S.  C.  Porter,  of  Cleveland,  the  entire  job 
being  completed  under  the  direct  supervision 
of  Infirmary  Director,  Avery  8picer,  and 
County  Commissioner  David  E.  Hill,  the  latter 
gentleman  being  constituted  general  superin- 
tendent of  the  work  by  a  vote  of  the  board, 
January  4,  1865.  The  building,  being  con- 
structed upon  the  economical  plan  indicated, 
was  nominall}'  brought  within  the  provisions  of 
the  act  authorizing  its  construction,  though,  by 
the  application  of  home  labor  and  material,  the 
actual  cost  was  in  reality  several  thousand  dol- 
lars more.  It  is  of  the  following  general  de- 
scription and  dimensions  :  The  main  or  central 
building,  two  stories  higii,  exclusive  of  base- 
ment and  attic,  is  26x40  feet  in  size,  fronting 
end  to  the  north  ;  two  wings  on  either  side, 
same  height  as  main  building,  are  each  25x32 
feet,  with  a  rear  wing  30x32  feet,  and  a  still 
further  rear  extension  30x36  feet,  for  the  use 
of  insane  patients,  and  connected  with  the  main 
rear  wing  by  a  covered  hall,  or  archway,  eight 
feet  in  width.  The  style  of  architecture  is  of  a 
mixed  order,  approximating  to  Gothic,  with 
brackets  and  five  large  dormer  windows  in  the 
roof  to  light  the  capacious  garret.  The  main 
building  is  entered  from  the  north  by  a  flight 
of  cut  stone  steps,  surmounted  by  a  handsome 
porch.  The  front  hall  is  seven  feet  in  width, 
with  stairs  leading  to  the  second  story  and 
basement.  On  the  right  of  the  hall,  on  the 
ground  floor,  is  the  parlor,  15x20  feet,  with  bed- 
room, 10x12  feet,  and  store-room,  8x12  feet. 
On  the  left  of  the  hall  is  the  sitting-room,  15x20 
feet,  with  bed-room,  12x12  feet,  and  two  closets, 
each  about  six  feet  square.  Each  side  wing- 
lias  its  separate  entrance,  east  and  west,  with 


seven  foot  hall  and  stairs,  similar  to  the  front 
hall..  Each  wing  (fir.st  floor),  contains  two  bed- 
rooms, each  0x12  feet,  on  the  north  side  of  hall, 
and  each  a  sitting-room,  12x24  feet,  for  the  use 
of  the  inmates  on  the  south  side  of  halls.  The 
rear  wing  has,  on  the  main  floor,  a  dining-room, 
14x16  feet,  two  bed-rooms,  8x9  feet;  pantiy, 
6x9  feet,  and  kitchen,  15x18  feet,  besides  a 
stairwa}^  extending  from  the  basement  to  gar- 
ret. In  the  basement  of  the  entire  structure, 
besides  several  commodious  cellars  for  the  stor- 
age of  vegetables,  fruits  and  other  supplies, 
there  are  two  dining-rooms,  12x36  feet  each, 
kitchen,  including  pantiy,  16x28  feet,  and  wash- 
room, 15x18  feet.  In  the  second  story,  on 
either  side  of  the  hall,  in  main  part,  are  sick- 
rooms, each  15x20  feet ;  and  in  rear,  extending 
into  rear  wing,  two  wards,  each  13x29  feet,  back 
of  which  are  two  7x9-bed-rooms,  with  a  6x9 
feet  linen  closet,  hall,  stairway,  etc.  On  the 
second  floor  of  each  side  wing,  there  are  five 
9x12  feet  bed-rooms,  besides  halls,  stairways, 
etc.  The  attic  is  mainly  devoted  to  storage, 
drying  clothes,  etc.,  though  within  a  few  years 
past,  an  apartment  has  been  partitioned  off  and 
fitted  up  therein  for  the  use  of  "  tramps  "  and 
other  transient  applicants  for  food  and  lodging. 
In  the  insane  department,  at  the  extreme  rear, 
there  are  six  cells,  5x8  feet,  substantially  built 
with  heavily  grated  doors.  The  corridor,  on 
either  side,  is  lighted  by  three  large  Avindows, 
one  opposite  each  cell,  the  whole  well  ventilated, 
and  as  well  supplied  with  sanitaiy  conveni- 
ences as  the  insane  habits  of  the  inmates  will 
admit  of. 

The  new  infirmary  building  was  not  orticially 
accepted  by  the  County  Commissioners  until 
the  5th  day  of  March,  1866,  though  it  was  oc- 
cupied and  formally  opened  on  the  evening  of 
February  3  by  a  public  supper,  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  Directors  and  Superintendent 
Frank  T.  Husong.  A  large  number  of  invited 
guests — representative  men  and  women — from 
eveiy  portion  of  the  count}'  were  present,  and 
all  expressed  themselves  as  greatly  pleased  with 
the  building  and  its  appointments,  and  the  in- 
vestment which  had  thus  been  made  by  them 
and  their  fellow-citizens,  in  the  interest  of  b.'- 
nevolence  and  humanity.  At  the  close  of  the 
supper,  the  guests  organized  by  appointing 
George  D.  Bates,  Esq.,  Chairman,  when  short 
approbatory  speeches  were  made  bv  Gen.  A.  C. 
Yoris.  Wilfiam  T.  Allen,  S.  A.  Lane.  Dr.  E.  W. 


:tz 


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HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


245 


Howard  and  others.     Closing  bj^  the  unanimous 
adoption  of  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  the  County  Commissioners  and 
Directors  of  the  County  Infirmary,  together  with 
those  wlio  have  so  faitlifully  aided  them  in  the  un- 
dertalving,  are  entitled  to  the  thanks  of  the  citizens 
of  Summit  County,  for  the  able  manner  in  which 
they  have  planned  and  prosecuted  to  completion,  the 
erection  of  an  infirmary  edifice,  which  is  at  once  an 
ornament  and  an  honor  to  the  county,  and  a  mark 
of  the  exalted  humanity  and  liberality  of  its  people. 

Director  Spicer  and  Commissioner  Hill,  duly 
appreciating  the  advantages  of  having  an 
abundance  of  pure  water  in  and  about  tlie  in- 
firmar}'  buildings  and  grounds,  entered  into 
negotiations  with  Mr.  James  McAllister  for  the 
use  of  the  surplus  waters  from  the  large  spring  in 
front  of  his  residence  on  the  Medina  road,  and 
directly  north  of  the  infirmary  farm.  The 
Directors  proposed  to  properly  inclose  and  pro- 
tect the  spring  by  a  suljstantial  stone  house, 
with  conveniences  for  using  the  water  both  by 
Mr.  McAllister  and  the  pul)lic,  and  to  convey 
the  surplus  water  by  iron  or  leaden  pipes  across 
the  farm  of  Mr.  McAllister  to  the  infirmary 
grounds  and  into  the  basement  of  the  infirmary 
building.  On  visiting  Mr.  McAllister  for  the 
purpose  of  legall}'  perfecting  the  arrangement, 
that  gentleman  receded  from  the  terms  that  had 
been  named,  and  seemingly  acceded  to,  and 
demanded  a  bonus  of  $500  before  signing  any 
papers — a  larger  sum  of  money  than  Messrs. 
Hill  and  Spicer  felt  justified  in  paying  for  the 
privilege  in  question,  especially  in  view  of  the 
large  outlay  that  would  be  required  in  building 
the  spring-house,  and  excavating  for  and  laying 
the  pipes  for  so  long  a  distance,  and  the  proj- 
ect was  abandoned.  In  the  meantime  Mr. 
Spicer  made  a  thorough  examination  of  the  in- 
firmary farm  itself,  and  on  a  high  knoll  some 
thirty  or  forty  rods  southeast  of  the  new  build- 
ing, by  digging  a  few  feet  only,  struck  a  large 
spring  of  pure  soft  water,  not  only  of  sufficient 
abundance  for  the  wants  of  the  institution,  but 
with  sufficient  head  to  earr}'  the  water  one  story 
higher  in  the  building,  while  costing  far  less  to 
fit  it  up  and  put  in  the  pipes  and  fixtures,  than 
the  McAllister  project  would  have  done. 

The  Directors  have  from  time  to  time,  as  their 
resources  would  admit  of,  besides  erecting:  com- 
modious Ijarns  and  other  outbuildings,  beauti- 
fied the  grounds,  laying  them  out  into  suitable 
drives  and  walks,  planting  with  trees,  shrubber3% 
etc.,  thus  rendering  them  both  pleasant  to  the 


inmates  and  attractive  to  visitors,  while  the 
farm,  from  the  largely  wild  and  uncultivated 
condition  in  which  it  was  purchased,  has  be- 
come one  of  the  most  tidy  and  productive  farms 
in  the  county,  and  very  largely  profitable  in  the 
way  of  giving  employment  to  that  portion  of 
its  unfortunate  inmates  mentally  and  physically 
able  to  perform  manual  labor,  and  through  its 
annual  products,  rendering  the  institution 
largely  self-sustaining. 

As  commodious  and  as  ample  as  the  infirm- 
ary buildings  erected  in  1864-65-66  were  sup- 
posed to  be,  they  were  found  at  the  end  of  ten 
years  inadequate  to  the  necessities  of  the  county. 
Accordingly,  at  the  instance  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  and  the  County  Commissioners, 
Senator  N.  W.  Goodhue  and  Representative 
Hiram  H.  IMack,  secured  the  passage  of  a 
special  law  authorizing  the  building  of  an  ad- 
dition to  said  infirmary  buildings,  the  bill  be- 
coming a  law  on  the  30th  day  of  March,  1875, 
and  reading  as  follows  : 

An  Act  authorizing  the  County  Commissioners 
OP  THE  County  of   Summit   to  levy  taxes 

for    building    an    addition  to   THE     COUNTY 

Infirmary,  and  to  borrow  money  and  issue 

BONDS  therefor: 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  State  of  Ohio:  That  the  County  Commission- 
ers of  Summit  County  be,  and  they  hereby  are,  em- 
powered and  authorized  to  levy  a  tax  of  any  amount 
they  may  deem  necessary,  not  exceeding  |10,000, 
upon  the  taxable  property  of  said  county,  for  the 
purpose  of  constructing  and  furnishing  an  addition 
to  the  County  Infirmary  of  said  county,  to  be  col- 
lected by  the  County  Treasurer  upon  the  grand 
duplicate  as  other  taxes,  and  to  be  paid  out  upon 
the  order  of  the  County  Commissioners. 

Sec.  2.  That  for  the  purpose  of  anticipating  the 
collection  of  taxes  provided  for  in  the  first  section 
of  this  act,  the  said  County  Commissioners  be,  and 
the}'  are  hereby,  authorized  to  borrow  any  sura, 
not  exceeding  $10,000,  at  a  rate  of  interest  not  ex- 
ceeding eight  per  cent,  and  to  issue  bonds  therefor, 
payable  at  any  time  not  exceeding  two  j'ears  from 
the  date  thereof,  and  to  be  sold  for  not  less  than 
their  par  value. 

Sec  3.  This  act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after 
its  passage. 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this 
law,  a  contract  was  entered  into,  on  the  27th 
day  of  July,  1875,  with  Messrs.  Derhamer, 
Steese  &  Co.,  to  erect  a  building  upon  the  west 
side,  and  attached  to  the  west  wing  transversely, 
corresponding  in  general  appearance  to  the 
central  building,  for  the  sum  of  $7,294.37,  with 
Jacob  Snyder,  Esq.,  as  architect,  at  3^  per  cent 
on  the  contract  price,  for  his  services  in  fur- 


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246 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


nishing  the  plan  and  superintending  the  work. 
This  addition  was  completed  substantiall}' 
according  to  contract,  in  a  style  and  finish  cor- 
responding to  the  original  structure,  and  is  of 
the  following  dimensions  :  I]ntire  size,  32x42 
feet.  First  floor  divided  as  follows  :  Hall,  6x30 
feet ;  hall  for  stairs,  7  feet  6  inches  by  14  feet 
6  inches;  sitting-room,  18x30;  bed-room,  9 
feet  6  inches  by  14  feet  6  inches  ;  bath-room, 
6x14  feet  6  inches  ;  store-room,  7x14  feet  6 
inches.  Second  floor  :  Hall,  6x30  ;  hall  for 
stairs,  7  feet  6  inches  by  14  feet  6  inches  ;  three 
bed-rooms  respectively,  9  feet  6  inches  by  14 
feet  6  inches  ;  12  feet  6  inches  by  14  feet  6 
inches;  11x18  feet;  sick-room,  18x19  feet. 
Attic  :  Hall  for  stairs,  7x21  feet ;  two  sleeping- 
rooms,  15x22  feet  6  inches,  and  18x30  feet, 
respectively  ;  wardrobe,  7x22  feet.  Basement  : 
Dining-room,  17x30  ;  sitting-room,  12  by  13 
feet  6  inches;  bed-room,  12x13  feet  6  inches, 
and  hall  6x30  feet.  The  completion  of  this 
fine  improvement  has  enabled  the  Directors 
and  Superintendent  not  only  to  more  comfort- 
ably arrange  and  care  for  the  ordinary  number 
of  inmates,  but  to  provide  for  such  considera- 
ble additions,  as,  in  seasons  of  unusual  severity' 
or  distress,  may  need  the  benefits  of  this  mu- 
nificent public  charity.  In  addition,  the  Direct- 
ors last  year  (1880),  caused  to  be  erected  a 
separate  building  for  laundry  and  storage  pur- 
poses, a  few  rods  east  of  the  rear  wing.  It  is 
a  substantial  brick  structure,  20x30  feet  in 
size.  First  floor:  Store-room,  10x16  feet ;  wash- 
room, 17  feet  6  inches  by  18  feet,  with  boiler 
and  other  improved  washing  conveniences. 
Second  floor :  Drying  and  laundry  room,  18 
feet  6  inches  by  28  feet  6  inches.  The  aver- 
age number  of  inmates  during  the  year  1880, 
was  eighty-seven,  though  as  usual,  a  large 
amount  of  outside  assistance  was  afforded  to 
the  needy  during  inclement  portions  of  the  year. 
After  the  purchase  of  the  infirmary  farm,  the 
County  Commissioners,  as  before  stated,  on  the 
11th  day  of  July,  1849,  appointed  Roswell 
Kent,  of  Middlebury,  Avery  Spicer  of  Coven- 
try, and  Lucius  V.  Bierce,  of  Akron,  as  Infirm- 
ary Directors,  to  hold  their  offices  until  the 
next  ensuing  October  election.  The  board  or- 
ganized by  the  election  of  Roswell  Kent  as 
President  and  Lucius  V.  Bierce  as  Clerk. 
From  among  the  several  applicants  for  the  sit- 
uation, Abraham  Sichley,  of  Portage,  was  ap- 
pointed Superintendent. 


In  October,  1849,  the  people  of  the  county 
elected  Timothy  L.  Miller,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
Roswell  Kent,  of  Middlebury,  and  Gibbons  J. 
Ackle}',  of  Akron,  Infirmary  Directors  for  one, 
two  and  three  years,  respectively.  Mr.  Miller 
declining  to  serve,  Avery  Spicer,  of  Coventry, 
was  appointed  by  the  County  Commissioners  to 
fill  the  vacancy.  President  of  the  Board,  Ros- 
well Kent ;  Clerk,  Gibbons  J.  Ackley  ;  Abra- 
ham Sichley  continued  as  Superintendent. 

In  October,  1850,  Avery  Spicer  was  elected 
for  three  years.  Organization  as  before.  Mr. 
Gibbons  J.  Ackle}'  having  died  before  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  of  office,  Mr.  Joseph  E. 
Wesener,  of  Akron,  was,  on  the  9th  day  of  Au- 
gust, 1851,  appointed  b}'  the  Commissioners  to 
fill  the  vacancy  until  the  ensuing  October  elec- 
tion, Mr.  Wesener  also,  by  vote  of  the  board, 
filling  Mr.  Ackley's  position  as  Clerk  of  the 
Board.  In  October,  1851,  Ira  Hawkins,  of 
Portage,  was  elected  for  three  years,  and 
George  D.  Bates,  of  Akron,  for  one  year — the 
balance  of  the  unexpii'ed  term  of  Mr.  Ackley. 
deceased — Messrs.  Kent  and  Wesener  retiring. 
Spicer,  President ;  Bates,  Clerk  ;  Sichley,  Su- 
perintendent. In  October,  1852,  George  D. 
Bates,  of  Akron,  was  re-elected  for  three  years. 
Organization  same  as  before.  In  October, 
1853,  George  Sherbondy,  of  Portage,  was 
elected  for  three  j^ears,  Mr.  Spicer,  retiring. 
Hawkins,  President  ;  Bates,  Clerk  ;  Sichley, 
Superintendent.  In  October,  1854,  Ira  Hawk- 
ins, of  Portage,  was  re-elected.  Organization 
same  as  before.  In  March,  1855,  Mr.  William 
Chandler,  of  Akron,  by  vote  of  the  board,  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Sichley  as  Superintendent  of  the  In- 
firmary. In  October,  1855,  Charles  Hanscom. 
of  Akron,  was  elected  for  three  years,  Mr. 
Bates  retiring.  Hawkins,  President ;  Hans- 
com, Clerk  ;  Chandler,  Superintendent.  In 
October,  1856,  David  A.  Scott,  of  Akron,  was 
elected  for  three  3'ears,  Mr.  Sherbondy  retiring. 
Organization  as  before.  In  October,  1857. 
Avery  Spicer,  of  Akron,  was  elected  for  three 
3'ears.  Mr.  Hawkins  retiring.  Scott,  Presi- 
dent ;  Hanscom,  Clerk  ;  Chandler,  Superintend- 
ent. In  October,  1858,  William  Johnston,  of 
Cople}',  was  elected  for  three  3'ears,  Mr.  Hans- 
com retiring.  Spicer,  President  ;  Scott,  Clerk  ; 
Chandler,  Superintendent.  In  October,  1859, 
Richard  B.  Walker,  of  Akron,  was  elected  for 
three  years,  Mr.  Scott  retiring.  Spicer,  Presi- 
dent ;  Walker,    Clerk  ;  Chandler,  Superintend- 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUXTY 


247 


ent.  In  October,  1860,  Mr.  Spicer  was  re- 
elected for  three  j-ears.  Organization  as  be- 
fore. In  January,  1861,  ^Ir.  Francis  T.  Hu- 
song,  of  Copley,  succeeded  Mr.  Chandler  as  Su- 
perintendent of  the  Infirmary.  In  October, 
1861,  Alfred  R.  Townsend,  of  Akron,  was 
elected  Director  for  three  years,  Mr.  Johnston 
retiring.  Spicer,  President  ;  Walker,  Clerk ; 
Husong,  Superintendent.  In  October,  1862, 
Mr.  Walker  was  re-elected  for  three  yeai-s.  Or- 
ganization as  before.  .  In  October,  1863,  -Mr. 
Spicer  was  re-elected  for  three  3'ears.  Organi- 
zation as  before.  In  October,  186-4,  Mr.  Town- 
send  was  re-elected  for  three  3'ears.  Organiza- 
tion as  before.  In  October,  1865,  Mr.  Walker 
was  re-elected  for  three  years.  Spicer,  Presi- 
dent ;  Townsend,  Clerk  ;  Husong,  Superintend- 
ent. In  October,  1866,  Jonathan  H.  Brew- 
ster, of  Coventry,  was  elected  for  three  years, 
Mr.  Spicer  retiring.  Walker,  President ;  Town- 
send,  Clerk  ;  Husong,  Superintendent.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1867,  William  M.  Cunningham,  of  Ak- 
ron, was  elected  for  three  3'ears,  Mr.  Townsend 
retiring.  Walker,  President  ;  Cunningham, 
Clerk ;  Husong,  Superintendent.  In  April, 
1868,  George  W.  G lines,  of  Gates"  Mills,  Cuya- 
hoga County-,  by  appointment  of  the  Directors, 
superseded  Mr.  Husong  as  Superintendent  of 
the  Infirmar3^  In  October,  1868,  Francis  T. 
Husong,  of  Akron,  was  elected  Director  for 
three  j'ears,  i^Ir.  Walker,  retiring.  Brewster, 
President ;  Cunningham,  Clerk  ;  Glines,  Super- 
intendent. In  October,  1860,  Mr.  Brewster 
was  re-elected  for  three  years.  Organization 
same  as  before.  In  October,  1870,  Mr.  Cun- 
ningham was  re-elected  for  three  years.  Or- 
ganization same  as  before.  In  October,  1871, 
Webster  B.  Storer,  of  Portage,  was  elected  for 
three  years,  Mr.  Husong  retiring.  Organiza- 
tion same  as  before.  In  October,  1872,  Mr. 
Brewster  was  re-elected  for  three  years. 
Storer,  President  ;  Cunningham,  Clerk  ;  Glines, 
Superintendent.  In  October,  1873,  A.  K 
Townsend,  of  Akron,  was  again  elected  for 
three  3'ears,  Mr.  Cunningham  retiring.  Storei-, 
President  ;  Townsend,  Clerk  ;  Glines,  Superin- 
tendent. In  October,  1874,  Levi  S.  Herrold,  of 
Akron,  was  elected  for  three  years,  Mr.  Storer 
retiring.  Herrold,  President  ;  Townsend, 
Clerk ;  Glines,  Superintendent.  In  October, 
1875,  Clement  J.  Kolb,  of  Akron,  was  elected 
for  three  years,  Mr.  Brewster  retiring.  Organ- 
ization  same   as   before.      In   October,    1876, 


H'enry  Frederick,  of  Portage,  was  elected  for 
thi'ee  years,  Mr.  Townsend  retiring.  Herrold, 
President ;  Kolb,  Clerk  ;  Glines,  Superintend- 
ent. In  October,  1877,  A.  R.  Townsend  was 
again  elected  for  three  3-ears,  3Ir.  Herrold  re- 
tiring. Frederick,  President  ;  Kolb,  Clerk ; 
Glines,  Superintendent.  Mr.  Glines,  whose 
health  had  been  failing  for  several  3'ears,  d3ing 
March  4,  1878,  his  assistant,  ^Ir.  George  Feich- 
ter,  was,  on  the  1st  day  of  April,  1878,  tempo- 
raril3'  appointed  Superintendent  b3'  the  Direct- 
ors, Mrs.  Glines  still  continuing  in  charge  as 
Matron  and  General  Manager.  In  October, 
1878,  Mr.  Kolb  was  re-elected  for  three  years. 
Organization  same  as  before.  March  1,  1879, 
the  resignation  of  Mr.  Feichter,  as  Superintend- 
ent, was  accepted,  and  Mrs.  Julia  F.  Glines 
was  appointed  to  the  position,  and  it  is  safe  to 
sa3^  that  the  institution  has  never  been  more 
abl3' conducted  than  during  the  past  two  years' 
incumbency  of  Mrs.  Glines.  In  1870,  by 
reason  of  his  I'cmoval  from  the  count)',  Mr. 
Townsend  resigned  his  position  as  Director, 
and,  in  October  of  that  year,  William  South- 
ma3'd,  of  Stow,  was  elected  to  till  the  vacancy 
for  one  3'ear,  Mr.  Frederick  also  being  re- 
elected for  three  yeai's.  Frederick,  President ; 
Kolb,  Clerk  ;  Mrs.  Glines,  Superintendent.  In 
Octol^er,  1880,  Mr.  Southmayd  was  re-elected 
for  three  years.  Southmayd,  President ;  Fred- 
erick, Clerk  ;  Mrs.  Glines,  Superintendent. 

Looking  to  the  future  necessities  and  conven- 
ience of  the  institution,  in  the  latter  part  of 
1870,  the  County  Commissioners  contracted 
with  Mr.  James  McAllister  for  the  purchase  of 
^^Tin7  ^cres  off  the  southwest  corner  of  his 
farm,  and  adjoining  the  western  portion  of  the 
Infirmar3'  farm  upon  the  north.  The  price 
stipulated  to  be  paid  was  $112.50  per  acre,  and 
on  the  0th  da3'  of  March,  1880,  the  administra- 
tor of  Mr.  McAllister  executed  a  deed  therefor, 
the  total  cost  of  the  addition  being  $4,223.25. 
Though  the  cost  per  acre  was  more  than  four- 
fold the  original  purchase,  it  is  still  regarded  as 
a  highl3'  desirable  investment,  adding  to  the 
farm  precisely  the  quality  of  land,  and  in  the 
precise  locality  where  an  addition  was  needed, 
while  if  the  Commissioners  should  desire  to  do 
so  they  can  at  any  time  dispose  of  ten  or  twelve 
acres  off  from  the  east  end,  the  site  of  the  orig- 
inal infirmary  buildings,  at  a  figure  equal  to,  if 
not  greater-  than  the  cost  of  the  new  purchase. 
Thus  does  ■'  Little  Summit,'"  one  of  the  3'ounger 


r 


248 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


as  well  as  one  of  the  smaller  counties  of  the 
State,  occup}'  an  exalted  position,  not  only 
phj-sicall^y  and  altitudinally,  but  for  the  extent 
and  excellence  of  the  provision  which  she  has 
made  for  the  support  and  care  of  the  indigent 
and  unfortunate  portion  of  her  population. 

At  the  date  of  its  erection  and  organization, 
in  1840,  Summit  County  had  a  total  population 
of  22,469,  distributed  as  follows:  Bath,  1,425; 
Boston,  845;  Copley,  1,439;  Coventry,  1,308; 
Franklin,  1,436  ;  Green,  1,536  ;  Hudson,  1,220  ; 
Northampton,  963  ;  Northfield,  1,031  ;  Norton, 
1,497  ;  Portage  (including  Akron,  then  contain- 
ing 1,664  inhabitants)  2,382  ;  Richfield,  1,108  ; 
Stow  (including  Cuyahoga  Falls),  1,533  ;  Spring- 
field.(including  part  of  Middlebury),  1,573  ;  Tall- 
raadge  (including  part  of  Middlebur}-),  2,134  ; 
Twinsburg,  1,039.  The  census  of  1880  makes 
the  total  population  of  the  county  43,788,  a 
gain  in  forty  years  of  21,319,  about  two-thirds 
of  the  increase  being  in  Akron  alone. 

Though  one  of  the  smallest  counties  in  the 
State,  territoriall}'.  Summit  County  is  more  di- 
versified in  it^  productions,  and  more  nearl}' 
independent  of  the  "  outside  world  "  than,  per- 
haps, an}'  other  county  in  the  State,  large  or 
small.  The  two  southern  tiers  of  townships 
are  unsurpassed  as  grain  producers,  while 
equally  well  adapted  to  the  growing  of  other 
field  crops,  fruits,  sheep,  swine,  cattle  horses, 
etc.  The  eight  northern  are  particularly  adapted 
to,  and  noted  for,  their  dairy  products,  and,  be- 
sides producing  large  quantities  of  the  finest 
butter  and  cheese  in  the  world,  and  many  fine 
cattle  in  excess  of  home  requirements,  are 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  fully  self-sustaining  in  the 
matter  of  cereals,  vegetables,  fruits,  wool,  ma- 
ple sugar,  sirup,  etc.  The  middle  townships 
are  a  happy  combination  of  all  the  excellent 
qualities  of  the  two  sections  named,  being 
equally  adapted  to  the  raising  of  stock,  grain, 
fruits  and  general  farm  products  ;  and  though 
some  portions  of  the  northern  townships,  bor- 
dering upon  the  river,  are  somewhat  broken, 
and  a  few  hundred  acres  in  the  southern  town- 
ships are  covered  by  the  waters  of  the  lakes 
and  reservoirs  which  feed  the  Ohio  Canal  and 
supply  water  for  milling  and  manufacturing  pur- 


poses, there  is,  perhaps,  as  little  waste  land  in 
Summit  County  as  in  the  same  area  of  contigu- 
ous territory  in  any  other  portion  of  the  State. 

But,  besides  these  varied  and  excellent  ag- 
ricultural advantages.  Summit  County  possesses 
mineral  and  manufacturing  resources  superior 
to  those  of  j^ny  other  county  in  Ohio.  Nearly 
the  entire  area  of  at  least  five  townships  in  the 
count}'  are  underlaid  with  the  very  best  bitumin- 
ous coal,  large  quantities  of  which  are  mined 
yearly,  not  only  for  home  consumption,  but  for 
shipment  to  Cleveland  and  the  upper  lakes.  The 
finest  building-stone  in  the  State — both  coarse 
and  fine  grained  sandstones — are  largely  quar- 
ried in  the  middle  and  northern  townships  of  the 
county.  Inexhaustible  deposits  of  the  very 
best  quality  of  potter's  clay,  from  which  mill- 
ions of  gallons  of  common  and  fine  stoneware 
are  fabricated  yearly,  underlie  the  surface  of 
several  of  the  townships  of  the  county,  the 
same  localities  furnishing  the  material  from 
which  has  grown  that  immense  manufacturing 
interest  that  is  supplying  the  vitrified  sewer- 
pipe,  from  one  to  thirty  inches  in  diameter, 
with  which  the  cities  of  both  the  East  and  the 
West  are  being  so  largely  and  so  rapidly  hon- 
ey-combed, in  the  shape  of  drains  and  sewers, 
at  the  present  time,  to  say  nothing  of  the  im- 
mense quantities  now  being  used  by  the  farm- 
ers of  the  country  in  underdraining  their  lands, 
and  in  the  construction  of  gutters  and  sluices 
upon  public  highways.  The  materials  for 
building-brick  are  not  only  abundant,  but  the 
fire-brick  and  the  roofing- tile  manufactured 
here  are  fast  attaining  an  extensive  sale  and  a 
national  reputation. 

Added  to  the  extensive  water-power  hereto- 
fore alluded  to,  these  accessory  aids  to  manu- 
factures have  justly  earned  for  Summit  County 
and  her  "  tip-top "  capital  city,  a  reputation 
for  snap  and  push  second  to  no  other  county 
or  city  in  the  United  States.  The  enumeration 
of  the  varied  enterprises  that  go  to  make  up 
this  reputation  and  this  thrift  will  be  given  in 
detail  by  other  writers,  in  the  separate  histories 
of  the  city  of  Akron  and  the  several  villages 
and  townships  of  the  county  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 


^^ 


-^         '^ 


lA 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY, 


249 


CHAPTER    IV.* 

WAR   HISTORY— THE  REVOLUTIONARY  STRUGGLE— SECOND  WAR  WITH   ENGLAND— THE  MEXICAN 

WAR— THE  GREAT  REBELLION— SUMMIT  COUNTY  TROOPS— SOLDIERS' 

MONUMENTS- AID  SOCIETIES,   ETC.,  ETC. 


' '  War  must  be 
While  men  are  what  they  are  ;  while  they  have 
Bad  passions  to  be  rous'd  up." — Bailey. 

OVER  one  hundred  years  ago,  George  III  and 
his  arrogant  cabinet  assumed  to  themselves 
the  right  to  tax  their  American  colonies  at  will, 
and  without  representation  in  the  home  Govern- 
ment. This  Ifed  to  what  is  known  in  American 
history  as  the  "  Revolutionaiy  war,"  a  long 
and  sanguinary  struggle,  which  resulted  in  the 
colonies  throwing  off  forever  the  galling  yoke 
of  the  haughty  Briton,  and  of  achieving  their 
liberty  and  independence.  Liberty  and  Inde- 
pendence !  Often  as  the  wheels  of  time  roll  on 
the  anniversafj'  of  American  Independence,  so 
often  does  the  patriotic  zeal  of  the  sons  of 
liberty  blaze  out  from  one  end  of  the  Union  to 
the  other,  in  commemoration  of  those  brave, 
war-worn  veterans 

' ' who  fell 

In  Trenton's  morning  light, 
Who  crossed  the  freezing  Delaware, 

That  cold  December  night; 
When,  as  the  columns  onward  marched 

With  firm,  unbroken  ranks. 
The  blood-marked  footprints  thick  were  left 

Upon  the  wintry  banks," 

and  the  thousands  and  thousands  of  others 
who  fought  and  bled  for  the  liberty  we,  their 
descendants,  enjoy  to-da}-.  When  the  war  was 
over,  and  our  independence  acknowledged  by 
the  mother  countr}-,  our  patriot  soldiery  were 
paid  off  in  valueless  paper  or  in  Western  lands. 
The  bankrupt  Government  had  no  other  means 
of  rewarding  her  faithful  soldiers,  and  large 
tracts  of  land  in  the  then  Northwestern  Territory 
(Ohio  Territory)  were  set  apart  as  a  remunera- 
tion for  the  long  service  of  her  patriotic  sol- 
diers. This  brought  many  of  these  old  Revo- 
lutionary heroes  to  the  Ohio  Territory.  How 
many  came  to  what  is  now  Summit  County  we 
are  unable  to  say,  but  as  settlements  were  made 
here  in  less  than  a  score  of  years  after  the  close 
of  the  Revolution,  it  is  more  than  probable  that 

♦Contributed  by  W.  H.  Perrin. 


a  number  of  them  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Summit  County.  We  have,  however,  an  ac- 
count of  but  four :  Simeon  Prior,  who  settled 
in  Northampton  Township  in  June,  1802,  was 
a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  in  the  old  "  Ba}-  State 
Line."  He  died  in  1837,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years,  and  lies  buried  in  Northampton 
Cemeter3^  Nathaniel  W.  Bettis  also  served  in 
the  Revolution.  He  was  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers in  the  western  part  of  Tallmadge  Town- 
ship, and  when  he  died  was  buried  with  the 
honors  of  war,  and  the  solemn  rites  of  Free- 
masonry. Another  of  these  veterans  was  Isaac 
Seward,  the  grandfather  of  Col.  Sewai'd,  of 
Akron.  And  still  another,  David  Galpin,  who 
is  buried  in  Akron  Rural  Cemetery.  William 
Neal,  Capt.  John  Wright,  David  Preston  and 
Conrad  Boosinger  were  likewise  Revolutionary- 
soldiers,  and  among  the  early  settlers  of  Tall- 
madge Township.  But  it  is  not  intended  to  go 
into  a  history  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  It  is 
merely  mentioned  by  way  of  introduction  to 
other  wars  in  which  the  county  bore  an  active 
part. 

In  our  second  war  with  Great  Britain,  or  the 
war  of  1812,  although  Summit  County  had  not 
3^et  been  organized,  the  territory  of  which  it  is 
now  composed  contained  a  number  of  inhabit- 
ants. Being  near  the  seat  of  war,  most  of  the 
able-bodied  male  citizens  participated  in  the 
struggle  at  some  time  during  the  period  of  its 
continuation.  The  opening  scenes  of  this  "  un- 
pleasantness," were  characterized  by  defeat,  dis- 
aster and  disgrace,  but  toward  the  close  of  the 
struggle,  a  series  of  brilliant  achievements  made 
amends  for  these  misfortunes.  Says  a  chronicle 
of  the  time  :  '•  Croghan's  gallant  defense  of  Fort 
Stephenson  ;  Perry's  victory  on  Lake  Erie  ;  the 
total  defeat,  by  Harrison,  of  the  allied  British 
and  savages,  under  Proctor  and  Tecumseh,  on 
the  Thames  ;  and  the  great  closing  triumph  of 
Jackson,  at  New  Orleans,  reflected  the  most 
brilliant  luster  on  the  American  arms.  In  every 


-0)  PV 


:c 


250 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


vicissitude  of  this  contest,  the  conduct  of  Ohio 
was  eminently  patriotic  and  honorable.  When 
the  necessities  of  the  National  Grovernment 
compelled  Congress  to  resort  to  a  direct  tax, 
Ohio,  for  successive  years,  cheerfully  assumed 
and  promptly  paid  her  quota  out  of  her  State 
Treasury.  Her  sons  volunteered  with  alacrity 
their  services  in  the  field  ;  and  no  troops  more 
patiently  endured  hardship  or  performed  better 
service.  Hardly  a  battle  was  fought  in  the 
Northwest  in  which  some  of  these  brave  citizen 
soldiers  did  not  seal  their  devotion  to  their 
countrj-  with  their  blood."  And  what  is  true, 
and  to  the  honor  of  the  State  at  large,  is 
equally  true  of  the  soldiers  from  this  particular 
section. 

As  a  matter  of  some  interest  to  our  modern 
soldiers,  we  give  the  following  abstract  from 
the  Quartermasters  Department  during  the  war 
of  1812  :  Rations  :  One  and  a  quarter  pounds 
of  beef,  three-quarters  of  a  pound  of  pork, 
thirteen  ounces  of  bread  or  flour,  one  gill  of 
whisky.  At  the  rate  of  two  quarts  of  salt,  four 
quarts  of  vinegar,  four  pounds  of  soap,  and 
one  and  three-quarter  pounds  of  candles  to 
ever}*  100  rations.  And  from  tlie  Paymaster's 
Department :  Colonel,  $75  per  month,  five  ra- 
tions and  $12  for  forage  ;  Major,  $50  per  month 
and  three  rations ;  Captain,  $40  per  month  and 
three  rations ;  First  Lieutenant,  $30  and  two 
rations ;  Second  Lieutenant,  $20  and  two 
rations ;  Ensign,  $20  and  two  rations ;  Ser- 
geant Major,  $9 ;  Quartermaster's  Sergeant 
$9  ;  other  Sergeants,  $8  ;  Corporals,  $7  ;  Musi- 
cians, $6,  and  Privates,  $6  per  month. 

It  has  been  a  matter  of  much  difficulty  to 
learn  the  particulars  of  this  war,  so  far  as  the 
few  settlers  of  this  section  participated  in  it. 
Most  of  these  old  veterans  have  met  and  con- 
quered the  last  enem}' — death.  A  \evy  few  of 
them  are  known  to  be  now  living.  Nor  could 
the  names  of  all  who  went  from  what  is  now 
Summit  County  be  obtained,  but  it  is  believed 
that  most  of  the  able-bodied  men  of  requisite 
age  took  part  in  this  war.  Among  those  who 
served  from  this  county,  we  have  the  names  of 
the  following:  Col.  Kiall  McArthur,  Joseph 
D.  Baird.  John  Hall,  Timoth}'  Holcomb  (a  Lieu- 
tenant), Alexander  Hall,  James  Baird,  Lee  More, 
Nathaniel   De    Haven,    Martin   Willis,   Hiram 

King   (an  Ensign), Lusk  (a  Captain), 

William  I'rior,  Timothy  Sherwood,  William 
Wright,  Joseph  Foster,  Henry  Wood.   George 


Showandy,    Timothy    Clark,   John    Ellsworth, 

McCook, Buck,  Alfred   Parker, 

Benjamin  Stark.  John  Dillamater,  Andrews 
Ma}^,  Israel  Lac}'  and  Jacob  Harter.  A  few 
years  ago,  when  these  old  veterans  were  pen- 
sioned by  the  Government,  there  were  then 
thirty-three  living  in  the  county,  but,  with  per- 
haps two  or  three  exceptions,  they  are  now  all 
gone. 

"Soldiers,  rest,  thy  warfare  o'er, 
Sleep  the  sleep  thiit  knows  no  waking." 

After  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  our  peace 
was  no  more  disturbed,  except  by  an  occasional 
Indian  skirmish,  until  the  war  with  Mexico. 
If  war  with  '^  blood-red  tresses  deepening  in 
the  sun,"  and  "  death-shot  glowing  in  his  fiery 
hands,"  raged  in  countries  of  the  bid  world,  his 
thunder  came  to  us  but  as  the  -  mutterings  of 
a  distant  cloud,  whose  lightnings  could  harm 
us  not." 

The  Mexican  war  grew  out  of  the  admission 
of  Texas,  as  a  State,  into  the  Federal  Union. 
The  circumstances  were  briefly  these  :  Texas 
had  been  a  province  of  Mexico,  but  had  seceded 
(as  she  tried  to  do  from  Ihicle  Sam  in  after 
years,  but  with  less  success),  and  for  years  its 
citizens  had  been  carrying  on  a  kind  of  guerrilla 
warfare  with  the  mother  country-.  This  war- 
fare had  been  attended  with  varying  results, 
sometimes  the  one  party,  and  sometimes  the 
other,  being  successful.  But  in  183G,  the 
famous  battle  of  San  Jacinto  was  fought,  in 
which  the  Texans  were  victorious,  and  cap- 
tured Santa  Anna,  then  Dictator  of  IMexico, 
while  his  whole  army  was  either  killed  or  made 
prisoners.  Santa  Anna  was  held  in  strict  con- 
finement, and  finally  induced  to  sign  a  treaty 
acknowledging  the  independence  of  Texas. 
But  the  Bej^ublic  of  Mexico,  in  violation  of 
every  principle  of  honor,  refused  to  recognize 
this  treaty,  and  continued  to  treat  Texas  and 
the  Texans  just  as  she  hatl  previously  done. 
From  this  time  on,  petitions  were  frequently 
presented  by  the  Texans  to  the  United  States 
Government,  praying  admission  into  the  Union. 
But  Mexico,  through  sheer  spite,  endeavored  to 
prevent  this  step,  constantly  declaring  that  the 
admission  of  Texas  would  be  regarded  as  a 
sufficient  cause  for  a  declaration  of  war,  of  the 
opinion,  doubtless,  that  this  would  serve  to  in- 
timidate the  United  States. 

In  the  Presidential  contest  of  1844,  between 
Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky,  and  James  K.  Polk, 


>y 


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HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


251 


of  Tennessee,  the  annexation  of  Texas  was  one 
of  the  leading  questions  before  the  people,  and 
Mr.  Polk,  whose  party  (the  Democrats)  favored 
the  admission  of  Texas,  being  elected,  this  was 
taken  as  a  public  declaration  on  the  subject. 
After  this.  Congress  had  no  hesitancy  in  grant- 
ing the  petition  of  Texas,  and,  on  the  1st  of 
March,  1845, formally  received  the  "  Lone  Star" 
into  the  sisterhood  of  States.  In  her  indigna- 
tion, Mexico  at  once  broke  off  all  diplomatic 
relations  with  the  United  States,  calling  home 
her  Minister  immediately.  This,  of  itself,  was 
a  declaration  of  war,  and  war  soon  followed. 
Congress  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  Presi- 
dent to  accept  the  services  of  50,000  volunteers 
(which  were  to  be  raised  at  once),  and  appro- 
priating $10,000,000  for  the  prosecution  of  the 
war.  In  this  call  for  50,000  troops,  Ohio  was 
required  to  furnish  three  regiments.  With  her 
characteristic  patriotism,  she  filled  her  quota 
in  a  few  weeks.  Upon  the  organization  of 
these  regiments  at  Cincinnati,  the  place  of 
rendezvous,  there  were  almost  men  enough  left 
to  form  another  regiment.  These  were  fui'- 
nished  transportation  to  their  homes  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  Government.  The  regiments,  as 
organized,  were  officered  as  follows :  First 
Regiment,  A.  M.  Mitchell,  of  Cincinnati,  Colonel ; 
John  B.  Weller,  of  Butler  County,  Lieutenant 
Colonel ;  T.  L.  Hamer,  of  Brown  County,  Ma- 
jor. Second  Regiment,  Gr.  W.  Morgan,  of  Knox 
County,  Colonel ;  William  Irvin,  of  Fairfield, 
Lieutenant  Colonel ;  William  Hall,  of  Athens, 
Major.  Third  Regiment,  S.  R.  Curtis,  of  Wayne 
County,  Colonel ;  Gr.  W.  McCook,  of  Jefferson, 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  J.  S.  Love,  of  Morgan, 
Major.  Under  a  second  call  for  men,  which 
was  known  as  the  "  Ten  Regiments  Bill,"  Ohio 
filled  up  her  quota  without  delay.  Upon  this 
second  call,  made  just  after  the  fall  of  Mon- 
terey, and  in  opposition  to  the  war  generally, 
Hon.  Thomas  Corwin  in  the  United  States  Sen- 
ate made  one  of  the  ablest  speeches  of  his  life. 
In  this  speech  it  was  that  he  used  the  memora- 
ble language,  since  grown  almost  into  a  prov- 
erb :  "  If  I  were  a  Mexican  I  would  tell  you, 
'  Have  you  not  room  in  your  own  country  to 
bury  your  dead  men?  If  you  come  into  mine, 
we  will  greet  you  with  bloody  hands,  and  wel- 
come you  to  hospitable  graves.'" 

The  majority  of  the  Whig  party,  as  we  have 
said,  opposed  the  annexation  of  Texas  upon 
the  grounds  that  it  would  cause  a  war  between 


the  United  States  and  Mexico,  a  war  that,  they 
held,  would  be  unjust  and  uncalled  for.  As 
Summit  County  at  that  time  was  largely  Whig 
in  its  political  sentiments,  like  a  great  majority 
of  that  party  it  opposed  the  war,  and  declined 
taking  any  active  part  in  it.  Hence,  the  num- 
ber of  men  furnished  by  the  county  in  the 
different  calls  for  troops  was  exceedingly 
small.  We  have  been  enabled  to  learn  the 
names  of  onl}-  the  following :  George,  Otis 
and  Eliphaz  Capron,  Oliver  P.  Barney,  Joseph 
Gouder, Zettle,  William  H.  and  Ezra  Try- 
on  and  Adam  Hart.  There  were,  perhaps 
others,  but  diligent  inquiries  have  failed  to 
"  materialize "  any  of  them.  Of  those  men- 
tioned. Hart  enlisted  at  Pittsburgh,  Penn.,  and 
Gouder,  in  Tennessee.  Two  of  the  Caprons 
and  0.  P.  Barne}'  are  dead  ;  Eliphaz  Capron 
lives  at  Ellis'  Corners  ;  Zettle  and  Gouder  live 
in  Akron,  and  Hart  lives  in  Middlebury.  Bar- 
ne}'  was  a  Sergeant  in  the  Mexican  war,  and 
the  following  incident  is  still  remembered  by 
many,  as  having  been  told  by  himself:  When 
Gen.  Taylor's  little  arm}'  was  encamped  at 
Matamoras,  Barney  was  on  picket  duty-,  and 
was  lassoed  by  the  Mexicans  and  pretty  roughly 
handled.  The  following  paragraph  in  regard 
to  it,  is  from  an  old  file  of  the  Akron  Democrat : 
"  We  are  sorry  to  observe  that  Sergt.  0.  P. 
Barney  of  this  place  has  had  both  his  feet 
frozen  during  the  late  cold  weather.  The  gal- 
lant Sergeant  has  seen  service  on  the  line  be- 
tween Matamoras  and  Buena  Vista,  but  he  has 
found  a  more  formidable  antagonist  in  Jack 
Frost,  than  in  the  Mexican  troopers  and  their 
lassoes."  Mr.  Barney  entered  the  late  war,  and 
some  years  ago,  died  at  the  Soldiers'  Home  at 
Dayton. 

The  great  rebellion  burst  upon  the  country 
in  the  spring  of  1861,  threatening  to  sweep 
every^thing  before  it  to  destruction.  Hitherto, 
we  had  been  called  to  measure  arms  with  for- 
eign foes,  or  with  the  howling  savages,  but  now 
a  war  among  ourselves  was  inaugurated — a 
civil  war  without  parallel  in  the  annals  of  his- 
tory : 

••  O  war  !  begot  in  pride  and  luxury. 
1  The  child  of  malice  and  revengeful  hate  : 

■  Thou  impious  good,  and  good  impiety  ! 

Thou  art  tlie  foul  refiner  of  a  State, 
Unjust  scourge  of  men's  iniquity, 
Sharp  easer  of  corruptions  desperate  !" 

Of  all  the  wars  that  have  ever  scourged  God's 


-       9 

If- 


252 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


earth,  a  civil  war,  wherein  "  the  brother  betraj's 
the  brother  to  death,  and  the  father  the  son, 
and  children  rise  up  against  their  parents,  and 
cause  them  to  be  put  to  death,"  is  the  most 
dreadful.  The  rival  houses  of  York  and  Lan- 
caster, with  their  emblems  of  "  White "  and 
"  Red,"  shook  old  England  to  her  center,  filling 
her  houses  with  mourning,  her  fields  with  car- 
nage, and  wasting  the  blood  of  her  bra\'est  and 
best ;  but  compared  to  our  "  war  between  the 
States,"  it  is  dwarfed  into  insignificance.  A  per- 
fect histor}'  of  our  great  civil  war  has  never 
been  written  ;  it  never  can  be  written.  Though 
the  "  pen  of  inspiration  were  dipped  in  the  gloom 
of  earthquake  and  eclipse,"  it  could  not  write  a 
true  history  of  those  four  long  dreary  years  as 
they  were.  All  the  evils  of  war,  and  all  the 
horrors  of  civil  war  were  crowded  into  them, 
and  the  refined  cruelties  known  to  the  civiliza- 
tion of  the  enlightened  age  in  which  we  live, 
were  practiced  by  the  opposing  parties.  Starva- 
tion, the  prison-pen,  and  the  tortures  incident  to 
the  times,  were  the  common  doom  of  the  unfoi't- 
unate  who  fell  into  enem3''s  hands.  But  after 
four  terrible  years  of  strife,  the  Goddess  of 
Peace  once  more  waved  the  olive  branch  over 
the  land,  and  the  unnatural  war  was  brought  to 
a  close.  That  which  had  so  long  been  deemed 
a  curse  to  the  country,  was  developed  into  a 
blessing,  and  it  is  safe  to  predict  that  the  same 
cause  will  never  originate  another  war  on  Ameri- 
can soil.  Now  that  the  trouble  is  over,  and 
peace  and  prosperity  smile  upon  the  land  from 
one  end  of  the  nation  to  the  other,  it  is  a  source 
of  congratulation  that  the  cause  for  strife  be- 
tween the  sections  is  forever  removed.  In  the 
union  of  "  the  Roses"  was  found  the  germ  of 
England's  future  greatness  and  resplendent 
glory,  and  in  the  harmonious  blending  of  "  the 
Blue "  and  "  the  Gray,"  who  shall  limit  the 
greatness  and  the  glory  of  America  ? 

It  is  highly  creditable  to  Summit  County  that 
she  was  represented  in  some  of  the  first  regi- 
ments organized  in  the  spring  of  1861.  When 
the  news  was  sent  flying  over  the  country  that 
the  flag  had  been  insulted,  the  people  were 
aroused  to  instant  action.  Who  does  not  re- 
member the  blaze  of  excitement  which  followed 
the  bombardment  of  Sumter,  when  martial  mu- 
sic was  heard  in  every  town  and  hamlet,  and 
tender  women,  no  less  than  brave  men,  were 
wild  with  enthusiasm  ?  Wives  encouraged  their 
husbands  to  enlist ;  mothers  urged  their  sons  to 


patriotic  devotion,  and  sisters  tenderly  gave 
their  brothers  to  the  cause  of  their  country. 
But  ho  reminders  are  necessary  to  revive  a  rec- 
ollection of  those  stirring  scenes,  nor  to  recall 
the  names  of  the  patriots  who  participated  in 
the  struggle  ;  who  "  fought  the  good  fight  unto 
the  end,"  or,  from  the  prison,  the  hospital  and 
the  battle-field,  crossed  over  to  mingle  with  the 
grand  army  beyond  the  river.  Some  of  them 
sleep  in  unknown  graves,  "  in  the  land  of  cotton 
and  cane,"  where  the  palm-trees  wave  over  their 
tombs  ;  where  the  birds  carol  their  matins  above 
them,  and  where  the  flowers  sweeten  the  air 
around  them  with  their  fragrance  ;  and  it  is  no 
reproach  to  their  valor  that  they  fell  before  foes 
as  brave  as  themselves.  They  are  held  memoria 
ill  (I'terna,  and  their  patriotism  is  recorded  in 
the  nation's  history.  Those  who  survived  and 
returned  in  safet}-  to  home  and  friends,  have 
their  reward  in  the  knowledge  that  the  old  flag 
still  floats  over  all  the  States. 

A  brief  sketch  of  the  regiment,  containing 
organized  bodies  of  men  from  this  county,  will 
now  be  given,  together  with  all  the  local  facts 
to  be  obtained,  of  the  companies  recruited  here 
and  mustered  into  the  United  States  service. 
Every  exertion  has  been  made  to  get  the  list  of 
county  organizations  complete.  Newspaper  files 
have  been  examined,  ex-offlcers  and  soldiers 
consulted,  and  all  publications  on  the  subject 
perused  with  care.  And  while  there  may  be 
slight  errors  and  omissions  in  some  cases,  we 
believe,  however,  that  in  the  main  the  record 
willbe  found  substantiall}'  correct. 

The  first  regiment  in  which  Summit  County 
was  represented  was  the  Nineteenth  Infantry'. 
This  regiment  was  originally  organized  for 
three  months,  and  drew  two  companies  from 
this  count}',  viz.,  G  and  K.  Company  G.  was 
recruited  as  "  Company  A,  Akron  Light  In- 
fantry," but,  in  organizing  the  regiment,  was 
changed  to  G.  The  original  officers  were  Lewis 
P.  Buckley,  Captain  ;  A.  J.  Fulkerson,  First 
Lieutenant,  and  G.  S.  Carpenter,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant. Capt.  Buckley  was  promoted  to  Major, 
and,  at  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  service  of 
the  regiment,  was  appointed  Colonel  of  the 
Twenty-ninth  Infantrj-.  Company  K  was  re- 
cruited as  "  Company  B,  Akron  Union  Light 
Infantry,"  and,  upon  organization,  became  Com- 
pany K,  with  the  following  officers  :  Andrew 
J.  Konkle,  Captain  ;  Paul  T.  Kirby,  First  Lieu- 
tenant, and  James  Nelson,  Second  Lieutenant. 


liL^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUJ^TY. 


253 


The  regiment  was  filled  up  by  the  15th  of 
May,  and  on  the  27th  it  left  Camp  Taylor — 
the  place  of  rendezvous — for  Columbus,  and 
occupied  Camp  Jackson.  Hei'e  it  elected  reg- 
imental officers.  Companies  A  and  B  were 
armed  and  equipped  and  sent  to  Bellaire, 
where  they  were  employed  guarding  the  ferry 
until  June  3,  while  the  other  eight  companies 
were  sent  to  Camp  Goddard,  at  Zanesville,  to 
perfect  themselves  in  the  drill.  On  the  20th 
of  June,  Companies  A  and  B  joined  the  reg- 
iment, and,  with  the  Seventeenth  and  Twenti- 
eth, were  sent  to  Parkersburg.  At  Parkers- 
burg  the  Nineteenth,  Eighth  and  Tenth  Ohio, 
and  Thirteenth  Indiana  were  organized  into  a 
brigade,  under  Brigadier-General  W.  S.  Rose- 
crans.  The  regiment,  with  its  brigade,  went 
to  Clarksburg  on  the  25th,  and  to  Buckhannon 
on  the  29th,  where  it  arrived  on  July  2.  It 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Rich  Mountain  on 
the  7th.  The  behavior  of  the  Nineteenth  in 
this  engagement,  won  from  Gen.  Rosecrans  the 
following  :  "  The  Nineteenth  distinguished  itself 
for  the'  cool  and  handsome  manner  in  which  it 
held  its  post  against  a  flank  attack,  and  for  the 
manner  in  which  it  came  into  line  and  delivered 
its  fire  near  the  close  of  the  action."  The  term 
of  service  expired  on  the  23d,  and  it  returned 
to  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  was  mustered  out  of 
the  service.  Many  of  the  officers  busied  them- 
selves in  recruiting  for  the  three  years'  service, 
and  with  such  marked  success  that  by  the  26th 
of  September,  nine  full  companies  had  reported 
and  were  mustered  in. 

In  the  re-organization  of  the  regiment  for 
three  j^ears.  Company  K  was  made  up  of  Sum- 
mit County  men,  and  went  into  the  service  with 
the  following  officers :  Paul  T.  Kirby,  Cap- 
tain ;  G.  R.  Lentz,  First  Lieutenant,  and  J.  J. 
Agard,  Second  Lieutenant.  Capt.  Kirby  re- 
signed December  2,  1862.  Lieutenant  Lentz 
resigned  August  1,  1862.  Lieut.  Agard  was 
promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  February  9, 
1862,  to  Captain  June  19,  1863,  and  honor- 
ably discharged  January  27,  1865.  Albert 
Upson  was  promoted  from  First  Sergeant  to 
Second  Lieutenant  February  9,  1862,  to  First 
Lieutenant  January  2,  1868,  and  to  Captain 
July  25,  1864,  and,  as  such,  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  Wesle}-  l^pson  was  promoted 
from  Third  Sergeant  to  Second  Lieutenant 
January  2,  1863,  and  to  First  Lieutenant  July 
2,  1864.     J.    S.  Cochran   was  promoted  from 


Second  Sergeant  to  Second  Lieutenant  Jul}''  2, 
1864.  Of  other  promotions  we  could  obtain 
no  information. 

The  re-organization  of  the  Nineteenth  took 
place  at  Camp  Dennison,  and,  b}-  the  7th  of 
November,  1861,  it  was  full}'  artned  and 
equipped  and  read}'  for  the  field.  It  left  camp 
on  the  16th  and  proceeded  to  Louisville,  Ky., 
by  way  of  Cincinnati,  and  was  the  first  reg- 
iment to  go  into  Camp  Jenkins,  five  miles  from 
Louisville.  It  remained  here,  in  command  of 
Gen.  0.  M.  Mitchell,  until  the  6th  of  December, 
when  it  moved  to  Lebanon,  Ky.,  and  thence  to 
Columbia,  where  it  arrived  on  the  10th,  and 
was  brigaded  with  the  Fifty-ninth  Ohio,  Sec- 
ond and  Ninth  Kentucky  Infantry  and  Hag- 
gard's Regiment  of  Cavalry,  Gen  J.  T.  Boyle 
commanding. 

The  following  pleasant  episode  occurred 
while  stationed  at  Columbia :  A  beautiful  silk 
flag  was  received  as  a  present  from  the  ladies 
of  Canton  to  the  Nineteenth.  It  was  presented 
to  the  regiment  in  a  neat  little  speech  by  Mr. 
A.  Kitt.  Capt.  Mandersou  received  it,  and,  in 
behalf  of  the  Nineteenth,  made  appropriate 
acknowledgment. 

The  Nineteenth,  together  with  the  Third 
Kentucky  Infantry,  was  ordered  to  the  mouth 
of  Renick's  Creek,  near  Burksville,  on  the 
Cumberland  River,  on  the  17th  of  January, 
1 862,  and  soon  after  moved  to  Jamestown,  where 
they  were  joined  by  the  Sixth  Ohio  Battery 
of  Artillery.  The  battle  of  Mill  Springs  took 
place  soon  after,  resulting  in  the  defeat  of  the 
rebels  under  Gen.  Zollicoffer,  when  the  troops 
returned  to  Columbia.  While  lying  at  Colum- 
bia, the  men  suffered  severely  from  sickness, 
and  a  number  of  the  Nineteenth  died,  among 
them  Lieut.  S.  Lentz,  of  Company  E.  The 
regiment  was  finally  ordered  to  Nashville, 
where  it  arrived  on  the  10th  of  March,  and 
went  into  camp  five  miles  out  on  the  Murfrees- 
boro  Pike.  On  the  1 8th  of  March  it  left  Nash- 
ville, with  its  brigade,  for  Savannah,  on  the 
Tennessee  River,  and  on  the  6th  of  April,  when 
within  fourteen  miles  of  that  place,  the  heavy 
booming  of  cannon  was  heard  in  the  direction 
of  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  the  troops  started 
on  the  double-quick,  hoping  to  get  there  in  time 
to  participate  in  the  battle.  But  owing  to  a 
lack  of  transportation,  it  was  dark  before  they 
arrived,  and  the  dreary,  rainy  night  was  spent 
in  line  on  the  battle-field.     In  the  second  day's 


-^j^ 


^ 


25i 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


fight,  the  Nineteenth  took  an  active  part.  Gen. 
Boyle,  who  commanded  the  brigade,  said  of 
the  Nineteenth  :  "  The  Colonel  and  Capt.  Man- 
derson  (acting  Major)  held  their  men  steady, 
and  deported  themselves,  as  did  their  officers 
and  men,  with  coolness  and  conrage,  until  the 
Colonel  ordered  them  back  to  a  position  from 
under  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  battery.  This 
position  was  held  until  the  guns  of  the  enemy 
were  silenced  by  the  well-directed  fire  of  Capt. 
Bartlett's  battery.  Maj.  Edwards,  acting  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel,  was  shot  dead  from  his  horse, 
and  a  number  of  privates  were  killed  and 
wounded."  Among  the  killed  and  wounded  of 
the  gallant  Nineteenth,  were  Privates  0.  T. 
Powell  and  Horace  H.  Bailey,  of  Compan}^  C, 
and  Corporal  W.  E.  Gribson,  of  Company  H, 
killed  ;  Lieut.  William  A.  Sutherland,  of  Com- 
pany H,  severely  wounded. 

The  next  active  duty  of  the  regiment  was  at 
the  siege  of  Corinth.  It  entered  that  place  on 
the  29th  of  May,  with  the  army,  and  on  the  3d 
of  June  marched  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  pro- 
ceeding as  far  as  Brownsboro,  when  it  returned 
to  luka  and  joined  Gen.  Buell's  forces.  It 
marched  with  his  column  to  Florence,  Ala., 
and  to  Battle  Creek,  where  it  arrived  on  the 
14th  of  July.  On  the  21st  of  August,  it  moved 
to  Nashville  with  Gen.  McCook's  division, 
where  it  became  a  portion  of  Gen.  Buell's 
army,  and  with  it  made  that  famous  march  to 
Louisville,  Ky.  The  Nineteenth  marched  out 
of  Louisville  on  the  1st  of  October,  with  Gen. 
Crittenden's  division,  and  reached  Perryville 
on  the  8th,  in  time  to  witness  a  portion  of  that 
battle,  but  not  to  participate.  Upon  the  retreat 
of  the  rebel  army  from  Kentucky,  the  Nine- 
teenth marched  through  Somerset  and  Glasgow, 
to  Gallatin,  Tenn.,  where  it  remained  two 
weeks  on  provost  duty,  then  joined  its  division 
at  the  ''  Hermitage,"  and,  passing  through 
Nashville,  went  into  camp  near  its  old  quarters 
on  the  Murfreesboro  turnpike.  It  moved  with 
the  army  on  the  26th  of  December,  in  the 
advance  on  Murfreesboro.  In  command  of  Maj. 
Charles  F.  Manderson,  it  was  thrown  across 
Stone  River  on  the  31st,  with  a  view  of  swinging 
around  into  Murfreesboro,  but  the  disaster  of 
McCook's  right  wing  compelled  its  withdrawal, 
and,  recrossing  the  river,  it  passed  to  the  right, 
and  by  a  determined  resistance,  aided  to  check 
the  advance  of  the  rebels.  Under  the  personal 
lead    of    Gen.    Rosecrans,    Beatty's     brigade 


charged  the  enemy,  drove  him  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile,  and  held  the  position  until 
relieved  by  Col.  M.  B.  Walker's  brigade.  On 
the  2d  of  January,  1863,  the  Nineteenth,  with 
its  division,  crossed  Stone  River,  and  received 
the  charge  of  the  rebel  column  under  Gen. 
Breckeuridge.  They  were  forced  to  retreat, 
but  the  pursuing  rebels  coming  under  the  range 
of  the  masked  artiller}-,  were  driven  back  over 
the  river  and  beyond  it  with  great  slaughter. 
The  Nineteenth  Ohio  and  the  Ninth  Kentucky 
were  the  first  to  cross  Stone  River,  and  with 
the  assistance  of  men  of  other  regiments,  capt- 
ured four  pieces  of  artiller}^  from  the  famous 
Washington  (La.)  batter^'.  The  regiment  suf- 
fered severel}'  in  this  battle.  It  entered  it 
with  449  men,  rank  and  file,  and  lost  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  213,  nearly  one-half 
Upon  the  fall  of  Murfreesboro,  the  regiment 
went  into  camp  on  the  Liberty  turnpike.  The 
whole  army  remained  at  Murfreesboro  until 
the  29th  of  June,  during  which  time  the  Nine- 
teenth guarded  an  ammunition  train  to  Man- 
chester, and  thence  proceeded  to  McMinn- 
ville,  where  it  remained  until  the  16th  of 
August.  It  then  crossed  the  Cumberland 
Mountains  to  Pikeville,  and  with  the  division 
passed  over  Lookout  Mountain  to  Lee  &  Gor- 
don's Mills,  arriving  on  the  13th  of  September. 
At  Crawfish  Springs,  the  regiment  had  a  brisk 
skirmish  with  the  rebels,  in  which  several  men 
were  killed  and  wounded. 

In  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  the  Nineteenth 
did  its  part  of  the  hard  fighting.  On  the  18th 
of  September,  it  was,  together  with  the  Seven- 
ty-ninth Indiana,  supported  by  the  Ninth  and 
Seventeenth  Kentucky,  ordered  to  advance  up- 
on the  enemy.  With  a  cheer  they  advanced, 
drove  the  enemy  and  captured  a  rebel  battery, 
with  some  prisoners.  In  the  second  day's 
battle,  the  Nineteenth  held  an  important  posi- 
tion, and  performed  its  full  share  of  hard  fight- 
ing. As  a  proof  of  the  gallantr}^  of  the  regi- 
ment, a  private  of  Company  G  received  severe 
wounds  during  the  first  da^^'s  battle.  Capt. 
Irwin  received  a  wound  from  which  he  after- 
ward died  ;  Lieut.  McHenry  was  also  severely 
wounded.  The  aggregate  loss  was  100  men 
killed,  wounded  and  missing.  At  Orchard 
Knob,  on  the  23d  of  November,  the  Nineteenth 
lost  twenty  men  killed  and  wounded.  On  the 
25th,  it  took  part  in  the  charge  of  the  rebel 
works  at  the  foot  of  Mission  Ridge,  where  it 


1^: 


)^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


255 


lost  oue  man  killed  and  thirteen  wounded.  It 
was  next  sent  with  Sherman  toward  Knoxville. 
This  march  was  one  of  unexampled  severity. 
The  men  were  ragged  and  shoeless,  and  their 
footprints  were  marked  with  blood  on  the 
SHOW}'  ground.  Finding  that  Gen.  Longstreet 
had  raised  the  siege  of  Nashville,  the  army 
moved  to  Strawberry  Plains  and  Flat  Creek. 
Here,  on  the  1st  of  January,  1864,  400  of  the 
Nineteenth  re-enlisted  as  veteran  volunteers, 
and,  upon  reaching  Chattanooga  on  the  4th  of 
January,  the  three  j'ears'  regiment  was  mus- 
tered out,  and  the  veterans  mustered  into  serv- 
ice for  another  three  years.  It  then  returned 
home  on  furlough,  reaching  Cleveland  on  the 
IGth  of  February-.  Upon  the  expiration  of 
their  furlough,  they  returned  immediately  to 
the  front,  arriving  at  Knoxville  on  the  24th  of 
March.  The  first  active  duty  of  the  Nineteenth 
was  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  which  opened  on 
the  6th  of  Maj",  and  the  regiment  was  sent  to 
Parker's  Gap,  to  hold  that  pass.  On  the  20th, 
it  rejoined  its  brigade,  and,  moving  with  the 
column,  it  participated  in  the  fight  at  New 
Hope  Church,  in  which  it  lost  forty-four  killed 
and  wounded.  Capt.  Brewer,  of  Compan}-  E, 
was  killed  ;  Maj.  Nash  lost  his  left  hand,  and 
Capt.  Smith,  of  Compan}'  G,  was  severel}' 
wounded.  It  was  engaged  at  Kenesaw,  at 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  at  the  crossing  of  the 
Chattahoochie  River,  and  was  under  fire  daily 
up  to  the  evacuation  of  Atlanta.  The  regiment 
participated  in  the  action  of  Lovcjoy  Station 
and  lost  seventy  men  killed  and  wounded. 
Capt.  Miller,  of  Compan^^  I,  was  killed ;  Col. 
Manderson  was  severely  wounded,  also  Capt. 
Agard,  of  Compan}'  K.  The  entire  loss  of  the 
Nineteenth  in  the  Atlanta  campaign  was,  killed, 
two  commissioned  officers  and  twenty-eight 
men  ;  wounded,  six  commissioned  officers  and 
ninety -six  men  ;  missing,  thirteen  men  ;  total, 
145.  Lieut.  McHenry,  of  Company  I,  was 
killed  in  front  of  Atlanta  on  the  24th  of  Au- 
gust, and  Capt.  Fix,  of  Company  B,  wounded 
on  the  same  day. 

When  Sherman  started  on  his  famous  march 
to  the  sea,  the  Nineteenth,  forming  a  part  of 
Gen.  Thomas'  command,  left  Atlanta  and 
marched  toward  Nashville  to  aid  in  opposing 
Hood.  At  the  battle  of  Franklin,  on  the  29th 
of  October,  it  was  held  in  reserve.  It  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Nashville,  with  slight 
loss,  and  then  followed  in  pursuit  of  the  demor- 


alized army  of  Gen.  Hood  to  the  Tennessee 
River.  On  the  5th  of  January-,  1865,  the  reg- 
iment was  at  Huntsville,  Ala.,  where  comforta- 
ble quarters  were  erected.  Col.  Manderson 
resigned  March  17,  from  physical  disability, 
and  Col.  Stratton  having  resigned  some  months 
earlier,  Maj.  Nash  was  promoted  to  Lieutenant 
Colonel,  and  remained  in  command  of  the  regi- 
ment until  mustered  out.  From  Huntsville,  it 
moved  into  East  Tennessee,  marching  as  far  as 
the  Virginia  line,  and  then  returned  to  Nash- 
ville. It  formed  a  part  of  that  body  of  troops 
sent  to  Texas,  and  arrived  at  Green  Lake  July 
14,  1865,  and  at  San  Antonio  on  the  23d  of 
September.  On  the  21st  of  October,  it  was 
mustered  out  of  service  at  San  Antonio,  and 
reached  Columbus,  Ohio,  on  the  22d  of  Novem- 
ber, where  it  was  paid  off  and  discharged. 

The  Twenty-ninth  Infantry  contained  a  large 
number  of  men  from  this  county,  some  of 
whom  served  in  the  old  Nineteenth  under  its 
three  months'  organization.  Of  the  Twenty- 
ninth,  Companies  D,  G  and  H  ma}-  be  termed 
Summit  Count}-  companies  (as  we  learn  from 
Capt.  Nash),  and  were  recruited  almost  wholly 
in  the  count}'.  Company  D  was  organized 
with  the  following  commissioned  officers  :  P.  C. 
Hard,  Captain  ;  B.  F.  Perr}-,  First  Lieutenant, 
and  J.  H.  Grinnell,  Second  Lieutenant.  Capt. 
Hard  did  not  leave  camp  with  the  regiment, 
but  resigned  early.  Lieut.  Perry  resigned, 
June  20,  1862.  Lieut.  Grinnell  was  promoted 
to  First  Lieutenant  May  25,  1864,  and  honor- 
ably discharged  June  14,  1864.  George  W. 
Dice  was  made  First  Lieutenant  April  13, 1862, 
promoted  to  Captain  May  25,  1864,  and  killed 
June  16,  1864.  Companj^  G  was  organized 
with  John  S.  Clemmer,  Captain  ;  James  Treen, 
First  Lieutenant,  and  J.  J.  Wright,  Second 
Lieutenant.  Capt.  Clemmer  was  pi'omoted  to 
Major  December  31,  1861,  and  resigned  Decem- 
ber 12,  1862.  Lieut.  Treen  was  promoted  to 
Captain  October  1,  1862,  but,  owing  to  age,  was 
unable  to  withstand  the  fatigue  incident  to  sol- 
diering, and  resigned  Ma}-  22,  1863,  but  left 
two  stalwart  sons  in  the  ser\ice  to  represent 
him.  Second  Lieut.  J.  J.  Wright  was  pro- 
moted to  Captain  December  21,  1861,  and  hon- 
orably discharged  October  1,  1862.  C.  H.  Rus- 
sell was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  April 
13, 1862.  to  First  Lieutenant  January  24,  1863, 
and  honorably  dischai'ged  November  30,  1864. 
W.  F.  Chamberlain  was   promoted   to  Second 


1^ 


256 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY, 


Lieutenant  January  24,  1862.  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant Ma}'  25,  1864,  to  Captain  October  12, 
1864,  and  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Company  H  was  organized  with  Jonas  Schoon- 
over,  Captain  ;  A.  J.  Fulkerson,  First  Lieuten- 
ant, and  Henry  Mack,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Capt.  Schoonover  was  at  one  time  transferred 
to  Company  E,  Seventh  Infantry,  but  afterward 
back  to  his  own  regiment,  and  was  regularly 
promoted  until  he  became  its  Colonel,  and 
as  such  was  mustered  out  with  it.  Lieut. 
Fulkerson  was  discharged  August  15,  1864. 
Second  Lieut.  Mack,  owing  to  ill  health,  re- 
signed earl}',  and  Thomas  F.  Nash  became 
Second  Lieutenant  October  27,  1862.  Lieut. 
Nash  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  May 
25,  1864,  to  Captain  October  12,  1864,  and 
transferred  to  Company  E.  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  D.  W.  Thomas  was 
promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  January  6,  1865, 
to  Captain  April  10,  1865,  and  mustered  out 
with  regiment.  Thomas  Folger  was  promoted 
to  First  Lieutenant  January  6,  1865,  was  made 
adjutant  of  regiment,  and,  July  12,  1865,  pro- 
moted to  Captain,  but  as  such  was  not  mus- 
tered. James  B.  Storer,  present  Postmaster  of 
Akron,  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant 
April  13,  1862,  to  First  Lieutenant  January 
26, 1863,  and  became  Adjutant  of  the  regiment. 
From  wounds  received,  disabling  him  for  life, 
Lieut.  Storer  was  honorably  discharged  No- 
vember 30,  1864.  Jacob  Buck  was  promoted 
to  First  Lieutenant  July  12,  1865,  and  as  such 
mustered  out. 

Lewis  P.  Buckley,  a  resident  of  Akron,  and 
late  Major  'of  the  Nineteenth  Infantry  (three 
months'  service)  was  appointed  the  first  Col- 
onel of  the  Twenty-ninth.  The  following 
sketch  of  the  life  of  Colonel  Buckley  is  pub- 
lished in  a  pamphlet  descriptive  of  the  Sol- 
diers' Memorial  Chapel  in  the  Akron  Rural 
Cemeter}',  and  is  given  in  this  connection,  as  a 
tribute  to  a  worth}'  soldier : 

Lewis  P.  Buckley  was  born  at  Cayuga  Lake,  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  became  a  resident  of 
Akron,  Ohio,  about  the  year  1834.  Though — having 
in  early  life  received  a  military  education  at  West 
Point — he  took  considerable  interest  in  the  military 
affairs  of  Akron  and  vicinity,  at  one  time  holding  a 
commission  in  one  of  the  independent  companies  of 
the  village,  his  entire  life,  after  coming  to  Akron, 
was  devoted  to  civil  pursuits,  until  the  breaking-out 
of  the  rebellion,  about  two  years  of  the  intervening 
time  (from  1849  to  1851)  being  spent  upon  the  Pacitic 
coast  at  Sacramento  City.     On  the  call  of  President 


Lincoln,  in  April,  1861,  for  three  months'  troops, 
Mr.  Buckley,  though  the  disease  which  finally  ter- 
minated his  life  was  even  then  beginning  to  develop 
itself,  promptly  responded  to  the  call,  and  raised  a 
company  in  Akron,  with  which  he  reported  to  Camp 
Taylor,  near  Cleveland,  about  the  middle  of  May. 
With  nine  other  companies,  raised  in  Northeastern 
Ohio,  one  of  which  was  also  from  Akron,  on  the 
27th  of  May  they  proceeded  by  rail  to  Camp  Jack- 
son, near  Columbus,  where  they  were  organized 
into  the  Nineteenth  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  Capt.  Buckley  being  elected  Major  of  the 
regiment.  Securing  their  arms,  the  regiment  pro- 
ceeded to  Camp  Goddard,  near  Zanesville,  to  per- 
fect themselves  in  drill.  Remaining  there  until  the 
20th  of  June,  the  Nineteenth  proceeded  to  West 
Virginia,  where  it  became  ine()r])orated  in  Gen. 
Rosecrans'  Brigade,  and  a  part  of  Gen.  McClellan's 
"Provisional  Army  of  West  Virginia."  In  his  re- 
port of  the  battle  of  Rich  Mountain,  Gen.  Rose- 
crans, in  one  portion,  says:  "The  Nineteenth  de- 
ployed into  line  and  delivered  two  splendid  volleys, 
when  the  enemy  broke;"  and,  in  another  portion: 
"The  Nineteenth  distinguished  itself  for  the  cool 
and  handsome  manner  in  which  it  held  its  post 
against  a  flank  attack,  and  for  the  manner  in  which 
it  came  into  line  and  delivered  its  fire,  near  the  close 
of  the  action." 

On  the  mustering-out  of  the  three  mouths'  men, 
about  the  1st  of  August,  1861,  Maj.  Buckley  imme- 
diately set  himself  to  work,  under  the  auspices  of 
Hon.  Joshua  R.  Giddings,  to  raise  a  regiment  for 
the  three  years'  service.  So  promptly  was  this 
done,  that  the  Twenty-ninth  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry was  organized  at  Camp  Giddings,  near  Jef- 
ferson, Ashtabula  County,  August  26,  1861,  with 
Maj.  Bucklej'  as  its  Colonel.  This  regiment,  as  a 
part  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  participated  in 
the  l)attles  of  Winchester,  ]\Iarch  28,  1862;  Port  Re- 
public, June  9-12,  1863,  and  Cedar  Mountain,  August 
9,  1862,  the  gallantry  of  its  Colonel  being  conspicu- 
ous throughout.  Following,  with  his  regiment,  the 
varied  fortunes  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  dur- 
ing the  balance  of  the  year  1862,  the  rapidly  declin- 
ing health  of  Col.  Buckley  compelled  him  to  reluc- 
tantly resign  his  command  and  return  home,  his 
resignation  taking  effect  Jaiuiary  26,  1863.  *  *  * 
*  *  *  On  returning  to  Akron,  though  a  constant 
sufferer  from  the  disease  that  was  preying  upon 
him,  he  rendered  valuable  aid  during  the  remainder 
of  the  war,  at  the  close  of  which,  on  the  recom- 
mendation of  Hon.  R.  P.  Spalding,  Col.  Buckley 
received  the  appointment  of  Assistant  Doorkeeper 
of  the  House  of  Representatives  at  Washington. 
He  served  faithfully  in  that  capacity  through  the 
Thirty-ninth  Congress,  and  again  entered  upon  his 
duties  at  the  beginning  of  the  Fortieth  Congress, 
but  soon  became  so  feeble  that  he  was  compelled  to 
accept  the  leave  of  absence  tendered  him,  and  re- 
turn home  to  die,  struggling  bravely  and  hopefully 
to  the  last,  his  death,  from  consumption,  occurring 
Thursday,  June  25,  1868,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four 
years.  Tlie  funeral  of  Col.  Buckley  was  the  largest 
and  most  imposing  ever  held  in  Akron.  It  was  at- 
tended by  the  entire  Masonic  fraternity  of  Summit 
and  adjoining  counties;  by  the  surviving  members 


fe* 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


257 


of  the  Nineteenth  and  Twenty-ninth  regiments, 
and  by  the  representatives  of  a  large  number  of 
other  regmaents,  both  of  infantry,  cavalry  and  ar- 
tillery, and  b}'  almost  the  entire  population  of  the 
city  and  surrounding  towns,  the  immense  procession 
being  commanded  by  Lieut.  Col.  Edward  Hayes,  of 
WaiTen,  one  of  the  original  officers  of  the  Twenty- 
ninth  regiment. 

Lewis  P.  Buckley  was  a  faithful  friend,  a  true 
patriot,  a  brave  soldier.  Let  us  cherish  his  virtues, 
by  naming  after  him  the  Post  of  which  we,  as  sol- 
diers, are  members,  and  bj^  erecting  in  his  honor, 
properljr  inscribed  and  adorned,  a  beautiful  window 
in  tlie  magnificent  memorial  chapel  which  we,  as 
soldiers  and  citizens,  this  day  dedicate. 

The  Twenty-ninth*  was  organized  at  Camp 
Giddings.  near  Jefferson,  Ashtabula  County, 
August  26,  1861,  and  was  among  the  first  to 
answer  the  President's  call  for  three  years'  serv- 
ice. Owing  to  the  man}'  difficulties  by  which 
it  was  surrounded,  it  was  the  25th  of  December 
before  it  was  ready  for  the  field.  It  then  pro- 
ceeded to  Camp  Chase,  where  it  remained  until 
the  17th  of  January,  1862,  when  it  was  ordered 
to  Cumberland,  Md.  While  at  Cumberland,  it 
was  brigaded  with  the  Fifth,  Seventh  and  Six- 
ty-sixth Ohio,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Tenth 
Pennsylvania  Regiments,  commanded  by  Col. 
E.  B.  Tyler,  of  the  Seventh  Ohio.  The  division 
to  which  the  brigade  belonged  was  commanded 
b}'  Gen.  Lander  until  his  decease,  about  the 
1st  of  March,  1862,  when  the  command  passed 
to  Gen.  Shields.  The  troops,  including  the 
Twent^'-ninth,  remained  but  a  few  weeks  at 
Cumberland,  when  it  joined  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  with  it  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Winchester  on  the  23d  of  March,  in  which 
the  rebels,  under  "Stonewall"  Jackson,  were 
defeated.  The  brigade  to  which  the  Twenty- 
ninth  belonged  pursued  the  enem}'  all  the  next 
day,  halting  near  Cedar  Creek,  and  again  on 
the  next  da}'  (the  25th)  beyond  Strasburg  some 
two  miles  (Nash's  notes),  when  the  pursuit  was 
abandoned  and  the  troops  returned.  On  the 
9th  of  June,  the  regimennt  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Port  Republic,  in  which  a  number  of 
prisoners  were  taken,  including  Capt.  Nash 
(then  Lieutenant  in  Compau}'  H),  and  taken  to 
Salisbury,  North  Carolina.  Capt.  Nash  re- 
mained a  prisoner  of  war  nearly  two  months, 
and  was  then  released.     He  proceeded  to  Wash- 

*We  are  indebted  to  Opt.  Ttiomas  W.  Niwb  and  J.  G.  Caskey, 
Esq.,  members  of  this  pallant  obi  regiment,  f.T  the  principal  facts 
from  which  this  sketch  is  compiled.  Tliey  have  both  preserved 
notes  and  memoranda  of  the  regiment's  movementn  and  operations, 
which  they  kindly  placed  at  our  disposal,  and  for  which  they  have 
our  thanks. 


ington,  where  he  arrived  August  20,  and,  after 
a  short  visit  home,  returned  to  his  regiment. 
In  the  battles  of  Cedar  Mountain  and  the  Sec- 
ond Bull  Run  the  Twenty-ninth  took  part,  and 
acquitted  itself  with  honor.  From  the  latter 
battle  until  that  of  Chancellorsville,  the  regi- 
ment was  inactive,  except  camp  routine  and  an 
occasional  scout  or  foraging  expedition.  In 
May,  1863,  occurred  the  battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville. The  following  extracts  are  from  Mr. 
Caskey's  notes  : 

At  this  moment  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville 
opened  in  our  front  in  dead  earnest.  ***** 
The  battle  lasted  foin-  days— 1st,  2d,  3d  and  4th  days 
of  May.  On  the  2d,  both  armies  seemed  to  be  plan- 
ning the  best  mode  of  attack  and  defense.  A  spy 
gave  reliable  information  concerning  the  rebels 
and  their  plan  of  attack.  Our  artillery  opened  fire 
in  the  direction  indicated  bj'  the  spy,  and  made 
openings  in  the  woods  at  every  discharge.  Limbs 
and  small  trees  were  falling;  sharpshooters  who 
had  climbed  into  the  trees  were  seen  tumbling  to 
the  ground.  The  "rebel  yell"  and  the  shrieks  of 
the  wounded  were  mingled  together.  About  sun- 
set, Lee  came  up  on  our  center  three  lines  deep,  but 
was  repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  ******* 
On  the  3d,  Lee  massed  on  our  right  center,  in  front 
of  the  Eleventh  Corps,  took  it  by  surprise,  when  it 
broke  and  fell  back  on  ours  (the  Twelfth),  and,  un- 
der a  cross-fire  from  the  rebels  we  suffered  severel3\ 
But  the  reserves  were  brought  up  and  the  enemy 
were  checked.  *****  That  night  at  dark 
we  were  in  close  action.  It  was  very  pretty,  but 
rather  dangerous  fire-works.  On  Monday  night 
our  army  commenced  to  retreat,  and  fell  back  to  our 
old  camp. 

An  incident,  partaking  somewhat  of  the  hu- 
morous, is  thus  related  b}^  Mr.  Caskey  in  his 
"  reminiscences  "  of  the  Twenty-ninth  : 

About  the  last  of  May  we  had  a  grand  review  of 
the  Potomac  Army.  Gen.  Green  was  reviewing- 
officer,  and  we  were  marched  four  miles  from  camp 
in  the  sand  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac.  The 
weather  was  hot  and  dry  and  the  roads  dusty. 
Gen.  Green  had  brought  his  wife  and  daughters 
down  from  Washington  to  see  us.  They  were  nicely 
ensconced  in  their  carriage,  and  we  were  "  hoofing" 
it  back  and  forth  through  the  sand,  almost  choked 
for  water — for  it  was  a  part  of  the  red-tape  of  the 
occasion  that  we  were  not  allowed  to  leave  rank  to 
get  water  or  fill  our  canteens.  FinallJ^  we  were 
ready  to  pass  the  reviewing-officer,  the  line  was 
nearly  by,  when  one  of  the  General's  daughters 
called  to  him,  saying:  "Trot  'em  round  again,  papa; 
I  like  to  see  them.'^  I  don't  know  whether  it  was 
wicked  to  swear  about  that  time  or  not.  If  it  was, 
the  boys  were  very  wicked.  We  didn't  trot  round 
again,  all  the  same. 

The  Twenty-ninth  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg,  where  it  did  its  full  duty.     This 


IV 


258 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


was  one  of  the  severest  battles  of  the  entire 
Avar.  The  cannonading  commenced  earl}^  on 
the  morning  of  Jul}'  2,  1863,  and  for  two  whole 
days  the  fighting  continued  almost  constantly, 
when,  on  the  morning  of  the  4th,  it  was  as- 
certained that  the  rebels  had  retreated.  This 
was  the  last  service  of  the  Twenty-ninth  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  On  the  25th  of  Sep- 
tember, it  proceeded  via  Washington,  Colum- 
bus, Indianapolis  and  Louisville,  to  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn.  Its  first  service  in  this  depart- 
ment was  with  the  army  of  Gen.  Hooker,  and 
on  the  24th  of  November  it  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Lookout  Mountain,  the  famous  "  fight 
above  the  clouds,"  where,  in  the  language  of 
Prentice, 

"*        *        *        *        *        they  burst 
Like  spirits  of  destruction  throu.ii-h  tlie  clouds, 
And  mid  a  thousand  luirtlinii-  missiles  swept 
Tlieir  foes  before  them  as  the  whirlwind  sweeps 
The  strong  oaks  of  the  forest." 

The  regiment  re-enlisted  the  latter  part  of 
December.  1863,  and  came  home  on  a  forlough 
of  thirty  days.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time, 
it  returned  to  the  front,  and  on  the  4th  of  May, 
1864,  it  joined  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  dur- 
ing those  days  of  arduous  service,  it  bore  its 
part  with  its  accustomed  bravery.  During  the 
entire  campaign,  until  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  the 
regiment  was  almost  constantly  under  arms, 
and  engaged  much  of  the  time  in  fighting  and 
skirmishing.  On  the  15th  of  November,  the 
Twenty-ninth  left  Atlanta  with  Sherman  on  his 
march  to  the  sea,  and  bearing  its  part  in  all  the 
marches  and  skirmishes.  It  remained  in  North 
and  South  Carolina  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
when,  on  the  29th  of  April,  1865,  it  proceeded 
to  "Washington  City,  via  Richmond.  In  Wash- 
ington it  took  part  in  the  grand  review,  and  on 
the  10th  of  June  started  for  Louisville,  Ky., 
where  it  remained  in  camp  until  the  13th  of 
July  ;  then  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and,  on 
its  arrival  at  Camp  Taylor,  was  paid  off  and 
discharged,  on  the  22d  and  23d  of  July,  from 
the  United  States  service. 

The  Sixty-fourth  Infantry  was  a  regiment  in 
which  Summit  County  was  represented,  but  to 
what  extent  we  have  been  unable  to  learn  def- 
initely. Company  G  was  made  up  wholly  or 
in  part  in  this  county,  but  of  its  commissioned 
officers,  we  could  learn  but  little  beyond  the 
fact  that  R.  S.  Chamberlain,  Dudley  C.  Carr, 
Alonzo  Hancock,  Wilbur  F.  Sanders  and  A.  M. 


Bloom,  served  as  such,  the  first  three  named 
rising  to  the  rank  of  Captain.  Chamberlain 
was  honorably  discharged  on  the  23d  of  Sep- 
tember, 1864  ;  Carr  declined  to  accept  a  cap- 
taincy, and  Hancock  was  mustered  out  as  Cap- 
tain with  tlie  regiment. 

This  regiment  formed  part  of  the  brigade 
raised  by  Senator  Sherman,  and  was  organized 
at  Camp  Buckingham,  near  Mansfield,  in  No- 
vember, 1861.  The  Sixty-fourtii  and  Sixty- 
fifth  Regiments  of  Infantry,  and  the  Sixth  In- 
dependent Battery,  comprised  the  Sherman 
Brigade.  The  Sixty-fourth  served  in  Ken- 
tucky, Tennessee,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisi- 
ana and  Texas.  It  witnessed  the  battle  of 
Perryville,  Ky.,  without  being  permitted  to 
participate  in  it.  It  was  at  Stone  River  where 
it  lost  heavily.  In  the  Tullahoma  campaign, 
in  which  it  took  an  active  part,  it  lost  over  one 
hundred  men.  The  siege  of  Knoxville  was  an- 
other service  in  which  it  was  engaged.  The 
1st  of  January,  1864,  about  three-fourths  of 
the  regiment  re-enlisted  for  another  three  ^-ears' 
service.  At  the  expiration  of  its  veteran  fur- 
lough, it  reported  at  Chattanooga,  and  accom- 
panied Gen.  Sherman  in  his  Atlanta  campaign, 
participating  in  all  the  liattles  of  that  stirring 
period.  The  Sixty-fourth  also  took  part  in  the 
battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville — the  closing 
battles  of  the  war.  After  the  war  ended,  it  was 
sent  to  Texas,  where  it  remained  on  duty  until 
the  3d  of  December,  1865,  and  it  was  then 
mustered  out,  sent  home,  and  paid  oflf  and  dis- 
charged. 

The  One  Hundretl  and  Fourth  Infantry 
drew  a  large  number  of  men  from  Summit 
Count}'.  Company  H,  entire,  and  several  othei- 
parts  of  companies  were  recruited  here.  Com- 
pan}'  H  entered  the  field  officered  as  followed  : 
Walter  B.  Scott,  Captain  ;  Hobart  Ford.  First 
Lieutenant,  and  Samuel  F.  Shaw,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant. Capt.  Scott  died  March  25,  1863,  and 
Lieut.  Ford  was  promoted  to  Captain  in  his 
place,  but  afterward  placed  on  detached  duty 
on  Gen.  Cox's  staff.  Second  Lieut.  Shaw  was 
promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  May  20,  1863, 
and  detached  at  his  own  request.  First  Sergt. 
B.  L.  Robertson  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieu- 
tenant February  26,  1863,  to  First  Lieutenant 
May  9,  1864,  and  to  Captain  May  11,  1865, 
but  mustered  out  as  a  First  Lieutenant.  Second 
Sergeant  Abram  Paulus  was  promoted  to 
Second    Lieutenent  August  19,   1864,    and  to 


"7i; 


>u 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


•259 


First  Lieutenant  May  11,  1865,  but  mustered 
out  as  Second  Lieutenant. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Mas- 
sillon  in  1862.  It  was  mostl}'  recruited  in  the 
counties  of  Summit,  Stark,  Portage  and  Colum- 
biana, and  was  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  at  Camp  Massillon,  its  place  of  rendez- 
vous, on  the  30th  of  August,  1862,  and  on  the 
1st  of  September  left  for  the  seat  of  war.  The 
first  active  duty  of  the  regiment  was  at  Cov- 
ington, Ky.,  where,  upon  its  arrival,  it  went 
into  camp  on  the  Alexandria  Turnpike,  near 
that  city.  The  rebel  General,  Kirb}'  Smith, 
was  then  menacing  Cincinnati,  and  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fourth  acted  as  the  outpost  of 
the  national  forces.  In  a  few  days  it  was  sent 
to  Fort  Mitchell,  near  by,  where  the  advanced 
pickets  of  the  rebel  army  Avere  met.  A  slight 
skirmish  followed,  in  which  the  regiment  lost 
one  man  killed  and  five  wounded — the  first  and 
only  blood  spilled  in  defense  of  Cincinnati.  On 
the  12th  of  September,  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fourth  marched  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  army 
toward  Lexington,  and  being  its  first  march, 
was  very  severe  on  the  men.  It  reached  Lex- 
ington on  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  October, 
just  after  the  rear  guard  of  the  rebels  had 
evacuated  the  city.  It  remained  here  until 
the  6th  of  December,  perfecting  itself  in  drill 
and  discipline,  and  with  such  success  as  to  car- 
ry off  the  palm  in  a  competitive  drill  of  the 
forces  at  that  place.  On  the  6th  of  December, 
the  regiment,  with  its  brigade,  resumed  its 
march,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  7th,  arrived  at 
Kichmund,  Ky.,  where  the  command,  compris- 
ing the  One  Hundredth,  Fort3'-fourth  and  One 
Hundred  and  Fourth,  Ohio,  and  the  Nine- 
teenth Ohio  Battery,  built  quite  formidable 
earthworks.  The  march  was  resumed  on  the 
27th  of  December,  and  on  the  28th  the  regi- 
ment reached  Danville.  This  movement  was 
made  for  the  purpose  of  intercepting  the  rebe' 
Gen.  Morgan,  then  maneuvering  in  that  vicini- 
ty, but,  be3'ond  light  skirmishing,  nothing  oc- 
curred. From  Danville  it  went  to  Frankfort, 
the  State  capital,  where  it  performed  provost 
duty,  until  the  21st  of  February,  1863.  While 
the  brigade  was  in  Frankfort,  the  Forty-fourth 
Ohio  was  mounted.  The  regiment  started  for 
Danville  on  the  21st  of  February,  and  contin- 
ued to  operate  in  that  portion  of  Kentucky 
until  the  first  of  September,  when  it  joined  Gen. 
Burnside's  army  in  East  Tennessee,  arriving  at 


Knoxville  about  the  5th.  Before  leaving  Ken- 
tucky, the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  had  been 
placed  in  the  First  Brigade,  Third  Division, 
Twenty-third  Army  Corps,  under  Gen.  Hart- 
suff.  The  regiment,  with  its  brigade,  after  a 
short  rest  at  Knoxville,  was  sent  to  Cumber- 
land Gap,  where  it  arrived  on  the  7th  ot 
September.  Gen.  Burnside  demanded  the  sur- 
render of  the  place,  which  was  complied  with 
by  Gen.  Frazier,  the  commandant,  who  sur- 
rendered his  entire  force  as  prisoners  of  war. 
The  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  was  the  first 
regiment  to  enter  the  works,  and  received  the 
surrender  of  the  rebel  force  and  stores.  The 
regiment,  after  this,  returned  to  Knoxville, 
where  for  a  time  it  was  engaged  on  provost 
dut}'.  Its  next  active  duty  was  in  the  siege 
of  Knoxville  by  Gen.  Longstreet,  where  it  was 
held  in  reserve,  but  being  ordered  to  the  south 
side  of  Holston  River,  it  had  an  engagement  in 
which  the  enemy  was  repulsed.  During  the 
siege  it  bore  its  part  of  active  duty,  and  suffered 
severely  from  exposure  and  privation.  Its 
rations  were  limited  and  inferior  in  quality  ; 
the  weather  was  cold,  drizzly-  and  disagreeable, 
and  the  men,  without  tents,  were  compelled  to 
take  their  rest  upon  the  mudd}'  ground.  Says 
a  war  chronicle:  "The  One  Hundred  and 
Fourth  Ohio,  with  the  national  arm}',  joined  in 
the  pursuit  of  Longstreet,  and  followed  him  up 
to  Blain's  Cross  Roads,  participating  in  the 
various  skirmishes  of  that  pursuit.  It  wintered 
in  this  inhospitable  region  during  the  whole  of 
that  inclement  season,  and  endured  hardships 
and  privations  like  those  suffered  by  our  Revo- 
lutionary forefathers  at  Valley  Forge.  Half- 
starved,  half-clad,  those  brave  bo3's  and  self- 
sacrificing  men  maintained  their  integrity  to 
the  old  flag,  and  in  the  midst  of  these  terrible 
sufferings  declared  a  willingness  to  enter  on 
another  three  years'  term  of  service,  but  their 
enlistment  not  expiring  within  the  time  speci- 
fied, thej-  were  not  allowed  to  veteranize. '^ 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  took  part  in 
the  Atlanta  Campaign  in  1864,  and  participated 
in  all  the  general  engagements  of  that  stirring 
period.  In  the  desperate  assault  at  Utoy  Creek 
on  the  6th  of  August,  the  loss  of  the  brigade 
was  600  killed  and  wounded  ;  the  One  Hundred 
and  Fourth  lost  twenty-six  officers  and  men 
killed  and  wounded.  In  the  latter  part  of  Au- 
gust it  proceeded  to  Jonesboro,  and  took  part 
in  that  engagement,  and  remained  in  the  vicinity 


©" 


V9  ^ 


260 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


until  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  when  it  marched  for 
Decatur.  During  the  month  of  October"  it 
operated  against  Hood's  forces,  and  on  the  6th 
of  November  took  the  cars  for  Nashville.  Un- 
til the  26th  almost  dail}^  skirmishing  was  had, 
in  which  it  lost  several  men.  It  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Franklin  on  the  30th,  in  which 
it  lost  sixty  men  killed  and  wounded.  Lieut. 
Kimball,  of  Company  C,  and  Capt.  Bard,  of 
Company  I,  were  killed  in  this  battle.  After 
the  battle,  the  regiment  marched  with  the  na- 
tional forces  to  Nashville,  bearing  with  it  eleven 
battle-flags  captured  from  the  enemy.  It 
reached  Nashville  on  the  morning  of  December 
1,  and  took  position  in  the  front  near  Fort  Neg- 
ley.  Nothing  of  note  occurred  until  the  15th, 
except  the  intense  suffering  of  the  men  from 
cold  weather.  It  moved  with  the  corps  to 
which  it  belonged,  on  the  1 5th,  to  the  right  to 
support  the  cavalry,  and  had  a  brisk  skirmish 
in  which  several  men  were  killed.  After  the 
rebel  works  were  taken,  the  regiment  moved 
in  pursuit  of  the  enemy  and  did  not  stop,  ex- 
cept a  short  halt  at  Columbia,  until  it  reached 
Clifton,  Tenn.,  on  the  6th  of  January,  1865. 
It  remained  in  camp  here  until  the  16th,  when 
it  embarked  on  a  steamer  for  Cincinnati,  and, 
on  the  22d,  took  the  cars  for  Washington  City, 
and  thence  was  transferred  to  North  Caro- 
lina, arriving  at  Federal  Point  on  the  9th  of 
February.  During  the  remainder  of  the  month 
it  was  actively  engaged,  skirmishing  with  the 
enemy  much  of  the  time,  and  on  the  4tli  of 
March  it  made  a  forced  march  to  Kingston  to 
the  relief  of  Gen.  Cox,  who  was  threatened  by 
overpowering  numbers. 

The  regiment  proceeded  to  Goldsboro  from 
Kingston,  where  it  arrived  on  the  21st  of  March, 
and  where  it  remained  until  the  11th  of  April, 
when  it  went  to  Raleigh.  At  the  grand  review 
in  Raleigh  on  the  21st  of  April,  the  regiment 
received  some  high  compliments  from  Gen. 
Sherman  and  others  for  their  etticiency  in  drill 
and  soldierly  bearing.  It  remained  in  Raleigh 
until  May  2,  when  it  was  selected  by  Gen.  Cox, 
commanding  the  corps,  to  repair  to  Greensboro 
and  receive  the  arms  and  stores  of  Gen.  John- 
ston's army.  It  remained  in  Greensboi'o  as  pro- 
vost guard  until  the  17th  of  June,  1865,  when 
it  was  mustered  out  and  ordered  to  Camp  Ta}'- 
lor,  near  Cleveland,  for  final  pay  and  discharge. 
It  arrived  in  Cleveland  on  the  24th,  and,  on  the 
27th  of  June,  was  paid  off  and  mustered  out. 


The  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Infantry  con- 
tained nearly  half  a  company'  from  Summit 
County.  This  was  a  German  regiment,  and 
was  made  up  under  special  authority'  from  Gov- 
ernor Tod,  to  serve  under  Gen.  Sigel.  Com- 
pany I  was  made  up  in  this  and  Tuscarawas 
County,  and  of  the  first  commissioned  officers 
the  First  Lieutenant  was  from  the  latter  county, 
while  the  Captain  and  Second  Lieutenant  were 
from  Summit.  The  company  was  organized 
with  Richard  Ferederle,  Captain ;  Hamilton 
Starkweather,  First  Lieutenant,  and  W.  F. 
Bechtel,  Second  Lieutenant.  Capt.  Ferederle 
and  Lieut.  Starkweather  both  resigned  early  ; 
Lieut.  Bechtel  resigned  December  8,  1862. 
George  Billow,  of  Akron,  was  promoted  to  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  November  30,  1862,  to  First 
Lieutenant  December  1,  1863,  and  to  Captain 
November  3,  1864,  and  as  such  was  mustered 
out  at  the  close  of  the  war.  Capt.  Billow 
served  but  little  with  his  company  after  his 
promotion  to  Captain,  but  was  detached  as 
Brigade  Commissary,  Post  Commissary  and 
as  Provost  Marshal. 

This  regiment,  as  we  have  said,  was  com- 
posed wholl}'  of  Germans,  and  was  organized 
at  Camp  Taylor,  near  Cleveland,  in  the  latter 
part  of  August,  1862.  It  was  ordered  to  Cov- 
ington, Ky.,  to  repel  an  expected  attack  of  the 
rebel  Gen.  Kirby  Smith.  In  November  it  was 
ordered  to  Virginia,  where  it  was  assigned  to 
the  Eleventh  Army  Corps,  commanded  by  Gen. 
Sigel.  It  served  in  Virginia  until  the  1st  of 
August,  1863,  taking  part  in  all  the  principal 
battles  of  that  period,  including  Chaucellors- 
ville.  It  was  in  this  battle  that  the  Eleventh 
Corps  was  fianked  by  Stonewall  Jackson,  in 
which  disastrous  affair  the  One  Hundred  and 
Seventh  suffered  severely,  losing  220  officers  and 
men  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  It  also 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Gettj-sburg,  where 
it  covered  itself  with  honor.  Its  total  loss  in 
killed,  wounded  and  missing  in  this  battle 
amounted  to  over  400,  out  of  550,  rank  and 
file  engaged.  August  1,  1863,  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Seventh  was  sent  to  South  Carolina, 
where  it  performed  picket  duty  until  January, 
1864.  It  served  in  this  department,  scouting, 
foraging  and  skirmishing  with  the  enemy,  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  While  on  a  scout  near 
Georgetown,  S.  C,  it  received  the  news  of  the 
surrender  of  Lee  and  Johnston's  armies.  A  few 
weeks  later,  it  proceeded  to  Charleston,  where 


1^-. 


/  -Oxc/iy^^^n^^^y^—-^' 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


261 


it  performed  provost  dut}',  until  the  10th  of 
Jul}-,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out,  sent 
home  to  Cleveland,  where  it  was  paid  off  and 
discharged. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  Infantry  was 
well  represented  by  Summit  County  men.  Com- 
panies C  and  Gr  were  raised  in  this  county, 
with  perhaps  some  twenty  men  in  Company  I. 
The  commissioned  officers  of  Company  C  were 
John  A.  Means,  Captain  ;  John  Eadie,  First 
Lieutenant  ;  and  George  L.  Waterman,  Second 
Lieutenant.  Capt.  Means  was  mustered  out 
with  regiment  at  the  close  of  its  service. 
Lieut.  Eadie  was  promoted  to  Captain,  but 
commission  was  returned  ;  Lieut.  Waterman 
died  of  wounds  September  19,  1863  ;  John  C. 
Ely  was  promoted  from  Third  Sergeant  to  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  February  8,  1865,  and  was  lost 
on  the  steamer  Sultana.  The  first  commis- 
sioned oflSicers  of  Company'  Gr  were  A.  W.  Fitch, 
Captain  ;  D.  A.  Lowry,  First  Lieutenant  ;  and 
A.  L.  Conger,  Second  Lieutenant.  In  the  or- 
ganization of  the  regiment,  Capt.  Fitch  was 
promoted  to  Major.  This  led  to  a  promotion 
of  the  Lieutenants  of  Company  G — Lowry  to 
Captain,  and  Conger  to  First  Lieutenant.  Sum- 
ner Nash  was  made  Second  Lieutenant.  Maj. 
Fitch  was  promoted  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  July 
20,  1864,  and  I'esigned  Januarj-  5,  1865  ;  Capt. 
Lowry  was  lost  on  steamer  Sultana  April  27, 
1865  ;  Lieutenant  Conger  was  mustered  out 
with  regiment ;  Lieut.  Nash  was  promoted  to 
First  Lieutenant  August  11,  1864,  and  as  such 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  M.  S.  Hurd 
was  promoted  from  First  Sergeant,  to  Second 
Lieutenant  August  11,  1864.  Of  the  men  in 
Company  I  from  this  count}^  Capt.  Edward 
Buckingham,  late  County  Auditor,  is  the  only 
commissioned  officer  among  them,  so  far  as  we 
can  learn.  He  went  out  as  First  Lieutenant, 
and  was  promoted  to  Captain  February  8,  1863, 
and  in  that  position  was  mustered  out  at  the 
close  of  the  war. 

This  regiment  was  mostl}^  engaged  during 
its  term  of  service  on  guard  and  provost  duty. 
It  was  organized  at  Camp  Massillon  in  August, 
1862,  and  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  on  the  18th  of  September.  October  4, 
it  received  orders  to  report  to  Gen.  Wright  at 
Cincinnati,  wliere,  on  the  9th,  it  was  divided 
— five  companies,  under  command  of  Lieut. 
Col.  Boone,  was  sent  to  Columbus  (Camp  Chase) 
to  perform  guard  duty.      The  remaining  five 


companies,  under  command  of  Col.  Luc}',  re- 
mained in  Cincinnati,  acting  as  provost  guard. 
The  remainder  of  its  history,  during  its  service, 
is  thus  given  : 

In  November,  1863,  the  battalion  at  Columbus 
was  ordered  to  Maysville,  Ky.,  uuder  command  of 
Col.  Lucy,  leaving  Lieut.  Col.  Boone  in  command 
of  the  battalion  at  Cincinnati.  In  December,  the 
battalion  at  Maysville  was  ordered  to  Covington, 
where   it  performed  provost  duty    until    October, 

1863.  It  was  then  relieved,  and  ordered  to  report  to 
Gen.  Rosecrans,  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.  Reaching 
Murfreesboro,  it  was  ordered  to  report  to  the  Post 
Commander  for  duty.  Part  of  the  regiment  was  at 
once  mounted  and  sent  out  against  the  guerrillas, 
then  infesting  the  countrj"  between  Nashville  and 
Tullahoma.  In  June,  1864,  that  part  of  the  regi- 
ment not  mounted  was  stationed  on  the  line  of  the 
Nashville  &  Chattanooga  Railroad,  in  block-houses, 
to  prevent  the  guerrillas  from  destroying  it.  August, 

1864,  Block-House  No.  4,  in  command  of  Sergt. 
Flohr,  of  Company  B,  was  captured  by  the  forces 
of  the  rebel  Gen.  Wheeler.  Block-House  No.  5, 
commanded  by  Lieut.  Orr,  of  Company  B,  was 
attacked  at  the  same  time,  and  three  men  were 
killed  and  seven  wounded  out  of  the  detachment 
of  forty  men.  In  this  attack  the  rebels  were  hand- 
somely repulsed,  and  failed  in  their  desperate  at- 
tempt to  capture  the  garrison.  Shortly  after  this 
affair,  Company  K  (mounted),  surprised  and  capt- 
ured a  squad  of  guerrillas,  and  lost  Sergt.  Richmond 
killed,  and  three  men  wounded.  During  Hood's  ad- 
vance on  Nashville,  in  December,  1864,  Block-Houses 
Nos.  1,  3  and  4  were  assaulted  by  a  large  force  of  rebels 
under  Forrest,  and  their  garrisons,  consisting  of 
parts  of  Companies  C,  F  and  G,  captured.  The  gar- 
risons of  Block-Houses  Nos.  5  and  6  were,  by  order 
of  Gen.  Thomas,  withdrawn  to  Murfreesboro. 
Block-House  No.  7  was  assaulted  and  surrounded  by 
the  rebels,  and  for  fifteen  days  the  garrison  dared 
not  venture  outside.  The  garrison  of  Block-House 
No  2,  under  command  of  Lieut.  Harter,  was  as- 
saulted December  9,  1864,  by  the  enemj%  with  three 
pieces  of  ritied  artillery,  and  a  continuous  fire  kept 
up  from  9  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  dark.  Two 
of  the  garrison  were  killed  and  live  wounded.  Un- 
der cover  of  the  night,  the  garrison  withdrew  and 
reached  Nashville  in  safety.  Shortly  after  this 
afEair,  the  rebel  Gen.  Buford  made  a  desperate 
charge  on  Murfreesboro,  but  after  tive  hours  of 
hard  fighting  was  driven  back  Avith  heavj^  loss.  On 
the  national  side  there  was  one  killed  and  three 
wounded.  The  garrison  of  Murfreesboro,  at  this 
time,  consisted  of  a  battalion  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Fifteenth  Ohio,  and  the  Fourth  and  Twenty- 
ninth  Michigan  Regiments,  under  command  of  Gen. 
Rousseau. 

On  April  2.5,  1865,  the  l^attalion  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifteenth  Ohio,  captured  by  tlie  rebels 
at  Block-Houses  1,  3  and  4,  in  December.  1864,  was 
on  l)oard  the  ill-fated  steamer  Sultana,  whicli  ex- 
ploded on  the  Mississippi  River,  near  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  and  Capts.  D.  N.  Lowry  and  John  Eadie, 
Lieut.  J.  C.   Ely  and  eighty  men  were  lost.     The}^ 


\ 


262 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


belonged  to  Companies  B,  C,  F  and  G.  These  un- 
fortunate men  were  on  their  way  to  Columbus,  Ohio, 
having  been  paroled  for  that  purpose.  The  regiment 
performed  garrison  duty  at  Murfreesboro,  and  guard 
duty  on  tlie  line  of  the  Nashville  &  Chattanooga 
Railroad,  from  Nashville  to  Tullahoma,  until  the 
23d  of  June,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service,  and  received  its  final  discharge  and  pay  at 
Cleveland  July  7, 1865. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twent3^-ninth  In- 
fantry contained  a  fractional  part  of  a  company 
from  this  county,  in  which  Capt.  J.  J.  Wright, 
formerly  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Infantry,  was 
Second  Lieutenant.  The  regiment  was  organ- 
ized in  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1863, 
at  Camp  Taylor,  near  Cleveland,  and  mustered 
into  the  service  for  six  months.  Its  service, 
during  the  term  of  its  enlistment,  was  princi- 
pally in  Southeastern  Kentucky  and  East  Ten- 
nessee. Although  but  a  six  months'  regiment, 
it  saw  hard  service.  It  was  mustered  out  at 
Cleveland  in  March,  1864. 

The  Fifty-fourth  Battalion  of  the  National 
Guard  was  made  up  wholly  in  Summit  County. 
The  three  companies  forming  the  battalion, 
were  A,  B  and  C,  and  were  mustered  into  the 
service  (one  hundred  da^s)  with  the  following 
commissioned  otflcers :  Company  A — N.  L. 
Everett,  Captain  ;  D.  W.  Storer,  First  Lieuten- 
ant, and  C.  R.  Howe,  Second  Lieutenant.  Com- 
pany B — D.  F.  Hunsberger,  Captain  ;  N.  J. 
Schroop,  First  Lieutenant,  and  D.  J.  Mettinger, 
Second  Lieutenant.  Company  C — N.  S.  Keller, 
Captain  ;  F.  H.  Wright,  First  Lieutenant,  and 
Thomas  E.  Strong,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Upon  the  organization  at  Camp  Taylor,  the 
Fifty-fourth  Battalion  was  consolidated  with 
the  Forty-ninth  Regiment  of  National  Guard 
from  Seneca  County.  The  consolidation  was 
effected  on  the  6th  of  May,  1864,  and  the  reg- 
iment became  the  One  Hundredth  and  Sixty- 
fourth  Volunteer  Infantry  National  Guard.  It 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on 
the  11th  of  May;  was  armed  and  equipped, 
and  on  the  14th,  left  Cleveland  for  Washington 
City,  where  it  arrived  on  the  17th.  It  was 
commanded  by  Col.  John  Calvin  Lee,  who  was 
brevetted  Brigadier  General  at  the  close  of 
the  war  for  meritorious  services,  and,  later,  was 
Lieutenant  Governor  (two  terms)  with  Gov. 
(now  ex-President)  Haj'^es.  Upon  the  arrival  of 
the  regiment  in  Washington,  it  took  position  in 
the  defenses  on  the  south  side  of  the  Potomac, 
and   during    its    one    hundred   days'   service, 


garrisoned  Forts  Smith,  Strong,  Bennett,  Hag- 
garty  and  other  forts.  It  was  very  thoroughly 
drilled,  both  in  infantry  and  heavy  artillery 
tactics.  During  Gen.  Early's  invasion,  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixty-fourth  was  kept  on  duty 
almost  constantl}',  and  ever3'  night  was  spent 
either  on  the  advance  or  beside  the  guns. 
At  the  expiration  of  its  term  of  enlistment,  the 
regiment  received  the  thanks  of  President 
Lincoln  for  the  service  it  had  performed,  and 
returned  to  Cleveland  via  Baltimore,  Harris- 
burg  and  Pittsburgh,  where,  on  the  27th  of 
August,  it  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  and 
discharged. 

The  Second  Cavalry  drew  on  Summit  County 
for  a  large  number  of  men.  Compau}'  A  was 
made  up  in  this  county,  while  several  other 
companies  were  more  or  less  represented  by 
Summit  County  recruits.  The  commissioned 
officers  of  Company  A  were  George  A.  Puring- 
ton.  Captain  ;  Dudley  Seward,  First  Lieuten- 
ant, and  M.  J.  Collier,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Capt.  Purington  was  promoted  to  Major  Sep- 
tember 24,  1861,  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  June 
25,  1863,  and  to  Colonel,  but  as  such  was  not 
mustered,  and  retired  from  the  service  at  the 
end  of  three  years.  First  Lieut.  Seward  was 
promoted  to  Captain  September  30,  1861,  to 
Major  September  18,  1862,  to  Lieutenant 
Colonel  May  9,  1864,  and  to  Colonel  June  20. 
1865,  and  as  such  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. Second  Lieut.  Collier  was  promoted  to 
First  Lieutenant  May  10,  1861,  and  mustered 
out  by  the  consolidation,  and  afterward  com- 
missioned Major  of  the  Twelfth  Cavalry.  Hen- 
r}'  0.  Hampson,  Orderly-  Sergeant,  was  pro- 
moted to  Second  Lieutenant  Juh'  22,  1862, 
and  resigned  July  23,  1863.  Sergt.  A.  N. 
Bernhard  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant 
December  20,  1861,  to  First  Lieutenant  July 
15,  1862,  to  Captain  February  17,  1863,  trans- 
ferred to  Company  K,  and  honorably'  discharged 
November  29,  1864.  Sergt.  L.  J.  McMurray 
was   promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant    May  9, 

1863,  and   honorably  discharged  September  6, 

1864.  Capt.  Purington  was  in  the  Nineteenth 
(three  months)  Infailtry,  as  Orderly  Sergeant, 
and  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant ;  and 
Seward  was  in  the  same  regiment  as  Third  Ser- 
geant. 

The  Second  Cavalry  saw  hard  service  and  a 
great  deal  of  it.  From  its  organization  as  a  reg- 
iment to  its  muster-out  at  the  close  of  the  war. 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


26:i 


its  duties  were  varied,  and  extended  over  avast 
range  of  country.  Says  Wliitelaw  Reid  in  his 
"  Oliio  in  the  War  :"  "  The  Second  fought  under 
the  following  general  officers  :  Buell,  Wright, 
Hunter,  Denver,  Sturgis,  Blunt,  Salomon,  Cur- 
tis, Schofield,  Burnside,  Carter,  Gilmore,  Shack- 
elford, Foster,  Kautz,  Sedgwick,  Wilson,  Mcin- 
tosh, Torbett,  Sheridan,  Custer,  Meade  and 
Grant.  Its  horses  have  drank  from,  and  its 
troopers  have  bathed  in,  the  waters  of  the  Ar- 
kansas, Osage,  Cygnes,  Missouri,  Mississippi, 
Ohio,  Scioto,  Miami,  Cumberland,  Tennessee, 
Holston,  Potomac,  Shenandoah,  Ilappahannock, 
Rapidan,  Bull  Run,  Mattapony,  Pamunkey, 
Chickahominy,  James,  Appomattox,  Black- 
water,  Nottaway  and  Chesapeake.  It  has  cam- 
paigned through  thirteen  States  and  a  Territorj- : 
Kansas,  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Illinois,  Indiana, 
Ohio,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Geoi'gia,  Alabama, 
West  Virginia,  Maryland,  Virginia  and  Indian 
Territory.  It  has  traveled  as  a  regiment  on 
foot,  horseback,  by  railroad  and  steamboat,  on 
land,  river,  bay  and  ocean.  It  has  marched  an 
aggregate  distance  of  twenty-seven  thousand 
miles  ;  has  fought  in  ninety-seven  battles  and 
engagements.  It  has  served  in  five  different 
armies  :  The  Army  of  the  Frontier,  of  the  Mis- 
souri, of  the  Potomac,  of  the  Ohio,  and  of  the 
Shenandoah — forming  a  continuous  line  of  ar- 
mies from  the  head-waters  of  the  Arkansas  to 
the  mouth  of  the  James  ;  and  its  dead,  sleep- 
ing where  they  fell,  form  a  vidette-line  half 
across  the  continent,  a  chain  of  prostrate  senti- 
nals  two  thousands  miles  long.  Even  in  their 
graves,  may  not  these  patriotic  dead  still  guard 
the  glory  and  the  integrity  of  the  Republic  for 
which  they  fell  ?"  No  regiment  could  desire  a 
more  glorious  record  or  prouder  name. 

This  regiment  was  organized  in  the  fall  of 
1861,  under  special  authorit}-  from  the  Seci'e- 
tar}'  of  War.  It  rendezvoused  at  Camp  Wade, 
near  Cleveland,  where,  on  the  10th  day  of  Octo- 
ber, the  last  company  was  mustered  in,  and  the 
regiment  was  ready  for  duty.  It  was  recruited 
wholly  in  what  is  known  as  the  "  Western  Re- 
serve," and,  being  the  second  regiment  of  cav- 
alry raised  in  the  State,  and  the  first  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  State,  it  contained  "  a 
large  proportion  of  wealth,  intelligence,  capac- 
ity and  culture."  In  the  last  of  November, 
the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Camp  Dennison, 
where  it  received  sabers  and  continued  in  the 
drill  and  discipline  which  had  been  begun  be- 


fore leaving  Cleveland.  Early  in  January, 
18(32,  it  received  orders  from  the  War  Depart- 
ment to  report  to  Gen.  Hunter  at  Platte  City, 
Mo.,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  that  place.  Up- 
on its  arrival  there,  it  spent  several  weeks  in 
scouting  the  Missouri  border.  On  the  22d  of 
Februar}',  a  scouting  party  from  the  Second, 
consisting  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  had 
a  skirmish  with  a  detachment  under  the  notori- 
ous Quantrell,  in  which  the  latter  was  defeated. 
Doubleday's  Brigade,  to  which  the  Second  be- 
longed, proceeded  to  Fort  Scott,  Kan.,  where 
it  arrived  on  the  1st  of  March.  The  regiment 
was  armed,  at  this  time,  with  sabers,  navy  pis- 
tols and  Austrian  carbines.  The  arm}-  was 
concentrated  at  Fort  Scott  in  the  latter  part  of 
May,  and  early  in  June  it  moved  into  the  In- 
dian Territory  by  various  roads,  concentrating 
again  at  Spring  River.  The  entire  command 
soon  moved  to  Baxter  Springs,  Indian  Terri- 
tory, where  three  regiments  of  loyal  Indians, 
mounted  on  ponies  and  armed  with  stpiirrel 
rifles,  joined  the  command.  Later,  the  column 
moved  from  Baxter's  Springs  southward,  and 
on  the  8th  of  Juh'  went  into  camp  at  Flat 
Ci'eek,  Indian  Territory,  and,  shortly  after,  the 
Second  formed  part  of  the  force  which  captured 
Fort  Gibson.  In  the  early  part  of  August,  the 
command  moved  to  Fort  Scott,  where  it  ar- 
rived on  the  15th  and  went  into  camp.  At  this 
time,  it  was  found  "  that  there  were  less  than 
two  hundred  and  fifty  serviceable  horses  in  the 
Second,  many  of  the  men  were  sick,  and  a  num- 
ber had  died  on  the  march  of  a  peculiar  brain 
fever,  probably  produced  b}'  the  excessive  heat 
to  which  they  were  exposed."'*  The  regiment, 
in  the  latter  part  of  August,  shared  in  a  forced 
march  of  ten  days  and  nights  in  pursuit  of  a 
part}'  of  rebel  raiders,  continually  skirmishing, 
l3ut  without  loss.  About  this  time,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men  and  two  otticers  were  detailed 
from  the  Second  to  man,  temporaril}-,  a  light 
batter}'.  Six  months  later,  the  detail  was  made 
a  transfer  by  the  War  Department,  and  consti- 
tuted the  "Twenty  fifth  Ohio  Battery.  The 
mounted  portion  of  the  Second,  early  in  Sep- 
tember, with  the  Twenty-fifth  Battery,  moved, 
with  the  army  of  (!en.  Blunt,  into  Missouri  and 
Arkansas,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  cam- 
paign that  ended  in  the  capture  of  Prairie 
Grove  December  3,  1862.  During  this  cam- 
paign, the  Second  fought  at  Carthage  and  New- 


Ip^ 


264 


■^ A^^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


tonia,  Mo.,  camped  at  Pea  Ridge,  and  fought 
at  Cow  Hill,  Wolf  Creek,  White  River  and 
Prairie  Grove.  Efforts  had  been  made  to  have 
the  Second  transferred  to  an  Eastern  army, 
which  was  successful,  and  the  dismounted  por- 
tion of  the  regiment,  in  November,  moved  by 
rail  to  Camp  Chase,  to  remount  and  refit  for 
the  field,  and  the  mounted  portion  followed 
in  December,  after  the  capture  of  Prairie 
Grove.  While  at  Camp  Chase,  the  Second  re- 
ceived new  arms  and  equipments,  fresh  horses 
and  sixty  recruits,  and,  during  the  winter, 
made  great  progress  in  drill  and  discipline.  In 
1863,  the  original  twelve  companies  were  con- 
solidated into  eight,  and  a  battalion  of  four  com- 
panies raised  for  the  Eighth  Cavahy  was  added 
to  the  Second.  This  battalion  was  then  serv- 
ing in  Kentucky,  and  Maj.  Purington  was  sent 
to  assume  command  until  it  should  join  the 
regiment. 

The  Second  left  Camp  Chase  early  in  April, 
and  proceeded  to  Somerset,  Ky.,  and,  when  near 
Lexington,  was  joined  by  the  new  battalion. 
With  but  an  occasional  reconnaissance,  the  Sec- 
ond remained  quietly  in  camp  at  Somerset  un- 
til the  27th  of  June.  In  the  early  part  of  June, 
four  companies  of  the  Second  formed  part  of  a 
raiding  force,  under  Gen.  Saunders,  into  East 
Tennessee,  where  a  large  amount  of  stores  were 
destroyed,  and  several  railroad  bridges. 
"  Kautz's  brigade,  of  which  the  Second  was 
a  part,  joined  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  Gen. 
Morgan  on  the  1st  of  July,  followed  the  great 
raider  twelve  hundred  miles,  through  three 
States,  marching  twenty-four  hours  out  of 
twenty-four,  living  wholl}'  upon  the  gifts  of  the 
people  for  twenty-seven  daj-s,  and  finally  shar- 
ing in  the  capture  at  Buffington's  Island.  After 
the  raid,  the  Second  re-assembled  at  Cincinnati, 
from  winch  point  nearly  the  whole  regiment 
was  furloughed  b}'  Gen.  Burnside,  in  recogni- 
tion of  its  endurance  and  gallantry."  The  Sec- 
ond re-assembled  and  re-fitted  at  Stanford,  Ky., 
and,  in  August,  moved  with  the  army  to  East 
Tennessee.  It  was  here  brigaded  with  the  Sec- 
ond East  Tennessee,  Ninth  Michigan,  and  Sev- 
enth Ohio  Cavalry,  Col.  Carter,  Second  East 
Tennessee,  commanding.  On  the  5th  and  6th 
of  September,  the  regiment  made  a  forced 
march  to  Cumberland  Gap,  and,  after  the  sur- 
render of  the  place,  returned  to  Knoxville, 
whence  it  was  ordered  up  the  valley.  It  joined 
the  army  at  Henderson's  Station  about  the  25th, 


and,  soon  after,  it  received  orders  to  report  to 
Gen.  Rosecrans,  then  in  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland.  It  marched  thirty  miles 
toward  Knoxville,  when  it  was  suddenly  or- 
dered back  to  the  front,  and,  on  its  return, 
found  an  engagement  in  progress,  in  which  it 
at  once  took  part,  but  without  any  serious  re- 
sults. A  little  later,  it  participated  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Blue  Springs.  Late  in  October,  as  Long- 
street  advanced,  the  Second  fell  back,  with  other 
cavalry,  to  Russellville,  and  then  to  the  vicinity 
of  Cumberland  Gap,  and  engaged  Wheeler's 
cavalry.  During  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  it  op- 
erated on  the  enemy's  flank,  and,  when  the 
siege  was  raised,  joined  in  the  pursuit  of  the 
rebels.  On  the  2d  of  December,  it  engaged 
Longstreet's  cavalry  at  Morristown,  and,  on  the 
4th,  it  formed  the  advance  of  a  brigade  which 
attacked  and  fought  eighteen  regiments  for  two 
hours,  at  Russellville,  losing  forty  men  killed 
and  wounded.  On  the  6th,  it  was  at  the  front 
five  hours  in  the  battle  of  Bean  Station,  and, 
for  the  next  five  days,  was  almost  constantly 
under  fire.  After  a  few  days'  rest,  the  cavalry 
crossed  the  Holston  River  and  moved  to  Mossy 
Creek,  where  the  time  was  spent  in  skirmishing 
and  maneuvering  until  Januar}'  1,  1864,  when, 
of  470  men  then  composing  the  regiment,  420 
re-enlisted,  and  were  sent  home  on  veteran  fur- 
lough. 

The  Second  re-assembled  at  Cleveland  on 
the  20th  of  March,  and,  with  130  recruits,  was 
again  ready  for  the  front.  The  first  objective 
point  was  Mount  Sterling,  K}'.,  but,  soon  after, 
it  was  ordered  to  Annapolis,  Md.,  where  it  ar- 
rived on  the  29th  of  March.  On  the  13th  of 
x\pril,  it  was  reviewed  by  Lieut.  Gen.  Grant, 
Gens.  Burnside,  Washburn  and  Meigs.  On  the 
22d,  the  regiment  moved  to  Camp  Stoneman, 
D.  C,  and,  b}-  the  30th,  was  mounted,  armed 
and  equipped.  It  moved  out  of  camp  on  the 
1st  of  Ma3%  and  on  the  3d  arrived  at  Warren- 
ton  Junction,  where  it  reported  to  Gen.  Burn- 
side. With  the  Ninth  Corps  it  moved  to  Brandy 
Station,  crossed  the  Rapidan,  went  into  line  on 
the  extreme  right,  and  on  the  7th  engaged 
Rosser's  cavalry  with  slight  loss.  During  the 
campaign  of  the  Wilderness,  it  was  employed 
covering  the  right  flank  of  the  infantry  almost 
constantly,  either  on  picket  or  skirmishing.  By 
order  of  Gen.  Grant,  the  Second  was  transferred 
from  the  Ninth  Army  Corps,  and  attached  per- 
manently to  Sheridan's  Cavalry  Corps,  Array 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


265 


of  the  Potomac,  and  on  the  29th  it  reported  to 
Brig.  Gen.  J.  H.  Wilson,  commanding  Third 
Cavahy  Division,  and  was  by  him  assigned  to 
the  First  Brigade,  commanded  by  Brig.  Gen. 
J.  B.  Mcintosh.  On  the  31st,  the  division 
crossed  the  Pamunkey,  and  the  First  Brigade 
advanced  on  Hanover  Court  House,  where  a 
severe  engagement  took  place,  in  which  the 
Second  bore  a  prominent  part.  The  next  day, 
a  portion  of  the  First  Brigade,  including  the 
Second  Ohio,  proceeded  to  Ashland,  where  the 
entire  force  was  soon  surrounded  by  Gen.  Fitz 
Hugh  Lee,  and  a  heavy  engagement  took  place, 
which  lasted  till  sundown,  when,  under  the 
cover  of  night,  the  national  forces  withdrew, 
the  Second  covering  the  retreat.  From  this 
time  to  the  crossing  of  the  James,  it  was  en- 
gaged in  picketing  and  fighting  on  the  right  of 
the  army  from  Hanover  Court  House  to  Cold 
Harbor.  It  crossed  the  James  on  the  17th  of 
June,  and  the  next  day  encamped  with  the  di- 
vision on  the  Blackwater.  It  took  an  active 
part  in  the  fights  of  Nottaway  Court  House, 
Stony  Creek  and  Ream  Station,  losing  one  hun- 
dred men  and  five  officers  killed,  wounded  and 
missing,  and  returning  to  the  lines  on  the  1st 
of  July.  Early  in  August,  the  division  to 
which  the  Second  belonged  went  to  Washing- 
ton Cit}',  and  on  the  13th  moved  to  Winchester, 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  where  it  arrived  on 
the  17th.  The  division  was  ordered  to  act  as 
rearguard,  and  to  hold  the  town  until  dark. 
Gen.  Early  made  an  attack  at  3  o'clock,  P.  M., 
and  at  sundown,  the  division  fell  back  ;  the 
Second  Battalion  and  two  companies  of  the 
Third  Battalion  of  the  Second  Ohio,  acting  as 
the  rear  guard  for  the  whole  command,  fighting 
an  hour  in  dense  darkness  in  the  streets  of 
Winchester,  then  joining  the  main  column,  and 
falling  back  to  Summit  Point.  Gen.  Early 
again  attacked  on  the  19th,  and,  after  a  sharp 
fight,  the  regiment  retired  to  Charlestown,  when 
it  was  again  attacked  by  Early,  on  the  22d,  and 
the  Second  was  closely  engaged.  From  Charles- 
town,  the  army  retreated  to  Harper's  Ferr3^ 
The  Second,  with  its  division,  went  to  the  right, 
and  was  twice  engaged  with  the  enem}'.  The 
division  was,  on  the  26th  of  August,  ordered 
to  Boonesboro,  and  the  Second  encamped 
twenty-four  hours  on  the  South  Mountain  bat- 
tle-field, marched  over  Antietam,  and  re-crossed 
the  Potomac  at  Shepherdstown.  It  was  in  the 
skirmish  at  Berr3^ville,  Va.,  on  the  30th,  and  in 


the  early  part  of  September  was  engaged  with 
its  division  in  picket  dut}^  on  the  left  of  Sheri- 
dan's army.  On  the  13th,  Gen.  Mcintosh's 
Brigade  (including  the  Second)  was  ordered  to- 
ward Winchester.  With  the  Second  in  front, 
the  brigade  charged  Early's  cavalry,  driving  it 
back,  and  the  Second  Ohio,  with  the  aid  of  the 
Third  New  Jersey,  captured  an  entire  regiment 
of  infantry.  The  Secretary  of  War  made 
especial  mention  of  the  gallantry  of  the  two 
regiments  in  this  exploit.  Mcintosh's  brigade 
at  the  battle  of  Opequon,  was  ordered  to  capt- 
ure a  line  of  hills  between  the  Opequon  and 
Winchester,  which  was  accomplished  after  four 
hours'  hard  fighting.  In  the  retreat  of  Early's 
army,  the  Second  was  the  last  regiment  to  leave 
the  pursuit  on  the  Valley  Pike.  For  several 
weeks  it  was  almost  continually  engaged  fight- 
ing and  skirmishing.  Gen.  Custer  assumed 
command  of  the  division  to  which  the  Second 
belonged  at  Bridgewater.  It  shared  in  the 
battle  of  Cedar  Creek  on  the  19th  of  October, 
and  was  pi'esent  on  the  Valley  Pike,  when 
Sheridan  came  to  the  front  on  his  "  famous  ride 
from  Winchester."  After  the  battle,  the  regi- 
ment performed  picket  dut}'  until  the  1st  of 
Novenber,  when  it  fell  back  to  Kernstown.  It 
was  engaged  in  active  duty  until  the  28th  of 
December,  when  it  went  into  winter  quarters  on 
the  Romney  Pike,  one  and  a  half  miles  from 
Winchester,  where  it  remained  until  the  27th 
of  February,  1865. 

On  the  2"7tli,  it  started  with  Sheridan's  cav- 
alry on  the  last  raid  of  the  war.  Near  the 
town  of  Waynesboro,  Custer's  division  captured 
the  remainder  of  Early's  army.  In  this  en- 
gagement, the  Second  Ohio  captured  five  pieces 
of  artillery,  with  a  large  amount  of  military 
stores,  together  with  650  prisoners,  for  which  it 
received  the  thanks  of  Gen.  Custer  on  the  field. 
It  continued  to  do  its  share  of  dut}'  until  the 
20th  of  March,  when,  after  resting  a  few  days, 
Sheridan's  cavalry  joined  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac, and  entered  on  the  closing  campaign  of 
the  war.  After  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee,  the 
regiment,  with  its  division,  was  ordered  to 
North  Carolina,  but,  upon  receiving  information 
of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Johnston,  it  returned 
to  Petersburg.  The  division  soon  moved  to 
Washington  City,  and,  immediately  after  the 
grand  review,  the  Second  Ohio  was  ordered  to 
report  to  Gen.  Pope,  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  it 
arrived  on  the  7th  of  June.     It  remained  here 


#- 


>J^ 


266 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


a  month,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Springfield, 
Mo.,  to  relieve  State  troops.  The  order  was 
received  for  its  muster-out  about  the  1st  of 
September.  It  proceeded  to  St.  Louis,  where 
its  papers  were  made  out,  and  then  returned  to 
Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  and,  on  the  11th  of  Octo- 
ber, 18ti5,  was  paid  off  and  discharged. 

The  Sixth  Ohio  Cavalry  drew  a  number  of 
men  from  this  count}^  but  not  enough  to  form  a 
company.  Of  the  Summit  Count}'  men.  the 
present  Auditor.  Mr.  Aaron  Wagoner,  was  the 
onl}'  commissioned  officer.  He  was  promoted 
to  Second  Lieutenant  on  the  8th  of  April,  1 865. 
The  Sixth  was  a  splendid  regiment,  and  saw 
much  hard  service,  lleid  closes  his  sketch  of 
it  in  the  following  words  :  "  During  the  last 
six  months  of  its  campaigning,  it  was  under 
command  of  a  Captain,  as  it  had  not  a  field  of- 
ficer with  it,  nor  in  its  organization.  Nearly  all 
of  its  veteran  officers  were  mustered  out  of  serv- 
ice in  November,  1864,*  and  not  a  sufficient 
number  of  men  were  on  the  rolls  to  have  them 
replaced  ;  but,  in  a  regiment  composed  of  ma- 
terial like  this,  it  made  little  difference  whether 
they  were  commanded  by  a  Captain  or  a  Brevet 
Brigadier.  As  a  neiospaper  regiment,  it  has 
not  much  history.  Its  record  shows  best  in  the 
rolls  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  long 
list  of  its  honorable  engagements."  But  our 
space  will  not  allow  of  a  more  extended  men- 
tion of  this  gallant  regiment. 

The  Sixth  Ohio  Independent  Battery  was 
made  up  principally  in  Summit  Count}^  and 
formed  a  part  of  the  "  Sherman  Brigade."  The 
commissioned  officers  were  C.  Bradley,  Cap- 
tain ;  0.  H.  P.  Ayres  and  J.  1*.  McElroy,  First 
Lieutenants  ;  A.  C.  Baldwin  and  E.  S.  Fergu- 
son, Second  Lieutenants.  Capt.  Bradley  was 
mustered  out  Januar}'  17,  1865  ;  Lieut.  A^a'es 
died  July  8,  186-1,  from  wounds  received  in  the 
Atlanta  campaign  ;  Lieut.  McElroy  resigned 
March  10,  1864  ;  Lieut.  Baldwin  was  promoted 
to  Captain,  and  as  such  mustered  out  with  the 
battery  :  Lieut.  Ferguson  resigned  November 
7,  1862. 

This  battery  was  organized  at  Camp  Buck- 
ingham, near  Mansfield,  and  mustered  into  the 
service  on  the  20th  of  November,  1 861 .  It  com- 
prised four  ten-pound  Parrot  guns,  and  two  six- 
pound  bronze  Rodmans.  Capt.  Bradley  is  men- 
tioned as  an  experienced  artillery  officer,  and 
had  his  battery  in  good  trim  for  active  service 

*At  expiration  of  three  years'  service. 


before  leaving  Camp  Buckingham.  The  bat- 
tery and  the  brigade  to  which  it  belonged 
moved,  on  the  15th  of  December,  to  Louisville, 
K}'.,  and  thence  by  steamer  to  Nashville,  where 
they  reported  to  Cren.  Buell  on  the  20th.  The 
brigade  was  here  scattered  to  different  localities, 
and  the  battery  found  its  way  into  Camp  Gil- 
bert, near  the  city,  where,  for  some  twenty 
da^^s,  it  was  occupied  in  perfecting  its  drill  and 
getting  read}'  for  the  field.  It  received  orders, 
on  the  12th  of  January,  1862,  to  report  to  Gen. 
Boyle,  at  Columbia,  Ky.,  and  arrived  there  on 
the  15th,  where  it  took  a  position  blockading 
the  Cumberland  Kiver.  The  battery  was  di- 
vided, Lieut.  McElroy's  section  remaining  at 
Columbia,  while  the  other  was  taken  to  James- 
town, Ky.,  there  reporting  to  Col.  Thomas  E. 
Bramlette.  The  battery  remained  on  duty 
here  until  the  fall  of  Nashville,  when,  with  the 
Third  Kentucky,  Nineteenth  Ohio,  and  Cul. 
Woolford's  cavalry,  it  proceeded  to  Nashville, 
where  it  arrived  on  the  19th  of  March.  At 
Nashville,  it  was  placed  in  the  artillery  reserve,- 
commanded  by  Col.  Barnet,  First  Ohio  Light 
Artillery,  and  marched  with  the  army  to  Pitts- 
burg Landing,  arriving  on  the  15th  of  April, 
and  going  into  camp  on  the  battle-field.  It 
was  ordered  to  report  to  Brig.  Gen.  Wood  on 
the  29th  of  April,  with  whom  it  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  It  moved  with  the  army 
on  Corinth,  and  entered  that  place  on  the  31st  of 
May,  after  its  evacuation  by  the  rebels.  June 
1,  it  moved  across  Northern  Alabama,  arriving 
at  Mooresville  on  the  3d  of  July.  On  the  18th, 
it  marched  to  Stevenson,  Ala.,  where  it  went 
into  camp  on  the  21st  of  August,  when  it 
joined  Buell's  forces  in  their  great  race  after 
Bragg  to  Louisville,  Ky.  They  arrived  at 
Louisville  on  the  28th  of  September,  and.  after 
a  rest  of  three  days,  the  line  of  march  was 
again  resumed.  It  proceeded  out  the  Bards- 
town  turnpike  and  reached  Rolling  Fork  on 
the  8th  of  October,  where  it  was  saluted  with 
the  roar  of  battle  at  Perryville,  only  seven 
miles  distant.  Later  in  the  day,  it  marched 
with  its  division  to  the  battle-field,  but  was 
compelled  to  be  mere  spectators  of  the  battle. 
After  an  unsuccessful  pursuit  of  the  enemy, 
the  national  forces  returned  to  Nashville,  ar- 
riving on  the  26th  of  November. 

At  Nashville  the  army  was  re-organized  by 
Gen.  Rosecrans,  and  the  batteiy  was  engaged 
much   of  the  time  in  foraging,   which  several 


'\±^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


267 


times  brought  it  in  contact  with  Gren.  Wheeler's 
Rebel  Cavalry.  It  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Stone  River,  and  other  battles  incident  to  the 
capture  of  Murfreesboro,  which  was  entex*ed  on 
the  4th  of  January,  1863.  In  the  battle  of  the 
31st  of  December,  the  battery  lost  two  of  its 
guns,  but  had  the  good  fortune  to  re-capture 
them.  It  lost  severely  in  the  several  days'  fight- 
ing. After  the  battle,  the  following  members 
of  the  Sixth  Battery  were  specially  mentioned 
for  gallantry :  First  Sergt.  Gr.  W.  Smelts ; 
Sergts.  Hust,  Miller,  Howard,  Casey  and  Hart- 
man  ;  Corporals  Collins,  Tool,  Kimberk  and 
Scott ;  Privates  Evans,  Kirby  and  Robbinett. 
In  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  which  was 
fought  on  the  19th  of  September,  the  battery 
participated  and  again  lost  heavily.  Among 
the  wounded  was  Lieut.  Smelts.  During  the 
two  days'  battle,  it  expended  383  rounds  of 
ammunition,  lost  two  caissons,  a  battery-wagon, 
and  had  two  horses  killed.  It  was  dismounted 
while  in  Chattanooga  (to  which  the  armj^  had 
fallen  back,  after  the  battle  of  Chickamauga), 
owing  to  the  want  of  forage  and  horses,  and 
thus  remained  for  some  time  inactive.  On  the 
12th  of  December  two-thirds  of  the  battery  re- 
enlisted  as  veterans,  and  started  home  Janu- 
ary 1,  1864,  on  furlough — the  non- veterans  be- 
ing transferred  to  the  Twentieth  Ohio  Battery. 
While  the  veterans  were  at  home  on  furlough, 
they  added  one  hundred  men  to  their  ranks. 
Upon  the  return  of  the  batter}^  to  the  front,  its 
first  active  duty  was  in  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
in  which  it  operated  with  Gen.  Wood's  (Third) 
Division,  Fourth  Army  Corps,  and  during  the 
120  days  of  that  brilliant  march,  was  almost 
constantly  engaged.  Corporal  William  Mat- 
thews was  mortally  wounded  at  Dallas,  and  the 
next  day  Bugler  Whitney  was  killed  by  sharp- 
shooters. At  Kenesaw  Mountain,  on  the  19th 
of  June,  private  Alfred  Hersh  was  killed,  and 
three  others  were  wounded.  It  maintained  its 
position  before  Kenesaw,  and  was  highly  com- 
plimented by  Gen.  0.  0.  Howard  for  accurate 
firing.  The  battery  expended  250  rounds  of 
ammunition  in  a  charge  made  on  the  27th.  On 
the  6th  of  Juh',  Lieut.  Ayres  was  wounded  by 
a  rebel  sharp-shooter,  from  the  effects  of  which 
he  died  on  the  8th.  From  the  13th  to  the  25th, 
the  battery  was  busily  engaged  in  bombarding 
the  citj'  of  Atlanta.  August  25,  it  formed  part 
of  the  flanking  movement  to  Jonesboro,  and 
took  part  in  all  the  subsequent  operations,  and 


on  the  9th  of  September  it  entered  Atlanta, 
and  while  here  was  re-equipped  for  the  field. 
It  moved  with  the  Fourth  Corps  on  the  3d  of 
October  after  Gen.  Hood,  who  had  commenced 
his  march  to  the  rear  of  Atlanta.  Capt.  Bradley 
being  away  on  leave  of  absence,  the  command 
of  the  battery  devolved  on  First  Lieut.  A.  C. 
Baldwin.  It  participated  in  the  battle  of  Frank- 
lin on  the  15th  of  December,  of  which  action, 
says  Whitelaw  Reid,  "Eighteen  stands  of 
colors  were  taken  on  the  battery-front  during 
the  battle,  and  the  rebels  so  crowded  the  em- 
brasure that  Private  Jacob  Stinebaugh  resorted 
to  the  use  of  axes  and  picks  with  success.  In 
this  battle  the  battery  lost  William  B.  Welch, 
mortally  wounded,  and  four  others  slightly. 
Welch  fell  into  the  hands  of  a  Mrs.  Bentley,  of 
Franklin,  who  kindlj'  nursed  him,  regardless  of 
rebel  opposition,  and  when  he  died  saw  him 
properly  buried,  with  head-board  and  inscrip- 
tion, and  a  representation  of  the  flag  he  so  no- 
bly fought  under  cut  upon  the  board."  In  the 
second  day's  battle  before  Nashville,  the  battery 
went  into  position  in  front  of  Overton's  Hill, 
eight  miles  from  the  cit}^  and  engaged  Sand- 
ford's  Mississippi  rebel  Batter}',  completely 
silencing  it.  It  joined  in  the  pursuit  of  the  re- 
treating rebels  to  the  banks  of  the  Tennessee 
River,  and  then  marched  for  Huntsville,  Ala., 
where  it  arrived  on  the  15th  of  Januar}',  1865. 
It  made  a  severe  march  to  Eastport,  Miss.,  in 
February,  but  before  reaching  that  place,  it  was 
ordered  back  to  Huntsville,  where  it  remained 
in  quarters  until  the  close  of  the  war.  It  re- 
turned to  Ohio  in  the  latter  part  of  August, 
and,  on  the  1st  of  September,  1865,  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service.  It  lost  by  death  from 
wounds,  sixteen  ;  by  disease,  twenty-six  ;  dis- 
charged by  reason  of  disease,  thirty  ;  of  wounds, 
four  ;  by  expiration  of  service,  twenty-one  ;  re- 
enlisted  as  veterans,  sixty-six. 

The  First  Light  Artillery  (Col.  James  Bar- 
net,  of  Cleveland),  was  represented  by  a  bat- 
tery or  company  from  this  county.  Battery 
D  was  recruited  by  Capt.  Andrew  J.  Konkle, 
and  was  made  up  in  Summit  County.  The 
original  commissioned  oflScers  of  Batter}'  D 
were  Andrew  J.  Konkle,  Captain  ;  Paul  F. 
Rhoerbacher,  L.  P.  Porter,  Senior  and  Junior 
First  Lieutenants  ;  and  W.  H.  Pease,  Henry  C. 
Lloyd,  Senior  and  Junior  Second  Lieutenants. 
Capt.  Konkle  was  promoted  to  Major  of  the 
First  Artillery  on  the  8th  of  September,  1863, 


:k 


^ 


E. 


268 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


and  was  honorably  discharged  August  8,  1864. 
Lieut.  Rhoerbacher  resigned  January  1,  1862  ; 
Lieut.  Porter  resigned  August  28,  1863  ;  Lieut. 
Pease  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  Jan- 
uary I,  1862,  to  Captain  July  30,  1864,  and 
mustered  out  with  battery  ;  Lieut.  Lloyd  was 
mustered  out  October  23,  1863;  Sergt.  N.  M. 
Newell  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant 
January  1,  1862,  to  First  Lieutenant  July  13, 
1863,  and  mustered  with  battery  ;  Sergt.  M.  G. 
Ransom,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  July 
13,  1863,  and  resigned  April  15,  1864;  Henry 
C.  Grant  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant 
March  30,  1863,  and  transferred  to  Battery  A, 
to  First  Lieutenant  May  2,  1865,  and  mustered 
out  with  battery  ;  Sergt.  Josiah  Brown  was 
promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  May  9,  1864, 
and  transferred  to  Battery  E.  At  the  general 
muster-out,  the  commissioned  officers  were 
Giles  J.  Cockerill,  Captain  ;  J.  H.  Bees,  Will- 
iam Edwards,  Senior  and  Junior  First  Lieu- 
tenants ;  W.  M.  Welcher,  Cornelius  Linehan, 
Senior  and  Junior  Second  Lieutenants.* 

The  First  Artillery  was  originally  organized 
under  the  old  militia  law  of  1860.  Iramedi- 
ateh"  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter,  it  was 
ordered  to  Columbus,  and  thence  to  Mari- 
etta. It  was  afterward  ordered  to  Virginia, 
where  it  served  until  its  expiration  of  three 
month's  service,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Colum- 
bus for  muster-out.  It  was  at  once  re-enlisted 
for  three  years,  and  for  this  organization  it  was 
that  Capt.  Konkle's  Batter}'  D  was  recruited, 
and  mustered  into  the  service  in  September, 
1861.  It  left  Camp  Dennison  on  the  1st  of  No- 
vember, and  on  the  10th,  reported  to  Gen.  Nel- 
son at  Mount  Stei'ling,  }^y.  It  was  with  Nel- 
son until  the  29th,  when  it  reported  to  Gen.  A. 
M.  McCook,  at  Munfordville,  Ky.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1862,  it  was  again  ordered  to  report  to 
Gen.  Nelson,  at  P]lizabethtown,  but  soon  re- 
turned to  its  old  quarters  at  Munfordville, 
and  thence  proceeded  with  Gen.  McCook  to 
Nashville.  With  the  Fourth  Division  it  moved 
to  Pittsburg  Landing,  thence  to  Corinth,  and 
on  the  30tli  of  June  it  was  at  Athens,  Ala. 
July  30,  the  batterj^  moved  from  Columbia, 
Tenn.,  with  Gen.  Nelson's  command,  to  Leba- 
non, Ky.,  and  in  September,  at  Munfordville,  it 
was  overwhelmed  by  the  enem}-,  and  its  entire 
force  and  material  captured.    The  men  were  pa- 

*Thfi  local  facts  pertaining  to  this  battery  were  furnished  us  by 
Capt.  H.  C.  Grant. 


roled  and  sent  home  to  Ohio,  remaining  at  Camp 
Chase  until  January,  1863,  when  they  were 
exchanged.  The  battery-  was  re-organized  and 
equipped  at  Columbus,  and  joined  the  Third 
Brigade  of  the  Fourth  Division,  Twenty -third 
Army  Corps,  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  in  March.  It 
served  in  Eastern  Kentucky'  until  July,  when 
it  marched  with  Gen.  Burnside's  army  to  Cum- 
berland Gap,  and  took  part  in  the  capture  of 
that  rebel  stronghold.  It  participated  in  the 
siege  of  Knoxville,  and,  immediately  after  the 
siege  was  raised,  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  and 
the  men  were  sent  home  on  the  usual  thirt}- 
days'  furlough.  The  ranks  were  filled  up  at 
Cleveland,  and  early  in  1864,  it  proceeded  to 
Knoxville,  Tenn.  It  was  with  Sherman  in  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  and  participated  in  all  the 
fighting  of  that  eventful  period.  It  took  part 
in  the  battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville,  the 
closing  struggles  of  the  war.  It  was  finally 
mustered  out  of  the  service  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
on  the  15th  of  July,  1865. 

The  Ninth  Independent  Battery  was  made 
up  principally^  in  this  county.  The  first  com- 
missioned officers  were  H.  S.  Wetmore,  Captain  ; 
L.  P.  Barrows,  First  Lieutenant,  and  John  M. 
Hinde,  Second  Lieutenant.  Capt.  Wetmore 
resigned  December  12, 1862,  and  Second  Lieut. 
H.  B.  York  was  promoted  to  Captain,  and  in 
that  position,  mustered  out  with  the  battery. 
This  battery  was  organized  at  Camp  Wood 
Cleveland,  on  the  11th  of  October,  1861.  It 
was  first  fitted  out  as  a  four-gun  battery,  with 
two  ten-pounders  and  two  twelve-pound  howit- 
zers, but  afterward  became  a  full  six-gun  bat- 
tery. It  served  in  Kentucky  until  the  1st  of 
January,  1863,  and  participated  in  several  hard 
fights.  It  was  at  Cumberland  Gap  and  at  Mill 
Springs.  For  its  gallantry  at  the  latter  place, 
it  was  presented  with  two  six-pound  guns,  by 
Gen.  Thomas,  which  had  been  captured  from 
the  enemy  at  Cumberland  Gap.  During  the 
retreat  of  the  national  forces  from  the  Gap 
across  the  State  to  the  Ohio  River,  in  Septem- 
ber and  October,  1862,  the  Ninth  Battery  per- 
formed the  most  arduous  dut}'.  Placed  in  charge 
of  a  train,  on  the  safety  of  which  the  whole 
retreat  depended,  the  batter}^  felt  like  sacrific- 
ing themselves  to  a  man  rather  than  permit  it 
to  be  captured,  and  on  this  determination  it 
acted  during  the  whole  of  that  retreat.  On  the 
26th  of  January,  1863,  the  battery  received 
orders  to  report  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 


H   |ts 


-^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


269 


land  at  Nashville,  where  it  arrived  on  the  1st 
of  February,  and  where  it  remained  until  the 
6th  of  March,  when  it  moved  out  to  Franklin 
and  took  position  with  the  right  wing  of  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland.  On  the  21st  of 
November,  the  battery  was  assigned  to  the 
First  Division,  Twelfth  Corps,  Depai-tment  of 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  Four  men  of 
the  battery  were  captured  by  guerrillas  on  the 
23d  of  December,  who  treated  them  inhuman!}' 
— tjing  their  hands  behind  them,  shot  them 
and  threw  their  bodies  into  the  Elk  River. 
Two  of  them,  however  escaped,  by  getting 
their  hands  loose  and  swimming  to  the  shore 
— one  died  the  next  day.  The  other,  James 
W.  Fole}',  of  Hudson,  was  permanently^  disa- 
bled in  the  right  leg.*  Under  a  general  order 
of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  an  assess- 
ment of  $30,000  on  the  neighborhood,  was 
made  for  the  benefit  of  the  families  of  the  three 
murdered  men.  In  February,  1864,  about 
three-fourths  of  the  battery  re-enlisted,  and 
returned  home  on  furlough.  On  the  9th  of 
April  it  reported  at  Tullahoma,  with  an  aggre- 
gate of  151  men,  having  received  a  number  of 
recruits  while  at  home.  In  May,  it  acted  with 
Sherman  in  the  Atlanta  campaign.  It  went 
also  with  him  in  his  march  to  the  sea.  On  the 
29th  of  Jul}',  1865,  it  was  mustered  out  and 
discharged. 

This  comprises  a  sketch  of  the  regiments 
which  were  represented  b}^  full  companies  from 
Summit  County,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to 
learn  them.  In  compiling  these  sketches  of 
different  regiments,  we  have  drawn  freely  on 
"Ohio in  the  War,"  by  Whitelaw  Reid.  But  as 
it  is  said  to  be  not  wholly  free  from  errors,  we 
have  endeavored  so  far  as  possible  to  have 
members  of  the  regiments  noticed  look  over 
and  correct  any  errors  recognizable,  in  order 
that  injustice  may  be  done  to  none. 

The  number  of  soldiers  contributed  by  Sum- 
mit County  during  the  war  to  the  armies  of 
the  Union  may  not  be  definitel}'  given,  but 
probably  exceeded  3,000  men.  The  different 
arms  of  the  service,  viz.,  infantry,  cavalry  and 
artillery,  were  each  well  represented.  The 
Beacon  of  Jul}'  24,  1862,  published  the  follow- 
ing list  of  soldiers,  in  the  army  at  that  time, 
from  the  different  townships  :  Bath,  27  men  ; 
Boston,  89  ;  Copley,  34  ;  Coventry,  26  ;  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  55  ;  Franklin,  43  ;  Green,  62  ;  Hud- 

♦Reid. 


son,  58  ;  Middlebury,  26  ;  Northfield,  42  ;  Nor- 
ton, 15;  Northampton,  28;  Portage,  203; 
Richfield,  42  ;  Springfield,  51  ;  Stow,  22  ;  Tall- 
madge,  44,  and  Twinsburg,  48 — a  total  of  910 
men.  The  regiments  recruited  after  that  date, 
including  drafts  and  enlistments  in  old  regi- 
ments, comprised  at  least  twice  as  many  more. 
From  the  Beacon  we  find  that  the  county  was 
twice  subjected  to  a  draft,  but  each  time  the 
number  selected  through  the  means  of  "  for- 
tune's wheel "  was  small.  The  first  draft  oc- 
curred in  October,  1862,  and  resulted  as  follows, 
by  townships  :  Bath,  7  ;  Coplev,  27  ;  Coventry, 
49  ;  Franklin,  59  ;  Green,  26 ;  Hudson,  8 ; 
Northampton,  7 ;  Norton,  40  ;  Northfield,  7  ; 
Portage,  49  ;  Richfield,  29  ;  Stow,  1  ;  Spring- 
field, 42,  and  Twinsburg,  7  men.  Townships 
not  mentioned  made  up  their  respective  quotas 
by  voluntary  enlistments.  The  next  draft  took 
place  on  the  7th  of  May,  1864,  as  follows  : 
Bath,  2  ;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  5 ;  Boston,  3  ;  Cop- 
ley, 14;  Coventry,  1;  Franklin,  11;  Hudson, 
4  ;  Middleburv,  4  ;  Northampton,  13  ;  Norton, 
1 3  ;  Springfield,  2  ;  Stow,  6,  and  Tallmadge,  4 
men.  It  is  no  reproach  to  the  valor  of  Sum- 
mit County  that  it  was  twice  drafted.  Many 
loyal  and  brave  counties  were  drafted  more 
than  twice.  Calls  were  made  so  often  for  sol- 
diers that  it  was  impossible  to  fill  them  as  fast 
as  made,  and  often  before  one  quota  was  com- 
plete, another  call  was  before  the  people.  The 
great  wonder  is  that  men  volunteered  as  freely 
as  they  did,  notwithstanding  the  justness  of  the 
cause  in  which  they  were  engaged.  When  we 
view  the  war  in  its  full  magnitude,  it  seems  an 
event  well  calculated  to  discourage  the  most 
valorous.  A  war  that  in  four  years  called  for 
the  following  troops  :  April  15,  1861.  75,000 
men;  Julv  22.  1861,  500,000;  July  2,  1862, 
300,000;  August  4,  1862  (for  nine  months), 
300,000;  June  15,  1863,  the  militia;  October 
17,  1863,  500,000  ;  March  14,  1864,  200,000  ; 
April  22,  1864,  100  days'  militia;  July  18, 
1864,  500,000  ;  December  19,  1864,  300,000,  is 
without  parallel  in  modern  history,  and  the 
alacrity  with  which  these  calls  were  responded 
to  is  as  unparalleled  as  the  gigantic  proportions 
of  the  war  itself  When  we  take  all  this  into 
consideration,  it  is  not  in  the  least  strange  that 
a  few  of  these  calls  should  be  filled  by  draft  ; 
nor  is  it,  as  we  have  said,  any  reproach  or  re- 
flection upon  the  valor  of  the  county. 

In  commemoration  of  the  services  of  those 


t^ 


270 


HISTORY   or    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


who  laid  down  their  lives  upon  the  altar  of 
their  country,  memorials  have  been  erected  in 
different  parts  of  the  county,  which  are  intended 
to  symbolize  the  aflection  of  surviving  friends. 
These  memorials  consist  of  monuments,  chapels, 
etc.,  and  are  cit^^  or  township  aflairs,  and  will 
receive  appropriate  mention  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  Not  being  erected  by  the  county  at 
large,  a  notice  of  them  does  not  really  belong 
in  this  chapter,  but  in  the  chapters  devoted  to 
the  townships  in  which  they  are  located. 

An  important  element  that  was  widely  felt 
throughout  the  Northern  States  during  the  late 
war  deserves  more  than  a  mere  passing  men- 
tion. We  allude  to  the  active  part  borne  by 
the  noble  women  of  the  country.  Their  deeds 
deserve  to  be  written  in  characters  of  gold. 
Love  and  devotion  to  the  unfortunate  and 
heart-felt  pit}'  for  the  woes  of  suffering  human- 
ity, are  among  their  strongest  characteristics. 
Their  kindly-  smiles  of  sympathy  break  through 
the  clouds  of  misfortune,  and  their  gentlest 
tones  rise  amid  the  sighs  of  suffering  and  sor- 
row. Hundreds  and  thousands  of  these  noble, 
self-sacrificing  women,  like  ministering  angels, 
took  their  places  in  camp  and  hospital,  where 
many  a  brave  soldier  had  cause  to  thank  God 
for  their  presence.  They  went  forth,  braving 
all  the  dangers  incident  to  the  times  and  the 
place,  with  the  expressed  sentiment  that  if  they 
died  their  loss  would  not  be  felt.  Noble,  l)ut 
mistaken  souls!  The  world  sustains  its  heaviest 
loss  when  such  spirits  fall.  But  not  alone  b}- 
those  who  went  forward  to  nurse  and  care  for 
the  sick  and  wounded  was  all  the  good  accom- 
plished that  is  accredited  to  female  hands. 
Those  who  remained  at  home  performed  a  good 
work,  ''  the  half  of  which  has  not  yet  been 
told,"  but  the  results  of  which  was  felt  b}^ 
many  a  poor  worn-out  soldier. 

The  Soldiers'  Aid  Society,  composed  of 
ladies,  was  an  earl}'  organization  formed  for  the 
benefit  of  the  soldiers  in  the  field,  and  was  pro- 
ductive of  great  good.  Says  Whitelaw  Reid 
upon  this  subject :  "  Efforts  of  the  people  in  be- 
half of  their  soldiers  ma}-  be  gathered  from 
records  of  their  organized  action  through  the 
medium  of  aid  societies,  sanitary  commissions, 
Christian  commissions,  soldiers'  fairs,  etc.,  some 
names  of  the  fortunate  ones  whose  privilege  it 
was  to  work  as  the  almoners  of  the  people's 
bounty ;  some  traces  of  the  more  public  dem- 
onstrations.    But  the  real  history  of  the  work 


will  never  be  written,  never  can  be  written,  per- 
haps never  ought  to  be  written.  Who  shall  in- 
trude to  measure  the  love  of  the  mothers,  and 
sisters,  and  wives,  at  home  for  the  soldiers  in 
the  field  ?  Who  shall  chronicle  the  prayers 
and  the  labors  to  shield  them  from  death  and 
disease  ?  Who  shall  speak  worthily  of  that 
religious  fervor  which  counted  loss  and  suffer- 
ing and  life  as  nothing,  so  that  b}'  any  means 
Grod's  work  might  be  done  in  the  battle  for  lib- 
ert}'  and  right."  The  Cincinnati  branch  of  the 
Sanitar}-  Commission  was  the  most  extensive 
relief  association  in  the  State.  A  soldiers'  aid 
society  was  a  State  organization,  with  brandies 
in  each  county.  It  found  a  I'eady  response 
among  the  ladies  of  Summit  Count}'.  An 
organization,  auxiliary  to  the  State  Aid  Society, 
was  formed  in  Aliron,  with  branches  in  each 
township,  which  was  instrumental  in  accomplish- 
ing a  noble  work.  The  following  extract  is  from 
a  soldier's  letter,  published  at  the  time,  and  is 
illustrative  of  this  good  work  :  "  It  was  about  5 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when  I  arrived  in  the 
hospital.  Soon  after  my  entrance,  I  was  stripped 
and  bathed  in  a  large  tub  of  tepid  water,  shown 
to  bed,  and  a  nice  clean  white  shirt  and  a  pair  of 
drawers  were  given  me.  I  soon  encased  my 
tired  limbs  in  my  new  wardrobe,  and  while  do- 
ing so  my  eyes  caught  sight  of  the  words 
'  From  the  Woman's  Aid  Society,'  stamped  in 
black  ink  on  each  garment.  I  lay  down,  pulled 
the  blanket  over  my  head  and  thought  of  my 
situation.  Here  1  am  in  a  hospital,  prostrated 
with  disease,  worn  out  in  body  and  mind,  over 
eight  hundred  miles  from  any  spot  I  can  call 
home,  my  own  rrrother  and  sister  long  since 
dead  ;  but  the  noble-hearted  women  of  the 
North — those  angels  of  mercy — are  supplying 
the  place  of  mother  and  sister,  not  only  to  me, 
but  to  thousands  of  sufferiirg  soldiers  from 
every  State.  Presently  I  felt  two  large  tears 
coursing  down  my  cheeks  and  running  into  my 
mustache,  followed  by  myriads  of  others  drop- 
ping on  the  sheet  under  my  chin,  forming  in- 
numerable little  salt-water  pools.  When  well, 
I  am  a  strong  man,  and  it  requires  some  sud- 
den and  deep  grief  to  bring  me  to  tears  ;  but 
tears  of  gratitude  fiowed  from  me  that  evening 
as  freely  as  drops  of  rain  from  an  April  cloud  ; 
and,  like  a  spoiled  child,  I  cried  myself  to 
sleep."  This  is  but  one  instance,  and  how 
many  other  soldiers  of  the  armies  of  the  Union 
could  tell  the  same  story  ! 


:^ 


,u. 


'\^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


271 


The  Ladies'  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  was  formed 
in  Akron  early  in  the  summer  of  1861,  and  con- 
tinued in  active  operation  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  As  we  have  said,  the  real  history  of  its 
work  can  never  be  written.  Funds  were  raised 
by  fairs,  festivals,  mite  societies,  etc.,  and  as 
soon  as  raised  were  invested  in  such  articles  as 
were  needed  most,  and  immediately  sent  to 
camps  and  hospitals.     Many  a  blessing  upon 


the  fair  ones,  and  many  a  prayer  for  their  hap- 
piness was  breathed  by  the  recipients  of  these 
timely  favors.  But  we  will  not  pursue  the 
subject.  Full  justice  to  these  angels  of  mercy 
cannot  be  done  in  our  limited  space.  We  will 
only  add,  in  conclusion  of  the  chapter,  a  hope 
that  their  efforts  may  never  again  be  called 
into  play  in  a  similar  contest. 


CHAPTER    v.* 

KARLV  CHRISTIANITY— PIONEER  MINISTERS— ESTABLISHMENT  OF   SCHOOLS— EDUCATIONAL   STA- 
TISTICS-COUNTY   NEWSPAPERS— THE    PRESS    OF    TO-DAY— RAILROADS— 
—THEIR  INVENTION— BENEFIT  TO  THE  COUNTY. 


G^  0  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the 
J"  Gospel  to  every  creature — was  the  com- 
mand given  over  eighteen  centuries  ago  by  the 
Man  of  Nazareth.  Nor  was  it  intended  alone 
for  the  salvation  of  those  nations  who,  year 
after  year,  brought  tribute  to  Csesar.  With 
prophetic  vision,  the  world's  great  Redeemer 
gazed  on  nations  then  unborn,  and  heard  the 
cry  ot  those  who,  in  all  ages,  even  at  the  "ends 
of  the  earth,"  groaned  beneath  the  yoke  of  sin. 
Then,  for  the  redemption.  He  gave  to  His  disci- 
ples those  commands  which  in  later  years  have 
caused  His  people  to  widely  spread  God's  glo- 
rious truth.  When  from  Atlantic's  coast,  even 
from  Plymouth  Rock,  the  Star  of  Empire  first 
renewed  her  journey  westward,  and  the  pioneers 
of  a  mighty  race  descended  the  western  slopes 
of  the  AUeghanies,  then  in  the  van  of  the  great 
army,  the  heralds  of  salvation  bore  aloft  the 
Cross  of  Calvary.  In  the  broad  valley  of  the 
Mississippi,  destined  to  become  the  home  of  a 
greater  nation  than  any  Caesar  ever  ruled,  the 
solitary  settlers  rejoiced  to  hear  those  early  mes- 
sengers proclaim  the  "  glad  tidings  of  gi'eat 
joy,"  or  wept  at  the  story  of  Pilate,  the  crown 
of  thorns,  and  the  agonies  of  Golgotha  and 
Calvary.  The  dark  and  gloomy  forests  were 
pierced  by  the  light  that  shone  from  the  Star 
of  Bethlehem,  and  the  hymns  of  praise  to  God 
were  mingled  with  the  music  of  the  woodman's 
ax,  for  in  those  earl}'  days,  it  could  well  be  said 
that 

"The  groves  were  God'.s  first  temples." 

*Coutributed  by  W.  H.  Ptirrin. 


The  introduction  of  Christianity  into  the 
wilderness  of  Ohio  was  coeval  with  the  settle- 
ment of  the  territory.  Pioneer  preachers  and 
ministers,  sent  out  by  missionary  societies  of 
the  older  settled  States  of  the  East,  wandered 
to  the  Ohio  Territory,  when  few  human  beings, 
other  than  Indians,  were  to  be  found  within  its 
limits.  And  what  is  now  Summit  County  was, 
in  this  respect,  equally  blest  with  other  portions 
of  the  Western  country.  With  the  pioneers 
themselves,  came  missionaries,  many  of  whom 
devoted  years  of  energy  and  faithful  labor  to 
the  Indians,  teaching  them  "  the  way  unto  eter- 
nal life. '  A  case  of  this  kind  is  recorded  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Badger,  a  missionary  from  Blanford, 
Mass.,  who  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  minis- 
ter ever  on  the  Reserve,  and  for  years  devoted 
his  time  equally  to  his  white  and  red  brethren. 
Gen.  Bierce,  in  his  history  of  Summit  County, 
says  :  '•  Mr.  Badger  came  out  and  examined 
his  field  of  labor  in  1800,  and  so  well  pleased 
was  he  with  the  prospect,  that  he  returned,  re- 
signed his  charge  in  Blanford,  where  he  had 
labored  fourteen  years,  and  removed  his  family 
to  the  almost  trackless  wilderness.  He  divided 
his  labors  between  the  whites  of  the  Reserve 
and  the  Indians  of  Sandusky  and  Maumee. 
He  was  not  only  a  preacher  of  peace,  but  a  man 
of  war.  He  was  in  Harrisons  army  during  the 
war  of  1812,  and  at  the  siege  of  Fort  Meigs. 
In  1835,  he  tired  of  increasing  civilization,  and 
removed  to  Wood  County,  Ohio,  where  he  died 
in  1846. '  Rev.  Mr.  Badger  established  the 
first  church,  of  which  we  have  any  record,  in 


^ 


At 


272 


HISTORY  or    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Summit  County,  on  the  4th  of  September,  1802, 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Hudson,  in  Hudson  Town- 
ship. The  societ}^  consisted  of  thirteen  persons, 
not  one  of  whom  but  has  been  called  to  account 
for  "  the  deeds  done  in  the  bod3^"  A  full  his- 
tory of  this  pioneer  church  will  be  found  in  the 
chapter  devoted  to  Hudson. 

The  pioneers  of  Summit  County  had  been 
brought  up  under  the  rigid  system  of  Puritan- 
ism, imbibed,  as  it  were,  from  Plymouth  Rock 
itself,  and  hence,  when  they  came  to  "  New 
Connecticut,"  as  this  region  was  then  called, 
these  religious  principles  were  still  held,  and 
most  scrupulously  guarded.  A  writer  upon 
this  subject,  whose  ripe  scholarship  and  vast 
experience  entitles  his  opinion  to  some  weight, 
sa3's  :  "  They  brought  to  this  new  land  a  relig- 
ious spirit  that  eagerly  seized  upon  '  The  Re- 
serve,' as  a  means  to  propagate  a  theology  that 
had  hitherto  flourished  only  within  the  rock- 
bound  limits  of  New  England.  In  their  native 
land,  hedged  about  by  traditions  that  had  com- 
manded the  unquestioning  respect  of  parents 
and  children  for  many  generations  ;  opposition 
had  been  thrust  out,  and  the  people  began  to 
feel,  like  the  Jews  of  old,  that  they  were  es^je- 
cially  aided  of  God,  and  that  they  alone  had 
kept  the  faith  undefiled.  But,  hitherto,  it  had 
not  been  successfully  transplanted,  and,  when 
the  '  Western  Reserve '  was  placed  in  the  con- 
trol of  those  '  to  the  manor  born,'  a  prominent 
thought  in  their  minds  was  that  now  favorable 
circumstances  were  to  aid  in  transplanting  the 
Puritan  faith  to  a  spot  peculiarly  guai'ded, 
from  which  its  influence,  like  the  light,  should 
dispel  the  the  darkness,  and  make  the  Church 
of  New  England  the  church  universal.  Ac- 
cepting the  dogma  of  '  original  sin,'  they  got 
beneath  the  denunciatory  preaching  of  their 
native  land,  with  a  meekness  that  was  satisfied, 
if,  by  the  rigid  rule  of  practice  laid  down,  they 
might,  peradventure,  be  saved.  But  under  this 
quiet  exterior,  there  was  a  true  war-like  spirit, 
and  the  mind  of  each  member  of  the  church, 
that  had  reached  maturity  of  thought,  was  an 
arsenal  of  theological  weapons.  At  church 
meetings,  in  the  social  circles,  and  on  the  street, 
the  ponderous  themes  of '  election,'  '  fore-ordina- 
tion,' '  the  perseverance  of  the  saints,'  and  kin- 
dred subjects,  were  prominent  topics,  and 
wielded  with  a  power  and  an  address  that  viv- 
idly recalls  the  physical  combat  of  mediseval 
times.     On  coming  to  the  new  country,  how- 


ever, these  characteristics  experienced  a  change. 
The  standing  army  had  been  mobilized,  and 
each  member  was  imbued  with  the  enthu- 
siasm of  a  crusader,  but  they  found  here  an 
enemy,  to  subdue  whom  their  arsenal  held  no 
adequate  weapon.  Their  fulminations  of  the 
decrees  were  met  with  an  appeal  to  common- 
sense  philosophy  ;  dogmas  were  met  with  the 
demand  for  freedom  of  thought ;  and  the  result 
here,  as  in  many  a  physical  conflict,  was  that 
the  light-armed  forces  completely  demoralized 
those  strong  only  in  their  defensive  armor,  and 
forced  them  to  accept,  and,  in  the  end,  to  cham- 
pion, that  freedom  of  thought  that  they  had 
early  learned  to  denounce  as  heresy." 

The  early  religious  history  of  '•  The  Reserve  " 
would  make  an  interesting  volume,  and  one  of 
considerable  magnitude,  but  our  space  will  not 
admit  of  more  than  a  passing  glance  in  this 
chapter.  The  early  missionaries  and  pioneer 
preachers,  as  we  have  said,  came  to  the  county 
with  the  early  settlers  themselves.  Rev.  David 
Bacon  was  one  of  these  pioneer  soldiers  of  the 
Cross,  and  the  next  minister  in  this  section,  per- 
haps, a  Mr.  Badger.  He  established  a  "  Church 
of  Christ,"  in  Tallmadge,  in  1809.  This  early 
temple  of  God  consisted  of  ten  members,  five 
males  and  five  females,  and,  "  having  no  meet- 
ing-house, they  met  in  private  houses  and 
barns."  Of  the  church,  established  by  Mr. 
Bacon,  Gen.  Bierce  says  :  "  Imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  New  England  theology,  Mr.  Bacon 
conceived  the  project  of  transplanting  it  into 
the  Western  world.  A  religious  colony  was 
his  favorite  theory,  in  which  all  should  believe 
alike  and  be  bound  to  contribute  to  the  support 
of  the  Gospel  by  a  tax  on  the  land,  which  should 
be  tantamount  to  a  mortgage  on  the  property. 
*  *  *  Mr.  Bacon  had  previously  pur- 
chased from  Tallmadge  &  Starr  12,000  acres  of 
land  at  $1.50  per  acre.  *  *  *  This 
purchase  gave  him  a  controlling  interest  in  the 
township.  In  all  subsequent  sales  by  him,  he 
inserted  a  clause  in  the  contract  charging  every 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  sold,  with  a  tax  of 
$2  a  year  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel — and 
none  but  believers  in  the  Saybi'ook  platform 
could  have  any  land  at  any  price,  or  on  any 
condition  except  that  of  joining  the  church." 
Doubtless  the  reverend  gentleman  was  looking 
forward  to  that  good  time  coming,  when  "the 
lamb  and  the  lion  shall  lie  down  together,"  and 
we  shall  all  see  alike  and  be  alike  and  love 


'k^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


273 


each  other  like  one  great  family.  But  the 
world  was  not  old  enough  nor  ripe  enough  for 
so  grand  and  glorious  a  scheme,  and  hence  Mr. 
Bacon  was  doomed  to  a  bitter  disappointment. 
Other  individuals  and  companies  holding  lands, 
sold  them  "  unincumbered  by  restrictions  as  to 
religious  beliefs,"  and  free  of  any  tax  for  church 
or  Gospel  purposes.  The  liberality  and  freedom 
of  these  titles,  compared  to  the  entailed  incum- 
brance of  the  Bacon  system,  soon  broke  up 
the  latter  and  the  '■  theory  of  an  exclusive  relig- 
ious community  failed."  Members  who,  of 
their  own  free-will  and  accord,  were  willing  to 
contribute  to  the  support  of  the  Gospel,  pro- 
tested against  being  driven  into  support  of  it, 
whether  the}'  were  willing  or  not,  and,  as  a 
natural  consequence,  a  spirit  of  bitterness  was 
engendered  in  the  church  "  which  brought  forth 
anything  but  holiness."  The  feeling  against 
Mr.  Bacon  became  so  strong  that  he  was  finally 
forced  to  resign  his  charge.  This  he  did  in  the 
spring  of  1812  ;  also,  "  gave  up  his  land  con- 
tract and  abandoned  his  Utopian  scheme."  He 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Mr.  Woodruff,  who,  it 
seems,  did  not  continue  in  the  high  esteem  of 
the  church  for  any  length  of  time.  His  resig- 
nation was  earnestl}'  sought,  and,  when  ten- 
dered, was  eagerly  accepted.  The  history  of 
this  church  will  be  given  more  full}-  in  another 
chapter. 

A  log  meeting  house  was  erected  in  Tall- 
madge  in  1814,  and  in  1817  an  edifice  for 
church  purposes  was  built  in  Hudson.  Elder 
Newcomb  was  an  early  divine  of  Coplc}'  Town- 
ship, and  preached  the  first  sermon  in  that 
division  of  the  county.  The  first  society  organ- 
ized there,  however,  was  by  Mr.  Pettitt,  a  Con- 
gregational minister,  in  1832.  Religious  meet- 
ings were  held  in  Twinsburg  in  1820.  A  Con- 
gregational Church  was  formed  in  that  town- 
ship in  1828,  by  Rev.  Samuel  Bissell.  Thus 
the  Gospel  spread  and  churches  were  organized 
as  the  county  became  peopled  by  the  whites, 
until  now,  side  by  side  with  the  schoolhouse, 
we  find  in  every  section,  those 

"Steeple  towers 
And  spires,  whose  silent  fingers  point  to  Heaven." 

The  cause  of  education  received  the  earh' 
attention  of  the  pioneers  of  Summit  County, 
and  among  these  Connecticut  Yankees  it  found 
a  congenial  soil  in  which  it  flourished,  and  has 
brought  forth  fruit  a  hundred   fold.      In  the 


early  settlement  of  this  part  of  the  State,  there 
were  a  great  many  influences  that  worked 
against  general  education.  Neighborhoods  were 
thinly  settled,  money  was  scarce,  and  the  peo- 
ple generall}'  were  poor.  There  were  no  school- 
houses,  nor  was  there  an}'  public  school  fund 
to  build  schoolhouses,  or  even  to  pay  teachers. 
All  persons  of  either  sex,  who  had  physical 
strength  enough  to  labor,  were  compelled  to 
take  their  part  in  the  work,  the  labor  of  the 
females  being  as  heav}'  and  important  as  that 
of  the  men  ;  and  this  straixi  upon  their  industry 
continued  for  years.  Another  drawback  to 
education  was  a  lack  of  teachers  and  of  books. 
Taking  all  these  facts  together,  it  is  a  great 
source  of  wonder  that  the  pioneers  had  any 
schools  at  all.  But  the  earl}'  settlers,  who  came 
pi'incipally  from  New  England,  the  seat  of 
learning  and  the  birth-place  of  liberal  educa- 
tion, desen^e  the  highest  honors  for  their 
prompt  and  energetic  efforts  in  the  establish- 
ment of  schools.  Just  as  soon  as  the  settle- 
ments would  at  all  justify,  schools  were  opened 
at  each  one,  and  any  vacant  cabin,  stable,  barn 
or  other  outhouse  was  used  as  a  temple  of 
learning.  The  schools  were  paid  for  by  sub- 
scription, at  the  rate  of  about  50  or  75  cents  a 
month  per  scholar.  Although  the  people  of 
Ohio  and  of  Summit  County  displayed  this 
early  interest  in  the  cause  of  education,  yet, 
when  the  State  Legislature  passed  a  law  in 
1825,  making  education  compulsory,  it  raised 
quite  a  tempest  for  a  time.  The  taxpayers  of  the 
country  at  large  very  heartily  indorsed  the 
Legislature  in  passing  the  Canal  Law,  which 
voted  away  millions  of  money,  but  as  heartily 
condemned  it  for  passing  a  law  compelling  them 
to  support  "  pauper  schools,"  and  the  poorer 
classes  wei-e  loud  in  their  condemnation,  be- 
cause the  law  made  •'  pauper  scholars  "  of  their 
children. 

Those  who  remember  the  early  school-laws  of 
Ohio  will  remember  the  frequent  changes  made 
in  them,  and  how  crude  and  imperfect  they 
were  as  compared  to  the  present  law.  The 
early  laws  were  changed  every  session  of  the 
Legislature,  until  they  became  a  perfect  chaos 
of  amendments,  provisions,  etc.,  which  none 
were  wholly  able  to  explain  or  understand. 
One  district  would  act  under  one  law,  and  an 
adjoining  district  under  altogether  a  different 
one.  But  the  adoption  of  a  new  Constitution 
gave  the  State  a  revised  school  law,  said,  at 


:rr 


274 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


the  time  of  its  adoption,  to  be  the  best  and 
most  perfect  within  the  bounds  of  the  Union. 
And  from  that  day  to  the  present,  it  has  kept 
its  place  as  the  best  and  most  liberal  school  law 
of  any  of  the  States. 

The  early  schoolhouses,  as  a  general  thing, 
were  of  the  poorest  kind.  In  towns,  they  were 
dilapidated  buildings,  either  frame  or  logs,  and 
in  the  countiy  they  were  invariably  of  logs. 
Usually  but  one  style  of  architecture  was  used 
in  building  them.  They  were  erected,  not  from 
a  regular  fund  or  by  subscription,  but  by  labor 
given.  The  neighbors  would  gather  together 
at  some  place  previously  agreed  upon,  and  with 
ax  in  hand  the  work  was  soon  done.  Logs 
were  cut  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  feet  in  length, 
and  of  these  the  walls  were  raised.  Broad 
boards  composed  the  roof,  and  a  rude  fire-place 
and  clapboard  door,  a  puncheon  floor,  and  the 
cracks  filled  with  "  chinks,"  and  these  daubed 
over  with  mud  completed  the  schoolhouse,  with 
the  exception  of  the  windows  and  the  furniture. 
These  were  as  rude  and  as  primitive  as  the 
house  itself.  The  window  was  made  by  cutting 
out  a  log  the  full  length  of  the  building,  and 
over  the  opening,  in  winter,  paper,  saturated 
with  grease,  served  to  admit  the  light.  Just 
under  this  window,  two  or  three  stout  pins 
were  driven  in  the  log  in  a  slanting  direction, 
on  which  a  log  puncheon  was  fastened,  and  this 
was  the  "writing  desk"  of  the  whole  school. 
For  seats,  they  used  benches  made  from  small 
trees,  cut  in  lengths  of  ten  or  twelve  feet,  split 
open,  and  in  the  round  side  two  large  holes 
were  bored  at  each  end,  and  in  each  a  stout 
pin,  fifteen  inches,  was  driven.  These  pins 
formed  the  legs,  and  on  rough  and  uneven 
floors,  hardly  ever  more  than  three  of  these  legs 
"touched  bottom"  at  one  and  the  same  time. 
And  the  books  !  They  were  as  promiscuous  as 
the  house  and  furniture  were  rude.  The  New 
Testament  was  the  most  popular  reader. 
"  Introduction  to  the  English  Reader,"  "  Sequel 
to  the  English  Reader,"  and  finally  the  reader 
itself,  were  in  the  collection  of  school-books  of 
the  time.  The  New  England  Primer  was  one 
of  the  primary  books.  The  higher  spellers 
were  Dil worth's  and  then  Webster's.  Gram- 
mar was  scarcely  ever  taught ;  when  it  was, 
the  text-books  used  were  Murray's  and  Kirk- 
ham's  Grammars.  But  it  is  unnecessary  to 
follow  the  description  further.  Those  who  have 
known  only  the  perfect  system  of  schools  of 


the  present  can  scarcely  form  an  idea  of  the 
limited  capacity  of  educational  facilities  in  this 
favored  region  fifty  to  seventy  years  ago.  There 
are  doubtless,  however,  many  still  living  in 
Summit  County  who.  from  personal  experience, 
know  something  of  pioneer  schools  and  school- 
houses. 

The  first  school  taught  in  Summit  County 
was  b}'  George  Pease,  in  the  fall  and  winter  of 
1801.  The  house  in  which  it  was  taught  stood 
on  the  southwest  corner  of  Lot  56,  of  Hud- 
son Township,  and  "  near  the  center  of  what 
was  then  the  public  square."  The  next 
school  in  this  settlement  was  taught  in 
the  same  house  by  Miss  Patty  Filer.  The 
first  school  was  taught  in  Norton  Township  by 
Sarah  Wyatt,  in  a  little  log  cabin  near  John- 
son's Corners.  In  1809,  a  school  was  taught 
in  Northampton  by  Justus  Remington,  and  in 
Richfield  a  Mr.  Farnum  was  the  pioneer  peda- 
gogue. In  the  winter  of  1812,  Reuben  Upson 
wielded  the  birch  and  ferule  in  Springfield 
Township  in  a  little  house  that  stood  near  Cass' 
Camp-ground  ;  Miss  Luc}"  Foster  performed  the 
same  office  in  Tallmadge  Township  in  1810,  in 
a  small  log  shanty  that  stood  south  of  the  cen- 
ter. Rachel  Hammond,  in  1811,  taught  the 
first  school  in  Bath  Township,  in  a  house  be- 
longing to  Aaron  Miller,  and  Lois  Ann  Gear 
taught  the  first  in  Boston  Township,  in  the 
summer  of  the  same  3'ear  ;  in  1817,  Joseph 
Mishler  taught  the  first  school  in  Franklin 
Township,  in  a  log  house  that  had  been  built 
for  a  church. 

From  these  facts  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
pioneers  of  Summit  County  lost  no  time  in 
establishing  schools  in  the  new  country  to 
which  they  had  come.  As  we  have  said, 
there  were  no  free  schools  then,  but  all  schools 
were  paid  for  by  general  subscription. 

The  county,  in  addition  to  its  excellent  s^^s- 
tem  of  common  schools,  has,  at  the  present 
time,  several  colleges,  academies  and  high 
schools  in  successful  operation.  These  will  be 
written  up  fully  in  the  respective  townships  in 
which  they  are  located.  The  educational  his- 
tory of  each  township  will  also  be  given,  from 
the  small  beginnings  already  noticed,  through 
its  various  changes  and  improvements,  to  its 
present  perfect  state. 

The  following  statistics,  from  the  report  of 
the  State  Board  of  Education,  will  be  found  of 
general  interest : 


j^: 


i^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


275 


MONEY  RECEIVED   WITHIN   THE   YEAR. 

Balance  on  hand  September  1,  1878. . . .  $67,558  30 

State  Tax 22,405  26 

Irreducible  School  Fund 1,688  58 

Local  Tax  for  School  and  Schoolhouse 

Purposes 84,371  49 

Amount  received  on  sale  of  bonds 1,040  20 

From  fines,  licenses  and  other  sources.  .  3,130  77 

Total  receipts $180,194  60 

Amount  paid  teachers $70,226  10 

Managina;  and  superinten'g       2,005  00 

Sites  and"  buildings 19,477  50 

Interest  on  redemption  of 

bonds 6,683  49 

Fuel  and  other  contingent 

expenses 18,610  53 


Total  expenditures 

Balance  on  hand  September  1,  '79, 


$117,002  62 
$63,191  98 


Payment  to  Summit  County $19,362  00 

Received  from  Summit  County 22,003  28 

Excess  of  Receipts  from  county.  .        $2,641  28 

Section  16  Fund $  588  70 

Western  Reserve  Fund 1,115  52 


Total 


$1,704  22 


Youths  between  six  and  twenty-one  years- 
White,  males,  6,601  ;  females,  6,241. . . 
Colored,  males,  51  ;  females,  55 


12,842 
106 


Total 12,948 

Number  of  Schoolhouses  in  County — 

Townships,  primary,  144  ;  high,  1 145 

Separate  districts,  primary,  17 ;  high,  7,  24 

Total 169 

Total  value  of  School  Property — 

Townships,  primary,   $141,792  ;  high, 

$6,000 $147, 792 

Separate  district,  primary,  $157,500  ; 

high.  $38,800 $196,300 


Total $344,092 

Number  of  difEerent  teachers  employed — 
Townships,  primary,  males,   125  ;  fe- 
males, 124  ;  high,  males,  2 251 

Separate  districts,  primary,  males,  3  ; 
females,  68  ;  high,  males,  7 ;  females, 
13 


Total 

Average  wages  paid  teachers — 

Townships,  primary,  males,  per  month, 
primary,  females,  per  month, 

high,  males 

high,  females 

Separate  districts,  primary,  males. . . . 
primary,  females.  . 

high,  males 

Tiigh,  females 


91 
342 

$35 
26 
62 
00 

113 
40 
90 
70 


No.  of  different  pupils  enrolled  within  the  year — 
Townships,  primary,  males,  3,092  ;  fe- 
males, 2,552 ;  high,    males,   28  ;  fe- 
male, 23 5,665 

Separate  districts,  primary,  males,  1,- 
742 ;  females,  1,743 ;  high,  males, 
346  ;  females,  430 4,261 

Total 9,926 

Average  daily  attendance — 

Townships,  primary,  males,  1,536  ;  fe- 
males, 1,231  ;  high,  males,  13 ;  fe- 
males, 11 2,791 

Separate  districts,  primary,  males,  1,- 
326 ;  females,  1,313 ;  high,  males, 
210;  females,   309 3,1.58 

Total 5,949 

Per  cent  of  average  daily  attendance  of  monthly  en- 
rollment— Townships,  .75  ;  separate  districts, 
.92. 
Teachers  employed  in  private  schools — 

In  townships,  5  ;  separate  districts  40  45 

Pupils  enrolled  in  private  schools — 

Separate  districts,  males,  205  ;  females, 

250 455 

No.  of  students  in  attendance  at  Buchtel  College- 
Males,  104  ;  females,  52 156 

No.  of  students  in  attendance  at  Western  Reserve 
College — 
Males,  93  ;  females,  6 99 

The  following  is  from  David  Ellet,  County 
Examiner,  to  the  State  Board  of  Education  : 
"The  schools  of  this  count}'  are  slowly  and 
steadily  improving  in  efficiency  and  usefulness. 
The}'  will  compare  favorably  with  those  of  the 
adjoining  counties.  Many  of  our  teachers  de- 
sire to  know  more  of  teaching  as  a  profession, 
and,  as  a  result  of  this,  avail  themselves  largely 
of  the  opportunities  furnished  in  this  direction 
by  our  county  institutes.  Our  schools  need  more 
good  teachers — teachers  better  qualified  by  edu- 
cation, by  experience,  and  by  devotion  to  their 
work.  They  want  more  good  school  officers, 
and  more  earnestness,  more  enthusiasm,  a 
greater  sense  of  responsibility  in  all  who  are 
connected  with  the  schools.  In  some  localities 
an  improved  state  of  opinion  is  needed  among 
those  who  patronize  the  schools,  a  more  intelli- 
gent acquaintance  with  their  present  condition, 
and  a  more  enlarged  appreciation  of  their  capa- 
bilities." The  above  is  sound  doctrine,  and 
should  be  well  considered  by  those  who  are 
concerned  in  the  cause  of  education. 

A  few  extracts  from  the  annual  report  of 
Hon.  J.  J.  Burns,  State  Commissioner  of 
Schools,  appear  to  us  so  appropriate  in  this 
connection  that  we  give  place  to  them.     He 


#* 


276 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


saj'S  :  "  How  shall  we  cause  our  pupils  to  make 
the  largest  possible  attainments  in  these 
foundation  branches,  and  also  have  them,  when 
they  leave  school,  thirsting  for  more  knowl- 
edge, and  possessing  trained  mental  faculties  so 
that  they  may  acquire  it ;  the  organ  of  these 
faculties  to  be  contained  in  a  healthy  body, 
while  mind  and  body  are  under  the  guidance 
of  correct  moral  principles  ?  To  avoid  waste 
of  time  and  labor  is  to  be  able  to  better  do 
the  work  in  hand,  and  to  apply  the  savings  to 
something  beyond.  A  search  for  wastage  is  a 
highly  practical  thing,  and  economy  here,  a 
moral  dut}'.  I  have  often  asserted  that  there 
is  a  wastage  in  having  pupils  spend  time  in 
learning  to  spell  hundreds — yes,  thousands — of 
words  which  they  never  have  occasion  to  use 
outside  of  the  spelling-class,  while  probably  the 
dictionary,  which  should  be  in  constant  use, 
rests  in  pensive  quietness  on  the  teacher's 
desk,  if,  indeed,  there  is  one  in  the  room.  The 
meaning  of  words  and  their  pronunciation  are 
of  far  more  moment  than  their  spelling.  The 
best  text-books  from  which  to  learn  these  are 
the  reader  and  dictionary  ;  and  the  best  proofs 
of  progress  are  correct  oral  reading  and  written 
compositions.  Is  there  anything  better  than  a 
common  spelling-book  exercise  to  cause  pupils 
to  think  that  we  learn  words  for  the  sake  of 
knowing  how  to  spell  them  ?  that  we  are  seek- 
ing not  kernels  but  shells  ?  In  penmanship, 
we  want  more  drill  in  writing  from  dictation,  in 
having  the  pupils  put  their  thoughts  or  recollec- 
tions upon  paper  rapidly  and  neatly.  Copying 
that  beautiful  line  at  the  top  of  the  page  with 
care  and  patience  is  a  good  exercise,  but  some 
better  g3'mnastic  is  required  to  fit  the  writer  for 
hours  of  real  work.  In  one  way  and  another, 
language  rightly  claims  a  large  share  of  the  at- 
tention of  the  teacher.  It  is  the  grand  charac- 
teristic which  distinguishes  man  from  the  other 
animals,  the  most  direct  product  of  his  inner 
consciousness. 

"  The  child  has  begun  the  study  of  language 
before  his  school  life  commences.  Learning  to 
talk  seems  as  natural  as  learning  to  laugh,  or 
cry,  or  play.  But  so  much  of  knowledge  and  of 
the  world  is  hidden  in  books,  that  a  key  must  be 
found  to  unlock  these  treasures,  and  that  key  is 
reading — the  power  to  translate  the  written 
word  ;  to  recognize  it  as  the  graphic  symbol  of 
an  idea  before  in  possession,  so  that  the  ability 
to  reverse  the  process  will  follow,  and  printed 


words  become  the  source  of  ideas.  As  the 
pupil  masters  words  and  their  meaning,  he  is 
getting  into  his  possession  the  tools  with  which 
he  may  dig  in  books  for  further  knowledge, 
make  his  own  knowledge  more  useful  to  him  as 
a  social  being,  and  secure  a  body  for  his 
thoughts,  without  which  incarnation  they  are 
as  little  subject  to  control  as  the  weird  fancies 
of  a  dream.  The  art  of  silent  reading  deserves 
more  attention  in  school — practice  in  grasping 
the  meaning  of  a  passage  in  the  shortest 
possible  time,  and  reproducing  it  with  pen  or 
tongue.  But  along  with  this,  in  its  earlier 
stages,  and  a  short  time  preceding  it,  is  the  oral 
reading  exercise,  wherein  the  reader  must 
serve  as  eyes  to  the  listeners,  so  that  they  ma^', 
through  his  voice,  see  the  printed  page.  How 
much  inspiration  is  there  in  this  work  when  each 
listener  has  the  page  before  his  own  eyes  ?  The 
translation  of  a  written  sentence  into  a  spoken 
sentence  is  much  more  than  the  mere  transla- 
tion, in  their  right  order,  of  the  iconh  of  the 
written  sentence  :  and  to  do  this  well  requires, 
besides  the  names  of  the  written  characters, 
culture  of  voice,  training  of  eye,  quickening  of 
emotion.  To  serve  as  a  medium  through  which 
others  may  know  the  printed  page,  catching  its 
syllables  upon  the  ear,  is  not  low  art.  To 
breathe  life  into  dead  words,  and  send  them 
into  the  depths  of  the  moral  and  intellectual 
nature  of  the  hearer,  and  that  with  power  to 
convince,  to  arouse,  to  subdue,  greater  than  if 
the  hearer  had  been  his  own  interpreter,  is  high 
art  indeed.  We  cannot,  however,  afford  the 
time,  even  if  that  were  the  only  obstacle,  to 
train  all  our  school  children  to  be  readers  in 
this  artistic  sense.  We  must  content  ourselves 
with  the  more  modest  aim,  and  remember  that, 
after  all,  the  prime  object  of  the  reading  exer- 
cise in  school  is  not  to  train  the  3'outh  to  shine 
as  elocutionists,  or  serve  as  a  mirror  for  others, 
but  to  impart  to  them  the  ability  to  get  knowl- 
edge from  books,  and  to  keep  alive  a  hunger 
for  it,  thus  'determinating  the  pupil  to  self- 
activit}-,'  which  Hamilton  calls  the  '  primary 
principle  of  education.' 

"  Another  language  of  great  value  is  com- 
mitting to  memoi'y — learning  by  heart  well, 
plirases — choice  selections,  gems  of  thought 
and  expression,  culled  from  the  best  writings  of 
the  best  writers.  These  should  be  judiciousl}' 
selected,  so  as  not  to  be  too  much  be3-ond  the 
easy  comprehension  of  the  pupil.     They  should. 


■?1' 


tk^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


277 


above  all  other  requisites,  be  pure,  healthful, 
inspiring.  The  teacher  should  add  interest  to 
the  work  by  relating  incidents  in  the  life  of  the 
authors.  We  know  with  what  tenacity  the 
memory  clings  to  the  simple  rhymes  learned  in 
childhood.  If  this  work  be  continued  as  it 
should  be,  who  can  den}^  its  lasting  effects  upon 
life?  A  refined  taste  and  quickened  intellect 
may  be  hoped  for  as  the  result  of  drinking  in 
and  assimilating  beautiful  thoughts  in  chaste, 
musical  language— words  of  warning  or  of  ap- 
proval, flashed  by  the  memory  upon  the  judg- 
ment in  the  time  of  temptation,  of  resistance 
thereto.  ********* 
"  One  very  good  result  of  increased  attention 
to  literature  in  the  schools  is  the  marked  in- 
crease in  the  amount  of  wholesome  reading — 
history,  biography,  travels,  poetry,  popular  sci- 
ence and  the  lessened  demand  for  dime  novels 
and  other  low  fiction.  Few  questions  are,  in 
their  bearing  upon  the  future  of  our  country, 
more  important  than  this  :  What  are  the  hoys 
and  girls  reading?  I  would  not,  then,  have 
less  time  spent  in  our  schools  upon  language, 
but  teachers  may  well  look  into  the  subject, 
and  see  whether  that  time  is  spent  to  the  best 
advantage.  The  puplic  regard  arithmetic,  par 
excellence,  as  the  practical  study.  It  is  the 
practical  educator's  strong  tower,  and  we  have 
it  taught  in  season  and  out.  The  nine  digits 
seem  to  have  taken  the  place  of  the  heathen 
gods,  and  their  demand  for  offerings  knows  no 
cessation.  Measured  by  any  definition  of  the 
practical,  as  a  means  either  to  fit  one  directly 
for  bread-getting  in  the  common  business  of 
life,  or  as  a  means  of  mental  culture  and  disci- 
pline, a  large  part  of  arithmetic,  as  found  in 
our  books  and  taught  from  them,  falls  short. 
Instead  of  introducing,  at  an  early  stage,  the 
science  of  geometry,  we  fritter  away  valuable 
time  upon  annuities  and  alligation,  and  pro- 
gression ;  and,  as  for  interest,  one  would  think 
that  mankind  in  general  made  a  living  by  shav- 
ing each  other's  notes.  Children  begin  early 
to  develop  the  idea  of  numbers.  It  concerns 
matters  of  their  daily  life.  The  elemental  steps 
of  writing  and  reading  numbers,  or  the  sym- 
bols of  numbers,  naturally  follow,  and,  usually, 
are  not  difficult  of  acquirement.  But  there  is 
such  a  gap  between  the  conditions  needed  for 
the  ready  learning  of  these  things,  and  the 
more  mature  judgment  and  that  knowledge  of 
business  and  the  world,  demanded  in  the  intelli- 


gent solution  of  ordinarily  difficult  problems  in 
discount  and  certain  other  branches  of  applied 
arithmetic.  Back  and  forth  across  this  stretch 
the  boy's  mind  must  swing  like  a  pendulum, 
repelled  by  what  it  cannot  comprehend,  and  by 
what  it  has  grown  tired  of.  He  marks  time, 
when  he  could  so  readily  oblique  into  some 
other  study  and  march  forward.  Then,  by  and 
by,  if  these  advanced  parts  of  arithmetical 
science  are  needed,  their  acquisition  would  be 
easy.  Meanwhile,  the  child  may  give  increased 
attention  to  literature  and  be  learning  interest- 
ing and  profitable  lessons  about  this  world  into 
which  he  has  come,  and  in  what  he  came,  and 
how  to  take  care  of  it.  While  these  priceless 
practical  lessons  are  in  progress,  one  can  fanc}'^ 
that  the  arithmetic  itself  would  enjoy  the  rest. 

"  In  the  time  which  can  be  saved,  also  a  few 
short  steps  could  be  taken  in  some  other 
branches  now  much  neglected.  The  reason  for, 
and  the  practical  mode  of,  doing  man}'  things 
which  are  to  be  done  in  real  life  b}'  the  citizen, 
the  man  of  business,  th6  manager  of  a  house- 
hold, might  be  taught  in  the  schools.  Some- 
thing of  the  nature  of  the  materials  which  we 
eat,  drink  and  wear,  and  economy  in  the  buy- 
ing and  using,  would  be  excellent  lessons.  If 
He  is  a  benefactor  of  mankind  who  causes  two 
blades  of  grass  to  grow  where  one  grew  before, 
the  language  does  not  furnish  a  name  for  him 
or  her  who  shall  cause  the  laboring  man  to 
know  how  to  make  $1  produce  the  good  results 
for  which  he  must  now  expend  two.  No  mat- 
ter whether  we  regard  the  school  as  established 
primarily  for  the  good  of  the  children,  or  for 
the  preservation  of  the  State,  we  must  admit 
that  the  most  valuable  result  of  all  education, 
is  the  building  of  good  characters.  This,  to 
speak  definitely,  is  to  instill  correct  principles, 
and  train  in  right  habits.  Citizens  with  these 
'  constitute  a  State.'  Men  and  women  with 
these  are  in  possession  of  what  best  assures 
rational  happiness,  the  end  and  aim  of  human 
life." 

In  his  report  of  1878,  upon  the  subject  of 
Compulsory  Education — a  .subject  which  is  now 
receiving  considerable  attention  in  many  of  the 
States — the  State  Commissioner  says  :  "  Con- 
cerning the  right  of  State  or  Grovernment  to 
pass  and  carry  into  effect  what  is  known  as 
Compulsory  Laws,  and  require  parents  and 
guardians,  even  against  their  will,  to  send  their 
children  to  school,  there  does  not  appear  to  be 


PT 


:^i 


278 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


much  diversity  of  opinion.  Concerning  the 
polic}'  thereof,  dependent  upon  so  many  known 
and  unknown  conditions,  there  is  the  widest 
diversity.  I  can  write  no  history  of  the  results 
of  the  act  of  March  20,  1877,  for  it  does  not 
seem  to  have  any.  A  great  good  would  be 
wrought  if  the  wisdom  of  the  General  Assembly 
could  devise  some  means  which  shall  strengthen 
and  supplement  the  powers  of  Boards  of  Edu- 
cation, and  enable  them  to  prevent  truancy,  even 
if  only  in  cases  where  parents  desire  their  chil- 
dren to  attend  school  regularly,  but  parental 
authority  is  too  weak  to  secure  that  end.  The 
instances  are  not  few  in  which  parents  would 
welcome  aid  in  this  matter,  knowing  that  truan- 
cy is  often  the  first  step  in  a  path  leading 
through  the  dark  mazes  of  idleness,  vagabond- 
age and  crime. 

"  Whatever  may  be  said  of  young  children 
working  in  mills  and  factories,  j^outhful  idlers 
upon  the  streets  of  towns  and  cities  should  be 
gathered  up  by  somebody  and  compelled  to  do 
something.  If  they  learn  nothing  else,  there 
will  at  least  be  this  salutary  lesson,  that  society 
is  stronger  than  they,  and  without  injuring  them, 
will  use  its  strength  to  protect  itself  While  we 
are  establishing  reform  schools  for  those  who 
have  started  in  the  way  to  their  own  ruin,  and 
have  donned  the  uniform  of  the  enemies  of  civil 
society,  it  would  be  a  heavenly  importation  to 
provide  some  way  to  rescue  those  who  are  3'et 
lingering  around  the  camp." 

The  Press  of  Summit  County/^ — We  have  been 
fortunate  in  finding  the  very  "  fountain  head  " 
of  the  copious  flow  of  local  literature — polite, 
political,  miscellaneous  and  otherwise — with 
which  the  people  of  the  territory  now  embraced 
in  Summit  County,  have  been  blessed  during  the 
past  sixty  years.  In  August,  1825,  Mr.  Laurin 
Dewey,  a  young  printer  from  Ravenna,  after- 
ward well-known  as  a  prominent  Whig  politi- 
cian in  Northern  Ohio,  issued  a  prospectus  for 
a  paper  to  be  published  in  the  village  of  Middle- 
bury,  now  the  Sixth  Ward  of  Akron,  to  be  called 
the  Ohio  Canal  Advocate.  To  aid  him  in  this 
enterprise,  a  subscription  paper  was  circulated 
among  the  people  of  Middlebury,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  copy  : 

•'  We,  the  subscribers,  being  anxious  for  the 
prosperity  of  this  section  of  the  country,  and 
the  dissemination  of  useful  information  gener- 
ally, do  severally  agree  to  pay  the  sums  set  op- 

*  Written  by  Samuel  A.  Lane. 


posite  our  respective  names,  for  the  purpose  of 
purchasing  a  printing  press,  types,  etc.,  and  for 
erecting  a  printing  establishment  in  the  village 
of  Middlebury,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Lau- 
rin Dewey,  who  will  edit  and  publish  a  weekly 
paper,  devoted  to  the  general  interests  of  the 
country,  advertising,  etc.,  the  columns  to  be  en- 
riched by  foreign  and  domestic  news,  religious 
intelligence,  poetry,  etc.;  the  sums  so  by  us  paid 
to  be  considered  in  the  nature  of  a  loan,  to  be 
repaid  whenever  the  editor  shall  consider  him- 
self able  to  do  so." 

The  names  of  the  signers  of  this  document, 
with  their  several  contributions  to  the  purchas- 
ing fund,  are  as  follows  :  Charles  Sumner,  $10  ; 
Erastus  Torrey,  $10  ;  Henry  Chittenden,  $5  ; 
Nathan  Gillett,  Jr.,  $5  ;  Rufus  Hart,  $3  ;  Ed- 
ward Sumner,  $10  ;  Samuel  Newton,  $10  ; 
Charles  W.  Brown,  $5  ;  Benajah  A.  Allen,  $3  ; 
Phineas  Pettis,  $5  ;  Elijah  Mason,  $5  ;  John 
McMillan,  Jr.,  $10;  Spencer  &  Morgan,  $15; 
Alexander  C.  Lawson,  $2  ;  William  McGallard, 
$2  ;  D.  W.  Williams,  $5  ;  Thomas  C.  Viall,  $2  ; 
Jacob  Kaufman,  $5  ;  Jesse  Allen,  $4  ;  Ithiel 
Mills,  $3  ;  Amos  Spicer,  $4 ;  William  Bell,  $3  ; 
Roswell  Kent  &  Co.,  $5  ;  Henry  Squires,  $5  ; 
Elisha  Farnam,  $5  ;  Joseph  W.  Brown  ;  $5  ; 
Horatio  Howard,  $5  ;  Ambrose  S.  Cotter,  $5  ; 
Henry  Rhodes,  $3  ;  William  Phelps,  $2  ;  Will- 
iam J.  Hart,  $3  ;  R.  &  S.  McClure,  $5  ;  Theophi- 
lus  Potter,  $2  ;  Joshua  Richards,  $2  ;  Bagley 
&  Humphrey,  $10  ;  Leonard  Chatfleld,  $2  ; 
David  Jones,  $2  ;  Titus  Chapman,  $2  ;  Julius 
A.  Sumner,  $3  ;  Miner  Spicei",  $4 ;  Alpheus 
Hart,  $1  ;  Paul  Williams,  $2  ;  Guerdon  Geer, 
$5.  Total  amount  subscribed,  $204,  a  sum 
scarcely  adequate  to  the  purchase  of  a  first-class 
printer's  outfit  in  these  latter  days.  Ozias 
Bowen,  Esq.,  then  a  resident  of  Middlebury 
(afterward  a  prominent  citizen  of  Marion,  and 
Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  that 
count}'),  associated  himself  with  Mr.  Dewey  in 
the  enterprise,  but  before  the  paper  was  started, 
Mr.  Dewey  transferred  his  interest  to  Elijah 
Mason,  Esq. 

The  Portage  Journal. — The  Ohio  Canal  ques- 
tion, meantime,  having  been  substantially  set- 
tled, and  needing  no  further  advocacy,  Messrs. 
Bowen  and  Mason,  before  the  first  issue, 
changed  the  name  of  their  paper  to  the  Porta.^e 
Journal.  The  first  number  was  issued  on  the 
28th  day  of  September,  1825.  Printing  mate- 
rials were  not  as  readily  obtainable  then  as  now, 


■k^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


279 


and,  as  the  utmost  econom}-  had  to  be  exercised 
in  making  the  "  plant."  the  Cleveland  Herald 
having  just  procured  a  new  dress,  the  old  types, 
rules,  chases,  stands,  cases,  etc.,  purchased  from 
that  establishment,  together  with  an  old  ■'•  Ram- 
age  "  press- — the  press  of  Benjamin  Franklin — 
constituted  the  ^entire  outfit  of  the  Portage 
Journal,  the  whole  concern  being  transported 
overland,  from  Cleveland  to  Middleburj-,  in  a 
couple  of  two-horse  wagons.  The  size  of  the 
paper  was  19x24  inches,  with  four  columns  to 
the  page,  the  terms  of  publication  being  "  Two 
dollars  per  annum  (exclusive  of  postage),  if 
payment  be  made  within  the  3'ear,  or  two  dol- 
lars and  fift3'  cents  if  payment  be  delayed  until 
the  year  expires.  Ko paper  will  he  discnntiuueeJ 
until  arrearages  are  jxdd."  In  politics,  the 
Jourval  appears  to  have  been  neai'ly  neutral, 
with  a  ver}'  decided  leaning  toward  the  anti- 
Jackson,  or  Adams,  part}'.  The  connection  of 
Mr.  Bowen  ceased  with  No.  57.  October  27. 
1826.  Mr.  John  McMillan,  Jr.  (father  of  Mr. 
George  W.  McMillan,  of  Northampton  Town- 
ship, to  whom  the  writer  is  indebted  for  a  por- 
tion of  the  material  for  this  chapter),  purchas- 
ing Mr.  Bowen's  interest,  the  new  firm  being- 
McMillan  &  Mason,  who  changed  the  name  of 
the  paper  to  the  Portage  Journal  and  Weekly 
Advertiser — a  pretty  long  name  for  so  small  a 
paper.  This  arrangement  continued  just  one 
year,  Mr.  Mason  retiring  with  No.  109,  his 
place  being  taken  by  Alvah  Hand,  Esq.,  then 
practicing  law  in  Middlebury,  the  new  firm  of 
McMillan  «fe  Hand,  with  Mr."^  Hand  as  editor, 
continuing  its  publication  until  January  or  Feb- 
ruary, 1829,  when  it  was  discontinued  for  want 
of  adequate  support,  the  materials  of  the  office 
being  sold  to  parties  in  Massillon.  Mr.  George 
W.  McMillan,  at  present  living  among  us,  vig- 
orous and  hearty,  and  Hon.  Hiram  Bowen,  af- 
terward founder  of  the  Beacon,  and  one  term 
Summit  County's  Representative  in  the  State 
Legislature,  and  still  an  active  business  man  in 
the  State  of  Kansas,  were  both  employes  in 
the  pioneer  printing  office  of  Summit  County — 
the  Porteige  Journal. 

The  Ohio  Observer. — The  second  place  in 
which  the  newspaper  found  a  "local  habitation 
and  a  name  "  within  the  present  limits  of  Sum- 
mit County  was  Hudson.  January  20,  1827,  a 
religious  paper  called  the  Western  fntelligencer, 
was  started  in  Cleveland,  edited  b}'  Harmon 
Kingsbury,  J.  G.  and  D.  B.  McLain,  and  Kings- 


I  bury,  being  the  publishers.     August  31,  1827, 
I  Rev.  Randolph  Stone  became  associate  editor, 
and  March  19,  1828,  sole  editor  of  the  paper, 
i  with  John  (}.  McLain  as   publisher,  which  ar- 
rangement continued  until  the  close  of  1829, 
when   the   publication  of  the  paper  was  sus- 
pended.    In   March,    1830,   a  new   series  was 
commenced  in  Hudson,  with  Warren  Isham  as 
j  editor  and  proprietor,  who  at  that  time  changed 
the  name   to  the  Observer  and  Telegraph.     De- 
1  cember  30, 1830,  Lewis  Berry,  a  practical  print- 
er, became  a  partner  with  Mr.  Isham   in  the 
concern,  but  in   April,  LS32,  Mr.  Isham  again 
{  became  sole  proprietor  of  the  paper.     3Iay  10, 
\  1832,  the  name  of  Rev.  James  B.  Walker  ap- 
[  pears  joined   with  Mr.  Isham,   but  was  soon 
;  afterward  dropped,  the  paper,  about  this  time, 
j  taking  the  name  of  the   Ohio   Observer.     Feb- 
I  ruary"26,  1834,  R.  M.  Walker  and  S.  J.  Brad- 
street  became  the  editors  and  proprietors  of  the 
paper.      December    11,    1834,  Rev.    James  B. 
Walker,  afterward  Pastor  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Akron,  became  sole  editor  and  pro- 
prietor.    At  the  close  of  1835 — about  which 
time  the  paper  was  temporarily  crippled  through 
the  breaking  of  its  press,  by  a  few  stui'dy  blows 
from  a  blacksmith's  sledge,  wielded  b}-  a  prom- 
inent citizen  of  Hudson,  whose  moral  character 
the  paper  had  or  was  about  to  call  in  question 
— Rev.  A.  R.  Clarke  became  its  editor  and  pro- 
prietor, and  transferred  the  paper  to  Cleveland, 
uniting  it  with  the  Cleveland  Journal.  Rev.  0. 
P.  Hoyt  being  associated   with  Mr.  Clarke  as 
editor.     November  1,  1838,  the  paper  was  dis- 
continued, but  its  publication  resumed  January 
9,  1839.  April  16,  1840,  the  paper  was  returned 
to  Hudson,  with  Prof  E.  P.  Barrows  as  editor, 
the  pecuniary  responsibility  for  its  publication 
being  assumed  by  an  association  of  gentlemen 
in  Hudson  and  other  portions  of  the  Western 
Reserve.    October  2,  1842,  Prof.  Henry  N.  Day 
became  associated  with  Prof.  Barrows  as  one 
of  the  editors.     February  14,  1844,  the  office, 
press,  tj'pes,  fixtures,  etc.,  were  destroyed  by 
fire,  and,  for  a  short  time,  the  paper  was  printed 
at  Cuyahoga  Falls. 

After  the  fire,  the  association  having  charge 
of  the  publication  of  the  paper,  paid  up  the 
balance  of  its  indebtedness  and  withdrew  from 
the  concern.  The  paper  then  went  into  the 
hands  of  A.  TTpson  &  Co.,  who  published  it  till 
January-,  1848,  at  whicth  date  it  was  transferred 
to  W.  Skinner  &  Co..  who,  in  turn,  transferred 


-rf 9 


280 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


it  to  Sawyer,  IngersoU  &  Co.,  in  January,  1851, 
Messrs.  Barrows  and  Day  continuing  to  edit 
the  paper  until  1852,  tlieir  services  being  per- 
formed gratuitously,  being  purely  a  "  labor  of 
love  "  for  mankind  in  general,  and  the  readers 
of  the  Observer  in  particular.  J.  S.  Sawyer  was 
the  editor  in  1852,  and  Rev.  John  C.  Hart  in 
1853.  January  11,  1854,  the  subscription-list 
of  the  Family  Visitor  was  transferi'ed  to  the 
Observer,  which  was  continued  one  year  longer, 
under  the  name  of  the  Ohio  Observer  and  Reg- 
ister, when,  upon  the  failure  of  the  publishers, 
the  paper  ceased  to  exist.  The  Observer,  dur- 
ing its  many  vicissitudes,  was  always  very  ably 
edited.  It  was  a  religious,  literary  and  polit- 
ical (non-partisan)  family  newspaper,  specially 
representing  the  interests  of  the  Presbyterian 
and  Congregational  Churches,  under  the  old 
plan  of  union,  and,  during  the  nearly  thirty 
years  of  its  existence,  its  influence  for  good 
among  the  people  of  the  Western  Reserve  can- 
not well  be  over-estimated. 

The  Family  Visitor. — Hudson's  second  news- 
paper venture  was  the  Family  Visitor,  com- 
menced January  3,  1850,  also  in  Cleveland,  the 
names  of  Prof  J.  P.  Kirtland  and  0.  H.  Knapp, 
appearing  as  editors.  On  May  2,  1850,  Mr. 
Knapp's  name  was  dropped,  the  paper  at  that 
time  being  published  simultaneous!}'  in  Cleve- 
land and  Hudson.  In  January,  1852,  the  paper 
was  wholly  transferred  to  Hudson,  and,  in  the 
spring  of  that  year.  Prof  Matthew  C.  Read  be- 
came its  sole  editor,  continuing  to  act  in  that 
capacity  with  great  acceptance  of  the  patrons 
and  readers  of  the  ever-welcome  Visitor  until 
January  11,  185-1,  when  its  subscription  list  was 
transferred  to  the  Observer  and  Register,  as  be- 
fore stated.  The  plan  of  the  publishers  and 
editors  of  the  Visitor  was  to  furnish  a  fumil}'^ 
paper — scientific,  literarj-,  religious  and  agricult- 
ural— of  a  high  moral  tone,  excluding  ever}-- 
thing  in  au}^  respect  objectionable.  It  had  sub- 
scribers in  every  State  in  the  Union,  who  deeply- 
regretted  its  discontinuance.  It  was  the  first 
of  quite  a  large  class  of  high-toned  papers,  which 
have  since  become  successful ;  but,  being  in  ad- 
vance of  the  times,  had  to  be  given  up,  because 
under  the  disaster-inviting  credit  system  then 
prevailing  among  newspaper  publishers,  and 
their  so-called  "  patrons,"  the  proprietors  could 
not  afford  "to  labor  and  to  wait"  for  the  future 
harvest  which  was  surely  coming. 

The  Hudson  Enterprise. — This  paper  was  es- 


tablished as  an  amateur  sheet,  in  connection 
with  a  small  job  office,  in  May,  1875,  by  H.  M. 
McDonald.  It  was  a  five-column  folio,  using 
''  patent "  outsides,  the  inside  of  the  paper,  only, 
filled  with  local  and  general  news,  advertising, 
etc.,  being  printed  in  the  office  of  publication. 
The  Enterprise,  which  by  this  time  had  come  to 
be  an  indispensable  necessity  in  many  of  the 
households  of  the  village  and  surrounding  town- 
ships, was  bought  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Meek,  in  July, 
1876,  who  in  turn  sold  it  to  Col.  Sullivan  D. 
Harris,  the  former  able  editor  of  the  Ohio  Cul- 
tivator, in  April,  1877.  Col.  Harris  dying  a  few 
weeks  after  his  purchase  of  the  papei",  it  was 
bought  by  its  present  proprietor,  Mr.  C.  Gr.  Guil- 
ford, who  changed  it  into  a  five-column  quarto, 
the  entire  paper  now  being  "  set  up  "  and  printed 
at  home.  The  Enterprise,  for  a  purely  local 
journal,  is  all  that  its  name  implies,  and  is 
eminently  worthy  of  the  increasing  prosperity 
it  now  enjoys. 

College  City  Venture. — In  July,  1856,  Mr.  E. 
F.  Chittenden,  an  old  compositor  on  the  Visitor, 
established  a  small  weekly  paper  at  Hudson, 
under  this  title,  calling  to  his  assistance  as  edi- 
tor, M.  C.  Read,  Esq.,  but  only  a  few  numbers 
were  issued,  though  while  it  did  live,  it  was 
ver}'  ably  conducted,  indeed. 

Hudson  Gazette. — In  November,  1857,  Rev. 
Alexander  Clark,  afterward  becoming  a  D.  D. 
and  man  of  note  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  Pennsylvania,  now  deceased,  started 
a  small  paper  at  Hudson  under  the  above  title. 
It  was  devoted  to  "  Commerce,  P]ducation,  Agri- 
culture, Arts  and  News,"  and  was  quite  ably 
edited  but  continued  in  existence  on  a  few 
weeks. 

The  Ohio  Revieio. — The  next  point,  in  chro- 
nological order,  to  be  illumined  by  the  effulgence 
supposed  to  emanate  from  the  printing  press, 
was  Cuyahoga  Falls.  Largely  through  the  in- 
fluence of  Judge  Joshua  Stow — then  the  owner 
of  a  large  proportion  of  the  lands  of  the  vil- 
lage— Horace  Canfield  and  Timothy  P.  Spencer, 
a  couple  of  enterprising  young  printers  of  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  were  induced  to  remove  to  Cuya- 
hoga Falls  and  open  a  newspaper  and  job  print- 
ing office  in  1833.  After  many  delays  in  getting 
together  the  necessar}'  materials,  the  first  num- 
ber of  the  Ohio  Revieio  was  issued  b}'  Messrs. 
Canfield  &  Spencer  November  30,  1833.  The 
paper  was  neatly  printed  and  quite  ably  con- 
ducted, and,  being  neutral  in  politics,  was  well- 


vT 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


281 


liked  by  the  people ;  but  its  circulation  being 
necessarily  very  limited,  and  the  income  of  the 
establishment  not  proving  sufficient  to  meet  its 
current  expenses,  the  Review,  after  an  existence 
of  something  over  one  year,  was  temporarily- 
discontinued  December  12,  1834,  Messrs.  Can- 
field  &  Spencer  removing  to  Cleveland,  and 
from  there,  soon  afterward,  to  Medina.  The 
printing  office,  however,  remaining  at  the  Falls, 
the  publication  of  the  Review  was  soon  after- 
ward resumed  b}-  "  An  Association  of  G-entle- 
men  " — names  not  given — with  Mr.  James  Low- 
rev  as  printer.  The  exact  date  of  its  discon- 
tinuance we  have  been  unable  to  ascertain  ;  but 
as  Mr.  Henr}-  Wetmore  has  a  number  of  the 
fourth  volume,  dated  April  13, 1837,  in  his  pos- 
session, and  as  an  Akron  contemporar}'^  of  Ma^' 
5,  1838,  says  :  "  There  are  four  papers  now 
published  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  three  of  which  are 
castigators,  viz.,  the  Renovator,  the  Young  Buz- 
zard and  the  Telescope,''  the  three  papers  men- 
tioned being  ephemeral  affairs,  it  is  probable 
that  the  Review  was  still  in  existence  at  that 
date,  and  very  likely  continued  for  some  3'ears 
thereafter. 

The  Cuyahoga  Falls  Reporter. — Tn  the  year 
1870,  Mr.  E.  0.  Knox,  a  practical  printer,  but 
with  very  little  money  and  absolutel}'  no  jour- 
nalistic experience,  commenced  the  publication 
of  a  handsome  nine-column  weekl}'  paper,  un- 
der the  title  of  the  Cuyahoga  Falls  Reporter. 
Its  outside  pages  are  replete  with  choice  litera- 
ture, interesting  miscellany-,  and  carefully  col- 
lated foreign  and  domestic  news,  its  inside  col- 
umns being  devoted  to  local  intelligence,  ad- 
vertising, etc.  The  Reporter  is  edited  with 
ability,  and,  in  point  of  newsy  sprightliness,  is 
far  above  the  average  weekly  papers  of  the 
State.  The  Reporter,  now  well  into  the  eleventh 
year  of  its  existence,  is  steadily  growing  in  pub- 
lic favor  and  circulation,  and  is  exerting  a  pow- 
erful influence  in  promoting  the  industrial  in- 
terests of  the  village,  and  in  maintaining  the 
proverbial  reputation  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  for  in- 
telligence, morality  and  thrift. 

The  Akron  Post  was  the  first  paper  ever  pub- 
lished in  Akron  proper.  It  was  a  five-column 
weekly  sheet.  Democratic  in  politics,  and  edited 
and  published  by  Madison  H.  White,  the  mate- 
rials having  been  imported  from  Medina.  The 
press  was  of  the  "  Ramage "  persuasion — a 
wooden-framed  affair,  with  stone  bed,  wooden 
platen   and  screw  power,  each  form  requiring 


two  separate  "  pulls,"  the  distinctness  of  the 
impression  depending  altogether  upon  the  mus- 
cle and  avoirdupois  of  the  pressman,  the  forms 
being  inked  with  huge  sheep-skin  balls,  stuffed 
with  cotton,  even  the  glue-and-molasses  hand- 
rollers  not  being  used  in  this  far-off  country  at 
that  time.  The  first  number  of  the  Post  was 
issued  on  the  23d  day  of  March,  1836,  and  the 
last  number  on  the  15th  day  of  November  of 
the  same  3-ear,  the  duration  of  its  life  being  a 
short  two-thirds  of  a  3-ear  only. 

The  Akron  Journal,  also  Democratic,  was  the 
next  candidate  for  the  public  favor  of  the  good 
people  of  Akron.  It  was  of  about  the  same 
size  and  general  character  as  the  Post,  but  far 
more  abl}-  conducted,  its  editor  and  pi'oprietor 
being  our  present  venerable,  well-preserved  fel- 
low-citizen, Judge  Constant  Br3-au.  The  first 
number  of  the  Journal — printed  with  the  same 
press  and  types  as  its  predecessor — was  issued 
on  the  1st  day  of  December,  1836,  and  contin- 
ued until  the  15th  day  of  June.  1837,  the  pe- 
riod of  its  existence  being  six  months  and  two 
weeks  onl3-. 

The  American  Balance,  devoted  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  people  of  Akron,  the  State  of  Ohio 
and  the  United  States  in  general,  and  of  the 
Whig  part3'  in  particular,  was  stai'ted  by  Hor- 
ace K.  Smith  and  Gideon  Gr.  Galloway  on  the 
19th  day  of  August,  1837.  The  materials  were 
second-hand,  mostly  procured  in  Cleveland,  the 
press  being  the  same  on  which  the  Ohio  Ob- 
server had  formerl3'  been  printed,  and  which 
had  been  broken  by  an  irate  citizen  of  Hudson 
a  3-ear  or  so  before,  as  previousl3-  related,  a 
new  bed  having  been  made  for  it  at  the  foundry 
and  machine-shop  of  Benjamin  R.  Manchester, 
then  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  Ohio  Canal, 
at  Lock  7,  in  North  Akron.  IMr.  Smith,  a  man 
of  education  and  a  vigorous  writer,  was  the  ed- 
itor of  the  Balance,  while  Mr.  Galloway,  being 
a  practical  printer,  conducted  the  mechanical 
branch  of  the  business.  Early  in  1838,  Hiram 
Bowen,  also  a  practical  printer,  as  well  as  a 
sharp  writer,  purchased  Mr.  Galloway's  interest 
in  the  Balance,  and,  with  the  care,  labor  and 
talent  bestowed  upon  it,  IMessrs.  Smith  &  Bowen 
ought  to  have  made  the  American  Balance  a  pe- 
cuniary success.  But,  as  with  its  two  Democratic 
predecessors,  the  fates  were  against  them,  the 
conspiring  causes  being,  first,  in  the  general 
stringency  of  the  times,  making  it  next  to  impos- 
sible for  publishers  anywhere  in  Ohio  to  get  in 


n^ 


282 


HISTORY    OF    SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


money  enough  from  subscriptions,  advertising, 
etc.,  to  pay  running  expenses  ;  and  second,  be- 
cause Akron,  being  a  mere  dependency  of  Por- 
tage County — tliongli  tlien  of  more  commercial 
importance  tlian  its  county  seat — no  official 
patronage  could  be  brouglit  to  tlie  support  of 
any  paper  outside  of  Ravenna,  wliile,  at  the 
same  time,  for  the  same  reason,  the  circuU\tion 
of  the  local  paper  was  confined  almost  exclu- 
sively to  the  immediate  vicinity  of  its  publica- 
tion. The  Balance,  therefore,  after  a  precarious 
existence  of  just  one  year,  was  discontinued  on 
the  9th  day  of  August,  1838,  though  the  job 
department  of  the  office  was  still  kept  running 
by  Messrs.  Smith  &  Bowen. 

The  Akron  Buzzard  was  next  to  play  its 
part  upon  the  local  newspaper  stage.  The  his- 
tory of  this  curiously-named  and  somewhat 
notorious  sheet  may  be  briefly  stated  thus  : 
Its  projector  was  a  young  house  and  sign 
painter  by  the  name  of  Samuel  A.  Lane — a 
Connecticut  Yankee — whose  shop  was  in  a  room 
adjoining  the  office  of  the  discontinued  Journal. 
Akron,  at  that  time  being  a  rapidly  growing 
town,  and  having  some  eighteen  or  twenty 
locks  of  the  "great  thoroughfare" — the  Ohio 
Canal — within  its  corporate  limits,  had  become 
a  convenient  stopping-place,  and  a  ftivorite  re- 
sort for  divers  and  sundry-  vile  characters,  pro- 
fessional gamblers,  counterfeiters,  confidence 
men,  etc.,  whose  depredations  upon  the  public 
peace  and  the  public  morals,  the  civil  authori- 
ties were  scarcely  able  to  cope  with.  To  aid 
the  officers  of  the  law  in  ridding  the  community 
of  these  disreputable  characters,  a  number  of 
the  young  business  men  of  the  village  in- 
formally constituted  themselves  into  a  Vigi- 
lance Committee  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
and  imparting  information  in  regard  to  the  op- 
erations of  the  gang,  and  "stirring  up  the  ani- 
mals" generally,  through  pointed  public  discus- 
sions, scathing  newspaper  articles,  anonymous 
circulars,  etc.  Mr.  Lane,  having  obtained  some- 
thing of  a  smattering  of  the  "  Art  Preservative," 
while  acting  as  editor's  assistant  in  the  office  of 
a  Georgia  newspaper  a  few  months  in  1834,  con- 
ceived the  idea  tiiat,  by  making  it  a  specialt}', 
he  could  more  efficiently  accomplish  the  object 
sought,  than  could  be  done  through  the  other 
channels  named  alone.  Accordingly,  getting 
permission  from  Judge  Bryan  to  use  his  types 
and  press,  Mr.  Lane,  in  the  intervals  of  his 
regular  business,  "  unaided  and  alone,"  wrote 


out,  set  up,  struck  off  and  flung  to  the  breeze 
the  first  number  of  the  Akron  Buzzard,  on  the 
7th  day  of  September,  1838.  It  was  a  three- 
column  folio,  of  12x17  inches,  published  semi- 
monthly at  75  cents  a  3'ear,  but  doubled  in  size 
at  the  end  of  the  first  year,  and  the  price  raised 
to  !^1.  From  the  favor  with  which  the  initial 
number  was  received,  and  not  doubting  its  suc- 
cess, arrangements  were  made  with  Messrs. 
Smith  &  Bowen,  for  its  regular  semi-monthl}- 
issue  from  the  office  of  the  American  Balance. 
The  editorial  noni  de  guerre  assumed  by  Mr. 
Lane  was  "Jedediah  Brownbread,  Esq.,  and 
among  his  old  acquaintances  he  is,  to  this  day, 
more  commonly  saluted  b}'  the  familiar  sobri- 
quet of  "Jed"  than  by  his  own  proper  name. 
The  style  of  composition  adopted  by  the  edi- 
tor was  the  proverbial  Yankee  dialect,  of  which 
the  detestable  styles  of  poor  English,  bad  spel- 
ling and  worse  grammar,  more  recentl}'  used 
by  "  Josh  Billings,"  "  Artemas  Ward,"  "  Par- 
son Nasby  "  and  other  so-called  humorists,  are 
fair  samples.  The  character  of  the  paper  and 
its  object  were  fully  set  forth  in  its  "  saluta- 
tory," which,  translated  into  plain  English,  is 
as  follows  :  "  The  Buzzard  will  be  a  real  jolly, 
nothing-to-do-with-politics,  anti-blackleg  paper, 
devoted  to  news,  popular  tales,  miscellany,  an- 
ecdotes, satire,  poetry,  humor,  the  correction  of 
the  public  morals,  etc.  It  will  strike  at  the 
vices  of  mankind,  with  an  occasional  brush  at 
its  follies.  It  will  expose  crime,  whether  com- 
mitted by  the  great  or  the  small,  and  applaud 
virtuous  and  noble  actions,  whether  performed 
by  the  rich  or  the  poor.  It  will  encourage  the 
honest  man  in  well-doing,  and  make  a  trans- 
parency of  the  breast  of  the  h^'pocrite.  In 
short,  it  will  be  to  society  what  the  common 
buzzard  is  to  our  Southern  cities,  viz.  :  It  will 
pounce  upon,  and  hy  its  influence,  endeavor  to 
reform  or  remove  such  loafers  as  are  nuisances 
in  the  community,  by  holding  them  up  to  the 
gaze  of  a  virtuous  public."  Though  literally 
holding  his  life  in  his  hand,  being  often  greeted 
with  "  threatenings  dire,"  laid  in  wait  for  by 
the  "fraternity,"  and  several  times  severely 
assaulted,  the  publisher  of  the  Buzzard  fear- 
lessly stood  his  ground — meantime  conducting 
his  regular  business  of  house  and  sign  paint- 
ing— for  a  year  and  a  half,  the  paper  being  dis- 
continued on  the  25th  of  February,  1839,  not 
for  want  of  patronage,  for  it  had  more  than  a 
local  circulation,  but  because  its  conductor  was 


v> 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


283 


about  to  engage  in  another  branch  of  business, 
and  because  it  was  believed  that  the  paper  had 
substantially  accomplished  its  mission  ;  and  in 
closing  this  item,  the  writer — the  veritable 
"  Jedediah  Brownbread  "  himself — desires  to 
express  his  firm  conviction,  that  though  its 
methods  wei-e  not  approved  by  all  of  even  the 
better  class  of  our  people  during  the  period  of 
its  publication,  that  Akron  and  Summit  County 
are  better  to-day,  morally,  socially  and  pecu- 
niarily, because  of  the  publication  of  the  Akron 
Buzzard  of  1837,  1838  and  1839,  than  they 
otherwise  would  have  been. 

The  Pestalozzian. — This  was  a  small,  neatly 
printed  monthly  quarto,  edited  and  published  by 
Horace  K.  Smith  and  S.  L.  Sawtell,  the  initial 
number  of  which  appeared  on  the  14th  day  of 
April,  1838.  It  was  devoted  to  education,  sci- 
ence, literature,  etc.,  and  though  ably  conducted 
— both  of  the  editors  being  men  of  talent  and 
culture — being  in  advance  of  the  times,  it  was 
not  dul}'  appreciated,  and  succumbed  to  the  in- 
evitable on  the  30th  day  of  September,  1838, 
after  a  non-paying  existence  of  less  than  half  a 
year. 

The  Ohian  and  Neio  Era  — During  a  portion 
of  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Jonathan  F.  Fenn,  one  of 
Akron's  earliest  merchants  and  manufacturers, 
published  a  small  folio  sheet,  devoted  to  free 
banking.  Though  conducted  with  considerable 
ability,  and  though  a  financial  organ,  it  was  not 
a  financial  success,  and  had  an  existence  of  a 
few  months  only. 

The  Glad  Tidings  and  Ladies  Universalist 
Magazine. — This  was  a  neatly  printed  eight- 
page  paper,  published  in  Akron  during  the 
years  1838,  1839  and  1840.  It  was  edited  and 
published  b}'  Revs.  S.  A.  Davis,  N.  Doolittle  and 
J,  Whitney.  It  was  a  spirited  exponent  of  the 
doctrine  of  universal  salvation,  and  was  ver}^ 
ably  edited  indeed.  With  the  close  of  1840, 
the  paper  was  removed  to  Cincinnati,  where, 
under  the  name  of  the  Star  in  the  West,  it  has 
for  the  past  forty  years  "  fought  a  good  fight " 
in  the  interests  of  the  denomination,  by  whom 
its  pioneer  file-leader,  the  Glad  Tidings,  was 
originally  founded  in  Akron,  being  discon- 
tinued only  a  few  months  ago,  for  reasons  to  the 
writer  unknown. 

The  Summit  Beacon. — This  paper,  the  legiti- 
mate successor  of  the  American  Balance,  was 
started  on  the  11th  day  of  April,  1839,  by 
Hiram  Bowen,  Esq.,  on  a  pledge  of  adequate 


support  from  the  business  men  of  Akron,  and 
leading  members  of  the  Whig  party  within  the 
limits  of  the  prospective  new  county  then  about 
to  be  erected.  Like  most  of  the  weekly  papers 
of  that  early  day,  the  Beacon  had  a  hard  strug- 
gle for  existence  for  several  years,  but  finally, 
as  the  official  organ  of  the  new  county,  and 
through  the  pluck  and  energy  of  its  founder, 
its  success  became  assured,  and  though  its 
office  of  publication  and  total  contents  have 
three  times  been  consumed  by  fire,  the  paper, 
for  the  full  forty-two  years  of  its  existence,  has 
never  missed  an  issue,  though  sometimes  tem- 
porarily diminished  in  size  while  recovering 
from  its  several  disasters,  and  now  sturdily 
stands,  where  it  has  ever  stood,  in  the  front  rank 
of  the  weekly  papers  of  Ohio.  In  or  about  the 
year  1845,  Mr.  Bowen  sold  the  paper  to  Laurin 
Dewe}^,  Esq.  (formerly  editor  of  the  Oliio  Star, 
at  Ravenna,  and  Sheriff  of  Portage  County  ; 
afterward  Warden  of  the  Ohio  Penitentiary,  and 
more  recently  a  prominent  politician  and  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  of  Iowa,  now  de- 
ceased), and  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Richard  S. 
Elkins,  then  a  member  of  the  book  and  drug 
firm  of  Beebe  &  Elkins,  and  afterward  Post- 
master of  Akron  for  eight  years,  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  Abraham  Lincoln  and  Andrew 
Johnson,  Mr.  E.  now  residing  on  a  farm  near 
Ravenna,  in  the  adjoining  county  of  Portage. 
On  the  9th  day  of  June.  1848,  the  office  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  but  immediately  re-estab- 
lished, and  later  in  that  year,  Messrs.  Dewey  & 
Elkins  sold  the  paper  to  John  Teesdale,  Esq., 
formerly  editor  of  the  Ohio  State  Journal,  and 
since  the  State  Printer  for  Iowa.  Mr.  Teesdale 
soon  afterward  formed  a  partnership  with 
Messrs.  Beebe  &  Elkins,  uniting  the  printing 
with  the  book  and  drug  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Elkins,  Teesdale  &  Co.,  Mr.  Teesdale 
being  the  sole  editor  of  the  paper.  He  was  a 
graceful,  but  incisive  writer,  and  under  his  man- 
agement, the  Beacon,  becoming  with  the  change 
of  parties  in  1854-55,  the  organ  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  attained  a  high  degree  of  popularity. 
Mr.  Teesdale  sold  his  interest  to  his  copartners, 
Messrs.  Beebe  &  Elkins,  February  27, 1856,  con- 
tinuing, however,  to  act  as  editor  until  May  1, 
of  that  year,  when  James  S.  Carpenter,  Esq., 
became  sole  editor  of  the  paper.  Under  the  able 
editorial  management  of  Mr.  Carpenter,  the 
high  reputation  of  the  Beacon,  as  voicing  the 
advanced  sentiment  of  the  Republican  party  of 


f* 


9  w 


284 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


the  Western  Reserve,  was  fully  maintained.  On 
his  accession  to  the  bench  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  of  Summit,  Medina  and  Lorain  Coun- 
ties, Judge  Carpenter,  on  the  22d  day  of  Octo- 
ber, 185C,  vacated  the  editorial  chair  in  favor  of 
Hon.  Asahel  H.  Lewis,  a  former  State  Senator 
for  Summit  and  Portage  Counties,  a  thorough 
scholar  and  a  pungent  writer,  the  name  of  Mr. 
R.  S.  Elkins.  one  of  the  publishers,  also  at  this 
time  appearing  as  associate  editor.  On  the  29th 
day  of  September,  1856,  the  office,  together  with 
the  book  and  drug  store  of  its  proprietors,  was 
again  destroyed  bj-  fire,  but.  Phoenix-like,  it  once 
more  speedil}'  arose  from  its  ashes  in  a  far  more 
attractive  form  than  ever  before.  The  editorial 
connection  of  Mr.  Lewis  with  the  Beacon  contin- 
ued untilJanuary  10,  1861,  when  he  was  super- 
seded by  Mr.  Samuel  A.  Lane,  then  just  retiring 
from  four  years  of  service  as  Sheriff  of  Summit 
County.  Mr.  Lane,  during  the  war,  did  the  sole 
editorial  work  of  the  paper,  giving  especial  atten- 
tion to  army  correspondence,  and  of  both  city 
and  county  local  news,  the  weekly  circulation 
increasing  during  four  years  of  the  war,  from 
1,300  or  1,400  "to  about  2,500  copies.  In 
January,  1865.  Mr.  Lane,  who  had  hitherto 
been  working  on  a  salar}-,  bought  of  Messrs. 
Beebe  &  P]lkins,  a  one-third  interest  in  the 
Beacon,  another  third  being  bought  by  Mr.  Hor- 
ace G.  Canfield,  a  practical  printer  and  foreman 
of  the  office,  the  firm  name  being  changed  to 
Elkins,  Lane  &  Co.  Two  years  later,  January, 
1867,  the  remaining  one-third  interest  of  Beebe 
&  Elkins  was  purchased  by  Albertus  L.  Paine 
and  Denis  J.  Long,  former  apprentices  in  the 
office,  the  Siimniif  Count)/  Jour n(d  {noticed  else- 
where) pul)lished  by  them  being  merged  in  the 
Beacon,  the  firm  name  adopted  being  Lane, 
Canfield  &  Co.  Mr.  Lane  continued  to  act  as 
sole  editor  of  the  paper  until  the  winter  of  1868 
-69,  when  Mr.  Thomas  C.  Raynolds,  an  Akron 
boy,  freshly  graduated  from  Michigan  Univer- 
sity, but  with  decided  journalistic  proclivities, 
was  employed  as  assistant  editor  and  local  re- 
porter. In  1867,  the  strictly  advance  pay  sys- 
tem was  adopted  and  rigidly  enforced,  a  feat 
that  but  few  of  the  weekly  papers  of  the  coun- 
try had  at  that  time  dared  to  attempt,  a  feature 
highly  advantageous  to  both  the  publishers  of 
the  paper  and  its  subscribers. 

The  Akron  Daily  Beacon. — In  the  meantime, 
Akron  had  grown  from  a  village  of  3,000  inhab- 
itants in  1860,  to  a  city  of  10,000  in  1869,  with 


an  augmented  commercial  and  manufacturing- 
business  to  match,  creating  a  demand  for  some- 
thing faster  than  a  weekly  paper  ;  and  on  the 
6th  day  of  December,  1 869,  the  first  number  of 
the  Akron  Daily  Beacon,  a  seven-column  folio, 
was  issued,  Mr.  Lane,  as  chief,  and  Mr.  Ray- 
nolds, as  assistant,  doing  the  entire  editorial 
and  reportorial  work.  Though  quite  a  large 
advertising  patronage  was  at  once  accorded  to 
the  dail}^  b}-  the  liberal-minded  business  men 
of  Akron,  its  average  daily  circulation  the  first 
year  was  onU^  about  six  hundred.  Gradually, 
however,  the  people  have  come  to  appreciate 
its  worth  as  a  gatherer  and  disseminator  of 
local  as  well  as  fresh  general  news,  and  its 
average  dailv  circulation  is  now  (April,  1881)  a 
little  over  2,200.  In  June,  1870,  Mr.  Raynolds 
severed  his  connection  with  the  paper,  Carson 
Lake,  then  a  compositor  in  the  office,  taking  his 
place,  and  for  several  weeks  during  the  summer 
and  fall  of  that  year,  during  the  illness  and  ab- 
sence of  Mr.  Lane  from  the  office,  performing  the 
entire  editorial  and  reportorial  work  upon  the 
paper.  In  December,  1871,  the  establishment 
was  transferred  to  the  Beacon  Publishing  Com- 
pany, Messrs.  Canfield  and  Paine  retiring,  jMessrs. 
Lane  and  Long  holding  their  respective  one- 
third  and  one-sixth  shares,  as  stock  in  the  new 
corporation,  Mr.  Lane  being  elected  business 
manager,  and  Mr.  Long  continuing  to  act  as 
superintendent  of  the  news  department,  Mr 
Raynolds  being  recalled  and  placed  in  charge  of 
the  editorial  department  of  the  paper,  in  which 
capacity,  with  the  exception  of  one  year's  inter- 
regnum, he  has  ever  since  acted,  with  Mr.  Wilson 
M.  Day  as  his  able  and  faithful  associate.  In  the 
meantime,  the  business  of  the  concern  had  as- 
sumed such  large  proportions,  that  the  four- 
story  22x60-foot  building  then  occupied  was 
found  to  be  too  straitened  for  the  purposes  of 
the  company,  and  in  March,  1872,  the  owner  of 
the  building  commenced  work  upon  a  60-foot 
addition  in  the  rear.  Before  the  walls  were 
completed,  however,  the  entire  concern  was 
again  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  27th  day  of 
April,  1872.  Temporary  quarters  were  pro- 
cured, and  new  material  ordered  by  telegraph 
and  express,  so  that  on  the  fourth  day  after  the 
fire  its  regular  issue  on  its  own  new  type  was 
resumed,  a  smaller  sheet  being  furnished  to  its 
subscribers  during  the  intervening  three  days, 
through  the  courtesy  of  the  publishers  of  the 
Akron  City  Times.     The  burned  building  was 


"^- 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


285 


re-erected  on  the  enlarged  plan,  considerably 
improved,  being  22x117  feet,  three-stories  high, 
exclusive  of  the  basement  on  Howard  street, 
and  five  stories  on  Canal  street,  with  stone 
front,  large  plate-glass  windows,  with  steam 
elevator  running  from  the  basement  to  the  up- 
per floor,  and  steam  heating  apparatus  through- 
out the  entire  building,  the  enlarged  structure 
being  fitted  up  with  strictly  first-class  fixtures, 
machiner}'  and  materials  from  top  to  bottom. 
By  reason  of  the  heavy  loss  occasioned  by  the 
the  fire  (fully  one-half  of  its  $25,000  capital 
stock)  and  the  closely  following  financial  and 
commercial  revulsion  of  1873,  the  aflfairs  of 
the  company  became  so  seriously  embarrassed 
that,  in  January,  1875,  the  entire  stock  was 
sacrificed,  and  the  concern,  with  its  machinery, 
news  and  job  printing  materials,  book-binding 
apparatus,  stationery  stock,  good-will,  etc.,  was 
transferred  to  Messrs  Thomas  C.  Raynolds, 
Frank  J.  Staral  and  John  H.  Auble,  in  consid- 
eration of  their  assuming  and  paying  its  liabili- 
ties, enough  of  the  old  stock-holders  nominally 
retaining  sufficient  stock  to  keep  the  corporate 
organization  of  the  company  intact.  About 
two  years  later,  Mr.  Auble  withdrew,  leaving 
Messrs.  Raynolds  and  Staral  sole  proprietors, 
under  whose  auspices  the  Beacon  establish- 
ment, in  all  its  departments,  is  at  this  writing 
(April,  1881)  enjoying  a  high  degree  of  pros- 
perity. It  would  be  interesting  to  minutely 
trace  its  growth  from  a  few  fonts  of  second-hand 
type,  a  patched-up,  medium-sized  hand  press, 
with  a  single  journeyman  printer,  and  the  pro- 
verbial printer's  "  devil,"  as  its  entire  operative 
force,  to  its  present  magnificent  appointments, 
but  space  will  not  permit.  Suffice  it  to  say 
that,  besides  its  full  complement  of  news,  job, 
and  book-binding  materials,  its  machinery,  run 
by  a  finely-built  eight-horse  power  steam  en- 
gine, consists  of  one  mammoth  four-roller  Pot- 
ter cylinder  job  pi'ess,  with  82x50  inch  bed  ; 
one  two-roller  Potter  cylinder  job  and  news 
press,  with  31x46-inch  bed ;  one  two-roller 
Potter  job  press,  with  21x27-inch  bed  ;  one 
No.  1  improved  Campbell  jobber  ;  one  quarto 
Imperial  jobber,  and  one  eighth-medium  Gor- 
don card  and  circular  press  ;  two  large  paper 
cutters,  besides  a  large-sized  Wells  hand  press, 
proof  presses,  card  cutters,  etc. ;  the  total  oper- 
ative force  of  the  establishment  at  this  writing 
being  forty-six,  though  at  some  seasons  of  the 
year    from  fifteen  to  twenty  more  hands  are 


needed  in  the  job  and  binding  departments. 
The  Beacon,  therefore,  may  well  be  considered 
one  of  the  permanent  institutions  of  Summit 
County,  and  taken  all  in  all,  is  one  of  the  most 
complete  establishments  of  its  kind  in  the  State. 

The  American  Democrat. — On  the  10th  day 
of  August,  1842,  Mr.  Horace  Canfield  issued, 
in  Akron,  the  first  number  of  the  American 
Democrat.  With  some  slight  changes  of  name, 
the  paper — being  at  one  time  under  the  edi- 
torial control  of  Lyman  W.  Hall,  Esq.,  of  Ra- 
venna, for  one  year,  as  a  Free-Soil  paper — 
finally  settling  down  into  the  Democratic  Stand- 
ard, was  continued  under  that  name  until  the 
death  of  Mr.  Canfield,  December  29,  1853,  and 
for  a  short  time  thereafter  by  his  two  sons, 
Thomas  and  Horace  G.  Canfield.  The  office 
was  afterward  sold  to  Mr.  H.  P.  Abel,  and  the 
paper  re-established,  Mr.  Abel,  in  the  spring  of 
1855,  also  issuing  a  small  daily.  The  venture, 
however,  was  non-successful,  Mr.  Abel  being 
obliged,  soon  after,  to  discontinue  both  daily 
and  weekly.  In  the  winter  of  1855-56,  the  office 
was  purchased  by  Mr.  W.  D.  Bien,  and  the 
paper  re-established  under  the  name  of  the 
Siumnit  Democrat,  afterward,  in  the  winter  of 
1859-60,  passing  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  J. 
Hays  Webb,  who  continued  its  publication 
here  until  just  before  the  Presidential  election 
of  1860,  when  the  office  was  removed  to  Can- 
ton, where,  under  the  name  of  the  True  Demo- 
crat, it  was  run  until  the  spring  of  1861.  Mr. 
Webb,  on  returning  to  Akron,  changed  its 
name  to  the  Summit  Union,  continuing  its 
publication  here  until  the  close  of  the  Val- 
landigham-Brough  Gubernatorial  campaign, 
in  the  fall  of  1863,  when  the  paper  was  discon- 
tinued and  the  office  taken  to  Ravenna. 

The  Cascade  Roarer. — After  a  peaceful  slum- 
ber of  five  years,  the  Akron  Buzzard  was  re- 
vived as  a  Temperance  paper,  March  15, 18-4-I,  by 
its  former  proprietor,  Mr.  Samuel  A.  Lane,  and 
Mr.  William  T.  Coggeshall,  afterward  the  author 
of  a  number  of  finely-written  and  intensely  in- 
teresting literary  works  ;  State  Librarian  under 
Govs.  Chase  and  Dennison,  from  1856  to  1862  ; 
and  Minister  to  Ecuador,  South  America,  in 
1866,  dying  of  consumption  at  Quito,  in  the 
summer  of  1857.  The  name  of  the  paper  was 
changed  to  the  Cascade  Roarer — a  five-column 
weekly — which  had  a  successful  run  of  about 
two  years,  when  Mr.  Lane  disposed  of  his  inter- 
est to  Mr.  James  Drew,  the  new  firm,  in  the  in- 


.^ 


286 


HISTORY  or    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


terest  of  Labor  as  well  as  Temperance  reform, 
changing  the  title  of  the  paper  to  the  Teetotal 
Mechanic.  Its  publication  here  was  continued 
until  September  24,  1846,  when  it  was  removed 
to  Cleveland  and  merged  in  the  Ohio  Temper- 
ance Artisan,  which,  after  a  few  months'  sickly 
existence,  was  finally  discontinued. 

TIte  Summit  County  Journal. — In  September, 
1865,  Messrs.  Albertus  L.  Paine  and  Denis  J. 
Long,  two  practical  printers,  who  had  learned 
their  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Summit  County 
Beacon.,  on  their  discharge  from  the  army,  in 
which  they  had  faithfully  served  during  the 
war,  started  a  new  Republican  weekl}'  paper 
under  the  above  title,  with  Judge  James  S.  Car- 
penter as  its  editor.  The  Journal  was  neatlj^ 
printed,  ably  edited,  and  reasonably  successful, 
but,  on  the  accession  of  Messrs.  Paine  and  Long 
to  a  one-third  ownership  in  the  Beacon,  the 
Journal  was  discontinued,  and  the  subscrip- 
tion-list, good-will,  etc.,  merged  with  those  of 
the  Beacon,  in  January,  1867. 

The  Akron  City  Times.— On  the  20th  day  of 
January,  1867,  Mr.  J.  C  Loveland  started  a 
new  Democratic  paper  in  Akron,  a  nine-column 
weekly,  entitled  the  Akron  City  Times.  Mr. 
Loveland's  administration  not  proving  very 
satisfactory,  to  either  the  party  upon  whom  he 
mainly  depended  for  support  or  the  people  of 
Summit  County,  the  office  was  transferred  to 
Mr.  George  C.  Grain,  in  August,  1867.  On  the 
28th  day  of  April,  1868,  Mr.  Crain  was  suc- 
ceeded by  R.  S.  Bean  &  Co.,  who  in  turn  trans- 
ferred the  concern  to  S.  L.  Everett  &  Son,  in 
October  of  the  same  year.  On  the  death  of 
the  senior  Mr.  Everett,  some  two  or  three  years 
later,  the  entire  management  of  the  paper  de- 
volved upon  the  son,  Sebastian  L.  Everett — 
more  generally  known  by  the  familiar  sobri- 
quet of  ''  Don  " — who  successfully  continued 
its  publication  until  1873,  when  it  was  trans- 
ferred to  its  present  genial  proprietor,  Mr. 
Richard  H.  Knight,  under  whose  management, 
with  his  son,  Mr.  Clarence  R.  Knight,  as  editor, 
it  is  enjoying  a  high  degree  of  prosperity,  and 
has  evidentl}'  become  one  of  the  fixed  and  per- 
manent institutions  of  the  city  and  count}^, 
being  printed  on  a  cylinder  power  press,  run 
b}-  steam,  and  having  a  well-stocked  and  liber- 
ally patronized  job  printing  office  attached. 

Tlie  Akron  Germania. — This  is  an  independ- 
ent weekly  paper,  published,  as  its  name  im- 
plies, in  the  interests  of  the  German-speaking 


portion  of  our  population.  It  was  founded  in 
the.  fall  of  1868,  by  Mr.  H.  Gentz,  Prof.  C.  F. 
Kolbe  succeeding  to  the  proprietorship  early 
in  the  following  year.  September,  1872,  the 
paper  was  transferred  to  the  Akron  Paper  and 
Printing  Company,  and  early  in  1873,  was 
transferred  to  the  Germania  Company,  with  Mr. 
Stephen  Ginther  as  business  manager,  and  Mr. 
Paul  E.  Werner  as  editor.  In  October,  1875, 
Mr.  Werner  bought  and  continued  to  edit  the 
same  until  1878,  when  other  duties  claiming 
his  entire  attention,  Mr.  Louis  Seybold  was  em- 
ployed as  editor,  which  position  he  still  ably 
and  efficiently  maintains.  The  paper  is  now 
owned  by  the  Germania  Printing  Company, 
formed  in  November,  1880,  with  Mr.  Paul  E. 
Werner  as  business  manager,  and  commanding 
a  good  healthy  circulation  and  a  liberal  adver- 
tising patronage.  The  business  and  mechan- 
ical departments  of  the  Germania  Printing  Com- 
pany are  most  complete,  and,  besides  having  a 
full  supply  of  the  newest  styles  of  job  and  fancy 
type  and  other  material,  it  has  six  powei*- 
presses  run  by  steam  in  constant  operation,  viz. : 
a  Cottrell  &  Babcock  cylinder,  with  33x46-inch 
bed;  a  Cotti-ell  &  Babcock,  air  spring,  with 
25x38-inch  bed  ;  a  Potter  Pony  ;  a  quarter  and 
an  eighth  medium  Liberty  jobbers,  and  a 
"  Model "  card  press.  There  is  also  a  book 
bindery  connected  with  the  establishment, 
which,  in  all  its  departments,  is  at  this  date 
(April,  1881),  in  a  highl}^  prosperous  condi- 
tion, with  a  regular  operative  force  of  tweut}'- 
five  hands,  and  occasionally  demands  from  ten 
to  fifteen  additional. 

The  Akron  Daily  Argus. — In  March,  1874,  the 
Akron  Daily  Argus  was  commenced  by  H.  G. 
Canfleld  &  Co.,  with  Elder  John  F.  Rowe  as 
editor,  a  semi-weekly  edition  also  being  issued 
by  the  same  firm.  It  was  an  independent  pa- 
per and  ably  edited.  The  paper  passing  into 
possession  of  the  Argus  Printing  Company,  sub- 
sequently formed,  was,  in  September,  1874,  by 
a  majority  vote  of  the  stockholders,  changed 
into  a  Democratic  paper  under  the  editorial 
management  of  Sebastian  L.  Everett — "  Don  " 
— formerly  of  the  City  Times.  March  20,  1875, 
the  concern  passed  into  the  hands  of  Elder  John 
F.  Rowe,  former  editor,  and  his  brother,  Frank 
M.  Rowe,  a  practical  printer,  who  under  the  firm 
name  of  Rowe  Brothers,  again  changed  its 
character  from  a  political  to  an  independent 
paper.      It  was  continued  b}'  Rowe  Brothers 


"a)    "V 


^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


287 


until  December  25,  1876,  when  the  establish- 
ment was  purchased  by  Mr.  Carson  Lake,  un- 
der whose  business  and  editorial  management  it 
was  continued  as  a  Democratic  paper  until  July 
1,  1879,  at  which  date  the  otfice  and  fixtures 
were  bought  by  Messrs.  Paul  E.  Werner  and  B. 
F.  Nelson,  by  whom  the  Argus  was  discontinued. 
The  Siindai/  Gazette. — This  is  a  six-column 
quarto,  devoted  to  the  general  and  local  news 
of  the  week,  literature,  miscellanj',  religious  in- 
telligence, etc.     It  was   started   in    December, 

1878,  by  Mr.  Paul  K.  Werner,  as  publisher, 
and  Prof.  Carl  F.  Kolbe  as  editor.  It  was  con- 
solidated with  the  Weekly  and  Daily  Tribune, 
on  the  establishment  of  those  papers,  July  26, 

1879,  the  name  being  changed  to  Sunday  Trib- 
une, but,  after  two  or  three  issues,  again 
changed  to  Sunday  Gazette,  which  name  it  still 
bears.  On  the  dissolution  of  the  firm  of  Wer- 
ner &  Nelson,  and  the  discontinuance  of  the 
Tribune,  on  the  2d  da}'  of  Februarj^,  1880,  the 
Gazette  was  continued  by  Mr.  Paul  E.  Werner, 
in  connection  with  the  German ia,\xwi\\  Septem- 
ber 25.  1880,  when  it  was  sold  to  Mr.  Carson 
Lake,  under  whose  management  it  is  rapidl}' 
increasing  in  circulation  and  popularity. 

The  Akron  Commercial. — This  is  a  nine  col- 
umn month!}',  devoted  largely,  as  its  name  im- 
ports, to  advertising  and  commercial  matters, 
but  furnishing  with  each  issue  a  large  amount 
of  interesting  miscellany,  with  a  monthly  spicy 
editorial  melange  of  local  and  general  gossip. 
It  is  published  and  edited  b}'  Josiah  Jackson 
Wright  (commonly  and  for  short  called  "  Jack 
Wright "  )  formerly  for  many  years  the  efficient 
City  Marshal  of  Akron.  It  was  commenced  in 
the  spring  of  1874,  and  is  still  vigorous  and 
hearty,  and  apparent!}'  one  of  the  fixed  news- 
paporial  stars  of  Akron  and  of  Summit  County. 

The  Akron  Daily  Tribune. — This  paper,  a 
seven-column  folio,  was  started  on  the  26th  day 
of  July,  1879,  by  Paul  p].  Werner  and  Benja- 
min F.  Nelson,  who  also  issued  a  weekly  edi- 
tion in  connection  therewith.  It  was  Demo- 
cratic in  politics,  and  ably  conducted,  under  the 
editorial  management  of  Mr.  Nelson,  but,  by 
reason  of  having  another  longer-established 
Democratic  organ,  the  City  Times,  and  the 
firmly  planted  Daily  Beacon,  to  compete  with, 
and  from  other  causes,  the  enterprise  was  found 
to  be  unremunerative,  and  both  the  Daily  and 
Weekly  Tribune  were  discontinued  on  the  2d 
day  of  February,  1880. 


The  Advance. — A  daily  paper  under  the  above 
title,  as  an  organ  of  the  National  Greenback 
Labor  party,  was  started  in  Cleveland  June  6, 
1877,  by  Robert  Schilling,  a  weekly  edition  also 
being  issued.  In  May,  1880,  the  daily  was  dis- 
continued, and  the  weekly  was  transferred  to 
Salem,  Columbiana  County,  an  Akron  edition 
also  being  published,  and  mailed  direct  from 
the  ofiflce  in  Salem  to  its  subscribers  in  Akron. 
August  4,  1880,  Mr.  John  P.  Burns  assumed 
the  business  and  editorial  control  of  the  Advance, 
and  January  1,  1881,  removed  the  oflice  to  Ak- 
ron. It  is  a  five-column  quarto,  edited  with 
ability  ;  bids  fair  to  become  one  of  the  perma- 
nent periodicals  of  Summit  County. 

A  large  number  of  other  periodicals  have 
from  time  to  time  been  published  in  Akron 
during  the  half-century  we  have  passed  over, 
that  we  have  no  space  to  notice  in  detail,  even 
if  we  could  recall  them  all  to  mind.  Among 
them  were  the  Rose  of  the  Valley,  a  literary 
monthly,  by  Allison  &  Marriner  ;  Akron  Offer- 
*";^j  by  Callista  Cummings  ;  the  True  Kindred, 
by  a  Mrs.  Sanford  ;  the  Flail,  a  Democratic 
campaign  paper,  by  L.  L.  Howard,  in  1840  ; 
the  Flower  of  the  West,  by  Allison  &,  Rumrix, 
in  1840  ;  the  Free-Soil  Platform,  a  campaign 
paper  in  1848,  by  Hiram  Bowen  ;  the  Sentinel 
of  Liberty,  a  campaign  paper,  in  1855,  by  an 
association  of  "  Young  Republicans  ;  "  the  Wide 
Awake,  a  Republican  campaign  paper,  in  1860, 
by  D.  C.  Carr,  S.  A.  Lane  and  others  ;  the 
Summitonian,  a  literary  monthly,  by  H.  Gr. 
Canfield  &  Co.,  in  1873  ;  the  Beacon  Magazine, 
a  literary  monthly,  in  1873,  by  the  Beacon  Pub- 
lishing Co.,  as  a  premium  to  subscribers  to  the 
Weekly  Beacon  ;  and  others  remembered  by 
name  only,  such  as  the  Casket,  the  Sockdola- 
ger, the  Whip,  the  School- Mistress,  the  Sunny 
Side,  the  Church  Journal,  etc. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Summit  County,  if 
not  the  very  center  of  the  newspaper  universe, 
has  been  untiring  in  its  eflforts  to  become  such. 
There  is  no  room  and  no  need  for  comments, 
except,  perhaps,  to  add  that  while  compara- 
tively few  of  these  ventures  have  proved  re- 
munerative to  those  who  have  made  them,  their 
influence  for  good  upon  the  community  admits 
of  not  a  doubt.  For  where  would  Summit 
County  have  been  to-day  but  for  its  newspa- 
pers, in  advertising  to  the  world  its  manifold 
advantages  ;  in  their  advocacy  of  canals,  rail- 
roads and  other  public  improvements  ;  in  their 


■fv 


^ 


288 


HISTORY  OF   SUMMIT    COUNTY, 


encouragement  to  manufactures,  and  in  the  in- 
numerable ways  in  wtiich  the  liberal  use  of 
printer's  ink  benefits  both  individuals  and  com- 
munities. 

Railroads* — The  railwa}' — wholl}'  unknown 
to  the  commercial  world  three-fourths  of  a  cen- 
tury ago — has  become  the  greatest  single  factor 
in  the  development  of  the  material  and  social 
progress,  not  onl}'  of  the  United  States  and  of 
the  other  civilized  nations  of  the  earth,  but  its 
inestimable  blessings  are  being  rapidly  extended 
into  the  hitherto  semi-civilized  and  barbarous 
portions  of  the  globe.  Though  some  rude  tram- 
wa3-s  had  previously  been  used  in  the  mining 
regions  of  England,  the  first  attempt  at  railroad 
building  in  the  United  States  was  in  1807 — a 
line  of  a  few  hundred  j'ards  in  length — for  trans- 
porting gravel  from  the  top  of  Beacon  Hill  down 
into  Charles  street,  in  the  city  of  Boston,  the 
rails  being  entirel}^  of  wood,  and  the  propelling 
power  the  momentum  of  the  loaded  cars,  which, 
in  descending,  b}'  means  of  a  rope  attachment, 
pulled  the  empty  cars  up,  a  double  track,  of 
course,  being  uecessar}^  to  the  proper  working 
of  the  road.  As  late  as  1827,  the  then  longest 
railroad  in  the  United  States  was  from  the 
Mauch  Chunk  coal  mines  to  the  Lehigh  River, 
in  Pennsylvania,  a  distance  of  nine  miles.  The 
loaded  cars  were  run  from  the  mines  to  the 
river  by  their  own  gi-avity,  and,  on  being  emptied, 
were  drawn  back  to  the  mines  b}-  mules.  From 
this  time  on,  the  American  people  became  deeply 
interested  in  railroad  enterprises,  and,  from 
1827  to  1830,  several  short  lines,  run  by  horse- 
power, were  constructed,  the  first  locomotive, 
propelled  by  steam,  to  turn  a  wheel  upon  the 
American  continent,  being  a  clumsy,  uncouth 
importation  from  England,  called  the  "  Stour- 
bridge Lion,"  lauded  in  New  York  in  1829.  So 
slow,  however,  was  the  development,  that  in  the 
winter  of  1833-34,  it  was  the  privilege  of  the 
writer,  then  a  mere  boy,  to  ride  over  the  then 
longest  railroad  in  the  world,  running  from 
Charleston,  S.  C,  to  Augusta,  Ga.,  a  distance  of 
130  miles,  onh' ;  the  first  hundred  miles  weSt 
from  Charleston  being  performed  by  steam- 
power,  the  last  thirty  miles  by  negro-power, 
owing  to  a  sharp  incline  that  the  modern  engine 
driver  would  laugh  at,  the  supposition  being 
that  a  stationary  engine,  with  the  proper  hoist- 
ing apparatus  only,  could  overcome  so  heavy 
a  grade.     The  first   locomotive  ever  built  in 

*  Written  by  Samuel  A.  Lane. 


America,  called  the  "  Best  Friend,"  was  used 
upon  this  road  during  its  construction.  It  was 
built  at  the  "  West  Point  Foundry  Shops,"  in 
New  York,  and  forwarded  to  Charleston  by  ship 
Niagara,  in  October,  1830.  The  first  trial  trip 
w^as  made  on  a  small  portion  of  the  road  out  of 
Charleston,  November  2, 1830,  running,  accord- 
ing to  the  report  of  the  excursion  in  the  Charles- 
ton Courier^  as  "  on  the  wings  of  the  wind,  at 
the  varied  speed  of  fifteen  to  twenty  miles  an 
hour  ;  annihilating  time  and  space,  and,  like  the 
renowned  John  Grilpin,  '  leaving  all  the  world 
behind.'  "  The  '•  Best  Friend "  was  daily  in 
service,  transporting  workmen  and  materials 
used  in  the  construction  of  the  road,  until  the 
17th  day  of  June,  1831,  when  it  became  disabled 
by  a  singular  accident,  and  the  road  was  with- 
out a  locomotive  for  several  months.  Of  this 
disaster  to  the  "  Best  Friend,"  the  Charleston 
Courier  of  June  18,  1831,  gave  the  follow- 
ing account :  "  The  locomotive,  '  Best  Friend." 
started  yesterday  morning  to  meet  the  lumber 
cars  at  the  forks  of  the  road,  and  while  turning 
on  the  revolving  platform,  the  steam  was  suf- 
fered to  accumulate  by  the  negligence  of  the 
fireman,  a  negro,  who,  pressing  on  the  safety- 
valve,  prevented  the  surplus  steam  from  escap- 
ing, b}^  which  means  the  boiler  burst  at  the 
bottom,  was  forced  inward,  and  injured  Mr. 
Darrell,  the  engineer,  and  two  negroes.  The 
one  had  his  thigh  broken,  and  the  other  received 
a  severe  cut  in  the  face,  and  a  slight  one  in  the 
flesh  part  of  the  breast.  Mr.  Darrell  was  scalded 
from  the  shoulder-blade  down  his  back.  The 
boiler  was  thrown  to  the  distance  of  twenty-five 
feet.  *  *  *  The  accident  occurred  in 
consequence  of  the  negro  holding  down  the 
safety-valve,  while  Mr.  Darrell  was  assisting  to 
arrange  the  lumber  cars."  It  will  seem  strange, 
to  the  trained  railroad  operator  of  the  present 
day,  that  such  an  accident,  from  such  a  cause, 
could  have  been  possible  ;  but  it  must  be  re- 
membered that  the  engineer,  himself  almost 
wholly  unskilled  in  locomotive  driving,  had  to 
perform  all  the  functions  of  conductor,  brake- 
man,  etc.,  in  addition  to  his  own  proper  duties, 
his  only  help  being  such  as  above  indicated,  com- 
mon unskilled  laborers,  unable  to  distinguish 
between  the  lever  of  a  safet^^-valve  and  the  crank 
of  a  grindstone.  But  without  further  tracing 
the  growth  of  the  railroad  system  of  the  United 
States,  now  forming  a  perfect  net-work  of  iron 
and  steel  in  every  portion  of  the  country,  on 


V 


'^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


289 


which  daily  and  nightly  and  continuously  run 
thousands  of  locomotives,  and  tens  of  thousands 
of  freight  and  passenger  cars,  loaded  with  thou- 
sands of  tons  of  the  products  of  the  country,  with 
valuable  merchandise  from  every  part  of  the 
world,  and  with  tens  of  thousands  of  precious 
human  beings,  dashing  with  lightning  speed 
from  city  to  city,  and  from  State  to  State,  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and  from  the  Lakes 
to  the  Gulf,  representing  a  capital  of  at  least 
$5,000,000,000,  we  will  proceed  at  once  to  the 
subject  matter  of  this  chapter — "  The  Railroads 
of  Summit  County."  The  earliest  freight  and 
passenger  railroad  project,  to  include  an}'  por- 
tion of  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Summit 
County  in  its  route,  was  the 

Cleveland  &  Pittsburgh  Railroad. — A  char- 
ter was  granted  for  this  road  by  the  Legislature 
of  Ohio,  on  the  14th  day  of  March,  1836. 
Work  upon  the  road  not  being  commenced 
within  the  three  years  designated  in  the  law, 
the  charter  became  dormant,  and  remained  so 
for  six  years,  when,  b}'  an  act  passed  March  11, 
1845 — just  nine  years  after  the  granting  of  the 
original  charter— the  project  was  revived  and 
the  charter  amended.  The  promoters  of  the  en- 
terprise, though  the  times  were  hard  and  money 
scarce,  prosecuted  the  work  as  I'apidly  as  sim- 
ilar enterprises  were  then  built,  though  verj' 
slowly  in  comparison  with  more  modern  rail- 
road operations,  the  road  not  being  completed 
on  the  Cleveland  end  as  far  as  Hudson,  even, 
until  the  latter  part  of  the  winter  of  1851-52. 
The  road  enters  Summit  County  on  the  east, 
near  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township  of 
Hudson,  and  running  in  a  northwesterly'  di- 
rection, passes  through  the  village  of  Hudson, 
a  small  portion  of  the  southwest  corner  of 
Twinsburg,  and  through  the  village  of  Mace- 
donia, in  the  eastern  portion  of  Northfield 
Township,  and  thence  through  Bedford  and 
Newburg,  in  Cuyahoga  County,  to  Cleveland. 
From  the  very  beginning,  the  Cleveland  & 
Pittsburgh  has  been  under  an  able  and  efficient 
management,  and  has  never  experienced  any  of 
those  reverses  and  drawbacks  so  common  to 
railroad  corporations  in  their  earlier  daj's,  and 
so  disastrous  and  unprofitable  to  the  original 
stockholders  and  builders. 

Akron  (tr  Canton  Railroad. — The  second 
railroad  enterprise  to  engage  the  attention  of 
the  people  of  Summit  County,  was  the  Akron 
&  Canton  Railroad,  incorporated  b}'  act  of  the 


Legislature  February  21,  1845.  Its  capital 
stock  was  $200,000,  to  be  divided  into  shares 
of  $25  each  ;  but,  by  the  provisions  of  the 
charter,  it  was  not  to  commence  operations 
till  $100,000  was  subscribed,  the  company 
being  prohibited  from  contracting  debts  or  lia- 
bilities to  an  amount  greater  than  the  stock 
subscribed  and  held  by  responsible  parties  and 
remaining  unexpended,  together  with  its  means 
on  hand  and  that  which  might  reasonably  be 
expected  to  accrue  within  three  years  from  the 
time  of  the  making  of  the  contract.  The 
company  was  also  authorized  to  extend  its 
road  to  some  point  on  the  Ohio  River,  if  deemed 
advisable,  and  to  increase  its  capital  to  an 
amount  sufficient  for  that  object.  This  charter, 
both  liberal  and  illiberal  in  its  provisions,  was, 
through  the  stringency  of  the  times  and  the 
indiflS'erence  of  the  people  along  the  route,  per- 
mitted to  lapse  before  anything  definite  was 
accomplished,  and  the  Aki'on  &  Canton  Rail- 
road, proper,  was  never  built  except  on  paper. 

Akron  Branch  Railroad. — The  approaching 
completion  of  the  Cleveland  &  Pittsburgh  road 
through  one  corner  of  Summit  County,  its  near- 
est approach  to  the  county  seat  being  some  fif- 
teen miles,  aroused  our  people  to  the  importance 
of  having  more  direct  and  rapid  communica- 
tion with  the  outer  world  than  canals  and  mud 
roads  afforded.  Accordingly',  a  number  of  the 
enterprising  citizens  of  Akron,  Hudson  and 
Cu3'ahoga  Falls — one  of  the  most  active  among 
them  being  Col.  Simon  Perkins,  of  Akron — 
took  the  matter  in  hand,  and,  in  conjunction 
with  the  officers  of  the  Cleveland  &  Pittsburgh 
Railroad,  obtained  an  amendment  to  its  char- 
ter, by  an  act  passed  February  19, 1851,  author- 
izing the  construction,  under  said  charter,  of  ''a 
branch  railroad  from  some  convenient  point  on 
the  Cleveland  &  Pittsburgh  Railroad,  in  Hud- 
son, Summit  County,  thi'ough  Cuyahoga  Falls 
and  Akron  to  Wooster,  or  some  other  point  on 
the  Ohio  &  Penns3'lvania  Railroad,  between 
Massillon  and  Wooster,  and  to  connect  with  the 
said  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  or  any 
other  railroad  running  in  the  direction  of  Co- 
lumbus," and  increasing  the  capital  stock  of  the 
Cleveland  &  Pittsburgh  Company  $1,000,000. 

The  bill  also  stipulated  that  the  subscriliers 
to  the  stock  of  this  branch  road  might  form  a 
separate  organization  under  the  name  of  ''  The 
Akron  Branch  of  the  Cleveland  &  Pittsburgh 
Railroad  Company,  entitled  to  all  the  privileges 


290 


HISTORY   OF    .SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


and  subject  to  all  the  restrictions  and  liabili- 
ties granted  or  imposed  by  the  original  charter 
and  amendments  thereto." 

In  the  meantime,  a  raih-oad  had  been  char- 
tered to  run  from  Cleveland  to  Zanesville,  b}' 
the  way  of  Medina,  Wooster,  Millersburg,  etc. 
This,  our  people  at  once  saw,  or  thought,  would, 
if  completed,  leave  Summit  County  "  out  in 
the  cold,"  at  least,  for  many  years,  for  railroad 
enterprises  were  not  then  as  readily  promoted 
as  in  later  years.  A  delegation  of  the  "  Branch," 
headed  b}-  Col.  Perkins,  accordingl}-  visited 
Wooster  to  endeavor  to  get  them  to  make  a 
diversion  of  their  road  from  that  point  via 
Doylestown,  Wadsworth,  Akron  and  Cuj'ahoga 
Falls  to  Hudson,  instead  of  going  direct  through 
to  Cleveland,  as  contemplated.  To  these  over- 
tures, however,  the  Woosterites  turned  a  deaf 
ear,  and  "  The  Cleveland,  Wooster  &  Zanes- 
ville Railroad  "  was  never  built.  The  failure 
of  the  Akron  Branch  to  thus  "  pool "  its  inter- 
ests with  the  Wooster  project  was  truly  a  god- 
send to  the  people  of  Summit  County,  as  the 
present  more  convenient  railroad  system  of  the 
county  most  clearly  demonstrates. 

The  organization  of  "  The  Akron  Branch 
Railroad"  was  effected  March  11,  1851,  with 
Simon  Perkins,  Milton  W.  Henry  and  John  W. 
McMillen,  of  Akron  ;  Horace  A.  Miller,  of  Cuya- 
hoga Falls ;  James  Butler  and  Henry  N.  Day, 
of  Hudson,  and  John  Carey,  of  Millersburg, 
as  Directors.  Simon  Perkins  was  elected  Presi- 
dent ;  Henry  N.  Day,  Secretary,  and  John  W. 
McMillen.  Treasurer.  George  Robinson  was 
appointed  Chief  Engineer,  and  Isaiah  Linton, 
Assistant  Engineer,  by  whom  the  original  sur- 
vey and  estimates  from  Hudson  to  Akron  were 
made.  Messrs.  Robinson  and  Linton  subse- 
quently withdrawing  from  the  road,  their  places 
were  filled  b}'  W.  H.  Gi'ant,  of  the  Hudson 
River  Railroad,  as  Chief  Engineer,  and  M.  W. 
Kellogg,  as  Assistant.  The  contracts  were 
awarded  June  20,  1851,  and  the  work  com- 
menced immediately  thereafter. 

As  the  project  was  one  which  it  was  believed  | 
would  largely  benefit  every  property  owner  in 
the  county,  in  addition  to  the  amount  raised 
along  the  line  of  the  road  by  voluntar}'  stock 
subscriptions,  a  special  law  was  passed  bv  the 
Legislature  on  the  24th  da}'  of  March,  1851, 
authorizing  and  requiring  the  County  Commis- 
sioners, with  the  consent  of  the  legal  voters  of 
the  county,  to  subscribe  to  the  capital  stock  of 


said  company  "any  sum  not  exceeding  $100,- 
000,  and  to  borrow  the  necessary  amount  of 
money  for  the  payment  of  such  stock  subscrip- 
tion, bonds  for  tlie  amount  so  subscribed  to  be 
issued  in  sums  of  not  less  than  $100  each,  bear- 
ing interest  a  rate  not  exceeding  7  per  cent, 
pa3able  annually,  or  semi-annually,  redeemable 
at  such  time  as  may  be  deemed  expedient," 
etc.  This  proposition  was  voted  on  at  the 
special  election  for  the  adoption  of  the  New 
Constitution  of  Ohio,  June  21,  1851,  the  vote 
"  for  subscription  "  and  "  against  subscription," 
in  the  several  townships  of  the  count}',  being 
as  follows  : 


For 
Siibscripti  n. 


Bath 78 

Boston 40 

Copley 160 

Coventry 104 

Cuyahoga  Falls 275 

Franklin 95 

Green 69 

Hudson 258 

Middlebury 56 

Northlield 33 

Northampton 93 

Norton 175 

Portage 737 

Richfield 48 

Springfield 89 

Stow 88 

Tallmadge 31 

Twinsburg 03 


AgKinst 
Subscriptiuii 

103 

94 

56 

58 

12 
170 
177 

20 

72 
165 

57 

40 

03 

70 
167 

72 
114 
156 


1,605 


Total  vote 2,432 

Majorit}'  for  subscription,  827. 

In  accordance  with  the  authorit}'  thus  given 
them,  the  County  Commissioners,  Messrs.  Etl- 
win  Wetmore,  of  Stow,  James  W.  Weld,  of 
Richfield,  and  Hiram  Weston,  of  Middlebury, 
proceeded,  "  For  and  in  the  name  of  Summit 
County,"  to  subscribe  for  .1100,000  of  the  stock 
of  said  railroad,  issuing  therefor  100  bonds  of 
11,000  each,  payable  to  the  order  of  John  W. 
McMillen,  in  fifteen  years,  with  thirty  interest 
coupons  attached,  at  the  rate  of  7  per  cent, 
payable  semi-annually.  The  Commissioners, 
at  the  same  time,  in  accordance  with  the  pro- 
visions of  the  act  authorizing  such  stock  sub- 
scription, added  to  the  rate  of  taxation  an 
amount  sufficient  not  only  to  meet  the  interest 
as  it  should  fall  due,  but  to  also  graduall}'  cre- 
ate a  sinking  fund  for  the  final  payment  of  tlie 
bonds  themselves. 

The  aid  thus  furnished,   together  with  tlie 
prompt  payment  of  individual  stock  subscrip- 


jp" 


^Uv 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


291 


tions  along  the  line,  enabled  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors to  push  the  work  forward  so  vigorously 
that,  on  the  1st  day  of  January,  1852 — less 
than  ten  months  after  the  organization  of  the 
company,  and  only  about  six  months  after  the 
contracts  were  awarded — the  completion  of  the 
road  to  that  village  was  celebrated  by  the  peo- 
ple of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  its  completion  to  Akron, 
five  miles  further,  being  celebrated  on  the  4th 
of  July  of  the  same  year.  The  work  south 
from  Akron  was  also  pushed  vigorously-  for- 
ward, and  the  line  speedily  completed  to  Mil- 
lersburg,  in  Holmes  County,  thus  forming  a 
connection  with  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  (now 
the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago)  Rail- 
road at  Orrville,  in  Wayne  County,  and  giving 
us  an  outlet  in  the  direction  of  Columbus,  Cin- 
cinnati, and  the  Western  and  Southern  States. 

Although  so  heavy  a  vote  was  polled 
against  the  subscription  to  the  stock  of  this 
road  by  the  county,  and  though  there  was  verj- 
much  grumbling  by  a  portion  of  the  tax-payers 
of  the  county  from  year  to  year,  while  the  in- 
terest was  being  paid  and  the  fund  provided 
for  the  payment  of  the  bonds  themselves,  all 
now  admit  that  it  was  the  best  investment  of 
money  ever  made  by  the  property -owners  of 
Summit  County,  there  not  being  a  single  foot 
of  land  within  the  limits  of  the  count}'  that  was 
not  enhanced  in  value  from  ten  to  twenty  fold 
the  amount  of  special  tax  thus  paid  upon  it, 
while  an  impetus  was  given  to  the  trade,  man- 
ufactures and  agricultural  operations  of  the 
county  that  could  have  been  attained  in  no 
other  way. 

TJie  Cleveland,  Zaiiesvil/e  t('?  Cincinnati  Rail- 
road.— With  the  view  of  extending  the  road 
south  from  Millersburg  to  Zanesville,  to  form 
a  connection  with  Cincinnati  via  the  Cincinnati, 
Wilmington  &  Zanesville  Railroad,  application 
was  made  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of 
Summit  County,  at  the  March  term,  1853,  for  a 
change  of  name  to  the  "  Cleveland,  Zanesville 
&  Cincinnati  Railroad."  which  was  accordingly 
done.  Embarrassments  subsequently  falling 
upon  the  road,  the  contemplated  extension  was 
indefinitely  postponed.  On  the  22d  day  of 
August,  1861,  suit  was  brought,  in  the  Com- 
mon Pleas  Court  of  Summit  County,  by  the 
creditors  of  the  road,  for  foreclosure  of  mort- 
gage and  sale  of  the  road.  Col.  Simon  Perkins 
being  appointed  Receiver  b}'  the  court,  to  run 
the   road   pending   litigation.      By    decree   of 


court,  the  road  and  its  franchises  were  sold  by 
the  Receiver  at  public  auction  at  the  door  of 
the  court  house,  in  Akron,  on  the  2d  day  of 
November,  1864,  George  W..Cass  and  John  J. 
Marvin,  of  Pittsburgh,  being  the  purchasers. 
Col.  Simon  Perkins  being  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  the  road  by  the  new  ownei's.  On 
the  1st  day  of  July,  1865,  George  W.  Cass  and 
John  J.  Marvin,  by  deed,  conveyed  the  road 
and  property  pertaining  thereto  to  the  Pitts- 
burgh, Fort  Wa}'ne  &  Chicago  Railway  Com- 
pany. July  1,  1869,  the  road  passed,  with  the 
lease  of  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago 
Railway,  into  the  hands  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company.  November  4,  1869,  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  and  the  Pitts- 
burgh, Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Railway  Com- 
pany sold  and  transferred,  by  deed,  to  the  Pitts- 
burgh, Mount  Vernon,  Columbus  &  London  Rail- 
road Company,  the  entire  Cleveland,  Zanesville 
&  Cincinnati  Railroad,  extending  from  Hudson, 
in  Summit  County,  to  the  coal  mines  southwest 
of  Millersburg,  in  Holmes  Count}- — a  distance 
of  sixty-five  miles — with  all  its  rolling  stock, 
machinei-y  and  fixtures,  for  the  consideration  of 
22,000  shares  of  fully  paid-up  capital  stock  of 
said  Pittsburgh,  Mount  Vernon,  Columbus  & 
London  Railroad  Companv,  the  par  value  of 
the  same  being  $1,100,000."  December  1,  1869, 
Gen.  Goshorn  A.  Jones,  of  Mount  Vernon,  was 
appointed  Superintendent  of  the  road.  Col.  Si- 
mon Perkins  retiring.  On  the  20th  day  of  De- 
cember, 1869,  by  a  decree  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  of  Knox  County,  the  name  of  the 
Pittsburgh,  Mount  Vernon,  Columbus  &  Lon- 
don Railroad  Company  was  changed  to  Cleve- 
land, Mount  Vernon  &  Delaware  Railroad  Com- 
pany. TTnder  the  new  management,  measures 
were  immediately  taken,  and  vigorously  i)rose- 
cuted,  to  build  the  road  through  to  its  final 
destination,  Delaware,  but  soon  so  far  modified 
as  to  make  Columbus,  instead  of  Delaware,  the 
southern  terminus.  The  road  was  completed 
and  the  first  passenger  train  from  Hudson  to 
Mount  Vernon  was  run  June  25,  1872,  and.  on 
the  23d  day  of  November,  1873,  the  road  was 
opened  through  to  Columbus,  regular  trains 
commencing  at  that  day  and  continuing  to  the 
present.  Various  causes  having  combined  to 
prevent  the  road,  though  doing  a  fair  business, 
from  meeting  its  liabilities,  the  owners  of  the 
first  mortgage  bonds  of  the  road,  at  the  Sep- 
tember term,  1880,  of  the  Court  of  Common 


■w* 


292 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Pleas  of  Summit  County,  commenced  a  suit  for 
foreclosure  and  sale,  Gen.  G.  A.  Jones,  by  order 
of  court,  being  appointed  and  qualified  as  Re- 
ceiver September  27,  1880.  At  the  present 
writing  (April,  1881),  there  are  strong  hopes 
that  the  Receiver  may  be  able  to  relieve  the 
road  of  its  embarrassments,  the  court  having 
already  ordered  the  building  of  about  three 
miles  of  additional  track  to  Fox  Lake  Coal 
Mines,  the  purchase  of  four  new  locomotives, 
four  new  passenger  coaches  and  six  miles  of 
steel  rails.  The  officers  of  the  road,  at  the 
time  of  its  transfer  to  the  present  company, 
were  as  follows  :  Directors,  R.  C.  Hurd,  Charles 
Cooper,  S.  Israel,  Mount  Vernon  ;  M.  White,  of 
Gambler  ;  I.  Harpster,  of  Millersburg  ;  Will- 
iam M.  Orr,  of  Orrville  ;  and  Thomas  D.  Mess- 
ier, of  Pittsburgh,  Penn.;  President,  R.  C. 
Hurd  ;  Secretar}',  J.  S.  Davis  ;  Treasurer,  J.  D. 
Thompson;  Auditor,  E.  Mize  ;  Superintendent, 
G.  A.  Jones  ;  Master  Machinist,  J.  W.  Hollo- 
way.  Present  officers  of  the  road  are  as  fol- 
lows :  Directors,  Thomas  D.  Messier  and  Will- 
iam Shaw,  of  Pittsburgh  ;  George  B.  Roberts,  of 
Philadelphia ;  Hon.  J.  R.  Swan,  of  Columbus  ; 
S.  Israel  and  Charles  Cooper,  of  Mount  Ver- 
non ;  William  M.  Orr,  of  Orrville  ;  I.  Harpster, 
of  Millersburg  ;  M.  White,  of  Gambler  ;  Pres- 
ident, Thomas  D.  Messier ;  Superintendent,  G. 
A.  Jones  ;  Auditor,  E.  Mize  ;  Treasurer,  J.  D. 
Thompson ;  Secretary,  J.  S.  Davis ;  Master 
Machinist,  J.  W.  HoUoway  ;  General  Freight 
and  Ticket  Agent,  J.  A.  Tilton  ;  Messrs.  Mize, 
Thompson,  HoUowa}^  and  Tilton  also  acting  in 
their  respective  positions,  under  the  appoint- 
ment of  Receiver  Jones  ;  Messrs.  Mize  and  Hol- 
loway  having  been  connected  with  the  road 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  from  its  first  completion  as 
the  "  Akron  Branch." 

Thf  MassiUon  Branch. — As  an  adjunct  to  the 
Cleveland,  Columbus  &  Delaware  road,  the 
Massillon  &  Cleveland  Railroad  (commonly 
called  the  Massillon  Branch)  was  built  by  the 
Massillon  &  Cleveland  Railroad  Compan3%  and 
runs  from  Clinton,  in  Summit  County,  to  Mas- 
sillon, in  Stark  County,  a  distance  of  some  eight 
or  ten  miles,  only.  This  road  was  leased  to  the 
Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Railway 
Company  June  22,  1869;  lease  assigned  by 
that  company  to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  Juh'  1,  1869  ;  and  b}'  that  company 
and  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Rail- 
way Compan}^  lease  assigned  to  the  Pittsburgh, 


Mount  Vernon,  Columbus  &  London  Railway 
Company  (now  Cleveland,  Mount  Vernon  &  Del- 
aware Railroad  Company),  November  4,  1869. 
The  road  is  owned  by  the  Massillon  &  Cleve- 
land Railroad  Company,  and  is  now  (1881) 
operated  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany, operating  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  & 
Chicago  Railway.  Both  the  Cleveland,  Mount 
Vernon  &  Delaware,  and  the  "  Massillon 
Branch  "  run  through  some  of  the  most  prolific 
coal  regions  of  the  State,  large  shipments  of 
coal  and  other  minerals  daily  passing  over  their 
tracks. 

Other  Early  Railroad  Projects. — About  the 
the  time  the  Cleveland  &  Pittsburgh  and  the 
Akron  Branch  were  being  projected  and  built, 
three  other  lines,  centering  in  Hudson,  were 
chartered  and  a  commendable  degree  of  prog- 
ress made  in  their  construction,  viz.:  The 
"  Clinton  Line,"  the  "  Clinton  Line  Extension," 
and  the  "  Hudson  &  Painesville."  As  early  as 
1830,  Col.  De  Witt  Clinton,  Jr.,  then  of  the 
United  States  Topographical  Engineers,  recon- 
noitered  aud  recommended  the  construction  of 
a  railway  from  the  Atlantic  to  Council  Bluffs, 
on  the  Missouri  River,  on  a  route  that  would 
bring  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Summit 
County-  upon  its  line.  To  this  end,  a  number 
of  charters  had  been  secured,  companies  organ- 
ized and  work  commenced  in  the  States  of  New 
York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois, 
from  1840  to  1853.  the  several  links,  when 
completed,  to  be  consolidated  into  one  '•  grand 
continental  line,"  to  be  designated  ''  The  Amer- 
ican Central  Railway,"  with  the  further  plan  in 
I  view  of  ultimately'  continuing  the  line  through 
to  the  Pacific  Coast. 

The  Clinton  Line  Railroad.— As  one  of  the 
links  of  this  great  through  line,  in  1852,  the 
"  Clinton  Line  Railroad  Compau}-  "  was  char- 
tered and  organized,  so  named  in  honor  of  the 
originator  and  promoter  of  the  Erie  Canal,  the 
greatest  topographical  and  civil  engineering 
project  of  his  time,  De  Witt  Clinton.  The  most 
active  and  liberal  promoters  of  this  road  were 
citizens  of  Hudson,  with  Prof  Henry  N.  Day 
as  its  President.  The  line  extended  from  Hud- 
son east  to  the  Pennsylvania  State  line,  a  dis- 
tance of  fifty-five  miles,  running  through  Por- 
tage and  Trumbull  Counties,  and  connecting 
at  the  State  line,  in  the  Township  of  Kinsman, 
with  the  Venango  Railroad,  then  under  con- 
tract and  in  process  of  construction.    The  Pitts- 


'.^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


293 


burgh  &  Erie,  also,  had  the  project  in  con- 
templation of  building  a  branch  road  to  con- 
nect with  the  Clinton  line  at  Kinsman,  thus  giv- 
ing the  Clinton  line  the  choice  of  two  very 
desirable  routes  to  the  Atlantic  seaboard. 

The  Clinton  Line  Extension. — In  1853,  the 
Clinton  Line  Extension  Railroad,  from  Hudson 
west  to  Tiffin,  in  Seneca  County,  was  organized, 
with  Prof  Henry  N.  Day,  also,  as  its  President, 
and  Hon.  Van  R.  Humphre}',  of  Hudson,  as  one 
of  its  directors.  The  distance  from  Hudson  to 
Tiffin,  by  the  line  of  this  road,  is  about  94 
miles.  The  Clinton  Line  Extension  was  to  con- 
nect at  Tiffin  with  the  Tiffin  &  Fort  Wayne 
Railroad,  organized  the  same  year,  which  road, 
in  turn,  was  to  connect  at  Fort  Wayne  with  the 
Fort  Wayne  &  Mississippi  Railroad,  organized 
in  1853,  which  road  was,  through  short  interme- 
diate links,  to  connect  with  the  Philadelphia, 
Fort  Wayne  &  Platte  River  Air  Line  Railroad, 
chartered  in  1853,  under  the  laws  of  the  State 
of  Iowa,  and  extending  from  New  Boston,  on 
the  Mississippi  River,  to  Council  Bluffs,  on  the 
Missouri  River.  At  a  convention  of  the  offi- 
cers of  the  several  roads  which  were  to  form 
this  great  through  line,  held  at  Fort  Wa3'ne  in 
December,  1855,  President  Day  reported  of  the 
Clinton  Line  and  the  Clinton  Line  Extension  as 
follows  :  "  On  the  Clinton  Line,  forty  per  cent 
of  the  grading,  masonry'  and  bridging  has  been 
done  ;  contracts  have  recent!}'  been  closed  for 
the  completion  of  the  road-bed  not  already 
under  contract,  and  also  for  the  superstructure 
and  equipment  of  the  road,  to  be  finished  in 
about  a  3'ear.  The  company,  about  a  month 
since,  commenced  an  effort  to  increase  the  local 
cash  subscription  to  its  capital  stock,  which 
has  been  carried  far  enough  to  assure  the  entire 
success  of  the  effort  within  a  very  few  weeks. 
The  estimated  cost  of  the  road,  under  the 
prices  of  the  contracts,  inclusive  of  equip- 
ments, station  buildings,  fencing,  telegraph,  in- 
terest and  discounts,  is  $1,700,000. 

"The  Clinton  Line  Extension  Company  com- 
menced work  on  the  heavier  sections  of  the 
road  (contiguous  to  the  Cuyahoga  River  in  Sum- 
mit Count}-),  with  a  view  to  the  completion  of 
the  entire  road  at  the  same  time  ;  after  expend- 
ing about  $70,000  on  the  eastern  division,  they 
were  induced  by  the  financial  embarrassments 
of  the  time  to  confine  their  operations  to  the 
western  division — from  Tiffin  about  forty-one 
miles  to   New  London,  on  the  Cleveland,  Co- 


lumbus &  Cincinnati  Railroad — this  division 
being  of  easier  construction,  and  completing, 
in  connection  with  other  lines,  a  very  promising 
line  of  itself  to  Cleveland.  Contracts  have  re- 
centl}'  been  made  for  the  completion  of  the  en- 
tire road  for  operation — the  western  division  in 
about  one  year,  the  eastern  in  a  year  afterward. 
The  cost  of  the  road  is  estimated,  on  the  basis 
of  the  contract  prices,  at  $3,200,000,  inclusive 
of  equipments,  station  buildings,  fencing,  tele- 
graph, interest  and  discounts." 

The  "  effort  to  increase  the  local  cash  sub- 
scription to  its  capital  stock  "  did  not  prove  as 
successful  as  President  Day  anticipated,  and 
other  embarrassments  falling  upon  the  organ- 
izations, work  was  entirely  suspended  upon  both 
lines  early  in  1856  and  never  resumed  ;  the  two 
promising  enterprises  falling  through  for  want 
of  the  necessary  funds  to  carry  them  forward 
to  completion,  bringing  also  disaster  and  finan- 
cial embarrassment  to  many  of  the  citizens  of 
Hudson,  and  very  seriously  affecting,  for  the 
time  being,  the  prosperity  of  the  village  itself 

The  Hudson  &  PainesviUe  HailroacL  — In 
1853,  also,  the  Hudson  &  PainesviUe  Railroad 
Company  was  chartered  and  organized,  with 
Hon.  Van  R.  Humphrey  as  its  President.  This 
road  was  intended  to  be  a  direct  continuation 
of  the  Cleveland,  Zanesville  &  Cincinnati  Rail- 
road to  Lake  Erie.  To  this  enterprise,  also,  the 
people  of  Hudson,  in  common  with  those  of 
PainesviUe  and  intermediate  towns,  subscribed 
liberall}'.  Though  a  large  portion  of  the  grad- 
ing and  other  work  was  completed,  or  nearly  so, 
in  the  general  financial  stringency  which  caused 
the  suspension  of  work  upon  the  Clinton  Line, 
and  Clinton  Line  Extension,  and  collapsed  the 
railroad  enterprises  of  the  countr}'  generall}', 
the  Hudson  &  PainesviUe  had  to  succumb  to 
the  inevitable,  and  go  into  liquidation.  This 
route,  however,  is  still  regarded  with  favor  b}' 
man}-,  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  within  a 
few  years,  the  "  Hudson  &  PainesviUe  Railroad" 
may  become  a  fixed,  if  not  profitable  fact. 

The  Atlantic  d:  Great  Wes'ern  Railway. — To 
Hon.  Marvin  Kent,  of  the  enterprising  village 
of  Kent  (then  known  as  Franklin  Mills),  in  the 
neighboring  county  of  Portage,  is  mainly,  if  not 
solely,  due  the  credit  of  projecting  the  Atlantic 
&  Great  Western  Railroad,  which  has,  for  several 
years  past,  so  largely  engaged  the  attention  of 
the  railway,  financial  and  legal  magnates  of 
both  Europe  and  America.     As  early  as  1850, 


XI 


294 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


Mr.  Kent,  then,  though  comparatively  a  young 
man,  quite  an  extensive  mill  owner  and  manu- 
facturer of  that  village,  moved  thereto,  perhaps 
by  the  fact  that  the  management  of  the  Cleve- 
land &  Pittsburgh  road,  then  in  process  of 
construction,  in  getting  from  Ravenna  to  Hud- 
son, had  run  its  track  some  two  and  a  half  miles 
north  of  the  village,  conceived  the  idea  of  form- 
ing a  direct  through  broad-gauge  line  from  New 
York  to  St.  Louis,  a  distance  of  nearly  1,200 
miles,  by  connections  with  the  New  York  & 
Erie,  at  Salamanca,  and,  through  the  Da}' ton  & 
Hamilton,  with  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi,  at  Cin- 
cinnati. Having  carefully  traced  upon  the  map 
the  route  to  be  traversed,  and  dul}'  considered 
the  feasibility  of  the  project,  Mr.  Kent  set  him- 
self quietly  but  vigorously  at  work  to  perfect 
his  plans  for  the  accomplishment  of  his  object. 
In  order  not  to  arouse  the  jealousy  and  oppo- 
sition of  competing  lines,  great  caution  and 
secrecy  had  to  be  observed,  and  considerable 
strategy  employed.  Confiding  his  plans  to  a 
few  confidential  advisers  only,  with  a  bill  drafted 
b}'  his  own  hand,  Mr.  Kent  proceeded  to  Co- 
lumbus, in  the  winter  of  1850-51,  where  he  se- 
cured the  hearty  co-operation  of  Hon.  Milton 
Sutliff,  State  Senator  from  the  Trumbull  Dis- 
trict, and  Chairman  of  Committee  on  Railroads, 
through  whose  influence  the  modest  bill,  for  the 
charter  of  a  seemingly  local  road,  under  the 
modest  title  of  the  "  Coal  Hill  Railroad " — 
quietly  changed,  previous  to  its  final  passage, 
to  the  still  modest  title  of  the  "  Franklin  &  War- 
ren Railroad  "■ — as  written  by  Mr.  Kent,  was 
passed  March  10,  1851,  as  follows  : 

An  Act  to  Incorporate  the  Franklin  &  War- 
ren Railroad  Company. 
Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  State  of  Ohio  :  That  Thomas  Earl,  Zcnas 
Kent,  O.  L.  Drake,  A.  V.  Horr,  Cyrus  Prentiss  and 
Marvin  Kent,  of  the  eoimty  of  Portage  ;  Simon 
Perkins,  Lucius  V.  Bierce,  Harvey  B.  Spelman  and 
Daniel  Upson,  of  Summit  County,  and  Cliarles 
Smith,  Frederick  Kinsman,  Jacob  Perkins,  C.  G. 
Sutliff  and  Rufus  P.  Ranney,  of  the  county  of 
Trumbull,  and  their  associates,  successors  and  as- 
signs, be,  and  they  are  hereby  created  a  body  corpo- 
rate and  politic,  by  the  name  and  style  of  the 
Franklin  &  Warren  Railroad  Company,  with  per- 
petual succession  ;  and  by  that  name  and  stjde  shall 
be  entitled  to  have  and  enjoj',  and  are  hereby  in- 
vested with  all  the  rights,  privileges  and  franchises, 
and  be  sul)ject  to  all  the  restrictions  of  the  act  en- 
titled "An  Act  Regulating  Railroad  Companies," 
passed  February  ll,"l848,  and  the  act  amendatory 
thereto,  except  so  far  as  the  same  may  be  modified 
or  changed  by  this  act. 


Sec  2.  The  capital  stock  of  this  company  may  be 
any  amount  not  exceeding  two  millions  of  dollars, 
and  said  company  shall  have  power  to  construct  a 
railroad  from  the  village  of  Franklin,  in  the  county 
of  Portage,  to  Warren,  in  the  county  of  Trumbull, 
and  from  thence  to  the  east  line  of  Ohio,  and  may 
continue  the  same  from  its  place  of  beginning,  in  a 
westerly  or  southwesterly  direction,  to  connect  with 
any  other  railroad  within  this  State,  which  the  di 
rectors  of  said  company  may  deem  advisable. 

Sec.  3.  That  said  company  shall  be,  and  is  hereby 
autliorized  to  connect  with  any  other  railroad  com- 
pany, and  to  consolidate  its  capital  stock  with  the 
capital  stock  of  such  company,  upon  terms  to  be 
agreed  upon  between  the  said  companies,  and  to 
have  and  use  the  name  and  style  of  such  other  com- 
pany, and  constitute  a  part  of  the  same  ;  and  any 
other  company  may,  in  like  manner,  connect  with, 
and  become  a  part  of,  the  company  hereby  incorpo- 
rated. 

Sec  4.  Said  company  shall  have  power  to  mort- 
gage, or  in  any  other  way  create  a  lien  in  favor  of 
any  person  or  persons  or  company,  for  materials,  la- 
bor, or  other  thing  necessary  for  said  road  ;  and 
said  company  shall  be  authorized  to  sell  its  own  or 
other  corporate  bonds  at  such  rate  of  discount  as 
tliey  may  deem  proper  to  further  the  objects  of  said 
company,  and  said  bonds  may  bear  such  rate  of  in- 
terest as  said  company  may  deem  advisable,  and 
said  bonds  may  be  sold  in  or  out  of  the  State,  which 
sales  shall  be  valid. 

Sec  5.  Said  company  may,  and  they  are  hereby 
authorized  to,  commence  and  complete  any  part  of 
said  railroad  from  the  place  of  beginning  to  any 
point  on  the  route  which  the  interests  of  said  com- 
pany may  require,  and  to  employ  and  use  said  part 
constructed,  and  to  demand  and  receive  suitable 
rates  of  toll  for  the  transportation  of  persons  and 
property  thereon,  according  to  the  provisions  of  the 
charter  of  said  company,  as  fully  as  if  the  entire 
work  were  completed  and  in  operation  ;  and  as  soon 
as  twenty  thousand  dollars  shall  have  been  sub- 
.scribed  to  the  stock  of  said  company,  the  persons 
named  in  the  first  section,  or  any  five  of  them,  shall 
call  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  for  the  election 
of  directors  for  the  government  of  said  company. 

Sec  6.  That  the  track  of  the  railroad  hereby  au- 
thorized to  be  constructed,  may  be  made  of  such 
width  as  may  be  necessary  to  conform  to  the  width 
of  any  railroad  with  which  it  may  connect. 

John  F.  Morse, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
Charles  C.  Convers, 

March  10,  1851.  ''^P'"'^''  "^  ^^''  *'^''^^'- 

This  remarkably  liberal  charter  having  been 
secured,  Mr.  Kent  immediately  addressed  him- 
self to  the  task  of  working  up  an  interest  in  the 
project,  and  procuring  subscriptions  to  the  cap- 
ital stock  of  the  road.  His  progress  was  at 
first  very  slow,  Mr.  Kent  himself  finalh'  sub- 
scribing the  entire  $20,000  named  in  the  char- 
ter as  a  prerequisite  to  its  organization,  and 
pledging  himself  to  a  number  of  other  gentle- 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


295 


men,  whom  he  induced  to  take  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  shares  to  make  up  the  proper  comple- 
ment of  directors  and  officers,  to  take  the  stock 
ofl"  their  hands  if  the  venture  should  prove  un- 
satisfactory or  unsuccessful.  Thus  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Franklin  &  Warren  Railroad 
Company  was  perfected  on  the  19th  day  of 
June,  1851,  at  which  time  Zenas  Kent,  Sylves- 
ter Huggins,  Frederick  Whipple  and  Marvin 
Kent,  of  Franklin  ;  L.  J.  Iddings,  of  Warren  : 
Daniel  Upson,  of  Tallmadge,  and  William  Por- 
ter, of  Milton,  Ohio,  were  elected  Directors.  At 
a  meeting  of  the  Directors,  held  July  8,  1851. 
Marvin  Kent  was  chosen  President ;  Joel  W. 
Tyler,  Secretary,  and  Sylvester  Huggins,  Treas- 
urer. 

In  his  first  report  made  to  the  stockholders 
of  the  new  road,  at  a  meeting  held  at  Franklin, 
Jul}'  19,  1853,  President  Kent  said  :  "  In  its 
earlier  operations,  delaj^s  were  interposed  to  the 
commencement  of  the  work  by  the  policy  of  a 
neighboring  State,  which,  apparently,  presented 
a  hostile  attitude  to  its  advancement,  and 
somewhat  embarrassed  the  operations  of  its 
Directors.  Fortunately,  these  embarrassments 
have  been  removed,  and  the  company  is  placed 
in  that  position  which  insures  a  speedy  comple- 
tion of  the  great  end  it  has  in  view.  The  sec- 
ond year  of  its  existence  opened  a  new  era  in 
its  prospects.  The  general  interests  of  the 
country  require  a  gi'eat  Eastern  and  Western 
railwa}'  communication,  and  the  idea  of  a  con- 
tinuous route  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific 
shores,  took  possession  of  the  public  mind. 
Our  enterprise,  gentlemen,  is  no  less  than  a 
link  (and  an  important  one)  in  this  great  chain 
of  inter-communication.  *  *  *  At  present, 
the  board  proposes  to  locate  the  road  from  a 
point  in  the  eastern  line  of  the  State  of  Ohio, 
northeast  of  Warren,  in  Trumbull  County,  to 
Da3'ton,  *  *  *  passing  through  and  secur- 
ing the  trade  and  traffic  of  all  the  important 
business  points  in  thirteen  of  the  most  produc- 
tive counties  in  the  State.  *  *  *  The  town 
of  Akron  alone,  manufactured,  during  the  past 
season,  180,000  barrels  of  flour  for  shipment. 
During  the  same  period,  fifty  thousand  barrels 
were  manufactured  at  the  village  of  Franklin. 
With  this  new  means  of  transit  during  the 
winter  months,  and  the  increasing  prosperity 
of  the  country,  the  quantitj^  would  undoubted- 
ly be  increased  100  per  cent.  *  *  *  As 
for  the  through  passenger  business,  it  embraces 


the  East  and  the  Great  West,  ailtt  your  road 
ma}'  therefore  be  emphatically  denominated  the 
Atlantic  &  Great  Western  Railwa}-." 

In  accordance  with  this  hint,  by  due  legal 
process,  the  name  of  the  corporation  was 
changed  from  the  Franklin  &  Warren,  to  the 
Atlantic  &  Great  Western  Railroad  Company, 
during  the  3'ear  1854.  In  December  of  the  same 
year,  the  capital  stock  of  the  company  was  in- 
creased from  $2,000,000  to  $4,000,000.  In  the 
meantime,  parties  interested  in  the  success  of 
the  enterprise,  being  unable  to  secure  from  the 
Pennsylvania  Legislature  a  direct  charter  for 
the  intermediate  connecting  link  through  that 
State,  bought,  for  $400,000,  the  existing  charter 
and  franchises  of  the  Pittsburgh  &  Erie  road, 
having  sufficient  branching  powers  to  enable 
them  to  span  the  State,  and  connect  with  the 
Ohio  branch  upon  the  West,  and  the  New  York 
branch  upon  the  East.  Subsequently,  such 
legislative  action  was  had  in  the  States  of 
Pennsylvania  and  New  York,  as  to  authorize 
the  organization  of  a  company  in  each  State, 
under  the  same  title  as  in  Ohio,  with  a  separ- 
ate Board  of  Directors  for  each,  the  three  com- 
panies uniting  under  the  general  title  of  the 
Altantic  &  Great  Western  Railway  Company, 
with  a  Central  Board  of  Directors,  President, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  with  its  headquarters 
at  Meadville,  Penn.  The  Ohio  Board  was  rep- 
resented in  the  Central  Board  by  Marvin  Kent 
and  Dr.  W.  S.  Streator.  Large  local  subscrip- 
tions were  worked  up  through  the  efforts  of 
President  Kent,  Secretary  Earl  and  others  of 
Franklin  ;  John  H.  Chamberlin,  Jacob  Allen 
and  others  of  Akron,  and  Dr.  Daniel  Upson  and 
others  of  Tallmadge  (Akron  and  Summit  County 
furnishing  their  full  quota,  $100,000),  and  work 
was  commenced  b}^  the  contractor,  Mr.  Henry 
Doolittle,  on  the  Ohio  Division,  at  Franklin 
Mills,  July  4,  1853,  President  Marvin  Kent  re- 
moving the  first  earth.  Mr.  Doolittle's  contract 
embraced  the  entire  Ohio  division,  from  the 
Pennsj'lvania  State  line  to  Da3'ton,  a  distance  of 
240  miles,  and  amounted  to  nearly  $7,000,000 
($1,000,000  of  which  was  to  be  paid  in  stock), 
the  largest  contract  which,  up  to  that  time,  had 
ever  been  taken  by  one  man,  either  in  America 
or  Europe.  Grading  and  other  work  was  prett}- 
evenly  distributed  in  the  several  counties  from 
the  State  line  to  Dayton,  one  of  the  conditions 
of  the  subscription  being  that  the  money  should 
be  expended  in  the  counties  where  raised.    Con- 


^  ^ 

TT 


^■4^ — *- 


:±=i£k, 


296 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


siderable  progress  was  made  all  along  the  line 
in  1853  and  1854  ;  but,  like  most  contemporan- 
eous railroad  enterprises,  it  was  beset  with  such 
serious  financial  embarrassments  that  work  was 
practicalh'  suspended  in  1855,  though,  not  en- 
tirely stopped  until  1858.  Meanwhile,  however, 
the  organization  was  kept  intact,  audits  plucky 
President,  and  the  faithful  few  who  manfully 
stood  by  him,  in  both  Portage  and  Summit 
Counties,  relaxed  not  one  jot  or  tittle  of  their 
zeal,  their  persevering  efforts  being  rewarded  by 
the  enlistment  of  James  McHenry,  Esq.,  of 
London,  and  other  capitalists  in  London,  Paris 
and  Madrid,  in  the  enterprise,  Mr.  McHenry 
contracting  in  Mai'ch,  1861,  to  complete  the  en- 
tire line  from  Salamanca,  N.  Y.,  to  Dayton, 
Ohio,  the  original  contractor,  Mr.  Henry  Doolit- 
tle,  having  in  the  meantime  deceased.  Though 
the  contract  stipulated  that  work  should  be 
resumed  in  June,  1861,  owing  to  the  breaking- 
out  of  the  civil  war  in  the  United  States,  and 
the  complications  with  foreign  nations,  tempo- 
rarilj-  resulting  therefrom,  no  great  progress  was 
made  until  the  spring  of  1862.  The  work  was 
done  under  the  immediate  personal  supervision 
of  Chief  Engineer,  Thomas  W.  Kennard,  of 
London,  England,  and  was  pushed  through  so 
energetically  that  the  palace  car  of  Engineer 
Kennard,  with  the  officers  and  Directors  of  the 
road,  drove  into  Akron  on  the  17th  da}'  of 
April,  186.3,  to  the  great  delight  of  our  entire 
populace. 

Of  this  event,  the  Bmcon  of  April  23,  1863, 
says  :  "  As  we  stated  in  our  last  issue  that  this 
grand  enterprise  was  to  be  completed  to  this 
place  during  the  last  week,  without  fail,  we  are 
now  happy  to  state  that  the  track  was  com- 
pleted to  within  a  few  rods  of  the  Cleveland, 
Zanesville  &  Cincinnati  Company's  depot,  on 
Saturday  evening  last.  On  Friday  afternoon,  ac- 
cording to  announcement,  Chief  Engineer  Ken- 
nard arrived  within  the  limits  of  the  corpora- 
tion, direct  from  New  York,  with  his  magnificent 
passenger  car  and  engine,  accompanied  by  sev- 
eral gentlemen  from  Warren,  Ravenna  and  other 
points  along  the  road.  Their  advent  into  town 
was  greeted  by  the  liveliest  enthusiasm  of  our 
people,  expressed  through  the  soul-stirring 
music  of  our  most  excellent  band,  and  by  a  gen- 
eral visit  to  the  '  pioneer  train  '  and  the  track- 
laying  operations  just  around  the  bend." 

Owing  to  the  enhanced  cost  of  labor  and  ma- 
terials— incident  to  the  war — the  capital  stock 


of  the  company  was  found,  even  with  the  large 
amount  of  bonds  it  was  authorized  to  issue,  to 
be  altogether  inadequate  to  the  finishing  and 
furnishing  of  the  road,  and  on  the  5th  day  of 
November,  1863,  at  a  stock-holders'  meeting 
called  for  that  purpose,  it  was  voted  to  increase 
the  stock  from  $4,000,000  to  $6,000,000.  Under 
the  vigorous  management  of  Engineer  Kennard, 
the  road  was  pushed  through  to  Dayton,  and  its 
completion  to  that,  its  Western  terminal  point, 
was  duly  celebrated  on  the  21st  day  of  June, 
1864,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  company  of 
railroad  magnates  of  both  the  East  and  the 
West.  From  the  long  and  full  report  of  the 
proceedings,  published  in  the  Dayton  Journal 
of  June  22,  1864,  we  give  the  following  inter- 
esting items  :  "  President  Kent  announced  the 
object  of  the  meeting,  and  T.  W.  Kennard,  Chief 
Engineer  ;  William  Reynolds,  President  of  the 
New  York  &  Pennsylvania  Divisions  ;  H.  F. 
Sweetser,  General  Superintendent,  and  Mr. 
Kent,  proceeded  to  lay  the  last  rails.  The  cer- 
emony of  spiking  was  introduced  with  consid- 
erable merriment,  Mr.  Kennard  driving  the  first 
spike  in  the  last  rail  at  four  sturdy  blows. 
Others  followed  in  succession,  one  only — an 
Irish  track-layer — excelling  Mr.  Kennard,  by 
making  the  drive  with  one  less  blow,  besides 
President  Kent,  who,  in  driving  the  last  spike, 
with  a  nervy  grasp,  struck  straight— one,  two, 
three,  and  the  welkin  rang  with  applause.  The 
work  was  well  done — and  the  last  rail  of  the 
Atlantic  &  Great  Western  Railway  was  laid,  the 
last  spike  driven  to  the  head." 

Thus,  after  many  delays,  trials  and  tribula- 
tions, was  completed  one  of  the  finest  lines  of 
railway  in  the  United  States,  and  one  which, 
though  financially  disastrous  to  a  majority  of 
its  earliest  promoters  and  supporters,  has  been 
of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  entire  section  of 
country  through  which  it  passes — especially  to 
the  people  of  Summit  County  and  its  wide- 
awake capital  city.  Space  will  not  permit  a 
detailed  history  of  this  road  from  the  time  of 
its  completion,  in  1864,  to  the  present  time. 
Suffice  it  to  say,  that,  by  reason  of  unforeseen 
complications — largely,  no  doubt,  growing  out 
of  the  several  branches  built,  purchased,  leased, 
etc.,  as  tributaries  and  extensions,  together  with 
the  franchises,  fixtures,  property  and  liabilities 
connected  therewith— though  always  doing  a 
heavy  freight  and  passenger  business,  such  em- 
barrassments were  experienced  that  on  the  7th 


k  — 


fk* 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


297 


day  of  April,  1869,  suit,  in  foreclosure  of  the 
consolidated  mortgage,  was  begun  in  the  Sum- 
mit County  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  at  which 
time  Jay  Gould  and  William  Archibald  0. 
Daugherty,  of  New  York,  were  appointed  Re- 
ceivers. It  afterward  transpiring  that  those  gen- 
tlemen were  either  ineligible  b}'  reason  of  their 
location,  or  were  unsatisfactory  to  other  parties 
in  interest,  their  resignation  was  filed  on  the 
26th  day  of  November,  1869,  and  Hon.  Reuben 
Hitchcock,  of  Painesville,  Lake  County,  Ohio, 
was  appointed  Receiver  of  the  road.  The  af- 
fairs of  the  road  were  most  admirably  managed 
by  Judge  Hitchcock,  until  the  26th  day  of 
July,  1871,  when  it  was  sold  by  the  Receiver, 
acting  as  Special  Master  Commissioner,  under  a 
decree  of  the  court,  at  the  door  of  the  court 
house,  in  Akron,  to  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan, 
Senator  Allen  G.  Thurman  and  William  Butler 
Duncan,  Esq.,  as  Trustees  for  certain  creditors 
of  the  compan}',  the  purchasers  organizing 
under  the  name  and  style  of  the  Atlantic  & 
Great  Western  Railroad  Company,  as  distin- 
guished from  its  predecessor,  the  Atlantic  & 
Great  Western  Railwaj^  Company.  The  price 
paid  for  the  road  was  as  follows  :  Ohio  Divis- 
ion, subject  to  the  lien  of  the  first  mortgage 
thereon  (about  $2,400,000)  including  the  lease 
of  its  Mahoning  Branch,  sold  for  $4,435,- 
500  ;  Pennsylvania  Division,  with  its  various 
branches,  $600,000  ;  New  York  Division,  $655.- 
000  ;  total,  $5,690,000.  The  new  company  did 
not,  however,  long  enjoy  smooth  sailing,  new 
suits,  with  almost  infinite  complications,  being 
commenced,  also  in  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  of  Summit  County,  on  the  18th  day  of 
December,  1874,  the  President  of  the  road,  Mr. 
John  H.  Devereux,  being  appointed  Receiver. 
The  litigation  in  this  second  suit  extended  over 
a  period  of  more  than  five  3'ears,  and  was  prob- 
ably the  most  complicated  and  closely  con- 
tested railroad  suit  ever  tried  and  determined 
in  the  United  States,  many  millions  of  dollars 
being  involved,  and  the  most  eminent  legal  tal- 
ent of  both  Europe  and  America  being  em- 
ployed by  the  various  parties  in  interest.  In 
these  two  suits,  at  different  stages  in  the  pro- 
ceedings, arguments  were  made  before  Judges 
Washington  W.  Boynton,  Samuel  W.  McClure 
and  Newell  D.  Tibbals,  by  Hon.  Samuel  J. 
Tilden  and  W.  W.  McFarland,  Esq.,  of  New 
York  ;  Hon.  Morrison  R.  Waite  (late  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States) ; 


Hon.  Stanley  Mathews  and  Hon.  George  Hoad- 
ley,  of  Cincinnati  ;  Hon.  Rufus  P.  Ranney, 
Hon..  Stephenson  Burke  and  James  M.  Adams, 
Esq.,  of  Cleveland,  and  other  distinguished  at- 
torneys from  abroad,  important  interests  being 
represented  in  the  two  suits  by  Hon.  William 
H.  Upson,  Tibbals  &  McKinney,  Oviatt  &  Allen, 
and  other  members  of  the  Summit  County 
bar. 

On  the  final  determination  of  the  matters  in 
issue,  the  road  was  again  sold  by  Receiver 
Devereux,  acting  as  Special  Master  Commis- 
sioner, at  the  door  of  the  court  house  in 
Akron,  on  the  6th  day  of  January,  1880,  for 
$6,000,000,  to  S.  A.  Strang  and  R.  G.  Rolsten, 
as  trustees  for  a  new  organization,  composed 
principally  of  the  foreign  bondholders  of  the 
road,  the  name  and  style  of  the  new  organiza- 
tion being  "The  New  York,  Pennsylvania  & 
Ohio  Railroad  Company."  Since  the  transfer 
of  the  road  to  its  new  management,  the  track 
of  the  road  has  been  reduced  from  six  feet  to 
the  standard  gauge  of  four  feet  eight  and  one- 
half  inches,  the  rolling  stock,  of  course,  having 
been  correspondingly  changed.  The  old  com- 
plications and  embarrassments  of  the  road 
having  been  thus  cleared  away,  and  the  finan- 
cial and  commercial  embarrassments  of  the 
country  having  also  disappeared,  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  this  road,  notwithstanding  the  heavy 
liabilities  assumed  by  the  new  compan}'  on  be- 
coming the  purchasers  thereof,  ma}^,  in  common 
with  all  other  lines  of  railwa}'  passing  through 
Summit  Count}^,  enjoy  long  years  of  uninter- 
rupted prosperity.  We  have  not  the  data  at 
hand  to  give  the  names  of  all  the  citizens  of 
Summit  County  who  have  held  official  relations 
with  this  road,  but,  in  the  published  reports  be- 
fore us,  we  find  among  the  names  of  the  differ- 
ent boards  of  directors  the  names  of  Daniel 
Upson,  of  Tallmadge,  and  Jacob  Allen,  Lucius 
V.  Bierce,  John  H.  Chamberlin  and  William 
H.  Upson,  of  Akron.  July  1, 1863,  Mr.  Upson 
was  appointed  attorne}^  for  the  road,  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  directors,  at  which  time  the  company 
executed  to  him  a  deed,  in  trust,  of  the  Ohio 
division  of  the  road,  for  the  purpose  of  securing 
a  loan  of  $4,000,000,  with  which  to  finish  and 
equip  the  road.  Mr.  Upson's  relations  to  the 
road  as  its  attorney,  at  that  time,  existed  only 
about  a  3'ear  and  a  half ;  but  he  was  again  ap- 
pointed in  1873,  and  has  ever  since  acted  in 
that  capacity,  and  still  holds  that  relation  to 


298 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


the  new  organization,  the  New  York,  Pennsyl- 
vania &  Ohio  Raih-oad  Corapan}'. 

The  BaJtimore  <(•  Ohio  Extension. — In  the 
spring  of  1870,  a  proposition  was  made  to  ex- 
tend the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad,  and  its 
intermediate  connection,  the  Pittsburgh  &  Con- 
nellsville  Railroad,  westward  from  Pittsburgh 
to  Chicago,  and  to  make  Akron,  in  Summit 
County,  a  point  upon  the  line  on  certain  con- 
ditions, which  are  full}'  set  forth  in  the  sub- 
scription books  opened  in  Akron  in  the  summer 
of  that  year,  as  follows  : 

Whereas,  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  the  Pittsbm-gli  &  Connellsville  Rail- 
road Company  propose  to  construct  a  railroad  from 
Pittsburgh,  Penn.,  westward  through  Akron,  Sum- 
mit County,  Ohio,  and  to  secure  the  location  of 
said  road  through  Akron,  it  is  necessary  for  the  citi- 
zens of  Akron  to  subscribe  to  the  stock  of  such 
proposed  raih'oad  company,  the  sum  of  $300,000, 
and,  for  certain  persons,  on  behalf  of  the  sub- 
scribers, prior  to  the  incorporation  of  said  proposed 
company,  to  pledge  to  said  Baltimore  &  Ohio  and 
Pittsburgh  &  Connellsville  Companies  said  sum  of 
$800,000,  to  aid  them  in  locating  and  constructing 
said  proposed  railroad  through  Akron,  aforesaid. 
Therefore,  we,  the  subscribers,  on  the  succeeding 
pages  of  this  book,  for  the  purpose  of  authorizing 
David  L.  King,  Lewis  Miller  and  Charles  Brown,  to 
pledge  and  guarantee  to  said  Baltimore  &  Ohio  and 
Pittsburgh  &  Connellsville  Railroad  Companies,  said 
sum  of  $300,000,  and  to  save  them  harmless,  by 
reason  of  said  pledge  and  guarantee,  and  for  the 
fm-ther  purpose  and  consideration  of  securing  the 
location  of  said  proposed  railroad  through  Akron 
for  our  mutual  benefit,  we  do  agree  with  said  David 
L.  King,  Lewis  Miller  and  Charles  Brown,  and  with 
each  other,  to  subscribe  to  the  stock  of  said  com- 
pany, when  organized,  under  whatever  name  the 
same  may  be  incorporated,  and  to  pay  the  several 
amounts  by  us  here  respectively  subscribed,  on  the 
succeeding"  pages  of  this  book,  to  such  company  or 
persons  as  may  be  legally  authorized  to  receive  the 
same,  payable  10  per  cent  when  said  railroad  is  lo- 
cated through  Akron,  and  the  stock-books  of  said 
proposed  railroad  are  legally  opened,  and  the  bal- 
ance in  monthly  installments  of  5  per  cent  each,  as 
the  work  progresses  in  Summit  County.  And  wc 
authorize  saidKing,  Miller  and  Brown,  to  pledge  to 
said  Baltimore  &  Ohio  and  Pittsburgh  &  Connells- 
ville Railroad  Companies,  or  either  of  them,  said 
sum  of  $300,000  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  and  to 
the  extent  of  our  respective  subscriptions  we  sev- 
erally agree  to  save  them  harmless  from  the  pay- 
ment of  said  sum.  And  we  hereby  authorize  the 
corporators  of  said  proposed  company,  when  duly 
incorporated,  under  whatsoever  name,  when  said 
road  is  located  through  Akron,  to  transfer  to  the 
stock-books  of  said  company,  when  opened,  our  re- 
spective subscriptions  here  made,  and  agree  that 
they  shall  have  the  same  force  and  effect  as  if  said 
company  was  now  incorporated,  and  said  amounts 


respectively  signed  and  entered  by  us  in  said  stock- 
books,  after  they  were  formally  opened  by  the  cor- 
porators of  said  company  for  that  purpose. 

Through  public  meetings  and  personal  solici- 
tation on  the  part  of  Messrs,  King,  Miller, 
Brown  and  others,  the  full  amount,  $300,000, 
with  a  sufficient  margin  to  cover  contingencies, 
was  speedily  subscribed  by  the  enterprising 
citizens  of  Akron,  all  classes,  from  the  largest 
manufacturer,  merchant,  banker,  etc.,  to  the 
humblest  mechanic  and  laboring  man,  con- 
tributing to  the  guarantee  fund  in  proportion 
to  his  several  abilit}'.  Then  came  long  days  of 
waiting,  expectation  and  suspense,  until,  finally, 
in  the  spring  of  1871,  for  reasons  never  satis- 
factorily explained  to  its  Akron  promoters,  the 
project  was  indefinitel}'  postponed,  leaving  the 
subscribers  to  the  above  document  free  to 
transfer  their  subscriptions  to  such  new  rail- 
road projects  as  they  might  deem  advisable. 

The  Valley  Railway. — To  David  L.  King, 
Esq.,  are  the  people  of  Summit  County  more 
largely  indebted  for  the  inception,  prosecution 
and  completion  of  the  Valley  Railway,  running 
diagonally  through  our  county,  from  northwest 
to  southeast,  than  to  any  other  man.  As  early 
as  1869,  largely  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Mr.  King,  a  charter  was  obtained  for  the  Akron 
&  Canton  Railway,  which  afterward  developed 
into  the  larger  and  more  important  enterprise, 
the  Valley  Railway,  duly  incorporated  on  the 
21st  day  of  August,  1871,  the  incorporators  be- 
ing Henry  Chisholm,  Nathan  P.  Payne,  James 
Farmer,  Warwick  Price  and  S.  A.  Fuller,  of 
Cleveland,  and  David  L.  King,  of  Akron.  The 
authorized  capital  stock  of  the  company  was 
$3,000,000,  the  road  to  run  from  Cleveland,  in 
Cuyahoga  County,  via  Akron,  in  Summit  Count}', 
Canton,  in  Stark  Count}',  through  Tuscarawas 
and  Carroll  Counties  to  Bowerston,  in  Harrison 
County,  on  the  Pan  Handle  Railroad.  The  first 
first  great  movement  for  the  promotion  of  the 
enterprise  was  made  at  a  meeting  held  at  the 
Academy  of  Music,  in  Akron,  on  the  4th  day 
of  January,  1872.  Representatives  from  Cleve- 
land, Canton,  Wheeling  and  intermediate  points 
on  the  contemplated  route  were  in  attendance, 
together  with  a  very  large  number  of  business 
men  of  Akron  and  other  towns  in  Summit 
County.  The  meeting  was  presided  over  by 
James  A.  Saxton,  Esq.,  of  Canton,  with  Mr.  R.  H. 
Cochran,  of  Wheeling,  as  Secretary,  and  Hon. 
Stephen  H.  Pitkin,  of  Akron,  as  Assistant  Secre- 


iii^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


299 


retary.  David  L.  King,  Esq.,  of  Akron,  briefly 
stated  the  objects  of  the  meeting,  sa3ang  that 
the  project  of  a  road  down  the  valley  of  the 
Cuyahoga,  from  Akron  to  Cleveland,  and  south 
from  Akron  to  Canton  and  Wheeling,  was  no 
new  project.  Such  a  road,  Mr.  King  said,  would 
develop  large  quantities  of  coal  and  other  miner- 
als south  of  Akron,  and  a  locomotive,  after  draw- 
ing an  ordinary  train  to  Akron,  could  by 
reason  of  continuous  down  grade,  draw  as  many 
loaded  cars  from  Akron  to  Cleveland,  as  the 
same  locomotive  could  draw  empty  cars  back. 
Mr.  King  concluded  his  remarks  by  moving 
the  appointment  of  committeemen  at  different 
points  on  the  route  to  aid  in  raising  the  neces- 
sary stock.  Committeemen  for  Summit  County 
were  appointed  as  follows  :  Xorthlield,  Lucian 
Bliss  ;  Boston,  Frederick  Wood,  Frederick  B. 
Wadhams,  John  Douds  ;  Richfield,  Orson  M. 
Oviatt, William  C.Weld  ;  Bath,  William  Barker, 
Andrew  Hale  ;  Northampton,  James  R.  Brown, 
William  Hard}^,  John  C.  Johnston ;  Portage, 
S.  W.  Miller  ;  Akron,  Jacob  H.  Wise  ;  Middle- 
bury,  Thomas  H.  Peckham  ;  Coventry,  Alex- 
ander Brewster ;  Springfield,  Cyrus  Yerrick, 
Robert  V.  Sawyer,  Frank  W.  Myers  :  Green, 
Alexander  Johnston.  Speeches  were  made  by 
Messrs.  Newell  D.  Tibbals,  Alvin  C.  Voris, 
Charles  Brown,  Stephen  H.  Pitkin,  Lewis  Miller, 
David  L.  King  and  others,  of  Akron  ;  James 
Farmer,  of  Cleveland  ;  R.  H.  Cochran  of  Wheel- 
ing ;  James  A.  Saxton  and  Josiah  Hartzell,  of 
Canton,  and  William  McNeil,  of  Peninsula.  The 
importance  and  feasibility  of  the  road  was  con- 
ceded by  all,  the  discussion  being  mainly  over 
the  question  of  gauge,  estimates  being  pre- 
sented showing  the  comparative  cost  of  both 
the  standard,  four  feet  eight  and  one-half  inches, 
and  the  narrow,  three  feet  tracks.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  the  discussion,  the  following  resolu- 
tion was  unanimously  adopted  : 

Resolped,  That  it  be  the  sense  of  tliis  meeting  that 
all  our  efforts  be  devoted  to  raising  stock  for  the 
ordinary  four-foot  eight  and  one-half  inch  gauge. 

Subscription  books  were  opened  at  Cleveland, 
Akron.  Canton  and  intermediate  points  on  the 
15th  day  of  January,  1872,  and  a  vigorous  cam- 
paign opened  "  all  along  the  line,"  for  raising 
the  necessary  funds  to  build  the  road.  Cleve- 
land parties  were  pledged  to  raise  $500,000,  the 
quota  assigned  to  Akron  and  Canton  being 
$150,000  each,  with  such  additional  amounts 
as  could  be  raised  at  intermediate  points  in  the 


several  counties  interested.  Meetings  were  held, 
speeches  were  made  and  subscriptions  were  ob- 
tained with  commendable  celerity,  so  that  by 
the  20th  of  March,  $60,000  of  Akron's  quota 
had  been  subscribed.  Canton  was  the  first  to 
announce  that  her  full  share  was  raised,  Akron 
coming  in  soon  afterward  with  a  similar  good 
report.  Cleveland,  however,  was  backward, 
trusting  to  the  plan  of  raising  the  requisite 
aiBOunt,  under  the  Boesel  law,  by  a  tax  upon 
the  city.  The  proposition,  however,  was  voted 
down,  precious  time  being  thus  wasted,  though 
the  amount  pledged  was  subsequent!}-  raised  l3y 
voluntary  subscriptions  to  the  capital  stock  of 
the  compan}'  through  the  vigorous  efforts  of 
her  soliciting  committees.  Other  localities  also 
subscribed  more  or  less  liberally,  so  that  the 
total  amount  subscribed  in  each  of  the  three 
counties  was  as  follows  :  Cu3'ahoga,  $508,250  ; 
Summit,  $191,700  ;  Stark,  $119,750.  The  first 
stockholders"  meeting  was  held  April  24,  1872, 
at  which  James  Farmer,  Ambrose  B.  Stone  and 
Nathan  P.  Payne,  of  Cleveland  ;  David  L.  King 
and  John  F.  Seiberling,  of  Akron,  and  James 
A.  Saxton  and  George  Cook,  of  Canton,  were 
elected  Directors.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  of 
the  Dii'ectors  the  same  day,  James  Farmer  was 
elected  President ;  David  L.  King,  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  Warwick  Price,  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer. At  a  meeting  of  the  Directors,  held  3Iay 
10,  1872  ;  Plymouth  H.  Dudley,  then  Akron's 
most  efficient  City  Engineer,  was  appointed 
Chief  Engineer  for  the  new  road.  Two  routes 
from  Akron  to  Cleveland  were  surveyed,  one 
directly  down  the  valley  of  the  Cuyahoga  River, 
the  other  •'  overland,"  through  Bath,  Richfield. 
Brecksville,  etc.,  liberal  subscriptions  being 
pledged  along  the  latter  route,  should  the  loca- 
tion be  determined  in  their  favor.  The  vallev 
route  was  finall}'  adopted,  and  the  contract  for 
building  the  entire  line  from  Cleveland  to  Bow- 
erstown  was  awarded  to  Messrs.  Nicholas  E. 
Vansickle  and  Arthur  L.  Conger,  of  Akron,  on 
the  3d  day  of  February,  1873. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders,  April  16, 
1873,  David  L.  King  and  John  F.  Seiberling 
were  chosen  as  Summit  County's  i-epresentatives 
in  the  Board  of  Directors,  Mr.  King  being  con- 
tinued as  Vice  President  and  Mr.  Dudley  as 
Chief  Engineer,  Stillman  Witt,  of  Cleveland, 
being  elected  President.  Ground  was  broken 
in  Springfield  Township,  Summit  County,  early 
in  March,  1873.     The  contractors  immediately 


^ 


300 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


went  vigorousl}'  to  work,  the  result  of  the  first 
four  months'  operations  being  thus  tersely  stated 
b}'  Engineer  Dudley,  in  his  report  of  the  prog- 
ress of  construction  made  to  the  Directors  on 
the  15th  day  of  August,  1873,  as  follows  :  "  On 
the  line  between  Cleveland  and  Canton,  a  dis- 
tance of  fifty-seven  miles,  the  graduation  was 
commenced  last  March  ;  but  on  account  of  the 
wet  weather  in  April  and  Ma}',  and  other  causes, 
has  not  proceeded  as  fast  as  could  be  desired. 
All  the  bridges  are  under  contract,  and  part  of 
them  up.  I  am,  however,  pleased  to  sa}-  that 
nearly  two-thirds  of  the  distance  from  Cleveland 
to  Canton  is  graded,  and,  should  the  weather 
continue  favorable,  I  see  no  reason  to  prevent 
the  completion  of  the  remainder,  ready  to  com- 
mence laying  track  in  October.  This  would 
give  you  the  use  of  the  road  most  of  the  coming 
winter,  which  would  be  an  advantage  you  no 
doubt  fully  appreciate." 

The  Engineer's  anticipations,  however,  were 
not  realized,  and  the  winter  of  1873-74  set  in 
without  Avitnessing  the  lading  of  the  track  or 
the  completion  of  the  grading,  bridging,  etc. 
On  the  24th  day  of  April,  1874,  Hon.  Reuben 
Hitchcock,  of  Painesville,  Lake  County,  was 
elected  President,  Mr.  King  being  continued  as 
Vice  Pi-esident  and  Mr.  Dudley  as  Engineer. 
Owing  to  diflferences  of  opinion  between  tlie 
Directors  and  the  contractors,  Messrs.  Van- 
sickle  and  Conger,  the  contract  was  canceled 
and  the  work  suspended  on  the  16th  day  of 
May,  1874.  President  Hitchcock,  on  account 
of  failing  health,  having  tendered  his  resigna- 
tion, David  L.  King,  of  Akron,  was  elected 
President  on  the  25th  day  of  September,  1874, 
with  James  Farmer,  of  Cleveland,  as  Vice  Pres- 
ident. The  general  stagnation  of  business,  and 
especially  of  all  new  railroad  enterprises,  grow- 
ing out  of  the  panic  of  September,  1873,  with 
the  failure  of  Ja}'  Cooke  &  Co.,  having  ren- 
dered the  immediate  resumption  of  work  im- 
possible, the  Directors,  as  a  condition  precedent 
to  Mr.  King's  acceptance  of  the  Presidency,  in- 
dividually assumed  the  entire  liabilities  of  the 
company,  which,  owing  to  inability  to  collect 
stock  subscriptions,  amounted  to  over  $150,000 
— a  burden  from  wliich  the  devoted  Directors 
were  not  relieved  until  April,  1879.  Bat,  by 
the  self-sacrificing  assumption  of  this  responsi- 
bilit}^  the  life  of  the  company  was  saved 
through  the  long  period  of  financial  distress 
the  country  was  then  experiencing.     Failing, 


through  the  stringency  of  the  times,  to  secure 
aid  in  this  country  to  complete  the  road,  at  the 
earnest  solicitation  of  the  board,  Mr.  King 
sailed  for  England,  on  the  6th  day  of  February, 
1875,  to  present  the  advantages  of  the  invest- 
ment to  the  capitalists  of  London.  After  weeks  of 
patient  effort,  struggle  and  disappointment,  he 
finally  succeeded  in  securing  a  proposition  for 
the  sale  of  the  company's  bonds  on  highly  ad- 
vantageous terms,  and  a  time  was  fixed  for  the 
execution  of  the  contract.  On  the  morning  of 
the  da}'  agreed  upon  for  closing  the  matter  up, 
the  publication,  in  the  London  papers,  of  the 
report  of  a  committee  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, discrediting  the  value  of  American  se- 
curities in  general,  and  railroad  securities  in 
particular,  together  with  a  cable  dispatch  re- 
ceived from  New  York,  published  in  the  same 
papers,  that  the  Wabash  &  Western  Railroad 
(a  very  large  amount  of  the  bonds  of  this  road 
being  held  in  London)  had  passed  into  the 
hands  of  a  Receiver,  presented  so  discouraging 
a  prospect  for  the  placing  of  American  securi- 
ties of  any  kind,  as  to  cause  the  withdrawal  of 
the  proposition  and  the  non-execution  of  the 
contract.  By  the  advice  of  the  parties  with 
whom  he  had  been  in  negotiation,  Mr.  King 
returned  home  without  having  a(!Complished 
the  object  of  his  mission,  to  "await  the  logic 
of  events, "  as  it  was  considered  damaging 
to  future  sales,  on  the  return  of  prosperity 
at  home,  to  urge  the  bonds  of  the  company 
further  upon  the  attention  of  English  capital- 
ists at  that  time.  The  merits  of  the  line  were, 
from  time  to  time,  brought  liy  President  King 
before  the  capitalists  of  Cleveland  and  the 
East,  and  a  succession  of  struggles  to  keep  the 
enterprise  alive  were  continued  for  three  weary 
years  longer,  happily  resulting  in  placing  the 
bonds  on  highly  favorable  terms  at  home  with 
Cleveland  and  New  York  capitalists,  the  capital 
stock  having  in  the  meantime  (April  13,  1876) 
been  increased  from  $3,000,000  to  $6,500,000. 
On  the  7th  day  of  August,  1878,  the  work  on 
the  line  l)etween  Cleveland  and  Canton  was  re- 
sumed by  the  new  contractors,  Messrs.  Walsh 
and  Moynahan,  the  first  rail  upon  the  line  l)e- 
ing  laid  and  the  first  spike  driven  by  President 
King,  at  Akron,  at  a  point  near  the  "  Old 
Forge,"  at  12  o'clock,  M.,  on  the  26th  day  of  Oc- 
tober, 1878,  track-laying  being  immediately 
proceeded  with  from  this  point  both  ways,  and 
also  commenced  in  Cleveland  a  few  days  there- 


-^ — ^k^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


301 


after.  The  operations  of  the  new  contractors 
not  proving  satisfactory  to  the  company,  the 
contract  with  them  was  annulled  on  the  25th 
day  of  January,  1879,  and  the  work  again  tem- 
porarily suspended.  Subsequently,  a  new  con- 
tract was  made  with  Messrs.  Strong  and  Gary, 
and  work  resumed  on  the  3d  day  of  June, 
1879.  The  road  was  finally  completed  through 
from  Cleveland  to  Canton,  in  the  winter  of 
1879-80.  The  first  continuous  train  from  Cleve- 
land to  Canton,  with  the  officers,  Directors,  and 
other  friends  and  promoters  of  the  road  on 
board,  started  from  Cleveland  at  9:30  A.  M., 
January  28,  1880.  Making  short  stops  at  the 
several  stations  on  the  route,  the  train  arrived 
at  Canton  about  1  o'clock,  P.  M.  Starting  fi'om 
Canton  on  the  return  trip  at  3  o'clock,  P.  M., 
tlie  run  from  Canton  to  Akron,  twenty-two 
miles,  was  made  in  thirtj'-eight  minutes,  the  en- 
tire trip  from  Canton  to  Cleveland,  fifty-seven 
miles,  being  made  in  two  hours — a  remarkable 
run,  considering  the  newness  of  the  road,  and 
evincing  a  very  excellent  degree  of  work  in 
the  la3'ing  of  the  track  and  the  ballasting  of 
the  road-bed.  The  first  regular  trains  com- 
menced running  Februar}^  2,  1880,  and  have 
continued  uninterruptedly  to  the  present  time, 
with  constantl}^  increasing  freight  and  passen- 
ger traffic,  and  though,  by  reason  of  the  partial 
occupation  of  the  ground  by  other  similar  en- 
terprises and  prospective  connections,  the  ex- 
tension of  the  road  beyond  Canton  has  been  in- 
definitely postponed,  the  Valley  Railwa}^  may 
well  be  considered  a  successful  venture  for  its 
promoters,  and  a  ver}^  valuable  acquisition  to 
the  travel  and  transportation  facilities  of  the 
people  all  along  the  line,  as  well  as  a  material 
addition  to  the  enterprise  and  prosperity  of  the 
cit}'  of  Akron,  and  of  Summit  County  gener- 
ally. 

Officers  of  the  road  from  the  beginning  to 
the  present  date  (April  1,  1881),  as  follows  : 
President — James  Farmer,  from  April  24, 1872, 
to  April  5,  1873  ;  Stillman  Witt,  from  April  15, 
1873.  to  April  24,  1874;  Reuben  Hitchcock, 
April  24,  1874,  to  September  25,  1874  ;  David 
L.  King,  September  24, 1874,  to  April  16,  1879  ; 
J.  H.  Wade,  April  IG,  1879,  to  date.  Vice 
President — David  L.  King,  from  April  24, 1872, 
to  September  25,  1874  ;  James  Farmer,  Sep- 
tember 25,  1874,  to  April  16,  1879  ;  S.  T.  Ev- 
erett, from  April  16,  1879,  to  date.  Treasurer 
and  Secretar}' — Warwick  Price,  from  April  24, 


1872,  to  April  15,  1873.  Treasurer— S.  T.  Ev- 
erett, from  April  20,  1873,  to  date.  Secre- 
tary—S.  T.  Everett,  from  April  20,  1873,  to 
May  13,  1873.  Secretary  and  Auditor — L.  D. 
Clarke,  from  May  13,  1873,  to  April  17,  1878  ; 
William  B.  Porter,  from  April  17  to  date.  Su- 
perintendent— Sam  Briggs,  from  November 
1,  1879,  to  date.  Present  Board  of  Di- 
rectors— J.  H.  Wade,  H.  B.  Payne,  John 
Tod,  W.  J.  Boardman  and  L.  M.  Coe,  of  Cleve- 
land ;  David  L.  King,  of  Akron  ;  L.  V.  Bock- 
ius,  of  Canton  ;  and  H.  M.  Flagler,  of  New 
York. 

The  Tuscarawas  Valley  Railroad. — This  road, 
a  comparatively  new  enterprise,  running  from 
Lake  Erie,  at  Black  River,  in  Lorain  Count}*, 
to  Bridgeport,  opposite  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  on 
the  Ohio  River,  via  Grafton,  in  Lorain  County  ; 
Medina  and  Seville,  in  Medina  County  ;  Clinton, 
in  Summit  County  ;  Massillon,  in  Stark  County  ; 
New  Philadelphia  and  Urichville,  in  Tuscarawas 
County  ;  passes  through  about  three-fourths  of 
a  mile  of  the  township  of  Franklin,  in  Summit 
Count}^,  having  a  station  at  its  junction  with 
the  Cleveland,  Mount  Vernon  &  Columbus 
road,  called  Warwick,  a  short  distance  south 
of  the  village  of  Clinton.  This  road  is  157^ 
miles  in  length,  and  is  one  of  the  principal  coal 
roads  of  the  State,  and  beneficial  to  the  people 
of  Summit  Count}^  in  reaching  sundry  points 
between  Akron  and  Wheeling,  and  in  the  ship- 
ment of  coal  and  other  articles  to  points  west 
of  Cleveland  on  the  lakes. 

The  Connotton  Valley  Railicay. — The  latest  ac- 
cession to  the  railroad  system  of  Summit  County 
is  the  Connotton  Valley  Railway.  It  is  strictly 
a  narrow-gauge  road  (three  feet)  and  though 
intended  more  especially  for  the  transportation 
of  coal,  its  complement  of  rolling-stock  em- 
braces an  adequate  suppl}'  of  box  freight  cars, 
and  elegantly  finished  and  furnished  passenger 
coaches.  The  southern  terminus  of  the  road 
is  at  Bowerstown,  on  the  Pan  Handle  road,  in 
Harrison  County,  and  its  northern  terminus, 
the  city  of  Cleveland.  The  line  passes  through 
CarroUton,  in  Carroll  County  ;  Canton  in  Stark 
County ;  Mogadore,  in  Summit  and  Portage 
Counties  ;  Kent  and  Streetsboro,  in  Portage 
County;  Twinsburg,  in  Summit  County,  and 
Bedford  and  Newburg  in  Cuyahoga  County. 
The  capital  stock  of  the  company  is  $3,000,000, 
the  funds  being  furnished  mainly  by  Boston 
capitalists,  though  a  majority  of  the   directors 


-y 


-S)  L^ 


302 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


and  officers  are  residents  of  Ohio.  The  present 
officers  of  the  road  are  as  follows  :  William  J. 
Rotch,  of  New  Bedfoixl,  Mass.,  President ;  Sam- 
uel Allen,  of  Del  Roy,  Carroll  Count}',  Vice  Pres- 
ident; A.  B.  Proal,  of  Canton,  Stark  County, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer ;  W.  N.  MofFett,  for- 
merly of  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago 
Railroad,  Superintendent,  and  Robert  Learaouth, 
formerly  of  the  Pan  Handle  road,  Roadmaster. 
The  machine  and  repair  shops,  and  the  general 
offices  of  the  company,  are  located  at  Canton. 
The  entire  length  of  the  road  is  118  miles,  six- 
ty-two miles  of  which  is  now  (April,  1881)  in 
running  order,  being  completed  as  far  north  as 
Mogadore,  and  as  far  south  as  Del  Roy,  in  Car- 
roll Count},  and  it  is  expected  that  cars  will 
be  running  over  the  entire  line  by  July  of  the 
present  year.  This  road  passes  through  from 
sixteen  to  twenty  miles  of  valuable  coal  fields, 
fine  beds  of  iron  ore,  potters'  cla}',  building- 
stone,  etc.,  besides  having  on  its  line  some  of 
the  most  enterprising  manufacturing  cities  and 
villages  in  Northern  Ohio.  At  Mogadore,  the 
road  passes  on  the  Portage  County  side  of  the 
village,  but  strikes  into  Summit  County  for  a 
short  distance,  in  circling  around  a  hill  just 
north  of  the  village,  thence  bearing  north- 
easterly to  reach  the  village  of  Kent,  and 
thence,  in  a  northerly  and  northwesterly  direc- 
tion, again  strikes  into  Summit  County  on  the 
east  line  of  Twinsburg  Township,  running  diag- 
onally across  the  township,  and  passing  the  vil- 
lage about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  east  of  the  pub- 
lic square.  The  Connotton  Valle}-  will  prove 
especiall}'  valuable  to  the  people  of  Mogadore, 
in  furnishing  them  an  inlet  for  the  large  quan- 
tities of  coal  which  they  consume  yearly,  and 
an  outlet  for  the  immense  quantities  of  stone- 
ware which  they  yearly  manufacture,  which  has 
hitherto  required  a  haul  of  eight  miles,  over 
(at  times)  the  very  muddiest  kind  of  mud 
roads,  to  the  nearest  railroad  shipping-point, 
Akron.  The  road  will  also  give  the  people  of 
Twinsburg  facilities,  not  hitherto  enjoyed,  in 
reaching  a  mai^ket  with  their  dairy  products, 


and  the  invaluable  building  stone  so  abundant 
in  that  township,  and  in  obtaining  their  needed 
supplies  from  Cleveland  and  other  portions  of 
the  outside  world. 

The  Pittsburgh,  Youngstown  &  Chicago  Rail- 
road.— This  road  was  projected  early  in  1881, 
by  Chauncey  H.  Andrews,  Esq.,  and  other 
wealthy  men  of  Youngstown,  with  other  out- 
side backing.  The  company  fully  organized 
March  18,  1881,  with  Mr.  Andrews  as  Presi- 
dent, when  $1,500,000  of  the  .12,000,000  au- 
thorized capital  was  reported  to  be  subscribed. 
The  plan  is  to  build  the  road  from  Pittsburgh, 
through  Youngstown  and  Akron,  direct  to 
Chicago,  the  line,  as  surveyed,  to  enter  Summit 
County  at  Mogadore,  and,  passing  down  the 
valley  of  the  Little  C!uyahoga  River,  entering 
Akron  via  the  Sixth  Ward  upon  the  east,  and 
Wolf  Ledge  Valley  in  the  south  part  of  the 
city.  Though  not  yet  actually  commenced, 
there  is  at  this  writing  (Api'il  1,  1881),  great 
confidence  in  railroad  and  business  circles  that 
this  road  will  soon  be  put  under  contract  and 
speedih'  constructed.  Other  important  railroad 
projects,  to  pass  through  Summit  County  when 
built,  are  being  talked  up,  but  for  the  time 
being  held  in  abeyance.  Without  our  rail- 
roads, where  would  Akron,  na}',  where  would 
Summit  Count}'  have  been  to-day  ?  Not  a  man- 
ufacturing establishment,  other  than  our  water- 
power  mills,  limited  to  some  half-dozen  in 
number — with  diminished  usefulness  at  that, 
by  reason  of  a  lack  of  speedy  transportation 
facilities — would  exist  among  us,  and,  instead 
of  a  city  of  17,000  population,  Akron  would 
have  been  the  mere  village  of  2,000  inhabitants 
that  it  was  thii-ty  years  ago,  if,  indeed,  it  had 
not  retrograded  in  the  meantime  for  want  of 
proper  communication  with  the  outside  world. 
So,  too,  with  the  county  at  large — fanning 
lands,  instead  of  being  worth  from  $75  to  $300 
per  acre,  as  they  now  are,  would  have  remained, 
like  those  of  the  other  non-railroad-penetrating 
counties  of  the  State,  at  from  $25  to  $60  per 
acre. 


;V 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


303 


CHAPTER    VI.* 

THE    PROFESSIONS— LEGAL    LORE    IN    THE   PIONEKR    DAYS— GREGORY  ROWERS  — OTHER    EARLY 
LAWYERS  — THE   PRESENT   SUMMIT  COUNTY   BAR— MEDICAL  — PHJNEER  PHYSICIANS- 
DIFFERENT  SYSTEMS  — MEDICAL  SOCIETIES,  ETC. 

THE  history  of  the  County  would  not  be 
considered  complete,  without  a  sketch  of 
the  professions — legal  and  medical. 

The  following  on  the  Summit  County  bar  is 
by  Judge  Carpenter,  and  is  as  follows: — [En.] 

In  the  summer  of  1832,  the  writer,  a  stran- 
ger in  Ohio,  alert  for  information  touching  its 
people,  laws,  soil,  products  and  topography, 
took  the  mail  coach  at  Ravenna  for  Hudson. 
There  was  sitting  on  the  back  seat  a  man 
whose  look  would  have  taken  his  attention 
anywhere.  A  green  bag  tilled  with  books  lay 
by  his  side.  He  was  considerably  under  thir- 
ty, tall  and  slim,  but  with  limbs  and  contour 
so  round  and  trim  as  to  suggest  an  embodi- 
ment of  muscular  vigor,  agility  and  toughness. 
His  dress  was  simple  but  fitted  with  faultless 
neatness  to  his  elegant  figiu-e. 

Conversation  began  at  once.  The  writer's 
various  questions  were  answered  with  a  j^re- 
cision  which  evinced  a  thorough  acquaintance 
with  Ohio,  its  public  interests,  its  heterogen- 
eous inhabitants,  their  difierent  habits  and 
])eculiarities.  Unquestionably  that  fellow- 
passenger  was  a  man  of  keen  observation. 
But  his  easy  flow  of  intelligence  bore  not  the 
slightest  show  of  vanity  or  ostentation.  His 
master}^  of  language,  the  complete  finish  of 
every  sentence,  his  faultless  pronunciation  and 
the  gi'ammatical  accuracy  and  purity  of  his 
English,  might  mark  him  for  a  college  pi'o- 
fessor.  On  reaching  Stow  Corners,  he  took  the 
road  to  Middlebury  on  foot,  green  bag  in  hand. 

When  the  writer  returned  to  Ravenna  he 
inquired  of  Mr.  Coolman,  the  hotel  kee}>er, 
the  name  of  his  fellow-passenger,  remarking 
that  he  had  been  very  pleasantly  entertained 
by  him.  and  had  set  him  down  as  a  man  of 
mark  who  had  traveled  considerably  with  his 
eyes  and  ears  wide  open.     Mr.  Coolman,  who 

•■■By  Judge  James  S.  Carpenter  and  I'r.  Alvin  K.  Fuuser. 


was  himself  an  invaluable  treasury  of  what  open 
eyes  and  ears  could  gather  up,  smiled  at  the 
remark  and  replied:  "That  gentleman,  sir, 
is  Gregory  Powers.  He  is  becoming  a  very 
distinguished  lawyer,  and  is,  in  truth,  a  rising 
man;  but  as  to  his  traveling,  he  was  born  and 
brought  up  here  in  the  woods,  and  I  doubt 
whether  he  was  ever  out  of  Ohio."  It  is  true 
that  he  had  then  seen  little  of  the  world  out- 
side of  Ohio;  and  that  his  acquaintance  had 
rarely  extended  beyond  the  Western  Reserve. 

In  his  profession,  Mr.  Powers  was  not  a 
voluminous  reader.  His  library  was  not  at  all 
extensive,  and  his  reading  was  mostly  element- 
ary. His  practice  at  the  bar  was  earnest,  gi'ave, 
strictly  honorable  and  always  courteous.  Ad- 
vocates had  not  in  those  days  acquired  the 
art  of  inspiring  jiu'ors  by  blowing  in  their 
faces.  They  stood  at  a  distance  of  six  or  eight 
yards  from  the  jiuy-box,  and  maintained  a 
manliness  of  deportment  superior  to  the  moie 
recent  practice. 

But  it  was  not  orator'y  that  most  distin- 
guished the  forensic  efforts  of  Mr.  Powers. 
It  was  his  ability  by  quick  and  clear  analysis 
to  disentangle  the  most  covert  and  complex 
transactions  among  men,  and  follow  them  to 
their  legal  consequences.  And  it  was  matter 
of  curious  observation  to  a  listener  that  his 
high  tension  of  voice  and  feeling  was  more 
frequent  and  intense  in  his  argimients  to  the 
coiu*t  on  some  abstract  point  of  law.  than  in 
unraveling  facts  to  the  jiu-y.  In  the  latter 
case,  his  highest  ascents  of  voice  and  manner 
were  more  mild  and  of  a  more  even  tenor, 
intensely  pressing  the  high  claims  of  right 
and  justice  He  was  born  in  the  township 
of  Stow,  then  in  Portage  County,  in  1805.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Naples,  Italy,  and  had 
been  a  sea  cajitain.  His  mother  was  a  lady  of 
Middletown,  Conn.,  and  died  in  1811.     Some- 


(s" 


V 


304 


HISTORY    OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


time  after  his  mother's  death,  Gregory  entered 
Burton  Academy  and  continued  there  two  years, 
making  rapid  progress  in  all  studies  which  he 
took  in  hand,  being  especially  distinguished  in 
Latin  and  still  more  in  mathematics.  On 
leaving  the  academy  he  began  the  study 
of  law,  in  the  office  of  Judge  Van  R.  Hum- 
phrey, in  Hudson.  As  a  student  at  law. 
Judge  Humphrey  said  he  was  not  a  rapid 
reader.  He  habitually  quarreled  with  what 
he  was  reading — turned  back  and  read  over 
and  over  again,  till  he  was  master  of  the  text, 
and  thus  reconciled  it  to  his  sense  of  right  as 
he  went  along. 

In  1832,  Mr.  Powers  was  elected  by  the 
Clay  men  and  Anti-Masons  of  Portage 
County,  to  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
Ohio.  In  1833,  he  was  a  candidate  for  re- 
election, but  political  alternations  had  fixed 
that  year  for  the  Democratic  party,  and  Mr. 
Powers  was  succeeded  by  Roan  Clarke.  In 
1838,  Mr.  Powers  was  elected  by  the  Whigs 
to  the  Senate  of  Ohio.  In  both  branches  of 
the  Legislature  his  course  was  marked  by  the 
same  high  ability  which  had  given  him  such 
eminence  at  the  bar.  He  came  home  from  the 
Senate  apparently  overworked  and  suffering 
at  the  heart,  which  brought  him  to  his  death 
at  the  age  of  thirty- foiu-,  July  10,  1839,  end- 
ing a  career,  which,  had  it  continued  to  the 
common  limit  of  old  age,  must  have  set  him 
among  the  loftiest  characters  of  our  country. 

Van  R.  Humphrey  was  born  at  Goshen, 
Conn.,  July  28,  1800.  His  educational  train- 
ing was  wholly  at  the  common  school  of  his 
native  place,  but  it  seems  to  have  been  so 
thorough  that  he  became  a  successful  teacher 
of  a  common  school  while  in  his  teens.  At 
what  time  he  commenced  the  study  of  law 
is  not  ascertained,  but  a  certificate  of  The- 
odore North,  attorney  and  counselor  at  law, 
dated  Goshen,  May  11,  1821,  says:  "He  pur- 
sued his  course  of  legal  studies  in  my  office 
with  u.ncommon  attention  and  diligence." 
A  copy  of  the  record  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  of  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  duly  certi- 
fied by  Frederick  Wolcott,  Clerk,  shows  that 
in  September,  1820,  he  was  admitted  an 
attorney  and  counselor  at  law  before  all  the 
Com-ts  of  Common  Pleas  in  Connecticut. 

April   17,  1821,  he  was  married  to  Stella 


Beach,  of  Goshen,  and  settled  in  Hudson, 
Ohio,  the  same  year,  where  he  continued  his 
residence  through  life.  An  official  certificate 
of  S.  Day,  Clerk,  shows  that  at  a  term  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Ohio,  on  the  1st  day  of 
July,  1822,  present  the  Hon.  Calvin  Pease 
and  Peter  Hitchcock,  Judges,  Van  R.  Hum- 
phrey was  duly  examined,  admitted  and 
sworn  as  an  attorney  and  counselor  at  law 
and  solicitor  in  chancery,  within  the  State  of 
Ohio.  In  1824,  he  was  elected,  commissioned 
and  qualified  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the 
township  of  Hudson.  December  26,  1828,  he 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  District  Com*t 
of  the  United  States,  within  the  State  of  Ohio. 
In  the  year  1828,  he  was  elected  to  the  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  Legislature  of  Ohio, 
and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office  in  1829. 
He  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  of  Ohio 
President  Judge  of  the  Coui't  of  Common 
Pleas  of  the  Third  Judicial  District  for  the 
term  of  seven  years,  beginning  in  1836  and 
ending  in  1813. 

From  1830,  or  perhaps  a  little  earlier,  till 
Judge  Humphrey  took  his  seat  upon  the  bench, 
he  and  Gregory  Powers  were  pitted  against 
each  other  in  most  of  the  important  cases  in 
Portage  and  Medina  Counties.  They  were 
both  men  of  commanding  presence,  yet  stand- 
ing at  the  opposite  extremes  of  manly  dignity 
and  beauty.  Powers  tall,  lithe  and  excitable, 
yet  always  self-possessed.  Humphrey  cool  and 
impertm'bable,  tall,  large,  though  not  unwieldy 
or  fleshy,  but  full  and  rounded  out  at  every  point 
— a  manifest  embodiment  of  muscular  strength. 
His  manner  was  deliberate;  his  voice  loud, 
clear,  of  large  compass  and  never  harsh.  His 
sarcasm,  not  frequent,  and  seeming  ever  to  be 
held  back  in  reserve,  and  never  sought  after, 
always  hit  its  mark.  His  humor  was  inex- 
haustible and  spontaneous,  and  his  wit  forth- 
coming at  will.  His  imagination  was  splendid, 
but  would  have  been  improved  by  early  disci- 
pline. His  arguments  were  not  distinguished 
for  consecutive  reasoning,  but  they  seemed  to  be 
guided  by  a  kind  of  insight  into  the  essential 
elements  of  his  case,  so  that,  if  his  imagina- 
tion at  any  time  outstripped  his  logic,  there 
was  an  inner  light  that  still  hu'ed  him  back 
to  the  essential  points  which  he  seldom  failed 
so  to  group  together  and  enlighten  as  to  give 


'-^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


305 


them  eflfect.  While  Powei's  went  directly  to 
the  leading  points  of  his  case  and  pressed 
them  to  their  inevitable  sequence,  Humphrey 
swept  in  much  of  the  smTounding  mass,  which, 
under  his  glowing  imagination,  took  the  color 
of  his  leading  points.  In  a  word.  Judge 
Humphrey  had  just  that  broad  foundation  for 
a  mental  structure  which  early  intellectual 
training  would  have  made  more  readily  avail- 
able for  logical  argument. 

And  yet,  as  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  his  decisions  were  remarkably  correct. 
His  quick  and  penetrative  insight  stood  him 
in  good  stead  there.  His  invariable  kindness 
and  impartiality,  and  the  apparent  ease  with 
which  he  disposed  of  business,  gave  to  his 
administration  a  general  and  hearty  approval. 

Christopher  P.  Wolcott  was  born  in  1821, 
probably  in  Steubenville,  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio. 
His  father  removed  from  Connecticut  to  that 
place  some  time  prior  to  that  date,  it  is 
believed.  However,  that  may  be,  Steubenville 
was  the  home  of  his  childhood  and  youth.  His 
education,  which  was  thoroughly  classical,  was 
received  at  several  institutions,  but  lastly,  at  Jef- 
ferson College,  Pennsylvania.  He  studied  law 
under  the  Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  our  distin- 
guished Secretary  of  war  diu-ing  the  rebellion. 
In  the  spring  of  1846,  he  formed  a  partnership 
withW.  S.  C.  Otis,  Esq.,  of  Akron,  to  which  place 
he  immediately  removed  his  residence.  The 
chief  indications  he  then  gave  of  the  eminence 
which  he  afterward  attained,  were  his  accm'ate 
knowledge  of  legal  principles,  the  complete- 
ness of  whatever  pleading  or  other  written 
document  came  from  his  hands,  and  the  very 
careful  preparation  of  his  briefs.  It  was 
apparent  that  he  distrusted  himself  before 
a  jury  and  felt  far  more  confidence  in  his 
ability  to  address  the  court.  In  truth,  diffi- 
dence of  his  own  powers  was  then  his  besetting 
impediment.  Indeed,  it  was  not  till  he  had 
toiled  under  tortured  sensibilities  through  a 
busy  and  laborious  practice  of  several  years 
that  he  had  so  shaken  off  this  nightmare  as  to 
give  full  play  to  his  forensic  powers.  He 
had  given  proof  in  many  cases  of  ability  to  go 
through  an  extended  statement  of  logical 
inferences  with  extraordinary  clearness  and 
force  on  questions  of  law,  yet  his  efforts 
before  a  jui-y  had  always  seemed  constrained  i 


and  painful.  But  at  length  in  the  libel  case 
of  Wilson  vs.  Blake,  in  Common  Pleas,  Novem- 
ber term,  1852,  he  broke  entirely  away  fi'om 
his  self-consciousness,  and  abandoned  himself 
with  burning  energy  to  the  full  flow  of  a  warm 
imagination.  The  coiul  and  bar  were  taken 
by  surprise,  and  the  verdict  showed  that  noth- 
ing had  been  wasted  on  the  jiu-y. 

The  trial  of  Parks  for  miuxler,  in  December, 
1853,  was  the  next  occasion  that  aroused  the 
energies  of  Mr.  Wolcott  to  their  highest  pitch. 
For  him  it  was  simply  a  medium  of  thought; 
and  in  his  handling  it  became  as  transparent 
as  the  air.  But  the  argument  which  stands,  and 
forever  must  stand,  as  the  monument  of  Mr. 
Wolcott's  intellectual  power  and  of  his  high 
attainments  as  a  lawyer,  was  delivered  as 
Attorney  General  of  Ohio  before  the  Judges 
of  our  Supreme  Com't  at  Chambers  on  two 
\vrits  of  habeas  corpus,  in  the  cases  ex  jfarfe 
Bushnell  and  ex  parte  Langston,  in  May, 
1859.  It  is  reported  in  9  Ohio  State  reports, 
page  97,  covering  eighty- three  pages. 

In  the  summer  of  1856,  Mr.  Wolcott  was 
appointed  Attorney  General  of  this  State  by 
the  Governor,  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  that  office 
occasioned  by  the  death  of  F.  D.  Kimball. 
He  was  elected  to  the  same  office  in  1857,  and 
continued  to  discharge  his  duties  with  distin- 
guished ability  until  February,  1860.  On  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  in  1861,  the  en- 
listment of  volunteers  for  the  military  service 
was  an  easy  matter. .  But  in  a  movement  so 
sudden,  so  extensive  and  multitudinous,  it  was 
no  easy  matter  to  bring  order  and  system  out  of 
chaos  and  iiTepressible  haste  and  confusion. 
In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Wolcott  spent  much  of 
that  year  in  aiding  Gov.  Dennison  to  regu- 
late and  systematize  the  militar}"  operations  of 
our  State.  Early  in  1862  his  brother-in-law, 
Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  having  been  appointed 
Secretary  of  War,  IVIi-.  Wolcott  was  appointed 
Assistant  Secretary  of  War.  It  would  be  super- 
fluous to  speak  of  the  labors  which  the  war  of 
the  rebellion  imposed  upon  that  department  of 
the  Government.  Mr.  Wolcott's  sleepless  de- 
votion to  his  official  duties — the  indefatigable 
energy  with  which  he  plied  both  mind  and 
body  in  that  service,  soon  wore  him  out.  He 
died  in  the  summer  of  1862,  a  martp'  to  his 
country's  cause. 


[9 


3(Xi 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


Isaiah  Hiimplirey,  after  serving  a  term  in 
the  United  States  Army  in  fightincr  Indians 
and  passing  through  the  various  vicissitudes 
of  guarding  our  Western  frontiers,  settled 
down  upon  a  farm  in  the  township  of  Boston, 
some  fifteen  miles  from  Akron.  In  the  process 
of  clearing  up  his  land  and  applying  his  labors 
as  a  new  farm  exacts  them  of  a  luisbandman, 
he  thought  there  were  minutes  and  i]aterstices  of 
time,  which  without  damage  to  his  agriculture, 
he  could  devote  to  the  enlargement  of  his 
mind.  He  had  a  retentive  memory,  was  a  nat- 
ural humorist,  had  a  keen  sense  of  the  ludi- 
crous, a  perpetual  fountain  of  ready  wit,  a 
rare  knack  at  narration  whether  of  anecdotes 
or  of  sober  facts,  and  a  good  understanding, 
which,  with  persevering  effort,  could  be  disci- 
plined for  logical  reasoning.  Here  was  a 
foundation  for  a  lawyer.  The  distance  of  his 
residence  from  the  county  seat  and  its  proxim- 
ity to  the  Ohio  Canal  where  law-siiits  within  a 
justices'  jurisdiction  were  necessarily  frequent, 
would  of  course  often  put  in  requisition  a  com- 
bination of  such  mental  qualities  in  aid  of  dis- 
tressed litigants.  Amid  importunities  of  this 
kind,  Mr.  Humphrey  took  up  the  study  of  the  law 
under  his  brother.  Judge  Van  R.  Humphrey, 
of  Hudson.  Meanwhile  his  farm  and  his 
family  occupied  his  time  as  usual.  His  legal 
studies  having  been  pursued  some  miles  from 
Judge  Humphrey's  office,  it  very  natiu'ally 
happened  that  on  his  admission  to  the  bar  he 
foimd  himself  much  abler  in  the  general  prin- 
ciples of  the  law  than  in  matters  of  legal 
practice,  which  require  skill  that  comes  only 
with  use. 

It  followed,  of  course,  that  in  the  Common 
Pleas  Mr.  Humi)hrey's  pleadings  were  often 
defective  and  involved  in  perplexities.  But  his 
impm'turbable  coolness,  good  nature  and  tact 
got  the  better  of  them  with  occasional  loss  of 
time,  which  to  the  court  and  bar  was  amply  com- 
pensated by  the  interludes  of  wit  and  humor 
that  seemed  to  flash  out  in  proportion  as  per- 
plexities thickened.  He  did  not  leave  his  farm, 
but  with  his  farming  went  through  many  a 
lively  wrangle  in  his  profession.  He  died 
about  April,  1877,  sincerely  lamented  by  his 
brethren  of  the  bar. 

Wolsey  Wells'  card  is  found  in  the  Portage 
Jonrnal  then  published  at  Middlebmy  in  1827, 


giving  notice  that  he  had  opened  a  law  office 
at  Akron  in  the  hotel.  The  same  paper 
informs  us  that  the  first  boat  on  the  Ohio 
Canal  reached  Akron  July  2,  1827,  having  on 
board  Gov.  Trimble  on  his  way  to  celebrate 
the  opening  of  the  canal  to  navigation,  at 
Cleveland  on  the  4th  of  July.  Gov.  Trimble 
was  welcomed  to  Akron  in  a  speech  by  Wolsey 
W^ells,  Esq.  In  1885,  Mr.  Wells  was  in  law 
practice  in  company  with  Harvey  Birch,  Esq., 
at  Elyria.  After  some  years,  practice  at  Elyria, 
he  migrated  to  one  of  the  northwestern  coun- 
ties of  Ohio,  as  agent  of  the  State  for  the  sale 
of  public  lands.  It  is  reported  that  he  died 
there  a  few  years  since.  He  was  a  lawyer  of 
fine  abilities  and  the  strictest  integrity.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  the  anti-slavery  and 
temperance  reforms,  in  which  he  was  out 
spoken  and  disdained  all  compromise. 

George  Bliss  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and 
came  to  Ohio  quite  young.  He  commenced 
the  study  of  law  about  1841,  in  the  office  of 
Hand  &  Cartter,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
about  1848.  His  examination  for  admission 
was,  with  several  other  candidates,  in  the  Su- 
preme Court  at  Medina;  and  his  thorough 
understanding  of  legal  principles  and  practice 
was  remarked  on  by  the  committee  in  their 
retirement  as  pre-eminent  among  the  candi- 
dates, and  as  the  harbinger  of  certain  success 
in  his  profession.  He  very  soon  rose  to  dis- 
tinction and  formed  a  partnership  with  D.  K. 
Cartter  (now  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  District  of  Columbia),  their  office  being 
in  Akron.  He  had  a  voice  of  remarkable 
smoothness.  It  was  of  the  kind  which  Cicero 
seems  to  have  meant  by  his  vox  argentea.  It 
was  a  ringing,  metallic  voice,  sliding  through 
gradations  so  easily  and  coming  forth  in  full 
volume  with  such  apparent  spontaneity,  that 
it  never  wearied  the  hearer  however  long  con- 
tinued. 

A  vacancy  occm'ring  in  the  Common  Pleas 
judgeship  of  this  district  in  1850,  Mr.  Bliss 
was  a  candidate  for  election  to  that  office  by 
the  Legislature  of  1849-50.  There  were  two 
other  candidates.  After  numerous  fruitless 
votes  were  taken,  no  candidate  having  received 
a  majority,  the  Legislature  gave  the  election 
the  go  by,  and  adjourned  leaving  the  vacancy 
mffilled.     The  Governor  of  Ohio  being  then  of 


:k* 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


307 


the  Democi'atic  party,  appointed  Mr.  Bliss  to 
the  office.  The  short  time  he  held  it  was  long 
enough  to  fix  the  general  opinion  of  the  bar 
that  his  administration  of  it,  if  continued 
for  another  term,  would  give  general  satis- 
faction. 

In  1852,  Mr.  Bliss  was  elected  to  the  House 
of  Representatives  in  Congress  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  continued  his  residence  in 
Akron  until  about  1860,  when  he  removed  to 
Wooster.  He  continued  the  practice  of  his 
profession  theie  until  his  death  about  1875. 

Lucius  V.  Bierce  was  born  in  Connecticut. 
He  came  to  Ohio  with  his  father's  family 
when  a  lad.  He  entered  the  Ohio  University  at 
Athens,  in  Athens  County,  where  he  graduated 
at  the  termination  of  the  ciistomary  college 
course.  He  taught  some  years  in  one  or  more 
of  the  Southern  States,  and  then  returned  to 
Ohio  and  studied  law.  On  being  admitted  to 
che  bar  he  opened  a  law  office  at  Ravenna,  in 
Portage  County.  He  was  a  very  fluent  and 
rapid  speaker,  had  great  facility  in  drafting 
and  readiness  in  the  dispatch  of  business. 
He  soon  became  very  popular  as  a  lawyer,  and 
was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  several 
terms  in  succession.  About  the  year  1836,  he 
removed  his  office  to  Akron,  which  was  then 
in  Portage  County,  where  he  continued  his 
professional  practice  until  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  broke  out. 

Gen.  Bierce  was  neither  an  extensive  nor  a 
profound  reader  of  law.  His  chief  character- 
istic as  a  lawyer  lay  in  his  extraordinary  tact 
and  ingenuity  in  putting  his  adversary  in  a 
false  position.  When  his  opponent  had  made 
out  a  clear  case  and  set  down  with  confidence 
that  it  was  standing  in  such  blazing  sunlight 
that  no  mists  could  be  conjui'ed  uj^  to  darken 
it.  Gen.  Bierce  was  on  his  feet.  Of  all  occa- 
sions for  calling  up  his  magic  skill  that  was 
the  one.  Then  all  sorts  of  odd  combinations 
of  the  law  and  facts  which  could  make  the 
false  resemble  the  true  were  held  up  to  the 
gaze  of  the  jury.  Hints,  suggestions,  imag- 
inings, possibilities  outside  and  inside  of  the 
case — the  winged  missives  seemed  to  fill  the 
air  and  flap  in  every  juror's  face,  and  it  was 
good  luck  for  justice  and  innocence  if  some 
of  them  did  not  lodge  in  the  breast  of  many  a 
juryman  and  puzzle  the  whole  panel,  in  spite 


a  lucid  charge  from  the  court  and  all  the 
simshine  that  had  blazed  upon  the  case. 
Yet,  take  him  as  he  was,  no  member  of  the 
Summit  bar  was  so  di'eaded  before  a  jury  as 
Gen.  Bierce.  He  was  never  tlirown  off  his 
guard — never  discomposed.  The  most  threat- 
ening discomfiture  foimd  him  on  his  feet 
ready  to  repel  the  onset. 

In  1861,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio  by  the  Republicans  of  Summit  and  Port- 
age Counties.  He  took  a  very  active  part  in 
raising  troops  for  the  Union  in  the  late  war ;  and 
in  1863  he  was  appointed  Assistant  Adjutant 
General  of  Ohio,  and  discharged  the  arduous 
duties  of  that  office  with  faultless  exactitude. 
As  a  citizen  and  neighbor,  Gen.  Bierce  was 
public- spirited,  obliging  and  generous.  He 
died  November,  1876,  and  was  buried  with 
military  honors. 

John  Harris,  Jr.,  was  born  at  Canton,  Stark 
County,  November  26,  1823.  He  was  class- 
ically educated  at  Western  Reserve  College, 
of  which  he  was  a  graduate.  He  stud- 
ied law  under  his  father's  tuition  at  Canton, 
and  opened  a  law  office  at  Akron  about  184:5. 
His  health  was  delicate.  He,  however,  showed 
himself  fully  competent  in  his  profession. 
With  abundant  intellectual  power  to  cany  him 
through  a  contest,  he  shrank  fi'om  the  rough 
collisions  which  coarser  natures  often  invited. 
Experience,  however,  would  have  given  to  his 
sensibility  a  recoil  against  coarse  and  ill-tem- 
pered thrusts  all  the  more  wounding  to  an  ag- 
gressor, because  it  came  unsuspected,  from  a 
keen  and  concealed  weapon.  Had  he  lived, 
he  would  have  taken  a  high  stand  in  the  pro- 
fession, which  all  his  practice  would  have 
tended  to  dignify  and  refine.  He  died  at 
Canton  March  12,'  1855. 

Harvey  Whedon  was  born  at  Litchfield, 
Conn.,  in  1812.  He  opened  a  law  office  in  Hud- 
son, Ohio,  probably  in  1838.  He  soon  acquired 
a  good  office  practice,  and  a  reasonable  share 
of  practice  in  the  courts  of  this  county.  A 
well-read,  industrious  lawj^er,  of  good  judg- 
ment, he  was  often  consulted,  and  acquired  a 
reputation  of  a  safe  coxmselor.  He  was  elected 
Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Summit  County  in 
1852,  and  faithfully  discharged  the  duties  of 
that  office  for  the  constitutional  term  of  two 
years.     Mr.  "\Miedon  was  a  man  of  undoubted 


308 


HISTOPtY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY, 


integrity  and  of  solid  woiih.  He  died  of 
typhoid  fever  August  29,  1855. 

W.  S.  C.  Otis  was  born  in  Cummington, 
Mass.  He  entered  Williams  College,  where 
he  took  a  high  stand  as  a  scholar,  but  left  the 
college  some  time  in  his  senior  year,  and,  for 
awhile,  followed  teaching.  In  1831,  he  en- 
tered the  law  office  of  Whittlesey  &  Newton, 
at  Canfield,  Mahoning  County,  and  continued 
there  with  unremitting  application  till  he  was 
admitted  to  thw  practice  of  law  in  Ohio  in 
1833.  Soon  after  his  admission,  he  became  a 
partner  in  his  profession  with  Hon.  Jonathan 
Sloane,  of  Ravenna.  Mi-.  Otis'  strength  lay 
in  his  keenly  discriminative  perceptions,  his 
ample  powers  of  deduction,  and  the  tenacity 
with  which  he  held  to  the  controlling  points 
in  his  case,  di'awing  from  them  alone  its  ulti- 
mate conclusions,  and  guarding  every  such 
point  as  no  one  could  do  who  had  not  viewed 
and  reviewed  every  phase  of  the  matter  in 
hand.  As  an  advocate,  his  voice  and  action 
brought  him  little  aid.  He  had  great  earnest- 
ness, a  ready  memory,  spoke  fluently  and  always 
to  the  point,  though  somewhat  wordily.  His 
facts  and  alignments  were  laid  out  with  rare 
skill  and  judgment.  To  the  comi  and  the 
bar,  however,  he  was  much  better  known  as 
a  lawyer  than  as  an  advocate.  In  argument, 
whether  to  the  court  or  jury,  he  was  fond  of 
making  historical  or  classical  allusions,  which 
were  always  well  selected  and  came  in  with 
happy  effect.  Hi  s  ambition,  when  he  began  his 
profession,  was  very  high,  and,  so  ffir  as  emi- 
nence at  the  bar  went,  it  was  certainly  not  dis- 
appointed. 

^Ii'.  Otis  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attor- 
ney for  Summit  County,  in  1844,  and,  in 
1850,  he  was  elected  as  a  delegate  from  this 
county  to  the  Constitutional  Convention  which 
framed  the  Constitution  of  Ohio  now  in  force. 
Outside  of  his  profession,  he  was  a  man  of 
large  intelligence — a  diligent  reader  of  his- 
tory, of  the  cmTent  literatm-e  of  the  times,  of 
the  classics,  both  ancient  and  modern,  and  of 
the  Book  above  all  books.  He  always  kept  up 
a  close  acquaintance  with  the  ancient  authors, 
both  Greek  and  Latin,  in  their  original  tongues. 
Not  long  before  his  last  illness,  he  published 
a  pamphlet  containing  an  examination  into 
the  common  translation  of  a  passage  in  one  of 


the  epistles  of  the  New  Testament,  drawing 
his  conclusions  from  a  critical  acquaintance 
with  the  original  Greek.  In  truth,  from  the 
beginning  of  his  professional  life,  and  we  know 
not  how  much  longer,  he  made  the  study  of 
the  Bible  a  specialty. 

About  1842,  ]VIi\  Otis  removed  his  residence 
from  Ravenna  to  Akron,  where  he  continued 
his  professional  practice.  He  was  elected 
President  of  the  first  bank  established  in 
Aki'on,  and  held  that  office  for  some  years. 
Abou.t  1875,  he  suffered  fi'om  a  paralytic 
shock,  from  which  he  so  far  recovered  as  to 
give  attention  to  his  extensive  business  till 
1877,  when  a  second  stroke  of  palsy  gave  wai'n- 
ing  that  his  work  was  done.  He  died  leaving 
his  widow  and  family  amply  provided  for. 

William  M.  Dodge  was  born  January  2, 
1805,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  He  ob- 
tained a  good  English  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  place.  He  came  to 
Ohio  probably  about  1828;  studied  law  in 
Geauga  County,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
probably  in  1830.  Not  long  afterward,  he 
took  up  his  residence  at  Middlebury,  and  there 
opened  a  law  office.  After  a  short  residence 
there,  he  settled  in  Ala'on,  where  he  continued 
his  professional  business  until  he  was  elected 
Probate  Judge  of  Summit  County,  in  1860. 
He  had  before  then  held  the  office  of  Prose- 
cuting Attorney  for  Summit  County,  hav- 
ing been  elected  to  it  in  1842,  and  discharged 
its  duties  satisfactorily  through  the  term. 
Mr.  Dodge  was  a  public-spirited  citizen.  He 
took  a  very  active  part  in  the  organization 
of  the  Aki-on  school  system.  He  was  espe- 
cially efficient  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Directors,  in  all  that  pertained  to  building,  or 
otherwise  providing  schoolhouses.  In  all  such 
matters,  he  was  a  man  of  first-rate  judgment, 
and  he  bent  himself  to  the  gi'atuitous  work 
with  untiring  zeal.     He  died  July  22,  1861. 

William  H.  Gaston  had  been  a  school- 
teacher. At  what  time  or  where  he  studied 
law,  or  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  is  not  known. 
In  1844,  he  was  doing  business  as  a  lawyer,  in 
company  with  W.  S.  C.  Otis,  at  Akron.  He 
gave  himself  to  the  work  of  the  law  office  with 
unremitting  diligence.  He  was  a  lawj^er  of  a 
clear  head,  and  of  power  to  grasp  and  handle 
a  matter  of  manifold  complications  in  chan- 


'Tl'^ 


.1^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


309 


eery  and  was  ambitious  to  rise  in  his  profes- 
sion. But  a  fatal  disease  .seized  upon  his 
lungs  and  took  him  from  the  jarring  crowds 
of  suitors  and  lawyers,  and  jurors,  and  coui-ts, 
and  all  the  varied  tumults  of  earthly  things. 

James  D.  Taylor  was  born  at  Youngstown, 
Mahoning  County,  November  24,  1816.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Gallipolis,  whither 
he  rode  on  horseback  for  that  purpose.  About 
1845,  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Henry 
W.  King,  Esq.,  of  Akron,  where  he  immedi- 
ately fixed  his  residence.  The  firm  carried  on 
a  prosperous  business  till  about  1850,  when, 
the  health  of  both  partners  declining,  their 
partnership  was  dissolved.  Mr.  Taylor's  ill- 
ness was  pulmonary.  He  spent  some  time  in 
the  Southern  States,  in  hopes,  by  help  of  a 
favorable  climate,  to  overcome  the  malady 
which  was  wasting  him  away.  It  was  sadly 
in  vain.  He  died  at  Enterprise,  Fla.,  March 
23,  1855.  "While  residing  at  Akron,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Isabella  Howard,  now  Mrs. 
James  Mathews,  of  Aliron.  Mr.  Taylor 
was  an  industrious,  clear-headed  lawyer.  He 
had  a  sprightly  imagination,  a  keen,  well-dis- 
ciplined intellect.  A  comely  person,  a  good 
memory  and  ready  command  of  language,  an 
easy  delivery,  free  but  always  graceful  and 
appropriate  gestui'es,  a  soft  though  not  very 
sonorous  voice,  an  animated  countenance,  and 
a  wit  that  could  make  a  home-thrust  almost  in 
a  whisper,  made  him  one  of  the  most  winning 
speakers  of  the  time. 

But,  better  than  all,  a  keen  sense  of  honor 
and  integrity  above  suspicion,  seemed  to  add 
security  and  a  high  and  commanding  value  to 
all  the  mental  qualities  of  the  man.  His 
death,  and  its  melancholy  surroundings — far 
from  home,  where  his  wife  was  detained  with 
a  sick  child — shed  a  deep  and  lasting  sorrow 
thi'oughout  his  acquaintance. 

Chai'les  G.  Ladd  was  a  native  of  Vermont. 
He  came  to  Ohio  in  his  yoiith,  and  read  law 
with  his  brother-in-law.  Gen.  L.  V.  Bierce, 
with  whom,  after  being  admitted  to  practice, 
he  became  a  partner,  in  the  firm  of  Bierce  & 
Ladd.  With  no  shining  advantages,  Mr.  Ladd 
soon  began  to  show  what  influence  can  be  ob- 
tained over  common  minds  by  self-assm'ance, 
and  apparently  an  undoubting  confidence  that 
one's  own  knowledge  is  one's  own  exclusively. 


and  can  be  shared  in  by  others  only  as  he 
himself  imparts  it.  This  quality  of  tmflinch- 
ing  boldness  he  used  with  the  address  and  tact 
of  a  master.  He  entered  the  arena  of  politics 
simultaneously  with  that  of  his  profession, 
youthful  as  he  was,  and  very  soon  passed 
tlirough  a  succession  of  minor  trusts  and  offi- 
ces, all  of  which  he  discharged  faithfully  and 
with  fair  ability. 

On  the  adoption  of  ovir  present  constitution, 
in  1851,  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Probate 
Judge  of  Summit  County  in  October  of  that 
year,  but  died  in  the  following  winter,  with- 
out entering  upon  the  duties  of  the  office. 

Holland  O.  Hammond  was  born  in  Bath 
Township,  in  Summit  County.  He  displayed 
in  his  childhood  rare  aptness  in  learning — so 
much  so  that  his  parents  singled  him  out  from 
among  a  large  family  of  children  for  a  liberal 
education.  He  fitted  for  entering  a  college 
course  at  the  Preparatory  Department  of  the 
Western  Reserve  College,  which  he  entered  in 
due  time,  and,  in  the  regiilar  progress  of  class- 
ical and  mathematical  studies,  showed  brilliant 
powers  of  acquisition.  Chafing  against  the 
common  restraints  of  a  college  upon  his  irreg- 
ularities, he  left  that  institution  and  entered 
Oberlin  College.  Finding  the  restraints  there 
quite  as  stringent  as  those  at  Western  Re- 
serve, he  took  leave  of  Oberlin  some  time  in 
his  junior  year.  Not  long  afterward,  in  the 
winter  of  1846-47,  he  commenced  the  study 
of  law  in  the  office  of  Carpenter  &  McClm-e, 
at  Akron.  He  mastered  the  customary  text- 
books with  gi-eat  facility,  and,  at  the  end  of 
the  statutory  two  years  of  law-reading,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar. 

A  brief  nin  of  practice  revealed  in  him  the 
elements  of  a  fine  legal  mind,  and  a  ready  tact 
at  picking  up  bvisiness  and  inspiring  confi- 
dence in  his  clients.  But  such  guaranties  of 
success  were  weakened  by  a  ceaseless  itching 
for  office  and  the  wonted  intrigues  to  secm-e 
it.  In  mid-career,  however,  a  fatal  disease  set- 
tled upon  his  brain,  fi-om  which,  after  a  linger- 
ing illness,  he  died,  in  1866,  leaving  a  widow  and 
one  daughter,  and  his  memory  for  their  heritage. 

George  Kirkum  was  a  native  of  Connecticut. 
He  was  for  many  years  Clerk  of  the  Coiu't 
of  Common  Pleas  of  Portage  Coimty,  before 
the  erection  of  Summit.     His  skill  in^putting 


T^ 


!a w. 


310 


HISTOKY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


in  order  and  systematizing  the  affairs  of  the 
office  of  Clerk  of  the  Coui-t  of  Common  Pleas 
was  of  public  utility.  In  1888,  Mr.  Kirk- 
um  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives of  Ohio,  from  the  county  of  Portage. 
The  special  interest  his  election  was  expected 
to  subserve  was  the  erection  of  Summit  County 
out  of  Portage,  Stark,  Wayne  and  Medina 
Counties.  Though  a  jnan  of  lai'ge  intiuence 
in  a  popular  body,  so  strong  was  the  opposition 
that  his  indefatigable  labors  failed  to  cai'ry 
the  measiu'e  through  the  Legislatm'e. 

About  the  same  time,  Mi*.  Kirkum  took  up 
his  residence  in  Aki-on,  where  he  opened  a  law 
office  and  practiced  his  calling  for  several 
years.  His  health  failing,  he  moved  his  resi- 
dence to  his  farm  in  Norton  Township,  which 
he  managed  for  a  few  yeai's,  and  then  moved 
to  another  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Cleveland. 
All  the  while,  his  inevitable  tormentor,  dyspep- 
sia, followed  him  up,  till  he  died  at  his  last- 
mentioned  home  some  years  since. 

Frederick  S.  Hanford  was  born  at  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  and  was  educated  at  Western  Reserve 
College,  where  he  graduated  with  distin- 
guished honors.  He  studie  d  law  in  the  office 
of  McKinuey  &  Tibbals  in  Akron,  and  at 
the  Columbia  Law  School  in  New  York  City, 
where  he  was  admitted  to  practice  May  12, 
1869.  He  entered  into  a  law  partnership  with 
Hon.  S.  C.  Williamson  (now  Probate  Judge  of 
Summit  County),  and  afterward  with  Hon.  N. 
J).  Tibbals  (now  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas).  He  rose  rapidly  in  practice. 
But,  suffering  from  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs, 
he  spent  some  months  in  Colorado  in  hopes  of 
invigorating  his  health  by  change  of  climate. 
On  returning  to  professional  labor,  hemor- 
rhages followed  from  time  to  time  with  fatal 
effect.  He  died  at  the  home  of  his  father-in- 
law  in  Ashland,  Ohio,  January  29,  1879. 

Hemy  William  King,  son  of  the  late  Hon. 
Leicester  King,  of  Ohio,  was  bom  at  Westfield, 
Mass.,  September  24,  1815.  He  was  brought 
to  Warren,  Trambull  County,  when  his  par- 
ents settled  there,  in  1817.  He  was  fitted  for 
college  partly  at  Wan-en  and  partly  at  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  where  he  entered  Washington 
(now  Trinity)  College,  and  graduated  August 
4,  1836.  He  studied  law  with  the  late  Hon. 
Milton  Sutliff  at  Warren,  and  also  at  the  Cin- 


cinnati Law  School,  under  Judge  Walker. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Gallipolis  in 
February,  1839.  Li  the  fall  of  the  same  year, 
he  opened  a  law  office  at  Aki'on,  Summit 
County.  June  1,  1844,  he  formed  a  law  part- 
nership with  James  D.  Taylor,  which  was  dis- 
solved June  1,  1849,  on  account  of  the  failing 
health  of  Mr.  Taylor,  who  immediately  re- 
moved to  Peiii,  111.,  where,  his  health  improv- 
ing, he  carried  on  a  very  prosperous  law  busi- 
ness for  a  few  years,  imtil  his  pulmonary 
weakness  could  midergo  the  wear  of  strife  no 
longer. 

Meanwhile,  Mi'.  King  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  his  brother,  David  L.  King,  and 
vigorously  pm-sued  the  business  of  the  profes- 
sion. In  1850,  the  Legislatm'e  of  Ohio  elected 
him  Secretary  of  State.  The  duties  of  this 
office  he  discharged  for  two  years  with  his  cus- 
tomary exactness  and  punctuality.  IVIr.  King 
was  an  indefatigable  worker.  He  shi'ank  fi'om 
no  legal  di'udgery.  This  intense  labor,  how- 
ever, bore  down  upon  a  constitution  never 
strong,  until  1853,  when  his  health  gave 
way,  and  he  was  therefore  compelled  to  re- 
linquish his  professional  practice.  As  a 
means  of  recovering,  he  betook  himself  to 
a  more  active  life  in  open  air,  at  Suamico,  in 
the  lumber  regions  of  Wisconsin.  He  also 
tried  a  sea  voyage,  one  or  more,  at  mackerel 
fishing,  and  a  voyage  to  the  Bermudas.  But 
his  malady  had  laid  fast  hold  on  his  life,  and, 
in  spite  of  remedies,  and  hopeful  friends,  and 
their  tenderest  cares,  and  the  watchful  nm-sing  of 
her  who  for  years  had  held  her  own  life  sec- 
ond to  his,  on  the  2()th  of  November,  1857,  he 
left  all  for  another  and  a  better  life. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  lawj^ers  who 
once  practiced  in  Summit  County,  but  who 
are  still  living  elsewhere,  or  of  whose  decease 
we  have  no  certain  knowledge:  Rufus  P. 
Spalding,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  graduate 
of  Yale  College,  was  one  of  the  Supreme 
Judges  of  Ohio,  when  our  State  constitution 
took  effect  in  1851.  He  represented  this  dis- 
trict in  Congress  three  successive  terms,  be- 
ginning in  1862;  and  now  enjoys  a  healthy 
old  age  in  Cleveland.  Daniel  R.  Tilden,  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  began  business  as  a 
lawyer  ^'n  Portage  County  about  1836;  was 
twice  elected  to  Congress  from  this  district. 


hL 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


311 


He  opened  a  law  ofl&ce  in  Akron  about  the 
winter  of  1847-48;  removed  to  Cleveland 
about  1850;  was  elected  Probate  Judge  of 
Cuyahoga  County  in  1851,  and  has  held  that 
oflfice  without  interruption  ever  since.  Abel 
B.  Berry,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  gTadu- 
ate  at  Dartmouth  College,  and  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  New  England;  came  to  Akron 
in  1844;  read  law  one  year  in  the  office  of 
Judge  Spalding,  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  Ohio  in  1845.  He  opened  a  law  office  in 
Akron,  and  after  a  few  years  returned  to  New 
England,  and  is  now  practicing  law  in  Boston, 
Mass.  Alvah  Hand  opened  a  law  office  in 
Akron  about  1827;  removed  to  Oshkosh,  Wis., 
many  years  since.  Seneca  L.  Hand  kept  a  law 
office  in  Middlebury  (now  Sixth  Ward, 
Aki-on),  from  about  1828  till  about  1851,  when 
he  moved  to  Dubuque,  Iowa.  Frederick  A. 
Nash  was  for  some  years  a  partner  in  law  bus- 
iness with  Seneca  L.  Hand;  afterward  with 
N.  W.  Goodhue,  Esq.,  and  still  later  with 
Messrs.  King  &  Green.  For  the  last  twelve 
years  or  so,  he  has  resided  at  Brattleboro, 
Vt.  Philemon  Bliss,  a  native  of  Central  New 
York,  and  liberally  educated  there,  opened  a 
law  office  at  Cuyahoga  Falls  about  1841. 
After  a  practice  there  of  some  three  or  foui* 
years,  he  removed  to  Elyi'ia,  Lorain  County, 
and  there  continued  his  law  practice.  While 
residing  there  he  was  twice  elected  to  Con- 
gress. After  some  years'  service  in  a  Terri- 
toi'ial  judgeship,  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
Missouri  and  became  one  of  the  Supreme 
Judges  of  that  State.  He  has  recently  pub- 
lished a  book  of  some  note  on  code  pleading, 
and  is  Professor  of  Law  in  the  Missoui'i  State 
University.  H.  H.  Johnson  kept  a  law  office 
some  years  in  Akron,  but,  upon  the  erection 
of  the  county  of  Ashland,  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence and  pursued  his  law  practice  at  Ash- 
land, the  county  seat  of  that  county,  where  he 
was  soon  afterward  elected  to  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  Congi-ess.  David  K.  Cart- 
ter  is  a  native  of  Western  New  York,  where 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  opened  a  law 
office  in  Akron  about  1887,  and  removed  to 
Massillon,  Stark  County,  about  1845.  He 
was  elected  to  Congress  in  1848,  and  again  in 
1850.  Early  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  administration 
he  was  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  Su- 


preme Court  of  the  District  of  Coltunbia;  and 
is  still  the  incumbent  of  that  office.  Henry 
McKinney  was  born  in  Portage  County,  Ohio; 
studied  law  under  Judge  S.  W.  McClure  at 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and 
entered  into  partnership  with  him  in  1850. 
After  some  years  he  removed  his  residence  to 
Akron,  where  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Judge  N.  D.  Tibbals.  He  was  elected  to  the 
Senate  of  Ohio  in  1809,  and,  in  1871,  he  re- 
moved his  residence  to  Cleveland.  John  A. 
Pleasants  is  a  native  of  Virginia.  He  settled 
in  Alii'on  in  1848,  where  he  practiced  law  for 
several  years,  and  then  retui*ned  to  Virginia. 
Charles  Baldwin  entered  into  a  law  partnership 
with  Gen.  L.  V.  Bierce,  of  Ai'kon,  about  1859  or 
1860.  He  continued  in  that  partnership  till 
the  General's  appointment  to  the  office  of 
Assistant  Adjutant  General,  when  he  a  few 
years  later  removed  to  Omaha,  Neb.  Wilbur 
F.  Sanders  was  born  in  New  York,  and  read 
law  under  Hon.  Sidney  Edgerton,  at  Akron. 
He  was  admitted  to  practice  and  formed  a  law 
partnership  with  Gov.  Edgerton  in  1857. 
Upon  Gov.  Edgerton's  appointment  as  Judge 
for  the  Territory  of  Idaho,  Mr.  Sanders  became 
a  resident  of  that  part  of  the  Territory  now 
included  in  Montana,  where  he  has  been  in 
practice  as  a  lawyer  ever  since.  Charles  Rhine- 
hart  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  N.  Y.  He  was 
elected  Clerk  of  the  Com't  of  Common  Pleas 
of  Summit  County  in  1868 ;  and  was  re-elected 
in  1866.  At  the  end  of  the  second  term  of 
that  office,  he  opened  a  law  office  in  Akron, 
where  he  continued  practice  till  the  fall  of 
1880,  when  he  removed  to  Denver,  Colo. 
Eugene  Pardee  was  born  in  Wadsworth,  Me- 
dina Co.,  Ohio;  read  law  under  Judge  Van  R. 
Humphrey  at  Hudson.  He  resided  respect- 
ively in  Wadsworth,  Wooster  and  Aki-on, 
where  he  practiced  his  profession,  and,  in 
1880,  again  removed  to  Wooster,  where  at 
present  he  resides. 

[This  closes  the  sketch  of  the  bar  of  the  past, 
of  Summit  County,  and  brings  us  down  to 
those  now  living.  As  the  present  members  of 
the  bar  have  biographical  sketches  in  another 
department  of  this  work,  we  deem  it  imneces- 
sary  to  repeat  the  same  in  this  chapter.  One 
of  the  oldest  representatives  of  the  present 
bar  is  Judge  McClure,  and  to  whpse  biograph- 


rV 


313 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


ical  sketch  the  reader  is  referred,  as  iinto  most 
of  the  others  following. — Ed.]. 

Judge  James  S.  Carpenter  studied  law  with 
Camp  &  Canfield,  at  Medina,  Ohio,  and  was 
ad:nitted  to  the  bar  May  29,  183S,  at  Spring- 
field, Ohio.  He  came  to  Akron  in  1846,  and 
has  practiced  here  ever  since.  Judge  C.  Bryan 
located  in  Akron  in  the  fall  of  1833,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Columbus  in  1834. 
Hon.  Sidney  Edgerton.  (See  biographical 
sketch.)  Judge  S.  H.  Pitkin  studied  law  in 
Fulton  County,  111.,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Lewiston  (same  coimty)  about  1836,  and 
came  to  this  county  in  1852.  William  H.  Up- 
son (see  biographical  sketch),  was  admitted  to 
to  the  bar  at  Cleveland  in  September,  1845: 
Edward  Oviatt,  in  September,  1846,  at  Medina; 
N.  AV.  Goodhue,  at  the  September  term  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  at  Akron,  in  1847;  Edwin  P. 
Greene,  at  Akron,  in  September,  1852;  Judge 
N.  D.  Tibballs,  at  Akron,  in  September,  1855; 
John  J.  Hall,  at  Canton,  Ohio,  in  May,  1857; 
Gen.  A.  C.  Voris  (see  biographical  sketch  else- 
where); J.  A.  Kohler  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1859;  H.  W.  Ingersoll,  at  Columbus,  March 
29,  1859;  Judge  U.  S.  Marvin,  in  May,  1860; 
Gen.  Thomas  F.  Wilde,  at  Cincinnati,  in  1866; 
Calvin  P.  Humpln-ey  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  the  fall  of  1866;  Edwin  W.  Stuart,  at  Cleve- 
land, in  1866;  H.  C.  San  ford,  at  Ravenna,  in 
April,  1868;  George  T.  Ford,  in  1869;  Newton 
Chalker  gi-aduated  fi'om  the  Law  Department 
of  the  University  of  Albany  in  1 869 ;  James  M. 
Poulson  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  fall  of 
1870 ;  G.  K.  Pardee,  in  1870 ;  George  S.  May,  in 
1872;  Richard  P.  Marvin,  in  May,  1873;  John 
H.  Campbell  graduated  from  the  Law  Depart- 
ment of  the  Michigan  University  in  1873; 
Charles  Baird  was  admitted  to  the  bar  about 
the  year  1874;  John  M.  Fraze,  at  Louisville, 
Ky.,  in  1874;  Charles  R.  Grant,  in  December, 
1874;  NewtonFord,  at  Akron,  in  August,  1876; 
Noah  Hodge  was  admitted  to  practic  in  the 
Superior  Court  of  Mississippi,  in  January, 
1875;  John  C.  Means  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  the  District  Court  of  Summit  County,  in 
August,  1876;  John  Johnston  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1876;  James  McNaughten  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1876;  Charles  Robin- 
son, at  Columbus,  in  December,  1877;  E.  T. 
Voris,  at  Cleveland,  in  October,  1877 ;  J.  V. 


Welsh,  at  New  Lisbon,  Ohio,  May  26,  1877; 
L.  D.  Seward,  in  1878;  R.  J.  Young,  in  June, 
1879;  Rolin  W.  Saddler,  in  April,  1878; 
Frank  D.  Cassidy,  in  March,  1879;  Charles 
W.  Foote,  at  Wooster,  in  June,  1879;  L.  D. 
Watters,  March  17,  1879;  D.  A.  Dovle,  in 
May,  1880;  F.  M.  Atterholt,  October  5;  1880; 
A.  F.  Bartges  (see  sketch). 

[The  following  sketch  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession of  Summit  County,  is  by  Dr.  A.  K. 
Fouser. — Ed.] 

The  history  of  the  medical  profession  in 
Summit  County  dates  back  to  the  year  1800, 
or  the  time  of  the  earliest  settlements,  the 
demands  for  a  doctor's  services  being  then  as 
now  proportionate  with  the  spread  of  civiliza- 
tion. The  New  England  and  Middle  States 
having  furnished  most  if  not  all  of  our  earliest 
physicians,  we  have  only  to  look  at  the  history 
of  the  profession  in  those  States  to  become 
acquainted  with  the  material  which  made  up 
the  pioneer  doctors  of  this  county.  At,  and 
previous  to,  the  period  before  mentioned,  the 
greater  niunber  of  the  physicians  in  the  East 
were  what  are  called  "  regulars  "  — those  who 
bled,  blistered,  gave  calomel,  jalap,  tartar- 
emetic  and  the  like.  Homeopathy  was  scarce- 
ly known  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  while 
Thomsonianism,  hydropathy,  physiopathy,  ther- 
malism,  magnetism  and  kindred  dogmas  had 
not  yet  found  their  way  into  the  world. 

But  without  entering  into  an  extended  de- 
scription of  the  different  systems  in  vogue,  then 
and  now,  we  will  pass  to  the  local  history  of 
the  different  towns  and  townships,  giving  as 
nearly  as  possible  the  succession  of  physi- 
cians who  have  practiced  in  each  with  as  much 
of  their  personal  history  as  could  be  ascer- 
tained concerning  the  dead,  and  all  that  would 
be  expedient  of  the  living. 

Dr.  Titus  Chapman  was  probably  the  first 
physician  who  practiced  in  the  vicinity  of 
what  is  now  known  as  Akron.  He  came  to 
Middlebiury,  now  Sixth  Wai'd  of  Aki'on,  soon 
after  the  war  of  1812,  and  practiced  there 
about  thirty  years,  after  which  he  went  to 
Tallmadge  and  thence  to  Oberlin  where  he 
died. 

Dr.  Luther  Hanchett  was  bom  and  educated 
in  Connecticut,  and  after  practicing  in  New 
York  State  a  few  years,  came  to  Ohio,  locating 


'.^ 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


313 


in  the  vicinity  of  Middlebiuy  while  that  place 
was  yet  in  its  infancy.  He  was  born  in  1778, 
and  probably  came  to  Akron  about  1815. 
After  practicing  about  twenty  years,  he  re- 
moved to  Michigan  where  he  died  in  1840. 
Dr.  Elijah  Hanchett,  a  brother,  was  born  in 
Connecticut  in  1776,  and  began  practice  in 
Saratoga  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1798,  where  he 
remained  until  1832,  when  at  the  solicitation 
of  his  brother,  he  came  to  Middlebmy.  He 
then  practiced  in  the  vicinity  of  Middlebury 
until  1836,  when  he  removed  to  Tallmadge 
where  he  died  in  1843. 

Dr.  Joseph  Cole  was  probably  the  first  reg- 
ular practitioner  of  medicine  in  what  was  at 
that  time  Akron  proper,  and  for  many  years 
was  the  "  old  stand-by  "  of  the  profession.  He 
was  bom  in  Winfield,  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y., 
in  1795,  and  lived  on  a  farm  until  the  age  of 
twenty.  He  then  began  the  stvidy  of  and  a 
few  years  later  graduated  from  Fairfield  Med- 
ical College  in  his  native  State.  In  1824,  he 
came  to  Ohio  and  located  at  Old  Portage,  in 
this  county,  where  he  practiced  until  1827,  at 
which  time  he  came  to  Akron  where  he 
remained  in  practice  until  near  the  time  of 
his  death— 1861. 

Dr.  Richmond  came  from  Taunton,  Mass., 
and  settled  in  Akron  about  1833.  After  prac- 
ticing here  for  three  or  four  years,  he  fell  a 
victim  to  consumption,  went  to  Kentucky  and 
died  soon  afterward;  his  idea  of  going  South 
was,  "  to  die  among  strangers,"  as  he  expressed 
it.  Dr.  E.  F.  Bryan,  bi'other  of  Judge  Bryan, 
came  to  Akron  in  the  summer  of  1833,  and 
remained  until  1836  or  1837,  going  then  to 
Grranville,  Licking  County.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  Delaware  County,  N.  Y.,  and  received 
his  medical  education  at  Yale  College.  Dr. 
Ackley  came  from  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  about 
1834,  and  practiced  in  Akron  for  a  few  years, 
going  fi'om  here  to  Cleveland,  where  he  be- 
came quite  prominent  in  his  profession,  and 
in  his  connection  with  the  medical  college. 
Dr.  Crosby  came  to  Middlebury  some  time 
about  1835,  and  remained  there  and  in  Akron 
for  a  number  of  years.  Though  originally  of 
the  regular  school  of  medicine,  he  latterly 
embraced  the  homoeopathic  faith  and  made 
some  pretentions  toward  practicing  it.  How- 
ever, medicine  was  a  secondaiy  matter  to  him, 


as  most  of  his  time  and  energies  were  spent  in 
speculations  of  different  kinds.  Dr.  Cleveland 
practiced  in  Akron  between  1830  and  1840.  Dr. 
D.  D.  Evans  was  a  native  of  New  York  State; 
came  to  Akron  in  1836,  and  practiced  here 
until  the  time  of  his  death  which  occun-ed 
in  December,  1849.  He  was  a  doctor  of  more 
than  ordinaiy  ability  for  the  time  in  which  he 
lived,  enjoyed  a  good  reputation  and  an  exten- 
sive practice;  was  universally  esteemed,  and 
for  many  years  was  the  leading  man  in  the 
profession  of  this  section  of  the  State.  In 
connection  with  the  death  of  Dr.  Evans,  a  sad 
but  very  interesting  circu^mstance  is  related, 
which  in  substance  is  as  follows :  While  treat- 
ing a  case  of  malignant  erysipelas  at  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  Dr.  Evans  in  some  manner  became 
infected  with  the  poison  and  died  within  a 
few  days  thereafter.  A  post-mortem  examina- 
tion of  Dr.  Evans  was  made  at  which  quite  a 
number  of  physicians  were  present,  and  among 
them  were  Drs.  Huntington  and  Angel,  both 
of  whom  either  became  inoculated  or  absorbed 
the  vims,  the  former  dying  within  a  few 
weeks,  while  the  latter  suflered  immediate 
sloughing  of  one  arm,  and  died  from  the  poi- 
son a  few  years  later.  Nor  was  this  all.  A 
Mr.  Chapman,  a  brother-in-law  of  Dr.  Hunt- 
ington, while  nui'sing  the  doctor  in  his  sick 
ness,  also  absorbed  the  virus  and  died  from  its 
effects. 

Dr.  Kendrick   came   to   Middlebury   about 

1837,  and  remained  a  few  years.  Dr.  J.  O. 
Wade  practiced  in  Middlebmy  about  the  same 
time.  Dr.  Wyram  West  was  also  one  of  the 
early  doctors  in  Middlebury.  Dr.  E.  L.  Mun- 
ger,  a  native  of  Vermont,  located  in  Akron  about 

1838,  but  after  a  few  years  removed  to  Portage 
County.  Dr.  Kilbom-ne  (Botanic),  came  to 
Akron  about  1838,  and,  after  practicing  about 
fifteen  years,  removed  into  Coventry  Township 
and  began  farming.  Some  time  after  this  his 
mind  became  somewhat  deranged,  and  in  a  fit 
of  temporaiy  insanity  he  committed  suicide  on 
his  own  farm.  Dr.  W.  T.  Huntington,  a  native 
of  Connecticiit,  located  in  Aki'on  in  1839,  and 
continued  in  practice  until  early  in  the  year 
1850,  when  he  died  as  stated  above. 

Dr.  Mendall  Jewett  was  born  in  Greenwich, 
Mass.,  in  1815,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  1836. 
He  soon  afterward  began  the  study  of  medi 


V9 


314 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


cine  with  Drs.  Noble  and  Town,  of  Hudson, 
and,  in  1839,  began  practicing  in  Mogadore, 
then  in  Portage  County,  where  he  remained 
until  1858,  in  the  meantime  having  taken  a 
course  of  lectiu*es  at  Willoughby  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  graduated  after  that  college  had 
removed  to  Cleveland.  He  spent  two  years — 
1850  and  1851 — in  California,  and,  from  1855 
to  1857,  represented  this  county  in  the  State 
Legislature.  Since  1858  up  to  the  present 
time,  he  has  lived  in  Middlebury  (Sixth  Ward 
of  Akron ),  and  has  during  all  this  time  followed 
his  profession,  besides  being  engaged  in  other 
business. 

Dr.  William  P.  Cushman  was  born  at  Ran- 
dolph, Vt.,  in  1810,  and  up  to  the  age  of 
twenty- two  he  worked  on  a  farm  during  most 
of  the  time.  In  1882,  he  went  to  New  York 
State  and  taught  school,  and,  in  1834,  came 
to  Ohio  and  attended  school  at  Oberlin,  at  the 
same  time  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  Dascom. 
He  afterward  attended  the  Cincinnati  Medical 
College,  and,  in  1838,  began  practicing  his 
profession  in  Elyria,  remaining  there  two  years 
and  then  coming  to  Akron.  He  still  lives 
in  Akron,  but  has  retired  from  practice  en- 
tirely. 

Dr.  E.  W.  Howard  was  born  in  Andover, 
Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  in  1816,  and  until  the  age 
of  nineteen  lived  with  his  parents  on  a  farm, 
securing  in  the  meantime  a  liberal  education 
at  the  Chester  Academy.  He  then  took  a  trip 
West,  during  which  he  visited  his  cousin. 
Prof.  E.  L.  Howard,  at  Elyi'ia,  Ohio,  and  was 
by  him  persuaded  to  study  medicine.  He  at 
once  began  reading  in  the  office  of  his  cousin, 
where  he  continued  until  the  following  year, 
when  he  attended  a  course  of  lectures  in  Pitts- 
field,  Mass.  He  then  went  home  and  read  two 
years  with  Dr.  L.  G.  Whiting,  and,  in  1838, 
graduated  from  the  Berkshire  Medical  College, 
Pittstield,  Mass.  After  practicing  one  year 
with  his  preceptor,  he  came  to  Akron  in  1839, 
and  has  since  practiced  here  up  to  the  present 
time,  being  now  the  oldest  practitioner  in  the 
city.  During  the  late  war,  he  was  sent  South 
by  Gov.  Tod,  and  served  several  months  in 
the  hospitals  at  Frederick  City,  Md.,  and 
Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dr.  Edwin  Angel  was  bom  in  Providence, 
R.  I.,  in    1802,   but   when    a    few   years   old 


removed  with  his  parents  to  Canandaigua,  N. 
Y.  At  the  age  of  foui'teen,  he  entered  Union 
College  at  Schenectady,  and  gi'aduated  two 
years  later.  He  then  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  his  father,  and  soon  aftei'ward 
attended  lectures,  finishing  his  coiu'se  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years.  He  then  practiced 
some  as  an  assistant  to  Dr.  Valentine  Mott, 
and  on  becoming  of  age  received  his  degi'ee 
after  which  he  returned  to  Canadaigua,  and 
assisted  his  father.  In  1840,  he  came  to 
Akron,  where  he  practiced  until  the  time  of 
his  death,  September,  1855.  With  his  death 
passed  away  the  last  physician  in  a  family 
which,  for  at  least  four  generations,  had  been 
represented  in  the  regular  profession. 

Dr.  Samuel  W.Bartges(Uriscopist),  was  born 
in  Union  City,  Penn.,  in  1814,  and,  in  1833, 
came  with  his  parents  to  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  for  a  few  years 
in  a  general  merchand  se  store.  In  1837,  he 
began  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  John  Dellen- 
Ijaugh,  with  whom  he  remained  for  five  years, 
during  the  last  two  of  which  he  practiced  to 
some  extent.  In  1842,  he  came  to  Akron, 
where  he  has  continued  to  practice  until  the 
present  time.  Dr.  Perkins  Wallace  came  to 
Akron  in  1843,  and  practiced  here  a  short 
time. 

Dr.  William  Sisler  was  born  in  Lycoming 
County,  Penn.,  in  1819,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  came  to  Manchester,  in  this  county, 
where  foi  several  years  he  was  engaged  in 
teachino;  school  and  workings  on  a  farm.  In 
1843,  he  began  reading  medicine  with  Dr. 
Fernando  Dalwick,  of  Canal  Fulton,  Stai'k 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  continued  there  until  about 
184r),  when  he  retm'ned  to  Manchester  and 
began  practicing.  His  brother,  Adam,  joined 
him  soon  after,  and  while  one  can-ied  on  their 
practice  the  other  attended  lectures,  William 
graduating  from  Cleveland  Medical  College  in 
1851,  and  Adam  in  1852.  They  then  continued 
in  practice  together  xmtil  1873,  when  William 
came  to  Aki'on  and  engaged  in  the  di'ug  biisi- 
ness  which  he  can-ied  on  imtil  1879,  when  he 
sold  out  and  since  then  has  been  practicing 
some  in  Aki'on  besides  being  engaged  in  other 
business.  He  served  three  months  in  the 
hospitals  dm-ing  the  late  war,  under  the  call  of 
Gov.   Tod,  and,  in  1867,  was   elected  on  the 


"717 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


315 


Repiiblican  ticket  as  Representative  in  the 
State  Legislatiu'e,  serving  one  term. 

Dr.  John  Weimer  was  born  in  Alsace, 
France,  in  1813,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
came  to  America.  After  working  in  a  store 
several  months  in  BniTalo,  he  went  to  Balti- 
more, Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  and  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  W.  Underwood,  with  whom 
he  read  two  years,  and  then  one  year  with  Dr. 
Breisacher,  of  Canton,  Ohio.  In  1886,  he 
located  in  Uniontown,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
he  continued  in  practice  until  1847,  coming 
then  to  Aki'on,  where  he  has  continued  to  the 
present  day. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Hamilton,  now  Professor  of  Sur- 
gery in  Columbus  Medical  College,  practiced 
in  Akron  a  short  time  about  1850.  Dr.  Joseph 
Stanton,  brother  of  Prof.  Dr.  Byron  Stanton, 
of  Cincinnati,  came  to  Aki'on  about  1850:  prac- 
ticed four  or  five  years  and  died.  Dr.  Alex- 
ander Fisher,  for  several  years  a  practitioner 
of  Western  Star,  came  to  Akron  soon  after  the 
death  of  Dr.  Evans,  and  remained  several  years. 
He  then  went  West  and  is  now  in  Chicago. 
Dr.  J.  P.  Peck  read  medicine  with  Drs. 
Evans  and  Angel;  gi'aduated  from  Cleveland 
Medical  College,  and  located  in  Akron  about 
1852.  He  practiced  here  several  years  in 
partnership  with  Dr.  Fisher,  and  then  went 
West,  being  at  present  a  resident  of  Omaha. 
Dr.  J.  S.  Wilson  came  to  Aki'on  about  1856 
or  1857,  as  a  successor  to  Dr.  Fisher,  and 
remained  a  few  years.  Dr.  J.  J.  Smith  was 
born  in  Springfield  Township,  this  county, 
in  1820.  Graduated  fi'om  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  Univei'sity  of  Michigan  in  1855'. 
Practiced  six  months  in  Toledo,  and  located 
in  Akron  in  1856. 

Dr.  William  Bowen  was  born  in  Genesee 
County,  N.  Y..  in  1805.  As  soon  as  he  had 
attained  a  suitable  age,  he  was  apprenticed  to 
a  carpenter,  and,  at  the  completion  of  his 
service,  came  West  and  settled  in  Stai'k 
Coiinty,  Ohio,  where  for  several  years  he 
worked  at  his  trade,  at  the  same  time  improv- 
ing his  spare  moments  in  acquiring  an  ediica- 
tion.  Having  attended  school  a  short  time, 
he  began  teaching  and  soon  afterward  took  up 
the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Estep,  but, 
owing  to  limited  means,  was  obliged  to  con- 
tinue his  teaching  in  connection  with  his  pro- 


fessional reading.  In  1832,  he  began  prac- 
tice in  Doylestown,  Wayne  County,  where  he 
remained  u.ntil  1835.  He  then  attended  lect- 
ures and  graduated  at  the  Medical  College  of 
Ohio,  receiving  his  degree  in  1836.  He  then 
practiced  two  yeai's  in  Canton,  Ohio,  going 
next  to  Massillon,  where  he  practiced  nearly 
twenty  years,  gaining  in  that  time  an  exten- 
sive practice  and  wide-spread  reputation.  In 
1857,  he  came  to  Akron,  and  continued  in  act- 
ive practice  imtil  the  time  of  his  death,  Janu- 
ary, 1880. 

Dr.  George  P.  Ashmun  was  a  native  of  St. 
Lawi-ence  County,  N.  Y.,  and,  in  1834,  came 
to  Tallmadge.  in  this  coiuity.  In  1836,  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Amos 
Wright,  of  that  place,  and,  in  1839,  gi'adu.- 
ated  from  Cleveland  Medical  College.  Prac- 
ticed one  year  in  Uniontown,  Stark  Couniy; 
five  years  in  Boston,  Summit  County,  and 
then  in  Hudson,  Summit  County,  for  nine 
years.  In  1862,  entered  the  army  and  served 
two  years  as  Surgeon  of  the  Ninety-third 
Ohio  Vohmteer  Infantry,  but,  in  1864,  re- 
signed and  retm'ned  home,  after  which  he 
practiced  in  Aki'on  till  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  1873. 

Dr.  J.  A.  Knowlton  was  born  in  Vermont  in 
1824,  and  received  his  early  education  in  Rut- 
land. Began  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  Crit- 
tenden, of  Kent,  Ohio,  in  1841,  and  four  years 
later  graduated  fi'om  Cleveland  Medical  Col- 
lege. Practiced  in  Portage  County  until 
1863,  and  since  then  has  been  in  Akron.  Of 
late  years  he  has  given  up  the  regular  prac- 
tice, and  devoted  his  attention  principally  to 
the  drug  business  and  treatment  of  clu-onic 
diseases. 

Dr.  Charles  R.  Merriman  was  born  in  Dal- 
ton,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  in  1829,  but  while 
quite  young  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
coiuity.  His  early  education  was  obtained  at 
the  schools  of  Akron,  Farmington  and  Nor- 
Avalk,  and,  in  1847,  he  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  Huntington,  of  Aki'on. 
Attended  Cleveland  Medical  College  in  1849, 
after  which  he  practiced  in  Kentucky-  and 
Missouri  until  1857,  when  he  retui-ned  to  Ohio 
and  took  another  coiu-se  of  lectiu-es,  graduat- 
ing in  the  spring  of  1858.  He  then  practiced 
a  short  time  at  Peninsula  and  Montrose,  and 


:rv 


316 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


then  went  West  practicing  at  Virginia  City 
and  Helena  until  1865,  when  he  returned  to 
Montrose.  Practiced  there  until  1873,  and  then 
removed  to  Akron,  where  he  has  since  remained. 
Dr.  Charles  R.  Pierce  came  to  Akron  about 
1858,  and  practiced  until  1862,  when  he 
entered  the  service  as  Assistant  Surgeon. 
Died  in  1863. 

Dr.  B.  S.  Chase  was  born  in  Vermont  in 
1834,  and  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  until  he 
became  of  age,  receiving  in  the  meantime  a 
liberal  education  at  the  Chester  Academy. 
About  1856,  he  began  reading  medicine  with 
Drs.  Andrews  and  Woodman,  of  Paw  Paw, 
Mich.,  and  after  taking  one  course  of  lectures 
came  to  Akron  and  continued  his  studies  with 
his  uncle.  Dr.  E.  W.  Howard.  In  1856,  he 
graduated  from  University  of  Michigan,  fol- 
lowing which  he  practiced  with  Dr.  Howard 
until  1862,  when  he  entered  the  army  as 
Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  Sixteenth  Ohio  Vol- 
unteer Infantry.  In  June,  1863,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  Surgeon  and  was  transferred  to  the 
Fifty-third  Mississippi  Colored  Regiment, 
with  whom  he  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  becoming  very  popular  as  a  Surgeon 
as  well  as  a  soldier.  He  served  on  the  Op- 
erating Board  at  the  battles  of  Chickasaw 
Bayou,  and  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  located  in  Akron,  where  he 
continued  in  practice  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  February,  1878. 

Dr.  T.  M.  Leight  is  a  native  of  Snyder 
County,  Penn.,  and  was  born  in  1827.  When 
twenty  years  of  age,  he  began  reading  medi- 
cine, and  after  four  or  five  years  oiJice  tuition 
began  practicing  at  McKees  Falls  in  his  native 
county.  He  remained  here  about  nine  years, 
within  which  time  he  attended  lectures  in  Phil 
adelphia  a  month  or  two  each  year,  graduat- 
ing from  Jefferson  Medical  College  in  July, 
1857.  He  then  practiced  about  seven  years 
at  Mifflin,  Penn.,  after  which  he  came  to  Akron, 
where  he  is  at  present. 

Dr.  Thomas  McEbright  was  born  at  Car 
lisle,  Penn.,  in  1824,  but  at  an  early  age  came 
with  his  parents  to  Wayne  Comity,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  until  the 
age  of  sixteen,  after  which  he  attended  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware.  In 
1848,  he  began  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  I. 


H.  Baker,  of  Wooster,  and,  in  1850,  graduated 
from  Starling  Medical  College,  at  Columbus, 
Ohio.  Practiced  seven  years  at  Nashville, 
Ohio,  and  then  removed  to  Millersburg,  where 
he  remained  u.ntil  1861,  going  then  into  the 
army  as  Surgeon  of  the  Eighth  Ohio  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  After  serving  with  the  regi- 
ment two  years,  he  resigned  and  came  home, 
but  soon  after  raised  the  Fifty-ninth  Battalion, 
and,  upon  the  call  of  the  "  hundred  days'  men," 
his  battalion  was  attached  to  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixty- sixth  Regiment,  of  which  he  was 
made  Colonel,  a  position  which  he  resigned  in 
favor  of  Col.  Blake,  the  doctor  preferring  to 
be  Siu-geon.  He  was  afterward  made  Brigade 
Surgeon  and  detailed  as  Chief  of  the  Operat- 
ing Board.  In  1864,  he  was  mustered  out 
with  his  regiment  and  soon  afterward  came  to 
Akron,  where  he  is  still  in  active  practice. 

Dr.  W.  C.  Jacobs  is  a  native  of  Lima,  Ohio, 
and  was  born  in  1840.  His  early  life  was 
spent  in  his  native  village  and  on  a  farm.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  appointed  a  cadet 
midshipman,  and  attended  school  at  Annapolis 
until  1859,  when  he  resigned  and  began  the 
study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Carson,  of  Cincin- 
nati. In  March,  1862,  he  graduated  from 
Medical  College  of  Ohio  at  Cincinnati,  and  in 
the  following  month  was  appointed  Assistant 
Surgeon  of  the  Fourth  Ohio  Cavalry,  with 
whom  he  served  until  December,  when  he  was 
promoted  to  Surgeon  and  assigned  to  the 
Eighty-first  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  With 
this  regiment  he  remained  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  during  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
served  on  the  Operating  Board  of  the  Six- 
teenth Army  Corps.  In  October,  1865,  he 
came  to  Aki'on,  where  he  has  since  followed 
his  profession. 

Dr.  W.  J.  Underwood  was  born  in  York 
County,  Penn.,  in  1840,  and  received  his  early 
education  in  the  common  and  select  schools  of 
the  period.  At  the  age  of  twenty,  he  began 
reading  medicine  with  Dr.  Ira  Day,  of  Me- 
chanicsburg,  and  the  next  year  attended  a 
course  of  lectures  at  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege. In  1862,  he  went  into  the  army  as 
Assistant  Surgeon,  serving  with  the  Nine- 
teenth Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Militia  a  short 
time,  and  then  with  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-first    Pennsylvania   Volunteers    during 


-7\: 


-k-. 


-s;  > 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


817 


the  latter's  term  of  enlistment.  He  then 
completed  his  course  at  Jefterson  Medical 
College,  and  in  the  same  spring  (1864)  came 
to  Ohio.  Practiced  at  Canal  Fulton  two 
years,  and  then  came  to  Akron,  where  he  still 
remains. 

Dr.  Elizur  Hitchcock  was  born  in  Tall- 
madge  Township  in  1832,  and  up  to  the  age 
of  eighteen  worked  on  his  father's  farm  and 
attended  the  common  and  select  schools  of  the 
neighborhood.  He  then  entered  the  Western 
Reserve  College,  where  he  remained  two  years, 
going  thence  to  Yale,  graduating  from  the  lat- 
ter in  1854.  After  spending  several  years  in 
teaching,  he  began  reading  medicine  and 
graduated  from  the  Cleveland  Medical  College 
in  1860.  He  then  practiced  three  years  in 
Ashtabula  County,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1863, 
entered  the  army  as  Surgeon  of  the  Seventh 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  but  after  a  service 
of  six  months  resigned  and  came  home  and 
located  at  West  Williamsfield,  Ashtabula 
County,  continuing  there  until  1869.  He 
then  attended  a  course  of  lectm-es  in  New 
Y^oi'k  City,  and,  in  1870,  came  to  Akron,  where 
he  has  since  been  practicing. 

Dr.  A.  E.  Foltz  was  born  in  Wayne  County, 
Ohio,  in  1840,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  began 
teaching  school,  in  which  calling  he  continued 
until  1862.  In  July  of  the  same  year,  he, 
with  four  of  his  brothers,  enlisted  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry, 
serving  with  the  regiment  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  In  1869,  he  began  reading  medi- 
cine with  his  brother.  Dr.  W.  K.  Foltz,  of 
Sharon  Center,  Medina  County,  and,  in  1869, 
graduated  at  Charity  Hospital  Medical  Col- 
lege in  Cleveland.  Practiced  one  year  at 
Ashland  and  then  came  to  Akron,  where  he 
has  since  followed  his  profession. 

Dr.  L.  S.  Ebright  was  born  at  Eoyalton, 
Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  in  1844,  and  received 
his  early  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
his  native  town.  He  served  his  country  diir- 
ing  the  rebellion,  and  after  its  close  began  the 
study  of  medicine  with  his  uncle.  Dr.  Thomas 
McEbright,  of  Akron,  graduating  from  Char- 
ity Hospital  Medical  College  in  1869  or  1870, 
since  which  time  he  has  practiced  in  Aki'on. 
Is  quite  a  politician,  and  is  now  (1881)  a 
member  of  the  State  Legislature. 


Dr  S.  T.  Odell  was  born  at  Bellville,  Ind., 
in  1842,  and  received  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion at  Bellville  Academy.  In  1861,  he  en- 
tered the  army,  serving  until  1863  with  the 
Eleventh  Indiana  (Zouaves),  and  the  balance 
of  his  term  with  the  Fifty-third  United  States 
Colored  Troops,  of  which  he  was  Fii-st 
Lieutenant  and  Adjutant.  While  connected 
with  the  latter  regiment,  he  read  medicine 
with  the  sm-geon.  Dr.  B.  S.  Chase,  of  Akron, 
and  at  the  close  of  his  service — fall  of  1865, 
attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  Ann  Arbor, 
Mich.,  and  the  next  year  attended  his  second 
course  at  the  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago, 
graduating  in  1867.  After  practicing  a  few 
years  in  Indiana  and  Kansas,  he  came  to 
Akron  (Sixth  Ward)  in  1870,  and  has  since 
remained  there  in  practice,  with  the  exception 
of  about  one  year. 

Dr.  H.  C.  Howard,  son  of  Dr.  E.  W.  How- 
ard, was  born  in  Aki'on  in  1842,  and  gradu- 
ated from  the  Akron  High  School  in  1863. 
He  then  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  his 
father,  graduated  fi'om  Bellevue  Hospital 
Medical  College  in  1871,  and  has  since  fol- 
lowed the  profession  with  his  father. 

Dr.  W.  E.  Chamberlin  was  born  in  Alle- 
gheny City  in  1840,  and  was  educated  at 
Marietta  (Ohio)  High  School.  In  1854,  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  his  father 
— then  of  Peninsula,  in  this  county — and, 
from  1859  to  1861,  assisted  him  in  his  profes- 
sion. He  then  entered  the  army  and  served 
about  one  year,  most  of  the  time  being  detailed 
as  physician  and  nurse.  At  the  close  of  his 
service,  he  practiced  in  Portage  Coimty  sev- 
eral years,  and,  in  1865,  located  at  Clinton, 
in  this  county,  where  he  remained  until  1875, 
since  which  time  he  has  practiced  in  Aki'on. 
Dui'ing  his  stay  in  Clinton,  he  attended  one 
course  of  lectures  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  and 
one  at  Cleveland  Medical  College,  receiving 
his  degree  from  the  latter  in  1869. 

Dr.  O.  E.  Brownell  was  born  in  St.  Law- 
rence Coiinty,  N.  Y.,  in  1855,  but  at  an  early 
age  came  with  his  j)arents  to  this  county, 
receiving  his  early  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  Mount  Vernon  High  School.  In 
1861,  he  entered  thea  rmy  and  served  eighteen 
months.  He  then  read  medicine  with  Dr. 
Sisler,  of  Manchester,  attended   a   course   of 


Ml 


318 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


lectures  at  Cleveland  in  1868,  practiced  in 
Greensbtirg  until  1878,  and  then  came  to 
Akron,  where  he  is  at  present.  He  now  pays 
most  of  his  attention  to  dentistiy. 

Dr.  A.  F.  Chandler  was  bom  in  St.  Law- 
rence County,  N.  Y.,  in  1845,  but  at  an  early 
age  removed  with  his  parents  to  Rockford,  111. 
In  1863,  he  enlisted  with  the  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  served 
with  the  regiment  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  then  attended  and  graduated  from  Rock- 
ford  High  School,  and,  in  1847,  began  reading 
medicine  with  Dr.  W.  E.  Chandler,  of  his  own 
place.  In  March,  1871,  he  graduated  from 
the  Chicago  Medical  College,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing month  located  in  Ala'on,  where  he  has 
since  practiced. 

Dr.  H.  D.  Taggart  was  born  in  Wayne 
County,  Ohio,  in  1851,  and  received  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  and  the  Hayes- 
ville  Academy.  Began  reading  medicine  in 
the  spring  of  1870,  with  Doctor  Roebuck,  of 
his  native  town,  Dalton,  and,  in  1874,  gradu- 
ated fi-om  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Phila- 
delphia. He  then  located  at  Easton,  Wayne 
County,  remaining  there  six  months,  after 
which  he  came  to  Akron,  where  he  has  since 
continued  in  practice. 

Dr.  Gr.  G.  Ba]j:er  was  born  in  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  in  1849,  and  received  his  education  at 
the  common  schools  of  that  place  and  at  West- 
ern Reserve  College.  In  1868,  he  began 
reading  medicine  with  Drs.  Read  and  Ford, 
of  Norwalk,  and,  in  1872,  came  to  Akron  and 
entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Ashmim.     In  June. 

1875,  he  graduated  fi'om  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  Michigan  University,  and  since  that 
time  has  been  practicing  in  Akron. 

Dr.  H.  M.  Fisher  was  born  in  Waii'en, 
Penn.,  in  1848,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  Franklin  and  Warren  Academies  and 
Allegheny  College.  In  1867,  he  began  read- 
ing medicine  with  Dr.  Stranahan,  of  his  native 
town,  and,  in  1872,  graduated  from  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia.  After  prac- 
ticing in  his  native  town  a  few  months,  he 
came  to  Akron,  where  he  also  remained  a  few 
months,  going  next  to  Allegheny  City.     In 

1876,  he  returned  to  Aki-on  and  continues 
there  at  this  time. 

Dr.  A.  K.  Fouser  was  born  in  Stark  County 


in  1854,  and  graduated  from  Akron  High 
School  in  1873.  He  then  began  reading  med- 
icine with  Drs.  Chase  and  Underwood,  and 
graduated  from  Medical  College  of  Ohio  at 
Cincinnati  in  March,  1876,  since  which  time 
he  has  practiced  in  Aki'on. 

Dr.  James  P.  Boyd  was  born  in  England  in 
1850,  but  came  to  this  country  while  quite 
young.  Received  his  education  at  James- 
town, N.  Y.,  and  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  and,  in 
1872,  began  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  Hasel- 
tine,  of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  In  1875,  he 
graduated  from  Long  Island  College  Hospital, 
and  in  the  following  year  located  in  Akron, 
where  he  now  remains. 

Dr.  F.  C.  Reed  was  born  in  Ashtabula 
County  in  1852,  and  was  educated  at  the 
Grand  River  Institute  in  his  native  town — 
Austinburg.  In  1872,  he  began  reading  med- 
icine with  his  brother.  Dr.  A.  B.  Reed,  of 
Cleveland,  and  graduated  from  Charity  Hos- 
pital Medical  College  in  1876,  since  which 
time  he  has  followed  his  profession  in  the 
Sixth  Ward  of  Akron. 

Dr.  C.  C.  Davison  was  born  in  Northamp- 
ton Township  in  1851,  and  was  brought  up  on 
a  farm.  In  1872,  he  began  reading  medicine 
with  Dr.  E.  W.  Howard,  and  graduated  from 
Columbus  Medical  College  in  1877.  After 
practicing  several  months  at  Botzum  Station, 
in  this  county,  he  came  to  Sixth  Ward,  Akron, 
where  he  is  now  practicing. 

Dr.  A.  C.  Belden  was  born  at  Castile,  N.  Y, 
in  1845,  but  at  an  eai'ly  age  removed  with  his 
parents  toBvu'eau  County,  111.,  receiving  his  ed- 
ucation at  Dover  Academy  and  at  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y.  In  1863,  he  entered  the  army  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war  as  private  in 
Sixty-foiu-th  Illinois  Infantry.  In  1870,  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Thomp- 
son, of  Princeton,  111.,  and  graduated  from 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College  in  1875. 
In  the  following  year,  he  came  to  Akron,  and, 
in  July,  1877,  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, in  which  he  has  since  continued. 

Dr.  W.  K.  Foltz  was  born  in  Mifflin  County, 
Penn.,  in  1829,  and  until  the  age  of  eighteen 
remained  at  home,  alternately  working  and 
attending  school.  He  then  taught  school  for 
several  years,  and,  in  1850,  began  reading- 
medicine  with  Dr.  Stauber,  of  Wooster,  Ohio. 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


319 


In  1855,  be  began  practice  at  La  Fayette 
Center,  Medina  County,  and  the  following 
year  removed  to  Sharon  Center,  where  he 
remained  until  1867,  in  the  meantime  having 
attended  lectures  and  graduated  at  the  Eclec- 
tic College  of  Medicine,  Cincinnati,  in  1859. 
From  1867  to  1877,  he  was  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  at  Ashland,  and  since  then  has 
been  practicing  in  Aki'on. 

Dr.  L.  S.  Sweitzer  was  born  in  Tuscarawas 
County,  Ohio,  and  was  educated  at  Heidel- 
berg College,  Tiffin,  Ohio.  Began  reading 
medicine  with  Dr.  Buchman  in  1872,  and 
graduated  from  Cleveland  Medical  College  in 
1875,  after  which  he  served  eighteen  months 
in  the  Cleveland  Hospital.  He  then  prac- 
ticed some  time  in  his  native  county,  spent 
one  year  in  New  York  City  attending  lectures, 
and,  in  the  spring  of  1879,  located  in  Akron, 
where  he  is  at  the  present  time. 

Dr.  L.  J.  Proehl  was  born  at  Aki'on  in  1850, 
but  at  the  age  of  eight  removed  with  his  par- 
ents into  Coventry  Township.  In  1873,  he 
entered  the  National  Normal  School  at  Leb- 
anon, Ohio,  graduating  in  1876.  He  then 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  W.  C. 
J  acobs,  and  gi'aduated  from  Medical  College 
of  Ohio,  at  Cincinnati,  in  1879,  since  which 
time  he  has  practiced  in  Akron. 

Dr.  Eli  Conn  was  born  in  Butler  County, 
Penn.,  in  1839.  In  1861,  he  entered  the 
army,  serving  four  years,  after  which  he 
attended  Baldwin  University,  graduating  in 
1868.  Attended  lectures  at  Cleveland  Medi- 
cal College  in  1869  and  1871;  practiced  a 
short  time,  and,  in  1872,  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  Prothonotary  of  his  native  county, 
serving  four  years.  In  the  spring  of  1876, 
he  graduated  from  Charity  Hospital  Medical 
College;  practiced  in  Butler  County  until 
1880,  when  he  came  to  Akron. 

Dr.  T.  K.  Jacobs,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Lima  in 
1856,  and,  from  1873  to  1876,  attended  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University,  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  He 
then  began  reading  medicine  with  his  brother, 
Dr.  W.  C.  Jacobs,  graduated  from  Medical 
College  of  Ohio,  at  Cincinnati,  in  1880,  and 
same  year  began  practice  with  his  brother  in 
Akron. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Lyon  is  a  native  of  Copley,  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his 


neighborhood.  Began  reading  medicine  in 
1874  with  Drs.  Chase  and  Underwood,  of 
Akron.  Graduated  from  Columbus  Medical 
College  in  1877.  Practiced  several  years  at 
Clinton,  after  which  he  came  to  Akron  and 
entered  the  dental  profession. 

In  addition  to  the  above  we  have  the  fol- 
lowing-named physicians  who  have  practiced 
in  the  county,  but  of  whom,  for  various  rea- 
sons, no  definite  notes  could  be  procured. 

Dr.  B.  B.  Brashear  is  a  native  of  Fayette 
County,  Penn.,  where  he  was  bom  in  1822. 
Duringr  the  late  war  he  served  as  Surgeon  of 
the  Sixteenth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantiy,  and, 
in  1878,  came  to  Akron. 

Dr.  D.  A.  Scott  was  born  in  Harrison  County, 
Ohio,  and,  since  1848,  has  practiced  medicine 
in  Akron. 

Dr.  Frank  A.  Hanford,  a  native  of  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  and  graduate  of  Western  Beserve 
College;  read  medicine  with  Dr.  T.  Mc- 
Ebright,  and  graduated  at  Charity  Hospital 
Medical  College  in  1875.  He  then  practiced 
in  Sixth  Ward  a  short  time,  but  his  health 
failing  he  went  to  California,  where  he  soon 
afterward  died  of  consumption. 

Dr.  John  Wyltenbach  practiced  in  Akron 
for  some  years  previous  to  about  1876.  He 
now  lives  in  the  South. 

Dr.  J.  K.  Holloway  came  to  Aki-on  from 
Pennsylvania  somewhere  about  1870,  and 
practiced  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1874. 

Dr.  W.  P.  Morrison  practiced  in  Akron  a 
few  years  in  the  70's,  and  then  went  to  Can- 
ada, where  he  died. 

Dr.  A.  F.  Peck  came  to  Aki'on  in  the  early 
part  of  last  decade;  practiced  a  few  years,  and 
then  went  to  Cleveland  where  he  died  in  1877. 

Dr.  O.  D.  Childs  (Homoeopath),  was  bom 
at  Moretown,  Vt,  in  1840,  and  up  to  the  age 
of  twenty-one  lived  at  home  on  a  farm,  receiv- 
ing in  the  meantime  a  common  and  high 
school  education.  In  1863,  he  began  reading 
homoeopathy  at  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  and  graduated 
from  the  Cleveland  Homoeopathic  College  in 
1867,  since  which  he  has  j)racticed  in  Aki'on. 

Dr.  William  Mmxioch  (Homoeopath),  was 
born  in  Scotland  in  1842,  but  at  an  early  age 
came  with  his  parents  to  this  country  and 
became  a  resident  of  Triunbull  County,  Ohio. 
His  preliminaiy  education  was  obtained  at  the 


-« ®l>> 


320 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


Orvill  Normal  School,  and  at  Eastman  Busi- 
ness College.  In  1809,  he  began  the  study 
of  homoeopathic  medicine,  and  graduated  from 
the  Cleveland  Homoeopathic  Hospital  College 
in  1873,  since  which  he  has  followed  his  pro- 
fession ;  two  years  at  Garrettsville  and  the  bal- 
ance of  the  time  in  Alcron. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Rockwell  (Homoeopath),  was  born 
at  Hudson  in  1840,  and  attended  the  Akron 
schools.  In  1873,  he  began  the  study  of  med- 
icine with  Dr.  Childs,  graduated  from  Chicago 
Hahnemann  College  in  1877,  and  since  then 
has  practiced  in  Akron. 

Dr.  DeWitt  Cx.  Wilcox  (Homoeopath),  was 
born  in  Akron  in  1858,  and  graduated  from 
the  Akron  High  School  in  1876,  after  which 
he  attended  Buchtel  College  for  a  few  years. 
He  then  began  the  study  of  medicine  with 
Dr.  Murdoch;  graduated  from  Cleveland  Ho- 
moeopathic College  in  1880,  and  since  then 
has  practiced  in  Akron. 

Dr.  T.  R.  Grow  (Homoeopath),  practiced  in 
the  Sixth  Ward  of  Akron  for  several  years, 
going  thence  to  Vermont  in  1880. 

Dr.  Whitmore  (Homoeopath),  read  medicine 
with  Dr.  Grow,  and  is  now  practicing  in 
Sixth  Ward,   Akron. 

Dr.  C.  W.  Rice,  the  first  physician  who  was 
ever  pennanently  located  in  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
was  born  in  Middlefield,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
1803;  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Spafford,  of 
Cooperstown,  N.  Y.,  and  gi-aduated  from  Fair- 
field College,  at  Cazenovia,  in  the  same  State 
in  1829.  After  practicing  one  year  with  his 
preceptor,  he  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls  in  1830, 
and  there  followed  his  profession  until  his 
death,  which  occm-red  in  1861.  He  was  a 
man  of  very  decided  character,  positive  in  his 
likes  and  dislikes,  bitter  in  his  denunciations 
of  homoeopathy,  and  outspoken  in  his  oj5]iosi- 
tion  to  Freemasomy ;  but  withal  was  a  skillful 
siu*geon  as  well  as  a  benevolent  and  highly 
respected  citizen. 

Dr.  John  Davis  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls  in 
1840.  He  was  well  educated  in  medicine, 
acquired  a  good  practice  and  was  highly 
spoken  of  by  the  profession  as  well  as  by  the 
people  generally.  He  removed  to  Michigan 
about  1853. 

Dr.  P.  G.  Summers,  of  what  is  known  as  the 
Thomsonian  School  of  Medicine,  practiced  in 


Cuyahoga  Falls  a  niunber  of  years,  during 
which  time  he  attained  a  good  reputation  as 
a  physician  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by 
the  people.  He  sei'\'ed  one  tenn  in  the  State 
Legislature,  and  held  the  office  of  Postmaster 
under  Lincoln  and  Johnson. 

Dr.  Foote,  an  adherent  of  the  botanical 
system  of  medicine,  practiced  in  Cuyahoga 
Falls  a  number  of  years.  Among  those  who 
practiced  in  this  village  at  some  time  or  other 
in  the  past,  but  of  whom  nothing  definite 
could  be  learned,  we  find  the  names  of  Dr. 
Corry,  Dr.  S.  Perham,  Dr.  J.  S.  Newbury,  Dr. 
Hubbard,  Dr.  Shoemaker  and  Dr.  Henshaw, 
the  last  being  of  the  homoeopathic  school. 

Dr.  Mary  Watson  lived  in  Cuyahoga  Falls 
some  twenty  years,  leaving  there  in  1870. 
She  claimed  to  be  an  Eclectic,  and  is  reported 
to  have  had  some  practice,  especially  among 
her  own  sex,  but  is  probably  best  remembered 
on  account  of  her  rather  eccentric  character. 

Dr.  G.  C.  Upson,  our  oldest  living  practitioner 
of  medicine,  was  born  in  Tallmadge  Township, 
Summit  County,  Ohio,  in  1821.  He  read 
medicine  with  Dr.  Rice,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
and  attended  lectures  at  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  Western  Reserve  College,  graduating 
fi-om  that  institution  in  1847.  After  practic- 
ing three  years  with  Dr.  Taylor,  of  Twinsbm'g, 
in  this  county,  he  located  at  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
where  he  has  since  practiced. 

Dr.  T.  F.  Heath  was  born  in  Connecticut, 
but  spent  most  of  his  early  life  in  Western 
New  York.  Attended  a  course  of  lectures  at 
the  medical  college  in  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  and 
afterward  two  courses  at  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons  in  New  York  City,  gradu- 
ating fi'om  the  latter  in  March,  1851.  In  July 
of  the  same  year,  he  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls 
where  he  has  since  practiced  his  profession, 
besides  being  of  late  years  connected  with  the 
drug  business. 

Dr.  J.  M.  Crafts  was  born  in  1840,  and  is 
the  son  of  Dr.  Ambrose  S.  Crafts,  who  came 
to  Ravenna  in  1860.  He  graduated  from 
Charity  Hospital  Medical  College,  Cleveland, 
in  1864,  and  then  entered  the  army  as  Assist- 
ant Surgeon,  serving  as  such  for  nearly  three 
years.  In  1873,  he  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
and  is  practicing  there  at  the  present  time. 

Dr.   W.   S.    Hough   was   born   in   Portage 


ik* 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


320a 


County,  Ohio,  in  1844,  and  served  during  the 
late  war  as  a  private.  At  the  close  of  his  army 
life  he  studied  medicine,  and  graduated  from 
Charity  Hosptial  Medical  College  in  1866. 
Practiced  ten  years  with  Dr.  J.  C.  Ferguson 
at  Mogadore,  and  then  came  to  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  where  he  is  now  practicing  in  partner- 
ship with  Dr.  J.  M.  Crafts. 

Dr.  A.  H.  Bill  was  born  in  Cuyahoga  Falls 
in  1851.  Studied  medicine  with  Dr.  C.  M. 
Fitch,  of  Chicago,  and  graduated  fi-om  Rush 
Medical  College  in  1875.  Practiced  in  the 
office  of  his  preceptor  until  November,  1875, 
when  he  returned  to  his  old  home,  where  he 
is  now  practicing. 

Dr.  H.  W.  Carter  (Homoeopath),  was  born 
in  Twinsbiu'g,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1841. 
Graduated  fit-om  the  Cleveland  Homoeopathic 
Medical  College  in  1869,  and  after  one  year 
of  professional  experience  at  Knoxville,  Tenn., 
he  located  in  Cuyahoga  Falls,  his  present 
place  of  business. 

Dr.  Moses  Thompson  was  in  all  proba- 
bility the  first  physician  w^ho  was  ever  per- 
manently located  in  that  section  of  the 
country  now  known  as  Summit  County,  and  to 
Hudson  belongs  the  credit  of  fiu-nishing  this 
historical  character.  He  studied  medicine  in 
Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  with  Dr.  Everest 
and  Dr.  North,  and  with  such  training  as  he 
got  from  his  worthy  preceptors,  he  went  to 
what  is  now  known  as  Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  to 
practice  his  profession.  While  here  the  Con- 
necticut Company's  great  land  purchase  and 
the  consequent  Western  fever  attracted  him, 
and  being  authorized  by  his  father  and 
brother  to  go  and  "spy  out  the  land"  for  them, 
he  came  to  Hudson  with  the  colony  under  the 
guidance  of  Daniel  Hudson.  Having  selected 
land  for  his  father  and  brothers,  he  went 
East  on  foot  and  brought  back  his  own  family 
and  those  of  his  father  and  two  brothers. 
This  was  in  the  year  1800,  when  he  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  the  wilderness, 
and  for  some  years  there  was  no  other  physi- 
cian nearer  than  Warren,  and  his  ride  ex- 
tended fi-om  Cleveland  to  fifty  miles  south  of 
Hudson.  In  1815,  he  retired  fi-om  practice 
and  went  into  general  business,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  his  death,  which  occun'ed  in  1858. 

Dr.  Jonathan  Metcalf,  the  second  physician 


to  settle  in  Hudson,  was  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut, and  received  his  early  education  at  the 
academies  of  Franklin  and  Colchester,  and 
the  public  schools  of  the  period.  In  1807,  he 
went  to  Middlebury,  Vt,  and  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  BaiT,  and  dm'ing 
his  three  yeai's  stay  here  he  attended  two 
courses  of  medical  lectures  at  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege. After  completing  his  medical  education 
in  the  spring  of  1812,  he  stai'ted  on  horseback 
to  look  up  some  good  field  for  practice  in  the 
West.  In  this  way  he  came  to  Am'ora,  then 
a  settlement  of  a  few  years'  growth,  but  not 
being  very  favorably  impressed  with  the  out- 
look, he  was  on  the  point  of  returning  to 
Pittsburgh,  when  he  met  Mr.  Hudson,  of  the 
Hudson  colony,  who  persuaded  him  to  visit 
the  latter  place,  which  he  did  on  the  6th  of 
June,  and  being  highly  pleased  with  the  pros- 
pect he  decided  to  remain,  and  at  once  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  At  that  time 
Twinsburg  and  Streetsboro  were  not  yet  set- 
tled, but  subsequently  his  practice  extended 
into  those  places  as  well  as  to  Am'ora,  Mantua, 
Aubmrn,  Troy,  Hiram,  Brecksville  and  Bath. 
He  retired  fi'om  active  practice  in  1850,  and 
died  in  1869. 

Dr.  Israel  Town  came  fi'om  Connecticut  to 
Hudson  dm-ing  the  first  half  of  the  second  dec- 
ade of  present  century.  Of  his  early  life 
nothing  definite  can  be  obtained,  but  he  is 
credited  with  being  a  well-read  and  careful 
practitioner,  his  coimsel  in  critical  cases  being 
especially  in  demand.  He  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  until  within  a  few 
years  of  his  death. 

Dr.  William  Everett  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, and  came  to  Hudson  some  time  between 
1 825  and  1 830.  He  continued  in  practice  imtil 
his  death,  which  occiu'red  in  1833.  On  the 
occasion  of  his  death,  the  Congregational 
Chvu'ch,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  made  the 
following  record:  "Dr.  Everett  was  chosen  to 
the  office  of  Deacon  in  November,  1831,  which 
office  he  well  discharged  while  living.  He 
adorned  his  profession  as  a  Christian,  and 
died  universally  lamented." 

Dr.  L.  D.  Osborne,  after  receiving  an 
academic  education,  entered  the  Lake  Erie 
Medical  College,  since  merged  into  the  Star- 
ling Medical  College,  Columbus,  Ohio;  study- 


A^ 


3201. 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUXTY. 


ing  in  the  meanwhile  as  a  private  student 
under  Dr.  Delemater,  a  professor  in  the  insti- 
tution. He  graduated  in  1845,  and,  after 
practicing  in  various  parts  of  the  State,  came 
to  Hudson  in  1854,  where  he  has  since  fol- 
lowed his  profession  up  to  the  present  time. 

Dr.  F.  Hodge  began  his  collegiate  course 
in  Western  Reserve  College,  subsequently 
gi-aduating  at  Yale  College.  He  studied  med- 
icine with  Dr.  Frank  Hamilton,  now  of  New 
York  City,  and  attended  lectures  at  the  Buf- 
falo Medical  College.  In  1804  he  settled  in 
Hudson,  where  he  is  now  practicing. 

Dr.  A.  E.  Berbower  began  the  study  of  med- 
icine with  Dr.  Baker,  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  and 
subsequently  became  the  private  pupil  of  Prof. 
Weber,  of  Cleveland.  Grraduated  from  Medi- 
cal Department  of  the  Wooster  University  in 
1865,  after  which  he  practiced  his  profession 
until  1880,  when  he  died  of  consumption. 

Dr.  G.  L.  Starr  is  a  native  of  Hudson,  and 
an  alumnus  of  Western  Reserve  College,  Class 
of  '56.  He  studied  medicine  with  Di-.  May- 
nard,  attended  lectm'es  at  the  Cleveland  Med- 
ical College,  and  subsequently  graduated  from 
the  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College  in  New 
York  City.  Located  in  Hudson  in  1878,  and 
continues  in  his  profession  to  this  time. 

Dr.  J.  P.  Sobey  graduated  from  the  Cleve- 
land High  School  in  1871,  and  fi'om  the  Cleve- 
land Homoeopathic  Medical  College  in  1877. 
Came  to  Hudson  in  the  following  year,  and 
has  since  followed  his  profession  in  that 
place. 

Dr.  Harrison  Danforth,  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  came  to  Hudson  about  the  year  1840 
and  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Town.  After  sev- 
eral years  of  study,  he  adopted  the  so-called 
Eclectic  system  of  medicine  which  he  has  since 
continued  to  practice.  In  the  early  years  of  his 
practice,  he  devoted  some  of  his  time  to  farm- 
ing, but  for  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  given 
his  entire  attention  to  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  the  vicinity  of  Hudson. 

Tallmadge  Township,  though  it  claims  but  a 
small  share  in  the  medical  history  of  the 
county,  yet  furnishes  one  of  the  most  valuable 
contributions  in  our  whole  collection,  its  spe- 
cial interest  being  due  to  the  fact  that  tliree 
generations  of  the  same  name  and  family 
have  been  regular  practitioners  of  medicine  in 


the  township;  the  first  of  whom  was  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers,  as  well  as  the  second  phy- 
sician in  the  county;  the  second  being  now 
one  of  the  oldest  physicians  in  this  section  of 
the  country,  while  the  third  has  but  recently 
entered  the  profession.  /-nj 

Dr.  Amos  C.  Wright  was  born  in  Winsted, 
Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  September  5,  1782. 
His  father,  Captain  John  Wright,  was  an 
officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  a  pioneer 
in  the  settlement  of  the  northern  part  of  Con- 
necticut. At  the  age  of  sixteen,  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  began  the  study  of  medicine  with 
Dr.  Minor,  remaining  with  him  about  five 
years,  and  being  in  the  meantime  licensed  to 
practice  by  the  Litchfield  County  Medical  So- 
ciety. In  1801,  he  came  to  Ohio  and  settled  in 
Vernon,  Trumbull  County,  where  he  remained 
about  a  year  and  a  half  practicing  and  teach- 
ing school,  after  which  he  went  back  to  Con- 
necticut and  was  married  to  Miss  Lydia  Kinne. 
Accompanied  by  his  wife  and  his  father's  fam- 
ily, he  retui'ned  to  Ohio  in  1803,  and  prac- 
ticed in  Vernon,  Trumbull  County,  until  1808, 
when,  at  the  solicitation  of  Rev.  David  Bacon, 
he  came  to  Tallmadge.  At  that  time  there 
were  only  three  or  four  families  in  the  town- 
ship, and  Dr.  Thompson,  of  Hudson,  was  the 
only  physician  in  Summit  County.  In  1812, 
he  was  appointed  Sui'geon  to  a  company  of 
militia  which  was  stationed  at  Old  Portage, 
by  order  of  Gren.  Harrison,  until  after  Perry's 
victory  on  Lake  Erie.  Dr.  Wright  continued 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  near  the 
close  of  his  life;  was  successful,  had  a  wide- 
spread reputation  and  was  highly  esteemed  by 
all  who  knew  him.     He  died  in  1845. 

Dr.  Amos  Wright,  the  son  and  successor  of 
Dr.  Amos  C.  Wright,  was  born  in  1808,  and 
was  the  first  white  male  child  born  in  Tall- 
madge Township.  When  nine  years  of  age, 
he  was  sent  to  the  academy  to  study  the  class- 
ics as  preparatory  to  a  professional  ediication, 
and,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  began  the  study 
of  medicine  under  his  father.  In  1830,  he 
attended  his  first  course  of  lectures  at  the  Med- 
ical College  of  Ohio,  in  Cincinnati,  and  the 
next  year  attended  the  Medical  Department  of 
Yale  College,  receiving  his  diploma  fi'om  the 
last-named  institution  in  the  spring  of  1832. 

He  first  began  practicing  medicine  in  Mid- 


-4^ 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


320c 


dlebuT}^,  now  the  Sixth  Ward  of  Akron,  and 
while  there  kept  the  first  exchisive  drug  store 
in  the  county.  Six  months  later  he  went  to 
Vernon,  Trumliull  County,  where  he  remained 
three  years,  gaining  quite  an  extensive  prac- 
tice, but,  in  1835,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of 
his  father  he  returned  to  his  native  town, 
where  he  has  been  in  practice  continuously  up 
to  the  present  time. 

Dr.  Samuel  St.  John  Wright,  son  of  Dr. 
Amos  Wright,  was  born  in  Tallmadge  and  re- 
ceived his  education  at  the  common  schools 
and  at  Western  Reserve  College.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  began  reading  medicine  with 
his  father,  and  a  few  year's  later  gi'aduated 
from  Cleveland  Medical  College.  He  practiced 
one  year  in  Tallmadge,  then  removed  to  Ne- 
braska, where  he  remained  four  years,  and 
since  that  time  has  practiced  with  his  father 
in  Tallmadge. 

Dr.  Sperry  has  for  many  years  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Tallmadge,  but  diu'ing  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  time  has  been  engaged  in  the 
manufactui'ing  business.  His  early  history 
and  place  of  birth  were  not  ascertained.  Sev- 
eral more  physicians  have  at  vai'ious  times 
been  located  in  Tallmadge,  but  none  except 
those  named  above  have  ever  remained  for  any 
great  length  of  time. 

Concerning  the  eai'ly  history  of  medical 
practice  in  Norton  Township,  very  little  can 
now  be  ascertained,  but  from  careful  research 
we  find  that  since  1840  no  less  than  fifteen  phy- 
sicians have  at  various  times  been  located  with- 
in its  limits  for  the  practice  of  their  profession. 

Dr.  Alexander  Fisher  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts, read  medicine  with  a  Dr.  Richards 
in,  or  near,  Skaneateles,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to 
Western  Star  sometime  between  1840  and 
1845,  where  he  remained  until  about  1852; 
then  practiced  in  Akron  until  near  the  time  of 
the  breaking-out  of  the  rebellion,  v/hen  he 
went  West  and  is  now  practicing  in  Chicago. 
During  his  stay  in  Norton  he  enjoyed  the  rep- 
utation of  being  a  splendid  physician  for  his 
time,  and  had  probably  more  students  than 
any  one  doctor  ever  in  the  township.  Among 
the  latter  were  Drs.  Amos  Warner,  Harry 
Spellman,  A.  H.  Agard,  E.  Gr.  Hard,  now  of 
Medina,  and  John  Hill,  now  a  member  of  the 
Ohio  State  Legfislatiu'e. 


Dr.  M.  M.  Dickson  came  to  Norton  Town- 
ship in  1852,  and  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine, soon  afterward  taking  his  degi-ee  from 
Cleveland  Medical  College  in  1855.  The  next 
year  he  located  at  Johnson's  Corners,  where 
he  practiced  until  1862,  when  he  entered  the 
service  of  his  country  as  Assistant  Surgeon. 
Was  attached  to  the  Western  army  under  Gen. 
Rosecrans  in  the  campaign  of  Stone  River 
and  Chattanooga,  and  thence  with  "Sherman 
to  the  sea."  After  a  service  of  two  years  and 
eight  months  he  retm^ned  to  Johnson's  Corners, 
where  he  has  continued  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  until  the  present  time. 

Dr.  A.  H.  Agard  succeeded  his  preceptor, 
Dr.  Fisher,  in  the  practice  of  medicine  at 
Western  Star,  but  after  a  stay  of  only  a  few 
years  he  went  West  and  is  now  at  Sandusky, 
Ohio. 

Dr.  Dreher  began  practicing  at  Western 
Star  some  time  near  the  beginning  of  the  late 
war,  but  after  a  few  years  removed  to  Loyal 
Oak  where  he  remained  two  years,  going  next 
to  Smithville  where  he  now  resides. 

Dr.  John  Hill  was  born  in  Sussex,  England, 
in  1823.  His  father,  Mr.  John  Hill,  came  to 
this  country  in  1828,  and  settled  near  Utica,  N. 
Y.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1837, 
when  he  came  to  Cuyahoga  County,  in  this  State. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  left  home  at  the 
age  of  fifteen,  and  by  means  of  hard  work  and 
teaching  school,  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  lim- 
ited education.  In  1847,  he  began  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  Alexander  Fisher,  of 
Western  Star,  and  in  the  two  following  win- 
ters attended  lectures  in  the  Cleveland  Medi 
cal  College.  In  1850,  he  went  to  California 
where  he  remained  about  thi*ee  years,  going 
from  there  to  Australia,  then  to  London  and 
finally  back  home  again  in  1854.  During  the 
winter  of  1854-55,  he  attended  lectures  at 
Cleveland  Medical  College,  and  the  following 
winter  went  to  Jefierson  Medical  College,  Phil- 
adelphia, graduating  in  the  sjiring  of  1856. 
After  practicing  m  Sharon,  Medina  County, 
for  nearly  a  year,  he  settled  on  a  fann  near 
Western  Star,  where  he  now  resides.  For  a 
few  years  he  devoted  part  of  his  time  to  prac- 
tice, but  soon  di-o])ped  medicine  entirely  and 
paid  his  entire  attention  to  fanning.  In  1870, 
he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  County  Commis- 


f 


H>^ 


320d 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


sioner,  which  office  he  held  by  virtue  of  re- 
elections  until  1879,  when  he  resigned  by 
reason  of  his  election  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature. 

Dr.  F.  F.  Falk  served  dui'ing  the  late  war 
as  Hospital  Steward  of  the  Sixteenth  Ohio 
Volunteers,  and  while  acting  in  that  capacity 
read  medicine  under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr. 
B.  S.  Chase.  After  being  mustered  out  of  serv- 
ice he  attended  lectures  at  Starling  Medical 
College,  Columbus,  Ohio,  receiving  his  degree 
in  the  spring  of  1865.  He  then  went  to  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  where  for  the  next  six  months  he 
did  efficient  hospital  duty  under  an  appoint- 
ment of  Assistant  Surgeon  United  States 
Army.  Upon  his  return  to  Ohio,  he  located 
at  Western  Star;  but  after  a  few  years  prac- 
tice he  fell  a  victim  to  consumption  and  died. 

Dr.  Charles  F.  H.  Willgohs,  a  native  of 
Germany,  settled  at  Dennison,  in  Norton  Town- 
ship, about  the  year  1870,  and  continued  prac- 
ticing there  until  about  1878,  when  he 
removed  to  Doylestown,  Wayne  County,  his 
present  home. 

Dr.  F.  W.  Swan,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
succeeded  Dr.  Dreher,  as  the  next  physician, 
at  Loyal  Oak.     He  remained  but  two  years. 

Dr.  William  T.  Parmele,  a  native  of  New 
York  State,  came  to  Loyal  Oak  in  1875.  After 
practicing  in  that  place  about  three  years,  he 
went  to  Greensburg,  but  two  years  later,  in 
1880,  returned  to  Norton  Township,  locating 
this  time  in  New  Portage,  where  he  is  now 
practicing. 

Dr.  Austin  T.  Woods  read  medicine  with 
Dr.  J.  A.  Knowlton  and  Dr.  H.  M.  Fisher,  of 
Akron,  graduated  from  Cleveland  Medical  Col- 
lege in  1879,  and  soon  afterward  began  prac- 
ticing at  Loyal  Oak,  where  he  is  at  the  pres- 
ent time. 

Dr.  A.  B.  Campbell,  Dr.  Griesmer,  Dr. 
Zwisler  and  Dr.  Mikesell,  each  practiced  in 
the  township  a  short  time. 

Dr.  Alpheus  Babcock  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Coventry  Township,  and  practiced 
there  for  a  number  of  years. 

Dr.  Elijah  Canfield,  another  of  the  early  set^ 
tiers,  practiced  medicine  in  the  township  for 
over  thirty  years. 

Dr.  Samuel  Austin  practiced  in  the  town- 
ship a  few  years. 


Dr.  Jackson  Chapman  began  practicing  in 
Copley  about  the  year  1835,  and  continued 
twelve  or  fifteen  yeai's. 

Dr.  Byron  Chapman  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Copley  about  1845,  and  has 
continued  up  to  the  present  time. 

The  history  of  Green  Township  furnishes 
us  with  an  addition  of  about  fifteen  to  our 
already  long  list  of  Siimmit  County  doctors, 
but,  unfortunately  for  the  I'eader  as  well  as 
for  futiu'e  historians,  little  if  anything  more 
than  a  mere  mention  of  their  names  can  be 
said  of  a  majority  of  them  at  this  time. 

Dr.  Smith,  first  name  not  known,  was  the 
first  man  wlio  practiced  medicine  in  this  towTi- 
ship,  and  all  that  can  be  learned  concerning 
him  is  that  he  was  an  old  man  in  1830. 

Dr.  John  Thomas  was  the  first  physician  in 
the  village  of  Greensbm'g.  He  came  there 
about  1838,  and  remained  two  years,  removing 
thence  to  Wood  County. 

Drs.  A.  H.  Mann,  H.  Peters,  Jacob  Musser, 
Wesley  Boden,  David  Joseph,  Benjamin  F. 
Sampseil  and  Garber  followed  in  close  succes- 
sion, each  remaining  a  year  or  two.  Then 
came  Dr.  C.  A.  Perdue,  who  practiced  in  the 
village  about  six  years,  though  not  continu- 
ously. Next  came  Dr.  Markam,  who  re- 
mained one  year;  then  Dr.  O.  E.  Brovraell, 
who  remained  ten  years,  and  is  mentioned 
among  the  Akron  sketches.  Following  him 
came  Dr.  Howland  who  remained  two  years, 
Dr.  Parmele,  one  year,  and  Dr.  Reynolds,  who 
was  there  at  the  same  time  and  also  remained 
one  year. 

East  Liberty  has  had  two  doctors,  L.  S. 
Witwer  and  Jonathan  Buchtel,  each  of  whom 
remained  about  six  years.  The  township  is 
without  a  physician  at  present. 

Richfield  Township  has  for  the  last  fifty 
years  or  more  been  well  supplied  with  medical 
men,  so  far  at  least  as  niimbers  are  concerned ; 
and  fi-om  the  date  of  the  earliest  settlements 
in  the  county  up  to  1840,  the  sm-roimding 
towns  to  a  distance  of  about  eight  or  ten  miles 
depended  upon  Riclifield  doctors. 

Dr.  Secretary  Rawson,  the  first  physician  in 
the  township,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Warwick, 
now  Franklin  Co.,  Mass.,  in  the  year  179(3,  and 
received  his  early  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  that  State.     At  the  age  of  ten  he 


k. 


IILSTOKY   OF    SVMMIT    COINTY. 


5-20e 


received  from  an  uncle  a  share  in  a  circulate 
ing  library,  which  for  the  next  six  years  occu- 
pied his  leisure  hoiu's;  reading  mostly  at 
night  and  by  the  light  of  a  pitch-pine  knot 
stuck  in  the  chimney  corner,  which,  "as  he 
says,"  not  only  gave  light  and  intelligence  to 
the  recipient,  biit  to  the  whole  household. 
When  seventeen  years  old  he  began  a  regular 
coiu'se  of  study  at  New  Salem  Academy,  where 
he  continiied  through  the  summer  months  of 
the  next  four  years,  his  winters  in  the  mean- 
while being  spent  in  teaching  school.  He  then 
entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Secretary  Rawson,  of 
Waterbury,  Vt.,  where  he  remained  two  years, 
going  thence  to  Royalston.  Mass.,  where  he 
spent  three  years  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Batchel- 
lor.  During  the  last  two  years  of  his  medical 
course  of  study  he  practiced  enoiigh  to  pay  his 
own  expenses,  and  at  its  close  received  a 
diploma  from  a  medical  society  at  Montpelier, 
Vt.  In  1823,  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  after  prac- 
ticing one  year  in  Madison,  Geauga  County, 
came  to  Richfield,  where  he  continued  in 
active  practice  for  the  next  forty-two  years. 
In  18(j(),  he  removed  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa, 
where  he  still  resides.  He  was  always  an  en- 
ergetic and  well-informed  physician,  and  had 
the  will  and  ability  to  defend  his  opinions  with 
tongue  or  pen.  being  then,  as  he  is  now,  a  fre- 
quent contributor  to  the  newspapers. 

Dr.  Bela  B.  Clark  practiced  in  Richfield 
fi'om  1830  to  1830,  going  then  to  Brunswick, 
Medina  County.  Next  came  Dr.  Hiram  Whee- 
ler and  Dr.  W^illiam  Miuison,  both  of  whom 
did  a  large  business  for  a  niunber  of  years. 
The  former  died  several  years  ago,  and  the 
latter  is  now  living  in  Independence,  Cuya- 
hoga County.  Following  these  came  a  Dr. 
Everett,  who  practiced  in  the  township  a  few 
years  only. 

Dr.  Nathan  Stevenson  read  medicine  in 
Richfield  with  Dr.  Mimson,  and  after  gi'aduat- 
ing  fi'om  a  college  in  New  York  City,  prac- 
ticed some  years  with  his  preceptor.  He  Chen 
removed  to  Illinois;  served  as  Surgeon  durino- 
the  rebellion,  and  died  some  years  ago. 

Dr.  A.  E.  Ewing  came  to  Richfield  in  1850, 
and  has  ever  since  resided  there  except  when 
his  roaming  propensity  has  carried  him  off  to 
some  other  field  for  a  short  time.  He  gradu- 
ated from  an  old  medical  collej/e  in  New  En- 


gland, but,  as  he  says,  "is  not  considered  quite 
orthodox  in  medicine  or  anything  else."  Dr. 
H.  B.  Johnson,  now  of  Beloit,  Wis.,  practiced 
in  the  township  some  years,  and  sei-ved  as 
Sm-geon  of  an  Ohio  regiment  during  the  re- 
bellion. Dr.  I.  B.  Beach  also  practiced  here 
a  few  years  in  company  with  his  son-in-law. 
Dr.  Johnson.  Dr.  William  Jones  studied  med- 
icine with  Dr.  Johnson,  and  like  his  preceptor 
served  as  Surgeon  in  the  late  wai*.  Dr.  Cra- 
ven practiced  here  about  three  years  in  the 
first  half  of  the  present  decade.  Besides  the 
above  a  Dr.  Jewett  was  here  a  short  time  pre- 
vious to  1840,  and  a  Dr.  Dickerson  fi-om  about 
1860  to  1870.  Three  or  fom-  homoeopaths 
have  at  different  times  tried  to  gain  a  patron- 
age in  the  township,  but  their  success  has 
never  warranted  more  than  a  short  residence 
in  the  place. 

At  the  present  time  the  health  of  the  town- 
ship is  looked  after  by  Dr.  Ewing,  Dr.  Wesley 
Pope  and  Dr.  Chamberlin. 

In  Bath  Township  there  are  several  doctors 
practicing  at  present.  Dr.  E.  K.  Nash,  at 
Montrose,  and  Dr.  R.  Randall,  at  Haiimiond's 
Corners. 

In  Franklin  Township  Dr.  Adam  Sisler,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  has  practiced  in  Man- 
chester since  about  1850.  Dr.  D.  Rowe  has 
practiced  in  the  same  j^lace  since  about  1873 

O  ID. 

Twinsburg  Township  has  foimd  need  for 
physicians  like  all  the  world  beside,  but  very 
few  have  ever  found  it  a  profitable  field  for 
practice. 

Dr.  Otis  Bois,  from  Blanford.  Mass.,  came 
to  the  township  about  1834.  and  practiced 
medicine  about  two  yeai's  in  connection  with 
carrying  on  a  general  merchandise  store.  The 
next  was  Dr.  Taylor,  from  Aurora,  Portage 
County,  who  came  to  Northfield  about  1840, 
and  practiced  successfully  about  three  or  four 
years.  Following  Dr.  Taylor  came  Dr.  John 
E.  Stevens,  who  remained  a  few  years  and 
then  went  to  Youngstown,  Ohio.  About  the 
same  time  or  perhaps  a  little  later,  Dr.  Selby 
moved  into  the  townshi])  from  Colimer,  and  re- 
mained a  few  years.  In  1803.  Dr.  Collins,  of 
Bedford,  came  into  the  township  where  he 
practiced  for  the  next  three  or  fovir  years. 
About  the  same  time  Dr.  Seth  Freeman,  who 


■'T 


■S2(Y 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUXTY 


had  privately  read  homoeopathy,  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  and  has  advanced 
to  a  fair  business.  Not  far  from  the  same 
time  Dr.  Proctor  Clark,  after  attending  lec- 
tvu-es  in  Cleveland  began  the  practice  of  ho- 
moeopathy. 

Suman  Grriste,  a  brother-in-law  of  Dr. 
Freeman,  studied  homoeopathy  with  the  lat- 
ter, and  is  to-day  practicing  his  profession. 

The  first  physician  of  whom  we  have  any 
record  as  having  practiced  in  Noiilifield  Town- 
ship was  Dr.  Hosea  Bliss.  He  gradiiated  from 
Burlington  (Vermont)  College,  in  1825.  and, 
fn  1884,  came  to  Northfield  where  he  continued 
in  practice  until  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
1874. 

Dr.  Perkins  Wallace  came  to  Brandywine, 
in  this  township,  some  time  about  1886,  and 
remained  one  year.  After  this  we  find  the 
names  of  Dr.  Caruther.  Dr.  Jones,  Dr.  Benja- 
min, Dr.  Haseltine,  Dr.  Carley,  homoeopath, 
and  Dr.  Cranmer,  homoeopath,  each  of  whom 
remained  about  one  year. 

Next  came  Dr.  H.  B.  Hart,  who  remained 
two  years. 

Dr.  K.  S.  Hul)bard  came  to  the  place  in 
1877,  and  continues  in  practice  at  the  pres- 
ent date.  He  was  educated  at  Baldwin  Uni- 
versity, and  is  a  graduate  of  Charity  Hospital 
Medical  College. 

The  oidy  physician  who  was  ever  located  in 
Stow  Township  was  Dr.  Luther  Spaulding. 
He  came  from  Connecticut  and  located  at 
what  is  known  as  Stow  Corners  in  the  spring 
of  1825,  practicing  there  until  August  of  the 
same  year,  when  he  died. 

From  Boston  Township  we  get  the  follow- 
ing brief  history:  Dr.  S.  Pixley  was  born  in 
Franklin  County,  Mass.,  in  1810,  but  came  to 
this  county  before  he  was  a  year  old.  Having 
received  his  preliminary  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools  and  Wadsworth  Academy,  he  be- 
gan the  study  of  medicine  with  Drs.  Trask 
and  Leonard,  of  Stringsville,  about  the  year 
1841.  He  afterward  read  one  year  with  Dr. 
Miinson,  of  Richfield.  Gradiiated  fi'om  Cleve- 
land Medical  College  in  1847,  and  since  then 


has  practiced  most  of  the  time  in  Penin- 
sula. 

Dr.  Humplu'ey  I'ead  medicine  with  Dr.  Pix- 
ley, and  has  practiced  in  Peninsula  for  foiu-- 
teen  years. 

Dr.  A.  M.  Cole  also  read  medicine  with  Dr. 
Pixley,  and  has  been  in  Peninsula  for  the  last 
six  years  or  more,  though  engaged  in  other 
business  than  the  practice  of  his  profession 
during  most  of  the  time. 

Coventry  Township  has  for  the  most  part 
depended  upon  Aki-on  and  Manchester  for  its 
doctors.  Dr.  William  Reed  practiced  for  a 
number  of  years  in  Thomastown,  and,  about 
1876,  removed  to  Mogadore.  Dr.  J.  W.  Sor- 
rick  was  born  at  Manchester,  this  county,  in 
1848,  and  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  that  place,  and  the  Noimal 
School  at  Lebanon,  Ohio.  About  1871,  he  be- 
gan reading  medicine  wdth  Dr.  W.  C.  Jacobs, 
of  Akron,  and,  in  1875,  graduated  at  medical 
college  of  Ohio  at  Cincinnati.  Practiced  in 
Aki-on  until  1878,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  practicing  at  Thomastown.  Dr.  John  B. 
Thomas  was  reared  in  the  vicinity  of  Thomas- 
town, read  medicine  with  Drs.  Bowen  and 
Foltz;  graduated  at  Charity  Hosiptal  Medical 
College,  Cleveland,  in  1880,  and  has  since 
then  been  practicing  at  his  old  home. 

It  is  but  appropriate  that  some  notice  of  the 
medical  societies  of  Summit  County  should  be 
made  in  this  sketch  of  the  profession.  Our 
limited  space,  however,  will  admit  of  the  very 
briefest  mention.  As  early  as  1842,  the 
meml^ers  of  the  medical  profession  met  to- 
gether and  organized  a  society  by  adopting  a 
"preamble  and  constitution,"  and  fonnally 
constituting  themselves  into  a  regular  society. 
This  society  continued  in  existence  a  number 
of  years,  and  finally  became  extinct.  Again, 
in  Febraury,  18()('),  a  meeting  was  held  in  the 
ofiice  of  Dr.  J.  J.  Smith,  its  object  being  the 
re-organization  of  a  medical  society,  and  as  a 
final  result  the  "Suimnit  County  Medical  So- 
ciety" was  organized.  This  society  is  still  in 
existence,  and  is  an  institution  of  considerable 
interest  to  the  profession  of  the  county. 


-:f]: 


.--^x-tr^^^^^C  ^-^^^^^t^^-^ 


PORTACxE    TOWNSHIP. 


321 


CHAPTER     VII.* 

PORTAGE  TOWNSHIP  — INTRODUCTION  — TOPOGRAPHY  — EARLY  SETTLEMENT—  CANAL  LOTTHRV- 
THE  COUNTERFEITING  PLOT— TOWNSHIP  OFFICERS,  ETC. 


r|"^HE  township  of  Portage  possesses  a  pe- 
1  culiarl}'  interesting  history.  Its  celebrated 
"  Portage  Path  "  not  only  turnished  a  name  to 
the  township,  but  also  to  the  county  in  which  it 
was  situate  prior  to  the  erection  of  Summit 
Count}-.  As  the  Portage  Path  has  served  so 
man}-  uses  as  a  boundary  line,  it  will  not  be  out 
of  place  to  here  briefl}-  note  them.  In  the  first 
place,  it  constituted  a  portion  of  the  ancient 
line  of  separation  between  the  confederated 
Six  Nations  and  the  Western  Indians.  B}-  the 
treat}'  of  Fort  Mcintosh,  near  where  is  now 
Beaver,  Penn.,  in  1785,  the  United  States  ac- 
quired from  the  Indians  all  the  territory  be 
yond  the  Ohio  River  and  east  of  this  line. 
When  the  great  Northwest  Territory,  including 
this  and  more,  was  established  in  1787,  by 
ordinance  of  the  Continental  Congress,  the 
Governor  and  three  Judges  thereof  were  ap- 
pointed by  Congress.  These  men  entered  upon 
their  duties  with  headquarters  at  Campus  Mar- 
tins, now  Marietta.  Their  first  act  was  to  cre- 
ate the  county  of  Washington,  July  27,  1788, 
named  in  honor  of  Gen.  George  Washington. 
Its  western  boundary  was  the  Cuyahoga  River, 
the  old  portage  path,  and  the  Tuscarawas  River 
as  far  south  as  the  southern  line  of  the  West- 
ern Reserve.  This  was  practically  the  western 
border  of  the  United  States,  and  so  remained 
until  the  year  1805.  In  1796,  August  15,  the 
county  of  Wayne  was  set  off,  having  for  its 
eastern  limit  the  same  line.  July  29,  1797, 
Jefferson  County  was  erected  out  of  Washing 
ton,  its  western  line  being  so  far  coincident 
with  that  of  Washington. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1805,  at  Fort  Industry, 
on  the  Maumee  River,  representatives  of  both 
the  General  Government  and  the  Connecticut 
Land  Company,  after  much  delay  and  reluct- 
ance on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  succeeded  in 
negotiating  a  treaty  with  them,  by  which  a  final 
settlement  of  their  unextinguished  claim  to  all 
lands  of  the  Reserve  west  of  the  Cuyahoga 
River,  the  portage  path  and  the  Tuscarawas 

■'  By  Charles  Whittlesey  Foote. 


River,  was  accomplished  ;  all  their  right  and  title 
to  the  lands  in  question  were  thereby  ceded  to  the 
United  States.  Thus  we  see  that  for  a  consid- 
erable time  a  portion  of  what  is  now  the  town- 
ship of  Portage  was  within  the  United  States, 
while  another  portion  was  not.  After  several 
further  unimportant  territorial  modifications, 
the  counties  of  Cuyahoga  and  Portage  were 
authorized  the  same  day,  by  act  of  the  Ohio 
Legislature,  February  10,  1807,  and  were  both 
within  a  few  years  erected  in  accordance  with 
that  act.  Now,  for  the  first  time,  the  •'  Portage 
Path "  loses  its  distinctive  service  of  impor- 
tance as  a  dividing  line.  All  the  early  convey- 
ances of  land  in  its  vicinity  make  frequent 
reference  to  it  as  a  well-known  monument,  and 
all  parcels  abutting  upon  it  were  so  described 
and  bounded.  And  now,  having  at  such  length 
evolved  it  historically,  let  us  inquire  as  to  just 
what  the  path  was.  Years  before  the  white 
man  invaded  this  country,  the  Indians  had 
been  in  the  habit  of  traveling  across  between 
Lake  Erie  and  the  Ohio  River.  The  canoe  was 
their  most  natural  and  easy  mode  of  journey- 
ing. Ascending  the  Cuyahoga  as  far  as  the 
great  bend,  then  transporting  the  boats  and 
luggage  by  this,  the  shortest  trail,  a  little  more 
than  eight  miles  in  length,  over  to  the  head- 
waters of  the  Tuscarawas,  they  could  reach 
the  Ohio  by  way  of  the  ^luskingum  River 
without  again  touching  land.  Many  a  burden 
of  those  various  things  in  which  their  traffic 
consisted  has  been  packed  "over  the  portage," 
one  of  the  links  in  this  chain  of  communica- 
tion and  commercial  highway.  One  of  the 
very  earliest  maps  of  this  section  known,  is 
that  of  Evans',  published  in  Philadelphia  in  the 
year  1755.  Upon  it  appears,  witli  tolerable 
geographic  accuracy,  the  "Cayahoga"  River, 
the  "  Portage,  "  and  a  stream  evidently  designed 
to  represent  the  Tuscarawas. 

In  a  publication  by  Capt.  Thomas  Ilutchins, 
London,  1788,  is  a  mention,  among  the  '^  Carry- 
ing Places  between  the  Ohio  and  Lake  Erie," 
as  follows  :     "From  Muskingum  to  Cayahoga, 


^^ 


322 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


a  creek  that  leads  to  Lake  Erie,  which  is 
muddy  and  not  very  swift,  and  nowhere  ob- 
structed with  falls  or  rifts,  is  the  best  portage 
between  the  Ohio  and  Lake  Erie." 

Evidences  of  the  location  of  the  path  were 
plainly  visible  many  years  after  its  original 
followers  were  sunk  again  into  the  retreating 
forests.  In  fact,  the  track  may  now  be  observed 
in  places,  and  the  entire  course  closely  followed 
from  end  to  end.  The  path  was  very  winding, 
a  characteristic  of  all  Indian  trails,  avoiding 
hills  wherever  possible  and  sidling  up  them 
when  they  must  be  climbed.  Leaving  the  Cuy- 
ahoga near  the  present  village  of  Old  Portage, 
perhaps  three  miles  north  from  Akron,  it  ran 
up  the  hill  westwardly  a  half  mile,  then  south- 
erly until  near  Summit  Lake,  passing  just  west 
and  outside  of  the  present  corporation  of  Akron 
City  ;  thence  nearl}'  south  to  the  Tuscarawas, 
which  it  reached  about  a  mile  above  New  Port- 
age. 

In  July,  1797,  Moses  Warren,  one  of  the  Con- 
necticut Land  Company's  surveyors,  ran  the 
path  from  the  Cuyahoga  southward,  meeting 
Seth  Pease,  who,  with  his  party,  had  been  run- 
ning the  southern  line  of  the  Reserve.  He 
made  the  length  of  the  path  6-44.55  chains,  or 
8  miles  4  chains  and  55  links.  The  path  was 
again  surveyed  in  1806,  by  Abraham  Tappan. 

To  Col.  Whittlesey's  valuable  "  Early  History 
of  Cleveland,"  we  are  indebted  for  the  following 
interesting  description  of  a  scheme  looking  to 
the  improvement  of  this  highway  of  commerce  : 

The  improvement  of  the  Cuyahoga  and  Tusca- 
rawas was  then  (1807)  the  great  idea  of  this  part  of 
the  country  and  of  Ohio. 

It  was  thought  if  $12,000  coukl  by  some  means 
be  raised,  the  channels  of  those  streams  could  be 
cleared  of  logs  and  trees  and  the  portage  path  made 
passable  for  loaded  wagons.  Thus,  goods  might 
ascend  the  Cuyahoga  in  boats  to  the  Old  Portage, 
be  hauled  seven  miles  to  the  Tuscarawas,  near  New 
Portage,  and  tiience  descend  that  stream  in  batteaux. 
This  great  object  excited  so  much  attention  that  the 
Legislature  authorized  a  lottery  to  raise  the  money. 
A  copy  of  the  scheme  and  one  of  the  tickets  is  here 
given: 

Q  No.  11441 

CUYAHOGA  AND  MUSKINGUM  NAVIGATION 

LOTTERY. 

This  ticket  entitles  the  bearer  to  such  Prize  as 
shall  be  drawn   against   its   number  (if  called   for 
within   twelve   months  after  the  drawing  is  com- 
pleted), subject  to  a  deduction  of  12|  per  cent. 
No.  11441'  J.  WALWORTH, 

Afjeiit  for  the  Boitrd  of  ConDniHsionerti. 


SCHEME 

OP  A 

LOTTERY 

FOK 

Improving  the  Navigation 
between  lake  erie  and  the  river  ohio,  through 

THE 

Cuyahoga  and  Muskingum. 
The  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Ohio  having,  at 
their  last  Session,  granted  a  Lottery  to  raise  the  sum 
of  Twelve  Thousand  Dollars,  for  the  above-men- 
tioned purpose  and  appointed  the  subscribers  com- 
missioners to  carry  the  same  into  effect.  They  offer 
the  following  scheme  to  the  public: 

FIRST  CLASS. 
12,800  tickets  AT  $5  each,  $64,000. 

1  Prizeof.  ...$5,0Q0is $5,000 

2  do         ....  2,500     5,000 

5    do  ....   1,000     5,000 

10  do  ....  500  5,000 

50  do  ....  100  5,000 

100  do  ....  50  5,000 

3400  do  ....  10  34,000 

3568  $64,000 

Prizes  subject  to  a  deduction  of  twelve  and  a  half 
per  cent. 

The  drawing  of  the  First  Class  will  commence  at 
Cleveland  on  the  hrst  Monday  of  January,  1808,  or 
as  soon  as  three-fourths  of  the  tickets  shall  be  sold; 
and  the  prizes  will  be  paid  in  sixty  days  after  the 
drawing  is  completed. 

Holders  of  Tickets,  drawing  prizes  of  Ten  Dol- 
lars, may,  at  their  election,  receive  the  money,  or 
two  Tickets  of  Five  Dollars  each  in  the  Second 
Class. 

For  the  convenience  of  the  owners  of  fortunate 
numbers.  Persons  will  be  appointed  in  Boston,  Hart- 
ford, New  York  and  Albany,  to  pay  Prizes.  Their 
names,  together  with  a  List  of  Prizes,  will  be  pub- 
lished in  some  Newspaper  printed  in  each  of  those 
places,  and  in  three  of  the  Newspapers  printed  in 
the  State  of  Ohio.  Persons  will  also  be  designated 
to  pay  Prizes  in  Zanesville  and  Steubenville. 

The  subscribers  have  taken  the  Oath  and  given 
the  Bonds  required  l)y  Law\  for  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  tlieir  trust,  and  they  flatter  themselves 
that  an  oljject  of  such  extensive  importance  will 
not  fail  to  attract  the  attention  and  patronage  of 
many,  who  are  not  allured  by  the  advantageous  pros- 
pects held  out  in  the  Scheme. 

John  Walworth,  Esq.,  of  Cleveland,  is  appointed 
Agent  of  the  Commissioners,  to  sign  the  Tickets  and 
transact  the  business  of  the  Board  in  their  recess. 

(Then  follow  the  names  of  the  twelve  members 
of  the  Board  of  Commissioners.) 

Ci.eveland,  May  23d,  1807. 

CRAMER,  PRINTER. 

The  drawing  never  came  off.  Those  who  had 
purchased  tickets,  many  years  afterward  received 
their  money  back  without  interest. 

The  price  of  each  ticket  was  $5. 

The  native  timber  of  this  section  was  oak, 
hickory,  maple,  cliestnut  and  box,  according  to 


.^ 


PORTAGE   TOWNSHIP. 


323 


the  notes  of  Moses  Warren,  Jr.,  before  referred 
to. 

The  white  man  who  first  settled  permanently 
within  this  township  came  from  Groton,  New 
London  Co.,  Conn.,  Maj.  Minor  Spicer,  in  the 
summer  of  1810.  He  purchased  from  the 
Connecticut  Land  Company,  whose  headquar- 
ters were  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  who  originally 
bought  the  entire  territory  of  the  Western  Re- 
serve from  the  State  of  Connecticut  (excepting 
two  tracts  previously  sold,  together  aggregating 
something  over  a  half  million  acres,  or  about 
one-sixth  part  of  the  whole  area).  Maj.  Spicer's 
farm  consisted  of  260  acres  of  land,  two-fifths 
of  a  square  mile,  and  was  situated  about  mid- 
way between  what  is  now  Akron's  Sixth  Ward 
and  South  Akron.  From  that  time  to  this 
there  have  always  been  members  of  the  Spicer 
famil}'  living  upon  the  site  of  the  original  pur- 
chase, and  "the  Spicer  settlement "  is  a  well- 
known  section  of  town.  Just  what  was  paid 
for  the  land  we  have  been  unable  to  ascertain. 
It  is  worth  noting,  however,  that  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  in  October  of  1786,  several  years 
prior  to  her  sale  of  the  Reserve  to  the  Land 
Company  as  mentioned  above,  by  resolution 
fixed  the  selling  price  at  tliree  shillings  (50 
cents)  per  acre.  With  a  spirit  strongly  charac- 
teristic of  the  time  and  thought,  she  also  pro- 
vided that  500  acres  of  land  in  each  township 
should  be  reserved  to  the  support  of  the  Gospel 
ministry  (in  those  days  there  was  no  opposi- 
tion to  a  union  of  church  and  State),  500  acres 
to  the  maintenance  of  schools,  and  240  acres 
to  the  first  minister  who  should  locate  within 
the  township.  As  Connecticut  did  not  succeed 
in  disposing  of  her  land  at  the  figure  above 
given,  she  once  more,  in  Ma}',  1795,  resolved 
the  price  at  not  less  than  one-third  of  a  dollar 
an  acre.  The  ensuing  summer  developed  onl}- 
fruitless  negotiations,  but,  finall}',  on  the  2d  of 
September  of  the  same  year,  a  bargain  was 
struck  by  the  terms  of  which  3.000,000  acres 
of  the  Reserve  next  west  from  the  Pennsyl- 
vania line  (which  was  afterward  found  to  be  a 
little  in  excess  of  the  exact  quantity  of  land 
then  actuall}'  remaining  within  the  limitations 
of  the  Reserve,  after  deducting  the  "  Salt  Spring 
Tract"  of  24,000  acres  already  sold  to  Gen. 
Samuel  H.  Parsons,  and  located  in  Trumbull 
County,  and  the  gi-ant  of  500,000  acres  com- 
monly known  as  the  Fire  Lands,  from  the 
western  end  (in  1792),  were  deeded  to  the  Land 


Company  for  the  consideration  of  $1,200,000,  or 
40  cents  per  acre. 

To  return  from  our  digression  :  At  the  time 
when  Maj.  Spicer  prospected  and  located  his 
purchase,  he  was  the  only  white  person  within 
the  township.  About  him  stretched  the  un- 
broken forest  with  no  clearing  nor  path,  save 
that  made  by  the  hostile  aborigine.  In  a  sense 
more  literal  and  forcible  than  comes  to  most 
men,  was  it  true  that 

"  The  world  was  all  before  him,  where  to  chdose 
His  place  of  rest." 

With  admirable  judgment  he  made  his  selec- 
tion. After  some  little  labor  and  improvement, 
he  returned  in  the  fall  of  the  3'ear,  to  his  home 
and  family  in  the  East.  Leaving  Groton  again 
in  June,  of  1811,  with  the  sturdy  conveyance 
of  an  ox  team  and  wagon,  and  this  time  accom- 
panied by  his  famil}',  his  brother  Amos  and 
Paul  Williams,  he  once  more  reached  the  spot 
that  was  for  more  than  twoscore  years  to  be 
his  home.  Vigorous  efforts  soon  erected  a  log 
house,  the  first  in  Portage  Township,  the  site 
of  which  was  but  a  few  rods  from  the  comforta- 
ble residence  where  still  lives  Averj'  Spicer, 
son  of  Minor,  in  the  dignity  of  a  ripe  old  age 
and  the  assurance  of  the  esteem  and  respect  of 
an  entire  community,  sprung  up  beneath  his 
observation,  and  the  recipient  of  many  and 
substantial  favors  at  his  hands.  Mrs.  Avery 
Spicer,  a  daughter  of  Joshua  King,  Esq.,  was 
born  at  Old  Portage,  and  was  the  first  white 
child  born  in  the  township. 

We  subjoin  an  incident  in  the  life  of  Maj. 
Spicer,  as  we  find  it  narrated  in  Howe's  "  Ohio, 
its  History  and  Antiquities  :  " 

One  night  just  l)efore  retiring,  lie  heard  some  one 
call  in  front  of  his  house,  and  went  out  and  saw  a 
large  Indian  with  two  rifles  in  his  hand,  and  a  deer 
quartered  and  luing  across  his  horse.  Spicer  in- 
quired what  he  wanted.  The  Indian  replied  in  his 
own  dialect,  when  the  other  told  him  he  must  speak 
English  or  he  would  unhorse  him.  He  finally  gave 
him  to  understand  that  he  wished  to  stay  over- 
night, a  request  tliat  Avas  reluctantly  granted.  Ilis 
rifles  were  placed  in  a  corner,  his  venison  hung  up 
and  his  horse  put  into  a  large  pig-stye,  the  only 
stable  attached  to  the  premises. 

The  Indian  cut  out,  a  piece  of  venison  for  Mrs. 
Spicer  to  cook  for  liim,  which  she  did  in  the  usual 
way,  with  a  liberal  quantity  of  pepper  and  salt. 
He  drew  nj)  to  the  table  and  ate  but  a  mouthful  or 
two.  The  family  being  ready  to  retire,  he  placed 
his  scalping  knife  and  tomahawk  in  the  corner  with 
his  rifles,  and  stretched  himself  upon  the  hearth  be- 
fore the  fire.  When  he  supposed  the  family  were 
asleep,  he  raised  himself  slowly  from  his  reclining 


i    "V 


324 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


position  and  sat  upright  upon  the  liearth,  looking 
stoalthil_y  over  his  shonhlor  to  seo  if  all  was  still. 
He  then  got  up  on  his  feet  and  stepped  lightly 
aeross  the  floor  to  his  implements  of  death.  At 
this  juncture,  the  feelings  of  Spicer  and  his  wife 
may  be  well  imagined,  for  they  were  only  feigning 
sleep  and  were  intently  watching.  The  Indian 
again  stood  for  a  moment,  to  see  if  he  had  awakened 
any  one,  then  slowly  drew  from  its  scabbard  the 
glittering  scalping  knife.  At  this  moment,  Sjncer 
Avas  about  putting  his  han<l  upon  his  rifle,  which 
stood  by  his  bed  to  shoot  the  Indian,  but  concluded 
to  wait  further  demonstration,  which  was  an  en- 
tirely different  one  from  what  lu'  liad  anticipated, 
for  tlie  Indian  cut  a  piece  of  his  veiuson,  weighing 
about  two  pounds,  and  laying  it  upon  the  livecoals 
until  it  was  warmed  through,  devoured  it  and  went 
to  sleep.  Mrs.  Spicer's  cooking  liad  not  pleased 
lum,  l)eing  seasoned  too  high. 

In  the  year  1811,  a  large  body  of  Indians, 
under  the  leadership  of  one  of  their  braves, 
Onondaga  George,  evidently  ill-natured  and 
bent  on  trouble,  suddenly  appeared  along  the 
Cuyahoga  River.  A  few  days  later,  they  as 
suddenly  disappeared.  Soon  after  their  depart- 
ure came  tidings  of  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe. 
It  then  became  clear  that  these  Indians  were 
plotting  to  act  their  part  in  a  great  intended 
tragedy,  the  massacre  of  all  the  frontier  whites, 
but  were  deterred  from  carrying  the  terrible 
project  to  an  accomplishment  by  the  intelli- 
gence, brouglit  them  by  their  fleet  runners  three 
days  before  it  reached  the  settlers,  of  the  disas- 
trous issue  of  that  battle.  While  they  remained 
hovering  about  the  neighborhood,  they  kept  a 
lookout  stationed  upon  the  high  bliiff  west  of 
the  canal  lock  at  Old  Portage. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  a  camp  was  estab- 
lished at  Old  Portage  (or  as  it  was  then  known 
and  had  been  since  the  exploring  expedition  of 
the  surveyors  of  1797,  the  Upper  Headquarters) 
by  (xen.  Wadsworth  in  September.  The  post 
was  regarded  as  of  great  importance  through- 
out the  war.  In  order  to  i-each  the  immediate 
scene  of  action,  Gen.  Wadsworth's  soldiers,  not 
daring  to  follow  the  lake  shore  from  Cleveland 
to  Huron  on  account  of  the  British,  ascended 
the  Cuyahoga  as  far  as  the  Upper  Headquarters. 
Thence  they  felled  trees  and  cut  a  road  north- 
westerly through  the  woods  to  Camp  Avery  on 
the  Huron  River,  not  far  from  where  Milan  now 
stands,  a  distance  of  sixty-five  miles.  This  road 
was  of  great  service  to  the  American  forces.  It 
was  afterward  known  as  the  "old  Smith  road," 
and  portions  of  it  are  to  this  day  used  for  pur- 
poses of  travel. 


The  next  3'ear,  1813,  there  were  built  at  Old 
Portage  and  floated  down  to  Lake  Erie,  two 
vessels,  the  Portage  and  the  Porcupine,  which 
took  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  ever  memorable 
naval  victory  achieved  by  Commodore  Perry, 
September  10. 

For  a  time.  Minor  Spicer,  Amos  Spicer  and 
Paul  Williams,  with  their  families,  constituted 
the  entire  settled  population  of  the  township. 
Others,  however,  began  to  come  in,  among  them 
being  Charles  W.  Brown,  in  1816,  and  Talmon 
Beardslev,  Andrews  May  and  Julius  Sumner,  • 
in  1818." 

In  1825,  the  town  of  Akron  was  laid  out  ; 
the  same  year  work  was  here  begun  upon  the 
Ohio  Canal,  and  a  great  number  of  laborers 
were  imported  for  its  construction. 

Ohio  Cantd. — We,  of  a  day  of  steamboats 
and  a  multiplicity  of  railroads  with  the  full  and 
rapid  transportation  the}'  aftbrd,  cannot  appre- 
ciate the  importance  to  the  early  pioneers  of 
this  enterprise,  which  was  regarded  as  a  won- 
derful accommodation,  inasmuch  as  by  its 
means  the  few  necessities  unobtainable  from 
their  wilderness  surroundings  could  be  brought 
from  the  regions  of  civilization  at  the  remarka- 
ble speed  of  four  miles  an  hour,  and  as  often  as 
once  or  twice  a  week.  The  Ohio  Canal,  origi- 
nally denominated  the  "  Lake  Erie  and  Ohio 
Canal,"  was  first  formally  suggested  in  a  reso- 
lution brought  before  the  lower  body  of  the 
Assembly,  January  7,  1819. 

Six  and  a  half  3'ears  elapsed  before  work  was 
actually  commenced.  Finally,  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1825,  in  the  presence  of  Gov.  Do  Witt 
Clinton,  of  New  York — -the  man  to  whom  more 
than  any  other  is  to  be  accredited  the  honor  of 
the  successful  accomplishment  of  the  great 
Erie  Canal — and  other  notables,  the  first  spade- 
ful of  earth  was  upturned  upon  the  Port- 
age summit  near  Summit  Lake.  The  thing 
first  required  was  the  lowering  of  the  surface  of 
that  lake  five  feet,  which  was  done  by  means  of 
a  ditch  cut  to  about  where  Lock  No.  1  now 
stands. 

It  was  worth  noting,  in  passing,  that  the 
water  of  Summit  Lake  flows  both  north  by  way 
of  the  canal,  Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario,  and  the 
St.  Lawrence  River  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and 
south  via  canal,  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers 
and  Gulf  of  Mexico,  ultimately  reaching  the 
same  great  depository.  The  work  all  along  the 
line  from  Portage  summit  to  Cleaveland  (as  it 


k. 


PORTAGE    TOWNSHIP. 


325 


was  then  spelled),  was  speedil}'  let  to  contract 
and  energetically  prosecuted.  Precisely  two 
years  to  a  day  from  the  practical  inception  of 
the  work,  on  the  4:th  of  July,  1827,  the  first 
boat — the  Allen  Trimble — with  (lov.  Trimble, 
the  Canal  Commissioners,  and  other  prominent 
persons  on  board,  cleared  from  Akron,  passed 
over  the  thirty-seven  intervening  miles  of  water, 
and  reached  Cleveland  the  same  day.  Here 
was  an  event  of  no  slight  moment  to  the  people 
of  Akron  and  vicinity.  It  constituted  an  epoch 
in  the  town's  histor}'.  Henceforwai'd  there  was 
to  be  easy  communication  with  the  most  con- 
siderable town  west  of  Marietta,  and  Akron's 
certainty  of  development  was  secured. 

After  many  obstacles  overcome  and  vast 
labor  expended,  the  canal  was  completed  from 
Cleveland  to  Portsmouth  in  the  summer  of 
1833. 

The  total  of  the  receipts  for  tolls  and  water 
rents  at  the  Akron  office  for  the  year  1835  was 
$7,028.23,  a  verj'  creditable  showing  for  so  early 
a  day. 

Immediately  upon  the  opening  of  the  canal 
for  business  between  Akron  and  Cleveland,  in 
1827,  Wolsey  Wells  was  appointed  Collector  of 
the  Port.  He  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of 
versatile  talents,  or  at  any  rate  of  varied  occu- 
pations. Besides  his  Collectorship,  he  held  the 
position  of  Postmaster,  and  was  also  attorne}^ 
at  law  and  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  Notwith- 
standing all  these  respective  duties,  a  desk  of 
two  feet  by  one  and  one-half,  sufficed  to  con- 
tain all  his  business  papers. 

Doubtless  every  one,  during  the  last  year, 
has  read  or  heard  of  the  early  experience,  as 
driver  upon  a  canal,  of  the  man  who  now  fills 
the  highest  place  within  the  gift  of  the  Ameri- 
can people.  James  A.  Garfield  once,  when  a 
young  man,  worked  upon  this  same  Ohio  Canal, 
and,  as  in  evexything  else  to  which  he  turned 
his  hand  or  attention,  did  his  work  well.  As 
he  was  passing  down  the  Valley  Railroad  one 
day  last  fall  (1880),  in  company  with  President 
Hayes  and  others,  he  pointed  out  many  famil- 
iar places  along  the  line  of  the  canal,  and  re- 
galed his  companions  with  anecdotes  and  inci- 
dents connected  with  his  former  acquaintance 
with  it  under  so  diverse  circumstances. 

The  Counterfeiting  Pint. — We  have  also  to 
record  as  matter  of  history,  a  thing  which  for 
years  rendered  the  northern  portion  of  Portage 
Township  and  vicinit}'  ver}-  notorious,  and  im- 


pressed a  blight  which  never  has  been,  and 
probably  never  will  be,  effaced.  We  refer  to 
the  remarkable  operations  of  the  gang  of  coun- 
terfeiters, which,  through  a  period  of  nearly  or 
quite  a  score  of  3'ears,  made  their  headquarters 
and  conducted  their  business  at  Old  Portage 
and  Yellow  Creek.  Without  question,  this  was 
the  most  thorough,  daring  and  successful 
scheme  of  the  sort  ever  devised  and  carried  out 
in  this  country  or  any  other.  The  system  had 
its  ramifications  throughout  the  whole  United 
States  and  Canada  ;  not  a  State  or  Territory 
but  had  its  agents,  and  scarcely  a  count}^  in 
an}'  State  without  them.  The  head  and  front 
of  this  stupendous  complication  was  one  James 
Brown,  a  man  of  rare  talent,  of  wonderful  ener- 
gies, and  possessed  of  a  degree  of  personal 
attraction  and  power  few  men  have  ever  wielded. 
He  was  six  feet  and  two  inches  in  height,  with 
a  well-propoi'tioned  fine  physique,  of  command- 
ing presence,  and  keen,  penetrating  eyes,  like 
an  eagle's.  Just  how  early  he  began  the  work 
is  not  known,  but  early  in  the  thirties  he  was 
notorious  as  the  "  Prince  of  counterfeiters  "  in 
all  the  country  round.  Many  marvelous  stories 
are  told  of  his  achievements.  One  of  the  earli- 
est of  his  exploits  consisted  in  passing  off  upon 
a  prominent  New  England  bank  a  forged  draft. 
Relays  of  fleetest  horses  had  been  previously 
provided  at  a  series  of  stations  known  to  him- 
self, and  in  care  of  his  agents.  He  departed 
instantly,  rode  day  and  night  until  he  reached 
home  at  Yellow  Creek.  He  was  arrested,  taken 
East,  and,  upon  trial,  established  an  alibi  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  Court,  proving  by  numerous 
and  trustworthy  witnesses  that  he  was  seen  here 
so  soon  after  the  occurrence  at  the  bank  that, 
as  the  Court  held — "  it  was  utterly  impossible 
that  he  could  have  been  there  so  shortly  be- 
fore." In  conversation,  he  seemed  to  delight 
in  letting  fall  remarks  confirmatory  of  his  gen- 
eral reputation,  3'et  never  saying  anything  dis- 
tinctl}'  declaring  its  well-foundeduess.  A  young 
man,  whose  3'outh  had  been  spent  in  Western 
New  York,  and  who,  like  every  one  else,  had 
heard  many  tales  of  the  prowess  of  Jim  Brown, 
became  an  assistant  teller  in  a  Cleveland  bank. 
One  day,  a  tall  man  of  impressive  appearance 
called  at  the  bank,  produced  a  large  amount  of 
monej'  and  an  account  book,  stating  that  he 
wished  to  make  a  deposit.  Upon  the  book  the 
clerk  noticed  the  name,  James  Brown.  Half 
frightened  and  thrilled  to  the  marrow  at  sup- 


T^ 


326 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


posing  that  he  was  at  last  beholding  the  veritable 
genius  of  the  wonderful  stories  of  his  boyhood, 
he  stepped  to  the  cashier,  and  in  an  awed  whis- 
per inquired  if  this  were  the  Jim  Brown,  and  if 
so,  whether  he  should  receive  the  money.  The 
cashier  replied  "  certainl3^'"  The  clerk  stepped 
back  to  the  counter,  when  Brown,  who  readily 
guessed  the  nature  of  the  quick  conference,  ob- 
served, "  Young  man,  you  need  not  be  con- 
cerned that  I  should  bring  anything  but  good 
money  here  ! " 

He  had  some  traits  of  character  which  any 
man  might  well  emulate.  It  is  said  that  his 
word  was  alwa3's  as  good  as  a  bond.  That  he 
should  be  so  rigid  in  keeping  a  pi'omise  and 
entertain  so  high  an  idea  of  personal  honor, 
coupled  with  a  profession  seemingly  so  devoid 
of  everything  of  the  kind,  was  indeed  strange. 
About  the  year  1832,  he  was  tried  in  the  Me- 
dina Court  of  Common  Pleas  upon  the  usual 
charge  of  counterfeiting.  The  confinement  of 
the  jail  was  exceedingly  irksome  to  one  of  his 
vigorous,  energetic  temperament.  So  great  con- 
fidence had  the  Sheriff  in  Brown's  veracity, 
that,  upon  his  request  and  a  parole  promise  to 
return  at  night,  he  permitted  him  every  morn- 
ing to  go  out,  unattended,  and  spend  the  da}^ 
as  and  where  he  chose.  He  never  proved  rec- 
reant to  the  trust,  but  returned  regularly  and 
voluntaril}'  each  evening.  He  was  convicted 
and  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary.  The  Sheriff 
started  with  him  for  Columbus,  but  was  over- 
taken by  the  service  of  a  writ  of  error  at  Mt. 
Vernon,  and  obliged  to  return.  The  judgment 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  was  reversed. 
Brown  gave  bail  for  his  appearance  at  the 
proper  time,  but  before  the  trial  came  on,  two 
or  three  essential  witnesses  had  disappeared, 
and  the  indictment  was  nollied. 

So  great  was  Brown's  popularity  in  his  own 
neighborhood  that  he  was  repeatedly  elected 
to  township  oflfices.  He  held  the  position  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace  several  successive  terms ; 
in  fact,  was  an  incumbent  of  that  office  when, 
in  1846,  the  first  check  was  put  upon  his  career. 
It  was  largely  due  to  this  condition  of  things 
that  it  was  impossible  to  secure  his  conviction 
by  the  ordinary  methods  of  the  lower  courts. 
This  was  often  attempted  and  as  often  failed, 
until  it  was  generally  recognized  by  every  one 
else  as  well  as  himself  and  friends.  Of  this 
immunity  he  publicly  boasted  ;  when  at  last,  by 
the  intervention  of  Federal  processes,  he  was 


brought  to  bay,  he  is  said  to  have  observed, 
"  Well,  boys,  now  the  United  States  have  taken 
hold  of  me,  I  may  get  floored,  but  I  could  have 
worried  out  a  county."  In  1846,  William  S.  C. 
Otis  was  the  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  Summit 
County.  That  year  proof  was  obtained  that 
Brown  was  at  the  time  engaged  in  counterfeit- 
ing the  circulating  coin  of  the  United  States. 
Through  the  efforts  of  Otis,  Samuel  W.  Mc- 
Clure,  Esq.,  then  a  young  lawyer  of  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  was  appointed  a  United  States  Commis- 
sioner for  the  State  of  Ohio  (the  State  being 
then  comprised  in  one  district),  for  the  purpose 
chiefly  of  instituting  proceedings  against  Brown 
through  the  media  of  the  Federal  Courts,  those 
of  the  State  being  found  insufficient,  as  Com- 
missioner McClure  issued  a  warrant  for  his 
arrest.  While  the  warrant  was  yet  in  the  hands 
of  Sheriff  Janes,  then  Sheriff  of  Summit  County  ; 
but,  prior  to  its  service,  McClure  had  occasion 
to  represent  a  party  litigant  before  Brown  in 
his  capacity  as  Justice  of  the  Peace.  Brown 
reserved  his  decision  of  the  case  for  further 
consideration.  In  the  meantime,  he  was  placed 
under  arrest  and  imprisoned.  McClure,  in  be- 
half of  his  client  in  the  case,  called  upon  Brown 
in  the  jail,  before  the  day  assigned  for  the  pre- 
liminary examination.  Brown  then  announced 
his  judgment  as  Justice  in  favor  of  McClure's 
client,  and,  at  the  same  time  remarked,  that 
when  his  case  should  come  before  him  (McClure) 
he  hoped  he  would  be  able  to  render  a  judgment 
in  h  is  favor.  The  preliminary  examinat  ion  came 
on  for  hearing  ;  the  United  States  was  repre- 
sented by  Otis,  and  the  defense  by  R.  P.  Spald- 
ing, afterward  Judge  Spalding  of  the  Supreme 
Bench.  The  examination  was  held  at  the  court 
house  and  continued  several  days.  It  resulted 
in  Brown's  being  held  to  bail  in  the  sum  of 
$20,000  for  his  appearance  before  the  Circuit 
Court  of  the  United  States  at  Columbus  at  its 
next  session.  In  default  of  bail,  he  was  re- 
turned to  jail ;  but  afterward,  upon  application 
to  a  Federal  Judge,  the  bond  was  reduced  to 
$5,000.  That  amount  was  furnished,  and  Brown 
set  at  liberty.  He  appeared  at  Columbus  for 
trial.  The  District  Attorney  was  assisted  by 
Mr.  Otis.  Pending  the  trial,  affidavits  were 
filed,  satisfying  the  Judge  that  if  at  liberty 
when  the  verdict  would  be  rendei'ed,  and  that 
verdict  should  be  guilty,  it  was  the  intention  of 
Brown's  friends — of  whom  Columbus  was  full — 
to  put  him  out  of  the  way  of  the  consequences. 


■l±* 


PORTAGE    TOWNSHIP. 


327 


A  bench  warrant  was  issued,  and  he  was  again 
imprisoned.  He  was  convicted,  and,  for  the 
first  time  in  his  life,  incarcerated  in  the  Ohio 
Penitentiary,  though  he  had  run  a  career  of 
crime  for  over  twent}'  years.  During  the  short 
time  of  Gen.  Zachary  Ta^-lor's  Presidency 
(March,  1849,  to  Jul}',  1850),  the  Asiatic  cholera 
broke  out  in  the  Ohio  Penitentiary.  Brown 
was  himself  an  attendant  in  the  prison  hospital 
at  the  time,  and  such  was  the  courage  with 
which  he  cared  for  the  cholera  patients,  and  his 
unwearied  attention  to  them,  that  he  secured 
the  influence  of  that  institution,  and  some  of 
the  State  officers,  so  that  President  Taylor  was 
induced  to  and  did  pardon  him.  He  returned 
to  his  former  place  of  I'esidence  in  Northampton, 
and  was  believed  to  be  as  extensively  engaged 
in  the  counterfeiting  business  as  ever,  though 
it  was  not  known  that  he  then  dealt  in  spurious 
coin.  Experience  had  taught  him  that  it  was 
easier,  more  profitable,  and  less  liable  to  detec- 
tion to  manufacture  false  paper  money  than 
coin.  It  is  said  that  he  had  a  confederate  in 
the  ver}'^  banking  house  which  then  stamped  for 
and  furnished  bills  to  the  United  States  Bank  ; 
that  through  the  agency  of  this  pal,  the  genuine 
plates  themselves  were  conveyed  into  Brown's 
hands,  and  immense  quantities  of  the  illegal 
issue  (not  exactly  counterfeit,  inasmuch  as  they 
were  struck  from  the  identical  plates  with  the 
true,  and,  therefore,  also  not  discoverable 
through  an}'  peculiarities  of  impression),  par- 
ticularl}^  of  $100  bills,  were  accumulated.  About 
this  time,  James,  and  a  brother  Daniel,  engaged 
in  the  same  enterprise,  conceived  a  scheme  of 
bold  magnitude,  and  extremely  flattering  in 
promise.  This  was  no  less  than  to  procure  a 
suitable  ship,  load  her  with  this  spurious  scrip, 
and  visit  China  and  other  oriental  countries, 
where  United  States  Bank  bills  circulated  at 
par,  purchasing  a  cargo  of  teas,  coflees,  silks, 
etc.,  to  be  disposed  of  again  in  England  and 
upon  the  continent.  They  had  associated  with 
them  in  this  device  a  man  b}'  the  name  of  Tay- 
lor. They  proceeded  to  New  Orleans,  obtained 
a  vessel,  filled  it  according  to  programme,  and 
set  sail  for  China.  A  discovery  of  their  real 
character,  however,  was  just  then  made,  the 
vessel  overhauled  before  fairly  out  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  the  three  rogues  committed  to  the 
"  calaboose."  There  they  were  detained  some 
time.  Daniel  became  sick,  and  finally  died,  as 
it  was  reported,  but  not  generally  believed,  in 


this  section  of  the  country.  Certain  it  is,  how- 
ever, that  he  never  appeared  hereabouts  there- 
after, and  so,  possibly,  the  report  may  have  been 
true.  The  wife  of  James,  who,  though  believed 
to  have  had  nothing  to  do  with  her  husband's 
operations,  remained  faithful  and  devoted  to 
him  until  some  years  be^'ond  this  period, 
traveled  on  horseback  from  Old  Portage  to  New 
Orleans  in  order  to  be  present  at  the  trial,  and 
use  her  influence  in  his  behalf  Several  other 
witnesses  also  went  down  from  here  to  testify 
in  his  interest.  Brown  turned  State's  evidence, 
implicated  Taylor,  and  himself  escaped.  This 
is  one  of  the  few  really  mean  incidents  related 
of  him. 

A  few  years  later  he  was  arrested  in  Michi- 
gan, convicted  of  the  same  crime,  and  sentenced 
to  the  Jackson  Penitentiary.  He  there  served 
a  full  term  of  three  years,  whence  he  returned 
to  Northampton,  but  returned  a  broken-down 
man  and  a  confirmed  drunkard.  Not  until  now 
did  his  fond  wife  give  him  up.  His  habits  of 
drink  rapidly  grew  upon  him  ;  his  good  traits 
began  to  deteriorate,  and  finally  departed  alto- 
gether ;  his  wife  obtained  a  divorce,  and  Jim 
Brown,  who,  had  his  abilities  been  honorably 
directed,  might  have  been  a  man  of  great  power 
and  influence,  became  a  perfectly  worthless  fel- 
low, not  even  commanding  the  respect  of  his 
associates  in  crime.  Finally,  in  1865,  as  he 
was  one  day  returning  from  Cleveland  upon  a 
canal  boat,"he  fell  from  the  walking  plank  to 
the  hold,  striking  his  head  upon  a  beam.  The 
concussion  rendered  him  unconscious  ;  from 
that  state  he  never  rallied,  but  died  two  or  three 
days  later.  So  miserably  closed  the  life  of  a 
man  of  whom  it  was  said  that  "  he  was  as  well 
known  by  reputation  as  any  President  of  the 
United  States." 

Officers  of  the  Township. — The  following  is  a 
list  of  the  officers  elected  on  the  2d  day  of 
April,  A.  D.  1838,  at  a  meeting  held  at  tlie  house 
of  Mr.  Warren  H.  Clark. 

Trustees.— V^iWiam  B.  Mitchell,  Simon  Per- 
kins, Jr.,  and  George  Babcock  ;  Clerk,  Horace 
K.  Smith  ;  Treasurer,  Samuel  A.  Wheeler. 

Since  that  time  the  following  persons  have 
been  elected  and  served  as  Trustees  : 

1839,  William  B.  Mitchell,  Simon  Perkins, 
Jr  ,  John  Sherbondy  ;  1840,  Charles  W.  Brown, 
Jesse  Allen,  John  Ay  res  ;  1841,  Simon  Perkins, 
Jr.,  Jesse  Allen,  Charles  W.  Brown  ;  1842,  Si- 
mon Perkins,   Jr.,   Eber  Blodget,  Charles  W. 


;t^ 


*M: 


328 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


Brown  ;  1843,  Simon  Perkins,  Jr.,  Eber  Blodget, 
Charles  W.  Brown  ;  1844,  Simon  Perkins,  Jr., 
Moses  Smith,  John  Sherbondy  ;  1845,  Simon 
Perkins,  Lucius  V.  Bierce,  Silas  M.  Wilder ; 
1846,  Silas  M.  Wilder,  Lucius  V.  Bierce,  Justus 
Gale  ;  1847,  Henr}-  Converse,  Lucius  V.  Bierce, 
(jeorge  Sherbondy  ;  1848,  Webster  B.  Storer, 
David  Miller,  John  Ay  res  ;  1849,  David  Miller, 
Nathaniel  Finch,  George  Sherbondy.  In  Octo- 
ber, Miller  died,  and  George  D.  Bates  was  ap- 
pointed to  fill  the  vacancy  ;  1850,  Nathaniel 
Finch,  George  Sherbondy,  Joseph  F.  Gilbert ; 
1851,  Joseph  F.  Gilbert,  Ira  Hawkins,  Robert 
Jackson  ;  1852,  Elias  W.  Howard,  George  Sher- 
bondy, Robert  Jackson  ;  1853,  Joseph  F.  Gil- 
bert, Robert  Jackson,  George  Sherbondy  ;  1854, 
Ira  Hawkins,  Elias  L.  Munger,  George  Sher- 
bondy ;  1855,  George  W.  McNiel,  Elias  L. 
Munger,  George  Sherbondy  ;  1856,  Benjamin 
McNaughton,  George  W.  McNiel,  Reuben  Sher- 
bondy ;  1857,  Charles  Merriman,  Clement  J. 
Kolb,  Webster  B.  Storer  ;  1858,  George  Miller, 
Melchiah  Sherbondy,  Jacob  Snyder;  1859, 
Houston  Sisler,  Clement  J.  Kolb,  John  R. 
Buchtel  ;  1860,  Houston  Sisler,  John  R.  Buch- 
tel,  Clement  J.  Kolb  ;  1861,  Houston  Sisler, 
John  R.  Buchtel,  C.  Obevholtz  ;  1862,  Houston 
Sisler,  John  R.  Buchtel,  C.  Oberholtz.  In  June 
of  1862,  Houston  Sisler  died  and  Roland  O. 
Hammond  was  appointed  for  the  unexpired 
term  ;  1863,  John  R.  Buchtel,  Simon  Perkins, 
G.  F.  W.  Fisher  ;  1864,  Simon  Perkins,  John 
R.  Buchtel,  G.  F.  W.  Fisher  ;  1865,  Simon  Per- 
kins, John  R.  Buchtel,  G.  F.  W.  Fisher;  1866, 
John  R.  Buchtel,  James  F.  Scott,  Clement  J. 
Kolb  ;  1867,  John  R.  Buchtel,  F.  T.  Husong, 
Joseph  Babb  ;  1868,  Joseph  Babb,  F.  T.  Hu- 
song, Abraham  Sichley  ;  1869,  F.  T.  Husong, 
Joseph  Babb,  Millard  F.  Hamlin  ;  1870,  Joseph 
Babb,  Millard  F.  Hamlin,  N.  C.  Hawkins  ;  1871, 
Millard  F.  Hamlin,  N.  C.  Hawkins,  Abner  C. 
Caldwell  :  1872,  N.  C.  Hawkins,  Millard  F. 
Hamlin.  H.  Sherbondy  ;  1873,  H.  Sherbondy, 
Millard  F.  Hamlin,  Frederic  Oberholtz  ;  1874, 
A.  L.  Caldwell,  Abraham  Sichley,  Henry  Fred- 
erick ;  1875.  Heni-y  Frederick,  Abraham  Sich- 
fey,  A.  L.  Caldwell ;  1876,  Henry  Frederick, 
A.  L.  Caldwell,  Abraham  Sichley  ;  1877,  Simon 
Perkins,  Hiram  Sherbondy,  Abraham  Sichley  ; 
1878,  Stephen  H.  Pitkin,  Avery  Beardsley, 
John  McCausland  ;  1879,  Stephen  H.  Pitkin, 
Albert  H.  Mallison,  Ephraim  Erdly.  In  July, 
Erdl}'   died    and    Uriah    Sherbondy   was    ap- 


pointed to  serve  out  the  term  ;  1880,  Jacob 
Carpenter,  Albert  H.  Mallison,  Charles  W. 
Brown  ;  1881,  Jacob  Carpenter,  Albert  H.  Malli- 
son, Millard  F.  Hamlin. 

aerks.—lSm,  Horace  K.  Smith  ;  1838,  Jo- 
seph Cole;  1840,  Nahum  Fay;  1841,  William 
H.  Dewey;  1842,  H.  C.  Crosby  ;  1843,  William 
H.  Dewey;  1844,  Nahum  Fay;  1845,  Charles 
W.  Tappan;  1846,  Charles  W.  Tappan;  1847, 
Charles  W.  Tappan ;  1848,  Tillman  Wagener ; 
1849,  Tillman  Wageman  ;  1850,  Edward  W. 
Perrin;  1851,  Edward  W.  Perrin ;  1852,  Rol- 
and 0.  Hammond  ;  1853,  Roland  0.  Hammond  ; 
1854,  Roland  0.  Hammond ;  1855,  Roland 
O.  Hammond;  1856,  Roland  0.  Hammond; 
1857,  Newell  D.  Tibbals;  1858,  Jacob  A.  Kohler, 
1859,  Jacob  A.  Kohler  ;  1860,  George  T.  Mc- 
Curdy;  1861,  George  T.  McCurdy  ;  1862,  George 
T.  McCurdy;  1863,  William  C.  Allen;  1864, 
William  C.  Allen ;  1865,  William  C.  Allen  ; 
1866,  William  C.  Allen  ;  1867.  William  C.  Allen  ; 
1868,  John  McGregor  ;  1869,  John  McGregor  ; 
1870^  John  McGregor ;  1871,  John  McGregor  ; 

1872,  G.  Tod  Ford  ;  1873.  G.  Tod  Ford  ;  1874, 
G.  Tod  Ford  ;  1875,  G.  Tod  Ford.  In  Septem- 
ber, Ford  resigned  and  Charles  Baii'd  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  office.  1876,  Charles  Baird  ; 
1877.  Charles  Baird:  1878,  Peter  J.  Moersch  ; 
1879.  Peter  J.  Moersch;  1880,  Peter  J.  Moer- 
sch ;  1881,  Peter  J.  Moersch. 

Treamre):s.~18'^S,  Samuel  A.  Wheeler  ;  1839, 
Lewis  P.  Buckley  ;  1840,  Samuel  A.  Wheeler  : 
1841,  Samuel  A.  Wheeler;  1842,  Samuel  A 
Wheeler;  1843,  Samuel  A.  Wheeler;  1844, 
Samuel  A.  Wheeler  ;  1845,  Samuel  A.  Wheeler  : 
1846,  Samuel  A.  Wheeler;  1847.  Samuel  A. 
Wheeler;  1848,  Zebulon  Jones;  1849,  Zebu- 
Ion  Jones  ;  1850,  Benjamin  McNaughton;  1851, 
Benjamin  McNaughton  ;  1852,  Benjamin  Mc- 
Naughton;  1853,  Benjamin  McNaughton  ;  1854, 
Edward  W.  Perrin  ;  1855,  Edward  W.  Perrin  ; 
1856,  Edward  W.  Perrin;  1857,  Houston  Sis- 
ler; 1858,  John  T.  Good;  1859,  John  H. 
Chamberlin;  1860,  John  H.  Chamberlin  ;  1861, 
Charles  Cranz  ;  18(J2,  Charles  (^-anz,  1863, 
Charles  Cranz  ;  1864.  Charles  Cranz  ;  1865, 
Charles  Cranz;  1866,  Charles  Cranz;  1867, 
Charles  Cranz;  1868,  Charles  Cranz;  18(59, 
Charles  Cranz  ;  1870,  Arthur  L.  Conger ;  1871, 
Arthur   L.   Conger;  1872,  Arthur  L.    Conger; 

1873,  David  R.  I'aige  Jr.;  1874.  Jacob  H.  Wise  ; 
1875, Frank  B. Buchtel;  1876,  Frank  B.  Buchtel; 
1877,  John  McGregor;  1878,  John  McGregor; 


^G 


'^ 


PORTAGE    TOWNSHIP. 


329 


1879,  John  McGregor;  1880,  John  McGregor; 
1881,  John  McGregor. 

Assessors. — The  first  Assessor  elected  was 
Minor  Spicer  m  1841 ;  1842,  Justus  Gale ; 
1843,  Justus  Gale  ;  1844,  Justus  Gale.  Gale 
declined  to  serve  and  John  H.  Crawford  was 
appointed  in  his  stead.  1845,  Albert  G.  Malli- 
son  ;  1846,  Nahum  Fay  ;  1847,  Joseph  F.  Gil- 
bert; 1848,  John  Sherbondy;  1849,  Alfred  R. 
Townsend ;  1850,  Nahum  Fay  ;  1851,  George 
Howe;  1852,  George  Howe;  1853,  John  Sher- 
bondy ;  1854,  Nahum  Fay;  1855,  Nelson  C. 
Hawkins  ;  1856,  Ira  Hawkins  ;  1857,  Alfred  R. 
Townsend  ;  1858,  Frank  Adams  ;  1859,  Alfred 
R.  Townsend  ;  1860,  Nahum  Fay  ;  1861,  Jacob 
H.Wise;  1862,  Jacob  H.Wise;  1863,  Nahum 
Fay  ;  1864,  Charles  Hanscom  ;  1865,  Edward  A. 
Barber  ;  1866,  Edward  A.  Barber ;  1867,  Homer 
C.  A3' res  ;  1868,  Augustus  Curtis;  1869,  John 
G.  Goble;  1870,  Aaron  Teeple;  1871,  Aaron 
Teeple  ;  1872,  Albert  H.  Mailison  ;  1873,  George 
Miller ;  1874,  Albert  H.  Mailison  ;  1875,  George 
Miller ;  1876,  Hiram  Sherbondy ;  1877,  Randall 
McAllister;  1878,  Randall  McAllister;  1879, 
Randall  McAllister ;  1880,  Joseph  Schnee ; 
1881,  H.  Sherbondy. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. — [The  Justice  has  al- 
ways been  a  township  officer,  and  therefore  is 
elected  by  the  voters  of  the  township.  His 
commission  is  for  three  years.]  Jacob  Brown, 
1836-39  ;  Seneca  L.  Hand,  1836-39  ;  Harvey 


H.  Johnson,  1837-40  ;  Leander  L.  Howard, 
1839-42  ;  Ebenezer  Martin,  1839-42;  Harvey 
H.  Johnson,  1840-43;  William  M.  Dodge, 
1842-45  ;  Lewis  P.  Buckley,  1842-43  ;  Henry 
Converse,  1843-46  ;  Jacob  Brown,  1843-t6  ; 
William  M.  Dodge,  1845-48  ;  George  Babcock, 
1846-49  ;  Noah  M.  Green,  1846-49  ;  Joshua  C. 
Berry,  1848-51  ;  George  Babcock,  1849-52 ; 
Noah  M.  Green,  1849-52  ;  Abel  B.  Berry,  1851- 
54;  Daniel  B.  Hadley,  1852-55;  Noah  M. 
Green,  1852-55  ;  Joseph  F.  Gilbert,  1854-57 ; 
John  W.  Stephens,  1855-58  ;  Noah  M.  Green, 
1855-58  ;  William  L.  Clark,  1857-60  ;  John 
W.  Stephens,  1858-61  ;  John  L.  Robertson, 
1858-61  ;  Edward  Allen  (died  in  June,  1861), 
1860-61  ;  John  W.  Stephens  (died  in  March, 
1863),  1661-63;  John  Lugenbeel,  1861-64; 
William  L.  Clark,  1861-64;  Lewis  N.  Janes 
(died  in  July,  1865),  1863-66;  William  L. 
Clark,  1864-67  ;  William  M.  Cunningham, 
1865-68  ;  William  L.  Clark,  1867-70  ;  Henry 
Pui'dy,  1868-71  ;  William  M.  Cunningham, 
1868-71  ;  William  L.  Clark,  1870-73  ;  Henry 
Purdy,  1871-74;  Florence  Weber,  1871-74; 
Dudley  Seward,  1873-76  ;  Thomas  C.  Brandon, 
1874-77  ;  Thomas  H.  Goodwin,  1874-77  ;  Dud- 
ley Seward,  1876-79  ;  Henry  Purdy,  1877-80  ; 
Thomas  C.  Brandon,  1877-80  ;  Dudley  Seward, 
1879  ;  Henry  Purdy,  1880  ;  Thomas  C.  Bran- 
don, 1880. 


^ 


'V 


-^ — ^ 


330 


HISTOEY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER     VIII.* 

CITY  OF  AKRON  — LAYING  OUT  A  TOWN  — IMrROVEMENTS  — THE  CANALS  — THE  TOWN  INCORPO- 
RATED—CITY OFFICERS— GROWTH  OF  AKRON— THE  COUNTY  SEAT 
QUESTION— INCIDENTS.  ETC.,  ETC. 

peopled  this  world,  during  the  Champlain  peri- 
od, the  nameless  river  which  first  excavated  the 
channel  whose  bed  is  now  so  scantily  covered  by 
the  modern  Cuyahoga,  like  "  a  pigmy  in  a 
giant's  clothes,"  instead  of  turning  to  the  north 
at  the  abrupt  bend  two  miles  above  the  city  by 
which  it  now  almost  doubles  upon  its  course, 
in  fact  did  continue  southerly  through  the  broad 
deep  valley  before  mentioned,  eventually  losing 
itself  in  the  synchronous  parent  of  the  present 
Ohio.  The  ancient  channel  has  been  traced 
from  its  point  of  deviation  most  of  the  way 
across  the  State.  Numerous  borings  along  its 
course  have  shown  that  it  has  been  almost  filled 
with  earth  and  soil,  the  detritus  pushed  in  by 
the  slow  grinding  glaciers  and  washed  down  by 
the  storms  of  later  time,  and  that,  as  was  to 
have  been  expected,  within  its  entire  length 
there  is  no  exposure  of  rock  in  situ.  Such  was 
undoubtedly  the  origin  of  this  lovely  valley  ; 
upon  the  south  and  west  of  it  the  subjacent 
sandstone  conglomerate  crops  out  at  frequent 
intervals,  as  in  the  cutting  of  the  Cleveland, 
Mount  Vernon  &  Columbus  road  for  some  dis- 
tance north  of  Market  street  bridge,  and  along 
the  bed  of  the  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Canal, 
where  it  circles  the  crest  of  the  hill  near  the 
fair  grounds,  while  upon  the  north  and  east 
there  is  an  extensive  table-land  of  richest  soil, 
with  not  a  rock  or  stone  to  be  seen  except  the 
small  rounded  bowlders  so  characteristic  of  the 
former  presence  of  the  ice-river.  In  fact,  north 
hill  appears  to  have  been  a  terminal  moraine, 
and  several  of  the  gravel  knolls  at  the  Old 
Forge,  by  their  sti'atification,  show  them  to  have 
been  local  or  lateral  deposits.  The  Little  Cuy- 
ahoga now  flows  through  the  valley  we  have 
thus  minutely  described,  in  a  converse  direction, 
a  tributary  to  the  river  proper.  No  wonder  the 
Indians  called  the  river  "  Cuyahoga " — "  the 
winding  ; "  a  glance  at  the  map  will  demon- 
strate the  eminent  propriety  of  the  name. 
Under  our  State  Constitution  of  1802,  mu- 


AKRON  is  by  some  held  to  be  derived  from 
a  privative  and  ypthoc  time,  its  significance 
upon  this  theory  being  of  "  the  unending,"  liter- 
ally, "  without  time."     This  highly  poetic  idea, 
pregnant  with  widest  intimations  of  meaning, 
and  so  self-satisfying  to  the  good  citizen  who  en- 
tertains a  genei-ous  pride  in  our  county  capital, 
and  her  flattering  promise  of  growth  and  devel- 
opment, brought  to  the  crucial  test  of  fact,  must 
give  way  to  the  undoubted  intent  of  those  who 
chose  and  formally  declare  the  name,  Akron, 
from  ahpaq  summit,  this  being  upon  the  very 
ridge-top  of  the  water-shed  between  Lake  Erie 
on  the  one  hand  and  the  Ohio  River  on  the 
other.     Situated  on  an  average  400  feet  above 
the  lake  level,  and  960  feet  above  the  ocean, 
Akron  is  the  summit  city  in  point  of  elevation, 
the   highest   incorporated   city   in    the    State. 
More  hills  she  covers  than  eternal  Rome,  and 
extravagant  indeed  is  the  man  who  would  think 
to  number  or  name  them  all.     The  surface  con- 
formation is  rolling.     The  immediate  neighbor- 
hood, particularly  at  the  Old  Forge,  presents  a 
problem  of  remarkable  geologic  interest,  and 
one  as  yet  unsolved.     To  the  visitor  approach- 
ing from  the  north,  east  or  south,  by  either  of 
the  three  railroads  here  intersecting — the  (Cuy- 
ahoga) Valley  Railway,  the  Cleveland,  Mount 
Vernon  &  Columbus,  and  the  New  York,  Penn- 
sylvania &  Ohio — the   shifting  scenes  of  the 
panoramic  valley,  along  whose  verge  he  enters, 
are  strikingly  beautiful.      This  valley,  with  a 
depth  below  the  general  surface  of  one  to  two 
hundred  feet,  constitutes  the  only  considerable 
variation  from  what  we  have  already  designated 
the   rolling   contour   of  the   vicinage.      It   is 
asserted  by  careful  and  competent  geologists 
(and  the  investigation  bestowed  upon  the  topic 
warrants  the  acceptance  of  the  belief  as  more 
than  speculative  theorizing)  that  away  back  in 
the  past,  before  that  history  other  than  that  "  in 
nature's  records  writ"  began,  before  mankind 

*  By  Charles  W.  Foote. 


^^ 


® 


£l>L 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


331 


nicipal  corporations  were  classified  as  cities, 
towns,  villages  and  special  road  districts.  Un- 
til the  year  1825,  Portage  Township  had  been 
the  only  territorial  distinction  recognized.  At 
that  time,  during  the  construction  of  what  was 
then  regarded  as  a  great  commercial  highway 
— the  Ohio  Canal — Gen.  Simon  Perkins  and 
Paul  Williams  platted  and  laid  out  a  town  which 
they  denominated  "  Akron,"  upon  and  sur- 
rounding the  present  intersection  of  Main  and 
Exchange  streets,  in  upper  town.  The  only 
road  in  the  new  town  was  that  one  leading  to 
Middlebur}',  about  upon  the  line  where  Ex- 
change street  now  lies.  In  the  fall  of  that  year, 
1825,  the  laborers  on  the  canal  put  up  about  a 
hundred  cabins  along  the  line  of  work  and 
within  the  town.  The  canal,  when  completed, 
gave  a  wonderful  impetus  to  businsss,  and  at 
the  same  time  aflforded  its  needed  facilities  of 
transportation.  South  Akron  grew  rapidly  for 
a  few  years.  In  fact  until  1832  there  was  noth- 
ing of  any  consequence  outside  of  that  section 
of  the  town,  but  in  the  year  just  mentioned 
several  buildings  were  erected  at  and  near  the 
intersection  of  Market  and  Howard  streets,  and 
gradually  business  was  diverted  to  the  newer 
locality. 

A  very  great  rivalry  had  for  some  time  ex- 
isted between  the  two  villages  of  North  and 
South  Akron.  A  committee  of  one,  Erastus 
Torrey,  was  authorized  by  a  number  of  the 
south  end  people  to  wait  upon  Mr.  Hall  and 
tender  him  the  use  of  a  large  brick  block  in 
upper  town,  free  of  expense  for  a  term  of  three 
years,  if  he  would  remove  there.  Mr.  Hall, 
upon  deliberation,  declined  the  kind  offer,  and 
has  never  regretted  his  conclusion.  In  the  ter- 
rible strain  of  the  panic  of  1837,  Hall's  was  one 
of  the  three,  out  of  fourteen  stores  in  North 
Akron,  which  escaped  a  failure.  By  the  time 
the  town  was  incorporated,  in  1836,  the  two 
villages  of  North  and  South  Akron  were  not 
far  from  an  equalit}-,  and  considerable  bitter- 
ness of  feeling  was  aroused  by  their  jealous 
rivahy.  Upon  the  northwest  corner  of  Market 
and  Howard  streets  stood  the  "  Pavilion,"  a 
hotel,  and  a  large  wooden  building,  kept  by 
Charles  B.  Cobbs,  Esq.  Two  or  three  years 
later,  Mr.  Cobbs  became  proprietor  of  the  "  Ohio 
Exchange,"  a  noted  landmark  upon  the  site  at 
present  occupied  by  the  Paige  Brothers'  hard- 
ware store.  Upon  the  northeast  corner  of  3Iarket 
and  Howard,  and  from  there  up  to  the  trench 


of  the  Water  Power  Companj^  stood  a  row  of 
low,  wooden  buildings.  The  same  was  the  case 
also  upon  the  south  side  of  jNIarket  street,  ex- 
cept upon  the  corner,  where  was  being  erected 
a  fine  three-stor}'  stone  block,  and  in  which  were 
afterward  located  the  county  offices,  court  room 
and  jail,  put  up  and  owned  by  Hiram  Payne. 
Thence  southwardly,  upon  both  sides  of  How- 
ard street,  as  far  as  to  where  Cherry'  street  now 
enters,  were  one-story  and  a  story-and-a-half 
wooden  buildings  closely  contiguous.  Then 
came  a  gap  and  a  deep  gully  ;  and  finally,  upon 
the  corner  of  Mill  and  Howard  streets,  where 
the  post  office  now  stands,  was  a  two-story 
wooden  building  belonging  to  Lewis  P.  Buckley. 
In  addition  to  these  was  the  house  of  Gen. 
Bierce,  in  process  of  construction,  and  that  of 
Dr.  Bartges,  upon  opposite  corners  of  INIarket 
and  High  streets,  the  house  which  is  now  the 
third  south  from  the  corner  on  the  east  side  of 
High,  and  one  on  the  corner  of  Main  street  and 
Mill ;  and  with  these  w^e  have  enumerated  all 
of  North  Akron's  buildings.  At  that  time, 
Leicester  King  and  Gen.  Simon  Perkins  owned 
prett}'  much  all  the  land  in  this  part  of  town. 
They  together  had  a  map  published,  which 
represents  Akron  as  it  then  was,  and  which  is 
elsewhere  referred  to  quite  at  length.  The 
house  issuing  this  map  was  Messrs.  Robinson 
&  Co.,  of  Reading,  Yt.  They  had  a  branch 
office  in  Akron  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Na- 
hum  Fay,  in  Buckley's  Block  before  alluded  to. 
Earl}'  in  1837,  the  IMap  Publishing  Company 
removed  to  a  building  of  their  own  on  North 
High  street,  upon  the  lot  where  James  B.  Storer 
now  resides,  and  had  a  shop  in  the  rear.  To  the 
north  and  east  of  them,  there  was  only  dense 
woods.  When  the  old  stone  church  (now  occu- 
pied b}'  the  Baptist  society,  but  built  and  first 
used  by  the  Universal ists)  was  erected  bj' 
Charles  W.  Brown,  in  1838,  the  forest  was  so 
thick  as  that  the  church  could  scarcely  be  seen 
from  Market  sti'eet. 

Akron  had  remained  a  "  town  "  by  eourtes}' 
and  general  consent,  from  its  platting,  in  1825, 
until  1836.  March  12,  of  that  year,  there  passed 
the  General  Assembly,  at  Columbus,  an  "  Act  to 
incorporate  the  town  of  Akron,  in  the  county  of 
Portage."     By  this  act  it  was  provided  : 

That  .so  much  of  the  town.ships  of  Portage  aiul 
C'livcntry.  in  the  county  of  Portage,  as  is  comprised 
witliiuthe  following-  limits,  to  wit  :  Beginning  on 
the  south  lino  of  tract  No.  8,  in  said  township  of 


©~- 


JRT 


1 


332 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


Coventry,  and  at  a  point  in  said  line  wliichi  is  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  east  of  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
south  town  plat  of  Akron,  as  surveyed  by  John 
Heushaw;  thence  north  to  a  line  running  due  east 
and  west,  drawn  ten  rods  north  of  Lock  16,  of  the 
Ohio  Canal;  thence  west  along  such  east  and  west 
line,  one  and  a  half  miles;  thence  south  to  the  south 
line  of  Tract  No.  8,  aforesaid;  thence  east,  along 
said  south  line,  to  the  place  of  beginning,  be  and 
the  same  is  hereby  created  a  town  corporate,  and 
shall  henceforth  be  known  and  distinguished  by 
the  name  of  "  The  town  of  Akron." 

Translating  this  into  a  form  which  shall  con- 
vey a  meaning  to  other  people  beside  survey- 
ors, and  indicating  the  same  points  and  lines 
by  landmarks  recognizable  to-day,  we  should 
bound   and   describe   as    follows:     Beginning 
upon  the  present  southern  corporation  line — 
that  is,  upon  South  street,  at  a  point  a  little 
east  of  its  junction  with  Spicer  street  ;  thence 
north   in   a   straight   line   intersecting   Spicer 
street    just   below    Exchange   street,    passing 
through  the  Fourth  Ward  a  little  west  of  Spicer 
street,  through  the  Second  Ward  about  on  Fir 
street,  through  the  First  Ward  in  a  continuation 
of  the  same  right  line,  until  the  present  north- 
ern boundary  of  the  city  is  reached,  a  little  be- 
yond the  Little   Cuyahoga  River ;  thence  due 
west  along  the  northern  boundary  to  the  pres- 
ent northwest  corner  of  the  corporation  ;  thence 
south  along  the  present  west  line  of  the  city  to 
the   south   line  of  Tract   No.  8 — that   is,  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  corporation  ;  and  thence 
east  along  said  tract  line  (with  whicli  the  south 
side  of  South  street  coincides,  so  far  as  it  ex- 
tends) to  the  place  of  beginning.     Thus  we  see 
that  the  original  survey  of  Akron,  when  incor- 
porated as  a  town,  was  a  rectangular  plat  of 
one  mile  and  a  half  breadth,  east  and  west,  and 
about  two  and  a  quarter  miles  length,  north 
and   south,  therefore   containing  almost  three 
and  one-half  square  miles  of  area.     We  note, 
also,  that  the  western  boundary  was  identical 
with  the  present  and  also  considerable  portions 
of  both  the  northern  and  southern  lines.     At 
this  date,  there  were  open  to  use,  or  platted, 
the  following  streets,  bearing  in  a  general  east- 
erly and  westerly  direction  :      Furnace,  Tall- 
madge.  Market,  Mill,  Ash,  Quarry,  Water  (now 
a  portion  of  Bowery),  State,  Middlebury,  a  part 
of  Carroll,  Exchange,  Cedar,  Chestnut,  Cather- 
ine, Second,  Third  and  Bridge  streets  ;  this  last 
corresponding   with   Thornton   street,    of   the 
present    day.      Bearing    generall}^   north   and 
south  were  West  street.   Maple,   Oak,  Walnut, 


^^tna.  Locust,  Bowery,  Water,  Canal,  Howard, 
Main,  High,  Broadway,  Summit,  and,  in  the  so- 
called  "  Eastern  Addition,"  First,  Second  and 
Third  streets. 

About  this  time,  Middlebury  and  Cuyahoga 
Falls  partook  also  of  the  general  business 
activity,  and  for  some  years  bade  fair  to  push 
Akron  vigorously  in  a  contest  as  to  which 
should  prove  the  coming  metropolis.  When, 
however,  the  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Canal  at 
last  passed  by  on  one  side,  Middlebury  received 
a  blow  whicii  substantialh'  put  her  out  of  the 
race.  From  that  time  destiny  seemed  to  thrust 
her  down  to  a  subordinate  rank,  and  that  fate 
was  philosophicall}'  accepted.  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
however,  stoutly  maintained  her  priority,  both 
as  to  time  and  station,  for  the  Falls  had  ob- 
tained an  incorporation  just  one  week  before 
Akron,  on  the  7th  of  March,  1836,  the  same 
day  that  Cleveland  was  advanced  from  a  vil- 
lage to  a  city.  The  Falls  people  obstinately 
refused  to  believe  that  Akron  possessed  or 
could  promise  any  better  things  than  Cuyahoga 
Falls  could  offer.  They  pointed  to  their  prac- 
tically illimitable  water-power,  and  dilated  up- 
on the  superior  healthfulness  of  their  town,  yei, 
nevertheless,  Akron  unreasonably  insisted  up- 
on keeping  just  a  little  ahead  in  point  of  num- 
bers. So  matters  went  until  the  new  county  of 
Summit  was  carved  out  of  the  adjacent  ones  of 
Portage,  Stark  and  Medina,  in  1840. 

Section  2  of  the  act  incorporating  the  town  of 
Akron  provided  for  the  election,  upon  the  sec- 
ond Tuesday  of  the  next  ensuing  June,  by  "  the 
white  male  inhabitants,  who  have  resided  within 
the  aforesaid  limits  of  said  town  for  the  space 
of  six  months  next  preceding,  etc.,  etc.,"  of  one 
Mayor,  one  Recorder  and  five  Trustees,  together 
constituting  a  Town  Council.  In  pursuance  of 
this  provision,  the  first  election  of  town  officers 
was  held  at  the  house  of  Asa  Larned,  June 
14,  1836,  with  the  following  result :  Total  num- 
ber of  votes  cast,  166,  of  which  for  Mayor, 
Seth  Iredell  received  91,  and  Eliakim  Crosby, 
75  ;  for  Recorder,  Constant  Brj-an  received  87 
votes,  Charles  W.  Howard  75,  and  H.  Johnson 
4  ;  Erastus  Torrey,  Jedediah  D.  Commins,  Will- 
iam B.  Mitchell,  William  E.  Wright  and  Noah 
M.  Grreen  were  chosen  Trustees.  The  first 
meeting  of  the  "  Town  Council  of  the  town  of 
Akron"  convened  on  Saturday,  the  18th  of 
June.  After  some  preliminary  business,  the 
first  ordinance  was  passed,  entitled,  "  An  Ordi- 


^  < 


=^==if 


CITY    OF    AKRON 


333 


nance  regulating  Exhibitions  and  Public  Shows 
in  the  town  of  Akron."  As  William  B.  Mitch- 
ell declined  the  honor  of  a  Trusteeship,  at  an 
adjourned  meeting  held  Monda}',  the  20th  of 
June,  Justus  Gale  was  appointed  a  Trustee  in 
his  stead.  Samuel  A.  Wheeler  was  also  ap- 
pointed Treasurer.  At  the  next  Council  meet- 
ing, Ithiel  Mills  was  elected  Marshal.  From 
that  time  until  Akron  advanced  in  grade,  be- 
coming a  village  at  the  adoption  of  the  State's 
new  constitution  in  1852,  by  virtue  of  the  gen- 
eral act,  the  officers  were  as  follows  : 

3Iayors— 1836,  Seth  Iredell ;  1837,  John  C. 
Singletarv,  Jr.;  1838,  John  C.  Singletarv,  Jr.  ; 
1839,  Lucius  V.  Bierce ;  1840,  Arad^Kent; 
1841,  Lucius  V.  Bierce  ;  1842,  Harvey  H.  John- 
son ;  1843,  Harvev  H.  Johnson  ;  1844,  Lucius 
V.  Bierce ;  1845^  Philo  Chamberlin  ;  1846, 
Philo  Chamberlin  ;  1847,  Levi  Rawson  ;  1848, 
Israel  E.  Carter  ;  1849,  Lucius  V.  Bierce  ;  1850, 
Greorge  Bliss.  In  April,  of  1851,  Bliss  re- 
signed the  position,  but  no  new  Ma3'or  was 
elected  until  the  next  regular  election  in  June. 
1851,  Charles  Q.  Ladd  ;  1852,  Frederick  Wads- 
worth.  Up  to  this  time  the  Mayor,  Recorder, 
and  Trustees  had  been  elected  by  the  people 
upon  the  first  Monday  of  June  of  each  year. 

Recorders  — 1836,  Constant  Bryan;  1837, 
William  E.  Wright ;  1838,  William'^E.  Wright; 
1839,  Robert  K.  DuBois  ;  1840,  Robert  K.  Du 
Bois  ;  1841,  Robert  K.  DuBois  ;  1842,  Nahum 
Fay  ;  1843,  Nahum  Fay  ;  1844,  William  H. 
Dewey  ;  1845,  William  H.  Dewey  ;  1846,  Will- 
iam H.Dewey  ;  1847,  Nahum  Fay;  1848,  Arad 
Kent;  1849,  Arad  Kent;  1850,  Edward  W. 
Perrin ;  1851,  Arad  Kent :  1852,  Horace  Can- 
field. 

Treasurers— 1836, Samuel  A.Wheeler;  1837, 
Horace  K.  Smith  ;  1838,  Horace  K.  Smith  ; 
1839,  Russell  Abbey  ;  1840,  Gibbons  I.  Ack- 
ley  ;  1841,  Gibbons  I.  Ackle}-  ;  1842,  Gibbons 
I.  Ackley;  1843,  Gibbons  I.  Ackley  ;  1844 
Gibbons  I.  Ackley  ;  1845,  Gibbons  I.  Ackley 
1846,  Grove  N.  Abbey  ;  1847,  Grove  N.  Abbey 
1848,  Grove  N.  Abbey  ;  1849.  Grove  N.  Ab- 
bey ;  1850,  Milton  W.  Henry  ;  1851,  Milton  W. 
Henry  ;  1852,  Milton  W.  Henry. 

Trustees — 1836,  Erastus  Torrey,  Jedediah  D. 
Commins,  William  B.  Mitchell,  William  E. 
Wright,  Noah  M.  Green  ;  Mitchell  declined  to 
serve,  and  Justus  Gale  was  appointed  to  the 
vacancy.  1837,  William  K.  May,  William  I. 
Mather,  David   D.    Evans,  Jesse   Allen,   Eber 


Blodget  ;  in  September,  May  having  removed 
from  Akron,  his  seat  was  declared  vacant,  and 
William  Patterson  was  elected  b}'  the  other 
Trustees  to  succeed  him.  1838,  Jesse  Allen, 
Ebenezer  Martin,  Justus  Gale,  James  W.  Phil- 
lips, Ansel  Miller.  1839,  Samuel  Manning, 
Seth  Iredell,  James  W.  Phillips,  Lewis  P. 
Buckley,  Ebenezer  Martin  ;  Martin  declining. 
Ansel  Miller  was  appointed  instead  ;  in  July, 
Phillips  resigned,  and  Ithiel  Mills  succeeded 
him.  1840,  Seth  Iredell,  Samuel  Manning, 
Ithiel  Mills,  Samuel  A.  Wheeler,  William  E. 
Wright ;  Wheeler  resigned  in  July,  and  Ansel 
Miller  became  his  successor.  1841.  Seth  Ire- 
dell, Webster  B.  Storer,  Jacob  Allen,  Ansel 
Miller,  Leverett  J.  Ives.  1842,  Ansel  Miller, 
Seth  Iredell,  David  Allen,  George  F.  Ray,  Hor- 
ace Ma}' ;  in  January,  1843,  Allen  died,  and 
James  Mathews  filled  the  vacancy.  1843, 
Seth  Iredell,  James  Mathews,  George  F.  Ray, 
Horace  May,  Ansel  Miller.  1844,  William  M. 
Dodge,  Robert  K.  Du  Bois,  Nahum  Fay,  Jesse 
Allen,  Samuel  A.  Wheeler  ;  in  September,  Jesse 
Allen  resigned,  and  Jacob  Allen  was  appointed. 
1845,  Robert  K.  Du  Bois,  Justus  Gale.  Lucius 
V.  Bierce.  William  M.  Dodge,  James  H.  Craw- 
ford ;  Gale  refused  to  serve,  and  Samuel  A. 
Wheeler  was  elected  to  the  vacanc}'.  In  Novem- 
ber, Du  Bois  died  and  Horace  Caufield  suc- 
ceeded him.  1846,  Horace  Canfield,  Samuel  A. 
Wheeler,  Allen  Hibbard,  Nicholas  E.  Vansickle, 
Lucius  V.  Bierce.  1847,  Allen  Hibbard,  Lucien 
Swift,  Samuel  A.  Wheeler,  Joseph  A.  Beebe. 
Ansel  Miller.  1848,  Ansel  Miller,  Nathaniel 
Finch,  Benjamin  McNaughton,  John  M.  Cutler. 
George  W.  Bloom.  1849,  Nathaniel  Finch,  Ansel 
Miller,  Charles  Webster,  George  W.  Bloom. 
Milton  N.  Henry  ;  in  October,  Finch  resigned, 
and  the  remaining  Trustees  elected  John  M. 
Cutler.  1850,  Thomas  H.  Goodwin,  John 
Howe,  Hiram  Viele,  Robert  Jackson,  L.  C. 
Parker ;  in  October,  William  M.  Dodge  was 
elected  to  the  place  made  vacant  by  the  re- 
moval of  Howe.  1851,  James  M.  Hale,  Ben- 
jamin McNaughton,  William  0.  Sanford,  Milton 
W.  Henry,  D.  F.  Bruner.  1852,  James  M.  Hale, 
William  0.  Sanford,  R.  P.  Myers,  Peter  Osburn, 
Ansel  Miller. 

The  total  vote  upon  the  occasion  of  the  first 
town  election,  in  1836,  was  166.  At  the  last 
town  election,  in  1852,  there  were  cast  278 
votes.  Tlie  year  previous,  however,  fifteen 
years   after   the   first   vote   above    mentioned, 


334 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUXTY 


there  were  334  ballots  cast,  just  two  more  than 
doable  the  first  vote.  From  the  time  that 
Akron  became  a  village  until  advanced  to  a 
city  of  the  second  class,  in  18G5,  the  following 
were  officers  of  the  corporation,  and  were 
elected  by  popular  vote  ui)on  the  first  Monday 
of  April  of  each  year.  The  Mayor,  Recorder, 
and  the  five  Trustees  together  constituted  the 
Village  Council  : 

Mayors— 1853,  Philip  N.  Schuyler;  1854, 
William  T.  Allen  ;  1855,  Nathaniel  Finch ; 
1856.  Nathaniel  Finch ;  in  December,  Finch 
resigned,  and  in  February  of  1857,  Frederick 
A.  Nash  was  elected  to  succeed  him  ;  1857, 
Frederick  A.  Nash  ;  1858,  Frederick  A.  Nash  ; 
1859,  George  W.  McNeil ;  1860,  Henry  Purdy  ; 
1861,  Henry  Purdy;  1862,  Charles  A.  Collins  ; 
1863,  Henry  A.  Collins;  1864,  George  .D. 
Bates. 

Recorders — 1853,  Horace  Canfield  ;  in  De- 
cember, Canfleld  died,  and  the  Council  elected 
R.  S.  Elkins  to  fill  the  vacancy-  thus  caused ; 
1854,  R.  S.  Elkins  ;  1855,  Joseph  E.  Wesener ; 
1856,  Joseph  E.  Wesener  ;  1857,  Ralph  P. 
Waterbury  ;  1858,  Ralph  P.  Waterbury  ;  1859, 
Allen  Hibbard ;  1860,  Alvin  Rice ;  1861, 
James  Holmes;  1862,  Alvin  Rice;  1863,  Al- 
vin Rice  ;  1864,  Henry  W.  Ingersoll. 

Trustees— 1853,  William  T.  Allen,  Daniel  H. 
Wheeler,  R.  S.  Elkins,  David  A.  Scott,  George 
Thomas  ;  Elkins  being  appointed  Recorder  in 
January'  of  1854,  S.  A.  Lane  was  elected  to 
fill  the  vacant  place  ;  1854,  James  B.  Taplin, 
Thomas  H.  Goodwin,  Richard  Howe,  David 
Hanscomb,  James  M.  Hale ;  1855,  Richard 
Howe,  George  Thomas,  James  B.  Taplin,  Will- 
iam T.  Allen,  David  A.  Scott ;  in  /Vpril,  Taplin 
resigned,  and  R.  S.  Elkins  succeeded  him ; 
1856,  Henry  Purdy,  David  A.  Scott,  Thomas 
H.  Goodwin,  Henry  S.  Abbey,  Joseph  Milli- 
gan  ;  1857,  George  Thomas,  Henry  Fisher,  Jr., 
Henry  S.  Abbe}',  Henry  Purdy,  Charles  Cranz  ; 
1858,  Charles  Cranz,  R.  B.  Walker,  John  Cook, 
Joseph  Milligan,  Job  Pierce  ;  1859,  William  L. 
Everett,  Job  Pierce,  R.  B.  Walker,  Thomas  H. 
Goodwin,  Joseph  Milligan ;  1860,  Richard 
Howe,  Ferdinand  Schumacher,  Robert  L.  Mof- 
fatt,  James  Christ}-,  William  S.  Painton  ;  1861, 
Robert  L.  Moffatt,  Ferdinand  Schumacher, 
George  Buel,  John  Douglass,  Henry  Fisher  ;  in 
October,  Fisher  resigned,  and,  in  November, 
George  W.  McNeil  was  chosen  by  the  Council 
to  serve  out  the  term  ;  1862,  Charles  Webster, 


John  E.  Bell,  John  Douglass,  Isaac  Harter, 
George  Buel  ;  1863,  Arad  Kent,  John  E.  Bell, 
J.  W.  Hollowa}-,  Jacob  Goldsmith,  John  H. 
Wagoner  ;  1864,  Allen  Hibbai'd,  Stephen  H. 
Pitkin,  William  H.  Lapens,  Charles  W.  Bon- 
stedt,  James  Christy. 

Treasurers — 1853,  Milton  W.  Henry  ;  at  this 
time,  the  election  of  the  Treasurer  was  trans- 
ferred from  the  Council  to  the  people;  1854, 
Milton  W.  Henry  ;  1855,  Milton  W.  Henry  ; 
1856,  Milton  W.  Henry  ;  1857,  Milton  W.  Hen- 
ry ;  1858,  John  Good  ;  1859,  John  H.  Cham- 
berlin  ;  1860,  John  H.  Chamberlin ;  1861, 
Charles  Cranz;  1862,  Charles  Cranz;  1863, 
Charles  Cranz  ;  1 864,  Chai'les  Cranz. 

In  January,  1865,  as  is  set  forth  more  at 
length  elsewhere,  Akron  became  a  city  of  the 
second  class.  From  that  time  to  the  present, 
her  officers  have  been  the  following  : 

Mayors — Elected  by  the  people,  term  two 
years:  1865,  James  Mathews;  1866,  James 
Mathews  ;  1867,  Lucius  V.  Bierce  ;  1868,  Lu- 
cius V.  Bierce  ;  1869,  J.  L.  Robertson  ;  1870, 
J.  L.  Robertson  ;  1871,  J.  L.  Robertson  ;  1872, 
J.  L.  Robertson  ;  1873,  Henry  Purdy  ;  1874, 
Henry  Purdy  ;  1875,  Levi  S.  Herrold  ;  1876, 
Levi  S.  Herrold  ;  1877,  James  F.  Scott  ;  1878, 
James  F.  Scott;  1879,  James  M.  Fraze  ;  1880, 
James  M.  Fraze  ;  1881,  Samuel  A.  Lane. 

Clerks — Elected  by  the  Council,  term  one 
year.  The  office  is  that  of  which  the  incum- 
bent was  formerly  denominated  Recorder ; 
1865,  Jerr}-  A.  Long;  1866,  Jerry  A.  Long; 
1867,  Mills  B.  Purdy  ;  1868.  Mills  B.  Purdy  ; 
1869,  Mills  B.  Purdy  ;  1870,  Mills  B.  Purdy  ; 
1871,  Mills  B.  Purdy  ;  1872,  Mills  B.  Purdy  ; 
1873,  John  A.  Means  ;  1874,  John  A.  Means  ; 
1875,  John  A.  Means  ;  1876,  Mills  B.  Purdy  ; 
1877,  Adams  Emerson;  1878,  Adams  Emer- 
son ;  1879,  Newton  Ford  ;  1880,  Newton  Ford, 
1881,  Newton  Ford. 

Members  of  City  Council — Elected  by  the 
people.  Term  two  years.  After  the  first  elec- 
tion, the  six  persons  elected  drew  lots  as  to 
which  ones  should  serve  the  full  term  of  two 
years,  and  which  the  half  term,  until  the  next 
election,  resulting  as  follows  : 

First  Ward — Two  3'ears,  George  W.  Crouse  ; 
one  3'ear,  Charles  W.  Bonstedt.  Second  Ward — 
Two  years,  Henry  W.  Howe  ;  one  }- ear,  John 
E.  Bell.  Third  Ward— Two  years,  Lewis  Mil- 
ler ;  one  year,  J.  Park  Alexander.  Each  year 
thereafter  there  has  been  elected  one  from  each 


'-^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


335 


ward,  as  follows  :  1866 — First  Ward,  J.  J.  Wag- 
oner ;  Second  Ward,  J.  H.  Collins  ;  Third  Ward, 
George  Sechrist.  1867 — First  Ward,  George 
W.  Grouse ;  Second  Ward,  W.  H.  Payne  ;  Third 
Ward,  J.  A.  Long.  1868— First  Ward,  J.  W. 
Holloway  ;  Second  Ward,  J.  H.  Collins  ;  Third 
Ward,  J.  Park  Alexander.  1869— First  Ward, 
C.  R.  Howe  ;  Second  Ward,  W.  J.  Atwood  ; 
Third  Ward,  Clement  J.  Kolb.  1870— First 
Ward,  William  T.  Allen  ;  Second  Ward,  W.  P. 
Cassidy ;  Third  Ward,  J.  Park  Alexander. 
1871 — First  Ward,  David  R  Paige  Jr.;  Second 
Ward,  John  Memmer  ;  Third  Ward,  Elias  W. 
Howard  ;  Fourth  Ward,  Robert  McElhinney, 
George  Burkhardt ;  Fifth  Ward,  R.  F.  Palmer, 
Clement  J.  Kolb.  1872— First  Ward,  William 
T.  Allen  ;  Second  Ward,  0.  C.  Barber  ;  Third 
Ward,  J.  Park  Alexander  ;  Fourth  Ward,  Noah 
N.  Leohner  ;  Fifth  Ward,  James  A.  Metlin. 
1873— First  Ward,  Milton  W.  Henry  ;  Second 
Ward,  James  Christy,  H.  E.  Merrill ;  Third 
Ward,  H.  L.  Carr  ;  Fourth  Ward,  David  Lam- 
parter  ;  Fifth  Ward,  A.  J.  Hamlin ;  Sixth 
AYard,  J.  A.  Baldwin,  Thomas  Johnson.  1874 — 
First  Ward,  William  T.  Allen  ;  Second  Ward, 
E.  H.  Merrill ;  Third  Ward,  Elias  W.  Howard  ; 
Fourth  Ward,  Robert  McElhinney  ;  Fifth  Ward, 
James  A.  Metlin  ;  Sixth  Ward,  Enoch  Rowley. 
1875— First  Ward,  Milton  W.  Henry  ;  Second 
Ward,  A.  Brewster  ;  Third  Ward,  William  A. 
McClellan  ;  Fourth  Ward,  J.  H.  Derhammer  ; 
Fifth  Ward,  Simon  Hankey  :  Sixth  Ward,  Da- 
vid E.  Hill.  1876— First  Ward,  William  Buch- 
tel  ;  Second  Ward,  John  W.  Baker  ;  Third 
Ward,  John  J.  Cook  ;  Fourth  Ward,  John 
Schott ;  Fifth  Ward,  Christian  Vogt ;  Sixth 
Ward,  Enoch  Rowley.  1877— First  Ward, 
Charles  A.  Collins  ;  Second  Ward,  James 
Christy ;  Third  Ward,  J.  Park  Alexander  ; 
Fourth  Ward,  D.  W.  Morgan  ;  Fifth  Ward,  Ed- 
ward A.  Lawtou ;  Sixth  Ward,  David  E.  Hill. 
1878— First  Ward,  L.  G.  Thorp  ;  Second  Ward, 
W.  J.  Underwood  ;  Third  Ward,  Mason  Chap- 
man ;  Fourth  Ward,  John  Schott  ;  Fifth  Ward, 
Christian  Vogt  ;  Sixth  Ward,  Enoch  Rowley. 
1879 — First  Ward,  Ulysses  L.  Marvin  ;  Second 
Ward,  N.  A.  Carter  ;  Third  Ward,  J.  Park  Alex- 
ander ;  Fourth  Ward,  Estep  ;  Fifth  Ward, 
Edward  A.  Lawton  ;  Sixth  Ward,  F.  W.  In- 
man.  1880— First  Ward,  Milton  W.  Henry  ; 
Second  Ward,  Henry  H.  Brown  ;  Third  Ward, 
B.  F.  Goodrich  ;  Fourth  Ward,  John  Schott  ; 
Fifth  Ward,  Charles  F.  IngersoU  ;  Sixth  Ward, 


Thomas  H.  Peckham.  1881— First  Ward,  Da- 
vid L.  King  ;  Second  Ward,  N.  A.  Carter  ;  Third 
Ward,  J.  Park  Alexander  ;  Fourth  Ward,  Philip 
Weber  ;  Fifth  Ward,  Edward  A.  Lawton  ;  Sixth 
Ward,  James  Housel. 

Pennsylvania  cO  Ohio  Canal. — Judge  Leices- 
ter King,  of  Warren,  father  of  David  L.  King, 
Esq.,  of  this  city,  was  the  man  to  whom,  more 
than  all  others,  Akron  was  indebted  for  her 
second  canal,  an  enterprise  which  very  mate- 
rially aided  in  developing  the  commercial  in- 
terests of  the  growing  village.  B}'  personal 
eftbrt  and  influence.  Judge  King  conquered  the 
many  obstacles  in  the  path,  and  carried  to  a 
successful  completion,  after  many  3'ears  of 
tireless  endeavor,  the  project  to  which  he  had 
devoted  his  energies,  and  in  whose  eventual  ac- 
complishment he  had  the  fullest  confidence. 
An  old  paper  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  George 
McMillen,  of  Portage  Township,  indicates  that 
the  lobby  system  obtained  in  full  vigor  over 
fifty  years  ago,  and  is  not,  therefore,  one  of  the 
inventions  of  modern  politics.  We  subjoin  a 
copy  of  a  portion  of  the  paper,  bearing  date  of 
"  Middlebury,  December  12, 1826,"  and  running 
as  follows  :  "  We,  the  subscribers,  citizens  of 
the  villages  of  Middlebury  and  Akron  and  their 
vicinity,  confident  that  inestimable  advantages 
would  result  to  our  villages  and  this  section  of 
the  countr}'  generall}',  from  a  canal  connecting 
the  Ohio  Canal  at  the  Portage  Summit  with  the 
Pennsylvania  Canal  at  Pittsburgh,  and  anxious 
that  an  act  should  pass  the  Legislature  of  Ohio 
at  their  present  session,  authorizing  the  con- 
struction of  such  canal,  will  pay  the  sums  an- 
nexed to  our  respective  names,  to  John  Mc- 
Millen, Jr.,  and  Peter  Bowen,  for  the  purpose 
of  defraying  the  expenses  of  delegates  from  the 
aforesaid  villages  to  the  Legislature,  to  assist 
in  procuring  the  passage  of  such  an  act.  Pay- 
ment to  be  made  at  the  time  of  subscribing." 
To  this  are  attached  nineteen  names.  The 
delegates  and  other  supporters  of  the  measure 
proved  speedily  successful,  for  the  Pennsyl- 
vania &  Ohio  Canal  was  incorporated  by  act  of 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Ohio 
January  10,  1827,  which  act  authorized  '-the 
construction  of  a  canal  to  meet  or  intersect  the 
Pennsylvania,  or  Chesapeake  &  Ohio  Canal,  at 
or  near  the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania."  The  act  was  to  take  effect  and 
be  in  ibrce  "  whenever  the  Legislature  of  Penn- 
sylvania should  pass  a  law  giving  their  assent 


336 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


to  and  confirming  the  provisions  of  said  act  of 
Ohio,"  etc.  Pennsylvania's  Legislature  subse- 
quentl}'  passed  the  act  desired.  Hindrances  of 
one  sort  and  another  intervened,  and,  a^  times, 
it  looked  as  though  the  canal  would  never  be 
built.  Finally,  in  1836,  the  State  of  Ohio  was 
induced  to  extend  a  helping  hand,  which  she 
did  by  a  pledge  to  take  one  dollar  of  stock  for 
every  ticn  dollars  of  private  subscription  ob- 
tained. Mr.  King  then  visited  Pittsburgh, 
Philadelphia  and  other  Eastern  cities,  and,  by 
dint  of  earnest  solicitation,  secured  a  favorable 
attention  from  a  number  of  capitalists,  and  re- 
turned, bringing  with  him  across  the  mountains 
many  thousands  of  dollars,  in  an  ordinar}-  hand 
satchel.  Altogether,  $840,000  was  secured 
from  private  individuals,  and  the  State,  in  pur- 
suance of  her  promise,  added  $420,000  of  stock. 
As  originally  projected,  the  canal  was  to 
have  passed  through  Middlebury,  which  at  that 
time  was  about  as  large  and  as  promising  a 
place  as  Akron.  However,  since  the  connection 
with  the  Ohio  Canal  was  to  be  made  "  on  the 
Portage  Summit,"  and  some  difficult}-  was  ex- 
perienced in  accomplishing  both  these  things, 
by  act  of  the  Legislature,  March  2,  1836,  the 
State  Canal  Commissioners  were  empowered  to 
determine  anew  the  location  of  the  connection. 
The  Board  of  Canal  Commissioners  ordered 
Leander  Ransom,  Acting  Commissioner,  to  in- 
vestigate the  matter  and  report.  This  he  did, 
voluminously,  January  29,  1837,  fixing  the 
junction  "  at  the  north  end  of  the  lower  basin 
in  South  Akron,  a  few  rods  from  the  foot  of 
Lock  No.  1  of  the  Ohio  Canal."  The  canal  was 
at  last  completed  from  its  eastern  terminus  at 
Beaver,  Penn.,  to  Akron,  and  opened  through- 
out in  1841.  Late  in  the  fall,  the  first  boat  ar- 
rived from  the  East.  A  number  of  prominent 
citizens  of  Pittsburgh,  Philadelphia,  New  York 
and  other  Eastern  cities,  were  on  board  Gov. 
Thomas  Corwin,  of  Ohio,  and  Gov.  David  Por- 
ter, of  Pennsylvania,  werfe  specially  invited  to 
attend  the  formal  opening.  Gov.  Corwin  was 
detained  at  home  by  sickness,  but  Gov.  Porter 
was  present.  When  the  boat,  decorated  with 
flags  and  banners,  and  carrying  a  cannon  and 
a  brass  band,  reached  Warren,  it  met  a  hearty 
reception  at  the  hands  of  the  enthusiastic  citi- 
zens. There  Judge  King,  who  was  President  of 
the  Canal  Compan}^  and  his  son  David,  then  a 
lad  of  seventeen,  and  others  interested,  joined 
the  party.     At  every  town  and  village  the  peo- 


ple had  turned  out  with  hearty  good-will  to  see 
the  boat  go  by,  and  to  every  such  gathering 
Gov.  Porter  declaimed  his  same  set  speech 
till  all  the  passengers  had  memorized  it  as 
thoroughly  as  the  speaker.  At  Ravenna,  an- 
other accession  was  received,  and  at  Franklin 
Mills  (now  Kent)  and  Cuyahoga  Falls.  Akron 
had  been  advised  of  their  approach,  and  the  en- 
tire populace  went  out  to  meet  them,  which  they 
did  about  noon,  at  the  big  bend  at  the  Old 
Forge.  The  escort  accompanied  the  boat  to 
town  ;  the  company  disembarked  at  the  west- 
ern end  of  the  long  trench,  in  South  Akron, 
and  repaired  to  a  large  upper  room  in  May's 
Block  (where  the  Clarendon  Hotel  now  is), 
where  a  grand  banquet  had  been  spread.  One 
of  the  most  important  factors  of  the  boat's 
cargo  was  its  ample  supply  of  liquor.  There 
was  a  barrel  of  sherry,  another  of  Madeira,  and 
a  great  many  dozen  bottles  of  champagne ; 
what  was  left  of  these  was  conveyed  to  the 
dinner- room.  Besides  this  thoughtful  provision, 
much  more  of  a  like  sort  had  been  forwarded 
in  anticipation  of  the  event,  and  there  was  no 
lack  of  that  with  which  to  make  merry.  Not  a 
few  were  attacked  with  a  dizziness  not  incident 
to  sea-sickness.  In  the  evening,  another  jolli- 
fication was  indulged  in  at  the  Ohio  Exchange, 
a  noted  tavern,  where  Paige  Brothers'  hardware 
store  now  stands.  Speeches  were  made  and 
drinks  taken  ;  bands  played,  and  toasts  were 
ofiered  and  responded  to  ;  refreshment  flowed 
freel3^  One  of  the  visitors — old  Gen.  S.,  of 
Warren — imbibed  too  much,  and  died  before 
morning,  of  apoplexy.  A  son  the  next  day, 
himself  also  considerably  obfusticated,  sobbing 
and  moaning  to  a  friend,  Mrs.  E.,  remarked 
that  "he  always  cried  when  his  father  died." 
One  of  the  Ravenna  part}^,  upon  his  return, 
was  narrating  the  joyfulness  of  the  occasion  to 
a  group  of  neighbors,  when  one  of  them  re- 
ferred to  this  death  of  a  man  who  had  taken  so 
conspicuous  a  part,  inquiring  if  that  occurrence 
did  not  cast  a  shadow  over  the  genei'al  hilarity, 
to  which  he  responded  :     "  It  was  dora'd  fine  ! 

dom'd  fine !     That  dying  of  S 's   was  too 

bad,  to  be  sure  ;  but  the  old  fellow  went  out  of 
the  world  with  bis  belly  full  of  beefsteak  and 
brandy  !  " 

As  is  mentioned  elsewhere,  the  canal  com- 
pany took  possession  of  the  ditch  through 
which  the  water-power  was  conveyed  to  Akron, 
from    Old   Forge   to    Moody's   shop  on  Main 


<S k^ 


-^r       ^ 


CITY    OF    AKKON. 


337 


street,  between  Market  and  Mill,  widening  and 
deepening  it,  but  reserving  to  the  Middleburj' 
H3'draulic  Co. — the  owners  of  the  power — all 
their  rights.  For  a  time  the  canal  flourished 
apace.  A  large  amount  of  business  was  done 
and  it  became  the  thoroughfare  of  a  consider- 
able passenger  traffic.  Besides  the  merchan- 
dise brought  here  or  shipped  from  here,  every- 
thing from  Pittsburgh  or  Warren  destined  for 
Cleveland  of  course  passed  through  Akron,  and 
thence  via  the  Ohio  Canal. 

The  outlook  promised  well  for  the  stock- 
holders ;  in  fact,  several  small  dividends  were 
declared.  The  tolls  collected  at  the  port  of 
Akron  during  the  year  1852,  amounted  to 
$6,966.61  ;  in  1853,  $8,110.54.  The  maximum 
was  reached  in  1856,  in  the  sum  of  $8,786.78. 
Very  unfortunately  for  the  canal,  in  1854  a 
controlling  interest  passed  into  the  hands  of 
men  who  were  also  financially  interested  in 
the  new  newly  constructed  Cleveland  &  Ma- 
honing Railroad.  This  end  was  accomplished, 
first  by  obtaining  stock  of  the  canal  compan}- 
as  subscriptions  to  the  railroad  company,  and 
afterward  by  buying  from  the  State  her  inter- 
est. These  two,  the  railroad  and  canal,  being 
parallel,  were  necessarily  either  coadjutors  or 
active  competitors.  At  first  the}'  promised  to 
act  together,  and  largely  upon  that  considera- 
tion the  same  men  secured  the  relation  of  Di- 
rectors to  each.  That  policy,  however,  was 
not  long  maintained  ;  tolls  upon  the  canal  were 
speedily  put  up  to  an  exorbitant  figure,  while 
the  railroad  transported  between  the  same 
points  for  a  much  lower  cost.  The  eflfect  is 
clearly  exhibited  in  the  showing  of  the  receipts 
of  toll  upon  the  canal  at  Akron  for  the  next 
few  years  :  1857,  $6,538.96  ;  1858,  $5,400.96  ; 
1859,  $2,143.42  ;  1860,  $853.27  ;  1861,  $772.88. 

A  joint  resolution  passed  the  Legislature 
April  12,  1858,  authorizing  the  sale  of  the 
State's  canal  stock  b}^  the  Commissioners  of 
the  Sinking  Fund,  to  the  highest  and  best  pur- 
chaser. Nothing  was,  however,  eflTected  under 
the  order  until  some  years  later.  Finall}',  in 
1862,  November  20,  the  stock,  for  which  the 
State  of  Ohio  had  paid  $420,000,  was  sold  to 
Charles  L.  Rhodes,  of  Cleveland,  for  $35,000. 
He  at  once  turned  it  over  to  the  Cleveland  & 
Mahoning  Railroad,  of  which  he  was  Vice 
President  and  Superintendent,  and  the  bondage 
of  the  canal  became  complete.  Just  prior  to 
this    sale,   the    General    Assembl}-    had   been 


urged  to  permit  the  canal  company  "  to  sell  the 
canal,  and  that  such  portions  might  be  closed 
as  the  purchasers  might  think  proper."'  This 
was  rejected  in  the  Senate  by  a  heavy  adverse 
vote.  After  1862,  the  business  of  the  canal 
was  very  small  and  constantly  decreasing.  No 
monej-  was  expended  on  repairs  ;  bridges  and 
locks  became  dilapidated,  and  the  people  along 
its  banks  were  clamorous  for  a  removal  of  the 
source  of  so  much  sickness.  In  January, 
1867,  the  canal  company  again  petitioned  the 
Legislature  for  permission  to  remedy  matters 
in  some  wa}'  or  other,  and  secured  the  passage 
of  an  act  (March,  1867)  "authorizing  the  Di- 
rectors of  the  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Canal  to 
lease,  sell  or  abandon  such  portion  or  portions 
of  said  canal  and  its  appendages  as  may,  in 
their  opinion,  be  for  the  interest  of  said  com- 
pany, and  not  prejudicial  to  the  public  inter- 
est." *  *  *  Negotiations  were  then 
pending  between  the  Middlebury  Hydraulic 
Company  before  mentioned  and  the  canal  com- 
pany, which,  upon  the  passage  of  the  above 
act,  were  completed.  The  Hj'draulic  Company, 
whose  rights  had  full}-  continued  through  the 
period  of  the  canal's  active  operation,  now 
leased  that  portion  contained  between  the 
Portage  County  summit  near  Ravenna  and  the 
western  end,  the  junction  with  the  Ohio  Canal, 
and  including  the  Shalersville  reservoirs,  in- 
tending to  maintain  its  use  as  a  canal,  and  also 
as  to  the  portion  between  Middlebury  and 
Akron  its  original  purpose  of  a  water-power. 
Business  had  now  substantiall}'  ceased  ;  the 
water  in  the  channel  beyond  the  Old  Forge 
was  stagnant,  and  by  its  offensive  odors  and 
malarial  influences  provoked  its  neighbors  be- 
yond the  point  of  their  endurance.  One  night 
in  the  spring  of  1868,  a  party  of  men  cut  the 
banks  at  Cuyahoga  Falls  and  at  two  other 
places  east  and  west  of  that  village.  By 
morning  only  a  reeking  ditch  remained.  The 
State  threatened  to  prosecute  the  actors,  but 
never  did  so,  and  the  breaks  were  never  re- 
paired. 

Again,  in  the  spring  of  1874,  the  canal  was 
cut  one  night  in  Akron  by  a  party  of  dis- 
guised men,  between  Exchange  street  and 
Main.  Those  engaged  in  the  afl'air  were  ar- 
rested and  tried  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
but  were  never  punished.  Soon  after  this,  the 
western  part  from  Mill  street  to  Exchange  was 
permanently^  closed,  and  now  steps  are  being 


:v 


la 


338 


HISTORY  or    SUMMIT   COUNTY 


taken  to  conduit  that  part  of  the  channel  still 
open  upon  Main  street,  from  Tallmadge  to 
Mill 

An  enthusiastic  set  of  men,  chiefly  from  the 
East,  built — on  paper — a  great  city  upon  the 
top  and  side  of  North  Hill,  at  a  point  be- 
tween Cuj'ahoga  Falls  and  Akron,  which  was 
in  time  to  have  absorbed  both  these  lesser 
towns  into  its  suburbs.  The  imaginary  city 
was  to  be  supplied  with  a  limitless  water- 
power — the  sine  qua  non  of  all  manufacturing 
interests  in  those  days — by  means  of  a  canal 
dug  ai'ound  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  tapping 
the  Cuyahoga  River  just  below  the  village  of 
the  Falls,  and  so  great  was  the  faith  of  the  pro- 
jectors of  the  idea,  that  they  exemplified  it  in 
the  good  Scriptural  way,  b}'  works.  They 
formed  a  joint-stock  company  with  a  nominal 
capital  of  $500,000.  Prominent  among  its 
members  were  E.  C.  Sackett,  Dr.  Eliakim  Cros- 
by', who  had  successfully  originated  and  carried 
out  the  similar  scheme  above  mentioned  of 
bringing  a  water  motive  power  from  Middle- 
bury,  Col.  James  W.  Phillips  and  Dr.  E.  W. 
Crittenden.  These  four  men  contracted  to 
build  the  canal  or  aqueduct  for  $118,000.  Col. 
Phillips  at  once  went  East,  where,  in  New  York 
and  Philadelphia,  he  interested  a  number  of 
capitalists  in  the  project  and  recruited  laborers 
for  the  work.  The  company'  also  issued  scrip 
and  paid  in  land  whenever  possible ;  the}' 
owned  the  entire  tract  of  "  the  chucker}-." 
They  had  a  map  of  their  prospective  cit}' 
platted,  published  and  circulated  as  an  adver- 
tisement. One  of  the  heaviest  proprietors  (from 
Rochester.  N.  Y.)  offered  to  stake  every  dollar 
he  owned  in  the  world,  that  in  less  than  ten 
3'ears  the  best  corner  lots  would  be  worth  as 
much  in  the  market  as  those  of  Rochester. 
They  cut  and  quarried  from  the  precipitous 
cliffs  along  the  east  side  of  the  river  an  aque- 
duct four  miles  in  length,  to  the  site  of  their 
well-nigh  Utopian  scheme.  A  dam  was  con- 
structed across  the  river  by  which  to  throw 
into  the  raceway  so  much  water  as  should  be 
needed.  Work  was  begun  in  1838  and  pushed 
energetically  that  year  and  the  next,  so  that  by 
the  latter  part  of  1839,  the  water  was  turned 
in.  With  some  changes  and  repairs  at  places 
along  the  route,  the  canal  seemed  to  operate 
nicely.  But,  unfortunately,  right  here  the 
funds  of  the  organization  had  been  expended, 
some  of  its  instigators  had  lost  confidence  in 


its  ultimate  success,  there  had  been  no  such  in- 
flux of  population  as  had  been  expected,  and 
no  capitalists  came  forward  to  utilize  the  power 
now  that  it  was  secured.  Several  serious  breaks 
occurred  in  the  sandy  embankments,  the  water 
was  shut  oft',  and  thenceforward  matters  re- 
mained in  statu  quo.  Strong  efforts  were  put 
forth  by  the  plucky  proprietors  to  overcome 
the  untoward  circumstances.  Now  that  the 
major  part  of  the  cost  had  been  met,  the  labor 
practically  completed,  it  indeed  appeared  as 
though  just  a  Jittic  more  capital  would  restore 
the  concern  to  a  firm  basis,  and  bring  the  much- 
longed-for  manufacturing  enterprises. 

In  1843,  the  Universalist  Church,  which  had 
a  strong  societ}-  in  Akron,  held  a  mass  conven- 
tion in  the  old  stone  church  (now  the  Baptist 
Church),  upon  which  delegates  were  in  attend- 
ance from  all  over  the  United  States.  Among 
them  was  Horace  Greeley.  The  officers  of  the 
Canal  Company  showed  the  entire  trench  to 
Mr.  G-reeley,  expatiated  upon  their  intentions 
and  expectations,  and  the  great  manufacturing 
city  that  was  sure  to  grow  upon  their  plats  and 
records.  Evidently  a  great  impression  was 
made  upon  the  editor's  mind  or  the  editor's 
heart,  or  both,  for  upon  his  return  the  New 
York  Trihunc  contained  a  lengthy  article  wher- 
in  the  whole  scheme  was  enthusiastically  set 
forth,  and  the  prophecy  volunteered  that  Sum- 
mit Cit}^  would  become  the  "  Lowell  of  the 
West."  No  funds,  however,  came  to  the  ex- 
chequer of  the  company  ;  on  the  contrary,  they 
became  involved  in  litigation  and  debt,  and  so 
what  was  once  one  of  the  greatest  business  proj- 
ects of  the  day  has  entirely  passed  into  ob- 
livion, save  as  it  is  called  back  into  historical 
notice.  The  monument  to  their  blasted  hopes 
is  now  plainly  visible  almost  its  whole  extent, 
and  evokes  many  curious  questions  from  vis- 
itors and  the  younger  generations.  This  young 
city,  with  little  existence,  except  on  paper,  en- 
tered the  lists  as  a  competitor  for  the  seat  of 
justice  of  the  county,  but  was  unsuccessful  in 
its  aspirations  in  that  direction.  All  this,  how- 
ever, is  full}-  given  in  the  chapter  devoted  to 
the  organization  of  Summit  County,  and  will 
not  be  repeated  here. 

It  is  probably  impossible  for  us  of  the  pres- 
ent day  to  at  all  adequately  comprehend  the 
wonderful  hold  which  certain  moral  and  the- 
ological questions  obtained  upon  the  minds 
and  feelings  of  the  people  forty  years  ago.     It 


-^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


339 


was  ill  those  days  that  eveiy  pulpit  was  a  forum 
ol'  polemic  display  and  every  discourse  a  labored 
argument.  The  same  combative  style  charac- 
terized the  newspapers,  both  secular  and  relig- 
ious, and  lust}'  blows  were  given  and  taken  for 
opinion's  sake.  One  of  the  strongest  and  strang- 
est vagaries  was  that  adopted  and  preached 
everywhere  in  season  and  out  of  season  by  the  so- 
called  Millei'ites.  Here  in  Akron  they  had  a 
considerable  following  as  well  as  in  neighboring 
towns.  In  an  April  number  of  the  American 
Democrat,  issued  each  week  by  Horace  Canfield, 
appeared  this  notice  : 

The  present  week  is  a  time  of  great  interest  to 
tlie  believers  in  the  personal  reign  of  Christ,  and  in 
the  Second  Advent  as  now  near.  This  week,  we 
believe,  will  conclude  the  2,300  years  from  the  going 
forth  of  the  decree  to  restore  and  build  Jerusalem, 
at  which  time  the  word  of  God  has  been  given  that 
tlie  sanctuary  shall  be  cleansed,  and  there  shall  be 
an  end  of  indignation.  *  *  *  The  time  of  the 
feast  of  the  passover  was  the  first  full  moon  after 
tlie  vernal  equinox,  which  will  occur  on  Friday  of 
the  present  week.  We  know  not  how  to  escape  the 
fact  that  there  the  2,300  years  will  terminate,  and 
from  that  time  we  shall  be  in  constant  expectation 
of  seeing  the  Lord. 

Second  Advent  Conference  to  be  held  at  Akron 
(if  the  Lord  does  not  come  before  that  time)  on 
Wedneseay,  April  19,  1843,  at  10  o'clock  A.  M. 
Friends  from  all  quarters  are  invited  to  attend. 

Akron  has  been  inclined  to  agitate  the  mat- 
ter of  the  allowance  or  prohibition  of  intoxi- 
cating drinks  from  an  early  date  and  at 
frequent  intervals.  At  a  Council  meeting  May 
15,  1841,  Auisel  Miller  presented  the  following 
preamble  and  resolution,  and  the  same  were 
adopted  : 

Where .\s.  The  licensing  of  groceries  for  the 
retailing  of  ardent  spirits  by  the  Town  Council  is 
an  action  on  which  much  difference  of  opinion  ex- 
ists among  the  citizens  of  Akron,  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  for  the  instruction  of  the  Coun- 
cil, the  voters  at  the  coming  election  are  hereby 
requested  to  write  or  print  on  their  tickets  License 
or  No  License. 

Accordingly,  upon  the  succeeding  day  of 
election,  June  1,  the  voters  declared  in  favor 
of  No  License.  The  Council  accepted  their 
verdict,  and  refused  the  petitions  of  all  desir- 
ing licenses.  A  pressure  was  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  State  legislators  at  the  session  of 
1842-43,  which  effected  the  following  bill  in 
February  : 

Sec  2.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  tState    of    Ohio,     That   the    Town   Council  of 


Akron,  in  Summit  County,  shall  have  powers  to  pass 
such  l)y-laws  as  maj'  be  necessar}'  to  prohibit  with- 
in the  corporate  limits  of  said  town  the  retailing, 
vending  or  selling  of  ardent  spirits  or  other  intoxi- 
cating liquors  by  any  pei'son  or  persons  other 
than  licensed  tavern-keepers  or  ph3^sicians  in  the 
course  of  medical  practice. 

In  pursuance  of  the  power  therein  conferred, 
the  Town  Council  convened  in  special  session 
February  28,  and  appointed  a  committee  of 
two — the  Mayor,  Harvey  H.  Johnson,  and 
James  Mathews — to  draft  an  ordinance  in 
accordance  with  its  intent.  The  ordinance 
passed  its  third  reading  March  11,  1843,  by  a 
unanimous  vote,  and  immediately  took  effect. 
This  was  about  the  time  of  the  noted  "  Wash- 
ingtonian  Movement."  The  County  Washing- 
tonian  Society  called  its  annual  meeting  for 
the  22d  of  February-.  A  stirring  address  was 
delivered  by  H.  W.  King,  Esq.,  before  a  large 
gathering.  The  society  reported  over  five 
thousand  members  in  the  countj'.  Henry 
Rhodes  was  elected  President,  and  L.  V.  Bierce, 
Greorge  Bliss  and  R.  McMillen  an  Executive 
Committee.  At  the  time  of  the  vote  upon  the 
adoption  or  rejection  of  our  new  constitution, 
June  17,  1851,  the  question  of  license  or  no 
license  as  a  S3-stem  to  be  incorporated  into  the 
State's  organic  law  was  separately  submitted 
to  the  decision  of  the  electors  of  the  State. 
The  vote  of  Portage  Township  (including 
Akron)  stood — For  license  to  sell  intoxicating 
drinks,  275.  Against  license  to  sell  intoxicat- 
ing drinks,  312.  In  common  with  nearly  all 
the  cities  and  villages  of  Northern  Ohio,  Akron 
was  strongly  affected  by  the  maelstrom  of  feel- 
ing in  the  temperance  cause  which  swept  over 
the  country  in  1874,  commonly  known  as  the 
"  Crusade."  The  movement  was  countenanced 
and  abetted  by  the  best  classes  of  society. 
A  few  were  displeased  with  its  methods,  and 
held  themselves  aloof,  but  by  far  the  larger 
part  of  the  city's  best  people  either  acted  a 
part  or  at  least  sympathized  with  the  endeav- 
ors of  the  crusaders.  An  interesting  episode 
of  the  campaign  occurred  upon  the  evening  of 
Monday,  April  6.  It  had  been  the  day  of  the 
municipal  elections.  The  great  question  at 
issue  was  that  of  temperance  ;  all  other  mat- 
ters were  retii'cd  from  prominence  in  compari- 
son. A  large  and  enthusiastic  concourse,  with 
a  considerable  proportion  of  ladies  included, 
gathered  at  the  Council  rooms,  as  it  was  gen- 
erall}'  known  that  a  proposed  ordinance  pro- 


5) 


^r 


-W- 


340 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


hibitorj  in  character  was  that  night  to  come 
up  for  its  third  and  final  reading.  Every  one 
wishing  to  first  learn  the  result  of  the  day's 
work  at  the  polls,  the  early  portion  of  the 
evening  was  devoted  to  short  and  stirring 
speeches  by  prominent  citizens,  music,  etc. 
The  returns  coming  in  indicated  a  signal  vic- 
tory for  the  temperance  interests.  At  10 
o'clock.  President  J.  Park  Alexander  called  the 
Council  to  order.  The  third  reading  of  the 
ordinance  before  mentioned  was  made  the 
special  business  of  the  session,  and  by  a  unan- 
imous vote  of  the  eight  Councilmen  present  it 
became  a  law.  Amid  intense  enthusiasm  and 
outbursts  of  applause,  Mr.  Alexander  append- 
ed his  name  as  President  of  the  Council,  and 
the  deed  was  accomplished.  It  was  announced 
that  a  jollification  meeting  would  take  place 
the  next  evening  at  the  Academy  of  ^Iusic, 
and  that  at  that  time  the  gold  pen  with  which 
President  Alexander's  signature  had  been 
affixed  would  be  sold  at  auction  to  the  highest 
bidder,  the  proceeds  to  be  devoted  to  some 
charitable  object.  The  next  night  the  Acad- 
emy was  packed ;  standing-room  even  could 
not  be  had,  and  many  were  obliged  to  turn 
away  disappointed.  John  R.  Buchtel  was 
assigned  the  post  of  auctioneer,  and  the  fun 
began.  The  first  bid  was  10  cents  ;  from  that 
it  jumped  to  $10,  then  rapidly  mounted  by 
tens  and  fives  until  finall}'  it  was  struck  oflT  to 
Mr.  Ferdinand  Schumacher  for  $252.50.  That 
is  probabl}'  the  most  costly  pen  in  tlie  United 
States.  Undoubtedly,  some  permanent  good 
was  accomplished  by  the  Crusade,  but  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  effect  proved  but  tem- 
porary, as,  indeed,  might  be  expected  from  the 
nature  of  the  means  emplo^-ed — a  species  of 
coercion — and  when  the  restraint  was  removed 
the  evils  of  course  returned.  Still  later  have 
occurred  the  "  Murphy  Movement"  and  a  num- 
ber of  lesser  waves  of  temperance  reform. 
While  these  several  spasmodic  efforts  have 
been  followed  by  many  discouraging  lapses 
and  much  that  tended  to  dishearten  the  truly 
earnest  and  temperate  lovers  of  temperance, 
yet  we  believe  that,  unconsciously  to  itself, 
perhaps,  the  public  has  thereby  been  educated 
to  a  higher  grade  of  thought  and  feeling  upon 
the  subject.  This  we  regard  as  practically  the 
most  valuable  result  of  these  periodic  agita- 
tions. 

Akron's  noted  Glendale  is  justly  considered 


one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  best  kept  ceme- 
teries in  the  entire  country.  Centrall}'  located, 
yet  possessed  of  remarkable  natural  advan- 
tages, it  is  at  once  removed  from  all  indications 
of  city  surroundings,  and  pleasingl}'  diversified 
in  surface  contour.  The  spacious  grounds  are 
under  the  charge  of  an  experienced  and  com- 
petent manager,  who  devotes  his  whole  time  to 
the  task.  There  is  a  fine  stone  lodge  at  the 
city  gatewa}^,  and  just  inside  a  costl}^  me- 
morial chapel,  reared  in  1875  by  the  Buck- 
le}' Post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
aided  by  outside  subscriptons,  in  remembrance 
of  the  bra^'e  comrades  fi'om  Akron  and  Port- 
age Townships,  who  fell  in  the  war  of  the  re- 
bellion. There  are  also  fine  greenhouses  in  con- 
nection with  the  yard,  and  a  well-arranged 
vault.  This  brief  notice  will  not  undertake  to 
describe  Glendale  ;  no  attempt  at  description 
would  conve}'  to  one  unacquainted  with  the 
actual  appearances  an  at  all  adequate  idea  of 
its  summer  beauty,  and  to  one  knowing  it  the 
effort  would  doubtless  seem  to  fall  far  short 
of  reality. 

In  1839,  the  Town  Council  passed  an  act  to 
regulate  the  public  burying-ground  (which  had 
alread}'  been  located  where  it  now  is),  providing 
for  its  thorough  care  under  the  supervision  of 
a  committee  appointed  directh'  by  themselves. 
This  management  continued  until  1850,  at 
which  time,  in  Februar}',  the  corporation  trans- 
ferred all  its  right  and  title  to  the  "  Akron  Ru- 
ral Cemeter}'  Association,"  an  organization 
chartered  for  the  purpose,  and  in  whose  hands 
it  still  remains,  conditioning  the  transfer  upon 
a  perpetuation  of  the  same  methods  of  conduct. 

A  large  share  of  credit  for  the  present  state 
of  improvement  is  due  to  tlie  judicious  and  ef- 
ficient labors  of  the  Ladies  Cemetery  Associa- 
tion, an  adjunct  of  the  Rural  Cemetery  Associa- 
tion before  mentioned,  an  organization  broader 
than  any  denomination  or  set,  and  whose  mem- 
bers represent  them  all.  These  ladies,  both  by 
direct  exertion  and  by  means  of  numberless 
fairs,  bazars,  musical  and  other  entertainments, 
have  raised  considerable  sums  of  money,  which 
have  been  expended  in  improving  and  adorn- 
ing this  beautiful  "  God's  Acre." 

The  inception  of  the  town,  in  1825,  was  far 
from  promising.  Its  main  features  were  alder 
swamps  and  barren  sand  hills.  A  more  unin- 
viting site  could  hardlj^  be  found  in  the  neigh- 
borhood.    The  completion  of  the  Ohio  Canal 


Tv" 


lIl 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


341 


to  this  point,  however,  in  1827,  worked  wonders. 
That  year  and  those  immediately  subsequent 
greatly  increased  the  population,  so  that  by 
1830,  the  census  of  Portage  Township  (includ- 
ing Akron,  which  constituted  almost  the  whole 
of  the  enumeration),  showed  475.  By  1832, 
Akron  was  thought  to  contain  about  600  in- 
habitants ;  in  1836,  when  it  became  legally  a 
town,  1,200  ;  and  in  1840,  it  had  reached 
1,664. 

The  imports  in  1836  amounted  to  $500,000, 
and  the  exports  $400,000,  indicating  a  thriving 
state  of  business,  a  characteristic  which  has 
been  thoroughly  maintained  and  to  a  remarka- 
ble degree  ever  since.  The  chapter  upon  our 
industries  and  manufactures  will  exhibit  this 
fact  more  clearly.  The  growth  has  been  in 
general  of  a  very  steady  uniform  sort,  not 
greatly  fluctuating  from  time  to  time.  It  has 
also  been  of  a  desirable  kind,  healthy  and  con- 
stant. The  great  panic  of  1837,  to  be  sure, 
was  disastrous,  but  the  town  soon  rallied,  and 
proved  to  have  suflfered  no  lasting  check.  In 
the  hard  times  of  1873,  and  the  four  years  next 
succeeding,  Akron  endured  the  strain  much 
better  than  the  majority  of  towns  and  cities  of 
the  State. 

Quite  a  number  of  times  she  has  been  visited 
by  extensive  conflagrations — notably  those  of 
1848,  1849,  1851, 1854,  1856,1869,  and  several 
of  later  dates — by  which  large  portions  of  the 
heaviest  business  sections  of  town  have  been 
destroyed,  but  from  the  ashes  of  which,  phoenix- 
like, better  forms  have  followed. 

In  1853,  Akron  had  eight  churches,  five 
flouring-mills,  one  woolen  factory,  three  found- 
ries, sixty  stores,  six  hotels,  one  bank,  three 
printing  offices  and  two  telegraph  offices. 

The  State  Legislature  in  1845  chartered  a  col- 
lege in  Akron,  with  power  to  confer  literary,  le- 
gal, medical  and  theological  degrees.  It  seems 
that  nothing  was  ever  accomplished  in  the  prac- 
tical furtherance  of  this  idea.  The  incorpora- 
tors evidently  had  in  mind  the  establishment 
of  a  university  composed  of  several  colleges. 
Why  the  project  died  we  cannot  learn. 

Akron  was,  however,  provided  with  a  clas- 
sical college,  first  opened  to  students  in  1872, 
through  the  munificence  of  Hon.  John  R.  Buch- 
tel,  seconded  by  the  contributions  of  many 
others,  particularly  of  the  Universalist  denom- 
ination. An  extended  sketch  of  Buchtel  Col- 
lege is  elsewhere  presented  in  this  work,  so  we 


will  simply  refer  the  reader  to  that  for  fuller  in- 
formation. 

A  number  of  severe  fires  in  the  earl}'  years 
of  the  town  rendered  the  need  of  some  organ- 
ized protection  imperative.  In  December  of 
1839,  the  Council,  by  ordinance,  provided  for 
the  creation  and  maintenance  of  volunteer  fire 
companies.  Accordingly,  a  company  under 
the  name  of  the  "  North  Akron  Fire  Company," 
was  formed  January  28,  1840,  with  twentj^-six 
members.  To  these  persons  there  was  subse- 
quently issued  by  the  Town  Recorder,  upon  the 
direction  of  the  Council,  certificates  of  mem- 
bership dating  back  to  the  time  of  joining. 
February  10,  1846,  eight  more  persons  became 
members,  and  "  No.  1  "  was  added  to  the 
name.  The  application  of  "  Niagara  Fire  En- 
gine Company,  No.  2,"  was  accepted  by  the 
Council  December  20,  1845,  and  thirty-seven 
men  appointed  members.  Again  in  1847,  a 
hook  and  ladder  company  was,  bj^  the  same 
authority  made  a  fire  company,  and  clothed 
with  the  name  "  Tornado  Fire  Company,  No. 
3,"  indicative,  we  suppose,  of  the  vast  energy 
of  its  thirty-two  members. 

Still  other  companies  were  from  time  to  time 
added,  all  volunteer  organizations.  In  Ma}', 
1858,  the  Council  first  declared  a  compensation, 
further  than  the  statutory  privileges,  to  the 
members  of  these  companies.  This  was  the 
princely  sum  of  $2  each  per  year,  and  that 
conditioned  upon  a  strict  compliance  with  the 
prescribed  regulations. 

Gradually,  however,  improved  appliances  and 
a  paid  service  have  been  substituted  for  the 
former  less  capable  but  hearty  labor,  and  now 
Akron  is  abreast  with  the  foremost  cities  in 
the   efficiency  of  her   protection   against  fire. 

A  petition  was  presented  to  the  Town  Coun- 
cil July  29,  1847,  signed  by  H.  B.  Ely,  praying 
the  privilege  of  constructing  a  line  of  telegraph 
through  Akron.  The  petition  was  granted,  and 
a  resolution  in  pursuance  adopted  whereby 
'•  The  Lake  Erie  Telegraph  Company  was  au- 
thorized to  run  their  line  of  comtounication 
through  this  town,  provided  they  do  not  inter- 
fere with  or  obstruct  any  street  or  alley  in  said 
town,  to  the  inconvenience  of  the  citizens  or 
public." 

This  was  the  earliest  move  in  the  direction 
of  telegraphic  facilities.  The  line  was  built 
and  operated  for  a  few  years,  but  for  some  rea- 
son or  other  was  discontinued. 


^ 


342 


HISTOEY  OF    SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


The  railroads  of  Akron  and  the  county  at 
large  are  treated  of  in  a  distinct  ai'ticle  bj-  an- 
other writer.  We  will  here  merel}-  advert  to 
them,  for  a  fuller  and  more  interesting  descrip- 
tion, referring  to  that  chapter.  The  "  Akron 
Branch"  of  the  Cleveland  &  Pittsburgh  Rail- 
road was  projected  early  in  1851 ;  the  survey  be- 
gan April  15.  In  June  of  the  same  year,  the 
people  of  Summit  County  by  a  majority  vote  of 
827,  instructed  the  County  Commissioners  to 
make  a  subscription  of  $100,000  to  the  pro- 
posed road  in  behalf  of  the  county.  The  con- 
tract for  building  from  Hudson,  its  northern 
terminus  and  point  of  junction  with  the  main 
line,  to  Akron,  was  let  June  21.  The  work 
was  pushed  with  vigor.  By  the  1st  of  the  suc- 
ceeding January,  the  road  was  in  use  as  far  as 
Cuyahoga  Falls.  B}'  the  next  1st  of  June  it 
connected  at  the  Old  Forge  with  a  packet  line 
of  boats  upon  the  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Canal. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  July  4,  1852, 
it  was  completed  so  as  to  allow  the  passage  of 
cars  into  Akron.  A  mild  form  of  jubilee  had 
to  be  indulged  in  although  it  was  Sunda}',  but 
the  great  day  of  jollification  occurred  on  Mon- 
da}-,  the  5th.  Of  that  we  will  give  no  narration, 
as  we  presume  the  article  devoted  specially  to 
this  topic  will  contain  it  in  full,  onl}-  mentioning 
that  at  the  great  dinner  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  in 
the  afternoon.  Col.  Simon  Perkins,  President  of 
of  the  compau}'  proposed  a  name  for  the  new 
road,  "  Cleveland,  Akron  &  Zanesvillc  Rail- 
road," which  was  then  and  there  formally 
adopted.  Subsequently  the  name  was  still 
further  amplified  in  significance — the  Cleve- 
land, Zancsville  &  Cincinnati  Railroad — no  one 
of  which  places,  by  the  way,  has  it  ever 
reached.  It  is  now  known  as  the  Cleveland, 
Mt.  Vernon  &  Columbus  Railroad. 

Our  next  road  was  the  Atlantic  &  Great 
Western,  completed  to  Akron  in  April,  1863,  a 
broad  guage,  tributary  to  the  New  York  & 
Erie.  Of  the  tribulations  of  this  unfortuuate 
and  ill-managed  road,  a  vast  chapter  might  be 
written.  x\fter  many  successive  mutations,  the 
road  is  at  last  under  an  entirely  new  and  dis- 
tinct organization  and  with  a  new  name — the 
New  York,  Penns3'lvania  &  Ohio — we  hope, 
upon  a  better,  sounder  foundation,  and  in  a 
fair  way  to  serve  its  patrons  respectably  and 
repay  its  investors. 

The  third  road  to  enter  Akron  was  the  Cuy- 
ahoga Valle}',  commencing  operations  the  1st 


of  February,  1830.  Though  having  but  just 
made  a  beginning,  its  management  appears  to 
have  been  judicious  ;  it  has  certainly  striven 
to  accommodate  the  public,  and  has  secured 
verj'  many  foiends  who  warmly  desire  for  it 
an  unqualified  success. 

In  1860,  a  strong  effort  was  made  to  secure 
the  location  of  the  new  State  Penitentiary  at 
Akron.  Several  prominent  citizens  were  sent 
to  Columbus  to  lobby  for  the  measure.  In 
December,  the  Council  empowered  our  Repre- 
sentatives to  tender  to  the  State  an  eligible  site 
of  twenty  acres  of  land  or  more  if  needed,  free 
of  charge,  for  that  purpose  ;  the  offer  was  not 
accepted. 

With  reference  to  the  advancement  of  Akron 
from  its  grade  of  an  incorporated  village  to 
become  a  cit}'  of  tiie  second  class,  an  enumera- 
tion of  the  inhabitants  was  taken  upon  the 
14th  day  of  December,  1864.  It  was  thus 
learned  that  the  requisite  5,000  was  exceeded, 
and  steps  were  at  once  instituted  looking  to 
the  desired  action.  Upon  the  20th  of  Decem- 
ber, by  I'esolution  of  the  Council  reciting  tlie 
above  fact,  the  proper  State  oflScials  were  re- 
quested to  advance  the  grade  as  prayed  for. 
In  consideration  of  this  petition,  and  in  accord- 
ance with  the  statutory  provisions,  Gov. 
Brough,  Auditor  of  State  Godman  and  Secre- 
tary of  State  Smitli  declared  Akron  to  ha\'e 
become  a  city  of  the  second  class,  January  21, 
1865. 

In  September  of  1865,  there  was  annexed  to 
the  cit}'  the  territory  lying  just  east  of  the 
then  eastern  corporation  line,  and  extending  as 
far  as  Middlebury  Township,  i.  e.,  to  where 
now  Middlebury  street  intersects  East  Market. 

The  census  of  1860  had  shown  a^population 
of  3,520  in  Akron  ;  that  of  1870  showed 
10,006.  The  city  had  almost  trebled  in  the 
decade,  though  the  count}'  as  a  whole  had 
gained  but  26^  per  cent ;  of  the  7,275,  the 
total  county  increase,  6,486  had  occurred  in 
Akron.  This  effect  was  in  a  measure  to  Vie 
sure  due  to  the  gain  by  annexation  before 
mentioned. 

The  next  and  last  change  in  the  corporation 
boundaries  took  place  in  1872.  August  24, 
1871,  tlie  Council  provided  that  at  the  regular 
spring  election,  to  be  held  on  the  first  Monday 
of  April,  1872,  the  question  ''Shall  the  incor- 
porated village  of  jNliddlebur}'  be  annexed  to 
the  city  of  Akron  ? "  should  be  submitted  to 


vt 


■J> 


CITT    OF    AKRON. 


343 


the  electors  of  that  village.  By  subsequent 
action  it  was  also  ordained  that  the  same  ques- 
tion, at  the  same  time,  and  in  the  same  man- 
ner should  be  declared  upon  by  the  voters  of 
Akron.  The  result  was  as  follows  :  Akron — 
For  annexation,  1,042  ;  against,  16.  Middle- 
bury — For,  140  ;  against,  26.  Upon  this  deci- 
sive vote,  the  Council  appointed  William  T. 
Allen,  George  W.  Grouse  and  David  L.  King 
Commissioners  on  the  part  of  Akron  to  ar- 
range terms  and  conditions  with  the  Commis- 
sioners appointed  by  Middlebury,  namelj^', 
Mendall  Jewett.  Frank  Adams  and  George  F. 
Kent.  Upon  the  13th  of  April,  the  terms  of 
annexation  were  agreed  upon,  and,  upon  the 
24th,  the  report  of  the  Commissioners  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Council,  by  it  adopted,  and  the 
former  village  of  Middlebury  formally  added 
to  the  city  and  made  to  constitute  its  Sixth 
Ward.  Final  action,  perfecting  the  work,  was 
taken  by  the  County  Commissioners  October 
28,  1872. 

From  a  population  of  10,006  in  1870,  Akron 
grew  to  16,462  in  1880,  a  gain  of  64^  per  cent. 
Excluding  the  effect  of  the  annexation  of  Mid- 
dlebury, the  increase  would  be  49^  per  cent. 
During  the  same  period  the  increment  of  the 
county  was  26  per  cent,  the  same  as  for  the 
decade  preceding. 

As  a  city,  we  are  at  the  present  in  the  midst  of 
an  era  of  active  and  great  improvement.  The 
telephone  system  has  been  in  operation  less 
than  two  years,  and  the  eit}'  is  radiated  in 
every  direction  by  its  wires.  It  has  passed 
beyond  the  experimental  stage,  and  from  an 
interesting  novelty  has  become  almost  a  neces- 
sity. Akron  was  the  first  place  in  the  State, 
excepting  three  or  four  of  the  largest  cities,  to 
possess  the  telephone.  Under  the  charge  of 
the  private  company  which  owns  and  controls 
this  s^'stem,  are  lines  now  in  successful  opera- 
tion from  x\kron  to  Tallmadge,  a  distance  of 
four  miles ;  x\kron  to  Doylestown,  fourteen 
miles  ;  Canton  to  Massillon,  eight  miles,  and  a 
line  nearl}'  constructed  between  Akron  and  Can- 
ton, twenty-two  miles.  When  this  is  com- 
pleted, Tallmadge,  Akron,  Canton,  Massillon 
and  Do3'lestown  will,  for  the  first  time  in  his- 
tor3',  be  on  speaking  terms  with  one  another. 
To  this  circuit  will  in  time  be  added  Cleveland 
and  Cu3'ahoga  Falls,  and  eventually  a  number 
of  other  places. 


In  the  winter  of  1879-80,  Akron  was  ac- 
corded the  privilege  of  a  free  postal  deliver}-, 
and  early  in  the  succeeding  spring  the  system 
was  carried  into  execution,  to  the  great  satis- 
faction of  every  one. 

Akron  is  a  pioneer  in  the  matter  of  utilizing 
electricity  as  a  means  of  lighting  streets,  and 
is  the  t^THt  city  of  the  world  to  adopt  the  meth- 
od of  high  masts  for  that  purpose.  It  is  yet 
too  early  to  predicate  the  means  or  the  method 
a  success  or  otherwise,  but  certainly  the  begin- 
ning augurs  well  for  the  future.  A  new  cit}' 
hall  IS  nearly  ready  for  occupancy' ;  the  needs 
which  this  will  supply  have  been  long  and  se- 
verely felt. 

A  system  of  water-works  of  the  most  im- 
proved type  is  well  on  toward  completion.  It 
is  being  put  in  by  a  private  company,  upon 
which  falls  the  entire  responsibility,  expense 
and  hazard.  We  are  now  promised  the  turn- 
ing on  of  the  water  by  the  1st  of  June  next, 
aud  when  it  comes  it  will  assuredly  meet  a 
hearty  welcome  from  all  our  citizens.  Besides 
this,  a  complete  plan  of  sewage  has  been  de- 
vised b}'  our  city  Civil  Engineer,  and  the  nec- 
essary work  is  now  being  done.  A  new  paving 
with  stone  to  replace  the  worn-out  Nicholson  has 
been  ordered  upon  East  Market  and  Mill  streets, 
and  before  man}-  months,  in  all  probabilit}', 
sevei'al  other  streets  will  be  repaired  in  the 
same  manner.  With  all  these  progressive 
steps,  Akron  \Qi  enjoys  the  unique  position 
among  cities  of  being  wholly  free  from  debt. 
It  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  blissful  state  of 
things  will  continue. 

Two  more  improvements  seem  earnestly  de- 
manded in  the  near  future.  One  of  these,  at 
least,  will  doubtless  soon  follow.  We  mean 
the  hiding  from  sight  that  long-time  eyesore — 
the  ditch  where  was  once  the  Penns3'lvania  & 
Ohio  Canal — alike  obnoxious  to  the  nostrils 
and  deleterious  to  the  health  of  our  people. 
The  initial  steps  toward  so  desirable  a  result 
have  already  been  taken  in  the  Cit}'  Council,  in 
a  resolution  to  the  effect  that  the  old  canal  bed 
should  be  conduited  from  Tallmadge  street  to 
its  end  at  Mill  street. 

The  other  is  the  introduction  of  street  rail- 
ways, and  we  confidentl}'^  predict  that  not  man}- 
years  will  elapse  before  that  also  will  be  chron- 
icled among  the  manifold  advantages  of  Akron. 


:^ 


dt 


^ S) 


344 


HISTORY  or    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    IX.* 


CITY  OF   AKRON  — ITS   MANUFACTORIES 
SEWER  PIPE  AND  POTTERIES- 


-THEIR   RISE   AND  PROGRESS  — THE   REAPER  WORKS- 
-MILLS,  OATMEAL,  ETC.— OTHER  INDUSTRIES. 


"The  bellows-puff,    the  hammer-beat,  the  whistle 
and  the  song, 
Told,  steadfastly  and  merrily,  toil  rolled  the  hours 
along." — Street. 

THE  first  steps  taken  to  inaugurate  manu- 
facturing within  what  are  now  the  corpo- 
rate limits  of  the  city  of  Akron  were  b}^  Jo- 
seph Hart  in  1807.  This  movement  was  com- 
menced in  what  is  now  the  Sixth  Ward,  Middle- 
bury.  Mr.  Hart  began,  during  that  year,  the 
erection  of  a  "  grist-mill."  He  soon  sold  one- 
half  the  land  he  had  purchased  to  Aaron  Nor- 
ton, and  the  two  completed  the  structure  in 
partnership,  finishing  their  work  in  1809.  For 
many  years  this  mill  did  the  work  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  in  the  way  of  grinding — as 
did  "  Bagley's  Factory  "  the  cloth-dressing  and 
carding.  The  projecting  of  the  Ohio  Canal 
gave  an  impetus  to  the  manufacturing  interests 
of  Middlebury — mills,  factories  and  mechanical 
shops  springing  into  existence  ;  but  Akron,  on 
the  canal,  when  once  under  way,  brought  a  sad 
discomfiture  to  the  village  eastward.  In  1831, 
Dr.  Eliakim  Crosby  conceived  the  project  of 
bringing  the  Little  Cuyahoga  from  Middlebury 
round  to  Akron,  thus  creating  a  fine  water- 
power.  No  sooner  was  the  project  conceived 
than  it  was  undertaken  ;  the  "  Cascade  mill- 
race  "  was  dug  and  the  Stone  Mill  put  in 
operation.  Thus  was  started  on  its  astonish- 
ing career  of  prosperity  the  manufacturing  in- 
terests of  Akron  proper.  Middlebury  lan- 
guished for  awhile  ;  its  factories  closed,  and 
the  "  grinding  ceased."  However,  in  the  course 
of  time,  mechanical  establishments  began  to 
increase  and  its  water-power  was  improved.  In 
the  end,  the  pottery  business  gave  it  a  per- 
manence, so  that  now  the  Sixth  Ward  is  em- 
phatically a  manufacturing  ward  of  the  city. 

Among  the  prominent  industries  of  Middle- 
bury, nearly  thirty  years  ago,  was  the  carriage 
manufactory  of  C.  A.  Collins,  which  then 
turned  off  goods  to  the  amount  of  $20,000  an- 
nually.    Their  carriages  were  of  "  the  highest 

♦Contributed  by  C.  W.  Butterfield. 


finish  and  st3-le,  and  in  great  demand  in  the 
Southern  and  Southwestern  States."  Irish, 
McMillan  &  Co.  had  an  extensive  machine 
shop,  "  where  all  kinds  of  machinery  were  man- 
ufactured." Their  building  was  three  stories 
high,  and  about  three  hundred  feet  long  by  forty 
wide.  This  firm  averaged,  in  manufactured  ar- 
ticles, about  $14,000  a  j^ear.  Their  fire-engines 
were  superior  to  those  made  in  Eastern  estab- 
lishments. 

.  "  The  pottery  business,"  says  a  writer  of  that 
period,  in  speaking  of  the  manufactories  of 
Middlebury,  "  is  carried  on  extensively.  There 
are  three  devoted  to  the  making  of  ordinar}- 
stoneware,  one  to  the  manufacture  of  stone 
pipes  and  pumps,  and  one  to  Liverpool  ware. 
The  clay  is  procured  from  Springfield,  and  the 
ware  is  of  the  best  quality.  The  pipe  for 
pumps  or  water  drains,  is  made  in  joints  of 
twent}-  inches,  and  by  shoulders  and  cement 
are  put  together  so  as  to  present  an  entirely 
smooth  inner  surface.  They  are  glazed  inside 
and  out,  to  prevent  decay  of  the  pipe  and  an 
unpleasant  taste  to  the  water.  They  are  des- 
tined to  supersede  all  metallic  pipes. 

"  The  potteries,"  continues  the  writer,  "  fur- 
nish 80,000  gallons  of  the  manufactured  arti- 
cles annually,  which  average  five  cents  a  gallon. 
There  is  also  a  cabinet-shop  in  this  town  (Mid- 
dlebury), which  turns  off  an  immense  number 
of  articles  in  its  line.  Every  operation,  from 
jacking  an  oak  board  to  vaneering  the  choicest 
mahogany,  is  done  b}-  machinery.  Rawson, 
Goodale  &  Co.  have  a  woolen  factory  which 
employs  a  large  number  of  hands  and  turns  off 
a  considerable  amount  of  broadcloths,  satinets 
and  flannels.  These  goods  are  taken  to  the 
New  York  market,  the  Ohio  mark  taken  off, 
and  then,  by  the  merchants,  returned  to  Ohio 
and  sold  as  European  manufacture.  The  de- 
ception is  a  harmless  one,  as  their  goods  are 
decidedly  preferable  to  those  imported.  There 
is  also  a  comb  and  button  factory  in  Middle- 
bury, one  of  fanning-mills,  and  several  for  mak- 
ing: lucifer  matches."     Such  was  the  state  of 


y[- 


iiaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiitiiiiisii^^^^^^^^ 


I^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


345 


manufacturing  industries  in  what  is  now  the 
Sixth  Ward  of  Akron,  something  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century  ago. 

From  1831,  when  the  first  mill  was  built  in 
the  village  of  Akron,  to  1854 — a  period  of 
twenty-three  years — the  manufactories  of  the 
place  had  largely  increased  both  in  number  and 
importance  ;  but  the  great  want  was  a  speedy 
transportation.  Says  the  writer  already  quoted : 
"  When  our  immense  beds  of  stone-coal,  iron 
and  pottery  shall  have  an  opening  to  market ; 
when  our  flour,  by  a  speed^^  transportation,  can 
come  in  competition  with  the  New  York  and 
Eastern  pi'oduction ;  and  when  the  milk  from 
our  dairies  can  be  sent  almost  warm  to  the  New 
York  market,  then  Akron  will  indeed  be  not 
only  the  child  of  promise  but  of  fulfillment." 

In  1857,  there  were  in  Akron  two  woolen- 
factories,  five  flouring-mills,  a  steam  engine 
factory,  a  blast-furnace,  a  mineral  paint  mill,  a 
card-factory,  and  an  extensive  stove-factor}', 
besides  a  number  of  smaller  works.  The  next 
seventeen  years  showed  a  large  increase  ;  for, 
in  1874,  there  were  in  the  whole  city,  two 
woolen-mills,  two  paper-mills,  seven  flouring- 
mills,  four  foundries,  one  rolling-mill,  one 
blast-furnace,  one  forge,  three  planing-mills, 
two  manufactories  of  reapers  and  mowers,  one 
of  pearl  barley,  one  of  oat-meal,  one  of  knives 
and  sickles,  one  of  rubber  goods,  one  of  chains, 
one  of  matches,  and  three  machine  shops. 
There  were,  also,  one  manufactory  of  boilers, 
two  of  plows,  one  of  woolen  goods,  one  of  horse 
hay-rakes,  one  of  stoves,  one  of  iron  fences,  ten 
of  stoneware,  and  one  of  blank  books. 

There  is  now,  probably,  no  city  in  the  United 
States  of  the  same  population,  presenting  such 
a  diversity  of  manufactories  as  Akron.  The 
receiving  and  shipping  facilities  enjo^-ed  by  the 
manufacturers  of  the  city  may  be  regarded  as 
one  of  the  important  factors  in  their  progress 
and  prosperity.  The  magnificent  water-power 
is  another  noteworthy  advantage ;  and  the 
abundant  suppl}-  of  cheap  fuel  from  the  neigh- 
boring coal-banks  is  still  another.  The  market 
is  stocked,  at  all  seasons,  with  cheap  farm  prod- 
uce ;  house  rents  are  reasonable  ;  in  fact,  all 
the  expenses  of  living  are  verj'  moderate.  The 
city  has  already  three  railways.  Tliis  gives 
competing  lines  East  and  West,  and  insures  the 
lowest  rates  for  fare  and  freights. 

In  no  department  of  the  mechanic  arts,  it  is 
safe  to  say,  has  more  marked  progress  and  im- 


provement been  made  within  the  last  quarter 
of  a  century  than  in  that  of  labor-saving  farm 
machiner3^  The  problem  of  how  to  construct 
the  most  economical  and  eflective  mechanism 
for  the  consummation  of  a  given  purpose  in  the 
arena  of  agricultural  enterprise,  has  for  a  series 
of  years  been  made  the  patient  and  unremitting 
study  of  some  of  the  most  talented  of  Ameri- 
can inventors.  While  admiring  a  beautiful 
and  perfect  piece  of  machinery,  the  creation  of 
some  master  mind,  how  little  conception  has  the 
beholder  of  the  many  months  and  even  years 
of  studious  application,  of  persistent  experi- 
menting, of  scientific  induction,  that  were  in- 
volved in  the  successful  development  of  it. 
This  is  known  only  to  the  inventor  himself,  and 
it  is  in  entire  accord  with  the  doctrine  of  com- 
pensation that  he  should  reap  the  legitimate 
reward  for  his  incessant  toil  and  pre-eminent 
skill.  That  this  reward,  in  its  fullest  measure, 
is  due  to  Lewis  Miller,  of  Akron,  inventor  of 
the  Buckeye  Mower  and  Reaper,  will  be  con- 
ceded by  every  one  acquainted  with  his  inven- 
tions. The  fact  that  the  machine  is  to-day,  in 
its  essential  principles  and  mechanical  construc- 
tion, the  same  as  when  originall}'  brought  out 
— in  1855 — is  assuredly  an  emphatic  tribute  to 
Mr.  Miller's  genius.  Of  course,  minor  improve- 
ments have  from  year  to  year  been  made  upon 
it — here  a  little  and  there  a  little — but  its  main 
features  remain  the  same. 

These  machines  were  first  manufactured  in 
Canton,  Ohio,  by  the  firm  of  C.  Aultman  &  Co. 
In  1863,  the  works  in  Akron  were  started  as  a 
branch  of  the  Canton  house.  There  is  now 
another  branch,  located  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 
Taken  together  they  rank  among  the  largest 
works  of  the  kind  in  the  world.  They  are  mak- 
ing at  Akron  sixty-five  machines  a  day,  and 
have  shipped  an  average  of  three  car  loads  a 
day  since  the  middle  of  December,  1880.  From 
this  writing  (March,  1881)  until  July  following, 
the  average  will  be  about  eight  car  loads  a  day. 
The  works  comprise  in  Akron  a  main  building, 
450x50  feet,  with  four  floors  ;  a  warehouse, 
50x200  feet,  having  also  four  floors  ;  a  mold- 
ing shop,  equivalent  to  150x70  feet,  one  floor  ; 
engine  and  boiler-rooms,  50x40  feet,  two 
floors ;  a  blacksmith-shop,  30x200  feet,  one 
floor  ;  an  old  wood-room,  50x100  feet,  having 
three  floors  ;  a  new  building,  265x60  feet,  with 
four  floors  ;  a  new  engine-room,  20x30  feet,  one 
floor  ;  a  repair  room,  30x50  feet,  two  floors  ;  an 


346 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


iron  warehouse,  35x116  feet,  and  an  office  build- 
ing, 40x80  feet,  witli  three  floors  ;  the  total 
area  of  the  buildings  being  243  900  feet,  or 
upward  of  five  and  two-thirds  acres.  These 
buildings  are  thoroughh'  equipped  with  very 
complete  machinery,  especiallv  adapted  to  this 
kind  of  business,  and  operated  by  steam-power 
supplied  from  engines  of  colossal  proportions. 
The  machines  are  sold  all  over  the  United 
States  ;  but,  the  principal  demand  is  from  the 
wheat-growing  districts  west  of  the  Mississippi. 
At  the  works  in  Akron  are  now  manufactured 
the  Buckeye  Mower  ;  the  Buckeye  Single  Reap- 
er ;  the  Buckeye  Combined  Mower  and  Drop- 
per, rear  delivery ;  the  Buckeye  Combined 
Mower  and  Table  Rake,  side  delivery ;  the 
Buckeye  Harvester,  for  hand  binding;  the 
Buckeye  Twine  Self-Binder,  and  the  Buckeye 
Wire  Self-Binder. 

The  firm  of  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.  was  or- 
ganized in  1865,  with  a  capital  of  $300,000, 
since  increased  to  $1,000,000,  for  the  exclusive 
purpose  of  manufacturing  these  machines.  The 
headquarters  and  main  works  of  the  company 
are  located  at  Akron. 

But  the  "Buckeye"  is  not  the  only  mower 
and  reaper  manufactured  in  Akron.  The 
"  Empire,"  made  by  J.  F.  Seiberling,  at  his 
works  in  the  city,  belongs  to  the  lighter  class 
of  machines,  and  is  now  sold  in  ever}'  State 
and  Territory  in  the  Union.  In  its  construction 
numerous  improvements  have  been  made  since 
its  first  introduction  into  the  market.  It  has 
been  thoroughly  tested  in  all  kinds  of  grass 
and  grain,  and  on  all  conditions  of  ground, 
with  gratifying  results.  For  compactness, 
simplicity,  lightness  of  draft,  ease  of  manage- 
ment and  beauty  of  finish,  it  ranks  deservedly 
high.  The  Empire  Mower  and  Reaper  Works 
were  established  in  Akron  by  Mr.  Seiberling  in 
1875.  Their  capacity  is  now  7,000  machines  a 
year.  The  Empire  works  turn  out  a  mower 
which  is  a  two-wheeled,  front-cut  machine  ;  to 
this  can  be  added,  at  any  time,  a  reaping  at- 
tachment. This  consists  of  a  separate  finger- 
bar,  with  either  the  dropper  or  Empire  side- 
delivery  table-rake,  or  sweep  rake.  Mr.  Seiber- 
ling also  manufactures  the  Empire  Harvester 
and  Binder,  which  is  a  new  member  in  his 
family  of  machines.  The  buildings  of  Mr. 
Seiberling  are  those  of  the  old  P]xcelsior  Mow- 
er and  Reaper  Works,  located  immediately  east 
of  the  depot  of  the  New  York,  Pennsylvania  & 


Ohio  Railroad,  on  Forge  and  Lincoln  streets. 
They  consist  of  a  foundry,  110x95  feet ;  a  main 
building,  45x180  feet ;  a  warehouse,  45x90  feet, 
and  a  blacksmith-shop,  35x40  feet.  The  steam 
engine  which  supplies  the  motive  power  of  the 
works  is  of  eighty-horse-power. 

That  such  a  prosaic  subject  as  the  manufact- 
ure of  shirts  should  have  been  made  so  highly 
poetical,  under  the  magic  touch  of  an  English 
poet,  as  to  immortalize  his  name,  is  strange  in- 
deed ;  but  such  is  the  fact,  for 

"With  fingers  weary  and  worn, 
With  eyelids  heavy  and  red, 
A  woman  sat  in  unwomanly  rags, 
Plying  her  needle  and  thread  ; 

Stitch  !  stitch  !  stitch  ! 
In  poverty,  hunger  and  dirt, 
And  still  with  a  voice  of  dolorous  pitcli. 
She  sang  the  'Song  of  the  Shirt.'  " 

That  is  to  sa}-,  it  was  wonderfully  sung  by 
Thomas  Hood,  as  every  one  knows.  But  men- 
tion of  the  two  factories  in  Akron  will  not  be 
made  in  verse  ;  nor  will  the  wa}^  their  owners 
do  business  be  chronicled  in  harmonious  num- 
bers. The  office  and  factory  of  Cleorge  W. 
Wright  &  Co.  are  located  at  No.  112  South 
Howard  street,  on  the  third  fioor.  These  gen- 
tlemen do  excellent  work,  and  are  the  sole  man- 
ufacturers of  the  patent  diamond  neckband, 
which  is  used  in  all  their  shirts.  The  other 
factory  is  upon  the  same  street,  at  No.  167,  and 
is  owned  b}'  Sperling  &  Roberts.  The}'  make 
first-class  goods  of  four  grades. 

The  manufactory  of  Frank  I).  Howard,  wiio 
makes  plows,  cultivators,  field-rollers,  road 
scrapers,  farm  bells  and  other  articles,  is  on 
the  corner  of  High  and  Mill  streets.  This 
manufactory  was  first  started  in  1869,  by  A. 
Rice  &  Co.,  and  continued  under  that  name  un- 
til 1872,  when  the  firm  changed  to  Benjamin  & 
Howard,  and,  in  1877,  the  present  proprietor 
became  sole  owner.  The  premises  occupied  by 
the  business  covers  a  space  of  120  feet  on  Mill 
street  and  115  feet  on  High  street.  The  build- 
ing consists  of  a  two-story  brick  with  basement, 
35x70  feet,  used  as  a  factory,  sample  and  sales- 
room and  office  ;  a  foundr}^  40x50  feet ;  a 
blacksmith-shop,  20x30  feet ;  and  an  engine- 
room,  15x20  feet,  with  sheds  and  warehouse  for 
storage  of  material  and  stock.  A  forty-horse- 
power steam  engine  is  used  in  driving  the  ma- 
chinery. Mr.  Howard  makes  superior  chilled 
iron  and  steel  plows,  in  which  he  has  a  large 
trade.     In  the  foundry  department,  car  wheels 


fe* 


CITY    OF    AKEON. 


sr, 


for  coal  cars  are  the  chief  product.  The  trade 
of  this  house  extends  throughout  Central, 
Northern  and  Eastern  Ohio,  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  Eastern  and  Western  States. 

In  the  Scriptures,  carriages  or  chariots  are 
frequently  alluded  to.  Upon  the  flight  of  the 
the  Israelites  out  of  Egypt,  they  were  pursued 
by  Pharaoh  with  six  hundred  chariots,  all  of 
which  were  swallowed  up  by  the  Red  Sea. 
Chariots  and  carriages  were  used  mostl}'  by 
kings  and  grandees  on  state  occasions.  The 
Greeks  and  Romans  had  chariots,  but,  strange 
to  relate,  it  was  so  late  as  the  sixteenth  centur}- 
(1550)  that  carriages  were  introduced  into 
France  ;  and  at  that  date  only  three  were  known 
in  Paris,  then  quite  a  large  city.  Since  taste 
enters  so  largely  into  the  construction  of  mod- 
ern vehicles,  and  their  price  brings  them  to  the 
doors  of  many,  the  manufticturing  of  them  has 
become  general.  There  are  in  Akron  four  car- 
riage manufactories,  where  goods  of  that  kind 
can  be  obtained  second  to  none  in  the  countr3\ 

C.  A.  Collins  &  Son  have  the  oldest  estab- 
lishment for  manufacturing  carriages  in  North- 
ern Ohio.  It  was  commenced  in  1837,  by  C. 
A.  Collins.  All  styles  of  open  and  top  buggies, 
fancy  carriages,  spi'ing  wagons  and  sleighs  are 
made  b}-  this  firm.  Their  works  ai-e  located  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Church  streets ;  their 
repository  is  on  the  "old  gas  works"  propertj-. 
An  addition  30x50  feet,  three  stories  high,  has 
recently  been  made  to  their  buildings. 

Another  manufactory  of  carriages  in  Akron 
is  that  of  John  Heppert,  at  the  corner  of  Mar- 
ket and  College  streets.  IMr.  Heppert  com- 
menced in  this  line  in  1858,  in  the  Sixth  Ward, 
then  Middlebury.  He  now  occupies  as  office, 
salesroom  and  repository  two  floors  of  the 
spacious  building,  50x50  feet  in  size,  at  the  cor- 
ner of  the  streets  just  mentioned.  He  turns 
out  some  of  as  fine  carriages,  road  wagons, 
buggies,  express  wagons  and  other  vehicles  as 
are  to  be  found  in  this  section  of  country. 

A  third  raanufactor\'  of  carriages  is  that  of 
Chai'les  Vogt,  who  commenced  business  in  that 
line  in  1876,  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Middle- 
bury  streets.  Mr.  Vogt  has  good  manufactur- 
ing advantages  and  a  prosperous  trade.  The  old 
wood  department  and  paint-shop  measure  35x 
70  feet,  and  the  smith-shop  30x45  feet.  These 
are  now  store  buildings.  His  new  and  com- 
modious brick  structure  is  used  as  an  office  and 
wareroom  on  the  first  floor.     The  second  floor 


is  occupied  as  a  paint  room  and  repository. 
This  building  is  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
streets  before  mentioned,  while  the  old  build- 
ings are  on  the  southwest  corner.  His  new 
frame  building  in  the  rear  of  the  brick  is  used 
as  a  blacksmith -shop. 

In  addition  to  the  manufactories  of  carriages 
before  described,  there  is  one  belonging  to  Har- 
pham  Brothers,  in  the  Sixth  Ward,  at  102  High 
street ;  but  this  firm  is  employed  more  espe- 
cially in  the  making  of  wagons.  They  do  a 
large  and  thriving  business  and  their  work  is 
first-class. 

The  large  establishment  of  the  Whitman  & 
Barnes  Manufacturing  Company  makes  nothing 
but  articles  ai)pertaining  to  agricultural  imple- 
ments. This  compau}'  is  the  outgrowth  of  two 
others :  th{^  Whitman  &  Miles  Manufacturing- 
Company  of  Akron,  and  George  Barnes  &  Co., 
of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  was  formerly  con- 
ducted as  a  branch  of  a  iMassachusetts  house, 
founded  a  number  of  years  ago.  The  capital 
stock  of  the  W^hitman  &  Barnes  Manufacturing 
Company  is  $500,000.  The  works  at  Akron 
are  very  extensive,  and  consist  of  a  number  of 
buildings  erected  and  fitted  up  expressly  for 
the  rapid  and  perfect  prosecution  of  this  par- 
ticular branch  of  industr}-.  They  make  mower 
knives,  reaper  sickles,  sections,  spring  keys, 
guard  plates  and  other  articles  of  this  nature. 
The  demand  for  their  goods  extends  from  the 
rugged  and  rocky  hillsides  of  New  England, 
across  the  fertile  prairie  lands  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley  to  the  sunny  slopes  of  the  Pacific  coast. 
They  export  large  quantities  to  England,  France 
and  Germany.  The  annual  business  of  the 
Akron  bi-anch  of  this  corporation  is  fully 
$500,000.  Two  immense  engines  of  150-horse- 
power  each  arc  used  at  these  works.  The  com- 
panj^  has  a  smaller  brancii  house  at  Canton. 

The  tobacco  trade  is  one  of  the  most  exten- 
sive in  the  United  States,  whether  we  regard 
the  extent  of  the  capital  invested,  or  the  num- 
ber of  hands  to  whom  it  gives  stead}-  employ- 
ment. The  use  of  "  the  weed  "'  is  ^'ery  general, 
notwithstanding  the  theories  put  forth  by  cer- 
tain medical  writers  concerning  its  bad  eftccts 
upon  the  sj-stem,  and  the  practice  of  smoking 
is  on  the  increase,  while  chewing  is  perhaps 
scarcely  holding  its  own,  and  snuflT-taking  is  a 
thing  of  the  past.  Cigar  manufectories  are 
multiplying  all  over  the  country.  There  are 
no  less  than  ten  in  Akron  :     Freuderaan  Broth- 


•       (3 


348 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


ers,  165  South  Howard  street ;  M.  H.  Hart, 
125^  same  street ;  Holstein  &  Golberger.  same 
street  (No.  155)  ;  Louis  Walde,  uear  the  fair  | 
ground  ;  John  Lotze,  707  South  Main  street ;  [ 
Benjamin  McNaughton,  916  East  Market  street ; 
J.  Mengendsorf,  1 25  South  High  street ;  H.  F. 
Shrank,  258  West  Market  street ;  Peter  Lang- 
endorf  &  Brother,  927  South  Howard  street, 
and  John  F.  Weber,  164  same  street. 

There  are  two  tanneries  in  Aliron.  The  Ak- 
ron Tannery  is  the  property  of  James  Christy 
&  Sons,  and  is  located  on  Howard  and  Main 
streets.  The  business  was  founded  here  in 
1842,  by  the  present  senior  member  of  the  firm, 
and,  from  a  comparatively  small  beginning,  has 
steadily  increased  to  its  present  extent  and 
magnitude.  The  firm  now  occupies  as  office, 
storeroom  and  finishing  department,  four  floors 
of  the  spacious  new  brick  structure,  38x60  feet, 
at  the  intersection  of  Howard  and  Main  streets, 
with  a  two-story  building,  40x100  feet,  the  first 
floor  of  which  is  used  for  the  storage  of  bark, 
and  the  second  as  a  dry-room  for  hanging  hides, 
and  a  two-story  tanner}'  building,  80x80  feet. 
They  have  all  the  latest  improved  machinery 
in  the  various  departments  of  their  extensive 
establishment,  and  manufacture  every  descrip- 
tion of  leather  of  superior  grades,  and  the  most 
excellent  qualities,  making  a  leading  specialty 
of  fine  harness  leather,  which  latter  product  has 
attained  a  national  reputation  for  its  uniform 
excellence  and  reliability. 

John  H.  Christ}^  is  the  owner  of  the  other 
establishment.  He  is  the  successor  of  J.  H. 
Christy  &  Co.,  who  started  the  business  in 
Akron  in  1849.  At  that  time,  the  firm  pur- 
chased the  tannery  at  the  corner  of  Howard 
and  North  streets,  which  had  been  erected  ten 
years  before  by  Christy  &  Sawyer.  The  busi- 
ness continued  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  H. 
Christy  &  Co.  until  April,  1849,  when,  by 
purchase  of  the  company's  interest,  John  H. 
Christy  became  sole  owner.  The  building,  occu- 
pied for  storing  and  displaying  goods,  and  as 
an  office  and  salesroom,  is  a  three-story  brick, 
at  109  Market  street.  In  rear  of  this  is  a  brick 
warehouse,  three  stories  high,  25x40  feet,  with 
slate  roof.  Upon  the  site  of  the  old  tannery, 
an  elegant  one  of  brick,  three  stories  high, 
100x100  feet,  is  erected.  The  leather  manu- 
factured is  harness,  upper  and  calf  The  trade 
of  the  house  extends  throughout  all  parts  of 
the  United  States. 


Beds  have  come  down  to  us  from  the  •'  ages 
primeval."  An  easy  couch  for  the  weary  or 
sick— what  is  more  comfortable  ? 

"  When  thoughts 
Of  the  last  bitter  hour  come  like  a  blight 
Over  thy  spirit,  and  sad  images 
Of  the  stern  agony,  and  shroud  and  pall. 
And  breathless  darkness,  and  the  narrow  house, 
Make  thee  to  shudder  and  grow  sick  at  heart  ;" 

When  disease  has  laid  us  upon  a  sick  bed, 
and  our  bodies  racked  with  pain,  what  greater 
boon  than  an  improved  spring  bed-bottom  for 
our  couch  on  which  to  lie  ?  F.  F.  Hale  manu- 
factures Champion  spiral  spring  bed-bottoms 
at  206  Mill  street.  He  began  business  in 
April,  1880.  H.  Limbert  also  makes  goods  of 
this  description  on  Summit  street.  He  manu- 
factures, in  addition,  patent  swings. 

The  Akron  Steam  Forge  Company  was  orig- 
inall}'  a  partnership  concern,  established  in 
1865,  but,  in  1879,  it  became  an  incorporated 
company  under  the  above  title,  with  a  capital 
of  $60,000.  The  area  of  ground  owned  by 
the  corporation  is  ten  acres,  and  the  works  oc- 
cup}-  a  space  of  60x265  feet.  These  buildings 
have  a  fine  appointment  of  mechanical  appli- 
ances adapted  for  the  special  work  performed 
here.  In  the  axle-shop  are  four  steam  ham- 
mers— one  4,000-pound  upright,  taking  steam 
both  ways ;  two  halves,  each  with  hammer- 
head weighing  2,000  pounds,  and  one  with 
head  of  1,500  pounds;  five  heating  furnaces, 
and  every  requisite  modern  convenience  com- 
mended by  thorough  experience. 

The  product  of  this  company  comprises  car, 
driving  and  locomotive  axles,  shafting,  eleven 
sizes  of  eye-bars  for  bridges,  and  every  descrip- 
tion of  wrought  shape  work.  In  all  depart- 
ments are  employed  long-experienced  and  well- 
skilled  artisans,  none  but  the  best  selected 
materials,  and  absolute  perfection  is  aimed  at 
and  attained  in  all  their  manufactures.  Hence, 
wherever  these  uniformly  fine  goods  have  been 
introduced  and  used,  their  qualit}',  strength, 
finish  and  durabilit}'  are  acknowledged  to  be 
unsurpassed  by  the  output  of  any  other  like 
establishment  in  the  Union.  In  their  line  of 
manufacture,  the  character  of  the  stock  em- 
ployed is  an  all-important  consideration,  and 
therefore  the}'  use  nothing  but  carefully  se- 
lected wrought  scrap,  of  tough  and  fibrous 
texture,  insuring  the  most  satisfactory  re- 
sults. 


1/ 


■hL 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


349 


The  company  are  doing  a  very  prosperous 
business,  and  their  product  is  in  active  demand 
by  railway  and  other  corporations,  keeping 
the  works  constantly  busy.  They  now  give  em- 
plo3'ment  to  some  fift}-  hands,  while  their  pa}-- 
roU  foots  up  to  $2,000  per  month.  The  pres- 
ent output  is  at  the  rate  of  about  $300,000  per 
year. 

The  shipping  facilities  of  this  company  are 
all  that  need  be  desired.  The  Valle}-  Railway 
runs  through  their  premises,  and  they  have 
switches  connecting  with  the  A.  &  Gr.  W.  and 
C,  Mt.  V.  &  C.  roads,  whereby  the}'  are  enabled 
to  ship  their  products  to  all  parts  of  the  country 
at  competing  rates.  The  office  and  works  are 
east  of  the  Fountain  Driving  Park. 

One  of  the  large  industries  of  Akron  is  the 
manufacture  of  oat-meal.  An  analysis  made 
by  the  eminent  chemists  Liebig  and  Hassal, 
shows  that  while  wheat  and  barley  contain 
14  per  cent  of  the  nutritious  elements — the 
life  and  muscle-giving  qualities — and  corn  but 
12  per  cent  and  a  fraction,  oats  contain  nearly 
20  per  cent.  The  phosphorescent  qualities  of 
the  latter  act  as  a  gentle  and  healthy  stimulant 
to  the  brain ;  and  on  no  food  can  one  endure 
so  great  or  so  prolonged  mental  labor  as  on 
oat-meal  porridge.  To  a  A'ery  great  number  of 
people  the  value  of  oat-meal  is  little  known, 
although  the  prejudice  against  it  is  fast  giving 
place  to  a  more  just  opinion,  especially  among 
the  educated  classes  who  are  capable  of  appre- 
ciating the  value  of  the  favorable  verdict  of 
chemists  and  physiologists.  There  is  more 
oat-meal  now  consumed  in  the  United  States 
than  in  Scotland.  As  it  contains  in  an  unusu- 
all}'  large  degree  all  the  essentials  which  go  to 
produce  health,  hardiness  and  long  life,  b}'  all 
means  give  us  more  porridge,  and  less  pastr}'. 
From  a  highly  instructive  paper  on  oat-meal, 
b}'  Dr.  H.  A.  ^lott,  an  eminent  analytical 
and  consulting  chemist,  of  New  York,  we  learn 
that  of  all  cereal  meals,  oat-meal  is  far  supe- 
rior for  the  following  reasons  :  Because  it  con- 
tains more  fattening  matter  than  any  other 
cereal  grain  ;  it  contains  a  large  amount  of  ni- 
trogenous matter  (gluten);  it  contains  so  much 
nutriment  in  small  bulk  ;  it  can  be  eaten  for 
long  periods  with  beneficial  I'esults ;  it  keeps 
unchanged  for  a  long  time.  In  oat-meal  the 
nitrogenous  and  carbonaceous  elements  exist 
in  such  proportions  as  to  admit  of  it  being 
eaten  alone  as  a  sustainina:  diet ;  hence  it  is  a 


typical  food.  The  proper  preparation  and  use 
of  oat-meal  for  the  table  to  make  it  palatable, 
is,  as  yet,  not  well  understood  by  a  large  por- 
tion of  American  cooks.  The}'  cannot  prepare 
it  properly.  To  do  so,  requires  a  double  kettle 
for  boiling  in  water  and  steam — iron  outside, 
and  tin  about  an  inch  smaller  inside.  In  this 
way  the  meal  cannot  be  scorched. 

The  oat-meal  mills  of  Akron  may  properly 
be  said  to  have  given  the  cit}'  a  goodly  share 
of  its  wide  celebrit}^  as  a  manufacturing  cen- 
ter. The  man  as  yet  best  known  in  this  con- 
nection is  Ferdinand  Schumacher.  Before  he 
inaugurated  the  production  in  this  country  of 
this  wholesome  article  of  diet,  it  was  generally 
believed  that  such  a  commodity  as  good  oat- 
meal could  not  be  made  in  America,  simply  be- 
cause it  then  was  not.  But  .Mr.  Schumacher 
entertained  a  different  opinion  in  the  premises, 
and,  having  had  some  experience  in  his  native 
country  (Germany)  in  this  line,  he  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  experiment  looking  to  the 
production  of  superior  oat-meal  here  should  be 
persistently  attempted.  The  signal  success  he 
has  met  with  in  his  efforts  in  this  direction 
shows  that  he  was  perfectly  right  in  his  judg- 
ment. When  he  began,  all  the  oat-meal  con- 
sumed in  this  country  was  imported  from  Can- 
ada and  Europe ;  but  his  excellent  pi-oduct  at 
length  led  the  market,  and  at  present  the  im- 
portations of  this  valuable  hygienic  food  are 
comparatively  trifling  in  amount. 

Near  the  depot  of  the  New  York.  Pennsyl- 
vania &  Ohio  llailroad  are  located  Mr.  Schu- 
macher's German  31ills,  devoted  exclusively  to 
the  manufacture  of  this  article  of  food.  His 
are  among  the  largest  and  best-equipped  mills 
in  the  country'.  They  are  seven  stories  high, 
and  cover  an  area  of  60x90  feet.  They  are 
fully  furnished,  from  foundation  to  the  top 
floor  with  the  latest  improved  machiner}'  and 
manufacturing  apparatus.  The  engine,  20x42, 
is  of  125-horse-power,  built  b}'  the  Putnam 
Machine  Company,  of  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  as  were 
also  all  the  other  engines  in  this  establish- 
ment.       ^ 

The  German  Mills  have  two  basement  sto- 
ries, each  thirteen  feet  high,  containing  sixteen 
oat-driers,  with  a  capacity  of  3,000  bushels  per 
day.  The  oats  are  kept  constantly  stirred  and 
turned  b}-  machinery,  so  as  to  secure  perfect 
uniformity  in  drying.  Though  the  fuel  used  is 
coal,  the  arrangement  of  the  driers  is  such  that 


sio 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


no  smoke  or  smut  can  come  in  contact  with  the 
grain. 

In  these  mills  are  eleven  hulling  stones  and 
buhrs  for  grinding  feed,  which  are  all  run  from 
a  line  shaft  by  ([uarter-twist  bells.  When  per- 
fectly- hulled  and  cleaned,  the  berry  of  the  oats 
are  cut  by  ingenious  machinery  patented  by 
Mr.  Schumacher,  consisting  of  a  series  of  knives 
operating  in  connection  with  vibrating  perfo- 
rated plates,  for  the  purpose  of  cutting  the 
meal,  instead  of  bruising  and  crushing  the  berry 
as  in  the  old  process,  whereby  a  large  propor- 
tion of  the  starch  was  unavoidably  converted 
into  a  comparatively  worthless  meal  or  flour. 
The  packing  and  warerooms  are  ver^-  commo- 
dious, light  and  airy,  and  kept  scrupulousl}- 
clean.  The  oat-meal  is  conveyed  from  the  mill 
into  this  department  b3'  machinery,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  being  packed  and  shipped  fresh  every 
day.  A  fair  proportion  of  the  meal  is  put  up 
in  fourteen-pound  air-tight  tin  packages,  in 
which  it  ma}-  be  kept  perfectly  sweet  for  years. 
The  "German  Mills  American  Oatmeal"  brand 
is  largely  shipped  to  every  State  in  the  Union, 
and  its  quality  and  flavor  are  pronounced  un- 
surpassed on  ever}'  hand. 

Carter  &  Steward  also  manufacture  oat-meal 
in  Akron,  at  111  South  Main  street.  The 
buildings  occupied  by  this  enterprising  firm 
were  erected  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
ago  and  used  as  flouring-mills  until  1873,  when 
they  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  present  pro- 
prietors, and  extensive  alterations  and  improve- 
ments were  made,  and  since  that  time  the}' 
have  been  used  exclusively  for  the  manufacture 
of  oat-meal.  The  main  building  is  83x95  feet  in 
size,  and  the  engine  house  and  kiln,  or  depart- 
ment for  drying  oats,  is  15x95  feet.  The  mill 
is  supplied  with  complete  machinery,  especially 
adapted  to  the  uses  for  which  it  is  employed, 
and  all  the  appointments  of  these  works  are  of 
the  best  and  latest  improved  designs.  The 
products  of  these  mills  are  sold  in  all  portions 
of  the  United  States,  from  Portland,  Me.,  to 
San  Francisco,  Cal.,  in  New  Orleans  and 
throughout  the  entire  South.  An  idea  of  the 
capacit}'  of  the  works  and  the  extent  of  the 
business  transacted  b}'  this  house  may  be  gath- 
ered from  the  fact  that  their  annual  sales  in 
this  one  item  alone  exceeds  .f  100,000. 

Besides  the  two  mills  already  spoken  of,  there 
are  those  in  Akron  of  Hower  &  Co.,  successors 
to  Turner  &  Co.,  which  make  oat-meal,  on  the 


corner  of  Canal  and  Cherry  streets.  Turner  & 
Co.  started  in  1877,  and  were  succeeded  by 
Hower  &  Co.  In  December,  1880.  Their  mills 
are  now  known  as  the  Akron  Oat-Meal  Mills. 
Their  capacity  is  sixty-flve  barrels  a  day.  The 
trade  of  the  firm  extends  from  Michigan  to 
Maine. 

The  latest  addition  to  these  mills  is  the  man 
ufacture  of  rolled  avena  (rolled  oats),  which  is 
oat-meal  as  originally  made,  and  claimed  to  be 
superior  in  flavor  and  much  more  easily  cooked 
than  the  granulated  meal. 

There  are  in  Akron  four  extensive  planing - 
mills.  The  Weary,  Snyder,  Wilcox  Manufact- 
uring Company  have  their  buildings  on  Main 
street.  This  company  was  founded  in  1864,  hy 
Wear}-,  Snyder  &  Co.  It  became  a  joint-stock 
company  in  1877,  with  an  authorized  capital 
of  $150,000.  This  company  handles  about 
3,000,000  feet  of  lumber  annually.  Their  yards 
and  mills  occupy  about  four  acres  of  ground 
opposite  the  Empire  House.  The  factory  build- 
ing is  three  stories  in  height,  and  80x120  feet 
in  size.  This  is  equipped  with  a  variety  of 
machinery  especially  adapted  for  this  particu- 
lar branch  of  industry,  among  which  is  a  gang 
of  saws  twenty-eight  in  number,  planing  ma- 
chines, ten  single  saws,  numerous  scroll  saws, 
a  dove-tailiug  machine  of  their  own  invention, 
used  especially  in  the  manufacture  of  boxes 
for  the  establishment  of  F.  Schumacher  for  the 
packing  of  oatmeal,  pearl  barley  and  cracked 
wheat :  door,  sash  and  blind  machineiy,  etc., 
operated  by  a  forty-horse  power  engine.  In 
this  establishment  is  manufactured  doors,  win- 
dow sash,  blinds,  door  and  window  frames,  cas- 
ings and  brackets. 

In  1852,  J.  H.  Dix  &  Co.  started  a  planing- 
mill  at  the  ^tna  Mills — ^the  first  in  Akron. 
They  moved  in  1855  to  south  Howard  street 
near  the  gas  works,  where  the  business  is  still 
carried  on — but  by  other  parties.  They  con- 
tinued the  work  for  three  years,  when  they  sold 
their  mill  to  J.  Rockwell  &  Co.  The  last-men- 
tioned firm  conducted  the  business  about  three 
years,  when  their  intei'est  was  disposed  of  to  W. 
L.  Evert  &  Co.,  who  continued  the  work  for  a 
time  when  the  property  was  sold  to  W.  B. 
Doyle  &  Co.,  the  present  owners.  This  firm 
manufacture  doors,  sash  and  blinds  and  other 
articles  appertaining  to  house-building.  They 
also  have  a  lumber-yard  connected  with  their 
mill.     They  carry  on   an  extensive   business. 


:^ 


CITY    or    AKRON. 


351 


Plaster,  as  a  fertilizer,  is  also  manufactured  by 
them. 

Another  planing-mill  is  that  of  Simon  Han-' 
key.  This  was  started  at  his  present  location, 
1136  South  Main  street,  in  July,  1872,  where 
he  occupies  three  acres  of  ground.  By  reason 
of  his  straightforward  course,  characteristic 
push  and  integrity  in  all  his  dealings,  he  has 
succeeded  in  establishing  a  prosperous  and  con- 
stantly amplifying  trade.  His  fine  planing-mill 
measures  60x122  feet,  part  of  which  is  of  two 
stories.  He  has  the  latest  improved  machinery 
for  general  planing  and  the  manufacture  of 
sash,  doors,  blinds  and  moldings.  His  trade 
is  chiefly  that  of  the  city  and  county. 

The  planing-mill  of  D.  W.  Thomas,  at  244 
West  Market  street,  is  an  extensive  one.  It 
was  first  started  as  a  furniture  factory  b}'  George 
Thomas,  father  of  the  present  owner.  After 
going  through  several  hands  and  being  changed 
to  a  planing-mill,  the  ownership  finally  passed 
to  Mr.  Thomas,  who  now  conducts  a  large  lum- 
ber business  in  connection  with  his  mill. 

All  nations,  ancient  and  modern,  savage  and 
civilized,  have  considered  respect  for  the  dead 
a  virtue,  and  burial-places  as  sacred.  Abra- 
ham bought  the  cave  of  Machpelah  as  a  burial- 
place.  Egyptians  hewed  sepulchers  out  of  solid 
rock,  and  built  vast  pyramids  to  serve  as  repos- 
itories for  their  dead,  whose  bodies  were  so  em- 
balmed that  after  3,000  years  they  are  found  in 
a  good  state  of  preservation.  The  Romans 
honey-combed  the  hills  of  Southern  Italy  with 
catacombs,  in  the  niches  of  which  they  placed 
their  dead.  The  cemeteries  of  modern  civiliza- 
tion are  fast  getting  to  be  picturesque  cities  of 
the  dead.  Monuments  of  all  kinds  mark  the 
resting-places  of  those  who  slumber  in  the 
bosom  of  the  earth.  Akron  is  not  behind  her 
sister  cities  in  the  manufacture  of  these  stand- 
ing memorials.  The  proprietor  of  the  Akron 
Marble  Works,  M.  H.  Crumrine,  manufactures 
and  deals  in  American  and  Italian  marble  and 
in  American  and  Scotch  granite  mantles  and 
grates.  He  first  started  the  business  in  Massil- 
lon,  in  1857,  and  in  1863  changed  its  location 
to  Akron,  when  he  purchased  a  lot  at  219  and 
221  East  Market  street,  100x40  feet,  and  erected 
a  frame  building  in  which  he  continued  his  bus- 
iness until  in  1866,  when  he  moved  the  frame 
building  to  the  rear  of  its  former  location,  and 
on  the  same  site  erected  a  fine  three-story  brick 
block  known  as  Castle  Hall  Block.     In  1868, 


at  15  North  High  street,  one  door  from  the  cor- 
ner of  Market  street,  he  erected  a  brick  building 
53x16,  which  he  has  since  occupied  as  sample 
and  salesroom  and  office,  with  a  work-shop  im- 
mediately in  the  rear  35x20. 

Besides  the  marble  works  just  mentioned  are 
those  of  Emil  Feige,  who  manufactures  monu- 
ments and  tombstones  of  Italian  and  American 
marble,  sandstone  and  other  varieties,  at  235 
Main  street.  This  house  was  founded  in  1858, 
by  Jennings  &  Henry.  In  1877,  the  present 
proprietor,  E.  Feige,  purchased  the  establish- 
ment and  became  sole  proprietor.  The  build- 
ing at  present  occupied  by  the  business  is  a 
frame  20x45 — the  fi'ont  portion  used  for  display 
of  manufactured  good  and  the  rear  for  manu- 
facturing. 

Not  only  oat-meal,  but  pearl  barley  is  exten- 
sively manufactured  in  Akron.  The  Empire 
Barley  Mills  of  Ferdinand  Schumacher  are  lo- 
cated near  the  depot  of  the  New  York,  Penn- 
sylvania &  Ohio  Railroad.  These  mills  have 
six  fioors,  each  measuring  85x()0  feet.  The  en- 
gine room  contains  a  double  engine  with  com- 
bined power  of  250  horse.  A  40-inch  belt  on 
an  18-foot  pulley  conveys  the  power  to  the 
pearling  machines,  which,  thirteen  in  number, 
are  attached  to  a  long  line  shaft,  and  have  a 
united  capacity  of  250  half  barrels  of  pearl 
barley  per  day,  of  110  pounds  each. 

On  the  first  floor  are  the  barley  machines, 
consisting  of  an  iron  shell  turning  in  the  oppo- 
site direction,  from  rapidly-revolving  sand- 
stones, four  feet  in  diameter  by  fourteen  inches 
across.  This  mill,  the  German  Mill,  the  model 
Akron  (A)  elevator,  and  the  commodious  pack- 
ing-houses, which  are  all  adjoined,  have  a  total 
frontage  of  293  feet. 

Gorner  &  Planz  are  the  pi'oprietors  of  the 
Akron  File  Works,  located  between  Carroll  and 
East  Middlebury  streets.  This  firm  is  the  only 
one  in  Summit  County  engaged  to  any  extent 
in  this  branch  of  manufacture. 

The  enterprise  was  first  started  by  Methias 
Harter,  in  1868.  The  senior  partner  of  the 
present  firm  became  a  partner  in  1870,  and  the 
business  was  conducted  until  1873  under  the 
firm  name  of  Harter  &  Gorner,  when  Mr.  Gor- 
ner purchased  the  interest  of  Harter,  and  for  a 
year  and  a  half  continued  the  business  alone. 
In  1875,  H.  Pohle  purchased  the  works  from 
Gorner,  and  continued  the  business  with  Planz 
as   partner  until   1877,  when  Mr.  Gorner  re- 


rpv 


!>>. 


352 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


purchased  the  interest  of  Pohle  ;  and  since,  the 
firm  name  has  been  Grorner  &  Planz.  The 
buildings  occupied  for  the  conduct  of  the  busi- 
ness are  two  in  number — one,  16x82,  the  other 
16x22.  The  location  of  the  works  is  just  east 
of  the  Buckeye  Shops,  and  in  the  rear  of  the 
Akron  Knife  Works.  In  the  works  is  a  ten- 
horse-power  engine,  which  is  used  principally 
in  the  grinding  of  files,  five  cutting-blocks,  and 
all  tools  and  machinery  used  in  cutting  files. 
The  trade  of  the  house  extends  throughout 
Northern,  Central  and  Eastern  Ohio,  a  large 
amount  of  the  product  being  sold  to  the  large 
manufacturing  establishments  of  Akron. 

Baker,  Merriam  &  Co.  manufacture  wood  and 
clay  smoking  pipes,  enameled  teapot  knobs, 
pail  woods  and  cigar  boxes,  also  all  styles  of 
Hamburg  and  Shaker  pipes,  at  the  corner  of 
Bowery  and  Ash  streets.  J.  W.  Baker  began 
business  at  this  point  in  1870,  in  the  manufact- 
ure of  cigar  boxes  alone,  and  was  joined  in  the 
fall  following  b}-  J.  C.  McMillen,  who  purchased 
an  interest  in  the  concern.  They  made  cigar 
boxes  about  four  years,  after  which  they  added 
wood  smoking  pipes  and  tinners'  teapot  knobs. 
They  now  carry  on  a  large  and  flourishing  busi- 
ness in  the  articles  above  mentioned. 

Among  the  multifarious  industries  of  the  city 
of  Akron,  there  is  no  single  one  which  has  con- 
tributed in  a  greater  degree  to  give  the  cit^'  a 
wide-spread  reputation  than  that  of  the  pro- 
duction of  sewer  pipe.  From  the  rock-bound 
coasts  of  New  England  to  the  prairie  cities  of 
the  far  West  the  fame  of  the  Akron  sewer  pipe 
is  familiar  as  household  words,  and  has  repeat- 
edl}^  received  the  highest  encomiums  from 
Mayors  and  boards  of  public  works,  engineers, 
contractors  and  chemists.  It  is  manuftictured 
from  a  combination  of  the  celebrated  "  Summit 
County  Clays,"  which  b}'  careful  analysis  have 
been  found  to  be  superior  to  any  yet  discovered 
for  this  particular  purpose.  By  skilled  labor 
and  powerful  machinery  of  the  latest  and  most 
approved  design,  the  material  is  rendered  homo- 
geneous and  uniform  throughout,  and  under 
immense  pressure  the  pipe  is  made  ver}'  com- 
pact, and  under  a  high  temperature  becomes 
thoroughl}'^  vitrified  and  impervious  to  the 
action  of  acids,  gases  and  steam,  all  of  which 
are  found  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  in  cit}' 
sewei's.  This  kind  of  clay  receives  a  perfect 
glaze  from  the  vapors  of  salt,  and  does  not  re- 
quire slip  or  other  foreign  substances  which  are 


liable  to  cut  or  scale  off  by  the  action  of  sewer 
gases. 

The  subject  of  thorough  and  perfect  sewer- 
age is  beginning  to  receive  the  general  public 
attention  and  recognition  which  its  importance 
demands.  That  the  health  of  communities  is 
seriously  affected  and  impaired  bj'  faulty  or 
inadequate  drainage  is  a  proposition  suscepti- 
ble of  ample  demonstration.  The  disease-breed- 
ing miasmas  contaminating  the  atmosphere  of 
thousands  of  neighborhoods  and  homes,  pois- 
oning the  human  sj'stem  with  noxious  effluvia 
and  deadl^y  exhalations,  are  the  sure  and  direct 
result  of  heedlessness  with  regard  to  sanitar}^ 
teachings  in  this  direction.  Go  into  a  neigh- 
borhood where  typhoid  and  typhus  fevers  pre- 
vail, and  you  will  certainly  find  a  cause  for  this 
infectious  malady  in  the  noisome  gases  eman- 
ating from  the  undrained  soil  or  from  imperfect 
sewerage,  and,  not  infrequently,  in  consequence 
of  drinking  well  water  impregnated  with  fetid 
percolations  from  contiguous  privy  vaults  and 
cess-pools. 

It  is,  moreover,  unquestionable  that  many 
other  forms  of  disease  are  contracted  by  similar 
means,  emphasizing  the  vital  importance  of 
counteracting  and  removing  this  pestilent  cause 
of  disease  and  death. 

The  fact  of  the  need  of  a  universal  system 
of  sewerage  being  well  established,  it  now  re- 
mains for  us  to  consider  and  determine  as  to 
the  best  and  most  approved  material  for  this 
purpose,  inasmuch  as  upon  this  point  of  perfect 
sewerage  depends  the  health  and  well-being  of 
the  public. 

The  strange  anomaly  is  too  often  observed 
of  a  house-builder,  in  order  to  save  a  few  dol- 
lars, contracting  for  the  introduction  into  his 
premises  of  a  poor  and  cheap  sewer  connection, 
thus  inviting  febrile  disease  into  his  house- 
hold ;  but  then  does  the  victim  employ  a  quack 
doctor  to  attend  his  family  ?  No  ;  he  hesitates 
not  to  summon  the  best  physician  to  be  had. 
Here  is  an  illustration  of  obtuse  empiricism  at 
the  first  and  corrective  skill  at  the  last,  although 
perhaps  the  latter  is  employed  too  late  to  pre- 
vent fatal  consequences  of  the  imprudence  of 
''  saving  at  the  spigot  and  leaking  at  the  bung." 

The  initial  process  in  the  manufacture  of 
vitrified  pipe  is  the  grinding  and  tempering  of 
the  clay,  some  of  which  is  extremely  "  refrac- 
tory," in  huge  mills — the  substance  being  ma- 
nipulated by  large  revolving  discs  describing 


l£l 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


353 


diverse  circles,  and  moving  gradually  from  cen- 
ter to  circumference  of  the  clay  receiver  by  the 
operation  of  an  automatic  screw.  From  the 
mills  the  tempered  mass  is  thi'own  into  the 
"  blockers,"  which  expel  the  air,  solidify  the 
substance,  and  form  it  into  blocks,  which  are 
brought  b}^  elevators  up  to  the  powerful  screw 
and  steam  presses,  the  cylinder  whereof  con- 
tains an  inside  die  suspended  from  the  top  of 
the  press,  taking  the  place  of  the  core  in  iron 
castings,  and  an  outside  die  which  forms  the  ex- 
terior of  the  pipe.  The  clay  is  forced  down 
between  these  dies,  producing  pipe  ranging  in 
diameter  from  one  to  twenty-four  inches,  and 
is  cut  off  at  proper  lengths  by  a  series  of  knives. 
The  present  forms  are  then  transported  b}' 
steam  and  hydraulic  elevators,  consisting  of 
endless  belts,  to  the  drying  and  finishing  de- 
partments, where  they  are  seasoned  for  three  or 
four  days  by  steam  heaters.  The}'  are  then 
taken  by  tramways  to  the  burning  kilns,  ten  in 
number,  each  of  which  is  as  large  as  a  good- 
sized  room,  where  for  several  days  they  are 
subjected  to  a  most  intense  heat,  perhaps  not 
far  from  a  thousand  degrees — a  "  warmth  "  that 
would  have  made  old  Dr.  LeMoyne,  of  crema- 
tory fame,  dance  with  delight.  The  torridness 
of  this  temperature  may  be  imagined  Avhen  it 
is  stated  that  thereby  iron  can  be  reduced  to  a 
cinder. 

After  the  clay  has  approached  the  melting  or 
fluxing  state,  coarse  alkaline  salt  is  thrown  upon 
the  fires,  producing  a  dense  vapor  which  per- 
meates every  part  of  the  kilns,  circulating 
through  and  around  the  sections  of  pipe,  com- 
pletely enveloping  their  inner  and  outer  surfaces. 
This  vapor  chemicall}'  unites  with  the  pipe 
communicating  to  it  a  smooth  and  glossy  finish, 
whereby  the  substance  becomes  vitreous  or 
glass-like,  and  the  glaze  is  an  integral  part  of 
the  pipe  itself ;  not  a  mere  varnish-like  coating, 
as  is  the  case  with  the  "  slip  "-glazed  pipe.  The 
contents  of  the  kilns  are  allowed  to  gradualh^ 
cool  off,  and  usually  at  the  expiration  of  a  week 
they  are  in  proper  condition  for  removal  and  the 
market. 

The  Akron  Sewer  Pipe  has  for  man}-  years 
been  in  satisfactory  use  in  every  section  of  the 
country,  and  is  its  own  complete  recommenda- 
tion. Its  even  interior  surface  has  no  hum- 
mocks to  arrest  any  floating  substance,  and  its 
glassy  smoothness  enables  a  very  small  flow  of 
water  to  carry  along  with  it  all  the  solid  matter 


that  finds  its  way  into  the  sewer.  For  over 
twenty  years  the  "  Akron  "  has  been  the  stand- 
ard in  Chicago,  where  the  flat,  low-lying  surface 
requires  the  most  perfect  sewers,  because  of  the 
very  slight  fall  possible  in  their  construction. 
The  experience  of  other  cities  and  towns  which 
have  adopted  this  pipe  uniformly  corresponds 
with  that  of  Chicago,  and  wherever  practically 
tested  it  has  maintained  its  justly  exalted  repu- 
tation. 

Another  significant  fact  is  that  these  pipes 
have  been  and  are  employed  in  chemical  works 
and  retorts,  holding  the  strongest  acids,  and 
nothing  has  ever  been  used  which  will  produce 
the  slightest  effect  upon  them  ;  they  cannot  be 
disintegrated  or  even  weakened  by  any  known 
chemical. 

There  are  three  sewer  pipe  companies  in 
Akron,  each  one  which  is  largely  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  sewer  pipe.  The  Akron 
Sewer  Pipe  Company,  at  173  North  Water 
street.  Sixth  Ward,  make  standard  Akron  sewer 
pipe.  The  business  is  conducted  under  the 
name  and  style  of  the  Akron  Sewer  Pipe  Com- 
pany, was  founded  in  this  city  in  1848,  by  Mer- 
rill, Powers  &  Co.  It  subsequently  was  trans- 
ferred to  Hill  &  Adams,  who  were  succeeded  in 
1867,  by  the  Hill  &  Adams  Sewer  Pipe  Com- 
pany. In  1871,  the  company  was  again  recon- 
structed and  became  as  at  present,  with  a  paid- 
up  capital  of  $175,000,  and  an  authorized  cap- 
ital of  $300,000.  It  is  a  joint-stock  company, 
incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of 
Ohio,  with  works  and  general  headquarters  at 
Akron,  and  agencies  in  all  the  principal  cities 
of  the  United  States.  The  works  consist  of  one 
two-story  brick  structure,  50x240  feet  in  size, 
and  one  four-story  structure,  50x150  feet,  with 
numerous  smaller  buildings,  sheds,  etc.  They 
have  ten  down-draft  kilns,  each  with  a  capac- 
ity of  twenty-five  tons.  These  kilns  are  con- 
structed so  as  to  secure  a  uniform  heat,  vitrify- 
ing each  piece  of  pipe,  which  by  gradual  cool- 
ing is  rendered  free  from  checks  and  scales. 
The  products  of  the  company  are  sold  in  almost 
every  State  in  the  Union.  These  were  the  first 
sewer  pipe  works  started  west  of  New  York 
City,  and  the  second  established  in  the  United 
States. 

Th«  Buckeye  Sewer  Pipe  Company  manufact- 
ure, at  921  East  Exchange  street.  Sixth  Ward, 
vitrified  salt-glazed  sewer  pipe.  This  company 
was  incorporated  in  1872,  with  an  authorized 


I^ 


'1^ 


354 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


capital  of  $100,000.  The  buildings  occupied 
were  erected  in  1867,  for  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  machinery,  and  were  occupied  for  this 
purpose  until  in  1872,  when  the  business  was 
changed  to  that  of  the  present.  They  consist 
of  two  main  shops  of  brick,  170x45  and  80x40 
respectively,  office,  sheds,  etc.  The  shojis  are 
equipped  with  all  modern  appliances  for  the 
manufacture  of  sewer  pipe  ;  six  kilns  of  two 
car-loads  dimensions  each. 

The  Hill  Sewer  Pipe  Companj-  also  manufact- 
ure sewer  pipe  in  Akron.  Their  place  of  bus- 
iness is  at  1175  East  Market  street.  This 
company  was  founded  under  its  present  title  in 
1873,  as  a  stock  company,  with  a  capital  of 
$80,000.  D.  E.  Hill,  one  of  the  stockholders, 
and  the  gentleman  from  whom  the  company 
takes  its  name,  originated  the  sewer  pipe  busi- 
ness in  the  United  States,  and  to  him  is  largely 
due  the  honor  of  bringing  about  a  much  needed 
reform  in  the  sewerage  system  of  most  of  the 
cities  of  the  Union,  by  the  introduction  of  this 
pipe,  which  is  now  acknowledged  to  be  a  safe 
and  reliable  article  for  sewers.  The  works  oc- 
cupied b}'  the  Hill  Sewer  Pipe  Company  occupy 
a  large  tract  of  ground,  and  contain  one  four- 
story  structure.  50x100  feet  in  size,  equipped 
with  all  the  necessary-  machiner}^  for  the  manu- 
facture of  these  improved  pipes,  and  four  kilns, 
15x30  feet  in  dimension. 

That  the  taste  for  personal  decoration  is  a 
universal  expression  of  human  existence,  and 
that  the  art  of  making  jewehy  was  one  of  the 
first  at  which  mankind  arrived,  is  evident  from 
the  immense  stores  taken  from  the  tombs  of 
ruined  cities  of  the  Eg\'tians  and  other  nations. 
In  the  manufacture  of  jewelry  but  little  is  done 
in  Akron,  but  that  little  is  well  done  by  George 
J.  Neiberg,  at  179  South  Howard  street. 

Matches  in  their  present  form  were  first 
made  public  about  1830,  b}-  Farada}',  and 
came  rapidly  into  public  use.  The  tip  of  the 
match  is  a  combination  of  sulphur  and  phos- 
phorus. The  phosphorus  ignites  at  the  heat  of 
120  degrees,  which  a  slight  friction  will  pro- 
duce, and  this  in  turn  ignites  the  sulphur, 
which  requires  450  or  500  degrees.  The  flame 
of  the  sulphur  sets  fire  to  the  pine  of  which 
the  match  is  composed,  and  which  ignites  at 
about  600  degrees.  The  combination  is  neces- 
sary because  the  phosphorus  alone  would  not 
kindle  the  match,  while  the  sulphur  alone 
would  not  ignite  with  ordinary  friction.     The 


number  of  matches  that  are  annually  con- 
sumed in  this  country  is  something  wonderful 
to  contemplate.  According  to  the  late  report 
of  the  Kevenue  Department,  the  tax  on 
matches  for  the  last  year  yielded  revenue  to 
the  amount  of  $3,561,306.  At  1  cent  a  box, 
this  would  represent,  in  round  numbers,  356,- 
000,000  boxes.  Calling  our  population  50,- 
000,000,  this  would  give  over  7  boxes  to  ever}'^ 
man,  woman  and  child  in  the  country.  The 
taxes  paid  on  matches  by  each  individual  in 
the  land  would  thus  be  7  cents.  The  revenue 
tax  on  matches  is  1  cent  for  each  100  in  a  box. 
Where  such  an  immense  quantity'  of  matches 
are  consumed,  there  must  be  considerable  facil- 
ities for  manufacturing  them.  This  we  have 
in  the  ingenious  machinery  used  in  making 
them,  as  most  all  of  the  processes  in  manu- 
facturing them  are  conducted  by  mechanical 
appliances.  The  wood  used  is  the  best — clear 
white  pine — which  is  first  sawed  into  blocks  of 
equal  size,  and  of  two  matches  in  length. 
These  blocks  are  then  made  into  splints  of  a 
proper  size,  by  being  forced  through  tubes  with 
numerous  perforations,  made  as  near  together 
as  possible,  leaving  just  enough  strength  for 
cutting  purposes.  These  perforations  may  be 
either  round,  square  or  diamond  shaped,  the 
latter  forming  the  name  of  the  new  combina- 
tion. The  square  forms  are  called  '•  telegraph  " 
matches.  These  and  the  diamond  are  prefera- 
ble to  the  round,  as  they  do  not  break  so 
easily.  After  the  splints  are  cut  into  proper 
sizes,  the3'  are  fed  through  a  hopper  and  re- 
ceived by  a  double  chain,  which  carries  them 
to  the  sulphur  vat,  then  to  the  phosphorus  vat, 
when  they  are  taken  off  and  removed  to  the 
packing  room.  The  phosphorus  composition 
into  which  the  matches  are  dipped  is  composed 
of  phosphorus,  niter,  glue,  red  ochre  and  smalt 
in  proper  proportions.  In  safet}'  matches,  the 
phosphorus  is  in  sand  paper  on  the  box,  and 
other  materials  on  the  end  of  the  match,  so 
that  neither  can  be  ignited  without  the  use  of 
the  other.  Matches  are  also  made  without 
dipping  into  sulphur,  paraffine  oil  being  used 
as  a  substitute.  The  parlor  match  is  made 
without  the  use  of  sulphur,  and  phosphorus  is 
replaced  by  the  chlorate  of  potash  and  anti- 
mon3^  The  wood  is  prepared  with  stearine  or 
paraffine. 

On  the  1st  day  of  January,  1881,  the  Dia- 
mond Match  Company,  with  branches  in  diflfer- 


e) 


^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


355 


t'iit  parts  of  the  United  States,  went  into 
operation.  (3ne  of  the  largest  of  these 
branches  is  what  was  previously  tlie  Barber 
Match  Company,  of  Akron.  The  Alvron  works 
were  established  in  1847,  by  George  Barber. 
The  first  factory  was  a  small  barn  ;  but,  from 
the  very  beginning  of  the  business,  owing  to 
the  superior  quality  of  the  goods  produced, 
the  demand  steadily  increased.  The  average 
product  of  this  branch  is  1,500  gross,  of  14,- 
400  each,  or  1^1,660,000  matches  ever}'  da}^, 
with  a  possible  capacit}-  for  turning  out  6,804,- 
000,000  matches  per  annum.  The  United 
States  revenue  laws  require  a  1-ceut  stamp  to 
1)6  placed  on  every  100  matches,  and  to  do  so 
requires  an  expenditure  by  the  Akron  works  of 
over  $1,900  a  da}-.  They  use  annually  from 
2.500,000  to  3,000,000  feet  of  the  best  quality 
of  white  pine  lumber,  70  tons  of  brimstone 
17,000  pounds  of  phosphorus,  33,600  pounds 
chlorate  of  potash,  30,000  pounds  of  glue, 
50,000  pounds  of  parafflne  wax  for  parlor  and 
drawing-room  matches  or  tapers,  and  a  large 
quantit}'  of  other  material.  They  manufacture 
their  own  packages,  and  use  about  250  tons  of 
straw  board  for  boxes,  and  20  tons  of  other 
paper,  and  for  shipping  boxes  over  1,000,000 
feet  of  Cottonwood  lumber.  Two  printing- 
presses  are  kept  constantly  employed  printing 
labels,  and  15  box-making  machines,  each  capa- 
ble of  turning  out  from  7,000  to  10,000  straw 
board  boxes  per  day.  Three  hundred  and 
fifty  hands,  including  men,  boys  and  girls,  are 
constantly  employed,  and  the  monthly  pa3--roll 
amounts  to  full}'  $6,500.  The  works  are 
equipped  throughout  with  the  most  perfect 
match-making  machinery  now  in  use,  propelled 
I)}-  two  engines  of  250  and  150  horse  power  re- 
spectivel}'.  The  works  are  located  on  Falor 
street.  This  branch  makes  about  one-fifth  of 
the  entire  product  used  in  the  United  States. 
The  Diamond  Match  Company  also  run  a  fac- 
tory near  their  match  works,  where  animal 
pokes,  curry-combs  and  smoking  pipes  are 
made.  This  factory  was  formed}'  run  by  the 
Hopkins  &  Robinson  Manufacturing  Company. 
The  Akron  xMachine  Works  of  Taplin,  Rice 
&  Co.  are  located  on  Broadway  and  Church 
street.  These  works  were  established  in  1861, 
by  Taplin,  Rice  &  Ford.  In  1867,  under  the 
manufacturing  laws  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  it  be- 
came an  incorporated  company,  with  a  paid- 
up  capital  stock  of  $100,000,  under  the  name 


and  style  of  Taplin,  Rice  &  Co.  They  have 
now  a  surplus  of  $40,000.  The  works  cover  a 
large  area  and  consist  of  several  commodious 
buildings,  all  connected,  being  550  feet  in  ag- 
gregate length  and  of  an  average  width  of  about 
fifty  feet.  In  addition  to  these  is  a  separate 
structure,  40x100  feet,  used  as  a  pattern-shop. 
The  works  are  divided  into  three  separate  de- 
partments, as  follows  :  Foundry,  machine  shop 
and  stove  department.  The  buildings  are  all 
supplied  with  the  latest  improved  machinery, 
tools  and  appliances  requisite  for  carrying  on 
the  business  in  all  its  various  features  and  de- 
partments. The  company  manufactures  stoves 
in  every  variety,  and  turn  out  brass  and  iron 
castings  of  all  kinds.  They  make  a  leading 
specialty  of  steam  engines,  mill  gearing,  shaft- 
ing and  pulleys,  potters'  and  sewer-pipe  ma- 
chinery, and  Mason's  Patent  Friction  Clutch 
and  Pulleys.  They  attend  to  the  repairing  of 
machinery  and  gearing  of  every  description. 
The  company  have  recently  purchased,  directly 
opposite  their  works  on  Church  street  the  ex- 
tensive buildings  formerly  occupied  by  J.  F. 
Seiberling  in  the  manufacture  of  his  Empire 
mower  and  reaper.  The  patronage  of  Taplin, 
Rice  &  Co.  is  largely  West,  extending  to  the 
States  of  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri  and  Kansas, 
and  east  to  the  western  portions  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. 

American  inventive  genius  is  to  be  credited 
with  some  of  the  most  wonderful  achievements 
of  the  age,  and  in  the  production  of  valuable 
articles  the  eminence  of  our  country  is  univer- 
sally conceded.  It  is  no  less  remarkable  how 
quickly  and  thoroughly  this  talent  finds  appli- 
cations in  the  perfection  of  new  ideas  and  the 
improvement  of  old  ideas,  so  that  no  sooner 
has  a  discovery  been  announced,  or  a  new  in- 
vention made,  than  active  minds  are  at  once 
developing  its  capabilities  and  extending  its 
uses  in  all  directions.  Economy  in  time,  labor 
and  material  is  the  greatest  desideratum,  never 
lost  sight  of  by  the  practical  men  in  our  midst, 
and  the  wastefulness  and  inefficiency  of  prima- 
tive  methods  are  never  allowed  to  shelter  them- 
selves long  behind  the  plea  that  nothing  better 
has  been  thought  of 

This  train  of  musing  can  be  particularly  ap- 
plied to  the  drug  trade.  Skilled  pharmacists 
become  important  factors  to  the  trade  of  all 
cities.  The  Smith  Brothers  manufacture  phar- 
maceutical products  at  No.  193  South  Howard 


r'v- 


356 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


street.  This  house  was  founded  in  1873,  by 
Sislei"  &  Hoy,  who  conducted  the  business  suc- 
cessfull}'  until  September,  1878,  when  they 
were  succeeded  b}'  the  present  proprietors. 
These  gentlemen  occupy  two  flooi's  in  the  three- 
story  brick  structure,  No.  193  Soutli  Howard 
street,  as  office,  salesroom  and  laboratoiy. 
Their  laborator}-  is  supplied  with  the  latest  im- 
proved devices  and  appurtenances  of  chemical 
science  for  the  manufacture  of  solid  and  fluid 
extracts,  elixirs,  pepsin,  gelatine  coated  pills, 
and  a  great  variety  of  chemical  and  pharma- 
ceutical preparations.  They  manufacture  120 
different  varieties  of  gelatine-coated  pills.  This 
house  does  a  wholesale  and  retail  business, 
dealing  directly  with  druggists  and  physicians. 

An  industr}-  of  considerable  dimensions  in 
Akron  is  that  of  the  manufacture  of  chains,  by 
the  Miller  Chain  Company.  This  company 
succeeded  to  the  business  of  S.  Matherson,  at 
Cu\-ahoga  Falls,  in  1879.  In  order  to  increase 
their  facilities,  and  the  better  to  accommodate 
their  increasing  trade,  in  September  of  that 
year,  the}-  established  themselves  at  Akron, 
where  the}^  have  spacious  and  well-arranged 
works,  with  materially  improved  appliances 
and  conveniences  for  manufacturing  their  va- 
rious goods. 

The  works  comprise  four  buildings,  two  brick 
and  two  frame,  each  having  dimensions  of 
20x100  feet  ;  one  brick,  60x80  feet,  and  one 
brick,  40x60  feet,  besides  a  large  packing-room- 
offlce  building,  etc.  The  firm  make  cable,  crane, 
agricultural,  machine  and  harness  chains  of 
ever}'  description.  The\'  also  make  car-brake 
and  other  chains  to  an}*  designated  length,  and 
chains  for  special  purposes,  from  sample  or 
drawing. 

All  their  chain  are  made  from  carefull}'  se- 
lected stock,  in  the  most  faithful  and  workman- 
like manner,  and  are  thoroughl}-  inspected  be- 
fore leaving  the  works.  Hence,  they  can  safely 
guarantee  their  productions  to  be  of  superior 
quality  and  finish. 

Possessing  every  modern  facility,  ample  ca- 
pacity, and  unsurpassed  advantages  for  the 
economic  prosecution  of  this  department  of  in- 
dustry, they  are  enabled  to  oflTer  the  most 
favorable  terms  to  manufacturers  using  large 
quantities  of  chain,  and  to  the  trade  gener- 
ally. 

Their  product  finds  a  market  from  Maine  to 
California,  and  they  have  a  prosperous  and  in- 


creasing   trade    in    St.    Louis,    Chicago,    and 
through  the  Northwestern  States. 

The  Akron  Iron  Company  is  a  stock  com- 
pany, founded  in  1866,  under  its  present  name. 
Its  location  is  in  South  Akron.  The  capital  in- 
vested in  the  business  is  $400,000.  The}'  man- 
ufacture ever}'  variety  of  bar  and  pig  iron,  hot- 
polished  shafting,  best,  common,  refined  and 
charcoal  iron,  American-Scotch  pig  iron  of  all 
grades  and  make.  A  leading  specialty  is  the 
production  of  superior  qualities  of  iron  for  ag- 
ricultural implements.  This  is  one  of  the 
largest  establishments  of  the  kind  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  devoted  expressly  to  the  manufacture 
of  iron  for  agricultural  implements  ;  and  for 
extent,  capacity  and  general  completeness  of 
appointments,  will  compare  favorably  with  any. 
The  buildings  occupied  by  this  company  are 
capacious  and  extensive,  and  are  equipped  in 
all  their  departments  with  the  most  perfect  ma 
chinery  and  devices  for  carrying  on  their  exten- 
sive business.  Power  is  supplied  at  the  Akron 
works  by  engines  of  500-horse-power,  and  175 
men  are  regularly  employed,  many  of  whom 
are  skilled  and  experienced  mechanics.  The 
company  also  owns  and  operates  a  blast  fur- 
nace at  Buclitel,  Ohio,  where  engines  of  700- 
horse-power  are  in  operation.  They  also  oper- 
ate coal  and  iron  ore  mines  in  the  Hocking 
Valley  regions,  furnishing  employment  at  the 
mines  and  furnaces  to  175  additional  hands. 
The  total  monthly  pay-roll  of  these  extensive 
works  ranges  from  $10,000  to  $15,000,  and  the 
amount  of  business  transacted  by  the  company 
reaches  nearly  three-quarters  of  a  million  dol- 
lars per  annum.  Their  trade  is  principally  de- 
rived from  the  large  manufacturing  establish- 
ments within  a  radius  of  one  hundred  miles 
around  Akron. 

The  manufacture  of  flour  is  extensively  car- 
ried on  in  Akron.  This  is  made  possible  by 
the  fine  water-power  of  the  city,  and  the  cheap- 
ness of  coal  to  drive  engines.  The  Cascade 
Mills  are  located  at  the  foot  of  North  Howard 
street.  They  are  owned  and  operated  by  Fer- 
dinand Schumacher.  They  are  run  exclusively 
by  water-power,  and  manufacture  the  highest 
grades  of  flour  and  farina,  by  the  most  approved 
patent  process.  The  buildings  are  "  L  "'  shaped, 
and  have  six  floors.  The  mill  measures  50x80 
feet,  with  warehouses  attached,  40x80  feet,  and 
barrel-house,  40x40  feet. 

The  water-power  is  ample  at  all  seasons.     It 


^ 


ik 


CITT    or    AKRON. 


357 


has  a  head  and  fall  of  38  feet.  The  power  is 
derived  from  an  iron  overshot  wheel,  35  feet  in 
diameter,  with  a  10-foot  face.  This  immense 
wheel  weighs  37  tons,  and  yet,  being  well  bal- 
anced, it  revolves  on  its  shaft  as  steadily  and 
smoothly  as  if  it  were  made  of  the  lightest  wood. 
The  wheel  contains  a  series  of  96  steel  buckets, 
having  a  total  weight  of  16,000  pounds.  Each 
bucket  is  made  of  a  single  sheet  of  cold-rolled 
steel  one-eighth  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  This 
complete  wheel  cost  $8,000,  and  about  $4,000 
additional  were  expended  for  its  foundation, 
which  is  built  on  the  solid  rock.  The  water 
supply  flows  through  a  6-foot  subterranean 
tube,  to  an  iron  stand-pipe  rising  about  18  feet 
to  the  level  of  the  basin,  and  flowing  from  an 
iron-tank  26  feet  long,  8  feet  wide  and  4^  feet 
high,  to  the  iron-gate,  which  gauges  and  de- 
livers it  to  the  buckets  at  the  apex  of  the  wheel. 
From  spur-wheels,  connected  with  a  12-foot 
pulle}-,  by  a  40-inch  leather-double  belt,  120 
feet  long,  power  is  communicated  to  the  line- 
shaft  over  a  10-foot  pulley,  whence  the  12  run 
of  buhrs  are  operated  by  quarter- twist  belts. 

The  mills  are  equipped  with  thirteen  middlings 
purifiers,  one  pair  each  porcelain  and  iron-rolls, 
two  cockle-machines,  an  ending-stone  and  brush- 
machine  for  cleaning  wheat,  and  other  appli- 
ances, all  of  the  latest  improved  mechanism. 

The  Ohio  Canal  runs  through  the  premises, 
affording  convenient  facilities  for  receiving  and 
shipping  product.  The  waste  water,  as  well  as 
the  water  discharged  from  the  wheel,  flows  into 
the  Cu3'ahoga  River  through  two  substantial 
12-foot  stone  underground  conduits,  each  220 
feet  long. 

The  Stone  Mills,  of  which  Commins  &  Allen 
are  proprietors,  are  located  on  Howard,  Ash 
and  Mill  streets. 

These  mills  were  erected  in  1832,  by  Gen. 
Perkins  and  E.  Crosby,  and  by  them  transferred 
to  Ebenezer  Beech,  of  Rochester,  who,  with  his 
successors,  continued  in  possession  until  about 
1867,  when  they  were  in  turn  succeeded  by  the 
present  proprietors,  Commins  &  Allen.  This 
is  not  only  the  largest  mill  in  the  city,  but  the 
oldest.  The  main  mill  structure  is  of  stone, 
five  stories  in  height,  and  covers  an  area  of 
60x120  feet.  The  machinery  is  all  of  the  most 
complete  character,  and  comprises  eleven  run 
of  buhrs,  from  4  feet  to  4  feet  8  inches  in  diame- 
ter, six  of  which  are  propelled  by  water,  and 
five  by  steam-power.     One  engine  and  boiler, 


of  125-horse-power,  and  water-power  estimated 
as  fully  equal  to  100  horses,  furnish  the  motive 
power  for  the  machinery  employed.  The  amount 
of  capital  invested  in  the  business  is  large  and 
ample.  The  products  of  the  Stone  Mills  are 
known  by  the  following  brands  :  The  "  Akron 
Mills,"  the  "  Stone  Mills,"  the  "  Star  Mills,"  the 
"  Lake  Mills,"  the  "  California  Mills  "  and  others. 
These  gentlemen  also  manufacture  and  make  a 
leading  specialty  of  superior  patent  flour. 

The  Allen  Mills  were  originally  a  building 
used  as  woolen  mills,  which  was  changed  to  a 
flouring-mill  in  1853,  by  Jacob  Allen,  Jesse 
Allen  and  J.  D.  Commins,  who  conducted  their 
business  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  &  J.  Allen 
&  Company.  The  original  building  was  erected 
by  S.  Perkins,  J.  D.  Commins,  Jacob  Allen  and 
Jesse  Allen,  who  together  constituted  the  Per- 
kins Company.  The  Allen  Mills  are  located  on 
Canal  street,  between  Mill  and  Cherry  streets, 
and  are  owned  by  F.  H.  Allen,  Y.  J.  Allen  and 
W.  A.  Palmer.  The  building,  which  is  of  brick, 
is  35x110  feet.  The  machinery  of  the  mills  is 
all  first-class.  The  flour  manufactured  is  the 
fancy  patent,  and  the  fine  grades  of  family  and 
baker's  flour.  The  capacity  of  these  mills  is 
225  barrels  in  twenty-four  hours. 

A  distillery  was  first  erected  on  the  spot 
where  the  ^Etna  Mills  now  stand.  The  build- 
ing was  enlarged  and  changed  to  a  flouring-mill 
in  1837,  and  run  by  Chamberlain  &  Standard, 
of  Cleveland.  Subsequently,  it  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Rawson  &  Noble,  who  conducted 
the  business  until  the  building  burned  down. 
Upon  the  spot  of  the  burned  mill  was  erected, 
in  1857,  the  present  mills  by  Buell  &  Taylor, 
who  continued  proprietors  until  1862,  when  the 
mills  were  purchased  by  the  Chamber  Com- 
pany. They  were  owned  by  this  company  un- 
til 1877,  when  they  became  the  property  of  the 
Second  National  Bank  of  iVkron.  By  the  bank 
they  were  leased  to  McNeil  &  Baldwin,  who 
conduct  the  business  at  the  present  time.  The 
capacity  of  the  mills  is  200  barrels  of  flour 
in  twenty-four  hours.  McNeil  &  Baldwin 
manufacture  the  straight  grade  and  patent 
flour. 

The  South  Akron  Mills  are  now  owned  by 
the  Brewster  Coal  Company.  These  mills  are 
located  on  South  Main  street.  They  were 
erected  by  George  Steese,  who  sold  them  to  L. 
S.  Herrol'd,  the  latter  disposing  of  them  to  the 
present  owners  in  1875.     Only  custom  work  is 


;;k 


358 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


done  at  these  mills.  Connected  with  them  is  a 
saw-mill — the  onh'  one  in  Akron. 

Coopering,  as  might  be  expected,  is  carried 
on  to  a  considerable  extent  in  Akron.  The 
Union  Stave  Company-.  C.  B.  Maurer,  General 
Superintendent,  carry  on  a  large  business  at 
402  South  High  street.  This  company  is  now 
erecting  four  new  frame  buildings.  One  of 
these  will  be  28x40  feet  in  dimensions,  14  feet 
high  ;  two  other  buildings  will  be  30x54  feet 
each  and  18  feet  high.  These  three  buildings 
will  front  on  High  street.  The  fourth  structure 
will  be  in  the  rear  of  the  other  buildings  and 
will  be  30x108  feet  in  dimensions,  18  feet  high. 

The  first-named  building  will  be  used  for 
manufacturing  purposes,  and  the  remaining  ad- 
ditions will  be  for  storage  room. 

The  material  used  in  the  manufacture  of 
barrels,  at  this  place,  is  prepared  from  the  for- 
est at  Union  City,  Penn.,  by  a  force  of  about 
fifty  men  under  Mr.  Maurer's  management. 
The  annual  shipments  to  this  cit}-  of  staves, 
hoops  and  headings  by  Mr.  Maurer  is  fully  200 
car  loads.  This  immense  amount  of  stock  is 
here  made  into  about  1 60,000  barrels  per  year, 
b}'  a  force  of  fifty  men.  The  trade  is  growing- 
very  rapidly,  and  the  present  year's  business 
will  reach  at  least  175,000  barrels.  Another 
item  of  interest  in  this  connection  is  that,  while 
the  prepared  material  is  shipped  to  this  place, 
the  finished  barrels  are  shipped  from  here  filled 
with  fiour  from  the  mills  of  F.  Schumacher,  and 
Coramins  &  Allen's  (Stone)  Mills. 

There  are  other  establishments  in  Akron 
where  barrels  are  made  in  large  numbers  :  B_y 
T.  J.  Walk(M',  corner  of  Middlebur^'  and  South 
Main  streets  ;  b}'  Lapp  &  Riner,  near  the  ^Etna 
Mills  ;  by  George  Roth,  353  South  Main  street ; 
and  by  Edward  Zschech,  362  same  street. 

The  question  of  ability  to  manufacture  an 
artificial  stone  that  would,  in  point  of  dura- 
bilit}'  and  genei'al  efficiency,  come  up  to  all 
requirements  has,  for  many  years,  received  the 
attention  not  only  of  the  curious  and  inquiring, 
but  also  the  practical  and  scientific,  and  much 
time  and  labor  has  been  devoted  to  the  dis- 
covery of  a  successful  process  of  manufacture. 
Success  has  crowned  the  effort,  and  now  an 
artificial  stone  in  every  way  equal  to  the  best 
natural  stone  is  produced  at  much  less  expense, 
while  the  fact  of  its  being  much  lighter  and 
more  easil}^  molded  into  an}'  desired  shape, 
renders  it  more  desirable.     For  building  pur- 


poses it  is  superior  to  brick,  as  it  is  impervious 
to  water,  and  is  not  affected  by  heat  or  frost, 
and  will  "  stand  fire  "  much  better  than  either 
brick  or  natural  stone.  This  stone  .is  of  a  hy- 
draulic nature  and  will  harden  when  set  in 
water,  and  will  resist  the  action  of  steam,  acids, 
and  other  disintegrating  influences,  as  well  as 
our  best  building  stone.  The  artificial  stone 
was  patented  b}^  James  Harr}'  Thorp,  of  New 
York,  September  11,  1877,  being  the  second 
patent  issued  to  himself  The  process  of  manu- 
facturing being  simple  and  requiring  but  few 
tools.  Wood  patterns  are  made  of  whatever 
shape  the  stone  is  wanted,  sand  and  cement  are 
then  mixed  together  in  proportions  three  to  one, 
when  thoroughlv  incorporated,  the  chemical  is 
added  in  (luantit}-  sufficient  to  dampen  the 
mixture,  which  is  then  tamped  into  patterns, 
the  patterns  are  then  taken  away  in  pieces,  the 
stone  is  allowed  to  stand  a  few  days  to  harden 
and  dry,  and  is  then  ready  for  use.  In  our 
larger  cities  this  stone  is  fast  superseding  the 
use  of  other  building  material,  and  is  being 
extensivel}'  used  for  walks,  trimming  brick 
houses,  etc.  The  sand  found  in  this  vicinity  is 
particularly  well  adapted  to  making  this  stone, 
and  thus  the  article  can  be  furnished  here  very 
cheap.  The  expense  of  the  material  does  not 
average  one  half  that  of  natural  stone.  This 
industry  which  promises  to  be  of  importance 
to  Akron,  is  carried  on  at  Palmer  &  Pruner's 
Artificial  Stone  Works,  203  North  Howard 
street — H.  A.  Palmer  and  H.  A.  Pruner.  pro- 
prietors. They  manufacture  this  stone  under 
the  patent  Ijetbre  mentioned,  the  firm  control- 
ing  the  right  in  the  counties  of  Summit,  Trum- 
bull, Portage  and  Stark.  The}-  make  orna- 
mental lawn  vases,  window  caps,  sills  and  keys, 
cemetery  work,  pavements  in  mosaic  and  other 
styles,  cisterns  and  cellars,  chimney  tops,  fount- 
ain basins,  door  steps,  horse  blocks,  and  lot 
fencing  and  solid  stone  of  all  kinds  for  build- 
ing purposes,  of  any  size  or  dimensions. 

The  Webster,  Camp  &  Lane  Machine  Com- 
pany have  their  works  on  North  Main  street. 
They  were  established  in  1851,  under  the  name 
and  style  of  the  Globe  Foundry.  In  1860,  a 
stock  company,  known  as  the  Welister,  Camp, 
&  Lane  Machine  Company,  was  organized  with 
a  capital  stock  of  $100,000.  The  works  were 
remodeled  and  enlarged,  and  the  scope  of  bus- 
iness considerably  increased.  The  machine- 
shop,  which  is  two  stories  in  height,  covers  an 


^ 


CITY    OF   AKEON. 


359 


area  of  52x150  feet,  and  is  constructed  of 
brick,  in  the  most  thorough  manner.  The 
foundr}'  building  is  one  stor}-,  of  wood,  60x100 
feet  in  size.  The  storehouse  is  a  two-story 
wooden  structure,  40x90,  and  the  smith-shop 
of  one  stor}',  20x40.  These  buildings  are  all 
thoroughly  equipped  and  supplied  with  the 
most  approved  styles  of  machinery  for  carr}'- 
ing  on  the  extensive  business  of  the  company, 
in  its  varied  departments  and  ramifications. 
One  fort3'-five  horse-power  engine  furnishes  the 
motive  power  required.  The  compan}'  manu- 
facture ever}^  description  of  gearing  and  pul- 
le3's,  mining  and  milling  machinery'  (these  two 
latter  being  leading  articles  of  manufacture  by 
this  house),  ix)ttery  machiner}',  brass  castings 
of  every  description,  steam  and  water  pipe  fit- 
tings, and  other  articles  pertaining  to  this  line. 
They  make  a  specialty  of  furnishing  engines 
constructed  and  fitted  up  with  special  reference 
to  simplicity  of  mechanism,  durabilit}-  and 
freedom  from  derangement,  regularity  of  speed, 
economy  of  fuel,  and  the  largest  amount  of 
power. 

The  trade  of  this  house  extends  all  over  the 
West,  particularly  throughout  the  States  of 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Kansas,  etc. 

The  manufacture  of  boilers  of  every  descrip- 
tion, and  heavy  sheet  and  boiler  iron  work,  is 
extensivel}'  carried  on  by  J.  C.  McNeil,  at  the 
Akron  Boiler  Works,  on  South  Broadway,  di- 
rectly opposite  the  Buckeye  Works.  This  bus- 
iness was  established  in  January,  1866,  by  the 
present  proprietor.  The  main  building  covers 
an  area  of  40x75  feet,  and  is  supplied  with  the 
latest  improved  machinery  and  devices  for  car- 
r3ing  on  this  extensive  business.  The  sheds 
adjoining  the  main  works  cover  an  equal  space, 
and  are  used  for  storage,  and  for  the  heavier 
work.  One  ten-horse-power  engine  and  boiler 
furnishes  the  motive  power  required,  and 
twenty  skilled  and  experienced  workmen  are, 
on  an  average,  emplo^^ed  at  this  establishment. 
Mr.  McNeil  manufactures  every  description  of 
ordinary  boilers,  making  a  specialty  of  heavy 
sheet  and  boiler  iron  work.  His  repairing  de- 
partment is  in  charge  of  competent  and  expe- 
rienced workmen,  and  is  made  a  prominent 
feature  of  his  steadily  increasing  business. 
The  Akron  Boiler  Works  are  thoroughl}' 
equipped  in  every  particular,  and  will  compare 
favorably'  with  any  similar  establishment  in  the 
West. 


Almost  every  manufacturing  establishment 
in  the  cit}^  of  Akron  use  and  testify  to  the  su- 
periority' of  his  boilers.  He  also  makes  a 
specialty'  of  steam  heating  "  magazine  "  boilers 
for  public  and  private  buildings.  The  new 
buildings  measure  66x100  feet,  and  the  ship- 
ping facilities  are  as  good  as  those  of  any 
manufacturing  establishment  in  the  city,  being- 
located  immediately  on  the  New  York,  Penn- 
s^dvania  &  Ohio  and  Cleveland,  Mt.  Vernon  & 
Columbus  Railroads,  thus  alfording  the  great- 
est facilities  for  loading  and  shipping  the  prod- 
uct to  any  part  of  the  countr}'. 

There  are  two  creditable  upholstering  estab- 
lishments in  Akron,  where  are  manufactured 
everything  in  the  line  of  upholstered  stock,  es- 
specially  lounges  and  mattresses.  The  first  is 
the  house  of  Klinger  &  Dodge,  originally 
Klinger  &  Grintz.  Their  place  of  business  is  at 
126  Howard  street.  The  other  manufactory  is 
that  of  K.  Gintz,  114  Mill  street,  which  was 
opened  in  1880.  The  work  at  both  these  estab- 
lishments is  done  in  the  best  manner,  and  sold 
at  reasonable  prices. 

Edam  &  Johnson,  manufacturers  of  commer- 
cial fertilizers  and  best  quality  of  Kelly  Island 
White  Lime,  have  their  works  at  the  corner  of 
Cedar  and  William  streets.  George  Edam  be- 
gan the  business  in  1877,  and  Charles  N.  John- 
son pui'chased  an  interest  in  January,  1880. 
Their  establishment  is  a  large  one  ;  they  burn 
about  forty  tons  of  lime  in  twenty-four  hours, 
and  grind  twenty  tons  of  fertilizers  in  the  same 
length  of  time.  Their  new  buildings  are  40x60 
feet ;  the  old  ones  nearly  the  same  dimensions. 
Their  engine  room  is  25  feet  square.  They 
furnish  ground  limestone,  land-plaster,  pure 
bonedust,  white  lime,  plastering  hair,  calcined 
plaster  and  cement. 

The  Akron  Straw  Board  Company  are  located 
in  the  Sixth  Ward,  Middlebury.  Their  works 
were  established  in  1873,  by  the  present  pro- 
prietors, J.  F.  Seiberling  and  M.  Seiberling. 
Since  that  time  their  business  has  steadily  in- 
creased, until  it  has  now  reached  the  handsome 
aggregate  of  $75,000  to  $100,000  per  annum. 
The  works  consist  of  three  two-story  buiUlings, 
one  being  30x100  feet  in  size,  one  40x85  feet. 
and  one  40x60.  These  buildings  are  supplied 
with  the  most  approved  styles  of  machinery 
manufactured  expressly  for  this  line  of  business, 
and  on  which  numerous  improvements  have 
been  made  by  the  members  of  the  firm.     The 


'9    . 


Jkl 


360 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


mills  are  in  every  respect  thoroughly  equipped, 
and  for  general  appointments  and  capacity  will 
compare  favorably  with  any  similar  establish- 
ment in  the  United  States.  The  products  of 
these  works,  which  consist  principally  of  a 
superior  quality  of  steam-dried  straw  board,  in 
numbers  ranging  from  thirty-five  to  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty,  are  used  for  a  variety  of  pur- 
poses, and  meet  with  a  ready'  sale  in  the  Phila- 
delphia, New  York  and  Boston  markets,  where 
this  trade  is  principally  located.  The  capacity 
of  the  mills  is  at  present  from  eight  to  ten  tons 
of  finished  board  per  day,  the  demand  for  which 
is  fully  equal  to  the  supply. 

The  firm  of  May  &  Fieberger  are  .successors 
to  Cramer  &  May  in  the  manufacture  of  gal- 
vanized iron  cornice,  window  caps  and  other 
work.  They  are  located  at  114  North  Howard 
street,  and  do  a  large  and  successful  busi- 
ness. 

Caoutchouc,  or,  as  it  is  commonly  called,  India 
rubber,  has  within  the  last  twenty-five  or  thirty 
years  become  a  very  important  article  of  com- 
merce and  industry.  It  is  procured  from  the 
creamy  exudations  of  several  plants,  and  is 
found  in  abundance  in  a  number  of  tropical 
countries,  the  principal  sources  of  supply  being 
Para,  Java,  Penang,  Singapore,  Assam  and 
Central  America.  The  best  quality  of  rubber 
comes  from  Para,  though  much  of  the  Central 
American  product  is  in  quality  nearly  equal 
to  it. 

The  India  rubber  tree  is  a  beautiful  specimen 
of  the  vegetable  kingdom,  being  very  tall  and 
straight,  with  smooth  bark,  and  measuring  in 
many  cases  eighteen  inches  through  at  the  base. 
In  these  trees  small  longitudinal  gashes  are  cut, 
from  which  flows  a  white  sap,  of  about  the  con- 
sistenc}'  of  cream,  which  is  conveyed  through 
an  earthen  spout  to  a  trough  placed  beneath. 
The  curing  process  is  performed  by  means  of  a 
fire  made  from  the  nuts  of  the  Urucury  palm, 
the  smoke  of  which  has  the  peculiar  propert}- 
of  solidifying  and  curing  the  rubber  in  a  ver}' 
thorough  manner.  The  workman  dips  a  wood- 
en paddle  in  the  creamy  fluid,  turing  it  quickly 
in  order  to  separate  the  sap  as  much  as  possi- 
ble, then  passes  it  repeatedly  through  the 
smoke,  until  the  substance  assumes  a  grayish 
yellow  color  and  becomes  solidified.  After  the 
rubber  has  accumulated  to  a  thickness  of  about 
two  inches  on  each  side  of  the  paddle,  it  is  cut 
open  on  one  side,  peeled  from  the  tool,  and 


hung  up  to  dry  out  the  water  that  accumulates 
between  the  layers. 

The  color  of  the  cured  rubber  is  a  light 
yellow,  but  it  gradually  changes  until  with  age 
it  takes  on  the  dark  brown  so  familiar  in  the 
rubber  of  commerce. 

An  eflJbrt  is  being  made,  aided  by  the  Brazil- 
ian Govei'nment,  to  systematize  the  cultivation 
of  India  rubber,  and  this,  if  successful,  must 
largely^  increase  the  production  beyond  the  re- 
quirements of  manufacturers,  thus  decreasing 
the  cost  of  the  raw  material,  as  also  of  the 
finished  product. 

The  chemical  properties  of  India  rubber  are 
somewhat  remarkable,  inasmuch  as,  unlike  all 
other  solid  vegetable  products,  it  contains  no 
oxygen,  the  constituents,  according  to  Dr.  Ures' 
analysis,  being  90  per  cent  carbon  and  10  per 
cent  hydrogen.  It  is  quite  insoluble  in  alcohol, 
but  in  ether,  derived  from  alcohol  by  washing 
with  water,  it  readily  dissolves  and  affords  a  col- 
orless solution.  When  the  ether  is  evaporated, 
the  rubber  becomes  again  solid.  When  treated 
with  hot  naptha  distilled  from  native  petrole- 
um, or  from  coal  tar,  it  swells  to  thirty  times  its 
former  bulk,  and  if  triturated  with  a  pestle  and 
pressed  through  a  sieve  it  atfords  a  varnish. 

The  present  skilled  stage  in  the  manufacture 
of  India  rubber  has  only  been  reached  after 
years  of  patient  labor.  To  get  two  pieces  of 
clean  rubber  to  unite  firmly  together,  at  their 
recently  cut  surface  ;  to  obtain  fagile  adhesion 
by  the  use  of  hot  water  ;  to  cut  the  rubber  by 
the  use  of  a  wet  blade  ;  to  collect  the  refuse 
pieces,  make  them  up  into  blocks,  and  then  cut 
the  blocks  into  slices,  required  years  of  time, 
the  greatest  patience  and  ingenious  machinery 
to  effect.  Mackintosh,  Hancock  and  Groodj'ear 
alike  record  the  simple  manipulations  they  first 
employed,  and  the  impression  produced  at  last 
when  they  compare  their  individual  efforts  with 
the  gigantic  and  complex  machinery  now  used 
to  secure  the  same  result. 

Of  all  the  wonderful  changes  affected  by 
chance,  observation  or  chemical  experiment  of 
late  years,  few  have  been  so  important  as  the 
change  in  India  rubber  by  the  process  called 
vulcanizing,  which  was  discovered  and  patented 
by  Charles  Goodyear,  of  New  York.  The  union 
of  sulphur  with  rubber,  to  give  new  properties 
so  valuable  that  it  may  be  said  the  prior  well- 
known  (piality  of  elasticity  is  now  rendered  so 
variable  that  almostevery  range,  from  the  most 


(^(f-//. 


(^'YT.^ 


fe* 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


361 


delicate  tenuity  to  the  hardness  of  metals,  is 
obtained  at  will  by  the  manufacturer. 

India  rubber,  until  the  time  of  Goodyear's 
invention,  had  been  greatly  restricted  in  use 
owing  to  the  fact  of  its  being  entirely  unfitted 
for  man}'  purposes  ;  but  now,  with  extraor- 
dinary impetus,  the  ingenuity  of  manufactur- 
ers was  employed  in  producing  an  immense 
variety  of  articles,  which  were  constantly  de- 
manded by  the  ever  augmenting  utility  of 
vulcanized  rubber  in  the  arts  and  in  mechan- 
ical construction.  This  invention,  judged  by 
its  great  usefulness  to  societ}',  deserves  lo  rank 
among  the  leading  discoveries  of  the  nine- 
teenth century. 

There  are  thi'ee  different  and  distinct  classes 
of  manufacturers  of  rubber  goods,  viz.,  those 
manufacturing  belting,  hose,  packing,  springs, 
wringer  rolls,  tubing — in  short,  goods  used  for 
mechanical  purposes  ;  those  making  boots  and 
shoes  and  clothing,  and  those  producing  the 
thousand  and  one  small  articles  of  utility  and 
ornament  which  are  ever  increasing  in  variety. 

There  is  but  one  factory  in  Akron  of  rubber 
goods,  but  this  one  produces  all  articles  made 
of  caoutchouc  adapted  to  mechanical  purposes. 
This  is  the  Akron  Rubber  Works,  located  at 
111  Factor}'  street.  These  works  were  estab- 
lished in  1869.  The  resources  and  trade  of 
this  concern  have  more  than  kept  pace  with 
the  general  prosperity  of  Akron.  The  capital 
employed  is  $75,000,  and  the  annual  trade 
reaches  $300,000.  The  buildings  occupied  by 
these  works  consist  of  a  main  building,  120x60 
feet  (three  stories),  an  additional  back  building 
of  80  feet  in  length,  and  a  stock-room  of  50 
feet  in  length,  all  built  of  brick.  The  parties 
composing  tlie  firm  are  B.  F.  Goodrich,  H.  F. 
Wheeler  and  B.  T.  Morgan.  The  trade  of 
these  works  extends  over  various  States  be- 
sides our  own,  and  their  products,  among 
which  may  be  found  belting  from  2-inch  to  24- 
inch  in  width,  2  3  and  4  ply,  steam  packing 
for  making  steam-tight  joints,  standard  hose 
of  all  kinds  and  for  all  purposes,  which  are 
unsurpassed,  many  of  the  processes  used  being 
of  their  own  invention  and  the  result  of  man}- 
years'  experience.  Hose  for  fire  department 
service,  springs,  grain  drill  tubes,  wringer  rolls, 
billiard-table  cushions,  and,  in  fact,  all  articles 
made  of  rubber  adapted  to  mechanical  pur- 
poses. 

The  Akron  Paper  Company,  the  proprietors 


ot  which  are  Thomas  Phillips  &  Co.,  have  a 
fine  brick  mill,  100  feet  square,  with  two 
floors,  containing  a  full  equipment  of  improved 
machinery,  which  is  propelled  by  two  steam- 
engines  of  respectively  80  and  18  horse  power. 
They  make  a  specialty  of  manilla  flour-sack 
paper,  turning  out,  on  the  average,  2  tons 
every  24  hours,  and  consuming  3^  tons  of  old 
rope  per  diem.  The  number  of  hands  em- 
ployed is  70  ;  annual  product,  between  600  and 
700  tons  of  paper,  worth  in  the  neighborhood 
of  $160,000. 

Besides  a  very  large  local  demand  by  the 
millers  of  this  city,  the  Akron  Paper  Company 
have  considerable  trade  with  the  millers  west 
to  Chicago  and  St.  Louis,  and  some  Southern 
custom ;  the  aggregate  demand  being  fully 
equal  to  the  full  producing  capacity  of  their 
mill. 

The  business  was  inaugurated  in  1872  by 
Thomas  Phillips  (deceased  in  1878),  and  it  was 
through  his  eflbrts  that  the  enterprise  was 
made  a  success. 

Merrill  &  Ewart  manufacture,  on  Brook 
street,  Merrill's  patent  vitrified  diamond  roof- 
ing tile.  This  firm  commenced  the  manu- 
facture of  this  tile  in  Akron  in  1875.  The 
works  consist  of  a  two-stor}^  brick,  64x32  feet 
in  size,  with  a  wing  24x48,  and  were  erected 
by  the  firm  at  a  co.st  of  $10,000.  One  40- 
horse-power  engine  is  used  in  driving  the 
machinery,  which  consists  in  the  main  of  a 
clay  mill,  clay  packer  and  tile  presser.  The 
trade  extends  through  Ohio,  Pennsj'lvania  and 
the  Eastern  States  generally.  The  house  has 
an  agency  in  New  York  City,  Boston  and  Phil- 
adelphia. The  sizes  of  tile  made  by  this  con- 
cern are  14x8^  inches  and  6x10  inches,  and 
require  250  and  500  respectively  to  the  square. 
This  firm  also  manufacture  a  superior  quality 
of  drain  tile. 

The  business  of  D.  A.  James,  designer  and 
manufacturer  of  fine  wood  work,  was  inaugu- 
rated by  him  in  1875,  on  Main  street,  between 
Market  &  Mill,  and  was  removed  to  the  present 
location,  218  West  Market  street,  in  1876.  W. 
P.  DeLand  was  admitted  to  partnership  May  1, 
1879,  when  the  firm  assumed  the  above  title. 
The  partnership  continued  one  year,  when  Mr. 
DeLand  retired.  Mr.  James  makes  fine  office 
and  church  furniture  from  architects'  or  their 
own  designs.  All  their  work  in  this  line  is 
executed  in  a  highly  artistic  and  workmanlike 


1^" 


362 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


manner,  from  the  best  selected  materials.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  ornate  picture  and  mirror 
frames  and  room  cornices,  from  unique  and 
original  designs,  with  the  most  elaborate  and 
artistic  finish.  He  produces  special  designs  to 
order,  which  ai-e  never  duplicated  except  by 
permission.  This  superb  art  work  is  executed 
in  precious  natural  woods,  some  of  them  very 
rare,  including  Hungarian  ash,  English  oak, 
burr  oak,  chestnut,  white  holly,  ebon}',  African 
amboine,  bird's-eye  maple,  silver-gray  maple, 
thu3'a  and  tulip  woods.  Making  a  constant 
study  of  this  special  line  of  manufacture,  and 
exercising  cultured  taste  and  skill  in  its  perfect 
development,  these  gentlemen  have  met  with 
marked  success  in  their  sedulous  efforts  to 
please  their  numerous  patrons.  He  likewise 
pays  special  attention  to  wood  decorations  for 
dwellings,  such  as  window  and  door  casings, 
etc.,  in  natural  woods  susceptible  of  rich  carv- 
ing and  high  finish. 

The  Akron  Varnish  Works,  of  which  Kuliler 
&  Beck  are  the  proprietors,  were  established  in 
Akron  by  E.  Gr.  Kubler,  who,  after  many  years 
of  practical  scientific  experience  in  some  of 
the  largest  manufactories  of  varnishes  and 
japans  in  the  East,  concluded  to  "  go  West." 
He  found  Akron  to  be  an  advantageous  point 
for  manufacturing  and  shipping,  and  the  de- 
cision to  locate  here  proved  to  be  a  wise  one. 

Mr.  Kubler  is  a  thoroughl)'  skilled  chemist, 
possessing  intimate  knowledge  of  all  its  de- 
tails, and  enjoys  the  prestige  of  careful  busi- 
ness training,  ripe  experience  and  uprightness 
in  all  his  dealings.  With  this  ample  fortifica- 
tion, he  has  constituted  it  his  strong  point  to 
manufacture  none  but  the  purest  and  best 
goods.  After  patient  experimenting,  he  has 
brought  the  production  of  black  baking  japan 
to  such  perfection  that  even  his  competitors 
acknowledge  the  fact  that  it  is  unsurpassed  in 
quality  and  durability. 

Owing  to  the  constant  growth  of  the  busi- 
ness thus  established  on  a  firm  foundation,  it 
was  found  necessary  to  enlarge  the  facilities  for 
manufacturing,  and  a  copartnership  was  formed 
under  the  style  of  the  Akron  Varnish  Works, 
Kubler  &  Beck,  proprietors.  Mr.  Beck  is  also 
a  gentleman  of  fine  business  ability,  and  has 
acquired  a  practical  knowledge  of  producing 
processes  in  this  line.  Their  goods  are  sold  all 
over  the  United  States  to  the  largest  manufact- 
urers  of  every  description  who  have  occasion 


to  use  varnishes.  Their  old  works  are  located 
on  Bowery  street ;  their  new  works  on  South 
Main  street. 

Lager  beer,  in  its  use  among  Americans,  is 
fast  superseding  whisky.  The  perfection  to 
which  its  manufacture  is  brought  in  Akron  is 
due  in  a  great  measui'e  to  F.  Horix,  who  carries 
on  a  brewery  on  North  Forge  street.  Mr. 
Horix  came  to  Akron  in  1868,  and,  soon  after 
his  arrival  here,  entered  upon  the  brewery 
business,  and  has  continued  in  it  to  the  present 
time.  His  first  start  was  in  a  small  building 
which  he  erected  on  Exchange  street.  The 
buildings  which  he  now  occupies  consist  of  the 
brewery  proper,  a  three-story  structure  of  stone 
and  brick,  68x92  feet,  a  wai-ehouse  of  brick,  14x 
14  feet,  and  an  ice-house  30x80  feet.  The  cellar 
used  for  cooling  purposes  is  beneath  the  brewery, 
inclosed  by  stone,  and  is  68x90  feet.  The 
arrangement  of  these  buildings  is  most  per- 
fectly adapted  to  the  business.  These  build- 
ings were  erected  in  1873  by  F.  Overholtz. 
The  premises,  with  all  impi'ovements,  were  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Horix  March  1,  1879,  and  imme- 
diately taken  possession  of  by  him.  The 
capacity  of  this  establishment  is  20,000  barrels 
per  annum.  Excellent  lager  beer  is  also  manu- 
factured by  the  Wolf  Ledge  Ale  and  Lager 
Beer  Brewery,  at  154  Sherman  street,  by  Will- 
iam Burkhardt,  proprietor. 

At  210  Cherry  street,  west  of  the  Brick 
Mill,  are  manufactured  the  "  Celebrated  Cahow 
Pumps,"  by  H.  J.  Cahow.  He  makes  deep- 
well  pumps  a  speciality.  His  work  includes  a 
great  variety  of  force,  suction  and  chain  pumps. 
He  also  manufactures  water  pipe.  Mr.  Cahow 
does  an  extensive  business  in  his  line. 

The  city  of  Akron  is  not  only  famous  far 
and  wide  for  the  superiority  of  the  sewer  pipe 
and  stoneware  made  within  her  limits,  but  like- 
wise for  the  excellence  of  the  fire  brick  here 
produced. 

For  a  series  of  years  J.  Park  Alexander, 
proprietor  of  the  Diamond  Fire  Brick  Works, 
made  a  careful,  erudite  studj^  of  the  subject  of 
making  first-class  fire  brick,  expending  many 
thousands  of  dollars  in  his  laudable  endeavors 
to  bring  about  the  consummation  he  so  desired 
to  achieve,  and  being  ultimately  rewarded  with 
signal  success. 

Mr.  Alexander  commenced  the  manufacture 
of  fire  brick  in  1866 — the  first  one  to  start  in 
this  business  in  Northern  Ohio,  if  not  in  the 


\^  a 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


3G3 


entire  State.  His  previous  large  experience  in 
tlie  production  of  stoneware  from  the  chemi- 
cally peculiar  clays  of  this  region,  with  very 
satisfactory  results,  led  him  to  experiment 
therewith  in  the  making  of  fire  or  furnace 
brick.  It  was  soon  demonstrated,  however, 
that  only  a  low-grade  brick,  suitable  for  ordi- 
nary heating  apparatus,  could  be  made  from  it. 
In  no  wise  disheartened  at  the  comparative 
failure,  he  subsequently  made  a  thorough  test 
of  the  best  clays  from  New  Jersey,  Penn.sylva- 
nia  and  elsewhei'e,  laying  under  contribution,  as 
it  were,  the  divers  aluminous  deposits  of  the 
whole  country,  but  still  without  the  successful 
outcome  aimed  at.  Though  baffled,  he  contin- 
ued to  persevere  in  his  research  after  the  cov- 
eted secret,  ever  keeping  in  view  the  adage  that 
"  persistency  wins  the  day  "  at  last. 

In  1870,  or  thereabouts,  Mr.  Alexander  inau- 
gurated a  series  of  experiments  with  the  sili- 
ceous pebbles  found  in  abundance  in  the  con- 
glomerate rock  formation  near  the  western  cor- 
poration line  of  Akron,  feeling  assured  that 
therein  he  had  the  material  for  the  production 
of  an  infusible  and  non-shrinkable  brick.  After 
long  and  patient  study  and  experimenting  with 
silica  and  alumina,  and  a  large  pecuniary  out- 
lay, he  succeeded  in  discovering  a  process 
whereby  fire  brick  of  unequaled  qualit}'  and 
durability  could  be  made  from  silica  alone.  He 
made  application  for  letters-patent  on  his  new 
process,  which  were  duly  granted. 

The  material  alluded  to  was  analyzed  by 
Prof  Cassell,  and  found  to  contain  98.75  per 
cent  of  pure  silica — an  extraordinary  propor- 
tion— and  affording  an  advantage  not  enjoyed 
by  other  localities.  Mr.  Alexander  has  availed 
himself  of  tliis,  and  for  about  three  years  past 
has  made  the  silica  fire  brick,  known  as  the 
"Diamond"  brand. 

The  manufactor3-  of  Allison  &  Hart  is  on 
Bank  street.  Sixth  Ward.  This  firm  manufact- 
ures fire  brick  also  on  a  large  scale  ;  they 
also  make  stove  and  furnace  linings,  and  ground 
fire  clay  for  laying  fire  brick. 

The  uncommonly  fine  plastic  clays  of  Summit 
County,  rich  in  alumina,  and  practically  inex- 
haustible in  extent  of  deposit,  formed  the  basis 
for  the  early  inception  of  pottery  manufacture 
in  Akron.  It  was  started  hei'e  on  a  somewhat 
extensive  scale,  when  the  town  had  but  a  few 
hundred  inhabitants,  it  being  the  first  mechan- 
ical industr}'  of  importance  established  here. 


From  the  date  of  its  introduction,  about  1830, 
it  gradually  grew  in  volume  up  to  the  year 
1852,  the  surrounding  country  being  supplied 
with  brown,  yellow  and  stone  ware  from  this 
point.  Up  to  the  period  mentioned^  the  means 
of  transportation  were  restricted  to  wagon  con- 
veyance and  the  Ohio  Canal,  and,  consequently, 
the  commercially  tributary  area  was  limited. 

In  1852,  however,  when  the  Atlantic  &  Great 
Western  Railway  was  opened  to  Akron,  the 
business  gained  a  fresh  impetus,  and  has  steadily 
increased  in  volume  ever  since. 

The  fame  of  Akron  stoneware  has  extended 
pretty  much  all  over  the  country,  and  it  ma}-  be 
qualifiedly  affirmed  that  it  is  the  onl}-  real  stone- 
ware made  on  the  continent.  The  peculiar  fire 
qualities  of  the  cla}'  found  here  are  such  that 
the  ware  made  therefrom  is  capable  of  standing 
any  degree  of  heat  to  which  it  may  be  sub- 
jected ;  neither  fire  nor  hot  water  will  aflTect  it 
injuriously-.  Hence,  it  may  be  used  the  same 
as  iron  vessels  for  culinary  purposes.  On  the 
contrar}',  the  so-called  stoneware  made  in  New 
Jersey  and  elsewhere,  from  the  friable  cla}-  of 
other  sections,  must  be  '•  handled  with  care," 
and  can  only  be  preserved  from  fracture  In*  keep- 
ing it  at  a  safe  distance  from  caloric  infiuence. 

By  reason  of  this  fact,  Akron  stoneware  has 
justly  achieved  a  wide  reputation,  and  the  de- 
mand therefor  is  rapidly  extending.  It  is  now 
being  shipped  largely  to  all  parts  of  the  West 
and  Northwest  (Chicago  being  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal distributing  points),  to  the  South,  to  the 
interior  of  Pennsylvania,  and  latterh^,  consider- 
able orders  for  this  excellent  ware  have  come 
from  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Boston  and  other 
Eastern  cities. 

The  business  of  Whitmore,  Robinsons  &  Co., 
was  established  in  a  comparatively  small  wa3-, 
in  1857,  by  a  number  of  practical  potters,  under 
the  style  of  Johnson,  Whitmore  &  Co.  They 
commenced  with  one  kiln,  and  their  whole  area 
for  working  consisted  of  about  a  quarter  of  an 
acre  of  land,  situate  on  the  south  side  of  Market 
street,  Middlebury,  now  the  Sixth  Ward  of 
Akron,  where  they  set  to  work  making  yellow- 
ware,  then  a  new  manufacture  in  this  section.  For- 
tune favoi'ed  them,  and  their  business  prospered. 

In  January,  18(12,  'Slv.  Johnson  retired,  and 
in  the  following  April,  James  B.  Manton  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm,  whereupon  the  style 
changed  to  Wliitmore,  Robinsons  &  Co..  con- 
sisting of  Richard  Whitmore.  Thomas  Robinson, 


f 


364 


HISTOEY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


William  Robinson  and  James  B.  Manton.  In 
1866,  Henry  Robinson  was  taken  into  the  co- 
partnership. From  time  to  time,  commodious 
additions  were  made  to  their  works,  thus  in- 
creasing their  producing  capacity',  until  they 
had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  theirs  was 
the  most  extensive  and  complete  stoneware 
pottery  in  the  world.  They  run  six  mills,  oper- 
ated by  three  steam  engines,  with  a  total  of  175- 
horse-power. 

While  this  company  make  stoneware  their 
principal  manufacture,  they  also  produce  all 
kinds  of  yellow  and  Rockingham  ware.  In  this 
department,  they  have  two  up-draft  kilns,  which 
are  run  to  their  full  capacity. 

The  buildings  of  this  immense  concern  have 
the  following  dimensions  :  Main  building,  of 
brick  (stoneware  department),  177x50  feet,  three 
stories  ;  kiln  sheds  and  engine  houses  attached, 
177x50  feet,  one  stor^' ;  yellow  ware  warehouse, 
of  brick,  80x34  feet,  three  stories,  with  wing 
20x30  feet  ;  yellow  and  Rockingham  ware  fac- 
tory, of  stone,  70x36  feet,  three  stories ;  stone- 
ware factory,  of  stone,  180x36  feet,  two  stories  ; 
slipware  shop,  of  brick,  50x40  feet,  two  stories  ; 
dipping-house  and  green-house,  frame,  100x30 
feet,  two  stories  ;  other  small  buildings  for  va- 
rious uses,  about  half  an  acre  of  area.  The 
aggregate  floor  surface  of  these  works  is  97,660 
square  feet,  or  about  two  and  a  quarter  acres. 

They  ship  their  goods  principally  to  the 
West,  and  Southwest  as  far  as  Texas,  while 
the}'  also  have  a  growing  Eastern  trade. 

The  Akron  Pottery,  owned  and  carried  on  by 
E.  H.  Merrill  &  Co.,  was  established  in  1861. 
They  do  a  large  and  prosperous  business  in  the 
manufacture  of  beer  and  ink  bottles,  pump 
cylinders  and  all  styles  of  stone  tobacco  pipes. 
They  manufacture  a  variety  of  novelties  in  stone- 
ware, which  are  the  invention  of  the  proprietors, 
and  they  have  also  made  many  improvements 
in  machinery,  especially  applicable  to  this 
branch  of  business,  among  which  we  may  men- 
tion a  bottle  machine  and  a  pipe  machine,  con- 
structed on  new  and  improved  principles.  They 
have  also  invented  an  improvement  in  clay 
mills,  which  greatly  facilitates  the  manufacture 
of  their  specialties.  The  buildings  occupied  by 
this  firm  consist  of  one  three-story  structure, 
30x60  feet  in  size,  and  one-story  building, 
70x100  feet,  equipped  with  all  the  necessary 
machinery  and  implements  required  in  this 
branch  of  industry,  with  an  engine  and  boiler 


40-horse-power.  Their  place  of  business  is  at 
404  South  Main  street. 

Meyres  &  Hall  manufacture  Ohio  stoneware, 
having  their  office  and  warehouse  near  the  depot 
of  the  New  York,  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Railroad. 
Their  works,  although  located  in  another  town, 
may  appropriately  be  classed  among  the  indus- 
tries of  Akron.  The  business  was  established 
in  1864,  by  S.  L.  Stall  &  Co.,  at  Mogadore,  and 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  present  proprietors 
in  1873.  The}'  manufacture  a  superior  grade 
of  goods,  widely  known  as  "  Ohio  Stoneware," 
consisting  in  part  of  churns,  butter,  pickle  and 
snufF-jars,  milk  pans,  jugs,  water  fountains,  fruit, 
preserve  and  cream-jars,  bean  pots,  stove  tubes, 
etc.  The  office  and  warerooms  of  the  firm  are 
located  near  the  union  depot,  Akron,  and  the 
potteries  at  Mogadore.  These  consist  of  one 
building,  60x40  feet,  with  an  L-shaped  addition, 
40x50  feet ;  another  building,  40x50  feet,  and 
numerous  smaller  structures,  sheds,  etc.  These 
are  supplied  with  all  the  necessary  machinery' 
and  appliances,  operated  by  one  20-horse-power 
engine  and  boiler,  which  serves  to  turn  the 
lathes  and  to  heat  the  buildings.  All  the  ma- 
chinery is  of  the  most  perfect  construction,  es- 
peciall}'  adapted  to  this  line  of  business. 

Stoneware  is  manufactured  by  F.  J.  Knapp, 
wholesale  dealer,  east  of  Fountain  street.  He 
and  his  father  began  business  at  that  point 
many  years  ago.  The  present  buildings  were 
erected  by  them.  Mr.  Knapp  purchases  his 
cla}'  in  Springfield.  He  has  two  kilns.  His 
works  have  a  capacity  of  14,000  gallons  a  week. 
His  motive  power  is  furnished  by  a  steam  en- 
gine of  thirty-horse-power. 

At  115,  117  and  119  Fountain  street,  are  the 
pottery  works  of  Whitsel,  Gibbs  &  Co.,  man- 
ufacturers and  wholesale  dealers  in  Ohio  stone- 
ware. Their  buildings  were  erected  over  twenty 
years  ago  by  F.  J.  Knapp  and  his  father,  who 
afterward  sold  to  Beecher  &  Lantz.  The  latter 
ran  the  works  one  year  and  sold  them  to  Peter 
Bodenbohl,  who  disposed  of  them  to  Shenkle 
Brothers  &  Mann.  This  firm  conducted  the 
business  until  last  year,  when  the  works  were 
purchased  by  the  present  proprietors.  The 
capacity  of  the  establishment  is  15,000  gal- 
lons a  week.  There  are  three  kilns.  Their 
trade  goes  West,  largely. 

Next  to  the  works  of  Whitmore.  Robinsons  & 
Co.,  those  of  the  Akron  Stoneware  Company, 
on  Bank  street,  Sixth  Ward,  are  the  largest  in 


^1 


S) 


-^ 


CITY    or    AKRON. 


365 


Akron.  This  is  an  incorporated  company,  or- 
ganized May  1,  1879,  vvitla  a  capital  of  $60,000. 
Joseph  Cook,  President  ;  R.  H.  Kent,  Secretary 
and  Treasurer ;  David  A.  Butler,  General  Agent. 
This  company  manufactures  every  variet}'  of 
standard  Akron  stoneware.  Their  works  are 
large  and  their  trade  extensive. 

Johnson  &  Baldwin  occupy  the  works  first 
started  by  Johnson  &  Dewey  as  a  redware 
manufactory,  on  the  coi'uer  of  3Iarket  and  High 
streets.  Sixth  Ward.  The  proprietors  are 
Thomas  Johnson  and  Harve}-  Baldwin.  Their 
works  have  a  capacity  of  15,000  gallons  a 
week.  They  have  two  down-draft  kilns.  Their 
entire  trade  is  disposed  of  to  Quigle3'  Brothers, 
of  Akron,  wholesale  dealers  in  stoneware.  The 
latter  have  an  office  at  215  High  street,  Sixth 
Ward,  also  one  near  the  depot  of  the  New 
York,  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Railroad. 

Jones,  Waite  &  Co.  carry  on  the  manufacture 
of  stoneware  on  River  street,  Sixth  Ward  ; 
William  Rowley  on  the  same  street ;  Cook  & 
Fairbanks  on  South  High  sti-eet ;  and  Viall  & 
Markle  on  East  Market  street,  same  ward. 
These  works  are  all  extensive  and  their  trade 
widely  extended. 

Akron  has  three  broom  factories  ;  that  of 
Bachtel  &  Pontius  was  established  in  1870. 
This  firm,  of  whom  the  members  are  A.  C. 
Bachtel  and  N.  Pontius,  manufacture  in  large 
quantities  every  variety  of  the  best  brooms,  at 
125  Carroll  street.  Their  broom-corn  is  brought 
from  Illinois  ;  their  handles  from  Columbus, 
Ohio  ;  their  wire  from  Cuyahoga  Falls  ;  and 
their  twine  from  New  York  City.  The  shop  of 
H.  B.  Cross,  who  also  manufactures  brooms,  is 
at  Lock  No.  1,  Ohio  Canal ;  that  of  Mr.  Hardy 
is  on  Mill  street. 

The  Akron  Malleable  Iron  Works  are  located 
on  East  Water  street.  Sixth  Ward,  Hope  & 
Greer  proprietors.  W.  Foster  Hope,  Business 
Manager  ;  John  F.  Greer,  Superintendent.  This 
firm  manufacture  malleable  iron  castings, 
nickel-plated  castings,  models  for  patents,  and 
gray  iron  castings  of  every  description. 

Lepper  &  Sackett  make  Bohemian  or  hulless 
oat-meal  at  their  Bohemian  Oat-Meal  Mills,  on 
Water  street.  Sixth  Ward.  Their  goods  are 
sent  to  various  parts  of  the  country. 

In  addition  to  the  industries  already  noticed, 
there  are  a  number  in  Akron  helping  to  swell 
the  aggregate,  each  one  of  which  is  of  impor- 
tance :  Louis  Cohn's  Awning  Manufactory  is  lo- 


cated in  the  Phoenix  Block,  South  Howard  street. 
N.  0.  Freer,  makes,  at  176,  same  street,  furnaces 
for  heating  and  ventilating  buildings.  He 
began  his  business  first  on  Mill  street,  in  1876, 
and  moving  to  his  present  rooms  in  1878.  G. 
W.  McNeil  &  Sons  manufacture  stone  grain 
scourers  and  polishers  on  South  High  street. 
George  W.  McNeil,  Jr.,  makes,  at  the  same 
place,  the  Acme  Wheat  Steamer.  M.  Shouler 
manufactures  soda  water,  ginger  ale  and  Seltzer 
water,  at  the  Akron  City  Bottling  Works,  834 
Bowery  street.  At  240  Mill  street,  R.  L.  &  A. 
Andrew  make  window  shades.  The}'  have  been 
established  in  the  business  since  1876.  Nahum 
Fa}',  at  926  East  Market  street,  manufactures 
cordage.  John  J.  Grether  makes  soap  and  can- 
dles, at  717  South  Broadwa3^  He  established 
the  candle  business  in  Akron  in  1852,  adding 
soap  manufacture  some  years  subsequent. 
Adam  Beck  also  manufactures  soap  near  the 
fair  grounds.  Walter  Andrews  makes  candies 
at  the  Akron  Steam  Candy  Works,  selling  them 
at  wholesale  only.  J.  Bergdorf  is  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  baskets  on  Cuyahoga  street. 

A  summary  of  the  manufacturing  interests  of 
Akron  is  as  follows  :  Capital  invested,  $6,127,- 
250  ;  hands  employed,  4,163  ;  total  value  of 
materials  consumed,  $4,606,774  ;  total  annual 
production,  $9,313,451. 

Number  of  establishments  that  turn  out  a 
product  annually  of  $1,000,000  or  over,  2  ; 
$900,000  or  over  annually,  1  ;  $250,000  and  less 
than  $900,000  annually,  7  ;  $100,000  and  less 
than  $250,000  annually,  7  ;  $50,000  and  less 
than  $100,000  annually,  11  ;  $25,000  and  less 
than  $50,000  annually,  18  ;  $10,000  and  less 
than  $25,000   annually,  34. 

It  may  be  said,  therefore,  with  truth,  that  the 
crowning  glory  of  Akron  is  her  manufactories. 
It  has  been  shown  that  a  number  of  them  are 
among  the  largest  and  most  successful  of  their 
kind  in  the  United  States,  giving  them  almost 
the  control  of  the  market  for  the  particular 
commodities  manufactured.  The  history  of 
most  of  them  shows  a  gradual  development 
from  small  beginnings.  Not  all,  of  course,  have 
been  alike  successful ;  but,  the  rule  has  been, 
to  which  there  have  been  but  few  exceptions, 
that  every  industry  persevered  in  and  conducted 
on  strictly  business  principles  in  Akron,  has,  in 
the  end,  proved  a  success.  There  really  seems 
no  limit  to  the  increase  of  the  manufacturing 
interests  of  this  thriving  city. 


(2 »i>-. 


IE 


366 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


CHAPTER    X.* 

(ITV  OF  AKRON— ITS  EAULV  CHRISTIANITY— FORMATION    OF  CHURCHES— HUILDING  OF  CHURCH 
EDIFICES- RFLKilON  AT  THE  PRESENT  DAY- SUNDAY  SCHOOLS,  ETC. 


"Magna  est  Veritas,  ct  prevalebit.'" 
rr^HE  church  history  of  Akron  dates  back 
J_  almost  to  the  dawn  of  its  existence  as  a 
town  or  settlement.  The  great  truths  of  re- 
ligion make  their  appeals  to  man,  whatever 
may  be  his  circumstances  or  surroundings.  If 
there  has  ever  been  a  church-going  habit ;  if 
the  Sabbath  has  ever  found  recognition  from 
him  ;  and  truth  and  love  to  God  predominated 
in  his  heart ;  then,  when  deprived  of  the  oppor- 
tunities of  going  to  church,  this  religious  nature 
will  make  its  appeals  with  the  recurrence  of 
the  seventh  day,  demanding  that  he  should 
rest,  or  by  some  means  recognize  the  day  set 
apart  for  rest,  by  special  command.  This  de- 
mand, or  religious  influence,  is  early  felt  in 
pioneer  life  ;  and,  because  the  opportunities  for 
church-going  are  few,  they  are,  therefore,  the 
more  highly  prized.  In  a  very  early  period  in 
the  histor}'  of  the  town,  religious  societies  were 
formed,  and  churches  established,  as  will  be 
gathered  from  a  perusal  of  the  sketches  follow- 
ing of  the  different  religious  denominations 
having  organized  churches  within  the  city 
limits.  These  sketches  have  been  written, 
either  by  the  Pastor  or  some  leading  member 
of  their  congregations,  and  are  as  full  and  com- 
plete as  our  limited  space  will  allow,  and  are 
given  without  comment. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Akron  comes  first  in  the  order  of  formation, 
and  dates  its  organization  back  to  1830.  The 
following  historical  sketch  of  it  was  furnished 
for  this  work  by  Mr.  Jacob  Snyder,  and  will  be 
found  of  interest  to  its  members  :  With  the 
characteristic  zeal  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
societies  of  the  world,  that  of  the  First  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  Akron.  Ohio,  secured  a 
location  in  this  cit}^  when  it  was  but  a  3'oung 
village.  The  society  was  organized  in  about 
1830.  and  by  the  Rev.  John  Janes,  of  the  North 
Ohio  Conference,  of  the  territory-  of  which  the 
then  village  of  Akron  formed  a  part.  In  about 
the  same  jear  of  the  organization  of  the  so- 

*  E.!ited  by  W.  H.  Perrin. 


ciety,  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice  was  com- 
menced, which  was  an  unpretentious  wooden 
structure  of  40x60  feet,  located  directly  in 
front  of  the  present  one,  and  fronting  toward 
the  West.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  jNIarcli, 
1841,  and  upon  its  foundation  another  of  like 
design  was  immediately  built.  In  1836,  this 
city  was  taken  within  the  bounds  and  placed 
under  the  control  of  the  Erie  Conference,  when 
Revs.  Thomas  Carr  and  John  L.  Holmes  were 
appointed  to  serve  the  society.  In  1837,  the 
appointees  were  Daniel  M.  Stearnes  and  Thomas 
Graham  ;   in    1838,    Horatio    N.    Stearnes ;    in 

1839,  John    Robinson   and    Caleb    Brown  ;   in 

1840,  John  Robinson  continued,  and  Benjamin 
K.  Maltby  ;  in  1841,  Ira  Eddy  and  John  Wood  ; 
in  1842,  Timothy  Goodwin'  M.  D. ;  in  1843, 
William  H.  Hunter  ;  and  in  1844-45,  Edwin  J. 
Kinney. 

The  busy  throng  in  practical  life  is  apt  to  be 
absorbed  onl}'  b}'  what  the  present  forces  upon 
it ;  yet  there  is  now  and  then  one,  who,  some- 
what more  far-sighted,  overleaps  the  general 
boundar}',  and  invites  to  remembi'ance  the  men 
and  the  deeds  of  the  past.  Such  was  Rev. 
Samuel  Gregg,  who  was  appointed  to  this  sta- 
tion in  1846,  and  who  was  the  author  of  "The 
History  of  Methodism  in  the  Erie  Conference," 
in  two  volumes,  which  we  have  taken  the  lib- 
erty to  use  in  preparing  these  historical  sketches. 
In  1847,  James  R.  Locke  was  the  appointee  to 
the  station ;  in  1848,  Martin  C.  Briggs ;  in 
1849,  Reuben  J.  Edwards  ;  in  1850-51,  Ezra 
Jones  ;  in  1852-53,  John  Tribby :  in  1854,  Gay- 
lord  B.  Hawkins  ;  in  1855-56,  William  F.  Day  ; 
in  1857-58,  George  W.  Clark;  in  1859,  Thomas 
Stubbs,  and  in  1860-61,  John  D.  Norton. 

With  this  last-mentioned  pastorate,  the  time 
had  arrived  when,  to  meet  the  increased  wants 
of  the  society,  the  old  church  must  undergo 
extension  and  reparation.  The  Pastor  seeing 
this  necessity,  urged  upon  the  trustees  its  pos- 
sible accomplishment,  which  resulted  in  revers- 
ing its  front,  enlarging  the  building,  and  in 
otherwise  improving  its  several  apartments,  at 


l^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


367 


a  cost  in  all  of  about  $3,500.  In  1862-63, 
John  Peate  was  appointed  to  the  charge  ;  in 
1863,  E.  A.  Johnson,  and  in  1865-67,  D.  C. 
Osborne.  It  was  during  the  latter's  pastorate 
in  1866  that  the  centennial  of  Methodism  was 
celebrated  by  the  society  in  the  old  church,  at 
which  time  there  was  subscribed  and  paid  about 
$30,000,  as  a  nucleus  from  which  the  present 
edifice  sprang.  During  this  year  and  the  early 
part  of  the  following  one,  the  Centenary  pict- 
ure, now  decorating  the  main  Sunday-school 
room  was  made,  whose  design  embodies  the 
ideal  of  the  then  prospective  departments,  and 
exhibits  the  members  of  the  entire  Sunday 
school,  as  well  as  many  of  the  congregation  of 
the  old  church,  to  the  extent  of  between  seven 
and  eight  hundred  photographic  likenesses  made 
by  G.  W.  Manly,  Esq. 

In  the  spring  of  1867,  ground  was  broken  for 
the  present  edifice,  and  by  late  autumn,  the 
foundation  walls  were  elevated  to  about  one- 
half  their  designed  height.  The  work  was  then 
delayed  in  the  winter,  and  again  resumed  in 
the  spring  of  1868,  and  thence  prosecuted  to 
the  entire  inclosing  of  the  building  by  the 
return  of  the  next  autumn.  Another  winter's 
cessation  from  the  work  was  followed  by  its 
resumption  in  the  spring  of  1869,  and  the 
completion  of  the  Sunday-school  and  the  lec- 
ture-room apartments  in  April,  1870,  when  the 
transition  fi'om  the  old  church  to  the  present 
one  was  made  by  the  society  and  Sunday 
school.  On  the  15th  of  this  month,  the  finished 
apartments  of  the  first  story,  main  building, 
and  the  second  story  of  the  Sunday-school 
rooms  were  formally  dedicated  by  Dr.  C.  H. 
Fowler,  of  Chicago,  and  Dr.  J.  H.  Vincent,  of 
New  York.  At  this  time,  W.  F.  Day,  D.  D., 
had  charge  of  the  appointment,  he  having  after 
an  interval  of  about  twelve  years  been  re-ap- 
pointed thereto  in  1868,  and  he  continued  in 
the  position  until  August,  1871.  During  the 
last  ten  years  previous  to  the  occupancy  of  the 
new  edifice,  the  ratio  of  increase  of  member- 
ship, both  of  church  and  Sunday  school  was 
greater  than  of  any  previous  decade  of  the 
society's  history. 

In  June,  1871,  the  work  upon  the  audience- 
room  of  the  present  church  was  resumed  which 
had  been  permitted  to  rest  during  the  interval 
of  completing  the  other  departments  of  the 
chui'ch  ;  and  in  the  January  following,  it  was 
completed  and  dedicated.  Bishop  Wiley  and  Dr. 


B.  I.  Ives  conducting  the  dedicatory  exercises. 
Both  the  main  audience-room  and  the  Sunday- 
school  apartments  are  considered  models  of 
excellence,  and,  to  an  extent,  even  beyond  a 
State-wide  reputation. 

In  1871,  W.  W.  Ramsay,  of  the  Cincinnati 
Conference,  was  transferred  to  the  Erie,  and 
appointed  to  this  charge,  his  term  of  service 
ending  in  1874,  when  Henry  Baker  became 
his  successor,  and  continued  until  1877.  In 
the  latter  j'ear,  I.  A.  Pierce  became  the  ap- 
pointee, and  in  1878  W.  W.  Case,  the  present 
incumbent  was  transferred  from  the  Cincinnati 
Conference  to  the  East  Ohio,  and  appointed  to 
the  charge.  The  present  membership  of  the 
church  is  about  eight  hundred,  and  that  of  the 
Sunday-school  about  seven  hundred  and  fifty. 

When  the  pews  of  the  spacious  audience- 
room  are  well  filled,  their  united  capacity  is 
about  one  thousand  sittings.  When  all  of  the 
vacant  places  of  the  room  are  supplied  with 
extra  means  of  seating,  this  capacity  may  be 
increased  to  1,500,  and  the  possible  capacity 
by  the  availment  of  all  of  the  standing  room, 
which  probably  has  been  the  case  in  a  few  in- 
stances, is  2,000.  Both  in  the  church  and 
Sunday  school  there  seems  to  be  a  continually 
growing  interest  upon  the  part  of  all  connected 
therewith.  And  it  seems  as  if  the  Sunday- 
school  appointments  especially  were  likely  at 
some  not  far  distant  day  to  become  too  strait- 
ened to  accommodate  the  growing  attendance. 
For  here  ma}^  be  seen 

"  '  Fathers  and  mothers,  brothers,  sisters,  friends," 
And  very  little  boys  and  girls — around, 
Across,  within  the  spacious  sacred  rooms, 
'They  walk,  they  sit,  they  stand,'  what 
Crowds  press  in  !" 

The  church  and  Sunday  school  are  both 
greatly  indebted  to  Mr.  Lewis  Miller  for  the 
great  proportions  the}'  have  assumed  since  the 
enterprise  of  the  present  church  edifice  was 
commenced,  he  having  both  by  an  unusual 
expenditure  of  time  and  money  contributed 
to  the  advancement  of  their  interests. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Middle- 
bury  (now  the  Sixth  Ward  of  Akron)  is  one  of 
the  early  church  organizations  of  this  section. 
The  following  sketch  of  it  was  written  by  Mrs. 
Henry  Robinson  especially  for  this  work  :  At 
a  meeting  held  in  the  schoolhouse  in  the  village 
of  Middlebury,  then  Portage,  now  Summit 
County,  Thursday,  December  15, 1831,  the  First 


r^ 


368 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Presbyterian  Church  of  Middlebury  was  organ- 
ized by  Kev.  Benson  C.  Baldwin,  assisted  by 
Rev.  John  D.  Hughes,  of  Springfield.  The  fol- 
lowing-named persons  were  then  admitted  to 
membership  :  Jesse  Neal  and  Nanc}',  his  wife  ; 
Dr.  Titus  Chapman,  Richard  Chapman,  Mrs. 
Eliza  Chapman,  Mrs.  Sj'lvia  Chapman,  Woolsey 
Welles,  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Welles,  James  Neal, 
William  F.  Astroon,  Harvey  B.  Spellman,  Ed- 
gar Chapman  (only  member  now  living).  Miss 
Sallie  Allen,  Miss  Amanda  Gillet,  Miss  Mary 
A.  Gillet,  Miss  Naomi  Hickox,  Miss  Louisa 
Neal,  Miss  Sophronia  Neal,  Miss  Sophia  Neal, 
Miss  Mary  Erwin,  Miss  R.  M.  Jennison,  Mrs. 
Jane  Bell,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Cotter,  Mrs.  Clarissa 
Hickox,  Mrs.  Allen  and  Miss  Emeline  King. 
The  officers  of  the  church  were  Woolsey  Welles 
aud  Richard  Chapman,  Ruling  Elders  ;  Jesse 
Neal,  Deacon.  Rev.  Benson  C.  Baldwin  re- 
mained a  much-loved  Pastor  of  this  little 
church  until  Sejrteraber  30,  1838.  when  he  re- 
moved to  ^ledina.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Almon  Saunders,  of  Unionville,  who  commenced 
his  labors  October  7,  1838,  and  continued  with 
the  church  for  one  year.  In  July,  1840,  the 
Rev.  H.  A.  Sackett  took  charge,  remaining 
until  the  next  January.  During  his  labors 
large  numbers  were  added  to  the  church.  In 
the  fall  of  1841,  Rev.  James  Shaw  was  settled 
as  Pastor.  The  church  was  greatly  blessed 
during  his  pastorate,  109  members  being  added. 
In  the  fall  of  1845,  on  account  of  failing  health, 
he  requested  that  his  pastoral  relations  with  the 
church  be  dissolved.  This  good  man  passed 
to  his  eternal  rest  in  1874  or  1875. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Shaw  ceased  his  relations  with 
the  church,  a  part  of  the  members  seceded.  The 
subject  of  slavery  had  for  some  time  been  agi- 
tated, and  a  part  of  the  church,  on  this  account, 
not  being  willing  to  retain  their  connection  with 
Presbytery,  withdrew  and  formed  a  Congrega- 
tional Church.  From  this  time  until  the  fall 
of  1846,  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  the  aged 
minister.  Rev.  William  Hanford.  In  September 
of  that  year,  the  Rev.  Horace  Foot  was  engaged 
for  one  year,  and  in  January,  1848,  Rev.  Elroy 
Curtis  was  called,  and  labored  as  Pastor  until 
the  spring  of  1854,  faithfully  and  efficiently. 
In  1860,  the  slaver}'  question,  which  had  di- 
vided the  churches,  being  settled,  they  were 
united,  and  formed  an  independent  church,  un- 
der the  charge  of  Rev.  William  Dempsey,  who 
remained  until  1863.     He  died  in  1864  at  Me- 


dina. The  church  then  hired  Rev.  Mr.  Hicks, 
who  remained  for  three  years,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  John  G.  Hall.  He  remained 
three  3'ears,  and  in  May,  1871,  Rev.  Henrj- 
Aver}'  came,  remaining  until  May,  1874  ;  Rev. 
Carlos  Smith  then  officiated  for  three  months. 

This  brings  us  to  the  period  in  the  history  of 
the  church,  when  it  again  connected  itself  with 
the  Presbytery.  This  was  accomplished  through 
the  earnest  efforts  of  Mr.  Ambrose  L.  Cotter, 
who  has  been  connected  with  it  for  forty-six 
years  having  become  a  member  in  1835.  He 
has  alwa^'s  been  an  earnest  and  zealous  worker 
in  the  cause  of  Christ,  and,  though  now  past 
his  fourscore  j^ears,  his  enthusiasm  kindles  at 
the  very  mention  of  the  church.  The  next  min- 
ister in  charge  was  Rev.  C.  E.  Barnes,  who 
came  in  October,  1874,  and  was  employed  as 
stated  supply  until  1877.  On  the  1st  of  April, 
1878,  Rev.  J.  H.  Jones  was  formally'  installed 
as  Pastor,  and  still  continues  his  labors  as  such. 
During  all  these  years,  this  little  church  has 
had  but  thi'ee  regularly  installed  Pastors,  viz.: 
Rev.  James  Shaw,  Rev.  E.  Curtis  and  Rev.  J. 
H.  Jones,  the  others  having  officiated  merely 
as  stated  supply. 

There  are  very  few  of  the  earlier  members 
now  known  to  be  living.  Mrs.  D.  A.  Hine,  who 
resides  here,  and  who  united  with  the  church 
at  the  same  time  as  did  Mr.  Cotter,  is  still  an 
earnest  and  devoted  Christian  worker.  The 
society  is  now  recognized  as  the  "  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Akron."  Its  present  mem- 
bership is  sixty-one  ;  the  officers  are  Rev.  J. 
H.  Jones,  Pastor  ;  A.  L.  Cotter,  J.  K.  Robin- 
sou  and  Henry  Hart,  Ruling  Elders  ;  James  B. 
Manton,  William  Robinson,  Dr.  F.  C.  Reed, 
Harvey  Baldwin  and  J.  K.  Robinson,  Trustees. 
The  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1833,  but  has 
since  been  remodeled  and  repaired. 

The  Sabbath  school  has  been  in  existence 
ever  since  the  organization  of  the  church,  and 
at  present  numbers  over  one  hundred,  with  an 
average  attendance  of  sixty-five.  The  officers 
are  Dr.  C.  C.  Davidson,  Superintendent ;  Mrs. 
Henry  Robinson,  Assistant  Superintendent  ; 
B3'ron  Robinson,  Secretary  ;  Miss  Kate  Palm- 
er, Treasurer  ;  Miss  Frances  Robinson,  Organ- 
ist ;  and  Miss  Belle  Berger,  Chorister. 

In  connection  with  the  church  is  a  Ladies' 
Foreign  Mission  Society,  formed  May  17,  1880, 
by  Miss  Loring ;  and  at  the  same  time  the 
children  formed  a  home  Mission  Band,  to  be 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


369 


known  as  the  "  Austin  Mission  Band."  They 
have  undertaken  the  support  of  a  pupil  in  Miss 
Austin's  School,  at  Sitka,  Alaska.  Members, 
thirty -nine  ;  amount  of  money  raised  in  less 
than  a  year  over  $45  ;  officers,  Mrs.  Henry 
Robinson,  Superintendent ;  Miss  Kate  Palmer, 
Assistant  Superintendent  ;  Miss  Lizzie  Clriffin, 
President ;  Henry  B.  Manton,  Vice  President ; 
Miss  Nellie  Farwell,  Secretary  ;  and  Park  T. 
Robinson,  Treasurer. 

St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church,*  Akron,  Ohio,  is 
another  of  the  early  church  organizations.  The 
records  of  the  church  were  burned  and  conse- 
quently much  that  would  be  deemed  necessary 
for  its  history  is  lost.  What  we  give  here  has 
been  collated  from  journals,  Episcopal  address- 
es, etc.  Rev.  A.  Sanford  reports  in  1832 : 
"  Solemnized  one  marriage  at  Akron."  Bishop 
Mcllvaine  in  1834,  says  :  "From  Stow  to  Mid- 
dlebur}',  October  11  ;  two  or  three  Episcopal 
families  in  the  neighborhood  ;  heard  of  none  in 
the  village  ;  preached  at  night  in  the  school- 
house  to  a  very  considerable  and  attentive  au- 
dience ;  next  day  went  to  xlkron,  to  take  the 
canal-boat  for  Massillon.  This  growing  place  is 
destined  to  become  a  manufacturing  town  of 
great  importance.  There  was  no  place  of  wor- 
ship in  it  when  I  was  there,  and  seldom  any 
preaching  of  the  Grospel.  It  should  be  a  mis- 
sionary station  as  soon  as  possible.  I  should 
have  preached  there,  had  not  the  constant  ex- 
pectation of  the  boat  prevented."  The  Rev.  W. 
K.  Newman  took  charge  of  St.  John's,  in  Stow, 
and  of  two  new  parishes  at  Akron  and  Franklin. 

From  the  Bishop's  address,  1836  :  "  Jul}'  8, 
visited  St.  Paul's,  Akron  ;  preached  and  met 
the  Vestry,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barrow  has  been  invited 
to  assume  the  care  of  this  point  and  Franklin." 
This  minister  reports,  in  the  same  3'ear,  five  com- 
municants. Mr.  John  Hanford  was  the  first  lay 
delegate  from  this  parish  to  the  diocesan  con- 
vention. Rev.  Mr.  Barrow  remained  one  year. 
In  1837,  nine  communicants  are  reported.  In 
1838,  the  Bishop  reports  preaching  in  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  confirming  five  persons.  This 
year  the  Rev.  T.  J.  Davis,  of  Connecticut,  as- 
sumed charge  of  the  church.  In  1839,  Mr. 
Davis  reports  fifteen  communicants,  and  that  a 
Sunday-school  has  been  organized,  which  num- 
bers twenty-five  children  ;  also  the  organization 
of  a  society  called  the  Christian  Knowledge  Soci- 
ety.    A  room  was  fitted  up  in  a  stone  building 

*  By  Rev.  K.  L.  Ganter. 


on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Henry's 
store,  to  be  used  as  a  place  of  worship. 

Referring  to  a  visitation  made  in  1839,  Bishop 
Mcllvaine  says  :  "  In  a  large  upper  room  in  a 
warehouse  fitted  up  for  a  church,  I  preached, 
catechised  the  young,  addressed  the  parents, 
and  confirmed  three.  This  parish  has  much 
prospered  since  that  date."  November  6, 1840, 
the  Bishop  visited  St.  Paul's  and  confirmed  six 
persons.  It  was  this  year,  on  a  Sunday  morn- 
ing, at  the  hour  of  worship,  that  a  severe  storm 
threw  a  large  chimney  and  heav}'  ornamental 
stones  in  upon  the  assembled  congregation,  and 
although  the  people  were  hurled  down  through 
a  broken  floor,  but  one  man  was  killed  and  a 
few  others  injured. 

About  this  time  the  congregation  undertook 
the  building  of  what  is  known  under  the  name 
of  the  old  "  Cobb  House,"  northwest  of  the  city, 
near  the  bend  of  the  canal.  It  was  to  serve  for 
the  combined  purposes  of  parsonage,  seminar}^ 
and  parish  school.  From  a  letter  of  a  Warden, 
dated  November,  1840,  we  give  the  following 
extract :  "  This  parish  has  received  donations, 
solicited  by  Rev.  Mr.  Davis,  about  $900  from 
the  friends  of  the  church  in  Philadelphia,  and 
this  diocese  to  assist  in  the  erection  of  a  tem- 
porary house  of  worship  and  parsonage  and 
support  of  the  Rector.  It  would  probably  be  a 
satisfaction  to  the  donors  to  know  that  their 
benevolent  wishes  have  been  fulfilled  in  the 
erection  of  the  building  contemplated,  and  the 
establishment  of  the  church  upon  a  permanent 
basis."  This  year  occurred  the  first  attempt  to 
chant,  under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  Cowan.  It 
was  a  nine  da3's'  wonder.  In  November,  1840, 
Rev.  Mr.  Davis  resigned.  The  resolutions 
passed  bj'  the  Vestry  were  exceedinglj-  compli- 
mentaiy  to  Mrs.  Davis,  and  were  signed  by 
John  Hanford  and  E.  W.  Chittenden,  Wardens  ; 
Alvah  Hand,  Abram  Smith  and  J.  G.  Darby, 
Vestrymen. 

In  1841,  Rev.  Lyman  Freeman  was  called. 
During  his  administration,  the  building  in 
which  the  congregation  is  now  worshiping  was 
undertaken.  For  this  purpose  $1,770  was  col- 
lected from  persons  other  than  citizens  of 
Akron.  Mr.  Lyman  Cobb  had  the  contract  for 
building,  and  in  part  payment  on  contract,  the 
title  of  the  Cobb  House  was  transferred  to  him. 
On  the  2d  of  June,  1844,  the  church  was  con- 
secrated. The  parish  then  numbered  sixty 
communicants,  and  the  building  was  described 


1^ 


^ 


370 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


as  being  40x60  feet.  Four  inonths  after  the 
consecration  of  the  church,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Free- 
man resigned.  Rev.  Mr.  Cox  took  charge  De- 
cember 8,  1844.  Rev.  Mr.  Mcllhinney,  Novem- 
ber, 1847.  Rev.  J.  K.  Stuart  in  1848.  Rev. 
E.  H.  Gumming,  December  20,  1850.  He  was 
followed  by  Rev.  R.  S.  Nash,  and  he  in  turn  was 
succeeded  in  November,  1854,  by  Rev.  D.  C. 
Maybin.  The  Rev.  Edward  Meyer  preached  his 
first  sermon  December  16,  1855.  He  reports 
that  "  during  the  summer  of  1856,  through  the 
exertions  of  the  ladies'  society,  a  set  of  neat 
green  blinds  were  procured  for  the  south  side 
windows,  adding  greatly  to  the  comfort  of  the 
worshipers,  and  furnishing  a  pleasant  and  sub- 
dued light  ;  the  cost  was  $40."  Mr.  Meyer's 
resignation  was  accepted  July,  1859.  The  Rev. 
Henry  Adams  took  charge  in  1860  ;  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Maxwell  in  1863  ;  the  Rev.  W.  T.  Fitch 
in  1866  ;  the  Rev.  Henry  Grregory  in  1869,  and 
the  Rev.  R.  L.  Ganter,  the  present  Rector,  in 
1870. 

In  1870,  the  church  edifice  was  enlai-ged  and 
a  new  organ  procured.  The  same  year,  also,  a 
commodious  parsonage  was  erected  on  North 
Summit  street.  In  1872-73,  $4,000  were  ex- 
pended for  new  Sunday-school  rooms. 

The  following  are  the  pi-esent  otHcers  of  the 
church  :  R.  L.  Ganter,  Rector  ;  Senior  Warden, 
D.  L.  King  ;  Junior  Warden,  Philo  Bennett ; 
Vestrymen,  Frank  Adams,  J.  A.  Beebe,  0.  C. 
Barber,  C.  A.  Collins,  A.  L.  Conger,  G.  W. 
Grouse,  U.  L.  Marvin,  W.  B.  Raymond  ;  Super- 
intendent of  Sunday  school,  H.  J.  Church  ; 
Assistant  Superintendent,  U.  L.  Marvin  ;  Sec- 
retar}^  A.  N.  Sanford ;  Assistant  Secretary, 
Percy  W.  Leavitt ;  Treasurer,  W.  B.  Raymond ; 
Librarians,  W.  F.  Snook  and  W.  A.  Noble. 

Ladies'  Aid  Society'  :  President,  Mrs.  Frank 
Adams  ;  Vice  President,  Mrs.  Lorenzo  Hall ; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  A.  Gommins  ;  Assistant  Treas- 
urer, Miss  Ruth  Hubdell ;  Directors,  Mesdames 
H.  H.  Brown,  E.  W.  Shook,  A.  Brewster,  L. 
Camp,  James  McNeil,  0.  C.  Barber,  G.  B.  Cobb 
and  E.  Buckingham. 

St.  Paul's  Church  numbers  170  families,  230 
communicants.  Sunday-school  teachers  and 
officers,  31  ;  scholars,  283 ;  total,  314. 

The  Baptist  Ghui-ch  of  Akron*  was  organized 
at  Middlebury  (now  Sixth  Ward  of  Akron) 
April  18,  1834,  under  the  name  of  the  Akron 
and  Middlebury  Baptist  Church.     The  names 

♦Written  by  Rev.  N.  S.  Burton. 


of  Elder  Caleb  Green  and  Elder  Araasa  Clark 
appear  as  Moderator  and  Scribe  of  the  Council. 
The  church  at  its  organization  was  composed  of 
three  male  members — -Horace  Barton,  Daniel 
B.  Stewart,  Henry  H.  Smoke  ;  and  six  females — 
Miss  C.  Barton,  Mrs.  Thirza  J.  Smoke,  Mrs. 
E.  Burton,  Mrs.  Sally  Smith,  Miss  Amanda 
Smith  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Stewart.  The  first 
house  of  worship  (now  owned  by  the  German 
Reformed  Church),  on  Broadway,  just  south  of 
the  Court  House,  was  dedicated  in  September, 
1837. 

The  church  had  the  services  of  several  min- 
isters for  brief  periods  for  about  two  years 
after  its  organization,  services  being  held  in 
sclioolhouses  in  Akron  and  Middlebury.  In 
the  year  1836,  Rev.  E.  Crane  became  the  set- 
tled Pastor,  and  services  were  held  in  a  hall  in 
Middlebury,  and  in  a  schoolhouse  in  Akron 
while  the  first  house  of  worship  was  in  process 
of  erection.  Mr.  Crane  is  still  living,  and 
resides  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa.  Rev.  H. 
Carr  succeeded  Mr.  Crane,  and  was  the  Pastor 
at  the  dedication  of  the  house  of  worship  in 
1837. 

While  the  church  worshiped  in  this  house, 
it  had  as  Pastors  Rev.  H.  Carr,  Rev.  S.  Van 
Voris,  Rev.  C.  S.  Clark,  Rev.  J.  Hall  (after- 
ward President  of  Denison  University),  Rev. 
D.  Bernard,  Rev.  L.  Ransted,  Rev.  J.  M. 
Gregory  (now  President  of  Illinois  State  Uni- 
versity) Rev.  J.  C.  Courtue}'  (who  died  after  a 
brief  pastorate),  and  Rev.  A.  Joy,  during  whose 
pastoi'ate  the  house  on  Broadway  was  sold,  and 
the  present  house  on  North  High  street  pur- 
chased and  remodeled.  It  was  dedicated  June 
17,  1853.  Mr.  Joy  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J. 
W.  Hammond  in  1855,  whose  pastorate  contin- 
ued one  year.  Rev.  Samuel  Williams  became 
Pastor  in  1856,  and  remained  five  years.  Rev. 
N.  S.  Burton  succeeded  him  after  an  interval  in 
1862.  Rev.  F.  Adkins  was  Pastor  from  1866 
to  1868.  His  successor  was  Rev.  C.  T.  Chaffee, 
from  1869  to  1872.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  J.  P.  Agenbroad  for  one  year.  Chai'les 
A.  Hayden  was  ordained,  and  became  Pastor 
Nov.  25,  1873.  He  resigned  in  May,  1876. 
The  present  Pastor,  Rev.  N.  S.  Burton,  entered 
upon  his  second  pastorate  in  July,  1877.  The 
present  membership  is  about  145.  R.  A.  Grim- 
now  and  W.  T.  Allen  are  Deacons,  and  J.  W. 
Burton,  Clerk  and  Treasurer. 

A  Sunday  school   was  organized   when  the 


^^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


371 


church  entered  its  first  house  of  worship,  and 
iias  been  maintained  since.  Its  present  Super- 
intendent is  Dr.  Denitt  G.  Wilcox.  The  aver- 
age attendance  about  110. 

Three  of  the  Pastors,  J.  W.  Hammond.  F. 
Adkins  and  C.  A.  Haj'den,  received  ordination 
here.  More  than  most  churches,  tliis  church 
has  suftered  loss  by  the  removal  of  valuable 
members  to  larger  cities,  where  the}'  have  be- 
come efficient  workers  in  church  work.  Though 
small  in  numbers  in  comparison  with  neighbor- 
ing churches,  it  has  always  had  its  full  propor- 
tion of  men  and  families  of  high  standing  in 
business  and  social  circles. 

St.  Vincent  De  Paul's  Congregation  (Roman 
Catholic)  of  Akron,  Summit  Count}'.  Ohio, 
comes  next  in  order  of  church  organizations. 
The  following  sketch  of  it  was  wi'itten  at  our 
request  by  Rev.  T.  F.  Mahar,  the  present  Pas- 
tor :  Previous  to  the  organization  of  this  con- 
gregation, and  as  early  as  1835,  visits  were  paid 
to  the  few  Catholics  of  Akron,  by  Father  Henni, 
the  present  Archbishop  of  Milwaukee,  who 
came  on  horseback  from  Cincinnati,  and  said 
mass  in  a  log  cabin  owned  by  James  McAllis- 
ter. Right  Rev.  J.  B.  Purcell,  now  Archbishop 
of  Cincinnati,  followed  soon  after  and  said  mass 
here  ;  and  the  Rev.  Louis  De  Goesbriand,  Pas- 
tor of  Louisville.  Stark  County,  visited  shortly 
after  him.  Rev.  Father  McLaughlin,  of  Cleve- 
land, was  also  here,  and  Rev.  Basil  Short  bap- 
tized the  children  and  attended  the  Catholics 
from  1837  to  1842. 

Hitherto  mass  was  said  in  private  houses  or 
rented  halls.  The  frame  church  on  Green 
street  was  commenced  by  Rev.  M.  Howard,  in 
1843,  and  he  remained  in  charge  of  Akron 
Congregation  to  1844.  Father  Cornelius  Daly 
succeeded  in  February,  1845,  and  was  the  first 
resident  Pastor.  He  remained  in  charge  till 
1848,  and  enlarged  and  finished  the  church 
commenced  by  Father  Howard.  During  the 
charge  of  Father  Daly,  the  Archbishop  of  Cin- 
cinnati ordained  Rev.  J.  V.  Conlan,  in  the  old 
frame  church  now  used  for  school  purposes. 
The  Rev.  Cassina  Moavet,  was  here  from  Octo- 
ber, 1848,  to  June,  1850,  then  came  Rev.  Father 
Goodwin.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Francis 
McGann,  who  owned  the  present  site  of  the 
new  church  and  the  present  cemetery.  Father 
McGann  was  here  from  December,  1850,  to 
August,  1855.  Rev.  L.  Molon  came  in  January, 
1856,  and    was    succeeded    by    Rev.    Thomas 


Walsh.  Then  followed  the  Rev.  W.  O'Connor, 
now  a  Redemptorist.  Rev.  M.  A.  Scanlon,  was 
appointed  to  this  charge  in  July,  1859,  and 
remained  here  to  November,  1873.  During  his 
pastorate  the  Catholic  Germans,  who  till  then 
formed  part  of  St.  Vincent's  congregation,  sep- 
arated (in  1861)  and  organized  themselves  by 
permission  of  Bishop  Rappe,  as  St.  Bernard's 
congregation.  Rev.  Father  Scanlon  was  suc- 
ceeded November  23  1873,  by  Rev.  Timothy 
Mahoney.  Father  Mahoney,  after  having  freed 
the  congregation  from  the  greater  part  of  a 
burdensome  debt,  was  transferred  August  1, 
1880,  to  the  larger  and  more  important  charge 
of  St.  Patrick's  Church,  Cleveland,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  T.  F.  Mahar,  D.  D.,  the 
present  Pastor.  Among  the  prominent  laymen 
and  pioneer  members  of  the  congregation  may 
be  mentioned  James  Mcx\llister,  John  Cook, 
John  Dunne — father  of  Judge  Dunne — Thomas 
Jones,  J.  McSweeny,  Martin  Quigley  and  Thom- 
as Garaghty. 

The  present  and  second  church  edifice  built 
by  St.  Vincent  De  Paul's  congregation  was 
commenced  on  St.  Patrick's  Day,  1864,  by  Rev. 
M.  A.  Scanlon.  It  is  a  massive  stone  structure, 
fifty  feet  wide  and  one  hundred  feet  long,  and 
of  Roman  style  of  architecture.  The  interior 
is  quite  attractive,  the  ceiling,  especially,  being 
very  beautifully  stuccoed.  Thei-e  are  no  pillars, 
and  hence  an  unobstructed  view  is  had  of  the 
whole  interior.  The  twelve  elegant,  stained- 
glass  windows  are  gifts  from  the  different 
church  societies  and  from  several  members  of 
the  congregation.  The  altar  is  only  tempora- 
ry, and  will  be  replaced  by  another  as  soon  as 
the  debt  is  somewhat  diminished.  The  cost  of 
the  church  is  estimated  at  about  $50,000.  The 
parish  school  was  organized  during  the  pastor- 
ate of  Rev.  Francis  McGann,  about  the  year 
1853.  There  are  at  present  two  divisions  with 
an  average  attendance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
children. 

The  Universalist  Church*  is  among  the  early 
religious  societies  organized  in  Akron.  Some 
time  in  the  summer  of  1837,  Rev.  Freeman 
Loring  visited  Akron  for  the  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing a  Universalist  Church.  His  meetings 
were  held  in  the  building  now  known  as  Mer- 
rill's pottery,  and,  subsequently,  in  a  hall  on 
the  site  now  occupied  by  the  store  of  Wolf, 
Church  &  Beck.     Among  those  who  became 

*  By  Kev.  Bicbard  Eddy. 


V9 


373 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


interested  in  the  movement  was  Dr.  Eliakim 
Crosby,  tlien  a  man  of  wealtli  and  great  enter- 
prise in  business.  An  organization  was  ef- 
fected in  a  few  months.  Dr.  Crosby,  Minor 
Si)icer,  Jacob  and  Jesse  Allen  and  Henry 
Chittenden  being  among  the  more  prominent 
members.  WhoU}^  at  the  expense  of  Dr. 
Crosby,  and  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr. 
Loring,  a  stone  church  edifice  44x57  feet,  sur- 
mounted by  a  steeple  100  feet  high,  was 
erected,  and  dedicated  in  November,  1839. 
The  cost  of  the  building  was  about  $8,000. 
Mr.  Jesse  Allen  presented  the  church  with  a 
fine  organ,  and  the  building  was  completely 
furnished  with  the  church  conveniences  of  that 
day.  Mr.  Loring  was  installed  as  Pastor  on 
the  day  of  the  dedication,  and  the  membership 
then  amounted  to  about  one  hundred  persons. 
Dr.  Crosb}-  was  at  this  time  engaged  in  the  con- 
struction of  a  canal,  commonly  known  as  "  The 
Chuckei'y  Race,"  for  the  pui'pose  of  bringing  wa- 
ter power  from  the  Cuyahoga,  at  the  falls,  to  Ak- 
ron, a  project  which  proved  to  be  a  disastrous 
failure,  involving  the  doctor  in  financial  ruin. 
To  relieve  his  embarrassment  in  a  measure, 
the  members  of  the  church  organized  a  stock 
company,  and  bought  the  church  building,  pay- 
ing therefor  $7,000.  Mr.  Loring  resigned  in 
the  fall  of  1839,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Nelson  Doolittle,  whose  pastorate  extended 
through  several  3'ears.  To  him  succeeded 
Revs.  J.  Gr.  Foreman  and  Z.  Baker.  Under 
the  latter  there  were  divisions  growing  out  of 
the  introduction  by  the  Pastor,  of  skeptical 
theories  and  so-called  Spiritualism.  The  build- 
ing needing  extensive  repairs,  and  the  church 
becoming  discouraged,  the  edifice  was  at  last 
sold  by  the  stockholders  to  the  Baptist  society, 
by  whom  it  is  now  held  and  occupied. 

A  new  efiort  to  organize  a  church  was  made 
in  November,  1872,  when  twenty-four  persons 
adopted  and  subscribed  a  profession  of  faith 
and  church  government — John  R.  Buchtel, 
Moderator ;  S.  M.  Burnham,  Clerk ;  Avery 
Spicer  and  Talmon  Beardsley,  Deacons.  Rev. 
G.  S.  Weaver  was  chosen  Pastor  in  April, 
1873,  and  the  church  held  its  meetings-  in  the 
lecture  room  of  Buchtel  College.  Thirty  mem- 
bers were  added  to  the  church  during  the 
first  year  of  Mr.  Weaver's  pastorate  ;  twentj-- 
three  the  second  3'ear.  In  December,  1876, 
Mr.  Weaver  resigned.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  H.   L.   Canfield,  whose  terra  of  service 


lasted  about  eighteen  months,  during  which 
time  there  was  a  small  increase  of  member- 
ship. Rev.  E.  L.  Rexford,  D.  D.,  became  Pas- 
tor in  April,  1878,  and  remained  till  July, 
1880,  when  he  resigned.  During  Dr.  Rexford's 
pastorate,  the  church  completed  the  erection, 
at  a  cost  of  about  $45,000,  of  an  elegant 
church  edifice,  on  the  corner  of  Broadway  and 
Mill  street.  Large  accessions  were  also  made 
to  the  membership.  The  present  Pastor,  Rev. 
Richaixl  Eddy,  commenced  his  labors  in  Sep- 
tember, 1880.  The  officers  of  the  Church, 
elected  in  Januar}-,  1881,  are  W.  D.  Shipman, 
Moderator  ;  S.  M.  Burnham,  Clerk  ;  J.  H.  Pen- 
dleton, Treasurer ;  Ferdinand  Schumacher, 
John  R.  Buchtel,  D.  S.  Wall,  George  W.  Weeks, 
J.  H.  Pendleton,  Dr.  William  Murdock,  S.  M. 
Burnham,  William  Hard}^,  D.  T.  Parsons, 
Trustees.     The  present  membership  is  160. 

A  Sunday  school,  the  membership  unknown, 
was  established  in  connection  with  the  early 
organization.  The  present  school  was  organ- 
ized in  1872,  and  has  a  membership  of  190, 
with  an  average  attendance  of  160.  The  pres- 
ent Superintendent  is  Mr.  George  W.  Weeks. 

The  creed  of  the  Church  is  expressed  in  the 
following  Profession  of  Belief,  adopted  by  the 
Universalist  Convention  in  1803: 

I.  We  believe  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testaments  contain  a  revelation  of 
the  character  of  God,  and  of  the  duty,  interest  and 
final  destination  of  mankind. 

II.  We  believe  that  there  is  one  God,  whose  na- 
ture is  love,  revealed  in  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by 
one  Holy  Spirit  of  Grace,  who  will  tinally  restore 
the  whole  family  of  mankind  to  holiness  and  hap- 
piness. 

HI.  We  believe  that  holiness  and  true  happiness 
are  inseparably  connected,  and  that  believers  ought 
to  be  careful  to  maintain  order  and  practice  good 
works;  for  these  things  are  good  and  profitable  un- 
to men. 

The  Church  of  Christ  of  Akron  was  organ- 
ized in  1839,  but  its  history  dates  back  several 
^•ears  bej-ond  the  period  of  its  formation  as  a 
church.  The  following  sketch  was  furnished  by 
its  Pastor,  Elder  C.  C.  Smith  : 

In  the  history  of  ever}'  church,  there  is  first, 
the  period  of  struggle  previous  to  organization, 
when  a  few  devoted  persons,  strong  in  faith  and 
conviction,  fight  for  a  place  among  the  workers 
in  God's  vineyard.  This  time  of  warfare  in  this 
church  occupied  about  ten  3'ears  preceding  the 
beginning  of  the  history  of  the  Akron  Church 
of  Christ  proper.     From  the  time  when  Elder 


*7[. 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


373 


William  Hayden  and  E.  B.  Hubbard  preached 
a  few  sermons  in  Middlebury  in  1829,  to  the 
organization  of  the  church  in  1839.  Some  of 
the  first  fruits  of  the  early  seed-sowing  was  the 
baptizing  of  William  Pangbura  and  Mrs.  Judge 
Sumner,  by  Elder  0.  Newcomb  ;  also  the  bap- 
tizing of  Mrs.  Pangburn  and  Levi  Allen  (still  a 
member  of  the  church),  by  Elder  Hayden. 

Prominent  at  this  early  time  may  be  noticed 
Elder  M.  S.  Wilcox,  who  preached  as  opportu- 
nity permitted,  in  schoolhouses  and  private  res- 
idences.    A  discussion  was  held  in  Middlebury 
between  him  and  a  Methodist  minister  of  the 
name  of  Graham.      The  name  of  Elder  A.  B. 
Green  is  also  prominent  in  the  early  history  of 
the  church.      We  could  not  very  well  give  too 
much  prominence  to  the  labors  of  two  women 
connected  with  this  work,  viz.,  Mrs.  Dr.  Parker 
and  Mrs.  J.  N.  Botsford.    Brother  A.  S.  Hayden 
sa3's  :      "  These   were  the  days  of   heart-song 
and  heaven-reaching   prayers  and  the  preach- 
ing !     It  was  hail  mingled  with  rain.     The  pro- 
longed hour  flitted  away  unconsciously.     The 
group  of  Disciples  tarried,  exhorted  each  other, 
sung  warmh'  and  feelingly  a  parting  hymn,  and 
with   a  final,   earnest  supplication,  they  com- 
mended one  another  to  the  good  Shepherd  and 
separated.    But  they  were  unspeakably  happy  !" 
In  the  year  1839,  Brothers  Bently  and  Bos- 
worth  came  at  the  call  of  the  brethren,  and  in  the 
building  on  Main  street,  now  occupied  by  Mer- 
rill's pottery,  the}'  organized,  with  thirty-two 
members,  into  the  Church  of  Chi'ist  of  Akron, 
and  with  Levi  Allen   and   Samuel   Bangs   as 
Elders  ;  W.  R.  Storer  and   Jonah  Allen,  Dea- 
cons.    Although  organized  into  a  society,  the 
church  had  no  regular  place  of  meeting.    Some- 
times it  came  together  at  Middlebury,  and  some- 
times in  Akron  in  schoolhouses  and   private 
residences.     In  1843,  a  meeting  was  held  by 
Elder  John  Cochrane,  assisted  by  Elder  John 
Henry,  of  Mahoning  County  (of  whom  it  was 
said,  he  "  was  swift  to  hear,  but  not  slow  to 
speak"),  which   resulted  in  fortj'-nine  conver- 
sions to  Christ,  and  in  greatl}'  increasing  the 
influence  of  the  church.    Shortly  after  this,  the 
church  purchased  a  small  frame  building  on  a 
lot  on  High  street,  the  present  site  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  Church  building  and  parsonage, 
which  was  its  first  home. 

In  1845,  Dr.  William  F.  Pool  moved  into 
Akron,  and  while  practicing  his  profession, 
greatly  strengthened  the  church,  "  laboring  in 


word  and  doctrine."  In  1849,  M.  J.  Streator 
became  Pastor  of  the  flock,  remaining  with  it 
about  ten  months.  In  1854,  W.  S.  Gray  com- 
menced his  three  years'  service  for  the  church  ; 
in  1857,  during  his  last  year's  stay,  it  sold  the 
above  mentioned  house  and  lot.  For  six  years 
the  church  rented  Tappin  Hall,  on  Market  street, 
for  its  place  of  meeting.  Here  Elder  Warren 
Belding  held  for  them  a  very  successful  meet- 
ing, and  here  they  were  blessed  with  the  labors 
of  Elder  J.  Carroll  Stark.  In  1861,  Elder  J.  G. 
Encil  commenced  his  pastorate.  While  he  still 
remained  with  the  church,  a  lot  was  purchased 
in  1863,  and  the  building  now  occupied  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $6,000.  Then  came 
the  following  ministers  in  the  order  named  :  J. 
O.  Beardsley,  L.  R.  Norton,  R.  L.  Howe,  L. 
Cooley,  John  L.  Rowe.  R.  G.  White,  F.  M. 
Greene  and  C.  C.  Smith,  the  present  Pastor. 
The  pastorate  of  L.  Cooley  was  the  longest  of 
any,  five  years,  and  his  memory  is  still  held 
dear  by  those  who  labored  with  him.  The 
labors  of  R.  G.  White  during  three  years  were 
signalized  by  a  large  ingathering  of  souls,  and 
the  establishing  of  the  Mission  Church  at  Mid- 
dlebury, Sixth  Ward  of  Akron,  resulting  in 
eighty  members  going  out  from  the  church  for 
that  purpose. 

The  otticers  of  the  church  at  the  present  time 
are  :  Elders — Levi  Allen,  Dr.  William  Sisler, 
Jacob  Rhodes  and  C.  C.  Smith.  Deacons — 
William  Allen,  Bennett  Smetts,  William  Wes- 
ton, Elijah  Briggs,  Edwin  A.  Barber,  John  No- 
ble and  J.  P.  Teeple.  Clerk — Horton  Wright. 
Treasurer — Albert  Allen.  There  is  upon  "the 
church  books,  444  members,  a  net  increase  of 
164  members  during  the  four  years  of  the  last 
pastorate.  It  is  in  a  vigorous  and  healthy  con- 
dition, and  stands  first  among  the  churches  of 
Christ  in  the  State  in  its  liberality  to  establish 
the  cause  at  home  and  abroad.  Then  there  is 
the  unwritten  history  of  the  struggles  and  tri- 
umphs of  the  individual  members,  and  the  un- 
recorded number  who  have  taken  membership 
from  the  church  below  to  the  church  above. 
The  names  of  the  following  ministers  (not  men- 
tioned above)  were  prominently  connected  with 
the  early  work  of  the  church  here  :  Elders  A. 
S.  Hayden,  J.  W.  Jones,  Benjamin  Franklin 
and  R.  Moflett. 

The  Sunday  school  was  in  existence  as  far 
back  as  1845,  but  was  not  permanently  organ- 
ized until  1864.  under  Brother  Beardslev's  ad- 


j  "^ 


^1 


374 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


ministration,  since  which  time  it  has  been 
steadily  on  tlie  increase.  Mrs.  Harv}',  Daniel 
Storer,  Camden  Rockwell,  J.  P.  Teeple  and 
Byron  Grove  were,  at  dilTerent  times,  Superin- 
tendents, and  stand  prominently  connected 
with  the  woi'k.  The  present  Superintendent  is 
John  Noble;  Assistant,  Charles  Trarler  ;  Clerks, 
Eugene  and  P.  Howe.  During  1880,  the  aver- 
age attendance  was  160  ;  average  collection, 
per  Lord's  Day,  $5.60.  It  is  but  just  to  state 
that  the  attendance  would  be  much  greater  if 
there  were  accommodations  in  the  house  for  a 
larger  school. 

In  September,  1876,  the  sisters  organized 
"The  Akron  Auxiliary  of  the  Christian 
Woman's  Board  of  Missions,"  with  Mrs.  Levi 
Allen  as  President.  The  society  has  been  in  a 
flourishing  condition  from  the  start,  and  is  now 
one  of  the  largest  and  most  efficient  societies 
of  the  kind  in  the  State. 

The  Congregational  Church,  although  one  of 
the  oldest  churches  in  the  Western  Eeserve, 
did  not  organize  in  Akron  as  early  as  some  of 
the  other  denominations.  The  following  sketch 
of  "  the  Congregational  Church  of  Akron,"  was 
written,  at  our  request,  by  the  Pastor,  Rev.  T. 
E.  Monroe  : 

On  the  30th  of  May,  1842,  a  number  of  per- 
sons met  to  consider  the  expediency  of  organ- 
izing the  present  Congregational  Church.  A 
resolution  was  then  adopted,  declaring  such  or- 
ganization desirable,  and  appointing  a  commit- 
tee of  three  gentlemen — Mr.  Seth  Sackett,  Mr. 
H.  B.  Spell  man  and  Mr.  A.  R.  Townsend — to 
prepare  a  confession  of  faith  and  a  covenant,  as 
a  basis  for  final  and  permanent  organization.  At 
the  same  meeting  a  similar  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  a  statement  of  the  reasons 
which  seemed  to  require  another  church  organi- 
zation, and  to  invite  neighboring  ministers  to  as- 
sist in  forming  it.  The  meeting  then  adjourned 
to  January  2, 1843.  At  this  adjourned  meeting, 
the  articles  of  faith  and  the  covenant  were 
approved,  and  their  adoption  deferred  to  the 
8th  of  June,  at  which  time  a  Council  was  con- 
vened, to  which  these  proceedings,  witli  the 
reasons  which  justified  them,  were  submitted 
for  advice.  This  Council  was  composed  of 
Rev.  Seagrove  Magill,  of  Tallmadge ;  Rev.  Jo- 
seph Merriam,  of  Randolph ;  Rev.  Mason 
Grosvenor,  of  Hudson,  and  Rev.  William 
Clark,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls.  This  Council  ad- 
vising the  formation  of  a  church,  it  was  organ- 


ized b}'  twenty-two  persons  signing  the  con- 
fession of  faith  and  covenant.  On  the  3d  of 
July,  nine  others  united  with  the  infant  church, 
when,  on  the  7th  of  July,  with  thirty-one  mem- 
bers, the  first  election  of  officers  was  made, 
Mr.  H.  B.  Spelhnan  being  elected  Deacon  and 
Mr.  Allen  Hibbard  being  chosen  Clerk. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  1843,  Rev.  Isaac  Jen- 
nings, having  ministered  to  the  church  for  six 
months  as  a  supply,  was  called  to  be  its  first 
Pastor.  This  call  was  accepted,  and  on  the  14th 
of  June  following  he  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled. In  June,  1845,  the  society  completed 
a  comfortable  house  of  worship,  situated  on 
North  Main  street,  at  a  cost  of  .$1,800.  Mr. 
Jennings  remained  Pastor  of  the  church  until 
June  7,  1847,  when  he  tendered  his  resignation. 
Several  meetings  of  the  church  having  been  held 
at  which  he  was  urged  to  withdi-aw  his  resigna- 
tion, it  was  reluctantly  accepted  on  the  7th  of 
February  following,  and  the  separation  was  ap- 
proved by  Council,  convened  upon  the  joint  re- 
quest of  the  church  and  Pastor,  on  the  12th  of 
February,  1847.  Rev.  W.  R.  Stevens  supplied 
the  pulpit  of  the  church  from  November,  1847, 
until  iMay,  1849,  when  Rev.  N.  P.  Bailey  began 
his  ministry  to  this  people.  On  the  7th  of  Oc- 
tober following,  he  was  ordained  and  installed 
l:)y  Council.  This  relation  continued  until  May, 
1856,  when  Mr.  Bailey  tendered  his  resignation. 
This  resignation  was  accepted  on  the  3d  day  of 
August  following,  without  convening  a  Coun- 
cil. The  church  was  supplied  liy  Rev.  A.  Dun- 
casson  from  February,  1857.  to  November, 
1858,  when  Rev.  Abram  E.  Baldwin  was  invited 
to  officiate  as  Pastor  for  one  year,  with  refer- 
ence to  future  settlement.  This  invitation  was 
accepted,  and  at  the  close  of  this  engagement 
it  was  renewed,  and,  in  February,  1860,  he  was 
ordained  by  Council  convened  upon  invitation 
of  the  church,  and  his  ministrv  continued  until 
May,  1861.  On  December  30,"l861,  the  church 
called  the  Rev.  Carlos  Smith  to  become  its  Pas- 
tor, who  accepted  the  call,  and  entered  upon  his 
pastorate  February  2,  1862.  The  church  at 
this  time  had  a  membership  of  about  sixty.  It 
had  been  heartily  engaged  in  the  great  reforms 
of  the  day,  and  its  new  Pastor  cordially  co- 
operated in  every  work  which  sought  the  purity 
of  society  and  the  progress  of  reform. 

During  Mr.  Smith's  pastorate,  the  present 
church  edifice  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$40,000,  and  the  membership  of  the  church  in- 


h^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


375 


creased  from  60  to  268.  About  three  hundred 
members  had  united  with  the  church  during 
this  time,  a  flourishing  Sunday  school  had  been 
maintained,  and  the  church  had  prospered  in 
all  its  activities.  In  the  winter  of  1873,  after 
a  pastorate  of  eleven  years,  which  had  endeared 
him  to  the  entire  people,  Mr.  Smith  resigned 
his  relation  to  the  church,  but  remained  a  com- 
municant of  it  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
April  22,  1877,  as  the  bell  was  tolling  for 
morning  service,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years.  Few  ministers  have  been  so  widely 
beloved  or  have  made  so  warm  personal  friends. 

During  the  winter  of  1873,  the  church  called 
Rev.  T.  E.  Monroe,  who  commenced  his  minis- 
try here  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  April,  1 873, 
and  is  still  Pastor  of  the  church.  During  this 
time,  new  Sunday'  school  rooms  have  been  built 
below,  and  a  gallery,  accommodating  150  peo- 
ple, built  in  the  audience-room  above.  An 
organ  floor  and  small  choir  have  been  built  in 
the  rear  of  the  church.  These  improvements, 
with  repairs,  cost  $5,000,  and  furnish  accom- 
modations for  a  Sunda}'  school  of  400  children 
and  sittings  for  750  people  in  the  audience. 
The  present  membership  is  a  little  more  than 
six  hundred  resident  members,  with  about  one 
hundred  who  are  absent.  The  various  benevo- 
lent activities  of  the  church  are  earnestly  pros- 
ecuted, and  the  church  enters  the  current  3-ear 
with  fresh  hopes  of  usefulness. 

On  the  night  of  the  second  Saturday  of  Feb- 
ruar\',  1881,  the  house  was  seriously  damaged 
b}'  fire  to  an  extent  requiring  .$9,000  for  repairs. 
Extensive  improvements  are  at  present  pro- 
posed, and  subscriptions  are  now  circulating 
for  this  purpose  which  will,  if  executed,  aftbrd 
convenient  accommodation  for  550  children  in 
the  Sabbath  school  rooms,  and  950  sittings  in 
the  audience  room.  The  church  is  to  be  heated 
throughout  with  steam,  ever\'  pew  having  its 
steam- heated  foot-rest,  and  every  class-room  its 
radiators.  X  superior  organ  will  be  procured, 
open-grate  fires  to  be  introduced  as  an  attract- 
ive feature,  and  every  convenience  for  social  and 
public  church  work  amply  provided. 

The  Sunda}^  school  has  been  for  eight  years 
under  the  efficient  management  of  Mr.  Sam- 
uel Findly,  to  whom  it  is  indebted  for  its  emi- 
nent order  and  intelligence.  Mr.  Hear}'  Per- 
kins, an  officer  beloved  by  all  our  pupils,  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  Superintendent  for  the 
current  year,  and,  though  the  school  suffered  se- 


riousl}'  from  changes  rendered  necessary  by  the 
fire,  it  is  regaining  its  numbers  and  its  in- 
terest. 

Should  the  present  plans  for  improvement  be 
carried  out,  this  church  will  be  very  ampl}^  fur- 
nished for  a  growing  future  work,  and  ought  to 
prosper  in  the  j^ears  to  come  quite  as  much  as 
in  those  gone  by. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Middle- 
bury  (Sixth  Ward  of  Akron)  is  one  of  the  very 
old  churches  of  Summit  County,  or,  rather,  has 
grown  out  of  the  old  Middlebury  Methodist 
Church.  In  a  very  early  period  of  the  histor}' 
of  the  county,  the  Rev.  Doctor  Clark  and  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Monk,  of  Tallmadge,  preached  at  this 
place.  From  the  present  Pastor  of  the  church. 
Rev.  Mr.  Arundel,  we  obtained  some  of  the  facts 
pertaining  to  the  history  of  this  church,  and 
which  are  here  given. 

What  is  now  known  as  the  Second  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  of  Akron  was  formerly  part 
of  a  circuit  consisting  of  Tallmadge,  Pleasant 
Valley,  Mogadore,  Brimfield  and  Middlebury. 
Soon  after,  or  about  the  time  of  the  annexa- 
tion of  Middlebury  to  the  city  proper,  in  1870, 
this  church  was  set  off"  as  a  charge  b}'  itself, 
and,  since  that  time,  has  been  supplied  by  the 
following  clerg3'men  :  Revs.  Painter,  Greer,  El- 
liott, Merchant,  Wilson,  Corry.  Randolph,  and 
Arundel,  the  present  Pastor.  Some  three  years 
ago,  the  old  building  was  entirely  remodeled, 
under  the  efficient  direction  of  Mr.  Jacob  Sny- 
der, architect  of  Akron,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000. 
The  audience-room  and  parlor  are  ver}^  neat  and 
conveniently  arranged,  and,  together  with  the 
Sunday-school  room,  have  just  been  handsomely 
decorated  by  Messrs.  Diehl  and  Caske}',  of  this 
city.  The  present  membership  is  about  eightv- 
five.  The  Sunday  school  has  some  two  hun- 
dred enrolled  on  its  books,  and  an  average  at- 
tendance of  one  hundred  and  fift}'. 

The  following  historical  sketeh  of  the  First 
German  Reformed  Church  of  Akron  was 
furnished  for  this  work  by  the  Pastor,  Rev.  J. 
Dahlmann.  The  First  German  Reformed  Church 
of  Akron,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  had  its  origin  in 
and  was  the  continuation  of  the  German  Evan- 
gelical Protestant  congregation  which  was  or- 
ganized about  1842,  and  worshiped  in  the 
stone  church  on  North  High  street  near  the 
Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Canal.  The  building 
still  stands,  but  is  now  turned  into  a  dwelling 
house.     The  Lutheran  element  separated  from 


r 


376 


HISTORY    OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


the  congregation  in  1852  and  organized  a  con- 
gregation of  tlaeir  own.  Tiie  Reformed  element 
remained  and  continued  their  organization 
until  the  year  1855,  when  it  united  with  the 
German  Reformed  Church  of  Akron  and  be- 
came identified  with  it.  Before  the  two  con- 
gregations united  their  interests,  the  latter  had 
already  purchased  the  frame  church  building 
of  the  Baptists  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
Broadway  and  East  Center  streets.  After 
uniting  their  interests,  they  mutually  assumed 
the  responsibility  to  cancel  the  debt  which 
still  rested  on  the  church  property.  Divine 
services  were  held  in  the  English  and  German 
languages  on  alternate  Sundays  b}'  Rev.  L.  C. 
Edmonds,  a  3'oung  minister  of  talent  and  en- 
ergy- 

The  English  portion  of  the  congregation  did 
not  possess  sufficient  activity  to  go  forward 
energetically.  After  Rev.  L.  C.  Edmonds  had 
resigned,  the  German  portion,  not  wishing  to  be 
long  without  a  Pastor,  called  Rev.  John  F. 
Engelbach,  of  the  German  Reformed  Church  in 
the  United  States  as  their  minister.  They  had 
undertaken  much  and  were  successful.  Under 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  F.  Engelbach,  the 
German  portion  of  the  congregation — the  En- 
glish portion  merely  existing  in  name — ^obtain- 
ed a  charter,  and  was  incorporated  on  the  27th 
day  of  April,  1857,  as  the  First  German  Re- 
formed Church  of  Akron,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  original  mem- 
bers :  John  Heintz,  Philip  Heintz,  Louis  Koch, 
Joh.  Kling,  Peter  Brecht,  Carl  Schwing.  J. 
Jacob  Grether,  George  Billau,  Jacob  Grether, 
George  Grether,  Michael  Grether,  Friedrick 
Gessler,  George  x\ngne,  Cail  Nilhr,  Joh.  Brobt, 
Nicolaus  Fuchs,  Adam  Schaaf,  Joh.  Schaab, 
Joh.  Fink,  William  Fink,  Conrad  Fink,  Jacob 
Steigner,  Christoph  Baumgartel,  Joh.  Hiltter- 
ich,  Christoph  Oberholz,  Conrad  Zettel,  Gott- 
fried Stegner,  Andreas  Koch,  Joh.  Gush  and 
Friedrick  Haushalter,  etc. 

The  First  German  Reformed  Church  con- 
tinued to  worship  in  the  house  of  God  which 
they  owned  conjointly  with  the  English  portion 
or  the  German  Reformed  Church  of  Akron, 
Ohio,  until  the  fall  of  1858,  when  the  former 
bought  the  latter  out  and  obtained  full  posses- 
sion of  the  church  properly  which  they  still 
hold. 

Rev.  J.  F.  Engelbach  labored  faithfully  for 
the  welfare  of  the  congregation,  and  resigned 


near  the  end  of  the  year  1860.  The}^  were 
for  some  time  without  a  Pastor. 

Rev.  Robert  Koehler,  formerly  of  Mount 
Eaton,  Ohio,  took  charge  of  the  congregation 
in  April,  1861,  and  entered  as  Chaplain  of 
volunteers  in  the  United  States  service  in  Au- 
gust, 1864.  Very  little  progress  was  made  dur- 
ing his  pastorate,  and  this  was  that  the  con- 
gregation was  separated  from  other  congrega- 
tions and  became  a  charge  itself 

Mr.  J.  D.  Leemann,  an  educated  school- 
teacher, preached  over  two  years  to  the  con- 
gregation, and  established  a  parochial  school 
in  the  German  language  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  South  High  and  East  Center  streets. 
This  school  flourished  for  some  time,  and  with 
its  discontinuance  his  labors  came  to  a  close, 
especially  when  the  consistory  and  the  congre- 
gation forbid  him  to  preach  any  longer  for  them. 

Rev.  John  Bauragilrtner,  an  educated  minis- 
ter, from  Canton  Berne,  Switzerland,  who  had 
been  Pastor  for  some  time  of  a  Reformed  con- 
gregation in  Pittsburgh,  Penn.,  was  chosen  as 
Pastor.  He  entei'ed  upon  his  labors  in  the  fall 
of  1866,  and  continued  until  September  18, 
1870.  During  his  pastorate,  a  new  constitu- 
tion for  the  congregation  was  drawn  up  and 
accepted,  and  an  attempt  made  to  sever  the 
connection  of  the  congregation  with  the  Re- 
formed Church  in  the  United  States  which  was 
not  successful. 

Rev.  Christoph  Schiller,  from  Limaville,  Ohio, 
was  by  the  congregation  unanimously  elected 
as  Pastor  on  October  16,  1870,  and  entered 
upon  his  duties  on  November  27,  1870.  He 
was  successful  in  rescuing  the  congregation 
from  ruin  and  enervate  it  to  new  life.  It  began 
to  live  again  and  became  conscious  of  its  duty 
as  a  Christian  congregation.  Under  his  labors, 
the  congregation  increased  in  membership  and 
activit}',  and  purchased  and  enlarged  the  par- 
sonage next  to  the  church  on  East  Center 
street.  In  the  summer  of  1876  he  resigned, 
and  moved  to  Toledo,  Ohio. 

Rev.  Julius  Herold,  of  Charleston,  Ind.,  was 
his  successor  by  unanimous  election,  and  en- 
tered upon  the  pastorate  in  July,  1876.  He 
was  active,  and  caused  the  church  edifice  to  be 
remodeled  inside,  and  the  purchasing  of  over 
seven  acres  of  land  on  the  west  end  of  the 
city,  north  of  Market  street,  for  a  burial-place, 
which  was  dedicated  in  August,  1880,  for  that 
purpose.     After  having  resigned  his  pastorate 


--^ 


C^^.^5&t^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


377 


in  August,  he  continued  his  labors  until  No- 
vember 14,  1880. 

Rev.  Jacob  Dahlmann,  D.  D.,  of  Philadelphia, 
Penn.,  succeeded  him  on  the  9th  of  December, 
1880.  He  was  born  in  Barmen,  Rhein  Prussia, 
and  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  the  United 
States  in  1848,  and  entered  upon  his  studies 
for  the  Christian  ministry  in  Franklin  and 
Marshall  College,  Lancaster,  Penn.,  in  1855. 
After  graduating  in  honor  in  1860,  he  pursued 
his  theological  studies  at  the  seminary  of  the 
German  Reformed  Church  at  Mercersburg, 
Penn.,  under  Dr.  Philip  Schaff  and  others. 
There  was  a  call  extended  to  him,  in  1862,  to 
go  to  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  and  organize  the 
Emanuel's  German  Reformed  Church  in  West 
Philadelphia,  to  which  he  responded,  and,  after 
laboring  nearly  nineteen  years  in  his  first 
charge,  having  built  a  large  and  beautiful 
church  and  parsonage,  he  accepted  a  call  from 
this  congregation  for  the  purpose  of  leaving 
the  general  church  work,  which  became  too 
burdensome  for  him,  to  other  hands.  Having 
served  the  Reformed  Church,  especially  the 
German  portion  thereof,  in  the  East  in  various 
ways,  he  continues  to  be  Assistant  Stated 
Clerk  of  the  General  Synod  of  said  church, 
and  it  is  hoped  that  his  pastorate  will,  his  life 
being  spared,  be  of  long  duration  and  crowned 
with  great  success. 

The  church  edifice,  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  Broadway  and  East  Center  streets,  was 
erected  more  than  forty  years  ago,  by  the  Bap- 
tist congregation.  It  is  a  frame  building, 
massive  in  timbers,  40x60  feet,  with  four  large 
pillars  in  front,  and  a  steeple,  in  which  Summit 
County  placed  a  bell  more  than  twenty-five 
years  ago  for  the  purpose  of  announcing  the 
time  for  the  convening  of  the  court,  and  until 
latel}^  to  give  the  alarm  for  fire. 

The  congregation  has  420  communicants 
and  280  unconfirmed  members.  The  Pastor  is 
Rev.  Jacob  Dahlmann,  D.  D.;  the  Elders,  John 
Kling  and  John  George  Eberhard  ;  the  Dea- 
cons are  Henry  Schmiedel,  Charles  Brodt, 
Louis  Midler  and  Peter  Kuhn.  These  form  the 
consistory  of  the  congregation,  and  constitute 
at  the  same  time  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

The  Sunday  school  of  the  congregation  was 
organized  by  Mr.  John  Heintz,  in  1857,  with 
20  to  30  scholars,  and  who  continued  to  be 
Superintendent  until  1862,  when  the  school 
had  increased  to  50  and  more  scholars.     Elder 


John  Kling  and  others  held  the  ofllce  of 
Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  Elder 
John  George  Eberhard  was,  during  the  last  ten 
years  or  more,  on  or  off  Superintendent  until 
lately,  when  the  Pastor,  Rev.  Jacob  Dahlmann, 
D.  D.,  became  (ex  officio)  Superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school.  The  Sunday  school  is  held 
every  Sunday  morning  from  9  to  10:30  o'clock. 
There  are  150  children  on  the  roll,  and  130  or 
more  in  regular  attendance  in  the  summer  and 
110  in  the  winter. 

Grace  Reformed  Church  has  been  in  exist- 
ence in  Akron  for  a  third  of  a  century.  The 
following  historical  sketch  is  by  Rev.  Emil  P. 
Herbruck,  its  present  Pastor  :  Grace  Reformed 
Congregation  was  organized  on  the  5th  of 
March,  1853,  by  Rev.  N.  Gehr,  Missionary  of 
the  German  Reformed  Church  in  the  United 
States.  At  a  meeting  held  in  the  old  Univei*- 
salist  Church  on  High  street,  a  constitution 
was  adopted,  and  signed  by  the  following  per- 
sons :  John  Weimer,  Catharine  Weimer,  Thomas 
Moore,  Susanna  Moore,  William  Heil,  Esther 
Heil,  Philip  Kremer,  Henry  Rinehart,  Sophia 
Rinehart  and  Magdalena  Kremff.  Rev.  N. 
Gehr  was  elected  Pastor,  and  served  the  con- 
gregation about  one  3^ear.  He  was  followed 
by  Revs.  P.  J.  Spangler,  L.  Edmonds,  J. 
Schlasser,  J.  F.  Helm,  William  McCaughey, 
W.  H.  H.  Snyder,  S.  S.  Miller,  J.  M.  Mickley 
and  I.  E.  Graff,  in  pastorates  ranging  from  one 
to  three  years  in  length.  In  May,  1868,  Rev. 
Edward  Herbruck  accepted  a  call  to  the 
charge,  and  under  his  direction  it  enjoyed  a 
greater  measure  of  prosperity  than  at  an}'  pre- 
vious time.  He  labored  in  the  congregation 
successfully  for  four  years,  though  having 
almost  unsurmountable  difficulties  to  over- 
come. Rev.  M.  Laucks  became  his  successor, 
and  served  for  about  two  years.  In  April, 
1876,  Rev.  Emil  P.  Herbruck  assumed  the 
pastorship,  and  has  discharged  its  duties  ever 
since. 

The  first  edifice  was  bought  at  second-hand 
from  the  Congregational  Church  in  Middle- 
bury,  and  moved  piece-meal  to  the  present  lot 
on  Broadway,  where  it  was  in  constant  use  b}' 
the  congregation  for  eighteen  years.  In  1881, 
it  became  apparent  that  a  new  building  was 
necessarj^  to  meet  the  growing  demands  of  the 
church.  Accordingly,  on  the  third  Sunday  in 
April,  the  corner-stone  of  the  present  structure 
was   laid.     It   is    built   of    brick,   with    stone 


378 


HISTORY  or    SUMMIT   COUNTY 


dressing,  and  is  52x80  feet  in  dimensions.  The 
auditorium  is  ampiiitheatrical  in  shape,  and,  in 
connection  with  a  quarter  gallery,  has  a  seat- 
ing capacity  of  about  five  hundred.  The  com- 
modious basement  is  arranged  for  the  Sunday 
school,  with  class-rooms  of  semicircular  form. 
The  building  is  neat  and  attractive,  furnished 
with  the  modern  conveniences,  and  cost 
$15,000. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is 
270,  and  is  constantly  increasing.  The  officers 
for  the  year  1881  are:  Elders,  John  Weimer 
and  Frank  Bolander;  Deacons,  John  Kritz, 
Isaac  Kittenger,  Jacob  Bans  and  A.  F.  Hun- 
sicker. 

The  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  1853, 
and  has  been  kept  up  ever  since,  though  with 
a  somewhat  fluctuating  attendance.  It  is  at 
present  in  a  flourishing  condition,  having  an 
average  attendance  of  175.  The  school  is  well 
conducted  by  its  Superintendent,  Gr.  F.  Eber- 
hard. 

The  G-erman  Zion's  Lutheran  Church*  was 
organized  on  the  6th  day  of  August,  1854,  by 
the  Rev.  P.  J.  Buehl.  The  original  members 
were  J.  Beyruther,  N.  Henke,  Ch.  Baum- 
gaertel,  J.  Grad,  D.  Steinhagen,  J.  Rogler,  J. 
Bauernfeind,  B.  Seidel,  J.  Dietz,  W.  Gerdts,  H. 
Wishmeier,  Mrs.  W.  Beck,  Ch.  Schmidt,  L. 
Strobel,  W.  Strobel,  A.  Voss,  N.  Oellrich,  G. 
Kling,  J.  Feuchter,  I.  Frank,  G.  Proehl,  C. 
Kroeger,  Mrs.  Kaiser,  J.  Harter,  G.  Beck,  J. 
Miller,  W.  Schroeder,  P.  Bibricher,  B.  Ditles, 
W.  Hageman,  J.  Bernitt,  D.  Lamparter,  J. 
Stein,  C.  Beinhard,  S.  Schmidt,  G.  Miller,  J. 
Wolf,  J.  Brod,  G.  Goetz,  J.  Bitsch,  Mrs.  Sorrik, 
Ch.  Nehr,  J.  Reibly,  Mr.  Schneider,  G.  Tents, 
Mrs.  Shraiefield,  Mr.  Dresler.  In  1855,  the  so- 
ciety purchased  a  church  edifice  for  their  own 
from  the  Disciples,  a  building  which  was  the 
pioneer  house  of  worship  in  Akron,  having 
been  erected  in  1834-35,  by  the  Congregation- 
alists,  on  a  portion  of  the  present  court  house 
grounds.  Rev.  Buehl  having  accepted  a  call 
to  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Massillon,  Rev.  G^. 
Th.  Gotsch  was  called  as  his  successor  in  1864, 
who  served  the  congregation  until  1872,  when 
the  present  Pastor,  Rev.  H.  W.  Lothmanu,  was 
called,  and  took  charge  of  the  congregation. 
On  account  of  the  rapidly  growing  member- 
ship, a  larger  structure  as  a  place  of  worship 
became  a  necessity,  and,  on  the   16th  day  of 

*By  Bev.  H.  W.  Lothmann. 


September,  1877,  the  present  building,  costing 
$16,000,  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  the  serv- 
ices of  the  triune  God.  It  is  situated  at  the 
corner  of  High  and  Quarry  streets,  and  covers 
a  space  50x100  feet,  with  a  spire  150  feet  high; 
it  has  a  seating  capacity  of  about  five  hundred 
people,  and  is  built  of  brick.  The  congrega- 
tion at  present  consists  of  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  families  with  450  communicants.  A 
school  containing  130  scholars,  is  connected 
with  the  church,  in  which  the  children  are 
taught  both  the  German  and  English  lan- 
guages, Mr.  F.  Stricter  acting  as  teacher.  The 
school  is  held  in  the  old  church  building, 
which  was  removed  to  the  rear  of  the  lot  back 
of  the  new  church  edifice.  The  present  officers 
of  the  church  are  as  follows  :  George  Haas, 
Treasurer;  F.  Manthey,  W.  Wiese  and  W. 
Woehler,  Trustees ;  Ch.  Baumann,  H.  Dietz 
and  F.  Kunz,  Vestrymen. 

St.  Bernard  Catholic  Church*  (German)  was 
organized  in  1861.  In  that  year,  the  few  Ger- 
man families  deemed  it  proper  to  form  a  sepa- 
rate congregation,  and  for  this  purpose  gathered 
in  the  cooper-shop  of  Geoi'ge  Roth,  on  Green 
street.  The  number  of  families  then  were 
twenty -three,  and  they  resolved  to  separate 
from  St.  Vincent  De  Paul's  Church,  to  which 
they  had  belonged  up  to  that  time.  A  church 
was  formed  under  the  title  of  St.  Bernard 
Catholic  Church.  The  lot  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  Center  and  Broadway  was  purchased, 
where  the  present  building  of  the  society 
stands.  Rev.  Father  Loure,  of  St.  Peter's 
Church,  Cleveland,  attended  the  little  flock  for 
some  time,  and,  in  1862,  the  corner-stone  of 
the  new  church  was  laid  by  Very  Rev.  Father 
Loure.  In  June,  1862,  Rev.  Louis  Shiele  was 
appointed  the  first  regular  Pastor  of  the  con- 
gregation, and  remained  one  year.  In  Jan- 
ary,  1863,  they  took  possession  of  their  new 
building,  and,  in  July,  of  the  same  year,  Rev. 
Peter  Donnerhoflfe  succeeded  Father  Louis 
Shiele,  and,  on  the  19th  of  July,  1866,  Rev. 
Father  Donnerhofle  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J. 
B.  Broun,  the  present  Pastor. 

In  1865,  the  residence  of  the  Pastor  was 
purchased,  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,200.;  in  1866, 
the  cemetery  was  purchased  for  $2,500 ;  in 
1867,  the  schoolhouse  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
$1,400;  in  1868,  the  church  was  renovated 
throughout,  and  stained-glass  windows  put  in, 

*  By  Rev.  J.  B.  Broun. 


^ 


CITY   OF    AKRON. 


379 


at  a  cost  of  $1,150;  in  1870,  two  bells  were 
bought,  at  a  cost  of  $1,350  ;  in  1872,  the  organ 
was  purchased,  costing  $1,260;  in  1874,  some 
improvements  were  made  at  a  cost  of  $1,200  ; 
in  1877,  the  tower  on  the  church  was  built,  at 
a  cost  of  $2,600  ;  the  church  frescoed  at  a  cost 
of  $400  more,  and  a  large  bell  bought  at  $946, 
and  other  improvements  at  a  cost  of  $200.  In 
1880,  an  addition  was  built  to  the  church  at  a 
cost  of  $12,000.  The  present  strength  of  the 
church  is  about  three  hundred  families,  with 
some  four  hundred  attendants  at  the  Sundaj' 
school.  At  the  school,  conducted  under  charge 
of  the  Church,  the  attendance  is  about  two 
hundred  and  eight}-  children. 

The  Akron  Hebrew  congregation  dates  its 
organization  back  to  the  3-ear  1865.  On  the 
2d  of  April  of  that  year,  the  following  named 
gentlemen  met  and  formed  themselves  into  a 
societ}',  to  be  known  as  the  Akron  Hebrew  As- 
sociation, the  object  of  the  association  to  be  the 
establishment  of  a  school  and  synagogue,  for 
the  promotion  of  the  educational,  moral  and  re- 
ligious interests  of  the  Jewish  community.  The 
charter  members  were  Michael  Joseph,  Theo. 
Rice,  J.  L.  Joseph,  S.  B.  Hopfman,  Simon  Jo- 
seph, H.  W.  Moss,  Isaac  Levi,  8.  M.  Ziesel, 
Moses  Josei^h,  Herman  F.  Hahn,  J.  N.  Leopold, 
D.  Leopold,  Louis  Calish,  Caufman  Koch  and 
Jacob  Koch.  The  first  Jewish  residents  in 
Akron  were  Mr.  Isaac  Levi  and  Mi-.  Caufman 
Koch,  who  were  engaged  in  business  in  Akron 
as  early  as  the  year  1845,  when  Akron  was  a 
mere  village.  Mr.  S.  B.  Hopfman  came  to 
Akron  in  the  year  ]  851  ;  Mr.  H.  jMoss  in  the 
year  1856  ;  Mr.  Michael  Joseph  in  the  year 
1864,  and  thus  the  Jewish  population  gradually 
increased,  until  at  the  present  writing  (March, 
1881),  it  numbers  175  souls,  while  the  books  of 
the  congregation  show  a  membership  of  30. 
Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  congregation  has 
never  called  upon  the  community  at  large  for 
pecuniary  assistance,  a  policy  to  which,  until 
now,  it  has  strictly  adhered,  its  financial  strength 
has  been  slow  but  steady,  and  constant  in  its 
development.  For  four  years  after  its  founda- 
tion, the  congregation  found  itself  unable  to 
provide  a  permanent  place  of  worship  ;  but  had 
to  content  itself  with  the  establishment  of  a 
school  for  instruction  in  German,  Hebrew,  Jew- 
ish history  and  religion  ;  holding  religious  serv- 
ice onl}'  on  special  occasions,  and  on  holida3's. 
In  the  fall  of  the  year  1869,  the  congregation 


rented  a  hall  and  fitted  up  a  synagogue  and 
school  on  the  third  floor  in  Allen's  Block,  which 
it  occupied  for  five  years,  when  the  steady  in- 
crease in  membership  made  the  rooms  inade- 
quate, and  its  financial  prosperity  enabled  it 
to  secure  more  commodious  quarters.  In  the 
meanwhile,  the  Congregation  had  purchased 
"  bui-ial  grounds  "  adjoining  the  Akron  Bural 
Cemetery  ;  but,  the  "  grounds  "  being  unsuit- 
able, they  were  exchanged,  October  15,  1871, 
for  a  large  section  in  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  Akron  Rural  Cemetery,  the  congregation 
paying  the  cemetery  association  the  additional 
sum  of  $1,000.  The  new  synagogue  and  school- 
room, which  were  located  in  Clark's  building, 
were  dedicated  on  the  26th  of  October,  1874. 
Besides  supporting  a  school  and  s^-nagogue, 
employing  a  regular  teacher  and  minister,  and 
purchasing  burial  grounds,  the  congregation 
responded  freeh-  to  appeals  to  its  benevolence, 
contributing  in  the  year  1868,  $477  to  the 
newly-established  Jewish  Orphan  Asylum  in 
Cleveland,  and,  sending  in  November,  1871, 
$198,  raised  by  voluntary  subscription,  to  the 
sufferers  by  the  Chicago  fire.  In  the  3'ear  1880, 
the  increased  membership,  and  the  additional 
number  of  pupils,  compelled  the  Congregation 
to  seek  new  accommodations,  and  the  third  floor 
of  the  newl^'-erected  Barber  Block  was  leased 
for  a  term  of  five  years.  Over  a  thousand  dol- 
lars were  expended  in  fitting  up  the  synagogue 
and  school -room,  which  were  dedicated  to  di- 
vine worship  on  the  23d  of  July,  1880,  and 
which  will  compare  favorably  with  the  temples 
of  man}'  much  larger  congregations.  As  an 
adjunct  to  the  congregation,  the  ladies  organized 
a  societ}^  called  "  Der  Schweslerbund,"  which 
has  been  in  existence  for  over  thirteen  j-ears, 
and  which  has  nobly  assisted  in  promoting  the 
great  objects  of  the  congregation.  During  the 
sixteen  years  of  its  existence,  the  executive 
power  of  the  congregation  has  been  in  the  hands 
of  the  following  nine  Presidents  :  Isaac  Levi, 
Moses  Joseph  (two  terms),  H.  F.  Hahn,  S.  B. 
Hopfman  (two  terms),  Isidor  Cohn.  George  Ma- 
rienthal,  and  the  present  presiding  officer,  Ben- 
jamin Desenberg.  The  first  minister  was  the 
Rev.  N.  Hirsch,  succeeded  in  regular  order  b}' 
Rev.  N.  L.  Holstein,  Rev.  J.  Jesselson,  Rev.  A. 
Suhler,  Rev.  A.  Schreier,  Rev.  A.  Burgheim  and 
the  present  minister  Rabbi  S.  M.  Fleischman. 
This  is  the  histoiy  of  the  Akron  Hebrew  Con- 
gregation from  the  days  of  its  inauguration  to 


380 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


the  present  time.  Its  prosperous  condition  in- 
dicates a  bright  future,  and  it  is  hoped  that 
when  the  congregation  is  again  compelled  to 
remove  from  its  present  location,  it  will  dedi- 
cate a  temple  built  by  its  own  money  on  its 
own  property. — [Wn'tten  by  Rabbi  *S'.  31.  Fleisch- 
man  fur  this  work.^ 

Calvary  Church,  of  the  Evangelical  Associa- 
tion of  Akron,  was  organized  in  18G6,  by  Rev. 
H.  F.  S.  Sichley,  of  the  Bristol  Circuit.  To  the 
Rev.  L.  W.  Hankey,  the  Pastor,  we  are  indebted 
for  the  following  facts  pertaining  to  this  church  : 
Calvary  Church  was  organized  with  the  follow- 
ing members :  Benjamin  Stahl  (leader),  Cath- 
arine Stahl,  Henry  Nicholas,  Catharine  Nicho- 
las, Samuel  Nicholas,  Leah  Nicholas,  Joseph 
Nicholas,  Martha  Nicholas,  Louisa  Cook,  Nancy 
Henninger,  W.  W.  Farnsworth,  Max-garet  Farns- 
worthand  John  and  Eliza  Shaffer.  In  1867,  it  was 
determined  by  Conference  that  Akron  should  be 
made  a  Mission,  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Sichley.  There  was  no  preaching,  however,  in 
the  early  part  of  the  the  year,  on  account  of 
being  unable  to  obtain  a  suitable  building.  A 
church  was  commenced  during  the  year  and  the 
basement  completed,  and  dedicated  in  October, 
1867,  by  Rev.  John  StuU,  Presiding  Elder. 
The  dedicatory  sermon  was  preached  by  him, 
on  the  6th  of  October.  During  the  winter  of 
1867-68,  the  main  audience-room  of  the  church 
was  finished,  and  dedicated  to  the  service  of 
God  May  3, 1868,  by  Rev.  Joseph  Long,  Bishop. 
The  building,  which  is  a  substantial  frame,  cost 
about  $4,000,  outside  of  considerable  work  and 
material,  which  was  contributed  by  individual 
members.  It  has  been  remodeled  and  improved 
since  it  was  originall}'  built,  and  is  now  a  hand- 
some and  commodious  church  edifice,  located 
in  South  Akron. 

The  following  Pastors  have  been  called  to 
the  charge  since  organization  :  Revs.  Jesse 
Lerch,  A.  Swartz,  H.  E.  Strauch,  A.  E.  Dreis- 
bach,  S.  S.  Condo,  A.  Yandersoll,  and  the  pres- 
ent Pastor,  Rev.  L.  W.  Hankey.  The  member- 
ship at  this  time  is  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven. 

The  Sunday  school  of  this  church  was  organ- 
ized on  the  27th  of  October,  1867,  and  num- 
bered at  the  time  about  forty  scholars.  It  has 
continued  since  without  interruption,  and,  at 
the  present  time,  is  in  a  very  flourishing  state, 
with  a  general  attendance  of  240  scholars,  un- 
der the  superintendence  of  W.  S.  Youts. 


The  English  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church 
of  the  Holy  Trinity,  Akron,  Ohio,  was  organ- 
ized in  the  spring  of  1870.  The  pioneer  work 
which  resulted  in  this  organization  was  per- 
formed by  Rev.  W.  A.  Passavant,  D.  D.,  of  Pitts- 
burgh, and  Rev.  S.  Laird,  now  of  Philadelphia, 
Penn.  There  were  about  thirty  members  at  the 
time  of  its  organization.  The  first  regular  Pas- 
tor of  the  congregation  was  Rev.  U.  P.  Rutli- 
rauff,  now  deceased.  It  was  during  his  minis- 
try that  the  fine  gothic  church  on  Prospect 
street  was  built  and  the  parsonage  purchased, 
at  a  cost  of  about  $45,000.  The  church,  though 
not  yet  completed  in  its  towers  and  Sunday 
school  arrangements,  was  consecrated  in  June, 
1872.  Rev.  W.  P.  Ruthrauff  soon  after  resigned 
the  charge  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  F. 
Fahs,  the  present  Pastor,  who  took  charge  of 
the  congregation  in  October,  1872.  The  con- 
gregation now  numbers  about  one  hundred  and 
ninety-five  communicant  members. 

The  Sunday  school  was  organized  soon  after 
the  organization  of  the  congregation,  and  num- 
bers about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  schol- 
ars, with  an  average  attendance  of  about  one 
hundred.  Mr.  R.  N.  Kratz  is  the  Superintend- 
dent. — [Written  by  Rev.  J.  F.  Fahs.'\ 

The  Church  of  Christ  of  Middlebury,  or  the 
Sixth  Ward  of  Akron,  is  of  recent  organiza- 
tion. The  facts  for  the  following  sketch  of  it 
were  furnished  by  the  Pastor,  Elder  T.  D.  But- 
ler :  The  Church  of  Christ,  Middlebury,  Sum- 
mit County,  Ohio,  was  organized  March  30, 
1875,  with  eighty  members,  and  the  following 
officers  :  H.  J.  White,  A.  Brown,  M.  Jewett,  El- 
ders ;  F.  W.  Inman,  G.  F.  Kent,  T.  H.  Botsford 
and  Richard  Whitmore,  Trustees  ;  G.  F.  Kent 
and  T.  H.  Botsford,  Deacons  ;  S.  C.  Inman, 
Clerk,  and  Almon  Brown,  Treasurer.  The 
membership  of  the  church  at  present  is  eighty- 
five.  The  first  Pastor  was  Elder  H.  J.  White. 
He  has  been  followed  by  Elders  F.  M.  Green, 
R.  G.  White,  J.  W.  James,  W.  H.  Rogers  (in 
the  order  named),  and  by  the  present  Pastor, 
Elder  T.  D.  Butler.  The  church  building  is 
quite  a  model  of  architectural  beauty,  and  was 
erected  in  1878,  at  a  cost  of  about  16,000. 

The  Sunday  school  of  this  church  was  or- 
ganized during  the  summer  of  1875,  and  is  in 
a  flourishing  condition,  with  an  average  attend- 
ance of  abcut  eighty  children,  under  the  super- 
intendence of  C.  J.  Robinson. 


:|A 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


381 


CHAPTER    XI.* 

CITY  OF  AKRON— EDUCATIONAL  HISTORY— THE  EARLY  SCHOOLS— PERFECTION  OF  THE  COMMON 
SCHOOLS— BUCHTEL  COLLEGE- PRESIDENT  AND  FACULTY— ENDOWMENT,  ETC. 


Precepts  and  rules  are  repulsivfl  to  a  cliild,  but  happy  illustra- 
tions wiuneth  him. — Tiipper. 

IN  a  history  of  Akron,  its  common  schools 
and  educational  facilities  occupy  a  prom- 
inent place.  The  following  historical  sketch  of 
the  schools  of  the  city  was  written  by  Judge  C. 
Bryan,  and  is  so  full  and  complete  that  we  in- 
corporate it  almost  bodil}'  in  this  work.  It  is 
as  follows  :  "  In  1846,  there  were  within  the  in- 
corporated limits  of  the  village  of  Akron,  690 
children  between  the  ages  of  four  and  sixteen 
years.  Of  this  number,  there  was  an  average 
attendance  at  the  public  and  other  schools  the 
year  through  of  not  more  than  375.  During 
the  summer  of  1846,  one  of  the  district  schools 
was  taught  in  the  back  room  of  a  dwelling 
house.  Another  was  taught  in  an  uncouth,  in- 
convenient and  uncomfortable  building,  gratu- 
itously furnished  by  Capt.  Howe,  for  the  use  of 
the  district.  There  were  private  schools,  but 
these  were  taught  in  rooms  temporarily  hired, 
and  unsuited  for  the  purpose  in  man}'  respects. 
Reading,  writing,  spelling,  arithmetic  and  gram- 
mar were  more  or  less  attended  to  in  the  pri- 
vate and  public  schools  ;  but  of  the  above  num- 
ber, there  were,  as  estimated,  200  who  did  not  at- 
tend school  at  all,  who  ought  to  have  been  re- 
ceiving the  benefits  of  good  school  instruction. 
"  It  was  in  view  of  this  state  of  things  that 
Rev.  I.  Jennings,  then  a  young  man,  and  Pas- 
tor of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Akron, 
self- moved,  set  himself  to  work  to  re-organize 
the  common  schools  of  Akron.  There  were 
many  friends  of  a  better  education  in  the  place, 
who  co-operated  with  Mr.  ,  Jennings,  and,  on 
the  16th  of  May,  1846,  at  a  public  meeting  of 
the  citizens,  a  committee  was  appointed,  of 
which  he  was  Chairman,  '  to  take  into  consid- 
eration our  present  educational  provisions  and 
the  improvement,  if  any,  which  may  be  made 
therein.'  On  the  21st  of  November,  1846,  there 
was  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  citizens  of 
Akron,  at  Mechanics'  Hall,  at  which  Mr.  Jen- 
nings, on  behalf  of  the  committee,  submitted 

♦Contributed  by  W.  H.  Perrin. 


their  report.  It  was  a  good,  business-like  doc- 
ument, clear  in  its  statements,  definite  in  its 
recommendations,  and  so  just  and  reasonable 
in  its  views,  that  it  I'eceived  the  unanimous  ap- 
proval and  adoption  of  the  citizens  there  assem- 
bled, and  a  committee,  consisting  of  R.  P. 
Spaulding,  H.  W.  King,  H.  B.  Spelman  and  L. 
V.  Bierce.  was  appointed  to  secure  the  neces- 
sary legislation.  The  following  is  the  plan  of 
the  committee  :  1.  Let  the  whole  village  be 
incorporated  into  one  school  district.  2.  Let 
there  be  established  six  primar}-  schools  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  village,  so  as  best  to  accom- 
modate the  whole.  3.  Let  there  be  one  gram- 
mar school,  centrally'  located,  where  instruction 
may  be  given  in  the  various  studies  and  parts 
of  studies  not  provided  for  in  the  primary 
schools,  and  yet  requisite  to  a  respectable  En- 
glish education.  4.  Let  there  be  gratuitous  ad- 
mission to  each  school  in  the  system,  for  the 
children  of  residents,  with  the  following  re- 
strictions, viz.:  No  pupil  shall  be  admitted  to 
the  grammar  school  who  fails  to  sustain  a 
thorough  examination  in  the  studies  of  the 
primarj'  school,  and  the  teacher  shall  have 
power,  with  the  advice  and  direction  of  the  Su- 
perintendent, to  exclude  for  misconduct  in  ex- 
treme cases,  and  to  classify  the  pupils  as  the 
best  good  of  the  schools  may  seem  to  require. 
5.  The  expense  of  establishing  and  sustaining 
this  system  of  schools  shall  be  thus  provided 
for  :  First,  by  appropi'iating  what  public  school 
money  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  are  enti- 
tled to,  and  what  other  funds  or  propert}'  ma}' 
be  at  the  disposal  of  the  board  for  this  pur- 
pose ;  and,  secondly,  a  tax  to  be  levied  by  the 
Common  Council  upon  the  taxable  property-  of 
this  village  for  the  balance.  6.  Let  six  Super- 
intendents be  chosen  by  the  Common  Council, 
who  shall.be  charged  with  perfecting  the  sys- 
tem thus  generally  defined,  the  bringing  of  it 
into  operation,  and  the  control  of  it  when 
brought  into  operation.  Let  the  six  Superin- 
tendents be  so  chosen  that  the  term  of  office 
of  two  of  them  shall  expire  each  year. 


382 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


"  The  plan  was  adopted  by  the  Legishiture, 
and  embodied  in  the  'act  for  the  support  and 
better  regulation  of  common  schools  in  the 
town  of  Akron,'  passed  February  8,  1847,  with 
a  change  in  the  name  and  mode  of  election  of 
officers  named  in  the  sixth  paragraph  only,  the 
the  substance  being  retained.  The  committee 
urged  in  behalf  of  this  plan,  that  it  will  secure 
a  thorougii  classification  of  pupils,  bring  dif- 
ferent classes  into  constant  fellowship,  lay  hold 
of  native  talent  and  worth,  whether  rich  or  poor,  1 
and  secure  the  best  superintendence  and  man- 
agement. It  will  not  only  give  the  best  i 
schools,  but  the  cheapest :  for  while  such  in-  . 
struction  as  the  youth  of  Akron  now  get  costs  I 
about  $2,200  a  year,  or  $6.82  for  each  of  the 
375  who  attend  school,  under  the  plan  proposed  ; 
500  can  be  instructed  for  $1,700  a  year,  or  $3.40  I 
a  scholar  for  cost  of  instruction.  The  interval  ] 
between  the  meetings  in  May  and  November, 
1846,  was  improved  by  Mr.  Jennings  in  col- 
lecting information,  maturing  the  plan  and 
elaborating  the  report.  The  idea  originated 
with  Mr.  Jennings,  and  the  labor  of  visiting 
e^'ery  house  in  the  village,  to  ascertain  what 
children  went  to  school  and  who  did  not  go, 
and  who  went  to  public  schools  and  Avho  went 
to  private,  and  how  much  was  paid  for  school 
instruction,  was  performed  by  him.  He  went 
to  Cleveland  and  Sandusk}'  City  in  the  same 
interest,  to  see  the  operation  of  graded  schools 
there.  He  procured  estimates  by  competent 
mechanics,  of  the  cost  of  erecting  a  grammar- 
school  building  to  accommodate  500  pupils, 
and  omitted  no  detail  of  the  plan  that  was  nec- 
essary to  show  it  in  organic  completeness  ;  and 
whatever  credit  and  distinction  Akron  may 
have  enjoyed  for  being  the  first  to  adopt  the 
principle  of  free  graded  schools  in  Ohio,  is  due 
to  Mr.  Jennings.  Others  saw  and  felt  the  need 
of  a  system  and  of  better  methods  of  instruction 
and  management,  but  in  his  practical  and  sa- 
gacious mind  the  subject  took  form  and  propor- 
tion as  an  organic  whole,  and  under  his  pre- 
sentation the  plan  looked  so  feasible,  so  ad- 
mirable, that  hostility  was  disarmed  and  the 
people  were  eager  for  its  adoption. 

'■  Mr.  Jennings  was  the  father  and  founder  of 
the  Akron  schools  ;  and,  though  he  did  not  re- 
main in  Akron  to  see  their  operation,  he  gave 
them  their  first  impulse  and  direction,  and  in- 
spired their  management  and  administration. 
His    plan   was   flexible   to   the   needs   of  the 


growth  and  enlargement,  and  in  essential  feat- 
ures remains  as  it  first  took  form  on  the  stat- 
ute book.  For  actions  less  signal  and  benefi- 
cent, men  have  been  honored  and  recognized 
as  public  benefactors.  The  first  election  under 
the  law  was  in  the  spring  of  1847,  and  L.  V. 
Bierce,  H.  B.  Spelman,  James  Mathews,  Will- 
iam H.  Dewey,  William  M.  Dodge  and  Joseph 
Cole  constituted  the  first  Board  of  Education, 
which  organized  by  choosing  L.  V.  Bierce,  Pres- 
ident ;  H.  B.  Spelman,  Secretary,  and  William 
H.  Dewey,  Treasurer.  The  Town  Council  ap- 
pointed J.  S.  Carpenter,  A.  B.  Berrj'  and  H.  K. 
Smith,  Examiners.  The  work  of  the  board  for 
the  first  year  was  mainl}'  that  of  organization. 
They  divided  the  Akron  school  district  into 
eight  subdistricts,  built  two  primary  school- 
houses,  25x32  feet,  at  a  cost  of  $370  each,  pur- 
chased two  and  a  half  acres  of  land  on  Mill, 
Prospect  and  Summit  streets,  at  a  cost  of 
$2,137.31,  on  which  stood  a  dwelling-house, 
which,  at  an  expense  of  $613.44,  was  fitted  up 
for  a  grammar  school.  Mr.  M.  D.  Leggett,  late 
Commissioner  of  Patents,  was  employed  as 
teacher  and  superintendent  at  a  salary  of  $500, 
assisted  b}'  Miss  Wolcott,  at  a  salary  of  $200, 
and  Miss  Pomeroy,  at  a  salary  of  $150.  The 
primaries  were  taught  by  young  ladies,  at 
$3.50  per  week.  There  were  two  terms  of  the 
grammar  school,  the  first  commencing  in  x\u- 
gust,  and  enrolling  127,  with  an  average  daily 
attendance  of  112,  or  eight3'-eight  per  cent; 
the  second  term  enrolling  188,  and  having  an 
average  attendance  of  167,  or  eight^'-nine  per 
cent.  The  primaries  during  the  year  showed 
an  average  attendance  of  fifty-five  per  cent,  and 
an  enrollment  during  the  first  term  of  641. 
During  the  second  term,  880  was  the  number 
enrolled.  Some  of  these  were  from  with- 
out the  district.  Such  was  the  state  of  opin- 
ion at  the  first  annual  report,  made  in  March, 
1848,  that  the  board  felt  called  upon  to  justify 
the  employment  of  female  teachers  in  the  pri- 
maries on  the  ground,  first,  of  economy,  and, 
second,  that  the  Superintendent  was  required  to 
spend  one  hour  each  day  in  these  schools,  vis- 
iting them  in  rotation,  which  the  Board  be- 
lieved secured  all  the  advantages  to  be  derived 
from  the  employment  of  male  teachers. 

"  The  Akron  school  law  and  the  operations  of 
the  first  board  under  it  had  a  strong  opposition 
from  property-holders.  The  principle  of  free 
graded  schools  had  not  yet  been  recognized. 


'i^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


383 


These  men  felt  it  a  grievance  that  their  proper- 
ty should  be  taxed  to  educate  the  children  of 
the  village.  An  unlimited  power  of  taxation 
for  school  purposes  had  been  given  the  board 
which  they  felt  to  be  dangerous,  and  made  an 
objection  to  the  system.  As  a  peace-offering 
to  this  class  and  to  disarm  opposition,  the  first 
call  was  for  but  two  mills  on  the  dollar.  But 
the  board  went  farther,  asking  the  Legislature 
to  limit  its  power  to  five  mills.  The  act  was 
amended,  fixing  the  limit  at  four  mills  a  year 
for  school  purposes.  This  change  was  unfortu- 
nate. The  State  had  just  changed  its  rate  of 
taxation  for  school  purposes,  by  which  the 
amount  Akron  would  otherwise  receive  was 
reduced  over  $300.  Schoolhouses  had  to  be 
built,  lots  purchased  and  paid  for,  and  the 
board  was  compelled  to  an  economy  of  man- 
agement that  bordered  upon  parsimony,  and  in 
the  second  year  to  lose  the  services  of  Mr.  Leg- 
gett,  who  was  doing  well  for  the  school.  The 
board  was  able,  however,  to  make  a  good  show- 
ing in  its  first  annual  report  in  this,  that  the 
cost  of  tuition  for  each  scholar  was  less  than 
$2  a  year — a  saving  to  the  town  of  from  $1,340 
to  $1,776  a  year  on  the  common-school  system. 
In  the  grammar  school  were  taught  orthogra- 
phy, reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  geographj^, 
history,  grammar,  algebra,  geometry,  trigonom- 
etry, physiolog}^,  natural  philosophy,  mental 
philosophy,  chemistry,  book-keeping,  astrono- 
my, phonogi'aphy,  and  an  hour  each  week  given 
to  composition  and  declamation.  The  board 
bears  honorable  testimony  to  the  zeal  and  effi- 
ciency of  teachers  of  grammar  and  primary 
schools,  and  to  the  Board  of  Examiners  for 
'  efficient  and  valuable  suggestions,'  and  in  view 
of  all  the  facts  may  be  pardoned  if  it  slightly 
magnified  its  work  when  it  said  it  had  given 
'  the  benefits  of  a,  finished  English  education  to 
all  the  children  of  the  town  at  less  than  the 
average  rate  of  tuition  under  the  common- 
school  system.'  During  the  second  year,  end- 
ing March  31,  1849,  two  new  schoolhouses 
were  erected  for  the  primaries,  at  a  cost  of 
$480  each,  but  the  accommodations  were  still 
inadequate.  The  schools  were  crowded,  and 
more  room  needed  without  the  means  to  build. 
The  average  daily  percentage  of  attendance  in 
the  primaries  had  risen  to  be  62  per  cent, 
and  that  of  the  grammar  fallen  to  71  for  the 
first  term  and  80  for  the  last.  In  the  third 
3^ear  the  subdistricts  were  increased  to  nine,  the 


primaries  were  graded,  and  the  grammar  school 
suspended  from  April  27  to  September  3,  1849. 
At  the  latter  date,  Mr.  C.  Palmer  took  the 
charge  under  an  engagement  for  two  years, 
assisted  by  Mrs.  Palmer  and  Mr.  Graham.  The 
suspension  was  a  financial  necessity',  but  the 
board  was  enabled  to  speak  assuredly  of  the 
improvement  in  the  public  regard  for  the 
schools.  'The  ardor  of  novelty  had  subsided, 
but  the  sober  judgment  of  the  people  fully  sus- 
tained the  system.'  'We  doubt,'  the  board 
say,  '  whether  at  any  time  a  motion  to  relapse 
into  our  former  chaotic  state  would  have  been 
met  by  a  more  determined  or  numerous  oppo- 
sition than  now.  In  truth,  we  think  our  school 
system  may  be  looked  upon  as  having  passed 
the  crisis,  and  as  being  fixed  in  the  convictions 
and  cherished  in  the  conscious  wants  of  the 
people." 

"In  the  winter  of  1850-51,  the  board  en- 
tered into  a  contract  with  Mr.  Charles  Brown 
for  laying  the  foundation  of  a  brick  edifice, 
70x50  feet,  and  two  stories  high,  for  the  gram- 
mar school,  an  undertaking  for  which  there 
was  pressing  need  on  account  of  the  entire  un- 
fitness of  the  building  then  in  use  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  corner-stone  of  this  edifice  was  laid 
with  due  ceremonies  Aug.  18,  1851,  and 
the  walls  finished  before  the  commencement  of 
winter.  The  grammar  school  was  taught  but  six 
weeks  during  the  fifth  school  year,  and  closed 
in  consequence  of  the  illness  of  Mr.  Palmer, 
the  Superintendent,  not  to  be  opened  again 
until  the  new  building  was  read}'  for  occupa- 
tion. The  necessity  of  this  suspension  lay  in 
the  state  of  the  finances  and  the  limited  powers 
of  the  Board  for  taxation.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  01m- 
stead  were  emploj^ed  at  $50  a  month  to  teach 
a  high  grade  primary  school,  which  took  the 
place  of  the  grammar  school.  The  salary  of 
Mr.  Palmer  was  $600.  In  the  fourth  annual 
report  the  term,  '  High  School, '  first  appears  in 
the  transactions  of  the  board.  During  the 
third  and  fourth  school  years,  J.  S.  Carpenter, 
Esq.,  is  President  of  the  Board,  and  the  reports 
deal  more  in  certain  general  aspects,  the  meth- 
ods, means  and  ends  of  education  ;  less  external 
stimulation,  and  more  of  self-help  in  the  school 
room.  The  fifth  annual  report  shows  the  same 
aptness  for  comparative  statistics  as  the  first 
and  second,  and  gives  the  cost  of  tuition  for  the 
whole  3'ear  :  Per  scholar  upon  average  enrolled, 
$2 ;    per    scholar    upon    average    attendance. 


&  V 


#-4- 


384 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


$2.80  ;  per  scholar  upon  average  enumeration, 
$1.12,  and  believes  an  instance  cannot  be  found 
where  so  thorough  an  education  can  be  obtained 
at  so  small  an  expense. 

"On  the  13th  of  October,  1853,  the  new 
structure  was  completed  and  dedicated  to  the 
cause  of  education.  The  cost  of  the  building 
was  $9,250,  and  in  its  plan  and  appearance  was 
creditable  to  the  then  village  of  Akron.  Mr. 
Samuel  F.  Cooper  was  put  in  charge  of  the 
high  school,  assisted  b}'  Mrs.  Cooper  and  Miss 
Voris ;  Miss  Codding,  assisted  by  Misses  Prior 
and  Gilbert,  had  charge  of  the  grammar  school. 
A  nucleus  of  a  philosophical  apparatus  and 
geological  calnnet  was  formed  under  Mr. 
Cooper.  In  April,  1856,  the  engagement  of 
Mr.  Cooper  closed.  In  the  October  following, 
H.  B.  Foster.  Esq.,  of  Hudson,  entered  upon 
the  office  of  instruction  and  superintendence, 
and  continued  until  the  following  spring,  when 
his  engagement  closed.  He  was  assisted  by 
Misses  Bernard  and  Williamson,  all  able  and 
competent  teachers,  with  whom  the  board  was 
loath  to  part.  Mr.  Foster  declining  a  re-engage- 
ment, Mr.  E.  B.  Olmstead  was  employed  to 
take  his  place,  and  J.  Park  Alexander  was  put 
in  charge  of  the  grammar  school  at  $35  per 
month.  The  primary  teachers  were  paid  from 
$3.75  to  $5.  per  week.  In  1855-56,  the 
grammar  school  was  in  charge  of  Mr.  George 
Root,  assisted  a  part  of  the  year  by  Misses 
Angel  and  McArthur.  Mr.  Root  gave  special 
attention  to  penmanship  and  book-keeping  in 
the  high  school,  and  his  instruction  in  those 
branches  was  attended  with  marked  results. 
The  paj'-roll  of  teachers  for  the  year  ending 
April,  1856,  was  $2,777.42,  including  superin- 
tendence. In  the  report  made  April,  1857,  the 
estimated  expense  of  running  the  schools  for 
the  next  year  was  $4,200,  '  including  inci- 
dentals,' and  it  was  in  this  report  that  claim 
was  first  made  for  compensation* to  members  of 
the  board  for  their  services.  It  was  in  this 
report  also  that  the  first  rule  was  laid  down 
touching  the  reading  of  the  Bible  and  religious 
instruction  in  the  schools.  The  following  is 
the  rule  :  '  Teachers  may  open  their  schools  in 
the  morning  by  singing  with  the  scholars,  or 
reading  a  short  passage  of  Scripture  (the 
Lord's  pra3'er,  for  instance),  without  note  or 
comment,  or  without  any  general  exercise,  as 
they  may  think  proper.'  In  this  report  also  is 
laid  down  the  rule  of  the  board  touching  the 


qualifications  of  teachers.  '  The  board,  as  a 
general  rule,  have  determined  to  emplo}'  no 
teachers  in  the  Akron  schools  but  those  of 
ripe  age,  ample  experience  and  successful  tact  in 
their  profession,  while  it  is  entirely  necessary 
and  essential  that  a  teacher  shall  have  a  fine 
education,  and  an  ample  fund  of  general  knowl- 
edge, it  is  as  important  to  possess  tact  also.' 
Besides  these,  the  teacher  must  have  '  great 
goodness  and  kindness  of  heart,  indomitable 
perseverance,  good  common  sense,  and  last,  but 
not  least,  the  qualities,  in  a  measure,  of  a  suc- 
cessful military  general.'  It  might  excite  our 
wonder  that  so  rare  and  so  fair  a  cluster  of 
graces  and  acquirements  could  be  had  for  the 
asking  in  the  year  1854,  and  at  so  low  figures 
as  from  $3.50  a  week  in  the  primaries  to  $65  a 
month  to  the  principal  of  the  high  school  and 
Superintendent  of  all  the  schools.  The  board 
hints  at  no  difficulty  in  procuring  teachers  of 
ripe  age,  ample  experience,  successful  tact,  fine 
education,  etc.,  or  that  the  market  is  not  full  of 
that  description  of  candidates  for  the  office  of 
instruction.  The  high  school  lot  is  being 
graded,  and,  when  done,  "  the  grounds  will  be 
planted  with  forest  trees,  evergreens  and  shrub- 
bery, such  as  will  best  conduce  to  the  appear- 
ance of  the  place,  and,  in  after  years,  to  the 
comfort  of  the  scholars.'  A  substantial  stone 
wall  has  been  erected  on  the  west  front,  and  on 
the  other  three  sides  a  tight  board  fence. 

"  The  Akron  School  District  was,  in  April, 
1857,  divided  into  five  subdisti'icts,  in-  the  first 
and  second  of  which,  primar}-  and  secondary 
grades  of  pupils  were  to  be  taught  by  the  same 
teacher  in  the  same  room.  In  the  other  sub- 
districts,  the  primaries  and  secondaries  were  to 
be  taught  separately.  A  course  of  study  is 
laid  down.  Reading  and  spelling  run  through 
the  four  grades,  '  writing  when  desired,'  in  the 
secondary,  and  every  day  in  the  grammar  and 
in  the  high  school,  '  so  as  to  be  able  to  write  a 
fair  hand.'  The  scholars  in  the  grammar  school 
shall  be  taught  to  read  and  spell  the  fourth 
reader  fluently  ;  to  master  the  first  half  of 
Stoddard's  Intellectual  Arithmetic  ;  the  whole 
of  Trac3^'s  and  Stoddard's  Practical  as  far  as  in- 
terest ;  the  general  definitions  in  grammar  ; 
Colton  and  Fitch's  Modern  School  Geography  ; 
to  practice  writing  every  day  ;  map  drawing  ; 
declamation  one  hour  each  week,  and  general 
practical  oral  instruction  daily.  The  high 
school  course  included,  3d,  Stoddard's  Practical 


*7[. 


1± 


CITY    OF    AKROT^. 


385 


Arithmetic,  after  which  Greenleafs  National 
ma}'  be  taken  up  (one  class),  and  the  whole 
school  practiced  in  mental  arithmetic ;  4th, 
English  grammar  and  parsing ;  5th.  map  draw- 
ing and  geograph}' ;  6th,  philosophy  ;  7th,  his- 
tor}' ;  8th,  physiology  ;  9th,  algebra ;  10th, 
chemistry  ;  1 1th,  astronomy  ;  12th,  botany  and 
geometry.  Declamation  and  composition  to  be 
practiced  by  each  pupil  every  four  weeks. 
These  in  their  order,  the  1st  and  2d  being  occu- 
pied by  reading,  spelling  and  writing.  The 
Superintendent  is  to  be  Principal  of  the  high 
school  and  institutes,  and  spend  two  hours  each 
week  visiting  the  other  public  schools  of  the 
town,  advising  with  the  teachers,  examining  the 
classes  with  reference  to  their  classification, 
progress  and  promotion,  and  to  report  monthh' 
to  the  board. 

"  This  outline  closes  the  tenth  year  of  the 
Akron  schools.  One  of  the  features  of  this 
period  is  the  '  Specimen  Schools  or  Teachers' 
Institutes',  held  each  Saturday  morning  in  the 
presence  of  all  the  teachers,  members  of  the 
board,  etc.  One  teacher,  b}'  previous  appoint- 
ment, calls  her  school  together  on  Saturday 
morning,  and  pursues  her  routine  course  for  an 
hour  and  a  half,  and  then  dismisses  it.  After 
this,  lectures,  discussions,  etc.  These  institutes, 
the  board  say,  '  have  worked  admirably.' 
Teachers  were  required  to  attend  them.  It  was 
in  the  seventh  3'ear  of  the  schools  (1854),  that 
we  first  hear  of  these  '  Specimen  Schools  or 
Teachers'  Institutes.'  They  gave  way  in  1860 
to  teachers'  meetings,  which  were  designed  for 
mutual  improvement,  and  to  enable  the  teacher 
to  keep  place  with  progress  in  the  '  art  of  teach- 
ing.' When  Latin  and  Greek  were  dropped  does 
not  appear,  but  here  is  the  mind  of  the  board 
upon  the  subject :  '  The  introduction  of  the 
study  of  languages  into  the  high  school  has 
often  been  urged  by  a  few  of  our  citizens  ;  but, 
the  board  have  been  of  the  opinion  that  a  good 
practical  English  education  is  all  that  an}'  one 
has  a  right  to  expect  or  exact  at  the  hands  of  a 
generous  public'  The  Akron  schools  have  now 
been  in  operation  ten  years,  and  under  five  dif- 
ferent Superintendents,  three  of  whom,  Leggett, 
Palmer  and  Foster,  were  capable,  competent 
and  valuable  men  for  the  place.  Their  work 
was  mainly  that  of  instruction  in  the  depart- 
ment under  their  immediate  charge  ;  the  super- 
vision of  other  schools  being  quite  nominal, 
consisting  chiefly  in  occasional  visitation.     In 


the  existing  state  of  opinion  and  resources  of 
the  board,  this  was  the  best  that  could  be  done. 
But  the  necessity  of  permanence  in  the  office 
of  superintendence  and  instruction  was  being 
felt.  The  evils  of  frequent  changes  had  become 
apparent.  The  schools  had  not  at  all  times 
maintained  the  prestige  they  at  first  enjoyed, 
nor  the  pre-eminence  to  which  they  were  entitled 
as  the  pioneer  free  graded  schools  of  Ohio.  In  the 
eleventh  annual  report,  the  board  declare  their 
conviction  that  the  '  lowest  wages '  principle  was 
not  the  best  economy,  and  that  such  compensa- 
tion should  be  paid  for  superintendence  and  in- 
struction as  would  secure  the  best  skill  and 
ability  in  both  departments.  Acting  upon  these 
views,  Mr.  T.  C.  Pooler,  a  teacher  of  experience 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  was  employed  as 
Superintendent,  at  a  salary  of  f  1,000,  assisted 
by  Misses  M.  K.  Parsons  and  H.  A.  Bernard  in 
the  high  school.  Mr.  H.  M.  Ford,  assisted  by 
Miss  Coftman,  was  made  Principal  of  the  gram- 
mar school.  During  a  part  of  Mr.  Pooler's  first 
year,  Misses  Angel  and  Church  were  his  assist- 
ants, Miss  Bernard  coming  in  the  second  year. 
Mr.  Pooler  retained  the  position  three  years,  and 
declined  a  re-engagement.  With  him  began 
superintendence  and  the  practice  of  making 
annual  reports  to  the  board.  At  this  point  also 
begins  a  change  in  the  school  year  from  the  31st 
of  March,  to  the  31st  of  August,  consequently 
this  report  covers  fifty-three  weeks  of  the 
schools— fifteen  in  the  spring  and  summer  of 
1857,  and  forty  weeks  from  September,  1857,  to 
July,  1858.  Hereafter  the  school  year  will 
commence  with  September.  The  above  state- 
ment that  with  Mr.  Pooler,  superintendence 
commenced,  must  be  qualified,  for  if  it  com- 
menced it  did  not  continue  to  any  valuable  ex- 
tent. Rule  fifth,  of  the  board,  adopted  Septem- 
ber, 1859,  provided  that  'he  shall  visit  each 
school  at  least  once  in  four  weeks,  and  advise 
and  direct  the  several  teachers  in  regard  to 
classifying  and  disciplining  their  pupils.'  His 
reports  are  practical,  and  relate  to  matters  with 
which  he  is  charged.  The  statistics  of  enroll- 
ment and  attendance  show  an  improving  condi- 
tion in  these  regards. 

"  The  engagement  of  Mr.  I.  P.  Hole  as  Princi- 
pal of  the  high  school  and  Superintendent 
commenced  September,  1870,  at  a  salary  of 
$900  a  year,  and  continued  until  September, 
1868,  during  which  period  his  salary  was  from 
time  to  time  increased,  until  it  reached  $1,500. 


^1^ 


'^1'^ 


386 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Besides  this  substantial  approval  by  successive 
boards,  Mr.  Hole  was  cordially  indorsed,  as 
reports  and  resolutions  of  the  Board  abundantly 
show.  His  report  as  Superintendent  was  pub- 
lished during  the  first  six  years  of  his  engage- 
ment, and  are  useful  for  the  information  they 
contain  of  the  condition  of  the  schools.  The 
average  attendance  for  all  the  schools  is 
91  per  cent  for  the  year  18G6,  while  for  the 
3'ears  1863  and  1864  it  is  78  per  cent.  The 
tables  accompanying  his  reports  show  an  in- 
crease in  enrollment  and  attendance  during 
this  period,  and  they  also  show  that  the  num- 
ber attending  the  high  school  as  steadily  di- 
minished. In  1860  and  1861,  tiie  total  enroll- 
ment in  that  department  was  141  ;  monthly 
membership,  83,  and  average  daily  attendance, 
63,  while  in  1865  and  1866,  the  total  enroll- 
ment was  67  ;  monthly  membership,  44  ;  aver- 
age attendance,  41.  *  *  *  The  schools 
had  become  crowded.  Six  primaries  taught 
during  the  fall  of  1865,  and  seven  during  the 
winter  and  spring  following,  had  an  enrollment 
of  724  pupils ;  one  secondary  school,  employ- 
ing three  teachers,  enrolled  216,  and  the  gram- 
mar school,  with  three  teachers,  enrolled  156 
pupils.  The  high  school,  with  an  enrollment 
of  67,  employed  one  teacher  regularly,  one 
about  half  of  the  time,  and  the  Principal 
something  over  one-half  Of  all  these  schools, 
except  the  high,  he  has  words  of  unqaalified 
praise,  and  of  that  he  says,  •  decorum  seems  to 
forbid  that  I  should  speak.'  He  makes  hon- 
orable mention  of  Mrs.  Coburn,  who  had  been 
associated  with  him  in  that  department  six 
years,  and  had  resigned,  'as  deserving  to  be 
held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  the  people  of 
Akron,  and  the  hundreds  of  young  persons 
whom  she  had  served  so  earnestly  and  faith- 
fully.' llule  13  of  the  Board,  adopted  Sep- 
tember, 1859,  defining  the  duties  of  Superin- 
tendents, says :  '  He  shall  hold  a  meeting  of 
the  parents  at  the  commencement  of  each 
school  year,  or  oftener,  and  address  them  in 
reference  to  their  school  duties  and  obliga- 
tions.' He  did  not  restrain  himself  to  'such 
facts  connected  with  the  operation  of  our  pub- 
lic school  system  as  may  be  of  general  interest 
to  the  community,'  but  sometimes  expressed 
himself  at  large  on  the  duties  of  parent  and 
citizen.  In  his  report  of  1863,  he  notices  the 
assumption  of  parents  and  teachers  that  when 
pupils  have  memorized  the  text-books  put  into 


their  hands,  'that  their  work  has  been  well 
done.'  This  assumption  he  saj's,  '  stops  too 
short,'  and  he  proceeds  to  elaborate  his  views 
of  the  processes  of  the  mind  in  acquiring 
knowledge  through  eight  successive  and  dis- 
tinct operations,  from  impressions  on  one  of 
the  five  senses,  to  reason,  '  the  most  important 
characteristic  of  rationality."  The  moral  tone 
is  always  good.  The  report  of  1864  contains 
the  first  notice  of  graduation  from  the  high 
school.  Miss  P.  H.  (xoodwin,  of  Akron,  is  the 
graduate  of  this  year.  We  find  no  published 
reports  of  the  board  or  of  Mr.  Hole,  as  Super- 
intendent, for  the  last  two  years  of  his  con- 
nection with  the  schools,  and  the  history  of 
his  period  of  principalship  and  superintend- 
ence substantially  closes  with  September,  1866. 
In  February,  1868,  he  tenders  his  resignation. 
The  board  passes  a  resolution  of  confidence, 
'  earnestly  invokes  the  confidence  and  support 
of  the  community  as  being  eminently  due  to 
those  having  charge  of  our  public  schools,  as 
Superintendent  and  teachers,  and  as  at  present 
advised,  decline  to  accept  the  resignation.'  In 
December,  1865,  the  board  assumes  the  con- 
trol of  the  Spicer  Addition  to  the  Akron  School 
District,  with  about  one  hundred  pupils,  and  in 

1866,  enters  upon  the  enlargement  of  the  high 
school  building,  bj'  the  addition  of  two  wings, 
with  two  schoolrooms  to  each  wing,  and  recita- 
tion rooms  adjoining.  An  enlargement  of 
school  accommodations  had  become  a  neces- 
sity, and  to  meet  this  expense  a  loan  of  |15,- 
000    was   authorized  by   the   board    in    May, 

1867,  and,  in  April,  1868,  bonds  in  that  amount 
were  provided  for  by  resolution  of  the  board. 

"  Before  entering  upon  a  new  period  of  man- 
agement and  administration  of  the  schools, 
there  are  certain  points  of  interest  in  the  past 
which  deserve  to  be  noticed.  In  the  second 
year  of  the  schools,  instruction  was  given  in 
Latin  and  (xreek  languages,  and  in  the  fourth 
year,  classes  and  teachers  were  commended  for 
thoroughness  of  training  in  those  branches,  as 
well  as  for  others  taught  in  the  high  school. 
Wlien  these  were  dropped  does  not  appear,  but 
probably  during  the  suspension  of  the  gram- 
mar school.  We  have  seen  the  stand  taken  by 
the  board  in  1858  in  reference  to  these 
branches,  but,  in  August,  1865,  Latin  and 
Greek  were  again  admitted  by  resolution. 
Tardiness  and  irregularity  of  attendance  are  a 
grievance  from  the  first  organization  of   the 


\^. 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


387 


schools — the  refrain  of  every  report  down  to 
1865.  Sometimes  the  remedy  was  supposed  to 
be  with  the  parents,  and  sometimes  with  teach- 
ers or  pupils,  or  all  combined.  The  expedient 
is  tried  of  closing  the  doors  against  pupils 
a  few  moments  after  the  hour  for  opening  has 
arrived,  and  shutting  them  out  until  recess. 
This  did  not  cure  the  evil.  In  1864,  three 
absences  during  one  month  were  visited  with 
suspension,  and  boards  at  succeeding  meetings 
heard  and  granted  restoration.  This  rule 
worked  better.  It  put  parents  to  inconven- 
ience ;  made  them  feel  the  power  of  the  board, 
and  to  see  that  Boards  of  Education  had 
rights.  In  1847-48,  the  percentage  of  attend- 
ance in  the  primaries  was  55^  ;  in  the  gram- 
mar school,  88  per  cent ;  while  in  1866,  the 
percentage  of  attendance  reached  90  per  cent 
for  the  schools.  This  improvement  became  a 
matter  of  gratulation  with  boards  and  Super- 
intendents. In  the  report  of  the  board  for 
1861,  jets  of  humor  for  the  first  time  appear  in 
these  documents.  As  a  Board  of  Education 
of  Akron,  after  fourteen  years'  experience, 
ma}-  be  supposed  to  know  something  of  boards 
and  teachers  in  general,  this  board  ma}^  be 
allowed  to  speak  on  the  subject.  Of  the 
numerous  applications  for  places  as  teachers  in 
our  schools,  and  the  qualifications,  or  rather 
the  want  of  them,  which  many  of  those  appl}'- 
ing  exhibit,  the  board  says  :  '  Without  heads 
or  hearts  for  the  teacher's  work,  come  the  Jer- 
emy Diddlers,  out  at  the  elbows,  and  the  Flora 
McFlimseys,  with  nothing  to  wear,  seeking  the 
salaries  of  the  schoolroom  to  mend  their  coats 
and  failing  fortunes,  and  to  enlarge  their  scanty 
wai'drobes.  Teachers  and  boards  are  often 
sadly  at  fault  in  their  anatomy  of  the  soul  and 
body  of  the  young.  They  would  define  a  pupil 
to  be  a  boy  or  girl  from  five  to  twenty-one 
3'ears  of  age,  having  no  heart  to  make  better 
or  keep  pure,  no  bones  and  joints  to  grow 
strong  and  shapel}-,  no  muscles  to  train  and 
develop  to  flexibility,  no  taste  for  the  beautiful 
to  be  cultivated,  but  onl}*  a  head  to  be  filled 
with  syntaxes  and  prosodies,  with  ratios  and 
quantities,  with  ologies  and  osophies — onl}^ 
this  and  nothing  more.  Herbert  Spencers 
work  on  "  Education  "  should  be  added  to  the 
library  of  all  who  give  or  accept  this  definition 
of  a  pupil.'  Whether  it  was  the  expression  of 
an  abstract  opinion  by  the  board,  or  whether  it 
was   suggested   by    the   state  of   things  then 


existing  in  the  high  school  does  not  appear, 
but  the}'  say  in  substance  that,  inasmuch  as 
the  high  school  had  taken  the  place  of  the 
academy  and  seminary,  where  attention  was 
paid  to  ethics  and  the  proprieties  of  social  life, 
the  high  school  "should  care  somewhat  for 
these  things.'  In  1859,  a  course  of  study  was 
prescribed.  For  the  grammar  and  high  school 
it  was  a  three-years  course.  There  were  to  be 
exercises  in  singing  daily  by  the  pupils  who 
could  sing.  Music  was  not  a  branch  of  in- 
struction, but  an  exercise.  Moral  instruction 
and  attention  to  manners  are  enjoined  upon 
the  first  division  of  the  secondary,  and  in  the 
grammar  school,  oral  instruction  in  manners 
and  behavior  was  to  be  given  daily.  The 
board  regards  its  work  with  favor,  and  says 
'the  prominence  which  it  assigns  to  moral 
culture,  to  drawing  and  to  music,  heretofoi'e 
much  neglected,  will  meet  with  the  approba- 
tion of  all  whose  approbation  is  worth  having.' 
Two  years  later,  the  course  of  study  was 
revised — that  for  the  high  school  enlarged  to 
four  years,  and  the  same  prescription  as  to 
manners  and  behavior  in  the  grammar  school 
continued.  Why  this  discrimination  does  not 
appear,  for  the  board,  as  we  have  seen,  this 
year  suggested  that  these  matters  were  being 
neglected  in  the  high  school.  To  all  that  the 
board  enjoins  in  regard  to  '  moi-als,  manners 
and  behavior,'  it  may  be  objected  that  they 
'stop  too- short.'  Standards  vary  with  persons 
and  places,  and  what  the  ideal  of  this  board 
was  as  to  what  constituted  good  morals  and 
manners  is  left  to  conjecture.  The  ninth  sec- 
tion of  the  act  for  the  support  and  better  regu- 
lation of  common  schools  in  Akron  made 
provision  for  periodical  visitation  of  the 
schools  by  persons  to  be  appointed  by  the 
Council  and  Mayor.  With  thorough  and  sys- 
tematic superintendence  of  the  schools,  there 
would  be  little  or  no  need  of  these  visitations  ; 
but  that  period  had  not  yet  arrived.  Rev.  S. 
Williams  was  appointed  school  visitor  under 
that  section  of  the  law,  and  made,  in  the  years 
1858  and  1859,  his  reports  to  the  Council, 
which  were  published,  and,  so  far  as  appears, 
were  the  first  official  visitations  made.  Mr. 
Williams  was  a  man  of  culture  and  of  much 
experience  as  a  teacher,  and  competent  for  the 
work  he  undertook.  He  was  too  kindly  and 
urbane  in  manners  for  trenchant  criticism,  but 
he  discriminates  with  candor,  and  leaves  the 


it  \, 


^« 


388 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


reader  of  his  reports  means  of  an  opinion  as  to 
excellences  and  defects  of  particular  schools. 
He  marked  the  absence  of  historical  studies 
from  the  grammar  and  high  school,  and,  in  the 
year  following,  we  find  history  in  the  course  of 
study  for  those  departments.  With  the  fifteenth 
annual  report  of  the  board  is  published  the  re- 
port of  R.  0.  Hammond,  Esq.,  as  school  visitor 
for  that  year.  His  report  shows  the  value  of  in- 
dependent criticism  and  observation  of  the 
conduct  and  management  of  the  schools.  He 
commends  warml}'  and  censures  unsparingly. 
He  says  :  '  The  board  say  in  their  report  that 
mental  philosophy,  political  economy,  moral 
science  and  evidences  of  Christianity  are 
taught  in  the  fourth  year.  But  they  are  not 
taught.  And  yet  there  is  no  good  reason  why 
the}'  are  omitted.'  He  urges  the  cultivation  of 
vocal  music.  'This,  in  my  judgment,'  he  says, 
'  should  be  taught  in  our  schools  as  a  compo- 
nent part  of  daily  instruction.  I  mean  that 
the  principles  of  music  should  be  taught — 
taught  as  a  science.  In  this  way,  at  a  small 
expense,  singers  with  well  cultivated  voices, 
able  to  read  music  readily,  may  be  fitted  for 
the  choir,  the  concert  and  the  parlor.' 

"The  school  j^ear  beginning  September  1, 
1868,  was  the  beginning  of  a  new  period  in  the 
histor}'  of  the  Akron  schools.  x\kron  had  become 
a  city.  Its  school  population  numbered  3,007. 
The  growth  and  promise  of  the  place  had 
brought  in  new  men,  and  with  new  business 
success  and  prosperity,  larger  and  more  liberal 
views  had  come  to  prevail.  Akron  had  no  in- 
stitution or  interest  it  cherished  as  it  did  its 
schools.  They  had  acquired  a  sure  footing  in 
the  regard  and  affection  of  the  people.  The  re- 
port of  the  board  by  its  President,  Dr.  Bowen, 
shows  this  by  its  tone  of  cheerful  assurance. 
Mr.  Hole  and  other  teachers  of  the  high  and 
grammar  schools  had  resigned,  and  it  became 
the  duty  of  the  board  to  fill  their  places.  '  They 
cast  about  for  teachers  who  had  attained  a  high 
rank  in  their  profession,  and  were  known  by 
competent  judges  to  have  come  honestly  by  their 
good  reputations.'  There  were  not  man}-  such, 
and  the  demand  was  lai-ge.  '  Other  Boards  of 
Education  were  abroad  as  bidders,  and  having 
made  selections,  based,  as  was  believed,  on  a 
full  fitness  for  the  work  to  be  done,  it  remained 
for  us  to  pay  such  prices  as  would  take  the 
teachers  we  wanted  from  other  bids,  and  bring 
them  to  our  schools,  instead  of  allowing  them 


to  go  elsewhere.'  This  is  frank,  free  from  tone 
of  apology,  and  the  board  is  to  be  commended 
for  carrying  out  so  good  a  programme.  Mr. 
Samuel  Findley,  a  gentleman  of  good  scholarly 
attainments  and  ripe  experience  as  a  teacher, 
was  secured  as  Superintendent ;  Mrs.  N.  A. 
Stone,  of  State- wide  reputation  as  a  teacher  and 
disciplinarian,  was  put  in  charge  of  the  high 
school,  and  Miss  Herdraan,  a  teacher  of  much 
experience  and  rare  excellence,  was  put  in 
charge  of  the  grammar  school.  At  the  close 
of  the  year,  the  board  was  justified  in  sa3'ing 
of  the  work  done,  that  it  was  well  done.  Mr. 
Findle}'  had  shown  rare  executive  ability.  The 
leading  features  of  an  improved  management 
of  the  high  school,  under  Mrs.  Stone,  assisted 
by  Misses  Saunders  and  Trowbridge,  '  were 
thoroughness  in  preparing  the  lesson,  an  ani- 
mated, accurate  and  full  recitation  of  it,  and 
more  of  polite  deportment.'  The  grammar 
school,  under  Miss  Herdman,  assisted  by  Misses 
Voris  and  Worthington,  '  has  become  a  well- 
behaved  room,  where  decorum  prevails,  and 
where  lessons  are  thoroughly  studied  and  well 
recited.  Never  in  all  its  life  has  its  order  been 
so  good  and  its  teaching  so  thorough.'  The 
primary  schools  also  were  well  taught.  The 
board  makes  a  financial  exhibit  for  the  year 
ending  September  1,  1869,  showing  a  total  of 
disbursements  of  $32,763.  Of  this  amount, 
the  salaries  of  Superintendent  and  teachers 
were  $14,002.50  ;  building  sites,  building  and 
repairs,  $15,752.60  ;  fuel  and  other  contingent 
expenses,  $2,907.98  ;  total  receipts,  $35,553.34. 
*  *  *  *  *  For  the  work  Mr.  Find- 
ley  has  shown  I'are  fitness  and  abilit}'.  With 
great  firmness  he  unites  courteous  manners  and 
an  openness  of  mind  to  what  is  new  and  also 
good  in  school  management  and  instruction. 
He  found  it  necessary,  early  in  the  year,  to  re- 
duce the  eleven  primary  school  districts  to  six, 
giving  two  schools  to  each  district,  except  one, 
and  making  two  grades  of  primary  scholars. 
By  this  change,  the  teaching  force  was  nearly, 
if  not  quite,  doubled,  without  any  increase  in 
the  number  of  teachers,  or  in  expense.  With 
this  came  a  course  of  study  for  the  primary 
and  grammar  schools,  of  four  j-ears  in  each  de- 
partment. Text-books  are  excluded  from  the 
primaries,  except  readers,  and  the  school  hours 
of  the  lowest  grade  reduced  to  four.  There  are 
to  be  monthly  written  examinations  in  the  high 
and  grammar  schools.     English  literature  takes 


'A 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


389 


its  place  in  the  high  school,  and  vocal  music 
becomes  a  specialty  of  instruction  in  all  de- 
partments of  the  central  building.  Drawing, 
heretofore  neglected, '  has  been  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  a  regular  study,'  and  runs  through  the 
grammar  and  lower  grades.  Morals  and  man- 
ners run  through  the  three  first  years  of  the 
primary  course  in  this  specific  form  :  '  Incul- 
cate reverence  and  love  for  God  as  the  Great 
Father  of  all,  obedience  to  parents  and  teachers, 
and  a  kind,  forgiving  spirit  toward  brothers  and 
sisters  and  schoolmates.  Guard  against  rude- 
ness of  manners,  and  suppress  profanity  and 
other  immoral  practices.'  This  is  a  rule  on  the 
subject  of  moral  instruction  of  all  the  schools  : 
'  It  shall  be  a  duty  of  the  first  importance  on 
the  part  of  the  teachers,  to  exercise  constant 
supervision  and  care  over  the  general  conduct 
of  their  scholars  ;  and  they  are  especially  en- 
joined to  avail  themselves  of  every  opportunity 
to  inculcate  the  observance  of  correct  manners, 
habits  and  pi'inciples.'  Results  for  the  first 
year  must  be  regarded  as  satisfactory.  The 
percentage  of  punctualit}-  in  no  school  falls  be- 
low 96,  and  in  many  of  them  reached  98  and 
99.  and  the  average  for  all  was  9*^.4.  The  per- 
centage of  attendance  on  average  number  be- 
longing, for  all  the  schools,  was  93.1,  and  but 
two  fell  below  90.  How  much  of  this  was  due 
to  the  steady  toning  up  of  the  Superintendent, 
is  best  known  to  the  teachers. 

"  Reports  of  the  board  and  Superintend- 
ent, after  the  year  1869,  are  for  the  school 
years  1871-74-75.  The  board  reports  are 
plain  and  intelligible  statements  of  the  finan- 
cial condition  and  transactions  of  the  board 
and  the  general  state  of  the  schools.  In 
1870,  there  were  paid  for  building,  repairs, 
furniture,  etc.,  $17,412  ;  and,  in  1874,  for  sites 
and  buildings,  $17,200.  In  1871,  the  primaries 
are  crowded,  and  the  necessity  pressing  for  ad- 
ditional accommodation  for  the  present  and  in- 
creasing population  of  the  city.  The  board 
has  settled  upon  a  plan  of  systematic  enlarge- 
ment of  school  structures,  which  is  thus  ex- 
plained in  the  report  of  G.  W.  Grouse,  Esq., 
President  of  the  Board  :  In  providing  addi- 
tional buildings,  it  is  the  present  policy  of  the 
board  that  each  additional  school  building 
erected  shall  be  part  of  a  general  plan,  which 
shall  have  for  its  object  the  supplying  of  each 
section  of  our  cit}-  with  a  suitable  school  build- 
ing, located  centrall}'  with  reference  to  the  part 


of  the  city  it  is  designed  to  accommodate,  and 
which  shall  contain  not  less  than  six  rooms.' 
The  estimated  cost  of  such  structures  was  $15,- 
000,  and,  in  pursuance  of  this  plan,  the  North 
Broadway  building  has  been  enlarged  to  the 
capacity  above  named,  and  the  school  edifices 
known  as  the  Perkins  and  Spicer,  have  been 
erected  and  occupied.  The  estimated  value  of 
all  school  property,  in  1874,  was  $136,000.  To 
this  is  to  be  added  the  Spicer  Schoolhouse,  since 
built,  estimated  at  $25,000.  In  the  report  of 
this  year,  by  Lewis  Miller,  Esq.,  Px-esident  of 
the  Board,  attention  is  called  to  the  fact  that, 
about  twenty-eight  years  ago,  the  experiment 
of  free  graded  schools  was  authorized  in  Akron, 
by  special  act  of  the  Legislature,  and  that  about 
a  year  since  the  Legislature,  b}^  general  act,  had 
extended  the  principle  to  all  the  public  schools 
of  the  State. 

"  In  the  year  1872,  Middlebury  became  a  part 
of  the  Akron  School  District,  bringing  with  it 
163  pupils,  and  the  Board  of  Education,  from 
1872,  consisting  of  twelve  members,  instead  of 
six,  as  formerly.  The  reports  of  the  Superin- 
tendent that  accompany  these  reports  of  the 
board  ax'e  instructive  reading.  They  relate  to 
matters  that  come  under  his  official  supervision 
and  are  within  the  legislative  sphere  of  the 
board.  He  carefully  considers  what  he  says, 
and  gives  trustworthy  information  and  matured 
opinions  on  educational  matters.  The  follow- 
ing summaries  from  the  Superintendent's  ta- 
bles, contain  evidences  of  good  condition  and 
healthfulness.  The  averages  are  so  high  that 
they  leave  little  room  for  improvement  in  that 
line  : 

1874 — Number  of  youth  between  si.x  and 
twenty-one 3,809 

1875 — Number  of  youth  between  six  and 
twenty-one 3.964 

Number  of  schools: 

High  school 1 

Grammar  schools 8 

Primary  schools 24 

Teachers  in  high  school 4 

Teachers  in  grammar  schools 13 

Teachers  in  primary  schools 24 

Music  teacher 1 

Average  number  of  regular  teachers 40.3 

Average  number  of  i)upils  in  daily  attendance  at 

Highschool 111-8 

Grammar  schools 513.8 

Primary  schools 1,158.8 

Total  average  daily  attendance 1.754.4 


:fV 


390 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COl  NTY 


The  percentage  of  average  daily  attendance  on  the 
average  number  belonging 

In  tlie  high  school 95.6 

In  the  grammar  schools 94.8 

In  the  primary  schools 95 

In  all  the  schools 94.9 

"  The  number  of  graduates  from  high  school 
prior  to  1869,  beginning  in  1864,  were  15  ;  in 
1869,  5  ;  in  1871,  4  ;  in^l872,  17  ;  in  1873, 11  ; 
in  1874,  16  ;  in  1875,  18. 

"The  course  of  study  adopted  in  1869  has 
been  adhered  to.  The  high  school  course  has 
been  cut  down  to  three  3"ears,  and  the  scholars 
of  the  A  (xrammar  Grade,  who  have  been  hitherto 
included  in  the  high  school  have  been  confined 
to  their  proper  department.  Written  examina- 
tions are  twice  a  term  instead  of  monthl}^  and 
promotions  twice  a  year  instead  of  annually. 
School  hours  have  been  reduced  to  five.  Musical 
instruction  runs  through  all  grades,  and  is 
in  the  hands  of  a  specialist  in  that  department. 
'  The  lessons  in  music,'  he  says, '  are  given  daily, 
and  occupy  from  fifteen  to  thirty  minutes,  ac- 
cording to  the  age  of  the  pupil.  The  instruc- 
tion is  thoroughl}^  graded,  commencing  in  the 
lowest  primary  grade  with  the  simplest  exer- 
cises in  distinguishing  and  making  musical 
sounds,  and  advancing  b}^  regular  gradations  to 
the  practice  of  classic  music  in  the  high  school.' 
As  Mr.  Findley  declares  himself  an  original 
skeptic  on  the  subject  of  musical  capabilities, 
he  may  be  allowed  to  state  his  conversion  in  his 
own  words :  '  Before  investigating  the  subject 
and  hearing  the  testimon}'  of  tliose  who  had 
made  the  experiment,  I  shared  in  the  common 
belief  that  musical  talent  is  a  special  gift,  and 
that  only  the  favored  few  have  it  in  sufficient 
degree  to  make  its  cultivation  desirable.  That 
this  is  a  fallacy  has  been  amply  proven.  Noth- 
ing else  in  all  my  experience,  in  connection 
with  the  work  of  instruction  has  given  me  such 
enlarged  views  of  what  is  attainable  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  cultivation  of  the  human  powers. 
We  can  fix  no  limits  to  the  possibilities  of  hu- 
man culture.' 

"The  competence  of  women  for  instruction 
and  discipline  has  been  fairl}'  tried  in  the 
Akron  schools,  and  the  results  thus  stated  in 
the  report  of  1874  :  '  The  average  number  of 
regular  teachers  employed  was  thirty-seven — 
all  women.  I  have  no  hesitation  in  sa3'ing, 
that  the  experiment  we  have  made  the  last  six 
years  in  employing  none  but  women  as  regular 
teachers   in  our   schools,  has   been   eminently 


successful.'  Moral  and  religious  instruction  is 
a  subject  wliich  undergoes  discussion  in  these 
reports.  The  views  entertained  on  this  subject 
b}'  successive  boards  and  Superintendents  may, 
so  far  as  they  have  given  them  expression,  be 
briefl}'  stated.  In  the  second  year,  the  moral 
nature  is  recognized  as  of  equal  rank  with  the 
intellectual.  But  this  cannot  have  been  a  senti- 
ment rather  than  a  conviction,  though  it  led  to 
no  definite  provision  then  and  there  for  the 
moral  nature.  With  teachers  of  the  right 
ethical  tone,  the  whole  matter  of  '  morals  and 
manners '  in  schools  might,  with  safety,  be 
left,  and  this  is  where  the  earh'  boards  seem  to 
have  left  them.  In  the  tenth  year,  came  the 
rule  for  the  qualified  reading  of  the  Bible  as 
an  opening  exercise.  In  the  twelfth  j-ear, 
'  moral  culture,'  heretofore  neglected,  or  but 
little  cared  for,  '  was  assigned  a  rank  with  draw- 
ing and  music'  In  the  fifteenth  year,  Mr. 
Hole  gave  '  moral  training  '  a  prominence,  and 
introduced  Cowdery's  '  Moral  Lessons,'  but  the 
board  protested  '  that  nothing  sectarian  has 
been  introduced  into  your  schools — nor  any 
sectarian  practice  permitted.'  All  Mr.  Hole's 
convictions  inclined  him  to  do  in  the  schools 
whatever  could  be  done  for  the  moral  nature, 
and  the  twelfth  board  quotes  this  with  ap- 
proval :  '  It  has  become  quite  evident  that 
moral  education,  not  occasional  and  irregular, 
but  systematic  and  thorough,  is  entitled  to  a 
fixed  position  in  every  system  of  instruction.' 
We  share  the  surprise  and  conviction  of  Super- 
intendent Findley,  as  expressed  in  his  report  of 
1869  :  '  It  seems  strange  that  any  attempt 
should  be  made  to  divorce  intellectual  and 
moral  culture.  The  two  are  inseparable.  Our 
moral  and  intellectual  faculties  are  so  closely 
allied  as  to  be  scarcely  distinguishable  to  our 
consciousness  ;  at  least,  life's  intellectual  activi- 
ties and  pleasures  find  their  culmination  and  ful- 
fillment in  the  moral.  The  moral  is  the  pinnacle 
of  our  whole  being.  A  man  is  whatever  his  heart 
is.  His  faith,  his  love,  his  purposes — these  deter- 
mine his  character.'  He  touches  the  key-note 
to  the  whole  great  question  of  the  Bible  in  the 
public  schools,  in  the  above  passage,  and  others 
in  the  same  and  subsequent  report :  '  It  is  not 
so  much  what  the  teacher  says,  as  what  he  /.s 
and  does,  which  effects  for  good  or  evil  the 
future  lives  and  characters  of  his  pupils.  All 
the  moral  and  religious  influences  of  the  school 
which   is   of  an}-    worth    must    come    as    an 


•l^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


391 


emanation   from   the   teacher's   character  and 

life.' 

****** 

"In  his  report  of  1874,  the  Superintendent 
called  the  attention  of  the  board  to  the  neces- 
sity of  employing  untrained  and  inexperienced 
teachers,  as  the  greatest  evil  with  which  they 
have  to  contend,  without,  however,  suggesting 
at  that  time  any  remedy.  It  is  but  one  step 
from  the  discovery  of  an  evil  or  want,  to  the 
invention  and  application  of  a  remed}'.  The 
remedy'  in  this  case  is  simple,  and  consists  in 
the  conversion  of  the  new  Spicer  building  into 
a  training  or  normal  school.  Young  ladies, 
graduates  of  the  high  school,  without  experi- 
ence in  teaching,  are  employed,  nominal  salaries 
for  the  first  year,  and  set  to  teaching.  Over 
them  is  placed  a  teacher  of  tried  skill  and 
abilit}'  in  the  instruction  and  government  of 
schools,  who  oversees  and  directs  the  work  of 
the  new  teachers.  It  is  an  experiment  which 
has  beeh  entered  upon  during  the  present  year, 
and  has  the  merit  of  originality'  and  simplicity, 
with  a  promise  of  good  results.  *  *  *  * 
*  *  *  Certain  results  have  been  reached, 
which  are  a  promise  of  good  fruits  in  the 
future.  One  of  these  is  a  demand  for  a  higher 
education,  as  shown  b}'  the  increased  attend- 
ance upon  the  high  school,  which  amounts  for 
the  six  years  ending  January  25,  1875,  to  234 
per  cent,  while  the  increase  in  all  the  schools 
has  been  50  per  cent  for  the  same  period. 
That  the  suppl}'  has  kept  pace  with  the  demand, 
ma}'  be  seen  in  the  fact  that,  at  the  close  of  the 
spring  and  summer  term  of  1874.  four  boys  of 
the  Akron  High  School  passed  creditable  ex- 
aminations for  admission  to  Western  Reserve 
College,  and  three  of  them  entered  that  insti- 
tution the  fall  following.  Three  of  the  four 
were  prepared  wholly  under  Miss  Oburn,  assist- 
ant in  the  high  school,  and  the  fourth  in  part. 
Another  gain  is  the  punctuality  of  attendance, 
and  the  substantial  cure  of  tardiness  and  irregu- 
larity. This  subject  is  referred  to  in  the  report 
of  1871,  which  sa^'s  :  'Irregular  attendance 
and  tardiness  have  become  unpopular  with  the 
pupils  themselves,  and  the  majority  of  parents 
appreciate  the  importance  of  punctual  and  con- 
stant attendance.' 

"  Miss  Herdman  remained  in  charge  of  the 
Senior  Grammar  School  with  the  same  eminent 
success  that  marked  her  first  year,  until  the 
spring  of  1874,  when  she  withdrew  on  account 


of  ill  health,  and  died  in  the  November  follow- 
ing. Her  Superintendent  saj's  of  her  :  '  Her 
strength  of  character,  combined  with  fervent 
affection  and  genial  humor,  gave  her  great 
power  over  her  pupils.  She  governed  by  the 
strength  of  her  own  character,  rather  than  by 
the  inflictions  of  pains  and  penalties.'  Miss  P. 
H.  Groodwin,  for  many  years  an  assistant  in  the 
high  school,  paid  a  touching  tribute  to  her 
memory  in  a  paper  read  befox'C  the  teachers' 
meeting  :  '  She  has  given  to  us  an  example  of 
a  true  teacher,  wrought  out  before  our  eyes  in 
characters  of  light — a  grand  six  years'  object 
lesson  that  increases  in  significance  as  we  study 
its  harmony  of  parts.' 

"  Mrs.  N.  A.  Stone  contuiued  in  charge  of  the 
high  school  as  Principal  until  the  close  of  the 
school  3'ear,  1873,  a  period  of  five  3'ears,  with 
the  same  success  and  abilit}'  which  marked  her 
first  year,  and  then  resigned  for  a  3'ear  of  rest 
and  travel.  She  was  succeeded  by  Miss  Maria 
Parsons,  who  still  holds  the  position,  and  is 
eminentl3^  faithful  and  successful  in  it.  Many 
teachers  in  the  Akron  schools,  not  alread3' 
named,  have  attained  a  high  degree  of  success  ; 
but  for  a  long  and  faithful  service  of  sixteen 
years,  Mrs.  M.  L.  Harvey  deserves  honorable 
mention.  During  the  first  ten  3'ears  of  the 
schools,  the  labor  of  supervision,  now  per- 
formed b3-  the  Superintendent,  was  thrown  upon 
the  Board  and  Examiners  ;  and  for  the  faithful 
and  valuable  services,  the  three  first  Presidents 
of  the  Board,  Messrs.  Bierce,  Carpenter  and 
Howard,  and  the  three  first  Examiners,  Messrs. 
Carpenter,  Berr}'  and  Smith,  deserve  to  be  hon- 
orabl3'  remembered  ;  especially  Gen.  Bierce,  for 
eight  3'ears  of  service  on  the  board — six  of 
these  as  President ;  and  Judge  Carpenter,  for 
four  years  of  service  as  member  of  the  Board 
of  Examiners — who  gave  to  the  schools  in  that 
period  of  construction  and  organization,  the  full 
benefit  of  their  practical  ability  and  generous 
public  spirit. 

"  The  first  death  that  occurred  in  the  board 
was  that  of  Dr.  Joseph  Stanton,  in  the  year 
1 855,  of  whom  the  board  of  that  year  say  :  '  In 
his  death  the  board  has  lost  a  valuable  member, 
the  State  an  honorable  citizen,  and  the  cause  of 
education  an  earnest  friend.'  The  death  of 
Houston  Sisler,  member  and  late  Treasurer  of 
the  board,  is  announced  in  the  report  of  1861- 
62,  and  of  him  the  board  say  :  '  We  can  bestow 
no  fitter  eulogy  upon  him  than  to  sa3'  that  he 


■^ 


±1 


392 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


was  an  honest,  intelligent  and  conscientious 
man,  just  to  himself,  and  just  and  generous  to 
his  neighbors.'  The  death  of  J.  K.  HoUoway 
is  recorded  at  a  meeting  of  the  board  April  18, 
1874,  and  in  him  the  board  '  mourn  the  loss  of 
a  valuable  member,  a  c  )ngenial  companion,  an 
esteemed  friend,  and  useful  citizen.'  The  fol- 
lowing have  been  Presidents  of  the  Board  of 
Education  of  Akron  for  the  periods  named  : 
Gen.  L.  V.  Bierce,  six  j-ears ;  Judge  J.  S.  Cai*- 
penter,  two  years  ;  Dr.  E.  W.  Howard,  two 
years  ;  C.  B.  Bernard,  two  years  ;  Rev.  S.  Will- 
iams, three  years  ;  M.  W.  Henry,  two  years  ; 
Dr.  I.  E.  Carter,  two  3^ears  ;  Dr.  William  Bow- 
en,  one  year ;  Judge  S.  H.  Pitkin,  two  years  ; 
George  W.  Grouse,  two  years  ;  Lewis  Miller, 
two  years  ;  Dr.  Thomas  McEbright,  one  year. 
There  was  fitness  in  the  choice  of  these  gentle- 
men as  presiding  otficers  of  the  board." 

This  closes  the  sketch  of  Judge  Bryan,  and 
but  little  more  can  be  said  of  the  public  schools 
of  Akron.  In  the  foregoing,  their  history  has 
been  traced  from  a  period  when  they  were  in  a 
"  chaotic  state "  to  their  present  perfection. 
We  will  add  but  a  few  names  and  statistics. 
The  following  is  from  the  last  report  of  the 
Board  of  Education  to  the  Countj^  Auditor  : 

Balance  on  hand  September  1,  1879 $26,423  32 

State  tax 6,697  50 

Irreducible  fund 429  37 

Tax  for  school  and  schoohouse  purposes.    85,953  76 

Amount  received  from  sale  of  bonds 5,000  00 

Fines,  licenses,  etc 1,282  50 


Total  receipts $75,795  45 

Whole  amount  paid  teachers  in 
common  schools $37,507  50 

Paid  manager  or  Superintend- 
ent,       2,000  00 

Paid  for  sites  and  buildings, .  . .      9,641  25 

Interest  on  redeption  of  bonds.    26,486  67 

Paid  for  fuel  and  other  ex- 
penses      9,892  39 


Total  expenditures $75,527  81 


Balance  on- hand  September  1,  1880.  .$       267  64 

Total  value  of  school  property 105,000  00 

Number  of  teachers  employed 56 

Average  wages  paid  teacliers  per  month $49  00 

Pupils  enrolled  : 

Primary— males  1,448;  females  1,417 2,865 

High— males  61 ;  females  129 190 

Total 3,055 


Average  daily  attendance: 

Primary — males  1,154;  females  1,121 2,275 

High— males  48;  female  102 150 

Total 2,425 

The  following  is  the  roster  of  teachers*  for 
the  present  year  (1880-81),  according  to  the 
grade  or  department  in  which  they  are  em- 
ployed :  Prof  Samuel  Findley,  Superintendent 
of  Instruction.  High  School :  Wilbur  V.  Rood, 
Principal ;  M.  J.  0.  Stone,  Assistant ;  M.  A. 
Strong,  Assistant ;  M.  E.  Stockman,  Assistant ; 
Ira  Baird,  Assistant.  Grammar  Schools,  Grade 
A — J.  A.  Newberry,  Principal ;  M.  M.  Parsons, 
Assistant.  Grade  A  and  B — N.  J.  Malone, 
Principal  ;  Lizzie  Bowers,  Assistant.  Grade 
B — S.  A.  Hi  His,  Principal ;  Estelle  Simmons, 
Assistant.  Grade  C — Mar}-  Baird,  Principal  ; 
Carrie  Allen,  Assistant.  Grade  C  and  D — 
Clara  Hemmings,  Principal ;  Cai'rie  McMillan, 
Assistant.  Broadway  School :  Sarah  C.  Lake, 
Principal,  and  teacher  of  D  Primary  ;  M.  C. 
Andrews,  D  Grammar ;  Lida  M.  Dussell,  A 
Primary  ;  Lillie  Rice,  B  Primary'  ;  Lillian  Walt- 
ers, B  and  C  Primary  ;  Libbie  Fish,  C  Primary. 
Crosb}'  School :  Ida  B.  Foote,  Principal,  and 
teacher  of  C  and  D  Grammar  ;  Rilla  Boardman, 
A  Primary  ;  S.  P.  Bennett,  B  and  C  Primary  ; 
Malana  Harris,  C  and  D  Primary.  Perkins 
School :  S.  I.  Carothers,  Principal,  and  teacher 
of  D  Primary  ;  Hattie  A.  Sill,  D  Grammar  ;  H. 
E.  Applegatc,  A  Primary  ;  M.  A.  Bennett,  A 
and  B  Primarj'  ;  Helen  Fisher,  B  and  C  Pri- 
mary ;  Mary  A.  Sill,  D  Primarj'.  South  School : 
Jennie  E.  McLain,  Principal;  Alice  V.  Chis- 
nell,  D  Primar}'  ;  N.  E.  Brown,  C  Primary  ; 
Libbie  Berg,  B  Primary  ;  Carrie  Jones,  B  Pri- 
mary ;  Addle  Hamman,  A  Primary  ;  Anna  Hol- 
linger,  D  Grammar  ;  Mary  Cochran,  C  Gram- 
mar. Spicer  School :  M.  L.  Macready,  Prin- 
cipal, and  teacher  of  C  and  D  Primary  ;  Fannie 
Sisler,  C  Grammar  ;  Maggie  T.  Bender,  D  Gram- 
mar ;  Kate  L.  Palmer,  A  Primary' ;  Julia  L. 
Allyn,  A  and  B  Primary  ;  Nellie  L.  Wilcox,  B 
Primary  ;  Lillian  A.  Randolph,  C  Primary  ;  M. 
Elma  Campbell,  C  and  D  Primary.  Sixth  Ward 
School :  Ada  M.  Kershaw,  Principal,  and  teachi^r 
of  C  and  D  Grammar  ;  M.  K.  Pearce,  A  and  B 
Primary  ;  M.  E.  Miller,  B  and  C  Primary  ; 
Eliza  Skidmore,  D  Primary.  Bell  School :  Sa- 
rah J.  Bardsley,  C  and  D  Primary.  South  Hill 
School :     Clara    Chisnell,    C    and   D    Primary. 

*  Currected  a!id  revised  by  Piof.  Findley. 


v 


<3 k^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


393 


Teacher  of  vocal  music  (two  days  each  week), 
N.  L.  Glover.  Teacher  of  writing  and  drawing, 
Mary  E.  Bradley. 

The  Board  of  Education  at  present  (1880-81), 
comprise  the  following  gentlemen  :  First  Ward, 
Thomas  McEbright,  W.  B.  Raymond  ;  Second 
Ward,  S.  M.  Burnham,  W.  C.  Jacobs  ;  Third 
Ward,  A.  M.  Armstrong,  Lewis  Miller  ;  Fourth 
Ward,  E.  W.  Wiese,  N.  N.  Leohner ;  Fifth  Ward, 
F.  L.  Bishop,  F.  L.  Danforth  ;  Sixth  Ward,  J.  A. 
Baldwin,  H.  J.  Griffin,  with  Thomas  McEbright, 
President  of  the  Board  ;  E.  W.  Wiese,  Secretary, 
and  W.  B.  Ra^'mond,  Treasurer.  The  term  of 
service  of  the  present  board  will  expire  in  April, 
1881,  but  not  in  time  for  an}'  changes  that  may 
occur  to  be  corrected  for  this  work. 

Buchtel  College  now  claims  our  attention. 
The  following  excellent  sketch  was  written  by 
Bev.  Orello  Cone,  D.  D.,  President  of  the  insti- 
tution, at  our  special  request,  and  is  given  in 
full.  President  Cone  notices  the  founding  of 
the  college,  and  traces  its  history  down  to  the 
present  time.     His  sketch  is  as  follows  : 

The  founding  and  establishment  of  Buchtel 
College,  in  the  city  of  Akron  is  due  to  a  move- 
ment which  originated  with  the  Universalist 
Church  of  the  State  of  Ohio.  In  the  year  1867, 
the  Ohio  State  Convention  of  Universalists, 
composed  of  the  clergy  of  the  State,  and  repre- 
sentatives from  all  its  parishes,  heard  a  report 
from  its  Committee  on  Education  in  favor  of 
establishing  a  Seminary  for  the  education  of 
the  young  of  both  sexes.  At  the  next  annual 
session  of  the  convention,  in  June,  1868,  a  plan 
for  the  establishment  of  an  academy  was  pre- 
sented by  Rev.  Andrew  Willson,  and  unani- 
mously adopted.  This  plan  was  not,  however, 
carried  out,  and,  in  1869,  the  convention  recon- 
sidered its  former  resolution,  and  authorized 
the  Board  of  Trustees  and  Committee  on  Edu- 
cation to  take  the  necessarj'  steps  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  college.  The  Board  of  the  Con- 
vention then  consisted  of  Rev.  J.  S.  Cantwell, 
Rev.  Andrew  Willson,  Rev.  H.  L.  Canfield,  Rev. 
J.  W.  Henley  and  0.  F.  Haymaker,  Esq.;  and  the 
Committee  on  Education  of  Rev.  E.  L.  Rexford, 
Rev.  M.  Crosley  and  Rev.  B.  F.  Eaton. 

In  view  of  the  near  approach  of  the  One 
Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  Universalist 
Church  of  the  United  States,  it  was  desired  to 
make  the  new  college  the  centennial  offering 
of  Ohio.  Accordingly,  at  a  joint  meeting  of 
the    above-mentioned    board    and    committee, 


held  in  November,  1869,  Rev.  H.  F.  Miller,  of 
Indiana,  was  invited  to  become  their  Financial 
Secretary,  to  supervise  and  direct  the  raising  of 
the  money  necessary  for  buildings  and  endow- 
ment. Mr.  Miller  accepted  the  invitation,  and 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  in  Janu- 
ary, 1870. 

Petitions  from  several  places  praying  for  the 
location  of  the  college  were  received  and  con- 
sidered by  the  board,  and  finallj^  at  a  joint 
meeting  held  in  Columbus,  February  16,  1870, 
the  location  was  fixed  in  Akron  on  the  condition 
that  the  citizens  of  Summit  County  legally  se- 
cure $60,000  to  the  State  Convention  of  Uni- 
versalists. In  pursuance  of  this  oflTer,  a  prompt 
and  vigorous  effort  was  made  at  Akron  to 
secure  the  location  of  the  college  in  that  city. 
John  R.  Buchtel  led  off  with  a  subscription  of 
$25,000  for  the  endowment  fund  and  $6,000 
for  the  building.  He  was  followed  by  others 
so  that  on  the  31st  of  May,  1870,  the  Financial 
Secretary  was  able  to  report  to  the  Board  of 
Trustees  and  Committee  on  Education  that  the 
^60,000  necessary  to  secure  the  location  of  the 
college  at  Akron  had  been  subscribed.  This 
body  then  in  a  joint  meeting  on  the  above- 
mentioned  day,  passed  a  resolution  locating 
the  college  which  was  then  called  the  "  Uni- 
versalist Centenary  School  of  Ohio,"  in  the 
city  of  Akron,  and  named  as  "  corporators  "  to 
act  in  conjunction  with  itself.  Rev.  H.  F.  Miller, 
Rev.  Willard  Spaulding,  Rev.  George  Messen- 
ger, Henry  Blondy,  Esq.,  and  the  following 
resident  freeholders  of  Summit  County  :  John 
R.  Buchtel,  Hon.  N.  D.  Tibbals,  E.  P.  Green, 
Esq.,  Col.  George  T.  Perkins,  James  A.  Lantz 
and  George  Steese,  Esq. 

The  steps  prescribed  by  the  laws  of  the  State 
of  Ohio  for  the  organization  of  the  corporation 
were  then  taken,  and  articles  of  association 
were  drawn  up  and  adoj^ted.  The  association 
which  took  the  name  of  "  Buchtel  College  "  and 
organized  "  for  the  establishment  and  mainte- 
nance of  a  college  of  learning  for  both  sexes,  to 
be  under  the  control  of  the  Ohio  State  Con- 
vention of  Universalists,"  was  composed  of 
John  R.  Buchtel,  Rev.  J.  S.  Cantwell,  George 
T.  Perkins,  Henry  Blond}',  Rev.  George  Mes- 
senger, Rev.  B.  F.  Eaton,  N.  D.  Tibbals^Rev.  J. 
W.  Henley,  E.  P.  Green,  0.  F.  Haymaker,  Rev. 
Willard  Spaulding,  James  A.  Lantz  and  George 
Steese.  It  was  made  the  duty  of  these  to  elect 
a  Board  of  eighteen  Trustees,  five  of  whom 


i>  V 


^ 


394 


HISTORY  OF    SI^MMIT    COUNTY. 


should  always  be  resident  freeholders  of  Sum- 
mit County,  and  who  should  be  the  directors 
of  the  college  with  power  to  make  all  necessary 
by-laws,  erect  suitable  buildings,  etc.  It  was 
provided  that  after  the  first  election  of  Trustees 
by  the  corporators,  the  Ohio  State  Convention 
of  Universalists  should  at  each  annual  session 
nominate  at  least  fifteen  persons  whom  they 
may  think  to  be  suitable  for  the  office  of  Trust- 
ees, and  that  the  acting  Trustees  should  from 
the  persons  so  nominated  make  all  elections 
and  fill  all  vacancies. 

The  first  board  elected  was  composed  as  fol- 
lows :  For  three  years,  John  R.  Buchtel,  Presi- 
dent, H.  Blondy,  Philip  Wieland,  J.  D.  Auger, 
E.  P.  Green,  George  T.  Perkins  ;  for  two  years. 
Rev.  H.  L.  Canfleld,  Rev.  E.  L.  Rexford,  Gen. 
James  Pierce,  J.  F.  Seiberling,  Rev.  J  S.  Cant- 
well,  Hon.  N.  D.  Tibbals  ;  for  one  year,  0.  F. 
Haymaker,  S.  M.  Burnham,  Secretary  ;  J.  R. 
Cochrane,  Charles  Foster,  Rev.  George  Messen- 
ger, Avery  Spicer.  George  W.  Crouse,  not  a 
member  of  the  board,  was  appointed  Treasurer. 

As  early  as  the  next  meeting  of  the  board, 
December  28,  1870,  it  was  voted  that  the  Finan- 
cial Secretary'  be  authorized  to  make  contracts 
for  perpetual  scholarships  at  11,000,  and  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  prescribe  a  form  of 
contract  for  such  scholarships.  It  was  not, 
however,  until  November  19,  1872,  that  the 
report  of  this  committee  was  made  to  the 
board,  when  the  form  of  contract  presented  was 
adopted.  According  to  this  form,  the  donor 
agrees  to  pay  at  his  decease  the  sum  of  $1,000 
to  found  and  secure  for  himself  and  heirs  a 
perpetual  scholarship  in  Buchtel  College,  and 
agrees  to  pay  interest  annuall}'  on  this  sum,  at 
a  rate  per  cent  to  be  agreed  upon  when  the  con- 
tract is  signed.  This  rate  of  interest  has  gen- 
erally been  fixed  at  6  per  cent.  The  privileges 
of  these  scholarships  were  limited,  by  action  of 
the  board,  to  the  regular  courses  in  the  college 
and  preparatory  department,  and  may  be  used 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  •'  tuition  and  room 
rent  as  defined  by  the  catalogues,"  but  do  not 
"include  any  extras  therein  specified." 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1870,  plans  for 
the  college  building  were  submitted  to  the 
board  by  the  architect,  Thomas  W.  Lilloway,  of 
Boston,  and  a  building  committee  of  seven  was 
appointed  to  proceed  with  the  construction  of 
the  edifice  according  to  the  plan  adopted.  The 
building  was  located  on  an  eminence  overlook- 


ing the  city  of  Akron,  and  said  to  be  one  of  the 
highest  points  of  land  in  the  State.  On  the 
4th  of  Jul}',  1871,  the  corner-stone  was  laid 
with  appropriate  ceremonies,  and  an  address 
was  delivered  by  Hoi'ace  Greeley,  on  "  Human 
conceptions  of  God  as  they  effect  the  moral 
education  of  the  race."  The  address  was  a 
masterly  advocacy  and  defense  of  Theism  in 
opposition  to  the  spirit  and  tendency  of  an 
atheistic  materialism.  At  no  time,  probabl}', 
within  the  next  half-centur}',  will  the  following 
vigorous  words  of  this  great  and  good  man  be 
inappropriate  in  the  contest  between  these  con- 
flicting and  apparently  irreconcilable  forces  of 
modern  thought : 

"  There  are  those  who  talk  sonorousl}',  stri- 
dently of  law — of  the  law  of  development  or 
progress — as  though  they  had  found  in  a  word  a 
key  which  unlocks  all  the  mysteries  of  creation. 
But  I  am  not  silenced  by  a  word  ;  I  demand 
its  meaning,  and  then  seek  to  determine  how 
far  that  meaning  bridges  the  gulf  which  the 
word  was  invoked  to  overleap.  To  my  appre- 
hension law  is  the  dictate  of  an  intelligent  will, 
or  it  is  nothing.  That  it  should  please  the 
Author  of  all  these  things  to  make  each  ma- 
terial bod}'  to  attract  every  other  in  a  ratio  pro- 
portioned to  their  relative  weight,  and  with  an 
intensit}'  corresponding  to  their  distance  from 
each  other,  I  readily  comprehend  ;  that  such  at- 
traction should  inhere  in  and  be  inseparable 
from  matter  as  an  unprompted  impulse,  an  in- 
evitable property,  I  cannot  conceive.  To  ray 
apprehension  gravitation,  magnetic  attraction, 
electricity,  etc.,  are  properties  of  matter  which 
in  themselves  afford  proofs  of  creative  purpose 
—of  Omnipotent  design.  In  short,  whatever 
demonstrates  the  presence  of  law  in  nature  at- 
tests the  being  and  power  of  God." 

It  can  hardl}^  be  out  of  place  in  the  histor}' 
of  the  foundation  of  a  college,  to  quote  Mr. 
Greeley's  estimate  of  the  function  of  this  class 
of  public  institutions  : 

"  This,  then,  I  apprehend,  is  the  proper  work 
of  the  college  :  To  appreciate  and  measure, 
and  undistrustfully  accept  and  commend,  the 
gigantic  strides  which  physical  science  is  mak- 
ing in  our  day,  yet  be  not  swept  awa}'  by  them  ; 
to  lend  an  attentive  and  unprejudiced  ear  to  the 
bold  speculations  of  our  Darwins  and  Hux- 
leys,  wherein  the}'  seem  almost  to  lay  a  confi- 
dent finger  on  the  very  heart  of  the  great  mys- 
tery of  life,  without  fear  that  they  will  ever 


>^, 


CITY    OF   AKRON. 


395 


evict  God  from  His  uniA^erse,  or  restrict  Him  to 
some  obscure  corner  tliereof;  to  welcome  all 
that  is  true  and  beneficent  in  the  impetuous 
currents  of  modern  thought,  but  not  to  exag- 
gerate their  breadth  and  depth,  nor  accept  their 
direction  as  authoritative  and  final ;  to  proffer 
a  genial  and  gracious  hospitalitj-  to  whatever  is 
nobl}^  new,  yet  hold  fast,  and  from  time  to  time 
assert,  the  grand  old  truths  which  are  grounded 
in  the  nature  of  man  and  his  relations  to  the 
universe,  in  the  firm  assurance  that  no  discov- 
eries in  science,  no  advances  in  human  knowl- 
edge, can  ever  invalidate  or  ever  belittle  the 
Golden  Rule,  and  no  conclusions  of  philosoph}- 
ever  equal  in  importance  that  simple  affirmation 
of  the  untaught  Judean  peasant,  who  long  ago 
perceived  and  proclaimed  that  God  is  Love." 

Rev.  T.  B.  Thayer,  D.  D.,  of  Boston,  Mass., 
having  declined  a  call  to  the  presidency  of  the 
college,  a  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  S.  H. 
McCallister,  of  New  Hampshire,  in  March, 
1872,  which  was  accepted.  The  building  was 
rapidly  pushed  to  completion,  and  was  ready 
for  occupancy  in  the  fall  of  1872.  On  the  22d 
of  September  of  this  year.  President  McCallis- 
ter was  inaugurated,  the  college  having  been 
opened  for  the  reception  of  students  a  few 
days  before.  The  Faculty  was  constituted  as 
follows  :  Rev.  S.  H.  McCallister,  A.  M.,  Pres- 
ident, and  Professor  of  Mental  and  Moral  Phi- 
losophy ;  N.  White,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  An- 
cient Languages  ;  8.  F.  Peckham,  A.  M.,  Profes- 
sor of  Natural  Science  ;  Carl  F.  Colbe,  A..  M., 
Professor  of  Modern  Languages  ;  Miss  H.  F. 
Spaulding,  L.  A.,  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and 
English  Literature  ;  Alfred  Welsh,  A.  B.,  Pro- 
fessor of  Mathematics  ;  H.  D.  Persons,  Profes- 
sor in  Normal  Department  ;  Gustavus  Sigel, 
Professor  of  Music  ;  Miss  Hattie  L.  Lowdon, 
Teacher  in  English. 

The  number  of  students  registering  the  first 
year  for  the  classical  course  was  only  seven,  of 
whom  six  were  classified  as  freshmen  and  one 
as  junior.  Tliese  entered  for  the  regular  col- 
lege course  of  four  years.  For  the  short  course 
of  two  years,  called  the  philosophical  course, 
thirt3--nine  registered.  The  academical  or  pre- 
paratory department,  numbered  171,  making  a 
total  of  217,  of  w4iom  119  were  gentlemen, 
and  98  ladies.  This  was  the  greatest  number 
in  attendance  at  one  time  during  the  year. 

The  large  number  of  ladies  in  attendance  is 
worth}'  of  notice,  as  showing  the  confidence  of 


the  public  at  this  time  in  co-education.  Co- 
education was,  indeed,  no  longer  a  novelty  in 
the  West,  the  experiment  having  been  pretty 
thoroughly  tested  in  Oberlin,  Delaware,  Anti- 
och  College  and  other  institutions.  It  is  proper 
to  add  that  the  experience  of  Buchtel  College 
up  to  this  time  (1881),  has  tended  to  confirm 
its  officers  in  the  opinion  that  the  founders  of 
the  institution  acted  wisely  in  opening  its  doors 
on  equal  terms  to  both  sexes. 

At  the  opening  of  the  college  but  two  courses 
were  established — a  classical  course  of  four 
years  with  three  years  of  work  in  the  prepara- 
tory department,  and  a  philosophical  course  of 
two  years  with  preparatory  work  of  three  years. 
The  classical  course  corresponded  with  that 
usually  pursued  in  colleges  in  the  United 
States,  and  has  continued  substantially  the 
same  to  the  present  time  (1881),  except  that  in 
1879  it  was  considerably  strengthened  in  the 
department  of  mathematics,  so  that  it  is  now 
equal  to  that  of  the  best  colleges  in  the  country-. 

The  philosophical  course  of  two  years,  with 
three  years  of  preparator}-  study  was  extended 
to  three  years  in  187-1,  with  two  years  of  pre- 
paratory work,  and  was  called  the  Philosophical 
and  Engineering  Course.  In  187G,  the  name 
was  again  changed  to  that  of  Philosophical 
Course,  when  it  was  extended  to  four  j'ears, 
with  two  years  of  stud^^  in  the  preparatory 
department.  Besides  the  regular  English 
studies  usually  pursued  in  college,  it  contained 
the  modern  languages,  and  the  usual  course  in 
natural  science,  and  was  especiallv  strong  in 
mathematics.  In  1878,  this  course  was  discon- 
tinued, and,  in  1879,  it  was  restored  as  a  four 
years'  college  course,  with  three  years  of  pre- 
paratory study,  and  Latin  was  substituted  in 
place  of  the  higher  scientific  and  mathematical 
studies  which  it  had  formerly  contained.  As 
such  it  remains  to  this  time  (1881),  containing 
the  modern  languages  (two  years  of  German 
and  one  year  of  French),  the  usual  English 
studies,  a  thorough  coui-se  in  the  natural 
sciences  and  mathematics,  and  most  of  the 
Latin  of  the  classical  course. 

In  1874,  a  scientific  course  of  three  j'ears, 
with  two  years  of  preparatory  work,  was 
established,  containing,  in  addition  to  the  usual 
English,  scientific  and  mathematical  studies, 
all  the  Latin  of  the  classical  cour.se.  In  1876, 
this  was  made  a  four  years'  course,  with  two 
3-ears   of    pi'eparatory    work.      In    1877.    the 


^ 


^1 


-V- 


5 


396 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


Latin  work  was  reduced  to  Csesar,  Cicero  and 
one  session  of  Virgil.  In  1879,  it  was  changed 
into  a  scientific  course  in  the  stricter  sense  of 
the  term  b}'  excluding  Latin,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  year's  work  in  this  language  in  the 
preparatoiy  school,  in  which  form  it  remains  to 
the  present  time  (1881).  It  has  now  four  years 
of  college  and  three  of  preparatory  work,  and 
is  especially  in  English  and  mathematics, 
including  studies  in  engineering. 

It  belongs  to  the  history  of  the  college  to 
mention  a  course  established  for  ladies  in  1877 
under  the  name  of  the  Ladies'  Literary  Course. 
This  was  a  course  of  four  years,  and  the  prepa- 
ration required  was  the  ordinar^^  discipline  in 
the  common  P]nglish  branches.  In  1878,  it 
was  made  a  three  years'  course,  with  two  3'ears 
of  preparatory  discipline,  and,  in  1879,  it  was 
discontinued. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  college  courses,  as 
now  constituted,  embrace  (1)  the  ordinary  clas- 
sical course  ;  (2)  a  philosophical  course,  from 
which  Greek  is  excluded,  but  which  contains 
most  of  the  Latin  of  the  classical  course,  P]n- 
glish  studies,  German  and  French,  a  thorough 
discipline  in  the  natural  sciences  and  the  mathe- 
matics usually  taught  in  colleges  ;  (3)  a  scien- 
tific course,  which  is  without  Latin  or  Greek, 
but  contains  French  and  German  and  natural 
science,  and  is  especially  strong  in  mathematics 
(including  studies  in  engineering)  and  in  En- 
glish. 

The  college  has  been  generality  fortunate  in 
its  Facult}'.  The  changes  have  been  few,  and 
some  who  began  their  work  with  the  opening  of 
the  college  are  still  members  of  its  Faculty.  It 
has  had  three  Presidents  : 

1.  Rev.  Sullivan  H.  McCallister,  D.  D.,  as- 
sumed the  office  at  the  opening  of  the  college 
September  11,  1872.  He  was  ordained  to  the 
Universalist  ministry  in  1854  ;  had  filled  several 
important  pastorates,  and  been  for  some  years 
wrincipal  of  Westbrook  Seminar^',  located  at 
Pevens  Plains,  near  Portland,  Me.  He  won 
Stany  friend.s  during  his  administration,  which 
mas  distinguished  b}^  a  singular  disinterested- 
ness, consecration  and  devotion  to  his  duties. 
Dr.  McCallister  offered  his  resignation  at  the 
close  of  the  college  3'ear,  June,  1877.  It  was 
not,  however,  accepted  until  June,  1878,  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  He 
has  resumed  pastoral  work,  and  is  at  present 
settled  in  Bellows  Falls,  Vt. 


2.  Everett  L.  Rexford,  D.  D.  He  gi'aduated 
in  18G5,  at  the  Theological  School  of  St.  Law- 
rence University,  Canton,  N.  Y.,  and  settled  as 
Pastor  over  the  First  Universalist  Parish  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Thence  he  moved  to  Co- 
lumbus, accepting  a  call  to  the  church  in  that 
city.  The  New  Universalist  Parish  in  San 
Francisco,  recognizing  his  distinguished  abil- 
ity as  a  pulpit  orator,  soon  after  secured  his 
services  as  Pastor,  from  which  field  of  labor  he 
removed  in  1878  to  Akron,  and  assumed  the 
Presidenc}'  of  the  college,  and  the  pastorate  of 
the  Universalist  Parish  in  the  city.  After  two 
years  of  service  in  this  double  capacity,  he  re- 
signed, and  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  New  Universalist  Parish,  in  Detroit,  Mich., 
where  his  abilities  as  a  preacher  have  won  a 
striking  success. 

3.  Rev.  Orello  Cone,  A.  M.,  D.  D.  He  en- 
tered the  Universalist  ministry  from  a  profes- 
sorship in  St.  Paul's  College,  Palmyra,  Mo.,  in 
1862,  and  was  ordained  in  1864,  as  Pastor  of  a 
church  in  Little  Falls,  N.  Y.  He  was  called  to 
the  Chair  of  Biblical  Languages  and  Literature 
in  the  Theological  School  of  St.  Lawrence  Uni- 
versity, Canton,  N.  Y.,  in  1865,  and  held  this 
position  for  fifteen  years,  when,  in  1880,  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  the  Presidency  of  the  college. 

The  professors  and  instructors  who  have 
served  in  the  colleafe  are  as  follows  : 

1.  Rev.  Nehemiah  White,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  Middlebur}-  College,  Ver- 
mont, and  was  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  St. 
Lawrence  University,  Canton,  N.  Y.,  from  1865 
to  1869.  He  assumed  the  Chair  of  Ancient 
Languages  in  Buchtel  College,  on  the  opening 
of  the  institution,  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  fall  session,  in  1875,  when  he  accepted  a 
call  to  the  Pesidency  of  Lombai'd  University, 
Galesburg,  111.,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

2.  S.  F.  Peckham,  A.  M.  He  was  Professor 
of  Natural  Science  from  the  opening  of  the 
college  for  one  year,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to 
the  Chair  of  Chemistry,  in  the  Universit}-  of 
Minnesota,  where  he  remained  until  1880. 

3.  Miss  Helen  F.  Spaulding,  L.  A.  She  was 
Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  English  Literature  for 
one  year  from  the  opening  of  the  college. 

4.  Karl  F.  Kolbe,  A.  M.  Prof  Kolbe  is  a 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Gottingen.  and 
had  already  had  considerable  experience  as  a 
teacher  of  modern  languages  before  he  took 
this  chair  in  Buchtel  as  a  member  of  its  first 


^ 


'k^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


397 


Faculty  in  1872.  He  held  this  position  until 
the  close  of  the  college  year  in  1877,  when  he 
assumed  charge,  for  one  year,  of  an  academy 
in  Pennsylvania,  after  which  he  returned  to  the 
Chair  of  JModern  Languages,  which  he  had  left, 
where  he  has  since  remained. 

5.  Alft-ed  Welsh,  A.  M.  He  was  educated 
in  Baldwin  University  and  was  the  first  pro- 
fessor of  mathematics.  He  held  this  position 
for  two  years  and  was  then  made  Professor  of 
Natural  Sciences,  and  served  in  this  capacit}- 
for  one  year  to  the  end  of  the  college  year  in 
1875,  when  he  accepted  a  position  as  teacher  in 
the  Columbus  High  School,  where  he  still  is. 

6.  Elias  Fraunfelter,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.  He  was 
educated  at  Vermillion  Institute,  at  Hayesville, 
Ohio,  and  was  for  a  number  of  ^ears  instructor 
in  Mathematics  and  English  in  that  school.  In 
1866,  he  was  made  co-Principal  of  Savannah 
Academ}',  and  Instructor  in  Mathematics,  Nat- 
ural Science  and  Modern  Languages.  He  was 
called  to  the  collage  as  Professor  of  Civil  En- 
gineering at  the  opening  of  the  second  year  in 
1874.  The  next  year  he  was  made  Professor 
of  Mathematics  (his  chair  being  made  to  include 
the  instruction  in  Engineering)  in  which  posi- 
tion he  still  remains  completing  this  year 
(1881)  his  twent3'-first  year  of  service  as  an  in- 
structor. 

7.  Sarah  M.  Glazier,  A.  M.  She  graduated 
from  Vassar  College,  and  immediately  accepted 
a  call  to  the  Chair  of  Natural  Science  in  1874. 
After  serving  in  this  capacit}'  for  one  year,  she 
accepted  a  call  to  a  chair  in  Welleslev  College. 

8.  Charles  M.  Knight,  A.  M.  After  grad- 
uating from  Tuft's  College  he  took  the  Chair  of 
Natural  Science  in  1876,  which  he  still  holds. 

9.  I.  B.  Chote,  A.  M.  He  was  called  to  the 
Chair  of  Ancient  Languages  in  1876,  which  he 
occupied  until  the  close  of  the  college  year  in 
1878.     He  is  at  present  studying  in  Harvard. 

10.  G.  H.  G.  McGrew.  He  graduated  from 
Harvard  and  occupied  the  Chair  of  Modern  Lan- 
guages during  the  absence  of  Prof  Kolbe  in 
1878. 

11.  Rev.  George  A.  Peckham,  A.  M.  He 
graduated  from  the  college  in  the  class  of  1875, 
and  was  made  a  Tutor  in  Ancient  Languages 
and  Mathematics  in  1876,  which  position  he 
held  for  two  years.  After  an  absence  of  one 
year,  as  Pastor  of  a  Disciples'  Church,  he  was 
called  to  the  Chair  of  Ancient  Languages, 
which  position  he  filled  until  1880,  when  he  ac- 


cepted a  call  to  the  Chair  of  Mathematics  in 
Hiram  College. 

12.  Benjamin  T.  Jones,  A.  M.  He  was  ed- 
ucated at  Bethany  College,  where  he  was  after- 
ward for  some  years  instructor  in  Ancient 
Languages.  He  was  for  a  number  of  years 
Superintendent  of  Public  Schools  in  Millers- 
burg  and  Ashland.  In  1880,  he  accepted  a  call 
to  the  Chair  of  Rhetoric  and  English  Litei-a- 
ture,  and  was  the  next  year  transferred  to  that 
of  Ancient  Languages,  of  which  he  is  still  the 
incumbent. 

13.  Miss  Maria  Parsons.  She  graduated 
from  Putnam  Seminary  in  1857,  in  which  in- 
stitution she  afterward  taught  two  3'ears.  She 
has  been  employed  for  some  twent}-  3'ears  in 
the  high  schools  of  Zanesville,  Mansfield  and 
Akron,  in  which  last  she  was  Principal  for 
seven  years.  In  the  fall  of  1880,  she  accepted 
a  call  to  the  Chair  of  English  Literature  in  the 
college. 

14.  H.  D.  Persons  was,  during  the  first  year, 
a  Professor  in  the  Preparator}-  Department  and 
afterward  entered  the  profession  of  journalism 
in  Union  City,  Penn. 

15.  Miss  Hattie  L.  Lowdon.  She  was  teacher 
of  English  in  the  Preparatory  Department  dur- 
ing the  first  year. 

16.  Wallace  Mayo,  A.  M.  He  graduated 
from  Tuft's  College,  Boston,  Mass.,  in  1873, 
and  accepted  a  call  to  the  Preparatory  Depart- 
ment, as  instructor  in  Latin,  Greek  and  other 
branches,  in  1874.  He  continued  until  1876, 
when  he  left  and  went  into  business  in  Akron. 

16.  Miss  Mary  E.  Stockman,  L.  A.  She  was 
called  from  a  chair  in  Westbrook  Seminary, 
Maine,  in  1874,  as  teacher  of  Latin  and  En- 
glish in  the  Preparatory  Department,  and  con- 
tinued until  1876,  when  she  was  called  to  a 
position  in  the  Akron  High  School,  which  she 
still  holds. 

17.  Miss  Susan  E.  Chamberlain,  M.  S.  She 
is  a  gi'aduate  of  the  college,  in   the  Class  of 

1873,  and  was  appointed  teacher  in  English,  in 

1874,  in  the  Preparatory  Department.  In  1879, 
she  was  made  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  the 
same  department,  and,  in  1881,  she  was  en- 
gaged as  a  teacher  of  English  branches. 

18.  Miss  Jennie  Gifllbrd.  She  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Normal  School  at  Lebanon,  Ohio.     In 

1875,  she  was  engaged  as  instructor  in  English 
branches  in  the  Preparatory  Department,  and 
was  made  Principal  of  that  department  and 


4 


398 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Professor  of  Science  and  Normal  Studies,  whicii 
position  she  still  holds. 

19.  Miss  Mary  B.  Jewett,  A.  B.  She  grad- 
uated from  the  College  in  the  Class  of  1876, 
and  was  appointed  tutor  in  Latin  in  the  Pre- 
parator}'  Department,  in  which  position  she 
remained  until  1878,  when  she  accepted  a  call 
to  a  chair  in  Hiram  College,  where  she  still  re- 
mains. 

•20.  William  D.  Shipman,  A.  M.  He  gradu- 
ated from  the  college  in  1877,  and  became  Pro- 
fessor of  Ancient  Languages  in  the  Preparatory 
Department  in  1878,  which  position  he  still  oc- 
cupies. 

21.  Miss  Lizzie  N.  Slade,  A.  M.  (now  Mrs. 
E.  F.  Voris)  was  a  graduate  of  the  college  in 
the  Class  of  1877,  and  became  a  tutor  in  the 
Preparatory  Department  during  the  3'ear  1878. 

22.  Inez  L.  Shipman,  M.  S.  She  graduated 
from  the  college  in  1876,  and,  in  1878,  was 
made  a  tutor  in  the  Preparatory  Department, 
in  which  position  she  remained  only  during 
that  year. 

23.  James  H.  Aydelott,  B.  S.  He  graduated 
from  the  Normal  School  in  Lebanon  in  1878, 
and  became  tutor  in  Mathematics  in  the  Pre- 
parator}-  Department  in  1879,  entering,  at  the 
same  time,  the  Junior  Class,  and  graduating 
with  the  same.  In  1881,  he  was  made  Pro- 
fessor of  Mathematics  in  the  Preparatory  De- 
partment, which  position  he  still  holds. 

24.  Gustavus  Sigel  was  made  Professor  of 
Music  at  the  opening  of  the  college,  and  held 
the  position  until  1879. 

25.  Mrs.  K.  L.  Rexford  was  made  Director 
of  Music  in  1879,  and  held  the  position  until 
the  close  of  the  college  year  of  1880. 

26.  Arthur  S.  Kimball,  a  graduate  of  the 
Boston  Conservator}'  of  Music,  was  made 
teacher  of  Vocal  Culture  and  Harmon}'  in  1881 . 

27.  Miss  Ella  H.  Morrison,  a  graduate  of 
the  Musical  Department  of  the  Ohio  Wesleyan 
College,  was  appointed  as  teacher  of  instru- 
mental music  in  1881. 

Buchtel  College,  it  will  be  seen,  is  yet  com- 
paratively a  young  institution.  It  has,  how- 
ever, enjoyed  a  large  share  of  patronage,  and 
is  now  thoroughl}'  organized  and  equipped  for 
complete  college  work.  Its  courses  of  study 
are  equal  to  those  of  the  oldest  institutions  in 
the  State,  and  it  has  all  the  usual  apparatus 
and  appliances  for  instruction  in  its  several 
departments.     Among  its  present   Faculty   it 


reckons  instructors  of  large  experience,  ripe 
scholarship  and  rare  skill  in  teaching  and  dis- 
cipline. Its  aim  is  thoroughness  and  exact 
knowledge,  which  it  seeks  to  secure  by  requir- 
ing faithful  application  and  conscientious  work 
of  all  its  students.  The  results  of  its  training 
already  appear  in  many  of  its  graduates,  who 
are  rising  young  men  in  several  of  the  profes- 
sions. The  authorities  insist  on  a  strict  classi- 
fication, and  aim  to  encourage  and  promote  the 
class  spirit — the  esprit  de  corps — -in  all  the 
classes,  believing  that  in  this  wa}'  alone  can  the 
permanent  success  of  a  college  be  secured, 
though  it  ma}'  sometimes  lead  through  diffi- 
culties, and  require  the  sacrifice  of  such  stu- 
dents as  are  destitute  of  strength  and  resolute 
purpose.  No  student  is  allowed  to  graduate 
who  has  not  faithfully  completed  the  course 
whicli  he  has  chosen. 

The  college  is  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Universalist  Church,  but  is  not  sectarian  in  its 
teaching,  nor  does  it  attempt  in  any  way  to 
exert  upon  its  students  a  doctrinal  influence. 
It  aims  to  maintain  a  high  standard  of  morals, 
and  insists  on  dignified,  refined  and  genteel  de- 
portment on  the  part  of  all  under  its  control. 
Devotional  exercises,  conducted  by  some  mem- 
ber of  the  Faculty,  are  held  in  the  assembly 
room  at  the  opening  of  every  day  on  which 
college  work  is  done,  and  students  are  required 
to  attend  every  Sunday  the  church  of  their 
choice,  or  that  which  may  be  designated  by 
their  parents  or  guardians.  No  excuses  from 
attendance  at  church  are  granted  to  minors, 
except  on  request  of  parents  or  guardians. 

Special  facilities  are  offered  by  the  excellent 
courses  in  the  Preparatory  Department  for 
Normal  work,  and  many  young  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen intending  to  follow  the  pi'ofession  of 
teaching  in  the  common  and  high  schools  here, 
pursue  the  studies  preparatory  to  that  work. 
The  Principal  of  that  department  is  a  graduate 
of  a  normal  school,  and  has  had  a  large  expe- 
rience in  training  teachers. 

The  study  of  ornamental  branches  has  been 
provided  for,  and  especial  attention  is  given  to 
vocal  culture  and  instrumental  music.  In- 
structors in  these  departments  are  permanently 
connected  with  the  college,  and  pianos  are  fur- 
nished for  practice. 

The  property  of  the  college,  including  build- 
ing, grounds,  philosophical  and  chemical  appar- 
atus, furniture,  etc.,  cost  originally  about  $175,- 


i^ 


MIDDLEBURY    TOWNSHIP. 


399 


000.  It  has  two  endowments  of  $25,000  each 
given,  one  by  Mrs.  L.  A.  E.  Messenger,  in  mem- 
ory of  her  deceased  hushand.  Rev.  George 
Messenger,  and  one  bj'  John  H.  Hilton,  of 
Akron.  There  are  also  two  endowments  of 
$20,000  each,  one  of  which  was  given  by  the 
women  of  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  to  endow  a 
Woman's  professorship.  Of  this  amount,  $10,- 
000  were  given  by  Mrs.  Chloe  Pierce,  of  Sharps- 
ville,  Penn.,  and  the  professorship  has  been 
called  by  her  name.  The  other  was  endowed 
by  J.  R.  Buchtel,  in  the  name  of  his  wife,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Buchtel.  There  are  thirty  scholarships 
of  $1,000  each,  of  which  those  already  pro- 
ductive are  paying  six  per  cent  per  annum.  Of 
these,  two  were  endowed  by  residents  of  Summit 
County — John  K.  Smith  and  Mrs.  John  H. 
Hilton. 

The  students  have  organized  three  literary 
societies — the  Bryant  and  Everett,  composed 
of  gentlemen,  and  the  Cary,  composed  of  ladies. 
They  all  have  well-furnished  halls,  and  two  of 
them  have  already  made  a  good  beginning  in 
the  accumulation  of  libraries. 

The  Greek-letter  societies,  or  inter-collegiate 
fraternities  are  represented  by  two  chapters. 

Buchtel  College  is  named  after  its  most  muni- 


ficent benefactor  and  real  founder,  Hon.  John 
R.  Buchtel.  It  will  appear  from  his  biography, 
which  is  given  in  another  part  of  this  volume, 
that  he  has  devoted  himself  to  the  college  with 
singular  consecration  from  its  foundation  to  the 
present  time.  He  has  come  to  its  assistance  in 
every  time  of  need,  and  has  already  bestowed 
upon  it  more  than  $75,000.  To  its  maintenance 
and  endowment  he  has  consecrated  his  tireless 
energy  and  his  whole  fortune. 

Among  those  who  were  active  and  prominent 
in  the  foundation  of  the  college,  and  in  its  di- 
rection down  to  the  present  time,  are  deserving 
of  especial  mention  Rev.  George  Messenger, 
whose  counsel  was  of  great  value  amidst  the 
difficulties  attending  its  establishment ;  Rev.  J. 
S.  Cantwell,  whose  services  as  editor  of  the 
Star  in  West  were  unremitting  in  its  behalf,  and 
who  has  often  spoken  for  it  with  great  effect  in 
public  assemblies  ;  S.  M.  Burnham,  for  many 
years  its  Secretary  ;  Aver}^  Spicer,  Hon.  N.  D. 
Tibbals,  E.  P.  Green,  Gen.  A.  C.  Voris,  Joy  H. 
Pendleton,  F.  Schumacher,  Henry  Blondy, 
George  T.  Perkins,  James  Pierce,  and  Rev.  E. 
L.  Rexford,  D.  D.,  active  and  efficient  member  of 
its  Board  of  Trustees,  Executive  Committee 
and  Committee  on  Teachers. 


CHAPTER    XII.* 


MIDDLEBURY  TOWNSHIP— FOUNDING  OF  THE   VILLAGE— EARLY  INDUSTRIES— CHARCOAL  MANU. 
FACTURE— NAMES  OF  EARLY  SETTLERS— INCORPORATION— FORMATION  OF  TOWN- 
SHIP—ANNEXATION TO  AKRON  — EDUCATION  AND  RELIGION. 


"O,  Country!  rich  in  sturdy  toil, 

In  all  that  makes  a  people  great; 
We  hail  thee,  queen  of  Buckeye  soil, 

And  fling  our  challenge  to  the  State, 
We  hail  thee,  queen,  whose  beauty  won 

Our  fathers  in  their  golden  years; 
A  shout  for  greater  days  begun, 

A  sigh  for  sleeping  pioneers." 

THE  American  people  are  becoming  fa- 
mous for  their  love  of  celebrities. 
In  opposition  to  the  democratic  theory  of 
human  equality,  they  have  become  genuine 
hero-worshipers,  and  usually  select  their  idols 
from  the  nobler  specimens  of  the  race. 
They  are  not  particular  whether  the  per- 
son be  dead  or  in  the  full  vigor  of  life.  So 
strong  has  become  this  sentiment,  that  the  mind 

*  Contributed  by  W.  A.  Goodspeed. 


is  unsatisfied  with  homel}^  realities,  but  seeks 
faultless  conceptions  that  lie  within  the  magic 
circle  of  inspiration.  Imagination  comes  for- 
ward and  decks  the  images  with  the  flowering 
attributes  of  nobility.  The  location  of  the  be- 
ing worshiped,  in  point  of  time,  depends  upon 
the  age  of  the  devotee,  his  moral  and  intellect- 
ual temperament,  and  the  natural  elevation  of 
his  soul.  The  path  which  men  pursue  in  life, 
the  dark  waves  they  struggle  to  repel,  the  placid 
waters  the}'  endeavor  to  traverse,  and  their  tem- 
poral happiness,  depends  almost  whoU}-  upon 
surrounding  circumstances.  To  the  war-like, 
the  names  of  Alexander  and  Napoleon  will  be 
fresh  in  the  memorj-  forever.  Musicians  bow 
in  adoration  at  the  gi'ave  of  Mozart.  Poets 
burst  into  songs  of  inspiration  over  the  gothic 


*^^ 


400 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


bard  of  Avon.  Philosophers  view  with  wonder 
the  logic  of  Bacon  and  Aristotle.  Astronomers 
are  astonished  at  the  discoveries  of  Newton  and 
Laplace.  Artists  stand  entranced  before  the 
sublime  paintings  of  Raphael  or  Angelo.  The 
past  is  filled  with  venerated  beings,  many 
of  whom  had  no  just  claims  of  pre-eminence. 
The  uutrod  paths  of  future  years  are  partially 
explored  bj*  the  feeble  light  of  existing  human 
experience  ;  the  present  is  illumed  by  the  daz- 
zling genius  of  the  progressive  man  ;  and  the 
past,  is  seen  in  spectral  relief  through  the  many 
sided  prism  of  the  soul.  The  distance  that 
lends  enchantment  to  the  view  of  the  past,  hides 
a  cold  sterility.  Ideality  takes  the  limpid  clay 
of  beings  long  since  returned  to  dust,  re-creates 
it  in  the  image  of  divinitj',  and  breathes  into  it 
the  breath  of  life.  Contemptible  creatures  are 
lifted  from  among  the  undeserving,  and  crowned 
with  the  bright  flowers  of  unearned  greatness 
and  eternal  remembrance.  Beings  with  tran- 
scendent virtues  pass  into  obscurit}-  and  forget- 
fulness.  The  faculty  of  the  human  mind  to 
venerate  the  dead,  had  its  origin  in  the  general 
results  of  evolution.  It  began  in  its  lowest 
type  in  primitive  and  barbarous  man,  and  as  it 
steadily  developed,  mortals  were  deified  and 
gods  created.  Ancestral  worship  is  universal, 
and  has  been  from  time  immemorial.  The  vir- 
tues or  vices  of  the  dead,  as  one  or  the  other 
preponderates,  are  magnified  by  the  passage  of 
time,  thus  leading  inevitably  to  hero-worship. 
The  demand  for  such  a  sentiment,  and  its 
steady  and  rapid  growth  when  begun,  have  re- 
sulted in  its  universal  development  in  man,  and 
have  changed  the  whole  current  of  his  life.  De- 
votion to  God  is  the  highest  type  of  hero-wor- 
ship. Devotion  to  ancestors  is  second  in  degree 
of  reverence,  while  the  great  beings  of  the  pres- 
ent and  the  shadowy  ones  of  the  future,  afford 
perhaps  the  lowest  degree.  The  fact  that  history 
is  but  a  record  of  the  lives  of  men,  and  the 
relation  of  those  lives  to  the  plastic  forms  of 
social  and  political  being,  renders  such  a  study 
of  vast  interest  to  mankind, '  in  view  of  the 
statement  that  in  the  past  are  found  the  greater 
number  of  those  heroes  who  are  venerated  by 
the  race.  Where  is  the  youth  who  is  not  told 
to  imitate  the  virtues  of  some  person  long  since 
dead  ?  The  existence  of  near  relationship  mul- 
tiplies the  loyalty  of  the  race  to  the  departed 
ancestors.  How  tenderly  we  cherish  the  mem- 
ory of  a  parent  or  other  dear  friend,  who  has 


been  laid  at  rest  in  the  silent  grave.  Histor}- 
is  the  record  of  our  hopes,  ambitions,  experi- 
ences, thoughts,  deeds  and  accomplishments, 
and,  consequently,  is  the  most  important  study 
in  the  curriculum. 

But  the  historian  has  wandered  far  from  the 
topic  before  him,  and  must  retrace  his  steps.  So 
far  as  Middlebury  has  contributed  to  the  history 
of  Summit  County,  appropriate  and  ample  credit 
will  be  given.  That  it  has  played  the  part  of  a 
star  actor  in  the  drama  of  the  county,  becomes 
evident  to  those  who  will  take  the  pains  to  ex- 
amine the  memorials  of  its  rise  and  progress. 
It  was  at  the  height  of  its  power  and  prosperity 
when  Akron  was  first  founded  ;  and  at  that 
time  was  one  of  the  most  important  trading- 
points  in  Northeastern  Ohio.  Much  of  its  early 
history  was  never  recorded,  and  the  fact  that 
all  the  early  settlers  are  dead,  transports  the 
subject  to  the  province  of  conjecture.  An  at- 
tempt, however,  has  been  made  to  gather  the 
prominent  events  of  early  years,  with  what 
fidelity  the  reader  is  required  to  determine.  A 
citizen,  well  known  to  the  people  of  the  county,* 
writes  as  follows  :  "  The  founder  of  this  village 
was  Capt.  Joseph  Hart.  In  1807,  he  purchased 
fifty-four  acres  of  land,  including  the  site  now 
occupied  by  the  village,  moved  on  the  farm  thus 
selected,  and  commenced  erecting  a  mill.  He 
soon  after  sold  one-half  of  his  purchase  to  Aaron 
Norton,  and  the  two  in  company  finished  the 
erection  of  the  mill."  The  building  was  a  one- 
storied  affair,  with  one  run  of  stone,  a  large  tub 
wheel,  and,  from  the  fact  that  the  Little  Cuj^a- 
hoga,  upon  which  the  mill  was  located,  con- 
tained three  times  as  much  water  as  at  present, 
it  was  capable  of  operating  the  entire  3'ear. 
Near  the  spot  where  it  was  built,  was  a  natural 
fall  in  the  stream,  of  about  ten  feet.  Instead 
of  endeavoring  to  utilize  this  fine  power,  the 
owners  of  the  mill  had  built  a  strong  dam  about 
five  rods  below  it,  and,  at  this  point,  on  one  side 
of  the  stream,  was  the  log  grist-mill,  and,  on 
the  opposite  side,  a  saw-mill,  which  was  built 
soon  afterward.  Why  the  owners  did  not  take 
advantage  of  the  natural  fall  of  water  is  difficult 
to  determine.  The  labor  would  have  been 
greater,  the  dam  much  more  insecure,  and  the 
cost  multiplied,  had  they  done  otherwise  than 
they  did.  At  least,  these  reasons  seem  to  have 
been  in  their  minds  when  they  selected  the  mill- 
site  below  the  fall.     A  splendid  custom  work 


*  Gen.  L.  V.  Bierce. 


^< 


.^ 


MIDDLEBURY    TOWNSHIP. 


401 


was  immediatel}'  secured,  and  the  mill  continued 
to  be,  until  the  building  of  the  canal,  the  most 
valuable  mechanical  enterprise  in  the  county. 
Settlers  came  for  flour  to  this  mill  thirty  and 
forty  miles,  and  the  Middlebury  Mills  became 
famous.  No  merchant  work  was  done,  as,  on 
account  of  the  enormous  cost  of  transportation, 
it  was  impossible  to  compete  with  those  mills 
near  the  consumer.  The  mill  was  a  godsend 
to  all  the  settlers  for  miles  around,  and  was  the 
cornei*-stone  of  the  Middlebur}-  of  sixty  years 
ago.  After  a  few  years,  Mr.  Hart  died,  and  his 
interest  went  to  his  heirs.  His  son,  William  J. 
Hart,  afterward  a  prominent  man  at  Middle- 
bur}',  controlled  this  interest  until  about  the 
3'ear  1818,  when  the  settlement  of  the  father's 
estate  having  been  perfected,  the  son  became 
the  owner  of  one-half  interest  in  the  mill.  At 
this  time,  about  1818,  the  old  mill  was  torn 
down,  and  a  new  three-storied  frame,  30x40  feet, 
was  erected  a  short  distance  above  it.  Two  run 
of  stone  were  emplo3'ed,  and  the  vast  custom 
trade  was  renewed.  At  the  death  of  Judge 
Norton,  the  nature  of  the  mill  was  altered.  The 
saw-mill  was  operated  successfully  until  the 
time  when  the  new  grist-mill  was  built,  and  was 
then  removed. 

It  should  be  noticed  that  at  this  time  Mid- 
dlebury did  not  exist  as  it  does  now.  Four 
townships  centered  at  that  point,  and  the  vil- 
lage had  not  been  laid  out.  Heavy  forests 
covered  the  land,  and  stumps  and  trees  could 
be  seen  in  all  directions.  In  about  the  year 
1810,  John  and  Samuel  Preston,  then  living  in 
Tallmadge,  purchased  a  small  portion  of  the 
land  belonging  to  Mr.  Hart,  and  erected  there- 
on a  small  frame  building,  in  which  was  placed 
machiner}'  for  carding  wool  and  fulling  cloth. 
The  machinery  was  simple,  and  the  work  was 
done  largely  by  hand.  Few  sheep  were  in  the 
country  at  that  period,  but  a  few  j'ears  later 
the  carding-mill  had  all  the  custom  woi'k  it 
could  do.  Wool  was  brought  to  the  mill  to  be 
carded,  after  which  it  was  taken  to  the  cabins 
to  be  spun  and  woven  into  cloth,  and  then 
returned  to  the  mill  to  be  fulled  and  perhaps 
dressed.  The  fulling,  dressing  and  coloring 
were  done  by  hand.  These  men  continued 
their  enterprise  until  about  the  year  1820, 
when  Bagley  &  Humphrey  assumed  control, 
and  increased  the  scope  of  the  mill.  They 
purchased  machinery  for  weaving,  and  em- 
plo3'ed  a  first-class  weaver  of  satinet.     They 


manufactured  considerable  cloth,  which  was 
mostly  used  at  home.  Some  five  or  six  hands 
were  employed.  Mr.  Almon  Brown  remem- 
bers that  he  purchased  a  suit  of  inferior 
broadcloth  for  the  consideration  of  a  barrel  of 
whisk\'  and  $2. 

One  of  the  industries  in  early  years  was  a 
"  furnace,"  erected  by  Laird  &  Norton.  Con- 
sidering the  meager  population  in  the  county 
at  that  time,  the  magnitude  of  this  undertak- 
ing was  gigantic.  More  than  sixt}'  employes 
were  connected  with  it  in  one  way  or  the 
other.  The  ore  was  obtained  in  Springfield, 
Copley,  Northampton  and  other  townships,  and 
consisted  of  two  kinds — bog-iron  ore  and  kid- 
ney ore  or  stone  ore.  Large  quantities  of  the 
latter  were  hauled  by  men  with  teams  and 
unloaded  at  the  furnace.  Here  it  was  first 
burned  on  log  heaps,  under  which  process  it 
crumbled  into  lumps  about  as  large  as  a  wal- 
nut. It  was  then  ready  for  the  melting  pro- 
cess. As  soon  as  the  molten  ore  was  read}^ 
it  was  ladled  into  moldings,  and  there  received 
its  permanent  shape.  Man}'  large  cast-iron 
kettles  were  made,  some  of  them  containing  a 
hundred  gallons.  These  were  sold  to  the 
settlers,  and  used  in  the  manufacture  of  pot- 
ash, of  which  enormous  quantities  were  pre- 
pared in  the  backwoods  in  early  years.  Smaller 
kettles  for  culinary  and  domestic  purposes 
were  also  made.  Flat-irons,  andirons,  chim- 
ney jambs  and  other  useful  articles  were  also 
provided.  One  of  the  chief  articles  manu- 
factured was  stoves.  These  were  known  as 
box  stoves,  or  ten-plate  stoves.  Ten  distinct 
iron  plates  were  cast  with  holes  at  the  coi'- 
ners,  and  these  were  fastened  together  with 
iron  rods,  and  sold  to  the  settlers.  They  were 
looked  upon  as  the  perfection  of  inventive 
skill.  A  house  containing  one  of  these,  instead 
of  the  old  fire-place,  was  supposed  to  be  with- 
out a  care  in  the  world,  and  its  inmates  were 
regarded  as  the  happiest  of  mortals.  The  fuel 
used  in  this  furnace  was  almost  wholly  char- 
coal. A  score  or  more  of  men  were  em- 
ployed to  chop  the  surrounding  forests  into 
cord-wood,  and  experienced  colliers  were  given 
control  of  the  subsequent  proceedings.  Under 
their  direction  the  cord-wood  was  placed  in 
great  bowl-like  heaps,  often  containing  100 
cords,  after  which  the  whole  was  covered  with 
several  inches  of  leaves  raked  up  in  the  forest. 
This  being  done,  the  entire  heap  was  covered 


Pv 


jy. 


402 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


with  some  five  inches  of  earth,  the  leaves  serv- 
ing to  prevent  the  dirt  from  falling  down  be- 
tween the  wood.  In  the  center  of  the  heap,  a 
small  opening  was  left,  with  which  air-holes 
communicated.  Here,  material  was  left  that 
fired  the  kiln  after  its  erection  was  completed. 
The  fire  having  been  lighted,  the  blaze  slowly 
ate  its  way  through  the  heap  of  wood,  under 
the  guidance  of  the  collier,  who  seemed  to  know 
just  where  it  was  burning  and  how  rapidly. 
Care  was  necessary  to  prevent  the  fire  from 
consuming  the  wood,  instead  of  charring  it  as 
desired.  A  few  small  air-holes,  changed  as  the 
charring  progressed,  were  carefully  guarded  ; 
and  when,  in  the  judgment  of  the  collier,  the 
process  was  completed,  all  the  air-holes  were 
closed,  and  in  a  short  time  the  charcoal  was 
ready  to  be  taken  from  the  kiln.  Mr.  Beards- 
lee,  who  worked  in  the  furnace  for  a  number 
of  3'ears,  says,  that  a  pi'emium  of  a  gallon  of 
whisky  was  promised  the  collier  for  each  stick 
of  charred  cord-wood  he  could  produce  un- 
broken. Sometimes  several  were  found,  in 
which  case  the  liquor  was  provided  and  enjoyed. 
The  kiln  was  first  opened  on  the  lower  edge, 
and,  as  the  wood  was  yet  a  mass  of  glowing- 
coals,  the  fire  had  to  be  smothered  before  the 
charcoal  could  be  loaded  into  wagons  and  taken 
to  the  furnace.  This  smothering  was  done  by 
means  of  the  covering  of  earth,  but  air  must 
be  kept  from  the  interior,  as  otherwise  the  wood 
would  be  wholly  consumed  and  the  kiln  a  total 
loss.  It  occasionally  happened  that,  either  from 
the  structure  of  the  kiln  or  its  subsequent  man- 
agement, the  wood  and  labor  were  lost  in  the 
manner  stated.  A  novice  would  he  unable  to 
tell  when  the  burning  was  finished,  and  when 
the  fire  should  be  smothered  out.  Not  so  the 
collier.  He  could  tell  from  several  signs,  the 
chief  one  being  the  settling  of  the  covering  of 
earth.  The  owners  of  the  furnace  employed, 
as  stated  above,  some  sixty  hands  in  the  vari- 
ous departments  of  mining  and  hauling  the  ore, 
melting  it,  and  from  the  molten  mass  manufact- 
uring the  desii'ed  article,  and  cutting  the  cord- 
wood  and  burning  the  kilns  and  hauling  the 
charcoal.  This  industry  alone  would  have 
founded  a  village  around  it,  as  the  greater 
number  of  the  employes  had  wives  and  fam- 
ilies, who  lived  in  the  village.  Some  twelve  or 
fifteen  families  lived  at  the  village  in  1812,  and 
six  or  eight  years  later  it  had  a  population  of 
between  two  and  three  hundred.     Just  before 


Akron  sprang  into  existence  with  its  gigantic 
manufacturing  interests,  the  population  of  Mid- 
dlebur^'  was  almost  or  quite  four  hundred,  and 
if  the  emphatic  statements  of  the  early  settlers 
are  to  be  believed,  there  were  no  idlers  nor 
loafers. 

x\nother  early  and  important  industry  was  a 
nail-factory,  begun  and  conducted  by  the  Sum- 
ner brothers.  The  enterprise  was  begun  in 
1820,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  "com- 
bined rolling-mill  and  nail-factory "  in  Ohio. 
From  three  to  five  hundred  pounds  of  nails 
were  manufactured  daily.  The  heavy  iron  was 
taken,  and,  by  repeated  rollings,  given  the  de- 
sired thickness  ;  then,  by  means  of  suitable 
machiner}^  run  by  water-power,  the  plates  were 
cut  into  rough  nails,  and  the  heading  and  point- 
ing process  was  done  entirely  b}'  hand,  the 
"header"'  being  able  to  prepare  about  one  hun- 
dred pounds  per  day.  The  iron  was  largely 
obtained  from  New  York,  Philadelphia  and 
other  Eastern  cities,  and  was  transported  to  the 
village  at  the  enormous  cost  of  12^  cents  per 
pound.  This  was  the  cost  of  transportation 
alone ;  four,  six,  eight  and  tenpenny  nails 
were  manufactured,  and,  on  account  of  the 
scanty  supply  of  ready  money,  the  nails, 
kettles  and  other  articles  manufactured  in 
the  village  became  almost  a  legal  tender. 
These  products  were  exchanged  for  farm  prod- 
uce, and  many  a  promissory  note  was  given, 
payable  in  nails,  kettles  or  agricultural  prod- 
ucts. The  fuel  used  in  the  nail  factory  was 
charcoal,  and  many  men  were  employed  in  this 
branch  of  the  business.  A  forge  was  built  on 
the  stream,  some  distance  below  the  village. 
The  furnace,  nail-factory  and  forge,  it  is  said, 
were  capable  of  consuming  from  four  hundred 
to  eight  hundred  bushels  of  charcoal  per  day. 
This  fitly  illustrates  the  enormous  quantity  of 
charcoal  prepared.  It  was  not  long  before  the 
heavy  woods,  for  several  miles  around,  were 
leveled  with  the  earth  and  used  in  the  manner 
stated.  This  accounts  for  the  denuded  condi- 
tion of  the  surrounding  country.  The  nails 
were  sold  for  about  25  cents  per  pound,  and 
the  enterprise  was  continued  until  about  the 
year  1828,  and  then  abandoned.  About  this 
time  Heine  &  Sherman  owned  and  conducted  a 
small  furnace.  They  likewise  made  considera- 
ble potash.  All  the  establishments  having  run- 
ning machinery  were  operated  by  water-power, 
most  of  them  having  large  overshot  wheels.    It 


^ 


MIDDJ.EBURY    TOWNSHIP. 


403 


was  also  about  this  time  that  a  small  machine- 
shop  was  erected  by  Nathan  Gillett,  Jr.,  at 
which  cards  for  the  woolen-mills  were  manu- 
factured, besides  other  mechanical  articles. 

When  the  furnace  was  closed  in  about  1828, 
Dr.  Crosb}'  l)egan  manufacturing  cast-iron 
plows  on  a  small  scale  ;  but  soon  afterward 
sold  out  to  Daniel  Stewart,  who  enlarged  the 
scope  of  the  enterprise.  The  plow  was  "  Wood's 
Patent, "  and  man}'  were  manufactured  and  sold 
throughout  the  surrounding  countr}'.  A  Mr. 
(xraham  opened  a  distillery  at  a  spring  a  short 
distance  east  of  the  grist-mill.  This  was  about 
1811,  and  terminated  in  1815.  Considerable 
liquor  was  manufactured.  Mr.  Gillett  also  con- 
ducted an  establishment  of  the  same  nature, 
beginning  in  about  1817.  It  was  continued  in 
operation  a  few  j-ears,  and  manufactured  whisk}' 
at  the  rate  of  about  eight  gallons  per  day.  All 
this  found  a  speedy  home  consumption,  selling 
at  from  15  to  25  cents  per  gallon,  largely  in 
trade.  During  all  these  years,  whisky  was  im- 
bibed b}^  everybody,  and  the  most  respectable 
people  were  often  engaged  in  the  mauufacture 
that  is  looked  upon  with  so  much  disfavor  at 
present.  It  is  stated  that  all  the  leading  mer- 
chants at  Middlebui'y,  in  early  years,  kept  a  keg 
of  whisky  on  their  counters,  at  all  times,  for 
the  free  indulgence  of  customei'S.  A  tavern 
without  a  bar-room  was  a  novelty  that  met 
with  comment  and  criticism,  if  it  did  not  meet 
with  studious  avoidance  from  the  traveling 
public.  In  truth,  taverns  of  this  character 
were  compelled  to  suspend  business  from  a  lack 
of  patronage.  Abstainers  were  careful  not  to 
adopt  the  occupation  of  hotel-keeping.  Samuel 
Newton  erected  a  large  hotel  in  about  1817,  and 
continued  to  entertain  the  public  for  many 
years.  His  old  building  was  burned  down  but 
a  short  time  since.  He,  on  one  occasion,  bought 
twentj'-five  barrels  of  whisky  of  a  man  in  the 
Miami  Valle}^,  who  was  compelled  to  sell,  pay- 
ing 16  cents  per  gallon,  and  finding  a  I'eady 
disposal  for  the  whole. 

An  early  writer  has  this  to  say  of  Middle- 
bury  :  "From  1815  to  1828,  business  of  all 
kinds  increased,  and  the  village  became  the 
center  of  trade  and  fashion  for  all  the  sur- 
rounding country.  It  seemed  destined  to  be- 
come the  leading  town  on  the  Reserve.  As 
Akron  had  no  habitation,  not  even  a  name, 
Middlebury  became  the  resort  of  the  enterpris- 
ing and  business  men,  who  were  bidders  and  con- 


tractors on  the  Ohio  Canal.  So  great  was  the 
business  at  that  time  (about  1825),  that  there 
were  no  less  than  sixteen  stores  in  the  village, 
and  all  doing  a  good  business.  Mills,  factories, 
and  mechanical  shops  sprang  into  existence  as 
if  by  magic.  On  the  location  of  the  canal, 
Akron  sprang  up  with  its  immense  water-power, 
and,  for  a  time,  entirely  overshadowed  Middle- 
bury.  Several  of  the  early  friends  of  the  village 
died.  Othei's  looking  to  immediate  effects, 
became  discouraged,  and  with  their  capital,  left 
the  place.  The  factories  closed,  the  grinding 
ceased,  the  thronged  streets  were  transferred 
to  Akron,  and  the  epitaph  of  Carthage  was 
almost  inscribed  on  her  monument.  The  friends 
of  Middlebury  then  discovered  that  prosperity 
did  not  lie  in  speculation  nor  fashion,  but  in 
industry  and  enterprise.  Mechanical  estab- 
lishments began  to  increase,  and  the  valuable 
water-power  was  improved.  A  company  was 
incorporated  by  the  Legislature  of  Ohio,  called 
the  Middlebury  Hydraulic  Company,  and  au- 
thorized to  raise  the  natural  sui'face  of  Spring- 
field Lake,  in  which  the  Little  Cuyahoga  had  its 
rise,  six  feet,  and  lower  it  four  feet  below 
the  natural  surface.  This  gave  to  the  water- 
power  of  the  village  a  permanency  and  suffi- 
ciency that  could  at  all  times  be  relied  on." 
Aaron  Norton,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  vill- 
age, did  a  great  deal  in  earl}'  years  to  improve  it. 
The  same  writer  continues,  "  AVhile  the  Judge 
was  upon  the  bench,  a  fellow  who  had  been  em- 
ployed in  the  Middlebury  Mills  was  indicted 
and  tried  for  stealing  a  log-chain.  His  defense 
was  former  good  character,  to  sustain  which 
he  called  on  the  Judge  who  swore  his  character 
was  about  as  good  as  that  of  millers  in  general. 
After  the  adjournment  of  court,  Gen.  Wood- 
ward, of  Franklin,  who  was  a  miller  took  Nor- 
ton to  task  for  what  he  called  an  impeachment 
of  the  character  of  the  millers.  '  I  was  bound,' 
said  Norton,  '  to  swear  to  the  truth.  I  believe 
his  character  for  honesty  is  as  good  as  millers 
in  general,  but  I  believe  he  stole  the  log-chain.'  " 
The  first  tavern  was  opened  by  Peleg  Mason. 
In  about  the  year  1815,  this  man  brought  a 
small  stock  of  goods  to  the  village.  About 
three  years  later,  Orriu  Pitkin  began  with  a 
stock.  Several  others  came  in  within  the  next 
two  years.  By  1 825,  ten  years  after  the  first  store 
was  opened,  there  were,  as  stated  above,  sixteen 
stores  in  the  village.  Among  the  more  prom- 
inent were  H.  &  H.  A.  Howard,  dry  goods,  gro- 


1^ 


404 


HISTORY  OF   SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


ceries,  hardware,  crocker}',  glassware,  stone  and 
hollow-ware,  tinware,  drugs,  medicines,  surgical 
instruments,  etc.;  Hiram  Johnson  &  Co.,  the 
same.  (These  firms  bought  all  sorts  of  produce, 
flour,  pork,  whisky,  pot  and  pearl  ash,  giving  in 
exchange  their  goods  or  paying  their  mone}-.) 
McClure  Brothers,  general  assortment ;  John 
McMillan,  ditto  ;  Kent  &  Oviatt,  ditto  ;  McNor- 
ton  &  Cleveland,  ditto.  Besides  these  there  were 
H.  Briggs,  boots  and  shoes  ;  James  Ross,  soap 
and  candle  factory  ;  M.  Johnson,  druggist  and 
physician  ;  H.  Loveland,  attorney  at  law  ;  G.  F. 
Norton,  ditto  ;  Barlow  &  Allen,  wool-carding  and 
cloth-dressing  ;  William  Bell,  saddles,  harness 
and  bridles  ;  L.  Chatfield,  fancy  and  dining 
chair  factory  ;  Hard  &  Sumner,  wool-carding 
and  cloth-dressing  ;  H.  Rhodes,  tavern  keeper  ; 
G.  Powers,  Jr.,  attorney  at  law  ;  McNaughton 
&  Cleveland,  tanners  ;  Mrs.  L.  Wheeler,  mil- 
liner ;  Phineas  Pettis,  plow  manufactory  ;  John 
McMillan,  grain  buyer ;  Zenas  Chase,  boot  and 
shoe  maker  ;  Alva  R.  Chapman,  painter  ;  B.  A. 
Allyn,  cabinet-maker  ;  Payne  &  Squire,  distil- 
lers at  Old  Forge ;  Linus  Potter,  tailor ; 
Humphrey  &  Kirkum,  attorneys  at  law  ;  John 
&  Legrand  Hanford,  hat  manufacturers  ;  Ed. 
Sumner,  tavern  keeper  ;  McNorton  &  Cleve- 
land, grain  bu3'ers  ;  Erastus  Tarre}',  ditto  ;  Daniel 
Crist,  boot  and  shoe  maker ;  and  a  multitude 
of  others,  in  for  a  short  time  at  various  pur- 
suits. 

A  Masonic  lodge  was  organized  in  about  the 
year  1822.  It  was  known  as  "Middlebury 
Lodge,  No.  34."  It  participated  in  the  cere- 
monies of  the  laj'ing  of  the  corner  stone  of  the 
first  college  building  erected  at  Hudson.  A 
post  office  was  secured  at  an  early  day,  and 
soon  a  tri-weekly  mail  was  obtained.  Hem- 
perly  &  Sumner  ran  stages  between  Middlebur}- 
and  the  villages  of  Cleveland,  Canton  and 
Wooster.  While  the  canal  was  in  process  of 
construction,  large  quantities  of  flour,  pork 
and  produce  were  purchased,  to  be  consumed 
b}'  the  laborers.  When  the  canal  was  opened 
in  1827,  several  companies  of  men  began  buying 
enormous  quantities  of  grain  preparatory  to 
being  shipped  away  when  the  canal  was  opened. 
But  the  greater  portion  of  this  business  died 
out,  when  Akron  sprang  full-fledged  into  life. 
There  was  a  company  of  firemen  organized  at 
Middlebury  in  an  early  day.  From  the  fiict 
that  McMillan  &  Dodge  were  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  "  brake  engines,"  the  value  of  a 


fire  organization  was  rendered  at  once  easy  and 
desirable.  According  to  the  statements  of 
Julius  A.  Sumner,  a  "  bucket  company  "  was  also 
organized.  Whether  these  firemen  had  much 
work  to  do  is  not  recorded.  The  Sumner 
Brothers  engaged  quite  extensivel}'  in  buying 
and  shipping  cattle  and  horses.  Julius  Sumner 
sa3's  he  crossed  the  mountains  eight  times 
while  engaged  in  this  business.  Oxen  were 
purchased  for  about  |40  a  yoke,  and  three-year- 
old  steers  for  some  $10  or  $12  a  head.  The 
brothers  rode  all  over  the  country,  buying  100 
or  150  cattle,  which  were  driven  to  Philadel- 
phia or  New  York.  Mr.  Sumner  sa^'s  he  made 
$500  on  his  first  drove,  and  continued  the  occu- 
pation until  over  a  thousand  cattle  had  been 
thus  purchased  and  disposed  of  A  few  droves 
of  horses  were  also  bought  and  driven  to  New 
York,  whence  they  were  shipped  mostl}'  to  the 
West  Indies,  to  be  used  on  the  large  sugar 
plantations. 

An  independent  rifle  compan}-  was  organized 
in  Tallmadge  during  the  war  of  1812,  many  of 
its  members  residing  in  what  is  now  Middle- 
bury, a  considerable  portion  of  which  belonged 
to  the  former  township.  It  was  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  Rial  McArthur.  The  fol- 
lowing correspondence  between  the  citizens  and 
Gen.  Wadsworth  is  intei'esting.  as  showing  the 
exposed  situation  of  the  country  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war  of  1812  : 

To  THE  Hon.  Maj.  Gen.  Elijah  Wadsworth,  Esq.  : 
Sir:  We,  your  petitioners,  humbly  pray  that 
you  will  take  into  consideration  the  defenseless 
condition  we  are  in;  therefore,  we  pray  your 
Honor  to  issue  orders  for  Capt.  Rial  McArthur's 
Independent  Company  and  the  Fourth  Company  of 
the  Independent  Battalion.  Fourth  Brigade  and 
Fourth  Division  of  Ohio  Militia,  commanded  by 
Capt.  Sanuiel  Hale,  to  be  retained  for  public  safety, 
as  we  are  on  the  frontier  ;  that  said  companies  be 
drilled  one  day  in  each  week,  and  hold  themselves 
in  constant  readiness  in  case  of  an  attack  to  march 
at  a  moment's  warning.  Those  families  that  were 
to  the  west  of  us  have  moved  into  the  settlement, 
and  we  are  left  on  the  frontier  ;  therefore,  we,  j^our 
petitioners,  wish  you  to  take  this  into  considera- 
tion, and  act  as  in  yoiu'  wisdom  you  shall  see  fit, 
(Signed) 


Philander  Adams, 
Jesse  Neal, 
Charles  Chittenden, 
Henry  Chittenden, 
Elizur  Wright, 
John  Wright, 

Peter  Norton. 
Springfield,  July  13,  1812 


Nathaniel  Chapman, 
Aaron  Norton, 
David  Preston, 
Amos  Spicer, 
Hosea  Wilcox, 
Jonathan  Sprague, 


•^s- 


■.^ 


MIDDLEBURY    TOWNSHIP. 


405 


"k* 


This  communication  proves  that  the  citizens 
in  the  vicinity  of  Middlebury  were  thoroughly 
aroused  to  the  fact  of  their  exposed  situation  ; 
but  subsequent  events  proved  that  their  fears 
were  almost  wholly  groundless.  It  may  be 
supposed  that  the  following  letter  afforded 
universal  satisfaction  : 

Capt.  Rial  McArthur  : 

Sir:  You  doubtless  are  sensible  of  the  critical 
situation  of  our  country  at  this  time.  War  being 
declared  by  the  United  States  against  Great  Britain, 
it  becomes  necessary,  as  we  have  become  the  front- 
ier, for  the  ■whole  body  of  the  militia  to  be  in  per- 
fect readiness  to  meet  the  enemy  ;  and,  sir,  yours 
being  an  independent  company,  I  place  great  confi- 
dence in  your  ability  and  activity  in  l)eing  ready 
with  your  company  to  march  and  meet  the  enemy 
of  your  country  at  a  moment's  w^arning.  You  will, 
therefore,  please  to  order  your  company  to  meet  at 
any  place  you  may  think  proper  and  convenient, 
one  day  in  each  week,  and  in  the  most  perfect  man- 
ner possible.  See  that  every  man  furnishes  himself 
with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  other  necessary 
accouterments  for  actual  service.  You  will  please 
to  inform  me  after  the  first  meeting  of  your  com- 
pany of  their  actual  situation, 

Elijah  Wadsworth, 
Maj.  Ge/i.  Fourth  Division  Ohio  Militia. 

Soon  after  this  correspondence  was  held,  the 
Independent  Rifle  Company  was  ordered,  first 
to  Cleveland,  and  afterward  to  Old  Portage, 
the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Wadsworth,  and, 
finally,  to  the  camp  of  Gen.  Simon  Perkins,  a 
temporary  post  on  the  Huron  River.  They 
returned  during  the  spring  of  1813,  after  a 
short,  bloodless,  though  arduous,  service  in  the 
field.  There  were  forty-eight  men  in  the  com- 
pany, as  follows  : 

Captain^Rial  McArthur, 

Lievitenant — Wiley  Hamilton. 

Ensign — Charles  Powers. 

Sergeants — Alpha  Wright,  Justus  Barnes,  Daniel 
Kennedy,  Samuel  Clieney. 

Corporals  —  Edmund  Strong,  Shubael  Lowery, 
Jolin  Campbell,  Justin  E.  Frink. 

Drummer — Stephen  Butler, 

Fifer— Ara  Gillett. 

Privates — Philander  Adams,  Samuel  Allyn,  Sam- 
uel Atkins,  Christian  Cackler,  Jr.,  Titus  Chapman, 
Nathaniel  Darrow,  Liverton  Dickson,  Thomas 
Ellett.  David  Ellett,  Samuel  Fogger,  Jesse  Neal, 
Asa  Draper,  David  Powers,  Samuel  Preston,  Lot 
Preston,  David  Prior,  Amos  Spicer,  Jr,,  Joseph 
Towsley,  Jonathan  Williams,  Abner  Green,  James 
Thompson,  Henry  King,  Elisha  Perkins,  John  S. 
Preston,  Norman  Sackett,  John  Wright,  Jr.,  Eph- 
raim  Clark,  Jr.,  Aaron  Norton,  Joshua  King, 
James  Bradley,  John  Collins,  Drake  Fellows. 
Henry  Bierce,  John  Castle,  David  Preston,  Jr. 


When  the  above  company  was  first  ordered 
into  the  service,  it  comprised  but  forty-four 
men,  several  of  whose  names  do  not  appear 
above,  and  were  as  follows  :  Luman  Bishop, 
Charles  King,  Stephen  Perkins  and  William 
Prior.  The  following  men  were  not  members 
of  the  company  during  the  first  enlistment: 
Samuel  Atkins,  Asa  Draper,  David  Prior,  Jona- 
than Williams,  Abner  Green,  James  Thompson, 
Ephraim  Clark,  Jr.,  Aaron  Norton  and  Joshua 
King.  This  company  first  volunteered,  and 
were  ordered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  for  the  protection  of  the  frontiers,  on 
the  22d  of  August,  1812.  Their  first  term  of 
service  ended  February  22,  1813.  Although 
the  company  was  then  out  of  service,  it  did  not 
disband,  but  kept  drilling  about  once  a 
week. 

On  the  17th  of  April,  1813,  Gov.  R.  J.  Meigs 
wrote  to  Gen.  Wadsworth,  advising  him  that 
"The  Fort  at  the  rapids  of  the  Miami  (Fort 
Meigs)  is  threatened  with  an  attack  from 
British  and  Indians,"  and  ordering  him  im- 
mediately to  detach  "  one  flank  company  to 
strengthen  the  post  at  Lower  Sandusk}',  as  the 
post  at  the  rapids  is,  I  fear,  too  weak."  In 
pursuance  of  this  order,  Gen.  Wadsworth,  on 
the  20th  of  April,  1813,  ordered  Capt.  Mc Ar- 
thur's company  to  march  to  Lower  Sandusky 
immediately,  and  to  take  with  them  five  or  six 
days'  provisions,  or  a  sufficient  allowance  to 
take  them  to  that  place.  Gen.  Wadsworth  says 
in  his  order,  "  You  will  be  shortl}'  relieved,  as 
a  large  number  of  troops  are  on  their  march  to 
re-enforce  that  army."  This  was  the  company 
whose  names  appear  at  length  above.  It  will 
be  noticed  that  many  members  of  the  company 
lived  at  old  Middlebury.  Immediately  after 
the  surrender  of  Detroit  by  Gen.  Hull,  in 
August,  1812,  Gen.  Wadsworth  was  ordered  to 
organize  a  brigade  of  1,500  men.  To  eflect 
this,  volunteers  were  called  for,  and,  finally,  the 
General  was  obliged  to  resort  to  a  draft.  The 
company  above  mentioned,  with  one  or  two 
exceptions,  volunteered.  Among  the  drafted 
were  Reuben  Upson.  John  Caruthers,  Norman 
Sackett,  Moses  Bradford,  Ara  Gillett  and  Joth- 
am  Blakeslee.  Old  Portage  was  the  head- 
quarters of  these  forces,  and  became  celebrated 
on  that  account.  In  later  3-ears,  Col.  John  C. 
Hart  organized  a  regiment  of  cavalry  militia 
at  Middlebury  and  the  surrounding  countrj'. 
It  will  be  observed  that  almost  all  the  members 


A^ 


406 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


of  Capt.  McArthur's  company  lived  in  what  is 
now  Summit  County. 

It  is  now  necessaiy  to  go  back  and  notice 
other  matters  relating  to  the  earh'  history  of 
Middlebur^'.  The  village  comprises  land  for- 
merly belonging  to  the  townships  of  Tallmadge, 
Springfield,  Coventry  and  Portage.  Some  of 
the  first  owners  of  the  Middlebury  land  were 
Capt.  Joseph  Hart,  Aaron  Norton,  Liverton 
Dickson,  William  Neil  and  Ara  Gillett,  in  Tall- 
madge ;  Peter  Norton,  Rial  McArthur  and 
others,  in  Springfield  ;  Amos  Spicer  and  Jesse 
Allen,  in  ('oventr^- ;  and  Amos  Spicer,  Jr.,  in 
Portage. 

During  all  the  early  history  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  for  eleven  years  after  the  comple- 
tion of  the  canal,  the  electors  residing  in  the 
village  met  to  poll  their  votes  in  their  respect- 
ive townships — the  four  mentioned  above.  The 
original  village  was  in  the  southwestern  corner 
of  Tallmadge  ;  but,  as  it  gradually  enlarged, 
portions  of  the  other  three  townships  were  occu- 
pied, after  being  surveyed  into  lots.  Among  the 
early  residents  of  what  afterward  became  Mid- 
dlebury, were  the  following,  although  this  is 
neither  a  complete  nor  a  perfect  list :  Capt. 
Joseph  Hart,  Judge  Aaron  Norton,  Rial  McAr- 
thur, Liverton  Dickson,  Samuel  and  John  Pres- 
ton, Amos  Spicer,  Sr.  and  Jr.,  Ara  (lillett,  Peter 
Norton,  William  Neil,  Barney  Williams,  Mr. 
Graham,  William  J.  Hart,  George  Siiucox,  Peleg 
Mason,  Orrin  Pitkin,  John  McMillan,  Elijah 
Mason,  Mr.  Hazen,  Thomas  Sumner  and  his 
sons,  Charles,  Holland,  Joseph,  John,  Increase, 
Edward  and  Julius  A.,  the  latter  yet  living  at 
Akron  ;  Nathan  Gillett,  probably  the  first  Post- 
master, and  many  others.  The  village  was  first 
regularly  laid  out  into  lots,  and  probabl}-  re- 
corded at  Ravenna,  in  1818,  by  William  J. 
Hart.  That  portion  of  the  village  known  as  W, 
was  probably  the  first  laid  out,  as  it  is  recorded 
in  Book  F,  at  Ravenna  ;  while  E  and  S  are  re- 
corded in  Books  S  and  K,  respectively.  It  is 
likely  that  over  fift}'  lots  were  laid  out  by  Mr. 
Hart,  to  which  additions  were  made  as  the  rapid 
growth  of  the  village  required.  The  "  boom  " 
at  the  time  of  the  building  of  the  canal  no 
doubt  vastly  increased  the  number  of  lots,  as  it 
did  the  number  of  buildings  of  all  kinds. 

It  is  likely  that  the  village  was  incorporated 
b}'  a  special  law  of  the  Ohio  Legislature, 
enacted  during  the  session  of  1837-38,  as  the 
following,  quoted  from  the  Middlebury  records, 


would  seem  to  imply,  if  it  does  not  explicitly 
state  : 

At  a  meetiug  of  the  (lualified  flcctors  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Middleliury,  held  in  said  vilhige  on  the  first 
Tuesday  in  May,  A.  D.,  1838,  agreeable  to  an  act  to 
incorporate  the  village  of  ]\Iiddleliury,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  electing  officers  of  said  corporation.  Roan 
Clark,  Henry  Chittenden  and  William  L.  Clark  were 
chosen  Judges,  and  Tlieron  A.  Noble  was  chosen 
Clerk  of  said  election,  whereupon,  the  following 
officers  were  elected:  Henry  Chittenden,  President 
of  the  Council;  Theron  A.  Noble,  Recorder;  Ros- 
well  Kent,  Jesse  Neal,  Gregory  Powers,  Thadeus  H. 
Botsford  and  Harry  Pardee,  Trustees. 

(Signed)  T.  A.  Noble,  Recorder. 

These  officers  were  immediately  qualified,  and 
entered  upon  the  discharge  of  their  several 
duties.  The  following  committees  were  then 
appointed  :  T.  A.  Noble  and  Gregory  Powers, 
on  bj'-laws  ;  and  R.  Kent,  Jesse  Neal,  Harry 
Pardee  and  T.  H.  Botsford,  on  appointments. 
At  a  session,  May  6,  1838,  the  "  set  of  rules  for 
the  regulation  of  the  Council  "  was  unanimously 
adopted ;  also,  Smith  Burton  was  appointed 
Marshal ;  Roswell  Kent  and  T.  H.  Botsford, 
Committee  on  Streets,  Highways  and  Nuisances ; 
Jesse  Newland,  Harry  Pardee,  Committee  on 
Revenue  and  Expenditure  ;  and  Gregory  Powers 
and  T.  A.  Noble,  Committee  on  By-Laws  and 
Ordinances.  Soon  afterward,  John  H.  McMil- 
lan was  appointed  Treasurer  ;  Daniel  McNaugh- 
ton,  Assessor  ;  and  William  L.  Clark,  Surveyor. 
The  records  reveal  the  fact  that  the  Council  be- 
gan at  this  time  to  make  a  vigorous  attack  upon 
all  nuisances,  and  passed  several  stringent  ordi- 
nances looking  to  the  abatement  of  the  same. 
On  the  21st  of  July,  1838,  it  was  enacted  by 
the  Council  ''  That  the  Chief  Warden  be  author- 
ized to  procure  a  suitable  number  of  hooks  and 
ladders  at  the  expense  of  the  corporation,  to  be 
made  and  finished  as  he  may  direct,  to  be  used 
in  cases  of  fire  and  not  otherwise."  The  five 
fire  wardens  appointed  a  short  time  before  were 
Ambrose  Cotter,  Daniel  McNaughton,  Samuel 
Newton,  Harry  Pardee  and  John  Johns.  In 
1843.  Philpot  and  Camp  were  permitted  to  build 
a  horse  railroad  through  certain  streets  of  the 
village,  the  road  to  be  used  for  the  passage  of 
coal  obtained  in  Springfield.  In  1845,  the  first 
stone  bridge  over  the  Little  Cuyahoga  was  con- 
structed, under  the  contract  of  Increase  Sumner, 
who  erected  the  stone  work  for  $1.74  per  perch, 
the  whole  cost  amounting  to  $578.55.  So  far 
as  can  be  learned,  the  village  electors  voted  in 
their  respective  townships  until  the  act  of  incor- 


3 


t* 


MIDDLEBURY    TOWNSHIP. 


407 


poratiou  was  passed  ;  after  which,  the  village, 
having  been  constituted  an  election  district, 
the}'  met  there  to  poll  their  votes.  The  follow- 
ing is  quoted  from  the  records  of  November, 
1846  :  "  The  Council  did  not  meet  at  the  office 
of  the  President  in  Sherman's  building  accord- 
ing to  adjournment,  because  the  President  was 
out  of  town  on  business,  with  the  ke^'  in  his 
pocket.  (Signed)  George  W.  McMillan,  Re- 
corder." The  second  stone  bridge  was  built  in 
1847,  by  Abraham  Rhodes,  at  a  cost  of  $350. 
The  total  cost  was,  however,  much  greater  than 
that  amount.  The  inference  from  the  following, 
taken  from  the  records  of  1849,  is,  that  the  sani- 
tar}'  regulations  of  the  village  were  inoperative 
or  neglected  :  "  Resolved,  That  $10  be  appro- 
priated for  the  use  of  the  Marshal  in  procuring 
Jifti/  bushels  of  hme,  as  required  b}'  the  ordinance 
relating  to  nuisances."  It  is  also  to  be  inferred 
that  the  desired  results  were  not  secured  ;  for 
two  months  later,  it  was  "  Resolved,  That  each 
member  of  this  Council  be  appointed  a  special 
committee  to  examine  and  report  what  is  neces- 
sary for  a  thorough  cleansing  of  this  town,  and 
to  report  at  the  next  meeting."  The  records  of 
a  few  succeeding  meetings,  show  active  work  in 
the  right  direction  on  the  part  of  the  select 
committees. 

Early  in  1857,  the  citizens  of  Middlebury 
petitioned  the  Count}^  Commissioners  as  fol- 
lows :  "  The  undersigned  householders  residing 
in  Middlebury,  in  said  county,  respectfully  pe- 
tition your  honorable  body  to  erect  and  set  otf 
a  new  township,  to  be  composed  of  the  terri- 
tory' embraced  within  the  corporate  limits  of 
the  village  of  Middlebury,  in  the  county  afore- 
said." This  petition  was  signed  b}'  eighty-four 
householders  of  the  village.  Attached  to  the 
petition  was  "  The  undersigned.  Trustees  of  the 
townships  interested  in  the  formation  of  a  new 
township,  as  proposed  in  the  above  petition, 
hereby  give  our  consent  that  the  said  new  town- 
shij)  ma}'  be  erected  and  set  off  in  accordance 
with  the  prayer  of  said  petition,  to  be  composed 
of  the  territory  embraced  within  the  corporate 
limits  of  Middlebury."  This  was  signed  by  a 
majority  of  the  Trustees  of  each  township.  The 
County  Commissionei'S,  at  the  March  session  of 
1857,  proceeded  as  follows  :  "  The  Commission- 
ers, being  satisfied  that  the  majority  of  the 
householders  residing  in  the  village  of  Middle- 
bury had  signed  the  petition,  and  that  the  eon- 
sent  of  a  majority  of  the  Trustees  of  the  sev- 


eral townships  affected  by  the  creation  of  the 
new  township  had  been  obtained,  and  that  the 
necessary  legal  notices  had  been  given,  Oi-- 
dered.  That  the  territory  comprised  within  the 
corporate  village  of  Middlebury  be  set  off  from 
the  townships  of  Coventry,  Portage,  Springfield 
and  Tallmadge,  and  be  hereafter  known  as  the 
township  of  Middlebury."  Notices  were  also 
issued  by  the  Commissioners  for  the  qualified 
electors  of  the  new  township  to  meet  at  the 
town  hall  in  Middlebury,  on  the  first  Monday 
in  April,  1857,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  town- 
ship officers.  Thus  the  village  remained  until 
the  spring  of  1872,  when  the  question  of  its  an- 
nexation to  the  city  of  Akron,  as  the  Sixth 
Ward,  was  submitted  to  the  electors  in  both 
towns  with  the  following  result :  Votes  in 
Akron — for  annexation,  1,042  ;  against  annexa- 
tion, 16.  Votes  in  Middlebury ^for  annexa- 
tion, 140  ;  against  annexation,  26.  The  neces- 
sary number  of  affirmative  votes  having  been 
secured,  each  town  elected  a  committee  to  con- 
fer with  that  of  the  other  town,  to  unite  on  the 
terms  of  annexation.  These  terms  are  too  vol- 
uminous to  be  quoted  here,  yet  it  ma}'  be  said 
that  both  towns  will  be  benefited,  in  the  end, 
by  the  annexation.  The  later  history  of  Mid- 
dlebury will  be  found  in  another  chapter. 

The  first  schoolhouse  in  Middlebury  was 
erected  near  the  site  of  the  present  one,  in 
about  the  year  1811.  It  was  a  small  one-sto- 
ried frame,  20x25  feet,  with  a  broad  fire-place 
in  one  end.  The  first  teacher  is  not  remem- 
bered ;  but,  in  1813-14  and  181^15,  J.  P. 
Skinner,  from  near  Ravenna,  taught.  This  man 
was  a  skillful  disciplinarian  and  a  competent 
instructor.  He  received  his  pay  by  subscrip- 
tion, at  the  rate  of  some  $12  or  $15  per  month. 
The  three  R"s  were  largely  dwelt  on,  and  woe 
unto  the  scholar  with  a  neglected  lesson.  Whis- 
pering was  prohibited,  and,  in  case  the  rule  was 
violated,  dire  and  summary  correction  was  sure 
to  follow.  The  old-time  school-teachers  were 
very  strict  about  their  rules.  They  usually 
succeeded  in  creating  an  understanding  among 
their  scholars  that  the  violation  of  a  rule  of  the 
school  was  an  unpardonable  offense,  and  it  was 
often  amusing  to  see  how  the  guilty  one  lan- 
guished. Sometimes  young  men  were  severely 
feruled,  and  more  than  one  school  has  terminat- 
ed in  a  promiscuous  fight.  One  day  Mr.  Skin- 
ner, annoyed  from  having  so  much  laughter  in 
the  room,  made  a  rule  that  the  first  one  that 


408 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


laughed  out  should  take  the  ferule  and  hand  it 
to  the  next  one  that  laughed  out,  who  was  to 
do  likewise,  and  so  on,  and  the  scholar  having 
the  ferule  when  school  was  dismissed,  should 
be  feruled  by  the  teacher.  A  short  time  after- 
ward some  one  laughed,  whereupon  the  teacher 
handed  him  the  ferule,  of  which  he  must  get 
rid,  or  he  would  be  punished  when  school 
closed.  It  passed  through  several  hands,  and 
finally'  went  to  Ira  Dixon.  The  rule  was,  by 
this  time  working  altogether  too  well  to  suit 
the  teacher.  He,  therefore,  announced  that  the 
next  one  who  laughed  should  ferule  Dixon, 
and  the  latter  should  ferule  him.  Almon 
Brown  and  Ira  Dixon  were  great  friends, 
and,  when  the  former  saw  that  the  latter  was 
in  for  sure  punishment,  his  mirth  knew  no 
bounds.  He  endeavored  to  repress  the  tide, 
and  his  efforts  resulted  in  volcanic  peals  of 
laughter.  That  instantly  precipitated  events, 
and  the  teacher  told  the  boys  they  must  ferule 
one  another.  This  each  one  did,  laying  it  on 
with  a  gusto  not  at  all  appi-eciated  by  the  other. 
By  this  time,  the  gravity  of  the  whole  school 
was  seriousl}'  affected.  Mutterings  were  heard 
here  and  there,  and  at  last  a  3'oung  man  named 
Denison  Williams  burst  into  a  roar  of  laugh- 
ter. He  was  feruled  by  the  teacher,  greatly 
to'  his  mortification,  and  then  the  rule  that 
had  pla3'ed  so  much  mischief  was  declared 
annulled.  Such  scenes  often  transpired  in 
the  early  schools,  and  even  in  later  ones. 
There  were  fifty-nine  scholars  enrolled  dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1814-15,  at  which  time 
the  above  funny,  though  serious,  event  oc- 
curred.     This   schoolhouse  was  used,  summer 


and  winter,  until  1828,  when  J.  A.  Sumner  and 
others  were  employed  to  construct  what  is 
known  in  history  as  the  "Old  Brick."  Both 
of  these  houses  were  used  for  school,  church, 
town  and  other  purposes.  In  1826,  Mr.  I.  N. 
Mason  taught  a  "select  grammar  school"  in 
the  village.  Other  terms  were  subsequently 
taught.  In  1853,  the  old  brick  schoolhouse  was 
purchased  by  the  Village  Council  for  $255,  and 
converted  into  a  town  hall,  to  which  use  it  was 
devoted  for  many  years.  It  is  likely  that  the 
present  school  building  was  erected  about  the 
same  time,  although  nothing  is  before  the  wri- 
ter of  this  chapter  proving  that  to  have  been 
the  case. 

From  the  fact  that  Tallmadge  was  blessed 
with  good  churches,  and  that  many  of  the  early 
residents  of  Middlebury  belonged  to  these,  no 
efforts  looking  to  the  organization  of  religious 
societies  in  the  village  were  made  until  about 
the  3'ear  1830.  Many  of  the  villagers  were 
laborers  in  the  various  shops,  and  were  not 
professors  of  religion ;  while  the  few  who  were 
professors  preferred  going  to  Tallmadge  to 
church,  instead  of  sustaining  the  cost  of  erect- 
ing a  building  of  their  own.  However,  soon 
after  the  completion  of  the  Ohio  Canal,  several 
religious  societies  sprang  into  existence.  The 
Methodists  started  up  at  an  unknown  date. 
The  Presbyterians  put  up  their  church  in  De- 
cember, 1831,  and  the  Congregationalists,  in 
December,  1845.  Other  religious  organizations 
have  been  established,  and  Middlebury  is  now 
well  supplied  with  churches.  Many  other  in- 
teresting historical  events  in  the  village  will  be 
found  narrated  in  other  chapters. 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


409 


CHAPTER    XIII.* 

HUDSON    TOWNSHIP  — ITS    PRIMITIVE    ATTRACTIONS  — THE    FIRST    START    IN    THE    WOODS— -OF 

MOVING  ACCIDENTS  BY  FLOOD  AND  FIELD"— ON  THE  BORDER— THE 

EARLY    RESOUR'     .    OF    THE    SETTLERS. 


"The  sweet  remembrance  of  the  just, 
Like  a  green  root,  revives  and  bears, 
A  train  of  blessings  for  his  heirs, 
When  dying  nature  sleeps  in  dust." 

^'^O  form  a  correct  idea  of  the  early  history 
JL  of  the  Western  Reserve,  it  is  essential 
that  it  should  be  viewed  thi'ough  the  con- 
temporaneous history  of  the  parent  State. 
The  Pui'itan  colony  which  had  been  planted 
in  Connecticut  some  one  hundi'ed  and  sixty 
years  before,  had  grown  to  the  dignity  of  a 
State.  Its  primitive  customs,  involving  a  close 
union  of  Church  and  State,  had  gi'own  with  its 
gi'owth  until  the  chm'ch  militant  had  become 
the  chm'ch  triumphant  so  far  as  it  concerned 
municipal  governments  and  cormnunities.  Each 
tovni  had  its  ministerial  fund,  schools  were 
everywhere  provided,  and  a  patriotic  pride  in 
the  individuality  of  its  institutions  was  the 
dominant  influence  with  every  citizen  of  the 
State.  The  Puritan  of  the  last  centmy  was  no 
weakling  in  his  least  estate,  but  at  this  period 
he  was  at  the  summit  of  his  power.  Of  a 
robust  nature,  physically  and  mentally,  he 
handled  the  ponderous  themes  of  the  time  as 
the  mythological  deities  did  thunderbolts,  and 
in  the  lowest  condition  of  life  counted  himself 
"  a  hero  in  the  strife."  Thus  equipped,  he 
was  aggressive  in  every  fiber  of  his  being,  and 
pushed  his  conqviests  with  an  imperiousness 
that  abated  not  a  tittle  of  his  eai'thly  or  heav- 
enly heritage.  It  was  with  something  of  this 
spirit  that  the  State  maintained  her  right  to 
the  territory  embraced  by  the  provisions  of  her 
charter,  in  the  midst  of  conflicting^  claims  and 
the  overwhelming  opposition  of  non- claiming 
States.  But  when  at  last  in  the  interest  of 
harmony,  Connecticut  sun-endered  her  preten- 
sions, save  to  the  Reserve,  and  finally  relin- 
quished her  jm-isdiction  to  that,  she  had 
sun-endered   only   her    feeblest   power.     Her 

*  Contributed  by  J.  H.  Battle. 


conquering  spirit  laid  hold  of  its  civilization, 
and  in  the  hearts  of  its  citizens  she  rules  the 
Western  Reserve  to-day. 

The  early  settlement  of  the  Reserve  was  an 
effort  to  reproduce  in  this  Western  wild  the 
honored  institutions  of  the  motherland.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  the  golden  period  of 
the  Connecticut  churches,  a  period  marked  by 
revivals  of  religion  throughout  the  State,  dis- 
tinguished for  their  power,  purity  and  perma- 
nent influence,  gi'eatly  enlarging  the  chm-ches, 
improving  the  moi-als  of  society,  and  bringing 
the  people  of  the  State,  to  a  great  extent, 
under  the  control  of  religion."  It  was  just  at 
this  time  also  that  the  Connecticut  method  of 
"  missions  to  the  new  settlements  "  was  com- 
pleted, which  was  destined  to  play  so  impor- 
tant a  part  in  the  New  Connecticut;  and  these 
civilizing  influences  combined  to  leave  an 
impress  upon  the  plastic  civilization  of  the 
new  land  that  has  been  ciystallized  in  the  cult- 
m'e  of  to-day.  These  influences  were  early 
marked,  and  perhaps  nowhere  more  distinctly 
than  in  the  region  which  is  now  embraced  in 
Summit  County.  A  letter  from  the  Western 
Reserve  to  Eastern  friends  dated  1812,  reads 
as  follows:  "I  like  Tallmadge  better  on  sev- 
eral accounts  than  any  other  place  I  have 
seen.  The  settlers  in  this  toA\Ta  are  much  the 
most  respectable  of  any  on  the  Reserve.  There 
is  provision  made  for  the  pennanent  support 
of  preaching,  which  is  not  the  case  in  any 
other  town."  Another  letter  dated  from  Tall- 
madge in  the  same  year,  speaks  in  the  same 
strain:  "I  am  persuaded  that  if  any  of 
om'  fi'iends  tliiulv  of  going  to  a  new  country, 
they  will  find  none  that  they  will  be  so  well 
pleased  with,  either  on  account  of  the  quality 
of  the  land  or  of  the  society.  I  do  not  think 
there  is  in  the  State  of  Connecticut  a  society 
where  there  is  that  attention  paid  to  the  Sab- 
bath, and  to  religion  generally,  that  there  is 


^^ 


410 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


here.  There  are  very  few  who  do  not  attend 
meeting  regularly,  and  very  few  prayerless 
families."  There  is  no  question  but  that  the 
early  histoiy  of  Tallmadge  was  exceptional  in 
some  respects,  but  of  Hudson  it  was  scai'cely 
less  true.  Its  founder,  the  son  of  a  tailor  who 
taught  his  children  as  he  plied  his  trade,  grew 
up  to  advanced  manhood  embracing  skeptical 
notions.  Caught  by  the  sweeping  power  of 
the  chiur.h  movement  of  this  period  he  was 
converted,  and  with  the  characteristic  practi- 
cability of  the  Pm-itan  mind,  he  sought  an 
opportunity  to  prove  his  faith  in  work.  The 
missionary  spirit  that  had  begun  to  pervade 
the  religious  communities  of  his  native  State, 
and  the  recent  organization  of  the  gi'eat  Land 
Company,  prepared  the  way  which  he  adopted 
without  hesitation.  Zealous  in  his  new  found 
faith,  "  he  wished  to  do  something  to  repair 
the  injury  he  had  done,  and  to  advance,  to 
the  extent  of  his  ability,  the  interests  of  that 
cause  which  he  had  early  labored  to  destroy. 
These  were  the  views  that  led  him  to  emigrate. 
*  *  *  *  The  early  efforts  and  sacrifices 
of  the  men  who  came  to  Hudson,  show  that 
they  were  actuated  by  the  motives  I  have 
ascribed  to  them.  They  never  suffered  the 
Sabbath  to  pass  by  after  the  settlement  was 
commenced,  without  religious  worship;  and 
by  great  effort  and  great  pecuniary  expendi- 
ture, they  provided  for  the  enjoyment  of  relig- 
ious ordinances  among  themselves,  and  sought 
to  promote  the  progi-ess  of  religion  in  this 
part  of  our  country.  It  was  the  first  desire  of 
^Ir.  Hudson's  heart  to  see  the  day  when  a 
chm'ch  shou^ld  be  organized  within  the  town- 
ship, and  he  rejoiced  in  that  day.  The  next 
object  of  desire  was  that  this  chiu-ch  might 
enjoy  the  labors  of  a  settled  Pastor,  and  he 
lived  to  see  that  day  and  was  glad.  Then  it 
was  in  his  heart  to  see  a  house  erected  for  the 
worship  of  Grod,  and  that  he  saw  completed  to 
his  great  satisfaction.  'But,'  said  he,  'the 
college — the  college;  that  was  a  child  of  my 
old  age.  I  never  expected  to  live  to  see  that.' 
Yet  the  college  was  in  coincidence  with  his 
plans  and  with  his  missionary  spirit.  He 
spent  most  of  his  time  in  visiting  Clmstian 
families  in  all  parts  of  the  Reserve,  and  secur- 
ing the  organization  of  churches  and  it  was 
with  him  a  matter  of  painful   solicitude,  how 


the  infant  chm*ches  rising  up  on  the  Reserve 
were  to  be  supplied  with  able,  faithful  minis- 
ters, in  sufficient  numbers  to  meet  their  wants. 
The  college  came  in  as  the  appropriate  instru- 
ment to  supply  the  deficiency."* 

The  site  chosen  for  this  enterprise — Town- 
ship 4,  Range  10 — was  centrally  located  in  the 
land  company's  purchase,  and  contained  what 
has  since  proven  to  be  among  the  best  farm- 
ing lands  in  Summit  County.  It  was  laid 
down  in  the  original  survey,  however,  as  a 
swamp  township  and  was  "  equalized  "  by  the 
addition  of  10,000  acres,  situated  in  the  town- 
shi}>s  of  Norton  and  Chester.  West  of  the 
central  line  of  the  township  the  land  was  cov- 
ered by  an  almost  impassable  swamp,  which, 
filled  with  innumerable  springs,  gave  rise  to 
the  Brandy  wine  Creek,  flowing  in  a  northwest- 
erly course  to  the  Cuyahoga  River  and  Mud 
Brook,  flowing  neaily  due  south  in  Hudson 
but  fiu'ther  on  in  its  com'se,  taking  a  ciu've  to 
the  westward  finds  an  outlet  in  the  Cuya- 
hoga. A  branch  of  Mud  Brook  in  the  south- 
west part  of  the  township,  known  as  Powers' 
Brook,  and  Tinker's  Creek,  which  flows  in  a 
northerly  com'se  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
township,  crossing  back  and  forth  from  Hud- 
son to  Stratsboro,  completes  the  list  of  the 
more  important  water-courses  of  the  township. 
None  of  these,  however,  were  found  available 
in  the  first  years  of  the  settlement  for  such 
pioneer  industries  as  the  community  needed, 
save  the  latter  stream  for  a  short  period. 
Other  water-com-ses  were  foiuid  which  in  the 
changes  wrought  by  the  process  of  clearing 
and  tilling,  have  become  extinct  or  insignifi- 
cant, that  afforded  suitable  power  for  the  early 
attempts  at  milling  and  manufacturing.  The 
township  is  now  inhabited  by  a  purely  agri- 
cultm'al  community.  The  luxuriant  growth 
of  heavy  timber  which  once  covered  every 
acre,  has  largely  given  way  to  meadow-lands 
and  grain-fields,  save  where  each  farmer's 
woodland  gives  token  of  the  grandetu*  of 
"God's  first  temple."  The  soil  in  the  low- 
lauds  of  the  western  part  is  largely  a  black 
muck,  rich  but  saturated  with  moistiu'e  and 
liable  to  frost.  In  the  eastern  part  the  siu'f  ace 
is  more  rolling  with  a  soil  varying  from  a 
stiff,  stubborn  clay  to  a  clay  loam.     There  is 

*Address  by  Kev.  G.  E  Pierce,  I>.  D. 


;k* 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


411 


but  little  regularity  in  the  disposition  of  these 
varieties,  though  in  the  southern  and  north- 
eastei'n  parts  it  is  said  the  clay-loam  predom- 
inates. Eighty  years  of  tillage  has  wrought 
great  changes  in  the  character  of  the  soil,  and 
the  swampy  portion  of  the  early  township  has 
given  place  to  good  farms,  and  it  is  estimated 
that  not  over  one  thousand  two  hundred  acres 
of  low  wet  land  remains.  Water  is  every- 
where easily  accessible.  Springs  abound  in 
the  western  part,  while  in  other  portions  of 
the  township  there  is  no  special  difficulty 
experienced  in  securing  good  wells:  some 
artesian  wells,  however,  have  been  sunk.  The 
soil  is  the  chief  material  resource  of  the  town- 
ship, though  there  is  an  abundance  of  a  fair 
quality  of  sandstone  which  has  been  utilized 
in  the  constniction  of  the  foundations  of  the 
college  buildings,  most  of  the  residences,  rail- 
road culverts,  etc.  The  chief  objection  to  the 
stone  is  its  dark  color  and  its  lack  of  weather- 
ing qualities.  These  objections  would  proba 
bly  prove  no  serious  obstacle  to  its  general 
use,  if  the  more  desirable  stone  was  not  found 
in  the  near  vicinity  which  is  placed  upon  the 
ground  here  as  cheaply  as  the  product  of  the 
home  quarries  can  be  got  ready  for  transporta- 
tion. As  in  most  townships  of  the  Reserve, 
the  social  and  business  center  is  at  the  geo- 
graphical center  of  the  township.  An  early 
cluster  of  houses  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
township  on  the  central  road  has  given  name 
to  the  road,  and  across  the  line  in  the  adjoin- 
ing township  it  is  designated,  in  the  nomen- 
clature of  the  map,  Darrowville.  The  early 
jurisdiction  of  the  township  embraced  what  is 
now  known  as  the  towniships  of  Stow,  Boston, 
Twinsburg,  Aurora  and  Mantua,  besides  its 
own  territory.  As  the  settlement  increased  in 
these  tov^^lships  the  jurisdiction  of  Hudson 
became  limited  to  the  lines  of  the  original 
survey,  which  now  bou.nds  it  on  the  north  by 
Twinsburg,  east  by  Stratsboro,  in  Portage 
County,  south  by  Stow  and  west  by  Boston. 

The  original  purchasers  of  this  township 
with  its  annexes,  were  Nathaniel  Norton,  of 
Bloomfield,  N.  Y.,Birdseye  Norton  and  David 
Hudson,  of  Goshen.  Conn.  There  are  no 
means  now  of  ascertaining  the  arrangement 
between  these  partners  in  relation  to  this  pur- 
chase.    Nathaniel    Norton   was    a   well-to-do 


farmer  in  Bloomfield,  N.  Y.,  where  he  had 
come  as  an  early  settler ;  Birdseye  Norton  was 
a  wealthy  merchant  of  Goshen,  and  David 
Hudson  a  farmer  in  comfortable  circumstances, 
but  of  little  cash  capital.  From  such  evidence 
as  the  old  account  books  of  Mr.  Hudson  afford, 
it  is  probable  that  Birdseye  Norton  furnished 
one-half  of  the  capital  and  each  of  the  others 
contributing  a  fourth,  Mr.  Hudson  probably 
turning  in  his  Connecticut  farm  to  Mr.  Birds- 
eye  Norton.  The  land  was  purchased  at  52 
cents  per  acre,  but  with  the  equalizing  annexes 
the  average  cost  per  acre  was  reduced  to  34 
cents.  Nathaniel  Norton,  some  time  in  1S()1, 
disposed  of  his  share,  probably  to  Stephen 
Baldwin,  Benjamin  Oviatt  and  Theodore  Par- 
mele.  The  first  di-aft  of  the  Reserve  was 
made  in  1798.  and  earlv  in  the  following:  yeai'. 
Mr.  Hudson  started  out  to  explore  and  survey 
the  land  for  the  company  in  which  he  was  a 
partner.  His  preparations  for  his  new  advent- 
ui'e  were  carefully  made,  as  the  following 
exhibit  taken  from  an  old  account-book  shows : 

David  Hudson,  Birdskye  Norton  and  Nathan- 
iel Norton  to  Norton  &  Richardk,  Dr.  : 

May  11.  1799. 

£.       s.        d. 

By  2  sickles,  8s;  2  bells  ©  10s 1      8  00 

By  1  doz.  o-ardeu  seeds  (cc  Is  6d 16  00 

By  1  lb.  allspice,  4s;  2  hoes,  C«)  8s  6d 1       1  00 

By  1  grindstone,  wt.  62  lbs.,  fw  Id 1     16  2 

By  1  pail  fa  5s  6d;  7^  lbs  lead.  9s  4d.  .  .  .  12  10 

BV  1  comb.  Is  6d;  1  almanack.  Is 2  6 

Bv  1  ax,  12s;    1  gallon  bottle,  os 17  00 

By  1  bed-cord,  8s:  1  clothes-line.  6s 14  00 

By  9*  fts.  dried  venison, 7  1 

By  693  lbs.  pork 27    14  3 

By  25  lbs.  gammon  @  Is  4d 1     14  00 

By  1  carpenter's  adze 14  00 

Total £37    15     10 

Th(!  above  articles  were  bought  of  Thadeus  Ciia- 
pin. 

Mav  13,  1799: 

£.      s.      .1. 
To  4  lbs.  ginger  @  2s  8;  2  lbs.  tea  @  13s6d     1     15    00 
To  6  lbs.  chocolate  @  3s  6d;   to  81  lbs. 

cheese  (a-  Is 5      2    00 

To44  11)s,  chain  (fc  2s  4d;   to  1.V  ll)s.  of 

chalk  r«^  9d..... 5      4    00 

To  3  lbs.  powder  (a    10s:    to  3  lbs.   pep- 
per W  4s  8d ' 2       4    00 

To  281  lbs.  sugar  @  Is  Id:   to  50i  lbs. 

nails  (a  2s 20      5      5 

To  9^  lbs',  leather  («  2s  6d 1       3       9 

To  1  small  account  book 6    00 

To  1  quire  of  paper,  2s  6d;  1  draw-shave, 
5s  8d 8      2 


412 


HISTOKY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


£.  8.  d. 

To  8  narrow  axes  @  16s 6  8  00 

To  2  bells  @  17s 17  00 

To  1  plowshare,  50s  2d;  1  spider,  7s  6d. .     2  17  8 
To  2  hoes  @7s  14;  1  skimmer.  Is;  1  dip- 
per. Is  6d 16  6 

To  2  plane-irons  To)  Is  8d;  2  chisels  ((b  3s.  8  4 
To  1  chisel,  2s  6;  1  doz.  awls,  8d;  3  awl- 
hafts.  Is  6d 3  8 

To  1  spade,  lis;  3  gimlets.  Is  6d;  3  au- 
gers, 17s ,     19  6 

To  jacknives,  lis,  4d;  1  pincer.  Is  od.  ..  12  10 
To  i  doz.  fish-hooks,  3s;   1  line,  4s  (used 

as  chalk-line) 7  00 

To  1  saw,  18s;  2  set  teaspoons,  2s  4d 1  0  4 

To  1  carving-knife  and  fork,  6s  9d 6  9 

To  i  bushel  clover  seed 3  4  00 

To  12  bushels  oats  @  2s  6d 1  10  00 

To  1  bushel  and  i  peck  herd-grass  seed.     1  16  00 
To  1  bushel  peas,  10s;   2  sets  teacups,  5s 

8d 15  8 

To  1  razor,  6s;  razor-strop,  2s  6d 8  6 

To  1  shaving-box,  2s  lOd;  4  cakes  soap, 

lOd .'. 6  2 

To  3  barrels,  24s;  1  hammer,  4s 1  8  00 

To  5  first  blankets  @  32s 8  00  00 

To  3        do              («)  16s  8d 2  10  00 

To  4i  yards  tow-cloth  @  3s 13  6 

To  3  ax-helves  @  Is 3  00 

To  1  trowel,  4s;   1  hasp,  2s 6  00 

To  100  dollars  cash 40  00  00 

To  1  set  spoons,  3s;  2  knives.  Is  8d 4  8 

May  15,  1799: 

To  311  gallons  whisky  @  18s 12  14  00 

To  1  barrel 8  00 

Total £122  4  3 

On  the  same   date  Nathaniel  Norton  sup- 
plied the  following  items: 

1  set  harrow-teeth 5  1  4 

1  iron  kettle 3  4  00 

3  bushels  of  salt  @  10s;  1  barrel,  6s 1  16  00 

1  coflfee-pot,  agreed  at  3s 3  00 

90  lbs,  bread  (0)  3d 12  6 

1  hat ,  18  00 

2  yoke  oxen 46  8  00 

34'  bushels  wheat  @  8s 13  12  00 

2  yokes  and  bows,  irons,  etc 1  6  8 

1  cow,  20  dollars 8  00  00 

7  barrels®  4s 1  8  00 

2  barels  pork  @  18 14  8  00 

Transportation  to  Gerundagut 7  4  00 

1  boat,  33  dollars 13  4  00 

i  bushel  peas  (a^  5s 5  00 

1  bushel  potatoes  @  2s  6d 2  6  00 

1  bag,  4s 4  00 

1  cow.  13  dollars 5  4  00 

Total £125  14  4 

These    articles,     involving    an    outlay  of 

upward  of  $700,  were  principally  secured  at 

Bloomfield.     This  point,  at  that  time,  was  on 
the  frontier,  and  the  overland  pioneer  to  the 


far  West  was  forced  to  depend  upon  the  uncer- 
tain guidance  of  Indian  trails  and  the  survey- 
or's marks.  The  thoroughfare  of  Western 
travel  was  by  the  lakes,  and  IVIr.  Hudson  has  left 
a  carefully  prepared  "  traveler's  guide  "  over 
that  route  as  follows:  From  Black  Rock  to 
Buffalo  Creek,  tlu-ee  miles;  Buffalo  Creek  to 
Five  Mile  Creek,  live  miles;  Five  Mile  Creek 
to  Eighteen  Mile  Creek,  thirteen  miles;  Eight- 
een Mile  Creek  to  Cattaraugus,  twelve  miles; 
Cattaraugus  to  Four  Mile  Creek,  four  miles; 
Four  Mile  Creek  to  Fifteen  Mile  Creek,  eleven 
miles;  Fifteen  Mile  Creek  to  Chataqua, 
twenty-live  miles;  Chataqua  to  Lowiy's,  six- 
teen miles;  Lowry's  to  Presque  Isle,  sixteen 
miles;  Presq^^e  Isle  to  Walnut  Creek,  twelve 
miles ;  Walnut  Creek  to  Elk  Creek,  eight  miles ; 
Elk  Creek  to  Conneaut,  ten  miles;  Conneaut  to 
Ashtabula,  fourteen  miles;  Ashtabula  to  Grand 
River,  twenty-six  miles;  Grand  River  to  Cha- 
grin, ten  miles;  Chagrin  to  Cuyahoga,  twenty 
miles;  a  total  of  205  miles.  The  only  public 
source  of  information  in  regard  to  this  country 
was  "  Morse's  Geography,"  which  represented 
the  latter  river  as  navigable  for  sloops  for 
forty  miles  from  its  moiith. 

On  the  22d  day  of  April,  1799,  in  company 
with  Jesse  Lindley,  William  McKinley,  whom 
he  had  hired  as  assistants,  and  Ira,  his  son  of 
eleven  years,  Mr.  Hudson  started  for  Bloom- 
field,  N.  Y.  The  party  was  accompanied  by  a 
wagon  driven  by  Thaddeus  Lacey,  who  brought 
his  wife  and  two  childi'en.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lacey  were  engaged  as  purveyor  and  cook  for 
the  party,  and  were  in  charge  of  the  supplies 
with  which  the  wagon  was  loaded.  Their 
route  lay  toward  Albany,  where  they  arrived 
on  the  24th.  Here  Mr.  Hudson  hired  Joseph 
Darrow  for  six  months,  at  $10  per  month,  to 
accompany  the  expedition,  terms  similar  to 
those  on  which  the  others  had  been  engaged. 
Their  course  then  led  tlu'ough  Schenectady,  old 
Fort  Schuyler,  Onondaga  to  Bloomfield.  Six- 
teen miles  west  of  Schenectady,  Mr.  Hudson, 
leaving  his  son  and  Lindlev  with  the  wagon, 
pushed  on  ahead  with  Darrow,  making  his 
way  on  foot  to  Fort  Schuyler  on  the  29th,  where 
he  engaged  Jonah  Meecham;  to  Onondaga  on 
May  2,  where  he  added  Richard  H.  Blin  to  his 
party,  reaching  Nathaniel  Norton's  in  Bloom- 
field on  the  5th  day  of  May.     Here  the  little 


*7" 


— © 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


413 


party  was  detained  eleven  days,  which  they 
employed  in  fiu'ther  providing  for  their  enter- 
prise in  the  wilderness.  Here  IMr.  Hudson 
fell  in  with  Benjamin  Tappan,  later  known  as 
Judge,  on  his  way  to  his  town  of  Ravenna. 
]VIi\  Ta])pan  here  bought  a  yoke  of  oxen  and 
]VIi'.  Hudson,  as  will  appear  in  the  preceding 
statement,  bought  two  yoke  of  oxen  and  two 
cows.  These  animals  were  conhded  to  the  care 
of  Meacham,  who  assisted  by  some  of  Tappan' s 
hired  men,  brought  them  safely  on  the  Indian 
trail  thi'ough  Buffalo,  until  he  found  near  the 
lake  the  west  line  of  the  seventh  range  on  the 
Reserve.  This  line,  the  eastern  boundary  of 
the  present  township  of  Paiuesville,  Concoi'd, 
Chardon,  Monson,  Newburg,  Auburn,  Mantua, 
Shalersville  and  Ravenna,  they  followed  due 
south  for  more  than  forty  miles,  crossing  the 
Grand  and  Cuyahoga  Rivers  and  striking  the 
Salt  Spring  Indian  trail  near  the  southeastern 
corner  of  Ravenna,  and  thence  to  their  desti- 
nation. In  the  meanwhile  Hudson  had  his 
baggage  and  supplies  transported  to  Grondi- 
gut  Bay,  where,  to  his  great  disappointment, 
he  found  his  boat  in  no  condition  for  u.se.  He 
sent  back  Eliada  Lindley  and  Farr  and 
Straight,  whom  he  had  secured  at  Bloomlield, 
and  obtained  passage  in  one  of  Tappan's 
boats  for  himself  and  DaiTow.  He  also  had 
the  good  fortune  to  find  Eli  as  Harmon  here, 
about  to  start  out  with  his  wife  for  Mantua.  In 
one  of  his  boats  he  obtained  passage  for  Blin 
and  McKinley,  dividing  such  of  his  store  as  he 
was  able  to  take  between  the  two  boats.  This 
was  on  the  16th  of  May,  but  meeting  with  bad 
weather  the  little  fleet  did  not  reach  Niagara 
until  the  22d,  when  to  their  astonishment 
they  found  the  river  full  of  floating  ice.  They 
proceeded  up  the  river,  however,  against  the 
united  strength  of  the  cmi'ent  and  floating  ice, 
and  with  great  effort  reached  Buffalo  Creek 
on  the  26th,  where  they  were  blocked  up  with 
ice  "  at  least  twelve  feet  high."  Happily  the  ice 
broke  up  that  night  leaving  Lake  Erie  clear,  but 
with  so  heavy  a  swell  rolling  that  the  expedition 
was  obliged  to  lay  by  until  the  29th,  when  for 
three  days  the  lake  was  almost  at  a  dead  calm. 
Prompt  use  was  made  of  these  advantageous 
circumstances,  the  little  party  rowing  from 
Buffalo  to  Elk  Creek,  a  distance  of  120  miles  in 
the  meantime.  On  the  1st  of  June  they  put  out 


and  attempted  to  continue  their  jomTiey  and 
rowed  six  miles,  but  they  were  obliged  to  beach 
their  boats  at  Crooked  Creek,  and  lay  wind- 
bound  for  several  days.  "On  the  5th,"  says 
IVIi-.  Hudson,  "  we  put  out  fi'om  Crooked  Creek 
and  dined  in  Conneaut,  with  a  fair  wind 
fi'om  the  northeast.  At  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  the 
wind  shifted  into  the  north  and  blew  on  the 
shore  with  such  violence  that  the  boat  in 
which  myself  and  Darrow  were,  and  which 
was  heavily  loaded,  filled  with  water  before  a 
single  article  could  be  got  on  shore.  With 
most  unremitting  and  violent  exertion,  we 
saved  oin:  boat  and  loading,  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  the  day  and  part  of  the  next  in 
diying  our  loading  which  was  much  damaged 
with  water.  On  the  7th  and  8th  we  sailed  to 
Grand  River,  using  the  bed  blankets  as  sails. 
The  boat  in  which  McKinley  and  Blin  had 
taken  passage  and  which  was  in  oiu-  company, 
fai'ed  worse,  it  being  stove,  and  a  part  of  my 
potatoes  went  thi'ough  her  bottom.  But  after 
the  wind  had  subsided  they  got  her  up,  and 
with  the  help  of  my  nails  they  so  far  repaired 
the  wTeck  that  they  got  her  into  Grand  River 
with  her  loading  on  the  same  day  we  got 
there."*  This  was  the  destination  of  JNIi-. 
Harmon's  goods  and  as  there  was  no  way  of 
securing  the  transportation  of  the  goods  on 
board,  he  pui'chased  this  boat  of  IVli*.  Harmon 
for  $1  and  proceeded  with  his  boat,  leaving 
Blin  and  McKinley  to  proceed  up  the  river 
some  fom*  miles,  discharge  Harmon's  goods 
and  then  to  continue  the  joiu-ney  to  the  Cuya- 
hoga River. 

Without  waiting  for  his  second  boat,  Mr. 
Hudson  j^roceeded,  reaching  the  Cuyahoga 
River  on  the  9th,  where,  on  the  following  day, 
finding  that  the  other  boat  had  not  come  up, 
he  left  Darrow  to  assist  the  inen  up  the  river. 
He  also  took  the  precaution  to  lighten  IVIi'. 
Tappau's  boat  of  a  large  part  of  his  stores, 
leaving  them  to  be  broiight  on  by  his  newly 
pm-chased  boat,  and  proceeded  up  the  river. 
The  season  previous  to  their  coming  having 
been  very  dry.  they  had  proceeded  but  a  few 
miles  when  they  found  the  water  in  places  only 
eight  or  ten  inches  deep,  and  were  often 
obliged  to  get  out,  join  hands  and  di'ag  their 
boats  over  shallow  ]>laces.     In  this  way  they 

*Diary  of  David  Hudson. 


1^ 


414 


HISTORY   OF    SUAnilT    COUXTY. 


proceeded  until  the  12th,  when  they  reached 
such  a  rapid  ciuTent  that  it  was  impossible  to 
draw  the  boat  any  further.  Mr.  Hudson  con- 
tinues in  his  diary  as  follows:  "  I,  myself, 
went  on  the  land  searching  for  some  survey- 
or's line  whereby  we  coiild  find  oxu'  township. 
In  this  place  my  men  overtook  us,  and  to  my 
great  concern  informed  me  that  my  boat  had 
been  })lundered  the  night  before  of  a  consider- 
able quantity  of  whisky.  ])ork,  flour  and  some 
few  potatoes.  The  men  suspected  of  this  vil- 
lainy was  an  Indian  in  the  Sandusky  tribe,  and 
a  white  man  who  calls  himself  Armstrong. 
They  are  two  villains,  famous  in  this  quarter, 
and  their  conduct  is  not  allowed  of  by  their 
chiefs. 

"  13th. — We  now  took  a  part  of  Tappan's 
load  into  my  boat,  and  by  our  united  strength 
we  got  the  two  boats  along  slowly  up  the 
rapid  and  shallow  water,  I  still  continuing 
on  the  land  searching  for  some  town  line. 
In  this  way  we  proceeded  until  the  17th, 
when,  as  I  had  not  been  able  to  find  any  land 
mark,  we  determined  to  take  a  few  days'  pro- 
visions and  strike  our  course  in  a  southeast 
direction  till  we  could  find  some  clew  whereby 
we  could  tell  what  part  of  the  world  we  were 
in.  It  was  at  this  time  I  most  heartily  re- 
pented having  undertaken  the  expedition,  but 
I  must  now  persevere.  I  proceeded  with  my 
men  and  Tappan  with  several  of  his  assistants, 
and  to  my  great  joy  found  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  No.  4,  Range  10,  at  about  11  o'clock 
on  the  17th  of  June.  I  immediately  went 
about  making  a  road,  getting  oiu*  stores  up 
from  the  river,  and  in  endeavoring  to  get  a 
road  into  the  middle  of  the  town.  In  the  lat- 
ter attempt  a  new  dilficulty  was  met.  I  tried 
at  many  places  and  could  find  no  pass  for  a 
road  across  a  swamp  which  stretched  itself 
from  the  south  line  of  the  town,  aboiit  three 
and  a  half  miles,  as  I  afterward  found  in  a 
northerly  direction  about  one-half  mile  from 
the  west  line.  I  afterward  went  across  the 
swamp  and  found  excellent  land  beyond.  In 
this  dilemma.  I  determined  to  set  my  men  at 
work  on  the  west  side  of  the  swamp",  until  the 
land  could  be  so  far  surveyed  as  to  find  some 
pass  for  a  road.  We  found  it  a  work  of  time 
and  difficulty  to  get  a  road  across  the  gullies 
which  lie  in  No.  4,  Range  11    (Boston),  but, 


by  the  25th  of  June,  we  got  some  of  otir  things 
on." 

By  a  very  happy  combination  of  circum- 
stances the  cattle,  of  which  the  explorers  were 
just  now  begimiing  to  need,  arrived  at  the  land- 
ing on  the  18th,  just  one  day  after  the  discov- 
ery of  the  township  line.  The  journey  of 
these  men  over  some  three  hundred  and  fifty 
miles,  guided  ])y  the  tortuous  trails  of  the 
Indian  and  the  township  lines  of  the  siuweyor, 
through  a  totally  unknown  land,  was  one  of 
the  difiiculties  of  which  we  are  scarcely  able 
to  appreciate.  Their  mode  of  traveling  was 
to  secure  firmly  upon  the  backs  of  the  oxen 
several  bags  of  flour  and  pork,  together  with 
two  blankets  and  an  ax.  They  waded  fordable 
streams  and  compelled  their  cattle  to  swim 
those  that  could  not  be  forded,  crossing  these 
streams  themselves  with  their  provisions  on 
rafts  hastily  constructed  of  sticks.  The  teams 
thus  happily  at  hand,  rude  sleds  were  con- 
structed and  the  labor  of  transporting  the 
goods  from  the  boats  to  the  place  where  Mr. 
Hudson  had  decided  to  begin  operations  com- 
menced. In  the  meanwhile  a  road  had  been 
cut  out  and  a  bark  shelter  erected.  The  cattle 
were  greatly  tormented  by  the  immense  swarms 
of  flies  that  attacked  them  at  all  times,  nearly 
di-iving  them  mad.  It  is  said  they  actually 
killed  one  of  Mr.  Tappan's  cattle. 

Aboiit  this  time  David  Kellogg  with  his 
wife,  applied  to  be  taken  into  Mr.  Hixdson's 
employ.  He  had  come  out  in  the  service  of 
Mr.  Tappan,  but  for  some  reason  desired  to 
change  his  service.  Judge  Tappan  afterward 
took  occasion  in  the  public  prints  to  say  that 
Mr.  Hudson  enticed  him  away,  which  is  an 
entirely  mistaken  idea.  The  provisions  of  the 
Hudson  colony  were  very  low,  and  he  had  great 
fears  that  those  already  dejiendent  upon  him 
would  sufter  for  lack  of  supplies.  He,  how- 
ever, granted  the  request,  but  Mr.  Kellogg 
never  became  a  permanent  settler  in  this  col- 
ony, though  staying  for  a  year  or  two. 

As  soon  as  the  first  most  pressing  duties 
were  accomplished,  Mr.  Hudson  set  about  mak- 
ing a  clearing,  aided  by  his  four  men.  The 
robbing;  of  his  boat  and  the  faihu'e  of  his 
goods,  shipped  by  wagon,  to  come  on  began 
to  give  him  some  uneasiness  as  to  their 
means   of   subsistence.      He   borrowed   some 


3^ 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


415 


pork  of  a  Capt.  Stoddard,  settled  in  what  is  now 
Northampton,  and  taking  his  boat  as  soon  as 
unloaded  on  the  24th  of  June,  proceeded  alone 
down  the  river  in  quest  of  Lacey.  Speaking 
of  this  trip  in  his  diary,  IVIr.  Hudson  says :  "  I 
had  the  misfortime  to  lose  my  fire,  and  being 
exceeding  wet  and  the  night  very  cold,  I 
experienced  the  most  uncomfortable  night  I 
ever  felt.  I  arrived  at  Cleveland  in  twenty- 
eight  hours,  and,  although  several  boats  had 
lately  arrived,  I  could  not  get  any  information 
concerning  Lacey.  I  had  not  heard  a  word 
from  him  since  I  left  him  on  the  Mohawk  River 
near  Schenectady  in  April.  I  was  at  a  great 
loss  what  to  do,  but,  on  the  whole,  I  thought 
best  to  wait  a  little  longer.  In  three  days  an 
opportunity  presented  of  going  down  the  lake, 
and,  after  a  quick  and  dangerous  passage,  I 
had  the  good  fortune  to  find  my  boy,  Lacey 
and  the  boat."  It  appears  that  Lacey  had  got 
as  far  as  Cattaraugus  Creek  with  the  boat 
which  Mr.  Hudson  found  unfit  for  a  voyage 
when  he  left,  and  was  resting  there  very  much 
at  his  ease.  He  had  also  quite  an  addition 
for  the  colony  in  the  way  of  several  hired  men, 
which  Nathaniel  Norton  had  secured  to  go  to 
the  settlement.  But  of  what  the  settlement 
needed  the  most  [they  were  nearly  destitute. 
"  My  joy  at  finding  the  boat,"  says  Mr.  Hud- 
son, "  was  turned  to  sorrow  on  finding  that 
they  had  but  little  more  flour  than  enough  to 
last  through  the  voyage,  excepting  three  bar- 
rels that  belonged  to  Capt.  Austin  (Eliphalet 
Austin,  of  Austintown).  I  foimd  myself 
under  the  most  disagreeable  necessity  of 
abandoning  my  men,  who  were  at  work,  to  their 
fate,  quitting  the  whole  expedition  and  return- 
ing home,  or  else  taking  Capt.  Austin's  flour. 
After  a  sleepless  night  deliberating  what  was 
my  duty  in  the  trying  case,  I  determined 
as  the  least  of  two  evils  to  take  Austin's 
floiu",  to  dismiss  my  hands,  saving  barely 
enough  to  manage  the  boat,  pay  Austin  what- 
ever his  damage  might  be  and  prosecute  my 
business.  Having  written  my  situation  and 
reasons  to  Capt.  Austin  and  Esquire  Norton, 
I  proceeded  on  my  voyage.  In  a  few  days,  by 
rowing  in  the  nigrht  and  crowding  our  business, 
I  got  to  Cuyahoga,  and  without  meeting  any 
further  disaster  we  arrived  with  all  oiu-  load- 
ing at  the  landing  on  No.  4,  Range  11,  on 


the  19th  of  July."     It  must  be  remembered 

that  these  voyages  were  made  in  open  boats 
and  were  propelled  by  oars  save  when  a  light 
breeze  was  taken  advantage  of  to  raise  a  sail 
rudely  constructed  out  of  blankets.  The  courses 
of  these  boats  were  necessarily  near  the  shore 
and  were  completely  at  the  mercy  of  a  brisk 
wind,  and  were  greatly  hindered  in  their  voy- 
ages on  this  account.  The  present  case  was  a 
pressing  one,  and  Mr.  Hudson  made  good 
some  of  the  delays  diu'ing  the  day  by  rowing 
nights.  Among  the  crew  was  one  Lindley, 
who  declared  that  he  was  hired  to  work 
by  the  day  and  refused  to  work  nights.  Mr. 
Hudson  therefore  excused  his  rowing  in  night 
voyages,  but  when  forced  to  lay  by  in  the  day- 
time put  him  at  "chopping  wood."  A  day  or 
two  of  this  experience  caused  him  to  smTender 
unconditionally. 

The  supplies  came  just  in  time,  and  after 
getting  them  into  the  shelter  (which  took  one 
hand  and  the  team  several  days),  three  days 
were  spent  in  cutting  over  the  land  begun  for 
a  wheat-patch.  Hitherto  the  bark  shanty  which 
had  been  hastily  erected,  on  their  first  arrival, 
had  been  their  only  shelter.  Rain  had  fallen 
almost  incessantly,  and  with  the  recent  addi- 
tions the  little  colony,  swelled  to  thirteen  per- 
sons, demanded  something  better  for  their 
protection.  A  log  house  16x18  feet  was  at 
once  erected,  and  within  a  week's  time  the 
whole  party  were  made  comfortable  beneath 
its  roof.  A  day  and  a  half  had  been  spent  in 
the  meanwhile  in  stu'veying,  the  only  fair 
weather  during  the  week,  but  now  matters  were 
in  a  comfortable  shape  for  the  time  being,  IMi*. 
Hudson  was  anxious  to  get  the  township  ready 
for  settlement.  "  I  now  determined,"  says  he, 
"  to  crowd  the  surveying  business  to  the  utmost, 
and  if  possible  to  get  time  to  sm'vey  om-  annex- 
ation, but,  in  the  last  week  in  July,  J.  Lindley, 
Dai-row,  Meecham  and  Blin  were  all  taken 
sick,  and,  in  short,  there  was  none  save  myself 
that  could  be  called  well.  For  f  ovu-  weeks  oiu- 
people  who  kept  about  did  little  else  than  take 
care  of  the  sick.  Rain  fell  in  showers  about 
every  other  day,  and  in  those  four  weeks  we 
cut  three  small  stacks  of  poor  hay  which  was 
much  damaged  by  the  rains,  and  fired  and 
biu-nt  the  brush  on  about  nine  acres — the  rain 
being  such  that  we  could  not  biu-n  oiu-  brush 


:^ 


416 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


any  other  way  than  to  pull  our  heaps  to  pieces 
and  lay  them  on  the  fire.  My  original  design 
was  to  sow  a  large  piece  to  tm-nips,  but  not 
being  able  to  burn  the  land  over,  I  sowed  on 
the  1st  day  of  August  a  small  piece  from 
which  we  cut  the  timber  and  brush  the  week 
preceding. 

"  On  the  22d  day  of  August,  our  people  hav- 
ing gradually  recovered,  we  resumed  siu*veying 
and  jiressed  it  closely  as  possible  until  the 
12th  of  October,  when  the  business  and  Merit- 
ing was  completed."  The  settlement  so  far 
had  been  confined  to  the  northeast  corner  of 
Lot  11,  but  on  the  1st  of  September  Mr.  Hud- 
son brought  his  men  to  the  center  of  the  town- 
ship and  began  to  cut  brush  and  timber  on 
Lots  No.  55  and  56.  Here  he  designed  to 
make  his  home,  and  "  twenty-three  days'  work" 
were  spent  in  building  a  temporary  hut  and 
making  the  clearing  for  the  more  substantial 
cabin.  "  Sixteen  days'  work  "  erected  a  good 
log-house  on  the  line  of  these  two  lots  where 
Baldwin  street  now  abuts  on  Main  in  Hudson 
Village,  and  two  days  were  spent  "  in  trying 
to  dig  a  well."  While  this  work  was  progress- 
ing the  surveying  party  were  finishing  their 
work,  while  another  party  comiected  the  two 
clearings  with  a  road;  cut  out  another  to  the 
boat  landing  in  "No.  4,  Range  11,"  now 
called  Boston.  About  the  middle  of  this  month 
they  foiind  their  store  of  jirovision  nmning 
very  low.  Supplies  were  expected  every  day 
from  Nathaniel  Norton,  but  at  this  point  Mr. 
Hudson  realized  something  must  be  done  to 
avert  possible  distress.  He  went  immediately 
to  Cleveland  and  purchased  of  Lorenzo  Car- 
ter a  small  field  of  corn  and  potatoes  for 
$50,  tm-ning  in  a  yoke  of  oxen  as  the  larger 
pai-t  of  the  payment.  In  case  of  necessity  he 
thought  the  corn  might  be  pounded  up  in 
mortars  juid  sustain  the  company  imtil  relief 
should  come.  He  hastened  back  to  his  station, 
but  having  previously  heard  that  Ebenezer 
Sheldon  had  made  a  road  through  the  wilder- 
ness to  Aiu'ora,  and  that  there  was  a  bridle- 
path thence  to  Cleveland,  he  thought  it  prob- 
able that  he  might  obtain  pork  for  present 
necessity  from  that  quarter.  He  accordingly 
set  out  on  foot  and  alone,  and  regulated  his 
course  by  the  range  of  his  shadow,  making 
allowance  for  change  in  the  time  of  day.     He 


foiuid  the  Cleveland  path  near  the  center  of 
Aurora,  in  a  dense  forest.  Thence  he  pro- 
ceeded two  and  a  half  miles  to  Mi-.  Sheldon's 
cabin,  bu.t  foimd  he  coiild  obtain  nothing 
within  a  reasonable  distance.  The  next  morn- 
ing he  retiu-ned  to  his  colony  to  find  that  his 
long-expected  boat  had  aiTived,  and  that  there 
was  once  more  plenty  in  the  camp. 

Having  completed  their  surveying  on  the 
11th  of  October,  and  got  affairs  well  under 
way  to  make  comfortable  his  family,  and  such 
colonists  as  he  might  bring  back  with  him,  he 
started  on  the  following  day  with  his  son  Ira, 
Meacham  and  Darrow  for  Connecticut.  They 
went  down  the  river  in  the  old  Harmon  boat, 
intending  to  transfer  to  the  sti'ong  boat  which 
Lacey  had  brought  when  he  came,  but  on 
arriving  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  he  foimd 
the  boat  borrowed  without  leave  and  gone  to 
Detroit.  It  was  late  in  the  year  and  any 
delay  would  only  bring  nearer  the  season  of 
the  year  when  such  navigation  was  impossible 
or  extremely  hazardous,  and  they  proceeded  on 
their  way  in  the  old  wreck.  There  was  no  tar 
at  hand  with  which  to  "  pitch  "  the  seams,  and 
it  proved  so  leaky  that  it  required  one  hand 
most  of  the  time  to  bail  out  the  water,  and  so 
weak  that  it  bent  considerably  in  crossing  the 
waves.  Dm'ing  their  passage  the  weather  was 
generally  cold  and  boisterous;  tluve  different 
times  they  narrowly  escaped  drowning  by 
reason  of  the  darkness  of  the  night  or  violence 
of  the  wind.  Referring  to  one  of  these  nar- 
row esca|)es  from  both  the  wind  and  darkness, 
Mr.  Hudson  writes  in  his  diary:  "  This  salva- 
tion has  determined  me  never  in  futm-e  to  put 
into  the  lake  in  a  dark  night."  Lying  wind- 
bound  at  Chataqua  for  several  days,  they  eked 
out  their  scanty  stock  of  provisions  by  living 
on  boiled  chestnuts.  They  arrived  at  Gerun- 
dagut  on  the  31st  of  October,  whence  their 
joivrney  to  Goshen  was  by  land.  Mr.  Hudson 
in  the  middle  of  November,  found  his  family 
well  and  anxioxis  to  hear  of  the  land  which 
was  to  be  their  new  home.  No  time  was  spent 
in  idling,  however,  and  by  the  1st  day  of  Jan- 
uaiy,  1800,  he  had  made  his  arrangements  to 
leave  with  his  family,  his  native  State  with  all 
its  tender  and  endearing  associations,  for  the 
wilderness  where  he  had  knovna  so  much  anx- 
iety and  hardship.     "  Thus,"  says  he,  "  ends 


■S 


HUDSON    TOAVNSIIIP. 


417 


the  eventful  year  of  1799,  filled  with  many 
troubles,  out  of  all  of  which  hath  the  Lord  hath 
delivered  me."  His  stay  at  his  old  home  had 
been  a  busy  time  for  him.  He  had  settled 
accounts  with  the  Norton  brothers;  had  sought 
cunong  his  old  fi'iends  and  acquaintances  for 
colonists;  and  had  his  own  afiairs  in  his  old 
home  to  settle  as  well  as  to  provide  supplies 
for  the  one  to  which  he  was  about  to  move  his 
family.  His  accounts  for  the  first  year  are 
interesting  to  read  over  and  vividly  illustrate 
the  character  of  the  man  and  the  enterprise. 
Among  the  items  of  expenditiu'es  are  the  fol- 
lowing: April.  1799,  "  paid  $3  for  an  excellent 
dog  which  we  lost  in  Schenectady;"  May,  "  lent 
JVIi".  Bacon  $5  for  ageeing  to  pilot  us,  for 
which  he  gave  his  note,  which  note  I  lost  with 
all  my  minutes  and  observations  on  the  Cuya- 
hoga in  wading  the  stream;"  "paid  Mr.  Holly 
for  twelve  bushels  seed  wheat,  $18;"  October, 
"  Gave  Mr.  Kellogg  as  a  present  to  support  him- 
self and  family,  they  being  sick,  $3; "  October 
19,  "Gave  as  a  gift  to  Mr.  Berion,  of  Con- 
neaut,  he  and  his  family  being  sick  and  in  dis- 
tress, $1 ;"  November  16,  "  Retiu'ued  to  Goshen, 
expended  in  returning  $9.75."  The  whole  ac- 
count reaches  some  $300,  which  does  not  include 
the  unpaid  balance  of  wages  due  his  help,  and 
which  was  applied  on  the  land  which  each 
purchased,  nor  the  supplies  which  had  been 
brought  from  the  East.  On  the  credit  side, 
Mr.  Hudson  shows  tools  and  materials  still  in 
possession  of  the  j^roprietors  to  the  amount  of 
$350.90;  surveying  instrmnents,  $33;  "nine 
acres  of  wheat  on  the  ground  calculated  at  $20 
per  acre,  $180;  smidry  other  articles  not  here 
enumerated,  $36.91;"  making  a  grand  total  of 
$600  worth  of  property  for  little  more  than  an 
equal  expenditure.  In  raising  recruits  for  the 
new  colony,  his  efforts  had  been  marked  with 
excellent  success.  It  is  said  that  he  offered  a 
bounty  of  forty  acres  to  the  first  one  to  vohm- 
teer,  and  Ruth  Gaylord,  whom  Rev.  John  Sew- 
ard calls  "  an  ancient  maiden "  received  the 
land,  which  afterward  she  gave  to  her  niece, 
the  daughter  of  Elijah  Nobles.  Among  the 
party  that  were  prepared  to  return  with  Mr. 
Hudson  and  his  family,  were  Samuel  Bishop 
with  his  ioxxr  sons,  David,  Reuben,  Luman  ;md 
Joseph,  Joel  Gaylord,  Hemau  Oviatt,  Dr. 
Moses    Thompson,    Allen    Gaylord,    Stephen 


Perkins,  Joseph  and  George  Darrow,  William 
McKinley  and  three  men  from  Vermont  by  the 
names  of  Derrick,  Williams  and  Shefford. 
The  women  in  the  company  were  the  wives  of 
Messrs.  Hudson,  Bishop  and  Nobles,  with 
Miss  Riith  Gaylord  and  Ruth  Bishop.  The 
six  childi-en  of  ]VIi-.  Hudson  completed  the 
party  that  started  for  the  New  Conneeticut. 
Among  these  names  will  be  noticed  those  of 
some  who  went  out  the  preceding  year.  Dar- 
row returned  with  his  brother,  Joel  Gaylord 
and  Heman  Oviatt  went  out  to  view  the  land 
with  the  intention  of  taking  their  families 
thither  if  the  situation  proved  favorable.  Mr. 
Bishop,  with  his  son-in-law  Elijah  Nobles, 
alone  hazarded  everything  on  the  single  cast 
of  the  die.  The  three  men  from  Vermont 
were  evidently  acqu.aintances  of  Lacey,  thi'ough 
whom  they  had  probably  learned  of  this  settle- 
ment, and  was  desirous  of  tiying  their  fortune. 
They  probably  did  not  stay  long  as  no  men- 
tion is  made  of  them  in  any  of  the  old  papers 
of  Mr.  Hudson. 

In  January,  1800,  Mr.  Hudson  started,  with 
his  family,  on  sleighs,  from  Goshen  for 
Bloomtield,  N.  Y.,  the  place  of  rendezvous. 
Here  he  occupied  an  empty  cabin  of  Eber  Nor- 
ton's during  the  winter,  employing  his  time 
in  preparing  for  his  journey  by  the  lakes. 
He  prociu'ed  four  boats,  in  addition  to  the 
Harmon  boat,  which  he  thoroughly  repaired, 
and  loaded  them  with  supples,  including  win- 
dow-glass for  his  cabin  put  up  the  preceding 
fall,  a  large  quantity  of  woolen  and  linen  cloth, 
peach  and  apple  seeds,  garden  seeds,  addi- 
tional tools,  and  a  supply  of  groceries  in- 
tended to  last  his  family  for  a  full  year — the 
whole  reaching  a  cost  of  some  $2,000.  The 
balance  of  the  party  secured  tliree  boats  for 
their  transportation,  and  all  was  completed 
on  the  29th  of  April.  "  The  next  night,"  said 
Ml'.  Hudson,  "while  my  dear  wife  and  six 
children,  with  all  my  men,  lay  soundly  sleep- 
ing around  me,  I  could  not  close  my  eyes. 
The  reflection  that  those  men  and  women, 
with  most  all  that  I  held  dear  in  life,  were 
now  to  embark  in  an  expedition  in  which  so 
many  chances  appeared  against  me;  and, 
should  we  survive  the  dangers  in  crossing  the 
boisterous  lakes,  and  the  disti'essing  sickness 
usually  attendant  on  new  settlements,  it  was 


M\ 


ji.: 


S) 


418 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


highly  probable  that  we  ratist  fall  before  the 
tomahawk  and  scalping-knife.  As  I  knew,  at 
that  time,  no  considerable  settlement  had  been 
made  but  what  was  established  in  blood,  and 
I  was  about  to  place  all  those  who  lay  around 
me  on  the  extreme  frontier,  and,  as  they 
would  look  to  me  for  safety  and  protection,  I 
almost  sank  under  the  immense  weight  of 
responsibility  resting  upon  me.  Perhaps  my 
feelings  on  this  occasion  were  a  little  similar 
to  those  of  the  patriai'ch,  when  exj^ecting  to 
meet  his  hostile  brother;  but,  after  presenting 
my  case  before  Israel's  God,  and  committing 
all  to  His  care,  I  cheerfully  launched  out,  the 
next  morning,  upon  the  great  deep."  The 
little  tieet  experienced  little  difficulty  coming 
up  the  lakes  until  they  reached  the  mouth  of 
the  Cuyahoga  River.  The  wind  on  this  day 
was  rather  high,  and  IVIr.  Hudson,  in  attempt- 
ing to  enter  with  his  boat,  missed  the  channel 
and  stuck  fast  upon  the  bar.  In  this  perilous 
situation,  the  boat  shipped  considerable  water, 
and  the  occupants  must  have  inevitably  all 
been  drowned  had  not  a  mountain  wave  struck 
the  boat  with  such  power  as  to  tioat  it  clear  of 
the  obstruction.  On  reaching  a  point  within 
two  miles  of  their  destination,  darkness  com- 
ing on,  they  were  obliged  to  stop  for  the  night 
a  little  north  of  Nortbfield,  at  a  place  called 
the  Pinery.  They  encamped  on  the  baiiks, 
which  were  somewhat  low.  During  the  night, 
a  tremendous  rain  set  in,  which  had  so  raised 
the  river  by  daybreak  that  it  overflowed  its 
banks,  and  was  on  the  point  of  floating  off  the 
very  beds  on  which  they  were  lying.  Every- 
thing was  drenched,  many  finding  themselves 
without  a  dry  thread  upon  them,  and  here 
they  were  obliged  to  wait  Ave  days  before  the 
water  had  so  far  subsided  as  to  allow  them  to 
force  their  boats  against  the  current.  On  the 
sixth  day.  May  28,  they  reached  the  landing 
place  near  the  Boston  line.  Here  Mr.  Hud- 
son left  his  family  and  the  crew  to  look  after 
the  unloading,  and  hurried  to  visit  the  people 
he  had  left  in  the  clearing,  whom  he  found  in 
good  spirits.  Before  leaving  Bloomtield,  Mr. 
Hudson  had  secured  some  hogs,  fourteen  cows, 
a  bull  and  a  horse,  which,  with  a  yoke  of 
oxen  belonging  to  Mr.  Bishop,  were  intnisted 
to  the  care  of  Elijah  Nobles  to  bring  through 
the  wilderness  by  the  route  by  which  the  cat- 


tle had  been  brought  the  preceding  year. 
These  arrived  about  the  time  the  boats  were 
unloaded,  biit  Mr.  Hudson,  busy  in  arranging 
for  the  large  accession  to  the  colony,  did  not 
take  his  horse  to  the  landing  after  his  family 
for  several  days.  When  he  arrived,  he  found 
his  family  suffering  from  the  persistent  attacks 
of  the  gnats  and  mosquitoes  that  infested 
the  woods  at  this  season,  and  his  wife,  who 
had  cheerfully  borne  all  the  trials  of  the  jour- 
ney hitherto,  was  now  very  much  discouraged. 
A  change  to  more  cheerful  siuToundings,  and 
a  fairly  comfortable  house,  wi'ought  a  great 
change  in  her  feelings,  and  she  nobly  seconded 
the  eftbrts  of  her  husband.  The  work  of 
transporting  the  goods  from  the  boats  to  the 
settlement  on  wooden  sleds,  over  eight  miles 
of  hilly  woods-road,  was  no  slight  undertak- 
ing, and  it  was  several  days  before  it  was 
accomplished.  After  all  the  persons  belong- 
ing to  the  settlement  had  collected,  Mr.  Hud- 
son led  them  in  rendering  thanksgiving  to  the 
God  of  mercy,  who  had  brought  them  safely 
to  their  desired  haven.  Public  worship  on 
the  Sabbath,  which  had  been  discontinued  in 
his  absence,  was  resumed.  In  relating  the 
fact,  Mr.  Hudson  said :  "  I  felt,  in  some  meas- 
tu'e,  the  responsibility  resting  on  first  settlers, 
and  their  obligations  to  commence  in  that 
fear  of  God  which  is  the  beginning  of  wis- 
dom, and  to  establish  those  moral  and  relig- 
ious habits  on  which  the  temporal  and  etei-nal 
happiness  of  a  people  essentially  depends." 

Once  settled  in  their  new  quarters,  the  lit- 
tle commimity  was  at  once  a  scene  of  bustling 
activity.  Joel  Gaylord  selected  and  purchased 
640  acres  lying  in  a  square  piece  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  public  square;  Dr.  Moses 
Thompson,  who  had  been  promised  by  Mr. 
Hudson  $50,  in  medicine,  if  he  concluded  to 
settle  here,  selected  for  his  father  and  brothers 
eight  and  a  half  lots,  of  K50  acres  each,  four 
of  them  forming  a  square  mile  of  land  adjoin- 
ing the  southeast  part  of  the  public  square; 
Heman  Oviatt  selected  a  site  soiith  of  the  vil- 
lage about  a  mile,  adjoining  the  Thompson 
property;  a  large  elm  tree  standing  on  the 
road  line  to  the  farm  now  owned  by  Philan- 
der Ellsworth,  which  sprang  from  a  riding- 
whip  which  Mr.  Oviatt  brought  on  one  of  his 
trips  to  Pittsburgh,  and  carelessly  stuck  in  the 


'.iL 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


419 


ground  there,  marks  the  vicinity  where  he 
erected  his  cabin  in  this  year.  Dr.  Thompson 
made  some  clearings  and  planted  a  crop  on 
thi'ee  lots,  and  all  found  plenty  of  work  to  do. 
DaiTow  bought  in  the  southern  tier  of  lots, 
near  the  central  road,  and  in  July,  Ebenezer 
Stone,  of  Boughton,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  came 
out  and  bought  Lot  70.  Notwithstanding 
the  fi'equent  rains,  the  season  on  the  whole 
was  very  favorable  for  the  crops,  and  there 
was  an  abundant  harvest  of  potatoes  and  tm*- 
nips  and  wheat. 

On  the  28th  of  October  of  this  yeai',  oc- 
cm'red  the  tirst  native  accession  to  the  settle- 
ment. On  this  date,  a  daughter  was  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hudson,  and,  notwithstanding 
the  lack  of  professional  aid,  with  the  attend- 
ance of  the  women  of  the  settlement,  mother 
and  child  prospered  finely.  The  heroine  of 
this  occasion,  and  the  eldest  born  of  the 
county,  was  Anna  Maria  Hudson,  later  the 
wife  of  Hai-vey  Baldwin,  who  now  lives  in  a 
vigorous  old  age,  to  rejoice  in  the  results  of 
her  parents'  pioneer  labors.  Two  weeks  later, 
another  event  occurred  which  served  to  viv- 
idly impress  upon  these  people  the  stern  real- 
ity of  frontier  life.  Milo  and  William,  two 
sons  of  Mr.  Hudson,  were  sent  to  drive  the 
hogs  out  where  they  could  find  plenty  of  nuts 
to  feed  upon.  The  path  tliey  followed  was 
very  rough,  and  Milo,  who  was  barefooted, 
experienced  a  good  deal  of  pain  in  tiying  to 
travel  in  it.  His  brother,  finding  that  he  did 
not  need  his  assistance,  sent  him  back  and 
proceeded  on  alone  with  his  charge.  In  re- 
tm*ning,  Milo  left  the  path  to  walk  upon  the 
leaves  in  the  wooded  part  to  avoid  the  "  hubs," 
and  inadvertently  strayed  too  far  and  became 
lost.  A  slight  snow  had  fallen,  and  it  was  a 
chilly  autumn  day.  He  looked  about  him  for 
some  clew  to  his  whereabouts,  and,  seeing  a 
clearing  at  some  distance,  ran  toward  it  only 
to  find  that  it  marked  the  site  of  a  swamp. 
The  return  of  William  and  the  absence  of  his 
brother  at  once  excited  alarm,  and  the  men 
rallied  out  with  horns,  guns  and  bells  to  find 
the  lost  boy.  He  heard  the  signals  of  those 
in  search,  but,  deluded  by  the  appearances  of 
a  clearing  made  by  the  various  swamp  lands, 
he  only  got  farther  away,  until,  night  coming 
on,  worn  out  with  the  anxiety  and  exertion  of 


the  day,  he  prepared  to  pass  the  night  in  the 
wilderness.  Raking  a  pile  of  leaves  beside  a 
great  log,  and  wrapping  his  bare  feet  in  his 
jacket,  which  he  had  taken  ofi"  for  thepiu'pose, 
he  biuTowed  deep  into  the  leaves  and  fell 
asleep.  The  hunters  could  not  thus  easily 
lay  aside  their  cares.  The  unsuccessful 
search  caused  them  to  redouble  their  exertions 
dming  the  night,  and  Mr.  Hudson,  with  a 
father's  anxiety,  offered  a  reward  of  $40  to 
stimulate  a  search  in  which  the  keenest  inter- 
est was  already  enlisted.  The  search  was  con- 
tinued without  avail  until  11  o'clock  the  fol- 
lowing day,  when  the  boy  was  foiind  still 
asleep,  his  hair  fi'inged  with  fi'ost  and  his  toes 
slightly  frosted,  but  otherwise  unharmed. 

It  was  some  years  before  the  danger  of 
being  lost  in  woods  was  overcome  by  the  num- 
ber of  settlements.  As  late  as  1809,  a  little 
girl  of  Eben  Pease,  eight  or  nine  years  old, 
was  lost.  She  was  sent  on  an  errand  to  Ben- 
jamin Oviatt's,  about  two  miles  north  of  the 
center.  She  got  there  safely,  but  on  her 
retm-n,  mistaking  a  cow-path  for  the  trail,  she 
wandered  off  and  was  lost.  Not  retm'ning 
by  dark,  her  parents  became  alaimed,  and, 
going  to  Oviatt's,  learned  she  had  left  there 
early  and  was  probably  lost.  The  neighbor- 
hood was  rallied  out  in  search.  Guns  and 
horns  were  brought  into  requisition,  but  it  was 
10  o'clock  the  next  day  before  she  was  found 
by  Richard  Croy.  She  was  foiuid  asleep  on 
a  log,  with  her  feet  wrapped  in  some  aprons 
which  she  had  taken  to  bring  home. 

The  following  spring  brought  the  families 
of  Joel  Gay  lord  and  Heman  Oviatt,  who  came 
in  wagons  by  the  overland  route,  bringing 
with  them  Benjamin  Oviatt,  John  Bridge  and 
James  Newton.  Their  wagons  were  the  first 
that  ever  penetrated  the  wilderness  in  this 
part  of  the  Reserve,  and  these  pioneers  were 
obliged  to  chop  their  way  through  the  woods 
for  miles.  A  little  later  in  this  year  came 
Eliada  Lindley,  John  Oviatt,  William  Bough- 
ton,  Aaron  Norton,  Ezra  Wyatt,  James  Walker, 
Deacon  Stephen  Thompson  with  his  sons, 
Abraham,  Stephen,  Jr.,  and  Moses,  and  his 
sons-in-law,  George  Pease  and  Bradford  Kel- 
logg. In  the  same  company  came  George 
Kilbom-ne  and  William  Leach.  Dr.  Moses 
Thompson   had  expended   his  patrimony   in 


Tv* 


.t 


420 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


prosecuting  his  medical  studies,  biit  his  father 
proposed  to  give  him  a  lot  of  land  if  he  would 
investigate  the  Hudson  settlement  and,  if  fav- 
orably impressed,  move  the  family  out  to  it. 
After  coming  out  with  Mr.  Hudson  and  select- 
ing the  land,  he  retiu'ned  on  foot  to  Goshen, 
carrying  his  provisions  in  a  pack  at  his  back. 
He  made  the  650  miles  in  eleven  and  a  half 
days,  helped  to  do  the  haying,  and,  returning 
with  his  father's  brother's  family,  as  well  as 
his  own.  He  secured  some  apple  seeds  from 
some  pmnace  at  a  cider-mill  in  Reading, 
Penn.,  and  the  lirst  apples  from  this  seed, 
were  the  admiration  of  the  little  folks,  who 
had  never  seen  an  apple  before. 

His  land  was  situated  northwest  of  the 
village,  on  what  is  known  as  the  Northampton 
road,  where  he  lived  until  the  day  of  his  death. 
He  was  the  earliest  doctor  in  the  township, 
and  had  a  practice  that  took  him  over  a  terri- 
tory a  hundred  miles  in  extent.  He  retired 
from  his  practice  in  1815,  to  engage  in  busi- 
ness. Christian  Cackler  came  here  in  the 
spring  of  1804,  together  with  his  father  and 
eldest  brother,  settling  on  a  part  of  Lot  10,  in 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  township.  They 
came  from  Pennsylvania,  bringing  a  horse 
and  a  yoke  of  oxen,  and  such  supplies  as 
could  be  packed  on  a  horse.  Coming  to 
Ravenna,  they  found  a  few  residents,  and  a 
road  marked  out  and  partly  underbiiished  to 
Hudson.  Here  they  came,  selected  their  land, 
and,  going  to  the  site,  put  up  a  temporary 
shelter.  Four  forks  were  driven  into  the 
ground,  and  upon  them  were  laid  poles,  upon 
which  a  covering  of  bark  was  laid.  The  same 
material  supplied  the  floor  and  the  sides  of 
this  hastily  constnicted  tabernacle.  Beds 
made  of  leaves  and  covered  with  blankets 
completed  their  household  arrangements,  and 
they  proceeded  at  once  to  clear  their  lands  for 
their  spring  crops.  It  was  then  the  10th  of 
May,  but  they  put  in  about  three  acres  of 
corn,  and  cleared  off  another  piece  in  time  to 
sow  some  wheat.  Provisions  were  hard  to 
prociu*e,  and  were  obtained  by  working  for 
their  neighbors.  In  his  published  reminis- 
cences, Mx.  Cackler  says :  "  In  September,  my 
father  and  brother  went  back  after  the  family, 
and  left  me  in  care  of  the  shanty  until  they 
should  return.     I  was  then  only  twelve  years 


old.  They  left  for  my  use  a  small  loaf  of 
bread,  an  old  rifle  that  carried  an  oimce  ball 
and  some  powder  and  bullets,  that  I  might 
kill  squirrels  for  meat.  They  thought  they 
would  be  back  in  three  weeks.  It  was  a  try- 
ing time  for  me.  I  could  get  along  very  well 
through  the  day,  but  when  night  came,  I  was 
lonesome  indeed.  I  would  build  a  big  fire 
and  roll  myself  up  in  my  blankets  so  that  I 
could  not  hear  anything,  and  there  remain 
until  morning.  I  managed  so  about  two 
weeks.  My  loaf  began  to  get  very  small,  and 
I  had  to  make  my  allowance  still  smaller  to 
make  it  hold  oiit.  Tln-ee  weeks  expired  and 
nobody  came.  The  foxuih  passed;  my  bread 
was  gone  and  squirrels  furnished  my  only 
food.  The  fifth  passed,  and  found  me  with- 
out bread  or  bullets.  I  managed  to  kill  some 
squirrels  with  gravel-stones,  but  the  most  of 
those  I  shot  at  escaped  without  serious  injury. 
I  stayed  there  until  the  sixth  week  began  to 
di'ag  its  slow  length  along,  when  one  aft,ernoon 
in  the  cabin,  to  avoid  a  heavy  thunder  shower, 
I  fell  asleep,  and  awoke  to  find  it  growing 
dark.  The  th-e  had  gone  out,  and  everything 
was  so  satm-ated  with  the  rain  that  I  could 
not  relight.  While  tinkering  with  the  fii'e,  I 
was  startled  by  the  howl  of  the  wolves  in  the 
near  vicinity.  I  seized  my  gun  loaded  with 
stone,  and,  wrapping  my  blankets  about  me, 
sat  down  to  defend  myself  against  the  wolves. 
I  sat  there  until  morning  without  a  visit  fi"om 
the  wolves,  and  then  I  left  the  shanty  to  cai'e 
for  itself,  and  went  over  to  where  Harry 
O'Brien  lived,  about  three  miles  distant,  and 
remained  until  om'  family  came  back,  which 
was  not  long."  Others  came  from  time  to 
time  to  gladden  the  heai'ts  and  share  the  bm*- 
densof  the  little  fi-ontier  community.  It  is  not 
possible,  at  this  time,  to  learn  all  the  particulars 
of  their  coming,  or  even  of  their  names.  Among 
those  who  came  dm'ing  the  first  fifteen  years 
of  the  colony  were  David  Hudson,  1799; 
Thaddeus  Lacev,  1799;  R.  H.  Blin,  1799;  Will- 
iam McKinley,  1799;  David  Kellogg,  1799;  Jo- 
seph Darrow,  1799;  Jonah  Meacham,  1799; 
Jesse  Lindley,  1799;  Samuel  Bishop,  1800; 
David  Bishop,  1 800 ;  Joseph  Bishop,  1800;  Lu- 
man  Bishop,  1 800 ;  George  Darrow,  1 800 ;  Allen 
Gaylord,  1800;  Joel  Gaylord,  1801;  Heman 
Oviatt,  1801;    Stephen  Thompson,  Sr.,  1801; 


-r* 


^ 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


421 


Abraham  Thompson,  1801;  Stephen  Thomp- 
son, Jr.,  1801;  Dr.  Moses  Thompson,  1801; 
John  Bridge,  1801;  James  Newton,  1801; 
George  Pease,  1801;  Eben  Pease,  1801 ;  Will- 
iam Leach,  1801;  George  Kilbourne,  1801; 
Bradford  Kellogg,  1801;  Amos  Lusk,  1801; 
John  Oviatt,  1801 ;  Eliada  Lindley,  1801 ;  Will- 
iam Boiighton,  1801;  Ezra  Wyatt,  1801 ;  Aaron 
Norton,  1801;  Robert  Walker,  1801;  John 
Walker,  1801;  James  Walker,  1801;  Robert 
Walker,  Jr.,  1801;  George  Walker,  1801; 
Elisha  Norton,  1802;  George  Holcomb,  1802; 
Nathaniel  FaiTand,  1803;  Robert  O'Brien, 
1803;  John  O'Brien,  1803;  Charles  Miles, 
1804;  Rev.  David  Bacon,  1804;  Henry  Post, 
1804;  Zina  Post,  1804;  Jonathan  Williams, 
1804;  Chi-istian  Cackler,  Sr.,  1804;  Owen 
Brown,  1805;  Benjamin  Whedon,  1805; 
Marmadxike  Deacon,  1805;  Daniel  Johnson, 
1809;  William  Chamberlain,  1809;  William 
Chamberlain,  Jr.,  1809;  Nathaniel  Stone, 
1810;  Samuel  Hollenbeck,  1810;  Gad  Hol- 
lenbeck,  1810;  Joseph  Kingsbury,  1810; 
Elisha  Ellsworth,  1810;  Dr.  Jonathan  Met- 
calf,  1812;  Augustus  Baldwin,  1812;  Frede- 
rick Baldwin,  1812;  Dudley  Humphrey,  1812 
Ai-iel  Cobb,  1813;  Gideon  Mills,  1814 
Chauncey  Case,  1814;  Harvey  Baldwin,  1814 
Rev.  John  Seward,  1814.  Most  of  these  per- 
sons came  fi'om  Litchfield  County,  Connec- 
ticut, or  Ontario  County  in  the  State  of  New 
York.  The  larger  proportion  were  married, 
and  some  brought  into  the  country  large  fami- 
lies, that  interman'ied,  so  that  few  of  the  earli- 
est families  remained  unrelated  in  this  way. 
"  David  Hudson  brought  in  a  family  of  six 
children — Samuel,  Jxa,  William,  Timothy. 
Milo  and  Abigail.  Ii'a  Hudson  maiTied  Hul- 
dah  Oviatt;  William  mairied  Phoebe  Hutch- 
inson; Milo  married  Hannah  Rogers;  Abigail 
maiTied  Birdseye  Oviatt.  Samuel  Bishop  had 
a  family  of  five  sons  and  four  daughters: 
Timothy  man-ied  Rebecca  Craig;  David  mai'- 
ried  Miss  Kennedy;  Luman  man-ied  Rachel 
Gaylord;  Reuben  died  single;  Joseph  man-ied 
Miss  Hollenbeck;  one  of  the  girls  married 
Stephen  Perkins;  one,  Elijah  Nobles;  one, 
Samuel  Vaile;  and  one.  Gad  Hollenbeck.  Joel 
Gaylord  brought  with  him  thi'ee  sons  and  foiu- 
daughters:  John,  Daniel,  Harvey,  Sally,  Olive 
and  Betsey;  Sally  Gaylord  man-ied  William 


Leach;  and  afterward  a  John  Ford;  Olive 
man-ied  George  Darrow;  Betsey  man-ied  Will- 
iam McKinley;  and  Nancy  man-ied  William 
Chamberlain."  * 

The  little  settlement  thus  dropped  in  the 
woods,  like  a  pebble  in  the  ocean,  seemed  lost 
in  the  vast  expanse  of  wilderness  that  stretched, 
with  interminable  proportions,  from  the  front- 
iers of  Western  New  York  along  the  lakes  to 
the  great  West.  By  the  treaty  1785  with  the 
savages,  the  Cuyahoga  River  was  made  a  pai-t 
of  the  dividing  line  between  the  territories  of 
the  contracting  parties.  Eight  miles  to  the 
east  of  this  national  boundary,  separated  from 
the  civilized  world  by  hundreds  of  miles  of 
wearisome,  hazardous  joiu-ney  on  land  or  sea, 
were  a  little  handful  of  resohite  men,  with  their 
wives  and  children,  while  on  its  western  bank 
clustered  the  strongholds  of  the  merciless  sav- 
age, whose  barbarous  warfare  had  written  the 
history  of  the  Northwest  in  letters  of  fire  and 
blood.  None  felt  the  seriousness  of  the  situa- 
tion, and  the  crushing  weight  of  responsibility 
which  it  brought,  more  keenly  than  the  heroic 
founder  of  this  colony.  He  knew  the  jealous 
watchfulness  with  which  the  natives  mai-ked 
the  coming  of  each  accession  to  the  white 
colony;  the  sentiment  of  reckless  indifference 
to  the  rights  of  others  which  possessed  that 
class  of  hunters  and  ti-appers  which  hang  about 
the  outskirts  of  advanced  settlements,  and,  to 
prevent  the  contact  of  these  antagonistic  ele- 
ments, and  to  smooth  the  natural,  inevitable  as- 
perities of  the  situation,  was  his  constant  cai-e 
from  the  beginning.  He  was  constantly  en- 
gaged in  Indian  conferences,  entertaining  them 
at  his  house  and  giving  them  presents,  and 
to  his  upright  dealings  and  judicious  manage- 
ment may  be  credited  the  hai-monious  relations 
and  commanding  influence  of  the  community 
with  the  natives.  The  Seneca,  Chippewa  and 
Ottawa  tribes  had  villages  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Hudson  colony,  and  were  fi-equently  found 
among  the  whites  on  trading  or  begging  expe- 
ditions. Stigwanish,  the  chief  of  the  Seneca  vil- 
lage, was  on  intimate  terms  with  his  new  neigh- 
bors, and  was  a  fi-ecjuent  and  welcome  visitor 
at  Mr.  Hudson's  cabin.  He  was  a  large,  mus- 
cular man,  standing  straight  as  an  an-ow, 
neai-ly  six  feet  in  height,  with  a  stei-n  expres- 

*Bemiii;8ceuce8  by  Chrijlian  Cackler. 


V;' 


^1 


422 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


sion  of  coiintenaiice  and  a  keen  black  eye. 
He  is  represented,  by  all  who  knew  him  here, 
as  well  disposed  toward  his  white  neighbors, 
and  npright  in  his  dealings,  strongly  discomi- 
tenancing  anything  in  his  followers  which  was 
likely  to  provoke  trouble.  His  peojile  had 
corn-fields  on  the  river  bottoms  near  where  the 
village  of  Cnyahoga  Falls  now  stands,  which 
they  cultivated  for  years.  On  one  occasion, 
having  reason  to  fear  an  attack  from  another 
tribe,  he  requested  his  white  fi'iends  to  bnild 
him  a  fort  near  the  falls  of  the  river,  which 
they  did,  though,  happily,  it  was  never  needed 
for  the  pm-pose  of  defense.  Heman  Oviatt, 
with  a  shrewd  eye  to  business,  early  estab- 
lished a  trading- point  at  his  cabin,  about  a  mile 
south  of  the  site  of  the  village.  This  was  a 
place  of  great  attraction  to  the  Indians,  who 
gathered  here  in  considerable  numbers,  ex- 
changing the  furs  they  secured  by  trapping 
and  hiuiting  for  trinkets  of  various  kinds, 
powder,  lead  and  whisky.  The  latter  was  in 
the  greatest  demand,  and  a  scale  of  prices, 
according  to  Christian  Cackler's  account,  was 
established,  as  follows:  Coon-skins,  a  half-pint 
of  whisky;  buck-skins,  one  pint;  beai'-skins' 
fom*  quarts.  Mrs.  Oviatt  soon  acquired  their 
language'  and  gained  quite  an  ascendancy 
over  their  "untutored  minds."  Before  giving 
them  any  considerable  amount  of  whisty,  she 
was  in  the  habit  of  demanding  their  guns, 
tomahawks  and  knives,  which  they  siUTendered 
to  her  until  they  got  sober,  as  they  invariably 
got  "  kok  kusi."  One  of  these  orgies,  as  de- 
scribed by  Cackler,  was  as  follows:  "They 
were  of  the  Ottawa  tribe,  and  there  were  about 
fifteen  or  eighteen  of  them.  They  were  pro- 
vided with  a  deer-skin  suit,  like  a  little  boy's 
suit,  all  whole,  but  open  before,  and  sui)plied 
with  openings  for  legs  and  arms.  When  put 
on,  it  was  tied  in  fi'ont.  It  was  ornamented 
aroimd  the  arms  and  lews  with  fringe  some 
three  inches  three  inches  in  length,  to  which 
was  attached  a  vai-iety  of  animal  claws,  such 
as  those  of  the  tiu'key,  coon,  deer,  bear,  etc. 
One  would  put  on  this  suit,  and  jump,  hop,  and 
kick  about  in  a  sort  of  Indian  '  Highland 
fling,'  while  two  others  furnished  the  inspira- 
tion by  patting  and  humming.  The  success 
of  the  performer  seemed  to  depend  upon  his 
ability  to  get  the  greatest  possible  amount  of 


clatter  out  of  the  claws  attached  to  the  fringe. 
When  tired,  he  would  doff  the  garment,  take 
a  diink  of  the  whisky  provided,  and  give  place 
to  another  Terpsichorean  artist.  In  this  way, 
each  one  would  try  his  agilitv,  and  gradually 
get  beastly  intoxicated.  This  they  kept  up 
two  days.  Before  the  proceedings  began, 
however,  they  placed  all  their  weapons  in  the 
hands  of  their  squaws,  who  were  quiet  specta- 
tors of  the  scene.  At  the  end  of  two  days,  all 
save  two  of  the  squaws  who  were  assigned  to 
the  charge  of  the  ])apooses,  got  di'imk,  and 
exhibited  all  the  worst  phases  of  this  degrad- 
ing revel."  It  was  hardly  to  be  expected  that 
the  free  use  of  whisky  in  this  way  should 
always  result  so  harmlessly  to  the  general 
interests  of  the  community  at  large.  The 
women  and  children  could  never  learn  to  look 
upon  the  savages  with  any  degree  of  equanim- 
ity, and  the  natives  were  not  slow  to  perceiv(^ 
this.  Occasionally,  an  ill-disposed  fellow, 
inflamed  by  whisky,  would  frighten  a  woman 
if  he  found  her  unprotected  in  an  isolated 
cabin.  On  one  occasion,  a  paiiy  of  Indians 
came  to  the  cabin  of  Marmaduke  Deacon,  situ- 
ated where  his  son  now  resides,  and,  finding  his 
wife  alone  with  her  children,  approached  her 
in  a  threatening  manner,  making  some  demand 
in  their  own  langiiage.  Not  able  to  understand 
their  iitterances,  she  provided  them  with  a  gen- 
erous supply  of  provisions.  They  still  main- 
tained their  menacing  attitude,  when  she 
seciu'ed  and  gave  them  every  cent  of  money 
there  was  in  the  cabin,  and,  finding  them 
still  unsatisfied,  she  left  her  childi'en  and  pro- 
ceeded, through  the  snow,  to  the  cabin  of 
O'Brien,  who  lived  some  distance  away,  for 
more  to  satisfy  their  demands.  She  reached 
her  destination,  but  the  fright,  added  to  the 
exposm-e,  was  too  much  for  her  feeble  strength, 
amd  she  never  left  alive,  dying  of  qTiick  con- 
sumption in  a  few  weeks.  This  circumstance 
aroused  the  revengeful  disposition  of  a  certain 
class  of  the  whites,  who,  known  as  "  Indian 
haters,"  became  Indian  slayers  whenever  occa- 
sion offered  the  chance  of  escaping  the  penalty 
of  their  acts.  Jonathan  Williams,  who  came 
in  with  Christian  Cackler,  Sr.,  in  1804,  was 
one  of  this  class.  "  George  Wilson,"  a  son  of 
Stigwanish,  was  a  quarrelsome  fellow  when 
under  the  influence  of  liquor,  and  had  several 


1^ 


HUDSON   TOWNSHIP. 


423 


sei'ious  misvinderstandiugs  with  the  whites. 
One  time,  when  feeling  paiiicnlarly  surly,  he 
happened  at  the  cabin  of  "  Old  Mother  New- 
ell," on  Paines'  road,  near  the  town  line.  She 
was  alone,  and,  noticing  his  approach,  she 
took  the  precaution  to  hi\x  the  door.  Denied 
admittance  to  the  cabin,  which  had  but  one 
door,  he  pnt  his  gun-baiTel  through  the  open- 
ing between  the  logs,  and  satisfied  his  ugly 
disposition  by  forcing  her,  with  threats,  to 
dance  in  the  middle  of  the  floor  till,  tired  of 
the  sport,  he  went  away.  He  had  scai'cely  left 
before  IVIi's.  Newell,  on  the  watch  for  some 
passer-by,  saw  Williams  coming  along  the 
trail  with  his  gim  on  his  shoulder,  as  usual. 
She  called  him,  and  related  the  circumstances. 
Williams  waited  only  to  hear  the  story,  and 
pushed  on  after  the  Indian.  Williams'  char- 
acter was  not  unknown  to  the  natives,  and, 
finding  him  on  his  trail,  Wilson  left  the  road 
and  struck  tlu'ough  the  woods  hoping  to  avoid  an 
encoimter.  Williams  gained  upon  him  slowly 
but  sm'ely,  and,  when  in  vicinity  of  a  piece  of 
"honey-comb  swamp,"  taking  advantage  of  a 
moment  when  the  Indian  was  off  his  guard,  he 
shot  and  killed  him.  Drawing  his  body  into  this 
piece  of  swamp,  he  thiiist  it  out  of  sight,  send- 
ing, also,  the  Indian's  rifle  down  with  him.  The 
mysterious  disappearance  of  Wilson  created  a 
great  commotion  among  the  Senecas,  and  great 
effort  was  made  to  discover  the  whereabouts  of 
his  remains  and  the  cause  of  his  final  taking- 
off.  The  Indians  suspected  what  the  whites 
did  not  learn  imtil  years  afterward,  and  Will- 
iams was  obliged  ever  afterward  to  be  con- 
stantly on  his  giTard  against  surprise.  It  is 
said,  on  another  occasion  while  hunting  while 
there  was  a  light  coating  of  snow  on  the 
gromid,  he  lost  for  awhile  his  bearings,  and 
found  himself  following  his  own  track  in  a 
circle.  He  observed,  in  coming  upon  his  own 
trail,  the  track  also  of  a  moccasined  foot,  and, 
with  a  himter's  instinct,  recognizing  his  pur- 
suer, he  took  to  a  tree  and  shot  him  as  he 
came  again  following  the  trail. 

By  the  treaty  of  1805,  the  Indians  were 
removed  from  the  near  neighborhood  of  the 
whites,  who  were  rapidly  poiunng  into  this 
country,  but  they  still  continued  to  come  back 
in  squads  to  their  old  haiuits,  to  trade  or  hiint. 
In]1806,  Stigwanish,  with  his  sons,  John  Big- 


son,  John  Amur,  his  sons-in-law,  Nickshaw 
and  Wobmimg,  and  others  of  their  family, 
came  to  their  old  camps  inDeerfield.  During 
their  stay,  Nickshaw  traded  his  pony  with  a 
settler  by  the  name  of  John  Diver.  The  In- 
dian felt  aggrieved,  and  complained  to  some 
of  the  leading  settlers,  and  endeavored  to  trade 
back  with  Diver,  without  success.  Nickshaw 
felt  that  he  had  been  cheated,  and  agreed,  with 
Mohawk,  to  shoot  Diver.  Until  this  horse 
trade,  there  had  been  the  kindliest  relations 
existing  between  the  parties,  and  no  fears 
were  entertained  that  the  disagreement  would 
cause  a  ruptiu-e.  The  young  men  called  at 
Daniel  Diver's  cabin  soon  afterward,  and 
sought  to  get  his  brother  within  their  gi-asp 
by  strategem,  but  failed.  A  little  later  in  the 
same  evening,  Daniel,  in  going  out  to  placate 
the  Indians,  was  shot  so  as  to  blind  him — a 
wound  which  did  not  prove  mortal — and  fled, 
supposing  he  had  killed  the  one  with  whom 
they  had  had  the  difficulty.  A  party  of  set- 
tlers at  once  started  in  pursuit.  Their  camp, 
some  three  miles  distant,  was  found  deserted, 
but,  following  their  trail  along  the  great 
Indian  road  from  the  Ohio  River  to  Sandusky, 
they  crossed  the  Cuyahoga  River,  where  Kent 
now  stands,  and  the  center  road  of  Hudson, 
about  a  mile  south  of  the  village,  thence  across 
the  Cuyahoga  again  near  the  site  of  Peninsula, 
in  Boston  Township.  The  trail  entered  Hud- 
son on  Lot  No.  10,  and  passed  within  sixty 
rods  of  Cackler's  cabin,  and  the  pursuers,  imder 
the  lead  of  Maj.  H.  Rogers,  reached  this  cabin 
about  1  o'clock  in  the  morning.  It  was  a 
clear,  cold  night  in  the  latter  part  of  Decem- 
ber of  1800;  the  moon  was  shining  with  pecu- 
liar brightness  upon  the  earth,  lightly  covered 
with  snow,  giving  the  pursuers  every  facility. 
When  they  arrived  here,  however,  some  of  the 
party  were  nearly  frozen,  and  a  nimiber  of 
them  went  no  further  Rogers  got  Christian 
Cackler,  Sr.,his  oldest  son  and  Jonathan  Will- 
iams, to  accompany  him  in  continuing  the 
pursuit.  "  They  went  to  Hudson,  got  a  new 
I'ecruit,  and  followed  on  to  near  the  west  part 
of  Richfield.  Here  the  Indians  had  stopi)ed, 
built  a  Are,  stacked  their  arms,  tied  their 
ponies,  and  lain  do^vn  with  their  feet  to  the 
fire.  Most  of  them  had  pulled  off  their  moc- 
casins.    When  Rogers  and  his  men  saw  the 


424 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


fire,  they  scattered  and  surrounded  the  Indians, 
some  of  whom  were  in  a  doze,  and  some 
asleep.  As  they  were  closing  up,  Nickshaw 
and  Mohawk  sprang  up  and  ran  oif  bare- 
footed. They  closed  in  on  the  rest,  and,  it 
beginning  to  be  light,  Rogers  wanted  some- 
body to  go  after  Nickshaw,  and  George  Dar- 
row,  of  Hudson,  and  Jonathan  Williams,  vol- 
unteered to  go.  The  Indians'  feet  began  to 
bleed  before  they  got  a  mile,  when  they  sat 
down  on  a  log,  tied  pieces  of  blanket  on  their 
feet,  and  then  separated.  DaiTOw  and  Will- 
iams followed  one  of  them,  who  proved  to  be 
Nickshaw,  and  whom  they  overtook  in  about 
three  miles.  He  looked  back,  and,  seeing 
them,  gave  a  whoop  and  increased  his  speed, 
and  they  after  him  like  hounds  after  a  fox. 
In  about  a  mile  they  overtook  him,  and  asked 
him  to  come  back,  but  he  would  not.  Dar- 
rows  said  he  thought  he  would  clinch  him; 
but,  when  he  made  the  attempt,  Nickshaw 
would  piTt  his  hand  under  his  blanket  as 
though  he  had  a  knife.  Darrow  thought  he 
would  get  a  club  and  knock  him  down,  but 
Mr.  Indian  could  get  a  club  and  use  it  too. 
They  got  out  of  patience,  and  Williams  fired 
his  gun  over  Nickshaw's  head,  to  let  him  know 
what  was  coming  if  he  did  not  yield.  This 
did  not  make  the  desired  impression,  and  Will- 
iams loaded  his  gun  and  killed  him  by  a  sec- 
ond shot.  They  placed  him  under  a  log,  cov- 
ered him  with  brush  and  old  chiuiks,  and 
came  back  to  Hudson."*  The  whites  returned 
with  Bigson  and  his  two  sons,  who  were  com- 
mitted, by  the  Justice  of  Deerfield,  to  the  jail 
at  Warren.  A  squaw  belonging  to  them  was 
allowed  to  escape,  and,  it  is  said,  perished  in 
the  snow.  The  killing  of  Nickshaw,  however, 
it  was  thoiTght  was  unwarrantable,  and.  fearing 
the  consequences  of  such  an  act  if  allowed  to 
pass  unnoticed,  David  Hudson,  Heman  Oviatt 
and  Owen  Brown  mounted  their  horses  and 
brought  in  the  body  of  the  dead  Indian.  The 
matter  was  brought  before  the  proper  legal 
authorities,  l^ut  the  investigation  came  to  a 
lame  concliTsion,  and  finally  ended  in  a  "hoe- 
down,"  where  whisky  was  plenty,  and  a  collec- 
tion of  $5  for  Williams  as  a  reward  for  the 
deed.  Bigson  was  finally  set  at  liberty,  and 
remained  near  the  settlements  for  years. 

♦Cackler's  Reminiscences. 


The  affair  occasioned  no  further  trouble, 
although  it  occasioned  considerable  uneasiness 
amongst  the  settlers  for  a  time.  The  Indians 
either  acquiescing  in  the  judgment  of  the 
whites,  or  realizing  their  inability  to  success- 
fully cope  with  the  settlers,  made  a  virtue  of 
necessity  and  passed  it  by  without  notice. 

The  year  1806  was  a  marked  one  in  other 
respects,  to  both  the  whites  and  Indians.  A 
full  eclipse  of  the  sun  occun'ed  on  17th  of 
June,  much  to  the  terror  of  the  untutored  sav- 
age, and  gi-eatly  to  the  injury  of  the  crops  of 
the  whites.  The  Indians  were  greatly  fright- 
ened by  the  event,  and,  though  it  had  been  in 
some  cases  foretold  by  some  of  the  sqviaws 
(how  they  learned  of  the  fact  has  never  been 
ascertained),  it  was  not  believed,  and  the 
women  were  executed  as  witches.  When  the 
event  occurred,  therefore,  they  were  greatly 
frightened,  and.  forming  in  a  circle,  and 
marching  around  in  regular  order,  each  one 
fired  at  the  evil  spirit  that  was  threatening  the 
destruction  of  the  world.  Happily  for  one 
"brave,"  he  discharged  his  gun  just  as  the 
shadow  began  to  move  off,  and  he  was  created 
a  chief  on  the  spot  for  his  bravery  and  the 
great  service  he  had  performed  for  the  natives. 
The  whites,  though  less  affected  by  the  phe- 
nomenon, were  hardly  less  seriously  aftected 
by  its  effects,  if  the  reminiscences  of  Mr. 
Cackler  are  to  be  relied  upon.  He  says: 
"  The  day  of  the  great  eclipse  was  a  beautiful, 
warm  day;  we  were  hoeing  corn  the  second 
time,  with  only  shirts  and  pants  on,  but,  after 
the  eclipse  was  off,  the  weather  was  so  much 
colder  that  we  had  to  put  on  our  vests  and  coats 
to  work  in.  There  were  frosts  every  month 
that  summer;  no  corn  got  ripe,  and  the  next 
spring  we  had  to  send  to  the  Ohio  River  for 
seed-corn  to  plant.  The  next  summer  was  the 
hardest  time  I  ever  saw.  There  was  no  gi-ain 
in  the  country.  My  father  and  Adam  Nigh- 
man  went  to  Georgetown,  on  the  Ohio  River, 
for  flour;  they  had  no  money,  but  took  a  rifle 
and  pledged  it  for  floiu*,  and  I  guess  they 
never  redeemed  it." 

A  good  rifle  was  a  valuable  piece  of  prop- 
erty to  the  first  settlers.  Next  to  his  ax  and 
plow,  he  depended  upon  it  for  support  in  sub- 
duing the  wild  land  in  which  he  reared  his 
cabin  home.     The  vast  forests  abounded  with 


~^FU 


9 


Ain^' 


HITDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


425 


game,  which  at  first  was  his  principal  depend- 
ence for  sustenance,  and  later  his  greatest  an- 
noyance and  damage.  Elk,  the  common  deer, 
bears,  wolves,  panthers,  with  otters,  beavers  and 
raccoons  infested  the  country  and  preyed  on  the 
crops  and  stock  of  the  early  community  with 
comparative  impunity.  Bears  came  right  into 
the  settlement,  and,  seizing  a  hog,  caiTied  it, 
struggling  and  squealing,  to  the  woods,  and 
destroyed  it  before  the  aroused  settlers  could 
prevent.  Wolves  attacked  stock,  killing  calves 
and  yearlings,  and  frequently  assailed  travel- 
ers, though  generally  with  no  serious  results. 
Squirrels,  raccoons  and  blackbirds,  in  their 
attack  upon  the  grain-fields,  were  hardly  less 
troublesome,  and  all  the  available  children  of 
the  community  wei'e  pressed  into  the  service 
of  protecting  the  growing  crops  from  their 
depredations.  As  the  settlement  became  less 
dependent  upon  game  for  food,  the  disadvan- 
tages of  this  abundance  became  more  appar- 
ent, and  organizations  were  made,  much 
against  the  wishes  of  the  professional  hunter, 
to  drive  it  out  of  the  coimtry.  The  towTiship 
of  Streetsboro,  on  the  east  of  Hudson,  was  not 
settled  for  years  after  its  neighbors,  and 
offered  a  secure  retreat  for  the  animals  that 
played  such  havoc  upon  the  stock  of  the  pio- 
neer settlements.  The  commimities  which  suf- 
fered most  from  this  state  of  affairs  deter- 
mined, in  1819,  to  rid  themselves  of  these 
impleasant  neighbors.  A  committee  was  ap- 
pointed, which  marked  off  thirty  or  forty  acres 
a  little  south  of  the  center,  into  which  the 
game  was  to  be  driven.  The  settlers  of  Hud- 
son came  in  on  the  west,  of  Franklin  on  the 
east,  and  of  Aurora  on  the  north.     In  d(  ascrib- 


ing the  hiuit,  Cackler,  who  was  an  old  hunter, 
says :  "  When  the  ring  closed  up,  there  was  the 
gi'eatest  sight  I  ever  saw.  There  were  over  a 
hundred  deer,  and  a  large  number  of  bears 
and  wolves.  As  they  ran  around  the  ring,  the 
guns  cracked  like  a  battle.  The  deer  came 
in  great  hei'ds,  forming  a  splendid  sight  with 
their  large  antlers,  and,  as  they  came  toward 
the  ranks,  the  hunters  made  wide  gaps  and  let 
them  out,  closing  in  again  to  keep  the  bears 
and  wolves.  When  we  thought  all  dead,  a 
wounded  wolf  came  limping  along  a  few  rods 
from  the  line,  calling  out  a  perfect  shower  of 
bullets.  A  Hudson  man,  with  another  of  the 
band,  standing  near  each  other,  filled  at  the 
wolf  when  he  fell  dead.  Both  claimed  the 
scalp,  which  then  was  worth  |7,  not  a  small 
sum  for  that  time,  and  began  a  struggle  for  it 
that  ended  in  a  bout  of  fisticuffs.  When 
finally  the  Hudson  man  was  conquered,  the 
wolf's  scalp  was  gone.  The  proceeds  of  this 
hunt,  when  brought  together,  comprised  over 
sixty  deer,  seven  bears  and  five  wolves.  A 
large  number  of  the  wolves  escaped,  and  many 
of  the  slaughtered  animals  were  picked  up  and 
carried  off  by  those  who  had  not  joined  in  the 
hunt,  but  enjoyed  the  game.  The  larger  game 
grew  rapidly  scarce  after  this.  The  hunters  of 
Hudson  frequently  went  to  the  region  of  San- 
dusky Bay,  the  swamps  of  the  Hui'on  and 
Portage  Rivers,  and  seciu'ed  furs  and  plenty 
of  game,  but  the  lawlessness  of  the  people  who 
congregated  at  these  points,  and  the  dangers 
of  lake  travel,  made  it  a  hazardous  rmdertak- 
ing,  that  scarcely  remunerated  the  hunter  for 
his  risks  and  hardships. 


■'v S 


IV 


426 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER     XIV.* 

HUDSON  TOWNSHIP— CHARACTER  OF  THE  EARLY  COMMUNITY— ORGANIZATION— PIONEER  INDUS- 
TRIES—VILLAGE OF  HUDSON— ITS  INCORPORATION  AND  GROWTH- 
FOUNDING  OF  CHURCH   AND  SCHOOL. 


"  A'oTi  ignara  nali,  rnineris  mccurrere  disro.'^ 

THE  early  community  of  Hudson  was  patri- 
archal in  its  characteristics.  It  originated 
in  the  self-sacrificing  devotion  of  its  founder; 
its  first  steps  were  directed  by  his  judgment, 
and  in  its  maturer  years  it  bears  his  name  and 
the  impress  of  his  character.  It  is  difficult  to 
imagine  the  early  prosperity  of  this  settlement 
without  the  material  and  moral  support  of  Mr. 
Hudson.  He  is  the  central  figure  in  all  its 
early  history,  and  remained  so  until  his  death. 
Coming  with  ample  resources  for  the  prosecu- 
tion of  his  enterprise,  he  allowed  no  desire  for 
private  ends  to  swerve  him  from  his  chosen 
course.  He  sought  to  establish  a  center  of 
civilizing  influence ;  his  was  the  mission  of  a 
public  benefactor,  and  the  records  of  that  time 
bear  ample  evidence  of  his  faithfulness.  The 
sick  and  unfortunate  found  in  him  a  helpful 
friend  ;  public  enterprises  were  placed  beyond 
the  danger  of  failure  by  his  eftbrts  ;  struggling 
merit  never  failed  for  lack  of  material  aid  when 
solicited  of  him,  while  his  old  account  books, 
bearing  the  names  of  every  member  of  the  set- 
tlement in  those  early  days,  tell  many  a  tale  of 
his  devotion  to  his  people.  In  the  building-up 
of  the  influence  he  sought,  Mr.  Hudson  exer- 
cised his  power  without  the  aid  of  compulsion. 
He  laid  no  restrictions  upon  the  freedom  of 
thought  or  action  in  the  sale  of  his  land.  The 
support  of  church  and  school  was  voluntary 
on  the  part  of  each  one,  but  his  personal  in- 
fluence— not  an  unimportant  factor  in  the  issue 
— he  put  without  reserve  in  favor  of  these  in- 
stitutions, and  in  the  end  he  wrought  success, 
where  more  exacting  methods  reaped  failure. 
There  were  two  elements  here  from  the  first, 
antagonistic  to  each  other  in  both  politics  and 
religion,  but  Mr.  Hudson,  commanding  the  re- 
spect of  his  cotemporaries  in  years,  and  the 
reverence  of  the  young,  on  the  principle  of  the 
resolution  of  forces,  though  his  influence  united 

♦Contributed  l.y  J.  H.  Battle. 


them  in  carrying  forward  the  general  principles 
upon  which  the  settlement  was  founded.  There 
was  in  all  this,  however,  no  spirit  of  asceticism. 
The  New  England  pleasures  of  the  husking- 
bee  and  apple-paring  were  added  to  the  West- 
ern logging-bees  and  spinning  matches. 

"When  toil  remitting  lent  its  turn  to  play, 
And  all  the  village  train,  from  labor  free, 
•  Led  up  their  sports." 

Dancing  was  a  common  form  of  amusement. 
There  were  plenty  of  violins  and  many  a  hard 
day's  work  in  the  field  and  cabin  was  supple- 
mented by  a  night's  scarceh'  less  vigorous  ex- 
ercise in  dancing.  The  first  ball  in  Cleveland 
was  attended  from  all  the  surrounding  settle- 
ments, and  among  the  rest  Hudson  sent  her 
complement.  The  occasion  was  the  4th  of  July, 
1801,  and  R.  H.  Blinn,  of  Hudson,  was  one  of 
the  ''  managers."  An  old  chronicle  says  :  "  Not- 
withstanding the  dancers  had  a  rough  puncheon 
floor,  and  no  better  beverage  to  enliven  their 
spirits  than  whisk}'  sweetened  with  maple  sugar, 
yet  it  is  doubtful  if  the  anniversary  of  Ameri- 
can independence  was  ever  celebrated  in  Cleve- 
land by  a  more  joyful  and  harmonious  compa- 
ny than  those  who  danced  the  scamper-down 
double-shufile,  Western  swing,  and  half-moon 
fort3--six  [eight}']  years  ago  in  the  log  cabin  of 
^laj.  Carter."  The  only  record  we  have  of  the 
observance  of  this  day  in  Hudson  was  on  July 
4,  1800.  There  were  then  just  forty-two  souls 
in  the  settlement,  the  most  of  whom  had  come 
in  the  preceding  month.  These  all  sat  down 
at  a  table  of  elm  bark,  in  the  woods  on  what  is 
now  a  part  of  the  public  square,  a  few  rods 
north  of  the  actual  center  of  the  township, 
and  a  very  little  west  of  the  north-and-south 
road.  Their  fare  may  be  imagined  ;  their 
guests  were  David  Hudson,  his  wife  Anna  Hud- 
son, their  children,  Samuel,  Ira.  William  N., 
Milo  L.,  Timothy  and  Abigail  L.  Hudson ; 
Thaddeus  Lacey,  his  wife  Rosanna  Lacey,  their 
children,  Isaac    H.,    Ann   and   Susan    Lacey  ; 


>^ 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


427 


David  Kellogg,  his  wife  Mrs.  Kellogg,  their 
children,  Eleanor,  Hiram  and  an  infant ;  Sam- 
uel Bishop,  his  wife,  Mrs.  Bishop,  their  chil- 
dren, Ruth,  David,  Luman,  lleuben,  Joseph, 
Phoebe,  and  a  maiden  sister  of  Mrs.  Bishop, 
Ruth  Gajdord  ;  Elijah  Noble,  his  wife,  Anna 
Noble  and  child,  Ira  Noble.  Those  not  having 
families  at  that  time,  or  whose  families  were 
still  in  the  East,  were  Joel  (laylord,  Heman 
Oviatt.  Dr.  Moses  Thompson,  Stephen  Perkins, 
William  Leach,  Reuben  Parker,  George  Dar- 
row,  Joseph  Darrow,  Gordon  Crandall  and  John 
Wood. 

The  property  of  the  early  community  was 
very  evenl}'  distributed,  and  there  were  none 
who  could  be  termed  wealthy,  even  by  the 
standard  of  that  da}'.  A  few  would  be,  per- 
haps, accurately  placed  by  that  New  England 
term  of-'  fore-handed  farmers."  The  accumula- 
tions of  a  well-advanced  life-time  invested  in  the 
cheap  lands  of  the  Reserve  made  a  somewhat 
imposing  show,  but  all  were  blessed  with  large 
families,  among  whom  the  parents  sooner  or 
later  divided  their  property,  so  that  there  was 
but  little  difference  in  the  size  of  their  farms. 
All  fared  on  the  same  food.  The  woods  fur- 
nished freely  to  all  an  abundance  of  game, 
berries,  honey  and  nuts,  while  none  were  so 
poor  after  a  few  years'  residence  that  he  could 
not  raise  his  own  pork  and  snppl}'  his  own 
table  with  milk,  butter,  cheese  and  flour.  The 
most  marked  difference  perhaps  was  in  the  su- 
perior comfort  of  some  of  the  dwellings,  and 
the  fact  that  some  wore  shoes  the  year  round. 
But  even  this  difference  brought  with  it  the 
compensating  burden  of  responsibility  and  risk 
to  its  possessor.  The  first,  and  perhaps  the 
most  pretentious  house  in  the  vilhige  was  the 
hewed-log  cabin  built  by  Mr.  Hudson,  on  Bald- 
win street.  This  was  supplied  with  glass  win- 
dows, and  was  in  its  appointments  a  fitting 
residence  for  the  principal  man  of  the  town. 
In  1802,  his  growing  family  and  his  duties  of 
hospitality  demanded  a  larger  cabin,  and  he  set 
about  putting  it  up,  choosing  a  site  a  few  feet 
east  of  the  first  one.  This  he  had  completed 
and  had  moved  a  few  beds  and  other  things  into 
it,  and  being  in  the  middle  of  "  moving  "  the 
family  slept  in  their  new  home,  the  children 
leaving  their  clothing  in  the  old  one.  An  arbi- 
tration had  been  held  in  the  old  house  untd 
quite  late  at  night,  and  a  roaring  fire  had  been 
maintained  on  the  hearth.     A  short  time  after 


closing  the  business  and  Mr.  Hudson  had  retired 
to  bed  in  the  new  building,  he  was  aroused  b}'  the 
flames  showing  in  the  chamber  of  the  old  cabin. 
The  old  "  cat-and-clay"  chimney  had  proved  rec- 
reant to  its  trust,  and  the  chamber  loft  had  been 
set  on  fire.  Mr.  Hudson  saved  his  valuable 
papers,  but  everything  else  was  lost,  including 
a  large  stock  of  supplies  intended  to  provide 
for  his  family  and  such  of  the  settlers  as  would 
need  them  for  a  full  year,  and  even  his  chil- 
dren's shoes.  His  loss  was  estimated  at  a 
.f  1,000,  and  was  the  more  serious  from  the  fact 
that  the  nearest  market  was  Pittsburgh,  which 
could  onl}'  be  reached  by  traversing  miles  of 
trackless  woods.  There  were  others,  like  Chris- 
tian Cackler,  Jr.,  who  found  consolation  in  that 
traditional  old  lady's  philosophy,  ''  blessed  be 
nothing."  On  moving  from  Hudson  in  1816, 
•'  our  furniture,"  says  he,  "  proved  no  incon- 
venience ;  m}'  wife  had  a  bed,  I  had  an  ax,  I 
added  to  this  by  purchase  of  Zenas  Kent  three 
white  cups  and  saucers  costing  75  cents,  three 
knives  and  forks  and  a  wooden  pail.  The 
woman  who  lived  with  us  gave  three  wooden 
plates,  and  a  kettle  to  cook  our  victuals  in. 
My  wife's  father  also  gave  us  a  table  which 
completed  our  '  set  out.'  "  (In  1870,  his  prop- 
erty was  estimated  at  $30,000).  Such  a  distinc- 
tion was  obviously  too  slender  a  foundation 
upon  which  to  build  a  spirit  of  caste.  Indeed, 
the  whole  fabric  of  societ}-  rested  upon  an  aris- 
tocracy of  labor,  and  none  were  so  high  or  so 
low  that  he  did  not  minister  to  his  necessities 
with  his  own  hands.  The  fathers  of  the  com- 
munity wrought  in  the  fields  with  their  sons, 
and  were  not  less  strong  in  action  than  wise 
in  counsel.  Their  endurance  is  the  marvel  of 
later  generations. 

In  1802,  Mr.  Hudson  was  called  to  Goshen 
on  business  pertaining  to  the  land  which  he 
held  in  company-  with  ^Ir.  Norton.  He  started 
out  on  horseback  and  alone,  carrying  his  pro- 
visions with  him.  It  was  in  July,  and  after 
going  some  fifty  miles  he  found  his  horse  jaded 
by  the  journey  and  used  up  l)y  the  flies  which 
were  the  scourge  of  animal  life  in  the  new 
country.  He  accordingly  sold  his  horse,  and 
slinging  his  pack  upon  his  shoulder  he  pro- 
ceeded on  his  way  on  foot.  On  reaching  the 
Cattaraugus  Creek,  which  was  considerably 
swollen  with  rains,  and  finding  no  one  there  to 
aid  him.  he  determined  to  cross  on  his  own  ac- 
count.    It  was  not  far  fi'om  its  mouth  and  the 


V 


428 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


current  was  dangerously  rapid,  but  taking  an 
old  hall-rotten  sled  that  chanced  to  be  near,  he 
launched  out  for  the  other  shore.  Unfortunately 
he  had  miscalculated  the  force  of  the  current 
and  he  found  himself  borne  rapidly  toward  the 
open  lake.  To  proceed  far  in  this  way  meant 
death,  and  taking  advantage  of  the  course  of 
the  current  he  leaped  from  his  raft  upon  a 
shifting  sandbank  which  the  current  was  piling 
up  near  the  bank  and  after  severe  effort  secured 
firm  ground  on  the  same  side  of  the  stream 
from  which  he  had  started,  a  wet  but  wiser 
man.  Going  some  distance  up  the  stream,  he 
forded  it  in  safety,  continued  his  journey  to 
Bloomfield,  in  New  York,  where  he  bought  a 
horse  and  completed  his  journey  and  back  to 
the  settlement  in  safet}'.  This  was  the  exploit 
of  a  man  over  forty  years  of  age. 

The  matrons  were  of  a  not  less  hardy  race, 
and  are  no  less  a  marvel  to  the  women  of  these 
•'degenerate  days."  "  Carpets,  or  even  painted 
floors,  were  not  then  found  even  in  the  houses 
of  comparativel}"  well-to-do  families,  but  the 
floors  were  kept  scoured  to  a  snowy  whiteness, 
and  in  the  best  rooms  were  neatly  sanded  and 
then  marked  into  fantastic  figures.  Crockery, 
or  queensware,  as  it  was  then  called,  was  too 
expensive  for  the  tables  of  the  yeomanry,  and 
the  dresser  was  supplied  with  pewter  platters, 
which  must  be  kept  polished  to  a  silvery  white- 
ness. The  thrifty  housewife  kept  her  deal  ta- 
bles and  benches  and  unpainted  doors  washed 
to  immaculate  cleanness.  The  towels,  table- 
linen,  bed-linen,  and  most  of  the  summer 
clothing  of  the  family  were  the  products  of 
home  industry.  The  mothers  and  daughters 
hatcheled  the  flax,  at  a  small  wheel  spun  the 
thread,  and  afterward  their  hands  threw  the 
shuttle  that  formed  the  durable  fabrics,  the  re- 
mains of  which  are  held  as  heir-looms  by  the 
descendants  of  the  old  families,  and  proudly- 
shown  as  proofs  of  the  handiwork  of  hands 
long  since  laid  to  rest.  Spinning,  knitting  and 
weaving  linen,  and  braiding  straw  hats  and 
bonnets,  were  a  large  part  of  the  regular  work 
of  the  winter.  Bleaching,  cutting,  making  and 
fashioning  these  ready  for  use  was  spring  work. 
Then  came  cleansing,  picking  and  carding  the 
wool  into  bats  ready  for  spinning  on  the  large 
wheel.  The  yarn  was  woven  into  blankets 
for  bedding.  Some  was  made  into  checked 
flannel  for  aprons  and  dresses  for  the  women, 
and  died  red  for  the  children's  dresses.     Part 


of  the  flannel  was  fulled  for  clothing  for  the 
men  and  boj's.  Then  there  must  be  many 
skeins  of  yarn  of  divers  shades  and  colors  for 
the  hose  and  mittens  and  comforters  of  all. 
Knitting  occupied  the  evenings  of  the  grand- 
mother and  daughters  in  the  family  of  the 
olden  time,  and  she  was  considered  a  poor 
knitter  who  could  not  show  a  well-shaped  sock 
or  a  double  mitten  as  the  result  of  a  winter 
evening's  work.  Summer  gloves  or  mitts  were 
made  of  linen  thread  with  a  hook  similar  to 
the  modern  crochet  needle.  Nor  were  these 
branches  of  home  industry  confined  to  the 
families  of  farmers.  No  woman  was  held  of 
much  account  whose  hands- laid  not  hold  of  the 
spindle  and  distaflT,  and  who  looked  not  well  to 
the  ways  of  her  household,  or  could  even  be 
suspected  of  eating  the  bread  of  idleness. 
The  strength  of  these  women  Avas  equal  to 
their  da}^,  and  their  work  did  not  hurry  them 
so  that  they  could  not  occasionally  make  and 
receive  visits  of  half  a  day  with  neighbors  and 
friends.  They  were  able  to  attend  two  long 
services  in  church  on  the  Sabbath,  and  to 
stand  through  the  longest  prayer  that  was  ever 
oftered."*  There  was  present  in  the  earl}^  so- 
ciety not  only  the  plain  virtue  of  helpfulness, 
but  there  were  some  homes  that  without  losing 
this,  foreshadowed  the  culture  which  to-day  is 
Hudson's  crown  of  glory. 

The  fathers  of  the  colony  were  not  men  of 
learning  or  of  courtly  demeanor.  With  tastes 
formed  by  the  experiences  of  New  England 
farm  life,  and  the  echoes  of  that  controversial 
conflict  which  was  characterized  more  by  the 
power  exhibited  than  b}*  the  culture  of  the 
combatants,  their  intellectual  tastes  preferred 
"sound  common  sense"  to  the  elegant  ac- 
complishments. But  they  brought  with  them 
an  earnest  appreciation  of  and  desire  for  edu- 
cational advantages,  which  attracted  those 
like-minded,  and  early  cast  over  the  commu- 
nity here  an  air  of  culture  that  vvas  to  be  found 
nowhere  else  on  the  Reserve.  By  the  permis- 
sion of  Miss  Emily  Metcalf,  we  are  permitted  to 
look  in  upon  one  of  these  early  homes,  which 
she  has  sketched  with  such  a  "  tender  grace." 
Mrs.  Metcalf  came  to  Hudson  in  1814.  "The 
first  ten  years  of  her  married  life  were  spent 
in  a  house  of  hewed  logs,  its  four  rooms  neatly 
hung  with  newspapers  ;  an  article  only  procured 

*Meinoirof  Mra.  Liioy  D-  Blown,  widow  uf  Harm  >n  Hinslale 
auU  Oweu  Biown. 


"^ 


=^]^ 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


429 


in  sufficient  numbers  through  the  generosity 
of  her  ministerial  friends  and  her  legal  friend, 
Judge  Parkmau.  Its  windows  were  of  glass 
instead  of  oiled  paper,  which  ranked  the  ap- 
pointments of  the  house  as  decidedly  superior, 
nor  was  it  wanting  in  a  certain  air  of  refine- 
ment, which  could  not  be  absent  from  a  house 
of  which  she  was  mistress.  The  house  stood 
near  the  woods,  a  mile  from  the  nearest  neigh- 
bor. Wild  animals  from  the  forest  often  vent- 
ured near,  and  Indians  frequently-  called  to 
light  the  pipe  and  beg  a  mug  of  cider.  Her 
husband's  ride  in  the  practice  of  medicine  was 
over  sevei'al  contiguous  counties.  *  *  * 
At  such  times  the  wife,  left  alone  with  her 
small  children,  had  no  diversion  from  intense 
solicitude  except  in  reading ;  and,  in  the  scar- 
city of  books  and  papers  of  general  interest, 
she  resorted  to  her  husband's  medical  library 
In  the  long  nights,  when  anxiety  forbade  sleep 
to  the  defenseless  wife  and  motiier,  these  med- 
ical works  were  read  and  re-read,  until,  without 
aiming  at  such  acquisition,  she  had  gained  a 
very  creditable  knowledge  of  medicine,  which 
became  of  great  value  to  her,  both  in  rearing 
her  own  family,  and  in  kindly  offices  for 
the  sick  in  other  families,  when  her  services 
were  ever  esteemed  above  price."  Mrs.  Met- 
calf,  before  her  marriage,  had  pursued  a  course 
of  stud}'  in  the  academy  at  Westfield,  Mass. 
Here  her  fine  mental  powers,  stimulated  by 
that  unquenchable  thirst  for  knowledge  which 
characterized  her  whole  life,  ranked  her  high 
in  every  department  of  study.  Especially 
did  the  artistic  chord  in  her  nature  respond  re- 
joicingly to  the  aesthetic  culture  of  the  school, 
and,  after  a  period  of  nearly  sixty  years  (1870), 
she  leaves  as  heirlooms  several  paintings  and 
pieces  of  finest  ornamental  needle-work,  exe- 
cuted by  herself  at  chat  time."* 

Dr.  Jonathan  Metcalf  came  to  Hudson  in 
1812.  After  a  long  tour  of  inspection  on 
horseback,  he  came  to  Aurora,  and  was  about 
to  leave  for  Pittsburgh,  when  he  was  met  by 
David  Hudson,  who  persuaded  him  to  visit  the 
Hudson  settlement.  The  place  pleased  him, 
and  he  took  up  his  abode  with  Mr.  Hudson  on 
the  6th  of  June.  Two  weeks  later,  the  little 
community  was  startled  by  the  intelligence 
that  war  had  been  declared  with  Great  Britain. 
The  militia  which  had  been  formed  a  few  years 
previous  were  ordered  out.     A  company  formed 

*  Memoir  of  Abigail  L.  Metcalf. 


from  Hudson  and  the  several  adjoining  town- 
ships, had  its  headquarters  here,  and  was  under 
the  command  of  Amos  Lusk  as  Captain.  A 
good  deal  of  uneasiness  prevailed  in  this  front- 
ier settlement,  although  there  seemed  no 
necessity  for  any  public  measure  of  safety  save 
to  remain  constantly  on  the  alert.  Late  one 
Saturday  evening  in  August,  a  messenger  from 
Newburg  entered  Mr.  Hudson's  house,  bringing 
the  news  of  Hull's  surrender,  and  the  further 
rumor  that  the  British  and  Indians  in  great 
numbers  were  making  their  way  down  the  lake 
in  flatboats. 

The  whole  communit}-  was  thrown  at  once 
into  a  fever  of  excitement.  Preparations 
were  made  for  placing  the  women  and  chil- 
dren in  a  place  of  safet}-,  and  the  company- 
of  militia  was  summoned  to  their  place  of 
rendezvous.  On  the  Sabbath  moi'ning  follow- 
ing, Capt.  Lusk  paraded  his  compan}'  on  the 
green,  prepared  to  act  upon  the  first  informa- 
tion or  order,  when  a  messenger  from  the  Com- 
mittee of  Public  Safet}-  at  Cleveland  announced 
that  the  forces  approaching  were  the  paroled 
troops  of  Gen.  Hull.  At  this  juncture,  Capt. 
Lusk  called  for  a  volunteer  to  carry  the  news 
to  Warren,  to  which  Dr.  Metcalf  responded,  as 
he  was  provided  with  a  good  riding  horse. 
•'  There  was  then  only  a  bridle  path  by  marked 
trees  to  Warren,  and  no  bridges  across  the 
streams,  and  he  was  an  entire  stranger  to  the 
country.  He  left  Hudson  about  11  o'clock 
with  a  letter  of  introduction  from  Capt.  Lusk 
to  Col.  Edwards,  of  Warren,  and  rode  forty 
miles  on  a  sultry  August  da}-,  swimming  the 
Mahoning  River  two  or  three  times,  the  water 
coming  nearly  to  the  seat  of  the  saddle.  He 
reached  Warren  about  dark,  found  Col.  Ed- 
wards at  the  house  of  Gen.  Perkins,  delivered 
his  communication,  and  was  invited  to  stay  all 
night  at  the  house  of  the  former.  In  the  morn- 
ing he  found  an  Eastern  acquaintance  who  was 
trading  in  Warren,  who  informed  him  that 
Col.  Cotgrave,  who  was  then  encamped  with  his 
regiment  on  the  common,  under  marching 
orders,  had  raised  a  great  excitement  the  pi'e- 
ceding  night.  It  was  alleged  that  Metcalf  was 
a  British  officer  in  disguise,  and  had  brought 
the  message  to  delay  the  marching  of  the  regi- 
ment and  gain  time  for  the  British.  It  was 
intimated,  moreoxer,  that  if  lie  had  not  enjoyed 
the  protection  of  Col.  Kdwards,  his  life  would 
probably  have  been  sacrificed  by  the  excited 


-^  V 


430 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


soldiers."*  Fortunately,  the  excitement  was 
allayed  by  morning,  and  Mr.  Metcalf  returned 
to  Hudson  in  safety.  Capt.  Lusk's  compan}- 
was  ordered  a  little  later  to  old  Portage  under 
Gen.  Wadsworth's  command,  and  afterward  to 
Huron  and  Sandusky,  being  out  some  three 
months,  but  saw  no  active  service.  While  in 
the  service.  Dr.  Metcalf  accompanied  them  as 
Surgeon  in  charge.  These  troops  were  armed 
with  such  weapons  as  each  man  owned,  and 
something  of  their  effectiveness  may  be  learned 
from  an  incident  that  occurred  at  old  Portage. 
A  compan}'  of  some  twenty  men  practicing  in 
firing  b}'  platoons  found  only  one  gun  that  did 
not  miss  fire  at  the  first  shot.  The  peace 
establishment  after  the  war  was  entered  into 
with  enthusiasm  by  the  Hudson  people.  A 
company  of  ''  light  infantry  "  was  organized, 
which  was  the  pride  of  the  colony  and  the  env^- 
of  the  regular  militia  at  general  musters  in 
Ravenna. 

The  political  organization  of  Hudson  was  very 
early.  The  settlement  here  was,  at  that  time,  the 
largest  on  the  Reserve,  and  the  townships  of 
Stow,  Boston,  Twinsburg,  Aurora  and  Mantua 
were  attached  to  it  for  township  purposes.  It 
has  been  agreed  among  the  original  proprietors 
that  the  township  should  be  named  after  its 
founder,  and,  in  1802,  the  Commissioners  of 
Trumbull  County,  sitting  at  Warren,  the  county 
seat,  organized  this  territory  with  the  name  of 
Hudson.  On  the  5th  of  April  following,  twenty 
electors  gathered  at  the  cabin  of  David  Hud- 
son, and  elected  Thaddeus  Lacey,  Township 
Clerk  ;  Heman  Oviatt,  Ebenezer  Sheldon  and 
Abraham  Thompson,  Trustees  ;  Elias  Harmon 
and  Samuel  liishop,  Poormasters  ;  Aaron  Nor- 
ton, John  Oviatt  and  Jotham  Atwater,  Fence 
Viewers  ;  Joel  (xaylord  and  Elias  Harmon,  x\p- 
praisers  of  Houses ;  George  Kilbourne,  Moses 
Pond  and  Moses  Thompson,  Supervisors  of 
Highways  ;  Ebenezer  Lister,  Aaron  Norton  and 
Rufus  Edwards,  Constables.  Of  the  election, 
Mr.  Hudson  was  Chairman,  and  the  voters  were 
D.  Hudson,  J.  Darrow,  G.  Darrow,  Dr.  Thomp- 
son, T.  Lacey,  William  McKinley,  A.  Norton, 
H.  Oviatt,  P].  Sheldon  (of  Aurora),  E.  Nobles, 
S.  Bishop,  J.  Gaylord,  A.  Thompson,  Deacon  S. 
Thompson.  Robert  Walker  (of  Stow),  Elias 
Harmon  (of  Mantua),  Jotham  Atwater,  Moses 
Pond,  Rufus  Edwards  and  George  Kilbourne. 
In  J  801,  Gov.  St.  Clair  Appointed  Mr.  Hudson, 

*  MSS.  of  Misb)  Emily  Metcalf. 


Justice  of  the  l^eace,  and  his  first  official  act 
beai's  date  of  March  21,  1801,  with  the  follow- 
ing entry  on  his  docket :  '•  Issued  a  writ  of 
arrest  in  favor  of  Thaddeus  Lacey  against 
Thomas  and  Daniel  Judd,  to  balance  book  ac- 
counts ;  said  Lace}'  having  made  oath  that, 
in  his  opinion,  he  is  in  danger  of  losing  the 
debt  due  him  from  said  Judds."  It  is  proba- 
ble, that  in  his  opinion  he  was  mistaken,  for 
there  is  no  further  entries  upon  that  subject,  or, 
in  fact,  in  that  year.  His  official  services  were 
called  into  requisition,  however,  during  the  lat- 
ter part  of  that  year,  but  hardly  in  a  way  to 
call  for  a  docket  entry.  This  was  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  marriage  of  George  Darrow  to  Miss 
Olive  Gaylord,  which  he  legalized  on  the  11th 
of  October,  1801.  On  the  5th  of  November 
following,  he  performed  the  same  functions  for 
Stephen  Perkins  and  Miss  Ruth  Bishop,  all  of 
Hudson.  These  marriages  were  before  pro- 
vision had  been  made  to  record  such  events, 
and  they  are  found  noted  upon  the  fly-leaf  of 
an  old  land  record  book  in  the  Recorder's 
office  at  Warren.  In  the  first  case,  Mr.  Hud- 
son is  said  to  have  been  considerably  embar- 
rassed, and  was  obliged  to  correct  himself  re- 
peatedl}'  before  he  could  satisfy  himself  that 
he  had  discharged  his  duty  in  the  premises. 
The  lady  in  the  case  did  not  exhibit  so  much 
trepidation,  and  showed  her  housewifely  care, 
by  dropping  the  hand  of  the  groom  at  a  criti- 
cal point,  and  proceeding  across  the  room  re- 
moved a  "thief"  that  was  "guttering"  the 
candle.  On  resuming  her  position,  the  cere- 
monies went  on.  The  story  is  told  of  her,  that 
a  little  later,  when  the  first  census  taker  called 
on  her  with  his  usual  bundle  of  interrogations, 
her  only  response  was,  "  George  and  I  live 
here,"  and  with  this  the  enumerator  was  forced 
to  satisfy  himself  The  year  previous,  a  log 
schoolhouse  had  been  erected,  and  this  served 
for  3^ears  in  the  threefold  capacity  of  meeting, 
town  and  school  house.  The  early  records  are 
in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation,  but  they 
present  nothing  of  any  interest  to  the  present 
generation.  There  was  very  little  parade  made 
by  the  governing  powers,  and,  save  the  record- 
ing of  "  ear-marks,"  and  noting  the  proceedings 
of  each  "  annual  meeting,"  there  was  no  call 
for  records.  The  April  election  was  an  impor- 
tant event,  however,  in  the  township,  and  was 
scrupulously  attended  by  the  male  -i^ortion  of 
the  community.     The  business  was  generally 


^1 


1^ 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


431 


opened  with  prayer,  and  the  day  spent  as  a 
holiday.  After  surveying  the  whole  township 
into  one  hundred  lots,  following  the  plan  of 
New  England  villages,  the  proprietors  laid  out 
a  public  square  on  the  geographical  center  of 
the  township.  This  consisted  of  two  acres  in  a 
square  form,  taken  equally  from  the  converg- 
ing corners  of  Lots  Nos.  -45,  55,  56  and  46. 
There  was,  then,  according  to  the  record,  "  laid 
out  to  the  proprietors  of  said  town  of  Hudson, 
of  mechanic  lots,  each  lot  containing  two  and  a 
half  acres,  being  5.00  square,  bounded  south 
on  the  east  and  west  center  line  ;  west  on  Lot 
No.  54  ;  north  on  the  remaining  part  of  David 
Hudson's  Lot  No.  55  ;  east  on  the  public  green  ; 
said  lots  taken  off  5.00  wide  from  the  south  side 
of  said  Hudson's  Lot,  No.  55.  Also  seven  me- 
chanic lots  laid  off  from  the  south  side  of  Lot 
No.  56  ;  bounded  west  on  the  public  green  ;  north 
on  the  remaining  pai't  of  said  Hudson's  Lot 
No.  56  ;  east  on  Lot  No.  57  ;  south  on  east  and 
west  center  line  ;  each  lot  containing  two  and 
one-half  acres,  being  5.00  square.  Also  seven 
mechanic  lots  taken  from  the  north  side  of  Lot 
No.  46  ;  bounded  west  on  the  public  green  ; 
north  on  the  east  aud-west  center  line  ;  east  on 
Lot  No.  47  ;  south  the  remaining  part  of  Lot 
No.  46  ;  the  above  said  mechanic  lots  divided 
by  posts  and  lines  at  5.00  distance.  Thaddeus 
Lacey,  surveyor  ;  David  Hudson,  agent  for 
proprietors."  The  earliest  road  which  opened 
this  settlement  to  the  outside  world  was  that 
one  leading  to  the  boat  landing  in  Boston 
on  the  Cuyahoga.  This  was  the  only  outlet, 
and  was  used  for  several  years.  In  1802,  Ed- 
ward Payne  laid  out  what  is  known  under  the 
various  titles  of  Aurora  road,  Payne  road  or 
Old  State  road,  from  Painesville  to  Chillicothe, 
then  the  capital  of  the  State.  This  passed 
tlirough  Kirtland,  Chester,  Bainbridge,  Aurora, 
Hudson,  etc.  It  entered  the  latter  township 
where  the  Aurora  road  does,  and  followed  its 
course  until  it  struck  the  village,  when  it  changed 
its  course  and  followed  the  center  road  south, 
about  a  mile  from  the  village,  where  it  branched 
off  to  the  southwest,  touching  a  little  later  Cuy- 
ahoga Falls  and  then  on  to  old  Portage.  About 
the  same  time,  or  perhaps  a  little  earlier,  the 
road  from  Cleveland  to  Canton  passed  through 
Hudson  on  the  north-and-south  center  road, 
which  is  yet  known  as  the  Cleveland  road.  It 
was  in  this  year  also  (1802)  that  Mr.  Hudson, 
at  the  request  of  Capt.  Olmsted,  the  proprietor 


of  Franklin  Township,  laid  out  the  Ravenna 
road.  The  work  was  set  on  foot  by  petition  to 
the  Commissioners  in  February,  and  it  was  the 
last  of  December  before  he  was  ready  to  build 
a  bridge  where  the  road  crossed  the  Cu3'ahoga 
River.  On  the  31st  of  December,  he  secured 
nine  volunteers — S.  Bishop,  E.  Lindley,  W.  Mc- 
Kinley,  A.  Thompson,  H.  Oviatt,  M.  Parker,  G. 
Darrow,  W.  Leach  and  T.  Lacey,  to  accompany 
him  to  construct  a  bridge  across  the  "  Narrows," 
near  the  scene  of  Brady's  leap.  This  was  no 
slight  undertaking,  poorly  provided  as  they 
were  with  tools  and  machinery.  A  tree  stand- 
ing on  the  bank  near  at  hand  was  first  felled 
across  the  stream,  and  with  this  start,  aided  by 
three  yoke  of  cattle  and  some  volunteex-s  from 
Ravenna,  the  structure  was  completed  in  two 
days,  and  was  the  first  bridge  constructed  in 
this  vicinity.  The  men  took  their  provisions  with 
them,  camping  out  until  their  work  was  accom- 
plished, and  though  each  one  thought  he  was 
contributing  his  labor,  Mr.  Hudson  secured  them 
pay  at  50  cents  per  day.  The  general  line  of  this 
road  is  still  marked  by  Ravenna  street  and  its  ex- 
tension. Some  years  afterward,  the  east-and- 
west  center  road  was  extended  to  Warren.  The 
town  thus  early  made  accessible,  took  on  a 
vigorous  growth.  The  road  thus  laid  out 
brought  considerable  through  travel  to  Hudson, 
which  could  not  fail  to  build  up  its  business  in- 
terests. A  stage  route  was  established  from 
Cleveland  to  Pittsburgh  as  early  as  1 825,  pass- 
ing through  Hudson.  Jabez  Gilbert  was  the 
earliest  of  a  long  line  of  stage-drivers  who  are 
remembered  by  the  older  residents  of  the  place. 
He  drove  at  first  a  two-horse  vehicle,  which 
with  the  increase  of  business  was  exchanged 
for  one  drawn  by  the  regular  four-in-hand,  with 
frequentl}'  a  half-dozen  '•  extras  "  following  it. 
The  great  drawback  to  this  enterprise  here  as 
elsewhere,  was  the  almost  impassible  condition 
of  the  roads  during  the  inclement  seasons. 
These  were  often  in  places  too  muddy  to  travel 
at  all,  and  it  was  a  common  occurrence  for 
teams  passing  on  the  Aurora  road  to  make  a 
detour  on  the  high  ground  that  is  found  to  the 
noi'th  of  it. 

The  first  mill  in  this  part  of  the  country  was 
at  Newburg,  which  was  erected  by  W.  W.  Will- 
iams in  1800.  The  Hudson  colonists  brought 
considerable  fiour  with  them,  and  were  forced 
occasionally  to  go  to  considerable  distances  to 
renew  the  supply  before  the}'  secured  a  harvest, 


f* 


433 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Dr.  Thompson  going  at  one  time  to  George- 
town on  the  Ohio  River,  a  distance  of  eighth- 
miles.  The  first  harvest  was  derived  from  tlie 
nine  acres  which  Mr.  Hudson  had  sown  in  1799. 
The  yield  was  183  bushels,  one-foui'th  of  which 
Lace}'  got  for  harvesting  and  threshing.  The 
balance  was  apportioned  among  the  pi'oprietors 
as  follows  :  "  Birdseye  Norton,  one-half  and 
one-half  a  quarter,  85.25  bushels  ;  Hudson,  one- 
quarter,  34.10  bushels;  Oviatt,  Parmele  and 
Baldwin,  one-eight,  17.5  bushels."  The  wheat 
was  all  used  in  the  colonj-,  however,  and  what 
was  not  lost  was  ground  at  the  Newburg  mill. 
"  To  go  to  mill "  was  a  three  days'  task  ;  two 
consumed  on  the  journey  of  twenty  miles  and 
return,  and  one  in  waiting  for  the  grist.  The 
first  load  of  wheat  was  taken  to  mill  by  Samuel 
Bishop,  in  February,  1801,  under  a  bargain  of 
receiving  one-half  for  his  trouble.  He  was 
obliged  to  set  out  shortl}-  after  a  rain,  and 
arriving  at  Tinker's  Creek  he  found  the  stream 
considerably  swollen  bj'  the  rainfall.  He  ven- 
tui-ed  to  cross,  however,  but  found  the  current 
too  strong  for  him,  and  he  got  back  to  shore, 
losing  his  entire  load  of  wheat,  and  barel^'  sav- 
ing his  oxen  and  sled.  At  another  time  Dr. 
Thompson  and  William  Leach  undertook  the 
task  of  going  to  the  same  mill  in  the  spring  of 
the  year.  They  had  three  yoke  of  oxen  and  a 
cart.  The  river  was  high  and  the  current 
strong,  but  they  urged  their  team  across.  The 
lead  cattle  soon  began  to  swim,  then  the  second 
yoke,  and  soon  the  third  yoke  and  cart.  For- 
tunately the  first  yoke  had  b}-  this  time  gained 
their  footing  and  enabled  the  others  to  succes- 
sivel}-  come  to  the  shallower  water.  But  the  cart 
swinging  down  stream  with  the  current,  and 
not  being  a  seaworthy  craft,  lost  its  load  of 
wheat,  and  barely  caiTied  the  drivers  through 
in  safety.  The  Doctor  was  not  thus  brought 
to  the  end  of  his  resources.  He  bought  some 
wheat  for  which  he  gave  his  note,  got  it  ground, 
and  returned  with  his  flour  to  find  the  stream 
lower  and  fordable.  It  was  not  possible  for  all 
to  go  to  this  expense  for  flour.  Corn  was  sub- 
stituted for  wheat  and  smashed  in  wooden 
mortars,  i.  e.,  a  stump  with  a  hole  burned  in  it 
with  a  long  wooden  pestle  attached  to  a  spring- 
pole.  More  of  it  was  prepared  on  what  was 
called  "  blood  mills,"  a  tin  grater  made  by 
punching  holes  in  a  piece  of  old  tin,  then  giv- 
ing it  a  curve  and  nailing  it  to  a  piece  of  board. 
The  community  was  placed  under  such  disad- 


vantages but  a  short  time.  In  preparing  for 
the  settlement,  Mr.  Hudson  had  not  forgotten 
this  important  feature  of  frontier  life,  and  in 
his  first  bills  of  articles,  mill-stones  were  prom- 
inent items.  But  who  put  up  the  first  mill  in 
Hudson  is  as  variously  claimed  as  the  killing 
of  "  Cock  Robin."  In  1801,  Ezra  Wyatt  and 
Aaron  Norton  commenced  building  mills  on 
Tinker's  Creek,  in  the  northeast  part  of  this 
township.  From  evidence  gathered  from  the 
account-books  of  Mr.  Hudson,  though  not  clear, 
it  is  made  probable  that  Mr.  Wyatt  began  this 
undertaking  alone,  encouraged  and  assisted  by 
Mr.  Hudson.  An  entry  without  date  is  as  fol- 
lows :  ''  Have  been  at  the  expense  of  furnishing 
all  W3'att's  provisions  and  laborers,  and  all 
things  necessaiy  to  build  one-half  of  the  mills, 
and  to  take  my  payment  in  boards  one,  two, 
three  and  four  3ears  hence,  without  intei'est. 
Also  I  have  engaged  to  make  him  a  free  gift  of 
100  acres  of  land  to  encourage  him  to  go  on 
with  the  mills  after  the  discovery  of  quicksand." 
Notwithstanding  this  liberal  subsid}',  Mr.  W^'att 
became  tired  of  his  undertaking,  and  Mr.  Nor- 
ton took  his  place,  the  former  going  to  Cleve- 
land. The  saw-mill  was  completed  for  busi- 
ness that  fall,  and  the  grist-mill  so  that  it  would 
grind,  but  not  bolt,  in  the  spring  of  1802,  not 
far  from  the  18th  of  April.  A  distillery  was 
started  in  connection  with  the  mills  soon  after- 
ward, and  the  whole  business  run  in  the  name 
of  Hudson  &  Norton.  It  stood  but  a  year  or 
two,  when  the  whole  establishment  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  in  the  latter  part  of  1803.  Nor- 
ton, in  1806,  built  mills  on  Mud  Brook  in 
Northampton,  and  two  years  later  built  others 
in  Middlebury.  Deacon  Thompson  built  a  saw- 
mill immediatelj-  after  the  destruction  of  the 
Norton  mill,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Holmes 
mill.  This  stood  until  it  rotted  down,  and  was 
then  replaced  by  Augustus  Baldwin,  and  sub- 
sequently two  others  were  built  upon  the  same 
site.  Joel  Gaylord  also  erected  a  mill  not  far 
from  the  same  time  that  Deacon  Thompson  put 
up  his,  which  was  replaced  b}-  George  Leach, 
who  at  difi'erent  times  built  two  other  mills  on 
Breakneck  Creek.  The  coming  of  Owen  Brown 
in  1805,  introduced  another  industry  that  was 
second  only  to  the  mills  in  its  usefulness  to  the 
new  settlement.  He  was  a  tanner  by  trade, 
and  at  once  set  about  preparing  to  ply  his  trade 
here.  He  sank  his  vats  a  little  west  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  made  a  good  market  for  such  skins 


^' 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


433 


as  the  settlers  derived  from  the  game.  A  few 
3-ears  afterward,  he  and  his  son  John,  known 
better  to  fame  in  Uxter  3'ears  through  his  aggres- 
sive opposition  to  the  slave-power,  started 
another  northwest  of  the  village  near  where 
Morris  Johnson  now  lives.  Greorge  Kilbourne 
essa^yed  the  same  business  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  south  of  the  town  on  the  Center  road.  It  was 
not  a  very  extensive  affair  ;  vats  were  sunk  and 
a  well  dug,  and  some  sheds  erected,  but  no 
great  amount  of  business  was  done.  The  well 
and  the  signs  of  the  vats  still  mark  the  spot. 
Some  time  afterward,  Asahel  Kilbourne  started 
a  tannery  on  the  run  which  passes  Sherman 
Thompson's  house,  choosing  a  site  just  across 
where  the  railroad  now  runs.  This  was  a  more 
vigorous  institution,  and  continued  for  some 
years.  The  most  successful  business  in  this 
line,  however,  was  probably  done  bj'  William 
Dobbs.  He  came  here  from  Canton,  and,  pur- 
chasing the  Brown  tannery,  extended  the  trade, 
and  carried  it  on  until  the  development  of  the 
country  grew  beyond  his  reach,  and  the  busi- 
ness passed  into  the  category  of  lost  arts  in  this 
community.  Another  branch  of  the  manufact- 
uring business,  which  subserved  an  excellent 
purpose  in  those  pioneer  times  was  an  asher}*, 
established,  and  conducted  by  Hillis  &  James, 
early  merchants  in  Hudson.  Here  the  ashes 
of  the  settler's  hearth  and  log-heaps  were  con- 
verted into  "  potash,  pearl-ash  and  black  salts," 
and  made  to  serve  him  again  in  its  new  form. 

The  social  customs  of  the  time,  and  the  only 
avenue  of  foreign  trade,  made  the  distilling  of 
liquor  an  early  and  profitable  business.  Oviatt, 
who  commenced  trading  with  Indians  as  early 
as  1801,  found  whisky  not  onh-  a  legal  tender 
for  whatever  he  cared  to  bu}-,  but  a  commodity 
in  ver}'  lively  demand  by  the  natives.  He 
built  a  distillery  on  the  stream  near  Sherman 
Thompson's  residence,  but  probably  not  until 
the  Hudson  &  Norton  distiller}'  had  burned 
down.  This  he  continued  for  some  3'eai-s,  but 
the  sale  of  it  to  the  Indians  was  forbidden  b}' 
the  Government,  and  he  finally  abandoned  it, 
though  it  had  proved  very  profitable  to  him. 
George  Darrow  erected  another  about  1815, 
where  the  Eagle  Cheese  Factory  now  stands, 
and  manufactured  rye  and  corn  whisky  for 
years,  selling  it  at  his  place  of  business  to  such 
as  wanted  it.  There  was  an  abundant  demand 
for  it  for  3'ears  after  the  Indians  had  generallj^ 
removed.     Whisky  was  found   ever\'where  in 


the  earl}'  society,  and  none  were  "Puritanic" 
enough  in  their  sentiments  to  object  to  its  use. 
At  the  stores  the  customer  found  it  "on  tap,"  to 
use  free  of  expense  ;  ever}'  social  gathering  was 
enlivened  by  its  presence  and  use  ;  and  even 
preachers  and  people  drew  nearer  each  other  in  a 
social  glass.  The  good  judgment  of  people  was 
not  blinded  to  the  evil  which  was  growing  up  in 
the  shadow  of  this  social  custom,  and  a  move- 
ment to  curtail  its  use  was  begun  by  those  who 
had  used  it  freely  for  years.  It  began  to  be  re- 
fused at  house-raisings,  perhaps,  as  early  as  1820 
or  1825,  to  the  no  small  opposition  of  a  consid- 
erable portion  of  the  community.  At  one  of 
these  temperance  raisings,  it  is  said,  the  two 
elements  of  society  met,  and  the  opposition  re- 
fused to  let  the  building  go  up.  They  held  on  to 
the  frame-work,  until,  by  the  redoubled  efforts 
of  the  temperance  men,  who  were  in  a  major- 
ity, they  were  lifted  off  the  ground  and  the 
structure  went  up.  In  1828  or  1830,  the  barn 
of  Dr.  Everett  was  raised  without  whisky  and 
without  opposition,  the  opposition  staying 
away  entirely  An  incident  is  related  of  Rev. 
Randolph  Stone  which  illustrates  how  strongly 
the  habitual  use  of  liquor  had  become  fixed  in 
the  social  intercourse  of  the  time.  Mr.  Stone 
had  taken  a  very  pronounced  position  in  favor 
of  temperance,  going  to  the  extent  of  advising 
that  all  apple-trees  should  be  destroyed  to  pre- 
vent the  manufacture  of  cider.  Soon  after  tak- 
ing this  position,  he  took  some  students  to 
board  that  had  come  to  attend  the  Western  Re- 
serve College,  then  just  opened,  and  placed 
upon  the  table  for  their  use,  some  "  whisky  and 
fennel,"  of  which,  however,  he  did  not  partake. 
This  was  probably  from  the  force  of  habit  and 
the  desire  to  avoid  the  appearance  of  discourt- 
esy, but  was  very  soon  abandoned. 

The  early  years  of  the  township  did  not  de- 
mand a  hotel  to  dispense  its  hospitality.  Each 
pioneer  entertained  strangers  as  often  without 
pecuniary  remuneration  as  with  it.  But  as  the 
town  grew  in  proportion  and  the  through  lines 
of  travel  wei'e  established  through  the  place, 
there  was  a  demand  for  an  inn.  Heman  Oviatt 
first  provided  such  entertainment  at  his  cabin, 
a  mile  south  of  the  village,  but,  about  1813,  he 
preferred  to  confine  his  attention  to  the  more 
lucrative  business  of  trade,  and  persuaded  Mr. 
Hudson  to  open  his  house  to  the  public  in  this 
way,  and  this  was  perhaps  the  first  regular  inn 
in  the  village.     This  was  at  the  house  where 


i)    rj, 


iJ' 


434 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Mrs.  Harvey  Baldwin  now  resides.  Mrs.  Bald- 
win, when  a  girl,  often  presided  at  the  bar,  and 
the  fare  dispensed  in  those  days  may  be  in- 
ferred from  the  fact  that  on  one  occasion  the 
whole  female  force  of  the  family  was  occupied 
the  whole  day  in  baking  '•  corn  pones"  for  the 
consumption  of  their  guests.  In  1816  or 
thereabouts,  George  Kilbourne  oflered  "  enter- 
tainment for  man  and  beast  '  where  Justin 
Kilbourne  now  lives  ;  some  years  afterward — 
about  1825 — Augustus  Baldwin  opened  a  hotel 
in  the  house  where  Mrs.  Buss  at  present  resides, 
and  another  was  kept  b}-  George  Darrow  at  the 
present  residence  of  William  Darrow.  The 
"Mansion  House,"  the  only  survivor  of  this 
race  of  public  benefactors,  was  built  in  1830, 
for  Samuel  Edgerly.  It  was  afterward  put  into 
a  lottery  by  Mr.  Hertzell  and  disposed  of,  but 
who  the  fortunate  possessor  of  the  ticket  was 
is  not  revealed.  A  long  line  of  hosts  have  en- 
tertained the  public  here,  among  whose  names 
appear  those  of  Edgerly,  Hertzell,  Shields, 
Wadham  and  Boutou,  the  present  host.  In  the 
palmy  days  of  the  stage  business,  the  Mansion 
House  was  a  place  of  consequence,  and  at- 
tracted a  large  ci'owd  of  patrons  of  the  stage 
and  idle  lookers-on,  which  of  late  years  has 
been  transferred  to  the  railway'  station. 

Business  beginnings  found  their  start  with 
Heman  Oviatt  a  mile  south  of  the  center  of 
the  township.  His  trade  was  at  first  confined 
chiefly  to  the  Indians,  who,  so  long  as  they  re- 
mained, were  his  most  valuable  customers. 
When  he  had  accumulated  skins  enough  to  make 
two  good-sized  bales,  he  would  load  them  on  a 
horse  across  a  pack-saddle,  and  take  them  to 
Pittsburgh,  which  was  his  nearest  market.  His 
return  load  was  made  up  of  shawls,  blankets, 
powder,  lead  and  whisk}-.  The  latter  he  soon 
made  himself  and  avoided  transportation,  and 
gradually  worked  into  the  sale  of  commodities 
to  the  settlers.  About  1800,  he  came  to  the 
"  Center  "  and  opened  up  his  business,  more 
especially  for  the  patronage  of  the  settlement  oc- 
cupying the  front  room  of  the  Grosvenor  House 
in  later  years.  He  was  a  keen  business  man, 
requiring  the  last  cent  in  a  bargain,  but  just  as 
ready  to  pay  it  when  he  agreed  to  do  so.  A 
story  is  told  of  him  which  illustrates  the  for- 
mer characteristic  of  his  dealings.  In  the  course 
of  some  dealing  with  a  member  of  the  settle- 
ment he  had  taken  a  note  for  .fl.Ol,  which  was 
nothing   unusual    in   those   days  of  fractional 


cents  and  petty  dealings.  A  short  time  after- 
ward, the  drawer  of  the  note  handed  Oviatt  $1 
which  he  accepted  with  some  hesitation,  and, 
after  some  cogitation,  said,  ''  I  suppose  you 
want  this  indorsed  on  your  note,  don't  you, 
John  ?  "  He  was  alwa3's  on  the  alert  for  a  safe 
business  venture,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1815,  he 
put  in  $1,000  into  a  partnership  with  Zenas 
Kent,  the  latter  furnishing  $500  more  and  set- 
ting up  a  store  in  Ravenna,  which  proved  a 
"  paying "  business.  He  was  a  partner  with 
Alison  Kent  in  Canfield  and  with  Roswell  Kent 
in  Middlebury.  He  retired  from  business  about 
1825,  and  is  remembered  as  a  close  bargainer, 
strictly  honest  and  successful  in  business.  In 
1812,  the  business  circle  of  Hudson  received  a 
valuable  accession  in  the  Baldwin  brothers. 
Pomeroy  Baldwin,  after  the  death  of  his  father, 
came  to  Hudson  in  1811,  to  look  after  the  prop- 
erty the  family  owned  here.  He  remained  but 
a  short  time,  and  returned  to  his  home  in 
Goshen  in  company  with  Mr.  Hudson.  The 
journey  was  made  in  a  "  pung "  sleigh,  with 
conveniently  shaped  roots  as  runners.  In  the 
following  year,  Augustus  and  Frederick  came 
to  Hudson,  arriving  on  the  12th  of  June,  bring- 
ing with  them  Dudley  Humphrej',  who  had 
shipped  a  lot  of  boots  and  shoes  as  a  specula- 
tion. The  Baldwins  proposed  to  open  up  a 
business  in  dry  goods,  and  all  the  goods  were 
shipped  from  Buffalo,  whither  the}-  had  brought 
them  with  two  teams.  Seventeen  daj'S  were 
consumed  in  reaching  Buffalo  from  Goshen. 
The  distance  from  the  former  place  to  Cat- 
taraugus Creek,  thirty-two  miles,  was  accom- 
plished in  a  single  day,  w^hich  was  con- 
sidered a  remarkable  event.  Their  store  was 
built  near  the  site  of  C.  H.  Buss'  present  store, 
and,  in  1827,  the}-  put  up  that  building.  The 
character  of  the  early  trade  may  be  imagined  ; 
cotton  cloth,  three-quarters  of  a  yard  wide,  sold 
for  50  cents  ;  75  cents  for  the  yard-wide  cloth. 
At  that  rate,  it  took  three  days'  work  to  buy  a 
shirt.  The  Baldwins  built  Mechanics'  Hall 
about  1830.  This  was  a  frame  building,  placed 
in  the  rear  of  where  Buss'  store  now  stands, 
and,  in  accordance  with  the  original  plan  of  the 
founders  of  the  town,  was  occupied  by  tiie  me- 
chanics of  the  place.  Here  was  the  shop  of  the 
shoe-maker,  the  tailor  and  cabinet-maker,  "  to 
their  majesties,"  tlie  popular  sovereigns  of  Hud- 
son. This  formal  arrangement  did  not  last 
long,  and  each  workman  was  soon  found  where 


■k* 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


435 


inclination  or  favoi-able  circumstances  suggested 
to  him.  Before  this,  the  tanners  were  shoe  and 
harness  makers  as  well,  and  it  was  the  custom 
to  "  cat  whip  it  "  throughout  the  community, 
{.  e.,  the  workman  went  to  each  family  with  his 
kit  of  tools,  and  worked  up  the  leather  which 
each  provident  citizen  provided  for  the  family, 
shoes  and  such  harness  as  he  needed.  Among 
the  early  blacksmiths  were  Treat  (who  after- 
ward went  to  Aurora),  Ruggles,  Perley  Mansur, 
and  Hinsdale  who  came  here  in  1814.  The 
Baldwin  brothers  changed  the  members  of  the 
firm  several  times,  one  brother  and  another  re- 
tiring until  they  were  succeeded  by  J.  H.  Ci'aw- 
ford  &  Co.,  who  gave  wa}'  to  Hillis  &  James, 
whom  Mr.  Buss  followed  in  occupying  the  store. 
Mr.  Augustus  Baldwin  went  to  Franklin  Mills 
in  1836,  to  engage  in  the  banking  business,  and 
his  brother  Frederick  to  farming  in  Hudson. 

In  1830,  A.  A.  Brewster  came  from  Ravenna 
and  opened  a  store  in  a  building  which  has 
since  beeu  enlarged  and  used  by  Mr.  Farvvell  as 
a  blacksmith-shop.  Soon  afterward  he  moved 
into  a  building  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Au- 
rora sti'eets,  where  the  present  brick  building 
was  erected.  Mr.  Brewster  first  began  business 
here  in  partnership  with  Zenas  Kent,  of  Ra- 
venna, the  latter  being  represented  solely  by  his 
capital.  Mr.  Kent  came  to  Hudson  in  the 
spring  of  1814,  and  settled  on  Darrow  street. 
He  came,  it  is  said,  with  his  wife,  in  a  one- 
horse  peddling  wagon,  bringing  in  some  goods. 
He  worked  the  first  summer  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  and  in  the  winter  taught  school.  In  the 
following  fall  he  went  to  Ravenna  and  opened 
up  business  with  Oviatt,  where  he  amassed  con- 
siderable property,  buying  out  his  partner  and 
conducting  the  business  alone  for  years.  In 
1833,  he  reciprocated  the  interest  of  Oviatt, 
and  induced  Mr.  Brewster  to  come  to  Hudson 
under  a  similar  arrangement.  The  latter  pur- 
chased Mr.  Kent's  interest,  and,  in  1855,  ad- 
mitted D.  D.  Beebe  as  partner,  who  eventually 
succeeded  to  full  control  and  still  conducts  the 
business.  About  the  same  time  with  the  com- 
ing of  Kent  &  Brewster  came  Hamlin  &  Dawes, 
which  changed  later  to  firm  name  of  Hamlin  & 
Ellsworth,  and  then  to  Ellsworth  &  Buss,  and, 
finally,  to  John  Buss  alone.  Mr.  Buss  came  to 
Hudson  in  1833,  to  attend  college,  but,  his  health 
failing,  he  went  South.  Returning,  he  entered 
the  store  of  Kent  &  Brewster,  and,  about  1841, 
entered   into    business  with    Ellsworth  in  the 


present  old  bakery  building.  While  here  the 
firm  changed  to  Buss  &  Bond  ;  and,  in  1845,  Mr. 
Buss  bought  the  store  where  his  son,  C.  H. 
Buss,  succeeded  him  in  the  business,  which  he 
still  continues.  The  only  attempt  at  banking 
in  Hudson  was  by  Mr.  Brewster,  who  furnished 
facilities  for  collection  and  discount  of  commer- 
cial paper  in  connection  with  his  dry  goods 
business.     He  continued  it  only  a  few  years. 

Up  to  1851,  Hudson's  only  means  of  commu- 
nication with  tlie  outside  world  was  such  as  the 
dirt  roads  afforded,  and  these  for  a  large  part  of 
the  year  were  nearly  impassable  for  light  ve- 
hicles, not  to  mention  heav3'-ladened  wagons. 
Yet,  in  spite  of  these  disadvantages  incident  to 
an  inland  town,  the  village  gradually  increased 
in  size  and  importance,  and  the  projected  rail- 
road from  Cleveland  to  Pittsburgh,  which  was 
agitated  some  time  previous  to  1851,  did  much 
to  increase  its  prosperity.  The  first  charter 
granted  for  this  I'oad  expired  by  limitation,  be- 
cause it  was  not  used  ;  but,  in  1846,  it  was  re- 
newed. The  people  of  Hudson  took  a  great 
interest  in  this  movement,  and  subscriptions 
were  made  to  the  extent  of  the  people's  ability. 
Judge  Sylvester  H.  Thompson  being  one  of  the 
commissioners  appointed  ou  behalf  of  the  State. 
In  1850,  the  road  was  finished  to  this  place,  and 
the  people  and  the  members  of  the  Legislature 
received  the  first  train  in  Hudson  with  great 
rejoicings  in  1850.  The  business  men  and  citi- 
zens of  all  classes  became  enthusiastic  over  the 
future  prospects  of  the  village,  and  an  enter- 
prise was  at  once  put  on  foot  to  construct 
another  line  of  railroad,  one  that  should  connect 
New  York  with  Omaha  direct.  The  plan  was 
to  combine  a  number  of  separate  lines  through 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania  to  the  Ohio  line. 
From  this  point,  it  was  proposed  to  build  the 
Clinton  Air  Line  along  the  line  surveyed  years 
before  for  the  Clinton  Canal,  to  Hudson.  The 
plan  further  proposed  an  "  extension "  west 
from  this  village  to  Toledo,  and  one  to  Omaha. 
During  this  movement,  the  "  Akron  Branch  " 
of  the  Pittsburgh  road  was  completed  to  Akron, 
and  Hudson  seemed  right  in  the  direct  line  of 
preferment.  The  Clinton  Air  Line  was  par- 
ticularly a  Hudson  enterprise,  and  some  $200,- 
000  were  subscribed  in  stock,  and  some  of  the 
citizens  prominent  on  the  Board  of  Directors. 
The  work  was  pushed  with  vigor,  and  some 
$18,000  expended  on  the  road-bed  in  this  town- 
ship. 


i)    >y 


^- 


436 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUXTY. 


This  activity  in  railroad  matters  stimu- 
lated business  circles  in  the  little  village  into  a 
perfect  frenzy  of  speculation.  Henry  N.  Day, 
who  came  to  Hudson  as  a  Professor  in  the  col- 
lege, and  who  had  some  capital,  went  into 
business,  and  put  up  the  Pentagon  at  a  cost 
of  $18,000,  in  1849-50.  It  was  occupied  by 
Sawyer,  IngersoU  &  Co.,  Mr.  Day  constituting 
the  "  company."  This  firm  launched  into  the 
publishing  business  on  the  broadest  scale.  The 
town  was  known  as  an  intellectual  center,  and 
a  paper  of  considerable  influence  had  been  pub- 
lished here  for  years,  and  the  firm  proposed  to 
build  up  a  large  publishing  house.  All  branches 
of  the  business  were  undertaken,  and  proved 
successful  so  long  as  they  confined  their  atten- 
tion to  jobbing.  Ambitious,  however,  to  gain  a 
reputation  as  publishers,  they  began  to  publish 
on  their  own  account,  and  soon  found  their 
capital  locked  up  in  unprofitable  books.  The 
firm  then  changed  hands,  and  D.  Marshall  & 
Co.  took  the  business.  The  change  brought 
no  increase  of  capital  to  the  concern,  and  it  soon 
changed  to  the  Hudson  Book  Company,  which 
finally  made  an  assignment.  In  the  west  part 
of  the  building,  J.  W.  Smith  &  Co.  opened  a 
dry  goods  store  about  the  same  time.  Prof 
Day  and  Jeremiah  Day,  of  New  York  City, 
forming  the  company-.  This  firm,  possessed  by 
the  same  spirit  of  peculation,  expanded  their 
operations  to  the  fullest  extent,  trusting  to  the 
realizations  of  the  future  to  justify  their  risks. 
In  the  meanwhile,  large  accessions  to  the  popu- 
lation of  the  village  were  attracted,  and  every 
house  was  crowded.  Rents  and  property  were 
high,  and  the  demand  was  for  more  houses. 
At  this  juncture,  a  planing  mill  and  lumber 
company  was  formed  to  cater  to  this  demand 
for  more  buildings.  Smith  was  the  prime  mover 
in  this  enterprise,  and  the  business  was  planned 
on  a  large  scale.  A  $10,000  stock  of  lumber 
was  secured,  houses  were  built  for  everybody 
on  eas}^  terms,  and  the  village  bid  fair  to  become 
a  city  on  the  strength  of  railroad  promises.  All 
this  business  activity  exacted  a  large  expendi- 
ture of  mone}^,  and  far  in  excess  of  what  the 
persons  engaged  in  the  operations  possessed. 
But  they  had  friends  who  were  easily  convinced 
that  the  future  of  Hudson  was  assured,  and 
readily  advanced  large  sums  of  money.  In  ad- 
dition to  this  outla}',  the  promoters  of  these 
projects  were  also  deeply  interested  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  Clinton  Air  Line  Railroad,  and  were 


subscribers  to  a  large  amount,  as  were  most  of 
the  mone^'ed  citizens. 

All  this  activity  and  expenditure  was  crowd- 
ed into  the  space  of  some  five  or  six  years, 
and,  before  that  time  had  elapsed,  the  suspicion 
began  to  be  entertained  that  neither  the  pres- 
ent nor  future  of  the  village  warranted  this 
extravagant  outlay  of  capital.  Public  faith  in 
the  final  completion  of  the  new  railroad  began 
to  waver,  the  terrible  strain  upon  the  authors 
of  this  artificial  business  activity  began  to  be 
observed,  and  the  whole  commercial  fabric  of 
the  village,  like  a  great  wall  tottering  to  its 
fall,  seemed  about  to  end  in  a  crash.  The  end 
soon  came,  as  it  might  have  been  foreseen, 
perhaps,  from  the  beginning.  There  was  one 
assignment  after  another,  until  not  only  was  all 
of  the  overestimated  business  wiped  out,  but 
all  business  received  such  a  shock  as  to  re- 
quire several  j'ears  to  rally.  The  lumber  com- 
pany suspended  with  $35,000  liabilities,  and 
J.  W.  Smith,  who  was  active  in  all  these  enter- 
prises, retired  with  $100,000  liabilities  and 
.$80,000  nominal  assets.  On  the  heels  of  all 
this  came  the  realization  of  the  worst  fore- 
bodings of  the  Clinton  Railroad,  involving  not 
onl}'  a  loss  of  all  subscriptions,  but  a  liability 
for  an  equal  amount  in  addition.  Fortunately', 
by  the  misplacement  of  some  records,  the  Hud- 
son subscribers  escaped  from  the  full  penalty 
of  their  enterprise  in  this  matter,  or  the  whole 
business  communit}'  would  have  been  finan- 
cially annihilated.  Belonging  to  this  period, 
though  in  no  way  connected  with  the  movers 
in  other  enterprises,  were  J.  C.  Sn3-der  and  I. 
C.  Dowd,  produce  merchants,  who,  attracted 
by  the  business  activity  of  the  village,  linked 
their  fortunes  with  the  place.  The  latter  built 
a  warehouse  near  the  depot,  and  both  did  con- 
siderable business,  but,  in  the  end,  they  only 
served  to  swell  the  general  disaster.  Tall- 
madge  &  Jaynes'  grist-mill,  built  on  the 
Brandywine  Creek,  where  the  Cleveland  & 
Pittsburgh  road  crosses  the  stream,  was  built 
in  1852  or  1853.  Though  suffering  in  the 
general  depression,  it  did  not  cease  altogether. 
It  changed  into  the  hands  of  a  Mr.  Wilson,  and 
after  an  existence  of  some  ten  or  twelve  years 
was  destroyed  b}-  fire. 

Singularly  enough,  in  this  prostration  of 
business  are  found  the  beginning  of  some  of 
the  largest  enterprises  of  the  present.  After  a 
tedious  litigation,  the  planing-mill  property  fell 


-^ 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


437 


into  the  hands  of  Osborne,  Dunham  &  Co., 
who  fitted  it  up  and  manufactured  the  Buckeye 
Land  Roller,  and,  later,  with  Benjamin  Wheel- 
ock,  manufactured  chairs.  The  business  did 
not  prove  successful,  and  the  property  came 
into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Wheelock  alone,  and,  in 
the  fall  of  1873,  Jacob  Miner  put  in  two  run 
of  stone,  and  fitted  it  up  for  milling  purposes, 
taking  a  share  in  the  whole  property.  Thi'ough 
Wheelock's  business  embarrassment,  the  prop- 
erty once  more  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  law 
and  the  Sheriff.  It  has  finally  become  the 
property  of  A.  R.  Hurd.  It  has  since  been 
improved  by  the  addition  of  two  new  run  of 
stone  and  otherwise  improved  to  the  capacity 
of  fifty  barrels  per  day.  It  is  rented  by  the 
Hudson  Mill  Company,  and  does  a  large  cus- 
tom business,  filling  an}'  spare  time  on  a  light 
jobbing  trade  which  they  have  fallen  into 
rather  than  built  up. 

On  the  ruins  of  the  old  Pentagon  enterprises 
is  now  established  the  flourishing  factory  busi- 
ness of  S.  Straight  &  Son.  The  senior  partner 
of  this  firm  was,  at  the  time  of  the  Hudson 
depression,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Straight, 
Demming  &  Co.,  commission  merchants  of 
Cincinnati,  and  had  done  considerable  business 
with  the  produce  dealers  here.  One  of  the 
the  Hudson  dealers  becoming  involved,  secured 
the  Cincinnati  firm  on  a  part  of  this  property 
here,  which,  in  the  end,  was  bid  in  for  the  Cin- 
cinnati house.  Subsequently,  when  Mr.  Straight 
retired  from  active  relations  with  the  Cin- 
cinnati business,  this  propert}-  attracted  his 
attention  to  Hudson,  and  was  influential  in 
determining  his  locating  here.  He  began  the 
cheese-factor}'  business  in  Hudson  in  1867,  by 
the  purchase  of  two  and  the  building  of  one 
factory.  He  secured  the  Pentagon  building 
and  fitted  it  up  with  shelving  for  15,000 
cheeses  for  his  business,  at  a  cost  of  about 
17,000 ;  later,  admitted  his  son  to  the  business, 
and  has  enlarged  the  business  from  year  to 
3'ear,  until  now  the  firm  owns  and  operates 
thirteen  cheese-factories,  making  the  milk  of 
over  6,000  cows  into  50,000  cheeses  annually. 
In  1878,  the  firm  erected  a  large  brick  curing- 
house  in  the  rear  of  the  Pentagon,  60x60  feet, 
with  two  stories  and  a  basement,  at  a  cost  of 
$10,000.  This  building  is  supplied  with  an 
engine  and  boilers,  steam  elevators,  three  large 
exhaust  fans,  and  shelving  for  12,000  cheeses. 
The  basement  has  storage  capacity  for  250,000 


pounds  of  butter.  An  ice-house,  with  a  stor- 
age capacit}'  of  450  tons  of  ice,  is  provided 
with  a  series  of  pipes  through  which  the  air  is 
drawn  by  the  exhaust  fans  for  the  cooling  of 
the  curing-house.  In  addition  to  the  large 
amount  of  cheese  manufactured  by  this  firm, 
they  bu}'  immense  quantities  in  Illinois  and 
elsewhere,  shipping  it  East  or  storing  it  in 
their  buildings  in  Hudson  until  the  market  will 
warrant  its  shipment.  The  firm  employs  sixty- 
five  hands,  and  buys  all  the  milk  of  the  farm- 
ers, each  factory  working  up  the  milk  of 
from  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  six  hundred 
cows.  The  capital  invested  in  fixtures  is  esti- 
mated at  .$100,000,  and  the  business  of  the 
firm  is  rated  among  the  few  large  Western 
firms  in  this  business. 

Closely  connected,  historically,  with  these 
enterprises  is  the  Hudson  Butter-Tub  and 
Cheese-Box  Company.  In  1870,  Mr.  E.  A. 
Osborne,  in  connection  with  E.  Cro}',  built  a 
small  building  and  started  this  business.  These 
gentlemen  had  had  a  connection  with  the  enter- 
prises that  preceded  the  grist-mill  and  with- 
drew to  supply  the  demand  which  the  cheese 
trade  of  S.  Straight  &  Son  began  to  make.  The 
business  rapidly  developed,  and  seven  or  eight 
hands  wei'e  constantly  employed  in  the  manu- 
facture of  cheese-boxes.  In  1873,  the  ma- 
chinery for  the  manufacture  of  butter-tubs  was 
added,  and  the  business  prosecuted  together 
until  1878,  when  the  partnership  was  dissolved. 
The  firm  is  now  E.  A.  Osboi'ue  &  Sons.  They 
turn  out  in  the  busy  season  about  one  hundred 
tubs  and  two  hundred  cheese-boxes  per  day. 
The  timber  is  taken  in  the  log  and  worked  up 
with  little  waste,  the  parts  unsuitable  for  the 
boxes  and  tubs  are  worked  up  into  staves, 
heading  and  spokes.  The  business  demands 
an  outlay  of  about  $500  per  month.  Their 
boxes  are  sold  principally  to  S.  Straight  &  Son; 
the  tubs  are  sold  in  Chicago,  Cleveland  and 
Pittsburgh.  Closely  adjoining  is  the  saw-mill 
and  cheese-box  works  of  E.  Croy,  who  estab- 
lished an  independent  business  on  the  dissolu- 
tion of  partnership  in  1878.  This  covers  the 
manufacturing  business  of  the  village  at  pres- 
ent, save  the  Oviatt  Manufacturing  Company. 
This  company  was  organized  in  Januar}',  1878, 
for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  the  "  Oviatt 
Grain-Thresher,"  the  -  Common-Sense  Wagon,' 
and  the  "  Independent  Runner  Sled."  The 
patents  are  held  by   S.  E.   Oviatt  and  it  was 


V3J 

1^ 


438 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


proposed  to  build  up  a  manufacturing  enter- 
prise of  considerable  extent.  The  company 
was  composed  of  eight  members,  principally 
mechanics,  on  the  co-operative  plan.  In  a 
short  time,  four  of  the  company  bought  the 
stock  of  the  other  four,  but  a  lack  of  the  nec- 
essary capital  has  greatly  restricted  the  enter- 
prise thus  far.  Their  products  have  met  with 
abundant  encouragement  wherever  placed  upon 
the  market,  and  the  expectation  is  that  at  no 
distant  day  the  necessary  capital  will  be  se- 
cured and  the  business  developed. 

Meanwhile,  the  "internal  improvements"  of 
the  de  facto  village  had  kept  pace  with  its  busi- 
ness enterprise.  The  earliest  frame  building 
was  the  barn  of  Mr.  Hudson,  built  almost  en- 
tirely of  black-walnut  lumber,  sawed  at  Norton's 
mill.  This  was  followed,  in  1806,  b}'  the  house 
which  Mrs.  Baldwin  now  owns  and  occupies  as 
a  residence.  These  pioneer  frame  buildings 
were  soon  followed  b}'  others  as  there  was 
neither  a  dearth  of  timber  nor  scarcit}'  of  mills. 
In  1826,  the  college  was  established  and  the 
buildings,  gradually  put  up,  improving  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  town  and  stimulating  its  citi- 
zens to  build  more  comely  structures  for  dwell- 
ings. The  soil  rendered  the  supply  of  brick  in- 
exhaustible and  cheap.  The  brick  needed  for 
the  spacious  hearths  and  great  chimneys  of  Mr. 
Hudson's  house,  were  made  by  a  Mr.  Lj'on  on 
the  site  now  occupied  b}"  the  Atheneum,  the 
mud  being  tramped  into  condition  for  molding 
by  two  yoke  of  oxen.  The  first  brick  dwelling 
was  put  up  by  Julian  Lusk.  on  the  site  occu- 
pied b}'  Farrar's  Block,  and  ante-dated  the 
college  buildings  some  three  years,  being 
erected  in  1823.  An  early  brick  house  and 
perhaps  the  second  one  was  that  erected  by 
Asahel  Kilbourne  and  now  occupied  by  Sher- 
man P.  Thompson,  situated  south  of  the  village. 
The  college  brought  a  large  accession  to  the 
population  of  the  village,  and  the  village  began 
to  expand.  It  was  the  design  of  the  founder's 
that  the  town  should  gather  about  the  geo- 
graphical center  of  the  township,  but  there 
were  several  obstacles  in  the  wa}'.  The  ground 
toward  the  south  was  low  and  undesirable  for 
dwellings  and  the  owners  of  these  lands  were 
rather  reluctant  to  sell  in  small  parcels,  and 
the  village  early  began  to  extend  northward 
and  eastward  to  the  higher  ground.  The  loca- 
tion of  the  college  buildings,  secured  by  a  liber- 
al donation  of  land  by  Mr.  Hudson,  had  some- 


thing to  do  with  the  direction  in  which  the  ex- 
pansion of  the  village  took.  With  all  this 
growth,  however,  such  improvements  as  munic- 
ipal government  grants  to  a  community,  was 
left  to  the  voluntary  action  of  the  people  with- 
out any  very  great  results,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  the  citizens  began  to  agitate  the  desira- 
bility of  securing  a  village  de  jure,  with  its  ad- 
vantages in  this  respect.  On  April  1,  1837, 
an  act  of  the  Legislature  was  signed,  incorpor- 
ating the  village  to  be  known  thereafter  as  "  The 
town  of  Hudson."  The  boundaries,  inclosing 
an  area  one  mile  by  one  and  a  half  miles,  are 
described  in  the  act  as  follows  :  "  Beginning  at 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  herein  contemplated 
corporation  limits,  at  a  stake  and  stones  160 
poles  west  of  the  north-and-south  center  road, 
leading  through  said  township  of  Hudson,  and 
240  poles  south  from  the  east-and-west  center 
road,  running  through  said  township  ;  thence 
from  said  southwest  corner,  running  north  in 
a  line  parallel  with  said  north-and-south  center 
road  480  poles  to  a  stake  and  stones  ;  thence 
east  in  a  line  parallel  with  said  east-and-west 
center  road,  320  poles  ;  thence  south  in  a  line 
parallel  with  the  west  line,  480  poles  to  a  stake 
and  stones  ;  thence  in  a  line  parallel  with  the 
north  line,  320  poles  to  the  place  of  beginning." 
These  limits  have  not  been  found  to  interfere 
with  the  metropolitan  aspirations  of  the  village, 
and  no  extensions  have  been  made.  A  few  un- 
impoi-tant  additions  liave  been  platted  on  the 
Aurora  road,  and  somewhat  built  up,  but  there 
has  been  no  positive  demand  on  the  part  of  the 
owners  of  this  property  to  be  admitted  to  a 
share  in  tlie  municipal  taxes. 

The  first  election  under  the  act  of  incorpora- 
tion was  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  Ma^-,  1837, 
resnlting  in  the  choice  of  Heman  Oviatt  as 
Ma3'or  ;  Lyman  Hall,  Recorder ;  Frederick 
Baldwin.  John  B.  Clarke,  Jesse  Dickenson, 
Harve}'  Baldwin,  Daniel  C.  (lay lord,  Trustees. 
The  largest  number  of  votes  received  by  any 
candidate  was  nineteen.  The  records  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  or,  in  more  modern  phrase, 
of  the  Council,  are  devoid  of  any  particular  in- 
terest in  the  earl^'  3ears.  One  or  two  entries, 
however,  afford  a  striking  illustration  of  the 
vanit}'  of  all  aspirations  for  wealth,  when  they 
appear  on  the  tax  lists.  The  real  estate  valua- 
tion of  the  village,  in  1837,  was  placed  at  $93,- 
967.58,  and  personal  property  at  $19,474  ;  in 
1844,  the  next  entry  of  the  tax  list,  the  real  es- 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


439 


tate  had  shrunk  to  $30,427,  and  the  personal 
propert}'  to  $12,177.  The  attention  of  the 
Council  during  the  first  eight  or  ten  3'ears  was 
to  sidewalks  and  streets.  The  latter  had  been 
pretty  well  provided  for  by  land  owners  before 
the  incorporation  of  the  village,  and  needed  but 
little  attention  in  the  way  of  originating  high- 
ways. The  sidewalks  was  a  subject  of  more 
portentous  proportions,  and  gave  the  average 
Councihnan  no  end  of  worrj'.  It  was  first  oi*- 
dained  that  the  sidewalks  should  by  constructed 
of  "  brick,  four  feet  wide,  and  curbed  with  heavy 
timbers,"  plank  was  afterward  allowed  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  the  brick,  and  represents  the  char- 
acter of  nine-tenths  of  the  sidewalks  in  the 
town  at  this  day.  Stock  was  "  ordered  off  the 
streets,"  and  a  "  pound  "  provided  for,  at  the 
first  meeting  of  the  Council,  but  it  was  a  year 
before  the  structure  was  ready  to  serve  the 
public,  and  cost  about  $20  In  1852,  the 
first  step  was  taken  to  improve  the  pub- 
lic square.  As  early  as  1812,  the  tendency 
of  tlie  village  to  extend  northward  was  ob- 
served, and  the  Township  Trustees  took  steps 
to  modif}-  the  "  public  green  "  to  suit  the  new  or- 
of  things.  B}'  exchanging  portions  of  the 
original  green,  that  portion  of  the  green  above 
Church  street  was  secured.  Nothing  wa.s  done 
to  improve  it  save  to  clear  it  of  the  timber  un- 
til 1852.  The  Council  then  provided  a  fence, 
seventy-four  trees  and  had  it  plowed,  sowed  to 
oats  and  ''seeded  down."  In  1854,  the  sub- 
ject of  proper  protection  from  fire  came  before 
the  Council.  Neither  the  township  nor  village 
had  suffered  severely'  from  fire,  if  the  terrible 
fatalit}^  in  connection  with  the  destruction  of 
the  cabin  of  Nathaniel  Stone,  in  1845,  is  ex- 
cepted. 3Ir.  Stone  was  one  of  the  early  settlers, 
and  was  then  occupying  a  cabin  where  his  son, 
Roswell  Stone,  lives,  when  it  caught  fire.  A 
son  and  daughter  occupied  the  upper  cham- 
bers, and,  when  they  were  aroused,  the  stair- 
way was  in  flames,  having  ignited  from  the 
fire-place.  The  chambers  were  filled  with 
smoke,  but  the  son,  making  his  way  to  a  win- 
dow, escaped  ;  but  the  daughter,  some  twentj' - 
two  3'ears  of  age,  stifled  with  smoke  and  be- 
wildered with  fright,  was  too  late,  and  perished 
in  the  flames.  Undoubtedly  this  tragedy  made 
a  lasting  impression,  and  the  growing  village 
rendered  the  danger  of  fires  more  threatening. 
A  small,  rotar}'  engine  was  bought  at  Middle- 
bury,    but    before    it    was    paid    for  the  au- 


thorities desired  to  "  back  out."  The  sel- 
ler would  not  accede  to  their  wishes  in 
this  matter,  and  the  coffee-mill  afl'air  was 
brought  to  scare  the  fire  fiend  awa}'.  Res- 
ervoirs were  constructed  from  time  to  time, 
but  the  inadequacy  of  the  engine  became  more 
and  more  apparent,  and,  in  1858,  the  Council 
bought  the  present  machine  of  Button  & 
Blake.  The  pumps  are  9  and  7  inches,  17^- 
foot  brakes,  16 -foot  suction  hose,  and  wheels  of 
28  and  35  inches  diameter.  The  cost  was  $725. 
The  company  organized  to  work  the  first  engine 
took  this  in  charge,  and  of  this  organization 
the  fire  department  consists  to-day.  There  is 
a  chief  of  the  department,  and  the  company' 
is  allowed  a  small  remuneration  for  attending 
the  fires  that  occur.  The  engine-house  is  found 
in  the  rear  of  the  Congregational  Church,  to 
to  which  it  belongs,  but  is  given  rent-free  to 
the  village  so  long  as  it  is  used  as  an  engine- 
house  and  the  machine  kept  there.  In  1879, 
the  Council  re-organized  this  department,  pro- 
posing to  pay  each  member  $1  each  six  months, 
provided  that  the  number  should  not  exceed 
forty.  In  1870,  the  corporation  rose  to  the 
dignity  of  a  "  lock-up."  This  was  situated 
upon  a  corner  of  the  school-lot,  and  was  a 
wooden  affair,  with  some  iron  supports  about 
the  windows,  erected  at  a  cost  of  some  $125. 
It  fell  into  disrepute  with  certain  citizens,  and 
was  set  on  fire,  it  is  supposed,  b}'  some  one  who 
had  had  a  more  intimate  acquaintance  with  it 
than  he  enjoyed,  and  totally  destroyed.  An  effort 
was  put  forth  by  the  Council  this  3'ear  to  im- 
prove the  streets  by  the  use  of  cinders  from 
the  rolling  mills  at  Cleveland.  This  material 
was  bought  at  the  mills  at  $1.50  per  car. 
and  freighted  here  by  rail  at  $6  per  car  load. 
A  part  of  Main  and  College  streets  were  treated 
with  a  layer  of  this  material,  covered  with 
gravel  from  the  vicinity  of  the  village,  with 
ver}^  beneficial  results.  Some  portions  of  other 
streets  have  been  treated  in  like  manner,  with 
some  variation  in  the  price  of  materials.  In 
1877,  lamps  for  lighting  the  streets  were  pro- 
vided, on  condition  that  certain  parties  who 
were  chiefly  benefited  would  supply  the  material 
for  the  lighting  and  care  for  the  lights.  A  year 
later  the  Council  took  the  matter  into  their 
own  hands  ;  and  from  a  start  of  thirteen  lamps, 
in  1877.  the  number  has  doubled  at  the  present. 
In  1878,  the  subject  of  a  town  hall  began  to  be 
agitated.      The  Council    had  met   in   various 


1 


^ 


440 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


rooms  and  offices  about  town,  and  after  the 
lock-up  was  burned,  there  was  no  provision  for 
municipal  criminals,  and  the  demand  seemed 
to  be  pressing.  The  Township  Trustees  took 
the  proposition  in  hand,  and,  after  submit- 
ting the  matter  to  a  vote,  made  preparation 
for  the  erection  of  such  a  building.  The  Coun- 
cil then  proposed  to  join  with  them  and  provide 
for  the  need  of  the  corporation  in  the  same 
structure.  Such  an  agreement  was  made,  the 
Council  buying  the  site  of  the  old  Congrega- 
tional Church  for  $800,  and  leasing  it  to  the 
Township  Trustees  for  ninety-nine  j'ears,  in 
consideration  of  the  latter  providing  a  coun- 
cil-room and  cells,  with  an  upper  hall  open 
alike  to  both  parties.  The  contract  for  the 
building  was  let  in  1878  to  Thomas  Crisp  and 
Charles  W.  Stewart,  for  $4,575,  and  finally  a 
further  allowance  of  $215  for  extra  work  was 
paid.  The  building  is  a  two-story  brick,  with 
a  large  hall  on  the  second  floor,  neatly  seated, 
and  two  rooms  below  for  the  use  of  Trustees 
and  Council  with  two  cells  in  the  rear  for  coi*- 
poration  culprits.  The  first  meeting  of  the 
Council  in  their  new  quarters  was  on  Novem- 
ber 11,  1879.  The  Council  took  action  in  May 
of  this  year  to  support  a  public  reading-room 
and  librar}'.  This  project  had  been  set  on  foot 
by  private  enterprise,  but  was  likely  to  fail, 
and  the  Council  stepped  in  and  has  maintained 
it  since.  There  is  no  library  in  connection, 
although  tiie  original  plan  contemplated  such 
an  addition.  Another  department  of  the  mu- 
nicipal government  is  the  cemetery. 

The  original  cemetery  purchased  by  the 
Township  Trustees  was  situated  on  the  Brandy- 
wine  Creek,  southwest  of  the  village.  The 
first  death  in  the  settlement  was  that  of  Ira 
Nobles,  a  child  eight  j^ears  old,  who  died  Aug. 
23.  1801,  and,  it  is  supposed,  was  the  first 
burial  here.  It  was  used  as  a  burial-place 
until  1808,  when,  on  the  occasion  of  the  death 
of  Mrs.  Owen  Brown,  it  was  found  too  wet,  and 
Mr.  Hudson  effected  an  exchange  for  the 
ground  on  College  street.  Here  Mrs.  Brown, 
with  a  babe  resting  upon  her  arm,  was  the  first 
occupant.  This  continued  to  be  used  until 
1855,  when  Markellie  laid  out  one  in  the  north- 
west part  of  the  village.  At  his  death  in 
1869,  he  willed  the  ground  to  the  corporation, 
the  gift  being  accepted  in  the  spring  of  that 
3^ear.  Since  then  it  has  been  cared  for  by  a 
regular  appropriation.     It  has  been  enlarged 


since  then,  systematically  laid  out,  and  is  the 
only  place  for  burial  in  the  corporation.  Burials 
have  been  forbidden  in  the  old  burial  ground 
on  College  street,  and  efforts  have  been  made 
to  remove  the  remains  from  that  place,  but  it 
has  been  resisted  hitherto.  There  are  a  num- 
ber of  cemeteries  about  the  township,  some 
private  and  others  for  neighborhood  purposes. 
Of  the  latter,  an  acre  contributed  by  Mr. 
O'Brien  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  township 
and  Maple  Grove  Cemetery,  on  Darrow  street, 
are  the  more  important. 

Hudson  village,  of  the  present,  is  pleasantly 
situated,  of  some  seventeen  hundred  inhabitants, 
noted  for  its  neat  dwellings,  its  general  air  of  cul- 
ture, and  the  seat  of  the  Western  Reserve  College. 
The  business  portion,  situated  principally  on 
Main  street  and  about  the  public  green,  con- 
sists of  four  general  stores,  four  saloons,  three 
hardware  stores,  three  meat  markets,  five  black- 
smith-shops, three  harness-shops,  two  groceries, 
two  barber-shops,  two  drug  stores,  two  wagon- 
shops,  two  livery  stables,  a  bakery,  millinery 
store,  undertaker's  establishment,  boot  and 
shoe  store,  merchant  tailor  store,  jeweler's  shop, 
and  one  hotel.  Of  the  public  buildings,  there 
are  three  church  buildings,  the  town  hall  and 
the  Adelphi  Hall,  or  l^etter  known  as  Farrars 
Block.  This  is  composed  of  two  large  store- 
rooms below,  with  offices  on  the  second  story, 
and  a  fine  large  hall  which  occupies  the  whole 
of  the  upper  stor}'.  The  hall  has  a  seating- 
capacity  of  900.  is  provided  with  commodious 
dressing  rooms,  a  spacious  stage  and  fine 
scenery.  Such  a  hall,  accessible  to  an  apprecia- 
tive community,  attracts  some  of  the  finest 
entertainments,  and  Hudson  is  favored  far 
beyond  the  average  village  of  its  size.  This 
block  was  erectedin  1866  by  C.  W.  Farrar  and 
Dr.  A.  E.  Berbower. 

Hudson  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
No.  510,  finds  a  home  here.  Its  lodge,  room 
is  in  the  upper  part  of  the  old  bakery  building. 
The  lodge  was  organized  November  25, 1874,  and 
worked  under  a  dispensation  until  a  charter 
was  issued  under  date  of  October  18, 1876.  The 
first  officers  were  Lewis  Lemoin,  W.  M.;  James 
K.  Frost,  S.  W. ;  S.  E.  Judd,  J.  W.  The  charter 
members  were  J.  K.  Frost,  S.  E.  Judd,  C.  H. 
Buss,  and  twenty-one  others.  They  have  a 
fine  rented  hall  pleasantly  furnished.  There 
was  an  early  lodge  established  hero,  of  wliich 
many  of  the  prominent  citizens — D.    Hudson, 


vT 


(S ^ 


JOHN    BUCHTE  L 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


441 


Harvey  Baldwin  and  others — were  members. 
During  the  excitement  succeeding  the  abduc- 
tion of  Morgan,  the  lodge  was  abandoned,  and 
an  opposition  sprung  up  to  this  fraternity  that 
lasted  for  years. 

In  a  settlement  founded  upon  the  principles 
upon  which  Hudson  was  established,  it  would 
be  natural  to  find  the  church  organization 
among  the  earliest  institutions  of  the  place. 
The  difficulties  in  the  way  of  such  an  organi- 
zation should  not,  however,  be  underrated. 
Ministers  were  few,  and  could  not  have  been 
adequately  supported  by  the  scattered  com- 
munities then  planted  in  the  wilderness,  if 
there  had,  been  more.  Providentially  the  de- 
mands of  the  time  and  place  were  met  by  the 
representative  of  the  Connecticut  Missionary 
Societ}',  Rev.  Joseph  Badger,  whom  Congrega- 
tionalists  delight  to  call  the  "  Apostle  of  the 
Reserve."  From  his  printed  diaiy,  the  first 
inception  of  the  Hudson  Congregational  Church 
is  learned  as  follows :  He  had  come  from 
Cleveland  to  Newburg.  "In  coming  from 
Cleveland  to  this  place,  I  fell  in  company  with 
a  man  from  Hudson,  who  wanted  to  know  if  I 
was  going  there  to  form  a  church.  I  replied 
that  if  I  found  suitable  characters,  I  should. 
'  Well,'  said  he,  '  if  3^ou  admit  old  Deacon 
Thompson,'  and  some  others  he  named, '  it  shall 
not  stand ;  I  will  break  it  down.  I  will  have 
an  Episcopal  Church.'  I  observed  to  him, 
'■  You  must  undertake  a  dangerous  work  to 
break  down  the  church  of  Christ ;  I  advise 
you  not  to  meddle  with  such  an  undertaking.' 
I  went  on  to  Hudson,  preached  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  on  Wednesday  organized  the  church  in 
that  place,  in  which  Deacon  Thompson,  Esquire 
Hudson  and  others  were  united."  This  was  on 
September  4,  1802,  the  original  members  being 
Stephen  Thompson  and  Mary,  his  wife  ;  David 
Hudson ;  Abraham  Thompson  and  Susanna, 
his  wife ;  Stephen  Thompson,  Jr.,  and  Abigail, 
his  wife ;  George  Kilbourne  and  Almira,  his 
wife ;  Heman  Oviatt  and  Eunice,  his  wife ; 
Amos  Lusk  and  Hannah  Lindley.  These  were 
all  members  of  the  Congregational  Church,  at 
Goshen,  Conn.,  save  the  last  two,  who  were 
members  of  the  same  denomination  at  Bloom- 
field,  N.  Y. 

The  church  thus  established  depended  up- 
on Mr.  Badger  and  other  missionaries  for  what 
preaching  they  had.  Services  were  held  in  the 
log  schoolhouse  that  was  erected  in  1801,  and 


which  served  for  all  public  gatherings  relating 
to  church  or  State.  The  absence  of  a  minister 
did  not  prevent  public  worship  and  it  is  re- 
lated witli  pride  that  not  a  single  Sabbath  since 
the  latter  part  of  June,  1800,  has  passed  with- 
out public  religious  services  of  some  character. 
The  Rev.  David  Bacon,  who  had  gone  in  be- 
half of  the  Connecticut  Missionary  Society  as 
a  missionary  to  the  Indians  in  1801,  was  re- 
called to  New  Connecticut  in  1804.  "In  the 
month  of  August  he  left  the  isle  of  Mackinaw, 
with  his  wife  and  two  children,  the  3'oungest 
less  than  six  weeks  old,  and,  after  a  weai-y  and 
dangerous  voyage,  some  part  of  which  was 
performed  in  an  open  canoe,  they  arrived  safe 
on  the  soil  of  the  Western  Reserve.  About 
the  1st  of  October  they  were  at  Hudson, 
where  they  found  a  temporary  home."*  The 
church  proposed  then  to  hire  him  one-half  of 
his  time,  provided  the  society  would  retain 
him  in  their  employ  for  the  balance.  This  ar- 
rangement was  effected — the  first  time  that  the 
Gospel  was  administered  in  any  township  oth- 
erwise than  by  occasional  visits  of  itinerant 
missionaries — and  continued  until  1807,  when 
he  moved  to  Tallmadge.  On  the  19th  of 
April,  1811,  it  was  voted  unanimously  by  the 
church  that  "  Benjamin  Whedon  be  appointed 
a  committee  for  us,  and  in  our  behalf  to  pro- 
cure a  minister  of  the  Gospel  to  dispense  the 
Word  and  ordinances  in  this  place,  and  the  said 
Mr.  Whedon  is  hereby  requested  and  author- 
ized to  make  such  negotiations  and  arrange- 
ments on  the  subject  as  he  shall  judge  prudent 
and  proper."  The  result  of  this  action  on  the 
part  of  the  church  was  a  vote,  February-  27, 
1815.  to  call  the  Rev.  William  Hanford.  The 
call  was  issued  under  date  of  June  10,  1815, 
and  brought  an  affirmative  response  under 
date  of  August  10,  1815,  followed  by  the  in- 
stallation of  Mr.  Hanford  by  the  Grand  River 
Presbyter}',  on  the  17th  of  August,  1815,  the 
church  having  come  under  the  care  of  the 
Presbytery  shortly  before  this  occasion. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  note  here  that 
"Plan  of  Union"  which  eventually  agitated 
church  circles  throughout  the  Reserve,  and 
found  in  Hudson  its  main  support  and  exponent. 
Eventually  the  church  became  divided  upon  this 
subject,  and,  in  1826,  the  article  prescribing  the 
form  of  its  prudential  committee  was  erased 
from    its   regulations.     In    1830,  a  movement 

*A(l<ir('SS  of  Rev.  Lvonanl  Bacon. 


I® 

r 


^- 


442 


HISTORY  or    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


was  inaugurated  to  sever  the  connection  of  the 
church  with  the  Presbytery,  and,  five  years 
later,  the  Presbyter}-  granted  a  release.  Since 
that  time,  it  has  been  what  it  was  originally,  a 
Congregational  Church.  The  organization  still 
retains  a  large  Presbyterian  element,  which,  in 
connection  with  the  majority,  works  harmo- 
niously to  the  end  of  all  church  effort.  The 
internal  growth  of  the  church  has  been  regular 
and  uninterrupted.  Up  to  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  William  Hanford  twent3'-seven  members 
had  been  admitted,  principally  by  Revs.  Joseph 
Badger  and  Abraham  Scott,  both  missionaries 
of  the  Connecticut  Society.  Daring  Mr.  Han- 
ford's  pastorate,  from  1815  to  1831,  133  were 
added  ;  in  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Amri  Nichols, 
from  July  to  December,  1832,  nine  were  added  ; 
by  Rev.  Giles  Doolittle,  supply,  1832-4(1  fifty- 
two  were  admitted  ;  by  Rev.  Josiah  Town,  July 
to  October,  1840,  eight  were  admitted  ;  Rev. 
Mason  Grosvenor,  during  his  pastorate,  1840- 
43,  admitted  fifty-six  ;  Rev.  William  Hanford, 
in  October,  1843,  admitted  two  ;  Rev.  John  C. 
Hart,  in  his  pastorate,  1844-52,  admitted  122  ; 
Rev.  N.  Barrett,  1853-58,  admitted  ninet}-- 
seven ;  Rev.  G.  Darling,  1858-74,  admitted 
196 ;  Rev.  E.  W.  Root,  1874-76,  admitted 
twenty-six ;  Rev.  J.  Towle,  1876,  admitted 
two  ;  and  Rev.  T.  Y.  Gardner,  1876,  —  ;  the 
present  pastor  has  admitted  forty-one  up  to 
October  6,  1878.  There  are  now  about  200 
members. 

The  outward  improvement  of  the  church  be- 
gan in  1819.  On  the  26th  of  June,  1817,  at  a 
"  town  meeting "  held  in  the  "  Center  School- 
house,"  it  was  voted  that  "there  shall  he  a 
place  selected  for  the  purpose  of  building  a 
house  of  public  worship,  according  to  a  sub- 
scription paper  now  in  circulation,  provided 
the  difl!'erent  denominations  do  not  unite  in 
building  a  house  together.  Voted,  that  the 
house  shall  stand  on  the  west  side  of  the  green, 
the  southeast  corner  to  stand  where  tliere  is 
now  a  stake  stuck  in  the  ground,  and  to  extend 
thence  north  from  said  stake,  and  as  far  back 
as  it  shall  be  necessary  to  build  said  house. 
Voted,  that  Joel  Gaylord,  Daniel  H.  Johnson 
and  Owen  Brown  shall  be  a  committee  for  the 
purpose  of  adopting  some  method  upon  which 
to  unite  in  building  a  meeting  house  for  differ- 
ent denominations  of  Christians."  At  this  time 
there  was  a  great  deal  of  denominational  differ- 
ence among  the  members  of  the  community. 


A  church  building  resulted  from  this  action, 
and  was  erected  upon  the  site  chosen,  but  the 
bond  of  union  in  this  project  trenched  too 
much  upon  the  orthodox  notions  of  such  men 
as  Mr.  Hudson,  Owen  Brown,  Benjamin  Whe- 
don  and  others,  and  they  decided  to  build  for 
themselves.  Timbers  for  the  frame  work  were 
brought  upon  the  ground,  but  they  laid  upon 
the  ground  near  the  schoolhouse  for  nearly  two 
years  while  the  people  wrangled  over  the  proper 
site.  In  March,  1818,  the  Congregational  so- 
ciet}',  having  decided  to  build  a  place  of  wor- 
ship on  their  own  account,  selected  the  site  now 
occupied  by  the  town  hall.  The  building  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Benjamin  Whedon,  Moses 
Thomp.son  and  Heman  Oviatt,  with  Augustus 
Baldwin  as  Treasurer.  Owen  Brown  was  the 
contractor,  and  was  two  years  in  completing 
the  building,  which  cost  upward  of  $5,000.  It 
was  dedicated  on  March  1,  1820,  and.  in  the 
old  New  England  style,  was  for  several  years 
without  the  means  of  warming  it  during  the 
cold  season.*  In  1865,  this  building  was  aban- 
doned for  church  purposes,  and  served,  under 
the  name  of  Thompson's  Hall,  for  public  gath- 
erings until  1878,  when  it  gave  place  to  the 
town  hall.  The  present  brick  edifice  on  Aurora 
street  was  projected  in  1863,  and  completed 
some  two  years  later,  at  an  expense  of  $10,000, 
in  addition  to  the  cost  of  lot  and  furniture. 

The  Union  Church  building,  the  result  of  the 
effort  above  mentioned,  was  used  in  common 
by  the  Universalists,  Methodists,  and  any  oth- 
ers that  desired  to  have  a  hearing.  Among 
others  remembered  as  preaching  here,  are  John 
Campbell  and  his  son  Alexander.  The  Meth- 
odists finally  built  a  place  of  worship  on  Aurora 
street,  and  the  ''  Free  Church  "  was  after  awhile 
sold  and  used  for  a  blacksmith-shop. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organ- 
ized in  1828,  with  Daniel  Gaylord,  Moses 
Draper,  Perley  Mansur  and  their  wives  as  earl}- 
membei-s,  with  others.  In  1846,  their  building 
which  stands  on  Aurora  street  was  erected,  Mr. 
F.  W.  Bunnell  being  the  contractor.  What  the 
contract  price  was  is  unknown,  but  the  con- 
tractor received  $1,600  in  addition  to  contribu- 
tions of  labor,  etc.,  on  the  part  of  subscribers. 

*  Eliziir  Wright  relates  an  incident  of  his  early  going  to 
church  which  illustrates  the  difficulties  attending  the  early  wor- 
ship here.  Ho  says:  "I  remember  taking  my  brother-in-law 
Hanford'sold  gray  liorse,  and  taking  my  wife  upon  the  horse  behind 
me.  She'was  not  used  to  this  way  of  riding,  and  when  the  horse 
besan  to  flounder  in  the  mnd  of  the  bottoms  near  the  green,  she 
became  alarmed,  and  alighting  iu  the  mud,  lost  one  of  her  shoes." 


i^ 


HUDSON   TOWNSHIP 


443 


The  first  pastors  in  the  new  house  were  Rev. 
D.  Prosser  and  Rev.  Pinney.  The  church  has 
suffered  severely  by  removals  and  death,  and 
gradually  dwindled  in  numbers,  until  there  is 
now  no  regular  service  held  in  this  church 
building  on  the  Sabbath.  The  last  entry  upon 
the  chui'ch  records  is  as  follows  :  "I,  Thomas 
Hickling,  came  to  Hudson  from  Massillon,  in 
the  boundar}'  of  the  Pittsburgh  Conference,  on 
April  4.  1873,  to  reside  and  do  business,  and 
found  the  society  in  a  very  indifferent  condition, 
without  an}'  regular  means  of  grace,  and,  being 
an  ordained  local  preacher,  volunteered  my 
services  and  found  them  appreciated."'  There 
were  then  twenty-seven  members. 

Early  in  the  year  1840.  a  few  residents  of 
Hudson  Township,  desiring  a  place  "where  the 
worship  of  God  could  be  conducted  according 
to  the  primitive  usages,"  proposed  the  organiza- 
tion of  an  Episcopal  Church.  Henry  O'Brien 
and  Frederick  Brown  were  the  leaders  in  this 
movement,  and  finally'  invited  T.  B.  Fairchild, 
of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  to  come  to  Hudson  to 
preach.  The  call  thus  extended  was  accepted, 
and  Mr.  Fairchild  held  the  first  services  in  this 
j-ear  in  the  Congregational  meeting-house. 
The  second  service  was  held  in  the  room  over 
Kent  &  Brewster's  store,  and  continued  there 
until  late  in  the  fall  of  1840,  when,  by  the  con- 
sent of  the  authorities  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  their  services  were  held  there.  Dur- 
ing the  following  spring,  Mr.  Fairchild,  with 
Rev.  George  S.  Davis,  of  Franklin,  conducted 
services  here  alternatelj'  every  two  weeks. 
During  the  summer,  each  of  the  clergy  of  the 
Northwest  Convocation  arranged  to  give  two 
Sunda3's  to  Hudson.  The  services  were  then 
transferred  to  the  "  brick  academy,"  and,  with 
a  view  of  forming,  a  regular  parish,  the  follow- 
ing document  was  circulated  for  signatures  : 
"We,  whose  names  are  here  affixed,  deeply 
impressed  with  the  importance  of  the  Christian 
religion,  and  wishing  to  promote  its  holj'  influ- 
ence in  the  hearts  of  ourselves,  our  families 
and  our  neighbors,  do  hereb}'  associate  ourselves 
under  the  name,  style  and  title  of  the  Parish 
of  Christ  Church,  Hudson,  Count}-  of  Summit, 
and  State  of  Ohio.  And  b}'  so  doing,  do 
adopt  the  constitution  and  canons  of  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  Church  in  the  Diocese  of 
Ohio,  in  communion  with  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  of  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica."    Thirty-seven  names  were  secured  to  this 


paper,  among  which  were  those  of  Henry 
O'Brien,  A.  A.  Brewster.  Frederick  Brown, 
Arthur  Sadler,  David  O'Brien,  Dr.  Israel  Town 
and  others,  nearly  all  of  whom  were  heads  of 
ftimilies.  July  11,  1842,  an  organization  was 
effected  and  sei'vices  were  regularly  held  in  the 
old  brick  academy  until  it  was  sold,  when 
services  were  again  held  over  Kent  &  Brew- 
ster's store.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry  on 
Januar}'  6,  184G,  discussed  the  necessity  of 
a  church  building  ;  Rev.  A.  Phelps,  the  Rector, 
offered  s^lOO  of  his  salaiy  toward  the  object, 
and  a  building  committee,  consisting  of  A.  A. 
Brewster,  David  O'Brien  and  Joshua  Hertzell, 
was  finally  appointed.  A  lot  on  the  public 
square  was  secured,  plans  were  drawn  by  S.  C. 
Porter,  and  the  corner-stone  laid  b}'  Rt.  Rev. 
C.  P.  Mcllvaine,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese 
of  Ohio,  in  April,  1846.  It  was  completed  in 
five  months,  and  the  opening  services  conduct- 
ed on  the  25th  of  September,  1846,  b}-  Bishop 
Mcllvaine.  The  church  was  free  from  debt ; 
provided  with  an  organ  through  the  exertions 
of  the  ladies  of  the  church  and  the  liberality 
of  Mr.  Brewster,  and  a  bell  as  the  gift  of  D. 
H.  Arnold,  of  New  York.  In  1847,  Mr.  Phelps 
resigned  his  pastoral  charge  of  the  church  to 
engage  in  the  church  school,  which  had  been  in 
contemplation  some  time,  pi-eaching  one-half 
the  time  until  August  1,  1848,  when  Rev.  T.  B. 
Fairchild  was  again  invited,  and  accepted.  He 
continued  with  the  church  until  1856,  when  he 
again  resigned,  and  removed  from  town.  The 
pulpit  was  temporarily  supplied  by  Rev.  L.  L. 
Holder  until  June  1,  1859,  when  Mr.  Fairchild 
was  a  third  time  invited  to  preach  here.  He 
accepted,  and  continued  until  1870.  when  he 
resigned  to  accept  a  call  to  St.  John's  Church 
in  Kewanee,  111.  The  succeeding  Rectors  have 
been  Rev.  Robert  A.  McElhennev,  1871-72; 
Rev.  Albert  B.  Putnam,  1873-74,  and  Rev.  S. 
W.  Garrett,  October  4,  1874,  and  the  present 
incumbent.  In  1849,  the  town  clock  was  pre- 
sented to  the  society  b}'  Mr.  Brewster  ;  in 
1875.  a  new  vestry-room  was  added,  at  a  cost 
of  $350  ;  in  the  winter  of  1 876.  a  cabinet  organ 
was  purchased  for  the  Sabbath  school  at  a  cost 
of  $100  ;  and  in  May,  1878,  a  new  organ  was 
purchased  for  the  church  at  a  cost  of  S700. 
There  are  al)out  one  hundred  members  at 
present. 

The   St.  Mary's  Catholic   Church  of  Hudson 
dates  to  about  the  year  1858,  when  the  present 


444 


HISTORY    OF    SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


small  place  of  worship  was  built.  Before  this 
date,  the  Catholics  of  this  section  were  visited 
monthl}'  by  pastors  resident  in  Cleveland.  The 
first  priest  to  locate  in  Hudson  was  Rev.  P.  H. 
Brown,  who  remained  five  years  ministering 
to  the  wants  of  the  few  scattered  and  poor  peo- 
ple he  found  professing  liis  faith.  Mr.  Brown 
died  in  Cleveland  in  1879.  He  was  succeeded 
by  J.  Hannon,  who  held  charge  for  nine  years, 
when  he  moved  to  Youngstown.  Rev.  A.  Pag- 
anini  succeeded,  him  but  remained  only  a  yeai*. 
He  is  at  present  located  at  Eagle  Harbor,  Mich. 
In  July,  1877,  the  present  Pastor,  Rev.  P.  H. 
O'Mara,  took  charge  of  this  church.  Improve- 
ments have  been  added  under  each  succeeding 
Pastor,  and  to-day  the  little  church  building, 
though  not  a  very  imposing  structure,  is  neat 
and  comfortable.  Cuyahoga  Falls  and  Penin- 
sula are  also  attended  b}'  the  Pastor  at  Hud- 
son. The  members  of  St.  Mary's  Church  are 
generall}'  farmers,  some  of  them  among  the 
most  substantial  in  the  county.  The  church 
has  recently  purchased  thi-ee  acres  of  land  in 
the  corporation  for  cemetery  purposes. 

The  common  school  preceded  the  church  in 
Hudson  one  3'ear.  This  project  needed  no  out- 
side assistance,  and  was  established  in  1801. 
The  work  of  the  founders  was  eminently 
characterized  by  thoroughness,  and  Mr.  Hud- 
son is  found,  on  his  visit  to  Connecticut,  pur- 
chasing a  library  for  public  use,  fashioned  upon 
the  old  custom  of  the  East.  He  expended  $100, 
not  an  inconsiderable  sum  in  that  time,  and  on 
his  return  sold  shares  in  his  lif)rary  among  the 
settlers  in  Hudson,  Aurora  and  Mantua.  This 
library  has  long  since  passed  away,  but  its  nat- 
ural successor  still  occupies  its  place  in  the 
communit}'  in  a  public  library  for  the  Union 
School,  which  was  established  in  1871.  The 
first  school  building  was  a  rude  log  structure, 
located  on  the  east  side  of  Main  street,  on  the 
public  green,  a  little  below  Mr.  Buss'  store.  A 
second  was  built  a  little  south  of  this,  and  sub- 
sequently a  frame  building  was  erected  on  the 
other  side  of  the  street  but  in  the  near  vicinit}'. 
The  first  school  was  taught  by  George  Pease 
and  the  second  by  Miss  Patty  Fields.  The  third 
was  taught  b}^  Miss  Amy  Cannon,  of  Aurora, 
in  the  southeast  quarter,  near  John  Oviatt's 
residence.  Among  the  early  teachers  ai'e  re- 
membered Titus  Wetmore,  Martha  Filer  and 
Benjamin  Whedon,  the  latter  teaching  in  1807. 
Schoolliouses  were  erected  in  various  parts  of 


the  township,  as  the  convenience  of  the  grow- 
ing population  demanded,  until,  in  1825,  the 
Township  Trustees  divided  the  township  into  five 
school  districts,  the  first  at  the  center,  second 
in  the  northwest,  third  in  the  southwest,  fourth 
in  the  southeast,  and  the  fifth  in  the  northeast. 
In  1827,  another  district  was  added,  in  1830 
one  more,  and,  in  1838,  District  No.  1  was  di- 
vided and  others  erected,  making  a  total  of  nine 
districts  in  the  township.  In  1855,  the  two  cor- 
poration districts  were  united,  under  the  law  of 
1845,  and  the  joint  district  set  off  as  an  inde- 
pendent one.  The  schools  were  graded,  Misses 
Sabin  and  Birge  being  the  first  teachers  under 
the  new  dispensation.  In  1857,  another  school 
building  was  erected  at  the  end  of  the  old  brick 
house  then  in  use  in  tlie  southern  portion  of  the 
corporation,  and  a  third  teacher  added.  Mat- 
ters worked  harmonioush'  in  this  way  until 
18G3,  when  the  north  corporation  district  with- 
drew from  the  union  arrangement.  The  State 
School  Commissioner  decided  against  the  val- 
idity of  this  action  and  the  two  districts  re- 
united. The  school  facilities  did  prove  sat- 
isfactor}'  to  a  large  part  of  the  citizens,  and  an 
agitation  for  a  high  school  began  to  be  made. 
In  18G5,  therefore,  a  lot.  No.  13,  was  bought  of 
Mr.  Porter,  on  which  to  erect  a  suitable  struct- 
ure for  school  purposes.  In  1867,  $5,000  was 
voted  for  a  schoolhouse,  but,  on  receiving  plans 
and  bids,  it  was  found  insuflScient  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  $1,500  more  was  asked  for  and  granted 
by  the  people  in  1868.  The  contract  was  let  to 
G.  W.  Church,  for  $6,225,  and  completed  and 
accepted  b}'  the  Board  of  Education  on  the  18th 
of  November,  1868.  The  proceeds  of  the  school- 
houses  and  the  sale  of  part  of  the  lot,  supplied 
the  board  with  additional  funds  for  furnish- 
ing the  schoolrooms.  In  1871,  the  new  build- 
ing was  found  to  be  too  small  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  district.  The  Seminary  build- 
ing, on  Baldwin  street,  was  secured  for  a  part 
of  the  scholars,  and  is  still  used,  though  the 
board  is  seriously  considering  the  question  of 
building  a  new  house.  The  question  in  regard 
to  the  removal  of  the  Western  Reserve  College 
has  suggested  the  feasibility  of  securing  one  of 
the  college  buildings  in  case  of  their  becoming 
vacant,  has  caused  a  dela}'  in  taking  measures 
to  secure  a  more  suitable  buildinii'.* 


*Amoiifr  tlie  stiuleiits  of  ninlsoirs  comiiioii  sclinols  mimv  I'e 
ni'iitioiH'il  Rev.  T.oonani  Biiron  aii'l  Jiiliii  Btiiwn,  bolli  ol  wli'Hn 
have  giiinccj  a  iiatioiiui  ifpiitation. 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


445 


The  intellectual  activity  occasioned  by  the 
presence  of  a  college  in  the  village  has  given 
rise  to  repeated  attempts  to  furnish  a  school 
for  that  class  of  youth  for  which  the  college 
made  no  provision.  The  history  of  these 
efforts,  and  especiall}'  that  which  sought  to  es- 
tablish a  school  for  3'oung  ladies  in  Hudson  is 
nearly  co-extensive  with  that  of  the  college. 
In  1827,  Mrs.  Nutting,  wife  of  tutor,  afterward 
Prof  Nutting,  opened  a  school  for  3'oung  ladies, 
Mrs.  Raymond,  sister  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hanford, 
opening  the  parlor  of  her  residence  on  what  is 
now  Aurora  street,  for  the  schoolroom.  This 
was  the  pioneer  effort  in  the  cause  of  female 
education  in  Hudson.  Prof  Nutting  gave  in- 
struction in  the  higher  branches  of  English 
study,  and  Mrs.  Nutting  in  the  common 
branches,  embi'oidery,  painting  in  water  colors, 
etc.  Her  pupils  were  from  the  families  of  Rev. 
Messrs.  Pitkin  and  Coe,  Dr.  Thompson,  Esquire 
Brown,  Capt.  Ellswoi'th  and  others.  There 
was  also  considerable  patronage  from  neigh- 
boring towns.  This  school  was  continued  with 
varying  success  for  several  3'ears,  and  was 
finally  superseded  by  a  select  school,  opened  in 
the  building  just  south  of  Farrar's  Block,  by  a 
Miss  Eggleston,  from  New  York. 

About  1832,  a  small  school  building  was 
erected  by  subscription  on  land  which  was 
owned  by  Rev.  Mr.  Doolittle,  Capt.  Oviatt  and 
Judge  Humphrey.  In  1833,  Miss  Upham, 
sister-in-law  of  Rev.  Mr.  Doolittle,  commenced 
a  school  for  3'oung  ladies  in  this  building.  This 
school  numbered  thirt}-  or  more  pupils,  and 
was  liberally  patronized  from  abroad. 

In  1834,  H.  H.  Gross  came  from  Connecti- 
cut and  opened  a  school  on  Aurora  street,  which 
was  well  patronized  and  encouraged  him  to 
erect  in  front  of  his  schoolhouse  a  brick  build- 
ing which  has  become  generally  known  as  the 
"  Brick  Academy."  This  was  a  two-stor^' 
building  with  a  basement,  and  was  erected  in 
1835  at  an  expense  of  $3,000.  The  basement 
was  designed  for  a  primary  school,  the  first 
story  for  a  bo3's'  school,  and  the  second  story 
for  a  3'Oung  ladies'  department.  This  building 
was  subsequently  purchased  b}^  a  joint-stock 
company  of  the  citizens  of  Hudson,  and  was 
furnished  rent  free  to  the  teachers  who  depended 
on  the  receipts  from  tuition  for  their  salaries. 
This  institution  was  styled  the  Hudson  Acade- 
my. The  first  teacher  in  the  female  depart- 
ment was  Miss  Smith,  who  afterward  married 


Lyman  Hall,  Esq.,  of  Ravenna.  In  1840,  Miss 
Eunice  Towne  was  employed  in  this  depart- 
ment, and  taught  fors  ome  time  with  great 
acceptance.  Her  successor  was  Miss  Re 
becca  H.  Dana,  now  Mrs.  Atwater,  of  New 
Haven. 

In  the  spring  of  1843,  Miss  Mary  Strong  be- 
came Principal  of  the  school,  and  brought  to 
its  management  such  distinguished  abilit}-  that 
the  school  which  at  first  numbered  not  more 
than  twenty  pupils  increased  in  interest  and 
patronage  until  it  often  numbered  sixty  or  more 
pupils.  In  1845,  Miss  Strong  erected  a  two-story 
frame  building  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street. 
In  the  following  year,  she  opened  the  spring 
term  of  her  school  in  the  new  edifice  and  chris- 
tened it  Hudson  Female  Seminar}^,  the  old 
"  Brick  Academy "  in  the  meantime  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  corporation  school  board. 
The  seminar}^  remained  under  Miss  Strong's 
superintendence  until  the  spring  of  1854,  when 
her  health  failed,  and  the  school  was  suspended. 
During  the  continuance  of  this  school  there  were 
three  female  seminaries  in  Hudson  ;  the  "  Hud- 
son Young  Ladies  Seminar}-,"'  b}-  Mr.  Grosve- 
uor,  and  the  "  Seminary  for  Ladies."  by  !Mr. 
Phelps,  in  addition  to  Miss  Strong's  school. 
These,  save  the  latter,  were  boarding  and  day 
schools,  and,  for  a  time,  received  a  liberal  pat- 
ronage from  the  towns  on  the  Reserve. 

The  "  Hudson  Young  Ladies'  Seminar^'  "  was 
opened  in  1843  by-  Rev.  ^lason  Grosvenor,  in  a 
building  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square. 
Mr.  Grosvenor  gave  instruction  in  Latin  and 
mathematics,  and  his  sister,  Miss  Lucy  Grosve- 
nor, presided  in  the  schoolroom  and  gave 
instruction  in  the  common  branches  of  study, 
drawing,  painting,  etc.  In  1845,  Miss  Grosve- 
nor married,  and  the  school  was  discontinued 
until  the  autumn  of  1846,  when  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Skinner,  from  Massachusetts,  re-opened  it.  The 
next  spring  Miss  Charlotte  Lee  took  charge  of 
the  academic  department,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Messer  of  the  boarding-house.  The  school 
continued  until  about  1852.  The  third  of  these 
seminaries  was  opened  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Episcopal  Church,  in  1840.  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Phelps.  The  building  occupied  as  a  school- 
room, is  now  occupied  as  a  blacksmith-shop  liy 
Mr.  Farwell,  on  Aurora  street,  the  boarding- 
house  maintained  in  connection  with  the  school 
now  being  used  by  Mr.  Farwell  as  his  residence. 
Miss  Dever  was  Principal  of  the  academic  de- 


Jkl 


44G 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


partment  until   1851,  when  the  school  was  dis- 
continued. 

In  1853,  Mr.  J.  W.  Smith  prepared  a  suite  of 
rooms  in  the  third  story  of  the  Pentagon  for 
school  purposes,  furnished  them  with  improved 
furniture  ordered  from  Boston,  visited  the 
seminar}'  at  South  Hadley,  Mass.,  and  se- 
cured the  services  of  Miss  Elizabeth  Burt,  as 
Principal,  and  became  personally  responsible 
for  the  expenses  of  the  school.  This  seminary 
was  well  sustained  for  about  two  years,  when 
the  general  business  failure  in  1855  closed  the 
school.  In  the  fall  of  this  year,  an  association 
of  gentlemen,  citizens  of  Hudson,  was  formed, 
who  purchased  the  school  furniture,  rented  and 
repaired  the  "  Hudson  Female  Seminary  ''  l)uild- 
ing.  and  sent  to  Mount  Holyoke  Female  Semi- 
nary for  a  teacher.  In  response  to  this  appli- 
cation, a  Miss  Everett  came  on  and  assumed 
the  direction  of  the  school.  This  lady  lacked 
that  '^  suarifer  in  m.udo,''  which  is  conducive  of 
the  highest  success,  and,  at  the  expiration  of 
the  academic  3"ear,  the  association  found  itself 
in  debt,  and  the  school  greatly  reduced  in  num- 


bers. Then  came  a  time  chiefly  remarkable 
for  the  short  tenure  of  office,  on  the  part  of  the 
teachers.  Not  less  than  five  had  charge  of  the 
school  in  four  years,  and,  though  most  of  them 
were  competent  and  efficient  teachers,  such  was 
the  depressed  condition  of  things  in  Hudson 
that  the  school  made  poor  returns  for  the  labor 
expended  upon  it. 

In  1860,  Miss  Emily  Metcalf  assumed  the 
charge,  and  a  few  years  later  purchased  the 
building,  and  moved  it  to  its  present  site  on 
Baldwin  street.  The  course  of  stud}-  was  en- 
larged, and  the  school,  for  the  greater  part  of 
thirteen  years,  received  a  flattering  patronage. 
The  advance  of  the  high  school  system,  the 
general  opening  of  colleges  to  women,  were 
causes  that  began  to  make  an  unfavorable 
effect  upon  the  seminary  in  Hudson,  and  in 
1873,  it  was  again  suspended.  After  the  lapse 
of  an  academic  3'ear,  it  was  again  opened  by 
Rev.  B.  W.  Hosford.  whose  daughters  con- 
ducted it  for  one  year,  when  it  finally  suspended. 
The  building  is  now  used  b}'  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation of  the  independent  district  of  Hudson.* 


C  H  A  P  T  E  R    X  \.\ 


HUDSON   TOWNSHIP  — THH    WKSTHllN    RRSERVE    COLLEGE— ITS    LOCATION    AT    HUDSON  — EARLY 

SUBJECTS    OF    AGITATION  — DIFFERENT    ADMINISTRATIONS  —  PREPARATORY 

SCHOOL  — LIBRARY,    APPARATUS,    ET(\  — THE    REMOVAL. 


IN  1801,  when  there  could  not  have  been 
1,500  inhabitants  on  the  Beserve,  a  petition 
to  the  Territorial  Legislature  by  Rev.  Joseph 
Badger,  the  onl}-  minister  on  the  Reserve,  ex- 
cept one,  and  the  onl}'  one  from  Connecticut, 
praying  for  a  charter  that  steps  might  even  thus 
earl}'  be  taken  to  found  a  college.  The  petition 
was  not  granted,  but  the  petitioners  bided  their 
time. 

Ohio  was  admitted  to  the  Union  as  a  State  in 
February,  1803.  The  first  Legislature  convened 
on  the  1st  day  of  March.  On  the  IGth  of 
April,  an  act  was  passed  incorporating  the 
"  Erie  Literary  Society."  The  preamble  of  the 
act  declares  that :  "  Whereas,  it  has  been  rep- 
resented to  this  assembly  b}'  certain  persons 
associated  under  the  name  of  the  Erie  Literai'y 
Society,  that  a  number  of  proprietors  of  land 

tCorapik'd  by  J.  H.  Battle,  from  a  historv  hy  President  Carroll 
Cutler. 


within  the  county  of  Trumbull  are  desirous  to 
appropriate  a  part  thereof  to  the  support  of  a 
seminary  of  learning  within  said  county,  and 
that  the  intent  of  such  donations  cannot  be 
carried  into  effect  without  the  interference  of 
the  Legislature,  b}'  incorpoi'ating  a  Board  of 
Trust  for  the  reception  and  management  of  any 
property,  real  or  personal,  that  may  be  given 
for  said  purpose  and  for  the  establishment  and 
direction  of  such  seminary,  as  soon  as  funds 
sufficient  shall  be  collected — Be  it  enacted,  etc." 
The  first  name  in  the  list  of  corporators  is 
David  Hudson,  and  the  last  Joseph  Badger. 
Trumbull  County  at  that  time  embraced  the 
whole  Reserve,  and  the  population  was  prob- 
ably less  than  three  thousand.  The  intention 
of  these  Trustees  was  to  establish  an  academy 

*Tl)o  matter  pertaining  to  the  seminaries  of  Hudson  has  been 
compiled  chiefly  from  a  sketch  prepared  in  1868  by  Miss  Emily 
Metcalf. 


;^ 


iL 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


447 


or  college,  with  President,  professors,  instruct- 
ors, library  and  apparatus,  and  the  act  gave 
them  full  powers  to  hold  property,  erect  build- 
ings, have  a  common  seal,  fill  their  own  vacan- 
cies, and  do  all  those  things  usually  done  b}' 
such  corporations. 

The  small  and  scattered  population,  wholly 
occupied  in  clearing  the  land,  making  roads  and 
gaining  a  livelihood,  could  evidently  do  but  lit- 
tle for  the  endowment  or  patronage  of  such  an 
institution  as  yet.  But  they  showed  their  wis- 
dom and  proved  themselves  true  sons  of  Con- 
necticut, b}'  thus  early  taking  steps  to  establish 
the  higher  institutions  of  education.  Common 
schools  were  of  course  established  in  all  the 
scattered  settlements,  as  fast  as  the  numbers 
of  the  population  would  allow.  Social  libraries 
were  early  founded  in  man}-  places.  The  Erie 
Literary  Society  received  some  gifts  of  land,  b}' 
way  of  endowment.  With  the  avails  of  these 
lands  an  academy  building  was  erected  in  1805, 
at  Burton,  and  in  that  or  the  following  year, 
the  school  was  opened — the  first  of  its  kind  in 
Northern  Ohio.  This  school  was  maintained 
more  or  less  continuously  until  1810,  when  the 
building  was  bui'ned,  as  was  supposed,  by  an 
incendiary.  In  July,  180(i,  Mr.  William  Law, 
of  Connecticut,  a  large  land  owner  on  the  Re- 
serve, donated  to  the  society  1,130  acres  of 
land,  to  revert,  however,  to  his  heirs,  if  the 
college  should  ever  be  removed  from  Burton. 

It  had  become  obvious  that  the  sparse  popu- 
lation could  not  support  an  academical  school 
continuously.  After  the  loss  of  the  building, 
therefore,  the  Trustees  were  slow  to  move  for  a 
new  one.  The  war  of  1812,  came  on  speedily, 
and  produced  as  serious  an  effect  on  the  pros- 
perity of  the  Reserve  as  on  that  of  any  other 
part  of  the  countr}-.  The  educational  move- 
ment was  retarded  with  all  other  good  causes. 
After  the  war,  in  1817,  the  Trustees  determined 
to  erect  another  building,  and  open  the  school 
so  soon  as  a  suitable  instructor  could  be  found. 
The}'  resolved  "  that  the  Principal  should  be  a 
graduate  of  some  American  College."  In  May, 
1 820,  the  school  was  opened  under  the  instruc- 
tion of  Mr.  David  L.  Coe,  a  graduate  of  Williams 
College,  and  continued  in  operation  under  its 
charter  until  1884. 

It  is  probable  that  the  chief  movers  in  the 
Erie  Literary  Societ}'  were  the  land- owners,  with 
an  eye  to  speculation  ;  but  their  movement  was 
earnestl}^  seconded  by  the  clergy.     In  February, 


1817,  the  Presbytery  of  Grand  River,  which 
embraced  nearl}'  all  the  Presbyterian  and  Con- 
gregational ministers  and  churches  of  the  Re- 
serve, formed  itself  into  a  society  "  for  the  edu- 
cation of  indigent,  pious  young  men  for  the 
ministry,  within  the  limits  of  the  Presbyter}'." 
They  say  that,  "  considering  the  destitute  situ- 
ation of  many  churches  and  congregations 
among  ourselves,  as  to  the  means  of  religious 
instruction  and  edification,  and  the  great  and 
increasing  call  for  ministerial  labors  in  many 
parts  of  our  land  and  the  world  at  large ;  con- 
sidering that  at  the  present  day  there  is  a  call 
for  special  efforts  accoixling  as  God  has  pros- 
pered His  people,  to  raise  up  men  to  go  forth' 
into  the  extensive  fields  which  are  now  becom- 
ing white  to  harvest ;  and.  considering  the  im- 
portance of  some  general  plan  of  operation, 
whereby  many  indifferent  places  may  be  enabled 
to  act  in  concert,  and  bring  their  small  scattered 
sums  into  a  common  stock,  that  they  may  be 
expended  to  the  best  advantage  ;  the  Grand 
River  Presbytery  think  it  important  to  form  a 
general  society  "  for  the  purpose. 

They  adopted  a  constitution,  elected  Trustees 
and  a  Treasurer,  and  endeavored  to  stir  up  the 
people  to  form  auxiliary  societies.  The  next 
year,  they  published  au  address  to  the  "  friends 
of  science  and  religion,"  urging  them  to  enter 
into  this  work.  Young  men  were  already  com- 
ing forward  to  avail  themselves  of  the  aid  thus 
proffered.  These  beneficiaries  pursued  their 
studies  privately  with  some  one  of  the  ministers, 
more  commonly  with  Dr.  Giles  H.  Cowles,  of 
Austenburg ;  ReA^  John  Seward,  of  Aurora ; 
Rev.  Caleb  Pitkin,  of  Charleston,  or  Rev.  Harvey 
Coe,  of  Vernon.  After  the  school  at  Burton 
was  re-opened,  they  studied  there. 

In  1818,  the  Presbytery  of  Portage  was 
erected,  and  also  formed  itself  into  an  education 
society  in  the  same  manner.  These  societies 
held  their  annual  meetings,  and  took  annual 
collections.  The  urgent  need  for  more  minis- 
ters to  supply  the  destitute  chui'ches,  and  do 
missionary  work,  led  these  two  Presbyteries, 
in  1822,  to  appoint  committees  to  confer  together 
for  the  purpose  of  devising  '■  ways  and  means 
for  establishing  on  the  Connecticut  Western 
Reserve,  a  Literary  and  Theological  Institution." 
The  committee  of  Grand  River  Presbytery  were 
Rev.  Giles  H.  Cowles,  Rev.  Harvey  Coe  and 
George  Swift ;  that  of  Portage  Presbytery  were 
Rev.    John   Seward,    Rev.    Joseph   Treat   and 


j)   y 


448 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Elizur  Wright.  These  committees  met  at  War- 
ren on  the  16th  of  April,  1822."  The  afternoon 
of  the  day  preceding  was,  b}-  recommendation 
of  the  Presbyteries,  observed  as  a  concert  of 
prayer  by  the  clmrches,  that  the  blessing  of 
God  might  attend  the  deliberations  of  the  com- 
mittees, and  lead  to  a  happy  result.  "  On  the 
13th  of  April,  the  two  Presbyteries  held  a  joint 
meeting  at  Warren,"  to  hear  and  consider  the 
reports  of  their  committees.  The  report,  which 
was  adopted,  recommends  the  Presbyteries  to 
establish  a  theological  institution,  on  the  foun- 
dation of  the  Erie  Literary  Societ}',  located  at 
Burton,  (jeauga  County,  provided  the  Trustees 
accede  to  the  following  conditions,  to  wit  : 

1.  That  the  Trustees  enact  laws  binding 
themselves. 

(a.)  To  appropriate  to  the  education  of 
pious,  indigent  young  men  for  the  Gospel  min- 
istry all  mone3'S  that  may  be  intrusted  to  them 
for  this  purpose. 

{b.)  To  allow  no  person  to  hold  the  office  of 
President  in  the  institution  who  is  not  a  mem- 
ber of  some  Christian  church. 

(c.)  To  allow  no  person  to  hold  the  office  of 
Professor  in  the  Theological  Department,  un- 
less he  shall  subscribe  to  the  confession  of  faith, 
which  every  Professor  supported  on  the  Asso- 
ciate foundation  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Andover,  Mass.,  is  required  to  subscribe. 

(d.)  To  permit,  while  this  connection  con- 
tinues, the  managers  of  the  education  fund  an- 
nually' to  examine  into  tlie  progress  of  the  insti- 
tution, the  state  of  said  fund,  and  the  manner 
in  which  it  is  applied. 

2.  That  the  Trustees  give  bonds  to  re-convey 
to  the  managers  of  the  education  fund,  within 
one  year  after  demanded  by  them,  all  such  un- 
expended property,  personal  and  real,'  as  the^' 
shall  have  received  from  them. 

The  conditions  were  unanimously  accepted 
by  the  Trustees.  The  Presbyteries,  having 
been  certified  of  the  fact,  proceeded  to  appoint 
a  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Education  Fund. 
The  Presbytery  of  Grand  River  appointed  for 
this  purpose  Zalmon  Fitch,  George  Swift,  Rev. 
Ephraim  T.  Woodruff  and  Rev.  Amasa  Loomis. 
The  Presbytery  of  Portage  appointed  Elizur 
Wright,  Joshua  B.  Sherwood,  Rev.  Caleb  Pit- 
kin and  Rev.  Benjamin  Fenn.  This  Board  of 
Managers  was  to  have  perpetual  succession, 
and  to  fill  their  own  vacancies.  They  were  to 
receive  and  convey  to  the  Erie  Literary  Society, 


agreeably  to  the  conditions  named,  all  property 
intrusted  to  them  for  the  education  of  pious 
and  indigent  .young  men  for  the  sacred  minis- 
try, annually  to  visit  the  institution  to  exam- 
ine into  its  state  and  progress  and  the  applica- 
tion of  the  education  fund,  and  to  attend  to 
such  other  business  as  shall  b}'  them  be  deemed 
necessar}-  to  promote  the  great  objects  of  edu- 
cating young  men  for  the  Gospel  ministry. 
They  were  also  to  make  a  report  annually  to 
each  Presbytery. 

At  this  joint  meeting  at  Warren,  the  Portage 
Presbytery  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare 
and  publish  an  address  on  the  subject  of  edu- 
cation. This  committee  consisted  of  Rev. 
Messrs.  Pitkin,  Seward,  Curtis  and  Stone,  Mr. 
Benjamin  Whedon  and  Mr.  George  Swift. 
The}'  issued  an  urgent  and  spirited  appeal  ''  to 
the  patrons  of  literature  and  religion,  on  the 
subject  of  establishing  a  literary  and  theologi- 
cal institution  in  the  Connecticut  Western  Re- 
serve." They  say  that,  "  as  considerable  de- 
lays must  be  occasioned  and  expense  incurred 
by  the  formalities  of  obtaining  a  separate  act 
of  incorporation,  and  as  ample  powers  and 
privileges  were  already  given  in  the  charter  of 
the  Erie  Literary  Society,  it  was  judged  expe- 
dient both  to  save  time  and  money,  and  to  pre- 
serve unity  of  design  and  harmon}'  of  feeling, 
to  erect  a  theological  department  on  the  foun- 
dation of  that  charter. 

The  connection  thus  formed  between  this 
Board  of  Managers  and  the  Erie  Literary  Soci- 
ety "  continued  a  little  more  than  two  years, 
until  June  8,  1824.  In  the  course  of  the  3'ear 
1823,  the  Managers  became  convinced  that  an 
institution  equal  to  their  desires  and  expecta- 
tions and  to  the  necessities  of  the  public  could 
not  be  built  up  at  Burton.  They,  therefore,  re- 
quested the  Trustees  of  the  Erie  Literary  So- 
ciety to  remove  their  establishment  to  a  more 
eligible  situation.  The  request  was,  at  sevei'al 
meetings  of  the  Trustees,  full}-  discussed  and 
ultimately  rejected."  The  ground  of  this  dis- 
couragement at  Burton  and  effort  to  remove 
the  institution,  according  to  the  testimony  of 
many  persons,  was  the  supposed  unhealthiness 
of  the  place.  It  is  probable,  also,  that  there 
was  a  desire  to  place  the  college  nearer  the 
center  of  the  Reserve.  During  those  3'ears, 
Burton  had  been  visited  with  very  severe  and 
fatal  sickness,  so  as  even  to  break  up  the  school 
for  a  time.     The  effort  of  the  Managei's  to  in- 


ll^ 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


449 


duce  the  Trustees  to  remove  the  institution  to 
a  more  eligible  situation,  and  "preserve  the 
unity  of  design  and  harmony-  of  feeling,"  full}' 
proves  that  there  was  no  discord  between  the 
boards  on  any  other  subject,  and  that  the^- 
were  willing  to  continue  their  co-operation. 
The  unwillingness  of  the  Trustees  to  accede  to 
the  request  of  the  Managers  is  adequately  ac- 
counted for  by  the  fact  that  the  Board  held 
lands  which  must  i-evert  to  the  donors  or  their 
successors  if  the  college  should  ever  be  removed 
from  Burton.  Those  of  the  Trustees  who  were 
especiall}-  interested  in  that  part  of  the  Reserve 
doubtless  believed  also  that  the  unhealthiness 
was  merely  temporar}-,  which,  indeed,  proved 
to  be  the  case.  The  academ}'  at  Burton  was 
popular  and  useful  for  some  3'ears.  after  the 
withdrawal  of  the  Managers,  when  the  sickness 
which  proved  to  be  incident  to  the  newness  of 
the  country  had  passed  awa}'. 

"  The  managers  applied  to  the  Presb3'teries 
to  appoint  four  commissioners,  two  ministers 
and  two  laymen,  from  each,  to  meet  at  Aurora 
on  June  2,  182-t,  for  the  purpose  of  consulting 
and  advising  as  to  the  course  which  the  Board 
of  Managers  shall  pursue  under  existing  cir- 
cumstances." The  Presb3'teries  complied  with 
the  request.  The  Presbytery  of  Grand  River 
appointed  Rev.  Giles  H.  Cowles,  Rev.  Joseph 
W.  Curtis  and  Mr.  Titus  Brockway  ;  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Portage  appointed  Rev.  John  Sew- 
ard, Rev.  Joseph  Treat,  Mr.  David  Hudson 
and  Mr.  Lucretius  Bissell  ;  the  Presbytery  of 
Huron,  which  had  been  formed  by  dividing 
that  of  Portage,  since  the  Board  of  Managers 
had  been  constituted,  appointed  Rev.  Simeon 
Woodruff,  Rev.  Israel  Shailer  and  Mr.  Harmon 
Kingsbury.  The  Board  of  Managers  met  with 
these  commissioners.  At  this  meeting  it  was 
determined  to  discontinue  the  connection  with 
the  Erie  Literai-y  Societ}-,  and  tr}'  to  establish 
a  separate  institution.  It  was  also  resolved 
that  it  was  expedient  to  request  the  Presb^'ter}' 
of  Huron  "  to  appoint  four  persons — two  minis- 
ters and  two  laymen — who,  together  with  the 
Board  of  Managers,  should  constitute  the 
Board  of  Trustees  for  the  contemplated  insti- 
tution." It  was  resolved  to  recommend  the 
Presbyteries  to  appoint  four  commissioners 
each,  to  locate  the  institution,  who  should 
meet  at  Hudson  on  September  22,  "  and  come  to 
a  decision  as  soon  as  practicable." 

The  Presbyteries  approved  of  this  action,  and 


appointed  their  commissioners,  from  Grand 
River,  Revs.  Giles  H.  Cowles  and  Harve}'  Coe, 
Mr.  Abraham  Griswold  and  Mr.  Eliphalet  Aus- 
tin, Jr.;  from  Portage,  Revs.  John  Seward  and 
Joseph  Treat,  Col.  Lemuel  Porter  and  Mr. 
John  H.  Whittlesey  ;  from  Huron,  Revs.  Al- 
fred H.  Betts  and  Lot.  B.  Sullivan,  Mr.  Samuel 
Cowles  and  >Ir.  David  Gibbs.  These  commis- 
sioners were  directed  in  making  their  decision 
"  to  take  into  view  all  circumstances  of  situa- 
tion, moral  character,  facility  of  communica- 
tion, donations,  health,  etc."  The  principal 
places  which  competed  to  secure  the  location 
were  Burton,  Aurora,  Euclid,  Cleveland  and 
Hudson.  After  several  meetings  at  different 
places,  the  commissioners,  in  January,  1825, 
■  decided  in  favor  of  Hudson.  The  amount  of 
the  subscription  at  Hudson  to  secure  the  col- 
lege was  $7,150,  of  which  $2,142  was  contrib- 
uted by  Mr.  David  Hudson.  In  the  competi- 
tion between  different  locations  within  the 
town,  Mr.  Hudson  gave  160  acres  of  land  to 
secure  it  for  the  place  it  now  occupies,  rather 
than  have  it  put  half  a  mile  south  of  the  center 
of  the  town.  The  Presbytery  of  Huron  now 
added  to  the  Board  of  Managers,  as  they  had 
been  invited  to  do,  the  names  of  Rev.  Simeon 
Woodruff,  Rev.  Stephen  I.  Bradstreet,  Hon. 
Henry  Brown  and  Mr.  Harmon  Kingsbury. 

This  Boai'd  of  Managers,  now  called  Trustees, 
held  their  first  meeting  at  Hudson  on  February 
15,  1825.  They  approved  of  the  report  of  the 
Commissioners  for  locating  the  institution,  made 
arrangements  for  erecting  a  college  edifice,  ap- 
pointed Benjamin  W^hedon  Treasurer,  and  Da- 
vid Hudson,  Owen  Brown  and  Heman  Oviatt  a 
Committee  of  Agency,  to  superintend  the  work 
of  building.  The}'  also  adopted  a  confession 
of  their  religious  faith,  and  elected  Rev.  John 
Seward  and  Mr.  Samuel  Cowles  members  of  the 
board.  The}^  iDcgan  their  efforts  to  procure 
funds,  prepared  a  draft  of  a  charter  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Legislature,  and  of  a  petition  in 
favor  of  the  charter,  to  be  circulated  for  sub- 
scription on  the  Reserve ;  appointed  Hon. 
Henry  Brown  "  to  procure  the  granting  of  the 
charter  by  the  Legislature  '  at  its  next  session, 
adjusted  the  lines  of  the  college  plat,  procured 
deeds  of  the  ground,  drew  up  a  detailed  plan 
of  the  first  building,  and  decided  upon  the 
mode  of  laying  out  the  campus.  Their  plan 
was  to  erect  the  buildings  in  a  line  from  north 
to  south,  on  the  height  of  ground  where  they 


450 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


now  stand,  but  facing  toward  the  east ;  in  front 
of  tiie  buildings,  a  street  sixt}'  feet  wide  was  to 
be  laid  out,  and  on  the  east  side  of  it,  facing 
westward,  were  to  be  erected  the  houses  for  the 
President  and  Professors.  Middle  College  was 
accordingly  built  facing  eastward.  The  plan 
was  changed  for  a  west  front  in  1828,  and  the 
pi'csent  location  for  Professors'  houses  was  se- 
lected. 

It  is  said  that  the  eftbrt  to  secure  a  charter 
encountered  severe  opposition  in  the  Legisla- 
ture, especiall}'  on  account  of  the  religious 
character  which  the  institution  was  likel}'  to 
bear.  The  names  of  the  corporators  contained 
in  the  petition  were  tiiose  of  seven  clergymen 
and  seven  laymen.  There  were  men  in  the  Leg- 
islature of  infidel  sentiments,  who  were  unwill- 
ing that  education  should  be  so  much  under  the 
influence  of  the  clergj-.  These  men  so  modified 
the  draft  of  the  charter  asked  for  as  to  exclude 
all  religious  instruction  from  the  college.  It 
appears,  also,  that  the}'  made  determined  oppo- 
sition to  two  names  among  the  corporators,  so 
that  these  had  to  be  dropped.  This  is  said  to 
have  been  on  account  of  personal  hostility. 
Eev.  E.  T.  Woodruff"  and  Rev.  Amasa  Loomis 
had  been  appointed  Managers  of  the  Education 
Fund  by  the  Presbytery  of  Grand  River,  and 
their  names  must  therefore  have  been  in  the  list 
of  cor})orators  in  the  petition,  but  the}'  are  not 
found  in  the  charter.  By  some  means,  also,  the 
name  of  Samuel  Cowles  was  replaced  by  that 
of  David  Hudson.  The  corporators  were  thus 
seven  la3'men  and  five  clergymen. 

A  cop3^  of  the  charter  thus  amended  was  sent 
to  Mr.  Hudson,  who  laid  it  before  Mr.  Pitkin. 
Mr.  Pitkin  immediatel}'  started  on  horseback, 
in  midwinter,  for  Brownhelm,  and  rode  from 
there  with  Judge  Brown  to  Columbus,  to  pre- 
vent the  passage  of  this  charter  and  secure  an 
acceptable  one.  After  laboring  earnestly  to- 
gether for  some  time  with  the  opponents.  Judge 
Brown,  seeing  the  situation,  said  to  Mr.  Pitkin  : 
"  You  had  better  go  home  and  leave  me  to  man- 
age this  matter.  This  is  a  thing  which  sinners 
can  manage  best."  Mr.  Pitkin  returned  home, 
and  Judge  Brown  secured,  if  not  the  charter 
asked  for,  at  least  an  acceptable  one — we  trust 
not  by  sinful  methods.  The  charter  bears  date 
of  February  7,  1826.  This  was  the  fifth  col- 
lege chartered  in  the  State,  not  counting  the 
Erie  Literary  Societ}'. 

In  accordance  with  the  charter,  the  Trustees 


met  at  Hudson  on  the  1st  of  March,  1826,  and 
organized  by  electing  Rev.  Caleb  Pitkin,  Presi- 
dent ;  Rev.  John  Seward,  Vice  President ;  Rev. 
William  Hanford,  Secretary ;  and  Benjamin 
Whedon,  Treasurer.  The}"  went  immediately 
forward  in  their  work  with  the  greatest  energy 
and  harmony.  They  closed  contracts  for  the 
building,  fixed  the  proper  forms  for  their  busi- 
ness transactions,  appointed  agents  to  solicit 
funds,  adopted  a  common  seal,  elected  a  pruden- 
tial committee  and  determined  their  duties, 
appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  by-laws,  and 
"  a  committee  to  prepare  a  condensed  history 
of  the  origin  "  of  the  college,  and  attended  to 
their  duties  as  managers  of  the  education  fund 
of  the  Presbyteries.  Preparation  of  materials 
had  been  made  during  the  previous  winter  for 
the  new  building,  and  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  Mr.  Heman  Oviatt,  the  foundation  was 
ready  in  April.  On  the  26th  of  April,  the  cor- 
ner-stone was  laid  with  great  ceremony  in  the 
presence  of  a  large  assembly.  It  was  a  warm 
June  like  day.  A  procession  was  formed  at 
Mr.  Hudson's  house,  and  moved  to  the  meeting 
house,  where  there  was  prayer  and  singing. 
The  procession  then  moved  to  the  college 
campus,  where  an  address  was  delivered  in 
Latin  by  3Ir.  Pitkin,  and  the  stone  laid  with 
Masonic  ceremonies.  The  procession  then 
returned  to  the  meeting  house,  where  Mr.  Brad- 
street  delivered  an  address  on  the  principles 
which  actuated  the  Trustees  in  the  work  they 
had  undertaken. 

Owing  to  innumerable  hindrances  and  em- 
barrassments, the  building  was  not  completed 
until  August,  1827.  But  the  work  was  thor- 
oughly and  substantially  done,  as  is  proved  by 
the  fact  that,  with  very  slight  repairs,  old  Mid- 
dle College  did  service  until  the  summer  of 
1875,  when  it  was  thoroughly  repaired  within 
and  without. 

In  the  summer  of  1826,  a  cabinet  and  a 
library  were  begun,  the  first  books  and  minerals 
having  been  presented  b}'  Rev.  Judah  Ely.  On 
the  22d  of  September,  Mr.  David  L.  Coe,  a 
graduate  of  Williams  College  and  an  excellent 
scholar,  "  was  appointed  Tutor  j»-o  tempore,  and 
authorized,  if  application  should  be  made,  to 
examine  and  admit  those  whom  he  should  find 
qualified  into  a  Freshman  class,  and  to  take  the 
class  under  his  particular  care  and  instruction. 
Mr.  Coe  had  been  Principal  of  the  Burton 
Academy  from   1820   to  182-1:,   and   was  now 


^\ 


l^ 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


451 


teaching  in  the  Academy  at  Tallmadge.  He 
was  not  required  to  remove  to  Hudson  because 
the  building  was  not  yet  complete,  and  he 
could  perform  his  office  as  Tutor  while  teaching 
the  Acadeni}-.  In  December,  he  admitted  to 
the  Freshman  class  in  college,  J]llery  Bascom, 
Charles  M.  Preston  and  Oren  C.  Thompson,  and 
took  charge  of  their  studies  during  the  3'ear. 

Thus  the  college  was  established,  and  was 
actually  carrying  forward  in  182G  the  work 
of  building  and  the  work  of  instruction. 
In  the  autumn  of  1827,  the  first  building  was 
completed  here  and  filled  with  students.  In 
tlie  catalogue  of  that  year  are  found  Sopho- 
more and  Freshmen  classes,  a  preparatory  class 
and  students  in  a  partial  course,  under  the 
instruction  of  Mr.  Ephraim  T.  Sturtevant,  a 
graduate  of  Yale  College. 

It  is  astonishing  with  what  energy  the  Trust- 
ees took  hold  of  their  work  so  soon  as  the}^ 
secured  their  charter.  The  Trustees  of  the 
Erie  Literary  Society  had  made  very  little  ef- 
fort to  establish  and  carry  forward  the  college. 
Mr.  William  Law  had  made  a  donation  of  1,130 
acres  of  land  for  the  college  at  Burton,  but  it 
does  not  appear  that  an}^  effort  was  made  for 
further  endowment  until  after  the  managers  of 
the  education  fund  had  united  with  them.  The 
supposed  unfavorableness  of  Burton  as  a  loca- 
tion for  the  college  and  the  consequent  attempt 
to  secure  its  removal,  doubtless  restrained 
the  managers  from  any  great  exertion  to  in- 
crease the  endowment  while  it  remained  there. 
They  did,  however,  secure  some  donations  of 
land  and  of  money.  But  so  soon  as  the  college 
was  located  at  Hudson,  its  Trustees  and  friends 
most  earnestly  and  systematically  began  to 
canvass  the  Reserve  and  sent  agents  to  the 
East  to  raise  the  means  requisite  to  build  and 
support  instructors.  Mr.  Pitkin,  Mr.  Kings- 
bury and  Mr.  Coe,  of  the  Trustees,  labored  es- 
pecially in  this  work.  A  good  deal  of  this 
kind  of  service  was  also  performed  b}'  Rev. 
Daniel  W.  Lathrop  and  Rev.  Greorge  Sheldon. 
A  number  of  others,  both  clergymen  and  \ay- 
meu,  as  much  interested  in  the  success  of  the 
college  as  its  Trustees,  engaged  in  agencies  for 
short  periods  as  special  services  were  needed. 
Mr.  Pitkin,  who  was  President  of  the  Board, 
seems  to  have  been  employed  almost  exclusive- 
I3'  in  some  form  of  agency  from  January,  1826, 
until  x\ugust,  1843.  His  devotion  to  the  col- 
lege, and  that  of  all  those  early  Trustees,  was 


most  hearty  and  self-sacrificing.  They  never 
spared  time,  labor  or  expense  when  the  inter- 
est of  the  college  required  their  services.  They 
would  attend  meetings  of  the  Trustees  or  Pru- 
dential Committee  four  or  five  times  a  year, 
coming  some  of  them  fifty  or  sixty  miles, 
through  the  horrible  roads  of  a  new  country, 
with  their  own  conversances,  and  remaining  from 
two  to  six  days  together  in  earnest  council  and 
action. 

This  unreserved  devotion  and  indefatigable 
energy  could  not  but  secure  them  all  the  suc- 
cess which  the  nature  of  the  case  permitted. 
The  country  was  yet  very  new  and  though 
population  was  increasing  rapidly,  there  was 
3'et  ver}'  little  acquired  wealth  ;  money  was 
extremely  scarce,  access  to  markets  difficult 
and  the  people  still  mostl}-  engaged  in  the  rough 
work  of  the  pioneei's.  The  contributions, 
therefore,  were  made  chiefly  in  land  which  bore 
a  very  low  price,  or  in  cattle  or  in  some  form 
of  merchandise  which  required  much  care,  en- 
ergy and  prudence,  to  work  them  over  into  col- 
lege buildings  and  professors'  salaries.  This 
kind  of  donations,  from  the  nature  of  the  case, 
lasted  a  long  time,  and  was  a  great  source  of 
perplexit}-  and  embarrassment  down  to  the 
close  of  President  Pierce's  administration. 
This  is  not  to  be  thought  of  as  a  discredit  to 
the  donors  in  an^-  respect.  On  the  contrary, 
it  was  greatl}-  to  their  credit  that  with  so  little 
of  read}'  means,  the  people  had  such  a  sense  of 
the  importance  of  higher  education,  that  they 
would  give,  though  their  gift  might  be  small 
and  of  a  kind  not  easily  convertible.  Thus, 
the  college  received  donations  of  land  and  sold 
it  for  stone,  lumber  or  labor.  Mr.  Pitkin  re- 
ceived two-tliirds  of  the  compensation  for  his 
services  in  kind.  Tutor  Sturtevant  received  a 
part  of  his  salary  in  board  and  washing.  Mr. 
Daniel  Metcalf,  iii  1827,  gave  the  college  $450 
in  goods.  In  looking  over  the  list  of  donations, 
many  are  found  to  have  come  in  ver}'  queer 
forms.  This  "  store  pay,"  and  what  was  worse, 
no  pay,  the  Trustees  and  Faculty  knew  a  great 
deal  about  for  many  ^^ears.  These  difficulties 
which  met  the  Trustees  at  the  beginning  were 
inevitable.  They  foresaw  them,  of  course,  and 
being  all  hardy  pioneers  and  pioneer  mission- 
aries they  were  never  daunted  by  them. 

The  idea  of  a  college  which  these  men  en- 
tertained, was  of  such  an  institution  as  they 
had  been  acquainted  with  and  had  enjoyed  the 


:^ 


^ 


453 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


advantages  of  in  New  England.  The  Western 
Reserve  was  a  second  New  England  in  all  her 
interests  and  aspirations,  especiall}'  as  per- 
tained to  education  and  Christianit}-.  All  the 
clerical  members  of  the  board  were  college 
graduates — four  from  Yale,  two  from  Williams 
and  one  from  Dartmouth  ;  of  the  lay  members 
Mr.  Elizur  Wright  was  a  graduate  of  Yale,  and 
Judge  Brown  had  been  a  student  at  Harvard  ; 
the  rest  were  Connecticut  men  familiar  with 
the  organization,  spirit  and  noble  record  of 
Yale  College.  The  other  ministers  who  so 
earnestly  aided  and  encouraged  the  work  of 
founding  the  college,  from  Father  Badger's  first 
petition  for  a  charter  in  1801,  were  almo.st  all 
graduates  of  New  England  colleges.  The  peo- 
ple of  the  Reserve  were  mostly  Connecticut 
people.  They  honored  and  loved  those  institu- 
tions, and  believed  that  a  college,  which  was  to 
do  the  same  work  for  the  sons  of  New  England, 
transplanted  to  a  new  soil,  ought  by  all  means 
to  be  of  the  same  type,  and  should  aim  to  be  of 
the  same  rank.  This  explains  how  the}'  came 
to  speak  of  their  college  as  the  Yale  of  the 
West.  The  Reserve  was  very  commonly  called 
New  Connecticut,  both  here  and  in  New  En- 
gland ;  it  was  like  in  manner  and  for  the  same 
purpose  to  have  its  college,  and  it  was  both 
natural  and  probably  wise,  to  pattern  after  that 
old  college  they  had  known  and  revered  so  well. 
The  instruction  for  the  year  1827-28  seems 
to  have  been  given  entirely  by  Mr.  Sturtevant. 
Mr.  Hanford,  then  Pastor  of  the  church  in  the 
village,  and  Secretary  of  the  Trustees,  was  ap- 
pointed to  superintend  the  students,  but  it  does 
not  appear  that  he  gave  any  instruction.  In 
March,  1828,  Rev.  Charles  Backus  Storrs,  then 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Ravenna,  was  elected 
Professor  of  Sacred  Theology.  He  accepted 
the  appointment  and  entered  upon  his  office  in 
December,  1828.  It  does  not  appear  that  theol- 
ogy, be^'oud  what  forms  a  part  of  the  course 
now,  was  taught  at  that  day  in  the  college,  nor 
that  there  were  special  theological  students 
here  until  1831.  But  this  chair  was  filled  first 
on  account  of  the  prominence  of  the  idea  that 
the  college  was  planted  in  order  to  raise  up 
ministers  for  the  destitute  churches.  Mr.  Storrs 
probably  instructed  in  mental  and  moi'al 
science,  and  the  evidences  of  Christianity.  Rev. 
Rufus  Nutting,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege, was  engaged  in  August,  1828,  to  give  in- 
struction for  the  fall  term,  and  finally  engaged  for 


the  entire  year.  In  March  following,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Professor  of  Languages,  and  Mr.  Elizur 
Wright,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  was  ap- 
pointed Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural 
Philosophy-.  In  August,  1830,  Rev.  Beriah 
Green,  a  graduate  of  Middlebury  College,  was 
appointed  Pi'ofessor  of  Sacred  Literature,  and 
the  theological  department  was  established. 

After  man}'  efforts  to  secure  a  President, 
Prof  Storrs  was  finally  persuaded  to  accept 
that  office  in  August,  1830.  He  was  in  all  re- 
spects admirably  qualified  for  it,  except  in  the 
matter*  of  bodil}'  strength.  He  was  born  at 
Long  Meadow,  Mass.,  in  1794,  descending  from 
a  long  line  of  able  and  scholarly  ministers. 
He  had  not  graduated  at  au}^  college,  but  had 
neai'l}'  completed  the  junior  year  at  Princeton 
with  the  highest  rank  as  a  scholar,  and  distin- 
guished alike  for  talents  and  diligence,  when 
ill  health  compelled  him  to  abandon  his  stud- 
ies. After  a  time  devoted  to  the  restoration  of 
his  health,  he  studied  theology  in  private,  was 
licensed,  and  preached  a  year,  when  he  was 
again  compelled  bj'  feeble  health  to  abandon 
labor.  In  1817,  he  entered  the  theological 
seminary  at  Andover,  and  passed  through  the 
regular  course  of  stud}'  there,  after  which  he 
went  South  and  labored  as  a  missionary'  in 
South  Carolina  and  Georgia.  Again  inter- 
rupted by  poor  health,  he  traveled  northward 
through  Ohio  in  1822,  and  accepted  a  call  to 
the  church  at  Ravenna,  where  he  labored  with 
great  success  until  he  came  to  the  college.  He 
was  very  retiring,  unselfish,  unambitious,  with 
a  very  deep  and  earnest  religious  devotion,  in- 
flexible in  his  adherence  to  principle,  solid, 
acute  and  comprehensive  in  thought,  greatly 
loved  and  revered  b}-  all  the  students,  of  won- 
derful eloquence  as  a  preacher.  As  a  theologian, 
he  was  of  the  school  of  President  D wight. 
His  ill  health  had  doubtless  tended  to  make 
him  more  a  man  of  reflection,  and  to  heighten 
those  qualities  which  excited  the  love  and  rev- 
erence of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a  quiet, 
unassuming  man  of  power,  suited  to  make 
deep  and  lasting  impressions  upon  all  who 
came  under  his  instruction. 

Mr.   Sturtevant  left  the   township   in    May, 

1829.  Mr.  Charles  M.  Preston,  of  the  Class  of 

1830,  was  tutor  in  1831-32,  and  Mr.  Ralph  M. 
Walker,  of  the  Class  of  1832,  did  excellent 
service  as  tutor  from  1832  to  1835.  The  first 
Faculty  was  at  length  organized,  with  two  pro- 


-4* 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


453 


fessors  and  a  tutor  in  the  academic  depart- 
ment, and  two  professors  of  theology.  The 
institution  was  thus  fully  under  way,  but  des- 
tined to  encounter  severe  trials  speedily.  The 
few  years  which  succeeded  1830  were  years  of 
great  excitement  upon  most  weighty  questions 
respecting  the  internal  management  of  the  col- 
lege, which  arose  here  as  they  did  almost 
everywhere  else.  The  first  was,  whether  so 
large  a  use  of  heathen  authors,  as  they  were 
called,  in  the  course  of  study,  was  necessary  or 
right  ;  the  second  was  respecting  the  manual 
labor  S3stem. 

In  regard  to  the  former  question,  after  con- 
siderable agitation,  a  committee  of  the  Facultj' 
was  appointed  to  examine  and  report  on  the 
subject.  In  August,  183-4,  this  committee  pre- 
sented an  able  and  sensible  report,  taking 
the  ground  on  which  the  college  had  always 
stood  in  favor  of  the  classics,  but  recommend- 
ing the  study  of  the  Bible  also  in  the  original 
languages.  The  discussion  was  carried  on 
with  much  earnestness  among  the  students  and 
friends  of  the  college,  but  good  sense  pre- 
vailed, and  the  classics  in  fact  always  retained 
their  accustomed  place  in  the  course  of  study. 

The  manual  labor  system  was,  at  that  time, 
a  fashionable  hobb}^  all  over  the  land.  The 
Presbyteries  of  Grand  River  and  Portage,  in 
their  capacity  as  Education  Societies,  had,  in 
1822-23,  b}'  resolutions  "recommended  to  the 
managers  of  the  education  fund,  to  adopt  a 
system  of  manual  labor  for  all  students  under 
their  care,  and  that  the  avails  be  applied  for 
the  support  of  those  students  by  whom  the 
labor  is  performed. 

In  March,  1830,  the  Trustees  resolved  '-that 
they  deem  it  expedient  that  the  students  in 
this  college,  during  term  time,  labor  for  exercise 
and  the  preservation  of  health,  either  in  agri- 
culture or  some  of  the  mechanical  arts,  at 
least  two  hours  every  day,  except  the  Sabbath, 
according  to  regulations  hereafter  to  be  made, 
and  that  it  be  recommended  to  all  students 
now  connected  with  the  college,  and  required 
of  all  who  shall  hereafter  become  members,  to 
labor  in  conformity  with  such  regulations,  ex- 
cept in  extraordinar}'^  cases,  of  which  cases  a 
committee  appointed  for  the  purpose  shall 
determine." 

To  carry  out  this  system,  the  college  pro- 
vided three  workshops — -a  cooper-shop,  cabinet- 
shop  and  wagon-shop — and  a  form  for  those 


who  preferred  that  kind  of  work.  They  even 
went  so  far  in  1837,  as  to  consider  the  expedi- 
ency of  opening  a  blacksmith's  shop.  These 
shops  and  the  farm  were  provided  with  tools 
and  superintendents,  and  an  earnest  and  perse- 
vering effort  was  made  to  carr}'  out  the  plan 
successfully.  At  one  time,  the  students  formed 
a  mechanical  society  to  carry  on  work,  and  had 
a  standing  advertisement  in  the  Ohio  Observer 
of  their  cabinet  wares.  A  steam  engine  was 
procured  for  the  shops.  No  care  or  expense 
seems  to  have  been  spared.  But  the  students, 
like  so  many  other  people,  proved  to  be  disin- 
clined to  manual  labor.  A^ery  few  had  any 
knowledge  whatever  of  the  use  of  tools,  and 
many  had  no  capacity  to  learn  to  use  them 
skillfull}',  especially  as  the  inclination  was 
wanting.  The  wares  were  found  to  be  rude, 
ill-jointed,  unworkmanlike  and  hard  to  sell. 
Many,  for  various  reasons,  got  relieved  from 
the  requirement  to  labor,  and  an  invidious  dis- 
tinction grew  up  between  the  workers  and  the 
non-workers.  It  even  turned  out  that  this  un- 
willing labor  was  not  beneficial  to  health. 
Grradually,  after  many  shifts,  one  part  of  the 
system  after  another  was  reluctantly'  given  up, 
until  the  whole  was  abandoned.  The  last  lin- 
gering ray  of  it  is  found  in  the  catalogue  for 
1851-52. 

But  greater  questions  than  these  agitated  the 
college.  About  the  time  of  founding  the  col- 
lege, the  slavery  question  began  to  agitate  the 
country.  It  was  in  1829  that  Grarrison  came 
out  boldly  and  decidedly  in  the  advocacy  of 
the  immediate  and  unconditional  abolition  of 
slaver}'.  He  went  on  to  attack  the  scheme  of 
colonization  as  aflbrding  no  remedy  for  the  evil, 
and  its  advocates  as  enemies  of  the  slave  and 
real  supporters  of  the  system  of  slavery  with 
all  its  horrors.  The  Liherafor  first  published 
in  1831,  quickly  aroused  the  whole  nation 
North  and  South.  Many  men  of  keen,  moral 
sensibilities  took  up  the  cause  of  the  oppres.sed 
with  great  fervor,  and  with  true  martyi'-spirit 
were  read}  to  sacrifice  everything — to  make  all 
other  questions  and  all  other  interests  subor- 
dinate to  this  one.  The  Liberator  found  its 
way  to  the  Western  Reserve ;  it  came  into 
the  hands  of  President  Storrs,  of  Profs. 
Wright  and  (jrreen,  and  into  the  hands  of  the 
students.  Its  arguments  and  appeals  were 
here  ''  like  good  seed  sown  on  good  ground.'' 
One  of  the  students  who  had  recently  hid  an 


454 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY, 


interview  with  Garrison,  and  had  brought  a 
package  of  documents  and  copies  of  the  Lih- 
cnitor  to  distribute  in  tlie  college,  calling  on 
President  Storrs  "  and,  seeing  the  Liberator  on 
his  table,  asked  the  slow-spoken,  sedate  thinker 
what  he  thought  of  Garrison's  writings  on 
slavery.  The  answer  was,  '■  I  do  not  see  how 
the}'  can  be  refuted."  President  Storrs  and 
Profs.  Wright  and  Green  immediatel}'  became 
ardent  ad^-ocates  of  Garrison's  views,  and  lost 
no  opportunity  to  proclaim  and  defend  them. 
They  were  able  and  eloquent  men,  and  their 
advocacy  had  great  influence  in  the  community. 
In  1832,  Prof.  Wright  began  to  write  in  the 
Ohscrvor  and  Telegraph,  then  published  at  Hud- 
son, against  colonization,  and  in  favor  of  aboli- 
tion. These  articles  aroused  a  great  deal  of 
opposition  with  some  and  great  favor  with 
others.  In  the  summer  of  1832,  Profs.  Wright 
and  Green  sent  for  Mr.  Amos  P.  Hawle3%  of 
the  sophomore  class,  and  requested  him  to  pre- 
pare a  colloqu}'  to  be  spoken  at  the  ensuing- 
commencement,  and  gave  him  for  the  subject 
of  it  "The  Recaptured  Slave."  The  colloquy 
was  successful.  At  the  opening  of  the  next 
term,  the  question  of  negro  slaver}'  and  its  re- 
lations to  colonization  became  prominent  sub- 
jects of  discussion  among  the  students. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  1833,  President  Storrs 
and  Prof  Green  delivered  addresses  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  Tallmadge  Anti-Slavery 
Society.  President  Storrs  spoke  nearly  three 
hours  with  great  power.  It  was  his  last  work. 
He  had  always  been  feeble  in  body,  but  now 
his  lungs  were  seriously  aflfected,  and  this 
great  excitement  and  over  exertion  prostrated 
him.  On  the  26th  of  June  he  received  leave 
of  al)scence  for  six  months  that  he  might  travel 
and  recruit  his  health.  He  went  lo  Braintree, 
Mass.,  to  the  house  of  his  brother,  the  Rev.  R. 
S.  Storrs,  where  he  rapidly  declined  and  died 
of  pulmonary  consumption  September  15, 
1833.  Prof  Green  received  a  call  to  the  Pres- 
idency of  the  Oneida  Institute,  at  Whitestown, 
N.  Y.  He  resigned  his  professorship  and  left 
Hudson  in  June.  Prof  Wright  resigned  at 
commencement  in  August.  Thus  only  Prof 
Nutting  and  Tutor  Walker  were  left  of  the  old 
Faculty. 

When  Profs.  Green  and  Wright  resigned, 
conservative  people  rejoiced,  and  declared  that 
they  had  been  dismissed  by  the  Trustees  and 
their  course,  and  all  their  opinions  on  this  sub- 


ject, condemned.  This  was  not  true.  There  is 
no  intimation  of  anything  of  the  kind  in  any 
of  the  records  of  the  college.  Prof  Green  de- 
clared it  to  be  false  in  a  letter  to  the  African 
Repository.  He  resigned  only  because  he  deemed 
it  his  duty  to  accept  his  call  to  Whitestown. 
Prof.  Wright,  in  a  letter  to  the  Observer  and 
Telegraph,  dated  Hudson,  September  9,  1833, 
says :  "  My  resignation  was  produced,  not  by 
any  attitude  the  board  had  assumed  or  was 
likely  to  assume,  but  simply  by  an  invitation  to 
another  field  of  labor."  The  effect,  however,  of 
this  year's  transactions  and  of  the  misunder- 
standings which  grew  out  of  them,  on  the  pros- 
perity of  the  college  was  very  great,  and  con- 
tinued for  a  long  time. 

This  was  a  reformatory  era  in  other  respects 
also,  and  the  students  were  thoroughly  impreg- 
nated with  the  spirit  of  it.  They  entered  with 
ardor  into  the  temperance  movement  under  the 
lead  of  the  Faculty.  They  had  their  Temper- 
ance Society,  made  investigations  and  published 
their  reports.  The  Society  of  Enquiry  entered 
into  what  was  called  the  moral  reform  move- 
ment. They  had  a  standing  committee  on  lewd- 
ness, and  published  a  lengthy  report  on  the 
subject.  In  1834,  they  formed  what  they 
called  a  "  Magdalen  Society,"  in  defense  of  the 
seventh  commandment,  in  sympathy  with  Mr. 
McDowell  and  his  movement  in  New  York. 
One  of  the  students  prepared  and  published  a 
tract  on  the  subject  for  general  circulation.  The 
young  men  went  abroad  lecturing  on  this  sub- 
ject also.  They  seem  to  have  felt  the  moral 
burden  of  the  world  resting  heavily  upon  their 
shoulders,  and  they  were  determined  to  dis- 
charge their  responsibilities  manfully.  We  can 
not  but  admire  their  devotion  to  duty,  as  they 
understood  it,  and  to  righteousness.  But  it  is 
difficult  to  imagine  the  students  of  the  present 
day  going  about  the  fcountry  lecturing  on  slav- 
ery and  the  seventh  commandment,  however 
much  they  may  debate  any  and  all  subjects  of 
present  interest  in  college. 

On  the  13th  of  July,  1831,  the  college  church 
was  organized  with  twenty  members.  Seven 
other  persons  joined  the  church  on  the  same 
day.  The  reasons  for  forming  a  separate  church 
are  not  stated  in  the  record,  nor  is  it  known 
who  were  the  chief  movers  in  the  matter.  It  is 
probable  that  the  founders  had  before  their 
minds  the  example  of  Yale  College  and  And- 
over  Theological  Seminary.    The  college  church 


^ 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


455 


has  been  greatly'  blessed  with  frequent  and 
powerful  revivals  from  the  first  down  to  the 
present  year,  though  the  effect  of  these  revivals 
is  but  partiall}-  seen  in  the  membership  of  the 
church.  Many  young  men  born  into  the  king- 
dom here  have  preferred  to  unite  with  churches 
at  their  homes.  The  church  now  unites  with 
the  village  church  in  preaching  services,  main- 
taining, however,  in  all  other  respects,  an  inde- 
pendent organization. 

The  financial  condition  of  the  college,  up  to 
the  close  of  President  Storrs'  administration, 
had  been  steadily  improving.  At  the  time  the 
charter  was  obtained,  the  property  in  the  hands 
of  the  Trustees  amounted  to  about  $10,000.  At 
the  close  of  the  3-ear  1833,  all  the  receipts 
from  donations  had  amounted  to  about  $54,000. 
There  had  been  expended  for  grounds,  buildings, 
including  Middle  and  South  College,  the  Presi- 
dent's dwelling-house,*  the  work-shop,  etc.,  $14,- 
600  ;  for  agencies,  instruction,  library,  appar- 
atus, etc.,  probably  about  $17,000.  The  funds 
in  hand,  therefore,  aside  from  the  buildings, 
grounds  and  appliances  for  instruction,  were  a 
little  over  $22,000.  Besides  this  sum  in  actual 
possession,  more  than  $32,000  had  been  sub- 
scribed, which,  for  various  causes,  was  never 
paid,  though  there  was  then  good  reason  to 
expect  that  it  would  be  paid.  President  Storrs 
himself  devoted  very  little  of  his  time  to  finan- 
cial affairs  ;  he  had  not  the  health,  and  probably 
not  the  inclination  for  verj-  much  work  of  that 
kind.  He  was  a  student,  a  teacher  and  a 
preacher. 

After  commencement  in  1833,  the  first  work 
of  the  Trustees  was  to  fill  the  chairs  made  vacant 
by  death  and  resignation.  The  instruction  for 
the  succeeding  year  was  provided  for  by  the 
appointment  of  Mr.  Clement  Long,  Instructor, 
and  Mr.  William  C.  Clark,  Tutor,"both  gradu- 
ates of  Dartmouth  College.  In  November,  Rev. 
Nathaniel  S.  Folsom,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth, 
was  elected  Professor  of  Sacred  Literature,  to 
succeed  Mr.  Green,  and  probably  entered  upon 
his  work  immediately.  In  March.  1834.  Mr. 
Long  was  elected  Professor  of  Intellectual  and 
Moral  Philosophy.  The  chair  of  3Iathematics 
was  not  filled  until  1835,  when  Mr.  Jarvis  Gregg, 
also  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth,  accepted  an 
appointment  to  it ;  the  work  meantime  was  per- 

*  South" Coll«ge  was  built  in  1830-31,  at  a  cost  of  Rb  mt  S5,000. 
The  double-house  for  the  President  and  Professor  of  Theology  was 
built  in  1830. 


formed  by  Tutor  Walker.  Ptev.  George  E. 
Pierce  was  elected  President  in  March,  1834, 
but  did  not  enter  on  his  ofHce  until  commence- 
ment. The  college  year  1833-34,  was,  there- 
fore, an  interregnum  ;  but  there  was  the  same 
number  of  instructors  as  during  the  previous 
year,  and  the  work  went  on  probably  with  more 
calmness  after  the  first  anti-slavery  excitement 
was  over. 

President  Pierce  was  a  Connecticut  man,  a 
graduate  of  Yale  College  in  1816,  had  taught 
an  academ}'  two  years,  studied  theoleg}'  at 
Aiidover,  and  had  been  a  most  successful  Pastor 
of  the  church  at  Harwiiiton  Conn.,  for  twelve 
years.  When  he  entered  upon  his  office  as 
President,  he  was  just  fort}'  3'ears  of  age,  with 
good  health  and  great  animation,  and  his  spirit 
and  energ}'  were  immediateh'  felt  in  eveiything. 
He  was  deeply  imbued  with  the  Connecticut 
idea  of  a  college,  and  he  kindled  anew  the 
determination  to  carry  it  out  speedily  and 
thoroughly.  He  immediately  began  the  effort 
to  increase  the  endowment,  to  erect  new  build- 
ings, to  establish  new  professofships,  to  elevate 
the  standard  of  scholarship,  to  increase  the 
library  and  apparatus  for  instruction. 

The  Trustees  were  ready  to  follow  such  a 
leader,  and  to  support  him  in  all  his  projects. 
The  building  of  the  chapel  was  begun  early  in 
1835.  President  Pierce  appealed,  through  the 
Ohio  Ohsercer  and  the  New  York  Ecdiic/elist,  to 
the  friends  of  the  college  to  contribute  $50,000 
to  increase  its  resources,  and  agents  entered  on 
the  work  of  raising  the  mone}'.  There  was  an 
obvious  and  decided  improvement  of  college 
affairs  in  all  respects.  The  number  of  students 
increased,  the  requirements  for  admission  were 
raised,  the  course  of  study  was  made  much 
fuller,  fences  and  grounds  were  improved,  trees 
were  planted  in  the  college  campus  and  on  the 
streets.  Eveiything  showed  that  a  man  of 
taste,  force  and  high  ideal  and  decided  views 
was  at  the  head. 

The  work  went  forward  with  great  rapidity. 
In  1836,  the  chapel  was  completed  and  dedi- 
cated at  commencement,  with  a  sermon  by 
President  Pierce.  In  the  same  year,  Rev.  Lau- 
rens P.  Hickok,  a  graduate  of  TJnion  College, 
came  as  Professor  of  Theology,  the  work  of 
that  department  having  been  performed  during 
the  interim  since  President  Storrs'  death  b}' 
President  Pierce.  After  the  accession  of  Prof 
Hickok,  President  Pierce  gave  instruction  in 


K 


456 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


other  branches  of  theology.  Prof.  Folsom 
having  resigned,  Prof.  Elijah  P.  Barrows,  a 
graduate  of  Yale  College,  came,  in  1837,  to  the 
Chair  of  Sacred  Literature.  With  this  enlarge- 
ment of  the  theological  facult}'.  North  College 
was  built  in  1837-38  for  the  use  of  divinity 
students.  Prof  Gregg  served  but  a  part  of  a 
year  in  the  Chair  of  Mathematics  and  Physics, 
and  was  then  transferred  to  the  Chair  of  Homi- 
letics  and  Pastoral  Theology.  His  sudden  and 
premature  death  in  less  than  a  year  from  his 
first  appointment  was  a  serious  loss  to  the  col- 
lege, for  he  was  a  man  of  fine  scholarship,  of 
great  promise,  greatly  beloved  by  the  Faculty 
and  students.  The  Chair  of  Mathematics  and 
Physics  thus  made  vacant  was  immediatel}' 
filled  by  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Elias  Loomis, 
a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  who  went  to  Eu- 
rope for  a  j-ear's  stud}'  and  travel,  commis- 
sioned also  to  procure  books  for  the  library  and 
apparatus  for  the  department  of  physics  and 
instruments  for  the  observator}-.  He  brought 
to  his  chair  great  abilities  and  enthusiasm  in 
his  department  and  power  of  work.  Under  his 
guidance  the  mathematical  part  of  the  libraiy 
and  the  apparatus  were  considerabl}'  increased, 
and,  in  1838,  the  observatory-  was  erected  and 
admirably  equij^ped.  In  1838,  Dr.  St.  John,  a 
graduate  of  Yale  College,  was  appointed  Pro- 
fessor of  Chemistry  and  Geology,  and  a  large 
apparatus  for  that  department  was  procui'ed. 
This  led  to  the  erection  of  a  new  building  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  two  departments  of 
physics  and  of  chemistry  and  geology.  This 
building,  called  Atheneum,  was  not  completed, 
however,  until  1843.  Meantime,  in  1840,  Rev. 
Henry  N.  Da}-,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  had 
been  added  to  the  Facult}-,  taking  the  chair  of 
of  Homiletics  and  Pastoral  Theology  ;  and  in 
the  same  year  Mr.  Nathan  P.  Seymour,  also  a 
graduate  of  Yale  College,  had  taken  the  Chair 
of  Languages  vacated  b}-  Prof  Nutting.  In 
February,  1844,  a  modification  of  the  charter 
was  procured  from  the  Legislature  so  as  to 
allow  the  establishment  of  the  medical  depart- 
ment in  the  city  of  Cleveland.  A  course  of 
medical  lectures  had  been  begun  in  Cleveland 
in  the  autumn  of  1843  by  Dr.  Delemater  and 
his  distinguished  associates.  The  department 
was  fully  organized,  and  the  first  class  gradu- 
ated in  March,  1844. 

It  is  evident  that  during  the  first  decade  of 
President   Pierce's   administration,   there   had 


been  a  great  enlargement  and  improvement  of 
the  institution.  Three  large,  convenient  and 
substantial  edifices  had  been  erected,  and  an 
astronomical  observatory  had  been  built  and 
equipped.  The  Faculty  had  been  increased 
from  four  to  eight  members,  besides  tutors. 
The  number  of  students  had  increased  from  83 
to  140  ;  the  apparatus  and  librar}-  had  been 
enlarged  ;  the  requirements  for  admission  and 
those  for  graduation  greatly  increased  ;  a  new 
and  flourishing  department  added.  The  Fac- 
ulty which  President  Pierce  gathered  was  com- 
posed of  men  distinguished  for  learning,  gen- 
eral ability  and  teaching  power,  men  who  would 
have  given  honor  and  distinction  to  any  insti- 
tution. He  showed  himself  to  be  an  admirable 
judge  of  men.  Not  only  did  the  broad  founda- 
tion of  the  college  seem  to  have  been  laid,  but 
the  Connecticut  ideal  seemed  to  have  been  ac- 
tually realized.  It  was  almost  to  the  minutest 
particular  a  faithful  copy  of  Yale  College. 

During  the  second  half  of  President  Pierce's 
administration,  the  financial  difficulties  of  the 
college  increased  until  the}-  became  well-nigh 
overwhelming.  The  causes  of  these  difficul- 
ties were  two — first,  what  seemed  to  be  unwar- 
rantably large  expenditures  for  buildings  and 
instruction  ;  and,  second,  the  opinion  of  some, 
whether  well  or  ill  founded,  that  the  manage- 
mens  of  the  funds  was  not  so  cai-eful  and  pru- 
dent as  it  should  have  been.  The  four  build- 
ings erected  during  the  first  half  of  President 
Pierce's  administration,  viz.,  the  Chapel,  North 
College,  Observatory  and  Atheneum,  cost  but 
little  above  $22,000,  or  the  actual  fund  inher- 
ited from  President  Storrs'  administration.  If 
the  question  were  asked  whether  these  build- 
ings were  all  necessary,  we  should  have  to  re- 
ply that  the  plan  on  which  Yale  College  was 
conducted  was  adopted  here  as  the  sum  of  all 
wisdom  in  such  matters.  The  plan  required 
abundant  dormitories  and  a  separate  church — 
all  the  appliances  for  a  community  complete  in 
itself,  and  separated  from  the  rest  of  the  world. 
It  is  easy  now  to  find  fault  with  the  plan,  and 
to  point  out  other  less  expensive  methods 
which  have  proved  successful  elsewhere.  But 
the  buildings  then  erected  have  proved  ver}- 
useful  ever  since,  and  are  indispensable  acconl- 
iug  to  that  plan.  If  we  look  at  the  expendi- 
ture for  instruction,  it  certainly  cannot  be  said 
that  the  salaries  of  the  Faculty  were  ever  large, 
and  if  we  consider  how  much  the  President  and 


M- 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


457 


Professors  contributed  to  the  fund  of  the  col- 
lege out  of  their  salaries,  it  will  be  acknowl- 
edged that  they  were  quite  inadequate  to  their 
support.  But  even  these  small  salaries,  under 
the  pressure  of  the  circumstances,  were  often 
paid  in  a  manner  which  made  them  b}'  no 
means  equal  their  nominal  value.  Seven  hun- 
dred dollars  was  the  highest  salary  paid  to  any 
one  except  the  President,  who  received  $900  ; 
and  President  Pierce  often  gave  out  of  this 
$200  a  year  to  the  college,  and  the  Pi'ofessors 
were  in  general  equall}^  liberal  in  their  dona- 
tions. Indeed,  it  is  doubtful  if  an}-  college  was 
ever  served  by  such  able  men  for  so  meager 
stipends.  The  number  of  the  Faculty  was  such 
that  the  salaries  of  all,  with  that  of  the  Treas- 
urer, amounted  from  $3,500  to  $7,500  a  year. 
If  the  number  of  the  Faculty  should  be  drawn 
into  question  as  unwise  and  unnecessar}-,  the 
answer  is  eas}',  that  it  was  the  plan  to  have  the 
institution  a  real  college  of  the  highest  order  ; 
it  must  therefore  be  fully  manned  by  able  schol- 
ars and  teachers.  If  the  number  of  students 
was  as  yet  small,  it  was  reasonably  expected 
that  they  would  increase  as  the  population 
grew,  and  that  an  able  Faculty  would  attract 
students.  Indeed,  the  number  of  students  was 
increasing,  and  the  learning  and  ability  of  the 
Faculty  did  establish  for  the  college  the  high- 
est reputation,  until  the  operation  of  the  second 
cause  mentioned  led  on  to  the  most  serious 
disastei's. 

It  has  alread}'  been  said  that  the  financial 
necessities  of  the  college  kept  President  Pierce 
in  the  field  as  an  agent  a  large  part  of  the  time 
for  several  years.  His  self-sacrifice  and  devoted 
labor  in  this  hard  and  unpleasant  task,  we 
should  think,  have  rarely  been  equaled  ;  but. 
with  all  his  toil,  to  make  ends  meet,  it  was  impos- 
sible. As  early  as  1836,  the  college  had  a  debt 
of  $6,000,  though  the  nominal  assets  were 
$60,000.  But  these  assets  were  largely  sub- 
scriptions, many  of  which,  after  years  of 
waiting,  finally  failed  altogether  ;  others  wei'c 
land,  or  other  property,  whicli  could  not  then 
be  wisely  converted,  or  converted  at  all  without 
serious  loss.  This  state  of  things  continued 
— the  expense  going  on,  which  must  be  met 
with  ready  monc}' — the  assets,  however  much 
they  might  be  nominall}-,  never  answering  to 
their  face,  and  hard  to  bring  into  usable  form. 
The  debt  steadily  increased,  until,  in  1846,  it 
stood  at  $35,000,  and   the  assets  at  $38,000. 


The  annual  deficit  at  that  time  was  such  that 
five  years  more  would  consume  all  the  assets  in 
hand,  and  leave  only  the  fixtures  and  the  debt. 
The  difficulty  in  paying  the  salaries  of  the  Pro- 
fessors, and  the  sacrifice  required  of  them,  led 
to  the  resignation  of  Prof  Hickok  and  Prof. 
Loomis  in  18-14,  the  former  being  called  to  the 
Chair  of  Theology  in  Auburn  Seminary,  and  the 
latter  to  the  Chair  of  Mathematics  and  Physics 
in  the  University  of  New  York.  This  was  in 
every  respect  a  most  serious  loss  to  the  college. 
But  it  was  not  to  be  expected  that  such  men 
would  submit  to  so  much  perplexity  in  the 
matter  of  support  when  they  could  do  the  same 
work  elsewhere  in  more  comfortable  circum- 
stances. Their  places  were,  however,  speedily 
filled,  and  the  college  went  on  doing  its  solid 
work,  maintaining  its  high  scholarl}-  and  liter- 
ary character,  but  groaning  under  its  financial 
burdens.  Prof  Hickok's  place  was  filled  by 
the  transfer  of  Prof  Long  to  the  Chair  of  Theol- 
ogy ;  Prof  Loomis',  by  the  appointment  of  Mr. 
James  Nooney,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College. 
Prof.  Long's  chair  was  filled  by  the  appointment 
of  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Bartlett,  a  graduate  of  Dart- 
mouth College. 

In  view  of  the  failure  of  pledges  and  the  de- 
preciation of  property,  the  board  resolved,  in 
1845,  to  enter  on  an  effort  to  raise  $40,000  to 
replace  the  losses  and  pay  the  debts.  This 
subscription  was  completed  in  1848.  They  im- 
mediately began  a  new  effort  to  add  $60,000  to 
the  permanent  fund,  the  entire  sum  to  be  raised 
by  January  1,  1850.  This  effort,  entered  upon 
with  great  vigor,  was  also  successful.  But  the 
slowness  with  which  payments  were  made  left 
the  college  still  in  difficulty.  Although  the 
debt  was  diminishing,  it  was  still  $28,000  in 
1850.  The  pressure  of  creditors  and  the  im- 
mediate necessities  of  life  led  to  the  practice  of 
loaning  the  money  of  the  permanent  fund  to 
the  general  fund.  From  this  and  other  causes, 
such  as  an  inadequate  S3stem  of  book-keeping, 
arose  a  suspicion,  in  the  minds  of  some  of  the 
Trustees,  whether  well  grounded  or  not,  that 
the  management  of  the  funds  was  not  good  ; 
that  there  was  a  lack  of  business  accuracy  and 
order  ;  that  the  distinction  l)etween  mnim  and 
fuum  in  the  funds  was  not  accurately  kept. 
There  can,  of  coui'se,  be  nothing  dishonest  in 
the  mere  loaning  from  one  fund  to  another  ; 
but,  considering  the  difficulty  in  which  the  col- 
lege then  was — the  pressure  on  every  side — it 


\ 


458 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


is  not  strange  that  it  excited  nervousness  in  tlie 
hard-worked  and  ill-paid  Faculty,  and  among 
some  of  the  donors.  No  one  could  for  a  mo- 
ment question  the  perfect  integrit}^  and  high 
Christian  character  of  President  Pierce  and  the 
Trustees.  But  "  the  best-laid  plans  of  mice 
and  men  gang  aft  agley,"  and  the  college  had 
had  too  serious  an  experience  already  of  the 
uncertaint}'  of  pledges  to  trust  the  general 
fund  too  far  with  the  sacred  resources  of  the 
permanent  fund.  Moreover,  it  was  the  growing 
sentiment  on  all  sides  that  the  expenses  should, 
by  some  means,  be  brought  down  to  the  proba- 
ble income,  or  nearl}'  to  that,  and  that  the  gen- 
eral fund  should  be  so  managed  as  speedily  to 
remove  all  indebtedness. 

In  1850,  the  sum  of  .$60,000  had  been  sub- 
scribed to  the  permanent  fund.  In  view  of  this 
fact  and  of  the  importance  of  the  work  of  col- 
lecting and  securely  investing  this,  and  in  view 
also  of  the  earnest  request  of  President  Pierce, 
that  he  might,  as  speedily  as  possible,  be  re- 
leased from  all  financial  responsibility,  at  the 
meeting  of  the  board  in  March,  a  Ji nance  com- 
mittee was  appointed,  consisting  of  President 
Pierce,  Mr.  Joseph  Perkins,  Hon.  E.  N.  Sill  and 
Mr.  C.  L.  Latimer,  all  of  them  men  who  were 
skilled  and  practiced  in  financial  business,  to 
take  charge  of  the  whole  matter  of  collecting 
and  investing  the  new  fund,  of  the  administra- 
tion of  the  general  fund,  and  the  payment  of 
the  debt.  They  were  specially  "  charged  to 
see  that  no  part  of  the  permanent  fund  was 
diverted  from  its  proper  purpose,  or  entangled 
with  other  funds  or  effects  of  the  college." 
This  committee,  at  the  outset,  made  a  full  and 
minute  survey  of  the  state  of  affairs.  With  a 
debt  of  $28,000  they  find  assets  applicable  to 
its  payment  of  $38,000.  They  declare  that 
this  debt  must  be  paid  without  further  delay, 
that  the  assets  applicable  to  the  purpose  are 
"barely  sufficient  to  meet  the  demands,"  and 
that  '•  decision  and  energy  will  be  very  requi- 
site "  in  the  management  of  the  matter,  or  "  the 
funds  will  melt  in  our  hands  and  our  debts  be 
left  an  incubus  upon  us."  Besides  interest, 
the  annual  expenses  were  then  $1,500  beyond 
the  reliable  income.  But  all  attempts  at  the 
reduction  of  expenditure  were  met  wifh  oppo- 
sition. There  seemed  to  be  a  great  desire  on 
all  hands  to  retrench,  without  retrenching  ;  and 
the  committee,  finding  at  the  end  of  a  year  and 
a  half  that,  with  all  their  efforts  they  could  not 


secure  the  requisite  control,  that  the  debt  was 
reduced  only  $7,500,  while  the  available  assets 
had  shrunk  $1G,000,  resigned.  Their  duties  re- 
turned to  the  hands  of  the  prudential  com- 
mittee. 

This  brought  on  a  crisis  in  the  affairs  of  the 
college.  This  finance  committee  had  been  di- 
vided in  opinion — on  the  one  side,  President 
Pierce,  the  Chairman,  on  the  ground,  with  the 
actual  control  in  his  hands,  and  dreading  in 
an}'  degree  to  impair  the  number  or  efficiency 
of  the  Facult}',  which  had  brought  the  institu- 
tion up  to  his  ideal  in  that  respect — on  the 
other  side  the  other  membei'S  who  saw  clearly 
and  felt  deepl}'  the  financial  necessities  of  the 
case.  The  disagreement  which  brought  about 
the  resignation  of  this  committee  now  entei'ed 
into  the  board  and  divided  it  so  that  the  cast- 
ing vote  was  alwa3-s  in  the  hands  of  the  Presi- 
dent, and  he  always  cast  it  with  the  same  side. 
The  division  touched  every  question  of  policy 
and  of  popular  action.  The  Faculty,  feeling 
most  deeply  ever3'thing  which  threatened  the 
honor,  stability  and  efficiency  of  the  college 
for  which  they  had  so  devotedly  labored 
and  sacrificed,  and,  though  not  doubting 
the  integrity  and  good  will,  yet  doubting  the 
ability  of  President  Pierce  and  the  pruden- 
tial committee  to  successfully  cope  with  the 
financial  problem,  insisted  that  the  finance 
committee  should  be  continued,  and  should 
have  complete  control  of  the  funds  according 
to  its  original  plan.  Disheartened  and  foresee- 
ing evil  from  the  resignation  of  that  committee, 
Profs.  Barrow,  St.  John  and  Bartlett  resigned, 
Prof  Long  having  also  resigned  a  few  days  be- 
fore the  committee.  This  was  almost  a  break- 
ing-up  of  the  college,  since  there  only  remained 
besides  the  President,  Prof  Day  in  the  Theologi- 
cal Department,  Prof  Seymour  in  the  Academic, 
and  Prof  Frost  Shepherd,  who  never  received 
a  salary,  was  never  responsible  for  any  fixed 
duty,  and  who  was  here  but  a  small  part  of  the 
time.  After  much  agitation  and  negotiation 
with  meetings  of  the  Alumni  and  of  students 
to  consider  the  subject,  and  express  their  opin- 
ions and  wishes  at  commencement  in  July, 
1852,  Prof  Lord  withdrew  his  resignation,  and 
the  other  Professors  were  re-appointed,  with 
the  expectation  that  they  would  continue  their 
labors,  and  the  college  would  still  live  and 
flourish  as  of  old.  But  these  hopes  were 
blighted.     Personal  disagreements  had  grown 


k^ 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


459 


up  out  of  questions  arising  in  the  Facult}',  as 
well  as  deep  differences  of  opinion  growing  out 
of  the  financial  and  other  questions  arising  in 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  concei'ning  general 
policA'.  The  strong  feelings  excited  could  not 
be  easih'  calmed.  The  Professors,  being  widely 
distinguished  in  their  departments,  had  tempt- 
ing offers  of  important  positions  elsewhere, 
where  their  fields  would  be  larger  and  their 
salaries  sure.  The  attempt  to  restore  the  old 
order  of  things  failed.  The  Professors  left, 
the  students  mostly  left,  and  the  labor  and  pa- 
tience of  many  good  men  for  many  years, 
seemed  to  have  failed  of  the  promise. 

Aside  from  the  debt  and  the  general  fund 
available  for  its  pa3-ment,  the  college  had  also 
a  permanent  fund,  amounting  nominally  to 
$85,000  ;  but  $54,000  of  this  was  in  the  "form 
of  subscription  notes,  for  the  most  part  on  in- 
terest, and  payable  between  the  years  1850  and 
1855;  $10,600  was  in  stocks  and  bonds;  the 
remainder  chiefly  in  real  estate,  bills  receivable 
and  the  like,  with  $3,000  in  cash.  The  discords 
and  contentions  in  the  college  interfered  with 
the  collection  of  the  principal  and  interest  of 
this  fund  as  it  became  due,  thus  greatly  re- 
ducing the  expected  income  and  increasing  the 
embarrassment.  The}'  alienated  man}'  of  the 
donors,  also,  as  might  have  been  expected,  and 
undoubtedly  had  an  injurious  influence  upon 
other  young  colleges  in  the  West  which  w'ere 
seeking  to  raise  their  flrst  endowments.  Men 
who  had  means  to  give  to  them  had  their  fears 
excited  that  their  donations  might  be  lost 
through  the  discords,  if  not  the  mismanage- 
ment of  boards  of  trust.  In  this  view,  the 
I  "  Societ}'  for  the  Promotion  of  Collegiate  and 
Theological  Education  at  the  West."'  which  had 
between  the  years  1845  and  1848  given  the 
college  about  $13,000,  and  recommended  it  to 
the  favor  of  the  churches  and  Christian  people 
at  the  East,  took  a  deep  interest  in  all  these 
transactions  here,  and  urged  the  speedy  settle- 
ment of  the  difficulties.  In  Febuary,  1855, 
this  society  even  sent  a  committee  of  distin- 
guished men,  which  met  the  Board  of  Trustees 
in  their  semi-annual  meeting  at  Cleveland,  and 
urged  them  to  refer  all  their  differences  to  arbi- 
tration. This  friendly  counsel  was  rejected  by 
a  majority  of  the  board.  They  seemed  to  feel 
themselves  bound  to  work  the  matter  through 
without  outside  aid  or  advice. 

At  the   beginning   of    the    academic    year 


1852-53,  the  Faculty  consisted  of  President 
Pierce,  Prof  Seymour  and  Tutor  Gates.  Prof. 
Day  still  retained  his  office,  but  as  the  Theo- 
logical Department  had  no  students,  he  ren- 
dered no  service.  There  were  only  two  classes 
— the  sophomore  and  freshman — with  twenty- 
three  members.  In  March,  1853,  Rev.  Alfred 
Emerson,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  was 
elected  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Physics, 
and  entered  on  his  duties  at  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1853-54.  In  November,  1853,  Rev.  Heury 
B.  Hosford,  a  graduate  of  Williams  College, 
was  elected  Professor  of  Intellectual  and  Moral 
Philosophy  and  Rhetoric,  and  entered  on  his 
duties  in  January,  1854.  Both  these  elections 
were  opposed  and  strongly  protested  against 
by  a  portion  of  the  board,  not  out  of  objection 
to  the  men,  well  qualified  pledges,  but  because 
in  their  view  it  was  necessary  to  the  prosperity 
of  the  institution  that  President  Pierce  should 
retire  from  office,  and  that  there  should  be  an 
entire  reconstruction. 

At  commencement  in  1853  there  were  no 
graduates,  and  the  commencement  exercises 
consisted  of  the  oration  before  the  Alumni,  by 
Mr.  Hoadley,  of  the  Class  of  1844,  the  inaugu- 
ral address  by  Prof  Emerson,  two  orations  by 
representatives  of  the  societies,  and  three  mas- 
ters' orations.  In  the  next  year,  beside  the 
President,  there  w-ere  three  Professors,  a  Tutor 
and  twenty-five  students,  all  the  classes  being 
represented.  The  work  of  the  college  went  on 
after  the  old  fashion,  according  to  the  old 
sfandai'd,  though  the  continued  agitation  in  the 
newspapers  and  in  private,  must  have  made 
all  parties  extremely  uncomfortable.  Even 
through  another  year  did  this  weary  time  of 
conflict  extend. 

On  the  31st  of  May,  1855,  President  Pierce, 
having  arrived  at  the  age  which  he  had  long 
before  set  as  the  proper  time  for  him  to  retire, 
resigned  his  office,  and  Rev.  Henry  S.  Hitch- 
cock, of  Columbus,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College 
and  a  distinguished  minister,  was  elected  his 
successor.  All  parties  seem  to  have  l>ecome 
weary  of  the  conflict,  as  well  they  might.  Mr. 
Hitchcock  was  inaugurated  at  commencement, 
on  the  I'ith  of  July.  Several  members  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  resigned  :  there  places  were 
filled  by  men  having  the  confidence  of  both 
parties,  and  the  college  entered  upon  its  new 
era. 

President  Pierce  lived  sixteen  vears  after  his 


rfv 


460 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


retirement  b}'  the  side  of  the  college,  rejoicing 
in  its  revived  prosperity,  its  larger  endowment, 
and  in  its  faithfulness  to  the  standard  and  the 
traditions  which  he  had  established.  During 
these  later  years  his  health  allowed  him  to  do 
but  little  labor,  but  he  had  a  keen  interest  in 
all  public  affairs  and  was  full  of  sociality  and 
good  humor.  Death  came  suddenly  upon  him 
at  last  without  warning,  and  he  was  mercifully 
saved  from  a  painful  sickness,  which  he  had 
always  greatly  feared.  He  died  on  Sunday 
morning,  May  28,  1871,  in  the  seventy -seventh 
year  of  his  age. 

The  task  which  President  Hitchcock  under- 
took was  one  of  great  difficulty  on  account  of 
the  labor  involved,  and  of  great  delicacy  in  con- 
sequence of  the  excited  state  of  feeling  concern- 
ing the  college  in  the  community  and  among  the 
graduates.  Eveiy  step  he  took  was  sure  to  be 
criticised ;  all  his  acts  and  every  aspect  of  the 
c  'liege  under  him  were  sure  to  be  compared  with 
the  great  days  of  old  when  achievements  as 
well  as  hopes  were  high  and  skies  were  clear. 
He  came  to  the  college  in  the  prime  of  his  life, 
at  forty-two  years  of  age,  with  his  powers  well- 
disciplined  by  seventeen  years  of  ministerial 
labors,  in  which  he  had  learned  to  manage  diffi- 
cult financial  affairs  as  well  as  preach  the 
Word.  Singularly  enough,  he  was  a  native  of 
Burton,  a  pupil,  and  subsequently  a  teacher  in 
the  Academy  of  the  Erie  Literary  Society,  his 
father  being  a  Trustee  and  all  his  family  and 
friends  stout  defendants  of  that  institution, 
when  the  attempt  was  made  to  remove  it  to 
Hudson.  The  sequel  will  show  what  a  grand 
revenge  Burton  and  that  society  had  on  Hud- 
son and  the  Western  Reserve  College.  He 
bore  one  of  the  most  honored  names  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  by  his  wisdom, 
prudence  and  earnest  Christian  labors  had 
proved  himself  worth}-  of  it.  He  was  not  only 
made  President,  which  brought  upon  him  the 
financial  responsibility,  but  he  was  also  made 
Professor  of  Christian  Theology  and  Pastor  of 
the  College  Church.  The  professorship  of  the- 
ology required  that  he  should  teach  natural 
theology  and  evidences  of  Christianity  as 
they  are  usually  taught  in  colleges.  As  Pas- 
tor of  the  church  he  was  expected  to  preach 
twice  on  Sunday  in  the  chapel  during  term 
time,  and  to  do  whatever  other  pastoral  labor 
he  should  find  desirable.  His  preparation  for 
this  last  office  was  abundant ;  for  in  all  his  min- 


istrj'  he  had  written  faithfully  and  had  acquired 
the  habit  of  extempore  speaking.  The  teach- 
ing which  he  did  gave  him  one  recitation  or 
lecture  a  day  for  half  the  year.  For  this  he 
always  studied  diligently  and  he  had  an  admir- 
able grasp  of  the  subjects  of  his  department. 

The  teaching  and  the  preaching  would  certain- 
ly be  consiilered  a  sufficient  burden  for  one  man 
to  bear  in  ordinar}^  circumstances ;  but  Presi- 
dent Hitchcock  had  other  burdens  greater  than 
these.  He  had  the  financial  burden  of  paying 
the  debt  and  collecting  the  subscriptions  from 
subscribers,  many  of  them  reluctant  or  hostile 
by  the  transactions  which  had  occurred  since 
they  made  their  pledges  ;  and  the  task  of  doing 
away  with  the  prejudice  in  the  communit}',  en- 
gendered by  the  quarrels  of  the  last  five  years, 
of  winning  back  alienated  friends  and  divided 
Alumni. 

Few  men  could  have  been  found  willing  to 
undertake  such  a  work.  It  required  a  man  who 
was  ready  to  face  long  and  incessant  labor,  will- 
ing to  subject  himself  to  ungrateful  criticism, 
to  encounter  rebuffs,  and  tov/ait  long  for  recog- 
nition and  obvious  success.  President  Hitch- 
cock had  all  these  qualities.  When  he  had 
made  up  his  mind  that  duty  called  him  to  the 
work,  his  whole  soul  was  devoted  to  it,  so  that 
no  obstacles  daunted  him,  and  nothing  that  he 
possessed  was  kept  back.  He  had  all  the  en- 
ergy, devotion  and  spirit  of  self-sacrifice,  which 
characterized  President  Pierce,  but  he  was 
especially  fitted  for  his  difficult  office  because 
he  was  yielding  and  conciliator}-  in  his  temper, 
never  asserting  himself,  but  always  putting  for- 
ward his  cause,  and,  while  firmly  adhering  to 
principle,  and  always  insisting  on  what  was  just 
and  right,  he  was  cautious  not  to  offend.  He 
was  kindly,  charitable  toward  all  men,  friendly 
with  everybody,  considerate  of  everybody. 
He  was  such  a  thorough  Christian  man  that 
none  who  knew  him  could  fail  to  see  that  he 
was  not  serving  himself  but  God.  His  modest, 
unassuming  Christian  character  impressed  it- 
self upon  the  students,  and  made  it  eas}-  for 
him  to  govern  and  to  lead  them  in  right  wa^-s. 

Another  thing  which  fitted  President  Hitch- 
cock for  his  general  work  outside  the  college, 
was  his  ability  as  a  preacher  and  his  tact  and 
experience  in  revivals  of  religion.  This  made 
him  a  valuable  man  to  the  religious  interests 
of  this  part  of  the  State,  in  a  way  which  every- 
body could  see  and  appreciate.     His  value  as  a 


Iv> 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


461 


mail  won  friends  to  his  cause.  Indeed,  we  ma}' 
almost  say  that  Dr.  Hitchcock  had  no  quality., 
intellectual,  moral  or  personal,  and  there  was 
no  event  in  his  previous  histoiy  which  did  not 
directly  fit  him  for  the  laborious  and  delicate 
task  whicii  he  now  undertook. 

The  most  pressing  demand  which  President 
Hitchcock  met  when  he  entered  upon  his  work 
was  the  payment  of  the  debt.  This  debt  he 
found,  at  the  beginning  of  his  term  of  office, 
about  $22,000.  It  had  not  been  reduced  at  all 
since  October,  1851.  On  the  withdrawal  of 
President  Pierce  it  was  increased  to  $25,000  by 
the  vote  of  the  board  to  pay  him  $3,000,  rather 
as  some  small  recognition  of  his  past  services 
than  as  a  compensation  for  them.  The  general 
fund  applicable  to  the  pa3'ment  of  this  debt 
had  mostly  disappeared.  As  no  part  of  the 
permanent  fund  could  be  used  for  this  purpose, 
it  was  necessary  to  raise  the  means  by  a  special 
subscription.  This  was  a  hard  thing  to  do, 
but  one  which  absolutely  must  be  done  if  the 
college  was  to  survive.  To  this,  therefore,  the 
President  applied  himself  It  was  necessary 
that  he  should  go  about  it  by  personal  solicita- 
tion. The  work  went  on  slowly  but  steadil}', 
as  he  could  gain  time  from  his  other  duties.  It 
was  no  slight  labor,  meanwhile,  to  manage  the 
obligations  and  to  meet  the  interest.  It  was 
onlj'  after  nine  years,  in  18G4,  that  the  last  of 
the  debt  was  paid.  It  had  begun  to  accumu- 
late as  early  as  1836,  and  thus,  after  twent}'- 
eight  years,  having  caused  unspeakable  vexa- 
tion and  having  nearly  swamped  the  college  in 
the  meantime,  it  was  removed.  The  lesson  was 
one  which  this  college  will  not  soon  forget.  The 
good  friends  who  helped  to  lift  that  load  de- 
serve to  be  held  in  special  gratitude. 

But  this  was  not  the  only  financial  work  of 
the  President  during  this  period.  The  out- 
standing pledges  to  the  permanent  fund,  which 
amounted,  in  1855,  to  about  $43,000,  were  now 
all  full}'  due,  and  needed  to  be  immediately 
collected,  principal  and  interest,  and  invested. 
This  was  essential  in  order  to  provide  for  the 
running  expenses.  But  such  was  the  state  of 
feeling  among  many  of  the  subscribers,  grow- 
ing out  of  the  discords  in  the  college,  which 
had  become  so  notorious,  that  we  cannot  won- 
der that  the}'  were  very  reluctant  to  meet  their 
pledges.  The  financial  crisis  of  1858  brought 
a  new  difficult}"  in  the  case  of  many  who  had 
not  yet  paid.     But  the  work  was  carried  stead- 


ily forward  by  this  quiet,  kindly,  persistent 
man,  until  nearly  the  whole  sum  was  paid  or 
compromised.  In  connection  with  these  labors, 
the  President  began,  as  early  as  April,  1856,  to 
solicit  new  subscriptions  to  the  permanent  fund. 
This  was  necessary  if  the  college  was  to  main- 
tain its  old  standard  of  scholarship  and  in- 
struction ;  for  the  Faculty  must  be  enlarged, 
and  salaries  must  be  raised  in  order  to  get  and 
retain  suitable  Professors.  The  means  for  sup- 
porting instruction  must  not  only  be  more  am- 
ple, but  must  not  be  contingent,  as  in  the  olden 
times,  nor  would  it  do  again  to  pay  Professors 
with  orders  nor  with  store  pay.  In  1859,  he 
began  to  secure  donations  to  the  general  fund. 
These  various  labors  he  carried  forward  simul- 
taneously, with  such  respites  as  the  state  of  the 
country  required,  until  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1873,  when,  it  is  found,  that  he  added  $67,000 
to  the  permanent  fund  and  $99,000  to  the  gen- 
eral fund,  besides  paying  the  debt  and  collect- 
ing all  that  was  collectable  of  the  money  due 
on  the  pledges  made  between  1848  and  1850. 
A  considerable  portion  of  this  general  fund  was 
afterward  transferred  to  the  permanent  fund. 
And  this  work  he  did  himself,  not  by  agents, 
except  in  the  matter  of  about  $6,000.  Besides 
this,  with  the  aid  of  the  prudential  committee, 
of  course,  he  had  the  care  of  the  funds,  and  of 
their  safe  investment — a  duty  of  no  small  im- 
portance— which  he  performed  with  great  wis- 
dom and  prudence. 

Of  the  Faculty  of  the  old  palmy  days,  only 
Prof  Seymour  remained  under  the  new  regime, 
Prof  Day  retaining  a  mere  nominal  connection 
with  the  college  until  1859.  Prof  Emerson, 
who  had  come  into  the  Chair  of  Mathematics 
and  Physics  during  the  interim,  retired  in  April, 
1856,  and  was  succeeded  in  January  following 
by  Mr.  Charles  A.  Young,  a  graduate  of  Dart- 
mouth, who  served  the  college  with  great  suc- 
cess until  February,  1866,  when  he  resigned 
to  accept  the  Chair  of  Physics  and  Astronomy 
at  Dartmouth  College — a  chair  which  had  been 
filled  by  his  father  and  grandfather  before  him. 
In  April  of  that  year,  Mr.  Young  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  Allen  C.  Barrows,  of  the  Class  of  1861, 
who  served  until  the  close  of  the  year  1869-70, 
when  Mr.  Charles  J.  Smith,  of  the  Class  of 
1870,  the  present  incumbent,  entered  upon  that 
office.  Prof  Hosford  came  in,  also,  in  what 
we  may  call  the  interim,  to  the  Chair  of  Intel- 
lectual Philosophy    and   Rhetoric,   which    he 


rf^: 


46-: 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


filled  until  December,  1859.  He  was  succeeded 
by  the  present  incumbent  in  April,  1860. 
Prof.  Seymour  retained  the  Chair  of  tlie  Greek 
and  Latin  Languages  until  1870,  having  en- 
tered upon  this  professorship  in  September, 
18-10.  He  thus  served  the  college  with  distinc- 
tion from  the  days  of  its  greatest  prosperit}' 
under  President  Pierce,  through  the  period  of 
conflict  and  darkness,  until  the  time  of  its 
gi'eatest  prosperity  in  the  new  era.  On  his 
i-esignation,  he  was  made  Emeritus  Professor. 
He  has  since  given  instruction  on  two  occa- 
sions, when  his  services  were  needed.  Mr. 
Edwin  S.  (Iregory,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, held  the  position  of  Atljunct  Professor  of 
Latin,  and  gave  instruction  in  the  college  from 
18G1  to  1866,  while  he  was  Principal  of  the 
preparatory  school. 

On  the  retirement  of  Prof  Seymour,  the  pro- 
fessorship was  divided,  3Ir.  Thomas  D.  Se}-- 
mour,  his  son,  of  the  Class  of  1870,  being  ap- 
pointed to  the  Chair  of  Greek  and  Modern 
Languages,  with  leave  of  absence  for  two  3'ears, 
that  he  might  study  and  travel  in  Europe.  The 
work  of  the  Greek  Department  v/as  performed 
meantime  b}^  William  R.  Perkins,  of  the  Class 
of  1868.  The  Chair  of  Latin  and  English  Lit- 
erature was  taken  b}-  Prof  Allen  C.  Barrows, 
who  filled  it  but  one  year,  when  he  resigned  to 
become  Pastor  of  the  church  at  Kent.  He  was 
succeeded  immediatel}*  by  Kev.  Lemuel  S.  Pot- 
win,  a  graduate  of  Yale,  the  present  incumbent. 
In  1868,  Mr.  Edward  W.  Morley,  a  graduate  of 
Williams  College,  was  appointed  Professor  of 
( 'hemistry  and  Natural  History,  a  chair  which 
had  been  vacant  since  Prof  St.  John  resigned 
in  1852.  The  instruction  in  this  department 
had  been  given,  meantime,  by  lecturers — two 
years,  1855  and  1856,  by  Prof.  Chadbourne, 
now  President  of  Williams  College,  and  from 
1857  to  1868  inclusive  by  Prof  Cassell,  of  the 
Medical  Department.  Mr.  Morley  began  his 
services  as  Professor  in  Januar}-,  1869.  In 
1860,  Prof  Long  returned  to  the  college  as 
lecturer  for  one  term  in  the  Department  of  Moral 
Philosophy.  From  1869  to  1872,  Hon.  Thomas 
Hastings,  of  Cleveland,  gave  a  course  of  lect- 
ures each  year  on  Municipal  Law.  Since  1869, 
Mr.  M.  C.  Read,  of  the  Class  of  1848,  has  given 
a  course  of  lectures  each  year  on  Practical  Ge- 
ology and  Zo'.jlogy.  Such  were  the  changes  in 
the  Faculty  during  President  Hitchcock's  ad- 
ministration. 


The  prosperity  of  the  college,  which  was  ob- 
viously returning  in  all  respects,  received  a  se- 
vere check  at  the  breaking-out  of  the  war  in 
1861.  It  was  then  the  first  thought  of  every 
one  that  all  else  must  be  sacrificed  if  need  be, 
for  the  salvation  of  the  country.  Young  men 
in  college  were  among  the  first  to  feel  the  pat- 
riotic impulse.  Several  students  entered  the 
army  at  the  first  call  for  volunteers.  During 
the  summer  term  in  1861,  all  the  students  en- 
tered heartily  into  military  drill  under  the  in- 
struction of  Col.  Ilayward,  of  Cleveland.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  next  term,  the  classes 
were  verj'  much  diminished,  a  considerable 
number  entering  the  service  for  the  war.  The 
grammar  school  also  furnished  a  large  quota  of 
soldiers.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  no 
record  was  kept  of  the  undergraduates  who  en- 
tered the  array.  The  catalogue  of  1862-63,  at 
the  end  of  the  summary,  adds  the  remark  :  "  In 
addition  to  those  named  and  enumerated  above, 
there  are  in  the  army  sixteen  members  of  col- 
lege classes,  and  twenty-seven  members  of  the 
preparatory  school."  Of  course  there  were  many 
others  before  and  after  that  year  who  left  to 
serve  the  country.  In  May,  1862,  after  the  de- 
feat of  Banks  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  issued  a  new  call  for  volunteers  to 
serve  three  months.  The  students  had  a  well- 
drilled  military-  compan^'  and  immediately  of- 
fered their  services  to  Gov.  Tod.  They  were 
accepted  and  repaired  to  Columbus,  where 
they  remained  in  charge  of  the  military  prison 
for  three  months,  after  which  they  were  sent  to 
Vicksburg  in  charge  of  a  large  body  of  prison- 
ers for  exchange.  They  were  mustered  out 
September  29.  Commencement  was  held  that 
year  on  the  15th  day  of  October,  and  the  first 
term  of  the  new  academic  3'ear  began  on  the 
following  da}^  This  was  the  only  interruption 
of  the  regular  work  of  the  college  during  the 
war,  but  of  course  the  numbers  were  kept  down 
and  the  financial  progress  was  doubtless  much 
retarded.  Of  those  undergraduates  who  en- 
tered the  army,  quite  a  number  lost  their  lives, 
and  those  who  returned  found  themselves  either 
past  the  college  age,  or  from  other  causes  un- 
able to  complete  their  studies.  The  war  record 
of  the  college  must  be  considered  good,  since 
somewhat  more  than  100  out  of  -102  of  the  ac- 
ademic alumni  served  in  the  army,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  theological  and  medical  gradu- 
ates.    They  were  found  in  all  ranks  from  pri- 


T 


fe* 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


463 


vate  and  hospital   steward  up  to  Major  Gen- 
eral. 

It  might  well  be  supposed  that  no  man  could 
bear  alwaj's  such  a  burden  of  care  and  labor 
as  that  which  President  Hitchcock  took  upon 
his  shoulders.  He  maintained  great  vigor  and 
elasticity  of  health  and  constitution  for  several 
years  ;  but,  in  1867,  his  health  seemed  to  be 
giving  way,  and  it  was  obvious  that  he  must 
rest  or  break  down.  He  desired  to  be  released 
from  his  connection  with  the  college,  but 
neither  the  Faculty  nor  the  Trustees  would  con- 
sent to  his  resignation.  The  physicians  ad- 
vised at  least  six  months  of  rest.  At  a  meeting 
of  the  prudential  committee  in  September, 
leave  of  absence  was  given  him  for  eight 
months,  the  Faculty  undertaking  to  do  his 
teaching  and  to  supply  the  pulpit  during  his 
absence.  Leaving  home  on  the  8th  of  October, 
he  went  to  the  southern  part  of  France,  where 
he  spent  the  winter.  After  some  travel  he 
returned  home  in  season  for  commencement  the 
following  June,  very  much  recruited  in  health. 
But  the  old  energy  and  power  to  work  never 
fully  returned.  He  went  on,  however,  as  before, 
with  some  assistance  in  the  pulpit,  still  improv- 
ing the  financial  condition  of  the  institution, 
and  discharging  his  ordinary  public  duties. 
But,  in  February,  1870,  feeling  too  much  the 
pressui'e  of  care,  he  tendered  his  resignation  ; 
but,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  Trustees, 
withdrew  it.  Again,  in  June,  1871,  he  renewed 
his  resignation,  which  was  now  accepted.  He 
remained,  however,  in  his  professorship  as  Pas- 
tor^of  the  church  and  in  care  of  the  financial 
affairs.  He  was  really  relieved  only  from  the 
government  of  the  college  and  from  responsi- 
bility for  home  affairs.  After  the  great  im- 
provement in  the  financial  condition,  it  was  the 
responsibility  for  the  government  which  had 
especiall}^  worn  upon  him.  Dr.  Hitchcock  con- 
tinued in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  until  the 
summer  of  1873,  when  a  few  daj's  before  com- 
mencement he  was  taken  sick  and  died  on  the 
6th  of  July  in  the  sixtieth  3'ear  of  his  age. 

On  the  resignation  of  President  Hitchcock, 
at  commencement,  in  1871,  Prof  Carroll  Cutler 
was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  He  entered  on 
the  duties  of  the  oflSce  immediately,  but  was 
not  inaugurated  until  commencement  in  1872. 
The  presence  of  Dr.  Hitchcock  and  the  respon- 
sible position  which  he  still  filled  caused  the 
affairs  of  the  college  to  go  on  as  before,  and 


there  was  nothing  to  indicate  to  any  one  that 
any  change  had  occurred.  Before  1872,  the 
question  so  much  discussed  in  some  other  col- 
leges of  the  same  type  with  this,  in  regard  to 
the  admission  of  women  to  equal  privileges  of 
study  and  instruction,  had  been  often  privately 
considered  by  the  Facult}'.  Especially  when 
some  women  asked  to  be  admitted  to  Wabash 
College  and  were  refused,  the  question  was 
sprung,  "  What  course  should  we  take  in  like 
circumstances  ?"  It  was  unanimousl}-  agreed 
that  if  any  woman  thirsting  for  knowledge 
should  seek  it  at  their  fountain  she  should  not 
be  refused  merely  because  she  was  a  woman. 
Neither  the  charter  nor  the  laws  of  the  college 
presented  any  obstacles  to  the  admission  of 
women,  and,  on  inquiry,  it  was  thought  there 
would  be  no  objection  on  the  part  of  the 
Trustees.  In  his  inaugural  address,  therefore, 
Mr.  Cutler  announced  the  fact  that  women 
would  be  admitted  to  all  the  privileges  of  the 
college  on  the  same  conditions  with  men.  In 
the  autumn  of  1872,  several  3'oung  ladies 
entered  the  preparatory  school  ;  in  1874,  one 
entered  the  Freshman  class,  and,  in  1875-76, 
there  was  one  in  the  Senior  class,  one  in  the 
Sophomore,  and  two  in  the  Freshman  class.  So 
far  they  have  been  conducted  with  credit  and 
maintained  an  average  grade  of  scholarship. 

During  the  existence  of  the  Theological  De- 
partment, its  histoiy  was  one  with  that  of  the 
college,  and  has  been  substantially  recounted 
above.  It  really  began  operation  when  Mr. 
Green  came  here  as  Professor  of  Biblical  Liter- 
ature, in  1830,  and  continued  until  1852.  The 
time  of  its  greatest  prosperit}'  was  from  1842 
to  1850.  It  was  abandoned  because  there  were 
not  funds  enough  to  support  Professors.  The 
necessit}'  for  a  Seminary  had  ceased  also,  be- 
cause two  others  had  been  planted  since  the 
opening  of  this,  one  in  and  another  near  the 
field  which  this  was  intended  to  occup}'.  The 
funds  which  were  contributed  as  a  permanent 
endowment  of  this  department  were  very 
small.  Mr.  Heman  Oviatt  gave  $10,000  in 
1837  to  endow  the  Chair  of  Sacred  Rhetoric. 
In  1853,  Mr.  Oviatt,  in  writing,  expressed  his 
desire  to  the  Trustees  that,  in  view  of  the  then 
present  state  of  the  college,  the  Professor,  on 
his  endowment,  should  give  instruction  in  the 
Collegiate  Department.  To  the  endowment  of 
the  other  theological  chairs,  there  was  contrib- 
uted only  about  $5,800.     Twelve  hundred  dol- 


V 


464 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


lars  of  this  was  o;iven  by  "sundry  persons," 
through  Moses  Allen,  of  New  York,  and  no 
further  record  can  now  be  found  of  it.  Four 
thousand  six  hundred  dollars  were  given  by 
eighty-six  persons  in  small  sums,  the  largest 
single  donation  being  $212.  All  other  funds 
were  for  current  use. 

The  high  character  of  the  seminary  is  obvi- 
ous from  the  abilit}'  of  the  men  who  ftUed  its 
chairs  of  instruction,  and  also  from  the  stand- 
ing and  usefulness  of  those  who  received  their 
theological  education  here.  One  needs  but  to 
recall  the  names  of  President  Storrs,  Professors 
Green,  Folsom.  Long,  Hickok,  Barrows  and 
Day  to  show  that  the  instruction  was  nowhere 
abler.  These  names,  also,  as  well  as  those  of 
their  pupils,  clearly  indicate  the  doctrinal 
views  taught.  Those  who  studied  here  have, 
many  of  them,  occupied  prominent  positions, 
and  all  of  them  have  been  very  useful  in  the 
ministrj'  of  the  Presbyterian  and  Congrega- 
tional Churches,  in  both  the  home  and  foreign 
fields.  The  seminary  was  linked  to  that  eccle- 
siastical system  which  grew  upon  the  Reserve, 
called  the '-Plan  of  Union."  The  Professors 
all  entered  heartily  into  it  in  good  faith,  as  did 
most  of  the  churches,  until  restless  and  grasp- 
ing men  on  both  sides  drove  forward  the  work 
of  division.  The  seminary,  however,  and  all  the 
Professors,  continued  their  adhesion  to  the  Plan. 
The  number  of  those  whose  names  appear  in  the 
catalogue  as  theological  students  is  106.  It 
does  not  look  at  present  as  though  this  de- 
partment would  ever  be  resumed,  at  least  in 
its  old  form.  The  seminaries  now  in  operation 
are  enough  for  the  wants  of  the  countr}-,  and 
will  be  for  a  long  time  to  come. 

A  preparatory  school  was  opened  in  connec- 
tion with  the  college  at  the  very  first.  Per- 
haps it  would  be  better  to  say  that  the  college 
was  first  opened  in  connection  with  a  prepara- 
tory school  ;  for  the  first  Freshman  class  was 
admitted  and  studied  the  first  year  at  Tall- 
madge,  in  the  academ}-,  under  Mr.  David  L. 
Coe,  who  was  Principal  of  the  school,  and  col- 
lege tutor  pro  tempore.  When  the  college 
opened  in  the  new  building  at  Hudson,  in  the 
fall  of  1827,  the  first  catalogue  shows  that 
there  was  a  Sophomore  and  a  Freshman  class, 
a  preparatory  class  and  a  class  pursuing  a  par- 
tial course.  There  has  been  a  preparatory 
class  ever  since.  The  name  "  Preparament  ^' 
was  first  used  in  1838.     In  1843,  there  was  a 


Preparatory  Department  in  two  sections,  class- 
ical and  English.  In  1850,  this  department 
was  first  called  a  "  Grammar  School,"  a  name 
which  it  retained  until  1860,  since  which  date 
it  has  been  called  a  "  Preparator}'  School." 

It  was  the  expectation  of  the  Trustees  that  it 
would  be  necessary  to  continue  the  school  but 
a  very  few  3'ears,  they  supposing  that  academies 
would  be  established  and  endowed  on  the  Re- 
serve as  they  had  been  in  New  England.  At 
one  time  there  were  as  man}'  as  twenty  acade- 
mies in  successful  operation.  First  and  last 
there  have  been  more  than  thirty  academies  on 
the  Reserve.  But  nearly  all  of  these  schools 
were  entireh'  unendowed,  and  as  the  public 
schools  improved,  the  number  of  pupils  in  them 
diminished,  and  as  new,  more  exciting  and  more 
remunerative  fields  of  labor  opened,  teachers 
could  not  be  found  for  them,  and  the}-  were 
abandoned.  A  number  of  them  have  been 
attached  to  the  school  system  of  the  towns 
where  they  are  as  high  schools.  But  the}"  do 
not  thus  accomplish  the  object  of  endowed 
academies.  The  necessit}'  for  the  preparatory 
school,  therefore,  continues  to  this  da}-,  and  we 
can  see  no  prospect  that  it  will  soon  cease. 

This  school  has  always  been  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  college  Faculty,  and  taught  for  the 
most  part  by  some  of  the  younger  graduates.  Oc- 
casionally some  of  the  Professors  have  given  in- 
structions there  for  brief  periods,  and  Professor 
Gregory  was  Principal  and  carried  on  the  school 
for  five  years,  with  the  aid  of  a  tutor,  after  he 
was  made  Adjunct  Professor  of  Latin  in  college. 
The  school  has  never  been  self-supporting,  ex- 
cept for  two  years,  1850-52,  under  Mr.  Turner. 
During  the  period  when  the  great  calamity  and 
depression  were  upon  the  college,  from  1852  to 
1860,  the  teachers  received  only  the  tuition  fees, 
but  the  college  furnished  for  it  a  local  habita- 
tion. 

The  early  catalogues  show  that  there  were 
from  the  beginning,  students  here  in  a  partial 
course.  The  precise  nature  and  extent  of  that 
course  is  not  indicated.  As  these  men  were 
not  Bachelors  of  Arts,  it  is  probable  that  they 
pursued  the  higher  English  studies  with  the 
college  classes  and  received  a  certificate  of  pro- 
ficiency, but  not  a  degree.  In  1855,  when 
President  Hitchcock  entered  on  his  office,  a 
Scientific  course  was  announced  in  the  cata- 
logue, ''  designed  for  those  who  desire  a  more 
complete  education  than  is  furnished  by  acada- 


TT 


■^ 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


465 


mies  and  high  schools,  without  pursuing  the 
learned  languages."  The  course  of  study  was 
intended  to  be  three  3'ears.  In  1839,  the  cata- 
logue contains  the  names  of  two  resident  grad- 
uates, and  in  1845,  one  besides  those  engaged 
in  theological  study.  They  were  pursuing 
those  studies  which  properl}'  belong  to  a  Phil- 
osophical Department.  In  1847,  appear  the 
names  of  eleven  Bachelors  and  Masters  of  Arts, 
who  were  engaged  here  in  such  work,  and  in 
1848  there  were  sis  names  in  the  same  class. 

The  library  has  grown,  but  ver}-  slowl}-,  to 
some  7,000  volumes,  mostly  by  donations  of 
books,  while  the  college  has  paid  out  of  the 
treasury  probably  about  $1,200  for  this  object 
previously  to  the  year  1874.  The  library  has 
now  an  endowment  of  $3,700,  and  waits  with 
strong  desire  for  the  payment  of  the  remainder 
of  the  $10,000  subscribed  for  its  endowment  at 
commencement  in  1873.  The  society  libraries 
contain  about  5,400  volumes,  purchased  by  the 
students  from  time  to  time. 

The  ph3^sical  apparatus,  which  must  have 
been  reasonably  good  for  so  young  an  institu- 
tion according  to  the  ideas  of  those  early  times, 
was  greatly  increased  by  Prof  Loomis  when  he 
entered  upon  his  work  here  in  1837.  He 
brought  with  him  from  Europe  the  most  im- 
portant instruments  for  investigation  and  in- 
struction, to  the  value  of  $2,200.  This  appa- 
ratus has  been  well  preserved,  and  since  1868, 
has  been  steadily  increased  by  the  addition  of 
almost  all  those  new  instruments  which  the  ad- 
vance of  science  has  made  necessary  or  useful 
in  a  college  in  order  that  the  instruction  might 
keep  pace  with  the  times. 

The  astronomical  observatory  was  built  un- 
der the  direction  of  Prof  Loomis  in  1838,  at  a 
cost  of  a  little  above  $1,000,  and  furnished 
with  a  transit  circle,  equatorial  telescope  and 
siderial  clock,  procured  in  Europe  at  an  ex- 
pense of  $1,750. 

When  Dr.  St.  John  came,  in  1858,  $2,500 
was  appropriated  as  an  outfit  for  his  depart- 
ment, some  $500  of  which  was  probably  ex- 
pended in  the  purchase  of  chemical  apparatus, 
and  the  $2,000  upon  the  cabinet.  Accordingly, 
the  cabinet  seems  to  have  grown  and  prospered 
for  some  time  ;  but,  during  the  period  of 
depression  and  disaster,  it  was  almost  entirely 
neglected.  In  1858,  it  received  a  valuable 
accession  from  Rev.  Horace  S.  Taylor,  of  the 
Class  of  1840,  and  a  missionary  in  India.     He 


procured  a  large  fragment  of  a  meteorite 
which  fell  within  his  field  of  labor  February 
28,  1857,  and  sent  it  to  the  college.  This  was 
broken  up  in  consequence  of  man}-  applica- 
tions for  specimens,  and  b}'  exchanges  the  cab- 
inet contains  now  a  series  of  seventy-six 
different  meteoric  irons  and  stones.  There  are 
1,450  named  and  labeled  specimens  of  mine- 
rals in  ca,ses,  500  not  labeled,  250  specimens 
of  shells,  with  many  duplicates,  and  a  series  of 
casts  of  typical  fossils,  173  in  number,  which 
were  added  in  1874.  There  is  also  a  small 
collection  of  archaeological  specimens. 

The  chemical  apparatus  procured  by  Prof 
St.  John  had  almost  wholly  disappeared  when 
President  Hitchcock  entered  on  his  office.  Very 
little  was  done  in  the  way  of  repairing  these 
losses  until  Prof  Morley  came,  in  1869.  Since 
that  date,  this  department  has  received  its 
proper  share  of  attention.  An  admirable  ap- 
paratus for  the  purpose  of  anal^'sis  and  re- 
search, as  well  as  for  use  in  instruction,  has  been 
procured,  mostly  purchased  in  P]urope,  at  an 
expense  of  $2,500.  There  is  a  well-furnished 
laboratory  for  the  use  of  students,  where 
the  class  perform,  under  the  guidance  of  the 
professor,  all  those  experiments  which  are  suit- 
able for  them.  The  departments  of  natural 
science,  which,  from  the  very  first,  seem  to 
have  attracted  the  enlightened  attention  of  the 
Trustees,  have  thus  been  well  provided  with 
the  means  of  instruction. 

At  the  present,  an  important  change  in  the 
history  of  the  college  is  pending,  which  must 
result  in  important  consequences  to  the  insti- 
tution. At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  at 
Cleveland  in  1876,  the  question  was  proposed 
to  the  President  as  to  how  much  money  would 
cover  the  cost  of  removing  the  college  from 
Hudson  to  Cleveland.  After  deliberation,  the 
sum  was  placed  at  $500,000  by  President  Cut- 
ler, and  an  itemized  statement  to  that  effect 
was  drawn  up.  Subsequently,  Amasa  Stone, 
Esq.,  of  Cleveland,  offered  that  amount  if  the 
removal  should  be  effected.  A  movement  was 
at  once  put  in  progress  to  secure  this  end,  and 
the  success  of  this  effort  seems  to  be  not  far 
from  realization.  There  is,  of  course,  a  decid- 
ed difference  of  opinion  upon  the  wisdom,  of 
this  course,  some  of  the  Alumni  believing  with 
the  great  majority  of  the  citizens  of  Hudson 
that  it  does  great  injustice  to  those  who  have 
sacrificed  a  great  deal  in  its  behalf,  and  at  the 


^ 


466 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUITTY. 


same  time  carries  the  youth  right  into  the 
midst  of  temptations  from  which  it  is  of  the 
greatest  importance  to  shield  them.  On  the 
other  hand,  it  is  urged  that  Cleveland  is  des- 
tined to  attract  a  university,  which,  if  the 
Western   Reserve    College  should   neo;lect  its 


present  opportunity,  would  result  disastrously 
to  its  interests.  By  removing  to  Cleveland,  it 
is  hoped  that  the  scope  of  the  college's  influ- 
ence will  be  enlarged,  its  prosperity  enhanced, 
and  that  it  will  speedily  assume  that  place 
which  its  founders  hoped  for  in  its  inception. 


CHAPTER     XVI.* 

CUYAHOGA  FALLS  — INTRODUCTORY  — FIRST  IMPROVEMENT— EARLY  SETTLERS— LAYING  OUT  OF 

VILLAGE  — INCORPORATION  — ORGANIZATION    AS    A     TOAVNSHIP— INDIANS 

AND    THEIR    TRAILS  — BANKS,    CANAL     AND     OTHER 

BUSINESS— FACTS,  INCIDENTS,  ETC. 


^r^HK  citizen  of  the  incorporated  village  of 
J._  Cuyahoga  Falls  who  looks  back  upon  the 
privations  and  labors  which  his  predecessors 
went  through,  and  sees  how  many  comforts  and 
advantages  he  has  inherited,  can  hardly  realize 
how  short  the  time  is  since  the  work  first  be- 
gun. Those  earliest  laborers  have  all  passed 
away  except  Henry  Wetmore.  He  still  resides 
in  the  town,  at  the  age  of  over  eighty  yeai's. 
He  has  seen  every  step  of  the  progress  of  the 
place,  from  the  first  real  emigration  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  He  has  been  an  active  participant  in 
all  these  changes,  since  the  day  he  helped  to 
mark  the  spot  where  the  first  work  was  to  be 
done.  He  alone  can  have  a  full,  a  complete 
realization  of  the  change  that  has  been  wrought. 
To  chronicle  the  leading  incidents  which  have 
taken  place  since  the  first  settlement  of  the 
village,  and  to  record  the  changes  brought 
about  since  that  period,  is  the  object  of  this  and 
the  following  chapter. 

Cuyahoga  Falls  is  among  the  most  thor- 
oughly enterprising  villages  in  Ohio.  With  im- 
portant manufacturing  industries,  fine  business 
houses,  and  a  progressive  class  of  citizens,  it  is 
worthy  of  conspicuous  notice  in  the  history  of 
vSummit  County.  It  is  situated  on  the  Cleve- 
land, Mount  Vernon  &  Columbus  Railroad, 
thirty-four  miles  from  Cleveland  and  five  miles 
distant  from  Akron,  the  county  seat.  The  place 
is  four  hundred  feet  above  Lake  Frie,  with  a 
healthy  and  pure  atmosphere,  abundance  of 
purest  water,  fine  churches  and  private  resi- 
dences, and  one  of  the  most  complete  school 
buildings  in  the  State. 

*  Contributed  by  C.  W.  Butterfleld. 


There  is  probably  no  point  in  Ohio  which  of- 
fers more  desirable  manufacturing  advantages  ; 
and,  as  a  place  of  residence,  its  elevated  posi- 
tion freeing  it  from  miasmatic  influences,  its 
beautiful  scener}',  and  accessibility  to  the  larger 
cities  of  the  State,  renders  it  most  desirable. 
It  has  become  a  favorite  resort  for  pleasure- 
seekers  and  excursionists  during  the  summer 
months,  where  visitors  can  enjoy  the  beauties 
of  natural  scenery  unequaled  in  Ohio.  For  the 
last  twenty  3'ears  its  growth  has  not  been  rapid. 
According  to  the  Federal  census  of  1860,  the 
village  had  1,516  inhabitants ;  increased  in 
1870  to  1,859  ;  in  1880  to  2,294. 

As  early  as  1812,  the  water-power  of  the 
Cuyahoga  River,  at  the  place  where  the  stream 
is  now  crossed  by  the  railroad,  having  been 
improved  by  Kelsey  &  Wilcox,  there  sprang 
up  in  that  immediate  vicinity  a  number  of 
houses.  This  is  still  called  the -'old  village." 
But  the  real  founders  of  Cu3'ahoga  Falls  were 
Joshua  Stow  (nominally),  William  Wetmore  and 
Henry  Newberry. 

The  Western  Reserve  had  been  sold  by  the 
State  of  Connecticut  to  the  Connecticut  Land 
Company,  who  had  it  surveyed  in  1797.  It 
was  laid  off"  in  townships  five  miles  square,  and 
was  designated  b}'  numbers  and  ranges.  Num- 
ber 3,  of  Range  10,  came  into  possession  of 
Joshua  Stow,  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  and  was 
named  after  him.  The  township  of  Tallmadge 
became  the  property'  of  two  companies,  of  one 
of  which  Roger  Newberrj^  was  a  member.  His 
share  was  1,000  acres.  It  la}-  in  the  northwest 
part  of  the  township,  now  the  southeast  por- 
tion of  Cuyahoga  Falls.      So  it  was  that  the 


[^ 


CUYAHOGA    FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


467 


two — Stow  and  Newberry — ^owned  what  after- 
ward constituted  (as  will  soon  be  shown)  "  the 
town  of  Cuyahoga  Falls." 

The  undivided  half  of  210  acres  in  the  south- 
west corner  of  Stow's  township — which  now 
embraces  the  northeast  part  of  the  village — was 
purchased  by  William  Wetmore,  and  together 
they  began  the  improvement  of  the  tract  in 
1825.  In  1814,  Henry  Newberry,  the  son  of 
Ivoger  Newberry,  came  on  to  see  his  lands 
which  had  been  given  him  by  his  father,  which 
have  been  just  described  as  1,000  acres  lying 
in  the  northwest  part  of  Tallmadge  Township. 
Henry  was  so  well  pleased  with  his  gift  that 
he  resolved  to  make  there  his  future  home.  He 
did  not  remove  to  Ohio,  however,  until  1824. 
He  first  lived  upon  a  farm  at  Stow  Lake  (now 
Silver  Lake)  two  j^ears,  meanwhile  making  im- 
provements at  the  Falls  ;  so  that  those  of  Stow 
and  Wetmore  on  the  north,  and  those  of  New- 
berry on  the  south  were  begun  at  about  the 
same  period.  The  year  1825  may,  therefore, 
be  considered  as  the  one  from  which  to  date 
the  existence  of  Cuyahoga  Falls. 

While  Henry  Newberry  was  living  at  Silver 
Lake,  he  ei'ected  a  log  house  for  his  workmen 
upon  the  spot  where  George  D^^re's  house  now 
stands,  and  cleared  about  an  acre  between  it 
and  the  river.  This  was  the  first  building  upon 
his  part  of  the  town.  Stow  and  Wetmore 
began  their  improvements  by  the  erection  of  a 
cabin  where  the  brown  house  now  stands  north 
of  the  livery  stable,  directly  west  of  the  upper 
dam.  The  improvements  made  by  them  of  the 
water-power  at  this  point  will  be  noticed  here- 
after. 

William  Wetmore  was  born  in  Middle- 
town,  Conn.,  September  15,  1771.  He  was  a 
descendant  of  Thomas  Wetmore,  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  Middletown,  who  purchased  the 
site  of  the  Indians  in  1662.  He  removed  to 
Ohio  in  July,  1804,  and  built  the  second  house 
that  was  erected  in  what  was  afterward  Stow 
Township.  It  stood  about  twenty  rods  east- 
wardly  of  the  northeast  corner  of  Lot  36.  In 
1808,  Stow  Township  was  organized,  and  he 
was  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  In  August 
of  that  year,  the  county  of  Portage  being  or- 
ganized he  was  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Court 
at  Kavenna.  He  afterward  resigned  the  office, 
moved  back  to  Stow  and  settled  on  his  farm. 
He  died  at  his  residence  on  the  east  bank  of 
Silver  Lake,  October  27,  1827.     Henry  New- 


berry was  born  in  Windsor,  Conn.,  in  January, 
1783.  In  1814,  soon  after  the  death  of  his 
father,  he  came  to  Ohio,  as  before  stated,  to 
look  at  his  possessions  in  the  Western  wilds. 
He  first  lived  at  Silver  Lake  two  years,  having 
moved  there,  as  previously  mentioned,  in  1824, 
and  then  took  up  his  residence  at  the  Falls. 
He  died  in  1854,  in  the  stone  house,  afterward 
the  residence  of  James  H.  Cooke.  Such,  in 
brief,  are  the  biographies  of  the  founders  of 
Cuyahoga  Falls.* 

In  1822,  Elkanah  Richardson  came  from 
Stow  and  built  the  house  long  known  as  the 
"  Red  House,"  which  stands  a  little  north  of  the 
"  Big  Spring,"  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street. 
This  house  was  the  first  frame  house  erected 
south  of  the  "old  village."  The  first  frame 
building  put  up  on  Stow  and  Wetmoi'e's  land 
was  intended  for  a  dwelling-house  and  store. 
It  was  built  by  William  Wetmore,  Jr.,  in  1826, 
and  is  now  known  as  the  "  Perry  House."     In 

1828,  the  store  now  occupied  by  Giles  L'Homme- 
dieu  was  built,  and  the  goods  removed  into  it, 
leaving  the  first  to  be  used  for  a  dwelling  only. 
It  was  not  long  before  it  became  a  place  of  en- 
tertainment for  strangers,  and  finally  a  regular 
hotel.  It  was  first  kept  by  Benjamin  F.  Hop- 
kins. He  was  succeecled  by  E.  B.  31organ,  and 
he  by  Ira  Loomis.  It  was  known  as  the  Amer- 
ican House.  It  has  passed  through  several 
hands  since  then,  but  has  been  little  changed. 
The  same  j^ear  (1828),  Jabez  Hamlin  came  and 
built  the  house  next  south  of  the  "  Big  Spring," 
and,  soon  after,  the  tannery  now  owned  b}'  C. 
Kettleberger.  In  1829,  Mr.  Richardson  built  a 
log  house  in  the  southeast  corner  of  what  is 
now  George  Sacketts  yard,  and  afterward  the 
thii'd  house  south  of  Falls  street,  on  Front 
street,  in  which  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life. 
He  died  in  1836. 

John  Wells  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls  not  long 
after  Jabez  Hamlin,  and  built  the  house  now 
owned  by  the  widow  of  the  late  John  Tift.     In 

1829,  John  Rumrill  came  as  the  foreman  in 
Stow  &  Wetmore's  paper-mill.  He  built  the 
house  near  the  depot,  known  as  the  Jones 
House.  Rowland  Clapp  came  from  Vermont 
and  took  up  his  residence  in  the  village  in  1828. 
He  has  made  it  his   home  in  the  place  ever 

♦Although  Joshua  Stow  came  to  the  township  named  after  him 
in  1804,  he  returned  to  Connecticut  the  next  year;  So  that  he  can 
only  be  identified  as  one  of  thefounders  of  the  Falls  from  thecircum- 
stances  of  his  having  an  interest  therein.  On  that  account  no 
sketch  of  his  life  is  given  in  this  connection. 


\ 


^- 


468 


HISTORY   or    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


since.  E.  N.  Sill  came  in  1829,  an<l,  in  1834 
and  the  year  following,  built  the  center  part  of 
his  house,  the  wings  having  been  added  at  a 
later  date.  The  builder  was  Mr.  Lodge,  who  is 
still  a  resident  of  the  Falls.  Grrant  E.  Turner, 
with  his  father,  came  in  1828  ;  soon  went  to 
Ravenna,  but  returned  in  1835,  and  has  resided 
in  the  town  since  then.  C.  W.  Wetmore  and 
S.  D.  Wetmore  came  to  the  place  in  1832,  and 
built  their  houses  soon  after.  John  Eadie  and 
George  Dailey  came  in  1830.  0.  B.  Beebe  ar- 
rived in  1831,  and  Israel  James  in  1832.  Be- 
fore this  date  came  also  the  following  :  Pres- 
cott  Sawyer,  Noah  E.  Lemoine,  Henry  James, 
William  Lauson,  J.  T.  HoUoway,  J.  Blair,  S. 
D.  Clark,  Alexander  Gillispie,  Noah  Rice,  John 
Willard,  Birdsey  Booth.  Alexander  English, 
Isaac  Gill,  Prince  Hopkins  (colored),  Asa  Mar- 
iner, Mr.  Lamb,  Mr.  Teal,  Thoma-  Gill,  John 
Alexander,  Simon  Brown,  William  Perkins, 
Charles  Hamlin,  Henr}'  Barger,  J.  Jenkins,  A. 
Yockey,  Joseph-  Beebe,  Dr.  C.  W.  Rice,  John 
Braiuard,  Nathan  Rose,  '•  Judge "  Burgess, 
William  Alley,  James  Alley,  H.  N.  Pool,  David 
Wadsworth,  A.  Wadsworth.  Many  of  these  were 
heads  of  families. 

The  town  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  was  first  laid 
out  in  1825,  by  Elkanah  Richardson.  It  was 
subsequently  re-surveyed,  platted  and  recorded 
by  Birdsey  Booth.  It  was  located  in  the  town- 
ships of  Stow  and  Tallmadge,  and  included  all 
of  the  present  platted  village  except  so  much 
as  has  since  been  platted  east  of  the  Cuyahoga 
River  and  north  of  the  Tallmadge  Township 
line.  The  part  last  mentioned  was  platted  and 
recoi'ded  by  R.  A.  Ashman,  Count}'  Surveyor, 
in  1837.  The  original  proprietors  were  Henr^' 
Newberr}',  Joshua  Stow  and  William  Wetmore. 
The  proprietor  of  the  addition  was  Joseph 
Hale.  No  allotment  has  been  made  to  the  orig- 
inal plat  except  the  one  of  1837.  That  part 
lying  in  the  township  of  Stow  was  owned  b}' 
Stow  and  Wetmore  ;  that  part  included  in  Tall- 
madge was  the  propert}'  of  Newberr^'. 

The  name  of  the  village  is  derived  from  the 
falls  in  the  Cuyahoga  River,  to  be  seen  within 
its  limits.  The  stream  has  cut  a  channel  into 
the  sandstone  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  feet 
in  depth.  This  deep-cut  channel  extends  over 
two  miles.  In  it  ai"e  the  falls.  The  name  first 
given  to  the  village  was  Manchester  ;  but,  as 
there  were  many  towns  of  that  name  in  the 
Union,  and  the  falls  of  the  river  were  seen  to 


be  of    great  value    and    importance,    it   was 
changed  to  Cuyahoga  Falls. 

B}'  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  of  Ohio,  passed  March  5,  1836,  it  was 
provided  that  "so  much  of  the  townships  of 
Tallmadge  and  Stow  as  is  comprised  within 
the  following  limits,  to  wit  :  Beginning  at  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  township  of  Tallmadge 
and  running  south  on  the  west  line  of  said 
township,  two  hundred  and  forty  rods  ;  thence 
east  two  hundred  and  forty  rods  ;  thence  north 
to  the  north  line  of  Lots  Nos.  1  and  2  in  said 
[township]  of  Stow  ;  thence  west  two  hundred 
and  forty  rods  ;  thence  south  to  the  place  of 
l)eginning  ;  and  any  addition  thereto  that  may 
be  hereafter  platted  and  i-ecorded,  be  hereby 
constituted  a  town  corporate,  by  the  name  of 
Cu^-ahoga  Falls."  The  act  also  provided  for 
the  election  of  a  Mayor,  Recorder  and  five  Trust- 
ees— constituting  the  Town  Council.  This 
body  was  given  power,  among  other  things,  to 
"  provide  for  the  election  or  appointment  of  a 
Treasurer,  a  Town  Marshal,  and  such  other 
subordinate  officers  as  the}'  may  find  neces- 
sary." Unfortunately,  the  provisions  of  this 
act  were  not  known  to  the  electors  of  Cuya- 
hoga Falls  "  until  after  the  day  on  which,  b}- 
said  provisions,  the  election  of  the  Town  Coun- 
cil should  have  been  holden  ;  "  and  doubts  hav- 
ing "  arisen  whether  the  privileges  granted  by 
said  act  "  had  not  ceased  by  the  neglect  of  such 
election,  therefore  a  bill  was  passed  to  revive 
and  amend  the  before-mentioned  act,  giving  it 
vitalit}'  and  removing  all  doubts  as  to  its  legal- 
ity ;  also  providing  for  an  election  of  oflScers 
to  be  holden  "  on  the  first  or  any  succeeding 
Tuesday  in  April  next,"  after  the  second  act 
took  effect. 

Pursuant  to  public  notice,  on  the  4th  of 
April,  1837,  the  qualified  electors  of  the  town 
of  Cuyahoga  Falls  met  at  the  schoolhouse  for 
the  purpose  of  electing  officers  under  the  acts 
of  incorporation  just  described.  Henry  New- 
berry was  chosen  Ma^^or ;  Grant  B.  Turner, 
Recorder;  0.  B.  Beebe,  Asa  G.  Bill,  E.  B. 
Dennison,  E.  N.  Sill  and  Henr}-  Wetmore, 
Trustees.  On  the  7th  of  the  same  month, 
these  officers  were  qualified  and  the  Council 
organized.  Ogden  Wetmore  was  elected  Treas 
urer  the  same  day,  and,  on  the  day  following, 
Sherman  Peck  was  chosen  Marshal. 

The  town  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  thus  organized, 
continued  its  existence  until  March  1,  1852 — a 


•A 


CUYAHOGA    FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


469 


period  of  nearly  fifteen  years.  During  that 
time,  the  following  gentlemen  filled,  success- 
ively, the  office  of  Mayor  :  Henry  Newberry, 
C.  W.  Wetmore,  Hosea  Paul,  C  W.  Wetmore, 
Birdsey  Booth,  Hosea  Paul,  0.  B.  Beebe  and 
C.  W.  Wetmore.  It  may  here  be  mentioned 
that  a  township  was  organized  in  April,  1851, 
out  of  the  corners  of  Tallmadge,  Stow,  North- 
ampton and  Portage,  called  Cuyahoga  Falls. 
Some  time  subsequent  to  this,  it  was  generally 
conceded  by  the  denizens  of  the  town  of  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  that  it  would  be  to  the  benefit  of 
all  that  the  corporation  should  be  given  up 
and  cease  to  exist — that  it  should  be,  in  fact, 
merged  into  the  newly  created  township  of  the 
same  name.  So,  on  April  30,  1853,  "on  mo- 
tion,'" said  the  Town  Council,  '•  we  do  commit 
all  interests  of  the  town  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  to 
the  Trustees  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  Township,  and 
that  we  do  now  adjourn  without  day."  So  the 
town  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  ceased  its  corporate 
existence. 

In  March,  1868,  there  was  presented  to  the 
Commissioners  of  Summit  County,  at  their  reg- 
ular session,  a  petition  of  215  residents  and 
qualified  voters  of  the  township  of  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  asking  "  that  the  territory  known  as  the 
township  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  "  be  made  an  in- 
corporated village,  under  and  b}^  the  name  of 
the  incorporated  village  of  Cuyahoga  Falls. 
Thereupon,  on  June  3  of  that  year,  the  County 
Commissioners  entered  upon  their  records  the 
following  order  : 

The  matter  of  the  incorporation  of  the  township 
of  Cuyahoga  Falls  under  and  by  the  name  of  the 
"  Incorporated  Village  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,"  came 
up  for  hearing  to-day,  as  adjourned  from  the  March 
session  ;  and,  on  consideration  thereof,  we,  the 
Commissioners  of  said  county,  do  find  and  deter- 
mine that  due  notice  of  the  rtling  and  pendency  of 
said  petition  was  given  according  to  law  ;  and  we 
are  of  the  opinion  that  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners 
should  be  granted.  And  we  do  order  that  said  town- 
ship of  Cuyahoga  Falls  may  l)e  organized  under  and 
by  the  name  of  "  The  Incorporated  Village  of  Cuy- 
ahoga Falls,"  and  order  the  same  to  be  recorded. 

The  "  village  "  was  organized  by  the  election, 
September  1,  1868,  of  William  A.  Hanford, 
Mayor ;  Porter  G.  Somers,  Recorder ;  Henry 
C.  Lockwood,  Treasurer  ;  T.  F.  Heath,  Charles 
Hunt,  L.  W.  Loomis,  W.  M.  Griswold  and  John 
Hinde,  Trustees,  and  l)y  these  gentlemen,  on 
the  9th  of  that  month,  taking  the  oath  of  the 
office  to  wliich  the}'  were  several I3'  elected,  and 
assuming  the   duties   thereof     The  following 


gentlemen  have  successively  filled  the  office  of 
Mayor  :  Richard  Blood,  C.  P.  Humphrey,  J. 
L'Hommedieu,  H.  B.  Camp,  George  W.  Rice, 
William  A.  Hanford.  The  village  is,  as  al- 
read}^  shown,  co-extensive  with  the  township. 
Its  exact  limits  will  hereafter  be  given. 

At  the  March  session  of  1851  of  the  Board 
of  Commissioners  of  Summit  County,  "  Hosea 
Paul  and  others  came  and  presented  a  numer- 
ously signed  petition,  from  the  village  of  Cuj-a- 
hoga  Falls  and  vicinity,  asking  the  Board  of 
County  Commissioners  to  construct  a  new 
township  from  the  northwest  corner  of  Tall- 
madge Township,  the  southwest  corner  of  Stow 
Township,  the  southeast  corner  of  Northamp- 
ton Township,  and  the  northeast  corner  of 
Portage  Township."  On  AVednesda}',  March  5, 
1851,  •'  The  Board  all  present.  Then  came 
Hosea  Paul  and  others  presenting  a  petition, 
and  urging  personally  that  a  new  township  be 
formed  out  of  the  northwest  corner  of  Tall- 
madge, northeast  corner  of  Portage,  southeast 
corner  of  Northampton,  and  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  Stow  Township,  furnishing  a  map  of  the 
proposed  new  township  ;  and  the  board  l^enig 
satisfied  that  all  necessary  legal  preliminary 
steps  had  been  taken,  and  there  is  an  incorpor- 
ated village  (Cuyahoga  Falls)  within  the  bounds 
of  the  proposed  new  township,  ordered  that  lots 
one,  two,  eleven  and  twelve  (1,  2,  11,  and  12), 
in  the  township  of  Stow  ;  lots  eight,  nine  and 
ten  (8,  9  and  10),  in  the  Township  of  North- 
ampton ;  all  of  tract  one  and  fort}'  rods  of  the 
north  part  of  tract  five,  in  the  Township  of  Tall- 
madge, and  so  much  of  the  northeast  corner  of 
Portage  Township  as  is  embraced  within  the 
following  boundary,  to  wit :  Beginning  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  said  Portage  Township,  and 
running  thence  west  on  the  north  line  of  said 

Portage  Township rods  to  the  west  line  of 

George  Sackctt's  farm  of  160^^^  acres,  thence 
due  south  to  the  Cuyahoga  River  ;  thence  east- 
erly on  the  north  liank  of  said  river  to  the  east 
line  of  said  Portage  Township  ;  thence  on  said 
east  line  to  the  place  of  beginning — be  consti- 
tuted a  township,  and  that  the  legal  steps  be 
taken  to  organize  the  same  under  and  by  the 
name  of  Cuyalioga  Falls  Township,  Hosea  Paul 
pledging  himself  that  he  would  give  notices 
required  l)y  law,  and  that  the  new  township  of 
Cuyahoga  Falls  would  defray  all  the  expenses 
incurred  by  the  creation  of  said  township." 

The   township  thus   set  apart  from  the  cor- 


^'y 


A^ 


^^ 


470 


HISTOKY   OF    SUMMIT    COUXTY. 


ners  of  four  others  was  erected  by  the  County 
Commissoiiiers  for  the  purpose  of  accomo- 
dating the  citizens  of  the  town  of  Cuyahoga 
Falls.  As  the  boundaries  defined  by  the  Com- 
missioners were  afterward  adopted  as  the 
boundaries  of  the  incorporated  village,  it  fol- 
lows, of  course,  as  already  mentioned,  that  one 
is  co-extensive  with  the  other  ;  and  the  limits 
just  given  as  those  of  the  "  township  of  Cu3'a- 
hoga  Falls  "  are  the  limits  also  of  the  "  incor- 
porated village  of  Cuyahoga  Falls." 

At  the  first  election  held  in  the  Township  of 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  on  the  7th  of  April,  1851,  the 
following  persons  were  chosen  officers  for  the 
_year  following :  Trustees,  Horace  A.  Miller, 
Henry  Newberr}^,  Jr.,  and  Porter  Gr.  Somers  ; 
Township  Clerk,  Grant  B.  Turner ;  Township 
Treasurer,  Lucius  Bradley  ;  Assessor,  William 
H.  Taylor  ;  Constables,  William  W.  Lucas  and 
William  J.  Wilson  ;  Supervisor,  Seymour  Dem- 
ing.  Upon  the  qualification  of  these  officers, 
and  their  assuming  the  duties  of  their  respect- 
ive offices,  the  township  of  Cu3^ahoga  Falls 
was  legallj'  organized. 

The  people  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  had  before 
been  dependent  upon  four  townships  for  the 
administration  of  their  affairs  ;  for,  of  course, 
each  township  exercised  jurisdiction  over  that 
part  lying  within  its  limits.  This  Avas  a  great 
inconvenience,  as  the  citizens  of  the  village  felt 
that  they  had  a  unity  of  interests.  As  it  was, 
a  concert  of  action  necessary  to  their  relation 
with  each  other  was  impossible.  The  organi- 
zation of  the  new  township  was  therefore  a  re- 
lief in  many  wa^'s,  and  gave  a  new  start  to  the 
prospects  of  the  town  ;  but  its  histor}'  is  so 
merged  into  that  of  the  village,  that  the  two 
are  inseparable. 

A  writer,  in  speaking  of  Tallmadge  Town- 
ship, says  : 

"The  water-power  at  the  southwest  and 
northwest  corners  of  the  Township  concentrated 
population  at  these  points  till  their  numbers 
were  so  great  that  Middlebury  and  Cuyahoga 
Falls  were  made  separate  election  districts, 
and,  at  length,  the  northwest  corner  was  set 
off  to  the  new  township  of  Cuyahoga  Falls. 

"  Of  the  aboriginal  inhabitants,  few,  probably, 
had  ever  inhabited  this  part  of  the  country 
even  prior  to  the  surrender  of  their  title  to  the 
whites.  There  are,  indeed,  evidences  that,  at 
some  remote  period,  this  country  was  occupied 
b}'  a  people  more  numerous  and  of  a  higher 


type  of  civilization  ;  but  this  is  true  of  Indians, 
who  occupied  the  country  at  the  time  of  its 
settlement  by  the  whites.  This  had  been  the 
border  ground  of  different  tril^es,  and  was  oth- 
erwise an  unfavorable  location  for  a  large  peo- 
ple, depending  mainly  upon  hunting  for  a  sub- 
sistence. Wild  game,  though  seemingly  abund- 
ant to  the  whites,  was  ^-et  too  limited  for  the 
wants  of  a  larger  population. 

'•  Living  partly  by  a  rude  cultivation  of  the 
soil  and  by  fishing,  as  well  as  by  hunting,  the 
Indians  preferred  the  open  and  fertile  bottom 
land  of  rivers  and  lakes.  There  were,  indeed, 
some  small  and  scattered  villages  or  encamp- 
ments of  Indians  in  this  vicinity.  [The  writer 
here  speaks  of  Tallmadge  Township,  but  the 
remark  is  equally  true  of  Cuyahoga  Falls.]  A 
small  number  of  Senecas  lived  near  the  junc- 
tion of  the  main  and  Little  Cuyahoga,  at  or  near 
the  place  somewhat  widely  known  in  modern 
times  as  the  Chuckery. 

"  An  anecdote  of  Stigwanish,  the  chief  of  these 
Indians,  has  been  related  to  me,  which  seems 
to  furnish  evidence  of  somewhat  higher  moral 
perceptions  than  has  alwa^'s  been  ascribed  to 
untaught  Indians.  Stigwanish  was  friendl}-  to 
the  whites,  and  often  visited  the  settlement  at 
Hudson.  It  was  at  just  about  the  time  of  the 
first  settlement  of  Tallmadge  that  this  chief  wtis 
at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Pease  in  Hudson,  and.  to 
persuade  a  son  of  Mr.  Pease,  a  child  of  some 
four  or  five  years  of  age,  to  come  and  sit  upon 
his  lap,  he  offered  to  give  him  his  pipe-hatchet. 
The  offer  proved  sufficient  to  overcome  the  re- 
pugnance of  the  child  to  the  swarthy  face  of 
Indian.  As  the  chief  was  about  to  leave,  the 
return  of  the  hatchet  was  proffered,  but  reso- 
lutely refused,  Stigwanish  saying.  'Musn't  lie  to 
children — no  good.'  This  native  chief  had 
scarcely  learned  this  precept  from  the  whites, 
however  frequently,  in  his  intercourse  with 
them,  he  might  have  had  illustrations  of  its 
truth,  and  he  who  obeyed  it  could  scarcely  have 
been  a  savage.  S.  Pease,  of  Cuyahoga,  was  the 
recipient  of  the  chief's  hatchet.'' 

"  A  branch  of  an  Indian  trail,"  writes  Gen. 
Bieree,  in  1854,  in  speaking  of  Cuyahoga  Falls 
Township,  "  from  Fort  Mcintosh,  on  the  Ohio 
[Beaver,  Penn.,],  to  Sandusky,  passes  through 
this  township.  On  arriving  near  Fish  Creek, 
in  Franklin,  Portage  Count}-,  it  branches — one 
branch  of  the  trail  passing  north,  through  the 
Indian  towns  in  Northampton  and  Bath  ;  the 


CUYAHOGA   FALLS   TOWNSHIP. 


471 


other  turning  south  to  the  Great  Falls,  called 
by  the  Indians  '  Coppacaw.'  This  was  a  cel- 
ebrated trail  for  the  Indians  in  their  war  ex 
cursions,  as  well  as  with  the  '  Rangers  '  in  their 
pursuit  of  them.  It  was  on  these  two  trails 
that  Bradj^'s  men  were  divided,  at  the  time  of 
his  defeat  near  the  towns  on  the  Cuyahoga, 
and  on  which  a  part  made  their  retreat.  Sev- 
eral years  ago,  a  rifle  barrel  was  found  in  the 
Big  Spring,  in  this  village,  a  remnant,  proba- 
bly, of  that  hasty  flight. 

"Tlie  trail  passes  nearly  in  front  of  Mr. 
Newberry's  house,  and,  near  where  the  canal 
bridge  now  is,  was  a  plateau  of  about  twenty-five 
feet  square  raised  about  a  foot,  where  probably 
had  been  a  council  house.  In  his  garden,  as 
well  as  on  the  rise  of  ground  north  of  the  Big 
Spring,  are  remains  of  Indian  wigwams.  But 
poor  '  Logan,  the  friend  of  the  white  man,'  with 
his  braves,  who  so  often  traversed  these  grounds, 
has  gone  to  the  spirit-land,  where  it  is  to  be 
hoped  his  fidelity  will  receive  a  better  reward 
than  it  did  on  earth — if  not,  justice  is  unknown 
in  earth  or  heaven." 

The  topography  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  presents 
but  few  interesting  features  except  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  of  the  river.  Back  from  the 
stream,  the  surface  is  gently  undulating.  The 
falls  are  the  most  striking  natural  objects 
within  the  limits  of  the  village.  The  river,  for 
a  distance  of  about  two  miles  in  this  township 
and  Portage,  has  a  descent  of  two  hundred 
and  twenty  feet.  There  are,  in  that  distance, 
three  falls  of  considerable  height,  but  the  de- 
scent for  the  whole  wa^'  is  so  rapid  that  it 
forms  a  continuous  water-power.  The  river 
has  made  for  itself  a  deep  channel,  with  pre- 
cipitous banks  of  great  height,  as  already 
mentioned.  These  are  clothed  with  evergreen 
and  other  trees,  presenting  very  picturesque 
scener}-.  As  will  hereafter  be  shown,  the  eftect 
of  these  natural  embellishments  in  beautifying 
the  landscape  has  been  to  cause  it  to  become  a 
fixvorite  I'esort  for  parties  of  pleasure  during 
the  summer  months.  This  scenery'  extends 
from  north  to  south  nearly  through  the  whole 
length  of  the  village.  The  town  is  underlaid 
by  sand  rock,  in  which  is  an  abundant  supplv 
of  pure  water.  The  slope  of  the  land  is  such 
as  to  render  drainage  an  easy  matter.  This 
furnishes  special  reasons  for  the  healthiness  of 
the  place. 

Concerning    the    water-power    of    Summit 


Count3%  but  particularly  that  of  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  a  writer  in  1837,  in  a  published  state- 
ment, says  : 

"  The  western  part  of  the  county  of  Portage 
[now  Summit  County]  affords,  indeed,  a  field 
full  of  interest,  not  only  to  the  geologist,  but 
also  to  the  agriculturist,  the  merchant,  the 
mechanic,  and  especially  to  the  manufacturer, 
for  here  are  to  be  found  in  rich  profusion  all 
the  incentives  to  active  industry  and  enlight- 
ened enterprise.  Within  the  space  of  about 
fifteen  miles  north  and  south,  and  ten  miles 
east  and  west,  it  contains  an  extent  of  water- 
power  (so  rarely  to  be  found  in  abundance  in 
the  State)  which  is  known  to  be  equaled  by 
an}"  west  of  the  mountains,  and  so  distributed 
as  to  accommodate  an  abundant  population 
and  a  great  extent  of  country.  This  water- 
power  is  the  result  of  the  fall  of  the  main 
Cuyahoga  and  the  Little  Cuyahoga  Rivers 
from  the  high  level  of  the  country,  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hundred  feet  to  their 
junction,  and  the  fall  of  their  united  streams 
thence  to  the  north  boundary  of  the  count}-, 
being  about  one  hundred  and  seventy-feet. 
The  whole  power  is  equal  to  drive  3-46  run  of 
mill-stones,  each  run  being  capable  of  grind- 
ing 200  bushels  of  wheat  a  day ;  or,  to  3,460 
horse-power,  each  one  being  equivalent  to 
raising  25,000  pounds  one  foot  a  minute." 
The  writer  divides  the  "  runs  "  as  follows  :  "At 
Franklin,  18  ;  at  Monroe  Falls,  5  ;  at  Cuyahoga 
Falls  (within  town  plat),  80  ;  at  the  same  place 
(within  two  miles  of  the  center  of  the  village), 
114;  Middlebury,  5 ;  Akron  (including  acces- 
sion by  canal,  etc.),  19  ;  at  the  same  place  (on 
Little  Cuyahoga,  within  three  miles  north),  9  ; 
on  the  main  Cuyahoga  River,  at  Niles,  Boston, 
and  other  places,  94  ;  total,  346  run."  There  are 
now  (1881)  five  dams  across  the  Cuyahoga 
within  the  limits  of  the  village,  and  all  within 
a  distance  of  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  The 
river  is  crossed  by  four  bridges — the  iron 
bridge,  which  is  the  upper  one,  and  is  located 
at  the  "  old  village  ; "  the  stone  bridge  ;  the 
covered  bridge,  a  wooden  structure ;  and  the 
high  bridge,  of  iron.  There  is  also  a  railroad 
bridge  which  crosses  the  stream  at  the  "  old 
village." 

Coal  of  the  best  quality  was  discovered  at 
an  early  day  upon  Mr.  Newberry's  land,  and 
has  been  ever  since  mined  with  profit.  The 
first  coal  carried  to  Cleveland  was  from  these 


^ 


473 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


mines,  and  the  speculation  proved  a  bad  one. 
"  It  was  in  the  summer  of  1828,"  says  H.  V. 
Bronson,  the  pioneer  of  canal  coal-carriers  of 
this  region,  "  that  I  carried  the  first  load  of 
coal  over  the  Ohio  Canal  from  the  Tuscarawas 
Valley.  It  came  from  the  mine  of  Henry 
Newberry,  near  Cuyahoga  Falls — I  can't  tell 
the  exact  location.  It  was  brought  from  the 
mine  by  wagon  to  Lock  20,  where  it  was 
loaded  on  the  boat.  There  was  about  one 
hundred  tons  of  it.  We  took  it  to  Cleveland, 
and  it  required  Newberry  three  years  to  get 
rid  of  it,  and  he  never  sold  one-third  of  that 
even.  People  would  come  along  and  ask  what 
it  was,  and  when  told  that  it  was  cannel  coal 
would  take  a  chunk  away  as  a  curiosity,  but 
they  couldn't  be  induced  to  burn  it ;  they 
didn't  understand  it,  and  preferred  wood." 

"  When  the  Ohio  Canal  was  opened  to 
Akron,  in  1827,"  saj^s  Col.  Whittlesey,  "  it  was 
thought  coal  might  be  taken  in  wagons  from 
the  mines,  about  three  miles,  to  the  canal  at 
Lock  16,  north  of  Akron.  Mr.  Newberry  tried 
the  experiment,  I  think,  in  1828,  but  the  Canal 
Collector's  returns  do  not  show  receipts  of 
coal  till  1829." 

'•Deacon  E.  Wright,"  continues  the  writer, 
"  and  his  son,  Francis  H.  Wright,  about  this 
time  made  an  entry  on  the  east  side  of  the 
coal  hill,  about  one-foui'th  of  a  mile  south  of 
Newberry's.  In  1830  or  1831,  Cyrus  Menden- 
hall,  formerly'  of  Cleveland,  now  of  Jefferson 
County,  made  explorations  and  borings  on 
Coal  Hill.  He  found  and  opened  coal  at  the 
south  end  of  this  hill,  but  it  was  too  thin  to 
work  profitably.  Another  opening  was  made 
at  the  end  of  the  ridge  by  Mr.  Woodruff  soon 
after,  and  this  was  worked  until  1838.  From 
1829  to  1837,  Mr.  Newberry,  F.  H.  Wright 
and  Messrs.  Whittlesey  &  Newton  mined  coal 
for  Cleveland,  which  was  hauled  to  the  canal 
at  Lock  16." 

It  was  customary  in  early  times  in  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  as  well  as  in  other  places,  to  make 
free  use  of  whisky  on  most  all  occasions.  For 
laborers  it  was  thought  to  bo  almost  as  neces- 
sary as  bread.  Stow  &  Wetmore  furnished 
a  barrel  a  week  to  their  workmen  as  their 
stated  supply.  They  also  kept  it  on  their 
counter  at  the  store  for  the  use  of  all  who  chose 
to  drink,  and  a  few  refused.  But  they  were 
convinced  that  it  was  unnecessary  and  hurtful ; 
and,  after  mature  deliberation,  they  resolved  to 


banish  its  use  and  sale  from  their  establish- 
ment. In  May,  1828,  they  put  their  resolution 
into  practice  by  refusing  to  furnish  it  to  their 
workmen.  Upon  this,  the  workmen  withdrew 
in  a  body  to  consult  upon  the  course  they 
should  pursue.  They  soon  returned  and  de- 
manded their  accustomed  supply.  Upon  the 
repetition  of  the  refusal,  they  left  their  work 
and  demanded  their  pay.  About  one-third  of 
the  men  came  back  on  the  new  terms,  but  the 
rest  held  out,  and  it  was  two  mouths  before 
their  places  were  filled  liy  new  men.  and  they 
could  go  on  with  their  work.  The  firm  adhered 
to  their  purpose,  and  never  returned  to  the  use 
or  sale  of  it  again.  A  temperance  society  was 
organized  at  the  time,  which  is  believed  to 
have  been  the  first  in  Ohio.  It  numbered  at 
first  but  nine  men  ;  afterward  sixty-five  per- 
sons in  Stow  Township  became  members. 
There  were  at  this  time  four  distilleries  in  the 
township,  but  in  less  than  two  years  they  had 
all  closed. 

"  On  the  north  bank  of  the  Cuyahoga,  below 
the  village  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,"  writes  Gen.  L. 
V.  Bierce,  in  his  "  Historical  Reminiscences  of 
Summit  County,"  "  is  a  remarkable  cavern.  I 
discovered  it  in  1826,  when  the  country'  around 
there  was  a  wilderness.  It  is  on  the  very  brink 
of  the  chasm  cut  by  the  river  ;  and  the  small 
opening  but  just  large  enough  to  admit  a  per- 
son's body  was  on  a  level  with  the  ground.  A 
few  leaves,  or  a  rotten  log,  will  easil}'  conceal 
it.  In  company  with  Charles  B.  Thompson, 
Orville  B.  Skinner  and  Jabez  Gilbert,  formerly 
mail  contractor  from  Pittsburgh  to  Cleveland, 
I  entered  it,  and  found  it  about  ten  feet  high. 
It  was  divided  into  two  rooms,  with  a  small 
passage  between,  barely  sufficient  for  a  person 
to  pass.  There  was  no  opening,  except  at  the 
place  where  I  entered,  from  which  I  was  let 
down  by  my  companions.  It  being  totally  dark 
in  the  cavern,  I  could  make  but  few  examina- 
tions ;  and,  fearing  some  chasm  in  the  bottom, 
I  did  not  let  my  curiosity  tempt  me  far  in  ni}- 
explorations." 

The  Portage  County  ^Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company  was  incorporated  in  1831.  It  was 
organized  at  Ravenna  in  1832,  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  William  Coolman,  Jr.,  Cyrus  Prentiss, 
Frederick  Wadsworth,  Edwin  Wetmore,  Elias 
Smith,  Charles  Clapp  and  George  T.  Wallace,  as 
Directors,  and  Samuel  D.  Harris  as  Secre- 
tary. 


"Il 


CUYAHOGA    FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


473 


No  Inisiness  was  done  b}-  the  company  under 
this  organization.  In  Angust,  1833,  a  new 
organization  was  effected,  with  Henr}'  Newberry, 
Henr}'  Wetmore,  William  Coolmau,  Jr.,  Edwin 
Wetmore,  George  T.  Wallace,  as  Directors ; 
Henry  Newberry  as  President ;  E.  N.  Sill,  Sec- 
retary, and  the  company's  office  located  at  Cuya- 
hoga Falls.  Its  business  commenced  immedi- 
ately, and  continued  during  the  twenty-five 
3'ears  of  its  chartered  existence,  under  the  same 
management,  excepting  only  that,  upon  the 
resignation  of  Henry  Newberry  in  1839,  Justin 
Gale  was  appointed  President ;  and,  upon  his 
death  in  1842,  Frederick  Wadsworth  was  ap- 
pointed, and  served  till  the  close  of  the  com- 
pany's business.  This  company  was  the  first 
mutual  insurance  company  organized  in  the 
State,  and  one  of  the  earliest  in  the  country. 
Its  operations  extended  over  the  entire  State, 
and  into  the  contiguous  portions  of  the  several 
adjoining  States.  Tiie  amount  of  its  business 
and  its  benefits  largely'  exceeded  the  anticipa- 
tions of  its  original  projectors.  Its  insurance 
covered  many  millions,  and  it  paid  a  proportion- 
ate amount  of  losses. 

No  efibrt  was  made  to  extend  the  period  of 
its  charter,  it  being  the  opinion  of  its  long-time 
manager  that  a  diffei'ent  plan  of  fire  insurance 
was  better  adapted  to  the  changed  financial 
condition  of  the  countr}'. 

Another  old  "  institution  "  of  the  village  was 
the  "  Cuyahoga  Falls  Band.  '  This  was  organ- 
ized in  1834,  and  was  the  first  of  the  kind  in 
Northern  Ohio.  It  was  established  upon  tem- 
perance principles,  no  one  joining  it  who  did 
not  pledge  himself  to  refrain  from  the  use  of 
intoxicating  liquors.  Its  leader  was  Henry  W. 
Bill.  It  was  composed  of  about  a  dozen  mem- 
bers. In  1835,  they  went  to  Cleveland  to  cele- 
brate the  Fourth  of  July.  The  Cleveland  com- 
mittee sent  a  packet  boat  to  Old  Portage  to 
convey  them  to  the  city.  They  also  played  at 
the  celebration  of  the  opening  of  the  Ohio  and 
I]rie  Canal.  They  made  an  excursion  to  Mas- 
sillon,  where  the}'  gave  a  concert  to  the  edifica- 
tion of  that  infant  town,  besides  participating 
in  other  patriotic  and  festive  scenes.  The  mem- 
bers were  E.  N.  Sill  C.  W.  Wetmore,  T.  R. 
Butler,  C.  Bronson,  C.  Wilcox,  L.  Wilcox,  J. 
H.  Brainard,  Mr.  Sperr}^,  R.  Upson,  H.  Y. 
Beebe,  C.  Thornburgh,  Israel  James. 

In  1837,  a  description  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  was 
published  as  follows  : 


Cuyahoga  Falls  is  situated  in  the  geographical 
and  business  center  of  an  interesting  section  of 
country.  It  has  an  unrivaled  water-power.  This 
water-power  is  all  available.  The  descent  of  about 
two  hundred  and  forty  feet  in  the  Cuyahoga  River 
is  by  a  long  slope,  the  commencement  and  termina- 
tion of  which  is  but  about  two  miles  apart,  and 
which  admits  of  tlie  easy  use  of  the  whole  fall,  and 
in  such  portions  as  may  be  desirable.  The  sides 
and  bottom  of  the  river  are  rock,  and  the  banks 
furnish  an  abundance  of  the  finest  stone  for  all  con- 
structions whicli  may  be  desired. 

Coal  is  found  in  the  hill  forming  the  slope  on 
the  eastern  bank  of  the  river  and  is  supposed  to  l)e 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  (Ohio  &  Pennsylva- 
nia) canal;  but  no  mines  have  j^et  been  opened  less 
than  about  a  mile  from  the  village.  Its  quality  is 
not  surpassed  by  that  of  any  in  the  State,  and  the 
quantity  is  in  exhaustible. 

Within  the  village  three  dams  are  now  erected, 
giving  a  fall  at  each  of  fifteen,  ten  and  twenty  feet, 
and  another  of  twenty  feet  is  about  to  be  erected. 
One  is  above  Portage  street;  one  below  Broad  street; 
and  one  at  the  foot  of  Reed  street.  One  of  twenty 
feet  fall  has  been  commenced  near  the  foot  of  Tay- 
lor street,  and  one  of  the  same  fall  is  about  to  be 
erected  at  the  foot  of  Prospect  street. 

The  population  of  the  village  is  now  (1837)  about 
1,250.  Three  and  a  half  years  since,  it  was  but 
375.  The  whole  number  of  deaths  within  its 
bounds  during  the  last  six  years  has  been  as  follows: 
Adults — scarlet  fever,  one;  chronic  inflammation, 
two;  old  age,  one;  epilepsy,  one;  consumption,  one; 
drowned,  one;  total,  seven.  Children  over  two 
years — fever,  one;  killed  by  a  fall,  one;  drowned, 
one;  measles  one;  total,  four.  Under  two  years  of 
all  diseases,  eight,  Making  a  grand  total  of  only 
nineteen  deaths  in  six  years! 

In  each  of  the  last  two  years  (1836  and  1837), 
there  have  been  erected  about  one  hundred  houses. 
The  last  season  there  would  have  been  nearly  double 
that  number  built,  had  it  not  been  for  the  derange- 
ment in  the  currency  of  the  country.  The  gross 
receipts  of  the  post  office  will  probably  exceed 
$1,000  for  the  year  (1837).  This  will  indicate 
in  some  measure  the  amount  of  business  done 
here. 

The  town  (of  Cuyahoga  Falls)  is  binlt  on  both 
sides  of  the  (Cuyahoga)  river.  The  land  ascends 
gradually  from  each  bank  about  a  half  a  mile,  af- 
fording fine  situations  for  residences,  combined  with 
facility  of  access  to  the  water-power  and  canal, 
around  which  the  business,  of  course,  centers. 
Water  of  the  purest  quality  is  easily  found  any- 
where in  the  sandstone  rock  which  underlies  the 
town  at  various  depths.  The  soil  is  well  adapted 
for  building  upon,  for  roads  and  for  gardens.  Thfre 
are  no  stagnant  waters  in  the  vicinity,  the  rapi<l  de- 
scent of  the  river  causing  a  gentle  draught  of  air  from 
the  high  grounds  during  the  stillest  nights,  which 
prevents  the  a('(;umulation  of  those  damp  exhala- 
tions which  are  usually  found  in  the  vicinity  of 
streams;  and  the  inhabitants  enjoy  a  degree  of 
health  rarely  to  be  found  in  any  country.  The 
charaeter  of  the  inhabitants  may  be  in  some  meas- 
ure estimated  b}-  tlie  fact  that  it  "is  not  known  that 


^ 


474 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


ardent  spirits  are  sold  at  any  place  in  the  village 
(that  is,  in  1887,  not  1881). 

There  is,  in  the  village,  a  handsome  Episcopal 
church  building;  a  Congregational  meetinghouse; 
and  preparations  are  made  for  a  Methodist  meeting 
house.  There  are  common  schools,  a  lyceum  (en- 
dowed with  at  least  $3,000),  a  female  seminary,  and 
preparations  are  making  for  a  high  school.  The 
scenery  in  and  around  the  village  is  uncommonly  fine ; 
as  you  approach  it,  you  acknowledge  the  justness  of 
the  designation  which  has  been  given  it  as  the 
"Village  of  White  Houses."  The  view  of  the  falls 
is  said  hardly  to  be  sin-passed  in  beauty  by  any  in 
the  country. 

The  amount  of  manufactures  and  sales  of  goods 
within  the  last  year  (1836),  have  been  carefully  esti- 
mated, and  amount  to  $407,000;  and  the  sales  of  real 
estate  have  been  to  the  amount  of  probably  $300,- 
000.  The  machinery  propelled  by  water-power  is 
as  follows:  Two  large  paper-mills,  one  flouring-mill, 
two  saw-mills,  one  oil-mill,  one  pump-making  estab- 
lishment, one  tilt-hammer,  ax  and  scytlie  factory, 
one  woolen-mill,  one  stone  saw^-mill,  one  chair  fac- 
tory, oneplaning-mill,  one  furnace  and  foundry,  one 
engine  and  machine  shop,  and  other  smaller  works. 
There  are  two  drug  and  medicine  shops,  one  printing 
office,  one  book-bindery,  one  book  store,  three  shoe- 
shops,  four  blacksmith-shops,  one  milliner's-shop, 
two  groceries,  one  hat  and  fur  store,  one  pump-shop, 
one  clothing  store,  eight  dry  goods,  etc.,  stores,  four 
tailor-shops,  two  tin  factories,  one  plow  factory,  two 
cabinet-shops. 

After  the  revulsion  in  money  matters  in 
1837,  there  was  great  embarrassment  for  want 
of  a  eurrency,  which  led  to  the  adoption  of  a 
plan  for  issuing  notes  in  the  similitude  of  bank 
notes,  upon  the  basis  of  real  estate  for  security. 
But  it  was  soon  abandoned  as  a  failure,  caus- 
ing loss  to  some,  but  without  very  serious  inju- 
ry to  many  persons.  Some  of  these  notes  are 
preserved  by  a  few  persons  as  curiosities  and 
mementoes  of  the  past.  They  are  signed  by 
Moses  Thompson,  President ;  Ogden  Wetmore, 
Cashier.  Upon  their  face  are  printed  these 
words  :  "  Real  estate  pledged  by  deed  of  trust 
to  double  the  excess  of  issue  beyond  the  capi- 
tal paid  in  and  stockholders  liable."  The  "in- 
stitution" was  known  as  the  Cuyahoga  Falls 
Association.  The  nearest  banks  at  this  time  to 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  were  at  Cleveland,  Painesville, 
Warren,  Canton,  Massillon  and  Wooster. 

The  Summit  County  Branch  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Ohio,  was  organized  at  Cuyahoga  Falls 
in  1845,  by  Joseph  Hale,  Horace  H.  Miller, 
William  Rattle,  H.  B.  Tuttle,  and  others,  with 
a  capital  of  $100,000,  and  Joseph  Hale,  as 
President,  and  H.  B.  Tuttle,  Cashier. 

In  January,  1851,  its  stock  was  transferred  to 
E.  N.  Sill,  S.  W.  McClure,    E.    S.  Comstock, 


Charles  Cantess  and  others — with  E.  N.  Sill, 
President,  and  E.  S.  Comstock,  Cashier — with 
which  organization,  with  an  occasional  partial 
change  in  the  Board  of  Directors,  it  operated 
till  January,  1862,  when  J.  H.  Stanley  was 
appointed  Cashier,  and  without  other  change 
till  the  expiration  of  its  charter  in  1866,  at 
which  time  the  First  National  Bank  of  Cuyaho- 
ga Falls  was  organized  with  a  capital  of  $50,- 
000,  by  E.  N.  Sill,  T.  W.  Connell.  Henry  New- 
berry, C.  S.  Sill  and  others,  with  E.  N.  Sill, 
President,  and  J.  N.  Stanley.  Cashier.  The 
First  National  continued  business  till  April, 
1869,  when  it  sold  its  franchises  to  the  First 
National  Bank  of  x\kron.  Its  stockholders 
then  formed  a  banking  partnership,  under  the 
firm  name  of  the  International  Bank  of  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  with  the  same  officers — which  last 
organization  is  still  continued.  These  three 
banks  had  no  legal  connection,  but  were  prac- 
tically successors,  their  business  never  having 
been  publicly  interrupted  during  the  thirty-six 
years  now  past. 

After  the  completion  of  the  Ohio  &  Erie 
Canal,  it  was  thought  indispensable  to  the  pros- 
perity of  this  section  of  country  that  there 
should  be  a  water  communication  between 
Cleveland  and  Pittsburgh,  through  the  Western 
Reserve  and  Pennsylvania.  After  much  exer- 
tion the  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Canal,  extend- 
ing from  Akron,  Ohio,  to  Beaver,  Penn.,  was 
completed.  It  passed  through  Cuyahoga  Falls 
and  entered  the  Cu3'ahoga  River  at  Frank- 
lin Mills.  A  writer  in  1837,  says:  "The  Penn- 
sylvania &  Ohio  Canal,  now  in  the  course  of 
rapid  completion,  forms  a  junction  with  the 
western  section  of  the  Pennsylvania  Canal  at 
New  Castle,  and  unites  with  the  Ohio  Canal  at 
Akron.  It  strikes  the  bank  of  the  Cuyahoga 
River  just  below  the  village  of  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
and  passing  through  that  village  on  the  bank 
of  the  river  adjoining,  a  water-power  of  about 
150  feet  fall  in  that  stream,  it  passes  through 
the  villages  of  Monroe  Falls  and  Franklin, 
affording  to  this  part  of  the  State  a  ready  com- 
munication with  the  Ohio,  with  the  interior  of 
the  State,  Lake  Erie,  the  Atlantic  seaports,  and 
furnishing  the  means  of  a  ready  exchange  of 
the  manufactures,  the  coal,  and  the  various 
other  productions  of  the  one  ;  for  the  iron,  the 
wool,  the  merchandise,  and  the  agricultural 
productions  of  the  other."  But  necessity  for 
the  canal  had  been  greatly  over-estimated,  and 


"TH 


A. 


CUYAHOGA    FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


475 


its  tolls  were  never  sufficient  to  pay  expenses 
and  keep  it  in  repair.  It  was  found,  also,  that 
as  the  eountr}-  was  alread}'  up,  the  volume  of 
water  in  the  Cuyahoga  River  was  greatly  re- 
duced, so  that  in  the  summer  it  was  necessai-y 
to  suspend  some  of  the  works  at  Cuyahoga 
Falls  for  want  of  power,  on  account  of  its  be- 
ing diverted  from  the  river  by  the  canal  at 
Franklin.  At  a  later  period,  the  railroads  laid 
through  this  region  being  more  direct  and  ex- 
peditious, rendered  the  canal  unnecessary,  and 
measures  were  taken  to  return  the  stream  to 
its  ancient  bed.  After  much  contention  with 
the  mill-owners  at  Akron,  who  alone  were  in- 
terested in  keeping  it  open,  the  canal  was  final- 
1}'  vacated,  and  the  water  allowed  to  resume 
its  old  channel. 

The  growth  and  prosperity'  of  Cuyahoga  Falls 
have  suffered  for  man}'  years  from  a  plan  which 
was  undertaken  in  early  times  to  divert  the 
water-power  and  use  it  elsewhere.  Persons 
came  to  the  village  and  bought  separate  por- 
tions of  it,  under  profession  of  desiring  to  util- 
ize it  on  the  spot,  but  when  the}'  had  possessed 
themselves  of  the  whole  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  town,  the}'  organized  a  company  called 
the  Portage  Canal  and  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, popularly  known  as  the  "  Chuckery 
Company."  In  1843,  they  built  a  dam  at  the 
upper  end  of  their  purchase  with  a  race  be- 
ginning opposite  what  is  now  Hinde's  Mill  ; 
this  race  they  carried  at  great  expense  to  what 
is  known  as  "  Chuckery  Plains,"  where  they 
planned  for  a  city  of  magnificent  proportions, 
which  they  called  "  Summit  City."  They  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  this  through,  but  they  got 
into  quarrels  among  themselves  and  the  work 
was  stopped.  Law-suits  followed,  and  after 
years  of  litigation  the  company  broke  np  and 
the  scheme  was  abandoned.  Their  dam  and 
race  went  to  decay,  and  the  ruins  of  the  latter 
and  the  gloomy  remembrances  of  surviving 
members  of  the  "  Chuckery  Company,"  are  all 
that  remain  of  the  magnificent  scheme.  '•  Sum- 
mit City,"  which  was  to  have  been  one  of  the 
largest  manufacturing  places  in  the  United 
States,  has  dissolved  "into  thin  air." 

Li  1852,  the  Cleveland  &  Pittsburgh  Rail- 
road was  completed,  thereupon  steps  were 
taken  to  build  a  railroad  which  should  leave 
the  first-mentioned  road  at  Hudson  and  go 
south  through  Cuyahoga  Falls.  It  resulted  in 
what  is  now  the  Cleveland,  Mount  "N^ernon  & 


Columbus  Railroad.  It  was  opened  to  Akron 
before  the  close  of  the  year,  and,  in  two  years, 
was  completed  as  far  as  Millersbui'g.  This 
gave  to  Cuyahoga  Falls  a  new  means  of  transit, 
and  has  done  much  to  increase  the  prosperity 
and  comfort  of  the  people.  The  track  runs 
near  the  bank  of  the  river  through  the  entire 
village,  from  north  to  south  ;  and,  from  its  con- 
spicuous position,  gives  passengers  an  excel- 
lent view  of  the  scenery,  and  of  the  natural 
advantages  of  the  place  as  a  business  center. 
The  road  is  convenient  to  all  the  shops,  giv- 
ing them  access  to  its  cars  without  expense 
for  side  tracks,  and  ofl[ers  superior  inducements 
to  manufacturers  to  invest  their  money  where 
they  have  so  many  advantages  at  so  little  ex- 
pense for  cartage  or  individual  outlay,  to  ac- 
commodate their  business. 

In  1853,  the  school  district  library  was  com- 
menced, and  for  several  years  was  kept  in  the 
school  building.  In  1873,  the  library,  contain- 
ing 800  volumes,  was  removed  to  the  business 
street,  and,  by  the  efforts  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  was 
added  to  a  free  reading-room  under  the  charge 
of  J.  H.  Brainard,  Librarian.  In  1878,  by  the  ef- 
forts of  the  Temperance  Union,  a  building  was 
constructed  for  the  library  and  reading-room 
free  to  all.  Under  Mr.  Brsinards  charge,  the 
reading-room  has  been  supplied  with  the  Cleve- 
land and  Akron  papers,  and  with  scientific,  ag- 
ricultural and  literary  periodicals,  and  the  libra- 
ry has  been  increased  by  the  addition  of  scien- 
tific statistical  works. 

Joshua  L'HoMMEDiEr,  Plaintif, 

against 
George  A.  Wait  and 
Elizabeth  W.  Wait,  Defendants.  J 

Plaintiff  complains  of  the  said  defendants  for 
that  the  said  phiintiff  was  on  the  6th  day  of  ]\Iarch, 
A.  D.  1858,  the  owner  and  tlien  in  possession  of  a 
certain  liarrel  or  cask  of  brandy,  thenl)ein,<r  and  sit- 
uate in  the  Township  of  Cnyaliosra  Falls,  Countyof 
Summit  and  State  of  Ohio. 

Phiintiff'  further  comphiins  of  the  defendants 
for  that  on  said  6tli  (hiy  of  March,  A.  1).  18.-)8.  the 
said  defendants  did  with  force  and  arms,  at  lliesaid 
township  of  Cnyahosi'a  Falls,  break  open  said  barrel 
of  brandy,  wlie'reby  the  contents  of  .said  l)arrel.  to 
wit  :  twenty-tive  gallons  of  brandy,  were  wholly 
lost  and  des'troyeiC  to  the  damage  of  the  plaintiff, 
in  the  sum  of  .*n()0.  Whereupon  the  said  plaintiff 
asks  judgment  against  the  said  defendants  for  the 
sum  of  1 100. 

Such  was  the  commencement  of  a  suit  for 
damages  brought  ^[ay  9,  1859,  by  Joshua 
L'Hommedieu  against   the  defendants  al)ove- 


In  (laninges. 


K 


476 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


named,  before  C.  W.  Wetmore,  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  in  Cuyahoga  Falls.  The  result  of  the 
suit  was  a  judgment  for  $60.  One  of  the  de- 
fendants, Mrs.  E.  W.  Wait,  was  said  to  have 
been  one  of  the  compan}'  of  ladies  engaged  in 
what  is  known  as  the  ''  Whisky  Riots,"  on  March 
6,  1858,  when  divers  barrels  of  whisky,  brandy, 
beer  and  other  'beverages"  were  taken  vie  et 
armis  and  emptied  into  the  gutters  of  the  vil- 
lage ;  hence,  the  bringing  of  the  above-men- 
tioned suit. 

Cuyahoga  Falls,  during  the  war  of  the  re- 
bellion, was  not  behind  her  sister  towns  in  her 
readiness  to  assist  the  country  in  her  sorest 
need.  A  large  number  of  men  were  enlisted  in 
several  regiments  and  batteries.  Of  these,  the 
following  fill  soldiers'  graves  :  Capt.  D.  N.  Low- 
ry,  Thomas  Evans,  J.  D.  Cooke,  J.  I.  Patterson, 
William  Lyons,  George  L.  Holden,  David  Mc- 
Arthur,  First  Lieut.  John  Eadie,  Jr.,  Second 
Lieut.  J.  C.  Ely,  J.  W.  Eddv,  Robert  Cxaylord,  1. 
J.  Wood.  C.  Neeley,  A.  K.  Goodrich,  F.  B.  Pu- 
rine, Robert  Green,  Edward  Green,  John  Patter- 
son, J.  B.  Lyon,  Seneca  Blood,  John  Congden, 
John  Shellhorn,  Charles  E.  Moon,  G.  G.  Crane, 
J.  Murphy,  John  C.  Schneible,  H.  F.  Eddy,  H. 
J.  Ligalls.  J.  Hogle.  These  names  should  be 
cherished  as  a  precious  treasure,  to  be  handed 
down  to  posterity,  that  they  may  give  them  the 
honor  they  so  justly  deserve.  To  them  and 
their  many  associates  is  due  the  preservation  of 
the  country  in  its  integrit3^ 

The  people  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  were  long 
noted  for  their  social  qualities.  They  came  to 
the  town  from  difterent  places,  having  been 
reared  under  different  influences.  In  the  early 
settlement  of  the  place,  they  were  all,  of  course, 
brought  into  contact,  and  there  was,  of  neces- 
sity, a  toning  down  of  many  of  the  asperities 
peculiar  to  New  England  manners  and  habits. 
The  consequence  was,  that  there  was  a  friend- 
ship which  continues,  though  in  a  modified 
form,  to  the  present  day.  Later  years  and  the 
coming  in  of  new  residents  have  changed  the 
aspect  of  aftairs  somewhat ;  not,  however,  to 
the  gain  of  happiness  or  the  pleasures  of  social 
life.  The  recollections  of  the  older  inhabitants 
are  always  pleasant,  as  they  go  back  over  those 
early  days,  and  the  regret  which  they  often  ex- 
press because  of  the  change  shows  how  superior 
was  the  enjoyment  then  to  what  is  now  the 
rule.  This,  however,  is  not  wholly  the  fault  of 
the   present.     In    those   days,  the  inhabitants 


were  largely  dependent  on  each  other  ;  their 
cares  were  confined  to  narrow  bounds,  and  they 
were  driven  to  find  amusement  in  each  other's 
company  for  the  want  of  other  resources.  It 
was  before  the  days  of  railroads  or  daily  pa- 
pers, concerts  or  lyceum  lectures. 

The  first  resident  preacher  in  Cuyahoga  Falls 
was  J.  T.  Holloway,  recently  deceased.  He 
was  a  licensed  local  3Iethodist  preacher.  The 
first  store  opened  was  by  Stow  &  Wetmore  in 
1825  ;  another  was  brought  in  by  Mr.  Stanley 
in  1829,  and  opened  on  the  corner  of  Water 
and  Broad  streets,  north  of  the  present  covered 
bridge.  The  first  birth  in  the  village  was  Ed- 
ward, son  of  William  Wetmore,  Jr.  This  was 
in  1827.  The  first  death  was  a  son  in  the  same 
family  in  1826.  The  first  adult  who  died  in 
in  the  place,  was  the  first  wife  of  E.  N.  Sill,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  Newberry.  The  first  mar- 
riage is  believed  to  have  been  the  daughter  of 
Deacon  Hamlin  to  Washington  Butler.  The 
first  Postmaster  was  Henry  Newberry,  who  held 
the  office  till  he  was  led  to  resign  it  because  of 
the  pressure  of  his  other  business.  The  first 
bank  in  'the  county  was  the  Summit  County 
Bank,  organized  under  the  State  banking  law 
in  Cuyahoga  Falls. 

Cuyahoga  Falls  has  been  visited  by  several 
destructive  fires.  In  1833,  a  warehouse  be- 
longing to  Stow  &  Wetmore,  filled  with  paper 
stock  was  burned.  In  1851,  a  flouring-mill, 
the  property  of  these  gentlemen,  was  likewise 
destroyed  by  fire.  In  1866,  a  stone  building, 
known  at  the  time  as  the  bank  building,  which 
stood  upon  the  site  of  James'  Block,  and  occu- 
pied b}'  H.  C.  Lockwood,  with  several  adjoin- 
ing structures,  were  consumed.  At  this  fire, 
John  Marsh  Hinde  lost  his  life.  The  woolen- 
mill  on  the  west  side  cf  the  river,  as  previously 
mentioned,  was  burned  ;  also  the  paper-mill  on 
the  same  side,  twice.  Messrs.  Bills  machine 
shop  and  foundry,  and  the  Empire  Paper  Mill, 
belonging  to  llanford  Brothers  were  burned  in 
1872.  Several  residences  have  gone  down  in 
devouring  flames,  but,  general!}',  they  were  not 
of  great  value.  From  the  earliest  times,  the 
village  has  been  exceedingly  fortunate  as  to  its 
dwellings,  in  regard  to  fires.  Since  the  forego- 
ing was  written,  the  works  of  the  Falls  Wire 
Manufacturing  Company  were  largely  burned. 
This  occurred  on  the  evening  of  March  31, 
1881.     They  will  be  immediately  rebuilt. 

Cuvahoya  Falls  has  become  noted  as  a  sum- 


^ 


CUYAHOGA    FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


477 


mer  resort.  High  Bridge,  Grlens  and  Ctives, 
Big  Falls,  Silver  Lake  and  tiny  steamboats 
upon  the  riv^er,  are  the  chief  attractions.  The 
Lake  and  Big  Falls  are  outside  of,  but  near  to, 
the  corporate  limits.  The  High  Bridge  is 
elsewhere  described.  At  this  structure,  the 
entrance  to  the  Glens  and  Caves,  a  rude  stair- 
way has  been  constructed,  which  leads  down  to 
a  plateau,  where  has  been  erected  a  building 
with  spacious  dining-room  and  kitchen  at- 
tached, where  dinner  and  other  parties  are 
served  refreshments,  and  under  the  same  roof 
is  a  restaurant,  where  everything  in  the  line  of 
refreshments  can  be  had.  On  this  level  is  also 
a  fine  croquet  ground  and  numerous  rustic 
seats,  shadowed  by  overhanging,  high  perpen- 
dicular rocks. 

A  few  feet  below  is  Lovers'  Retreat,  a  broad 
ledge  of  rocks,  shadowed  by  large  forest  trees, 
and  down  still  another  flight  of  stairs,  close  by 
the  river-side,  hedged  in  by  rustic  work,  is  a 
broad,  level  surface,  which  forms  the  entrance 
to  Fern  Cave,  a  subterranean  cavity  in  the  solid 
rock,  35x54  feet  in  dimensions.  This  retreat 
is  supplied  with  numerous  rude  seats  of  iron 
and  wood,  where  those  weary  from  climbing 
can  rest.  Leaving  the  Cave,  we  pass  down  the 
strongly-braced  stairway,  running  diagonally 
with  the  ftice  of  the  wall,  and  reach  Observa- 
tion Rock,  a  huge  stone  of  over  one  hundred 
tons'  weight.  Fi'om  this  point,  a  magnificent 
view  is  presented  to  the  eye.  Looking  back 
and  up  the  stream,  one  gets  a  fine  view  of  the 
waterfalls  above,  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
feet  in  height ;  also  High  Bridge,  some  eighty 
feet  above.  Still  farther  below,  and  immedi- 
ately under  Fern  Cave,  is  Doves'  Retreat,  a 
huge  cavern,  with  an  overhanging  roof  of  rock 
twent^'-five  feet  above.  To  the  right  and  down 
the  stream  is  Suspension  Bridge,  which  crosses 
the  stream  above  high-water  mark.  It  is  made 
of  strong  rods  of  iron,  crossing  the  chasm,  se- 
curely fastened  to  huge  bowlders  upon  either 
side,  with  strong  hand-rails,  and  affords  a  se- 
cure passage  over  the  foaming,  surging  waters 


below.  Crossing  the  bridge,  we  are  upon  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  near  Cascade  Point, 
which  is  a  lovely  retreat,  reached  by  a  path 
made  of  rocks  and  bowlders,  under  Weeping 
Cliffs,  a  solid  wall  of  overhanging  rock,  one 
hundred  feet  in  height,  and  fringed  at  the  top 
with  hemlock  and  birch  trees.  Here  a  beauti- 
ful spring  of  cold  mineral  water  gushes  forth 
from  the  face  of  the  rock,  climbing  over  and 
under  a  high  point.  A  broad  avenue  is  pre- 
sented, which  borders  the  rugged  bed  of  the 
stream  for  a  mile.  This  is  called  the  Grand 
Promenade,  and  is  hedged  in  on  one  side  by 
lofty,  overhanging  rocks,  and  on  the  other  by 
innumerable  shade  trees  and  the  winding  river. 
Here  sunlight  has  to  struggle  for  an  entrance, 
and  it  is  always  a  cool  and  romantic  retreat. 
Swings  and  croquet  here  abound.  Ferns  and 
mosses  literall}-  cover  the  grounds  and  rocks 
upon  every  side. 

Boys  &  Clarkson  had  a  steamer  built  in 
Akron  by  William  Paine,  in  1878,  and  has  run 
on  the  river  two  seasons.  It  is  called  the  Sil- 
ver Wave.  It  cost  $1,200.  The  boat  is  now 
owned  by  J.  N.  Clarkson.  This  was  the  first 
one  on  this  stream.  Another  boat  was  built  in 
Cuyahoga  Falls  in  1880.  She  ran  one  season 
only.  She  was  built  by  Dailey  &  Barker.  The 
boating  distances  on  the  river  run  b}'  these 
boats  is  from  the  upper  dam  to  Snakes'  Den 
and  Goose  Egg  Island.  The  round  trip  is 
three  miles  ;  fare  10  cents,  during  the  boating 
season. 

There  is  but  one  public  hall  in  Cuyahoga 
Falls.  It  is  now  called  Apollo  Hall,  formerly 
James'  Hall.  It  is  located  in  the  third  story  of 
James'  Block,  and  was  completed  in  1869.  It 
was  opened  April  12  of  that  year,  with  a  con- 
cert given  by  Miss  Fannie  A.  Sill  and  her  pu- 
pils. The  seating  capacity  of  the  hall  is  500, 
with  standing  room  for  200.  It  was  refitted 
and  newly  decorated  in  1879,  having  new  and 
elaborate  scenerv.  The  proprietors  are  George 
Sackett,  0.  B.  Beebe  and  W.  0.  Beebe. 


;v 


478 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


CHAPTER    XVII.* 

CUYAHOGA    FALLS  — EDUCATIONAL  — CUYAHOGA    FALLS    1N8TITUTF— CHURCHES— SKETCHES    OF 
THE  DIFFERENT  ORGANIZATIONS— BENEVOLENT  SOCIETIES—THE   MANU- 
FACTURING   INTERESTS  —  G ENEKAL    BUSINESS. 


THE  subject  of  education  has  always  held  a 
high  place  in  the  estimation  of  the  people 
of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  as  evinced  by  the  interest 
manifested  by  them  in  their  common  schools. 
Previous  to  the  erection  of  a  new  township  out 
of  the  corners  of  Stow,  Tallmadge,  Northamp- 
ton and  Portage,  the  village  schools  were  those 
belonging  to  these  several  townships.  How- 
ever, soon  after  the  organization  of  the  town- 
ship of  Cuyahoga  Falls  and  the  creation  of  a 
Township  Board  of  Education,  the  whole  terri- 
tory was  erected  into  one  school  district,  as  will 
hereafter  be  shown.  Previous  to  this  time,  the 
histor}''  of  the  schools  is  that  only  of  ordinary 
district  schools  of  the  country  ;  but  with  the 
new  order  of  things  began  an  increased  interest 
in  these  "  nation's  colleges." 

The  school  building  located  north  of  St. 
John's  Churcli  edifice  was  built  by  the  Wesley- 
ans  for  church  purposes.  The  structure  was 
afterward  sold  to  the  School  Directors  for  a 
high  school.  In  1872,  the  new  high  school 
building  was  ready  for  nse  and  that  school  was 
transferred  to  it,  since  which  time  the  other 
house  has  been  used  for  schools  of  a  lower 
grade.  The  two  accommodate  all  the  schools 
of  the  village.  The  smaller  structures — the 
district  schoolhouses — have  all  been  sold. 

In  pursuance  of  an  act  passed  by  the  Legis- 
lature of  Ohio,  entitled  "  An  act  to  provide  for 
the  re-organization,  supervision  and  mainte- 
nance of  common  schools."'  the  following- named 
persons — L.  L.  Holden,  Clerk  of  the  Directors 
of  Cuyahoga  Falls  School  District  No.  1  ;  P.  J. 
Lee,  Clerk  of  Union  District  No.  8  ;  and 
Charles  Clark,  Township  Clerk — met  at  the 
office  of  McClure  &  McKinney  and  organized  a 
Board  of  Education  for  Cuyahoga  Falls,  by 
appointing  L.  L.  Holden  Chairman,  the  Town- 
ship Clerk  being  by  law  the  Clerk  of  the  Board 
of  Education.  This  was  on  the  18th  of  April, 
1853.     That  portion  of  School  District  No.  8 

^Contributed  by  0.  W.  ButterfieUl. 


lying  in  the  township  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  and 
the  Cuyahoga  Falls  School  District  No  1,  were 
united  and  formed  into  one  district  on  the  24th 
of  xVpril,  1854,  to  be  known  as  the  "  Cu3-ahoga 
Falls  School  District."  On  the  2Gth  of  June, 
L.  L.  Holden  was  appointed  Acting  Manager  of 
Schools  for  the  township.  On  the  15th  day  of 
Ma}',  1855,  "  Mr.  Taylor"  was  'appointed  Prin- 
cipal of  the  Central  School,"  and  "  Mrs.  Tay- 
lor" his  assistant.  Together  they  were  to  be 
paid  the  sum  of  $700  '-for  the  year  of  forty 
weeks."  On  that  day  the  Board  "  Resolved^ 
That  we  attach  great  importance  to  the  good 
government  of  a  school  and  the  moral  instruc- 
tions which  the  children  receive,  and  the  thor- 
oughness with  which  they  are  drilled  in  the  pri- 
mary branches  and  first  principles  of  educa- 
tion." 

On  the  25th  day  of  May,  1855,  the  record  of 
the  board  says  :  "This  day  sold  to  John  Love 
the  schoolhouse  near  the  Widow  Ga^dord's  for 
the  sum  of  $100."  For  the  school  year  ending 
August  31,  1857,  the  whole  number  of  pupils 
enrolled  was  482  ;  number  of  teachers  em- 
ployed, 7 — one  male  and  six  females.  Union 
District  No.  10  in  Tallmadge  and  Cuyahoga 
Falls  Townships  was  discontinued  June  18, 
1858.  H.  K.  Taylor,  Principal,  on  the  1st  day 
of  July,  1861,  "  made  a  summary  report  from 
the  high  school,  showing  general  improvement 
in  scholarship  and  deportment  for  the  last 
month."  Seventeen  days  thereafter,  Mr.  L.  H. 
Delano  was  "  emplo}' ed  to  teach  the  Central 
school ;  whereupon,  on  the  1st  day  of  August 
following,  "  a  petition  numerousl}'  signed  by 
citizens  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  was  presented  "  to 
the  board,  asking  them  "  to  reconsider  their 
action  changing  the  Principal  of  the  high 
school  or  resign  ;  "  but  they  did  neither. 

The  Board  of  Education  resolved  July  2, 
1863,  "that  William  L  Chamberlain,  of  Hud- 
son, be  employed  to  teach  as  Principal  in  the 
high  school  at  a  salary  of  $600  per  annum." 


'k* 


CUYAHOGA   FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


479 


The  total  number  of  youth  enrolled  in  the 
schools  at  this  date  was  452.  The  number  of 
schoolhouses  was  five  ;  the  number  of  schools, 
five — four  common  schools  and  one  high 
school.  The  school  library  was  valued  at 
$300,  having  on  its  shelves  755  volumes. 
June  24,  1864,  Mr.  Chamberlain's  salary  was 
raised  to  $75  a  month. 

On  the  26th  of  June,  1865,  George  Mc- 
Laughlin was  employed  to  teach  the  Central 
school  as  Principal  at  a  salary  of  $650  per 
annum.  At  this  time,  besides  the  central 
school,  there  were .  the  southwest  primary, 
southeast  primary,  northeast  primary  and 
northwest  primary.  The  next  year,  the  salary 
of  the  Principal  was  raised  to  $750.  Jul}^  18, 
1866,  W.  C.  Kogers  was  employed  as  Principal 
of  the  central  or  high  school  at  a  salary  of  $75 
per  month.  The  successor  of  Mr.  Rogers  as 
Principal  was  B.  B.  Tremlin,  who  was  em- 
ployed in  December,  1866. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  1867,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  electors  of  the  township,  it  was  resolved 
to  move  all  the  schools  into  one  building.  On 
the  16th  of  February,  1867,  at  a  meeting  of 
the  qualified  voters  of  Cuj'ahoga  Falls  School 
District,  it  was  moved  and  carried  that  a  tax 
not  exceeding  three-fourths  of  one  per  cent  be 
levied  annually  for  a  period  not  exceeding  five 
years,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  central  or 
union  schoolhoase  in  the  village.  On  the  17th 
of  May,  1867,  the  qualified  electors  voted 
''  that  the  School  Directors  be  authorized  to 
purchase  of  H.  A.  Miller  for  a  schoolhouse 
site,  the  nine  lots  north  of  the  hotel  lots,  be- 
tween Front  and  Second  streets,  and  south  of 
Stow  street. 

Virgil  P.  Kline  was,  on  July  1,  1867,  em- 
ployed as  Principal.  At  this  time,  there  were 
five  common  schools  in  the  district  and  the 
high  school.  The  number  of  pupils  enrolled 
was  456.  The  total  value  of  schoolhouses  and 
grounds  was  $2,400.  It  was  voted  by  the 
board,  on  the  5th  of  November  of  that  year, 
that,  "Whereas,  it  is  ascertained  that  at  the 
last  school'exhibition  a  young  lady's  dress  was 
accidentally  damaged  seriously,  and  that  there 
remains  unexpended  some  of  the  avails  of 
said  exhibition,  the  sum  of  $3  be  paid  out  of 
said  avails  to  the  owner  of  said  dress."  At  a 
meeting  of  the  qualified  voters  of  the  district, 
held  Januar}'  3,  1868,  it  was  voted  that  the 
site  of  the  new  central  schoolhouse  should  be 


the  "  Cooke  Lot."  This  lot  was  deeded  by 
James  H.  Cooke  to  the  district  in  consideration 
of  $1.  The  deed  conveyed  two  acres  of  land 
on  the  south  side  of  the  old  township  line 
road  and  foi'ty-eight  rods  east  of  Newberry 
street,  conditioned  that  the  building  should  be 
commenced  within  five  3'ears.  On  the  8th  of 
May,  1868,  the  salary  of  Mr.  Kline  was  raised 
to  $1,000. 

On  the  12th  of  May,  1869,  the  board  deter- 
mined that  the  school  building  to  be  erected 
should  be  three  stories  high.  At  the  same 
time  A.  Koehler,  architect,  of  Cleveland,  was 
employed  to  prepare  necessary  plans  and 
specifications  for  the  house.  In  July,  1869, 
Miss  Booth  "  agreed  to  remain  in  the  high 
school  as  teacher  another  year,  upon  a  salary 
of  $1,000,"  Mr.  Kline  having  declined  to  labor 
an}'  longer  as  Principal.  The  pupils  of  the 
intermediate  school  were  taken  into  the  high 
school. 

On  the  4th  day  of  August,  1869,  the  board 
contracted  with  Greorge  Allison,  of  Tallmadge, 
for  the  erection  of  the  basement  story  of  the 
new  Union  Schoolhouse,  for  the  sum  of  $5,200. 
On  the  7th  of  September  following,  Ed- 
ward Sill  was  engaged  as  Principal  of  the 
high  school  at  a  salary  of  $900.  The  number 
of  schoolhouses  was  four  frame  and  one  brick ; 
total,  five.  On  the  29th  of  November  an  ad- 
ditional tax  was  voted  b}'  the  qualified  voters 
of  the  district  to  erect  the  school  building,  of 
three-fourths  of  one  per  cent.  An  agreement 
was  entered  into  by  the  board  with  George 
Allison,  on  the  1st  day  of  March,  1870,  to  do 
the  mason  work  for  the  school  building,  except 
the  plastering,  for  $11,701.51.  They  agreed 
with  Dunn  &  Witt,  of  Cincinnati,  for  $2,630,  to 
have  the  roofing  and  galvanized  iron  work 
done.  The  Board  engaged  George  Thomas  & 
Son,  of  Akron,  for  the  residue  of  the  work,  in- 
cluding joiner  work,  painting,  plastering,  etc., 
for  the  sum  of  $12,400.  The  original  contract 
price,  thei'efore,  for  the  building  amounted  to 
$31,931.51.  This,  of  course,  was  exclusive  of 
heating  the  building.  This  cost  an  additional 
$3,000.  There  was  also  paid  Mr.  xVUison  for 
extra  work  $617.37.  The  contract  for  seating 
the  building  was  made  on  the  21st  of  June, 
1871.  There  was  allowed  Thomas  &  Son 
$1,698  for  extra  work. 

Miss  A.  A.  Booth  was  engaged  as  Superin- 
tendent of  the  public  schools   at  a  salary  of 


-©PV 


480 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


$1,200,  on  the  12th  of  July,  1871.  It  was 
voted  at  an  election  held  April  8,  1872,  by  the 
qualified  voters  of  the  district,  to  sell  the  Cen- 
tral school  house  and  the  four  primar}-  school- 
houses  and  their  lots.  The  northwest  primary 
school  l)uilding  was  sold  for  $800.  The  ex- 
pense of  seating  the  new  high  school  building 
was  $1,773.50.  The  northeast  primar}'  school- 
house  and  lot  was  sold  for  $400. 

The  Board  of  Education  was  re-organized 
under  the  school  law  of  1873,  on  the  20th  of 
April,  1874,  by  the  election  of  L.  J.  Germain, 
President ;  G.  W.  Rice,  Clerk,  and  W.  M.  Gris- 
wold,  Treasurer.  The  supervision  of  the 
schools  was  assigned  to  Mr.  Germain.  On  the 
1st  of  August  of  that  year  the  board  passed  a 
resolution  to  "  advertise  for  a  competent  and 
experienced  teacher  as  Principal  of  our  Union 
Schools."  George  L.  McMillan  was  the  suc- 
cessful applicant,  at  a  salary  of  $1,000.  The 
number  of  schoolhouses  in  the  district  at  this 
time  was  one  union  and  one  not  used  ;  the 
number  of  rooms,  exclusive  of  rooms  used 
onl}"  for  recitation,  high  school,  one  ;  primary, 
three  ;  total,  four.  The  value  of  school  prop- 
erty' was  $36,000.  The  number  of  teachers 
employed,  six.  On  the  4th  of  November,  the 
clergymen  of  the  village  were  requested  to  act 
as  a  visiting  board  of  the  schools.  On  tlie 
26th  of  April,  1875,  the  President  of  the 
Board  was  "  authorized  to  emplo}^  Mr.  A.  X. 
Bernard  as  Superintendent  and  Master  of  the 
Union  School  for  the  balance  of  the  present 
school  term,"  at  a  salaiy  not  exceeding  $1,200 
per  annum.  His  services  were  continued  at 
the  rate  of  $120  a  month  salary.  There  were 
this  year  enrolled   in  the  school  401   pupils. 

On  the  17th  of  February,  1876,  the  board  or- 
dered that  "  any  scholars  who  have  been  sus- 
pended from  the  public  school  of  this  district  on 
account  of  exposure  to  the  small-pox,  shall  fur- 
nish the  Superintendent,  before  they  shall  be 
re-instated,  with  proof  that  they  have  been  vac- 
cinated." Four  days  after  this,  an  order  passed 
that  "  hereafter  no  pupil  shall  be  admitted  to 
the  schools  of  this  village  until  they  have  fur- 
nished the  Superintendent  with  proofs  of  vac- 
cination." Besides  this,  the  schools  were  "sus- 
pended until  further  notice."  They  were  not 
opened  until  the  second  IMonday  of  April  fol- 
lowing. Previous  to  this,  at  an  election  of  the 
qualified  voters  of  the  district,  it  was  deter- 
mined to  increase  the  board  from  three  to  six 


members.  The  following  resolution  was  passed 
unanimously  April  24,  1876  :  '' ResoJeed,  That 
Dr.  Heath  be  requested  to  furnish  Mr.  Bernard, 
School  Superintendent,  with  a  list  of  such  fam- 
ilies as  should,  for  the  present,  be  held  back 
from  sending  their  children  to  school  ;  that  at 
least  thirty  days  should  elapse  after  an}'  case 
shall  have  terminated  before  an}'  family  shall 
be  allowed  to  send  their  children  to  school,  and 
that  all  school  books  be  destroyed  that  ma}' 
have  been  exposed  in  families  who  have  had 
the  small-pox." 

On  the  6th  of  May,  1878,  it  was  stated  at  a 
meeting  of  the  boai'd  that  "  it  was  the  opinion 
of  many  that  the  population  of  our  village  was 
more  than  2,500  ;  if  so,  then  by  law  it  is  our 
privilege  to  have  our  own  Boaixi  of  Examiners  of 
Teachers."  And  they  had  them  !  On  the  28th 
of  June,  1878,  Mr.  Bernai'd  was  continued  Su- 
perintendent, at  a  salary  of  $1,100.  The  num- 
ber of  pupils  enrolled  during  this  year  was  502. 
The  Union  School  building  was  fitted  up  with 
a  steam-heating  apparatus  during  the  year  1879, 
at  a  cost  of  about  $1,500.  On  the  21st  of  June, 
1 880,  the  board  passed  a  resolution  "  that  Joanna 
Cutler,  Lizzie  M.  Richardson,  Mary  A.  Clark, 
Jessie  Knox,  Grace  E.  Sykes,  Rial  Smith,  Otto 
C.  Richardson  and  Albert  Kingsbury,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  class  of  the  high  school  of  1880, 
be  graduated  on  Friday  evening,  June  25." 

The  branches  now  taught  in  the  Union 
School  in  Cuyahoga  Falls  are  reading,  spelling, 
writing,  arithmetic,  geography,  English  gram- 
mar, oral  lessons,  composition,  drawing,  vo- 
cal music,  United  States  history,  physical 
geography,  natural  philosophy,  German,  al- 
gebra and  Latin.  The  schools  are  in  a  high 
state  of  efficiency,  owing  to  the  interest  taken 
by  the  parents  of  the  district ;  to  the  intelli- 
gent labors  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  the 
wisdom  and  zeal  of  the  Superintendent  and 
teachers. 

One  of  the  first  efforts  in  the  promotion  of 
education,  outside  the  common  school,  was  the 
oi'ganization  and  charter  of  the  Cuyahoga  Falls 
Institute,  under  the  management  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Brooks  and  Charles  Clark.  The  school 
was  started  and  kept  in  operation  some  time, 
but  the  hard  times  which  came  in  1837  made  it 
necessary  to  abandon  the  project.  After  the 
building  of  St.  John's  Church,  a  seminary  for 
girls  was  kept  in  the  schoolroom  adjoining,  by 
Miss  Sarah  Carpenter.     She  was  succeeded  by 


7- 


•-^ 


CUYAHOGA   FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


481 


Miss  Frances  C.  Barron,  the  last  named  b}-  Miss 
Eliza  Deaver. 

Churches  were  early  established  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Cuyahoga  Falls  ;  but.  instead  of  com- 
fortable church  buildings,  those  who  came  first 
were  obliged  to  meet  in  schoolhouses  and  other 
inconvenient  places.  As  a  consequence,  church 
services  were  irregular  and  infrequent. 

In  giving  the  histor}-  of  St.  John's  Church, 
in  Cu\-ahoga  Falls,  it  is  necessar}'  to  go  back  to 
the  time  when  stately  forests  covered  the  land- 
scape, and  over  the  fertile  fields  where  now  the 
eye  rests  with  delight  upon  the  evidences  of 
civilization,  but  few  marks  of  improvement 
were  anywhere  to  be  seen.  Log  cabins  dotted 
it  here  and  there,  and  some  clearings  were 
begun,  but  the  roads  went  winding  through  the 
forest,  and  communication  between  points  was 
slow  and  tedious.  The  Cuyahoga  River  sang 
its  merry  song  in  freedom,  fettered  onl}'  by  the 
rocks  which  gave  it  voice.  Its  waters  had  not 
been  forced  to  turn  the  busj'  wheels,  and  few 
sounds  had  been  heard  upon  its  banks,  except 
the  song  of  the  birds,  the  howl  of  the  wild 
beasts,  or  the  more  savage  yell  of  the  wild 
Indian.  Akron  had  not  been  thought  of,  and 
Cleveland  was  known  as  a  little  village  six 
miles  from  Newburg.  Here  and  there  a  farm 
was  opened,  and  the  busy  settlers  were  making 
the  wide  forests  ring  with  the  sound  of  their 
axes,  which  were  letting  in  the  light  where  long 
had  brooded  only  the  somber  shade  of  its 
matted  woods.  The  first  settlement  at  Stow 
Corners  was  made  by  a  few  families  from  the 
same  Eastern  home,  most  of  them  relatives. 
Just  south  of  Gross'  Tavern,  it  will  be  remem- 
bered, there  is  an  orchard,  but,  in  1818,  there 
was  a  log  cabin  standing  in  that  lot,  which  dis- 
appeared many  years  ago,  and  in  it  lived  Josiah 
Wetmore,  with  his  wife  and  children.  No 
sooner  were  they  settled  than  Mrs.  Wetmore, 
who  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  gathered  in  her  neighbors 
for  worship,  which  she  continued  to  do  for 
three  years.  There  was  no  other  service  held 
in  the  settlement,  and  they  came  with  ox  teams 
and  on  horseback  from  all  the  region  around. 
After  the}'  had  met  in  that  wa}-  for  about  a 
year,  Mrs.  Wetmore  reading  the  service  and 
her  husband  the  sermon,  the  Rev.  Roger 
Searle,  who  lived  at  Medina,  and  oflftciated  in 
many  places  on  the  Western  Reserve,  paid  a 
visit  to  the  place,  and  preached  in  Mrs.  Wet- 


more's  house.  This  was  in  1819,  and  was  the 
first  sermon  preached  and  the  first  service  held 
by  an  Episcopal  clergyman  in  all  the  region. 

The  people  who  came  to  these  services  in 
Mrs.  Wetmore's  house  increased  in  numbers, 
and  soon  filled  her  house,  and  in  warm  weather 
the  yard  about  it.  The}'  had  no  boards  of 
which  to  make  seats,  but  split  logs,  and  hewed 
them  into  what  was  called  puncheons,  and  put- 
ting them  upon  legs,  raised  them  high  enough 
to  be  used  for  seats  for  the  assembled  worship- 
ers. They  had  no  carriages  to  convey  them 
to  the  place  of  worship,  but  came  upon  sleds 
drawn  by  oxen,  and  on  horseback,  and  many  on 
foot.  Thus  they  gathered,  and  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  as  acceptable  worship  was  offered  in 
that  humble  cabin  as  ever  went  up  among  the 
fretted  arches  of  a  cathedral ;  and  there  in  that 
humble  cabin  was  the  first  step  taken,  which 
twelve  years  afterward  culminated  in  the  or- 
ganization of  St.  John's  Church. 

After  three  3'ears'  residence  thei'e,  Mr.  Wet- 
more went  back  to  New  England  with  his 
famil}'  to  give  them  such  advantages  of  educa- 
tion as  they  could  not  get  in  this  new  state  of 
societ}'.  After  the}'  left,  the  services  were  held 
in  different  places,  centering,  however,  about 
the  Corners.  After  some  years  the}'  came  back 
to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  Mrs.  Wetmore  lived 
until  1865,  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  her  for 
her  virtues,  when  she  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  and 
was  buried  in  the  cemetery,  where  she  awaits  a 
glorious  resurrection.  Mr.  Wetmore  lived  until 
1867,  when  he  was  laid  beside  his  wife,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four  years. 

Along  the  center  line  of  Stow  there  were 
many  families  settled  by  this  time  who  had 
been  reared  in  the  Episcopal  Church.  On  the 
western  end  of  that  line  lived  Orin  Gilbert,  and 
a  little  way  north  of  him  was  Arthur  Sadler 
and  Henry  O'Brien.  East  of  Mr.  Gilbert  was 
Frederick  Sanford,  and  striking  southeast  were 
the  Wetmores  and  Frederick  Wolcott  (who  had 
become  attached  to  the  service  since  its  estab- 
lishment), Roland  Clapp,  and  some  families  of 
Gaylords  In  Tallmadge  there  were  also  sev- 
eral families  ;  and  up  the  river,  in  the  western 
part  of  Franklin,  were  Col.  Stanley,  Mr.  Furber, 
the  Furgesons  and  some  others.  Some  of 
these  were  young  men,  who  with  their  wives 
had  come  to  make  their  homes  in  the  then  far 
West,  and  some  of  them  were  in  middle  age, 
with  half-grown  children,  who  had  reached  this 


;Rr 


482 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


distant  point  after  long  and  painful  journe3'S  ; 
but  all  were  of  slender  means,  and  depended 
upon  the  blessings  of  a  kind  Providence  on  their 
labor,  and  the  returns  of  strenuous  ettbrt  from 
a  generous  soil. 

These  scattered  families,  spreading  over  not 
less  than  ten  miles  square,  and  others  about 
them,  as  we  have  seen,  had  been  accustomed  to 
meet  on  Sundays  for  divine  service  in  the  use 
of  the  Book  of  Common  Prater,  and  hearing  a 
sermon  read  from  such  collections  as  they  had 
brought  from  their  Eastern  homes.  These 
services,  after  the  first  three  years,  were  held 
in  different  places,  and  were  participated  in  by 
persons  coming  from  parts  of  Stow,  Hudson 
Tallmadge,  Franklin,  and  parts  adjacent,  with 
great  labor  and  inconvenience,  to  worship  G-od 
as  they  had  been  taught  in  the  homes  from 
which  the\'  came. 

Like  most  of  the  emigrants  from  New  En- 
gland, they  were  of  decided  opinions  and  firm 
convictions,  and  the  principles  they  had  im- 
bibed in  early  life  were  clung  to  with  a  tenacity 
which  showed  their  fitness  to  be  founders  of 
new  societies,  and  to  transmit  to  their  suc- 
cessors the  institutions  under  which  they  were 
reared,  in  their  integrity.  Those  who  had  been 
reared  in  the  Episcopal  Church  could  not  be 
satisfied  to  give  up  the  church  of  their  fathers, 
and  showed  how  deeply  they  were  attached  to 
its  ordinances  by  the  pains  they  took  to  enjoy 
those  ordinances,  with  no  other  than  lay  serv- 
ices. 

The  first  step  toward  organization  was  to  ob- 
tain, from  Bishop  Chase,  licenses  for  Roland 
Clapp,  a  young  man  from  Vermont,  and  Col. 
Stanley,  of  Franklin,  as  la}^  readers,  who  were 
authorized  to  gather  the  people  together  and 
hold  regular  service,  with  the  reading  of  such 
sermons  as  were  specified  by  the  Bishop.  Thus 
their  love  for  the  church  was  fostered,  and  some 
were  led  to  unite  with  them  who  were  reared 
under  other  influences.  But  ministers  were 
very  scarce  in  those  days,  and  those  w^ho  loved 
the  church  were  obliged  to  content  themselves 
with  lay  services  for  a  long  time  after  the}'  were 
accustomed  to  meet  for  social  worship. 

The  next  minister  of  the  church  who  ofl3- 
ciated  for  them  was  Rev.  William  N.  Lyster,  who 
was  acting  as  a  missionary  in  Trinity  Church, 
Cleveland,  then  a  small  village  upon  the  lake 
shore.  He  came  on  foot,  and  preached  in  Hud- 
son and  Stow  on  the  first  Sunday  in  February, 


1830.  He  came  again  on  the  first  Sunday  of 
the  following  month,  and  preached  in  Franklin 
(now  Kent)  in  the  morning,  and  in  Stow  in  the 
afternoon.  Two  months  after  this,  he  preached 
in  the  morning  in  Hud.son,  and  at  Stow,  in  the 
tavern,  in  the  afternoon.  During  that  visit,  the 
first  steps  were  taken  toward  the  organization 
of  a  parish.  Their  lay  service  was  continued 
by  uniting  from  all  parts  within  reach,  till  the 
following  winter,  when  Rev.  James  McElroy, 
who  had  succeeded  Mr.  Lyster  in  his  mission- 
ary work  at  Cleveland,  paid  them  a  visit.  He 
preached  in  Hudson  in  the  morning,  and  in 
Stow  in  the  evening,  and,  before  they  separated, 
they  organized  the  parish  of  "  St.  John's  Church, 
Stow."  This  was  in  1830.  The  organization 
of  the  parish  of  Christ  Church,  Franklin,  was 
eflfected  some  time  afterward,  but  the  prospect 
of  establishing  the  church  in  Hudson  was  not 
thought  encouraging  enough  to  warrant  any 
further  eflbrt  there,  and  all  the  members  in 
Hudson  Township  were  enrolled  in  St.  John's 
Church. 

After  the  organization  of  the  parish,  lay  serv- 
ices were  held  regularly  until  1834.  A  dam 
had  been  built  near  the  present  railroad  bridge, 
and  a  mill  had  been  erected  upon  it,  and  sev- 
eral houses  were  built  in  the  neighborhood  ; 
and,  among  others,  a  log  schoolhouse.  The 
services  were  held  in  this  house,  which  stood 
in  the  south  part  of  what  was  long  known  as 
the  ■'  old  village."  It  was  supposed  that  the 
town  would  be  built  at  this  point.  After  a 
time,  a  building  was  erected  for  a  store  further 
north  ;  it  stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  present 
railroad,  between  the  two  crossings.  The  serv- 
ices were  then  removed  to  that  building,  but 
Stow  Corners  was  most  convenient  for  the  wor- 
shipers, and  larger  numbers  could  be  gathered 
there,  and,  as  the  services  were  first  begun 
there,  they  were  taken  back,  and  continued  to 
be  held  there  until  the  present  edifice  was  ready 
for  use. 

But  the  water-power  at  this  point  had  been 
brought  into  use,  and  the  town  had  been  rapidly 
filling  up  with  a  busy  population,  and  it  was 
manifest  that  there  was  to  be  an  important  vil- 
lage lower  down  the  stream  than  they  first  be- 
gan to  build  ;  and  when  the  society  was  ready 
to  build,  they  resolved,  after  long  debate,  to 
have  the  church  at  Cuyahoga  Falls.  In  1834, 
Rev.  C.  V.  Kelley  was  appointed  a  missionary 
at  Ohio  City,  -with,  instructions  to  give  every 


^^ 


CUYAHOGA   FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


483 


^ 


alternate  Sunday  to  the  parish  at  Stow.  He 
had  not  been  otHciating  long  under  this  ar- 
rangement, before  it  was  thought  best  that  he 
should  go  to  New  York  to  solicit  aid  for  these 
feeble  churchmen  in  building  their  church ; 
and  after  a  protracted  absence  he  returned, 
and  paid  over  for  this  purpose  $700,  which  was 
used  in  the  erection  of  this  church.  He  then 
rc!turned  to  New  York  and  took  charge  of  St. 
Bartholomew's  Church,  and  St.  John's  was 
without  a  minister. 

In  the  spring  of  1835  the}'  chose  this  site, 
and  began  the  work  of  building.  The  town 
had  grown  very  much,  and  manufactures  of 
many  kinds  were  introduced,  and  it  was  thought 
that  a  very  large  population  would  soon  be 
gathered  ;  and  it  was  seen  that  here  was  the 
place  for  the  church.  But  the  services  were 
still  held  at  the  Corners.  While  they  were 
building  it  was  thought  best  also  to  secure  the 
services  of  the  minister,  and  they  proceeded  to 
secure  the  services  of  a  minister,  and  they  pro- 
ceeded to  call  Rev.  William  H.  Newman,  of 
Bristol.  R.  I.,  who  accepted  the  rectorship  on 
the  10th  of  November,  and  continued  in  charge 
of  the  parish  till  June  18.  1837,  when  he  re- 
signed and  removed  to  Newark,  Licking  Co., 
Ohio. 

The  church  edifice  was  completed  in  1836 
and  consecrated  to  the  worship  of  Almighty 
God  by  Bishop  Mcllvaine  on  the  10th  of  July 
of  that  year.  It  is  the  oldest  church  within  a 
very  large  area,  unless  it  be  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Tallmadge,  which  stands  to-day  as  it 
was  originally  built.  The  plan  adopted  was 
the  same  essentially^  as  that  of  old  Trinity 
Church.  Cleveland,  except  that  the  front  of  the 
building  was  more  showy,  and  the  chancel  more 
elaborate  and  expensive.  But  such  as  it  was 
at  first  it  remains  to  this  day,  except  the 
ciiange  in  the  chancel  made  last  year.  There 
were  present  at  the  consecration.  Rev.  Abraham 
Bronson,  of  Peninsula,  and  Rev.  Thomas  Bar- 
row, missionary-  at  Akron,  and  the  Rector. 

The  first  Sunda}^  school  was  organized  the 
same  month,  and  has  continued  till  the  present 
day  without  intermission.  After  the  removal 
of  Mr.  Newman,  the  Rev.  Zachariah  Mead,  of 
Virginia,  was  called  to  the  rectorship,  but  he 
was  not  pleased  with  the  people  of  the  North, 
and  after  spending  three  or  four  weeks  in  the 
parish,  he  returned  to  Virginia. 

After  him  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cushman  was  called. 


but  he  remained  only  a  short  time,  and  noth- 
ing is  found  upon  the  records  as  done  by  him. 

In  1837,  Rev.  Albert  T.  Bledsoe,  who  was 
one  of  the  converts  at  West  Point,  under  Bishop 
Mcllvaine's  chaplainc}*,  and  was  ordained  by 
him,  was  called  :  but,  after  about  four  mouths, 
he  became  dissatisfied  with  his  profession,  and 
resigned  both  the  rectorship  and  the  ministry, 
and  went  to  Virginia,  where  he  has  long  held  a 
professorship  in  the  University  of  Virginia. 

After  his  removal,  the  parish  was  vacant 
until  the  10th  of  April,  1839,  when  a  call  was 
given  to  Rev.  James  Bonnar,  Deacon,  of  Utica, 
Licking  Co.,  Ohio.  He  accepted  the  call,  and 
was  ordained  Presbj'ter,  together  with  Rev. 
Charles  C.  Townsend,  in  this  church.  He  re- 
mained less  than  a  year,  and,  resigning,  went 
to  Marietta,  Muskingum  County. 

In  February,  1840,  Rev.  Thomas  B.  Fairchild, 
of  Orafton,  was  called  to  the  vacant  rectorship, 
and  entered  upon  his  duties  immediately.  In 
the  meantime,  a  parish  had  been  organized  in 
Franklin,  called  Christ  Church,  which  took 
several  members  who  had  been  enrolled  in  St. 
John's  Church  ;  but  he  found  upon  the  list  the 
names  of  forty  persons.  In  1842,  he  organized 
the  parish  of  Christ  Church,  Hudson,  which  took 
several  prominent  members.  He  remained  un- 
til 1844,  when  he  resigned,  and  went  to  W^ooster, 
Wayne  County,  leaving  upon  the  record  sixty- 
four  resident  members. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Alvah  Guion,  who 
stayed  not  over  a  year.  Rev.  David  J.  Burger 
was  called  to  fill  his  place  in  the  summer  ;  but 
died  suddenly,  after  a  few  months  in  charge 
here,  while  on  a  visit  to  Toledo,  where  he  had 
previously  lived. 

Upon  his  death,  a  call  was  given  to  Rev.  Levi 
L.  Holden,  of  Gi'afton,  who  removed  to  the 
parish  in  July,  1847.  He  held  the  rectorship 
till  1867,  twenty  years,  when  he  resigned,  and 
went  to  W^ooster,  leaving  a  large  circle  of 
friends,  both  out  of  the  church  and  in  it,  who 
remember  and  speak  of  him  with  esteem  and 
affection. 

Services  were  held  at  irregular  intervals,  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Fairchild,  then  at  Hudson,  and  Rev. 
E.  B.  Kellogg,  of  Gambler,  until  the  next  sum- 
mer, when  Rev.  George  Bosley,  Deacon,  was 
sent  by  the  Bishop  to  fill  the  parish.  The  next 
3'ear.  he  was  advanced  to  the  Priesthood,  and 
continued  in  charge  till  1871,  when  he  resigned, 
and  went  to  Marion,  Ohio. 


484 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


In  March,  1871,  Rev.  T.  B.  Fairchild,  Rector, 
in  charge  of  St.  John's  Church,  Kewanee,  111., 
was  called  back  to  his  old  charge,  and,  on  the 
first  Sunday  of  April,  began  his  labors.  He 
continued  in  charge  until  March  8.  1879,  when 
he  died.  His  successor  was  Rev.  George  W. 
Williams,  the  present  Rector. 

When  Mr.  Newman  left  the  parish,  there  were 
forty-nine  members  upon  the  record.  Of  these, 
onh'  two  remain— Roland  Clapp,  Mrs.  Lucy 
Rice.  The  rest  have  died  or  removed  ;  proba- 
bly most  of  them  have  passed  away  from  earth. 
"  There  were  no  entries  made  in  the  church 
record  from  his  removal,'"  writes  ]Mr.  Fairchild 
in  1875,  "until  m}^  residence,  but  there  were 
forty  communicants  when  I  came.  During  my 
first  rectorship,  fifty-three  were  added  to  the 
number.  The  organization  of  the  parish  in 
Hudson  took  several  valuable  members  ;  but, 
of  those  added  during  the  four  years  and  three 
months,  there  are  now  twenty  members  upon 
the  list.  After  my  removal,  I  was  present  at 
the  visitation  of  the  Bishop,  and  presented  ten 
persons  for  confirmation,  who  had  been  prepared 
for  it  before  I  left.  Of  those  ten,  not  one  is  left. 
Nine  were  added  by  ]Mr.  Burger,  but  they  are 
all  gone.  During  Mr.  Holden's  rectorship,  I 
find  72  names  entered  in  his  hand-writing,  but 
of  these  only  20  are  members  to-day.  After 
his  removal,  3'our  present  Rector  held  services 
for  a  while  in  the  afternoon,  and,  as  the  fruit  of 
that  labor,  14  were  confirmed,  and  10  of  those 
are  members  still.  During  Mr.  Bosley's  resi- 
dence, 50  names  were  added,  but  onlj-  23  of 
these  are  members  now.  Since  my  return.  24 
have  been  added,  and  6  of  these  have  died  or 
removed,  leaving  87  resident  members.  The 
whole  number,  from  the  beginning,  being  305 
members. 

"  Upon  the  record  of  baptisms,  I  find  recorded 
by  Mr.  Newman  22,  Mr.  Bonnar  8,  Mr.  Gruion 
4,  Mr.  Holden  94,  Mr.  Bosley  50.  and  by  myself 
90,  making  279  persons  since  the  oi'ganization 
of  the  parish.  But  I  am  persuaded  that  there 
were  many  baptisms  in  its  earlier  days  which 
have  not  been  recorded,  as  there  were  no  entries 
made  until  Mr.  Newman's  time. 

"  The  first  confirmation  recorded  was  held  by 
Bishop  Mcllvaine,  but  there  are  several  persons 
whom  I  know  to  have  been  confirmed  before 
this,  whose  names  are  not  recorded.  There 
are,  however,  154  names  upon  the  record,  and 
may  safely  be  reckoned  at  nearly  two  hundred. 


showing  that  at  least  two-thirds  of  all  the  mem- 
bers who  have  lived  here,  first  made  their  pro- 
fession in  this  church. 

"  Of  marriages,  Mr.  Newman  solemnized  2, 
Mr.  Guion  4,  Mr.  Holden  75,  Mr.  Bosley  15, 
and  myself  23,  making  119  couples  in  all. 

"  Upon  the  record  of  burials  I  find  eleven  b}' 
Mr.  Newman.  On  the  21st  of  October,  1837, 
when  the  parish  was  vacant,  that  teri'ible  tor- 
nado passed  over  Stow,  and  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Boyden,  of  Cleveland,  was  called  to  lay  its  four 
victims  in  one  grave.  Mr.  Guion  buried  4.  Mr. 
Holden  112,  Mr.  Boslej'  26,  buried  by  myself 
72,  by  other  persons  22,  making  in  all  242  per- 
sons, of  whom  136  were  adults  and  the  rest 
children  and  3'ouths.  Of  those  committed  to 
the  ground,  I  tliink  hardly  a  family  connected 
with  the  parish  has  failed  to  furnish  a  part, 
while  in  some  cases,  whole  families  have  joined 
the  gi'eat  congregation.  The  consolation  of  its 
funeral  rites  has  been  given  freely  to  all,  and 
few  in  this  region  have  not  shared  them.  I 
have  myself  in  all  these  3'ears,  preached  5,579 
times ;  baptized  296  ;  married  149  couples, 
and  buried  302  persons." 

As  will  be  seen  by  these  statements,  the 
hindrance  to  the  growth  of  St.  John's  Church 
has  been  its  continual  losses  by  removals,  which 
have  been  vei-y  heavy  from  the  first.  The  ad- 
ditions by  removal  from  other  parishes  have 
been  comparatively  small  ;  and  the  great  pro- 
portion of  the  members  we  have  lost  from  this 
cause,  has  been  of  those  who  first  became  com- 
municants here,  and  then  removed  to  other 
parishes. 

The  history  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  is  this  :  The  "  Twinsburg  Circuit "  was 
organized  November  1,  1832.  The  society  in 
Stow  Township,  now  Cuyahoga  Falls,  was  one 
of  the  appointments.  The  members  met  in  a 
storehouse  at  the  "  old  village,"  as  it  is  now 
known.  The  first  Presiding  Elder  was  W.  B. 
^lack.  The  circuit  preachers  were  Thomas 
Carr  and  John  E.  Akin.  They  preached  once 
in  two  weeks  alternateh'.  Carr  was  re-ap- 
pointed for  1833,  and  L.  D.  Prosser  as  his  col- 
league. The  preachers  for  the  next  3'ear  (1834) 
were  Ira  Eddy  and  A.  Reaves.  At  this  date, 
William  Stevens  was  Presiding  Elder.  In 
1835,  E.  H.  Taylor  and  J.  L.  Holmes  were  sent 
to  the  circuit.  The  meetings  were  then  held  in 
the  basement  of  the  church  building,  at  the 
Falls.     The  circuit  preachers,  in  1836,  wei'e   E. 


^  « 


L£ 


CUYxlHOGA   FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


485 


H.  Taylor  and  Horatio  N.  Stearns.  In  1837 
and  1838,  Rev.  E.  T.  Kinney  was  in  charge. 
Artluir  M.  Brown  was  preacher  in  1839,  and 
Wesley  Maltby  was  his  assistant.  The  Falls 
then  became  a  station.  Rev.  Timothy  Good- 
win was  station  preacher  for  the  next  two 
years — 1840  and  1841.     He  was  succeeded,  for 

1842,  by    Rev.  AV.   French,  and  the  latter,   in 

1843,  by  A.  Calendar.  The  successor  to  Mr. 
Calendar  was  Rev.  D.  Prosser.  This  was  for 
the  year  1844.  The  latter  was  re-appointed  for 
the  next  year,  1845.  B.  W.  Hager  was  the 
preacher  for  1846.  For  the  next  two  years 
(1847  and  1848),  Rev.  A.  M.  Brown.  The  fol- 
lowing Pastors  have  since  had  charge  :  1849,  A. 
Hall ;  1850,  A.  Hall ;  1851,  A.  Rogers  ;  1852,  A. 
Rogers;  1853,  Thomas  Stubbs;  1854,  John  Trib- 
by  ;  1855,  John  Tribbv  ;  1856,  D.  C.  Wright ; 
1857,  D.  C.  Wright ;  18'58,  E.  J.  L.  Baker  ;  1859, 
G.  W.  Chesbrough  ;  1860,  G.  W.  Chesbrough  ; 
1861,E.  S.Gillet";  1862,E.  S.  Gillet ;  1863,  J.  E. 
Chapin  ;  1864,  J.  E.  Chapin ;  1865,  C.  T. 
Kingsbury  ;  1866,  C  T.  Kingsbury  ;  1867,  J. 
R.  Lyon;  1868,  J.  R.  Lyon;  1869,  R.  M.  Bear; 
1870',  R.  M.  Bear  ;  1871,  E.  A.  Squire  ;  1872, 
E.  A.  Squire  ;  1873,  E.  A.  Squire  ;  1874,  1875 
and  1876,  G.  W.  Gray  ;  1877,  1878  and  1879, 
Dr.  S.  M.  Hickman  ;  1880,  Dr.  W.  A.  Davidson. 

The  church  edifice  was  commenced  on  the 
lot  deeded  to  the  society,  on  the  public  square, 
about  1834  ;  meetings  were  held  in  the  base- 
ment until  the  structure  was  completed.  This 
was  in  1840,  the  dedication  of  the  building 
being  on  the  last  day  of  that  year.  The  house 
was  enlarged  in  1864,  and  the  inside  materi- 
ally changed.  The  edifice  will  seat  comforta- 
bly 500  persons.  The  organization  has  been 
from  the  beginning  ver}-  prosperous.  The 
members  number  at  present  200.  The  only 
town  clock  in  tlie  village  is  in  the  steeple  of 
this  church.     The  organ  cost  $1,600. 

The  following  are  the  oflBcers  of  the  church  : 
Trustees,  Israel  James,  Jacob  Weidner,  Hi- 
ram Gaylord,  Alexander  J.  Billman,  Orin 
James,  Mathew  Crawford,  Hiram  W.  Carter, 
Arthur  Lewis  and  Isaac  Reid  ;  Stewards,  Israel 
James,  Edgar  Inskeep,  Henry  Plum,  William 
Hill,  Isaac  Reid,  Richaixl  Blood,  Jacob  Weid- 
ner and  Simeon  Dickerman  ;  Class-leaders,  Rich- 
ard Blood,  A.  R.  Knox,  L.  D.  Williams  and  H. 
W.  Carter. 

There  is  one  supernumerar}'  preacher,  J.  C. 
Castle  ;  and  one  local  preacher,  Richard  Blood. 


In  connection  with  the  church  there  is  a  well- 
organized  and  efficient  Sunday  school,  having 
an  average  attendance  of  1 50.  Officers — Super- 
intendent, Dr.  H.  W.  Carter  ;  First  Assistant, 
Arthur  Lewis  ;  Second  Assistant,  Mrs.  Mathew 
Crawford  ;  Secretary,  Mrs.  David  Brown  ;  Treas- 
urer, Mathew  Crawford  ;  Librarians,  Isaac  Reid 
and  Mary  C.  Weidner. 

"  The  Congregational  Church  of  Cuyahoga 
Falls,"  wrote  Birdsey  Booth  in  1861,  "was  or- 
ganized February  14,  1834,  by  Rev.  B.  C.  Bald- 
win (then  residing  at  iMiddleburj),  and  Rev.  J. 
C.  Parmelee,  of  Tallmadge.  Ten  persons,  five 
male  and  five  female  (five  by  letter,  and  five  by 
profession),  united  in  the  organization.  Of  the 
ten  thus  uniting,  one  removed  his  connection  ; 
six  are  no  more,  for  God  has  taken  them,  they 
having  died  in  the  faith  ;  and  three  remain  to 
this  day.  The  whole  number  which  have  been 
received  into  connection  with  the  church,  is 
287,  of  whom  188  were  received  on  certificate, 
and  99  on  profession  (about  one-third  by  pro- 
fession). 

"  Of  the  287  which  are,  or  have  been,  mem- 
bers, 41  have  died  ;  123  have  removed  their 
connection  ;  23  dismissed  for  prolonged  absence  ; 
14  have  been  excommunicated  ;  leaving  pres- 
ent number  86,  of  whom  some  14  are  probably 
permanently  absent. 

'•  Twenty- four  adults  and  twenty  infants  have 
been  baptized  since  April,  1841,  previous  to 
which  there  is  no  record  of  any. 

"From  the  organization  to  January-  1,  1835, 
the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Rev.  B.  C.  Baldwin, 
preaching  ever}'  alternate  Sabbath.  From  Jan- 
uary 1,  1835,  to  October  of  the  same  year,  l)y 
Prof  Long,  of  Western  Reserve  College  ;  from 
October,  1835,  to  May.  1836,  by  Prof  Gregg, 
of  Western  Reserve  College  ;  from  May,  1836, 
to  November  23,  same  year,  by  various  individ- 
uals ;  from  November  23,  1836,  to  May,  1838, 
by  Rev.  Joel  Byington  ;  from  May,  1838.  to 
October,  same  year,  by  various  individuals. 
October  24,  1838,  Rev.  William  C.  Clark  was 
ordained  and  installed  Pastor  of  the  church. 
Mr.  Clark  continued  his  services  with  the  church 
down  to  x\pril  5,  1847,  about  eight  and  a  half 
years,  when,  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  re- 
quested to  be  released  from  his  pastoral  labors, 
which,  the  church  acceding  to,  was  dissolved 
by  action  of  Portage  Presbytery  called  for  that 
purpose.  (It  should  be  remarked  here,  that  the 
church  was  organized  in  connection  with  Port- 


486 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


age  Presbytery,  and  until  the  meeting  above  re- 
ferred to,  had  been  regularly  represented  in  that 
body.  Ou  this  occasion,  the  church  presented 
to  Presbyter}'  a  resolution  previously  adopted, 
requesting  a  dissolution  of  its  connection  with 
that  body,  which  was  granted  at  the  meeting- 
aforesaid.  Since  then,  the  church  has  been  an 
independent  Congregational  body,  except  as  it 
has  entered  into  mutual  relations  with  other 
Congregational  Churches.) 

"  From  April  5, 1 847,  to  October  12  of  the  same 
year,  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  various  indi- 
viduals, but  chiefly  by  Rev.  William  C.  Foster, 
whom  the  church  and  society  invited  to  become 
their  pastor,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  by 
Council,  October  12. 1847.  The  relation  thus  en- 
tered into  continued  until  May  28,  1849  (a  little 
more  than  a  year  and  seven  months),  when  the 
relation  terminated  by  his  request,  acquiesced 
in  by  the  church  and  action  of  Council,  called 
for  the  purpose.  A  few  Sabbaths  after,  the 
pulpit  was  supplied  by  Rev.  S.  P.  Leeds,  who, 
having  supplied  the  pulpit  for  two  years,  ac- 
cepted the  call  of  the  church  and  society,  and 
was  ordained  by  Council  June  18,  1851.  Mr. 
Leeds  continued  the  relation  thus  entered  into, 
until  June  23,  1855  (four  years),  when  it  was 
terminated  by  his  request,  reluctantly  ac- 
quiesced in  by  the  church  and  Council.  From 
the  termination  of  Mr.  Leeds'  labors,  June  28, 
1855,  down  to  May  2.  1858,  the  pulpit  was  sup- 
plied b}-  many  different  ministers — for  several 
months  by  Prof  H.  B.  Hosford,  of  Western  Re- 
serve College,  and  for  one  year  by  Rev.  J.  L. 
Tomlinson  ;  subsequently,  b}'  Prof  H.  N.  Day, 
of  Western  Reserve  College,  for  several  months 
to  May  2,  1858,  when  Rev.  Dr.  T.  S.  Clark,  who 
is  still  with  us,  commenced  his  labors. 

"January  1,  1838,  Jabez  Hamlin  and  Ogden 
Wetmore  were  chosen  Deacons  of  the  church. 
On  the  8th  day  of  June,  1841,  Deacon  Wetmore 
died,  and,  on  the  24th  of  November  following. 
B.  Booth  was  chosen  his  successor.  January  7, 
1858,  Deacon  Hamlin,  by  reason  of  the  infirm- 
ities of  age,  requested  a  discharge  ft-om  further 
duties  of  the  office  and  a  successor  chosen. 
Whereupon  Mr.  Charles  Clark  was  chosen  his 
successor. 

"  Mr.  E.  N.  Sill  was  the  first  Clerk  of  the 
church,  and  held  the  office  to  Ma}-  24,  1841, 
when  iVIr.  Charles  Clark  was  chosen  Clerk.  Mr. 
Clark  held  the  office  to  October  5,  1842,  when 
B.  Booth  was  chosen. 


"  The  church  was  organized  in  a  schoolhouse 
standing  on  the  same  lot  or  near  where  the 
present  churcli  edifice  stands.  The  next  year 
a  building  was  erected  on  an  adjoining  lot  bv 
the  citizens  of  the  village,  for  public  assemblies, 
called  the  Lyceum,  which  was,  however,  under 
the  control  of  our  church  for  religious  pur- 
poses. In  this  house  the  church  worshiped 
until  the  spring  of  1847,  when  the  present 
church  edifice  was  dedicated. 

'•There  was  a  revival  in  the  spring  of  184(1, 
while  Rev.  W.  C.  Clark  was  Pastor,  the  fruits 
of  which  were  added  to  the  church  by  profes- 
fession,  at  the  communions  in  April  and  July, 
twenty-five  persons.  One  in  the  spring  of  1 848, 
under  Rev.  W.  C.  Foster's  pastoral  labors, 
whereby  there  were  added  to  the  church  in 
April  and  July,  thirteen  by  profession.  One 
under  the  pastoral  labor  of  Rev.  S.  P.  Leeds. 
in  1854,  when  in  July  seventeen  were  added  to 
the  church  by  profession."' 

Since  that  time,  215  liaA'e  been  added  to  the 
church,  137  by  profession.  The  present  num- 
ber of  members  is  165 — male,  50  ;  female,  115. 
Hon.  E.  N.  Sill  is  the  onh'  remaining  one  of  the 
original  ten  members. 

Dr.  Clarke's  labors  terminated  June  8.  1862. 
During  the  two  years  following,  the  pulpit  was 
supplied  b}-  various  individuals — from  June  19, 
1864,  to  April  1, 1866,  by  Rev.  D.  M.  Rankin.  Oc- 
tober 28, 1866,  Rev.  E.  V.  H.  Danner  commenced 
his  labors  ;  was  ordained  and  installed  January 
3,  1867,  and  is  still  the  Pastor.  In  1870,  the 
church  edifice  was  enlarged  and  improved,  at  an 
expense  of  $6,121.56.  The  Sunday  school  was 
organized  in  1838,  and  has  been  held  uninter- 
ruptedly since  then.  Organizations  under  the 
management  of  the  ladies  of  the  church,  sew- 
ing societies,  or  dime  societies,  have  existed  al- 
most from  the  organization  of  the  church,  and 
have  proved  very  efficient  aids  in  raising  funds 
for  the  church.  In  March,  1875,  two  ladies' 
missionary  societies  (one  for  young  people) 
were  organized,  and  are  still  active.  Annual 
contributions  are  made  by  the  church  to  the 
American  Bible  Society,  the  American  Board 
of  Commissioners  of  Foreign  Missions,  the 
American  Home  ^Missionary  Society,  the  Amer- 
ican Missionary  Association,  the  Education  So- 
ciety-, and  the  Congregational  Union.  During 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  S.  P.  Leeds,  this  church 
and  Pastor  were  active  in  the  formation  of  the 
Puritan  Conference. 


CUYAHOCxA    FALLS   TOWXSHIP. 


487 


The  Church  of  Christ  is  the  youngest  of  the 
church  organizations  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Ohio, 
its  existence  as  an  independent  church  body 
dating  from  the  27th  day  of  March,  A.  0.1881. 
The  history  of  the  efforts  made  by  the  disciple 
that  led  to  the  organization  of  the  church,  cov- 
ers a  period  of  about  two  years. 

In  the  month  of  January-,  1 879.  upon  the  in- 
vitation of  the  Ohio  Christian  Missionary  So- 
cietN',  District  No.  15,  and  the  church  at  Stow, 
Elder  T.  D.  Grarvin,  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  visited 
Cuyahoga  Falls  to  hold  a  series  of  meetings. 
James'  Hall  (now  called  Apollo  Hall),  was  ob- 
tained for  this  purpose.  The  weather  during 
these  meetings — which  continued  nearly  four 
weeks — was  excellent,  and  the  members  of  the 
church  at  Stow  attended  nearly  all  the  meet- 
ings. James'  Hall  was  filled  night  after  night 
to  the  close.  Rev.  T.  D.  Garvin's  labors  on 
this  occasion  were  rewarded  by  quite  a  num- 
ber of  additions  to  the  church.  The  expenses 
of  the  meeting  were  borne  jointly  b}'  the  mis- 
sionary society  and  the  Stow  church. 

In  the  spring  of  1879,  the  members  of  the 
Stow  church,  who  were  living  at  the  Falls,  or- 
ganized a  mission,  rented  the  hall  over  J. 
L'Hommedieu's  store,  and  held  regular  meet- 
ings, for  social  worship,  preaching  and  com- 
munion. 

These  meetings  were  continued  during  the 
year  with  rather  indifferent  success.  A.  S. 
Wlieelei",  Elder  of  the  Stow  church,  had  charge 
of  the  mission,  and  the  mone^'  necessary  to  sus- 
tain it  was  contributed  b}'  the  missionary  so- 
cietv  and  the  members  of  the  church  resident 
at  the  Falls. 

In  December,  1879,  Elder  T.  D.  Garvin  held 
a  second  series  of  meetings  in  Apollo  Hall, 
which  continued  till  Januar}'  12,  1880.  Like 
the  meetings  of  the  previous  winter,  these  were 
largely  attended,  and  resulted  in  some  thirty 
additions  to  the  church  at  Stow.  The  expense 
of  the  meetings,  which  was  about  $8  per  daj', 
was  paid  in  equal  parts  by  the  missionary  so- 
ciety and  by  the  brethren  and  friends  of  the 
mission. 

In  February,  perhaps,  of  1880,  the  mission 
rented  the  hall  over  Giles  L'Hommedieu's  store, 
where  it  has  since  held  its  meetings.  In  April 
of  the  same  year,  William  Southmayd,  an  El- 
der of  the  Stow  church,  moved  to  the  Falls  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  mission. 
A  Sunda}'  school  was  organized  in  connection 


with  the  mission  on  May  1,  1880,  and  William 
Southmayd  was  chosen  Superintendent.  A 
good  corps  of  teachers  was  secured,  and  with 
an  enrollment  of  about  twenty-five  (which  at  this 
writing.  May  28,  1880,  has  grown  to  nearly 
fifty),  the  Sunday-school  work  of  the  mission  was 
begun. 

About  April  15,  of  the  same  year,  Leonard 
Southmayd  was  emplo3'ed  to  preach  regularly 
for  the  mission.  He  pi'eached  regularly  from 
the  time  of  his  employment  up  to  the  date  of 
the  organization  of  the  church,  ever}--  Lord's 
Day  morning,  with  one  exception.  The  expense 
incident  to  this  period  of  the  mission's  life  was 
borne  bj^  the  members  of  the  mission,  the  mis- 
sionary societv  and  the  church  at  Stow. 

In  December,  1880,  Elder  C.  C.  Smith,  of 
Akron,  held  a  protracted  meeting  in  G.  L'Hom- 
medieu's hall,  which  resulted  in  a  few  accessions 
to  the  church.  The  church  at  Akron  gave  El- 
der Smith's  time.  Elder  Southmayd  supplying 
the  Akron  pulpit  during  Elder  Smith's  labors 
here.  A  pleasant  feature  of  the  close  of  this 
meeting  was  the  presentation  to  the  Mission 
Sunday  School  by  Elder  Smith,  in  behalf  of  the 
Akron  Sunda}-  School,  of  the  beautifully -framed 
mottoes  which  now  adorn  the  walls  of  the  Sun- 
day-school room. 

On  February  7,  1881,  at  the  request  of  mem- 
bers of  the  mission,  the  State  Evangelist,  Elder 
R.  Moffat,  called  a  conference  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  propriety  and  practicability  of 
organizing  a  church.  At  this  conference  which 
met  at  William  Southma3xVs.  there  were  present 
from  Stow,  Ulysses  Marvin,  Eli  Gaylord,  L.  Har- 
tle,  C.  B.  AVetmore,  Josiah  Wetmore,  J.  0.  Will- 
iamson, Joseph  Whittlesc}',  L.  Southma}^!  and 
A.  B.  Griffith  ;  from  the  Falls,  A.  S.  Wheeler, 
William  Southmayd,  John  Jones,  0.  M.  Hart, 
Zeno  Culver,  J.  T.  Ream.  In  addition  to  these 
there  were  present  R.  MolTat,  State  Evangelist 
of  the  Ohio  Christian  Missionar}'  Society,  Linus 
Rogers,  C.  C.  Smith  and  A.  E.  Myers,  State 
Evangelist  of  West  Virginia. 

The  unanimous  conclusion  of  the  conference 
was  that  a  church  be  organized  at  the  Falls, 
provided  such  act  met  the  approval  of  the 
brethren  of  the  mission. 

The  Elders  of  the  Stow  Church  gave  their 
consent  to  the  transfer  of  some  fifty-seven 
names  from  their  church  record  to  the  record 
of  the  church  at  the  Falls  whenever  organ- 
ized. 


<s 


488 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Subsequently  the  members  of  the  mission 
concluded  to  effect  an  organization.  With 
that  end  in  view,  the  State  Evangelist,  Elder 
R.  Moffatt  was  invited  to  hold  a  series  of  meet- 
ings at  the  hall  of  the  mission,  which  he  did 
beginning  on  Saturday  evening,  iMarch  18, 
1881,  and  closing  on  Sunday  evening,  March 
27,  1881.  On  March  27,  1881,  by  appropriate 
exercises,  the  church  was  formally  organized, 
though  not  legally  incorporated  as  the  Church 
of  Christ,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Ohio,  and  the 
following  officers  were  chosen  :  A.  S.  Wheeler 
and  William  Southraayd,  Elders  ;  0.  M.  Hart, 
John  Jones  and  T.  J.  Ream,  Deacons ;  W.  M. 
Griswold,  Treasurer,  and  Charles  Fillius,  Clerk. 

There  are  in  Cuyahoga  Falls  but  few  secret 
societies.  Howard  Lodge,  No.  62,  I.  0.  0.  F., 
was  instituted  March  12,  1846,  by  0.  P.  Stid- 
ger,  D.  D.  G.  M.,  of  Canton,  Ohio.  The  char- 
ter membex'S  were  Philemon  Bliss,  Richard 
Creighton,  George  Rouse,  Augustus  Einger  and 
Daniel  M.  Curtiss.  Their  charter  was  surren- 
dered August  27,  1862.  The  lodge,  however, 
was  re-instituted  August  1,  1872,  by  H.  Y. 
Beebe,  P.  G.  M.,  of  Ravenna,  Ohio.  The  new 
charter  members  were  John  Grimm,  D.  H. 
Jones.  William  Daugherty,  Andrew  Schmidt, 
W.  H.  Dailey,  A.  M.  Musson,  John  Little,  E. 
L.  Babcock  and  C.  Kittleberger.  The  present 
officers  of  the  lodge  are  :  I.  N.  Reid,  N.  G.; 
George  Williams,  V.  G.;  George  W.  Rice,  Sec- 
retary ;  W.  H.  Dailey,  Recording  Secretary ; 
W.  M.  Griswold,  Treasurer.  The  Trustees  are 
George  J.  Parks,  George  W.  Rice,  A.  C. 
Goble,  Humphrey  Parkin,  W.  I.  Clarkson.  The 
names  of  the  Past  Grands  now  connected  with 
the  lodge  are  D.  H.  Jones,  John  Grimm,  Will- 
iam Daugherty,  Andrew  Schmidt,  E.  L.  Bab- 
cock, W.  H.  Dailey,  George  W.  Rice,  Nelson 
Holcomb,  E.  A.  Inskeep,  A.  C.  Goble,  Thomas 
Garret}',  C.  Kittleberger,  George  J.  Parks,  W. 
S.  Hough,  George  F.  Patterson,  W.  I.  Clarkson, 
John  D.  Thomas,  David  Forbes  and  Joseph 
Jones.  The  present  number  of  members  is 
seventy-three.  Their  night  of  meeting  is  Tues- 
day' ;  their  place,  Loomis  Block,  northeast 
corner  of  Front  and  Portage  streets. 

Letters  of  dispensation  were  granted  to  Star 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
State  of  Ohio  January  9,  1850.  The  first  offi- 
cers of  the  lodge  were :  Richard  Creighton, 
W.  M.;  H.  N.  Gillett,  S.  W.;  H.  Dowd,  J.  W.; 
G.    L'Hommedieu,     Treasurer ;     John    Davis, 


Secretary  ;  A.  M.  Manchester,  S.  D.;  I.  Lewis, 
J.  D.;  William  Wright,  Tiler.  The  lodge  re- 
ceived their  charter  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
the  State  of  Ohio  the  17th  day  of  October, 
1850. 

The  following  were  charter  members  of  the 
Lodge  :  Richard  Creighton,  Harrison  M.  Gil- 
lett, Henr}-  Dowd,  Charles  W.  Whetmore,  Giles 
L'Hommedieu,  John  Davis,  Alonzo  N.  Man- 
chester, Isaac  Lewis,  William  Wright,  Timothy 
Brainard,  George  Allen  and  Robert  Peebles. 

The  following  members  were  Past  Masters 
of  the  lodge  :  R.  Creighton,  J.  Chamberlain, 
A.  M.  Manchester,  C.  W.  Whetmore,  P.  V. 
Curch,  S.  Comstock,  John  Hinde.  R.  Peebles, 
I.  James,  M.  Crawford  and  E.  L.  Babcock. 

The  lodge  holds  two  regular  communications 
a  month  in  the  Buck  Block,  on  the  corner  of 
Front  and  Portage  streets. 

The  present  officers  of  the  lodge  are  ;  Will- 
iam Sid  well,  \V.  M.;  William  Blong,  S.  W.; 
J.  M.  Craflts,  J.  W.;  C.  Kittleberger,  Treas- 
urer ;  C.  A.  Hall,  Secretar}'  ;  D.  Forbes,  S.  D.; 
C.  Clarke,  J.  D.;  H.  M.  Stanley,  Tiler;  J.  H. 
Insande  and  J.  I.  Reid,  Stewards. 

Royal  Arcanum,  Enterprise  Council,  No.  234, 
was  organized  January  3,  1879.  The  charter 
members  were  E.  L.  Babcock,  W.  S.  Hough, 
John  I.  Jones,  P.  H.  Standish,  T.  F.  Heath,  J. 
J.  Moore,  George  Paul,  Thomas  Garrety, 
George  F.  Patterson,  E.  A.  Inskeep,  W.  A.  Tay- 
lor, W.  A.  Harrington,  A.  J.  Vaughn,  T.  J.  Fran- 
cisco, E.  A.  Chamberlin,  W.  0.  Beebe,  W.  M. 
Griswold,  J.  C.  Reid,  H.  E.  Howard,  George  J. 
Parks.  The  first  officers  were  E.  L.  Babcock, 
Past  Regent ;  T.  F.  Heath,  Regent ;  A.  J. 
Vaughn,  Vice  Regent ;  W.  0.  Beebe,  Collector  ; 
W.  M.  Griswold,  Secretary ;  John  I.  Jones, 
Treasurer.  The  Lodge  meets  twice  a  month  in 
G.  A.  R.  Hall,  in  the  James  Block.  The  pres- 
ent officers  are :  W.  S.  Hough,  Past  Regent ; 
Thomas  Garrety,  Regent ;  W.  S.  Hough,  Col- 
lector ;  W.  M.  Griswold,  Secretary ;  E.  A. 
Chamberlin,  Treasurer. 

The  Council  is  one  of  man}'  similar  councils 
of  secret  organization,  extending  nearly  all  over 
the  United  States,  organized  for  the  purpose  of 
mutual  insurance  on  the  assessment  plan,  each 
member  paying,  according  to  age.  Upon  the 
death  of  a  member  in  good  standing,  the  heirs 
are  paid  from  the  fund  raised  by  the  assess- 
ment the  sum  of  $3,000. 

It  also  has  a  social   interest  for  which  pro- 


.f'^ 


^]sW^> 


9^'A 


'Uv 


CUYAHOGA    FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


motion  its  stated  council  meetings  are  held. 
Besides  its  assessments,  each  council  collects 
its  quarterl}'  dues  for  defraying  its  running  ex- 
penses and  creating  a  fund  from  which  each 
member  is  entitled  to  not  less  than  $1  per  week 
in  case  of  sickness. 

On  the  8th  day  of  June,  1867,  the  following 
citizens  of  Cuyahoga  Falls — L.  W.  Loomis,  I. 
N.  Reid,  G.  M.  Patterson,  Amos  Wills,  W.  H. 
Shaffer,  D.  Shumway,  M.  V.  Burt,  R.  M.  Hin- 
man,W.  H.  Carloss  and  B.  B.  Tremblin — former 
soldiers  of  the  late  war,  met  for  the  purpose  of 
organizing  a  Post  of  the  Grand  Army,  and 
signed  an  application  for  a  charter  which  was 
forwarded  to  the  headquarters  of  the  then 
Eighteenth  District,  at  Cleveland.  On  the 
evening  of  Jul}'  5,  1867,  they  met  and  were 
regularly  mustered  in  by  Col.  George  L.  Childs, 
District  Commander.  The  names  of  Josiah 
Brown,  A.  S.  Emerson,  J.  H.  Shewey  were  added 
to  the  charter  list. 

The  officers  elected  at  this  meeting  for  one 
year  were  A.  S.  Emerson,  Post  Commander  ; 
R.  H.  Hinman,  Senior  Vice  Commander  ;  D. 
Shumway,  Junior  Vice  Commander ;  B.  B. 
Tremblin,  Post  Adjt. ;  L.  W.  Loomis,  Post 
Quartermaster  ;  W.  H.  Shaffer,  Surgeon  ;  G.  M. 
Patterson,  Chaplain. 

The  name  chosen  for  the  Post  was  Eadie 
(Post  No.  232),  in  honor  of  the  Eadie  boys — 
John,  James  and  Henry — who  lost  their  lives  as 
soldiers  during  the  rebellion.  The  number  was 
afterward  changed  to  No.  37. 

The  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  old  Tem- 
perance Hall,  but  in  a  few  weeks  the  Post  made 
arrangements  to  occupy  the  hall  in  the  Loomis 
Block  with  the  I.  0.  G.  T. 

The  organization  grew  rapidly  during  the 
years  up  to  1870.  In  that  year  the  Post  had 
increased  from  fourteen  members  to  over  one 
hundred  and  twenty -five.  But  in  the  year  1869, 
it  pleased  the  National  Headquarters  to  intro- 
duce a  new  system  known  as  the  "  Three 
Grades  " — (1st)  recruit ;  (2d)  soldier  ;  (3d)  vet- 
eran. For  soldiers,  this  sj'stem  did  not  work 
well.  In  consequence,  recruiting  about  stopped, 
members  became  delinquent,  and,  finally,  in 
December,  1873,  the  old  Post  ceased  to  exist. 
While  it  flourished,  no  member  that  belonged 
to  it  need  be  ashamed  of  its  work.  They  col- 
lected, outside  of  the  regular  fees  and  dues,  from 
the  years  1867  to  1873,  about  $1,200,  and  used 
the  same  for  charitable  pui'poses.     They  took 


care  of  their  own  sick  and  poor ;  they  buried 
their  own  dead,  and  helped  to  establish  the  Sol- 
diers' Orphan  Home.  Slany  a  strange  soldier 
was  sent  on  his  way  rejoicing  through  the  kind- 
ness of  the  comrades  of  Eadie  Post.  The  last 
work  they  did  was  one  of  practical  benefit  to 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  the  donating  of  the  last  $100 
in  the  treasury  to  establish  the  free  reading 
room,  which  is  an  honor  to  Cuyahoga  Falls. 

In  March,  1880,  there  met  in  the  office  of 
George  Paul,  a  number  of  the  old  members  of 
the  G.  A.  R.  and  old  soldiers,  and  signed  an 
application  for  a  new  charter.  The  meeting 
for  organization  was  held  March  17,  1880,  in 
the  old  Temperance  Hall,  and  the  Post  was 
duly  organized  by  Judge  L.  C.  Williamson  and 
comrades  from  Buckley,  of  Akron.  Twenty- 
six  members  were  regularly  mustered  in. 

The  officei's  elected  from  the  charter  list  for 
the  first  year  ending  January  1,  1881.  were 
W\  0.  Beebe,  P.  C;  J.  A.  Ramp,  Sr.  V.  C.;  H. 
Ingals,  Jr.  V.  C;  C.  T.  Parks,  Adjt. ;  J.  C.  Reid, 
Q.  M.;  G.  M.  Patterson,  0.  D.:  M.  H.  Diffendorf, 
0.  G.;  W.  S.  Hough,  Surg.;  J.  A.  Craffts,  Chap- 
lain ;  H.  Steele,  Sgt.  M.;  M.  C.  Tifft,  Q.  M.  Sgt.; 
George  Paul,  Dept.  Aid  de  Camp. 

The  old  name  and  old  number  was  adopted, 
"  Eadie  Post,  No.  37,  Department  of  Ohio." 

Since  April  1,  1880,  the  Post  has  occupied  a 
lodge-room  in  Apollo  Hall  block.  The  Post 
has  steadily  increased  in  the  last  3'ear,  having 
now  about  fifty  members,  good  and  efficient 
officers,  and  well- attended  meetings.  In  fact 
its  future  never  was  brighter  than  at  present. 
There  is  but  one  grade  ;  the  object  is  fraternit}', 
charity  and  loyalty.  Since  the  re-organization, 
the  Post  has  lost  by  death  one  of  our  most 
valued  members,  Adjt.  W.  J.  Patterson,  a  brave 
soldier,  and  the  most  efficient  Adjutant  that 
has  occupied  that  office  since  the  Post  was  es- 
tablished in  Cuyahoga  Falls.  The  death  roll 
as  near  as  is  known  since  1877,  of  tlie  Post  is 
John  Williams,  Christopher  Post,  Frederick 
Bethel,  Frank  Brainard,  William  Cooper,  A. 
H.  Goble  and  William  J.  Patterson. 

In  1812,  Kelsey  &  Wilcox  built  a  dam  across 
the  Cuj-ahoga  River  at  the  place  in  Cu^'ahoga 
Falls  where  the  railroad  bridge  crosses  it.  At 
this  point  they  erected  a  grist-mill  and  a  saw- 
mill. These  were  the  first  in  the  village.  After 
the  war  with  Great  Britain  of  1812-15,  the 
property-  was  purchased  by  Stow  &  Wetmore, 
and  an  oil-mill  l)uilt. 


^1 


490 


HISTORY  OF   SUMMIT    COUNTY 


It  is  well  known  that,  at  an  early  day,  there 
was  a  portage  or  carrying- place  between  the 
waters  of  the  Cuyahoga  and  those  of  the  Tus- 
carawas used  by  the  Indians  and  traders  to 
transport  their  canoes  and  peltries  within  the 
present  Summit  County.  This  portage  was  an 
important  path,  even  after  the  country  was 
occupied  by  the  whites.  At  a  point  on  this 
carrying-place  was  erected  by  the  United 
States  Government  a  military  post,  and  what 
was  called  a  "  navy  yard,"  and  supplies  were 
gathered  here  for  their  maintenance.  These 
were  drawn  from  as  far  south  as  Chillicothe, 
being  brought  up  to  the  head-waters  of  the 
Muskingum  and  conveyed  overland  to  the  Cuy- 
ahoga. William  Wetmore  was  appointed  Com- 
missary of  this  post,  and  all  the  lumber  neces- 
sary to  supply  the  wants  of  the  Government  at 
the  station  was  supplied  b}^  the  saw-mill  at  the 
"old  village,"  near,  as  we  have  seen,  where  the 
railroad  bridge  crosses  the  river. 

In  the  course  of  time  it  was  discovered  that 
a  "power"  existed  farther  down  the  river 
much  to  be  preferred  to  the  one  which  had  thus 
been  improved  ;  so  the  last  named  gentlemen 
commenced  in  April,  1825,  to  make  improve- 
ments at  the  latter  place.  William  Wetmore, 
Jr.,  acting  for  Stow  &  Wetmore,  gathered  thirty 
men  from  the  surrounding  country,  who  were 
set  to  work  to  construct  a  dam  where  the  upper 
one  now  stands.  This  was  finished  in  June 
following.  Here  was  erected  a  grist-mill,  also 
a  saw-mill  and  an  oil-mill.  As  the  erection  of 
this  dam  flooded  the  one  above,  the  mills  first 
built  were  taken  down. 

In  1830,  Stow  &  Wetmores  (the  father  of  the 
latter  was  then  dead)  built  a  paper-mill  upon 
the  east  side  of  the  river.  The  first  sheet  of 
paper  was  run  off  on  the  8th  of  December  of 
that  year.  Previous  to  this,  the  tannery,  now 
occupied  by  C.  Kittleberger,  was  erected. 

"On  the  1st  day  of  April,  1825,"  writes 
Henry  Wetmore,  "  Brother  William  and  I  came 
to  what  is  now  the  village  of  Cuyahoga  Falls 
from  the  banks  of  Silver  Lake,  in  the  township 
of  Stow.  We  cut  away  the  alders  on  the  bank 
of  the  river,  where  Israel  James'  flouring-mill 
was  afterward  erected,  to  take  a  look  at  the 
river,  and  the  wild  scenery  on  each  side.  The 
next  day  Father  came  to  line  out  the  210  acres 
which  were  subsequently  the  Stow  Township 
part  of  the  village,  and  to  take  a  level  of  the 
fall  of  the  river,  to  ascertain  the  height  of  the 


dam  he  was  to  build.  All  around  was  an  un- 
broken forest.  On  the  30th  of  April  we  had  a 
house  up,  and  a  goodly  numl)er  of  men  em- 
ployed in  cutting  and  hewing  timber  for  our 
dam  and  saw-mill,  flour  and  linseed  oil  mill,  all 
of  which  were  built  in  the  year  1825-26. 

"  In  December  we  completed  our  paper-mill, 
it  being  the  first  mill  in  the  State  to  make 
paper  by  the  method  of  gathering  the  pulp  on 
a  cylinder.  There  were  three  or  four  small 
hand  mills  in  Ohio  which  made  paper  with 
selves  by  dipping  up  the  pulp  and  shaking  it. 
Joshua  Stow,  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  was  our 
partner,  under  the  firm  name  of  Stow  &  Wet- 
mores.  In  March,  1837,  I  sold  out  m}'  interest 
in  the  firm  to  Mr.  Stow.  Since  then  the  de- 
stroying hand  of  time  and  decay  wore  out  the 
paper-mill  frame  and  timbers,  and  it  was  pulled 
down.  Some  fiend  burned  the  flouring-mill, 
and  the  oil-mill  was  discontinued  for  want  of 
seed  to  stock  it. 

"In  1836,  a  gentleman  came  to  Cuyahoga 
Falls  to  locate  in  business.  He  liked  the  place 
much,  but  he  had  heard  of  a  place  called  Chi- 
cago, and  he  would  go  and  see  it  before  locating. 
On  his  return,  he  said  Cuyahoga  Falls  was 
doing  the  most  business,  and  would  always 
continue  to  do  so  ;  so  he  located  here  !" 

While  Stow  &  Wetmores,  in  1825,  were  con- 
structing their  dam  and  building  their  mills  as 
before  mentioned,  Henry  Newberry  was  engaged 
in  making  improvements  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  present  village.  What  is  now  Turner, 
Parks  &  Co.'s  dam  was  built  by  him  during 
that  year.  The  next  year  he  erected  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river  a  saw-mill,  and  on  the 
east  side  an  oil-mill.  The  latter  was  carried 
away  by  a  flood  in  1832,  but  a  new  mill  was 
immediately  put  up,  and  was  used  by  E.  N. 
Sill  and  Ogden  Wetmore.  It  was  afterward 
sold  to  John  Rumrill,  who  disposed  of  it  to 
Prentiss  Dow,  the  latter  converting  it  into  a 
paper-mill.  Dow  ran  it  in  company  with  Rum- 
rill, under  the  firm  name  of  Dow,  Rumrill  & 
Co.  This  partnership  was  closed  after  a  time, 
and  then  run  by  P.  &  G.  Dow.  The  building 
was  finally  removed. 

The  first  woolen  factory  in  Cuyahoga  Falls 
was  erected  near  where  are  now  the  shops  of 
Turner,  Vaughn  &  Taylor.  This  factory  was 
burned — the  incendiary  was  spontaneous  com- 
bustion. There  was  an  oil-mill  which  was  run 
by  Penfield  &  Starr,  adjoining  the  woolen  fac- 


>^. 


CUYAHOGA    FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


491 


Uivy  at  the  time  of  its  destruction,  which  was 
saved  ;  but  this  has  '•  gone  where  the  woodbine 
twineth."  In  1834,  a  foundry  and  trip-hammer 
shop  was  built  by  Mr.  Vaughn,  on  the  south 
side  of  what  is  now  the  stone  bridge,  where  the 
saw-mill  stands  ;  but  this  was  burned  and 
never  rebuilt.  Just  south  of  this  was  a  car- 
riage-shop carried  on  b}^  Isaac  Lewis.  The 
building  was  afterward  changed  to  a  paper- 
mill,  and  run  by  George  E.  Clarke  in  com- 
pany with  his  nephew,  Sej'mour ;  but  like 
others  of  its  class,  it,  too,  has  passed  away. 
In  1834.  Ogden  Wetmore  and  B.  R.  Manches- 
ter built  a  foundry  and  machine-shop  near 
where  the  brick  paper-mill  now  stands.  They 
ran  the  foundry  for  about  two  years,  when 
Manchester's  place  was  taken  by  L.  W.  Butler. 
In  1835,  the  machine-shop  was  leased  by  the 
Messrs.  Bill,  who  afterward  purchased  the  prop- 
erty' and  used  it  until  1843,  when  it  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire. 

In  1845,  the  Messrs.  Bill  put  up  a  brick  build- 
ing for  a  foundry  and  machine-shop,  but,  for 
the  purpose  of  renting  it  to  J.  M.  Smith  &  Co. 
for  a  paper-mill,  the}-  erected  a  small  shop  on 
the  other  side  of  the  street  for  their  own  use. 
The  lease  of  this  company  was  for  ten  years, 
but,  before  its  expiration,  they  were  succeeded 
by  Harrison  &  Hanford,  who  purchased  the 
propert}-  and  added  to  it  till  it  became  what 
was  known  as  the  Empire  Mill.  This  came 
into  the  hands  of  Hanford  Brothers,  who  ran  it 
until  1872,  when  it  burned  down.  The  Messrs. 
Bill  took  into  copartnership  James  Chamber- 
lain, and  their  shops  were  run  for  several  j'ears 
under  the  firm  name  of  Bill  &  Chamberlain. 
To  accommodate  their  increasing  business  the}' 
removed  the  shops  first  built,  and  put  up  large 
buildings  opposite  the  Empire  Mill.  There 
were  some  changes  in  the  proprietorship  from 
time  to  time,  but  the  shops  were  kept  running 
until  the  fire  of  1872,  when  they  disappeared 
with  all  their  contents.  A  paper-mill,  built  by 
T.  L.  Miller,  once  stood  on  the  east  side  of  the 
canal.  This  was  run  by  steam.  It  was  sub- 
sequentl}-  occupied  by  Caleb  Howard,  but  fell 
into  decay  and  was  taken  down.  Among  the 
"  ancient  institutions  "  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  was 
a  distillery.  A  portion  of  the  buildings  con- 
nected with  it  afterward  were  appropriated  by 
the  Taylor  Wire  Cloth  Company.  The  "  deadly 
worm  "  has  long  since  disappeared. 

A  lard  oil  and  candle  factory  was  started  in 


Cuyahoga  Falls  in  1842,  by  George  A.  Stanley 
and  Henry  Holbrook,  in  the  first  building  north 
of  what  is  now  the  covered  bridge  on  the  west 
side  ;  but  the  enterprise  was  soon  abandoned. 
Among  other  earl}'  industries  undertaken,  but 
which  was  of  short  continuance,  was  a  starch 
factory,  by  Birdsey  Booth,  at  the  spring  on  the 
bank  of  the  river,  near  the  present  mill  of  Mr. 
Hinde.  Another  one  was  b\'  G.  &  I.  L'Hom- 
medieu,  near  the  depot,  a  sandpaper  and  glue 
fiictory,  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Smith. 
Still  another  was  a  pump  factory,  on  the  east 
side,  carried  on  by  R.  S.  Williams.  In  1852, 
there  were  in  the  village  three  paper-mills,  two 
oil-mills,  two  forges,  one  webbing  factory,  one 
fork,  hoe  and  tool  factory,  three  machine-shops 
one  saw-mill,  one  fork  and  hoe  factory,  two 
grist-mills,  one  flax  factory  and  one  shovel 
factor}'. 

In  1854,  Cuyahoga  Falls  had  three  paper- 
mills  in  operation,  and  another  in  process  of 
erection.  The}-  consumed  675  tons  of  the  raw 
material,  making  525  tons  of  paper  annuall}'. 
In  them  were  employed  eight}'  persons.  They 
consumed  $9,000  worth  of  chemicals  and  colors 
annually.  There  were  two  oil-mills,  consuming 
16,000  bushels  of  seed  annually,  making  30,000 
gallons  of  oil.  There  was  one  forge  for  manu- 
facturing car-axles,  consuming  from  six  to  seven 
hundred  tons  of  pig-metal,  and  making  about 
five  hundred  and  fifty  tons  of  axles  annually. 
The  establishment  employed  from  twenty  to 
twenty-five  men.  There  were  three  foundries 
and  machine-shops.  One  of  them  consumed 
from  300  to  400  tons  of  stock,  manufacturing 
about  $75,000  worth  of  machinery  annually, 
and  affording  constant  employment  to  about 
thirty  men.  There  was  also  a  steel-fork  manu- 
fiictory,  which  turned  out,  on  an  average,  100,- 
000  forks  annually,  consuming  twenty  tons  of 
cast-steel,  and  employing  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
hands ;  one  shovel-factory,  which  made  six 
dozen  shovels  daily  ;  one  grist-mill,  one  tool- 
factory,  two  tanneries,  one  ashery,  two  flax- 
mills,  and  one  distillei-y,  as  previously  men- 
tioned. This  last-mentioned  ••  institution  "  con- 
sumed 75,000  bushels  of  grain  annually,  mak- 
ing 30,000  gallons  of  high-wines.  Tt  furnished 
food  for  3,000  hogs,  '-and  drinl:  for  ten  times 
that  number.' 

In  1876,  there  were  in  operation  within  the 
corporation  one  foundry,  one  rolling-mill,  two 
grist-mills,  two  saw-mills,  a  rivet-factory  and 


'f 


493 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


clay-mill,  a  wire-factory,  wire-weaving  works, 
a  large  foundry  and  machine-shop,  a  small 
machine-shop  and  town-clock  factory,  two  pa- 
per-mills, another  partly  erected,  an  extensive 
sewer-pipe  factory,  two  potteries,  a  planing- 
mill,  a  tannery,  a  tow-bagging  mill  and  a  tile- 
factory. 

Having  thus  briefly  outlined  the  rise  and 
progress  of  the  manufacturing  industries  of  Cuy- 
ahoga Falls,  man}^  of  which  "  were,  but  are 
not,"  the  attention  of  the  reader  is  asked  while 
we  recount  the  story  of  such  as  are  now  in  ex- 
istence. 

The  buildings  of  the  Variety  Iron  Works  of 
Turner,  Vaughn  &  Taylor  consist  of  the  main 
building,  36x74  feet ;  an  L-shaped  attachment, 
32x76  feet ;  and  a  wing,  36x72  feet— each  con- 
taining two  stories  and  a  basement.  The  first 
shop  upon  the  place  where  these  buildings 
stand  was  used  by  a  man  by  the  name  of  Kel- 
ley  as  a  chair- factor}'.  Mr.  Lawson  used  it  for 
the  same  purpose  for  some  time  afterward. 
This  was  replaced  by  one  built  by  Vaughn, 
Hunt  &  Co.,  which  was  removed  to  give  place 
to  the  Variety  Iron  Works,  founded  in  1856,  b\ 
the  firm  of  Turner,  Parks  &  Co.  Mr.  Parks 
and  Mr.  Wetmore  afterward  retired.  The  re- 
maining members  were  succeeded  by  Turner, 
Parks  &  Taylor,  and  the  latter,  in  1879,  by 
Turner,  Vaughn  &  Taylor,  the  present  proprie- 
tors. The  buildings  of  this  firm  are  equipped 
with  the  most  perfect  machinery  known  in  all 
the  departments  of  iron  and  wood  working,  op- 
erated by  water,  aggregating  seventy-five-horse 
power.  The  specialties  of  this  house  are  im- 
proved steam  engines,  grain-cleaning  machin- 
ery, mill-gearing,  wire-working  machinery  and 
clay-grinding  machines,  which  latter  article  is 
patented  by  this  firm.  They  constructed  all 
the  wire-drawing  machinery  of  the  extensive 
Cleveland  RoUing-Mills,  and  have  made  ma- 
chinery for  every  wire-mill  in  the  United  States, 
with  but  a  single  exception,  and  are  now  super- 
intending the  erection  of  similar  machinery  in 
England.  In  addition  to  the  leading  products 
enumerated  above,  they  also  manufacture  steam, 
hydraulic  and  screw  presses  for  sewer-pipe, 
paper-mill,  flour-mill  and  clay-mill  machinery-, 
iron  and  brass  castings  in  great  variet}'  to 
order  ;  Russia,  sheet  and  galvanized  iron  and 
zinc  screens,  light  cast-iron  pipe  for  heating  by 
steam,  flange-pipe,  etc.  They  have  also  facili- 
ties for  sawing  every  description  of  lumber  to 


order,  and  for  grinding  flour,  feed,  etc.,  for  cus- 
tomers as  required. 

The  Falls  Wire  Manufacturing  Company  are 
located  in  Cuyahoga  Falls,  on  the  bank  of  the 
Cuyahoga  River.  The  main  building  is  of  brick, 
40x85  feet,  three  stories  and  a  basement,  with 
a  wing  30x55  feet,  well  supplied  with  improved 
modern  machinery  and  appurtenances  for  the 
production  of  every  gi'ade  of  iron  and  steel 
wire.  The  production  of  this  article,  in  all  its 
forms  and  sizes,  furnishes  an  interesting  sight 
to  the  curiosity-seeker.  Regarded  as  a  promi- 
nent article  of  commerce,  entering  largely  as  it 
does  into  a  variety  of  industrial  pursuits,  its 
manufacture  forms  no  insignificant  item  in  the 
manufactures  of  the  village.  The  works  were 
first  known  as  the  Falls  Wire  Mill,  operated  by 
the  Falls  Wire  Company,  a  stock  company  or- 
ganized in  1873,  for  the  manufacture  of  iron 
wire.  This  company  was  succeeded  b}'  the 
Falls  Wire  Manufacturing  Company,  organized 
in  1879,  with  an  authorized  capital  stock  of 
$100,000.  The  waters  of  the  Cuyahoga  River 
furnish  the  power  (65-horse-power),  to  turn  the 
machinery.  There  is  here  produced  annually 
over  one  thousand  tons  of  the  various  sizes  of 
finished  wire.  The  trade  of  this  company  is 
principally  in  the  West.  They  make  a  specialty 
of  wire  for  fine  purposes,  such  as  spring-wire 
for  woven-wire  mattresses,  the  extra  grades  of 
tinned  wire,  and  broom  and  binder  wire.  On 
the  evening  of  March  31,  1881,  since  the  fore- 
going was  written,  these  works  were  largel}' 
desti'oyed  by  fire.  They  will,  however,  be  im- 
mediately rebuilt,  with  but  a  few  weeks'  inter- 
ruption of  the  business  of  the  compan3^ 

The  peculiar  adaptability  of  the  clay  deposits 
of  Summit  County  for  the  manufacture  of  potter}' 
has  been  spoken  of  in  another  chapter.  Ohio 
stoneware  has  acquired  an  extensive  reputa- 
tion. The  Cuyahoga  Falls  Stoneware  Factory 
was  founded  about  eighteen  years  ago  b}'  the 
firm  of  Tiiomas  &  Harris.  Thomas  Brothers 
are  the  present  proprietors.  The  building  oc- 
cupied l)y  tills  company  is  a  two-story  structure, 
36x120  feet  in  size,  and  is  furnished  with  a 
complete  and  thorough  outfit  of  machiner}'  es- 
pecially adapted  to  the  manufacture  of  the  line 
of  articles  turned  out,  consisting  of  churns, 
butters,  pans,  Dutch  pots,  jugs,  preserve  jars, 
fruit  jars  with  label  tops,  covers,  stove  tubes, 
etc.  The  capacity  of  the  factor}'  is  upward  of 
300,000  gallons  per  annum,  valued  at  not  less 


:7i" 


.  V. 


CUYAHOGA    FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


493 


than  $15,000,  the  demand  for  which  is  principally 
in  the  States  of  Michigan,  Illinois  and  Indiana. 
Their  manufactor}'  is  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Broad  sti'cets. 

At  the  corner  of  Front  and  Portage  streets  is 
the  business  house  of  L.  W.  Loomis.  It  was 
founded  in  186i,  under  the  firm  name  of  Loomis 
&  Co.,  with  L.  W.  Loomis,  H.  E.  Loomis,  and 
Smith  &  Harington,  of  New  York,  as  partners. 
Since  1868,  it  has  been  under  the  sole  control 
and  management  of  L.  W.  Loomis.  A  specialty 
of  this  house  is  the  manufacture  of  tinware,  for 
which  purpose  a  large  force  is  employed.  A 
number  of  wagons  are  kept  on  the  road  dispos- 
ing of  the  manufactured  stock. 

The  clay  banks  of  Summit  County  ai'e  uni- 
versally acknowledged  to  be  superior  to  any  in 
the  United  States  for  the  manufacture  of  sewer 
pipe  and  similar  articles,  and  the  class  of  goods 
manufactured  here  have  a  national  reputation. 
The  value  of  these  immense  deposits  of  cla}'  is 
estimated  at  nearly  $2,000,000  a  year,  and,  as 
the  variety  and  extent  of  these  important  arti- 
cles of  commerce  is  continually  on  the  increase, 
without  any  perceptible  diminution  of  the  raw 
material,  there  can  scarcely  be  a  limit  to  this 
great  and  important  source  of  wealth  and  pros- 
perity. At  Cuyahoga  Falls,  the  manufacture 
of  sewer  pipe  is  extensivel}'  carried  on  b}'  G-eorge 
C.  Germain.  The  works  now  conducted  by 
him  were  founded  in  1865,  by  Lewis,  Fosdick 
&  Camp,  and,  after  passing  through  a  number 
of  changes  in  proprietorship,  came  into  the 
possession  of  James  H.  Cooke  in  1877.  Mr. 
Cooke  has  since  died.  The  trade  has  consider- 
ably increased,  and  now  extends  all  over  the 
United  States  from  INIaine  to  Minnesota.  Mr. 
Germain  occupies  a  spacious  and  commodious 
building  four  stories  in  height,  covering  an 
area  of  40x180  feet,  with  convenient  yards  ad- 
jacent. The  works  are  located  on  the  banks  of 
the  Cuyahoga  River,  where  they  have  water- 
power  equivalent  to  eighty  horses,  using  one 
sixty  horse-power  and  one  twenty  horse-power 
wheel.  The  works  are  supplied  with  the  most 
appi'oved  and  latest  styles  of  machinery,  and 
appliances  especially  adapted  to  this  branch  of 
industry,  and  tor  capacity,  extent  and  general 
excellence  of  appointments,  as  well  as  for  su- 
periorit}'  of  productions,  will  compare  favorabl}' 
with  any  similar  establishment  in  the  State. 
He  turns  out  ever}'  variety  of  straight,  bent, 
elbow,   slant   and   branch   pipe,    with   elbows, 


angles,  ring  joints  and  sockets  of  a  superior 
quality.  The  pipe  is  vitrified  by  the  chemical 
action  of  salt  while  in  the  process  of  burning, 
which  renders  it  impervious  to  the  action  of 
steam,  gas  and  acids,  and  is  particularly  notice- 
able for  fine  finish,  durability  and  uniformity. 
On  the  site  of  these  works  there  once  stood  an 
oil-mill,  built  by  Cyrus  Pi-entiss.  It  was  after- 
ward used  by  Henr}-  Wetmore  to  make  linseed 
oil,  till  1863,  when  it  gave  place  to  the  works 
before  mentioned. 

The  Cu^'ahoga  Paper  Company  was  organized 
in  1875.  Their  first  building  occupied  was  the 
one  built  for  a  grist-mill  by  Yockey,  Vantine  & 
Co.  This  mill  was  run  for  the  manufacture  of 
flour  for  some  years  ;  but  was  finally  purchased 
by  J.  M.  Smith  &  Co.,  and  changed  to  a  paper 
mill.  Soon  after,  it  was  burned  down.  Another 
mill  was  immediatel}^  erected  in  its  place,  which 
was  run  bj-  Harrison  &  Hanford,  until  that  one 
was  also  burned  to  the  ground.  Again  it  was 
built,  and  used  by  the  gentlemen  last  mentioned, 
until  bought  by  the  Cuyahoga  Paper  Company. 
This  company  went  into  possession  in  1875. 
The  last-named  firm  was  organized  by  Robert 
R.  Peebles,  George  Dow  and  George  Sacket,  for 
the  purpose  of  manufacturing  wrapping  and 
colored  papers,  the  latter  article  being  used  for 
posters,  handbills  and  tobacco  labels  principally. 
In  1879,  Mr.  Dow  and  Mr.  Sacket  retired,  and 
J.  M.  Loeser,  A.  S.  Deutsch  and  S.  Levi  entered 
the  firm.  They  occupy  a  number  of  buildings 
on  the  banks  of  the  river,  which  are  supplied 
with  improved  machinery,  especially  adapted 
to  this  branch  of  business.  The  capacity  of 
the  mills  are  8,000  pounds  a  day.  The  motive 
power  of  the  works  is  supplied  by  steam,  and 
the  water  of  the  river. 

One  of  the  largest  and  most  complete  manu- 
facturing establishments  of  its  kind  in  the 
United  States,  is  that  of  P.  H.  Standish,  de- 
voted to  the  production  of  chains  and  chain 
machinery,  and  wrought  saddlery  hardware  of 
every  description.  These  works  were  established 
at  this  place  in  1878,  and  comprise  at  the  lower 
works  one  main  building  30x50  feet,  three 
stories  in  height ;  one  blacksmith-shop  30x75 
feet,  and  one"  20x100  feet;  a  building  16x35 
feetj  used  as  a  japanning  and  trimming  depart- 
ment, and  a  coke  shed  28x30  feet.  The  upper 
works  consist  of  one  main  building  50x200  feet, 
with  two  additions,  one  5(1x30  feet,  the  other 
20x50  feet.     All  of  the  buildings  are  thoroughly 


±lf 


__S) 


494 


HISTORY    OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


equipped  with  most  perfect  and  complete  ma- 
chiner3-,  mueli  of  wliich  is  of  Mr.  Standish's  own 
invention,  and  protected  by  letters  patent  from 
the  United  States  Government.  Water-power, 
equivalent  to  100  horses,  supplies  the  motive 
power  required.  The  leading  productions  of 
these  works  are  ever}'  description  of  harness 
coil,  agricultural  and  wagon  chains  and  chain 
ma<rhinery,  patent  wrought  swivels,  rings,  hooks, 
hvp  rings,  lap  links,  S-hooks,  dees,  tees,  staples, 
snaps,  clips,  finch  buckles,  japanned  harness 
rings,  buckles,  etc.  The  demand  for  these  arti- 
cles is  principally  in  New  York,  Philadelphia, 
Pittsburgh,  Cleveland,  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  Bal- 
timore. Fort  Wayne,  Evansville,  and  in  fact  all 
over  the  United  States.  Mr.  Standish  came  to 
Cuyahoga  Falls  from  St.  Louis. 

The  attention  of  farmers  throughout  the 
country'  has  of  late  years  been  called  to  the 
importance  and  the  advantages  of  a  thorough 
sj'stem  of  underdrainage  by  means  of  drain 
tile,  and  it  has  been  demonstrated  that  for 
sloughs  and  swampy  places  this  system  is  no 
longer  an  experiment,  but  an  absolute  necessity 
for  profitable  and  practical  agricultural  and  hor- 
ticultural purposes.  Undei'drainage,  when  good 
tile  are  used,  is  a.  permanent  and  valuable  im- 
ment,  and  the  old  adage  that  "Whatever  is 
worth  doing  at  all  is  worth  doing  well,"  is  as 
applicable  to  this  case  as  to  any  other.  The 
Cuyahoga  Falls  Drain  Tile  are  made  from  a 
very  su2)erior  qualit}'  of  potters"  clay,  the  same 
which  has  obtained  a  national  reputation  in  the 
manufacture  of  the  celebreted  Akron  Sewer 
Pipe,  and  it  is  admitted  to  be  the  best  clay  in 
the  United  States  for  this  and  similar  purposes. 
Tlie  tile  are  smooth,  strong,  well  made  and  well 
burned.  The  firm  of  Camp  &  Babb  first  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  these  tile,  but  the 
works  are  now  owned  by  H.  B.  Camp.  They 
occupy  two  spacious  buildings,  one  12x70,  and 
one  24x60,  supplied  with  all  the  requisite  ma-  j 
chinery,  operated  b}'  a  120-horse-power  engine.  [ 
They  manufacture,  in  addition  to  a  superior  j 
qualit}'  of  drain  tile,  roofing  tile,  building  [ 
blocks  and  a  variet}'  of  other  products  of  a  ' 
similar  description.  The  building  blocks  area 
recent  innovation  and  invention,  and  a  specialty 
manufactured  by  no  other  house.  They  are  ; 
s(iuare  blocks  made  hollow,  and  possess  many 
advantages  for  building  purposes  over  the  or- 
dinary brick.  They  are  made  from  the  same 
material  as  the  drain    tile.     The   demand  for 


roofing  tile  is  principally  in  the  East,  and  for 
drain  tile  at  the  present  time  principally  in 
Northern  Ohio,  although  as  its  merits  and  ad- 
vantages become  known,  the  demand  is  extend- 
ing through  other  States.  The  yearly  products 
of  these  works  are  about  $10,000  in  value. 

The  planing-mill  and  factory  of  Snyder  & 
Blood  occupies  two  spacious  and  conveniently- 
arranged  buildings — one  36x70,  and  one  80x36, 
furnished  with  planing  machines,  door,  sash 
and  blind  machinery'  of  the  most  approved 
st3des  and  designs,  and  all  the  tools,  appliances 
and  machinery  pertaining  to  this  branch  of  in- 
dustry. The  power  used  at  their  factories  is 
one  thirty-five-horse-power  engine  and  boiler  ; 
and  their  yearly  business,  which  amounts  to 
not  less  tlian  $30,000,  is  principally  derived 
from  Summit  and  adjoining  counties.  The 
house  was  founded  in  1876,  by  the  present  pro- 
prietors. 

The  manufacture  of  rivets  is  becoming  quite 
an  important  industr}'  in  this  country,  and  has 
grown  very  rapidly  within  the  last  few  years, 
especially  in  the  West,  where  manufacturing  of 
every  description  is  constantly  assuming  greater 
proportions,  thus  bringing  into  active  and  aug- 
menting demand  the  thousand  and  one  items  in 
the  shape  of  material  entering  into  the  con- 
struction of  mechanical  appliances  and  appa- 
ratus. One  of  these  items  of  importance — as 
necessar}'  to  manufacturers  generally  as  nails 
to  the  house-builder — is  the  article  of  rivets. 
There  are  in  the  United  States  several  large  es- 
tablishments engaged  in  this  branch  of  indus- 
try, but  in  no  one  of  them  are  goods  turned 
out  superior  to  those  produced  by  the  Falls 
Rivet  Company. 

This  concern  went  into  operation  in  the  year 
1873.  The  works,  first  used  as  a  flouring-mill 
and  sash,  door  and  blind  factory,  are  fully  pi'o- 
vided  with  ingeniously  devised  laboi'-saving 
machinery  of  the  most  approved  mechanism, 
and  thus  they  are  enabled  to  produce  first-class 
goods  with  the  utmost  economy  practicable. 
They  use  the  best  Norway  iron  exclusively  in 
their  manufactures,  and  employ  thoroughly'  ex- 
perienced workmen.  Their  marked  success  in 
this  enterprise  is  measurabl}'  attributable  to  the 
high  standard  of  excellence  attained  by  their 
product,  and  they  are  determined  to  allow  none 
to  surpass  them  in  the  style,  finish  and  quality 
of  their  work.  Among  their  manifest  advan- 
tages is  that  of  favox'able  location,  as  regards 


VI 


CUYAHOGA    FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


495 


supplj'ing  the  Western  trade,  inasmuch  as  thej 
can  reach  the  Western  markets  six  days  in  ad- 
vance of  Boston.  Their  rivets  are  regarded  as 
'•  standard "  throughout  the  West,  and  are 
shipped  as  far  East  as  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  There  are 
several  large  users  of  these  goods  in  Akron, 
such  as  the  Whitman  &  Barnes  Manufacturing 
Company,  and  Aultman,  Miller  &  Company. 

The  Falls  Rivet  Company  was  recently  incor- 
porated under  the  State  law,  with  a  capital  of 
$100,000.  They  are  working  a  full  force  of 
men,  in  the  manufactui-e  of  all  kinds  and  styles 
of  iron  rivets,  both  block  and  tinned,  including 
carriage,  block,  machine,  tire,  hame,  belt,  coop- 
ers' and  wagon  box,  riveting  burrs,  wagon  and 
hinge  nails.  They  guarantee  every  pound  of 
their  goods  to  be  of  the  best  quality.  Special- 
sized  or  shaped  goods  in  their  line  of  manu- 
facture are  made  to  order  on  short  notice,  and 
at  the  lowest  prices. 

The  factory  of  this  company  is  a  commo- 
dious two-story  building,  situated  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river,  and  is  supplied  with  abund- 
ant water  and  steam  power,  together  with 
every  requisite  convenience  and  appliance  for 
the  rapid  production  of  the  goods  made  here. 

C.  Kittleberger's  tannery  was  established  a 
number  of  years  ago  by  the  present  proprietor, 
whose  business  since  that  time  has  steadily 
increased.  The  tannery  building  proper,  is 
60x50  feet  in  size,  containing  two  floors  ;  and 
the  currying  building,  which  is  also  two  stories, 
covers  an  area  of  24x48.  Both  buildings  are 
thoroughly  equipped  with  all  the  necessary 
machinery  and  appliances,  and  one  sixteen- 
horse-power  engine  supplies  the  motive  power 
required.  Mr.  Kittleberger  manufactures  and 
carries  in  stock  every  variety  of  calf,  kip,  up- 
per and  harness  leather,  making  a  specialty  of 
the  latter  article,  in  which  line  he  has  estab- 
lished a  wide-spread  reputation.  He  is  at  all 
times  prepared  to  pay  cash  for  hides  and  pelts 
at  the  very  highest  market  rates.  His  trade, 
which  amounts  to  nearly  $20,000  per  annum, 
extends  both  East  and  West,  and  the  products 
of  this  tannery  meet  with  a  ready  sale  in  all 
parts  of  the  United  States. 

The  flouring-mill  of  Turner,  Vaughn  &  Tay- 
lor, was  first  built  for  a  planing-mill  by  Henry 
Newberry,  and  was  run  b}'  him  in  company 
with  Henry  A.  Sill.  It  was  soon  after  leased 
by  Penfleld  &  Starr,  who  changed  it  into  a  pa- 
per-mill.    It  afterward  passed  into  the  hands 


of  Henry  Wetmore,  who,  in  company  with  a 
man  named  Wright,  ran  it  for  a  time.  But  it 
passed  again  into  Mr.  Newberry's  hands,  who 
removed  the  paper  machiner}^  and  changed  it 
to  a  grist-mill,  for  which  purpose  it  is  still  oc- 
cupied.    It  does  custom  work. 

Buildings  were  first  erected  upon  the  dam  of 
what  is  known  as  the  Chuckery  Company,  in 
the  south  part  of  the  village,  for  making  shov- 
els, forks,  etc.  These  buildings  were  slight 
and  soon  went  to  decay.  They  came,  finally, 
into  the  hands  of  John  Hinde,  who  rebuilt 
them  and  employed  them  in  making  rope  and 
twine.  He  afterward  changed  them  into  a  mill 
for  making  coarse  bagging.  The  manufactory 
is  now  closed. 

The  Improved  Barber  and  Dental  Chair  Com- 
pany, of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  manufactures  L.  W. 
Boys'  improved  quadruple  motion  revolving 
barber  and  dental  chairs.  The  President  of 
the  company  is  H.  M.  Stanley  ;  the  Secretary 
and  Treasurer,  C.  H.  Reeve  ;  the  Superintend- 
ent, L.  W.  Boys.  The  last  named,  after  sev- 
eral years  of  close  application  to  the  matter  of 
inventing  a  barber  and  dental  chair,  at  length 
produced  the  one  now  being  manufactured  by 
this  company. 

The  Blakeslee  Manufacturing  Company  has 
works  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  The  com- 
pany manufactures  machine-forged  nuts,  bridge 
and  tank  rivets,  forged  nut  machines,  heading 
machines  for  heading  rivets,  track  bolts,  plow 
bolts  and  square  or  hexagon  head  bolts. 

The  grist-mill  known  as  James'  Mill,  was 
built  for  and  run  as  an  oil-mill.  It  is  now 
owned  by  B.  F.  Thompson,  and  stands  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river.  Mr.  James,  many  years 
ago,  purchased  the  mill  and  repaired  it.  He 
ran  it  until  July,  1880,  when  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  the  present  proprietor.  The  mill 
does  custom  work  and  has  two  run  of  stone. 

The  rolling-mill  and  forge  near  by  were  long 
the  property  of  Israel  James.  They  are  now 
run  by  Robert  Turner. 

The  Taylor  Wire  Cloth  Company  which  manu- 
factured, for  several  years,  all  kinds  of  wire 
cloth,  riddles,  selves  and  wire  goods  generally, 
was  incorporated  under  the  Ohio  laws,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1874.  It  is  not  now  operating  as  a 
manufacturing  company.  The  pottery  of  Hol- 
loway  &  Hoots,  formerly  a  glue  factory,  is  no 
longer  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  stone- 
ware. 


:(x: 


iJ 


^ 2) 


ki* 


496 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


In  concluding  this  sketch  of  the  manufact- 
ures of  Cu\-ahoga  Falls,  it  maj-  be  said  that 
although  its  romantic  and  beautiful  surround- 
ings have  given  to  this  localit}-  a  wide-spread 
reputation  as  a  pleasure  resort,  its  various  in- 
dustrial and  manufacturing  establishments, 
have  contributed  in  a  more  practical  manner 
to  its  fame. 

There  are  many  industries  in  the  village 
besides  its  manufactories,  deserving  mention, 
at  least,  in  a  sketch  of  the  '•  Cuj-ahoga  Falls  of 
to-da3^"     The  following  ma}-  be  noted : 

Agricultural  Implements — Jones  &  Howe. 

Attorneys  at  Law— J.  C.  Castle,  Charles  Fill- 
ins,  E.  C.  Kuggles. 

Bakers— F.  Link,  Fred  Ikins. 

Bank — International  Bank. 

Billiards — Hoyt  &  James,  M.  Deafendorf. 

Book  Binders— A.  R.  Knox,  John  H.  Brain- 
erd. 

Books  and  Stationery— F.  S.  Heath  &  Co., 
H.  F.  Bannard. 

Boots  and  Shoes — John  Cook,  George  Han- 
son, Henry  Plum. 

Builders — Harvey  Snyder. 

Carriage  Makers— W.  A.  Allen  &  Co.,  Clay- 
ton &  Reid. 

Cigar  Manufacturers — T.  J.  Francisco. 

Clothing — H.  E.  Howard. 

Coal  and  Wood— W.  M.  Griswold,  Phillip 
Thomas,  Thomas  Brothers. 

Dentist — A.  B.  Curtiss. 

Dress  Making — Mrs.  Charles  Dow,  Mrs. 
Alice  Dow,  Miss  Hurley. 

Druggists— F.  S.  Heath  &  Co.,  H.  F.  Bannard. 

Dry  Goods— I.  A.  Mather,  0.  B.  Beebe  &  Co., 
Groves,  Quilty  &  Co. 

Furniture — S.  Brown. 

Grocers — A.  Patterson,  J.  H.  Byrne,  P.  L. 
Norton,  Isaac  Lewis  &  Son,  L.  D.  Williams, 


Jones  Brothers,  G.  L'Hommedieu,  J.  L'Hom- 
medieu. 

Harness  and  Saddles — Ezra  Saxe,  H.  Avery. 

Job  Printing— E.  O.Knox,  F.  H.  Duffy. 

Livery  Stables— C.  H.  &  W.  Moon,  A.  L. 
Gilbert,  Jr.,  W.  M.  Post. 

Lumber — Harvej^  Sn^'der. 

Mai'ble  Works — Wiemer  Brothers. 

Meat  Markets— S.  D.  Tifft,  Andrew  Porter, 
Briese  &  Martin. 

Restaurant — G.  Bitterman. 

Merchant  Tailoi' — Augustus  Seidshlag. 

Millinery — George  A.  Brock,  Annie  Don- 
nelly. 

Photographer— Henry  L.  Shumwa}'. 

Physicians— T.  F.  Heath,  G.  C.  Upson,  W. 
S.  Hough,  A.  H.  Bill,  H.  W.  Carter. 

Undertaker — S.  Brown. 

Wagon  Makers — Clayton  &  Reid,  Allen  & 
Co. 

Watches,  Clocks  and  Jewelry — 0.  B.  Carr, 
C.  M.  Hibbard. 

House  and  Sign  Painters — Alfred  Letts, 
Sames  Hogarth. 

Insurance  Agents — William  Southmayd,  W. 
A.  Hanford,  Dr.  T.  F.  Heath,  A.  H.  Bill. 

Village  Express — W.  M.  Griswold. 

Barbers — David  Berkhimer,  L.  W.  Boys,  H. 
W.  Johns,  F.  Ransom. 

Blacksmiths — Joseph  Jones,  S.  Loveland, 
H.  McKay. 

Crockery  and  Glass  Ware — L.  W.  Loomis. 

Stoves  and  Tinware — G.  J.  Parks,  L.  W. 
Loomis. 

Coopers — Jacob  Weiduer,  Andrew  Schmidt, 
David  Hawn. 

Hardware — G.  J.  Parks. 

Hotels — Perry  House,  Bouys  House,  Glen 
House. 


^ 


>> 


NORTHAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 


497 


CHAPTER    XVIII.* 

NORTHAMPTON     TOWNSHIP— ITS     EAllLY     HISTORY  —  PHYSICAL     FEATURES  —  COMING    OF    THE 
WHITKS—  INCIDENTS—  PIONEER  INDUSTRIES— RELIGIOUS— EDU- 
CATIONAL—STATISTICS,  ETC. 


"NORTHAMPTON  TOWNSHIP  comprises 
J_\|  twenty-five  square  miles  of  territory,  and 
was  included  in  an  immense  grant  by  King 
Charles  II  of  England,  in  A.  D.  1665,  to  the  State 
of  Connecticut,  of  which  a  large  portion  now 
comprises  the  State  of  Ohio.  All  that  portion 
of  the  grant  not  included  in  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut was,  in  1786,  released  to  the  United 
States,  except  that  included  in  the  following 
boundar}-  :  North  b}'  the  parallel  of  42°  2',  east 
by  the  western  line  of  Pennsylvania,  south  by 
forty-first  degree  of  north  latitude,  and  westb}^  a 
line  82°  55',  west  longitude.  This  tract,  the 
"  Connecticut  Western  Reserve,"  was  laid  off  into 
townships  five  miles  squai'e,  and  numbered  from 
south  to  north,  beginning  on  the  forty -first  de- 
gree north  as  a  base,  and  the  ranges  to  succeed 
each  other  b}'  increasing  numbers  westward, 
the  Pennsylvania  line  being  taken  as  a  starting 
point.  Northampton,  being  fift}'  miles  west 
from  Pennsylvania  and  ten  miles  north  from 
the  foity-first  parallel,  took  its  place  as  Range 
1 1  and  Town  3.  That  portion  of  Northampton 
lying  east  of  the  Cuyahoga  River  was  held  and 
occupied  by  the  Indian  tribes  till  the  treaty  of 
Fort  Mcintosh,  in  1785,  when  it  was  ceded  by 
them  to  the  United  States,  and  in  May,  1801, 
the  State  of  Connecticut  also  ceded  to  the 
United  States  its  jurisdiction  over  this  territo- 
ry, and  the  President,  Jolm  Adams,  by  patent, 
conveyed  it  back  to  the  Governor  for  the  use  of 
the  grantees  of  that  State.  Thus  the  title  was 
passed  from  the  Indians  and  through  the  sev- 
eral Governments,  to  secure  its  validity,  and 
was  then  sold  by  the  State  of  Connecticut  to 
what  was  known  as  the  Connecticut  Land  Com- 
pany, which  secured  to  them  about  four  mill- 
ion acres,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200,000,  averaging 
30  cents  per  acre.  This  company'  then  con- 
veyed its  title  to  the  lands  to  John  Morgan, 
Jonathan  Brace  and  John  Caldwell,  to  hold  in 
trust  for  the  proprietors,  and  they  lived  to  sell 
or  dispose  of  all  the  land,  and  thus  closed  their 

*  Contributed  by  VVllliam  Prior. 


trust.  Those  wishing  to  purchase  would  pay 
over  their  money  and  take  certificates,  which 
were  numbered  and  drawn  by  lotter}^  but  the 
book  of  drafts,  in  which  the  account  of  these 
drawings  was  kept,  is  not  received  as  legal  evi- 
dence, yet  it  is  upon  this  that  all  the  titles  to 
lands  are  based,  as  shown  b}'  the  records  of  our 
Trumbull  County.  In  this  Book  of  Drafts  is 
found  Town  3,  Range  11  (Northampton),  as  the 
seventeenth  draft,  and  thus  passed  to  the  own- 
ership of  W.  Billings,  Oliver  P.  Holden,  Solo- 
mon Stodard,  Jr.,  John  Stodard,  Daniel  Wright, 
Joseph  Pratt,  Luther  Loomis,  David  King, 
John  Levitt,  Jr.,  Ebenezer  King,  Jr.,  Timothy 
Phelps  and  Fidelio  King. 

This  township  was  first  included  within  the 
limits  of  Washington  County,  with  its  seat  of 
justice  at  Marietta.  It  afterward  belonged  to 
Jefferson  Count}',  with  its  county  seat  at  Steu- 
benville,  next  to  Trumbull  County,  erected  in 
the  year  1800,  with  its  Court  of  Quarter  Ses- 
sions (similar  to  our  Common  Pleas),  under  the 
Territorial  Governor,  St.  Clair,  located  in  War- 
ren. It  next  passed,  in  1808,  under  the  juris- 
diction of  Portage  Count}',  with  count}'-seat  at 
Ravenna,  and  finally  became  one  of  the  sixteen 
townships  of  Summit  County,  in  1840,  with  its 
seat  of  justice  at  Akron. 

The  outline  boundary  of  Northampton  as 
other  townships  along  the  Cuyahoga  River,  was 
completed  by  a  surveying  party  of  thirteen  men 
sent  out  from  Connecticut  in  1797,  but  its  re- 
survey  into  quarter-section  lots  was  made  by  a 
party  under  John  Stodard  some  time  after,  and 
it  is  said  that,  in  their  journey  to  this  place,  they 
bought  at  Buffalo  a  15-gallou  keg  of  French 
brandy  to  be  used  in  the  work,  which  may  ac- 
count for  the  irregular  lines  and  erroneous  metes 
and  bounds  in  the  survey.  As  the  brandy  be- 
came exhausted  before  the  township  was  com- 
pleted, part  of  the  men  were  sent  back  for  a 
fresh  supply,  and  while  they  were  absent,  those 
remaining  put  in  their  time  laying  out  a  village 
plat  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Lot  26,  now 


W 


498 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


owned  by  James  Harrington  and  Amos  L.  Rice. 
This  was  a  "  village  on  paper,"  nothing  more. 
The  lots  of  this  township  were  numbered  from 
north  to  south,  commencing  on  the  east  side, 
and  were  intended  to  contain  160  acres  each, 
but  owing  to  causes  before  referred  to,  and  per- 
haps some  others,  they  frequentl}'  overrun 
from  5  to  40  acres,  while  others  fell  short.  The 
south  tier  of  lots  were  of  full  length,  but  only 
a  few  rods  in  width,  and  were  called  a  "  gore." 
Of  the  aboriginal  six  nations  occupying  ter- 
ritor}'  east  of  the  Cuyahoga  lliver,  the  fierce 
and  warlike  tribe  of  Tawas  controlled  Northamp- 
ton, except  that  part  west  of  the  river,  which 
was  occupied  by  the  remnant  of  Mingoes,  of 
whom  the  celebrated  Logan  had  been  chief, 
with  their  town  near  the  west  line  of  the  town- 
ship, and  a  fort  and  earthwork  for  defense  just 
over  in  Bath.  Within  a  radius  of  half  a  mile 
are  numerous  mounds  as  large  as  fifty  or  sixty 
feet  in  circumference,  and  from  five  to  ten  feet 
high,  which  are  overgrown  with  large  trees. 
Another  fortification  opposite  this,  and  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river  containing  one-half  an 
acre,  is  in  the  center  of  a  cultivated  field,  and 
now  nearl}'  obliterated  by  the  frequent  turnings 
of  the  plowshare.  Another  is  at  a  place  where 
Hales  and  Furnace  run  from  the  west,  with 
banks  nearly  a  hundred  feet  high,  approach  so 
closely  as  to  form  a  sliding  ridge,  so  that  but 
one  person  can  be  admitted  at  a  time,  thence 
diverging  to  several  rods  in  width,  terminating 
in  banks  too  high  for  ascent.  In  this  plat  are 
holes  arranged  in  a  square,  and  about  ten  feet 
from  each  other,  which  seem  to  have  been  used 
for  cisterns  or  store-rooms,  and  are  nearly  filled 
with  dirt.  To  the  south  of  this  and  near  its 
narrowest  point  are  the  remains  of  a  breast- 
work over  eight}'  feet  in  length,  with  an  inside 
moat.  The  engineering  skill  displaj-ed  in  the 
location  and  construction  of  these  fortifications 
for  defense,  is  unquestionably  of  a  high  order 
for  savages.  In  tlie  forest  near  where  Yellow 
Creek  crosses  under  the  canal,  is  an  extensive 
Indian  or  pre-historic  burying-ground,  covered 
with  full-grown  trees,  and  from  its  numerous 
graves  must  have  been  the  final  I'esting-place 
of  an  immense  population.  Specimens  of  earth- 
ern  dishes  have  been  taken  from  their  graves, 
but  the  early  date  of  the  ancient  race  that  peo- 
pled these  regions  is  lost  and  forgotten.  We 
have  evidences  of  existence,  which  proves  they 
were  numerous  and  the  fortifications  show  their 


warlike  character.  Their  burial  mounds  hand 
down  to  coming  generations  an  evidence  that 
they  wished  to  perpetuate  a  memory  of  names 
and  deeds.  But  of  that  nothing  now  remains. 
"  Their  history  is  unwritten  and  they  themselves 
forgotten  and  unknown." 

It  was  to  these  fortifications  in  Northampton 
that,  in  the  summer  of  1780,  Capt.  Samuel 
Brady,  commander  of  a  company  of  rangers 
from  Chartier  Creek,  Penn.,  pursued  a  band  of 
warriors  who  had  crossed  over  into  that  State, 
committing  depredations,  murder  and  plunder. 
Retreating  back  to  their  defenses,  they  here 
received  the  attack,  when  a  fierce  and  bloody 
battle  ensued.  With  forces  largely  outnum- 
bering his  own,  they  defeated  him  and  put  his 
men  to  flight.  Singling  out  Brady  and  leaving 
all  the  rest,  he  was  hotly  pursued  till  he 
arrived  at  the  Cuyahoga  River  in  Franklin, 
just  north  of  whei'e  the  bridge  now  stands,  on 
the  Ravenna  road.  Here,  to  hem  him  in,  they 
closed  round,  and  with  loud  shouts  of  ti'iumph 
they  thought  their  prisoner  safe.  Perpendicular 
rocks  here  form  both  banks  of  the  river,  with 
a  chasm  twenty-two  feet  across.  With  a 
bound  impelled  by  the  energy  of  despair  and 
the  certainty  of  death  for  failure,  he  cleared 
the  abyss  and  gained  the  opposite  bank,  and, 
while  his  pursuers  were  hunting  a  place  to 
cross,  he  ran  to  a  little  lake,  called  "  Brady's 
Lake  "  to  this  day,  and  sunk  his  bod}'  under 
the  surface  of  the  water,  where  he  remained, 
breathing  through  a  hollow  weed,  until  his 
enemies  abandoned  the  search,  when  he  made 
his  escape. 

A  celebrated  Tawa  chieftain  lived  here, 
called  by  the  Indians  Stig-wan-ish,  and,  by  the 
whites,  Seneca.  He  was  a  fine  athletic  speci- 
men, tall,  dignified,  and  of  pleasing  address  ; 
could  swing  a  robe  over  his  shoulders  as  grace- 
fully as  an  oriental  prince.  In  youth,  he  had 
been  addicted  to  habits  of  intemperance,  and, 
in  a  drunken  tantrum,  had  attempted  to  kill  his 
squaw,  but,  missing  her,  sunk  his  tomahawk 
into  the  head  of  his  favorite  papoose,  which 
was  lashed  to  her  back.  This  sobered  him, 
and  he  afterward  drank  only  cider  and  wine 
very  sparingly.  Stigwanish  was  civil  and 
friendly,  had  two  beautiful  squaws  for  wives, 
and  lived  in  his  wigwam  until  the  whites  built 
him  a  block-house  on  the  river  to  protect  him 
from  his  enemies.  Indians  remained  here  on 
friendly   terms  with  the  whites,  except  when 


-    to 


l!t^ 


NOKTHAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 


499 


crazed  with  "  fire-water,"  until  1812,  when  on 
the  breaking-out  of  war,  thc}^  joined  the  Brit- 
ish. Onl}'  five  of  them  ever  after  returned, 
and  those  formed  a  camp  in  the  great  bend  of 
the  river,  where  Capt.  Mills,  of  Portage  Coun- 
ty, with  his  Indian  haters  and  hunters,  at- 
tacked and  fired  upon  them  in  the  night,  killing 
four  of  the  five.  The  other  one  escaped,  and 
was  the  "  last  of  the  Tawas  "  in  Northampton. 

Indian  Wilson  was  notorious  for  drunken- 
ness, and  when  in  that  condition  was  ugly. 
Returning  one  day  from  Hudson,  where  he  got 
"  cockazy,"  as  the  Indians  called  it,  he  stopped 
in  a  house  where  he  found  a  woman  and  two 
little  children  alone.  Seizing  them  by  the 
hair,  he  flourished  his  scalping-knife  as  if  in- 
tending to  take  their  scalps,  and,  after  fright- 
ening them  to  his  heart's  content,  left.  Soon 
after,  came  in  Williams,  who  was  brought  up 
at  Indian  Wheeling.  He  was  without  educa- 
tion, and  the  only  things  he  had  ever  learned 
thoroughly  were  to  love  his  gun  and  hate  the 
Indian.  This  Williams  called  at  that  house 
soon  after  the  Indian  left,  and,  hearing  the 
woman's  stor}'^  he  went  out  with  his  gun,  and 
the  Indian  was  not  heard  from  for  years,  when 
Williams  owned  to  having  shot  him  as  he  was 
crossing  the  marsh  stream  on  a  log,  from 
which  he  fell,  and  Williams  then  pushed  him 
down  into  the  soft  muck  far  as  he  could  reach 
with  his  gun.  Another  one  of  a  similar  ugl}' 
disposition  lived  in  this  township,  who  fre- 
quently boasted  of  his  success  in  killing  pale- 
faces. The  ninety-nine  notches  cut  in  the 
handle  of  his  tomahawk  represented,  he  said, 
the  number  he  had  scalped  and  killed,  but  he 
would  not  feel  satisfied  till  one  more  was  add- 
ed. He,  too,  "  came  up  missing,"  and  Williams 
used  to  say  significantl}^  that  some  one  else 
wou'd  have  to  cut  the  hundredth  notch  for  the 
Indian  himself. 

The  eastern  part  of  this  township  is  gently 
rolling  or  level,  while  the  western  is  very  broken 
and  hill^^  with  deep  ravines  coursing  their  way 
down  to  the  Cuyahoga  River,  which  flows 
across  the  whole  breadth  of  the  township  from 
south  to  north  in  a  line  nearly  parallel  with  its 
western  boundary.  Intersected  by  the  eastern 
line  is  Mud  Brook  Pond  from  which  a  stream, 
by  the  same  name  flows  south,  then  southwest, 
across  that  corner  of  the  township,  and  becomes 
a  tributary  to  the  river  at  Old  Portage.  The 
soil  along  the  river  valley  is  exceeding  rich  and 


fertile,  producing  crops  of  corn  equal  to  any 
other  lands  of  Ohio,  but  some  portions  of  the 
uplands  are  sterile.  The  most  valuable  timber 
is  oak,  of  which  the  forests  produced  the  great- 
est abundance  and  of  excellent  qualit}'.  The 
other  varieties  were  beech,  maple,  hickory,  ash 
and  elm,  with  more  limited  quantities  of  black- 
walnut,  butternut  and  whitewood. 

Northampton  at  its  settlement  was  a  dense 
wilderness  peopled  only  by  Indians,  and  in- 
fested with  wild  animals.  The  first  white  man 
who  settled  here  was  Simeon  Prior,  with  his 
wife  and  ten  children.  They  were  from  West- 
field  River,  near  Northampton,  Mass.,  and 
landed  at  Cleveland,  from  an  open  boat,  in 
July,  18U2,  the  year  Ohio  was  admitted  as  a 
State  into  the  Union.  Cleveland  was  then  but 
a  hamlet  of  log  cabins.  Mr.  Prior  then  came 
to  Hudson  which  had  been  settled  two  years 
earlier.  He  left  the  famil}"  here  until  the  new 
home  was  hunted  up  in  the  woods.  A  log 
cabin  was  built  on  east  part  of  Lot  25,  in  North- 
ampton, and  in  August  the  family  moved  in. 
Simeon  Prior  purchased  400  acres,  of  which 
one  lot — No.  19 — is  still  owned  by  his  descend- 
ants and  heirs.  Lot  33,  now  owned  bj'  D.  G. 
Myers,  was  also  a  part  of  this  original  pur- 
chase. Their  nearest  neighbors  were  at  Hud- 
son, six  miles  distant,  with  no  roads,  no  con- 
veniences, no  comforts  ;  they  were  compelled 
to  be  self-reliant  and  dependent  on  their  own 
resources.  Meal  made  from  corn  pounded  fine 
on  a  stump,  was  the  material  from  which  bread 
was  made  mixed  with  water,  salted  and  baked 
on  a  split  shingle  before  the  open  fire.  Their 
meat  was  the  flesh  of  deer,  bears  and  turkeys 
killed  in  the  woods ;  their  clothing  from  flax, 
grown  upon  the  farm,  worked  up  into  cloth, 
and  all  of  which  was  done  by  different  mem- 
bers of  the  family.  Linen  and  tow-cloth  were 
the  domestic  staple  products,  but  for  winter 
wear  buckskin  moccasins,  pants  and  jackets 
were  used  until  in  after  years  when  sheep  could 
be  protected  from  the  wolves,  and  woolen 
cloth  was  manufactured  by  the  family.  After 
settlement  had  become  more  general,  a  large, 
two-story  hewed-log  house  was  built,  which 
was  used  for  a  hotel  for  the  accommonation  of 
travelers.  A  blacksmith-shop  was  also  built 
and  furnished  with  tools  and  stock  brought 
here  with  their  household  goods. 

On  this  farm  Simeon  Prior  lived  till  his  de- 
cease, in  1837,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.     The 


f>  y 


^: 


500 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


family  becoming  of  age,  dispersed  and  settled 
in  different  places.  The  oldest  daughter,  Sarah, 
married  Joseph  Darrow,  of  Darrow  street,  a 
prominent  surveyor  at  that  time.  William,  the 
oldest  son,  went  south  to  Chillicothe,  the  first 
State  capital,  where  he  purchased  a  farm,  but 
soon  sold  it  and  returned  to  Northampton.  He 
married  Sarah  Wharton,  of  Indian  Wheeling, 
in  Virginia,  and  lived  in  Northampton  till  his 
death  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  ninet}'.  David 
bought  a  farm  in  Stow  Township,  where  he 
lived  for  many  3'ears,  but  sold  out  and  went  to 
Missouri  where  he  died.  Gurden,  the  last  sur- 
viving member  of  the  family-,  sold  his  farm 
here,  a  part  of  the  old  original  homestead,  and 
moved  to  Iowa,  where  he  now  lives  in  comfort 
on  the  divide  between  the  two  great  waters,  the 
Missouri  and  Mississippi.  The  first  marriage 
lisense  issued  in  Portage  County,  was  for  one 
of  the  daughters,  Polly,  who  married  Eben 
Kennedy.  Erastus  and  Pinkney  also  moved 
West  and  died  in  Iowa.  Jerusha,  Eliza,  Judith 
and  Elisha  remained,  lived  and  died  in  Summit 
County. 

The  next  family  moving  into  this  township 
was  that  of  David  Parker,  from  Hartford,  Conn. 
His  residence  was  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  where 
the  Smith  road  now  comes  down  into  the  val- 
ley. He  built  the  first  saw-mill  on  the  Yellow 
Creek,  in  Northampton,  and.  soon  after  its  com- 
pletion, took  malarial  fever  and  died.  His  son, 
Richard  E.  Parker,  now  of  Akron,  was  the  first 
white  male  child  born  in  Northampton,  at  the 
date  of  March  9,  1811. 

In  1809,  Samuel  King  moved  in  with  his 
family,  settling  at  Old  Portage,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  and  built  a  tavern  and  store,  and 
embarked  in  many  useful  enterprises.  He 
reared  a  family  of  eiglit  children,  some  of  whom 
filled  places  of  honor,  trust  and  responsibilit}'. 
While  the  canal  was  building,  Ambrose  King, 
a  son,  held  the  oflflce  of  Constable,  and,  with  a 
warrant,  went  to  arrest  an  Irish  laborer  for 
some  offense,  and  found  him  in  an  unfinished 
lock-pit  above  Old  Portage,  in  company  with  a 
gang  of  other  workmen,  who,  when  ascertaining 
King's  business,  refused  to  permit  the  arrest, 
surrounded  him,  threatening  to  take  his  life. 
Armed  with  picks,  spades  and  cudgels,  the}' 
cornered  him  in  the  lock.  With  only  a  horse- 
pistol  for  defense,  he  warned  them  to  desist ; 
but,  instead,  they  made  a  charge  when  he  fired, 
the  ball  striking  one  of  them  on  his  rib,  glanc- 


ing off  without  inflicting  a  serious  wound. 
Being  ver}-  active,  he  sprang  up  the  steep  bank 
and  ran  for  his  life ;  was  followed,  overtaken, 
knocked  down  and  beaten  with  clubs  until  sup- 
posed to  be  dead.  His  friends  hearing  of  the 
affra}^  sent  a  wagon  for  him,  put  him  in  it,  and 
started  for  Akron,  followed  by  the  workmen, 
with  threats  and  imprecations.  Meeting  a 
ph3'sician,  they  halted,  while  an  examination 
was  made,  and  King  was  pronounced  3'et  alive. 
"  Then,"  shouted  an  excited  Irishman  standing 
by,  "  we  will  kill  him  yet,"  striking  a  blow  at 
his  head  with  a  long  club,  but  the  horses  were 
frightened  and  started  off,  and  the  blow  missed 
its  mark.  Then  the  furious  laborer  turned 
upon  a  German  standing  b}-,  and,  with  a  sweep- 
ing blow  of  his  club,  struck  him  on  the  head, 
from  which  he  fell  as  though  shot.  He  was 
left  with  the  Irish  and  never  seen  again.  It 
was  supposed  they  buried  him  secretly  at  night 
in  the  canal  bed,  where  he  could  not  be  found. 
This  aroused  indignation  and  vengeance  to  its 
highest  pitch.  Next  day  the  military  company 
was  called  out,  armed  with  rifles  and  ammuni- 
tion ;  a  bottle  of  whisk}'  was  passed  round, 
and  a  battle  and  bloodshed  were  imminent. 
Just  then  a  rider  came  dashing  up,  his  horse 
covered  with  dust  and  foam.  He  was  a  con- 
tractor, and  had  just  heard  of  the  diflSculty, 
and  asked  for  time  to  hold  a  consultation  with 
his  emplo^-es,  hoping  to  induce  a  surrender 
without  resistance.  He  rode  down,  found  them 
intrenched  for  defense,  and  explained  what 
folly  it  would  be  to  resist ;  that  every  man 
would  be  shot  down,  if  necessary,  to  make  the 
arrest.  They  laid  down  their  weapons,  surren- 
dered and  were  marched  to  Middlebury  for 
safe  keeping,  where  the  military  stood  guard 
till  the  trial  and  conviction  of  their  leader.  As 
King  recovered,  the  penalt}-  was  not  very  severe, 
and  peace  was  again  restored. 

The  first  hamlet  in  Northampton  Township 
was  old  Portage,  on  the  Cuyahoga  River,  near 
the  southern  boundary.  This  was  the  head  of 
navigation  on  this  stream,  and  the  northern 
terminus  of  the  "  carr}' "  between  the  Cuya- 
hoga and  Tuscarawas  Rivers.  It  was  a  recog- 
nized landmark  in  the  western  boundary  line 
of  the  United  States  in  the  treat}-  of  Ft.  Mcin- 
tosh in  1798.  This  place  became  famous  as  a 
trading-post  for  both  whites  and  Indians  before 
and  after  the  building  of  the  Ohio  and  Erie 
Canal.     Some  time  before  the  war  of  1812,   a 


^^ 


NORTHAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 


501 


Frenchman  moved  in  these  to  carr}^  on  a 
tratfle  with  the  Indians.  He  used  to  sell  them 
"fire-water  '  till  they  got  drunk,  then  reduce 
with  river  water  till  they  would  drink  them- 
selves sober.  Then  they  would  say,  "  Indian 
get  too  much  Cuyahog-guh,"  and  he  would 
have  to  make  it  strong  again.  In  weighing  out 
powder  and  lead  to  them  he  used  to  put  his 
hand  on  the  scales,  saying  it  weighed  just  a 
pound.  This  Frenchman  used  to  indulge  in 
some  ugly  traits  by  beating  and  flogging  his 
wife,  who  was  a  half-breed  Indian.  The  other 
squaws  would  interfere  to  save  her  from  such 
punishment,  but  she  would  beg  of  them  to  let 
her  alone,  "  for,"  she  said,  "  it  was  so  good 
making  up  again  she  really  enjoyed  the 
quarrel." 

After  the  canal  was  built,  it  was  for  a  time 
called  Booth's  Port,  after  Birdsey  Booth,  a 
surveyor,  and  some  goods  shipped  here  were 
so  directed,  but  the  old  name  has  been  retained. 
It  was  said  to  be  not  an  unusual  occurrence  for 
a  hundred  or  so  of  teams  to  be  seen  there  at 
one  time  engaged  in  receiving  and  transpoi'ting 
overland  the  goods  and  merchandise  shipped  by 
canal  for  places  as  far  east  as  Canfleld  and 
Warren,  south  for  Canton  and  Massillon^  and 
west  as  far  as  Medina. 

Robert  Thompson,  in  1813,  purchased  Lot 
No.  24,  now  owned  by  William  Viall,  Esq.  He 
raised  a  large  family  and  after  partly  clearing 
up  the  farm,  sold  and  moved  on  to  the  west  half 
of  Lot  No.  23,  where  he  lived  till  his  death. 
Part  of  this  place  is  yet  owned  and  occupied 
by  his  son,  Amos  Thompson.  Robert  Tliomp- 
son  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and,  in  the  earl}' 
times,  it  was  customary  for  the  tailor,  harness- 
maker  and  shoemaker  to  go  round  from  house 
to  house,  boarding  with  the  families,  while 
making  up  a  supply  of  such  goods  as  needed. 
Mr.  Thompson  used  to  make  himself,  while  on 
his  mission,  interesting  to  his  customers  by  the 
odd  and  funny  stories  he  knew  so  well  how  to 
relate,  emphasizing  the  jokes  by  a  sharp  bat  of 
his  hammer  on  the  sole  of  some  unfinished  shoe. 
Barcla}-  Hogue  was  a  harness-maker  who  used 
to  go  round  in  the  same  wa3^  carrying  his  awls 
and  clamps  with  him,  and  many  a  broad  "  back- 
band  "  hung  in  the  stables  for  years  as  relics 
of  that  old  and  easy  style.  Jesse  Ellis  was  an- 
other early  settler,  and,  besides  hunting  and 
fishing,  his  chief  occupation  was  burning  lime. 
His  wife  was  the  daughter  of  a  wealthy,  proud 


and  aristocratic  family  in  Canada,  and  their  en- 
gagement being  opposed  by  her  parents,  she 
eloped  with  Jesse,  and  married  at  the  age  of 
fourteen.  They  reared  a  family  of  twenty 
children,  the  first  being  born  when  the  mother 
was  fifteen  and  the  last  at  sixt^'-five.  She  is 
still  living,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one,  in  Kent 
County,  Mich.,  where  her  husband  died  in 
March,  1879,  aged  one  hundred.  Abel  Vallen 
was  one  of  the  first  to  settle  on  the  uplands 
west  of  the  river,  where  he  purchased  a  large 
tract  in  Lots  4,  5  and  6.  John  George  Bot- 
zum  located  on  the  north  half  of  Lot  76.  He 
was  a  Prussian,  from  Luxembourg,  and  recol- 
lected distinctly  hearing  the  cannonading  at 
the  battle  of  Waterloo. 

Walter  Waite  purchased  a  large  tract  in 
Lot  71,  where  he  built  a  house  and  set  an  or- 
chard, the  trees  of  which  are  standing  3'et,  and 
the  fruit  is  enjoyed  by  his  children's  children. 
The  settlers  in  the  northern  and  eastern  parts 
of  the  township  were  the  families  of  Burrill 
Viall,  William  Hill,  Benjamin  Templeton  (a 
singing-master),  William  McLoney,  John  Cow- 
ick,  David  Billman,  H.  Chase,  the  two  Dicker- 
son  families,  Jacob  Bonesteel,  John  Everett, 
George  Richardson,  Eli  Benedict  and  John 
Sapp.  Nearer  the  center  were  Thomas  Owens, 
Adam  Gallowaj',  John  Best,  Samuel  Hart, 
Reese  Jones,  Franklin  Carr,  C.  Davidson,  Dr. 
Rogers,  the  Coulters,  Tibbets,  Porters.  Lehman 
Bear,  Sweitzer  Fike,  Frank  Penfield  and  Dean. 
The  Job  Harrington  farm,  Lot  26,  was  first 
settled  on  by  Thomas  Yanhyning,  who  built  his 
house  on  the  east  side  of  State  road,  where  it  is 
crossed  by  the  center  road  going  east.  The 
spring  of  water  used  was  the  one  near  where 
Alvin  Kelso  now  lives.  Lot  14  was  settled  by 
Thomas  M.  Turner,  of  New  York,  who  left  that 
city  the  da}-  after  the  landing  and  reception  of 
La  Fa3'ette,  on  his  last  visit  to  America.  The 
impressions  made  by  that  grand  pageant  were 
not  forgotten  by  Mr.  Turner  while  he  lived. 
The  old  home  farm  is  now  owned  by  his  son, 
Thomas  M.  Turner.  Daniel  Turner  settled  on 
Lot  29,  and  built  his  house  on  the  low  ground 
between  the  hills,  and  planted  an  apple  or- 
chard around  it.  of  which  many  trees  yet  re- 
main. William  Carter,  a  brick-mason,  settled 
on  a  farm  adjoining.  He  built  the  I^rick  l)lock 
in  Franklin,  now  known  as  the  Kent  Alpaca 
Mills.  Henry  Billman  and  George  T.  Uhner 
took  farms  along  the  road  farther  west,  toward 


^ 


502 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


Portage.  Nathaniel  Hardy  purchased  a  large 
farm  on  the  Cuyahoga  River,  which  is  yet 
owned  by  his  sons.  Austin  Blacli,  who  was 
the  last  of  the  early  pioneers  in  Northampton, 
bought  Lot  37,  the  east  half  of  which  he  spent 
a  life  of  toil  in  clearing  up,  and  in  the  full  pos- 
session of  which  he  died  in  1 880.  Many  others, 
who  came  at  a  later  date  are  not  mentioned 
here. 

In  the  fall  of  1812,  an  army  for  the  protec- 
tion of  these  frontier  settlements  was  stationed 
at  Old  Portage,  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Wadsworth,  and  after  the  surrender  of  Gen. 
Hull,  this  post  was  re-enforced  witli  a  battalion 
under  Maj.  George  Harrow,  of  Hudson,  and 
Rial  McArthur  was  Captain  of  one  of  the  com- 
panies. Two  of  the  boats  composing  the  fleet 
on  Lake  Erie,  under  Commodore  Perry,  were 
built  at  Old  Portage.  They  were  launched  and 
floated  down  the  river  to  the  pineries,  and 
there  detained  for  masts,  and  while  the  build- 
ers were  preparing  them,  a  wild  porcupine  was 
killed,  and  from  this  one  of  the  boats  was 
named  the  "  Porcupine  "  and  the  other  "  Port- 
age," both  of  which  took  part  in  Perry's  battle, 
on  the  10th  of  September,  1812. 

In  1805,  one  Aaron  Norton,  afterward  Judge 
Norton,  of  Portage  County,  bought  of  Solomon 
Stodard  ten  acres  of  land  in  the  southeast  cor- 
ner. Lot  27,  now  comprising  the  waterfalls  and 
iron  bridge,  where  he  erected  the  first  grist- 
mill in  tlie  township.  This  was  duly  appre- 
ciated as  a  great  convenience  by  the  inhabit- 
ants of  this  and  adjoining  townships.  Previous 
to  this,  the  method  of  grinding  meal  was  to 
cut  a  tree  so  as  to  leave  a  concave  surface  in 
the  solid  stump,  shaped  like  a  wash  basin,  then 
bend  over  a  small  tree  or  sapling  for  a  spring- 
pole,  bringing  its  tip  over  the  stump.  To  this 
tie  a  barlv  or  wythe  and  suspend  an  iron  wedge, 
ax  or  other  weight,  for  a  pestle.  The  corn  was 
then  shelled  and  poured  in  the  stump,  and  the 
weight  taken  in  hand  when  the  pounding  pro- 
cess was  commenced,  and  was  continued  till  a 
tolerable  good  quality  of  meal  was  made.  The 
next  great  public  necessity  seemed  to  be  a  dis- 
tillery, and  one  was  built  on  the  present  site  of 
the  cheese  factory,  and  the  dammed  waters 
(this  is  not  intended  for  profanity)  of  the  little 
brook  from  the  opposite  side  were  piped  across 
to  be  used  in  the  distillery.  Gains  in  the 
rock  on  the  south  side  3-et  show  the  location  of 
that  ancient  dam.     This  building  was  destroyed 


by  fire,  and  another  distillery  was  erected  by 
Wyley  Hamilton  and  Aaron  Norton  just  below 
the  rock,  at  the  south  end  of  the  present  iron 
bridge.  It  was  so  situated  that  the  little  brook 
trickling  over  the  rock  was  taken  into  the 
building  high  enough  to  run  of  its  own  accord 
into  the  vats  or  still-tubs.  The  mill  property 
was  afterward  bought  by  Col.  Rial  McArthur, 
and  run  by  him  for  years.  When  the  distillery 
was  abandoned  as  a  manufactory  of  whisky,  it 
was  used  as  a  dwelling,  where  lived  Abraham 
Osborn  and  his  two  sons,  Elias  and  Arad,  who 
were  millers.  Afterward  it  was  used  as  a 
meeting-house,  then  for  a  schoolhouse,  and, 
finally,  went  to  ruins.  In  the  erection  of  the 
mill,  Mr.  Norton  employed  one  Seth  Webster, 
a  skilled  workman  from  Blanford,  Mass.,  as 
millwright.  Having  become  such  an  immod- 
erate drinker,  he  was  hired,  with  the  promise  of 
three  gallons  of  whisk}',  extra,  to  abstain  from 
drinking  the  day  the  mill  was  raised,  as  it 
stood  in  a  precipitous,  rock}',  and  dangerous 
place.  This  promise  he  kept,  and,  on  the  com- 
pletion of  the  work,  took  his  extra  allowance, 
and  in  company  with  a  colored  man,  started  on 
foot  to  Canton,  and  stopping  for  the  night  at  a 
camp  in  the  woods,  Webster  had  become  crazed 
with  whisk}'  and  called  for  some  water.  While 
his  traveling  companion  had  gone  after  it,  Web- 
ster, in  a  fit  of  delirium,  ran  out  into  the  woods, 
got  lost  and  died.  He  was  found  the  next 
morning.  It  was  rumored  that  he  had  been 
murdered,  but  he  undoubtedly  died  of  ddiriioti 
tremens,  and  his  body  was  covered  by  brush  to 
protect  it  from  the  wolves,  till  he  was  taken 
back  to  Northampton  for  burial.  He  was  tlie 
first  white  man  buried  in  the  township.  Another 
man  by  the  name  of  Burge,  from  Pennsylvania, 
was  employed  as  a  workman  on  tliis  mill,  who 
acquired  an  unenviable  reputation  on  account 
of  the  marvelous  an  incredible  stories  he  was 
in  the  habit  of  telling.  One  of  these  was  as 
follows  :  That  once  upon  a  time,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  shingling  a  mill  on  the  bank  of  a 
stream.  When  near  the  ridge  his  foot  slipped 
and  he  fell,  sliding  head  foremost  down  the 
roof.  At  the  eaves  he  caught  the  cornice  with 
his  hands,  and  turned  a  complete  somersault 
through  the  air,  and  fell  into  the  water  without 
being  harmed.  Immediatel}-  after  telling  this, 
he  was  sent  on  to  the  rock  shelf  to  fix  a  prop  to 
the  timbers  of  the  dam,  which  had  nearly-  filled 
with  water,  and  while  doing  this,  he,  by  some 


;k: 


^l^ 


NOKTHAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 


503 


unluck}'  mishap,  knocked  loose  the  fastening, 
when  the  dam  gave  way,  and  he  was  swept 
over  the  rocky  precipice  by  the  resistless  floods, 
falling  twenty  feet  into  the  chasm  below.  Those 
who  saw  him  swept  over  supposed  he  would  be 
either  crushed  by  the  timbers,  killed  in  the  fall, 
or  drowned  in  the  seething  waters.  They 
rusiied  down  below  to  hunt  for  his  mangled  re- 
mains, and  were  surprised  to  see  him  crawl  out 
with  tangled,  matted  hair,  eyes  and  mouth 
tilled  with  mud  and  sand  and  water  dripping 
from  his  person,  yet  unharmed.  As  this  seemed 
more  strange  and  incredible  than  anything  he 
had  told,  it  reversed  the  opinion  of  those  who 
thought  him  unreliable,  and  thereafter,  his 
reputation  for  truthfulness  improved,  while  he 
became  quite  a  hero. 

Rial  McArthur  sold  this  mill  to  Capt.  Law- 
ler,  an  educated  Irishman,  who  had  been  a 
teacher.  After  getting  possession,  he  claimed 
the  building  had  not  been  properly  constructed, 
and  needing  repairs,  he  took  out  the  machinery 
and  pulled  down  the  structure,  by  which  time 
his  money  had  become  exhausted,  and  he, 
drunken  and  dissipated,  took  to  staying  in  a 
cavern  some  twenty  rods  below  the  mill.  There 
he  had  placed  a  board  upon  the  rocks,  near  a 
trickling  spring,  from  the  rocky  ceiling  over- 
head. So,  while  lying  upon  his  board,  he 
could  reach  his  cup  for  a  drink  of  pure,  cool 
water  on  one  side,  or  his  jug  for  a  drink  of 
whisky  on  the  other — making  himself  happy  as 
Diogenes  in  his  tub,  until,  one  da}^  Arad  Os- 
born  and  a  young  friend,  walking  along  the 
bank  overhead,  heard  him  singing  below.  See- 
ing a  bowlder  lying  handy,  and  the  size  of  a 
salt-barrel,  they  rolled  it  over  the  bank,  and  it 
went  crashing  among  the  rocks  below,  as  if 
loosened  by  an  earthquake.  Excited  and  fright- 
ened, Lawler  ran  out,  calling  upon  tlie  Holy 
Saints  to  protect  him  from  destruction.  Not 
daring  to  go  back  there  again,  he  hired  a  boy 
to  bring  out  his  jug.  Provoked  at  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  mill  and  the  loss  of  payment  for  it, 
McArthur  ordered  him  to  leave  the  country, 
which  he  promptly  did,  and,  not  long  after,  was 
drowned  in  the  Upper  Cuyalioga.  His  summer 
resort  has  since  been  known  as  "  Lawler's  Cave." 

Mr.  Burnham  and  wife,  accompanied  by  a 
neighbor,  were  one  day  going  to  see  a  wild 
precipice,  half  a  mile  below  Lawler's  Cave. 
Twin  children,  Almira  and  Alvira,  were  with 
them.     Mrs.    Burnham   was   carrying    one   of 


them,  and  her  husband  the  other,  when,  just  at 
the  crest  of  a  short,  steep  hill,  down  which 
they  were  to  go,  Burnham's  foot  was  tripped 
by  a  root,  and  he,  unable  to  resist,  was  sent 
rapidly  down  to  the  very  verge  of  the  precipice, 
over  which  he  seemed  to  be  impelled  b}'  the 
momentum  he  had  acquii*ed,  when,  with  a  des- 
perate effort,  he  threw  back  the  child,  and  it 
caught  by  the  limbs  of  an  evergi-een  shrub, 
growing  from  the  crevices  of  the  rocks,  and 
was  thus  saved.  That  place  is  known  as 
"  Burnhams  Jump  Ofl^,"  to  this  day.  Just 
above  this  place  was,  in  early  days,  built,  by 
Moses  and  Oliver  Dewey,  a  saw-mill,  periiaps 
the  first  one  in  the  township  ;  but,  as  it  was  off 
the  line  of  the  main  road,  and  of  ditficult  ac- 
cess, went,  after  a  time,  into  disuse,  and,  as 
another  one  had  been  built  up  at  the  grist-mill, 
this  was  allowed  to  go  to  ruins.  In  1S24,  two 
brothers-in-law,  Elislia  Prior  and  Elisha  Per- 
kins, erected  a  saw-mill  about  two  miles  further 
up  this  stream,  which,  with  the  mill  erected 
by  F.  J.  French  and  Jesse  Hays,  manufactured 
most  of  the  lumber  used  in  the  buildings  of 
this  township,  besides  large  quantities  for  Cuy- 
ahoga Falls  and  Akron.  At  the  place  where 
the  State  road  crosses  this  stream,  the  cas- 
cade is  formed  bj^  a  broad,  shelving  rock,  pro- 
jecting far  out  over  the  retreating  cavern  be- 
low. Over  this  the  water  pours  in  a  veil  of 
glistening  lace-work,  behind  which  the  pedes- 
trian could  pass  under  the  unbridged  stream 
drj'-footed,  and  was  used  as  a  sort  of  dry-ford 
b}'  the  Indians.  From  the  gorge  below,  where 
William  Prior  and  sons  built  their  grist-mill,  a 
most  picturesque  and  beautiful  view  is  ob- 
tained. Looking  up  stream,  the  old  mill  on 
the  right,  the  shining  cascade  and  precipitous 
rocks  and  cavern,  while,  higher  up,  the  mason- 
ry and  airy  structure  of  the  iron  bridge,  grace- 
fully arching  the  stream  with  a  single  span,  the 
tapering  evergreen  trees  overhanging  their 
banks  and  casting  shadows  in  the  water,  with 
cheese-factory  and  gently  sloping  hills  in  the 
distance,  presents  a  picture  of  rare  beauty  and 
loveliness.  The  Prior  &  Perkins  saw-mill  was 
purchased  by  Harry  Pardee,  who.  in  1842. 
erected  in  connection  an  extensive  woolen  fac- 
tory, which  was  continued  in  successful  opera- 
tion for  many  years.  Besides  this,  a  chair-fac- 
tory, wood-turning  and  other  industries,  were 
carried  on,  but  being  remote  from  the  public 
road,  it  was  allowed  to  go  into  disuse. 


504 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


A  distillery  was  built  by  Abel  Vallen  in 
about  1814,  near  the  junction  of  Mud  Bi'ook 
with  the  Cuyahoga  River,  for  the  manufacture 
of  potato  whisky.  The  secret  of  this  process 
was  known  only  b}'  old  Mr.  Hovey,  who  im- 
parted his  skill  to  Samuel  Sage.  A  sufficient 
quantity  was  made  up  to  suppl}'  the  home  de- 
mand, which  was  quite  extensive,  besides 
freighting  an  open  barge,  which  was  sent  to 
Mackinaw,  and  disposed  of  with  satisfactory 
results.  Potato  whisky  was  fiery  and  "dev- 
ilish "  till  it  got  old  and  smooth,  when  it  be- 
came more  palatable,  and  was  considered  a  good 
article.  This  distillery  was  afterward  convert- 
ed into  a  castor-oil  factory,  and  the  people 
cultivated  Richius  communis^  but  not  in  suffi- 
cient quantities  to  keep  up  the  manufacture. 
In  later  years  the  dairying  business  was  sup- 
posed to  pay  better  than  Falma  Christi,  and  on 
the  site  of  the  old  distillery,  a  joint-stock  corn- 
pan}^  cheese  factory-  was  erected,  but  for  some 
cause  the  manufacture  of  cheese  has  been  also 
discontinued,  showing  this  to  be  a  fated  localit}' 
for  enterprise.  On  the  river  bank  in  Lot  72, 
Stephen  Ayres  erected  grindstone  works,  and 
supplied  a  necessity  to  the  local  trade,  besides 
shipping  largely  to  Cleveland.  In  the  same 
building  he  used  as  a  factory  he  bored  for  salt, 
and  at  a  depth  of  125  feet  entered  a  vein  of 
salt  water  and  gas.  He  intended  to  establish 
salt  works,  but  was  taken  off  by  the  yellow  or 
gold  fever  of  California,  in  1850,  and  the  prop- 
erty went  into  the  hands  of  L.  J.  Mix,  who  util- 
ized the  gas  for  light  and  fuel  for  his  residence, 
and  the  saline  waters  for  salting  his  stock  and 
curing  meat.  This  well  would  have  been  a 
great  boon  in  early  times  when  salt  had  to  be 
brought  from  Cleveland  on  pack-horses,  and 
cost  from  $25  to  $35  per  barrel.  Prospecting 
was  afterward  made  in  this  locality  for  petrole- 
um oil,  but  as  no  great  depth  was  ever  reached, 
the  search  was  a  failure.  A  pioneer  hunter  liv- 
ing two  miles  above  here  was  visited  one 
winter's  day  by  Julius  Sumner,  then  of  Middle- 
bury,  who  delighted  in  a  ramble  through  the 
forest  in  pursuit  of  game.  With  a  gun  on  his 
shoulder  he  started  down  the  Cu3'ahoga,  arriv- 
ing at  the  cabin  of  his  friend  at  sunset,  tired 
and  hungry  enough.  Being  invited  in  at  the 
door  through  which  he  was  hauling  great  logs 
of  wood  for  a  fire,  he  made  known  his  wants 
and  was  told  that  there  was  not  a  mouthful  of 
food  in  the  house,  but  that  a  deer,  killed  in  the 


morning,  hung  to  a  tree  just  over  the  river, 
which,  after  kindling  the  fire,  was  brought  over, 
sliced,  stuck  on  sticks,  and  held  over  the  fire  to 
broil.  In  the  absence  of  salt,  a  puncheon  floor 
plank  was  pulled  up,  which  covered  an  empty 
pork  barrel,  in  which  was  some  brine  ;  in  this 
they  saturated  the  cooking  venison,  and  ate  a 
heart}^  supper  seasoned  with  a  good  appetite. 
Next  day  a  boy  was  sent  to  mill  with  a  bag  of 
corn  for  meal,  and  a  jug  for  whisk}-,  when  feast- 
ing and  revelry  ensued. 

All  the  records  of  Northampton  Township 
showing  its  organization,  naming,  first  elec- 
tion and  officers  up  to  the  3'ear  1820,  were 
destroyed  by  fire  at  the  burning  out  of 
Capt.  Aaron  French.  The  only  original  doc- 
ument now  known  to  be  left  is  in  the  posses- 
sion of  J.  M.  Hale,  of  Akron.  It  is  part  of  a 
poll-book  tally-sheet,  from  which  the  date  has 
been  torn,  of  an  election  held  when  Northamp- 
ton and  Bath  must  have  constituted  one  elec- 
tion precinct.  There  were  eighteen  votes  cast, 
of  which  six  were  by  electors  living  in  Bath, 
The  following  named  persons  were  chosen  offi- 
cers :  Samuel  King,  Town  Clerk  ;  John  Hale, 
Simeon  Prior  and  David  Norton,  Trustees  ;  Wi- 
ley Hamilton,  Overseer  of  the  Poor ;  Elisha 
Perkins,  Constable  ;  William  Prior,  Israel  Par- 
ker and  Jason  Hammond,  Supervisors  ;  Luman 
Bishop,  Fence  Viewer  ;  and  Simeon  Prior,  Treas- 
urer. The  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  this 
township  was  Samuel  King.  The  principal 
township  officers  elected  April  3,  1820,  were 
Aaron  French,  Township  Clerk  ;  William  Prior, 
Abel  Woodward  and  James  French,  Trustees  ; 
and  Daniel  Turner,  Treasurer.  The  clerks 
elected  for  the  ten  succeeding  years  were  as  fol- 
lows :  1821,  Moses  Dewe}' ;  1822,  James  French  ; 

1823,  William  Prior  ;  1824, ;  1825,  Bees 

Jones,  who  refused  to  serve  ;  1826,  William 
Prior:  1827,  Gurden  Prior;  1828,  William 
Prior  ;  1829,  Oliver  Dewey  ;  and  April  5, 1 830, 
William  Prior,  and  the  persons  filling  that  place 
for  the  next  ten  ^-ears  to  1840  were  Gurden 
Prior,  Oliver  Dewey,  George  W.  Hogue,  Anson 
Greenman,  J.  C.  Alvord,  Henry  W.  Prior,  Peter 
Voris,  Jr.,  and  Daniel  Penfield.  Those  serving 
as  Township  Clerk  after  that  to  present  date 
were  Arad  Osborn,  four  terms  ;  Gurden  Prior, 
seven  terms  ;  Seth  W.  Harrington,  six  succes- 
sive terms  ;  J.  C.  Johnston,  seven  terms  ;  Will- 
iam Prior,  Jr.,  seven  successive  terms  ;  C.  L, 
Norton,  one,  and  A.  B.  Galloway,  two.     Daniel 


(^y^^'/^a-^^?^  /^U^yi^M4^^^' 


NORTHAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 


505 


Turner,  Hezekiah  King,  Elisha  Prior,  John 
Smith,  Rees  Jones,  Nathaniel  Hardy,  Job  Har- 
rington, Adam  Gallowa}'^,  Joseph  Wallace  and 
F.  L.  Harrington  have  filled  the  offices  of 
Treasurer,  and  Simeon  Prior,  Abel  Woodward, 
James  French,  Aaron  French,  Hezekiah  King, 
William  Prior,  Gribson  Gates,  Silas  Greenman, 
Job  Harrington,  Rial  McArthur,  Alvin  Wright, 
Rees  Jones,  Joseph  Sanford,  William  Norton, 
Nathaniel  Hardy,  Anson  Greenman,  Benjamin 
Templeton,  Cj'rus  Parker,  W,  H.  Boyce,  Frank- 
lin Carr,  Walter  Waite,  Jobn  Harrington, 
George  S.  Richardson,  0.  F.  Rice,  H.  W.  Prior, 
William  Hardy,  William  McLoney,  P.  D.  Hardy, 
George  Botzum,  Adam  Botzum,  Edwin  Folk, 
Abner  Hitchcock.  James  Harrington,  S.  S. 
Prior  and  Henry  Lowrey  have  at  some  time 
since  its  organization  officiated  as  Township 
Trustees. 

The  Ohio  and  Erie  Canal  was  laid  through 
this  township  along  the  Cuyahoga  River  in  1825, 
was  built  in  tw^o  3'ears,  and,  on  July  4,  1827, 
Job  Harrington  took  his  team  to  Akron,  and 
towed  the  first  boat  to  Cleveland.  On  board 
was  the  Governor  of  the  State,  and  other  im- 
portant officers,  with  many  eminent  citizens, 
and  a  band  of  music.  The  pomp  and  circum- 
stance of  this  trip,  with  banners  fluttering  in 
the  breeze,  and  inspiring  strains  of  music  echo- 
ing among  the  hills,  was  such  a  pageant  as 
never  before  witnessed.  Jonathan  Williams, 
the  old  Indian  hunter,  was  present,  as  the  boat 
moved  slowl}'  into  the  lock  at  Old  Portage,  and 
stood  gazing  in  wonder  and  astonishment  when 
a  friend  ventured  to  ask  his  opinion.  He  said 
it  "  looked  almost  exactly  as  he  expected  it 
would,  except  the  boat  was  about  three-eighths 
of  an  inch  too  long." 

Northampton  had  for  many  3'ears,  and  has 
not  yet  entirely  outgrown  its  reputation,  of 
having  a  grade  of  morals  scarcely  up  to  that 
of  the  more  fortunate  surrounding  townships. 
This  was  due  principally  to  the  influence  of  its 
distilleries,  and  the  fact  that,  at  and  after  the 
building  of  the  canal,  the  river  region  was  fre- 
quented by  rough  characters,  among  whom  was 
a  river  bully  b}'  the  name  of  Isaac  Wells,  who 
would  drink  whisky,  quarrel  and  fight  at  every 
opportunity.  Besides  this,  it  was  infested  with 
a  notorious  gang  of  counterfeiters  and  horse- 
thieves.  The  Mallett  brothers,  from  an  adjoin- 
ing township,  erected  a  ''  mint "  on  a  lonely  iso- 
lated point  of  land,  densel}'  covered  with  timber. 


and  ever  since  known  as  the  "  money  shop." 
Here  a  foundry  for  melting  mixed  metals  with 
molds,  dies,  plates,  engraver's  tools,  etc.,  were 
kept  secreted.  When  the  annoyance  to  the 
citizens  of  this  locality,  from  the  presence  of 
strange  and  suspicious  visitors,  became  no  longer 
endurable,  a  public  meeting  was  called,  and, 
by  mutual  agreement,  the  mint  was  destroyed. 
This  disconcerted  the  manufacturers  ;  but  the 
business  was  not  suspended.  Other  and  better 
secured  localities  were  provided,  where  bogus 
coin  was  minted,  and  counterfeit  bills  manu- 
factured extensively  for  the  trade  outside.  One 
of  the  leaders  of  this  gang,  a  man  of  portly, 
dignified  mein,  prepossessing  in  his  personal 
appearance,  generous  to  his  friends,  kind  and 
benevolent  to  the  poor,  always  read}^  to  relieve 
the  wants  and  suflferings  of  the  sick  or  distressed, 
had  so  won  the  affections  of  his  fellow-towns- 
men, that  he  was  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
which  office  he  was  filling  satisfactorily,  till 
arrested,  and  himself  taken  before  a  higher 
court,  tried,  convicted  and  sent  to  punishment. 
Even  there,  his  self-sacrificing  generosity  won 
him  hosts  of  friends,  and  made  him  con.spicuous 
among  all  the  others,  securing  for  him,  finall}^, 
his  restoration  to  freedom  and  citizenship.  The 
invasion  by  Asiatic  cholera,  so  fatal  in  many 
localities,  entered  the  precincts  of  his  prison 
walls,  claiming  more  than  its  share  of  victims 
from  among  these  unfortunate  people.  Here, 
standing  bj-  the  bedside  of  the  sick  and  dying, 
which  appalled  the  bravest  hearts,  he  did  not 
shrink  from  dut}',  and,  for  this  devotion,  he  was 
pardoned,  and  retired  to  quiet,  private  life. 
Notwithstanding  the  questionable  character  of 
some  of  its  earlier  inhabitants,  Northampton 
has  not  j'et  been  destitute  of  citizens  possess- 
ing as  high  a  grade  of  moral  principles,  honest 
integrity  and  respectibility  as  anj*  in  the  land. 
Joseph  Ritter  and  Jacob  Morton  came  on 
from  the  East  and  built  a  house  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river,  where  they  moved  in  and 
made  themselves  obnoxious  to  the  citizens  b}^ 
living  with  w^omen  to  whom  they  were  not  mar- 
ried. Neighbors  objected  to  the  scandal,  from 
this  pernicious  cause,  but  to  no  purpose  ;  quiet 
remonstrance  was  in  vain.  The}'  were  notified 
to  leave,  but  refused  to  go,  and  then  William 
Hardy,  Morris  Mills  and  Tra  Hovey  went  there 
in  the  daytime  and  commenced  tearing  down  the 
house.  Ritter  came  out  with  his  gun  to  shoot  the 
assailants,  but  was   seen    b}'  a  neighbor,  Mrs. 


)Rr 


J^ 


5U6 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Eddins,  who  screamed  with  fright.  Her  husband 
started  after  Hitter,  who  ran,  but  was  caught, 
the  gun  taken  from  him,  discharged  and  thrown 
away.  The  house  was  demolished  and  the  par- 
ties dispersed.  Next  da}^  a  warrant  was  issued 
by  Squire  Osborn  for  their  arrest,  and  Loveland, 
the  Constable,  went  first  to  Hovey's.  The 
young  man,  seeing  him,  ran  up  stairs  on  the 
ladder,  and  attempted  to  pull  it  up  after  him, 
but  the  lower  end  was  seized  by  the  Constable 
when  the  tug  commenced,  Mrs.  Hovey,  in  the 
meantime,  plying  the  broomstick  and  hot  words. 
Loveland  secured  the  ladder,  and  when  part 
way  up  his  cornered  prisoner  kicked  a  hole 
through  the  clapboard-roof  and  went  out,  jump- 
ing to  the  ground  fastened  the  door  outside, 
got  on  the  Constable's  horse  and  rode  off.  Har- 
dy was  next  found  on  a  load  of  hay,  but  re- 
fused to  get  off  to  be  arrested,  so  the  warrant 
was  returned  without  producing  the  prisoners 
in  court,  and  costs  were  afterward  paid  by 
friends. 

The  first  frame  house  built  here  was  a  store 
for  Col.  Rial  McArthur,  and  was  framed  by 
scribe  rule,  fitting  each  tenon  to  its  mortise, 
then  numbered  and  taken  apart  till  all  was  fin- 
ished. This  store  was  said  to  have  been 
stocked  by  goods  brought  in  a  single  box,  and 
distributed  about  the  different  shelves.  The}' 
would  go  a  good  way  in  supplying  finery  for 
the  sparse  population  at  that  date.  The  first 
building  framed  b}^  square  rule  was  the  school- 
house  built  at  Steel's  Corner,  in  1832,  of  which 
Edward  Prior  was  architect  and  boss  car- 
penter. The  timbers  were  hewn  and  framed  in 
different  localities,  and  not  brought  together 
till  ready  for  raising  when  the  spectators  were 
disappointed  at  seeing  it  go  together  without  a 
mistake. 

The  early  settlers  were  employed  in  clearing 
off  the  forest  which  cumbered  the  ground. 
Large  fields  of  fine  forest  trees  were  cut  down 
and  felled  into  great  timber  windrows,  or  heaps, 
and  after  becoming  dried  and  seasoned  were 
set  on  fire  and  burnt.  Timber  was  a  drug  in 
the  market  ;  lumber  sawed  and  delivered  in 
market  was  only  worth  from  $4  to  $6  per  thou- 
sand. Good  barrel  staves  and  heading,  at  $1, 
and  "  pit  coal,"  bui'nt  and  delivered  in  Akron 
only  brought  $3.50  per  hundred  bushels.  Agri- 
culture, stock-raising  and  dairying  has  since 
become  the  prevailing  occupation.  Before 
dairying  became  general,  choice  sheep,  imported 


from  Canada,  were  brought  here  till  the  flocks 
were  greatly  improved.  The  increased  value 
of  dairy  products  induced  the  citizens  here  to 
form  a  joint-stock  compan}',  in  the  winter  of 
1870-71,  which  chose  Henry  W.  Prior  as  its 
President  and  Fred  S.  Prior  as  its  Secretary. 
The  factory  was  erected  on  the  French  farm,  on 
the  north  bank  of  Mud  Brook,  just  above  the 
State  road  crossing,  and  is  known  as  the  Iron 
Bridge  Factory,  costing  about  $2,000,  and  was 
opened  for  business  in  the  spring  of  1871.  The 
average  price  paid  for  milk  the  first  few  sea- 
sons, was  about  10  cents  per  gallon.  This  fac- 
tor}-  business  has  developed  a  better  grade  of 
dairy  cows,  and  put  more  ready  money  in  cir- 
culation among  its  patrons  than  they  had  be- 
fore. It  was  leased  to  S.  Straight  &  Son,  of 
Hudson,  and  soon  after  bought  by  them,  at  a 
loss  to  the  stockholders  of  one-half  its  cost 
price.  In  the  season  of  1880,  it  manufactured 
from  the  milk  of  about  500  cows,  20,000  pounds 
of  butter,  and  168,000  pounds  of  cheese,  and 
the  average  price  paid  for  milk  was  9^  cents 
per  gallon  of  ten  pounds.  In  1839,  William 
Prior  &  Sons,  Edward  and  Henry,  bought  of 
Jesse  and  Eliza  Hays  the  water-power  and 
site  in  the  gorge  below  the  waterfalls,  where 
they  erected  and  put  in  operation  a  grist  and 
flouring  mill.  Two  run  of  French  buhr  stones 
and  bolters  were  put  in,  and  power  supplied  b}' 
a  nineieen-foot  breast  wheel.  The  senior  mem- 
ber owned  his  interest  in  this  property  till  his 
death  in  1 872,  but  the  other  shares  changed 
owners  frequently  until  the  whole  property  was 
bought  b}'  John  Hart  and  Adam  G.  Steel. 

Trumbull  Countv  records  show  a  road  to 
have  been  laid  from  the  salt  springs  in  that 
county  to  Old  Portage,  crossing  diagonally 
through  the  southeast  corner  of  Northampton, 
a  portion  of  which,  between  McArthur's  cor-* 
ners  and  the  Elisha  Prior  residence,  was  va- 
cated to  accommodate  the  mills.  ^  In  1807,  a 
public  highway  was  laid  out  from  Canton,  via 
Middlebury,  to  Cleveland,  and  known  in  North- 
ampton as  the  "  old  State  road,"  from  which 
the  trees  were  cut  and  cleared  by  William 
Prior,  under  a  contract,  and  the  proceeds  of 
this  job  averaged  him  25  cents  per  day  for 
himself,  team  of  oxen  and  an  extra  hand,  they 
sleeping  in  blankets  on  the  ground,  and  work- 
ing industriously  from  daylight  till  dark.  The 
road  from  McArthur's  kept  on  directly  east 
to  Stow  Village,  at  the  big  spring,  instead  of 


e) 


NORTHAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 


SOI 


turning  to  the  right  for  Cu^^ahoga  Falls,  as  now 
located. 

In  1836,  Peter  Voris,  a  surveyor,- who  then 
lived  in  Northampton  with  one  Snodgrass  and 
Judge  Henry,  laid  out  a  hundred  acres  at  the 
the  mouth  of  Yellow  Creek,  west  side  of  river, 
into  a  village  plat,  and  called  it  Niles.  But 
few  lots  were  ever  sold.  The  property  was 
afterward  bought  by  J.  and  J.  Vallen,  and  re- 
duced back  to  common  lands,  on  account  of 
high  taxes.  A  warehouse  and  store  was  built 
here  at  the  opening  of  the  canal,  and  Nathaniel 
Hai'dy  also  erected  a  tavern,  which  received 
extensive  patronage  for  many  years.  Nicholas 
Botzum  and  Thomas  Owen  ran  rival  mercan- 
tile establishments  here  at  the  same  time,  each 
occup3'ing  opposite  sides  of  the  canal,  but  the 
decease  of  Thomas  Owen  and  sale  of  his  goods 
by  administrators,  broke  up  competition,  and, 
at  the  building  of  the  Valley  Railroad  through 
Northampton,  a  station  was  located  here,  called 
"  Botzum,"  in  honor  of  John  A.  Botzum,  a  most 
thorough  and  energetic  business  man,  who 
took  an  active  part  in  the  railroad  enterprise. 
He  has  been  a  merchant  here  for  3'ears,  and  is 
now  the  station-agent  and  Postmaster.  Below 
here,  on  waste  waters  of  tlie  canal,  have  been 
two  saw-mills  built  to  manufacture  lumber  for 
the  Cleveland  trade.  The  Browns  have  also 
kept  up  a  steam  saw-mill  on  their  farm  for 
years,  which  has  contributed  largely  to  the 
convenience  of  lumber  business.  A  railroad 
known  as  Clinton  Air  Line  was  laid  in  a  diag- 
onal line  across  this  township,  from  northeast  to 
southwest,  crossing  the  Cu^-aiioga  between  the 
Hovey  and  Brown  farms.  The  grading  of  some 
portions  of  this  road  was  commenced  and  stone 
hauled  on  for  culverts,  but,  for  some  reason, 
the  enterprise  was  abandoned.  A  rude  and 
primitive  establishment  was  built  down  the 
Mud  Brook  by  William  Rose,  in  which  he 
turned  a  considerable  quantity  of  wooden  bowls 
for  the  local  trade.  It  was  near  this  that 
Mr.  Filley  built  a  saw-mill,  and  the  property 
was  afterward  bought  by  L.  D.  Clements,  who 
erected  another  and  lai'ger,  known  as  the 
Clements  Saw-mill. 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  this  township 
by  Justus  Remington  in  1809,  and  the  school- 
house  was  built  on  the  north  side  of  a  road, 
from  McArthur's  Corners  to  Elisha  Prior's,  and 
run  diagonally  across  Lots  17  and  18.  The 
house  stood  on  the  lot  line  between  lands  now 


owned  by  H.  P.  Smith  and  Martin  Shellhorn. 
Since  that  time,  and  within  the  radius  of  a  half 
mile,  there  have  been  erected  six  different 
buildings  in  which  schools  were  taught.  But, 
owing  to  geographical  diversities  and  configura- 
tion of  land,  schools  for  the  whole  youth  of  the 
township  have  been  maintained  at  great  incon- 
venience. The  river  divides  the  township  into 
two  sections,  almost  inaccessible  to  each  other, 
and  the  deep  gullies  running  down  into  the 
ri\er  valley  form  almost  impassable  barriers, 
making  opportunities  for  schooling  a  portion  of 
the  children  exceedingly  difficult.  Under  the 
general  school  laws  of  Ohio,  seven  subdistricts 
and  three  union  school  districts  were  formed 
where  most  thorough  and  efficient  schools  have 
been  maintained,  and  the  pupils  arc  in  no  wa}' 
inferior  to  those  of  surrounding  townships. 
Many  of  the  youth  have  been  educated  abroad. 
Emory  A.  Prior  entered  Buchtel  College  at 
Akron  in  1871,  and  graduated  with  the  degree 
of  B.  S.  in  1873.  Theiice  he  entered  the  Law 
Department  of  Harvard  Universit}-  at  Cam- 
bridge, Mass.,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1877,  and  was  the  same  year  admitted  to  the 
bar  before  the  District  Court  of  Cleveland. 
Miss  Viola  Smitli  also  commenced  a  course  of 
stud}'  at  Buchtel  College  in  1872.  which  she 
pursued  for  two  \ears,  then  changed  to  Western 
Reserve  College,  from  which  she  (the  first  of 
her  sex)  graduated  in  1876.  She  has  since 
then  pursued  certain  courses  of  study  in  Cor- 
nell University,  New  York,  and  at  Harvard,  in 
Cambridge.  John  A.  Johnston,  Rial  Smith.  S. 
Hart,  J.  Botzum,  George  and  Frank  Billman, 
T.  W.  Motz  and  several  others  are  now,  or  have 
been,  students  in  either  Western  Reserve  or 
Buchtel  College. 

Methodism  was  the  pioneer  religious  denom- 
ination of  Northampton.  Most  of  the  earl}* 
families  were  members  of  this  church.  Before 
the  organization  of  a  societ}',  the  believers  of 
both  sexes  would  walk  or  ride  on  horseback  to 
Darrow  Street,  or  Hudson,  on  a  Thursday  even- 
ing, to  attend  prayer-meeting,  wiiich  could  not 
be  doubted  as  a  sufficient  test  of  tlieir  sincerity 
and  devotion.  I'rotracted  and  quarterly  meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  private  re.><idences.  barns 
or  groves,  and  were  attended  by  those  from 
miles  around.  Among  the  early  preachers  were 
Revs.  Crawford,  Jones.  McLean,  Ford,  Stearns, 
Holloway  and  one  Gavit,  a  "  four  foot"  dwarf, 
and   notoriously   smart.     Compared   with   the 


r 


^ 


508 


HISTOEY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


larger  ministers,  he  was  said  to  be  as  a  silver 
sixpence  among  the  coarser  copper  coins — 
smaller  but  worth  them  all.  He  could  interest 
and  hold  spellbound  by  his  eloquence,  and 
practical  hits,  the  large  audiences  he  addressed. 
A  missionary  purse  was  raised,  and  he  was 
thought  to  be  a  suitable  person  to  send  West  to 
convert  the  heathen.  The  last  heard  of  him 
he  was  said  to  be  comfortably  located,  and  in 
possession  of  a  fine  farm  in  Michigan,  bought 
with  church  missionary  funds.  No  early  record 
of  this  denomination  can  now  be  found,  but 
among  the  papers  of  the  late  Job  Harrington, 
who  was  an  active  member,  there  are  found  evi- 
dences of  a  most  prosperous  Sabbath  school  as 
far  back  as  1831. 

The  Methodists  in  1855,  b}'  the  help  of  other 
denominations  and  contributions  from  the  citi- 
zens generally,  without  regard  to  theological 
opinions,  erected  a  large  and  commodious 
church  edifice  at  the  center  of  the  township. 
The  prime  movers  in  this  undertaking  were  0. 
F.  Rice,  Isaac  Scott,  S.  W.  Harrington,  S.  R. 
Perkins,  Elisha  Prior,  Samuel  McLoney  and 
others.  The  building  when  completed  cost 
about  $2,000,  and  reflected  much  credit  on  the 
building  committee,  the  citizens  generall}',  and 
specially  to  the  architect  and  builder,  J.  C. 
Johnston. 

The  Baptists  for  many  years  kept  up  a  flour- 
ishing organization,  and  numbered  among  its 
members  some  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  town- 
ship. 

The  Congregationalists  were  also,  at  one 
time,  quite  numerous,  and  they  also  built  a 
church  edifice  at  Steel's  Corners,  and  occupied 
it  for  years,  but  by  reason  of  removal,  loss  by 
death  and  other  causes,  the  members  became 
reduced,  and  the  building  was  taken  down  and 
removed  to  the  sewer  pipe  and  tile  works  of 
H.  B.  Camp  &  Company,  Cuyahoga  Falls.  Un- 
der the  ministrations  of  Rev  T.  B.  Tait,  this 
Congregational  society'  fused  with  the  Method- 
ists, when  they  became  one  organization  at  the 
building  of  the  center  church  edifice. 

One  John  Smith  and  family  of  this  place  be- 
came early  converts  to  the  Mormon  faith.  The}' 
were  frequently  visited  by  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith  and  his  associate  Rigdon,  while  the  Mor- 
mons were  at  Kirtland,  and  upon  their  removal 
to  Nauvoo,  Smith  with  his  family,  which  had 
been  baptized  in  Northampton,  went  with  them, 
and  thence  to  Salt  Lake   City.     In  the   earl}' 


days,  a  few  of  the  citizens  of  this  township 
joined  the  Masonic  Order,  but  the  opposition 
and  prejudice  caused  by  the  supposed  Morgan 
I  murder,  prevented  its  being  very  generally  en- 
dorsed, and  those  who  became  members  joined 
lodges  in  other  localities.  Since  that  time, 
some  have  associated  themselves  with  Odd 
Fellows,  Sons  of  Temperance,  etc.  In  March 
of  the  centennial  year,  there  was  a  Grange  or- 
ganized or  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
which  is  an  unobjectionable  association  of 
farmers,  with  their  wives  and  families,  united 
for  social  and  educational  purposes.  This  so- 
ciety numbers  among  its  members  some  of  the 
most  progressive  and  intelligent  farmers  in 
the  communit}'.  Since  its  organization,  George 
W.  Baile}'  has  boen  its  presiding  officer.  It 
was  in  an  exceedingly  prosperous  condition, 
numbering  over  one  hundred  members,  until 
driven  into  litigation  to  defend  itself  against 
the  collection  of  an  illegal  claim,  in  a  suit 
brought  up  against  it  by  the  officers  and  Ex- 
ecutive Committee  of  Ohio  State  Grange.  This 
suit,  after  creating  considerable  disturbance 
and  ill-feeling,  was  finally  decided  in  favor  of 
Northampton  Union  Grange.  Although  this 
township  was  early  the  location  of  distilleries, 
they  were  soon  discontinued  and  the  inhabit- 
ants have  usually  been  sober  and  temperate. 
Whenever  necessary  temperance  societies  have 
been  organized  and  sustained  with  good  eflfect. 
The  "  Murphy's  Society,"  of  1879,  with  Mrs. 
Lodica  Jones  as  President,  and  Miss  Hattie 
Harrington  as  Secretar}',  has  proved  a  most  ef- 
ficient power  in  the  work  of  reformation.  The 
Literary  and  Dramatic  Club,  of  1881,  has  de- 
veloped sufficient  talent  so  gain  some  notoriety. 
In  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  Northampton, 
being  peopled  only  by  savage  Indians,  fur- 
nished no  troops,  but  its  first  settler,  Simeon 
Prior,  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  In  the 
war  of  1812,  the  able-bodied  men  belonging  to 
an  independent  rifle  company,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Capt.  McArthur,  went  into  service, 
first  at  Old  Portage,  then  at  Sandusky,  protect- 
ing the  frontier  settlements  from  invasion  and 
Indian  hostilities.  In  the  Mexican  war  no 
troops  from  this  place  were  called  for,  and  none 
furnished.  But  in  the  war  of  the  great  rebell- 
ion, Northampton  was  not  found  wanting. 
Sixty-three  recruits  were  sent  into  the  field,  all 
of  whom  proved  brave  and  heroic  soldiers  in 
that  bloody  struggle,  man}-  of  them  giving  their 


NORTHAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 


509 


lives  for  their  country's  cause.  We  would  glad- 
1}^  inscribe  the  name  of  each  individual  soldier 
with  his  brave  deeds,  but  space  will  not  per- 
mit. In  another  chapter  of  this  work  will  be 
found  a  complete  sketch  of  the  late  war,  and 
the  part  taken  in  it  by  the  county  at  large.  A 
list  of  the  dead  heroes  of  this  township  only 
will  be  attempted  in  this  chapter  : 

Lewis  Clements,  son  of  L.  D.  Clements,  en- 
listed at  sixteen.  But  a  mere  lad  of  slender 
build  and  constitution,  he  could  shoot  as  far 
and  straight  as  those  of  greater  strength  and 
endurance.  He  was  fearless  of  danger,  and 
went  undaunted  where  duty  called.  At  the 
battle  of  Rich  Mountain,  mistaking  the  bugle- 
call  for  retreat,  he  charged  through  the  rebel 
ranks,  where,  failing  to  find  his  comrades,  he 
turned  and  charged  back  again,  rejoining  his 
company  unharmed.  Newton  Harrington,  after 
nearly  three  years  of  active  service  at  the 
front,  sickened  from  the  exposure  and  hard- 
ships of  camp  life,  and  died  at  Cumberland 
Gap.  His  remains  were  brought  home  and  in- 
terred in  the  cemeter}'  on  his  father's  farm. 
George  W.  Prior,  Orderly  Sergeant  Company 
D,  Sixth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer  Cavalry, 
after  nearly  serving  out  his  term  of  enlistment, 
and  taking  part  in  many  fiercely  contested 
fields,  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
ness May  9,  1864.  His  remains  by  enemies 
were  buried  in  an  unknown  grave.  The  soil  of 
Virginia  will  be  to  us  forever  sacred,  for  it 
holds  the  last  remains  of  our  dearest  friends. 
George  Bonesteel  was  captured  by  the  rebels 
and  starved  to  death  in  the  prison  pen  of  An- 
dersonville.  David  Bonesteel  was  also  taken 
prisoner,  and  so  reduced  by  starvation  that  he 
died  en  route  for  exchange.  Robert  Hogue 
sickened  and  lived  to  reach  home,  where  he 
died  a  short  time  after  his  arrival.  John 
Shellhorn  and  Phillip  Smathers  sleep  the  sleep 
of  death  in  unknown  graves.  Riley  Dickinson, 
Charles  Stout,  William  Waterman,  William  and 
Charles  Stephens,  the  two  Chase  brothers  and 
George  Pa^-ne  were  drowned  at  the  wreck  of 
the  Sultana. 

Owing  to  absence  of  manufactures,  farming 
implements  were  mostly  of  home  construction, 
and  ver\'  rude.  The  "  bull  plow  "  had  a  point 
made  of  wrought  iron  or  steel,  with  a  landside 
and  mold-board  of  wood.  Common  black- 
smiths of  that  day  could  make  the  share,  and 
an  ingenious  farmer,  with  an  ax  and  an  auger, 


could  make  all  the  rest,  requiring  about  a  day's 
time.  Mowing  was  done  by  hancl  with  a  scj'the, 
and  harvesting  by  a  sickle,  cutting  and  laying 
the  grain  by  handfuls.  This  method  was  su- 
perseded by  a  grain -cradle,  and  finally  the 
scythe  and  cradle  gave  way  to  the  mowing 
machine.  The  first  one  in  the  township  was 
purchased  by  Job  Hayte,  and  operated  by 
his  son,  Seth  S.  Grain  was  either  tramped  out 
by  horses  on  a  floor,  or  thrashed  by  hand  with 
a  flail  (which  consisted  of  a  short  club  tied  to 
the  light  end  of  a  handle  with  buckskin  thongs) 
and  winnowed  from  a  broad,  flat  basket.  In 
about  1834,  the  first  horse-power  cylinder  ma- 
chine was  introduced,  which  only  thrashed  the 
grain,  without  separating  it  from  the  chaft*. 
Charles  Kellogg  and  John  Harrington  were  the 
first  to  bring  in  and  operate  a  power-machine 
that  thrashed  and  cleaned  the  grain  read}'  for 
market.  The  Prior  brothers — Styles  A.,  Ben- 
jamin H.  and  Fred  S. — introduced  steam-en- 
gine power  and  improved  machiner}',  b}'  which 
from  1,000  to  1,500  bushels  of  oats  could  be 
thrashed  per  day,  and  1,000  bushels  of  wheat. 
The}'  also  brought  in  and  operated  portable 
steam  saw-mills,  going  where  wanted  on  to  a 
man's  farm  and  sawing  a  job  of  lumber  for 
building  or  fencing,  without  the  inconvenience 
of  hauling  logs  away  to  streams  for  saw-mills. 

In  1851,  Lots  8,  9  and  the  "gore,"  10,  com- 
prising al30ut  335  acres,  were  taken  from 
Northampton  and  set  to  the  newly-erected 
township  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  forming,  there- 
after, part  of  its  territory.  In  the  year  1873. 
a  new  and  commodious  town  hall  w-as  built  to 
better  accommodate  elections  and  other  public 
business  of  the  township,  and  the  old  hall 
basement  at  the  center  schoolhouse  was  aban- 
doned. 

Many  traces  of  ox3'dized  or  dead  iron  ore 
are  found  upon  the  surface  in  the  southern 
part  of  this  township,  and,  from  a  bed  in  Lot 
27,  a  good  quality  of  ore  was  taken  to  the 
Middlebury  furnace  while  it  w^as  in  blast.  A 
bed  of  lime  rock  underlies  the  surface  of  some 
portions  of  the  D.  G.  Myers  farm,  Lot  33,  and 
plenty  of  this  stone  used  to  be  found  upon  the 
surface  east  of  the  center,  and  burned  into  a 
splendid  quality  of  white  lime.  A  quarry  of 
first-class  building  sandstone  was,  in  1874,  pur- 
chased by  L.  IT.  Cox  near  the  iron  bridge  on 
the  north  l)ank  of  the  creek,  from  which  he  has 
built  so  many  substantial  stone  culverts  in  the 


^ 


510 


IIISTOPvY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


roads  of  this  and  adjoining  townsliips.  E.  C. 
Hovey  also  has,  near  the  old  Avers  (Jrindstone 
Works,  a  quarry  of  ver}'  fine  building  stone. 

The  following  statistics  pertaining  to  this 
township  raa}^  be  of  some  interest  to  our  read- 
ers :  Number  of  horses  348  ;  value,  $184.15. 
Cattle,  1,344  ;  value,  $21,876.  Sheep,  983  ; 
value,  $2,665.  Hogs.  454  ;  value,  $1,370.  To- 
tal value  of  personal  property,  $86,264  ;  esti- 
mated full  value,  $107,835.  Total  value  of  real 
property,  $333,711  ;  estimate  full  value,  $416,- 
16(5.  Aggregate  value  of  real  and  personal 
property  as.sessed,  $419,971  ;  aggregate  value 
of  real  and  personal  property',  estimated  full 
value.  $524,001.  Total  receipts  from  taxation, 
$5,709.84. 

Expenditures  —  Expended  for  schools,  $2,- 
015.86  ;  paid  for  roads  and  bridges.  $1,007.83  ; 
for  poor,  $167.99 ;  all  other  purposes,  $2,- 
518.16.     Total  expenditures,  $5,709.84. 

The  first  place  set  apart  for  the  burial  of  the 
dead  was  on  the  Yanhyning  farm,  and  now 
known  as  the  Harrington  burying-ground,  and 
is  opposite  the  Grange  Hall.  The  next  regu- 
larly laid  out  cemetery  was  one-half  mile  west 
of  the  Center,  on  the  hills  above  Bell  Hollow. 
But,  in  early  days,  several  private  burial-places 
were  made  for  separate  families.  Just  on  the 
west  line  of  Lot  29,  where  crossed  by  the  Port- 
age road  at  the  hilltop,  are  Ijuried  old  Mr. 
Daniel  Turner  and  wife.  On  the  east  side  of 
the  State  road  and  nearly  opposite  the  resi- 
dence of  Mrs.  Candace  Thorndyke,  there  have 
been  several  buried.  On  the  north  bank  of 
Woodward  Run,  near  the  river  road  crossing  on 
the  William  Hardy  farm,  was  started  a  private 
burial-place.  In  the  center  of  Lot  19,  on  the 
William  Prior  farm,  was  also  a  private  famil}' 
cemetery,  where  eight  or  nine  were  buried,  some 
of  them  long  years  ago.  But  a  portion  of  them 
have  been  taken  up  and  removed  to  public 
cemeteries. 

John  Smith,  who  settled  on  and  cleared  up 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Keck  Farm,  Lot  34, 
and,  who  afterward  went  to  Nauvoo,  was  a  man 
of  some  inventive  genius.  To  supply  the  de- 
mand for  chairs,  spinning-wheels,  etc.,  he  con- 
structed a  turning-lathe,  which  consisted  of  a 
mandrel  attached  to  a  table,  and  was  made  to 
revolver  by  a  string,  one  end  of  which  was 
fastened  to  a  spring-pole  over  head,  then  down, 
and  took  a  few  turns  round  the  mandrel,  and 
then  to  a  treadle  plied  by  the  foot.     This  ma- 


chine, revolving  both  wa3-s,.  allowed  the  turning 
to  be  done  only  half  the  time,  or  when  the  mo- 
tion was  direct.  A  rocking-chair,  now  owned 
b}'  Thomas  Turner,  and  another  by  John  Hovey, 
made  in  1831,  are  specimens  of  J.  Smith's 
handiwork.  A  Mr.  Collar,  who  was  partially 
blind,  moved  into  the  northeast  part  of  the 
town,  and,  being  also  very  ingenious,  built  a 
model  propeller  screw,  and,  for  trial,  attached 
it  to  a  canal  boat,  where  it  worked  to  satisfac- 
tion. This  was  claimed  to  be  an  original  inven- 
tion of  the  propeller  screw.  Simeon  Prior  also 
contrived  a  device  for  making  wire  by  hand, 
and  he  probably  made  tiie  first  wire  west  of  the 
Alleghanies.  Richard  Tew,  a  blacksmith,  was 
skilled  in  the  art  of  forging  wrought  iron,  or 
steel  points  and  shares  used  on  the  wooden  or 
bull  plows  of  that  day.  His  house  and  shop 
stood  east  side  the  road,  on  the  north  bank  of 
Mud  Brook,  where  the  lane  now  turns  in  to  the 
cheese  factor^-.  After  he  died,  his  fiimily  moved 
away,  and  the  residence  was  used  for  a  school- 
house. 

The  fourth  balloon  ascension  ever  made  in 
Summit  County  was  by  John  C.  Johnston,  of 
Northampton.  He  procured  an  aerostat,  and, 
on  the  28th  September,  1875,  made  his  first 
ascent  from  the  fair  grounds  at  Akron,  in  the 
presence  of  a  vast  concourse  of  anxious  specta- 
tors. The  balloon  arose  majesticall}-,  drifting 
in  a  northeasterly  direction,  and,  when  nearly 
over  the  village  of  Cu\'ahoga  Falls,  and  at  the 
height  of  over  7,000  feet,  it  exploded,  and  the 
perilous  fall  of  about  one  mile  took  place.  The 
fabric  of  this  airship,  being  confined  by  the 
cordage,  formed  a  parachute,  while  the  aeronaut, 
suspended  in  his  basket  below,  vibrated  like  a 
pendulum,  by  the  swaying  motion  of  the  balloon 
in  its  fearfull}'  rapid  descent,  after  the  gas  had 
escaped.  Almost  miraculousl}',  he  landed  on 
terra  firma  without  bodily  harm.  Not  satisfied 
with  this  exciting  adventure,  he  constructed  a 
new  balloon,  with  25,000  cubic  feet  capacity, 
and  the  next  year,  after  its  inflation  at  the  gas 
works,  it  was  taken  to  Fountain  Park  Fair 
Grounds,  where,  in  starting,  some  of  the  ropes 
were  held  too  long  by  the  attendants,  and  this 
balloon  was  thrown  against  the  top  limbs  of  a 
tree,  and  so  torn  that  he  did  not  deem  it  safe 
to  i)roceed,  and  onl}'  reached  the  altitude  of 
1,000  feet,  when  the  gas  was  let  out,  and  he 
landed  safely  within  one-half  mile  of  starting 
place.     His  third  attempt  was  made  a  few  days 


& 


■ii* 


STOW    TOWNSHIP. 


511 


later  ;  but,  as  it  was  boisterous  and  stormy,  the 
balloon  was  torn  to  pieces  in  conveying  it  from 
the  gas  works  to  Fountain  Park,  since  which 
time,  he  has  made  no  further  public  attempts 
at  ascension.  He  is  still  sanguine  of  final  suc- 
cess,  and  continues  to  give  the  subject  such 


attention  as  his  time  will  permit,  believing  that 
hydrogen  in  such  vast  quantities,  being  one- 
eighth  part  of  all  the  water,  is  ultimately  con- 
nected with  the  solution  of  the  great  problem 
of  aerial  navigation. 


CHAPTER    XIX.* 

STOW  TUVVNSmi'— EARLY  PHYSICAL  CONDITION— FIRST  SETTLUMKNT  AND  SUBSEQUENT  GROWTH 
—PROGRESS  OF  INDUSTRIES  AND  IMPROVEMENTS— VILLAGES,  CHURCHES  AND  SCHOOLS. 


STOW,  in  many  respects,  is  superior  to  any 
other  township  in  the  county.  Its  fertile 
soil,  valuable  timber,  winding  streams  and 
beautiful  lakes,  surround  it  with  attractions 
which  coming  generations  will  not  fail  to  ap- 
preciate and  enjoy.  There  is  found  through- 
out the  township  that  divei'sity  of  natural 
features — that  fine  blending  of  the  beautiful 
and  picturesque,  which  delights  the  eye  of 
the  landscape  gardener.  The  Cuyahoga  River, 
which  winds  across  the  southern  part,  that  fine 
body  of  water — Silver  Lake — and  the  various 
gorges  or  chasms  which  are  cut  deeply  into 
the  soil,  disclosing  perpendicular  embankments 
of  fine  stone,  furnish  abundant  material  upon 
which  the  hand  of  art,  in  future  3'ears,  may 
labor.  When  we  look  back  through  the  years 
to  that  bright  page  in  the  history  of  mankind — 
Grecian  glory — when  we  see  how  the  develop- 
ing mind  of  man  caught  the  beautiful  of  that 
sunny  clime,  and  grouping  together  the  various 
charms,  gave  to  each  some  name  which  lingers 
with  it  like  the  sweet  memory  of  joys  that  are 
past,  we  are  led  to  believe  that  our  own  beauti- 
ful land,  adorned  as  it  is  with  Nature's  lavish 
gifts,  will  share  a  similar  happy  lot.  Each 
lake,  each  stream,  each  hill  and  vale  will  be 
associated  with  some  event,  around  which  the 
fair}'  fingers  of  hallowed  recollection  will  en- 
twine the  sweet  flowers  of  other  years.  Even 
at  this  early  day,  local  names  spring  up  from 
surrounding  events — names  that  will  live,  when 
those  persons  associated  with  them  have  long 
since  passed  into  oblivion.  Other  names  will 
come  as  time  sweeps  onward  ;  and  for  the 
pleasure  of  those  who  live  in  the  future,  these 
and  the  circumstances  which  gave  them  birth, 
must  be  carefully  recorded. 

*  Contributed  by  W.  A.  Goodapeed. 


The  greater  part  of  Stow  is  rolling,  though 
quite  a  large  tract  near  the  center  is  compara- 
tively level.  The  soil,  though  largely  clay, 
contains  sufficient  alluvium  to  insure  abundant 
crops  of  all  kinds.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  lakes 
and  the  depressed  portions,  of  which  there  are 
several,  the  earth  is  thoroughl}'  mingled  with 
decaying  vegetable  material,  a  large  portion  of 
which  has  been  washed  in  by  past  inundations. 
Large  quantities  of  sandstone  can  be  had  for 
the  trouble  of  quarrying  in  exposed  places. 
The  streams  give  ample  drainage,  even  in  the 
region  of  the  lakes,  though  some  portions  ai'e 
so  low  and  flat  that  they  were,  in  former  years, 
very  wet,  and  even  yet  are  not  suitable  for  cul- 
tivation. In  the  course  of  time  these  will  be 
ditched,  thoroughly  drained,  and  final!}-  culti- 
vated. Cuyahoga  River  enters  the  township 
on  Lot  10,  thence  flowing  across  Lots  9,  8,  7,  6, 
5,  15,  14,  4,  3,  and  leaving  from  13.  This  well- 
known  stream  has  considerable  fall,  and  excel- 
lent water-power  can  be  secured  through  the 
medium  of  dams.  Kelsey  Ci'eek  enters  the 
river  from  the  south,  and  Fish  Creek  from  the 
north,  in  the  extreme  southeastern  part.  Silver 
Lake  is  located  almost  wholly  on  Lots  24,  23 
and  33,  and  its  outlet  is  a  small  branch  of  the 
Cuyahoga.  A  small  stream  which  should  be 
named  Wetmore  Creek,  rises  a  short  distance 
northeast  of  Stow  Corners,  and  flows  south- 
westwardly  into  the  river.  It  has  cut  by  ero- 
sion a  deep  gorge  in  the  sandstone  rocks,  which 
is  known  as  the  "Gulf  Cochran  Pond  is 
located  a  few  rods  northwest  of  Silver  Lake, 
but  has  no  connection  with  the  latter,  its  outlet 
being  a  small  irregular  stream,  which  flows  north 
and  then  west  into  31  ud  Brook.  Powers' 
Brook  and  Mud  Brook,  from  their  tortuous 
course,  flow  half  around  the  township.  Powers' 


i^L 


512 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Brook  first  flows  across  the  northeast  corner, 
thence  into  Hudson,  thence  into  the  northern 
part  of  Stow,  thence  again  into  Hudson,  where 
it  unites  with  Mud  Brook.  The  latter  stream 
flows  across  the  northwest  corner  of  Stow, 
entering  Turtle  Lake  on  the  northeast  side.  It 
flows  from  this  lake  first  into  Northampton, 
tlience  takes  a  turn  in  the  western  side  of 
Stow,  and  finally  leaves  the  latter  a  short  dis- 
tance north  of  Cuyahoga  Falls.  Turtle  Lake, 
the  largest  bod}-  of  water  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  county,  is  intersected  by  the  boundary 
line,  dividing  Stow  from  Northampton.  On 
several  sides  the  land  is  so  low  and  marshy 
that  artificial  approaches  to  the  lake  are  neces- 
sary, if  mud  and  stagnant  water  are  to  be 
avoided.  In  short,  the  lake  has  but  two  or 
three  really  good  beaches.  Cochran  Pond, 
named  for  the  first  settler  on  its  banks,  com- 
prises some  four  or  five  acres,  and  has  a  low 
and  muddy  beach,  except,  perhaps,  on  the 
eastern  side.  It  is  too  small  and  shallow  to  be 
of  any  great  economic  value.  Silver  Lake  is, 
in  many  respects,  a  fine  sheet  of  water.  Its 
length  is  nearly  a  mile,  and  its  width  nearly 
half  that  distance,  while  its  greatest  depth 
approximates  twelve  fathoms.  Some  of  its 
approaches  are  fine,  consisting  of  coarse  sand 
or  gravel.  Many  portions  of  the  bottom  are  of 
the  same  nature,  rendering  the  lake  vei-y 
attractive  to  bathers,  a  very  essential  feature 
among  a  people  who  teach,  and  evidently  prac- 
tice to  a  reasonable  degree,  that  "  cleanliness 
is  next  to  godliness."  Many  3'ears  ago,  when 
the  question  of  supplying  the  city  of  Akron 
with  water  was  on  the  tapis,  Silver  Lake  was 
carefully  examined  ;  but  its  water  was  found  to 
contain  impurities,  which  rendered  it  unsuita- 
ble for  that  purpose.  The  lake  was  once  the 
property  of  Joshua  Stow,  who  purchased  the 
township  of  the  State  of  Connecticut.  The 
township  was  named  in  his  honor,  and  remained 
in  his  possession  until  his  death,  when  it  fell 
into  the  hands  of  his  son-in-law,  Horace  Miller, 
who  sold  it  to  its  present  owner,  Ralph  Lodge. 
Purchasers  of  land  in  its  vicinity  did  not  want 
the  lake,  so  that  the  shore  is  owned  by  others. 
In  about  the  year  1850,  Zina  Buel  constructed 
a  small  steamboat,  and  launched  it  upon  the 
lake.  A  wharf  was  built  out  from  the  shore, 
and  buildings  were  erected  for  excursionists. 
A  small  fare  was  charged  for  a  ride  around  the 
lake  ;  but  there  was  not  realized  a  suflScient 


revenue  to  pay  for  the  investment,  and  the  boat 
was  removed.  Several  persons  at  diflferent 
times  have  been  drowned.  There  are  at  present 
several  bathing-houses  for  the  benefit  of  the 
uncleanlj^  and  others. 

Joshua  Stow,  the  proprietor  of  the  township, 
was  one  of  the  first  exploring  party  sent  out  to 
the  Western  Reserve  in  1796.  He  officiated  in 
the  important  capacit}'  of  Commissarj',  and  the 
first  storehouse  built  at  Conneaut  was  named 
"  Stow  Castle,"  in  his  honor.  The  first  cabin 
in  the  township  was  built  by  a  Virginian  named 
William  Walker,  who  had  come  to  Hudson  the 
year  before.  He  was  a  squatter  and  built  his 
small,  round-log  cabin  in  the  northeast  corner, 
on  Lot  89.*  Here  he  remained  alone  until 
1804,  when  Joshua  Stow  arrived  at  Hudson  to 
make  arrangements  for  the  survey  of  his  town- 
ship. He  employed  Joseph  Darrow,  a  resident 
of  Hudson,  who  began  and  completed  the  sur- 
vey in  ]  804,  and  immediately  thereafter  there 
came  in  William  Wetmore,  Gregory  Powers, 
Josiah  Starr,  John  Campbell,  Thomas  Rice  and 
Titus  Wetmore.  The  most  of  these  men  built 
further  south  in  the  neighborhood  of  what  is 
now  called  Stow  Corners.  Prior  to  the  war  of 
1812,  there  also  came  in  John  Gaylord,  John 
Arbuckle,  George  Darrow.  Adam  Steele,  John 
Saddler,  Joseph  Harman,  William  Lappin, 
William  Leach,  Samuel  Burnett,  Samuel  Baker, 
Jacob  Cochran,  Caleb  Wetmore,  Isaac  Wilcox, 
Frederick  Victor,  Francis  Kelsc}',  Mr.  Kelso, 
Samuel  Cheney,  Constance  Rogers,  Jonathan 
Gaylord,  Stephen  Butler,  Erastus  Southmaj^l, 
David  Ruggles,  William  McClellan,  Bemus 
Hamilton,  Mr.  Dai  ley,' Isaac  and'Thomas  Steele 
and  very  likely  several  of  the  following,  who, 
at  least,  came  in  prior  to  1825  :  Joshua  Pendle- 
ton, Timothy  Brainard,  David  Strong,  Ira 
Barnes,  Ethe  Wetmore,  James  Smith,  George 
Hartle,  John  Kemp,  Jesse  Pratt,  David  San- 
ger, Mr.  McAvoy,  Chancey  Lowery,  Mr.  Beck- 
ley,  Martin  and  Arthur  Saddler,  William  Hib- 
bard,  William  Galloway,  V.  M.  Thompson,  John 
Graham,  Ezra  Wyatt,  Jacob  Richmond,  Andrew 
Rich,  Dr.  Spaulding,  Henry  Kenyon,  John 
Blackman,  John  Sawyer,  Thomas  Gaylord  and 
many  others.  This  is  not  intended  as  a  perfect 
list,  and  neither  are  the  dates  free  from  error ; 
yet  it  is  thought  that  there  are  but  few  mis- 
takes.    By  1810,  there  were   fifteen   or   twen- 

*Elizal)etli  (Walker)  Lappin,  of  Boston  Township,  aged  ninety- 
three  years. 


>> 


STOW    TOWXSHIP. 


513 


ty  families  living  in  Stow,  in  rude  log  cabins 
scattered  at  intervals  throughout  the  township. 
The  forests  began  to  go  down  rapidly,  and 
improvements  multiplied.  Land  steadily  in- 
creased in  value,  and  settlers  poured  in  to  pur- 
chase before  it  over-reached  their  means. 

It  was  not  until  1808  that  Stow  was  organ- 
ized and  its  first  officers  elected.  At  the  time 
Hudson  was  organized,  in  1802,  Stow  was 
included  in  that  township,  and  remained  thus 
until  1808.  William  Wetmore  was  the  first 
Justice  of  the  Peace  ;  but,  during  the  month 
of  August,  1804,  the  county  of  Portage,  of 
which  Stow  was  a  part,  having  been  created, 
Wetmore  was  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Court, 
and  removed  to  IJavenna  ;  but,  not  being  satis- 
fied with  the  empty  honor  of  his  official  posi- 
tion, he  soon  resigned,  moving  back  to  Stow, 
and  locating  just  east  of  Silver  Lake.  The 
early  records  of  Stow  were  not  preserved,  and 
the  names  of  the  other  first  officers  cannot  be 
given.  The  first  election  was  held  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Wetmore.  Capt.  Gregory  Powers 
built  on  Lot  85.  He  was  a  genius  in  his  way, 
and  had  had  a  great  deal  of  experience  with 
the  world.  He  was  an  Italian,  and,  for  many 
years,  had  followed  the  wild  and  extremely 
dangerous  profession  of  privateering  on  the 
ocean.  His  daughter  Harriet  was  united  in 
marriage  with  John  C.  Singletary  in  180G,  the 
wedding  being  the  first  in  the  township.  A 
few  months  later,  on  the  29th  of  Januar}', 
1807,  William  Lappin  and  Elizabeth  Walker 
were  married  at  Stow  Corners  by  Squire  Wet- 
moi'c.  In  1806,  George  Darrow  built  a  frame 
barn,  the  first  frame  structure  in  Stow.  In  the 
fall  of  1803,  "Betsey"  Walker  was  born,  her 
birth  being  the  first  in  the  township.  Samuel 
Walker  was  born  in  1805.  Mary  Campbell 
was  born  in  1804,  and  Clarissa  ( Rice)  South- 
mayd  February  G,  1805.  In  February,  1807, 
Mrs.  Powers  died,  her  death  being  the  first. 
Elizabeth  Gay  lord  died  in  1809.     • 

As  early  as  1805,  the  township  had  put  on 
many  of  the  characteristics  of  civilization. 
The  ring  and  report  of  ax  and  rifle  awoke  the 
echoes  of  the  forests.  Numerous  small,  unpre- 
tentious cabins  rested  in  the  center  of  insig- 
nificant clearings,  upon  which  could  be  seen 
the  green  plumage  of  growing  grain.  Wild 
animals  roamed  through  the  forests.  Deer 
could  be  seen  at  almost  an}'  hour  of  the  da}'. 
Many  of  the  settlers  had,  for  several  years,  no 


meat  except  venison  and  smaller  game. 
Wolves  were  troublesome,  especially  in  the 
night,  when  they  seemed  to  enjoy  surrounding 
some  log  cabin  when  the  inmates  were  lost  in 
slumber  and  making  the  night  hideous  with 
their  howls.  Bears  were  frequently  seen,  and 
there  was  scarcely  an  early  settler  who  was  not 
accustomed  to  roam  the  woods  on  hunting  ex- 
cursions that  did  not  encounter  them,  often 
under  thrilling  and  extremely  dangerous  cir- 
cumstances. The  Indians,  whose  headquarters 
were  at  Boston  and  Northampton  Townships, 
were  accustomed  to  spend  the  summers  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Silver  and  Turtle  Lakes.  In 
1810,  the  carriage  road  at  Silver  Lake  was  a 
continuous  line  of  Indian  huts.  These  were 
made  of  round  poles  about  six  inches  in  diam- 
eter, the  chinks  being  filled  with  moss  and  sod. 
About  one  hundred  rods  from  the  huts,  on  the 
lake  shore,  on  a  neighboring  hill,  were  a  great 
many  more.  About  five  hundred  Indians — 
men,  women  and  children — established  them- 
selves here  for  several  summers  prior  to  the 
war  of  1812.  They  wei-e  in  constant  inter- 
course with  the  white  settlers,  and  usually  all 
dealings  were  of  a  friendly  nature.  It  was 
well  known  to  the  settlers,  however,  that  the 
Indians  might  "  dig  up  the  hatchet  "  at  any 
moment,  and  begin  the  dreadful  work  of 
slaughter.  These  thoughts  filled  the  mind, 
more  especially  when  it  first  became  known 
that  war  with  England  had  commenced.  When 
news  of  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  reached  the 
Indians,  they  all  withdrew  and  went  toward 
the  western  part  of  the  State,  much  to  the  re- 
lief of  the  apprehensive  settlers. 

It  seems  proper  in  this  connection  to  notice 
a  few  of  the  many  interesting  anecdotes  that  are 
told  concerning  adventui'es  had  with  wild  ani- 
mals or  with  the  Indians.  One  day,  when  John 
Campbell  was  away  from  home,  his  wife  placed 
her  little  child  on  "the  floor,  with  a  cup  of  milk 
and  a  spoon,  and  closing  the  door,  went  a  short 
distance  to  one  of  the  neighbor's,  on  an  errand. 
She  soon  returned,  and,  stepping  up  to  the  little 
window,  looked  in  to  see  what  her  baby  was 
doing.  There  sat  the  child  upon  the  floor, 
while  close  at  its  side  was  coiled  up  a  large, 
yellow,  repulsive  rattlesnake.  It  had  crawled 
up  through  the  cracks  of  the  floor,  and,  when 
first  seen  by  Mrs.  Campbell,  was  lapping  or 
drinking  the  milk,  which  had  been  spilled  by 
the  child.     Just  as  the  mother  was  taking  her 


'TZ 


-4 2) 


514 


HISTORY   OF    SUMxMIT    COUNTY. 


first  lightning  survey  of  the  fearful  sight,  the 
child  reached  out  its  spoon,  either  to  give  the 
reptile  some  millv  or  to  touch  its  shining  body 
with  the  sjDoon.  The  mother  gave  a  piercing 
scream,  and  the  snake  slid  down  a  crack  and 
disappeared.  Mr.  Campbell  came  in  soon  after- 
ward, and,  raising  a  plank  of  the  floor,  killed 
the  snake.  The  "gulf"  at  Stow  Corners  was 
filled  with  these  reptiles,  and  it  was  many  years 
before  they  were  killed  off.  So  numerous  were 
they,  and  so  dangerous,  that  the  settlers  took 
turns  in  watching  the  rocks,  to  kill  all  that  came 
forth.  This  was  done  on  sunny  days  in  early 
spring,  when  the  snakes  first  came  from  their 
holes  to  bask  in  the  sun.  It  fell  upon  Mr. 
Baker  to  watch  the  gulf  one  Sunda}^,  when 
Deacon  Butler  was  holding  a  class-meeting  in  a 
log  cabin  close  by.  While  looking  down  into 
the  gulf,  Mr.  Baker  saw  a  large  number  of  rat- 
tlesnakes crawl  from  a  crevice  in  the  rocks  and 
coil  tiiemselves  in  the  sun.  When  it  seemed 
that  all  had  come  forth,  Mr.  Baker  dropped  his 
coat  near  the  crevice,  and,  with  a  long  pole  pre- 
pared for  the  purpose,  pushed  the  garment  into 
the  opening.  He  then  descended  to  the  rock, 
and  killed  sixfy-Jioe  of  the  venemous  reptiles. 
The  first  intimation  that  the  worshipers  had  of 
what  had  taken  place,  was  made  known  by  a 
son  of  Mr.  Baker,  who  ran  to  the  log  meeting 
house  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  crying  out  with 
a  loud  voice,  "  Oh,  dad's  killed  a  pile  of 
snakes  !  dad's  killed  a  pile  of  snakes  !  "  This 
adjourned  the  meeting,  and  the  members  re- 
paired to  the  gulf,  to  continue  their  thanks  for 
the  victory  over  ihe  ancient  enemy  of  man. 
The  rock  whence  the  snakes  had  crawled  was 
blasted  open  the  next  day,  though  but  one  was 
found — a  lai'ge  female,  that  was  thought  to  be 
the  mother  of  the  numerous  progeny  that  had 
been  killed.  Several  persons  were  bitten,  and 
many  had  narrow  escapes  from  death.  A 
young  man — a  relative  of  William  Walker- 
was  struck  twice  on  the  heel  by  a  large  rattle- 
snake, and  did  not  recover.  The  Indians  had 
a  peculiar  plant,  which  was  used  as  a  remedy 
in  case  of  snake-bite.  It  is  said  that  when 
the  Indians  left  the  plant  also  disappeared, 
and  could  not  be  found  growing  in  the 
woods  as  usual.  This  seems  somewhat  im- 
probable, though  the  statement  comes  from 
some  of  the  oldest  and  most  respected  citizens. 
One  da}^,  as  Henry  Wetmore  was  gathering  nuts 
near  his  father's  cabin,  he  heard  a  sudden  com- 


motion in  the  bushes  near  him,  and  immediately 
saw  a  drove  of  hogs  break  cover  and  run  across 
the  clearing  to  his  father's  stable.  Following 
close  at  their  heels  was  an  enormous  black 
bear,  that  halted  barely  long  enough  to  see  the 
bo}-  and  continued  the  pursuit  to  the  pen  where 
the  swine  took  refuge.  Mrs.  Wetmore,  hearing 
the  confusion  outside,  came  to  the  door,  and, 
seeing  the  bear  and  at  the  same  time  her  boy, 
motioned  for  the  latter  to  take  a  circuit  so  as 
to  avoid  the  animal,  that  seemed  in  doubt 
whether  it  was  best  to  attack  the  swine  in  their 
pen  or  not.  When  the  boy  was  safe  in  the  cabin, 
Mrs.  Wetmore  went  out,  and,  by  shouting, 
frightened  the  bear  into  the  woods.  On  another 
occasion  Jacob  Cochran,  while  in  his  cabin, 
heard  one  of  his  hogs  squealing  terribly,  and, 
surmising  the  cause,  he  seized  his  rifle  and  ran 
out,  in  time  to  see  a  large  bear  disappearing  in 
the  bushes,  in  whose  company  was  an  unwill- 
ing, remonstrating  hog.  The  bear  finally 
dropped  the  hog,  which  fell  in  between  two  sap- 
lings so  that  it  could  not  be  extricated.  The 
detention  enabled  Mr.  Cochran  to  overtake  the 
bear,  which  was  immediately  shot.  It  was  nec- 
essary to  kill  the  hog  also,  as  it  was  terribly 
torn  and  mangled.  It  is  probable  that  William 
Walker  was  the  most  successful  and  intrepid 
bear  hunter  ever  a  resident  of  the  township. 
He  killed  sixteen  bears,  sometimes  under  cir- 
cumstances which  would  appall  the  stoutest 
heart.  More  is  said  of  him  in  the  Twinsburg 
history. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Walker's  dogs  treed  a  large 
bear  in  a  chestnut  tree  a  few  rods  from  the 
cabin.  It  was  shot,  and  was  found  to  weigh 
400  pounds,  and  was  so  extremely  fat  that  oil 
accumulated  within  the  cavity  of  the  bod}' 
within  a  few  minutes  after  the  animal  had  been 
killed.  Mr.  Walker  was  a  chair-maker,  and  had 
a  small  log  shop  near  his  cabin.  One  day 
George  Wilson,  an  Indian,  came  to  the  cabin 
and  asked  for  whisky,  which  was  given  to  him. 
He  drank  the  liquor  and  sat  down,  and  a  few 
minutes  later  was  asked  to  take  a  seat  at  the 
table  and  eat  with  the  family.  He  accepted  the 
invitation  with  due  dignity,  seated  himself,  and 
was  handed  a  plate  well  loaded  with  meat  and 
vegetables.  But  by  this  time  the  liquor  had 
worked  into  his  blood  and  brain,  and,  actuated 
by  a  devilish  spirit,  he  suddenly,  without  any 
provocation,  dashed  the  plate  and  its  steaming 
contents  in  Mr.  Walker's  face.    The  latter  leaped 


J^ 


STOW   TOWNSHIP. 


515 


to  his  feet  in  a  passion  at  the  inhospitable  act, 
anil  started  for  his  rifle  to  make  short  worii  of 
the  savage.  But  the  latter,  perceiving  the  dan- 
ger he  was  in,  ran  into  a  small  bedroom  and 
under  the  bed.  Mr.  Walker,  rifle  in  hand,  en- 
deavored to  follow  him,  but  was  hindered  by 
his  wife  and  daughter,  who  had  no  desire  to  see 
the  Indian  shot.  The  latter  noticed  the  dela}' 
and  made  his  escape  through  the  bedroom  win- 
dow, taking  refuge  in  the  chair-shop  already 
mentioned.  By  this  time  the  other  members  of 
the  family  had  succeeded  in  pacifying  Mr.  Wal- 
ker, and  the  refractory  redskin  was  permitted 
to  depart — without  his  dinner.  One  day  Will- 
iam Lappin  and  William  Leach  were  at  the 
cabin  of  John  Arbuckle,  when  six  or  seven 
Indians,  among  whom  were  John  High,  a 
tall,  ugh'-looking  savage,  six  feet  three  or 
four  inches  in  height,  and  Wabmung,  an  under- 
chief  of  the  Ottawas,  passing  along,  stopped  to 
talk  with  the  settlers  and  get  some  tobacco. 
Mr.  Leach  traded  his  his  hat  with  one  of  the 
Indians  for  some  article  belonging  to  the  latter  ; 
but,  immediately  perceiving  that  he  had  been 
cheated,  he  snatched  the  hat  from  the  head  of 
the  redskin  and  placed  it  on  his  own.  This 
was  an  insult  which  the  savage  would  not 
brook,  so,  raising  his  fist,  he  knocked  Leach 
flat  on  the  ground.  The  act  was  no  sooner 
done  than  Lappin  sprang  forward  and  with 
one  blow  sent  the  Indian  sprawling  by  the  side 
of  Leach.  Lappin  was  immediately  assailed  by 
John  High  and  several  others,  though  he  suc- 
ceeded in  keeping  them  at  bay,  and  the  fight 
became  general.  Blood  began  to  flow  from 
sundry  noses,  and  knives  gleamed  in  the  air. 
One  of  the  Savages  snatched  up  a  rifle,  and 
pointed  it  at  Lappin,  intending  to  shoot  him  ; 
but  the  Chief  Wabmung,  who  had  remained  an 
impassive  spectator  of  the  fight  thus  far,  sprang 
forward  and  struck  the  muzzle  up  just  as  the 
gun  was  discharged.  No  harm  was  done,  and 
the  Indian,  thinking,  doubtless,  he  might  get 
into  trouble,  took  to  his  heels  and  was  soon 
out  of  sight.  The  fight  was  over  and  the  In- 
dians took  their  departure.  Jonathan  Will- 
iams, the  Indian-hunter,  lived  for  a  number  of 
years  in  a  little  log  cabin,  in  the  northwest  part 
of  the  township,  on  Mud  Brook.  He  gained 
great  notoriety  for  his  antipath}-  for  the  Indi- 
ans, many  of  whom  he  shot  on  the  slightest 
pi'ovocation.  He  had  been  one  of  those  pro- 
fessional Indian  slayers  who,  during  the  latter 


part  of  the  last  century,  were  in  the  habit  of 
invading  the  Indian  country  to  carry  on  their 
work  of  extermination.  Williams  was  a  dead 
shot,  and  was  feared  b}'  the  Indians.  One  da}- 
a  member  of  the  tribe  came  to  his  cabin  and 
told  him  that  a  snake  was  on  his  track  and 
would  bite  him.  Without  any  further  explana- 
tion the  Indian  went  away.  Mr.  Williams  con- 
strued this  statement  to  mean  that  one  of  the 
tribe  was  lurking  around  to  get  a  favorable  op- 
portunity to  shoot  him.  He,  therefore,  began 
to  watch  closely  for  his  foe.  The  following 
morning,  before  leaving  the  cabin,  he  took  a 
careful  look  from  the  little  window,  and,  while 
scrutinizing  the  woods  on  the  border  of  the 
clearing,  saw  an  Indian  suddenly  peer  from  be- 
hind a  tree  about  twenty  rods  distant,  and  then 
as  suddenly  conceal  himself  Williams  told 
his  wife  what  he  had  seen,  and,  taking  his  rifle 
down,  looked  carefully  to  the  flint  and  priming. 
He  said  to  his  wife,  "  It's  now  death  for  one  of 
us  ;  I'll  trick  him.  Tie  up  the  dog,  and  don't 
be  scared."  So  saying,  he  suddenly  opened 
the  door,  and  before  the  Indian  had  time  for  a 
hostile  movement,  the  former  took  refuge  be- 
hind a  bank  of  earth  near  the  house.  He  hur- 
ried a  short  distance  and  got  behind  a  large 
tree,  and,  with  his  rifle  ready,  began  to  watch 
cautiously  for  the  approach  of  his  foe.  He  saw 
the  Indian's  dog  coming  toward  him,  and 
thought  it  must  soon  discover  his  hiding-place. 
Suddenly,  the  Savage  glided  through  a  small 
glade  in  the  edge  of  the  woods.  This  was  suf- 
ficient, and,  like  a  flash,  Williams  raised  his 
rifle  and  fired,  just  as  his  enemy  was  disappear- 
ing behind-  the  bank  already  alluded  to.  The 
bullet  went  straight  to  its  mark,  and  the  Sav- 
age fell  upon  the  earth  and  expired.  Williams 
hurried  forward,  and,  securing  the  gun,  shot 
the  dog  that  had  come  so  near  revealing  his 
hiding-place.  He  was  at  a  loss  at  first  what  to 
do  with  the  body.  The  death  of  the  Indian 
would  be  avenged,  if  known  to  his  friends. 
Finally,  it  was  taken  and  sunk  in  Mud  Brook. 
Williams  went  back  to  the  cabin,  and  his  wife, 
who  had  heard  the  report  of  both  rifles,  and 
was  greatly  distressed,  not  knowing  what  shape 
affiiirs  had  taken,  was  overjoyed  to  know  that 
he  was  safe.  The  death  of  this  savage,  George 
Wilson,  was  not  discovered  until  after  the  In- 
dians had  left  the  county,  so  that  all  danger 
from  them  was  averted. 

The  Indians  seemed  to  take  especial  pleas- 


516 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


ure  in  frightening  the  wives  of  the  settlers  when 
the  latter  were  absent.  They  would  enter  the 
cabins  and  flourish  their  weapons  in  an  omi- 
nous manner,  and  a  plentiful  supply  of  whisky 
and  victuals  would  be  their  reward.  The^^ 
would  often  brandish  their  scalping  knives 
over  the  heads  of  children  until  the  mother 
was  half-distracted,  when  they  would  get  almost 
anything  the}'  demanded,  and  go  off  grunting 
with  satisfaction  at  the  success  of  their  artifice. 
It  way  be  said,  however,  that  generally  the 
Indians  were  orderl}^  unless  the}-  had  been 
abused  or  were  under  the  influence  of  whisky. 

Mud  Brook  Swamp  in  the  northwest  corner, 
was  the  resort  during  the  spring  of  the  3'ear  of 
countless  thousands  of  pigeons.  They  would 
come  to  this  place  to  roost  after  having  feasted 
all  day  on  beech  and  other  nuts  growing  on 
the  higher  grounds.  When  they  all  took  wing, 
the  noise  was  like  the  rushing  of  a  mighty 
wind.  They  often  filled  the  air  so  that  the  sun 
could  not  be  seen  ;  and  when  they  settled  in 
the  forest,  large  trees  were  broken  down  by 
them.  It  was  dangerous  to  go  into  the  swamps 
that  were  filled  with  pigeons,  and  the  voice  had 
to  be  elevated  to  be  heard. 

The  early  settlers  in  Stow  suffered  the  usual 
hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life.  They  were 
obliged  often  to  live  as  best  the}-  could.  Flour 
and  meal  were  difficult  to  get,  and  when  pro- 
cured were  judiciously  used  and  made  to  go  as 
far  as  possible.  It  was  a  universal  rule  in 
pioneer  mathematics,  that  the  means  of  supply 
were  inversely  as  the  appetite  to  be  gratified. 
The  taste  could  not  be  petted  with  a  variety  of 
articles,  but  the  meal  very  often  consisted  of 
but  one,  and  that  in  such  limited  quantities 
that  the  cravings  were  unsatisfied.  Roads 
were  bad,  conveyances  were  bad,  supplies  of 
all  kinds  were  exorbitant,  labor  of  the  hardest 
kind  received  scarcely  any  reward,  and  all  efforts 
were  exhausted  in  the  one  object — to  live.  It 
is  singular  how  the  plastic  nature  of  mankind 
can  be  molded  for  almost  an}-  condition  of  cir- 
cumstances. Actual  enjoj-ment  can  be  had  in 
the  midst  of  imminent  peril  or  distressing  sur- 
roundings. The  settlers  saw  the  bright  side 
of  their  situation,  and  made  the  most  of  it. 
They  were  contented,  because  their  customs 
were  homogeneous,  and  their  trials  identical. 
If  some  settler  had  come  in  very  wealthy  and 
aristocratic  ;  if  he  had  dressed  his  family  in 
silks,  satins  and  broadcloths  cut  according  to 


the  latest  and  prevailing  fashion  ;  if  he  had 
scorned  to  associate  with  his  neighbors,  him- 
self and  family  would  have  been  practicall}' 
ostracised — the}-  would  have  been  shunned 
like  the  plagues  of  Eg3'pt.  It  was  a  fortunate 
thing  that  they  remained  in  the  East  with  their 
money  bags — fortunate  for  them  and  for  the 
rapid  settlement  and  improvement  of  the  West. 
But,  after  all,  hard  times  were  experienced — 
times  when  it  seemed  as  if  the  utmost  effort  could 
scarcely  keep  body  and  soul  together.  A  large 
family  of  small  children  to  feed  and  clothe, 
and  nothing  but  strong  hands  and  honest  hearts 
to  meet  the  demand  !  This  was  the  problem 
that  many  solved,  and  upon  which  many  others 
failed. 

It  was  not  long  after  the  settlers  had  become 
quite  numerous,  before  industries  began  to 
spring  up  in  various  parts  of  the  township,  to 
furnish  for  the  stead}-  demand  supplies  nearer 
home.  While  some  settlers  erected  frame  houses, 
the  majority  did  not  for  many  years,  but  lived 
contented  in  their  rude,  though  comfortable  log 
cabins.  It  thus  occurred  that  there  was  not  as 
strong  a  demand  for  sawed  lumber  as  might 
have  been  expected.  So  far  as  can  be  learned, 
the  first  saw-mill  in  the  township  was  built  on 
the  river  at  Moni'oe  Falls,  in  about  the  year 
1817,  by  Griswell  &  Wolcott.  At  the  same 
time,  a  man  named  Francis  Kelsey  erected  a 
grist-mill  at  the  same  place.  These  three  men 
united  means  and  built  a  log-dam  where  the 
present  one  is  located.  The  grist-mill  was 
located  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  and  the 
saw-mill  on  the  south.  The  land  on  the  north 
side  was  owned  by  John  Graham,  but  he  en- 
tered into  an  agreement  with  Kelsey,  to  deed 
the  latter  two  acres  for  a  mill  site,  provided  a 
grist-mill  was  erected  and  operated.  Both  mills 
were  supplied  with  water  by  means  of  short 
flumes  or  races,  and  a  sutficient  mill-head  was 
obtained  to  operate  both  mills  at  a  rapid  rate. 
It  was  not  long  before  both  were  on  a  firm 
financial  basis,  and  a  fair  profit  was  realized  by 
the  investment.  They  were  conducted  by  these 
men  (or  perhaps  they  had  a  change  of  owners) 
until  1836,  with  a  few  insignificant  interrup- 
tions, at  which  time  they  were  purchased  by  the 
Moni'oe  brothers,  of  Boston  Township.  For  a 
number  of  years  prior  to  this  change  in  owners, 
the  mills  had  been  neglected,  especially  the 
saw-mill,  which  had  become  somewhat  rickety, 
and  sadly  in  need  of  repairs.     The  Monroes,  at 


'1l 


STOW    TOWNSHIP. 


517 


the  time  they  purchased  the  mills,  also  secured 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  all, 
or  at  least  a  portion,  upon  which  the  village  of 
Monroe  Falls  is  situated.  They  had  a  grand 
project  in  view,  which  was  to  found  a  village 
that  should  become  the  public  mart  of  all  the 
surrounding  country,  and  a  metropolis  of  opu- 
lence and  importance.  At  this  period  there 
were  some  eight  or  ten  residences  in  the  village  ; 
but,  so  far  as  can  be  learned,  no  lots  had  been 
regularly  surveyed  and  platted.  It  is  thought 
that  William  Stow  built  the  first  dwelling  in 
the  village  ;  at  least,  he  built  there  at  a  very 
early  day.  His  father  had  been  the  proprietor 
of  the  township,  but  had  sold  a  large  por- 
tion of  it  to  settlers  and  speculators.  His 
residence  was  located  on  the  south  side 
of  the  river,  and  is  3'et  standing.  John 
Graham  lived  on  the  north  side,  but  had 
sold  out  and  left  a  few  years  before,  or, 
perhaps,  sold  to  the  Monroes.  There  also 
lived  at  the  village,  in  1836,  Samuel  Cheney, 
Zebulon  Stow,  Mr.  Griffiths  and  several  others. 
The  Monroes  evidently  expected  to  make  their 
fortunes.  They  were  quite  wealthy  when  they 
purchased  the  village  and  mill-sites,  and  they 
ventured  all  they  had  in  the  enterprise,  confi- 
dently anticipating,  as  many  did  in  early  years, 
that  a  city  would  spring  up  around  them,  like 
mushrooms  from  a  hot-bed.  They  immediately 
laid  out  about  a  hundred  lots,  and  in  a  few 
3'ears  succeeded  in  securing  the  incorporation* 
of  the  village,  which,  in  their  honor,  had  been 
named  Monroe  Falls.  At  the  time  they  pur- 
chased all  the  land  for  sale  in  the  village  or 
surrounding  it,  they  built  a  small  storeroom, 
and  placed  therein  about  $1,200  worth  of 
goods.  A  number  of  years  before,  perhaps  as 
earl}-  as  1830,  John  S.  Harvc}'  had  come  to  the 
Falls,  had  built  a  residence  and  a  small  store, 
and  had  placed  in  the  latter  $600  worth  of  a 
general  assortment  of  goods,  consisting  mostly 
of  groceries  and  notions.  He  had  obtained  a 
fair  country  trade,  and,  according  to  the  re- 
ports, had  refused  to  sell  to  the  Monroes,  who 
desired  to  purchase  his  property.  The  Mon- 
roes wished  no  competition  in  the  early  history 
of  their  village,  and  had  tried  to  purchase  all 
property  or  enterprises  that  would  in  any  way 
interfere  with  their  intentions  or  obstruct  their 
rapid  march  to  opulence  and  fame.  Several 
lots  were  sold,  and  tradesmen  and  mechanics 

*  Gen.  Bii-rce. 


appeared,  and  it  seemed  at  first  as  though  the 
bright  expectations  of  the  Monroes  were  to  be 
realized.  They  founded  a  "  bank,"  and  began 
issuing  "  wild-cat,"  "  red-dog  "  bills  of  credit  in 
limited  quantities.*  Hax'vey  soon  found  that 
the  Monroe  store  was  materially  injuring  his 
trade,  so,  about  two  years  after  the  appear- 
ance of  the  brothers,  he  either  sold  out  or 
closed  out,  and  went  to  Akron,  according  to 
the  reports.  The  Monroes  purchased  his  store- 
room and  filled  it  with  goods,  and  thus  monop- 
olized the  trade  in  the  village.  Their  stock 
was  increased  until  they  probably  owned  about 
$5,000  worth  of  goods.  About  the  year  1828, 
or  perhaps  earlier,  James  Griffiths  erected  a 
wooden  factory  a  few  rods  below  the  saw-mill, 
on  the  same  (south)  side  of  the  river.  He  se- 
cured a  paying  custom  trade.  Wool-growers 
in  the  vicinity  brought  their  wool  to  him  to  be 
carded,  after  which  it  was  taken  b}-  them  and 
spun,  and  then  returned  to  the  factory  to  be 
manufactured  into  flannel  and  various  other 
varieties  of  cloth.  It  must  be  remembered 
that  there  were  no  readj-made  clothing  stores 
in  those  days.  Suits  for  men  and  women  were 
cut  and  made  in  the  houses  by  the  wives  of  the 
settlers,  many  of  whom  became  expert  tailors, 
especially  if  they  had  lai*ge  families  and  large 
quantities  of  cloth  to  be  disposed  of.  At  cer- 
tain seasons  of  the  year,  the  entire  family 
would  be  provided  with  new  suits.  Journey- 
men tailors  traveled  from  house  to  house,  and 
took  contracts  at  reduced  rates  to  make  suits 
for  the  whole  family,  often  furnishing  the 
cloth.  Griffiths  conducted  his  factor}'  until 
1836,  when  the  entire  property  was  bought  by 
the  Monroes.  Converse  &  Barnes  began  man- 
ufacturing chairs  in  about  1833,  and  soon  had 
quite  a  brisk  trade.  They  peddled  their  wares 
in  a  wagon,  which  traversed  the  country  for  a 
circuit  of  many  miles.  Converse  was  a  local 
preacher,  and  conducted  many  of  the  early 
meetings  at  the  village.  Some  three  or  four 
men  were  employed  to  assist  in  the  manufact- 
ure of  the  chairs.  The  owners  continued  the 
business  until  1836,  when  the  property,  like 
almost  all  the  balance,  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  Monroe  Brothers.  Many  years  before  this, 
iMr.  Graham,  who  had  lived  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river,  built  a  small  distillery,  and  began 
manufacturing  a  limited  quantity  of  whisk}-. 
Considerable  liquor  was  made,  which  found  a 


IT^ 


iz 


518 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


ready  sale  in  the  neighboi'hood.  Mr.  Wet- 
more,  also,  at  an  early  day,  erected  a  distiller^' 
on  what  was  then  called  Stow  Pond.  He  also 
made  ([uite  a  quantity  of  the  drink  which  in- 
ebriates. These  enterprises  (which,  by  the 
way,  brought  to  the  owners  a  profitable  rev- 
enue), were  quite  popular  in  early  years,  and 
continued  so  throughout  what  is  now  Summit 
County,  until  about  the  year  1830,  when  a 
large  number  of  temperance  societies  was  or- 
ganized, whose  objects  were  to  depict  the  enor- 
mity of  the  evil  tendency  of  the  liquor  traffic, 
and  to  suppress  the  supply  and  demand  among 
the  settlers.  The  two  distilleries  above  men- 
tioned were  closed,  however,  before  this  cru- 
sade. The  temperance  movement  became  so 
strong  and  universal,  that  William  Stow  was 
induced  to  oflfer  160  acres  of  land  just  north  of 
Silver  Lake  (this  land  is  yet  known  as  "  tem- 
perance lot"),  to  be  divided  equally  among 
those  who  would  take  the  pledge  and  become 
abstainers.  Many  were  thus  induced  to  re- 
nounce their  intemperate  habits  ;  but  a  deed  to 
the  land  was  not  made  out,  was  neglected,  and, 
at  Mr.  Stow's  death,  his  heirs  refused  to  com- 
ply with  his  promises,  and  retained  the  owner- 
ship of  the  "  temperance  lot." 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Monroes  became  the 
owners  of  about  all  the  business  enterprises  in 
the  village  in  1836.  These  men  threw  a  vast 
deal  of  energy  and  capital  into  their  gigantic 
undertaking,  and  deserved  a  better  financial 
fate  than  they  were  compelled  to  suffer.  They 
soon  found  that  they  had  miscalculated.  But 
few  artisans  and  no  capitalists  came  to  their 
relief  Instead  of  rising  in  value,  the  property 
depreciated  from  the  price  fixed  bv  the  Mon- 
roe purchase.  The  proprietors  had  encoun- 
tered large  expense.  They  tore  down  the  grist- 
mill and  the  saw-mill,  and  erected  larger  and 
better  ones.  The  saw-mill  was  located  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  and  the  grist-mill  on 
the  south  side,  the  reverse  of  what  had  for- 
merly been.  The  latter  mill  was  established 
further  down  the  river,  and  a  long  race,  coming 
from  the  dam,  supplied  it  with  water-power. 
After  struggling  some  ten  years  with  their  un- 
dertaking, the  Monroe  Brothers,  seeing  that 
they  had  failed  and  had  lost  large  sums  of 
money,  gradually  went  out  of  business.  Their 
"  promises  to  pay "  were  not  fulfilled,  and 
many  others  besides  themselves  lost  quite 
heavil}'.     The  property,  or  the  most  of  it,  fell 


into  the  hands  of  Oliver  Brown,  or,  as  some 
say,  into  the  hands  of  William  Cartright.  At 
least,  both  men  at  different  times  owned  the 
mills,  and  it  may  be  that  others  also,  at  times, 
owned  an  interest  in  them  previous  to  their  be- 
ing purchased  b}-  the  Cleveland  Paper  Com- 
pany. The  saw-mill  was  owned  by  various 
parties,  as  was  also  the  grist-mill.  E.  P.  Willis 
sold  goods  in  the  village  about  the  time  of  the 
Monroe  purchase.  Others  have  followed  the 
mercantile  pursuit  at  different  times.  A  small 
hotel  was  built  on  the  canal  in  early  years. 
Phillip  North,  in  about  the  year  1842,  was  en- 
gaged in  manufacturing  hoes — cutting  the  me- 
tallic portions  from  plates  of  iron  or  steel,  and 
furnishing  them  with  handles.  Luther  Loorais 
conducted  an  excellent  store  for  many  ^-ears. 
Charles  Heed  has  a  small  store  at  present.  In 
1866,  the  grist-mill  was  purchased  by  the 
Cleveland  Paper  Company.  It  was  fitted  up 
with  the  apparatus  necessary  for  the  manufact- 
ure of  paper  ;  but  after  a  year  or  two  was 
burned  to  the  ground,  whereupon  the  present 
commodious  building  was  erected  on  the  same 
site.  Under  the  superintendency  of  Mr.  Hall, 
there  has  been  manufactured  an  average  of 
three  tons  of  paper  each  da}-.  About  thirty 
employes  are  kept  constantly  at  work,  and  the 
village,  at  present,  is  populated  almost  wholly 
by  the  families  of  these  workmen.  All  the 
coarser  varieties  of  paper  are  manufactured. 
Many  other  things  might  be  said  about  Monroe 
Falls,  but  enough  has  been  given  to  exhibit  its 
general  growth  and  decay. 

It  must  be  noted  that  other  industries  arose 
than  those  in  the  two  villages  in  the  township. 
Henry  Wilcox  owned  and  operated  a  saw  mill 
on  Mud  Brook  as  early  as  1820,  Josiah  Starr 
having  built  it  a  year  or  two  before.  The 
"  Bryan  Mill  "  was  started  quite  early,  and  con- 
tinued many  years.  There  was  also  an  excel- 
lent saw-mill  on  Fish  Creek  at  an  early  day. 
Many  others  have  been  conducted  at  different 
times.  In  about  the  year  1 810,  Mr.  Thorndyke, 
son  of  a  wealthy  merchant  of  Boston,  Mass., 
opened  a  general  store  on  Lot  14.  After  a  short 
time,  the  store  was  moved  to  Lot  12  ;  but,  at  the 
expiration  of  two  or  three  years,  the  enterprise 
was  abandoned,  and  the  building  was  used  by 
the  Methodists  as  a  house  of  worship.  After 
the  first  settlers  had  opened  up  the  township, 
and  greatly  modified  the  hardships  to  be  under- 
gone, improvements  went  on  rapidly.     Capital 


'.[^ 


STOW    TOWNSHIP. 


519 


sought  investment,  and,  erelong,  Stow  could 
boast  of  a  population  as  large  and  as  enlightened 
in  general  knowledge  as  it  can  at  present.  A 
much  larger  portion  of  the  land  was  covered 
with  forest  than  now,  and  the  roads  and  streams 
were  in  a  very  unsatisfactory  condition.  In 
the  3'ear  1837,  there  occurred  one  of  those 
circling  tornadoes,  which  occasionally  strike  the 
earth,  spreading  death  and  destruction  in  their 
course.  It  visited  the  township  on  the  20th  of 
October,  about  3  o'clock  in  the  morning,  strik- 
ing the  earth  first,  in  the  western  part,  near  the 
center  road,  and  thence  passing  a  trifle  north  of 
east,  until  it  reached  alDout  the  center  of  the 
township,  when  it  either  spent  itself,  or  arose 
above  the  tops  of  the  trees.  The  force  of  the 
wind  must  have  been  terrific,  as  large  trees 
were  snapped  ofl[*  like  pipe-stems,  and  carried 
bodily  several  yards  from  the  stump.  Those 
who  heard  its  approach,  knew  from  the  awful 
roar  that  was  mingled  with  the  crash  of  falling 
trees,  that  something  unusual  and  dreadful  was 
in  the  air.  Its  pathway  had  an  average  width 
of  about  forty  rods,  and,  though  its  course  la}^ 
through  the  heaviest  timber,  not  a  tree  was  left 
standing  ;  but  all  were  heaped  in  tangled  and 
promiscuous  confusion.  It  was  accompanied 
with  almost  incessant  flashes  of  vivid  lightning 
and  volle3'S  of  the  deepest  thunder,  and  the 
rain  came  down  in  angry  torrents.  It  struck 
Cochran  Pond,  and  ver\-  likely  carried  up  large 
quantities  of  water.  The  residence  of  Frederick 
Sandford  was  torn  into  a  thousand  fragments, 
and  the  frightened  inmates  carried  aloft  in  the 
air.  The  two  sons,  Charles  and  Norman,  aged 
respectively  twenty-five  and  eighteen  3-ears, 
were  both  killed  and  terribly  bruised.  Mr. 
Sandford's  jaw  was  broken,  as  was  also  his 
thigh,  in  two  places.  He  was  alive  when  found, 
but  died  in  a  few  hours,  without  recovering  the 
use  of  his  mind.  Mrs.  Collins,  the  mother  of 
Mrs.  Sandford,  was  also  killed,  while  the  latter, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  bruises,  was  unin- 
jured. Mary,  the  daughter,  aged  about  sixteen, 
was  found  lying  insensible  on  a  gate  that  had 
been  wrenched  from  its  hinges,  and  carried  ten 
or  twelve  rods  from  the  house.  When  found, 
she  held  in  her  hand  a  dress,  which  she  was 
probably  endeavoring  to  put  on  in  the  few  ter- 
rible moments  before  the  cloud  struck  the  house. 
She  was  comparatively  uninjured,  and,  after  a 
spell  of  sickness,  caused  by  the  drenching  rain, 
and  the  nerv^ous  shock  accompan3'ing  so  dire  a 


calamity,  she  fully  recovered,  and  is  yet  living 
within  a  few  rods  of  where  the  old  house  stood. 
The  cloud  passed  on  ;  wrenched  asunder  Mr. 
Graham's  new  house  ;  carried  off  the  roof  of 
the  one  occupied  by  Dr.  Wells  ;  crushed  in  the 
gable  of  the  Barnes  residence,  pinning  several 
members  of  the  famil}'  fast  until  they  were  re- 
leased, and  finally  ended  its  mad  freaks  by  un- 
roofing the  Butler  residence.  The  east  and 
west  road  was  filled  with  fallen  timber.  It 
must  be  understood  that  the  last-mentioned 
houses  wore  only  on  the  edge  of  the  course  taken 
by  the  gyrating  cloud.  Had  it  been  otherwise, 
the  historian  would  have  more  deaths  to  record. 
A  plow,  that  had  been  left  in  a  field  in  an  up- 
right position,  though  not  in  the  ground,  was 
plunged  in  to  the  depth  of  eighteen  inches,  and 
a  furrow  in  the  form  of  a  semi-circle,  whose 
diameter  was  about  six  feet,  was  thrown  up, 
and  the  earth  scattered  six  or  eight  feet  around, 
after  which  the  plow  was  thrown  out  of  the 
ground  with  landside,  mold-board,  share  and 
other  portions  of  the  plow  twisted  and  broken. 
Fowls  and  birds  were  plucked  entire!}'  destitute 
of  feathers,  and  killed.  The  bed  upon  which 
Mary  Sandford  had  been  sleeping,  was  found 
lodged  in  the  top  of  a  tree,  thirty  feet  from  the 
ground.  An  ox-cart  was  blown  thirtv  rods. 
Articles  belonging  to  the  house  were  picked  up 
several  miles  away  ;  among  these  was  a  small 
purse  of  money.  Quite  a  number  of  domestic 
animals  were  killed  or  mangled. 

The  first  house  in  Stow  Corners  was  built  as 
early  as  1806,  by  Ezra  Wyatt,  and  was  a  small 
log  building,  located  on  the  southwest  corner 
of  Lot  36.  Within  the  next  two  years,  three 
or  four  others  were  erected.  Stephen  Perkins 
built  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Lot  26,  on  a 
small  tract  of  five  acres  which  he  owned  there. 
Caleb  Wetmore  built  soon  afterward,  as  did  also 
Titus  Wetmore  a  few  months  later.  The  last 
named  built  a  double  log  house  for  the  pur- 
pose (as  stated  by  one  of  his  descendants)  of 
furnishing  a  dancing-hall  for  the  neighl)or- 
hood.  Samuel  Baker  lived  near  by,  and  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  the  first  in  the  township. 
Several  other  residences  were  erected  in  the 
village,  but  no  store  was  opened  until  about 
the  year  1820,  when  a  man  named  Johnson 
placed  a  small  stock  of  goods  in  the  Wyatt 
log  house,  which,  a  number  of  years  before, 
had  been  fitted  up  by  Erastus  Southmayd  for  a 
tavern.     Lyman  Beckley  soon  got  possession 


520 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


of  the  building,  using  it  for  a  tavern.  He  was 
succeeded  b}-  Allen  Nickerson,  who,  in  about 
1843,  transferred  the  property  to  Gen.  Gross 
The  latter  kept  the  most  disreputable  place 
ever  in  the  township.  It  was  a  resort  for  the 
lewd  and  vicious,  and  was  a  disgrace  to  the 
neighborhood.  The  old  building  was  discard- 
ed many  years  ago,  and  a  new  one  erected. 
Dr.  Sweeney  owned  and  conducted  the  tavern 
for  a  number  of  years.  It  has  since  changed 
hands  several  times,  and  is  at  present  owned 
by  C.  E.  Kidne}^,  who  has  a  small  stock  of 
liquors,  which  he  vends  to  convivial  spirits.  It 
is  styled  the  Cliff  House.  Mr.  Gross  kept  a 
few  goods  for  sale,  as  did  also  a  man  named 
Edmunds.  Enoch  Brainard  conducted  a  tan- 
nery for  some  four  years,  beginning  in  1842. 
A  few  other  industries  have  arisen  in  the  vil- 
lage at  different  times. 

Knowledge  obtained  of  the  early  schools  is 
exceedingly  limited.  Recollection,  upon  which 
the  historian  largely  depends,  is  erratic  and 
treacherous.  Traditions  are  vague,  improba- 
ble and  unsatisfactory.  No  one  in  the  past 
has  taken  the  trouble  to  gather  crumbs  of 
information  for  the  intellectual  appetite  of 
coming  generations.  It  has  been  a  matter  of 
no  pecuniary  interest  or  advantage,  and  has 
been  studiousl3^  omitted  from  the  curriculum 
of  pursuits.  The  plodding  details  of  agricult- 
ure have  been  far  more  attractive,  for  therein 
was  seen  the  glitter  of  gold.  The  historian 
casts  his  hook  in  the  Stream  of  Time  ;  it  is 
swept  backward  ;  a  strange  sensation  is  felt 
along  the  line  ;  a  sudden  effort  is  made,  and  a 
few  quivering  minnows  of  information  are 
thrown  upon  the  shores  of  the  Present.  Mrs. 
(Walker)  Lappin,  of  Boston,  sa3's  that  the  first 
school  in  Stow  was  taught  in  the  northeast 
corner,  in  the  cabin  of  William  Walker,  as 
early  as  the  winter  of  1806-07.  A  young  Vir- 
ginian, named  Dennis  B^-an,  who  had  just 
come  into  the  township,  and  who  was  decidedh' 
averse  to  chopping  all  day  in  the  woods  for  a 
pittance,  made  the  effort,  and  succeeded  in  get- 
ting a  sufficient  number  of  scholars  subscribed 
to  insure  him  something  more  than  a  living. 
The  term  was  three  months  in  length,  and  the 
subscription  per  scholar  was  $1.50.  The 
teacher  boarded  around,  and  probably  cleared 
the  greater  share  of  his  wages.  About  fifteen 
scholars  were  enrolled,  quite  a  number  of 
whom  came  from  the  southern  part  of  Hudson 


Township.  Samuel  Burnett  had  built  a  log 
cabin  in  the  northern  part  in  about  the  year 
1805,  but  had  vacated  it  some  two  years  later, 
going  no  one  knew  whither.  This  building 
was  appropriated  for  school  purposes,  and 
terms  were  taught  there  for  several  years,  be- 
ginning in  1808.  A  man  named  Lowell  taught 
here  quite  early.  As  near  as  can  be  learned, 
a  schoolhouse  was  built  in  the  vicinity  of  Stow 
Corners  in  about  the  year  1810,  at  which  time 
the  Burnett  house  mentioned  above  was  alian- 
doned,  and  the  children  in  the  northern  part 
sent  to  the  former.  It  is  possible  that  this 
building  —  the  Wetmore  Schoolhouse  —  was 
erected  two  or  three  3'ears  before  1810.  It  was 
located  a  short  distance  west  of  the  present 
village  site,  and  used  until  about  1816,  when  a 
frame  building  was  erected,  and  located  nearly 
south  of  where  Josiah  Wetmore's  residence 
now  stands.  This  house  was  used  some  twenty 
or  twenty-five  3'ears,  when  the  present  one  was 
constructed.  The  latter  has  been  enlarged  and 
remodeled  until  it  resembles  a  newly-built 
schoolhouse.  The  first  school  building  was 
erected  at  Monroe  Falls  in  about  the  year 
1816.  Two  other  houses  have  succeeded  it, 
each  au  improvement  on  its  predecessor. 
School  was  taught  in  the  cabin  of  Mr.  Rice, 
near  the  Center,  by  Emma  Cannon,  as  early  as 
1810.  In  1825,  there  were  more  schoolhouses 
in  the  township  than  the  present  number — 
eight.  There  were  then  at  least  nine,  and  very 
probably  ten  or  eleven.  The  greater  number 
were  built  of  logs,  and  were  rude,  inconvenient, 
unattractive,  cheerless  affairs.  Notwithstand- 
ing their  gloomy,  dismal  surroundings,  they 
were  well  attended,  and  were  the  basis  of  the 
splendid  public  school  system  of  to-day.  One 
important  feature  of  the  early  schools  should 
be  noticed.  Knowledge  was  not  turned  into 
scholars  by  a  sort  of  pouring  process.  The 
teacher  refused  to  afford  any  assistance  save 
where  the  scholar,  after  patient  and  protracted 
study,  could  not  succeed.  The  schoolhouse 
was  not  a  playhouse  ;  it  was  a  workhouse — a 
place  where  many  a  self-made  man  received  his 
first  insight  of  the  hard  labor  that  was  before 
him.  Erastus  Southmayd  was  one  of  the  earl}^ 
teachers  at  the  Center.  He  taught  many 
terms,  and  his  reputation  as  a  competent  in- 
structor became  widespread. 

It  is  universally  the  case  in  the  earlier  his- 
tory of  a  township,  that  dift'erent  religious  de- 


"71" 


-iT^^uWfc^ 


J^ 


COVENTRY   TOWNSHIP. 


521 


nominations  arose  and  prospered— some  of 
them  for  short  periods,  and  others  until  the 
present  time.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  fine 
churches  have  been  erected  in  Cuyahoga  Falls 
and  Hudson,  and  are  within  a  few  miles  of  all 
parts  (the  farthest)  of  the  township,  a  large 
portion  of  tlie  citizens  of  Stow  attend  these, 
thus  affording  but  little  material  upon  which 
the  historian  of  that  township  may  work.  For 
the  first  few  years,  the  settlers  went  to  Hudson 
to  attend  religious  service.  When  Deacon  But- 
ler came  to  the  township  in  about  the  year 
1806,  he  began  forming  a  small  class,  which 
met  regularly  at  his  cabin.  The  meetings  were 
conducted  in  pioneer  fashion,  and  were  full  of 
entlnisiasm.  Local  preachers  from  Hudson 
addressed  the  congregation  occasionally,  as  did 
also  itinerant  preachers.  Butler  was  a  Presby- 
terian, and  an  entertaining  speaker.  The  society 
used  the  schoolhouse.  Among  the  early  mem- 
bers were  Stephen  Butler,  William  Stow,  John 


Graylord,  Thomas  Gaylord  and  their  families, 
and  others.  They  built  a  small  frame  church 
in  about  1833,  in  which  they  continued  to  wor- 
ship with  increasing  numbers,  until  near  1843, 
when  the  Disciples  got  possession  of  the  church, 
and  the  Presbyterians  went  to  Cu3'ahoga  Falls. 
This  building  was  used  until  a  few  years  ago, 
when  the  present  structure  was  erected.  The 
above  is  given  on  the  authority  of  Josiah  Wet- 
more.  It  is  stated  that  a  St.  John's  Church 
society  was  organized  at  Stow  Corners  in  about 
the  year  1818  ;  that  it  grew  and  flourished,  and 
was  finally  removed  to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where 
it  yet  lives,  well  advanced  in  j^ears,  but  with 
the  vigor  of  youth  in  its  limbs,  if  the  figure 
may  be  indulged  in.  The  chui'ch  at  the  Cor- 
ners is  the  only  one  in  the  township  ;  but  from 
this  it  should  not  be  inferred  that  the  citizens 
lack  religious  interest  and  zeal.  They  belong 
to  churches  in  other  townships. 


CHAPTER    XX.* 

COVENTRY  TO WNSHir— DESCRIPTION  AND  PHYSICAL  FEATU^^FS— WHITE  SETTLEMENT  — GROWTH 

AND    IMPROVEMENT  — PIONEER    REMINISCENCES —CHURCHES    AND 

CHURCH  BUILDINGS— EDUCATIONAL,  ETC. 


•■  Tiie  ax  rang  sharply  'mid  those  forest  shades 
Which,  from  creation  toward  the  sky 
Had  tower'd  in  unshorn  beauty." 

— Mrs.  Sigourney. 

IT  is  difficult  to  realize,  as  we  walk  the  streets 
of  our  beautiful  towns  and  cities,  and  note 
the  squares  of  solid  blocks,  the  immense  ware- 
houses, the  bus}'  mills,  the  ceaseless  hum  of  a 
hundred  factories,  where  the  bulk  of  a  busy 
population  "  gains  its  bread  by  the  sweat  of  its 
brow,"  that  scarcelj'  a  century  ago  these  beau- 
tiful hills  and  valleys  were  peopled  by  wander- 
ing savages,  and  formed  a  part  of  one  vast  wil- 
derness, which  gave  no  sign  or  promise  of  the 
multitudes  of  a  strange  race  b}'  which  it  is  now 
peopled,  or  of  the  mighty  developments  in 
science  and  art  which  should  make  their  lives 
so  different  from  that  of  their  rude  predecessors. 
Here  the  bold  immigrant  pitched  his  loneh'  Lent 
and  staked  all  beside  some  stream  or  near  some 
spring  of  pure  and  sparkling  water,  and  be- 
neath those  "  forest  shades  "  where  erst  the  un- 

*  Contributed  by  George  I.  Wrigbt. 


tamed  children  of  Nature  had  so  long  roamed 
unmolested,  at  one  time  in  search  of  food,  and 
again  engaged  in  the  wild  pleasures  which 
seemed  the  onl}'  occupation  of  their  simple 
lives,  and  the  onl}'  end  of  their  existence.  The 
sound  of  the  woodman's  ax  rang  out  amid  this 
mighty  solitude,  frightening  the  denizens  of  the 
forest  from  their  peaceful  slumbers,  and  start- 
ing reverberations  whose  last  re-echo  has 
changed  into  the  screech  of  the  iron  horse,  and 
into  the  varied  hum  of  a  thousand  industries, 
which  now  occupy  the  millions  of  busy  men  and 
women,  who  have  been  born  and  reared  under 
a  civilization  which  had  its  first  beginnings  in 
the  rude  log-cabins  of  those  sturd}-  pioneers. 

A  pleasanter  task  could  scarce!}^  be  given  than 
that  which  devolves  upon  the  chronicler  of  our 
early  history.  Could  he  l)ut  reproduce  the  scenes 
of  three-quarters  of  a  century  ago,  with  all  their 
natural  surroundings,  that  the  reader  in  imag- 
ination might  see  the  unhewn  log  hut  with  its 
crevices  filled  with  clay  ;  the  adobe  chimney'  ; 
the  broad  fire-place,  and  the  rough,  unseemly 


T^ 


522 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


furniture  ;  that  he  might  see  the  small  clearing, 
so  covered  with  stumps  that  one  could  easily 
have  leaped  from  one  to  another,  and  in  that 
way  have  passed  across  the  entire  breadth  of 
the  farm.  Could  he  picture  the  rude  shed,  made 
of  poles  and  covered  with  branches,  which  was 
the  forerunner  of  the  fine  bank  barn,  in  which 
our  modern  owner  of  the  same  farm  stores  the 
wealth  of  grain  and  produce  gathered  from  the 
fields  his  forefathers  conquered,  or  the  winding 
path  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  where,  beneath 
some  spreading  beech  or  maple,  the  spring 
bubbled  forth  and  cut  for  itself  a  tiny  path 
toward  some  larger  stream,  where,  after  their 
slaking  thirst,  in  the  hot  midday,  the  settler  and 
his  boys  would  rest  for  a  time  from  their  toil, 
and  talk  of  the  trip  to  the  mill  or  post  office  ten 
or  fifteen  miles  awa}- .  Could  he  show  the  read- 
er ''  the  slashing,"  where  the  men,  the  boys  and 
the  girls  were  busy,  making  and  burning  log- 
heaps  and  brush-piles  getting  another  piece 
ready  for  wheat  or  corn,  the  paths  that  indicate 
the  direction  of  their  near  neighbors,  perhaps 
miles  away.  Could  the  historian,  we  repeat, 
picture  all  these  scenes  in  their  wild  but  natural 
beauty,  he  would  bring  before  many  a  reader 
similar  scenes,  whose  impress  have  been  left  in 
the  mind  by  the  oft-repeated  stories  of  the  gray- 
haired  grandsire,  recounted  with  man}'  an  ani- 
mated gesture,  as  he  "  lived  o'er  again  those 
olden  times." 

But  we  must  reluctantly  recall  the  reader 
from  these  general  recollections  to  the  more 
prosy  subject  of  our  work.  Coventry  Town- 
ship is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Portage  Town- 
ship and  Akron  City  ;  on  the  east  by  Spring- 
field Township  ;  on  the  south  by  Green  and 
Franklin  Township  ;  and  on  the  west  by  the 
Tuscarawas  River  and  Norton  Township.  A 
small  portion  of  its  territory  projects  from  the 
northern  center  into  Portage,  on  the  western 
margin  of  the  corporation  line  of  Akron  City. 
Its  southern  boundary  is  the  famous  south  line 
of  the  Western  Reserve,  or  forty-first  parallel 
of  north  latitude.  This  line  was  run  during  the 
spring  and  summer  of  1797,  by  one  Seth  Pease 
and  an  assistant,  one  of  an  expedition  seut 
out  by  the  Connecticut  Land  Company,  to  sur- 
vey the  land  which  they  had  purchased  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut.  This  company  paid 
$1,200,000  for  the  tract  included  between  lati- 
tude 41°  and  42°  2'  north,  and  extending  west 
120  miles  from  the  Pennsylvania  line.     This 


was  surveyed  into  townships  five  miles  square, 
as  far  as  the  Tuscarawas  and  Cuyahoga  in 
1797.  In  1806  and  1807,  the  balance  was  sur- 
veyed, until  which  time  the  Indians  owned  all 
territor}'  west  of  these  rivers.  This  land  was 
divided  among  the  stock-holders  in  this  way. 
The  numbers  of  the  townships  were  placed  on 
slips  of  paper,  and  all  but  a  few  were  put  into 
a  box  from  which  each  one  drew.  Those  that 
were  not  drawn  were  called  "  equalizing  town- 
ships," among  which  was  Coventry.  The  ob- 
ject of  thus  reserving  some  was  to  give  strips 
of  this  "  equalizing  land  "  to  those  who  had 
drawn  poor  townships,  and  in  that  way  make 
them  equal  to  an  average  township. 

The  book  in  which  these  assignments  of  ^ter- 
ritory was  kept,  was  called  the  "  Book  of 
Drafts,"  and  was  the  foundation  of  all  titles  to 
land  on  the  Reserve.  Coventry  was  the  first 
township  in  Range  11,  and  was  parceled  out 
to  several  parties.  Samuel  Hinckley,  who  was 
proprietor  of  Hinckley  Township,  in  Medina 
County,  got  the  southeast  quarter  of  Coven- 
try. Gen.  Wadsworth  and  others  got  strips  of 
this  township  as  equalizing  land.  The  survey, 
before  noticed,  closed  on  the  bank  of  the  Tus- 
carawas, fifty-six  miles  west  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania line,  this  being  the  western  boundary  of 
the  United  States  at  that  time,  and  on  a  tree, 
possibly  still  standing,  on  the  bank  of  the  river, 
the  surveyor.  Pease,  marked  the  result  of  his 
measurement — "56  M."  This  base  line  was 
re-run,  in  1806,  by  Abram  Tap^mn,  who  diflTered 
somewhat  from  the  original  survey,  but  not 
much  considering  the  distance  and  sui-round- 
ings.  South  of  this  line,  the  land  belonged  to 
"  Uncle  Sam,"  and  was  surveyed  by  order  of 
Congress,  townships  made  six  miles  square, 
and  was  called  "  Congress  Land  "  to  distinguish 
it  from  the  "  Reserve."  At  the  time  of  this 
survey,  that  part  of  Coventry  which  lies  west 
of  the  Tuscarawas  and  the  "  Indian  trail,"  be- 
longed to  the  Indians,  and  hence  the  township 
was  fractional.  This  additional  territor}-,  how- 
ever, was  added  to  it,  when  the  survey  was 
completed  in  1806,  just  after  it  was  ceded  to 
the  Government  by  the  Indians  in  1805.  The 
Tuscarawas  encroaches  upon  the  territory  of 
Norton,  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Coventry. 
But  the  river  was  retained  here  as  the  bound- 
ary, thus  giving  to  Coventry  more  than  the 
twenty-five  square  miles,  and  leaving  Norton  a 
fractional  township. 


<2_ 


X£ 


COVENTRY    TOWNSHIP. 


523 


The  general  surface  outline  is  quite  diversi- 
fied, and,  when  we  consider  the  whole  area  we 
find  as  great  a  variety  as  could  well  be  shown  on 
as  limited  an  area.  The  Tuscarawas  enters  near 
the  middle  of  the  southern  half  of  the  eastern 
boundary,  passing  in  its  beautifull}'  winding 
course  through  the  central  part  to  the  center  of 
the  western  boundary,  thence  continuing  in  a 
southwesterly  dii'ection  until  it  leaves  the  con- 
fines of  Coventry,  entering  Franklin  and  contin- 
uing onward  toward  "  The  Father  of  Waters,"  to 
be  lost  in  its  bosom  or  carried  onward  to  mingle 
with  the  waters  of  the  great  ocean.  The  Tus- 
carawas has  many  small  tributaries,  perhaps 
the  most  important  of  which  is  Brewster's  Run, 
which  enters  from  Springfield  and  traverses  the 
eastern  half  of  the  township,  entering  the  river 
above  the  outlet  of  "Long  Lake."  This  lake 
is  a  natural  basin  of  pure  water  containing  ex- 
cellent fish,  which  formed  a  source  of  provision 
for  the  earl}-  settlers,  as  well  as  the  savage  red 
men  who  ranged  the  forest  and  fished  in  these 
beautiful  lakes  with  his  crude  tackle,  and  per- 
haps had  as  good  luck  as  some  modern  experts 
who  frequent  the  place.  Another  lake  of  con- 
siderable note,  not  onl}'  on  account  of  its  situa- 
tion but  for  the  uses  to  which  it  has  been  put 
by  the  enterprising  advocates  of  "rapid  tran- 
sit," is  Summit  Lake,  situated  in  the  extreme 
northern  center  and  occupying  a  position  on 
the  "divide"  which  separates  the  lake  system 
of  drainage  from  that  of  the  Mississippi  Valley. 
Originally  it  was  surrounded  b}'  an  impenetra- 
ble tamarack  swamp,  without  any  outlet  worthy 
the  name,  and  its  source  of  supply  springs  at 
the  sides  and  bottom,  with  the  waters  from  the 
surrounding  hills.  It  was,  in  1825  or  there- 
abouts, used  as  the  source  of  supply  for  the 
upper  level  of  the  Ohio  Canal,  which  passes 
through  it.  There  is  a  number  of  smaller 
lakes,  among  which  is  Manning's  Pond,  on  the 
northern  margin  of  Summit  Lake,  connected 
therewith  b}'  a  stagnant  stream  through  which 
the  water  flows  either  wa}'  according  to  the 
varying  supply  in  the  larger  bod}'.  Another 
is  Nesmith  Lake  situated  about  a  fourth  of  a 
mile  west  of  the  geographical  center  of  the 
township.  The  Indian  trail,  or  portage  path, 
touched  at  the  eastern  side,  and  the  dusky 
warriors  perchance  were  wont  to  rest  arid  slake 
their  thirst  at  this  point  on  their  expeditions  to 
and  from  the  North.  A  small  body  of  water 
east  of  Long  Lake  and  connected  with  it  in 


high  water,  is  called  "  Mud  Lake,"  perhaps,  on 
account  of  the  swampy  and  uncertain  character 
of  the  shores.  Its  dark  waters  are  said  never 
to  have  been  fathomed,  and  the  stories  of  the 
bed-cords  and  clothes-lines  that  have  been 
used  in  the  fruitless  search  for  the  remote 
foundations  thereof,  are,  at  least,  interesting  to 
one  who  has  ofttimes  paddled  the  frail  canoe 
over  its  placid  surface  while  trying  to  catch 
the  "speckled  bass"  or  the  "blue  sunfish." 

Perhaps,  the  most  interesting  body  of  water 
in  the  township  is  the  reservoir,  a  series  of  con- 
nected lakes  and  ponds,  partly  natural  and 
partly  artificial.  It  is  situated  in  the  extreme 
southern  part,  extending  into  Gi'een  and 
Franklin  Townships  and  covers  considerable 
territor}-.  It  was  built  in  1840  or  thereabouts, 
and  was  designed  to  secure  a  sufficient  quanti- 
ty of  water  for  the  use  of  the  canal,  which  was 
at  this  time  the  principal  outlet  for  the  trade 
of  Central  Ohio.  The  great  number  of  boats 
passing  through  threatened  to  exhaust  the  sup- 
posed abundant  supph'  in  Summit  Lake. 

A  few  items  of  the  secret  history  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania &  Ohio  Canal,  and  "  the  bearings  of 
which  (as  '  Bunsby  '  would  say),  are  in  the  ap- 
plication thereof"  At  the  time  when  the 
Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Canal  was  projected,  the 
route  was  located  through  Middlebury  into 
Coventry,  and  following  the  Wolf  Ledge  Run 
was  to  have  emptied  into  the  Ohio  Canal  above 
the  guard  lock,  b}'  means  of  a  lock,  which  would 
have  helped  to  supply  the  deficiency  on  the 
summit  level,  for  which  the  reservoir  was  con- 
structed at  a  cost  of  over  f  15(),()00  to  the  tax- 
payers of  the  State.  But  the  Akron  mill-own- 
ers perceived  that  if  this  canal  could  be  brought 
into  Akrou  on  the  line  of  the  Crosby  race  (by 
which  they  were  supplied  with  water-power)  by 
enlarging  it  and  running  up  to  the  Summit  ba- 
sin by  means  of  a  lock  located  (ilore  their  sup- 
ply race,  they  would  get  the  benefit  of  both  the 
enlargement  and  of  each  lockful  of  water  let 
down,  eventually,  from  the  summit  level ;  hence 
pressure  was  brought  to  bear  and  the  route  was 
changed.  But  the  supply  of  water  on  the  sum- 
mit level  was  not  sufficient  for  both  canals,  and 
the  reservoir  was  built.  It  is  supplied  l)y  means 
of  a  race  which  starts  from  the  Tuscarawas 
about  a  mile  from  the  eastern  boundary  line, 
near  the  Steese  coal  bank,  runs  west  along  the 
hillsides  which  skirt  the  valley,  to  within  half  a 
mile  of  Lono-  Lake  where  it  turns  south,  still 


524 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


skirting  the  hills,  and  enters  the  reservoir  near 
the  'Squire  Freese  farm.  A  huge  embankment 
was  built  from  this  point  across  the  lowland  to 
the  hills  southward,  and  an  extensive  lake  was 
thus  formed.  This  discharges  through  an  im- 
mense iron  pipe  (and  runs  into  Long  Lake  when- 
ever there  is  need  of  water  from  this  source), 
by  means  of  gates  which  are  raised  to  let  the 
water  into  the  sluice.  Long  Lake  is  likewise 
connected  with  Turkey-  Foot  Lake,  making  it 
also  a  part  of  the  great  suppl}'  reservoir.  These 
discharge  through  Long  Lake  into  the  Tusca- 
rawas, a  little  south  of  the  center  of  the  town- 
ship. This  point  was  also  made  the  terminus 
of  the  Portage  path  by  the  Indians,  because  the 
accession  of  waters  from  these  lakes  made  the 
river  navigable  at  all  seasons  to  this  point  for 
their  birch  canoes.  Being  nearly  on  a  level 
with  the  canal,  a  dam  and  a  supply  race  or 
feeder  were  built,  by  means  of  which  a  never- 
failing  supply  was  delivered  into  the  canal. 

These  lakes,  creeks,  and  the  Tuscarawas,  form 
a  most  complete  system  of  drainage.  Aside 
from  some  low  lands  along  the  natural  depres- 
sion in  which  the  township  was  located,  the 
township  is  quite  free  from  waste  lands.  The 
soil  is  generall}'  fertile,  and  especiall^^  in  the 
southern  part,  where  it  is  considered  the  best 
wheat  land  in  the  Reserve.  Along  the  valley 
of  the  Tuscarawas  are  beautiful  meadows,  and, 
in  the  spring  and  summer  seasons,  the  rich 
verdure  relieved  by  occasional  patches  of  tim- 
ber left  to  remind  one  of  what  it  was  fift}'  years 
ago,  forms  as  pleasant  a  sight  as  often  meets 
the  eye  of  the  lover  of  the  beautiful  in  natural 
scenery.  In  the  northern  part  the  soil  is  more 
inclined  to  clay,  and  is  better  adapted  to  gen- 
eral husbandry  and  stock  raising. 

The  geological  structure  presents  many  in- 
teresting features.  The  ridge  or  divide  which 
crosses  the  township,  anciently  formed  part  of 
the  beach  of  a  great  inland  sea  which  extended 
over  the  entire  basin  now  occupied  by  our 
chain  of  great  lakes.  One  of  several  outlets 
to  this  sea,  in  all  probabilit}^,  cut  through  this 
divide  and  followed  the  lowlands  to  the  Tus- 
carawas, which  at  that  remote  time  conducted 
the  overflow  from  the  sea  toward  the  gulf  At 
a  more  recent  time,  after  this  sea  had  receded 
toward  its  present  limits,  the  Cuyahoga  passed 
through  this  water  gap  into  the  valley  of  the 
Tuscarawas,  until,  becoming  dammed  up,  it  cut 
for  itself  a  new  channel  toward  the  lake,  making 


the  sharp  curve  in  the  river  at  this  point. 
These  facts  are  shown  by  an  examination  of 
the  character  of  the  deposits  along  this  old 
channel.  The  surface  is  of  drift  origin,  while 
underlying  it  we  find  the  carboniferous  forma- 
tion in  full.  The  coal  measures  are  overlaid 
with  shale,  while  above  this  is  sand  rock.  Im- 
mense quantities  of  coal  are  being  mined  in 
this  township,  and  of  an  excellent  quality. 
The  vein  averages  in  thickness  about  four  and 
a  half  feet.  There  is  some  irregularity,  how- 
ever, due,  no  doubt,  to  the  uueven  bottom  of 
the  old  coal  marsh,  in  which  the  vegetation  it  is 
formed  of.  was  deposited,  and  when  the  overly- 
ing claj's  were  deposited,  the  coal  material  lay 
between  the.se  ridges  and  irregularities  which 
are  now  found  to  obstruct  the  progress  of  the 
miners,  and  are  called  "  horse-backs,"  or  "  hogs- 
backs."  A  bed  of  hard  iron  ore  is  found  over 
nearly  all  the  measures  opened,  varying  from 
a  few  inches  to  a  foot  in  thickness.  Peat  bogs 
are  also  found,  some  of  which  are  said  to  be 
from  thirty  to  forty  feet  in  depth.  This,  by  a 
process  of  drying,  is  made  into  an  article  of 
fuel,  which  may  develop  into  a  possible  future 
supply,  in  case  the  coal  measures  are  exhausted. 
Mr.  J.  F.  Brunot  prepared  some  for  market,  but 
it  has  no  more  than  one-half  the  heating  power 
of  coal,  and  cannot  compete  with  it  at  paying 
prices.  It  is  an  excellent  fertilizer,  and  is  of 
great  value  to  the  intelligent  agriculturist. 
Shell  marl  is  sometimes  found,  which  is  one  of 
the  most  valuable  fertilizers  in  the  market. 
Any  one  finding  this  should  test  it,  and  ascer- 
tain its  value  and  reap  a  harvest  from  the  cat- 
swamp  or  marsh,  that  will  make  a  garden  of 
the  whole  farm.  These  peat  and  marl  beds  are 
the  filled-up  lakelets  that  ages  ago  occupied 
their  sites,  and  which  became  overgrown  with 
weeds  and  grasses,  until  they  finall}'  disap- 
peared. Some  of  them  are  even  good  meadows, 
over  which  cattle  have  roamed  for  j-ears.  One 
of  these  dead  lakes  was  discovered  recently 
near  Mogadore,  on  the  route  of  the  Connotton 
Railroad.  All  lakes  with  boggy  oj'  swampy 
shores,  where  one  can  shake  the  ground  for 
rods,  are  in  the  first  stages  of  progress  toward 
the  formation  of  peat  bogs.  Man}'  granite 
bowlders  are  found,  and  the  curious  ma}'  won- 
der whence  the}'  came.  These  rocks  are  evi- 
dences of  the  powerful  iceberg  and  glacial 
agency  in  the  distril)ution  of  the  surfiice  rocks, 
and  in  the  formation  of  surface  features.     They 


y\- 


r^ 


:^i 


COVENTRY    TOWNSHIP. 


525 


are  strangers  here,  from  the  Laurentian  hills  of 
Canada,  and  tell  the  tale  to  the  people  of  to- 
day of  the  wondrous  changes  and  mighty 
forces  that  had  played  their  parts  in  the  con- 
struction of  this  continent. 

Before  the  first  waves  of  immigration,  pre- 
cursors of  an  overwhelming  tide  that  was  soon 
to  sweep  away  the  last  vestige  of  a  crude  and 
imperfect  civilization  began  to  throw  upon 
these  shores  the  scattered  settlers  who  were  to 
form  the  picket  line  for  the  conquering  race, 
there  lived  besides  these  lakes  and  streams 
bands  of  Indians  belonging  to  the  Delaware 
tribe.  The  territory  over  which  these  Indians 
roamed  extended  from  the  bend  of  the  Cuya- 
hoga southward  to  the  Ohio  River.  On  the 
east  was  the  country  of  the  Iroquois  family,  or 
"Six  Nations,"  while  to  the  north  and  west  lay 
the  hunting-grounds  of  the  Ottawas  and  W}'- 
andots.  Thus  we  find  ourselves  on  the  borders 
of  disputed  grounds.  The  Delawares  had  been 
driven  from  the  homes  of  their  forefathers  on  the 
fertile  banks  of  the  Susquehanna  and  Delaware, 
b}^  the  powerful  Iroquois  confederation,  which 
extended  from  the  Hudson  to  the  valley  of  the 
Cuyahoga,  some  time  in  the  middle  of  the  pre- 
ceding centui'y.  After  wandering  through 
Pennsylvania  and  into  Ohio,  they  finally  set- 
tled down  in  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Tus- 
carawas and  Muskingum.  They  belonged  to 
the  great  Algonquin  family,  which  included  all 
the  tribes  east  of  the  Mississippi  and  north  of 
the  Tennessee,  except  the  isolated  Iroquois  be- 
fore mentioned.  They  all  spoke  dialects  of 
the  same  language,  while  the  Iroquois  had  a 
different  language.  The  Wjandots  and  Otta- 
was were  Iroquois,  but  spoke  a  different  dialect 
from  the  Six  Nations,  and  were  at  bitter  enmity 
with  them,  and  frequentl}'  combined  with  the 
Delawares  against  their  kinsmen.  When  in- 
cursions were  made  to  the  northward,  their 
route  was  from  New  Portage  (their  principal 
village  in  the  north)  to  the  southern  terminus 
of  the  Indian  trail,  by  canoe,  thence  overland 
(often  carrying  their  canoes  with  them)  along 
this  portage  path,  past  the  western .  border  of 
Summit  Lake,  and  over  the  hill  past  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  house  of  Col.  Simon  Perkins, 
northward  to  the  Cu3-ahoga  at  Old  Portage, 
where  they  again  embarked.  These  Delawares, 
or  Lenni  Lenapes,  as  they  called  themselves, 
were  a  brave  and  intelligent  people.  It  is  true 
they  were  at  times  cruel,  and  not  very  discrim- 


inating in  their  judgments.  Many  of  those 
venturesome  persons  who  preceded  the  actual 
settler,  styled  Indian  hunters,  met  with  tragic 
deatlis  at  their  hands. 

Hopocan,  or  Capt.  Pipe,  as  sometimes  called, 
a  Delaware  chief,  had  his  village  near  New 
Portage,  in  Coventry  Township,  which  was  con- 
sidered of  much  importance  on  account  of  its 
being  at  the  head  of  navigation.  The  whites 
looked  upon  it  in  a  somewhat  similar  manner, 
for  we  find  that,  in  1787,  an  ordinance  was 
passed  declaring  the  Tuscarawas  navigable  to 
this  point,  and  "  forever  to  be  kept  open  for  the 
use  of  the  United  States."  By  the  treaty  of 
Fort  Mcintosh,  in  1785,  Coventiy,  with  all  the 
land  east  of  this  stream,  and  the  Cuyahoga,  was 
ceded  to  the  United  States  by  the  Indians. 
The  history  of  the  "  State  of  Coventr}^  "  begins 
with  the  downfall  at  this  date  of  the  "  King- 
dom of  New  Portage,"  King  Hopocan  soon  being 
obliged  to  move  his  headquarters  west  of  the 
river,  under  the  above-named  treaty,  which  he 
signed  with  all  the  dignity  of  a  born  monarch, 
as  "  Hopocan,  King  of  New  Portage."  This 
treaty  remained  in  force,  with  onl}^  occasional 
infringements,  until  1805,  when  the  treaty  of 
Fort  Industry  was  signed,  by  which  the  west- 
ern boundary  was  moved  further  west,  and  the 
Indians,  who  remained  in  this  territory  for 
some  3'ears  longer,  remained  b}'  sufferance  of 
the  Government. 

The  Delawares  were  generally  friendly  to  the 
settlers,  except  when  on  the  war-path.  Hopo- 
can led  them  in  the  battle  in  which  St.  Clair 
was  defeated,  and  he  afterward  declared  that 
he  had  that  day  "  tomahawked  whites  until  his 
arm  ached."  He  was  at  Maumee  Rapids  when 
"  Mad  Anthony  "  broke  the  spirit  of  the  Indians 
of  the  northwest,  who  had  combined  to  drive 
the  invaders  from  their  chosen  hunting-ground. 
In  1812,  Hopocan  and  his  tribe  took  sides  with 
the  British,  and  when  the  fate  of  war  was  de- 
cided against  them,  he  signed  the  treaty  of 
Greenville.  After  lingering  for  a  time  in  the 
lands  which  th^'  had  chosen,  but  which  was 
now  rapidly  filling  up  with  whites,  these  Dela- 
wares bade  farewell  to  tiie  iiomes  they  had  hoped 
would  be  permanent,  but  which,  alas,  had  proved 
to  them  hut, a  transient  resting-place  in  the  in- 
evitable pilgrimage  which  fate  had  marked  out 
for  them,  toward  the  setting-sun  !  Successive 
removals  followed,  before  the  stead}"  and  re- 
lentless march  of  a  higher  civilization,  which 


jy< 


52G 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


sweeps  everything  before  it.  The  weak  and 
broken  remnant  of  a  once  proud  and  powerful 
nation  was  finally  settled  upon  a  small  reserva- 
tion in  the  Indian  Territory. 

In  180G,  Daniel  Haines  eame  into  the  un- 
settled wilderness  of  Coventry.  He  was  from 
Pennsylvania,  and  settled  on  a  piece  of  land 
near  the  northeast  corner  of  the  township,  on 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Sumner  farm.  His 
log  cabin  was  built  in  the  midst  of  the  forest, 
a  little  south  of  the  site  of  the  large  stone 
house,  which  now  occupies  the  sightly  position 
on  the  hill  back  from  the  road.  A  small  red 
house  now  occupies  almost  the  exact  spot,  and 
thus  keeps  in  rememlii'ance  the  location  of  the 
tirst  house  built  by  tlie  hands  of  the  paleface 
in  Coventry.  "  Uncle  Dan,"  as  the  younger 
people  of  that  day  called  him,  built  his  cabin  and 
cleared  a  small  place,  where  he  lived  happily 
in  his  forest  home  for  a  number  of  years.  Ariel 
Bradley,  at  Mogadore,  Joseph  Darrow,  at  Dar- 
row  Street,  and  old  Deacon  Hudson,  at  Hudson, 
were  his  nearest  and  only  neighbors  for  a  year 
or  two.  When  the  Harts  and  some  others  came 
to  Middlebury,  in  1811,  the  neighborhood  began 
to  get  too  crowded  for  ''  Uncle  Dan,"  and  he 
sold  out  and  went  into  the  woods  again.  This 
time  he  settled  in  the  central  part  of  the  town- 
ship, in  a  small  ravine  by  the  side  of  a  spring, 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  north  line, 
and  about  the  same  distance  from  the  east  line 
of  the  township,  on  or  near  what  is  now  the 
Elias  Hartong  place.  There  he  built  another 
cabin  and  lived  in  peace,  and  raised  a  goodly 
family  of  children,  who  figure  largel}'  in  the 
history  of  the  early  settlement  of  this  sec- 
tion. The  next  settler  of  whom  we  have 
definite  record  was  Capt.  Amos  Spicer,  who 
located  just  north  of  the  Haines  place,  in  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  township.  He  was  a 
cousin  of  Maj.  Minor  Spicer,  and  came  at  the 
same  time,  in  1810  or  1811.  They  were  near 
neighbors,  and  were  wont  to  go  back  and  forth 
almost  daily  to  see  that  all  was  well  with  the 
respective  families.  At  this  jtime  there  were 
a  number  of  settlers  in  the  vicinity,  some  at 
Middlebur}-,  and  a  few  in  Portage  Township, 
in  the  neighborhood  in  which  Akron  is  now 
located,  so  that  they  were  not  so  much  alone  in 
the  world  as  "  Uncle  Dan ''  had  been  for  some 
years  l)efore.  Still  they  felt  isolated  from  the 
world  outside  of  their  little  settlement,  and  cut 
off  from  friends  and  acquaintances,  and  wh}' 


should  they  not  feel  so,  for  were  they  not  em- 
barked in  an  uncertain  venture,  in  a  wild  and 
untrained  country  ?  Many  anecdotes  are  re- 
lated of  the  skill  with  which  the  old  Captain 
could  avoid  the  difficulties  of  living  in  a  region 
where  men  were  obliged  to  depend  upon  their 
own  resources  and  ingenuity  in  the  emergencies 
that  daily  arose.  One  incident  in  which  he 
figured  as  an  actor  was  related  to  us  by  an  old 
settler.  It  seems  that  an  old  bear  made  a  raid 
on  the  pig-pen  of  Maj.  Spicer.  and  carried  off 
the  squealing  porker  to  the  ravine  in  the  edge 
of  the  cemetery,  where  he  proceeded  to  make  a 
meal.  After  satisfying  himself,  he  left  the  re- 
mains for  the  morrow,  and  betook  himself  to 
his  ramblings.  But  Avery  Spicer,  a  boy  of 
twelve,  caught  bruin  in  the  act,  and  straightway 
ran  to  get  Capt.  Spicer  to  help  to  capture  him. 
They  soon  matured  a  plan,  which  was  to  set  a 
gun-trap,  so  that  when  he  returned  to  get  the 
rest  of  his  pork  (as  the}'  had  no  doubt  he  would), 
he  would  shoot  himself  They  loaded  their 
muskets  with  big  loads,  putting  in  several  balls, 
and  placed  them  on  forks  driven  in  the  ground, 
just  high  enough  to  be  in  range  with  the  bear, 
should  he  get  upon  their  strings  at  any  point. 
Three  of  these  guns  were  set  with  strings  from 
the  triggers,  running  over  little  forks  to  the  dead 
hog.  After  having  everything  arranged,  they 
retired  to  the  house  to  await  developments.  In 
the  night,  they  were  startled  by  the  report  of 
one  of  the  old  muskets,  and.  on  going  out,  they 
found  the  bloody  trail  of  bruin  leading  down 
the  ravine.  They  followed  cautiously  for  some 
rods,  when  they  came  upon  the  dying  thief 
The  old  musket  had  sent  its  load  clear  through 
him.  Such  adventures  formed  the  spice  and 
variet}'  of  life  to  these  old  pioneers,  and  they 
enjoyed  an  occasional  diversion  from  the  routine 
of  wood-chopping  and  clearing. 

About  this  time,  Jesse  Allen  bought  out  old 
Daniel  Haines,  and  settled  by  the  side  of  Capt. 
Spicer.  This  was  also  in  1811,  and  shortly 
after,  Nathaniel  Allen,  his  half-brother,  came 
in  south  of  them,  and  bought  the  farm  that  is 
now  the  Philemon  Allen  farm.  Jesse  Allen 
was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  town- 
ship, in  which  capacity  he  served  for  many 
years.  In  1815,  Israel  Allen  also  came  into 
the  same  neighborhood,  and  was  also  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace  for  many  years.  Nathaniel  and 
his  good  wife,  "  Aunt  Massey,"  as  the  boys 
called   her,  planted  the   first   orchard   in   the 


"Tfc 


COVENTRY    TOWNSHIP, 


527 


township,  and  some  of  the  trees  or  stumps  are 
still  standing.  They  were  not  such  fine  grafted 
fruit  as  we  have  at  the  present  time,  but  the}' 
were  the  best  they  could  get,  simply  "  seed- 
lings," raised  in  the  garden  from  seeds  gath- 
ered wherever  they  could  get  the  fruit.  Here, 
in  after  years,  they  had  a  cider-mill,  the  first 
one  in  the  Section,  where,  whoever  had  apples, 
came  to  get  cider  made,  and  those  who  had 
none  came  and  bought  of  the  Aliens,  who  had 
a  large  orchard.  People  came  here  from  ten  or 
twelve  miles  in  all  directions  to  get  cider. 
Here,  surrounded  by  their  children,  their  broth- 
ers and  families,  they  lived  and  died,  after 
witnessing  many  wonderful  changes  that  the 
next  half  a  century  produced  on  all  sides  of 
them.  Their  sons  and  daughters  grew  up, 
married,  and  their  children  are  among  the  peo- 
ple who  to-day  are  performing  the  work  allot- 
ted to  this  generation.  Another  settler  in  this 
part  of  the  township  was  Maj.  Hart,  who  bought 
what  is  at  present  known  as  the  Stillwell 
place.  Stephen  Brewster  settled  just  south  of 
the  Nathaniel  Allen  place,  at  an  early  day,  on 
what  is  now  the  land  of  the  Brewster  broth- 
ers. The  old  coal-bank  of  Alexander  Brewster 
was  one  of  the  first  in  the  township,  and  has 
been  in  operation  for  many  years.  It  was 
originallj'  opened  by  a  Mr.  Whittlesey,  who 
leased  the  place,  but  afterward  the  lease  was 
bought  off,  and  since  that  time  it  has  been  op- 
erated by  Alexander  Brewster  or  his  sons. 
Stephen  Brewster's  sister  married  old  John 
Bellows,  and  they  settled  near  there  at  about 
the  same  time,  and  the  two  families  raised  their 
childi'en  here,  where  the}'  lived  for  many  years 
and  died,  to  be  succeeded  by  their  descendants, 
who  still  own  the  most  of  the  lands  their  fath- 
ers or  grandfathers  cleared.  Ithamore  Bel- 
lows, who  is  looked  upon  as  an  old  settler, 
though  a  son  of  the  John  Bellows  before  men- 
tioned, when  he  reached  manhood  took  up  land 
in  the  woods,  back  to  the  westward  of  the  Allen 
neighborhood.  He  married  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  Haines,  and  a  story  is  told  of  him  that 
illustrates  the  methods  of  pioneer  courtship. 
During  the  winter  of  1815,  two  young  fellows 
came  over  from  Green  Township  to  split  rails 
for  some  settlers  -in  the  neighborhood.  One 
evening  they  followed  young  Ithamore  through 
the  woods  to  the  log  cabin  of  "  Uncle  Dan," 
where,  unconscious  of  pursuit,  he  entered  the 
house,  and  the  spies  secreted  themselves  so 


that  they  could  see  the  proceedings  on  the  in- 
side as  they  transpired.  Late  in  the  evening, 
"  Cupid "  was  making  rapid  strides  toward 
match-making,  and  the  curtain  ought  to  have 
been  down,  when  a  laugh  from  the  outside  in- 
terrupted proceedings.  Young  Bellows  seized 
his  hat  and  gave  chase.  We  are  led  to  sus- 
pect that  one  or  both  of  these  fellows  engaged 
in  this  shabby  trick  was  smitten  by  the  same 
fair  face.  But  Ithamore  came  out  winner. 
William  Triplet  lived  west  of  the  Brewster 
place,  and  opened  probably  the  first  coal-bank 
in  the  township.  It  was  a  thin  vein,  however, 
and  was  abandoned  after  the  Brewster  bank 
was  opened.  His  father  settled  in  Green  Town- 
ship, and  William  came  over  into  Coventry  and 
settled,  where  he  lived  and  died.  Another  of 
the  boys  lived  farther  south,  but  we  could  not 
learn  the  name  ;  but,  after  his  father  died,  the 
mother  came  up  and  lived  on  this  son's  farm. 
She  had  a  little  house  whei'e  she  lived  alone, 
not  far  from  the  log  schoolhouse  that  used  to 
stand  near  the  Gregg  farm.  Here  the  sciiool 
children  went  for  water,  but  they  were  always 
quiet  and  orderly,  for  they  were  afraid  of  "Old 
Granny  Triplett." 

Basil  Viers,  the  ancestor  of  the  numerous 
families  of  that  name  who  still  live  in  various 
parts  of  the  township,  located  near  William 
Triplett's  place,  west  of  Stephen  Brewster.  He 
was  among  the  very  first  settlers,  and  is  remem- 
bered only  by  the  old,  gray-haired  patriarchs  of 
to-day.  Just  this  side  of  the  little  log  cabin  in 
which  Dan  Haines  lived,  Wheeler  Heniman 
located,  on  the  place  now  known  as  the  "  Beck 
Farm,"  on  what  might  be  called  South  Main 
Street  Extension.  Little  is  known  definitely 
about  him  as  to  where  he  came  from,  but  he  is 
spoken  of  as  a  good  neighbor,  and  was  well 
thought  of  Adam  Falor  settled  in  the  northern 
center,  just  east  of  South  Main  street,  in  the 
hollow  not  far  from  the  rolling-mill.  He  built 
and  run  a  distillery,  the  first  and,  as  far  as  we 
are  able  to  find,  only  one  in  the  township.  It 
was  located  where  the  old  stone  house  stood, 
through  which  the  Brewster  Coal  Railroad  cut 
its  way  just  after  passing  under  the  track  of 
the  N."  Y.,  P.  &  0.  R.  R.  Here  the  sturdy  old 
settlers  came  from  all  the  country  around  to 
get  the  necessary  material  for  raising  barns  and 
houses,  as  well  as  for  running  the  husking  bee, 
and  other  social  gatherings.  Here  Adam  and 
his  wife  Eve  lived  in  peace,  never  dreaming  of 


)  "S* 


Xt 


k 


52S 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


"temperance  societies,"  "crusaders,"  or  Mur- 
pliy  pledges.  They  raised  a  family,  many  rep- 
resentati\'es  of  whom  are  still  living  in  that 
neighborliood.  Abram  Falor,  a  son  of  Adam 
and  Eve  above-mentioned,  built  a  saw-mill  on 
what  is  now  known  as  Falor's  Run,  whei'e  he 
did  a  good  business  for  many  years.  Chester 
Judd  was  another  early  settler  who  came  into 
this  same  section  some  time  before  the  year 
1820,  though  that  is  the  time  at  which  we  find 
him  located  just  beyond  the  Adam  Falor  place. 
Peter  and  Moses  Osburn,  brothers,  also  lived 
adjoining,  and  near  neighbors  to  Judd.  Little 
could  be  learned  in  regard  to  them,  as  we  find 
none  of  their  descendants  in  the  township. 
Thomas  Grranger,  an  old  Revolutionary-  pen- 
sioner who  lived  like  a  king  on  the  credit 
he  got  on  account  of  his  $8  per  month 
from  the  Government,  built  his  log  cabin  just 
beyond  the  railroad,  on  the  present  Moses 
Falor  farm.  Granger,  with  some  half  dozen 
other  pensioners  from  neighboring  townships, 
often  congregated  at  the  little  store  at  Middle- 
bury,  where  they  traded  out  their  pension 
money,  and  had  a  gay  time  recounting  the 
wonderful  adventures  in  which  they  had  par- 
ticipated to  the  gaping  crowd  of  younger  peo- 
ple, who  are  always  eager  to  listen  to  anything 
that  sounds  of  war.  It  is  said  that  their  stories 
rivaled  those  of  Baron  Munchausen  in  the  mar- 
velous, and  the}-  themselves,  like  the  old  Baron, 
even  came  to  believe  in  the  truth  of  their  won- 
derful yarns.  In  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
township  several  families  had  located  at  an 
early  day,  before  1820  at  least,  though  the 
exact  date  could  not  be  ascertained.  Among 
them  was  Old  Basil  Cahow,  a  ftimily  of  Roots, 
a  large  family  of  Hethmans,  Seibert  Dodge  and 
Samuel  Nash.  One  of  the  sons  of  old  man 
Hethman  was  for  a  good  many  years  Justice  of 
the  Peace.  He  was  an  old  bachelor,  and  is 
remembered  by  many  as  an  eccentric  but  intel- 
ligent and  well-read  man.  Samuel  Nash  kept 
a  kind  of  tavern  just  beyond  the  Dodge  farm. 
This  was  the  first  tavern  in  the  towmship,  and 
it  consisted  of  nothing  more  than  the  log  cabin 
of  the  settler  and  a  stable  for  the  horses,  but 
they  made  the  tired  traveler  welcome,  and  fed 
man  and  beast  with  the  best  the  land  aflTorded. 
In  1819,  William  W.  Laird  built  himself  a 
cabin  on  the  banks  of  the  Tuscarawas  at  New 
Portage,  and  began  the  construction  of  flat- 
boats  to  run  on  the  river.     Henry  Chittenden, 


of  Springfield,  Abram  Norton,  of  Middlebury. 
and  Philander  Adams,  of  Tallniadge,  at  tlie 
same  time  became  contractors  and  speculators 
in  the  produce  of  the  country,  which  they 
bought  up  of  the  farmers  all  over  the  country 
and  hauled  to  New  Portage,  and  shipped  on 
Laird's  boats  to  New  Orleans.  This  seems 
almost  incredible  to  those  who  know  the  present 
Insignificant  size  of  the  river  at  this  point. 
But  such  was  the  case,  as  we  learn  from  the 
old  people,  who  still  remember  this  river  as  a 
turbulent  stream,  which,  at  certain  seasons,  it 
was  impossible  to  ford,  and  which  at  all  times 
was  a  goodly  stream.  Now,  however,  it  has 
sadly  fallen,  and  the  little  school-boys  wade 
across  its  pebbly  bed  or  catch  the  minnows 
which  sport  in  its  shallow  waters.  Shortly 
after  the  starting  of  this  new  industry  and  the 
opening  of  New  Portage  as  a  port,  one  Ambrose 
Palmer  and  a  Dr.  Clark  settled  in  what  they 
considered  the  future  metropolis,  and  started  a 
glass  factory,  the  site  of  which  is  in  that  part 
of  New  Portage  located  in  Norton  Township. 
It  was  in  operation  for  several  years,  and 
turned  out  considerable  quantities  of  glassware. 
Its  history,  however,  is  more  particularly  given 
in  the  chapter  on  Norton  Township.  The}- 
finally  abandoned  the  glass  business,  and 
Palmer  left  for  the  West,  where  he  died,  in  the 
Mormon  settlement  in  Utah.  Talmon  Beards- 
ley,  who  was  for  a  good  many  years  a  resident 
of  the  township,  and  some  twelve  years  its 
Clerk,  and  about  the  same  period  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  has  in  his  possession  a  quart  bottle 
which  was  turned  out  from  this  establishment 
in  1822.  It  is  large  at  the  base,  and  has  a  long, 
tapering  neck,  with  a  peculiar  flare  at  the  top. 
The  glass  is  a  good  article,  but  has  a  yellowish 
green  cast. 

In  1821,  Van  R.  Humphreys,  a  young  attor- 
ney, located  in  New  Portage,  thinking,  with 
many  others,  that  it  was  destined  to  be  the 
principal  city  in  Northern  Ohio.  But  he  soon 
became  satisfied  of  his  mistake  and  abandoned 
the  new  city,  finally  settling  in  Hudson.  He 
was  at  one  time  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  for  this  county.  One  of  the  first 
settlers  at  New  Portage  was  Michael  Dixon, 
who  came  there  in  1814  or  1815.  He  lived 
there  during  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  varying 
waves  of  prosperity  that  came  upon  this,  the 
only  town  and  capital  of  the  "  State  of  Cov- 
entry," as  this  was   wont  to   be   called.     He 


w^ 


COVENTRY    TOWNSHIP. 


529 


shared  not  only  its  prosperity  but  also  its  ad- 
versit}^  for  he  remained  long  after  its  star  had 
set  and  its  prospects  sunk  into  insignificance. 
At  a  later  period,  Mr.  Viers  sought  to  revive 
its  waning  prospects  by  laying  out  an  addition, 
which  was  to  grow  and  swallow  up  the  old 
town  and  retrieve  its  sinking  fortunes.  One 
lot  was  sold  to  Jacob  Brown,  after  whom  it 
was  proposed  to  name  the  place  Brownville. 
But  Fate  did  not  smile  upon  the  project,  for 
but  one  house  was  built  in  the  place,  which  was 
afterward  for  many  years  used  as  a  match  fac- 
tor}'. Such  is  the  hard  fate  of  many  a  beauti- 
ful prospective  city.  One  other  character  must 
be  mentioned  before  we  leave  the  town.  Joe 
Keeler  was  not  only  a  celebrated  Mormon 
preacher,  but  also  a  notorious  passer  of  coun- 
terfeit money.  He  built  a  brick  house  near  the 
canal  bridge,  where  he  lived  in  the  purity  of 
his  faith  for  years,  or  until  "  religious  perse- 
cution"  thi'eatened  to  send  him  to  Columbus. 
Jacob  Kepler  was  one  or  Coventry's  pioneers  ; 
he  settled  early  in  the  century  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  township,  and  is  still  living, 
surrounded  by  the  numerous  family  of  children 
and  grandchildren,  who  own  some  of  the  finest 
and  most  profitable  farms  in  the  entire  town- 
ship. Many  are  the  stories  that  this  old  settler 
can  tell  of  the  hardships  and  adventures  of 
those  early  days.  Here  also  came  the  Harters, 
another  family  of  pioneers,  and  the  Wagoner 
family  settled  in  the  same  corner,  west  of  the 
Long  Lake.  In  the  southeast  corner,  the  earlier 
settlers  were  David  Lee,  Fred  Hevener,  Henry 
Billman,  John  Buchtel,  Daniel  Pontius,  Dan 
Rex,  and  possibly'  a  few  others. 

One  of  the  events  of  the  season  in  those 
days  was  the  periodical  coming  of  the  itinerant 
shoemaker,  one  of  whom — Dan  Burns — fre- 
quented this  corner  of  the  township.  He  car- 
ried his  tools  and  stock  from  place  to  place,  and 
while  there  he  generalh^  shod  the  entire  family, 
living  as  one  of  the  family  meanwhile  ;  then 
he  would  take  the  next  on  the  list,  and  serve 
them,  and  so  on,  until  he  had  finished  his  list. 
Those  coming  late  to  engage  him  were  often 
obliged  to  go  barefoot  until  after  mid-winter  on 
account  of  their  negligence. 

John  Haines,  a  son  of  old  Daniel  Haines,  was 
the  first  or  pioneer  preacher  in  the  township. 
He  was  of  the  Baptist  faith,  though  holding 
the  "  fore-ordination  doctrine  "  of  the  Presby 
terians.    This,  however,  he  afterward  renounced, 


saying  that  he  had  a  revelation  while  hoeing 
corn,  in  which  he  was  convinced  of  the  error  of 
that  doctrhie,  and  the  old  man  is  said  to  have 
cried  when  he  thought  of  the  many  people  to 
whom  he  had  preached  it,  and  to  whom  he 
could  not  preach  the  new  revelation.  He  often 
went  oflT  to  the  neighboring  townships  to  pro- 
claim the  "glad  tidings"  to  the  backwoodsmen 
and  their  families.  On  Sunday  mornings  he 
could  be  seen  making  his  way  to  some  log 
cabin  or  schoolhouse  near  home,  where  he 
would  preach  to  his  friends  and  acquaintances. 
Then  he  would  start  through  the  woods,  follow- 
ing some  path,  crossing  streams  on  fallen  logs, 
until  he  reached  a  place  where  some  old  settler 
had  promised  to  meet  him  with  a  horse  or 
wagon,  when  they  would  journe}-  on  together. 
The  waters  of  Summit  Lake  seemed  to  suit 
his  idea  of  a  baptising  medium,  and  many  was 
the  young  convert  to  the  doctrines  which  he 
taught,  who  came  from  far  and  near  to  go 
through  the  ceremony  of  baptism.  Here  Cath- 
arine Buchtel  and  Nancy  Richards  came  from 
Green  Township  in  1824,  and  were  led  into  the 
lake  and  immersed,  both  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing "  to  testif}^  to  the  faith  that  was  in  them." 
Another  pioneer  preacher  of  the  same  faith  was 
Elder  Derthick,  or,  as  the  impious  and  irrever- 
ent young  sinners  of  those  days  used  to  call 
bim,  "Old  Deathhook."  He  settled  on  the 
Abel  Allen  place,  where  he  liv^ed  and  expounded 
the  truth  to  the  residents  of  the  northeast. 
Many  of  the  old  residents  remember  to  have 
gone  to  the  schoolhouses  often  to  hear  him 
preach.  One  of  his  favorite  places  was  the 
Falor  Schoolhouse.  Here  one  of  the  oldest 
cemeteries  is  located,  and  all  the  old  settlers  of 
the  neighborhood  were  laid  here,  "  to  sleep  the 
sleep  that  knows  no  waking,"  until  Gabriel 
shall  blow  the  trump  that  is  to  quicken  these 
old  bodies  with  the  "life  immortal."  To  these 
two  men  the  earlier  settlers  owed  a  debt  of 
gratitude,  at  least,  for  their  unselfish  devotion 
to  the  cau§e  of  religion  during  all  these  years 
of  trials  and  hardships.  In  after  years,  when 
the  soil  had  been  broken,  others  came  in  and 
carried  the  bannei'S. 

Several  churches  have  been  built  in  different 
parts  of  the  township.  Perhaps  the  oldest  is 
Wesle}'  Chapel,  on  the  banks  of  the  Tuscarawas 
at  Pleasant  Valle}',  a  place  which  at  one  time 
bore  the  fateful  name  of  "  Sodom."  Another 
at  Thomastown  belongs  to  the  Welsh,  who  pre- 


>f^ 


530 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


dominated  in  that  place.  There  is  also  a  church 
and  cemetery  just  west  of  the  Center,  toward 
New  Portage,  and  also  one  west  of  the  reser- 
voir, on  the  place  owned  by  Benjamin  Bowers. 
In  the  cemeter}-  back  of  each  one  may  read 
much  of  the  history  of  the  early  settlers.  The 
moss-covered  slab  tells  the  tale  of  the  sweep  of 
old  Time's  scythe  more  truly  than  could  be  writ- 
ten by  our  feeble  pen,  and  the  little  mounds, 
with  the  short  records  and  dates,  tell  to  the 
wanderer  through  these  silent  resting-places  of 
the  recklessness  with  which  Death  marked  as 
his  own  the  old  and  the  young  indiscriminately. 
Another  character  who  played  a  conspicuous 
part  in  the  very  early  settlement  was  Liber- 
tine Dixon,  the  Indian  hunter  and  fighter.  Be- 
tween this  man  and  the  red  men,  a  deadly  ha- 
tred existed,  which  often  led  to  the  shedding 
of  blood.  Dixon  lived  for  many  years  in  Mid- 
dlebury  or  near  there,  but  his  time  was  spent 
largely  in  the  woods  with  his  invariable  com- 
panion, a  long,  ungainly  looking  rifle,  which 
he  always  spoke  of  with  respect,  calling  it  by 
the  peculiar  name  of  "  Starling."  Many  are 
the  stories  of  wild,  reckless  disregard  of  human 
life,  which  are  told  of  Libertine  Dixon,  or 
rather  of  his  gun  "  Starling."  He  seemed  to 
feel  as  though  an}'  Indian  who  had  an  oppor- 
tunity would  shoot  him  as  quick  as  he  would 
a  wolf,  and  acting  upon  that  supposition,  he 
always  tried  to  get  the  first  chance.  One  inci- 
dent illustrating  both  this  feeling,  and  his  re- 
gard for  his  gun,  was  told  by  an  old  gray- 
haired  man  who  knew  him  well  and  knew  of 
the  particular  time  mentioned.  One  day  in 
1815,  the  narrator  of  this  story  was  in  Middle- 
bury  Mills,  to  see  after  some  sawing,  grinding 
or  something,  at  any  rate,  which  called  him  to 
the  mill,  when  some  Indians  were  seen  to  come 
into  the  town  and  stop  at  the  grocery,  where 
Dixon  was.  As  they  entered  at  the  front  door, 
he  came  out  the  back  way  and  hastily  went  to 
his  cabin,  saying  that  the  Indians  were  after 
him,  and  if  they  wanted  to  see  him  they  should 
come  for  him  in  the  woods.  He  took  his  gun, 
ammunition  and  some  dried  beef  and  was  gone, 
and  did  not  return  for  some  time;  when  he  did, 
he  told  this  story  to  our  informant :  "  I  went 
into  the  woods  and  kept  low  until  the}-  left, 
when  I  followed  them,  but  kept  myself  so  con- 
cealed that  they  did  not  suspect  me.  They 
were,  however,  on  the  lookout  for  some  one,  and 
scouz-ed  the  woods,  until  finally  the}"*  seemed  to 


give  it  up,  and  started  toward  Old  Portage. 
One,  however,  watched  the  ravine  closely  where 
the  Big  Cuj'ahoga  flows  through  the  chasm  near 
the  Big  Falls,  and  once,  as  he  was  hanging  by  one 
arm  over  the  precipice  holding  to  a  hemlock 
tree  on  the  edge  of  the  rock,  and  looking  closely 
up  and  down  the  valley,  I  stepped  out  from 
behind  a  big  chestnut  and  'Starling'  spoke  to 
him.  But  '  Old  Starling '  spoke  so  suddenly 
that  it  scared  the  fellow,  and  he  jumped  oft' the 
bank  on  to  the  rocks  below  some  forty  feet  and 
killed  himself  After  awhile,  I  went  up  to 
him  and  as  he  didn't  seem  to  want  his  gun  and 
other  things  an}'  longer,  I  took  them."  At 
another  time,  when  he  was  hunting  down  by 
Long  Lake  in  Coventr}',  he  stepped  to  the  edge 
of  the  lake,  when  he  discovered  an  Indian  fish- 
ing from  a  birch  canoe.  He  jumped  behind  a 
ti'ee  and  Old  Starling  thought  he  would  speak 
to  the  fellow.  The  Indian  was  so  frightened 
that  he  uttered  a  terrific  yell  and  jumped  into 
the  lake.  The  smoke  had  hardl}'  cleared  away 
when  another  Indian,  a  companion  probably, 
who  was  making  afire  on  the  bank  above,  came 
rushing  down  to  see  what  his  companion  had 
shot.  While  he  was  looking  after  his  friend, 
Dixon  slipped  away  and  disappeared.  He  also 
shot  one  on  a  little  lake  west  of  East  Liberty, 
whose  yell  can  be  heard  frequently  on  moon- 
light nights  even  to  this  da}',  and  many  times 
would  the  young  people  of  that  neighboriiood 
go  miles  around  rather  than  pass  that  little 
lake,  from  fear  of  hearing  the  unearthly  yell  of 
the  murdered  Indian  or  seeing  his  shadowy 
form  gliding  over  the  smooth  surface  of  the 
lake  in  his  birchen  canoe,  that  made  "  not  a 
ripple  as  he  passed."  So  goes  the  story,  at 
least,  and  no  believer  in  ghosts  and  hobgoblins 
has  any  reason  to  cast  discredit  on  so  well 
authenticated  a  story  as  the  above.  Many  of 
the  Dixons  who  live  in  Coventry  are  descended 
from  this  old  Indian  hunter. 

Between  1815  and  1820,  Ben  Haines,  a  son 
of  Dan  Haines  and  a  brother  of  the  pioneer 
preacher,  built  a  rude  grist-mill  on  the  Tusca- 
rawas, near  the  place  where  the  Steese  Coal 
Railroad  crosses  the  river,  and  on  the  David 
Jones  farm.  The  dam  crossed  the  valley  where 
the  road  now  runs.  The  old  race  can  still  be 
seen  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  just  south  of 
the  bridge,  and  some  of  the  old  timbers  still 
remain  to  mark  the  place  where  the  first  mill 
of    the   township   was    built.      Possibly   Ben 


^^ 


fc* 


COVENTRY    TOWNSHIP. 


531 


Haines  might  have  built  up  a  good  business 
had  he  attended  strictly  to  it,  but  it  soon  run 
down,  and  at  last,  for  a  number  of  j'ears,  he 
occupied  himself  in  studying  on  "  perpetual 
motion,"  that  bane  of  many  inventive  geniuses. 
A  story  is  told  of  Ben's  "machine"  which  we 
do  not  vouch  for,  but  give  as  we  heard  it :  At 
one  time  the  builder  thought  he  had  succeeded 
(and  perhaps  he  had,  who  liuows  ?)  at  any  rate 
be  agreed  to  let  some  parties  see  it,  if  they 
would  swear  eternal  secrecy,  which  thej^  agi'eed 
to  do  when  he  conducted  them  into  the  old 
tumble-down  mill  and  started  liis  machine.  It 
was  constructed  in  some  odd  way  b}^  an  ar- 
rangement of  iron  balls,  chains,  wheels,  etc.  It 
started  otf  in  good  style,  but  began  soon  to  go 
with  accelerated  speed,  until  the  men  who  had 
been  called  in  ran  out  as  if  to  save  their  lives, 
for  the  "  machine  "  became  wild,  and  made  a 
terrible  din.  Old  Ben  himself  became  fright- 
ened, and  in  order  to  stop  it  he  threw  a  green 
handspike  into  the  midst  of  the  flying  wheels, 
which  broke  it  in  such  a  way  as  to  render  it 
harmless  at  least,  and  it  is  said  that  old  Ben 
never  tried  it  again. 

The  mill  now  known  as  the  Steese  or  Brews- 
mill,  situated  on  the  Tuscarawas  River,  on 
the  Springfield  line,  was  not  built  until  1834-35, 
b3'  John  Wyley.  Before  its  construction,  the 
people  in  this  part  of  Coventry  and  neighboring- 
townships  were  obliged  to  go  to  Middlebur}' 
mills,  or  to  the  Emerley  mill  in  Franklin 
Township,  at  the  foot  of  Turkey  Foot  Lake. 
This  latter  mill  site  was  destroyed  when  the 
reservoir  was  constructed,  but  in  1842,  or  there- 
about, the  State  mill  was  built,  utilizing  the 
overflow  from  the  reservoir  and  furnishing  bet- 
ter accommodations  to  the  farmers  of  this  sec- 
tion. The  first  saw-mill  was  the  one  built  by 
Abram  Falor,  on  ''  Falor  Run,"  mentioned 
before.  Another  earl}^  mill  was  one  built  by 
Daniel  Rex,  a  little  west  of  the  feeder  dam,  which 
supplies  the  reservoir  on  the  Tuscarawas  River, 
near  Steese's  coal  bank.  Another  was  in  pro- 
cess of  construction  at  quite  an  earl}'  day  a 
little  above  this,  the  old  race  of  which  can  still 
be  seen  near  the  road  that  runs  east  and  west 
past  "  Wesley  Chapel."  This  was  built  b}-  John 
Buchtel,  Sr.,  taking  the  water  from  the  river  just 
back  of  "Wesley  Chapel"  Cemetery.  It  run  west 
some  half  a  mile,  and  discharged  again  into  the 
river  near  the  place  where  the  railroad  of  Stam- 
baugh,  Tod  &  Co.  crosses  the  river.     But  this 


was  never  finished,  owing  to  delays  that  held  it 
in  an  unfinished  condition  until  the  feeder  came 
in  there  and  their  dam  was  built  just  below, 
which  backed  the  water  on  them  and  spoiled  the 
site. 

The  first  frame  house  is  sand  to  have  been 
built  by  one  of  the  Aliens,  on  the  road  to  Mid- 
dlebury,  and  it  was  the  wonder  and  admiration 
of  the  young  people  of  several  townships,  some 
of  whom  made  trips  of  a  dozen  miles  to  see  it. 

Of  the  early  schools  very  little  can  be  said, 
except  that  the  houses  were  rude  log  struct- 
ures, with  a  great  fire-place  in  one  end  built  on 
the  outside,  after  the  fashion  of  the  day.  The 
benches  were  made  of  logs  split  in  halves  and 
legs  put  in  on  the  round  side,  while  the  split 
side  was  smoothed  up  with  an  ax.  Not  a  plane 
ever  touched  them,  and  they  were  not  the  most 
comfortable  seats  in  the  world.  It  was  not 
necessary  to  resort  to  bent  pins,  the  school- 
boy's device,  in  order  to  produce  a  sensation, 
for  all  that  was  required  was  to  pinch  some  one 
and  get  him  to  slide  along  the  bench.  Some 
of  the  bad  boys  are  said  to  have  lined  the 
seats  of  their  pantaloons  with  large  pieces  of 
leather  for  their  protection,  both  from  the 
roughness  of  the  benches  and  the  roughness  of 
the  "teacher's  ferule.  There  were  no  fine  desks 
with  all  the  furniture  of  a  modern  schoolhouse, 
but  simply  these  benches,  along  which  the 
children  ranged  themselves,  and  which  had  to 
serve  the  double  purpose  of  seat  and  desk,  each 
pupil  piling  his  books  and  slate  on  the  seat  be- 
side him.  These  seats  of  learning  were  in  the 
midst  of  the  forest,  near  some  road  (or  path, 
along  which  the  settlers  expected  to  make  a 
road  some  time).  The  pupils  gathered  from 
all  directions,  coming  through  the  woods  by 
paths  known  only  to  themselves,  crossing  the 
streams  on  logs  or  fallen  trees.  On  one  occa- 
sion, in  time  of  high  water,  a  family  of  some 
half  a  dozen  children,  were  crossing  on  a  fallen 
tree  when  the  youngest,  a  little  girl,  becoming 
dizzy,  fell  into  the  rushing  water  and  was  be- 
ing whirled  rapidly  down  stream,  when  in 
plunged  her  older  brother,  who  swam  lustily 
after  her,  finally  capturing  her  some  rods  be- 
low, bringing  her  safely  to  shore  ;  after  which 
they  hastened  on  to  school,  instead  of  going 
home  again,  and  dried  their  clothes  by  the  fire 
in  the  schoolhouse.  This  shows  that  even  the 
children  thought  little  of  such  hardships  and 
paid  little  heed  to  mishaps  that  would  produce 


J^^ 


532 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


consternation  in  a  whole  neighborhood  to-day. 
One  of  these  pioneer  school  houses  was  situated 
not  far  from  the  center  of  the  township,  and 
was  known  as  the  "  Tamarack  Schoolhouse." 
In  this  old  log  building  the  town  meetings  and 
elections  were  frequently  held.  During  those 
early  times,  they  were  not  so  precise  as  they 
are  now,  as  to  the  exact  place  of  holding  elec- 
tions, which  were  held  here  and  there  to  suit 
the  convenience  of  the  people.  There  was  an 
early  schoolhouse  in  the  woods  on  what  is  now 
the  Sol.  Renninger  place,  on  the  road  just 
west  of  the  Grregg  place.  These  were  built, 
probably,  between  1820  and  1825.  Then  the 
Falor  and  the  Allen  Schoolhouses  were  also 
quite  early,  the  dates  of  which  I  am  unable  to 
learn. 

This  township  was  first  organized  in  1808,  as 
a  part  of  Springfield,  which  was  then  a  part  of 
Trumbull  County.  This  county  was  afterward 
divided  and  Portage  County  formed,  of  which 
our  township  continued  to  form  a  part  until 
1840,  when  Summit  County  was  erected,  and 
Coventr}',  with  nine  other  townships,  was  taken 
from  Portage  County.  Two  of  the  early  officers 
of  this  township  are  still  living,  viz.,  Avery 
Spicer  and  Talmon  Beardsley  ;  possibl}^  many 
others,  whose  modesty  forbade  them  to  men- 
tion it,  but  who  will  be  remembered  by  manj^ 


who  read  this  sketch,  as  having  rendered  gra- 
tuitous service  to  their  fellows  in  some  of  the 
various  capacities.  Some  years  ago,  a  fine 
town  hall  was  built  near  the  center,  on  the  hill 
above  the  canal,  at  the  famous  "  Waterloo  Gro- 
cery." Here  now  the  town  meetings  and  elec- 
tions are  held. 

When  we  seek  to  understand  the  whole  sig- 
nificance of  a  recital  of  the  facts  and  incidents 
relating  to  these  previous  generations,  we  must 
bear  in  mind  that  we  owe  to  these  same  people 
the  many  advantages  we  enjoy.  They  came 
and  conquered  the  wilderness,  and  made  it  to 
blossom  as  the  rose.  It  is  true  that  ignoi'ance 
and  superstition  prevailed,  and  a  crude,  imper- 
fect civilization  took  the  place  of  the  savage 
state  ;  but  they  were  in  unison  with  their  sui*- 
roundings,  and  consistent  in  all  respects.  They 
were  neither  ahead  of,  nor  yet  behind  the  age  in 
which  they  lived.  It  would  not  become  us  to 
belittle  their  labors  ;  but  rather  should  we  extol 
them,  for  they  underwent  the  hardships,  while 
we  I'eap  the  harvest  and  enjoy  the  benefits  ; 
they  strove  to  make  tolerable  the  path  in  life 
along  which  they  were  to  travel,  while  we  strive 
to  enjoy  the  many  advantages  which  are  ours, 
not  as  the  result  of  our  own  exertions,  but  be- 
cause our  lot  was  cast  in  the  middle  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  instead  of  a  century  before. 


CHAPTER    XXI.* 

BOSTON  TOWNSHIP— ORIGINAL  PROPRIETORS— TOPOGRArHY  AND  GKOLOGY— OHGANIZATION  AND 

FIRST  SF/PTLEMRNT— COUNTERFEITING  AND  UNDERGROUND  RAILROAD— G1U)WTH 

OF   INDUSTRIES- VILLAGES— SCHOOLS    AND    CHURCHES. 


IT  is  not  generally  known,  even  by  those 
living  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  State, 
how  the  land  of  the  Western  Reserve  became 
parceled  out  among  its  various  owners,  or  how 
it  came  to  pass  that  citizens  in  Connecticut 
sometimes  found  themselves  in  possession  of 
tracts  separated  the  entire  length  of  the  Re- 
serve. Accompanying  this  volume  will  be 
found  a  detailed  description  of  the  manner  in 
which  this  was  accomplished.  It  may  be  prop- 
erly stated  here  that  the  lands  of  the  Reserve 
were  divided  into  400  shares,  valued  at  $3,000 
each,  and  that  residents  of  Connecticut  could 
purchase,  if  their  means  were  limited,  a  frac- 

*Con(ributed  by  W.  A.  Goodspeed. 


tion  of  a  share,  or,  on  the  other  hand,  could 
purchase  as  many  shares  as  they  desired  and 
could  bu3\  It  was  often  the  case  that  several 
citizens  formed  themselves  into  a  com  pan}-, 
each  contributing  as  much  as  he  could,  or  as 
much  as  he  desired,  and  all  together  suflScient 
to  purchase  one  township,  or  perhaps  one 
share.  The  membei's  of  the  company  would 
decide  among  themselves  as  to  their  order  of 
choice  out  of  the  tract  purchased.  Some 
townships  were  "  equalizing  townships."  That 
is.  inasmuch  as  they  were  inferior  to  the  aver- 
age township,  they  were  either  divided  into 
tracts  which  were  distributed  to  other  inferior 
townships  to  make  the  latter  equal  to  the  aver- 


~r^ 


■k^ 


BOSTON    TOWNSHIP. 


533 


age,  or  portions  in  other  parts  of  the  Reserve 
were  attached  to  them  to  make  them  equal  in 
value  to  the  average. 

Boston  was  an  "equalizing  township."  It 
was  divided  into  three  tracts  (and  perhaps  oth- 
ers) which  were  attached  to  other  townships. 
It  was  decided  by  a  committee  appointed  for 
the  purpose,  that,  from  the  fact  that  Boston 
was  crossed  by  the  Cu^-ahoga  River,  and  by 
ranges  of  steep  bluffs  which  could  never  be 
cultivated,  it  was  unequal  to  the  average,  and 
it  was  accordingly  distributed  to  others.  Tract 
1,  lying  in  the  northwest  corner,  was  attached 
to  Eaton  Township,  Lorain  County,  and  was 
owned  by  Judge  Jared  Kirtland,  Mr.  Blinn 
and  others.  Tract  2,  in  the  southwest  corner, 
was  attached  to  Columbia  Township,  Lorain 
County,  and  was  owned  by  a  company  of  five 
men,  as  follows  :  Harmon,  Levi  and  x\zor 
Bronson,  Calvin  Hoadley  and  Jared  Pritchard. 
It  is  not  remembered  how  the  land  east  of  the 
river  was  divided  and  owned,  except  that  He- 
man  Ely  possessed  the  greater  portion.  When 
Tract  i  was  surveyed  by  its  owner,  Judge 
Kirtland,  it  was  found  to  have  a  surplus  of  200 
acres  ;  whereupon  he  instructed  his  survej'or, 
Alfred  Wolcott,  to  survey  Tract  2,  and  this 
was  found  to  have  an  excess  of  400  acres. 
The  Judge  immediately  shouldered  the  respon- 
sibility of  equalizing  the  two  tracts,  by  sever- 
ing 129  aci'es  from  Tract  2  and  attaching  them 
to  Tract  1.  This  equalizing  tract  was  soon 
afterward  sold  to  Robert  and  Thomas  Brannan, 
a  barrel  of  whisky  being  given  in  part  pa}'- 
raent.  But,  when  Harmon  Bronson  came  to 
the  township  and  found  a  portion  of  his  land 
occupied  and  claimed  bj^  the  Brannans,  he 
commenced  an  action  of  ejectment,  and,  after 
considerable  annoyance,  succeeded  in  having 
Kirtland's  equalizing  act  set  aside  and  the 
Brannans  ousted.  The  Kirtland  tract  was  sur- 
veyed into  nine  lots  ;  the  Bronson  tract  into 
ten  ;  and  all  that  portion  of  the  township  east 
of  the  river  into  forty-five. 

When  the  first  settlers  came  to  the  township, 
the  prospect  was  anything  but  encouraging. 
The  Cuyahoga  River,  then  a  marshy  stream 
that  overflowed  its  banks  altogetlier  too  often 
for  the  happiness  or  prosperity  of  the  settler, 
passed  northward  across  the  township  a  short 
distance  west  of  the  center.  Along  the  adja- 
cent valley  were  frequent  bogs  and  marshes  of 
decaying  vegetable  matter,  that,  under  the  heat 


of  the  summer  sun,  threw  off  noxious  vapors 
to  poison  and  contaminate  the  air.  A  large 
portion  of  the  township  was  cut  by  narrow, 
deep  gorges  and  ravines,  that  were  overhung 
by  precipitous  ridges  and  hills,  covered  with  a 
heavy  forest,  and  having  a  heavy,  sterile  soil 
that  gave  no  word  of  encouragement  or  prom- 
ise to  the  backwoodsman.  The  woods  were 
filled  with  wild  animals,  and,  what  was  equall}- 
a  cause  for  apprehension  of  danger,  bands  of 
Indians  were  near  that  might  begin  the  work 
of  slaughter  at  Siuy  moment.  Markets  and 
mills  were  miles  distant,  and  the  journe}'  by 
team  through  the  woods  was  rendered  so  slow 
and  harassing  b}'  reason  of  mud  and  fallen 
timber,  that  the  distance  was  practically  doub 
led.  It  became  evident — painfully  so — that 
the  settler  must  rel}'  largely  upon  his  rifle 
to  supply  his  family  with,  very  often,  only  the 
bare  necessities  of  life.  Thus  was  the  settler 
surrounded  with  discouragements,  disappoint- 
ments, and  apparently  unending  future  priva- 
tions. But  he  fortunately  possessed  unbend- 
ing resolution,  dauntless  courage,  and  incredi- 
ble hardihood,  and  the  pleasant  homes  we  have 
to-day  were  founded  by  him. 

It  is  well  to  notice  the  topographical  and 
phj'sical  features  of  Boston  before  proceeding 
further  with  its  settlement  and  improvement. 
It  is  five  miles  square,  with  the  exception  of  about 
three  hundred  acres,which  a  number  of  3'ears  ago, 
were  taken  from  the  center  of  the  northern  side 
and  attached  to  Northfield  for  school  purposes. 
The  Cuyahoga  enters  the  township  from  the 
south,  about  a  mile  east  of  the  southwest  cor- 
ner, passing  in  a  zigzag  course  to  within  about 
half  a  mile  of  the  center,  thence  flowing  west 
of  north  and  leaving  the  township  one  mile 
and  a  quarter  east  of  the  northwest  corner. 
The  river  valley- varies  in  width  from  a  few 
rods  to  a  mile,  and  though  now  almost  wholly 
cleared  and  under  cultivation,  was  once  heavily 
timbered  and  extremeh'  wet.  The  vallej'  is 
skirted  with  precipitous  bluffs,  which  can  never 
be  used  except  as  grazing  land,  and  which  ex- 
tend back  from  the  valley  more  than  half  a 
mile.  The  Waverly  group  of  rocks  is  exposed 
thi'oughout  the  township,  moi'e  especially  along 
the  river,  where  inexhaustible  beds  of  splendid 
stone  abound.  Along  the  river  in  the  northern 
part  the  Erie  shale  is  exposed,  while  in  the 
eastern  part  where  the  Waverly  group  first 
comes  to  the  surface,  ledges  of  sandstone  con- 


•^  (S~ 


Tv 


534 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


glomerate  rise  perpendicularly  above  the  sur- 
rounding country,  in  some  cases  sixty  or  sev- 
enty feet.  These  ledges  stand  isolated  and 
alone,  far  separated  from  their  kindred  strata, 
monuments  to  the  eroding  effects  of  time. 
Numerous  small  streams  enter  the  river  from 
the  east,  among  which  are  Salt  Creek,  Richey's 
Run,  Haskell's  Run,  Peninsula  Run  and  Stan- 
ford's Run.  The  principal  ones  from  the  west 
are  Oil  Run,  Slippery  Run  and  Furnace  Run.' 
A  few  small  tamarack  swamps  were  to  be  seen 
in  early  days  in  different  parts  of  the  township, 
but  these  have  been  drained,  and  a  few  of 
them  are  now  under  cultivation.  When  the 
settlers  first  came  to  the  count}',  a  tract  of 
land  comprising  thirty  or  forty  acres,  lying  in 
the  valley  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  a  short 
distance  below  the  center,  was  cleared  of  trees, 
and  was  under  cultivation.  It  was  an  Indian 
corn-field,  and  it  is  stated  that  in  about  1804, 
settlers  living  in  Hudson  went  to  this  field  and 
purchased  corn  of  the  natives.  How  long  the 
field  had  been  under  cultivation  is  not  known. 
A  few  stone  implements,  evidently  used  in  till- 
ing the  field,  are  occasionally  turned  up  by  the 
plow.  Long  before  the  whites  came  into  the 
Northwest  Territory',  Boston  was  the  site  of 
large  Indian  villages,  the  evidences  still  remain- 
ing of  their  humble  habitations.  Going  back 
still  farther — back  to  an  unknown  age  of  the 
world — that  peculiar,  mysterious  people  known 
as  Mound-Builders,  whose  gigantic  earth  and 
stone  works  excite  so  much  curiosity  and  spec- 
ulation, dwelt  in  the  valley  of  the  Cuyahoga, 
as  is  shown  by  the  mounds,  sacred,  militar}- 
and  festival,  which  are  scattered  along  the 
bluffs  on  either  side  of  the  river.  What  these 
two  races  had  to  do  with  Boston  will  be  found, 
so  far  as  known,  in  a  separate  chapter  of  this 
work.  One  thing  is  certain,  when  the  whites 
first  came  to  the  county,  the  Indians  under 
Ponta  were  stilled  encamped  about  half  a  mile 
north  of  the  village  of  Boston,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river.  Half  a  mile  south  of  this 
camp,  on  the  same  side  of  the  river,  the  chief 
of  the  Ottawas — Stigwanish — was  also  en- 
camped with  a  few  of  his  followers.  A  de- 
tailed description  of  these  camps,  and  many 
interesting  incidents  connected  therewith,  will 
be  found  in  the  chapter  above  referred  to.  We 
now  come  to  the  first  settlement  made  by 
whites  in  Boston  Township. 

On  or  about  the  1st  of  March,  1806,  Alfred 


Wolcott,  John  Teale  and  Samuel  Ewart  ap- 
peared in  Boston,  and  immediately  erected  a 
rudely  constructed  log  shanty,  about  eight  feet 
square,  and  of  barely  sufficient  height  on  the 
interior  to  insure  safety  to  the  heads  of  the  in- 
mates. This  building  was  erected  on  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  Boston  Village  cemetery ,  and  was 
intended  to  be  occupied  only  until  the  men  had 
time  to  build  better  dwellings  on  the  farms. 
Teale  was  a  single  man,  but  the  other  two  had 
wives,  and,  perhaps,  children,  who  were  left  at 
Hudson  until  suitable  cabins  for  their  occu- 
pancy had  been  erected  b}'  the  husbands. 
These  three  men  "  bached  "  and  did  their  own 
cooking,  except  bread,  which  was  brougiit  by 
one  of  their  number  about  once  a  week  from 
Hudson,  the  nearest  settlement.  No  difficulty 
was  experienced  in  procuring  venison,  wild  tur- 
key, squirrel,  and  occasionally  a  delicious 
piece  of  bear  steak.  Within  about  two  months, 
Wolcott,  with  the  assistance  of  Ewart,  who  was 
in  some  way  connected  with  him  in  business, 
had  built  a  large  round-log  cabin,  about  one 
one  hundred  rods  northeast  of  Boston  Village. 
It  seems  that  Wolcott  had  purchased  tlie  farm 
soon  afterward  settled  on  by  Stanford,  but  his 
wife,  whom  he  had  just  married,  objecited  to 
locating  on  the  farm,  stating  that  she  was  ap- 
prehensive of  sickness  from  the  proximity  of  a 
disagreeable  swamp  lying  just  south  of  where 
the  cabin  must  be  built.  This  objection  in- 
duced the  fond  husband  to  reverse  the  injunc- 
tion of  the  bridal  vows,  and  to  exchange  his 
farm  for  one  owned  by  James  Stanford,  the 
latter  being  willing,  as,  notwithstanding  the 
presence  of  the  swamp,  a  fine  spring  of  pure 
water  was  discovered  on  the  premises.  Wol- 
cott immediately  erected  a  cabin  on  his  new 
farm,  and  was  soon  as  comfortably  situated  as 
could  be  expected.  On  the  23d  of  March, 
180G,  James  Stanford,  William  and  Adam 
Vance,  and  Abner  Robinson,  a  nephew  of  the 
Yances,  came  to  the  township.  The  Vances 
were  Irishmen  and  old  bachelors,  and  brought 
with  them  tlieir  niece,  a  young  lady  named 
Eleanor  Ashcroft,  who  came  out  to  keep  house 
for  them.  One  cabin  was  erected,  in  which  all 
these  relatives  resided.  James  Stanford  owned 
land  on  Lot  41.  This  was  sold  to  a  man 
named  David  Cohoon,  who,  so  far  as  can  be 
leai'ned,  did  not  reside  in  Boston,  although  he 
owned  land  there.  These  were  the  first  set- 
tlers in   the   township.     After   this  they  con- 


^l^ 


BOSTON   TOWNSHIP. 


535 


tinued  to  come  in  about  as  follows,  although 
the  dates  are  not  absolutely  correct :  Henry 
Post,  Isaac  and  Jacob  Ozmun,  Moses  Canning- 
ham,  William  Beer,  Aaron  sillier,  Andrew 
Johnson,  Robert  Guy,  Timothy  Bishop,  Jona- 
than Iddings,  Lancelet  Mays,  James  Jordan, 
John  Cunningham,  Andrew  and  Robert  Don- 
aldson, John  Duncan,  Capt.  Abraham  Miller, 
Joseph  Breen,  John  Galloway',  Moses  Decker, 
Jacob  Morter,  Samuel  and  Abraham  Miller  and 
John  G.  Mallet  came  prior  to  1810  ;  Samuel 
Brown,  William  Brown,  Jonathan  Williams, 
Erastus  West,  William  Cranej'  and  others  by 
1812  ;  Elizur  Loveland,  John  Britt,  William 
Brannan,  Robert  Wallace,  John  Robinson, 
James  Dean,  John  Menough,  Abial  Hovey, 
Watrous  Mather,  Ephraim  Moody,  Nathan 
Drake.  Alexander  Metlin,  James  Fitch,  Uriah 
Singletar}',  came  prior  to  1820,  and  the  most 
of  them  about  1814.  There  also  came  in  previ- 
ous to  1830  the  following  :  Jesse  Thompson, 
William  Collier.  Daniel  Collier,  Joseph  Lamb, 
Ichabod  Lindle}-,  Thomas  Carter,  Edward  Coyn, 
John  L.  Butler,  Samuel  Coffin,  W.  L.  Rich- 
ards, John  A.  Ackle}^,  William  Downs,  Elisha 
Mather,  William  McCreary,  Henry  Burnam,  H. 
T.  Avery,  Thomas  Whelen,  Nathaniel  Parsons, 
William  McBride,  James  Brown,  J.  A.  Clapp, 
Benjamin  Wait,  Elisha  Burnett,  Stephen  N. 
Sargent,  Henry  Wetmore,  Talmon  Bronson. 
Don  C.  Mathes,  William  Brannan,  Herman 
Bronson,  Alonzo  Dee,  Benjamin  Randall,  Mar- 
tin Morton,  James  Rumage,  Billings  Robinson, 
Amos  Fletcher,  Caleb  Carpenter,  Joshua  Lilli- 
bridge,  Samuel  Hogue,  Thomas  Owens,  Philan- 
der Carpenter,  George  Leveiy  and  others. 

The  township  was  first  organized  in  1811. 
Upon  the  solicitation  of  the  citizens,  the  Com- 
missioners of  Portage  County,  of  which  Boston 
was  then  a  part,  ordered  an  election  of  town- 
ship officers  to  be  held  at  the  residence  of  Tim- 
oth}^  Bishop,  on  the  15th  of  January,  1811. 
The  following  action  taken  on  that  occasion  is 
found  the  township  records  :  ■•  The  inhabitants 
of  the  township  of  Boston,  having  met  at  the 
dwelling  of  Timothy  Bishop  in  said  township, 
by  order  of  the  Commissioners  of  Portage 
County,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  two  Justices 
of  the  Peace  and  other  officers,  and  having 
chosen  Capt.  Abraham  Miller,  Chairman,  and 
Timothy  Bishop,  Lancelet  Mays  and  Jonathan 
Iddings,  Judges,  and  Alfred  Wolcott  and  Will- 
iam Beer,  Clerks  for  the  Justices'  election,  and 


Andrew  Johnson  and  Isaac  Bacon,  Judges  of  the 
township  election,  and  after  being  sworn  as  the 
law  directs,  the  following  gentlemen  were  elect- 
ed :  Alfred  Wolcott  and  Moses  Cunningham, 
Justices  ;  William  Beer,  Clerk  ;  Aaron  Miller, 
Andrew  Johnson  and  Timoth}'  Bishop,  Trust- 
ees ;  Jonathan  Iddings  and  Isaac  Bacon,  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor  ;  Lancelet  Mays,  Treasurer  ; 
and  James  Jordon,  Constable.  Although  this 
election  was  held  in  accordance  with  the  order 
of  the  Commisioners,  yet  the  term  of  office 
could  run  only  until  the  following  April,  at 
which  date  the  following  additional  officers 
were  elected  :  Alfred  Wolcott  and  James  Stan- 
ford, Fence  Viewers  ;  Moses  Cunningham  and 
William  Beer,  Listers ;  Aaron  Miller,  John 
Cunningham,  James  Stanford  and  Isaac  Bacon, 
Supervisors  ;  Robert  Donaldson,  Constable,  and 
John  Duncan,  Treasurer.  When  Boston  was 
first  created,  and  its  earliest  officers  duly  elect- 
ed, Northfield  and  Richfield  were  attached  to  it 
for  election  purposes.  This  will  explain  why 
some  of  Boston's  first  officers  really  resided  in 
those  townships.  The  propriety  of  creating 
Boston  into  a  separate  township  began  to  be 
discussed  as  early  as  1807.  It  was  about  this 
time  that  James  Stanford,  Alfred  W^olcott, 
Samuel  Ewart,  John  Teale,  William  and  Adam 
Vance,  and  a  few  others,  when  together  one 
day,  began  casting  about  them  for  a  suitable 
name  for  the  township,  which  they  anticipated 
would  soon  be  created.  Mr.  Ewart  modestly 
suggested  Ewartsville  ;  Mr.  Wolcott  thought 
Wolcottsburg  a  much  more  euphonious  cogno- 
men ;  the  Vances,  Stanford,  and  the  others  were 
silent,  though  it  was  clearly  perceptible  that  no 
name  3'et  proposed  was  satisfactor}*.  Finally 
Mr.  Stanford  said  :  "  Suppose  we  name  it  Boston, 
after  old  Boston  in  Massachusetts."  This  prop- 
osition seemed  to  please  all  present,  and  the 
name  was  adopted.  Thus  the  township  had  its 
creation  and  first  settlement,  and  now  its  growth 
and  improvement  remain  to  be  noticed. 

It  may  here  be  stated  that  Boston,  in  com- 
mon with  almost  every  portion  of  Ohio,  was 
first  inhabited  by  wandering  hunters,  who  loved 
no  society  except  that  afforded  by  the  forest, 
and  who  thought  the  countr}  was  becoming  too 
thickly  settled  when  a  dozen  families  lived 
within  as  many  miles.  The  result  was  that  the 
settlers  above  referred  to  caught  but  a  momen- 
tary glimpse,  as  it  were,  of  these  roving  hunt- 
ers, as  they  shouldered  their  rifles  and  moved 


"e)   V 


^1 


536 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


farther  out  into  the  depths  of  the  forest.  Prob- 
abl}-  the  most  noted  hunter  ever  in  Boston,  or 
perhaps  in  Summit  County,  was  Jonathan  Will- 
iams, who  lived  for  short  periods  in  several  of 
the  townships.  He  was  remarkabl}'  skillful  and 
successful  in  his  hunts,  but  perhaps  the  most 
distinguishing  element  of  his  character  was  the 
intolerable,  murderous  hate  he  bore  the  In- 
dians. He  lost  no  favorable  opportunity  to 
shoot  them  down  without  a  moment's  hesita- 
tion, and,  in  consequence,  was  feared  and 
shunned  by  them.  His  constant  companions 
were  his  two  dogs  and  a  long-barreled  rifle  that 
carried  a  ball  weighing  nearly  an  ounce.  His 
dogs  were  so  thoroughly  trained  that  they 
obeyed  the  slightest  sign  from  their  master,  and 
were  of  great  assistance  to  Williams  in  bloody 
conflicts  with  bears  and  other  dangerous  animals. 
Physically,  Williams  was  a  remarkable  man. 
He  was  six  feet  in  height,  and  his  movements 
were  as  noiseless  and  graceful  as  those  of  a  pan- 
ther. It  was  a  sight  to  see  him  in  the  forest 
in  pursuit  of  game  of  more  than  usual  size  or 
ferocity.  He  knew  no  fear,  and  would  pene- 
trate the  deepest  swamps,  no  matter  what  they 
contained.  He  went  dressed  like  an  Indian, 
with  leggings  and  moccasins,  and  always  took 
pains  to  have  his  clothing  so  harmonize  with  the 
color  of  the  forest  that  the  Indians  or  game  could 
not  easily  see  him.  He  wore  a  buckskin  blouse, 
serrated  in  front  and  bordered  with  a  fringe  of 
otter  skin.  He  was  swarthy-complexioned,  and 
it  is  reported  that  Indian  blood  ran  in  his  veins, 
and  this  was  generally  believed  by  those  who 
knew  him,  though  undoubtedly  incorrectl}-.  He 
had  a  wife  and  family,  who  were  supported  by 
his  rifle.  To  account  for  his  hate  for  the  In- 
dians, the  tradition  is  that  all  his  relatives  were 
murdered  by  the  Indians  before  he  came  to 
Ohio,  in  consequence  of  which  he  is  said  to 
have  sworn  "  to  kill  them  just  as  long  as  he 
lived."  The.se  reports  are  all  incorrect.  On 
one  occasion  some  trouble  arose  between  the 
Indians  and  whites  at  Deerfield,  Portage  County, 
regarding  a  horse  trade  that  had  been  made. 
An  Indian,  to  retaliate  for  some  real  or  sup 
posed  injury,  shot  Daniel  Diver  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  put  out  both  his  eyes  without  other- 
wise injuring  him.  The  Indians  fled  to  their 
camp  in  Boston,  but  were  pursued  by  the  infu- 
riated friends  of  the  injured  man.  The  latter 
were  joined  by  Jonathan  Williams  when  they 
reached  Boston.     The  Indian  culprits  discov- 


ered their  pursuers  and  continued  their  flight 
westward,  but  were  overtaken  in  Bath  and  one 
of  them  named  Nicksaw,  a  harmless  and  inno- 
cent old  Indian,  was  instantly  shot  by  Jonathan 
Williams. 

Other  incidents  will  be  found  in  this  work 
of  his  hostility  toward  the  Indians.  One  night, 
Williams,  with  his  two  dogs,  went  to  watch  a 
deer  lick  in  southern  Boston.  He  remained 
there  all  night  without  meeting  with  the  desired 
success.  Just  as  the  gray  light  of  coming  day 
began  to  steal  through  the  forest,  his  dogs  be- 
came uneas}-  and  restless,  and  eyed  a  small 
thicket  near  by,  in  such  a  manner  that  Will- 
iams knew  that  something  more  than  usual  was 
concealed  there.  He  peered  cautiously  through 
the  leaves,  and.  indistinctl}',  saw  the  shadowy 
form  of  some  large  animal  crouching  behind  a 
small  bush.  His  dogs  remained  obediently  at 
his  side,  and  raising  his  rifle  he  fired  at  the 
animal.  A  thrilling  scream  rang  ©ut  on  the 
morning  air,  and  the  animal  bounded  off  through 
the  woods,  swiftly  followed  by  the  dogs,  which 
had  been  told  to  "  go."  The  animal  ran  up  a 
tree,  and  Williams,  hurrying  forward,  discov- 
ered a  large  panther  crouched  on  a  limb  about 
thirty  feet  above  his  head.  He  had  lost  all  his 
rifle  balls  except  one.  This  was  discharged  at 
the  panther,  but  only  a  slight  wound  was  made, 
as  it  was  yet  quite  dark,  and  the  animal  was 
partly'  concealed  by  the  limb.  The  hunter,  at 
first,  was  at  a  loss  what  to  do  ;  but,  finall}^,  he 
cut  a  branch  that  would  about  fit  his  gun  bar- 
rel. The  limb  was  cut  up  into  plugs  about  an 
inch  long,  and  with  these  hastily -improvised 
bullets,  Williams  continued  firing  at  the  pan- 
ther. A  settler,  named  Carter,  living  near  by 
and  hearing  the  reports,  started  out  to  ascer- 
tain the  cause.  He  came  to  the  spot,  and, 
handing  his  rifle  to  Williams,  who  was  standing 
in  a  favorable  position,  he  told  the  latter  to 
"  bring  it  down."  One  shot  was  sufficient,  and 
the  panther  fell  dead  to  the  ground.  It  proved 
to  be  one  of  the  largest  of  its  species,  and  is 
said  to  have  measured  eleven  feet  "  from  tip  to 
tip."  Its  hide  was  cut  in  numerous  places  by 
the  wooden  bullets  fired  at  it  by  Williams. 
Thomas  Owens  was  another  noted  hunter,  and 
often  joined  Williams  in  his  hunts.  When 
these  two  hunters  "  put  their  heads  together," 
they  rarely  tailed  in  killing  whatever  game  they 
desii'ed.  Owens  had  no  particular  antipatli}- 
for  the  Indians,  and  the  Indian  hunting  branch 


»<^  (5" 


~^ 


-51 


(^vA^ 


J^ 


BOSTON   TOWNSHIP. 


537 


of  their  sport  was  turned,  without  question,  over 
to  Williams.  These  two  hunters  often  went  on 
long  expeditions  to  sections  of  the  country 
that  were  wholly  unsettled,  and,  when  they  re- 
turned, they  were  loaded  with  valuable  hides 
and  furs.  Their  families  were  the  sufferers  on 
these  occasions. 

It  was  in  this  township  that  the  Indian  chief, 
Seneca,  erected  a  wooden  god,  which  was 
worshiped  by  his  followers  for  many  years  prior 
to  the  advent  of  the  settlers.  When  the  Indians 
removed  farther  West  in  about  1812,  ihis  god 
was  taken  with  them.  It  was  proba))ly  their 
god  of  war,  as  they  held  feasts  and  war-dances 
to  propitiate  his  favor,  just  befoi'e  starting  on 
their  marauding  expeditions.  On  these  occa- 
sions, an  offering  of  tobacco  was  hung  around 
the  neck  of  the  god,  and  as  soon  as  the  Indians 
were  gone,  some  of  the  settlers  whose  taste  for 
tobacco  was  stronger  than  their  respect  for  the 
Indian  deity,  would  steal  forward  and  appro- 
priate the  dried  leaves  of  nicotiana  tohacum.  It 
is  said  to  have  been  excellent  tobacco. 

In  1814,  the  township  was  quite  well  settled. 
Cabins  arose  along  the  valley  of  the  river  and 
on  the  neighboring  highlands,  and  the  forest 
was  disturbed  by  the  busy  hum  of  human  life. 
Forests  went  down  with  a  rapidity,  which,  if 
continued  a  few  years,  would  entirely  disrobe 
the  land  of  its  primeval  covering.  Wild  animals 
became  fewer  and  fewer,  and  soon  none  but 
stragglers  remained.  Those  who  were  depend- 
ent on  the  products  of  the  chase  for  subsistence 
were  compelled  to  abandon  the  township,  and 
depart  for  homes  farther  westward.  Roads 
were  laid  out  and  cleared,  that,  in  after  years, 
were  to  be  pressed  by  the  feet  of  distant  de- 
scendants of  those  who  first  worked  them.  The 
years  rolled  slowl}-  by,  fraught  with  mingled 
pleasures  and  privations. 

Malinda  Wolcott,  daughter  of  Alfred  Wol- 
cott,  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  white  female 
child  born  in  the  township.  Her  birth  occurred 
April  14,  1807;  she  married  Sherman  Oviatt, 
and  lived  for  many  years  in  Hudson.  The 
first  male  child  born  was  Andrew  J.,  son  of 
James  Stanford,  his  birth  occurring  March  27, 
1806;  and  Alexander  I.,  his  l)rother,  was  born 
Ma}'  21,  1807  It  had  been  generally  thought 
that  Henry  Post,  Jr.,  whose  birth  occurred 
April  8,  1809,  was  the  first  white  male  child 
born  in  Boston,  but  this  is  a  mistake,  as  shown 
b}-  the  dates.     Mary  Ann   Post  was  the  first 


one  to  die  in  the  township  ;  her  death  occur- 
ring June  9, 1808.  Henr}^  Post  raised  the  first 
crop  of  wheat  in  the  township;  this  was  in  1807. 
On  July  29, 1812,  William  Carter  and  Elizabeth 
Ma3^s  were  united  in  marriage,  it  being  the 
first.  Soon  afterward,  during  the  same  year, 
Israel  Ozmun,  of  Boston,  was  married  to  Susan 
Mallet,  daughter  of  John  Mallet,  of  Richfield. 
Abner  Robinson  was  what  was  known  in  early 
years  as  "  a  poet."  He  could  compose  "  poetry" 
on  all  occasions  and  subjects,  and  took  special 
delight  in  immortalizing  any  wrong  doing,  in 
verse.  Two  of  his  neighbors  were  guilty  of 
stealing  hogs  ;  and  this  fact,  coming  to  the 
public  ear,  induced  some  young  men  to  hang  a 
hog's  skin  at  the  door  of  one  of  the  men,  and  a 
hog's  head,  with  eyes  protruding,  at  that  of  the 
other  ;  whereupon  Robinson  evolved  the  fol- 
lowing : 

"There  is  a  man  on  Furnace  Run, 
Who  keeps  a  dog,  but  not  a  gun. 
In  hunting  hogs  he  takes  great  pride, 
He  lives  by  the  sign  of  'the  hog's  hide.' 

"Another  neighbor  lives  close  bj^ 
And  has  the  sign  of  '  the  pig's  eye.' 
'  Hog's  hide '  to  '  pig's  eye '  thus  did  say  ; 
'We  will  steal  hogs  while  others  pray.'  " 

On  another  occasion,  in  a  trial  before  Justice 
Chaffee,  when  Judge  Bliss  was  opposing  coun- 
sel to  Abner,  the  latter  gave  the  following  im- 
promptu adverse  decision  : 

"My  name  is  Billings  Chaffee, 
In  Boston  I  do  dwell — 
There's  not  a  neighbor  in  the  town, 
But  wishes  me  in  hell. 

"  They  say  that  I  am  partial, 
And  all  such  stuff  as  this. 
That  I've  no  judgment  of  vay  own. 
But  follow  that  of  Bliss." 

On  yet  another  occasion,  when  Jacob  Morter, 
whose  reputation  for  honesty  was  on  the  wane, 
asked  Abner  Robinson  and  Robert  Mays,  the 
"poet,"  of  Richfield,  to  compose  some  verses 
on  the  occasion  of  his  presentation  to  them  of 
a  gallon  of  metheglin,  they  responded  as  follows: 

"Abner  Robinson  and  Rob  Mays 
Are  truly  worth}'  of  groat  praise  ; 
For  what  a  neiglibor  does  that's  wrong, 
Like  two  d— d  tools,  they'll  tell  in  song. 

"Thus,  Jacob  Morter,  it  is  said. 
Steals  all  the  corn  that  makes  his  bread  ; 
And  while  his  noiglibors  are  asleep, 
He  prowls  about  and  steals  their  sheep," 


Tv* 


538 


HISTORY  or    SUMMIT    COUNTY, 


Morter  paid  the  gallon  of  metheglin,  which 
was  relished  by  "  the  poets "  far  better  than 
the  former  relished  the  "  poetry."* 

Boston  was  for  many  years  notorious  on  ac- 
count of  a  band  of  counterfeiters  who  made  the 
deep,  inaccessible  gullies  and  ravines  of  the 
township  their  headquarters.  Not  only  was 
silver  coin  counterfeited,  but  State  bank  notes, 
especially  those  of  Indiana,  were  turned  out  by 
the  bushel.  Some  of  the  most  influential  citi- 
zens of  the  township  were  induced  to  engage 
in  the  unlawful  business,  and  it  is  even  stated 
that  a  certain  aspect  of  respectibility  was  con- 
ceded to  this  occupation.  In  1832,  the  coun- 
terfeiting reached  the  zenith  of  its  power  and 
circulation,  and  at  that  period  is  said  to  have 
been  "the  most  extensive  banking  establish- 
ment in  Ohio,  if  not  in  the  Union."  There  were 
branch  offices  or  "  banks,"  in  Cleveland,  in 
Rising  Sun,  Ind.,  in  Vermont  and  in  other  sec- 
tions of  country-.  Coins  of  some  heavy  mate- 
rial were  first  manufactured  and  then  covered 
with  a  thin  film  of  silver ;  or  the  coin  was  first 
prepared  in  plates  and  then  stamped  with  a 
die  of  the  denomination  of  money  desired. 
Some  of  the  dies  used  are  now  at  the  county 
seat.  So  successful  were  the  counterfeiters  in 
manufacturing  and  passing  their  money,  that 
they  contemplated  visiting  the  Old  World  and 
even  China,  where  they  expected  to  exchange 
their  money  for  the  products  of  those  countries. 
These  products  they  expected  to  ship  to  dis- 
tant points  to  be  sold.  Their  anticipations,  how- 
ever, were  doomed  to  encounter  reverses  and 
rebuffs.  They  proceeded  as  far  as  New  Orleans, 
where  they  were  detected  and  arrested.  One 
of  the  men  died  in  prison  in  the  latter  city ;  an  - 
other  escaped,  and,  like  the  Wandering  Jew, 
began  an  unending  pilgrimage  on  the  earth ; 
another  was  tried  by  the  United  States  Court 
and  sent  to  the  penitentiary  for  ten  years,  but 
was  pardoned  by  President  Taylor.  The  last- 
mentioned  offender  was  a  resident  of  Boston 
and  was  one  of  its  most  intelligent  and  influen- 
tial citizens.  Several  of  his  descendants  are 
yet  living  in  the  county,  and  are  highly  moral 
and  upright  people.  Another  one  of  the  of- 
fenders died  in  the  Ohio  Penitentiary  in  1838. 
Still  another  was  sent  to  the  same  place  from 
Liverpool  Township,  Medina  County.  He  also 
died  there.     Others  were  prosecuted  in  differ- 

*From  Historical  Keminiscences  of  Summit  Coun'.v  by  Gen.  L. 
V.  Bierce. 


ent  parts  of  the  State,  many  of  whom  suffered 
the  extreme  penalty  of  the  law.  The  gang  was 
at  last  broken  up  and  it  members  scattered 
over  the  countr}-  to  repent  at  leisure  for  their 
misdeeds.  It  is  stated  that  some  of  the  most 
honored  men  in  the  county  and  in  Cleveland 
were  so  connected  with  the  unlawful  business  as 
to  share  its  profits  without  incurring  any  of  its 
liabilities.  For  many  years  after  the  gang  was 
broken  up,  dies,  counterfeit  mone}',  and  various 
implements  used  in  the  manufacture  were 
found  in  the  ravines,  and  even  in  the  houses  of 
some  of  the  citizens.  There  was  scarcely  a  res- 
ident of  the  township  who  was  not  tempted  to 
pass  the  coin  and  bills.  On  one  occasion,  a 
man  with  a  valise  came  to  Mr.  Wait,  now  living 
in  the  northern  part  of  Northampton,  and  asked 
him  if  he  would  purchase  counterfeit  bills  on  the 
State  Bank  of  Indiana,  at  the  same  time  opening 
his  valise  and  showing  it  packed  full  of  those 
bills.  He  offered  them  for  sale  at  25  cents  on  the 
dollar ;  but  Mr.  Wait  informed  him  that  he 
had  come  to  the  wrong  man,  and  the  fellow 
departed  to  try  his  scheme  on  some  other  per- 
son. About  twenty-five  years  ago,  when  a 
house  belonging  to  one  of  the  most  respected 
citizens  was  torn  down,  a  small  leather  bag 
filled  with  counterfeit  coin  in  dollars  and  half- 
dollar  pieces,  amounting  to  more  than  a  hun- 
dred dollars,  was  found  concealed  under  the 
edge  of  the  roof  In  the  eastern  part  of  the 
township  are  numerous  sandstone  ledges,  which 
arise  from  the  surrounding  level  in  various 
forms  and  positions.  Several  deep,  dark  clefts 
or  caverns  are  thus  formed,  and  it  is  said  that 
in  these  caves  the  counterfeiters  were  wont  to 
ply  their  violations  of  the  law.  Evidences  of 
their  fires  there  are  yet  to  be  seen,  and  a  few  iron 
implements,  evidently  used  in  counterfeiting, 
were  found  a  number  of  years  ago.  A  great 
many  other  intei'esting  incidents  might  be  nar- 
rated, if  lack  of  space  did  not  prevent. 

It  is  said  that,  as  late  as  1860,  an  old  orchard 
which  had  been  planted  by  the  French  or  Indi- 
ans was  yet  standing  near  Boston  village.  The 
trees  were  quite  large,  and  were  bearing  when 
the  white  settlers  first  came  to  the  township. 
How  long  they  had  been  planted  is  not  known. 
Of  course,  the  fruit  was  none  of  our  grafted 
and  improved  varieties,  but  was  no  doubt 
produced  from  seed  obtained  at  some  of  the 
frontier  settlements.  This  was  the  oldest  orch- 
ard in  the  county. 


^       — 


BOSTON    TOWNSHIP. 


539 


The  settlers,  when  they  first  came  in,  usually 
drove  a  few  head  of  cattle,  hogs,  and,  perhaps, 
sheep  ;  but  the  latter  were  found  too  tender  to 
withstand  the  trials  brought  upon  them  by  a 
home  in  the  wilderness,  and  usually'  died — 
those  that  did  not  furnish  a  repast  for  the 
wolves  and  bears.  A  team  of  horses  was  usu- 
ally brought,  although  many  a  settler  came  to 
the  forests  of  Ohio  with  nothing  save  his  rifle 
and  his  ax.  When  Abial  Hove}'  appeared  in 
the  township  he  had  no  horse,  and  was  told 
that  he  could  have  one  by  purchase  from  Will- 
iam Beers.  But  Mr.  Hovey  told  Mr.  Beers 
that  buying  the  horse  was  impossible  without 
money.  "  You  may  clear  land  for  me  and  thus 
pay  for  the  horse,"  replied  Beers.  "  But  I 
have  no  time,"  responded  Hovey.  "Make  a 
'bee,'  and  get  your  neighbors  to  help  you,' 
suggested  Beers.  This  seemed  feasible  and  to 
the  point,  and  Hove}'  at  last  consented.  The 
day  appointed  for  the  "  bee "  came  and  went, 
and  tlie  land  was  cleared,  and  the  hoi'se  paid 
for.  Some  time  afterward,  when  Messrs.  Beers 
and  Hovey,  whose  land  adjoined,  were  fixing 
the  line  between  their  farms,  the  land  as  above 
cleared  was  found  to  hdong  to  Hovey.  The  two 
men  stood  looking  blankl}-  at  one  another  for 
about  a  minute.  The  silence  was  at  last  broken 
by  Beers,  who  quietly  remarked  to  Hovev, 
"  Let's  take  a  drink."  All  controversy  or  dis- 
pute was  prevented  by  the  "  devil-may-care  "' 
influences  of  King  Alcohol.  How  diflferent 
would  be  the  course  pursued  to-day  !  A  knock- 
down would  be  very  likely  to  occur,  followed 
b}^  law-suits  which  would  swamp  horse  and 
land,  and  create  everlasting  enmit}'.  In  after 
years,  William  Beers  was  a  great  friend  of  the 
escaping  slave,  and  assisted  many  of  them  in 
reaching  Canada.  One  named  Lewis  Boler 
came  from  Kentucky,  and  not  fearing  pursuit 
hired  out  to  Beers,  with  whom  he  remained  a 
year  or  more.  Finally,  his  master  appeai-ed, 
but  meeting  with  decided  rebuffs  from  Beers, 
he  resorted  to  the  plan  of  coaxing  his  slave  to 
return  with  him  to  Kentuck}'.  But  the  wily 
slave  could  not  be  deceived  by  promises,  and 
was,  in  consequence,  a  few  nights  afterward, 
forcibh'  and  secretly  taken  and  hurried  toward 
his  former  home  in  the  "  Sunn}'  South."  Mr. 
Beers,  upon  learning  of  the  act,  summoned  a 
few  neighbors,  and  together  they  pursued  the 
master,  and  despite  his  protests  returned  to 
Boston   with   Boler.     The   latter  was   told  to 


push  for  Canada,  which  he  accordingly  did, 
arriving  there  in  safety.  Another  escaping 
slave  named  Sandy  came  to  Beers  and  obtained 
employment.  His  master  came  on  and  made 
all  sorts  of  promises  to  induce  him  to  return  to 
the  South,  offering  to  make  a  "  boss  "  or  over- 
seer of  him,  and  to  make  him  a  present  of  a 
dog  and  a  beautiful  white  pony.  Sandy  could 
not  resist  all  these  offerings,  and  returned  with 
his  master.  \ 

In  1824,  a  dreadful  fever  (probably  typhoid) 
visited  the  country  along  the  Cuyahoga  River, 
and  swept  off  about  a  score  of  old  settlers — • 
those  who  had  reached  advanced  ages  and 
whose  physical  vitality  was  on  the  wane.  With 
the  exception  of  a  few  cases  of  this  kind,  the 
township  has  ever  enjoyed  good  health.  In 
the  year  1830,  there  were  living  in  Boston  five 
persons  of  about  one  hundred  years  of  age. 
These  were  Henry  Brown,  Andrew  Johnson, 
Thomas  Brannan,  Eleazer  Gillson  and  Eleazer 
Mather,  the  first  three  being  Irishmen.  Brown 
died  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  three 
years.  In  early  years,  there  was  raised  an  oc- 
casional crop  of  what  was  known  as  ''  sick 
wheat.''  Animals  that  ate  the  grain  in  quan- 
tity died,  and  persons,  upon  eating  a  small 
quantity,  were  taken  with  violent  vomiting  and 
made  deathly  sick.  No  one  is  remembered  to 
have  died  from  this  cause. 

Four  or  five  cheese-factories  have  been  in 
operation  since  comparatively  early  times. 
One  is  now  owned  h\  Mr.  Straight,  of  Hudson, 
and,  during  the  summer  season,  twenty-five  or 
thirty  cheeses,  of  about  twenty  pounds'  weight 
each,  are  manufactured  daily  and  shipped  to 
Cleveland  and  other  points. 

The  building  now  occupied  by  Alanson  Swan 
at  ■•  Johnnycake,"  or  Everett,  was  built  by 
Henry  Iddings  before  1820,  and  was  the  first 
in  the  village.  Mr.  Swan  bought  the  Iddings 
property  soon  after  the  opening  of  the  Ohio 
Canal.  Mr.  Swan's  farm  was  n.creased  until 
he  owned  500  acres,  including  the  land  upon 
which  the  village  now  stands.  The  second 
building  in  the  village  was  a  store,  erected  l)y 
Swan  &  Smith  in  about  1885,  into  which  about 
$500  worth  of  groceries,  dry  goods  and  notions 
were  placed.  The  stock  was  selected  with  a 
view  to  the  demand  on  the  canal  at  that  point. 
Smith  sold  out  to  Swan  in  about  a  year  later, 
and  the  latter  conducted  the  business  alone  for 
a  few  years,  and  then  sold  to  other  parties. 


J>  ■ 


540 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


David  Baxter  &  Son  owned  this  store  for  a 
number  of  years,  as  did  also  Ansel  Hardy,  L. 
J.  Mix,  Mr.  Richardson,  Henry  Monroe  and  oth- 
ers. Swan  also  repurchased  the  property  and 
sold  it  again  two  or  three  times.  The  stock 
was  increased  until  it  was  worth  probabl}' 
$2,000.  Elihu  Chilson  opened  a  small  store 
on  land  belonging  to  the  State,  near  the  canal 
lock,  as  early  as  1838,  but  this  never  amounted 
to'  much.  In  1842,  Mr.  Swan  erected  a 
warehouse  on  the  canal  in  the  village,  and  be- 
gan buying  corn,  oats,  hay,  etc.,  to  be  fed  to 
the  horses  and  mules  used  in  drawing  the 
canal-boats  and  packets.  A  large  stable,  or 
barn,  was  erected,  where  the  canal  horses  were 
fed  and  groomed.  The  packet  company  failed, 
and,  in  consequence,  Mr.  Swan  lost  several 
hundred  dollars.  The  creditors  of  the  com- 
pany at  the  village  attached  the  packet  horses, 
but  Mr.  Swan  i-efused  to  do  this,  and,  in  conse- 
quence, lost  what  was  due  him.  When  it  is 
remembered  that  nearly  three  hundred  horses 
were  fed  by  Mr.  Swan,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
business  undertaken  was  on  an  extensive  plan. 
Alexander  Stewart  bought  the  greater  share  of 
the  Swan  property  about  ten  years  ago,  though 
the  latter  yet  retains  the  old  homestead,  and 
lives  there  at  an  advanced  age.  Before  com- 
ing to  the  State,  Mr.  Swan  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and,  ever  since  living  in  the  township,  he  has 
been  identified  with  religious  and  moral  im- 
provement and  growth.  He  deeded  all  his 
property  except  the  homestead  to  his  children, 
and  can  now  sorrowfully  say  with  King  Lear  : 

"You  heavens,  give  me  that  patience  I  need  ! 
You  see  me  here,  yoii  gods,  a  poor  old  man. 
As  full  of  grief  as  age  ;  wretched  in  both  ! 
If  it  be  you  that  stir  these  children's  hearts 
Against  their  father,  fool  me  not  so  much 
To  bear  it  tamely  ;  touch  me  with  noble  anger  ! 
*****      You  think  I'll  weep  ; 
No,  I'll  not  weep  ; — 

I  have  full  cause  of  weeping  ;  but  this  heart 
Shall  break  into  a  hundred  thousand  flaws. 
Or  ere  I'll  weep — O  fool,  I  shall  go  mad, 

******* 
How  sharper  than  a  serpent's  tootli  it  is 
To  have  a  thankless  child — away,  away  ! " 

The  village  has  been  called  "  Johnnycake '" 
since  1828.  In  the  spring  of  that  year,  a  flood 
in  Furnace  Ilun  swept  into  the  canal  and 
stopped  navigation,  and  the  crews  and  passen- 
gers were  compelled  to  live,  water-bound,  as 


best  they  could.  They  were  at  last  reduced  to 
johnnycake,  which  constituted  their  diet  for  a 
number  of  da^'s.  It  has  even  been  asserted 
that  one  baking  of  johnnycake  early  in  the 
morning  furnished  the  ravenous  passengers 
with  their  only  warm  daily  meal.  The  cake 
was  warmed  up  for  dinner  and  served  cold  for 
supper.  However,  there  are  probably  some 
mistakes  in  these  early  traditions. 

Since  the  advent  of  the  railroad,  the  village 
has  somewhat  revived.  Its  present  name  was 
bestowed  upon  it  in  honor  of  an  officer  of  the 
road.  It  was  also  at  one  time  called  Union- 
ville.  Evidences  of  oil  appearing  near  the  vil- 
lage in  1865,  several  members  of  Cleveland  and 
New  York  oil  companies  appeared,  leased  the 
land  where  the  oil  was  discovered,  and  began 
boring  for  oil.  The  laud  was  leased  upon  the 
conditions  that  the  owner  was  to  have  from 
one-fourth  to  three-fourths  of  the  oil  produced. 
The  terms  of  the  contract  were  much  more  sat- 
isfactory and  promising  than  the  quantity  of 
oil  obtained.  Oil  was  found  in  very  small 
quantities.  On  a  small  creek  near  the  sand- 
stone ledges,  Norton  &  Ta^'lor  began  manu- 
facturing salt  at  an  early  day.  The  brine  was 
taken  and  evaporated  in  several  large  kettles, 
and  the  salt  found  a  ready  sale  at  an  advanced 
price.  On  one  occasion,  a  barrel  of  salt  was 
exchanged  for  a  good  cow.  Abial  Hovey  was 
also  connected  with  the  salt  works,  as  were 
several  others  ;  but  the  quantity  of  salt  capa- 
ble of  being  produced  was  limited,  and,  as  the 
works  proved  unprofitable,  the  manufacture 
was  discontinued. 

Probably  the  first  building  in  Peninsula 
village  was  a  log  structure  built  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river,  near  where  Abel  Thompson  re- 
sides, by  Alonzo  Dee,  in  about  1818.  Not  far 
from  the  same  time,  John  Robinson,  James 
Brannan  and  one  or  two  others  built  at  or 
near  Peninsula.  Brannan  was  located  a  half- 
mile  west  of  the  village  proper  ;  though,  owing 
to  the  fact  that  the  corporation  includes  some 
2,000  acres,  the  builtling  was  really  within 
its  limits.  Other  houses  were  added  ;  and 
very  likely  during  the  building  of  the  Ohio 
Canal,  a  tavern  and  one  or  more  stores  were 
located,  at  least  temporarily,  in  the  village. 
However,  Peninsula  had  its  real  beginning 
when  Hermon  Bronson  came  to  the  township 
in  1824.  In  about  the  year  1833,  J.  M.  Adams 
was  conducting  a  general  store,  on   the  west 


^ 


BOSTON   TOWNSHIP. 


541 


side  of  the  river.  James  Fielding  was  also 
there  about  the  same  time,  with  $1,000  worth 
of  goods.  Charles  Curtis  began  about  1838  or 
1840.  He  owned  a  good  store,  and  made 
money.  It  was  discovered  that  the  way  he  got 
rich  was  by  selling  "  0-P"  goods  (those  costing 
45  cents)  for  $1.  He  evidently  was  not  resid- 
ing in  the  village  merely  for  his  health.  He 
began  with  some  $2,000  worth  of  goods,  and 
verj'  soon  succeeded  in  doubling  his  capital. 
William  Haskell  opened  a  store  with  a  stock 
valued  at  $2,000,  not  far  from  1843.  Fielding 
sold  out  and  left  in  1836.  Curtis  continued 
until  1849,  when  he  sold  to  Wood,  Cole  &  Co. 
These  men  are  yet  in  business  in  the  village, 
though  the  partnership  was  dissolved  many 
years  since.  Mr._  Cole  died,  but  his  sons 
succeeded  him  in  the  business.  In  1838  or 
1840,  Adams  died,  and  his  goods  were  closed 
out.  Merrill  Boody  began  with  a  general  store 
in  about  1858,  and  continued  until  about  three 
or  four  years  ago.  Others  have  sold  goods  in 
Peninsula  at  different  times,  though  those  men- 
tioned are  the  principal  ones.  There  are  at 
present  three  groceries,  two  hardware  stores, 
two  dry  goods  stores,  two  tin-shops,  a  barber- 
shop, a  meat  market,  a  harness-shop,  and 
several  shops  the  nature  of  which  is  difficult 
to  ascertain.  Hermon  Bronson,  two  years  after 
reaching  Peninsula,  built  a  warehouse  about 
thirt3^-five  feet  square  and  two  stories  in  height, 
and  began  buying  pork,  cheese,  lard,  butter 
and  grain,  which  were  shipped  by  boat  to  Cleve- 
land. This  was  continued  until  1835,  when 
Mr.  Bronson  sold  out  to  Janes  &  Thompson, 
who,  at  the  expiration  of  five  years,  retired, 
leaving  the  warehouse  business  in  the  hands  of 
Charles  Curtis  and  Wood,  Cole  &  Co.  The 
village  has  had  for  many  years  a  brisk  traffic 
in  coal,  timber,  stone,  etc.  In  the  year  1826, 
Herman  Bronson  built  a  saw- mill  on  Slippery 
Rock  Run,  a  small  stream  which  empties  into 
the  river  at  the  village.  The  mill  was  a  rough 
frame  structure,  located  on  a  short  race  fed  by 
water  from  a  dam  a  few  rods  above  the  mill. 
The  capacity  of  the  mill  was  about  two  thou- 
sand feet  per  day.  It  was  operated  some  four 
years,  and  then  the  machinery  was  removed  to 
a  building  erected  on  the  river  in  the  village. 
At  this  point  Bronson  and  Dee  built  a  log  dam 
across  the  river,  which  is  yet  standing,  though  it 
has  been  rebuilt  and  re-adjusted  several  times 
since.     The  mill  was  built  over  the  edge  of  the 


dam.  It  was  operated  by  Mr.  Bronson  until 
1835,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Janes  & 
Thompson,  who,  in  1843,  sold  to  Mr.  Holcomb, 
and  he,  a  few  years  later,  to  William  Wetmore. 
This  mill  was  located  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river.  But  at  the  time  of  its  erection  Alonzo 
Dee,  who  had  an  interest  in  the  dam.  also  built 
a  saw-mill  on  the  east  side,  and  continued 
Operating  it  some  four  j-ears,  when  it  was 
claimed  by  Mr.  Haskell,  who  had  purchased 
the  land  upon  which  the  mill  stood.  Dee 
had  built  his  mill  on  land  owned  by  Mr. 
Ely,  one  of  the  origina'  proprietors  of  that 
portion  of  the  township  east  of  the  river, 
and  when  the  land  was  purchased  by  Has- 
kell, all  the  fixtures  and  appurtenances 
thereof  came  into  the  ownership  of  the  latter. 
Dee,  however,  received  his  pay  for  the  mill, 
which  remained  in  the  possession  of  the  Has- 
kell family  until  about  ten  years  ago.  It  is 
now  owned  by  Otis  Fitts.  The  river  makes 
a  wide  detour  at  the  village,  and  comes  back  to 
within  fifty  feet  from  where  it  started.  A  fall  of 
about  eight  feet  is  thus  created  at  the  neck  of 
the  peninsula,  which  was  taken  advantage  of 
by  Mr.  Bronson,  who,  in  1832,  tunneled  through 
about  fifty-two  feet,  and  built  a  grist-mill  which 
is  yet  in  operation.  A  first  class  natural  water- 
power  is  thus  secured,  which  is  very  valuable, 
in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  dams  along  the 
river  require  constant  watching  and  a  vast 
amount  of  labor  to  prevent  being  washed  away. 
In  1849,  the  mill  came  into  the  ownership  of 
H.  V.  Bronson,  a  son  of  the  Bronson  already 
mentioned,  who  operated  it  until  1863,  when 
the  mill  and  dam  site  were  sold  to  Pomeroy  & 
Fisher.  This  firm  sold  out  at  the  expiration  of 
three  years,  and  the  property  has  been  owned 
by  several  parties  since.  The  mill  saw  its  best 
days  under  the  control  and  ownership  of  Her- 
man Bronson.  Not  only  was  a  large  custom 
work  done,  but  considerable  flour  was  shipped 
by  canal  to  Cleveland.  The  merchant  work 
was  most  extensive  about  1840.  In  1837,  Her- 
man Bronson  secured  the  services  of  a  sur- 
veyor, and  laid  off  seventy-one  lots  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river,  and  mimed  the  village  thus 
started  "  Peninsula,"  after  the  natural  bend  in 
the  river  already  referred  to.  A  plat  of  the 
village  was  recorded  at  the  county  seat.  In 
1866,  Mr.  Bronson  made  an  addition  of  many 
lots,  which  was  also  recorded.  Mr.  Haskell 
also  laid  off  a  number  of  lots  on  the  east  side, 


'>" 


542 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


but  this  addition  was  not  properly  recorded. 
No  otlier  man  has  done  so  much  to  build  up 
Peninsula,  and  people  it  with  intelligent,  moral 
and  enterprising  citizens,  as  Herman  Bronson. 
He  was  its  founder,  and  was  tlie  first  to 
introduce  moral  and  religious  tactics  among 
tlie  vicious  and  unlawful  practices  of  the  canal- 
boat  men.  He  gave  freely  of  his  land  and 
means  to  religious  and  educational  purposes*. 
More  will  be  said  of  him  in  the  proper  con- 
nection. 

Alonzo  Dee  built  a  small  distillery  at  Penin- 
sula in  about  1833,  in  which  was  placed  a  small 
still,  where  a  limited  quantity  of  whisk}'  was 
manufactured.  The  liquor  was  consumed  about 
as  fast  as  it  was  made.  This  would  impl}'  that 
it  was  a  superior  article.  The  still  was  re- 
moved at  the  end  of  some  two  years.  The 
village  was  incorporated  some  twenty  years 
ago  for  school  purposes,  and  now  has  an  area 
of  about  2,000  acres,  with  a  population  of  some 
600.  Peninsula  is  the  most  important  village 
on  the  Valley  Railroad,  in  Summit  County, 
north  of  Akron.  It  has  been  the  leading  place 
for  canal-boat  building,  there  having  been  from 
one  to  thirty  boats  built  per  annum,  since  the 
canal  was  first  navigated.  James  A.  Garfield, 
the  President-elect,  often  stopped  at  Peninsula 
while  working  on  the  canal.  It  is  said  that  he 
was  so  apt  and  bright,  that  the  Captain  of  the 
boat  upon  which  the  bo}'  worked  remarked 
that  he  was  too  smart  to  be  working  upon  the 
canal,  and  should  seek  some  other  employment. 
Within  the  limits  of  Peninsula  are  inexhausti- 
ble beds  of  the  finest  sandstone.  Tlie  stone 
belongs  to  the  same  stratum  as  the  Berea  grit, 
and  is  superior  to  the  latter  in  point  of  dura- 
bility. Stone,  at  the  rate  of  about  a  canal-boat 
load  per  day.  is  being  taken  out  of  these  quar- 
ries, which  are  situated  on  the  summit  of  steep 
bluffs,  which  border  the  river  and  canal.  A 
large  amount  of  labor  is  thus  avoided  in  load- 
ing the  stone  on  the  boats.  Another  valuable 
property  of  the  stone  is,  its  capability  of  be- 
ing divided  into  slabs,  varying  in  thickness 
from  a  few  inches  to  man}-  feet. 

The  first  building  in  the  village  of  Boston 
was  erected  in  1820,  and  was  a  frame  dwelling 
house.  The  following  year,  a  saw-mill  and 
grist-mill  were  erected  on  a  dam  that  was  built 
across  the  river,  on  the  site  of  the  village. 
Watrous  Mather  built  the  dwelling  and  the 
saw-mill,  while  Talmon  Bronson  Iniilt  the  grist- 


mill. Mather  put  up  a  two-story  frame  dwell- 
ing in  1824,  and.  two  years  later,  Mr.  Bronson 
also  built  one.  Abram  Holmes  came  to  the 
village  in  182G.  Mather  built  a  large  ware- 
house in  1828,  as  did  also  Mr.  Holmes  two  or 
three  years  later.  In  1826,  Brown  &  Ta3'lor 
built  a  storeroom,  and  placed  therein  about 
$1,500  worth  of  goods,  which  were  sold  to 
Mather  in  1828.  Brown  then  moved  the  store 
across  both  the  river  and  the  canal  to  the  east 
side,  where  it  was  fitted  up  for  a  tavern,  of 
which  he  was  landlord  for  many  years.  While 
standing  in  the  door  of  his  tavern  one  day,  he 
was  struck  by  lightning  and  knocked  about  a 
rod  into  the  yard.  His  clothing  was  torn  into 
shreds  ;  his  boots  were  literally  torn  into  a  hun- 
dred pieces  and  carried  several  rods  away,  and 
the  man  was  rendered  insensible  b}'  the  shock. 
He  had  a  remarkable  physical  development, 
and  was  a  noted  wrestler  for  miles  around. 
Few  men  could  throw  him  down.  He  is  said 
to  have  irreverently  remarked,  after  he  recov- 
ered from  the  lightning  stroke,  "  No  man  ever 
threw  me  so  quick  as  Grod  x\lmighty  did." 
William  T.  Mather  sold  goods  from  a  stock 
valued  at  $1,000,  beginning  in  1830.  In  1835, 
he  sold  out  to  the  Boston  Land  &  Manufactur- 
ing Compau}'.  This  company  purchased  the 
mills  and  warehouse,  but,  failing  in  1838,  the 
property  fell  into  other  hands — that  which  was 
not  closed  permanentl}'.  Benjamin  Morse 
brought  in  a  few  goods  at  an  early  day.  Wat- 
rous Mather,  after  opei'ating  his  saw-mill  a 
number  of  years,  tore  it  down  and  built  a  bet- 
ter one  across  the  river,  on  the  east  side.  It 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  company,  in  1836. 
When  the  company  failed,  William  Smith  be- 
came owner  of  the  grist-mill.  J.  D.  Edson 
bought  it  in  18-18.  It  was  considered  a  good 
mill.  The  village  of  Boston,  in  early  3'ears, 
gave  great  promise,  but  its  subsequent  history 
is  unattractive.  William  McBride  operated  a 
saw-mill  for  three  years,  beginning  in  183-1, 
about  a  mile  down  the  river  from  Boston  Vil- 
lage. The  canal  destroyed  his  water  privilege, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  stop.  Dr.  Eleazer 
Mather  was  the  first  physician  in  the  village, 
coming  as  early  as  1822.  A  Mr.  Fursons  built 
a  distiller}'  at  Boston  at  an  earl}'  day.  It  was 
furnished  with  one  large  still,  and  during  its 
most  rapid  workings  could  turn  out  about  three 
barrels  of  whisky  per  day.  It  was  conducted 
some   twelve   or   fifteen   years.     Alonzo   Dee, 


n^ 


BOSTON    TOWNSHIP. 


543 


also,  was   connected   in   early  years  with  the 
manufacture  of  liquor  at  Boston  Village. 

So  far  as  can  be  learned,  the  first  school  in  the 
township  was  taught  during  the  summer  of  1811, 
by  Miss  Lois  Ann  Gear,  a  young  lady  whose 
pai'ents,  a  number  of  3^ears  befoi'e,  had  been 
murdered  by  the  Indians  at  Upper  Sandusky. 
She  was  alone  in  the  world  and  almost  friend- 
less, and  her  proposition  to  teach  a  term  of 
school  in  an  old  log  building,  erected  by  James 
Stanford  within  five  rods  of  the  present  resi 
dence  of  his  son  George,  was  accepted,  and  the 
house  rudely  fitted  up  for  the  accommodation 
of  teacher  and  pupils.  She  received  as  com- 
pensation for  her  labors  seventy-Jive  cents  per 
week,  and  "  boarded  'round."  Where  is  the 
teacher  who  would  teach  at  the  present  day  for 
less  than  seventy-five  cents  per  day?  And  yet, 
it  is  highly  probable,  that  Miss  Gear  saved 
almost,  or  quite,  all  she  earned.  Her  board 
was  evidentl}-  the  principal  consideration  ;  and 
what  a  feast  of  it  she  must  have  had  !  Was  she 
to  be  envied  even  in  this  respect  ?  She  taught 
six  months  during  the  warm  months,  and  after 
that  no  term  is  remembered  to  have  been  taught 
again  until  1816,  when  a  log  schoolhouse  was 
erected  by  the  neighborhood  about  thirty  rods 
north  of  the  residence  of  Mr.  Stanford,  and  a 
term  of  three  months  was  taught  therein  by 
Alfred  Wolcott,  the  first  settler  in  Boston. 
Wolcott,  the  survej^or  of  the  township,  was 
well  educated,  and  no  doubt  taught  an  inter- 
esting and  instructive  term  of  school.  This 
was  the  first  genuine  schoolhouse  in  the  town- 
ship, and  was  used  every  winter  until  about 
1820,  when  a  schoolhouse  was  built  at  Boston 
village,  and  the  old  house  was  deserted.  In 
1826,  the  house  at  Boston  was  too  much  to  one 
side  of  the  settlement  to  aflford  satisfaction,  and 
the  greater  number  of  the  children  were  sent  to 
Brandywine,  which  left  the  old  house  at  the 
the  village  so  nearly  deserted  that  no  teacher 
was  employed  there  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
the  building  was  left  vacant.  In  about  the 
3'ear  1836,  a  frame  schoolhouse  was  built  at 
Boston  Village,  which  was  used  continuously 
until  the  erection  of  the  present  brick  building, 
a  short  time  before  the  late  war.  In  the  north- 
eastern part  of  Boston,  in  the  Wolcott  neigh- 
borhood, a  school  was  taught  as  earlj'  as  1813, 
and  perhaps  1812.  Mr.  Wolcott  is  said  to  have 
been  the  teacher,  and  in  the  absence  of  any 
data  to  the  contrary,  he  will  be  accorded  the 


honor.  The  school  was  taught  in  a  building 
that  had  been  used  a  few  years  as  a  dwelling  ; 
but  which,  becoming  no  longer  comfortable  or 
attractive,  was  thought  ample  and  suitably 
adapted  for  school  purposes,  and  was  accord- 
ingly devoted  to  that  use.  A  few  years  later, 
a  log  schoolhouse  was  built,  and  this  has  been 
succeeded  by  two  or  three  other  school  build- 
ings, each  of  which  has  been  a  better  building 
than  the  one  before  it.  School  was  first  taught 
in  the  southeast  pai't  in  about  1820,  but  noth- 
ing of  importance  can  be  learned  regarding  this 
school.  It  is  probable  that  school  was  taught 
at  Everett  as  early  as  1825.  No  facts  to  sup- 
port this,  however,  can  be  given.  School  was 
taught  in  about  1830,  in  a  small  log  building 
near  the  residence  of  Mr.  Swan.  The  first 
teacher  is  unknown,  but  among  the  first  were 
Miss  Gillett  and  Hector  Osborn.  A  few  years 
later,  an  acre  of  land  was  deeded  by  Mr.  Swan 
to  the  school  district  for  school  purposes,  and 
upon  this  a  small  frame  school-building  was 
erected  in  about  the  year  1838.  The  building 
was  replaced  by  the  present  one  a  few  years 
ago.  A  schoolhouse,  located  across  the  river 
from  Everett  and  about  half  a  mile  further 
down  the  stream,  was  built  in  1818.  Squire 
Greenman  was  the  first  teacher,  who  received 
his  pay  by  subscription.  The  house  was  built 
of  logs  by  the  neighborhood,  and  was  used 
about  seven  years,  when  the  children  were 
either  sent  to  Everett  or  to  the  "  Holcomb 
School,"  in  northwest  Northampton,  probably 
the  latter.  In  1829,  school  was  held  at  Penin- 
sula, in  a  log  house  that  had  been  used  for  a 
dwelling.  Probably  this  was  not  the  first.  The 
teacher,  in  1829,  was  Miss  Rhoda  Payne,  who 
was  paid  by  private  subscription,  and  whose 
weekly  (or  perhaps  weakly)  recompense  was  $1. 
Her  school  comprised  some  dozen  backwoods 
children.  For  a  number  of  years,  the  east  and 
the  west  sides  had  a  common  school,  but  after 
man}'  years  it  was  found  best  to  divide  the  dis- 
trict, the  river  being  the  line,  and  since  that 
period  the  village  has  had  two  schools,  both  of 
which  are  well  attended  and  prosperous.  A 
young  man  named  Homer  Warner  was  the  first 
teacher  on  the  west  side.  He  received  S13 
per  month  and  boarded  round.  The  east  side 
schoolhouse,  which  is  built  of  stone,  was  erect- 
ed in  about  1857.  It  is  a  two-storied  building, 
the  upper  story  being  used  as  a  town  hall.  The 
west  side  house  is  a  frame   building.     A  few 


a) 


W 


-W^ 


544 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


years  before  the  last  war,  the  citizeus  of  Penin- 
sula became  dissatisfied  with  the  character  of 
their  village  school,  as  compared  with  the 
amount  of  school  tax  they  were  called  upon  to 
pay.  There  were  six  or  seven  scliool  districts 
in  the  township,  and  the  one  at  the  village  was 
called  upon  to  pay  from  a  fourth  to  a  half  of 
the  school  fund  raised  per  annum.  Other  con- 
siderations growing  out  of  this  state  of  things ' 
vexed  the  citizens  for  a  number  of  years,  until 
at  last  they  concluded  to  incorporate  the  entire 
school  district  in  the  village  of  Peninsula,  which 
was  accordingly  done.  This  altered  state  of 
affairs  gave  greater  satisfaction,  as  the  surplus 
of  school  tax  raised  could  be  applied  to  the  vil- 
lage schools,  and  not  to  those  in  distant  parts 
of  the  township.  Since  the  village  has  been 
called  upon,  however,  to  support  two  schools,  it 
is  difficult  to  see  what  has  been  gained  b}'  the 
incorporation  of  the  whole  school  district.  The 
township  was  divided  into  six  school  districts  in 
1826,  and  three  years  later  these  were  materi- 
ally altered.  Numerous  alterations  have  been 
made  since. 

It  is  extremely  difficult  to  tell  with  accuracy 
where  the  different  church  societies  of  Boston 
wei'e  first  organized,  or  under  what  condition 
of  circumstances.  Many  of  the  settlers  were 
religious,  havinsr  belonged  to  some  church  in 
the  East,  and  did  not  abandon  Christian  wor- 
ship, at  least  in  their  families,  after  their  ar- 
rival in  the  township.  It  is  also  (juite  proba- 
ble that  in  the  earliest  da^'S  of  the  settlement, 
various  Christian  families  assembled  at  some 
selected  cabin,  and  even  went  so  far  as  to 
semi-organize  a  religious  society,  perhaps  in 
different  parts  of  the  township.  These  con- 
jectures are  rendered  plausible  by  the  fact  that 
sincere  Christian  people  are  disposed  to  worship 
God,  not  only  within  the  pale  of  civilization, 
but  in  the  uninhabited  and  deserted  depths  of 
the  forest.  Religious  services  were  held  in  the 
vicinity  of  Evei'ett  soon  after  the  erection  of 
the  old  log  schoolhonse,  on  the  Butler  farm,  in 
1818.  But  little  is  known  except  that  occa- 
sional sei'vices  were  held  here,  ver}-  likel}',  by 
traveling  preachers.  When  Alanson  Swan, 
■who  had  been  licensed  to  preach  by  a  Method- 
ist Episcopal  society,  in  Connecticut,  came  to 
the  township  in  1834,  he  immediately  united 
with  others  in  his  neighborhood,  including  por- 
tions of  Bath  and  Northampton,  and  organ- 
ized a  religious   society,  which   continued   to 


meet  quite  regularly  in  dwellings  and  school- 
houses,  until  it  was  at  length  divided  by  an 
alteration  in  the  views  of  a  portion  of  the 
members.  Perhaps  a  majorit}^  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  society  lived  in  the  two  townships 
already  mentioned.  After  flourishing  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  attaining  a  membership 
of  about  fift}",  a  detachment  of  about  half, 
headed  by  Mr.  Swan,  separated  from  the  re- 
mainder and  re-organized  at  Everett  under  the 
name  Protestant  Methodists.  No  church  was 
built  by  this  society.  Some  ten  years  ago,  it 
was  so  broken  up  by  various  causes,  that  the 
United  Brethren  came  in  and  organized  a  so- 
ciety out  of  the  fragments  and  out  of  new  ma- 
terial. This  is  the  ruling  society  at  present. 
As  earlj'  as  1824,  Herman  Bronson,  who  was 
an  Episcopalian,  began  holding  religious  serv- 
ices at  his  cabin  in  Peninsula.  His  few  neigh- 
bors were  invited  to  lend  their  encouragement 
and  support  in  assisting  to  build  up  a  strong, 
permanent  religious  society  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. It  is  probable,  however,  that  no  so- 
ciety of  this  denomination  was  organized  un- 
til about  1837.  Some  four  years  later,  a 
small  church  was  built,  almost  wholly  at 
the  cost  of  Mr.  Bronson.  This  church  is  yet 
used.  Mr.  Bronson  was  clearly  its  founder 
and  patron,  and  did  more  to  sustain  it  than 
any  other  man.  He  deeded  the  lot  upon  which 
it  stands  to  the  society,  and  also  gave  a  fine 
lot  for  a  cemetery  and  one  for  a  public  school- 
house.  The  church  cost  something  like  $1,000. 
At  the  death  of  Mr.  Bronson,  he  willed  to  the 
church  he  had  founded  a  sufficient  fund  to  af- 
ford about  $325  per  annum,  to  be  used  in  de- 
fra3'ing  the  expense  of  employing  a  minister. 
This  permanent  fund  has  undoubtedly  sus- 
tained the  society  from  falling  into  decay  at 
numerous  periods  of  its  existence.  Some  of 
the  members  of  this  church  have  been  Herman 
Bronson,  Daniel  F.  Bachelor,  Hezekiah  Bell, 
James  Morrell  John  Fairweather,  Thomas  Mc- 
Carday,  Jacob  Barnhart,  Nisbett  Wood,  W.  H. 
Payne,  Asa  Kimball,  Harry  Janes,  and  most  of 
their  families.  Abraham  Bronson  was  the  first 
minister  in  charge  of  the  society  ;  and  was  paid 
a  few  hundred  dollars  for  his  services.  A  Con- 
gregational Society-  was  organized  at  the  vil- 
lage about  the  same  time  that  the  Episcopalians 
began.  Their  meetings  were  held  in  school- 
houses  and  dwellings  at  first ;  and  sometimes 
the  use  of  the  Episcopal  Church  was  tendered 


^'^      *"^ 


/ 


#1 


/■^^^^^K^^  0/r7^^^^??<u  ^C~~ 


^ 


SPRINGFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


545 


them  ;  but  their  services  were  mostl}'  held  in 
the  upper  story  of  Mr.  Haskell's  store  building, 
on  the  east  side.  After  continuing  a  number 
of  years,  the  society  was  so  reduced  by  death 
and  removals  that  it  was  disbanded.  Among 
its  members  were  Roger  and  George  Haskell, 
L.  M.  Janes,  Charles  Curtis,  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son and  children,  Mrs.  McGrouty  and  oth- 
ers. A  Methodist  society'  was  organized  in 
the  village  as  early  as  1834,  or  perhaps  as 
early  as  1830.  It  is  thought  that  a  circuit 
preacher  Rev.  Mr.  Conant,  organized  it ;  though 
others  think  that  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Pope  de- 
serves the  honor.  The  society  grew  slowly 
in  membership  and  wealth  until  some  twelve 
years  ago,  when  a  frame  church,  costing  about 
$2,000,  was  built  on  the  east  side.  A  por- 
tion of  the  members  have  been  Rev.  Thomas 
W.  Pope,  a  local  preacher  ;  Billings  Chaffee  and 
wife  ;  John  H.  Curtis  and  wife,  the  husband 
also  being  a  local  preacher  ;  Mr.  Ford  and  wife, 
Mr.  Davis  and  wife,  Dr.  Lunt  and  others.  This 
society  has  passed  through  periods  when  it  was 
extremely  difficult  to  tell  whether  it  lived    or 


not.  If  not,  like  a  cat,  it  possessed  nine  lives  ; 
for  it  is  now  as  strong  and  full  of  life  as  could 
be  expected.  A  Methodist  society  was  organ- 
ized on  the  State  road  as  early,  perhaps,  as 
1825.  This,  however  is  not  known  with  cer- 
taint}'.  In  after  years  it  became  well  known, 
and  was  well  attended.  But  little  could  be  as- 
certained concerning  this  church.  Religious 
services  have  been  held  from  time  to  time 
in  the  schoolhouses  in  and  near  Boston  Village, 
but  no  church  has  been  erected  and  no  perma- 
nent society  organized  in  that  poi'tion  of  the 
township. 

In  March,  1837,  a  post  office  was  first  located 
at  Peninsula.  It  was  secured  largely  through  the 
influence  of  H.  V.  Bronson,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  respected  citizens  of  the  place, 
who  was  commissioned  first  Postmaster,  an 
office  he  retained  until  1845,  when  Billings 
Chaflfee  succeeded  him.  The  post  office  at 
Boston  Village  was  secured  as  early  as  1830, 
mainly  through  the  instrumentality  of  William 
Mather.  One  was  secured  at  "  Johnnycake  " 
a  few  years  later. 


CHAPTER    XXII.* 


SPRINGFIELD  TOWNSHIP— ITS  PHYSICAL  FEATURES  — EARLY  SETTLEMENT— MINERAL  WEALTH- 
POTTER'S  CLAY— VILLAGES— CHURCHES  AND  SCHOOLS— INCIDENTS. 


THREE-QUARTERS  of  a  century  ago,  this 
division  of  Summit  County  was  a  wilder- 
ness, undisturbed  by  the  enterprise  of  the 
Anglo-Saxon  race.  But  with  the  j^ear  1807  the 
history  of  Springfield  actually  begins.  The  in- 
flux of  population  that  commenced  with  the 
dawn  of  that  year,  ceased  not  until  all  the  va- 
cant land  was  occupied.  The  earl^-  settlers  of 
Springfield  Township,  forgetful  of  their  own 
ease,  at  a  time  when  3'ears  of  toil  could  reason- 
abl)'  have  demanded  repose  for  their  declining 
daj's,  they  braved  the  difficulties  of  the  un- 
known wilderness,  that  their  children  might 
achieve  that  wealth  and  greatness  their  faith 
pictured  in  the  future.  The  broad  lands,  rich 
and  fertile,  the  thousand  homes,  adorned  with 
the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  an  advanced 
civilization,  the  vast  resources  of  mineral 
wealth  that  abound,  not  only  in  this  township 

*  Contributed  by  W.  n.  Pen  in. 


but  throughout  this  section  of  country,  are 
among  the  memorials  that  attest  the  wisdom  of 
their  choice.  The  inducements  which  invited 
the  immigration  of  the  pioneers  of  Springfield 
was  all  that  the  most  exacting  could  demand, 
or  that  Nature  in  her  pleasantest  mood  could 
oflTer.  Fine  forests,  streams  of  flowing  water, 
productive  lands,  and,  as  afterward  discovered, 
vast  stores  of  mineral  wealth.  Such  advantages 
as  these  were  not  to  be  overlooked  in  the  se- 
lection of  homes. 

Springfield  is  situated  in  the  east  tier  of  town- 
ships, and  but  one  from  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  county.  It  intrudes  its  northwest  corner 
into  the  city  of  Akron,  and  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Tallraadge  Township  ;  on  the  east  by 
Suffield  Township,  in  Portage  County  ;  on  the 
south  by  Green  Township;  on  the  west  by 
Coventr}'  Township,  and  is  designated  as  Town- 
ship 1,  Range  10.     The  south  line  of  Spring- 


-k* 


M 


546 


IIISTOKY    OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


field  is  on  the  southern  boundary  of  the  Western 
Reserve  —  the  fort^'-first  parallel  of  latitude. 
This  causes  a  slight  jog  in  the  east  line  of  the 
count}-,  as  the  townships  south  of  the  Reserve 
are  of  a  different  survey.  The  surface  of  the 
township  is  rolling  ;  but  not  sufficiently  so  to 
be  termed  broken,  with  one  or  two  small  ex- 
ceptions. It  is  drained  mainl}'  through  the 
little  Cuyahoga  River,  in  the  north  part,  and 
the  Tuscarawas  in  the  south  part  and  their 
tributaries,  together  with  a  number  of  little  lake- 
lets in  different  parts  of  the  township.  The 
largest  of  the  latter  is  vSpringfield  Lake,  in  the 
geographical  center  of  the  township,  and  is 
about  a  mile  in  length  and  half  a  mile  in  width. 
Of  this  little  lake,  Gen.  Bierce  says  :  •'  A  com- 
pany at  Middlebury,  a  few  3'ears  ago  (1854),  got 
a  special  act  of  the  Legislature  authorizing  them 
to  raise  Springfield  Lake  six  feet,  and  lower  it 
four,  from  its  natural  level.  This  rise  and  fall 
affords  a  sufficient  suppl}',  on  which  to  draw 
when  other  sources  fail.  The  right  is  now 
owned  by  the  mill-owners  of  Akron."  The  soil 
of  Springfield  is  a  rich,  sandy  loam,  and  well 
adapted  to  wheat  growing,  although  other  small 
grain,  as  well  as  corn,  are  produced  in  more 
or  less  abundance.  Stock-raising  also  receives 
some  attention,  but  is  not  made  a  specialty  by 
the  farming  communit}-.  The  timber  consists 
of  the  kinds  common  in  this  section  viz.,  beech, 
maple,  ash,  elm,  poplar,  hickor}-,  white  oak, 
walnut,  etc.  Coal-mining  was  rather  extensive 
at  one  time.  This,  however,  with  the  potter's 
clay  industries,  will  again  be  referred  to  in  this 
chapter.  An  extensive  cranberry  marsh  was 
iu  Springfield  in  early  times,  near  Springfield 
Lake,  and  embraced  some  200  acres  ;  but  this 
has  been  cleared  up,  thoroughly  drained,  and 
is  now  as  productive  corn  land  as  there  is  in 
the  township.  "  Springfield  was  an  equalizing 
township,  and  was  surveyed  by  Simon  Perkins 
in  the  summer  of  1806.  He  first  ran  a  north- 
and-south  line  through  the  center,  the  east  half 
of  which  was  set  to  Town  4,  Range  8,  to  make 
that  equal  with  the  average.  A  strip  off  the 
west  side  was  attached  to  Shalersville.  It  was 
drawn  and  belonged  to  Mr.  Shaler,  of  Middle- 
town,  Conn.,  father  of  Judge  Shaler,  of  Pitts- 
burgh."* Shaler  sold  the  east  half  to  Messrs. 
Olds,  Collar  and  More,  of  what  is  now  Mahoning 
Count}',  and  the  strip  off  the  west  side  to  Henry 
and  Charles  Chittenden. 

*Gen.  Bierce. 


The  first  permanent  settlement  in  Springfield 
Township  was  made  by  one  Ariel  Bradle}',  in 
1807,  on  Lot  12,  of  the  "  Shaler  Tract,"  where 
he  died  years  ago.  His  family  are  all  gone 
from  the  neighborhood,  though,  we  believe,  his 
youngest  son  is  yet  living  in  Lucas  Count}', 
Ohio.  Gen.  Bierce  gives  the  following  interest- 
ing sketch  of  Mr.  Bradley  :  '■  He  was  born  in 
Salisbury,  Conn.,  in  1 767.  Naturally  of  a  strong, 
discriminating  mind,  he  was  employed,  with 
success,  when  a  boy,  in  scenes  and  business 
which  would  have  appalled  older  and  more  ex- 
perienced heads.  Just  before  the  battle  of 
White  Plains,  in  1776,  young  Bradley,  being 
then  only  nine  years  old,  was  employed  by  Gen. 
Washington  to  enter  the  British  camp  as  a  spy. 
He  took  an  old  horse,  and,  putting  a  load  of 
grain  on  his  back,  got  astride  of  it  himself,  and 
boldly  passed  within  the  British  lines  under 
pretense  of  going  to  mill.  He  was  arrested,  as 
he  expected  to  be,  and  taken  to  the  British 
camp  for  examination.  Here,  without  exhibit- 
ing any  unusual  curiosity,  he  observed  all  that 
was  going  on.  A  long  consultation  was  held  by 
the  officers,  as  to  what  should  be  done  with 
him  ;  but  young  Bradley  acted  the  '  Johnny 
Raw  '  so  completel}'  that  they  finally  dismissed 
him,  thinking  him  more  fool  than  spy.  As  he 
w-as  leaving,  one  of  the  officers  remarked,  '  I 
believe  the  little  devil  will  betray  us."  The 
mill-boy  made  his  way  back  to  the  American 
camp,  with  the  desired  information.  In  1801, 
in  company  with  Belden  and  Simeon  Crane,  he 
removed  to  Canfield,  Mahoning  County.  They 
left  Salisbury  on  the  14th  of  June,  1801,  and 
arrived  in  Canfield  in  August  following.  He 
remained  in  Canfield  until  1805,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Suffield  Township,  in  Portage  County, 
and  settled  on  what  is  known  as  the  old  Kent 
farm  ;  and,  in  1807,  settled  in  Springfield,  in 
what  is  now  Mogadore.  When  he  first  came 
to  Canfield,  but  little  could  be  obtained,  north- 
west of  the  Ohio  River,  to  alleviate  hunger, 
except  by  the  chase.  Wheat  and  flour  were 
brought  on  pack-horses  from  Georgetown,  on 
the  Ohio  ;  and  salt  was  an  unknown  article.  In 
1802,  Bradley  went  to  Georgetown  for  bi-ead- 
stuff ;  but  was  unable  to  get  a  pound  of  flour 
or  meal.  A  man  there  had  raised  a  little  wheat, 
and  Bradley  got  the  privilege  of  pounding  out 
some,  with  which  he  started  home  through  the 
woods.  On  his  way  back,  and,  when  about 
thirteen  miles  south  of  Canfield,  his  horse  was 


SPRINGFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


547 


taken  sick,  and  he  was  compelled  to  camp  out 
in  the  woods.  He  hitched  his  horse,  and,  for 
his  own  security,  climbed  a  tree.  Soon  after 
dark,  the  wolves  surrounded  him,  determined 
to  have  him  or  his  horse  ;  but  Bradley  was  not 
disposed  to  surrender  either,  and,  descending 
from  the  ti'ee,  he  procured  a  good  club,  with 
wliich  he  stood  sentry  over  his  horse  and  cargo 
of  wheat.  As  the  wolves  would  come  near  him, 
he  would  strike  at  them,  and  they  would  retreat. 
Near  morning,  one  more  brave  than  the  rest, 
came  so  near  that  he  hit  him  over  the  head. 
The  fellow  sounded  a  retreat,  and  the  rest  fol- 
lowed with  tremendous  yells. 

The  same  year  that  saw  Bradley  settle  in 
Springtield  witnessed  the  coming  of  Benjamin 
Baldwin,  Nathan  More  and  Reuben  Tapper, 
all  of  whom  were  originall}'  from  Salisbury, 
Conn.,  the  native  place  of  Bradley.  Baldwin 
settled  just  across  the  town  line,  west  from  the 
Kent  farm,  where  he  died  in  1847.  More  and 
Tupper  also  died  in  the  township.  John  and 
James  Hall,  brothers,  came  from  Pennsylvania 
in  1807,  and  were  the  next  settlers  in  Spring- 
field ;  John  was  about  eighteen  years  old  and 
his  brother  was  still  younger,  and  thej'  remained 
alone  in  tlie  wilderness  the  first  year.  Their 
cabin  was  built  near  a  spring  half  a  mile  east 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  North  Spring- 
field, and,  at  the  time,  there  was  not  a  road  to 
or  from  it  in  an}'  direction.  As  Indians  were 
plenty,  thej-  dare  not  sleep  in  the  house,  but, 
at  night,  would  make  up  a  fire  in  the  house  and 
then  take  their  guns  and  go  into  a  corn-field  to 
sleep,  stationing  themselves  so  that  they  could 
see  any  one  entering  the  door.  In  this  manner 
they  passed  the  first  summer  and  fall.  John, 
the  elder  of  these  two  brothers,  died  in  Marion 
County,  and  James  went  to  Huron  County. 
John  Hall,  a  lawyer  in  Akron,  is  a  son  of  John 
Hall  referred  to  above.  Robert  Hall,  also  from 
Pennsylvania,  came  next  and  settled  on  the 
place  now  owned  by  Peter  Lepper.  He  died  in 
the  summer  of  1808,  from  the  bursting  of  a 
blood-vessel,  and  was  the  first  death  in  the  town- 
ship. He  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  northeast 
of  Middlebury. 

The  old  Keystone  State  contributed  the  fol- 
lowing Pennsylvania  Dutchmen  to  the  settle 
ment  of  Springfield  Township  :  Rev.  Thomas 
Beer,  Thomas  Metlin,  -John  Vallandiiigham, 
James  McKnight,  Samuel  Wood,  Capt.  William 
Foster,  Abraham  DeHaven,  Francis  Irvin,  Dea- 


con Ewert,  Joseph  Scott,  Jacob  Winters,  Sam- 
uel Hinson,  James  Wertz,  the  Bairds,  Judge 
Robert  Clark,  George  McGrew,  Patrick  and  Ar- 
chie Christy,  the  Smiths,  Deacon  McWright,  the 

Pallets,  Robert  Smith,  Henderson,  James 

McCormic,  and  perhaps  others.  Mr.  Beer  was 
a  Presbyterian  preacher  of  the  strictest  old- 
school  principles  ;  he  moved  away  and  is  dead. 
Metlin  settled  in  1814,  and  moved  into  Norton 
Township,  where  he  died.  Vallandingham 
settled  in  1811-12,  and  moved  to  Holmes 
County  and  died  there.  He  was  an  uncle  to 
Hon.  Clement  L.  Vallandigham,  who,  when  a 
boy,  used  to  visit  his  uncle  in  Springfield,  and 
is  well  remembered  by  many  of  the  older  resi- 
dents of  the  neighborhood.  McKnight  was  a 
brother-in-law  of  John  Vallandiiigham,  and 
came  in  1814,  moved  to  Stark  County  and  died, 
Wood  was  the  father  of  John  B.  Wood,  of  Ak- 
ron ;  came  in  early,  and  died  man}-  years  ago. 
Capt.  Foster  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Wood,  and 
died  in  the  township  at  the  age  of  eight^'-seven 
years.  DeHaven  came  in  1809,  and  died  many 
years  ago.  Mrs.  Clark,  of  Akron,  is  a  daughter 
of  his.  Irvin  and  DeHaven  were  brothers-in- 
law.  Deacon  Ewert  came  about  1809-10,  and 
died  on  the  place  of  his  original  settlement,  at 
an  advanced  age.  Joseph  Scott  settled  in  1811  ; 
died  about  1830,  while  making  a  visit  to  Penn- 
sylvania ;  he  was  brought  home  and  buried  by 
the  side  of  his  wife  in  the  Kent  burying-ground. 
David  Scott,  of  Akron,  is  his  son.  Winters 
came  with  Wood  and  Metlin,  and  was  from  the 
same  place  ;  he  died  in  Richland  County.  Hin- 
son came  in  early  ;  he  met  with  a  melancholy 
accident  which  resulted  in  his  death  ;  returning 
from  Middlebury  one  evening,  his  horse  ran 
away  with  him  and  threw  him  with  such  vio- 
lence that  he  died  in  a  few  hours  from  the  ef- 
fects of  the  fall.  Wertz  died  on  the  place  of 
his  settlement  many  years  ago.  The  Bairds 
were  a  large  famil}-,  of  whom  Joseph,  James 
George  and  Robert  were  brothers,  and  came  in 
about  1809  or  thereabouts.  Judge  Clark  also 
came  in  1809,  and  was  one  of  the  first  Justices 
of  the  Peace  in  the  township,  and  one  of  the 
first  Surve3ors  in  Portage  County  ;  he  was  also 
Associate  Judge  of  Portage  County.  McGrew 
came  in  1809-10,  and  died  in  the  neighborhood 
as  did  also  his  wife.  The  Christys  were  early 
settlers  ;  Patrick  died  in  Akron  and  Archie 
moved  back  to  Pennsylvania.  The  Smiths,  as 
they  are  everywhere,  were  a  large  famih',  and 


>w 


548 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


came  in  about  1811  ;  there  were  Thomas,  Jacob, 
George,  James  and  Caleb,  who  were  all  brothers. 
Thomas  fitted  out  a  flat-boat  at  Massillon,  loaded 
it,  and  started  for  the  Crescent  City  via  the 
Tuscarawas  and  Muskingum  Rivers,  to  the  Ohio. 
He  arrived  safely  at  Natchez,  Miss.,  with  his 
boat,  but  was  there  taken  sick  and  died.  Dr. 
Smith,  of  Akron,  is  his  son.  Jacob  Smith  was 
a  hatter,  and  used  to  follow  his  trade  in  Spring- 
field. 

Deacon  Mc Wright  came  in  about  1809- 
10,  and  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  The  EUets  were  early 
settlers,  and  comprise  quite  a  large  family. 
The  old  gentleman  of  all  was  a  Revolutionary 
soldier.  A  Mr.  Henderson  was  an  early  settler 
in  the  extreme  south  part  of  the  township. 
Robert  Smith,  another  family  of  those  men- 
tioned above,  came  in  shortly  after  Bradley  and 
cleared  up  the  first  farm  in  Springfield.  McCor- 
mic  also  came  the  same  3'ear,  and  settled  in  the 
corner  of  the  township.  It  will  thus  be  seen 
that  Springfield  was  settled  originalh'  mostly 
from  Pennsylvania. 

Peter  Norton,  who  came  in  quite  early,  was 
from  Connecticut,  and  came  to  Trumbull 
County,  Ohio,  at  an  early  day.  In  1809,  he 
moved  over  into  Tallmadge,  and,  four  years 
later,  came  to  Springfield  and  settled  in  the 
woods.  He  died  there  in  1822.  Two  sons  are 
still  living — Lester,  now  eight^'-three  years  of 
age,  and  "  Tommy,"  as  everybod}'  calls  him,  who 
is  seventy-five  years  of  age.  Geoi'ge  Carroll 
settled  near  Springfield  Lake.  It  is  not  known 
where  he  came  from,  but  it  is  supposed  he  was 
from  German}',  as  he  could  speak  very  little 
English  when  he  first  moved  in.  He  lived  and 
died  upon  the  place  of  his  settlement.  John 
Weston  ranks  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Springfield.  He  was  considered  well  off  at  that 
early  period,  because  when  he  came  he  had  a 
wagon  and  two  yoke  of  oxen.  He  stopped  with 
Norton  until  he  got  a  cabin  put  up  to  go  in. 
A  son,  Francis  Weston,  is  still  living  on  the  old 
homestead,  an  old  man  now  himself,  and  near- 
ly ninety  years  old.  The  old  gentleman  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three.  Henry  and  Charles  Chittenden, 
mentioned  as  having  bought  the  west  side  of 
the  township,  came  from  the  East  (probably 
from  Connecticut)  and  were  early  settlers.  Pe- 
ter Rodenbaugh  came  in  about  1815,  and  Capt. 
Fulkerson  in  1820.     Manv  others  settled  with- 


in the  next  few  j'ears,  and  soon  there  was  no 
vacant  land  left  in  the  township. 

At  tlie  time  of  the  organization  of  Spring- 
field as  a  township,  it  was  a  part  of  Trumbull 
County,  as  the  first  records  are  headed,  "  At  a 
meeting  held  in  the  township  of  Springfield, 
count}'  of  Trumbull  and  State  of  Ohio."  It 
then  embraced,  besides  its  present  territor}', 
Randolph  and  Suffleld,  in  Portage  County,  and 
Tallmadge,  Portage  and  Coventr}',  in  Summit. 
At  the  election  held  on  the  day  of  organization, 
Josiah  Ward,  of  Randolph,  was  one  of  the 
Judges  ;  John  Foster,  of  Mantua,  Clerk  ;  John 
Goss  (of  Randolph),  Benjamin  Baldwin  (of 
Springfield)  and  Stephen  Upson  (of  Tallmadge), 
Trustees.  The  following  is  a  transcript  of  the 
township  records,  and  shows  their  mode  of  doing 
business  :  "  At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  on 
the  first  Monday  in  March,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  1810,  they  settled  with  all  and  balanced 
accounts  ;  Supervisor  James  McCormic,  ex- 
cepted. Found  due  from  him,  $2.40,  for  which 
said  James  gave  his  note,  payable  in  labor  on 
some  county  road  in  Springfield,  on  or  before 
the  1st  da}'  of  April  next,  at  the  rate  of  62^ 
cents  per  day."  On  the  13th  day  of  March, 
Benjamin  Baldwin  was  sworn  in  as  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  being  the  first  Justice  elected  in  the 
township.  Robert  Baird  was  probabl}'  the 
next  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Springfield  ;  Aus- 
tin Weston  was  an  early  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
also,  in  this  township. 

Springfield  Township  affords  some  fine  mill 
sites  along  the  Little  Cuyahoga  and  Tuscara- 
was Rivers,  which  run  through  the  township, 
and  upon  the  outlet  of  Springfield  Lake.  One 
branch  of  the  Little  Cuyahoga  has  its  source 
in  this  lake,  and  the  other  in  Sufltield  Lake 
which  makes  the  flood  of  water  ver}-  uniform. 
As  an  example  of  the  fine  water-power,  the 
water  in  the  race  opposite  the  Empire  House 
in  Akron,  is  172  feet  below  the  level  of  Spring- 
field Lake,  and  the  latter  is  nearly  700  feet 
above  the  level  of  Lake  Erie.  The  following 
incident  is  related  of  this  beautiful  little  sheet 
of  water  :  "In  the  spring  of  the  year,  just  be- 
fore the  breaking  up  of  the  ice  on  Springfield 
Lake,  there  is  often  heard  a  curious,  moaning 
sound  that  is  audible,  at  times,  for  miles.  The 
first  time  it  was  noticed  was  in  1813,  by  James 
McKnight,  while  out  hunting.  He  supposed  it 
to  be  some  huge  animal,  and  started  with  his 
gun  and  little  bo}'  in  pursuit.     The  sound  ap- 


■71^ 


'K* 


SPRINGFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


549 


peared  to  be  near  the  outlet,  at  the  northeast 
part  of  the  lake.  In  crossing  the  lake  on  the 
ice,  when  near  the  deepest  part,  it  being  ver}'^ 
dark,  he  stepped  into  an  '  air-hole '  and  went 
entirely  under ;  but  holding  on  to  his  rifle, 
which  reached  across  the  hole,  he  drew  himself 
out  by  it  and  thus  saved  himself  The  longest 
cords  that  have  been  tried,  or  that  can  be  pro- 
cured, cannot  sound  the  lake  in  its  deepest 
parts."  But  to  return  to  the  water-power. 
One  of  the  first  mills  in  Springfield  was  built 
by  James  Brewster,  the  father  of  Alexander 
Brewster,  in  the  extreme  south  part  of  the 
town,  and  is  now  known  as  the  Fritts  Mill. 
The  next  one,  perhaps,  was  McCormic's,  at  Mog- 
adore.  Clinton  also  built  a  mill  very  early, 
but  it  has  long  since  passed  away,  and  another, 
known  as  "  Gilchrist's  Mill,"  has  been  built  in 
its  place.  DeHaven  built  a  mill  in  1830,  on 
the  Massillon  road  not  far  from  the  "  White 
Grocer}',"  on  the  outlet  of  Springfield  Lake. 
Another  of  the  earlj'  mills  was  built  on  the 
Tuscarawas  in  the  south  part  of  the  township. 
There  were  mills  built  in  Middlebury  very 
eai'ly  which  were  well  patronized  by  the  people 
of  Springfield. 

Springfield  Township  is  intersected  by  the 
Valley  Railroad,  which  enters  at  the  northwest 
corner  and  passes  out  near  the  center  of  the 
south  line.  While  there  is  no  station  in  the 
township,  it  is  of  great  benefit  to  the  people, 
as  Middlebury  is  within  easy  reach  and  has 
good  roads  leading  to  it  from  all  parts  of 
Springfield. 

There  are  several  hamlets  laid  down  on  the 
map  of  Springfield,  but  none  of  them  amount 
to  much  in  the  way  of  towns.  Indeed,  they 
have  not  even  arrived  at  the  dignity  of  villages. 
This,  perhaps,  arises  from  the  fact  that  other 
villages  and  trade-centers  sprang  up,  leaving 
but  little  or  no  necessity  for  villages  in  the 
township.  Middlebury,  a  portion  of  which  is 
in  Springfield,  was,  at  one  time,  the  most  im- 
portant place  in  Summit  County.  It  com- 
manded the  entire  trade  on  this  side  of  the 
count}',  far  beyond  the  present  county  limits. 
The  nearest  approach  to  a  village  in  Spring- 
field, outside  of  Middlebury,  is  Mogadore,  on 
the  east  line  of  the  township,  and  about  as 
much  in  Portage  County  as  in  Summit.  It 
consists  of  a  few  dozen  or  so  of  houses,  a  store 
or  two,  shops,  several  potteries  and  a  couple  of 
churches,  and,  as   we  said,  is  on  both  sides  of 


the  county  line.  The  Disciples  and  Methodists 
have  churches  in  the  village,  though  we  believe 
the  Methodist  Church  is  over  in  Portage  Coun- 
ty. The  Disciples"  Church  has  been  there  for 
a  number  of  years.  Alexander  Campbell,  him- 
self, was  the  first  to  preach  that  particular  doc- 
trine at  Mogadore,  and  established  the  church, 
which  has  ever  since  continued.  One  of  the 
first  merchants  was  Henry  Sawyer,  who  had  a 
small  store  there  many  years  ago.  Several 
others  have  had  stores  since,  and  Robert  Atchi- 
son has  one  there  at  the  present  time.  Thomas- 
ton  is  a  coal  mining  place,  and  consists  of  a  few 
straggling  houses  and  a  post  office.  It  is  on 
the  line  and  mostly  in  Coventry  Township,  and 
is  too  near  the  city  of  Akron  to  ever  amount 
to  anything  of  a  town.  North  Springfield,  or 
North  Center,  is  another  small  collection  of 
houses,  sometimes  honored  by  the  name  of  vil- 
lage. It  is  situated  just  north  of  Springfield 
Lake,  and  is  known  as  the  township  center, 
because  Springfield  Lake  occupies  the  geo- 
grapical  center,  and  the  only  means  by  which 
the  official  center  of  the  township  could  have 
been  placed  in  the  geographical  center,  would 
have  been  to  have  it  like  the  city  of  Mexico,  in 
the  midst  of  a  lake.  And,  in  this  case,  the 
danger  would  be  that,  as  the  lake  is  said  to  be 
bottomless,  the  town  house  might  have  gone 
down  to  China,  sometime  in  the  midst  of  an  im- 
portant township  meeting.  There  is  no  store 
at  North  Center  or  Springfield,  but  the  place 
consists  of  a  few  houses  only,  the  town  house, 
a  pottery  and  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mil- 
heim  is  a  hamlet  in  the  south  part  of  the  town, 
and  as  regai'ds  population  and  Importance,  is 
on  a  par  with  North  Center  and  Thomaston. 

One  of  the  first  coal  mines  opened  in  Summit 
County  was  opened  in  Springfield  Township, 
by  Abrara  DeHaven,  in  1808.  It  cropped  out 
on  his  land,  and  was  accidentally  discovered  by 
him.  He  mined  it  there  for  years,  and  the  coal 
was  hauled  away  in  wagons.  About  1842, 
Philpot  leased  the  mines  and  built  a  horse  rail- 
road to  them,  and  thus  facilitated  the  work. 
These  are  the  only  mines  that  have  ever  been 
worked  to  any  extent  in  the  township.  A 
small  one  is  owned  by  L.  Sumner,  but  has 
not  been  worked  very  extensively. 

The  clay  used  in  the  various  potteries  is  of 
far  more  importance  in  Springfield  Township 
than  coal  mining.  There  is  an  almost  endless 
number  of  potteries  in  the  township,  turning 


^T 


550 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


out  annually,  it  is  estimated,  not  far  short  of 
1,000,000  gallons  of  manufactured  stoneware. 
As  the  ela}'  is  inexhaustible,  this  is  an  industry 
destined  to  cut  a  large  figure  in  the  history  of 
Springfield.  Says  Gen.  Bierce :  "  Immense 
amounts  of  the  cla}'  are  carried  to  other  States, 
and  even  to  Canada.  In  fixing  a  tariff  of  duties 
for  Canada,  John  Bull  laid  a  heav}-  duty  on 
stoneware  manufactured  in  the  States,  but  not 
on  cla}'.  The  enterprising  Yankees  came  it 
over  him  b}'  carrying  the  clay  to  Canada  and 
manufacturing  it  there."  The  first  of  this  cla}^ 
discovered  in  Springfield  was  by  Fisk.  about 
1828,  who  manufactured  the  first  stoneware  in 
Springfield,  under  the  firm  of  Fisk  &  Smith. 
Mr.  Fisk  discovered  the  cla}-  on  a  four-acre  lot, 
owned  by  a  man  named  Cutchel.  Fisk  &  Smith 
bought  it  of  him  and  started  a  potter}-.  Since 
then,  almost  hundreds  of  potteries  have  been 
established,  and  the  amount  of  stoneware, 
sewer-pipe,  drain-tile,  etc.,  etc.,  made  each  year, 
is  simply  immense,  and  must  be  passed  with 
this  brief  notice. 

The  Presbyterians  organized  the  first  church 
in  Springfield  as  early  almost  as  any  settle- 
ments were  made.  Rev.  Thomas  Beer  was  the 
first  preacher,  and  was  of  the  most  unadulter- 
ated old  school,  believing  in  all  the  strict  ten- 
ets of  that  strict  sect.  As  an  old  gentleman 
informed  us,  he  "  believed  in  fore-ordination, 
predestination  and  infant  damnation.'  A 
church  was  built  by  them  at  North  Center 
about  the  year  1812.  This  building  was 
burned  and  another  erected,  which  lasted  some 
time,  when  the  present  one  was  erected.  The 
last  one  is  said  to  have  been  built  in  1828,  and 
hence  is  a  rather  old  church  building.  Rev. 
Beer  was  the  first  Pastor,  and  was  followed 
some  years  later  by  Rev.  Benjamin  Peini. 
Other  earl}'  ministers,  who  preached  in  this  old 
church,  were  Revs.  Lathrop,  Merriman,  Han- 
ford,  Sheldon,  etc.  The  membership  has  de- 
creased within  the  last  decade  by  death  and 
removals,  but  the  church  is  still  prosperous. 
A  Methodist  Church  was  built  at  North  Center 
about  the  year  1831,  but  it  did  not  last  long, 
and  was  finally  torn  down  and  moved  away. 

A  post  office  was  established  in  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  township  about  the  year  1818, 
with  Benjamin  Baldwin  as  Postmaster.  He 
was  a  Whig  in  politics,  but  kept  the  office  for 
many  years  through  Democratic  administra- 
tions  as    well    as  Whig.      Samuel   Ellet   was 


the  next  Postmaster  in  Springfield,  and  kept 
the  ofiSce  at  his  residence  on  the  Canton 
road,  about  ten  miles  from  Middlebury.  It 
was  established  in  1835.  The  first  white 
child  born  in  Springfield  Township  was  Jane 
Hall,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Hall,  born  in  1 809, 
who,  when  grown,  was  married,  and  removed  to 
Indiana.  The  first  marriage  was  John  Hall,  a 
son  of  Robert  Hall,  to  Margaret  Blair.  The 
marriage  took  place  in  1810,  and  afterward 
they  removed  to  Huron  County,  where  they 
both  died.  The  first  death  recorded  in  the 
township  was  Robert  Hall,  in  1808,  who  died 
from  the  effects  of  bursting  of  a  blood-vessel, 
and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  northeast  of 
Middlebury.  Samuel  Hinson  was  another  of 
the  early  deaths,  and  died  from  the  effects  of 
a  fall  from  his  horse,  which  ran  away  with 
him. 

The  first  school  taught  in  Springfield  was  in 
a  little  log  cabin,  which  stood  near  Cass' camp- 
ing ground.  It  was  taught  in  the  winter  of 
1812,  by  Reuben  Upson,  and  was  on  the  sub- 
scription and  "  board-around"  plan.  Here,  in 
this  little  log  structure, 

"  skilled  to  rule. 
Master  Upson  taught  his  little  school  ; 
A  man  severe  he  was,  and  stern  to  view," 

as  every  truant  and  culprit  soon  learned  to 
know  to  their  sorrow.  The  next  school  was 
taught  by  a  Mr.  Briggs,  in  the  Vallandingham 
Schoolhouse.  This  was  followed  by  one  taught 
by  Jesse  Hall,  which  was  in  what  was  known 
as  the  Virginia  Schoolhouse.  Austin  Weston 
was  the  next  teacher,  and  wielded  the  ferule 
in  the  Sheep  Schoolhouse.  This  schoolhouse 
was  called  after  a  family-  who  settled  in  the 
neighborhood  very  earl}-,  named  Sheep.  They 
finally  grew  tired  of  being  considered  Kheejnsh, 
and  had  their  names  changed  by  legislative  act 
to  Morton,  a  cognomen  that  their  neighbors  soon 
perverted  into  Mutton.  Benjamin  Meachem 
followed  Weston  as  the  next  teacher,  and  taught 
in  the  McGrew  Schoolhouse  ;  next  came  Will- 
iam L.  Clark,  whose  widow  has  died  in  Akron 
since  this  work  (1881)  has  been  in  the  course 
of  preparation.  He  was  followed  by  Robert 
Baird,  who  taught  in  the  Metlin  Schoolhouse  ; 
and  Baird  was  followed  by  Henry  Westfall, 
who  taught  in  the  Dunbar  Schoolhouse.  Sam- 
uel Ellet  next  taught  in  the  Ellet  Schoolhouse, 
and  after  him  P.  C.  McDonald,  in  the  Roden- 


ihL^ 


SPRINGFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


551 


baugh  Schoolhouse.  This  comprises  the  earl}' 
schools  of  Springfield,  and  brings  the  educa- 
tional history  of  the  township  down  within  the 
period  of  the  free  school  system.  Springfield 
now  has  some  six  schoolhouses,  all  of  which 
are  good,  comfortable  brick  buildings,  well 
furnished  and  appointed,  in  which  schools  are 
taught  by  competent  teachei's  during  the  requi- 
site terms  each  year. 

For  years  after  the  first  white  people  settled 
in  Springfield,  their  highways  of  travel  were 
blazed  paths  through  the  forest.  The  |irst  road 
laid  out  was  that  leading  from  Canton  to  Middle- 
bury,  known  as  the  "  Canton  and  Middlebury 
road."  The  next,  perhaps,  was  the  Middleburj' 
and  Kendall  road.  These  were  followed  by  oth- 
ers, mostly  centering  in  Middlebury,  then  a  place 
of  much  importance.  The  first  mails  were 
brought  to  the  post  oflfice  at  Baldwin's,  on 
horseback,  along  a  blazed  path  through  the 
woods,  from  Canton  to  Middlebury  and  back 
again.  This  road  afterward^  became  a  some- 
what noted  thoroughfare,  and  was  a  stage 
route  between  Cleveland  and  Canton.  John  C. 
Hart,  of  Middlebury,  ran  a  line  of  stages  over 
this  route  for  a  number  of  ^ears. 

Originall}',  as  we  have  stated,,  Randolph,  Suf- 
field,  Springfield  and  Tallmadge  comprised  a 
single  township.  This  was  the  case  in  1812, 
and,  under  the  old  militia  law  of  that  period, 
all  able-bodied  men  between  eighteen  and  forty- 
five  years  of  age,  were  compelled  to  drill  on 
certain  days  of  each  year.  The  township 
above-mentioned  was  a  military  district,  and 
formed  a  militia  company,  of  which  Bailey 
Hubbard  was  Captain  ;  Ariel  Bradley  Lieuten- 
ant, and  Aaron  Weston,  Ensign.  Weston  was 
also  Ensign  of  the  company  of  volunteers  from 
this  section,  under  Capt.  John  Campbell,  who 
were  surrendered  by  Gen.  Hull  at  Detroit,  in 
the  opening  period  of  the  war  of  1812. 

When  John  Bull,  in  1812,  unchained  his 
hungry  lion  upon  the  United  States,  there  was 
considerable  population  in  this  section  of  Ohio. 
In  Springfield  Township  there  had  settled  quite 
a  number  of  families.  Gen.  Bierce  thus  tells 
the  war  news  of  that  period  :  "  After  Hull's 
surrender,  a  draft  was  made,  and  eight  were 
taken  fi'om  Springfield — Joseph  D.  Baird,  John 
Hall,  Timothy  Holcomb,  Alexander  Hall,  James 
Baird,  Lee  Moore,  Nathaniel  DeHaven,  and  Mar- 
tin Willis,  who  went  as  a  substitute.  They  be- 
longed to  the  company  commanded  by  Capt. 


Lusk,  of  Hudson;  Lieut.  Holcomb,  of  Hudson, 
resigned  to  John  Caris,  of  Rootstown,  who  was 
Second  Lieutenant ;  Hiram  King,  formerly'  of 
Middlebury,  was  Ensign.  The}'  belonged  to 
the  regiment  commanded  by  Col.  Rayen,  of 
Youngstown,  in  the  brigade  of  Gen.  Simon 
Perkins.  Joseph  D.  Baird,  Timoth}'  Holcomb, 
Nathaniel  DeHaven  and  Lee  Moore  are  yet  liv- 
ing.* John  Hall  died  in  Huron  Coimty,  and 
Alexander  Hall  died  at  Camp  Huron  ;  James 
Baird  died  at  La  Grange,  Ind.;  and  Martin 
Willis  died  on  his  way  home  at  Tinker's  Creek. 
On  the  return  of  the  wreck  of  Hull's  armj', 
after  his  surrender  at  Detroit,  the  '  Ohio  volun- 
teers,' under  Cols.  Cass  and  McArthur,  passed 
through  Springfield,  and  encamped  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  near  the  south  end  of  the 
bridge,  at  '  Clinton's  Mill.'  Samuel  EUet,  the 
father  of  John  and  Jehu  Ellet,  who  then  lived 
where  Jehu  Ellet  now  does,  measured  off  half 
an  acre  of  green  corn  and  tui-ned  it  out  to  the 
soldiers,  who  picked  and  roasted  it  for  their 
suppers.  The  following  year,  Maj.  Croghan, 
when  going  to  the  lines  with  his  command,  en- 
camped on  the  same  ground.  At  that  time, 
Dr.  Joseph  DeWolf.  of  Ravenna,  was  the  onl}- 
practicing  ph3'sician,  except  Dr.  Ashmun,  of 
Hudson,  between  Cleveland  and  Canfield.  De- 
Wolf  being  a  Democrat  and  a  strong  supporter 
of  the  war,  could  do  no  less  than  attend  on  the 
the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  as  the}'  were  re- 
turning from  what  was  worse  than  sickness, 
Hull's  disgraceful  surrender.  He  rode  night 
and  day,  performing  that  unpaid  oflBce  of  hu- 
manity. The  poor  soldiers  owe  him  a  debt  of 
gratitude,  and  his  countr}'  ought  to  compensate 
him.  Man}'  a  political  brawler  has  received 
thousands  of  dollars  for  far  less  meritorious 
service  than  that  performed  by  Dr.  DeWolf  in 
receiving  the  sick  of  the  '  Ohio  volunteers.' 
Whatever  may  become  of  the  pecuniary  ob- 
ligation of  this  Government  to  him,  let  not  the 
gratitude  be  canceled  by  the  statute  of  limit- 
ation. 

"  After  the  surrender  of  Hull,  a  press  was 
made  for  horses  for  the  use  of  the  Govern- 
ment. David  Preston,  of  Tallmadge,  and  oth- 
ers, were  in  the  employ  of  the  United  States 
collecting  horses  in  Springfield.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Beers,  of  Springfield,  had  five  horses  when  the 

*  The  abovp  extract  from  Gen.  Bierce  wag  written  in  1H54  ;  all 
of  the  squad  there  mentioned  have  fought  their  last  battle,  and 
are  now  at  rest. — [Ed. 


'Hi 


TALLMADGE    TOWNSHIP. 


553 


kins,  of  Warren,  being  at  the  time  agent  for 
the  proprietors,  had  a  survey  made  of  Town  2, 
Range  10,  into  lots  a  mile  square,  making  a 
total  of  twent^'-five  lots,  No.  1  being  at  north- 
west corner  of  the  township.  Caleb  Palmer 
made  this  survey  in  1803,  and  it  was  on  this 
survey  that  the  Brace  Company,  Starr  and 
Tallmadge,  made  the  partition  of  their  land  in 
May  of  the  same  year.  The  Brace  Company 
were  Jonathan  Brace,  Roger  Newberry,  Justin 
Ely,  Elijah  White  and  Enoch  Perkins.  In  this 
partition  the  Brace  Company  received  6,105^'^^ 
acres  l3'ing  on  the  west  side  of  the  township. 
Ephraim  Starr  received  3,493,^3  acres,  being 
a  strip  one  mile  wide  through  the  center  of  the 
township,  from  the  north  to  the  south  line,  and 
Lot  24,  east  of  Lot  23,  on  the  south  line.  Col. 
Tallmadge  received  about  5,611  acres,  lying  on 
the  east  side  of  the  township.  The  first  sale  of 
land  to  individuals  was  to  John  and  Selah  Payne, 
and  Jotham  Blakslee,  of  Kent,  Conn.,  by  Eph- 
raim Starr  and  Hannah,  his  wife  ;  the  deeds 
were  dated  June  28,  1805.  John  Payne  and 
Elizabeth  Payne,  his  wife,  conveyed  to  Col. 
Benj.  Tallmadge  884  acres  of  land  for  $1,026, 
the  deed  to  which  was  dated  August  19,  1806. 
These  deeds  may  be  found  among  the  land 
records  of  Trumbull  County. 

Rev.  David  Bacon  made  a  contract  July  12, 
1806,  with  Ephraim  Starr,  and  soon  after  with 
Col.  Tallmadge,  also  with  the  Brace  Compan}' 
(for  part  of  their  lands),  to  become  their  agent 
for  the  sale  of  their  lands  in  Town  2,  Range  10. 
Mr.  Bacon  established  himself  with  his  family 
in  Hudson  until  read}'  to  commence  operations. 
His  first  step  was  a  re-survey  of  the  township. 
Seth  I.  Ensign  was  employed  to  make  the  sur- 
vey on  a  plan  devised  by  Mr.  Bacon,  which 
was  to  survey  into  great  lots  or  tracts  one  and 
a  fourth  miles  square,  and  the  lines  running 
to  the  four  cardinal  points  of  the  compass  to 
be  roads,  and  then  diagonal  roads  crossing  at 
the  center  and  terminating  at  or  near  the  cor- 
ner of  the  township.  The  public  square  or 
green  of  seven  and  one-half  acres  as  a  parade 
ground  for  the  militia  on  training  days,  and  on 
which  the  meeting  house  and  the  academy  were 
to  stand,  occupied  the  center  of  the  town.  This 
square  was  surrounded  by  the  store,  the  tavern, 
the  mechanics'  shops,  dwelling  houses,  etc., 
and  from  it  eight  roads  diverged,  so  that  all 
residents  of  the  townships  had  a  road  to  come 
to  meeting  on  the  Sabbath  Day.     This  showed 


Mr.  Bacon's  foresight,  thus  placing  every  lot  or 
subdivision  on  a  road,  which  has  had  a  ten- 
dency to  prevent  much  contention  about  roads, 
that  some  of  the  neighboring  townships  have 
been  subjected  to.  Mr.  Ensign  made  this  sur- 
vey in  November,  1806.  His  assistants  as  far 
as  known  were  Justus  Sackett  and  Salmon 
Weston,  of  Wan-en,  Conn.,  and  a  man  named 
Singletar3\  William  Prior  says  :  "  I  carried 
their  provisions  to  them  on  a  mule  from  North- 
ampton Mills  to  their  camp.  They  found  the 
noi'thwest  corner  of  the  township,  then  run 
east  two  and  a  half  miles,  then  south  two  and 
a  half  miles,  where  they  set  the  center  stake, 
and  turned  their  attention  to  a  camping-place. 
They  chose  a  spot  about  a  fourth  of  a  mile 
southwest  from  the  center  stake  on  the  bank 
of  the  brook."  Mr.  Weston  informed  the  writer 
that  the  camp  was  between  the  brook  and  a 
bank  several  feet  high.  They  felled  a  large  bass- 
wood  tree  which  stood  on  the  bank,  and  from 
it  split  puncheons  with  which  the  sides  and  top 
of  their  "camp"  were  formed.  This  circumstance 
it  was  that  gave  to  the  little  stream  the  name 
of  Camp  Brook.  When  their  camp  was  fin- 
ished, they  again  went  to  the  northwest  corner 
and  commenced  work.  They  run  a  line  south 
one  and  a  fourth  miles,  then  east  to  town  line, 
then  south  one  and  a  fourth  miles  to  the  center 
line,  then  west  again.  The  northwest  corner 
tract  was  No.  1  ;  the  northeast  corner  tract 
was  No.  4  ;  and  the  southeast  corner  tract  No. 
1 6.  The  tracts  were  subdivided  into  six  lots 
generally,  which  was  done  by  Ensign,  except 
Tracts  1  and  4 — the  latter  was  surveyed  by 
Elizur  Wright  in  1817,  for  Col.  Tallmadge. 

The  land  of  Tallmadge  Township  is  rolling 
and  somewhat  elevated  ;  several  points  rising 
to  a  height  of  540  feet  above  the  level  of  Lake 
Erie.  The  summit  of  Coal  Hill  (near  Daniel 
Hines'),  is  636  feet,  and  is  the  highest  point  of 
land  in  the  county,  with  one  exception.  The 
highest  point  is  in  Richfield  Township.  The 
soil  is  a  light  loam,  and  in  places,  somewhat 
sandy,  but  upon  the  whole,  well  adapted  to 
grain,  and  also  to  grass.  The  prevailing  tim- 
ber is  oak  and  chestnut,  intermixed  with  which 
is  hickory,  elm,  ash,  white  and  black  walnut, 
bass,  cucumber,  with  beech  and  maple  on 
the  streams.  On  many  tracts,  quite  a  collec- 
tion of  sugar  maples  were  found,  from  which 
quantities  of  sugar  and  molasses  were  manu- 
factured. The  drainage  of  Tallmadge  is  all  into 


\ 


554 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


the  Cuyahoga  River  on  the  north,  and  the  Little 
Cuyahoga  on  the  south  ;  the  east  and  west 
center  road  being  about  the  divide.  The 
streams  are  all  small.  The  Little  Cuyahoga 
runs  through  Springfield  near  the  line,  and  the 
Cuyahoga  runs  near  the  north  line  in  Stow, 
making  a  sharp  bend  into  Tallmadge  on  the 
Speng  farm.  The  streams  are  fed  by  numer- 
ous springs,  furnishing  water  on  almost  every 
farm  in  abundance.  The  swamps  have  been 
mostly  reclaimed,  so  that  at  the  present  day, 
there  is  in  the  township  but  very  little  land  un- 
suitable for  cultivation. 

Tallmadge  Township  was  originally  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Stow  Township,  on  the  east  by 
Brimfield  Township  (in  Portage  County),  on 
the  south  by  Springfield  Township,  and  on  the 
westb}'  Portage  Township.  In  1851,  Cuyahoga 
Falls  was  set  off  as  a  township,  and  takes  from 
Tallmadge  the  whole  of  Tract  No.  1,  containing 
899  ^acres,  and  about  100  acres  oft'  the  north 
side  of  Lots  1,  2  and  3,  in  Tract  5.  Then  in 
1857,  Middlebur}'  was  set  ofl"  as  an  independ- 
ent township,  taking  from  Tallmadge  Lots  3 
and  5,  containing  b}'  Ensign's  survey-,  299  acres. 
The  productions  of  the  township  are  the  various 
kinds  of  grain,  grass  and  fruit.  The  pursuit 
of  a  large  majority  of  the  inhabitants  has  been 
that  of  farming  in  its  different  branches,  no  one 
branch  being  made  a  specialt3\ 

The  first  permanent  settlement  in  Tallmadge 
Township,  from  the  most  reliable  testimou}', 
seems  to  have  been  made  by  George  Boosinger. 
He  was  born  in  1777,  and,  in  1801,  his  father 
emigrated  to  Ohio  with  his  family,  and  located 
in  Ravenna,  in  Portage  County.  George  lived 
there  until  ^rown  to  manhood,  when  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Nancy  Simcox.  He  then  bought 
seventy -five  acres  of  land  in  this  township,  in 
Lot  6,  Tract  14,  of  Jotham  Blakslee,  of 
Ravenna,  and  off'  the  west  side  of  the  lot. 
This  farm  is  now  (1881)  owned  bv  Sherman 
Pettibone.  Boosinger  came  over  and  selected 
a  spot  on  which  to  build,  which  was  at  a  fine 
spring  of  water,  near  the  south  line  of  the 
township,  and  then  returned  to  Ravenna.  In 
March,  1807,  he  again  came  over,  and  brought 
help  with  him  preparatory  to  building  a  house 
on  his  new  purchase.  Those  who  came  over 
with  him  were  Henry  Sapp,  Jotham  Blakslee, 
Jr.,  John  McManus,  Moses  Bradford,  Philip 
Ward,  William  Price,  David  Jennings,  William 
Chared,  Robert  Campbell,  Abel  Forshey  and 


Henry  Bozor.  They  assembled  on  the  ground 
in  the  morning,  cut  the  logs  and  raised  the 
house,  which  was  about  16x20  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, made  the  long  shingles,  or  "  shakes  "  (as 
they  were  called),  put  on  the  roof,  cut  out  a 
door  and  laid  down  a  floor  of  puncheons. 
These  puncheons  were  split  out  of  a  straight- 
grained  tree,  and  hewed  smooth  on  one  side 
and  laid  down  upon  the  sleepers.  As  they 
seasoned,  they  were  driven  up  close  together, 
and  made  a  good  substitute  for  board  or  plank 
floors.  The  doors  were  also  made  of  punch- 
eons, pinned  on  to  wooden  battens  or  hinges, 
and  often  not  a  nail  was  used  in  making  them. 
The  windows  of  the  pioneer  cabins  were  quite 
as  primitive  as  the  doors.  A  place  was  cut 
out,  across  which  sticks  were  put  at  right 
angles,  and  tovered  with  greased  paper  as  a 
substitute  for  glass. 

His  cabin  being  ready  for  occupancy,  Boos- 
inger left  Ravenna  the  last  of  March  or  the 
first  of  April,  and  with  his  famil}'  moved  into 
his  new  home,  thus  becoming  the  original  set- 
tler of  Tallmadge  Township.  At  the  semi- 
centennial of  the  settlement  of  the  township, 
Hon.  E.  N.  Sill,  in  his  address  on  that  day, 
gave  to  Rev.  David  Bacon  the  honor  of  mak- 
ing the  first  settlement.  This  was  disputed  at 
the  time  b}^  several  pioneers  who  were  present, 
and  who  were  familiar  with  all  the  circum- 
stances. The}'  were  well  satisfied  of  the  fact 
that  Boosinger  settled  in  the  township  in 
March  or  April,  1807.  These  pioneers  are 
now  dead,  but,  in  years  that  are  past,  the 
writer  has  interviewed  some  of  them,  and  has 
given  that  attention  to  the  subject  which  has 
confirmed  him  in  the  opinion  that  Boosinger 
was  the  first  settler.  There  was  no  intention 
on  the  part  of  any  one  to  deprive  Mr.  Boosin- 
ger of  all  the  honor  that  belonged  to  him,  but 
there  was  evidentl}'  a  hast}'  conclusion  of 
some  to  give  the  honor  of  priorit}'  in  settle- 
ment to  Mr.  Bacon.  Soon  after  Boosinger's 
settlement,  his  wife  went  back  to  Ravenna, 
and,  while  there,  gave  birth  to  twins — a  boy 
and  girl.  As  soon  as  prudent,  she  returned  to 
her  home  in  Tallmadge.  In  a  few  weeks  after- 
ward, the  boy  sickened  and  died,  and  was 
buried  on  his  father's  farm.  This  was  the  first 
death  in  the  township.  Mr.  Boosinger  and  his 
wife  were  honest,  upright  and  industrious  peo- 
ple, and  just  in  their  dealings  with  their  fellow- 
men.     He    was  not  in  sympathy  with  Bacon 


'A 


TALLMADGE    TOWNSHIP. 


555 


and  his  grand  scheme  for  supporting  the 
church  by  direct  taxation,  and  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Springfield,  where  lie 
and  his  family  attended  meeting.  Mrs.  Boos- 
inger  died  in  Tallmadge,  and  he  married  a  sec- 
ond time,  to  a  Miss  Wolfert.  He  sold  his  farm 
to  Pettibone  in  1836,  and  removed  to  Macoupin 
County,  111.,  where  he  died  in  1862. 

To  the  Rev.  David  Bacon  this  township  is 
greatly  indebted  for  its  religious  and  moral 
standing  in  the  community.  His  influence  in- 
duced many  others  to  settle  here  from  towns 
on  the  Western  Reserve,  and  to  co-operate  with 
him  in  his  plans  for  building  up  a  state  of 
society  of  Puritan  tendencies.  Mr.  Bacon  was 
born  in  Woodstock,  Windham  Co.,  Conn.,  in 
1771.  In  early  life  he  had  a  strong  desire  for 
a  college  education,  but  this  he  was  unable  to 
obtain.  Tt  did  not  lessen  his  desire,  however, 
to  preach  the  Gospel,  and  to  this  end  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  theolog}'  with  Rev.  Levi 
Hart,  D.  D.,  of  Preston,  New  London  Co.,  Conn. 
He  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Gospel 
December  31,  1799,  and  was  married  to  Miss 
Alice  Parks  about  the  same  time,  at  Lebanon, 
Conn.  He  left  Hartford  on  the  8th  of  August, 
1800,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Connecticut 
Missionary  Societ}',  with  a  view  of  visiting  the 
Indian  tribes  bordering  on  Lake  Erie.  He 
sailed  from  Buffalo  September  8,  arriving  at 
Detroit  on  the  11th,  and  about  the  middle  of 
December  he  returned  to  Connecticut  with 
much  valuable  information.  The  next  year 
he  came  back  to  Ohio,  bringing  his  wife  with 
him,  arriving  in  safet}'  at  Detroit.  This  place 
was  then  but  little  else  than  a  trading-post  of 
the  Indians,  and  a  military  point,  garrisoned 
by  United  States  troops.  Here  Mr.  Bacon 
labored  as  a  missionar}'  among  the  Indians  for 
some  time,  and  here  his  eldest  child  (Rev. 
Leonard  Bacon,  D.  D.,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.), 
was  born  February  14,  1802.  He  went  from 
Detroit  to  Mackinaw,  where  he  labored  until 
the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1804,  when  he 
left  the  place,  and  after  a  long  and  dangerous 
voyage,  part  of  the  time  in  a  canoe,  he  arrived 
with  his  family  on  the  soil  of  the  Western  Re- 
serve. About  the  1st  of  October,  he  found  a 
home  temporarily  at  Hudson.  He  labored  on 
the  Reserve  as  a  missionary,  but  soon  became 
convinced  that  more  good  could  be  accom- 
plished for  the  Reserve  by  a  township  with  all 
the   appliances   and    the    accomplishments  of 


New  England  civilization  as  an  example.  Dr. 
L.  Bacon,  in  an  address  delivered  June  24, 
1857,  speaking  of  his  father,  says  :  ''Being  on 
the  western  limits  of  civilization,  he  looked 
about  for  a  vacant  township,  in  which  such  an 
experiment  might  be  tried.  His  prophetic 
mind  saw  the  capabilities  of  Township  2, 
Range  10  ;  its  fertile  soil,  its  salubrious  air, 
its  beautifully  undulating  surface,  its  pure  and 
abundant  water,  its  streams  singing  in  the 
grand  old  woods  and  rich  with  power  for  the 
service  of  man.  He  saw  the  proprietorship 
of  it  was  in  the  hands  of  men  who,  as  his 
trusting  and  hopeful  nature  led  him  to  believe, 
would  enter  into  his  views,  and  would  even  be 
willing  to  sacrifice  something  of  their  possible 
gains  (if  need  should  be)  for  so  great  a  scheme  of 
public  usefulness  as  that  with  which  his  mind 
was  laboring.'"  He  went  to  Connecticut  with 
his  family  near  the  close  of  the  year  1804,  and,  as 
alread}'  stated,  secured  the  agenc}-  of  tiie  pro- 
prietors of  most  of  the  land  in  Tallmadge 
Township.  Being  a  descendant  of  the  Puri- 
tans, and  deeply  imbued  with  New  England 
Puritanism,  he  was  thought  by  man}-  to  be 
visionar}'.  His  ideas  were  uf  the  true  Puritan 
stamp — the  church  first,  and  next  the  school- 
house.  The  church  was  to  be  Congregational, 
and  no  inhabitants  were  to  be  admitted  into 
the  settlement  but  those  of  that  denomination, 
or  who  were  in  sympathy  with  the  strictest 
Puritan  principles.  As  a  people  and  a  town- 
ship we  are  greatly  indebted  to  Mr.  Bacon  for 
laying,  as  he  did,  foundations  so  broad  and 
deep,  and  embellished  with  moral,  religious 
and  educational  principles.  Some  of  the  land 
he  was  unable  to  control,  and  a  few  persons 
settled  on  it  that  did  not  agree  with  Mr.  Bacon 
in  all  his  grand  views.  The  majority  of  the 
settlers,  however,  for  the  first  twenty-five  years, 
were  his  adherents,  and  were  firm  supporters 
of  the  Gospel,  and  of  elevating  the  standard 
of  morality. 

In  the  spring  of  1807,  Mr.  Bacon  began  to 
make  prepartions  for  moving  into  Tallmadge. 
He  hired  a  man  named  Justin  E.  Frink,  who 
had  just  arrived  at  Hudson  from  Vermont,  to 
clear  a  piece  of  ground  for  a  garden,  and  on 
which  to  build  a  house.  He  and  Bacon  came 
over  and  selected  a  place  which  was  near  Starr's 
west  line,  and  the  south  li^c  of  the  township, 
at  a  spring  of  good  water,  and  about  a  mile 
west  of  Boosinger's  cabin.     Frink  cleared  off 


:;    iVsu 


556 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


the  ground  and  cut  logs  for  a  house.  The  house 
was  built,  and  was  of  pioneer  pattern,  with  its 
puncheon  floor  and  door,  stick  chimney,  etc., 
and  when  completed  the  family  moved  into  it. 
Says  Dr.  Bacon  in  the  address  already  quoted 
from  :  "  I  well  remember  among  the  dim  and 
scattered  reminiscences  of  earl}-  childhood,  the 
pleasant  day  in  the  month  of  July,  if  I  mistake 
not,  when  the  family  made  its  removal  from  the 
center  of  Hudson,  to  the  new  log  house  that 
had  been  prepared  for  it,  in  the  township  which 
had  no  other  designation  than  '  No.  2,  Range 
10.'  The  father  and  mother,  poor  in  this 
world's  goods,  but  rich  in  faith  and  in  the  treas- 
ure of  God's  promises  rich  in  their  well-tried 
mutual  affection,  rich  in  their  hopes  of  useful- 
ness, and  of  the  comfort  and  competence  to  be 
ultimatel}"  achieved  by  their  enterprise,  rich  in 
the  parental  jo}-  with  which  the}-  looked  upon 
the  three  little  ones  that  were  carried  in  their 
arms  or  nestled  among  their  scanty  household 
goods  in  the  slow-moving  wagon,  were  familiar 
with  whatever  there  is  in  hardsliip  and  peril, 
and  in  baffling  disappointment,  to  try  the  cour- 
age of  the  noblest  manhood  or  the  immortal  of 
a  true  woman's  love.  The  little  ones  were  na- 
tives of  the  wilderness,  the  youngest  a  delicate 
nursling  of  six  months.  This  child's  name  was 
Juliana ;  was  born  in  Hudson  February  25, 
1807.  The  others  were  born  in  a  far  remoter 
and  wilder  West  than  this  was  even  then. 
These  five  were  the  family  who,  on  that  day, 
removed  to  their  new  home.  I  remember  the 
setting  out ;  the  halt  before  the  door  of  good 
old  Deacon  Thompson  to  say  farewell ;  the 
fording  of  the  Cuyahoga,  at  Monroe  Falls  ;  the 
slow  day's  journey  of  somewhat  less  than  thir- 
teen miles,  along  a  road  that  had  been  merely 
cut,  not  made,  through  the  unbroken  forest ;  the 
little  clearing  where  the  journey  ended  ;  the 
new  log  house  so  long  our  home,  with  what 
seemed  to  me  a  stately  hill  behind  it,  and  with 
a  limpid  rivulet  winding  near  tlie  door.  And 
when  at  night,  the  first  famil}'  worship  was 
offered  in  that  lonel}'  cabin,  when  the  father 
and  mother,  having  read  from  this  Bible  (Dr. 
Bacon  holding  up  to  the  audience  the  identical 
Bible  his  parents  used  on  that  occasion),  then 
commended  to  their  Covenant  God,  themselves, 
and  their  children,  and  the  work  which  they 
had  that  day  begun  ;  the  prayer  that  went  up 
from  those  two  saintly'  souls,  breathed  the  same 
spirit  with  the  prayer  that  went  of  old  from  the 


deck  of  the  Mayflower,  or  from  beneath  the 
wintry  sky  Plymouth.  In  the  ear  of  God,  it 
was  as,  '  The  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilder- 
ness, prepare  3'e  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make  His 
paths  straight.'" 

From  April,  1807,  up  to  February,  1808,  the 
only  persons  in  Tallmadge  were  George  Boos- 
inger  and  wife  and  child  ;  Rev.  David  Bacon, 
his  wife  and  three  children,  and  J.  E.  Frink,  a 
hired  man  in  Mr.  Bacon's  family,  making  in 
all  five  adults  and  four  children.  In  1808, 
Ephraim  Clark,  Jr.,  came  in,  being  the  third 
regular  settler  in  the  township.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  Southington,  Conn.,  and,  when  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age,  his  parents  removed  to 
Russell,  Mass.,  where  he  lived  until  his  matu- 
rit3^  He  caught  the  Western  fever,  and,  in 
1799,  left  his  laome  in  Massachusetts,  his  des- 
tination being  "  New  Connecticut,"  his  object- 
ive point.  Town  No.  7,  Range  7,  of  the  Western 
Reserve,  now  known  as  Burton  Township,  in 
Geauga  County.  Alone  and  on  foot,  he  trav- 
eled the  distance,  often  camping  out  at  night 
without  fire  or  blanket,  but,  finally,  arrived  in 
safet}-.  He  liked  the  country  and  settled  in 
Burton  Township.  Like  many  others  of  the 
pioneei's  of  the  times,  he  was  fond  of  hunting. 
He  once  found  the  carcass  of  a  deer  that  had 
been  killed  by  a  wolf  Around  the  carcass  he 
built  a  pen  with  an  opening  and  a  door,  which 
was  set  with  what  trappers  and  hunters  called 
a  figure  4,  and  thus  caught  the  wolf  He 
pealed  elm  bark,  made  a  rope,  formed  a  noose 
at  one  end,  which  he  succeeded  in  putting  over 
the  wolf's  head,  and  by  this  means  led  it,  as 
one  might  lead  a  dog,  to  Burton  Square,  where 
he  tied  the  rope  to  the  sign  post  of  the  tavern. 
Judge  Calvin  Pease,  with  an  Eastern  friend, 
were  present,  and  the  "  Eastern  friend  "  pro- 
posed to  give  a  gallon  of  whisky  for  the  priv- 
ilege of  shooting  the  beast,  that  he  might  tell 
it  at  home  that  he  had  killed  a  wolf  Clark 
agreed,  and  when  the  whisky  was  given  him, 
he  handed  his  gun  to  the  man,  who  performed 
the  great  feat  of  shooting  a  wild  wolf — tied  to 
a  tree.  Mr.  Clark  killed  many  deer,  wolves 
and  bears.  In  1805.  he  left  Burton  and  settled 
in  Mesopotamia,  where,  in  1807,  he  married  a 
Miss  Sperry,  and,  in  1808,  removed  to  this 
township.  His  wife  died  in  1833,  and  he,  in 
1858,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  having  lived  on 
the  Reserve  fifty-nine  years.  The  next  settler 
in  Tallmadge  was,  probably,  Jonathan  Sprague, 


^h. 


TALLMADGE    TOWNSHIP. 


557 


who  came  from  Connecticut.  In  1801,  he  emi- 
grated to  the  territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio 
River,  crossing  over  the  mountains  with  his 
team.  He  stopped  in  Canfield  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  removal  to  this  township.  He 
came  here  to  co-operate  with  Mr.  Bacon  in  his 
broad  and  liberal  plans,  and  in  him  Mr.  Bacon 
found  an  able  and  zealous  coadjutor.  He 
bought  Lot  No.  5,  in  Tract  14,  of  the  Brace 
Company  upon  which  he  lived  until  his  death. 
He  was  spoken  of  as  a  Puritan  of  the  most 
approved  Puritan  style. 

Next  in  the  catalogue  of  earl}'  settlers,  we 
may  mention  Deacon  Nathaniel  Chapman, 
Charles  Chittenden,  William  Neal  and  George 
Kilbourn,  all  of  whom  were  from  Connecticut 
originally.  Deacon  Chapman,  with  his  brother 
William,  made  a  trip  to  the  Western  Reserve  in 
1800,  on  a  tour  of  inspection.  They  stopped 
at  Canfield,  and,  being  pleased  with  the  coun- 
try, he  selected  land  and  made  what  prepara- 
tions he  could  for  settling  on  it,  and  then  leav- 
ing his  brother  he  returned  to  Connecticut. 
The  next  year,  with  an  ox  team,  he  started 
with  his  family,  taking  the  "  south  road,"  as  it 
was  called,  through  Pennsylvania,  and  over  the 
mountains  to  Pittsburgh.  When  within  ten 
miles  of  Canfield,  his  wagon  sunk  into  the 
mud  and  his  team  was  unable  to  move  it.  He 
was  in  a  rather  helpless  and  forlorn  condition  ; 
no  help  near,  nor  any  means  visible,  by  which 
he  might  extricate  himself  from  his  difficulties. 
In  his  trouble,  he  sat  down  on  a  log,  the  better 
to  contemplate  the  situation,  and  while  thus 
engaged,  his  brother  William's  dog  came  to  him. 
He  used  often  to  say,  that  he  never,  in  all  his 
life,  met  so  welcome  a  friend,  for  he  knew  that 
help  was  near.  His  brother  soon  appeared 
with  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  assisted  him  to  Can- 
field  with  his  family,  which  then  consisted  of 
his  wife  and  five  children,  and  his  father,  Titus 
Chapman.  Mr.  Bacon,  when  he  heard  of  his 
arrival,  visited  Canfield,  and  unfolded  to  him 
his  plans  in  Tallmadge.  Mr.  Chapman  at  once 
fell  in  with  the  views  of  Bacon,  by  whom  he 
was  induced  to  sell  out  at  Canfield  and  remove 
to  this  township.  He  came  here  with  his 
family  in  April,  1808,  and  settled  upon  Lot  3  in 
Tract  14.  Being  of  the  strictest  Puritan  prin- 
ciples, he  heartil}'  coincided  with  Mr.  Bacon  in 
the  great  work  he  had  inaugurated.  His  daugh- 
ter Sally  was  the  first  bride  in  Tallmadge  ;  she 
was    married  to  John   Collins   on  the   7th  of 


January,  1809,  and  the  ceremon}-  was  per- 
formed by  Joseph  Harris,  of  Randolph,  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace.  His  father,  Titus  Chapman, 
died  November  8,  1808,  and  was  the  first  death 
of  an  adult  person  in  the  township,  the  first 
death  being,  as  already  noted,  Boosinger's 
child.  Mr.  Chapman,  Sr.,  was  the  first  buried 
in  the  old  Middlebury  graveyard.  Deacon 
Chapman  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
the  township  after  its  organization.  He  was 
an  exemplar}'  man,  and  died  November  12, 
1834,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  yeai's.  Charles 
Chittenden  removed  to  Canfield  with  his  family 
in  1801,  where  his  wife  and  child  died.  He 
afterward  married  Elma  Steele,  and,  in  the 
early  part  of  1808,  removed  into  this  township. 
He  settled  on  Lot  No.  6,  Tract  No.  13,  which 
he  bought  of  the  Brace  Company,  and  built 
his  cabin  at  a  spring,  on  the  place  now  owned 
by  the  Buckle  family.  Here  the  first  white 
child  in  Tallmadge  Township  w-as  born  in  June, 
1808,  to  Mr.  and  Mi's.  Chittenden.  She  after- 
ward married  Isaac  Newton,  and  removed  to 
the  far  West.  Mr.  Chittenden  was  a  strong 
Episcopalian,  and  not  in  accord  with  the  Ba- 
conian ideas  of  Puritanism.  He  sold  to  Deacon 
Gillett  about  the  year  1811,  and  moved  over 
into  Springfield  Township,  where  he  died  in 
1833.  William  Neal  came  to  Ohio  in  the  win- 
ter of  1806-07,  and  it  is  believed  that  he  settled 
in  this  township  in  the  spring  of  1808.  He 
bought  land  of  the  Brace  Company,  the  north 
half  of  Lot  No.  4,  Tract  13,  and  lived  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  in  Tallmadge  and  Coventry. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  and 
died  in  December,  1842,  aged  seventy-eight 
years.  George  Kilbourn  left  Connecticut  on 
the  1st  day  of  September.  1801,  with  ox  team, 
and  crossed  the  mountains  to  Pittsburgh,  and 
thence  to  Hudson  Township  in  this  county, 
where  he  arrived  on  the  sixtieth  day  of  his 
journey.  He  was  a  tanner  and  shoemaker  by 
trade,  and  had  been  in  business  in  Farmington, 
where  he  had  been  quite  successful  before 
coming  West.  In  1805,  he  removed  to  New- 
burg,  where  he  worked  at  tanning  and  shoe- 
making.  In  the  spring  of  1808,  he  came  to 
this  township  and  settled  on  Lots  8  and  9,  in 
Tract  10,  antl  also  bought  at  same  time  Lots  1 
and  0  in  Tract  11.  He  and  his  sons  carried  on 
the  farm  and  tanning  business  on  Camp  Brook. 
This  was  the  first  tannery  in  the  township.  He 
built  a  frame  barn  in  1811,  and  a  ft-ame  dwell- 


»f 


IT 


Ml 


558 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


ing  in  1815.  In  1817,  he  sold  to  Aaron  Hine, 
untl  bought  the  farm  of  Capt.  Heinan  Oviatt, 
in  Hudson  Township,  where  he  died  March  15, 
18G6,  aged  ninet3'-six  years.  His  wife  had 
died  in  1859,  aged  eighty-seven  years.  They 
had  traveled  together  over  life's  rugged  road 
for  sixt^'-eight  years. 

To  this  period  in  the  history  of  Tallraadge  it 
had  been  known  and  designated  as  Town  2, 
Range  10,  and  as  yet  had  no  other  name. 
There  is,  however,  some  traditions,  borne  out 
b_v  more  or  less  evidence,  that  the  settlers  met 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Bacon  in  June,  1808,  for 
the  special  purpose  of  selecting  a  name.  Mr. 
Bacon  expressed  a  desire  to  have  it  called  for 
Col.  Tallmadge.  one  of  the  original  proprietors 
of  the  land,  a  proposition  that  was  agreed  to. 
It  is  not  known  whether  all  the  settlers  were 
present  at  this  christening  of  the  township  ;  the 
following,  however,  were  holders  of  land  at  that 
time  :  Rev.  David  Bacon,  Ephraim  Clark,  Jr., 
George  Boosinger,  Jonathan  Sprague,  Nathan- 
iel Chapman,  George  Kilbourn,  Charles  Chit- 
tenden, William  Neal  and  Capt.  Joseph  Hart. 
The  latter  was  the  first  settler  in  Middlebury, 
now  the  Sixth  Ward  of  Akron.  Justin  B. 
Frink,  a  single  man,  and  another  single  man 
named  Bradley,  were  in  the  town  at  the  time. 
At  the  close  of  the  year  1808.  in  addition  to 
those  named  above,  the  following  had  moved  in, 
viz.  :  Aaron  Norton,  Dr.  Ainos  C.  Wright,  Mo- 
ses Bradford  from  Ravenna,  Thomas  Dunlap, 
from  Pennsylvania,  and  Eli  Hill,  from  Vir- 
ginia. These  were  all  men  of  families,  except 
Hill.  The  following  births  had  occurred  in  the 
township  since  the  first  settlement  :  Cornelia, 
daughter  of  Charles  Chittenden  ;  Eliza,  daugh- 
ter of  Capt.  Hart,  and  who  was  the  first  born 
in  Middlebury  :  Eliza,  daughter  of  (leorge  Kil- 
bourn :  Amos,  son  of  Dr.  Wright,  and  the  first 
male  child  born,  not  only  in  Tallmadge,  but  in 
the  county  ;  and  Alice,  daughter  of  Mr.  Bacon, 
making  a  total,  perhaps,  of  seventy  souls  in  the 
township. 

Dr.  Amos  C.  W^righL  was  from  Connecticut, 
and  settled  in  Tallmadge  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  year  1808.  He  settled  originall}-  in  Smith- 
field,  now  Vernon,  in  1802,  but  the  influence  of 
Mr.  Bacon  brought  him  to  tliis  township,  where 
he  became  an  active  participant  in  everj'thing 
calculated  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  com- 
munity. He  died  May  19,  1845,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five  years.     In  February,  1809,  the  first 


additions  for  the  year  was  made  to  the  settle- 
ment, in  the  persons  of  Edmoud  Strong  and 
John  Wright,  Jr.,  natives  of  Connecticut.  They 
left  Morgan,  where  they  had  previously  lo- 
cated, in  sleds  drawn  by  oxen,  and  by  this 
mode  of  travel  brought  their  families  to  this 
township.  Thej'  came  by  wa^^  of  Cleveland, 
and  were  three  days  in  coming  from  Gleasoa's 
Mills,  in  Bedford,  in  Cuyahoga  County,  to 
Tallmadge.  Strong  settled  on  Lot  No.  3,  Tract 
No.  6,  and  was  the  first  settler  north  of  the  east 
and  west  center  road.  Wright  settled  on  the 
south  half  of  Lot  No.  10,  Tract  10,  where  he 
lived  until  his  death,  in  1845.  Capt.  John 
Wright,  the  father  of  the  one  just  mentioned, 
emigrated  to  Ohio  with  his  fixmil}'  in  1802,  and 
came  to  Tallmadge  in  the  spring  of  1809.  He 
was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  lived  here 
until  his  death,  which  took  place  July  29,  1825, 
aged  eighty-two  years.  This  branch  of  the 
Wright  family  were  famous  singers  and  music 
teachers,  and  it  may  be  very  truthfully  said 
that,  from  1808  to  the  present  time,  the  choir 
of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Tallmadge  has 
not  been  without  some  representative  of  the 
Wright  famil}'.  Alpha,  another  son  of  Capt. 
Wright,  and  who  was  but  fourteen  years  of  age 
when  his  father  came  to  Ohio  in  1802,  settled 
with  his  father,  in  1809,  on  Lot  No.  8,  in  Tract 
11,  and  continued  a  resident  of  the  township 
until  his  death,  in  1856.  Jotham  Blakslee  set- 
tled on  Lot  4,  in  Tract  15,  in  the  earl}'  part  of 
1809.  His  nephew,  also  named  Jotham  Blaks- 
lee, and  who  married  his  daughter,  came  to  the 
settlement  with  him.  The}^  had  originally  set- 
tled in  Portage  County,  near  Ravenna,  in  1^05, 
and  the  marriage  of  Jotham  Blakslee,  Jr.,  to  his 
cousin,  was  the  second  marriage  ceremony  per- 
formed in  Portage  County.  During  the  sum- 
mer of  1809,  he,  in  company  with  Gen.  Elijah 
Wadsworth,  of  Canfield,  Selah  Pa3'ne  and  a 
Mr.  Stewart,  explored  Tallmadge  Township, 
and  at  night  struck  up  camp  on  Coal  Hill. 
The  next  morning,  they  followed  the  lot  lines 
to  the  center.  Here  Gen.  Wadsworth  said  to 
young  Blakslee,  "  Boy,  let  us  cut  a  brush-heap 
here  at  the  center  ;  I  shall  not  live  long  to  tell 
of  it,  but  you  may."  Three  years  later,  Blaks- 
lee became  a  resident  of  the  township,  and  so 
remained  until  his  death,  sixty-one  j-ears  after- 
ward. He  it  was  that  helped  Boosinger  build 
his  log  cabin,  the  first  in  the  township.  He  was 
a  blacksmith,  and  made  wrouo;ht  nails,  when 


1L£ 


TALLMADGE    TOWNSHIP. 


559 


nails  were  a  scarce  article,  not  only  in  Tall- 
madge,  but  on  the  Reserve.  He  made  the  nails 
used  in  Dr.  A.  C.  Wright's  barn,  the  first 
framed  barn  in  the  township,  and  which  was 
built  in  1810.  He  was  of  strong  anti-slavery 
principles  and  a  devoted  Christian.  He  died 
in  1870,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Conrad 
Boosinger,  father  to  him  who  is  recorded  as  the 
first  settler  in  Tallmadge,  settled  near  his  son, 
in  the  spring  af  1809.  He  was  also  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier.  Both  he  and  his  wife  died  on 
the  place  of  their  settlement,  which  was  on  Lot 
6,  in  Tract  14. 

Elizur  Wright,  a  wealthy  farmer  of  Connec- 
ticut, exchanged  his  improved  farm  there  for 
3,000  acres  of  land  in  Tallmadge  Township, 
and,  in  1809,  came  out  to  see  his  new  posses- 
sions. Of  Puritan  descent,  and  strong  in  that 
faith,  he  easily  became  a  disciple  of  Bacon, 
and  adopted  his  views  for  the  building-up  of  a 
church  and  religious  society.  He  made  arrange- 
ments to  have  some  land  cleared  and  a  house 
built,  and  then  returned  to  Connecticut  to  pre- 
pare for  removing  his  family  to  Ohio.  On  the 
22d  of  May,  1810,  he  left  his  old  home  in  the 
Nutmeg  State  for  his  new  one  in  Tallmadge. 
His  goods  were  brought  in  two  large  wagons, 
each  drawn  by  two  3'oke  of  oxen  ;  the  family 
came  in  a  carriage  drawn  by  two  horses,  and 
their  route  was  over  the  mountains  by  wa}^  of 
Pittsburgh,  arriving  at  their  destination  on  the 
30th  of  June.  A  man  of  wealth,  he  was  a 
valuable  acquisition  to  the  little  community  ; 
liberal  in  his  support  of  the  church,  and  all 
worthy,  benevolent  objects.  Through  his  im- 
mediate influence,  David  Preston  was  induced 
to  sell  out  in  Connecticut,  and  move  to  Tall- 
madge. Mr.  Preston  came  in  the  summer  of 
1810,  and  bi'ought  with  him  his  wife  ;  Drake 
Fellows  and  wife  and  two  children  ;  John  S. 
Preston  and  wife  and  two  children.  Mr.  Preston 
settled  on  Lot  2,  Tract  13.  He  was  a  soldier 
of  the  Revolution,  and  died  July  11,  1827. 
Fellows  bought  the  south  half  of  Lot  No.  1,  in 
Tract  No.  14.  William  Neal,  with  that  true 
hospitality  characteristic  of  pioneer  life,  opened 
his  cabin  to  Fellows  until  the  latter  could  build. 
For  the  benefit  of  some  of  our  modern  people, 
we  will  give  the  following  true  description  of 
Mr.  Neal's  cabin  at  the  time  he  took  in  Mr. 
Fellows  and  his  family  :  "  It  was  about  18x24 
feet ;  a  bed  in  one  corner ;  a  loom  in  another 
corner,  in  the  others  a  table,  some  chairs,  pots. 


frying-pan,  etc.,  while  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fellows 
made  their  bed  on  the  floor  under  the  loom. 
This  was  the  way  the  pioneers  roughed  it."  It 
is  believed  that  Elizur  Wright  built  the  second 
frame  barn  in  Tallmadge  in  1811.  It  stood 
west  of  the  residence  of  Daniel  A.  Upson,  a 
grandson  of  Mr.  Wright,  and  was  taken  down 
(the  barn)  a  few  years  ago.  This  barn  was 
used  as  a  place  of  worship  before  there  were 
an}'  churches  or  schoolhouses  built  in  the  town- 
ship, and,  within  its  walls,  the  pioneers  were 
assembled  together  for  divine  worship,  when 
the  news  came  of  Hull's  sui'render  at  Detroit. 
The  little  band  instantly  dispersed,  and,  before 
nightfall,  all  the  able-bodied  men  in  the  settle- 
ment were  ready  to  march  to  the  defense  of 
Cleveland.  A  second  dispatch,  however,  as- 
sured them  that  Cleveland  was  in  no  immediate 
danger.  It  was  also  in  this  barn  that  Rev. 
Simeon  Woodrufl"  preached  his  first  sermon  in 
Tallmadge,  July  25,  1813.  Mr.  Wright  was  the 
senior  deacon  of  the  church  for  thirty  years  ; 
he  died  in  December,  1845,  aged  eight3'-three 
years.  Samuel  McCoy,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
came  to  the  township  in  1810,  and  bought  Lot 
No.  4,  in  Tract  14  ;  and,  the  same  year.  Deacon 
Salmon  Sackett  came  to  Tallmadge  to  look  at 
the  land,  with  a  view  of  exchanging  for  some 
of  it  his  farm  in  Connecticut.  He  was  well 
pleased  with  the  country,  and,  returning  home, 
made  a  trade  with  Col.  Tallmadge  for  648 
acres  of  land,  which  he  took  in  part  payment 
for  his  farm.  He  moved  on  it  in  1811,  and 
arrived  on  the  first  Monday  in  Jul}-.  In  speak- 
ing of  his  first  visit  to  Tallmadge,  in  after  ^ears. 
Deacon  Sackett  said  :  "  On  my  arrival  in  Tall- 
madge, I  was  cordially  received  by  the  people 
after  the  good  old  New  England  fashion.  They 
met  for  Sabbath  worship  in  Capt.  Wright's 
log  house  ;  the  inhabitants  of  the  township  were 
mostly  there,  men,  women  and  children,  and  we 
had  a  good  meeting.  I  found  that  a  majority 
of  the  people  were  from  my  native  county  of 
Litchfield,  and  among  them  was  Deacon  Elizur 
Wright.  It  was  so  much  like  New  England 
that  I  felt  at  home."  Of  his  sons,  and  sons-in- 
law,  with  their  families,  the  party  that  Deacon 
Sackett  brought  to  the  town  numbered  seven- 
teen persons,  quite  a  valuable  addition  to  the 
settlement.  He  settled  on  JiOt  9,  in  Tract  11, 
and  died  in  November,  1846,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  In  April,  1811,  John  Car- 
ruthers    moved    in    from    Pennsylvania.      His 


"7 


•^k- 


560 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


family  consisted  of  his  wife  and  four  children, 
and  they  settled  on  100  acres,  which  he  pur- 
chased on  the  east  side  of  Lot  No.  1,  in  Tract 
IG.  When  he  arrived,  he  stopped  at  the  cabin 
of  Thomas  Dunlap,  who  received  him  in  true 
pioneer  style,  for  both  were  Pennsylvanians. 
Mr.  Carruthers  was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  Pres- 
byterian to  the  core.  The  lives  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Carruthers  were  spent  in  Tallmadge,  where 
they  were  useful  members  of  society.  He  died 
in  1853  ;  she  in  1836.  Luther  Chamberlain 
settled  in  Tallmadge  in  June,  1811,  and  lived 
to  an  advanced  age.  In  1811,  Deacon  Nathan 
Gillett  and  his  son  Ara,  bought  out  Charles 
Chittenden,  and  settled  on  his  place.  Mr.  Gil- 
lett was  also  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Hosea 
Wilcox  came  from  Morgan,  and  bought  out 
Peter  Norton  ;  and,  in  1812,  Reuben  Upson  and 
famil}'  came  in  ;  also,  Jesse  Neal,  from  New 
York,  settled  in  the  township  the  same  year. 
The  following  incident  is  illustrative  of  the 
times  of  which  we  write  :  Hosea  Wilcox,  Ed- 
mond  Strong  and  Adam  Cowles,  early  in  the 
spring  of  1802,  left  Connecticut  on  foot  for  the 
Western  Reserve.  At  Gennesee  River,  they 
overtook  Rev.  Joseph  Badger  with  a  four-horse 
team,  moving  with  his  family  and  goods.  As 
both  parties  were  bound  to  the  same  place,  Mr. 
Badger  proposed  to  them  to  put  their  knapsacks 
in  his  wagon  and  travel  with  him,  which  they 
did.  Wilcox  drove  Mr.  Badger's  team,  which 
is  said  to  have  been  the  first  wagon  that  came 
through  from  Buffalo  to  the  Western  Reserve. 
Cowles  and  Strong  went  ahead  with  axes  to 
remove  any  obstructions  that  might  be  in  the 
way.  The  road  had  been  cut  through  the  3'ear 
before  by  Gen.  Pa3^ne,  but  had  not  been  used. 
Strong  and  Wilcox  were  both  pioneers  of  Tall- 
madge. 

The  time  of  the  pioneer  was  taken  up  with 
his  farming  operations,  or  in  performing  a  piece 
of  work  for  a  neighbor  to  obtain  some  needed 
article  for  the  benefit  of  his  family.  In  early 
days  all  able-bodied  men,  between  eighteen  and 
forty-five  years  of  age,  were  subject  to  mili- 
tary duty.  This  was  all  the  holiday  the  peo- 
could  afford  to  enjoy,  the  4th  of  July,  perhaps, 
excepted.  The  laws  of  Ohio  set  apart  the  first 
Friday  in  September  for  "  company  training," 
and  "  regimental  training  '  the  last  of  the  same 
month.  Everybody  attended  these  meetings, 
even  those  who  had  passed  beyond  the  milita- 
ry age  of  forty-five,  and  all  seemed  to  enjoy 


them.  A  great  source  of  enjoyment,  especially 
to  the  young  people,  was  the  pioneer  "quilting 
party."  A  lady  would  invite  her  friends  to 
assist  her  in  getting  out  a  quilt.  It  must  be 
done  before  night,  as  parlor,  dining-room  and 
kitchen  were  invariably  comprised  in  one  room. 
In  the  evening  the  quilt  and  its  frame  gave 
place  to  the  tea-table,  which  in  turn  gave  way 
to  social  enjoyment,  as  darkness  usuall}'  brought 
in  the  young  men  of  the  neighborhood,  when 
plays,  forfeits,  etc.,  were  introduced  for  the  en- 
tertainment of  the  young  people.  Sometimes, 
and  in  some  particular  places,  a  man  would 
enter  the  room  with  a  mysterious  package  un- 
der his  arm  in  a  green  baize  bag.  The  entrance 
of  this  important  personage  was  the  signal  to 
"  clean  the  deck  for  action,"  or  in  other  words, 
to  clear  the  room  of  chairs  and  tables  for  a 
dance,  as  the  opening  of  the  green  baize  bag 
always  produced  the  fiddle,  and  to  its  enliven- 
ing music  the  youngsters  would  '-trip  the  light 
fantastic  toe,"  regardless  of  the  rough  puncheon 
floor.  A  puncheon  floor  in  a  log  cabin  of  one 
room  was  no  obstacle  to  those  who  liked  to 
dance  a  jig  or  reel  to  the  stirring  tune  of 
"Money  in  Both  Pockets,"  or,  "Polly  Put  the 
Kettle  on,"  or,  "Durang's  Hornpipe,"  or,  "The 
Girl  I  Left  behind  Me,"  or,  "  The  White  Cock- 
ade," etc.  The  pleasure  and  enjoyments  of 
those  days,  if  not  so  refined  as  now,  were  of 
quite  as  much  interest  to  the  young  people. 
Ye  aged  pioneers,  how  was  it  in  the  years  long 
ago,  when,  on  horseback,  you  rode  to  the  log 
cabin  home  of  her,  with  whom,  perhaps,  you 
have  since  walked  life's  rugged  journey,  and 
found  her  dressed  in  a  flannel,  linsey-woolsey, 
or  calico  dress  ;  and  when  from  the  corner  of 
the  rail  fence,  or  from  a  convenient  stump,  she 
sprang  on  the  horse  behind  you  and  put  her 
arms  around  you  to  keep  her  seat — well !  no 
bad  feeling  existed  then.  People,  perhaps, 
were  more  honest  than  they  are  in  this  fast  age. 
The  family  supplies  of  the  pioneers  were  mostl}^ 
produced  by  themselves.  Meat,  bread  and  a 
few  vegetables  were  the  main  staples  in  the  way 
of  provisions.  Whisky  was  very  common  after 
1818,  and  in  a  few  families  previous  to  that 
date.  The  surplus  grain  was  made  into  whisky 
and  thus  it  was  put  into  better  and  more  con- 
venient shape  to  handle.  Whisky  was  almost 
a  legal  tender.  Previous  to  the  opening  of  the 
Erie  Canal,  goods  were  hauled  from  Albany 
and  Buffalo  in  Conestoga   wagons,  and  from 


\^  a 


TALLMADGE    TOWNSHIP. 


ifil 


Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  across  the  mount- 
ains. Of  course,  this  put  upon  the  goods  so 
high  a  tariff  that  home  manufactures  were  the 
main  dependence  for  clothing.  But  little  at- 
tention was  then  dev^oted  to  stock-raising,  or  to 
the  improvement  of  stock.  Horses  and  cattle 
were  of  inferior  breed,  and  hogs  even  worse  if 
possible.  Long  and  gaunt,  with  snouts  of  suf- 
ficient length  to  root  a  foot  deep  without  get- 
ting dirt  in  their  e3'es ;  regular  racers  and 
chuck  full  of  fight.  Sheep  were  native  breeds, 
and  course  of  wool,  verj'  unlike  those  we  have 
now.  The  pioneer  farmer  worked  to  a  great 
disadvantage  ;  his  teams  were  oxen,  and  his 
plow  was  what  was  called  the  "  bull  plow,"  and 
was  made  principally'  of  wood,  by  some  farmer, 
more  handy  with  tools  than  his  neighbors. 
Crops  were  not  raised  and  harvested  without 
the  sevex'est  manual  labor. 

Coal-mining  in  Tallraadge  has  been  carried 
to  some  extent,  but  as  this  branch  of  industry 
has  been  more  particularly  mentioned  in  another 
chapter,  we  shall  say  but  little  on  the  subject. 
Coal  was  discovered  at  an  earl}'  day,  at  or  near 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  township.  There  is 
a  tradition  that  it  also  was  discovered  one  mile 
west  of  the  center,  by  means  of  a  woodchuck, 
which,  in  digging  its  burrow,  threw  out  pieces 
of  coal.  Col.  Charles  Whittlesey  says  :  "  Coal 
was  first  found  at  Coal  Hill,  in  1810.  There 
was  an  entry  made  in  a  ravine  north  of  the  east- 
and-west  road,  which  was  owned  b}-  Asaph 
Whittlesey  and  Samuel  Newton.  The  demand 
for  coal  in  1824  was  considerable,  and  no  other 
mine  was  opened  then.  About  this  time,  Hen- 
ry Newberr}',  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  discovered 
coal  at  the  northwest  six  corners."  In  later 
years,  coal  has  been  extensively  mined  in  the 
township,  and  the  deposits  by  some  are  sup- 
posed to  be  nearly  exhausted.  The  first  attempt 
at  manufacturing  in  Tallmadge  was  in  1817. 
Asaph  Whittlese}',  in  connection  with  Lair  & 
Norton,  built  a  forge  and  manufactured  bar- 
iron.  The  location  is  still  known  as  the  "  Old 
Forge."  In  1827,  Amos  Avery  opened  a  shop 
for  the  manufacture  of  wagons.  William  C. 
Oviatt  had  opened  a  blacksmith-shop  the  year 
before,  and  in  1836,  he  and  Avery  entered  into 
partnership  for  the  manufacture  of  carriages. 
This  business,  under  various  firms,  has  been 
continued  to  the  present  time.  The  manufact- 
ure of  stoneware  is  carried  on  extensively, 
and  sewer-pipe  was  made  by  Sperry  &  Richie 


until  they  were  burned  out.  John  A.  Carruth- 
ers  at  one  time  did  a  large  business  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  sorghum  sirup.  After  carrjing  on 
the  business  for  some  time,  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  making  of  apple-butter*.  Barnes 
Brothers  also  do  a  large  business  in  this  line. 
The  first  tannery  was  opened  on  Camp  Brook, 
south  of  the  center,  by  George  Kilbourn.  in 
1809.  He  was  followed  by  Anson  Ashley,  who 
for  several  years  carried  on  the  business.  John 
Carruthers  also  did  some  tanning  in  the  south- 
east part  of  the  town.  The  streams  of  water 
in  Tallmadge  were  small,  and  of  little  force  as 
a  water-power,  but  were  utilized  to  some  ex- 
tent. A  saw-mill  was  built  on  the  Sperr}'  Farm 
in  1828,  but  finally  failed  for  lack  of  water. 
Another,  built  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
township,  on  the  farm  of  Seth  Meacham,  failed 
from  the  same  cause.  Two  steam  saw-mills 
have  for  years  supplied  lumber  to  the  people  ; 
one  of  them  is  still  in  operation.  A  tavern  was 
opened  by  Aaron  Hine  in  1819,  and  was  the 
first  public-house  in  the  township.  This  tav- 
ern was  south  of  the  center.  He  was  followed 
in  the  business  by  William  S.  Granger",  who  kept 
a  tavern  on  the  south  side  of  the  public  square. 
He  was  succeeded  b}^  William  Kingsbury, 
Ephraim  Shaler  and  others.  A  large  house 
was  built  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square, 
and  has  since  been  opened  as  a  public-house. 
There  has  nearly  always  been  a  tavern  in  oper- 
ation at  the  center  since  1819,  the  date  of  the 
first  one  opened  in  the  township. 

When  Tallmadge  first  became  known  to  the 
whites,  there  was  a  well-defined  Indian  trail 
passing  through  the  township  in  a  southeasterly 
course  from  Cuyahoga  Portage,  and  crossed  the 
town  line  a  short  distance  west  of  the  center 
road.  Another  trail  passed  up  the  south  side 
of  the  river,  through  the  township,  and  half  a 
mile  from  the  northeast  corner  passed  into  Stow 
Township,  crossed  the  corner  into  Franklin, 
thence  near  the  river  to  the  ''  Standing  Stone," 
where  was  the  Indian  fording-place.  One  of  the 
first  roads  in  Tallmadge  was  the  north-and-south 
center  road.  The  petition  for  it  was  granted  by 
the  County  Commissioners  of  Portage  County, 
soon  after  its  organization  as  a  county  in  1808. 
The  signers  to  the  petition  for  this  road  were 
Charles  Clinttenden,  Ephraim  Clark,  Jr.,  Jona- 
than Sprague,  Nathaniel  Chapman,  Joseph 
Towsley,  Theodore  Bradley,  William  Neal,  Jus- 
tin E.  Friuk  and  Joel  Gaylord.    Upon  granting 


Al' 


562 


HISTOEY  OF    SUMMIT    COT/NT Y. 


the  petition,  George  Kilbourn,  Nathaniel  Chap- 
man and  David  Bacon  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee, and  Joseph  Darrovv,  Surveyer.  About 
1824,  a  State  road  was  laid  out  from  Canton  to 
Cleveland  through  Tallmadge,  on  the  north- 
and-south  center  road.  Another  State  road 
from  Wooster  to  Mantua,  in  Portage  County, 
passed  through  Tallmadge  on  the  northeast  and 
southwest  diagonal  road,  and  was  laid  out  about 
1827.  A  second  petition  for  a  road,  dated 
February  20,  1809,  was  for  what  is  now  the 
southeast  diagonal  road  to  the  center,  thence  to 
the  east  line  of  Great  Lot  No.  1,  and  thence  to 
the  most  conv,enient  place  to  build  a  bridge 
over  the  Cuyahoga  River,  near  the  north  line  of 
the  town.  Another  road  was  laid  out  from 
Hart  &  Norton's  Mill,  called  the  "  mill  road." 
It  was  laid  out  in  1809-10,  and  another  from 
Middlebury  to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  passing  the  old 
Forge  and  Bettes'  Corners.  The  first  mail 
route  was  established  in  1814,  over  the  road 
from  Cleveland  to  Canton,  the  mail  passing 
twice  a  week.  For  some  years  it  was  carried 
on  horseback  ;  then  a  hack  or  stage  was  put 
on,  and  passengers  as  well  as  the  mail  were  car- 
ried between  those  points.  Some  years  later, 
another  route  was  established  from  Akron  to 
Kent  and  Ravenna,  and  returning  via  Brim- 
field.  Still  later  a  mail  route  was  established 
from  Cuyahoga  Falls  to  Tallmadge.  the  mail 
being  carried  on  horseback.  The  mail  for 
Tallmadge  is  now  received  dail}'  by  the  Penn- 
sylvania, New  York  &  Ohio  Railroad.  The  At- 
lantic &  Great  Western — ^now  the  New  York, 
Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Railway — was  survej-ed 
through  the  township  and  in  order  to  have  it 
pass  tbe  center,  the  people  of  the  township 
subscribed  $43,000.  This  road  has  been  of  in- 
estimable value  to  us.  The  Valley  Railroad 
touches  a  ver^-  small  corner  of  Tallmadge.  The 
railroad  history',  however,  is  moi'c  fully  given 
in  another  chapter.  The  first  store  was  opened 
in  a  building  which  stood  in  front  of  the  resi- 
dence of  I.  P.  Sperrj',  and  it  is  supposed 
that  the  firm  was  Fenn  &  Howard.  They  con- 
tinued in  business  some  time,  and  were  followed 
by  Christopher  C.  Sturdevant.  He  erected  the 
building  now  used  as  a  store.  Wiswell  &Groff 
opened  a  store  in  this  building,  but  did  not  re- 
main long,  and  Eleazer  C.  Sackett  was  the  next 
merchant.  William  A.  Hanford  clerked  for 
Sackett,  and  eventually  bought  half  of  his  in- 
terest ;  then  Homer  S.  Carter  bought  out  Sack- 


ett. This  firm  carried  on  business  until  E.  V. 
Carter  bought  out  Hanford,  when  the  firm  be- 
came H.  S.  &  E.  V.  Carter.  E.  V.  sold  to  his 
partner,  who  carried  on  the  store  until  Clement 
Wright  took  an  interest,  and  the  firm  became 
Carter  &  Wright.  Carter  finally  withdrew,  and 
Wright  still  continues  the  business.  A  man 
named  Clark  opened  a  store  about  the  year 
1835,  in  the  house  now  the  residence  of  Benja- 
min D.  Wright,  which  was  continued  for  some 
two  years  or  more.  A  post  office  was  estab- 
lished in  Tallmadge  April  9,  1814,  with  Asaph 
Whittlesey  as  Postmaster,  a  position  he  held 
uniil  his  death  in  1842.  His  son,  S.  H.,  suc- 
ceededed  him  as  Postmaster,  and  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  H.  S.  Carter.  During  Buchanan's 
administration,  Heman  K.  Parsons  was  ap- 
pointed, who  resigned  at  the  beginning  of  Mr. 
Lincoln's  administration,  and  H.  S.  Carter  was 
again  appointed,  who  retained  the  office  until 
the  appointment  of  Clement  Wright,  the  pres- 
ent Postmaster. 

The  first  church  society  organized  in  the 
township  is  known  as  the  "  First  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Tallmadge,"  and  has  borne 
that  title  for  sixty  years.  Rev.  David  Bacon 
preached  the  first  sermon,  not  only  in  Tallmadge 
but  in  Springfield  and  Suffield,  for  the  few  scat- 
tered inhabitants  of  the  three  townships  would 
gather  on  the  Sabbath  Day,  at  the  cabin  of  some 
settler,  and  Mr.  Bacon  would  officiate  as  a  vol- 
unteer missionar}-  to  the  little  congregation.  The 
first  meetings  were  held  in  his  cabin,  and  after- 
ward barns  were  used  as  temples  of  worship. 
It  is  supposed  that  Rev.  Jonathan  Leslie  was 
the  next  preacher  to  Mr.  Bacon.  He  was  a  mis- 
sionary, and  sent  out  in  the  interest  of  the 
missionary'  society  of  Connecticut.  Rev.  Sim- 
eon WoodruflT  was  another  of  the  early  minis- 
ters who  proclaimed  the  woi'd  to  the  pioneers 
of  Tallmadge,  and  the  first  regular  Pastor  of 
the  church.  Rev.  Jonathan  Leslie  preached 
his  first  sermon  on  the  20th  of  Jauuar}',  1809, 
and,  on  the  next  day,  which  was  Saturday,  a 
number  of  persons  met  together  for  the  pur- 
pose of  foi-ming  a  ■■  Church  of  Christ,"  Mr.  Les- 
lie acting  as  Moderator.  The  following  is  the 
record  of  the  Sabbath  meeting,  January  22, 
1809  :  "  Met  according  to  adjournment.  Pres- 
ent, George  Kilbourn,  Almira  his  wife  ;  Eph- 
raim  Clark,  Jr.,  Amelia  his  wife  :  Alice  Bacon  ; 
Amos  C.Wright,  Lydia  his  wife ;  Hepsibah  Chap- 
man and  Justin  E.  Frink.     The  persons  above 


^1 


TV 


k. 


TALLMADGE    TOWNSHIP. 


563 


named  presented  themselves  to  be  constituted 
a  Church  of  Christ.  A  system  of  faith  was  then 
read,  to  which  the}^  gave  their  consent.  They 
were  then  led  to  the  solemn  adoption  of  a  cov- 
enant, in  which  the}-  engaged  to  keep  and  walk 
in  the  ordinances  of  the  (xospel  of  Christ.  The}' 
were  then  declared  a  Church  of  Christ,  com- 
mended to  His  blessing,  and  charged  solemnly 
to  keep  covenant  and  walk  worth}'  the  follow- 
ers of  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  head  of  tlie  church. 
(Signed)  Jonathan  Leslie,  Moderator."  This 
organization  took  place  in  Mr.  Bacon's  cabin, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  the  Sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  was  administered  for  the  first  time 
the  township.  The  ordinance  of  baptism  was 
also  administered  on  four  children,  viz.,  Juliana 
and  Alice,  daughters  of  Mr.  Bacon  ;  Amos,  son 
of  Dr.  Amos  C.  Wright,  and  Eliza,  daughter  of 
George  Kilbourn.  The  last  one  of  the  original 
nine  members  died  in  Hudson.  This  was  the 
venerable  George  Kilbourn,  who  died  there 
March  14,  1866,  at  the  age  of  ninety-six  years. 
The  spot  whereon  Mr.  Bacon's  house  stood  and 
in  which  this  church  was  organized  has  been 
marked,  and  is  looked  on  as  almost  sacred. 
Here  it  was  that  the  Scriptures  were  first  read  in 
the  township,  here  the  first  sermon  was  preached, 
and  here  the  first  church  society  was  organized 
— almost  equal  to  the  spot  on  which  King  Sol- 
omon's temple  stood,  which  had  been  "  thrice 
dedicated  to  the  one  true  and  living  God." 
The  Congregational  Church  of  Tallmadge  is 
claimed  to  be  the  eleventh  church  organization 
on  the  Western  Reserve,  a  fact  that  is  probably 
beycmd  dispute.  The  first  is  the  Fii'st  Presby- 
tei'ian,  of  Youngstown,  which  was  organized  in 
1800— this  following  in  1809. 

There  were  some  of  Mr.  Bacon's  ideas  that 
were  not  by  any  means  popular  with  the  mass 
of  the  people,  and  eventually  proved  impracti- 
cable. He  found  theory  was  one  thing  and 
practice  another.  One  of  his  cherished  ideas 
was  that  none  should  receive  land  but  those 
who  were  either  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church  or  in  sympathy  with  its  principles,  and 
$2  were  to  be  paid  on  each  one  hundred  acres 
of  land,  the  sum  to  go  toward  the  support  of 
the  Gospel.  This  provision  was  inserted  in 
some  of  the  early  contracts  and  deeds,  but 
never  went  into  general  use.  The  clause  was 
as  follows  :  •'  Reserving  an  annuity  of  $2  on 
each  and  every  100  acres  of  land  sold,  to  be 
paid  on  the  1st  day  of  January  of  each  year 


forever,  to  the  committee  of  the  Society  of  Tall- 
madge for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  Ministry 
of  the  Calvinistic  faith,  and  of  the  Congrega- 
tional order  of  said  society  forever,  with  a  right 
and  power  to  distrain  for  the  same  in  case  the 
same  be  in  arrear.  Which  annuity  we,  for  di- 
vers good  considerations,  especially  for  the 
sum  of  $1,  received  of  the  society  in  Tall- 
madge, in  the  county  of  Portage,  do  for  our- 
selves and  our  heirs  hereby  give,  grant,  sell, 
assign  and  transfer  the  aforesaid  annuity  of  $2 
on  each  and  every  100  acres  of  land  in  the  said 
society  of  Tallmadge,  and  to  their  successors 
forever  ;  to  hold  and  receive  the  same  in  trust, 
for  the  use  and  purpose  of  supporting  the  min- 
istry aforesaid  in  said  society  forever.  (Signed) 
David  Bacon."  As  we  have  said,  this  provision 
did  not  go  into  general  use.  Edmond  Strong  re- 
fused to  pay  the  sum  thus  levied  on  his  land, 
and  Mr.  Bacon  commenced  a  suit  against  him 
as  a  test  of  the  legality  of  such  contracts.  Pe- 
ter Hitchcock,  of  Burton,  since  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress and  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio, 
was  Mr.  Strong's  attorney.  Mr.  Bacon  lost  the 
case,  and  thus  ended  the  perpetual  land  tax  to 
support  the  church  in  Tallmadge.  This  suit 
took  place  about  the  year  1811.  But,  notwith- 
standing these  little  difficulties,  a  majority  of 
the  people  were  Bacon's  warm,  true  friends,  and 
he  was  held  in  high  estimation  in  the  commu- 
nity. Early  in  1812,  he  made  his  arrangements 
to  return  to  Connecticut  with  his  family.  The 
people  assembled  in  the  schoolhouse  at  the  four 
corners  on  top  of  the  hill,  near  Jesse  Sprague's, 
to  hear  his  farewell  sermon.  He  chose  for  his 
text  2  Tim.,  iii,  9  :  "  But  they  shall  proceed  no 
further  :  for  their  foil}'  shall  be  manifest  unto 
all  men,  as  theirs  also  was. '  From  the  account 
given  of  this  sermon  by  Mr.  Blakslee,  who  was 
present,  Mr.  Bacon  did  not  spare  the  little  flock, 
and  was  very  pointed  and  emphatic  in  his  re- 
marks to  Ephraim  Clark,  Jr.,  and  Mr.  Sprague 
for  the  course  they  had  pursued  in  opposition 
to  his  cherished  plans.  Mr.  Bacon  died  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  August  27,  1817,  at  the  early  age 
of  forty -six  years. 

The  first  regular  Pastor  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Tallmadge  was  Rcy.  Sim- 
eon Woodruff",  already  alluded  to  incidentally. 
He  was  a  native  of  Litchfield,  Conn.,  and  a 
graduate  of  Yale  College.  He  studied  theol- 
ogy at  Andover,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
1S12.     In  1813,  he  was  sent  to  the  Western 


(T- 


f 


564 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Reserve  as  a  missionary,  and  on  the  18th  of 
May  of  that  year  he  was  installed  Pastor  of 
the  church  in  Ephraim  Clark's  barn,  a  building 
that  is  still  standing.  His  pastorate  closed 
September  19,  182.3,  and  he  died  in  Bainbridge, 
Mich.,  in  August,  1839.  The  second  Pastor 
was  Rev.  John  Ke^'s,  a  native  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College. 
He  was  installed  Pastor  of  the  Tallraadge 
Church  by  the  Presbyter}'  of  Portage  Septem- 
ber 9,  1824,  and  continued  until  April  16. 
1832,  when  his  connection  ceased.  He  died  in 
Cuyahoga  County  in  January,  1867.  Rev. 
Jedediah  E.  Parmelee  succeeded  Mr.  Ke3's, 
and  began  his  duties  as  acting  Pastor  of  the 
church  Januai'3'  18,  1833.  Owing  to  failing 
health,  he  resigned  his  charge  April  1-1,  1840, 
and  died  in  New  York  in  June,  1841.  Rev. 
William  Magill  commenced  his  duties  as 
Pastor  of  Tallmadge  Church  in  1840,  and  was 
regularly  installed  as  Pastor  August  16,  1841. 
He  remained  until  1843,  when  his  connec- 
tion ceased ;  he  is  yet  living.  Rev.  Carlos 
Smith  was  the  next  Pastor,  and  commenced 
his  ministrations  July  25,  1847.  By  vote 
of  the  church  he  was  called  to  the  pastor- 
ate, but  was  never  installed  as  such.  He 
labored  as  Pastor  elect  until  January  14,  1862, 
when  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  from  the 
Second  Congregational  Chui'ch  of  Akron.  He 
died  in  Akron  April  22,  1877,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six  years.  Rev.  Seth  W.  Segur  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Smith  as  Pastor  of  the  Tallmadge 
Church,  and  commenced  his  labors  on  the  8th 
of  June,  1862.  He  continued  until  April, 
1871,  when  he  tendered  his  resignation,  which 
was  accepted,  and,  on  the  30th  of  the  month 
(Sabbath),  he  preached  his  farewell  sermon. 
He  was  invited  to  attend  the  semi-centennial 
of  the  church  held  September  8,  1875.  He 
came  and  participated,  but  was  very  unwell, 
and  after  the  services  went  with  IMr.  Daniel 
Hine  to  his  home,  where  he  died  on  the  24th. 
He  was  the  first  of  the  Pastors  of  our  church 
buried  in  Tallmadge.  At  this  time  (1881) 
there  are  sleeping  in  the  little  graveyard  at 
Tallmadge  Center  nine  ministers  of  the  Gos- 
pel, viz.:  Rev.  Aaron  Kinne,  Rev.  Aaron  Kinne 
Wright,  Rev.  Fayette  D.  Matthews,  Rev.  Will- 
iam "Hanford,  Rev.  Elisha  S.  Scott,  Rev.  Will- 
iam Monk,  Rev.  Benjamin  Fenn,  Rev.  John 
Seward  and  Rev.  S.  W.  Segur.  The  next  Pas- 
tor of  the  Tallmadge  Church  was  Rev.  Charles 


Cutter,  who  commenced  his  pastoral  duties 
September  1,  1871,  and  closed  his  work  with 
the  church  May  30,  1875.  The  present  acting 
Pastor  is  Rev.  William  Blackmore  Marsh. 

The  Congregational  Church  of  Tallmadge 
erected  a  temple  of  worship  in  1822.  It  is  56 
x44  feet  in  dimensions,  surmounted  b}'  a  steeple 
100  feet  high.  The  building  was  raised  and 
inclosed  in  1822,  but  not  llnished  until  1825. 
On  the  8th  of  September  of  that  year,  it  was 
dedicated  to  divine  worship.  The  exact  cost 
of  it  is  not  known,  but  will  probabl}-  approxi- 
mate $8,000.  It  was  remodeled  in  1849,  and 
re-dedicated  in  1850.  At  the  time  of  its  first 
dedication,  it  was  considered  the  best  house  of 
worship  on  the  Western  Reserve,  and  upon  re- 
search was  proven  to  be  the  fifth  built  with  a 
steeple,  after  the  New  England  fashion.  The 
first  of  these  five  was  built  at  Austinburg  (now 
in  Ashtabula  County)  in  1816  ;  the  second  in 
Euclid,  now  known  as  Collamer,  about  the 
year  1817;  also  in  the  same  year,  the  old 
brick  meeting-house  at  Aurora  was  begun,  but 
was  not  finished  until  1825 ;  the  fourth  was 
built  in  Hudson  in  1819.  All  of  these  ancient 
temples  have  passed  away  before  the  march  of 
improvement,  but  those  of  Tallmadge  and  Col- 
amer.  The  number  of  communicants  of  the 
Tallmadge  Church  at  the  present  time  are  105 
males  and  169  females.  The  Sunday  school 
was  organized  probably  about  the  spring  of 
1822,  although  classes  had  been  taught  after 
the  manner  of  Sunday  schools  previous  to  that 
time  by  Deacon  Elizur  Wright  and  others. 
Previous  to  1335,  the  school  would  disband  at 
the  beginning  of  winter,  and  resume  work  in 
the  spring,  but  since  that  time  (1835)  has  con- 
tinued in  active  operation  throughout  the  en- 
tire year. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  the  only 
religious  denomination,  aside  from  the  Congre- 
gational Church,  that  has  ever  been  represented 
in  Tallmadge  by  an  organized  society.  The 
first  introduction  of  Methodism  into  the  town- 
ship occurred  somewhat  as  follows  :.  Milo  Stone 
and  Jotham  Blakslee,  not  fully  agreeing  with 
the  Congregational  doctrine  in  ever\-  particular, 
went  over  to  Middlebury  to  listen  to  the  words 
of  wisdom  falling  from  the  lips  of  Rev.  Billings 
0.  Plimpton,  at  that  time  preaching  on  the 
Canton  Circuit  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Being 
well  pleased  with  the  liberal  doctrine  promul- 
gated by  Rev.  Mr.  Plimpton,  they  invited  him 


Li* 


TALLMADGE    TOWNSHIP. 


565 


to  Tallmadge  Center  to  expound  the  truth  in 
that  localit}'.  He  accepted  the  invitation,  and 
preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  schoolhouse, 
which  tlien  stood  west  of  the  Center  road, 
nearly  in  front  of  the  town  hall.  He  contin- 
ued his  labors  at  intervals,  and  near  the  close 
of  the  year  formed  a  class  at  the  Center  con- 
sisting of  Jotham  Blakslee  (class  leader),  Milo 
Stone,  Sarah  B.  Stone,  his  wife,  S.  H.  Lowrey, 
Anna  P.  Lowrey,  his  wife,  and  Mrs.  Martha 
Stephens.  Mr.  Plimpton  was  returned  to  the 
Canton  Circuit  the  next  year  (1826),  and  Tall- 
madge Center  became  one  of  his  regular  ap- 
pointments. At  this  time  it  was  in  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Pittsburgh  Conference,  and  so 
remained  until  1837,  when  it  became  a  part  of 
the  Akron  Circuit,  Ravenna  District,  and  Erie 
Conference.  The  first  meeting-house  was  a 
plain  structure,  about  forty  feet  square  perhaps, 
costing  some  $1,500,  and  stood  about  two  hun- 
dred rods  northeast  of  the  public  square  ;  built 
in  1832,  and  completed  and  dedicated  the  next 
year.  The  dedicatory  services  were  performed 
by  Presiding  Elder  Rev.  W.  B.  Mack.  It  was 
occupied  b}'  the  church  until  1874,  when  a  lot 
was  purchased  on  the  south  side  of  the  square, 
and  the  present  elegant  edifice  erected  at  a  cost 
of  $8,000,  and  dedicated  on  the  4th  day  of 
April,  1875,  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Vincent,  D.  D.  The 
present  Pastor  is  Rev.  E.  A.  Simmons,  with  a 
large  and  flourishing  membership.  A  Sunday 
school  was  organized  in  1830,  which  has  been 
continued  to  the  present  time.  It  is  a  note- 
worthy fact  that  these  two  denominations  have 
always  worked  together  in  harmony  and  love, 
holding  Thanksgiving  services  alternately  at 
each  church,  and  the  ministers  frequently 
exchanging  pulpits.  The  cause  of  temperance 
has  always  had  many  warm  friends  and  sup- 
porters in  Tallmadge,  though  sixt}'  years  ago  it 
was  not  considered  derogatory  to  the  character 
and  standing  of  a  family  to  use  spirituous 
liquors  as  a  beverage.  Very  many  farmers 
would  exchange  their  grain  for  whisky,  and 
often  would  have  a  barrel  of  it  in  their  houses. 
But  about  1828-30,  many  began  to  abandon 
the  use  of  it  altogether  as  a  beverage,  and  this 
feeling  has  continued  to  the  present  day.  It  is 
highly  creditable  to  the  people  of  Tallmadge 
that  there  has  never  been  but  one  distillery 
within  the  town  limits,  and  this  existed  but 
about  two  years,  and  was  near  the  northwest 
six  corners. 


The  church  and  the  schoolhouse  were  always 
leading  points  in  the  minds  of  the  Puritans  of 
New  England,  and  wherever  they  went  they  al- 
ways carried  these  principles  with  them  ;  first,  to 
organize  a  church,  ei'ect  a  building  suitable  for 
holding  meetings,  and,  next,  to  erect  a  school- 
house.  Mr.  Bacon,  in  his  plan  of  settlement  of 
the  town,  was,  as  we  have  seen,  to  provide  for 
the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  and  its  support, 
and  also  was  to  provide  for  common  schools 
and  academic  instruction.  In  the  survey  made 
b}^  Ensign  there  was  to  be  at  the  Center  and  at 
each  six  corners  erected  district  schoolhouses, 
while  at  the  Center  was  to  be  located  the  acad- 
em}'.  On  the  hill  now  occupied  as  a  cemeter}', 
where  sleep  so  many  of  the  pioneers  of  Tall- 
madge, Mr.  Bacon  located  in  his  mind  the 
Western  Reserve  College,  the  Yale  of  New 
Connecticut.  The  first  attempt  at  a  school  of 
which  we  have  any  account  was  in  the  spring 
of  1810.  A  small  log  building  was  erected  for 
school  purposes  at  the  south  four  corners. 
A  meeting  was  called  at  this  place,  as  the 
writer  was  informed  by  Jotham  Blakslee,  but 
two  men  got  into  an  altercation,  and  it  was 
broken  up  without  accomplishing  an3'thing. 
But  so  deeply  interested  was  Mrs.  Blakslee  in 
having  a  school,  that  she  undertook  the  duty  of 
visiting  the  settlers  upon  the  subject.  She  also 
went  to  Martin  Kent's,  in  SuflSeld,  and  hired  a 
Miss  Lucy  Foster  as  a  teacher.  She  came  and 
taught  school  during  the  spring  and  summer  of 
1810,  which  was  doubtless  the  first  school  in 
Tallmadge.  She  afterward  married  Alpha 
Wright,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  her  long 
and  useful  life  in  Tallmadge,  and  died  Septem- 
ber 30,  1875,  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-five 
3'ears.  It  is  thought  that  a  schoolhouse  was 
"built  in  the  fall  of  1810,  on  the  hill  at  the 
southwest  four  corners,  and  a  school  kept  in 
it  during  the  winter  of  1810-11.  A  similar 
house  was  built  at  the  south  four  corners,  and 
another  in  the  east  part  of  the  township,  soon 
after  those  already  mentioned.  The  first  frame 
schoolhouse  was  built  on  the  public  square,  on 
the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  Congregational 
Church.  It  was  commenced  in  1814,  but  not 
finished  until  the  next  3'ear  ;  was  20x30  feet, 
two  stories  high,  the  lower  story  being  occupied 
by  the  district  school,  and  the  upper  story  by 
the  academy,  and  also  for  religious  worship. 
The  academj'  was  opened  with  Rev.  Simeon 
Woodruff  as  teacher  or  Principal,  and  was  sue- 


^i: 


^ 


566 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


ceeded  by  Elizur  Wright  and  others.  An  act 
incorporating  the  Tallmadge  Academ}'^  was 
passed  February  27,  1816.  The  academy 
buikling  was  burned  on  the  night  of  January 
12,  1820,  and  a  new  building  erected  the  same 
year,  especially  for  the  purpose.  A  separate 
building  was  erected  for  the  district  school, 
southeast  of  the  town  hall,  and  it  was  in  this 
building  that  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
was  organized.  As  the  population  and  wealth 
of  the  township  inci'eased,  frame  school  build- 
ings were  erected  in  other  districts,  and  some 
have  been  replaced  with  handsome  and  com- 
modious bricks.  When  the  new  town  hall  was 
built,  the  people,  by  subscription,  raised  a  suf- 
ficient amount  to  build  the  second  story  for  the 
academ}',  and  for  several  years  competent 
teachers  were  employed  in  this  department. 
But  the  system  of  graded  schools  finally  super- 
seded the  academy.  A  special  district  was 
formed  at  the  Center  June  1 1 ,  1870,  and  a  lot  was 
purchased  and  a  building  was  erected,  which 
was  used  until  it  was  burned.  It  was  speedily 
rebuilt,  at  a  cost  (building  and  furniture)  of 
$4,500.  There  are  four  departments,  occupying 
four  rooms,  with  competent  teachers. 

The  Deaf  and  Dumb  School  of  Tallmadge 
was  an  institution  that  should  have  a  place  in 
the  township's  history.  This  project  was  in- 
augurated in  consequence  of  there  being  a 
family  in  the  neighborhood  in  which  there 
were  three  children  who  were  deaf  mutes.  A 
meeting  was  held  March  19,  1827,  to  look 
into  the  matter,  and  a  committee,  consisting  of 
Rev.  John  Keys,  Deacon  Elizur  Wright,  Dr. 
Philo  Wright,  Garney  Treat  and  Alfred  Fenn, 
with   power  to  act   and    devise   means   for   a 


school.  The}'  finally  adopted  a  measure  for 
organizing  a  deaf  and  dumb  school,  secured 
rooms  and  employed  Col.  Smith,  who  had  taken 
a  thorough  course  in  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asy- 
lum at  Hartford,  Conn.  The  school  was 
opened  May  1,  1827,  in  a  room  of  Alpha 
VVright's  house,  one  mile  south  of  the  Center. 
Tuition  was  $6  per  quarter,  and  the  session 
was  for  six  months.  In  1829,  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb  Asylum  was  established  at  Columlnis, 
and  the  school  was  transferred  to  it.  But 
Tallmadge  claims  the  honor  of  establishing  the 
first  institution  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 

A  library  was  organized  in  Tallmadge  in 
1813,  and  continued  in  existence  for  over  fifty 
years.  The  idea  of  a  public  library-  was 
brought  from  New  England.  It  was  supported 
by  shares  of  stock,  or  memberships,  fines,  bids, 
donations,  etc.,  etc.,  and  it  continued  to  in- 
crease until  it  contained  over  three  hundred 
volumes  of  standard  works.  Plays  and  novels 
were  excluded,  and  the  best  of  works  only 
allowed.  The  good  accomplished  through  this 
means  cannot  very  well  be  measured. 

Perhaps  we  should  not  close  the  history  of 
Tallmadge  Township  without  a  brief  notice  of 
anti-slaverj',  a  question  in  which  Tallmadge 
felt  the  most  lively  interest.  A  large  number 
of  the  people  were  in  sympathy  with  the  anti- 
slaver}'  movement,  and  a  man  who  would  in- 
form upon  or  arrest  a  colored  individual  under 
the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  would  have  found  Tall- 
madge a  rather  warm  climate  to  live  in.  The 
cause  gained  strength  gradually,  and,  when 
Fort  Sumter  was  fired  on,  in  1861,  Tallmadge 
was  read}'  for  her  part  in  the  great  battle  f(.)r 
humanity  and  the  Union. 


(T' 


:£ 


NORTHFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


567 


CHAPTER     XXIV.* 

NOHTHFIELD    TOWNSHIP— OUTLINE    OF    PIIVSICAL    FEATURES  — RISE.  PROGRESS    AND  DECAY  OF 

INDUSTRIES— IMPORTANT  .nTATISTICS  FROM  OLD  RE'^oRDS— INSTITUTIONS  FOR 

MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    IMPROVEMENT —  VILLAGES. 


^TORTHFIELD  was  one  of  the  equalizing 
l\i  townships.  It  was  originally'  called  Town 
5,  Range  11  ;  and  the  reason  of  its  being 
classed  as  one  of  the  equalizing  townships  will 
be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  It  was  in- 
cluded among  the  few  townships  which  were  su- 
perior to  the  average,  and  each  proprietor  was 
anxious  to  have  a  portion  of  it ;  consequently, 
it  was  divided  into  shares  of  160  acres  each, 
and  parceled  out  among  the  New  England  pro- 
prietors, who,  not  having  seen  the  land,  and 
believing  that,  from  its  stated  superiority,  it 
should  be  retained  until  time  had  assured  the 
settlers  of  its  value,  refused  to  sell  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  thus  accounting  for  the  tardy 
appearance  of  this  portion  of  the  county  in 
market.  It  may  also  be  stated  that  some  of 
the  original  proprietors  died,  leaving  their  pos- 
sessions in  this  township  to  minor  children, 
thus  preventing  the  disposal  of  the  land  until 
after  these  children  had  arrived  at  their  ma- 
jorit}'.  The  fact  of  its  being  one  of  the  best 
townships  in  the  Reserve  served  to  prevent 
its  earl}'  appearance  in  market.  It  will  be 
noted  in  this  connection  that,  while  average 
townships  were  not  altered  or  cut  up  into  seg- 
ments and  distributed  to  others,  on  the  other 
hand,  townships  both  poorer  and  better  than 
the  average  were  parceled  out  as  has  been  de- 
scribed. Northfield  was  accounted  one  of  the 
best  sections  of  country  in  the  Reserve,  and 
the  various  reasons  for  this  view  will  now  be 
carefully  noticed. 

Its  location  was  thought  at  that  time  to  be 
excellent.  Along  its  entire  western  border  was 
a  river  that  could  be  navigated  by  boats  of  the 
largest  size,  thus  favoring  the  township  with 
easy  and  constant  communication  with  Lake 
Erie  and  all  the  towns  upon  its  shore.  At  that 
time,  twice  the  present  volume  of  water  swept 
down  the  river,  and  it  was  not  dreamed  in  the 
philosophy  of  the  earl}'  settlers,  that  the  quan- 

*Contril)Utcd  by  W.  A.  Goodspeed. 


tity  would  ever  be  materially  decreased,  at  least 
to  such  an  extent  as  to  prevent  extensive  navi- 
gation. The  valley  of  the  river  on  the  North- 
field  side  was  sloping  and  well  drained,  giving 
abundant  promise  that  future  years  would  dis- 
close a  soil  of  unusual  fertility  and  strength. 
The  bluffs  bordering  the  valley,  though  too 
abrupt  and  precipitous  to  be  turned  up  by  the 
plow  in  the  future,  were  sufficiently  sloping  to 
afford  fine  pasture  land.  Back  of  the  hills  was 
as  fine  a  land  for  -the  agriculturist  as  lay 
beneath  the  sun.  Though  sufficiently  flat  to  be 
too  damp  for  the  farmer  in  early  years,  it  was 
also  sufficiently  rolling  to  promise  that,  when 
the  heavy  woods  were  removed,  and  the  cheer- 
ful light  and  heat  of  the  sun  were  permitted  to 
drink  up  the  superficial  waters,  a  soil  would 
be  found  of  excellent  adaptability  to  agricult- 
ural purposes.  The  soil  is  largely  alluvial, 
and  contains  an  unusual  percentage  of  par- 
tially decayed  vegetable  material,  though 
years  have  elapsed  since  it  was  first  brought 
under  cultivation.  It  contains  less  clay  and 
more  organic  I'emains  than  almost  any  other 
portion  of  the  county  ;  and  for  this  reason,  as 
well  as  for  the  fact  that  there  is  but  little  waste 
land,  the  township  was  classed  by  the  examin- 
ing committee  as  one  of  the  finest  in  the  entire 
Reserve. 

The  river  on  the  west  affords  the  principal 
source  of  drainage.  It  has  various  small 
branches,  which  traverse  the  township  with 
sufficient  fall,  in  many  places,  to  furnish  fine 
water-power.  Of  these  branches.  Brandywine 
Creek  is  the  main  one.  This  stream  flows  from 
near  the  southeast  corner  toward  the  north- 
west, until  the  village  of  Little  York  is  reached, 
when  it  is  joined  by  Indian  Run,  and  takes  a 
coarse  toward  the  southwest,  dipping  across 
what  was  once  the  township  line  into  Boston, 
but  returning  toward  the  northwest,  and  finally 
uniting  with  the  river  on  Lot  70.  Indian  Run 
rises  near  the  northeast  corner,  and  flowing  a 


TV 


:i^ 


568 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


trifle  west  of  south,  unites  with  Brand3'wine 
Creek  at  Little  York.  Much  of  the  northern 
part  is  drained  b}-  Sangamore  Creek,  while  the 
western  part  sends  its  waters  to  the  river  by 
means  of  numerous  small  unnamed  streams. 
There  are  several  valuable  stone  quarries  in 
Northfield,  though  from  their  remoteness  from 
the  river,  they  will  not  prove  as  profitable  as 
those  from  which  the  stone  can  be  loaded  with- 
out much  expense  on  the  canal  boats.  A  few, 
however,  are  found  bordering  the  river  ;  these 
in  time  will  secure  merchant  work,  though  at 
present,  the  stone  is  mostly  used  at  home. 

The  first  settler  was  Isaac  Bacon,  a  native 
of  Boston,  Mass.,  who,  in  1806,  purchased  160 
acres  (Lot  63)  in  Northfield,  and  the  following 
year,  in  April,  came  with  his  family  to  their 
forest  home.  No  settler  lived  within  six  or 
eight  miles ;  and,  as  Mr.  Bacon  was  a  total 
stranger,  and  was  uncertain  where  to  go  to 
secure  help  in  rearing  his  log  cabin,  he  at  last 
concluded  to  undertake  it  alone.  This  was  no 
light  undertaking,  as  the  logs  were  much  too 
heavy  to  be  raised  b}'  one  man  to  their  elevated 
positions  on  the  wall.  Mr.  Bacon  was  there- 
fore compelled  to  resort  to  some  skillful  pro- 
cess, whereby  the  needed  assistance  might  be 
avoided.  Large  skids  were  braced  against  the 
wall,  and  then,  by  means  of  a  long  rope,  which 
passed  over  the  half-finished  building,  a  yoke 
of  oxen  pulled  the  heavy  logs  to  the  required 
position.  At  the  end  of  five  days  the  cabin 
was  raised,  and  covered  with  a  roof  made  of 
bark  ;  the  family  living,  in  the  meantime,  in 
the  wagon,  which  stood  near.  With  no  neigh- 
bor nearer  than  Tinker's  Creek  for  three  years, 
with  the  privilege  of  seeing  white  faces  only 
by  traveling  many  miles,  the  family  of  Mr. 
Bacon  lived  here  isolated  and  alone.  Mrs. 
Bacon  was  afterward  often  heard  to  remark, 
that  for  six  months  after  their  arrival  she  saw 
the  face  of  no  white  woman,  save  the  one  re- 
flected to  her  aye  when  she  looked  in  some 
clear  pool  of  water.  Many  incidents  of  the 
dangers  and  privations  endured  by  this  family 
ere  the  township  received  other  settlers  have 
been  gathered  ;  and  a  few  of  these,  which  illus- 
trate the  lonely,  deserted  and  dangerous  sur- 
roundings of  the  forest  will  be  narrated.  At 
this  period,  almost  every  stream  of  any  note 
which  flowed  into  Cuyahoga  River  was  the  site 
of  numerous  Indian  encampments,  which  varied 
in  size  from  one  wigwam,  which  sheltered  one 


family,  to  encampments  containing  several 
hundreds  of  the  semi-civilized  race.  A  small 
camp  of  three  wigwams  was  on  Mr.  Bacon's 
farm,  and  these  families  continued  to  camp 
there  at  stated  seasons  for  many  years,  or  until 
they  took  their  final  departure  for  the  West. 
One  daj'  when  Mrs.  Bacon  was  alone  in  the 
cabin,  a  party  of  six  or  seven  Indians  went  to 
the  house,  and,  after  entering  without  ceremony 
or  invitation,  called  for  whisky-.  3Irs.  Bacon, 
knowing  her  helpless  condition,  and  foreseeing 
difficulty  and  very  likely  extreme  danger  should 
her  visitors  become  intoxicated,  informed  them 
that  she  had  none,  and  that  they  had  better  be 
going  on,  as  her  husband  would  soon  appear. 
After  talking  among  themselves  a  few  minutes, 
and  carefully  and  suspiciously  e3'ing  Mrs. 
Bacon  and  the  various  articles  in  the  room,  the 
Indians  finally  insisted  that  she  did  have  whisky, 
and  immediately  proceeded  to  search  for  it, 
notwithstanding  the  energetic  and  earnest  pro- 
tests of  the  defenseless  woman.  A  large  bottle 
containing  about  a  gallon  of  the  liquor  was  soon 
found,  and  was  quickly  passed  from  hand  to  hand 
until  all  was  gone,  when  the  Indians,  with  man}- 
grimaces  and  threatening  looks  and  gestures, 
quitted  the  premises,  to  the  great  relief  of  the 
apprehensive  woman.  She  had  attempted  to 
interfere  when  the  bottle  was  first  discovered, 
but  several  of  the  Indians  drew  their  knives, 
and  circling  them  in  the  air  as  if  in  the  act  of 
scalping,  sternly  motioned  her  back.  They  de- 
parted and  were  seen  no  more.  The  Indians 
were  not  the  only  human  beings  to  be  feared. 
Many  desperate  men,  numbers  of  whom  were 
undoubtedly  outlaws,  passed  through  the  front- 
ier settlements  on  the  look-out  for  any  game, 
no  matter  how  dark,  that  would  meet  their  de- 
sires of  avarice  or  selfishness.  One  day,  about 
noon,  a  dark-visaged  man  made  his  appearance 
at  the  cabin  when  Mr.  Bacon  was  awa}',  and, 
after  learning  of  the  absence  of  the  husband, 
and  asking  all  sorts  of  impudent  questions,  sat 
down  with  his  fierce  eyes  fixed  on  the  woman, 
and  on  a  large  dog  that  lay  near  the  hearth 
watching,  with  suspicious  glances,  ever}'  motion 
of  the  strange  visitor.  That  the  stranger  did 
not  relish  the  presence  of  the  dog  was  soon  ev- 
ident from  his  uneasiness.  That  Mrs.  Bacon 
did  not  relish  the  presence  of  the  strange  man 
was  also  clearly  evident.  As  night  approached, 
the  man  was  informed  that  he  could  not  be  ac- 
commodated   until   morning,   and,  as    several 


liL 


NORTHFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


569 


miles  intervened  until  the  nearest  house  was 
reached,  that  he  would  better  be  going  on.  He 
did  not  seem  inclined  to  go,  and  to  add  to 
the  alarm  of  Mrs.  Bacon  he  asked  one  of  the 
little  bo3-s  to  turn  the  grindstone,  while  he 
sharpened  his  knife.  He  took  his  place  in  the 
cabin,  and  the  woman,  with  the  dog  before  her, 
sat  down  to  watch  and  wait.  As  midnight  ap- 
proached, the  stranger  asked  why  she  did  not 
turn  out  the  dog  and  go  to  bed.  She  replied, 
that  the  dog  was  allowed  to  sleep  in  the  house. 
He  then  opened  the  -door  and  told  the  animal 
to  go  ;  but  the  faithful  creature,  with  a  fierce 
growl,  refused  to  move.  The  man  seemed  dis- 
appointed and  sat  down,  and  thus  matters  stood 
until  morning,  when  the  unwelcome  guest  de- 
parted and  was  seen  no  more.  The  family  have 
ever  since  thought,  that  the  presence  of  the  dog 
alone  saved  Mrs.  Bacon  from  insult  or  death,  or 
perhaps  both. 

Wild  animals,  both  fierce  and  dangerous, 
were  often  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  the  cabin. 
Wolves  would  approach  in  the  night,  attracted 
by  the  scent  of  meat,  and  howl  dismally  until 
the  break  of  dawn.  Deer  were  seen  by  the 
hundreds,  and  often  came  quite  close  to  the 
cabin.  On  one  occasion,  in  broad  daylight,  a 
bear  came  quickly  from  the  woods  near  the 
cabin,  and,  seizing  a  half-grown  hog,  carried  it 
bodily  off  into  the  woods,  where  it  was  partly 
devoured  and  left.  Mr.  Bacon  obtained  a  few 
sheep  at  quite  an  earl}'  day,  but  they  were 
found  to  be  more  bother  than  they  were  worth. 
One  day  a  pack  of  wolves  got  after  them, 
when  they  ran  into  the  cabin,  and  were  saved 
for  that  time.  Mr.  Bacon  was  the  only  inhab- 
itant until  June,  1810,  when  Jeremiah  Cranmer, 
Mr.  Bacon's  brother-in-law,  arrived,  and  built 
a  cabin  on  Lot  72,  within  half  a  mile  of  the 
cabin  of  the  former.  During  the  excitement 
occasioned  by  the  war  of  1812,  Bacon  and 
Cranmer  made  preparations  to  take  their  fam- 
ilies and  seek  the  protection  of  the  more  pop- 
ulous settlement  at  Hudson.  While  the  prep- 
arations were  in  progress,  an  Indian  was  seen 
skulking  in  the  woods  near,  and  was  told  that 
if  he  valued  his  scalp  he  had  better  depart 
without  dela}'.  He  departed.  After  the}'  had 
started,  a  report  reached  them  that  there  was 
no  danger,  whereupon  they  returned,  though 
they  kept  up  an  anxious  watch  for  several 
weeks  afterward.  Mi*.  Bacon  was  drafted  and 
ordered  to  Cleveland,  but  was  soon  afterward 


discharged  and  sent  home.  Here,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1812,  he  was  taken  sick  and  died,  and  was 
buried  on  Tinker's  Creek.  Prior  to  this  sad 
event,  the  Bacon  family  had,  in  1808,  lost  an 
infant  daughter,  her  death  being  the  first  in 
the  township. 

In  1813,  Abraham  Cranmer  appeared  and 
bought  the  north  half  of  Lot  72.  His  cabin 
was  built  with  the  assistance  of  Bacon  and 
Jeremiah  Cranmer,  and  his  family  made  as 
comfortable  as  possible.  In  June  of  the  same 
year,  a  young  man  named  Henry  Wood,  one 
who  was  destined  to  play  an  important  part  in 
the  affairs  of  Northfield,  came  to  the  township. 
While  here,  he  won  the  affections  of  Estber, 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  Cranmer,  who  accepted 
his  proposal,  and  the}'  were  married  September 
22,  1813,  at  the  residence  of  the  bi'ide's  father. 
This  was  the  first  wedding  in  Northfield. 
Henry  Wood  was  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  in 
his  compan}'  were  Henry  Post,  who  acted  as 
Orderl}'  Sergeant ;  Abner  Robinson,  the  poet  of 
Boston,  and  Jonathan  Williams,  the  latter 
serving  in  the  capacity  of  scout.  The  com- 
pany went  west  as  far  as  Sandusky,  but  did 
not  see  any  active  service.  It  was  Henry 
Wood  who,  in  passing  a  small  creek  in  the 
township,  and  seeing  several  small  parties  of 
Indians  encamped  thereon,  called  it  Indian 
Creek,  a  name  it  yet  retains  in  honor  of  this 
man,  who  is  yet  living  at  the  unusual  age  of 
ninety-one  years.  Mr.  Wood  often  had  hogs 
killed  by  the  bears.  It  is  related  by  him  that 
on  one  occasion,  he  owned  one  shoat  in  a  lot 
of  sixteen,  which  ran  wild  in  the  forest.  Hear- 
ing loud  squealing  one  night,  he  took  his  rifle 
and  hurried  out  to  ascertain  the  cause,  where- 
upon he  found  that  his  pig  had  been  selected 
out  of  the  herd,  and  carried  off  by  a  large 
bear.  The  squealings  at  a  distance  in  the 
dai'k  forest  disclosed  its  fate. 

In  1814,  George  Wallace  came  to  Brand}^- 
wine,  and  built  a  saw-mill.  A  relative  of  his 
named  John  Menough  took  charge  of  the  mill, 
and  Mr.  Wallace  returned  to  Cleveland,  and 
did  not  bring  his  family  out  until  1818.  In 
1815,  Robert  Wallace  came  on  with  his  fjimily, 
and  built  a  small  log  cabin  at  Brandywine.  It 
is  said  that  this  village  and  the  creek  of  the 
same  name  were  named  by  John  Menough, 
after  the  historical  stream  in  the  East,  where 
Gen.  Washington  fought  a  severe  battle  during 
the  Revolution.    In  March,  1817,  Henry  Wood, 


t 


570 


HISTORY  or    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


John  Duncan,  Maurice  Cranmer  and  a  few  other 
families  moved  into  the  township.  There  also 
came  in,  prior  to  1819,  William  Cranney,  Will- 
iam Mather,  Abel  Havens,  Abner  Hunt,  Daniel 
Robertson,  Edward  Coyne,  John  Britt  and 
Shubael  Austin.  The  following  is  taken  from 
the  township  records  : 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  qualitied  electors  of  the 
township  of  Northfield  on  the  24th  of  May, 
1819,  the  following  officers  were  elected  for  the 
occasion  :  John  Britt,  Moderator  ;  Jeremiah 
Cranmer  and  John  Duncan,  Judges  ;  Orrin 
Wilcox,  Clerk.  After  the  officers  had  been 
duly  sworn,  the  following  township  elections 
were  made :  Henry  Wood,  Clerk ;  George 
Wallace,  Jeremiah  Cranmer  and  John  Duncan, 
Trustees  ;  William  Cranney  and  William  Mather, 
Overseers  of  the  Poor ;  Robert  Wallace  and 
Maurice  Cranmer,  Fence  Viewers ;  Watrous 
Mather,  Treasurer  ;  John  Duncan,  Abel  Havens, 
Daniel  Robertson  and  Abner  Hunt,  Supervisors 
of  Highways  ;  Edward  Coyne  and  Abraham 
Cranmer,  Constables."  Mr.  Wood,  who  is  yet 
living,  says  that  this  first  election  was  held  at 
the  cabin  of  William  Cranney.  He  also  says 
that  just  before  the  township  received  its 
name,  the  settlers,  who  had  assembled  to  erect 
a  log  house  near  the  cemetery,  began  to  sug- 
gest names.  Mr.  Wood  wanted  it  called  "  York." 
Other  names  were  suggested  by  several  parties, 
among  which  was  "Northfield,"  by  Jeremiah 
Cranmer.  A  vote  was  taken  on  the  various 
names  suggested,  and  -'Northfield"  was  se- 
lected. The  following  is  quoted  from  the 
records  :  "  Poll  Book  of  Northjield,  Portage 
County,  Ohio,  October  12,  1819 — Jeremiah 
Cranmer,  (xeorge  Wallace  and  John  Duncan, 
Judges  of  Election,  and  Henry  Wood  and  John 
Britt,  Clerks.  Number  and  names  of  electors 
on  this  day  :  Abraham  Cranmer,  Abel  Havens, 
Jeremiah  Cranmer,  John  Duncan.  Shubael  Aus- 
tin, George  Wallace,  John  Britt,  Henry  Wood, 
Robert  Wallace  and  Edward  Coyne— in  all  ten. 
Names  of  persons  voted  for  and  for  what  offices, 
containing  the  number  of  votes  cast  for  each 
candidate  :  For  Convention,  1  ;  against  Con- 
vention, 8.  For  Senator,  Almon  Ruggles,  7  ; 
William  Whitmore,  1.  For  Representative, 
Samuel  King,  10.  For  County  Commissioner, 
Stephen  Woodward,  8 ;  Rial  McArthur,  2." 
The  ten  electors  just  mentioned  were  not  all 
there  were  in  the  township,  and  yet  there  were 
but   few   others.     The  following  oflScers  were 


elected  April  3, 1820,  as  shown  by  the  records  : 
Henry  Wood,  Clerk  ;  John  Duncan,  Maurice 
Cranmer  and  A.  Cranmer,  Trustees ;  Amos 
Richardson  and  Nathaniel  Parsons,  Overseers 
of  the  Poor  ;  Edward  Coyne  and  Abner  Hunt, 
Fence  Viewers  ;  Dorsey  Viers,  Isaac  Lake,  A.  S. 
Honey  and  Robert  Richardson,  Supervisors  of 
Highways  ;  William  Cranney  and  Robert  Men- 
dal.  Constables  ;  William  Mather.  Treasurer. 
Three  weeks  later,  another  election  was  held  for 
the  purpose  of  electing  two  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
resulting  as  follows  :  George  Wallace  and  Wm. 
D.  Mather.  At  this  election,  there  were  twenty- 
six  votes  polled.  The  following  items,  which 
are  deemed  worthy  of  preservation,  are  taken 
from  the  records,  which  are  fast  falling  into 
pieces  :  "  State  of  Ohio,  Portage  County,  North- 
field  Township  :  To  the  Constable  of  said  Town- 
ship, Greeting  :  Abraham  Cranmer,  Constable  : 
You  are  commanded  to  warn  Huldah  Seeley  out 
of  said  township  forthwith,  by  the  order  of  the 
Trustees  and  of  the  Poor  Masters  for  said  town- 
ship, and  to  cany  her  to  the  Constable  of  Inde- 
pendence Township,  or  Newburg,  Cuyahoga 
County,  Ohio.  Of  this  writ  make  legal  service 
and  due  return.  Given  under  our  hands  and 
seals,  this  2d  day  of  June,  1819.  George  Wal- 
lace and  J.  Cranmer,  Trustees  ;  W.  D.  Mather 
and  William  Cranney,  Jr.,  Poor  Masters.  Per- 
sonally served  by  me,  Abraham  Cranmer,  Con- 
stable." It  is  told  by  way  of  joke  in  North- 
field,  that  Mr.  Cranmer,  the  Constable,  not 
knowing  how  to  dispose  of  his  charge,  Huldah 
Seeley,  finally  took  her  on  horseback  to  New- 
burg, where  he  left  her,  his  idea  being  that  the 
law  would  be  best  subserved  by  removing  her 
as  far  as  possible  from  the  township. 

In  182G,  there  were  thirty-nine  householders 
in  Northfield,  and  the  following  year  there  were 
forty-seven,  as  follows  :  George  Phipps,  Abner 
Hunt,  Electa  Dewey,  Casper  Noel,  David  Bow- 
ersmith,  William  Barkhamer,  Widow  Lesley, 
Daniel  Croninger,  Paul  H.  Beard,  George  Hills, 
Jonathan  Pike,  Jeremiah  Cranmer,  William 
Cliflbrd,  A.  B.  Cranmer,  Levi  Leach,  D.  C.  Ba- 
con, Henry  Hopkins,  William  Cranney,  H. 
Bump,  Dorsey  W.  Viers,  Sally  Pritchard,  Henry 
Croninger,  Thomas  Hills,  Shubael  Austin,  John 
Wilson,  Daniel  Stanley,  Thomas  Appleton.  Eliza- 
beth Richardson,  John  Jones,  Maurice  Cran- 
mer, A.  D.  Havens,  Abraham  Cranmer,  Chester 
Northrup,  John  Duncan,  Thomas  McKee,  Rob- 
ert Guy,  William  Guy,  Allen  Burroughs,  George 


®    - 


ii 


NORTIIFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


571 


McClelland,  Erastus  Burdick,  Robert  Wallace, 
George  Wallace,  David  Dilley,  Joshua  Post, 
Nathaniel  Holmes,  Mr.  Townsend  and  Marv 
Post. 

By  this  time,  the  township  was  almost  as 
well  settled  and  improved  as  it  is  at  present. 
But  we  must  go  back  and  trace  the  growth  of 
industries,  etc.  As  was  before  stated,  George 
Wallace  erected  a  saw-mill  on  Brandywine 
Creek  ;  and  this  mill,  until  Lots  19  and  40,  of 
Boston,  were  attached  to  Northfleld,  was  in  the 
former  township.  It  was  a  frame  mill,  and  was 
located  on  the  creek  where  an  abrupt  fall  of 
about  ten  feet  gave  an  excellent  and  enduring 
water-power.  It  was  built  in  1814,  and,  in  the 
following  3'ear,  a  grist-mill  was  built  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  fall.  This  mill  was  a  three- 
storied,  frame  structure,  and  is  3-et  standing, 
being  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation.  About 
the  same  time  that  the  grist-mill  was  erected,  a 
distillery  was  built  back  some  distance  on  the 
farm,  and  given  in  charge  of  Allen  Burris,  a 
practical  distiller.  It  disposed  of  some  twelve 
bushels  of  grain  dail}',  and  turned  out  in  the 
same  time  between  thirt}-  and  forty  gallons  of 
excellent  whisky.  The  old  account-books  of 
Mr.  Wallace  are  yet  in  existence,  and  reveal 
that,  not  onl}^  was  whisky  used  b}^  ever}'  one, 
including  ministers  (and  perhaps  abstainers), 
but  was  used  extensively  as  an  article  of  ex- 
change, serving  the  purpose  almost  as  well  as 
bank  notes.  Almost  every  entry  involves  the 
word  "  whisk}'."  John  Menough,  who  owned  a 
third  or  a  half  interest  in  the  grist-mill,  was  the 
miller,  and  operated  it  for  many  years.  Robert 
Wallace  owned  an  interest  in  the  saw-mill,  and 
was  the  sawyer  until  the  mills  were  given  into 
other  hands.  The  distillery  was  conducted  un- 
til about  1830,  when  it  was  abandoned.  The 
saw-mill  was  operated,  with  several  change  of 
owners,  until  about  the  year  1851.  The  grist- 
mill is  yet  running.  Mr.  Wallace  built  a  woolen- 
factory  near  the  mills  in  1821.  During  the  first 
year  of  its  operation,  nothing  was  attempted, 
except  wool-carding  and  cloth-dressing ;  but 
the  following  year,  and  for  many  years  there- 
after, the  whole  process  of  carding  and  spinning 
and  weaving  and  dressing  was  conducted  on 
an  extensive  scale,  and  a  fine  income  realized. 
This  was,  perhaps,  the  most  important  industry 
ever  in  Northampton.  At  one  time,  the  fac- 
tory, the  grist-mill,  the  store,  the  saw-mill  and 
the   distilleiy    were  all   in  operation,   and.   as 


these  various  industries  required  the  assist- 
ance of  from  twelve  to  twenty  employes,  the 
extent  and  importance  of  these  eflbrts  in  the 
backwoods  can  be  plainly  seen.  It  is  stated 
that,  in  about  181G,  the  village  of  Brandywine 
rivaled  the  village  of  Cleveland.  But  all  has 
not  yet  been  told.  In  1816,  Mr.  Wallace  sent 
some  $1,600  worth  of  goods  to  the  village,  and 
placed  them  in  an  apartment  that  had  been 
set  oflf"  for  that  purpose  in  the  second  story  of 
the  grist-mill.  James,  the  son  of  George  Wal- 
lace, was  placed  in  the  store  to  dispose  of  the 
goods.  He  had  come  from  Cleveland  with  the 
teamster  who  brought  the  goods.  The  wagon 
moved  very  slowly  through  the  muddy  roads, 
and,  as  night  was  fiist  coming  on  when  they 
reached  the  northern  part  of  the  township,  the 
boy  James  concluded  he  would  hurry  ahead, 
and  reach  home  before  the  teamster.  He  was 
walking  on  quite  rapidly,  guided  by  the  ob- 
scure markings  of  the  winding  road,  when 
suddenly  he  was  startled  by  a  large  deer 
which  bounded  across  the  path  but  a  few  yards 
in  front  of  him.  Almost  at  the  same  instant, 
he  heard  a  loud  crashing  in  the  bushes  close 
by,  and  a  moment  later  a  large,  dark  animal 
came  swiftly  into  the  path  before  him.  The 
terrified  boy  saw  that  the  animal  was  a  large 
bear,  and,  though  his  blood  froze  in  his  veins, 
he  determined  not  to  run.  But  the  bear,  with 
scarcely  a  moment's  hesitation,  and  without 
paying  the  slightest  attention  to  the  cowering 
boy.  continued  its  headlong  pursuit  after  the 
deer.  The  boy  was  so  terrified  that  he  ran  on 
for  several  miles,  when,  reaching  the  cabin  of 
a  settler  near  Brandywine.  he  prevailed  upon 
some  of  the  boys  to  accompany  him  until  he 
reached  the  village.  It  is  scarcely  necessary 
to  add  that  the  various  pursuits  thus  begun  at 
Brandywine  w'ere  the  means  of  bringing  to  the 
neighborhood  numerous  families  of  settlers, 
and  soon  the  place  had  all  the  appearance  of  a 
thriving  village.  In  1825,  all  tliat  portion  of 
the  property  owned  by  George  "\\'allace  fell  to 
the  ownership  of  James  Wallace,  his  son,  who 
is  yet  living,  at  a  hale  old  age,  near  Macedonia. 
A  year  later.  Robert  Wallace  also  secured  an 
interest  in  ihe  various  pursuits,  and  then  the 
business  firm  was  Wallace  Brotliers.  In  1843, 
a  remarkable  flood  occurred,  which  swept  the 
factory  away,  scattering  the  debris  for  miles 
along  the  banks,  and  badly  injuring  the  grist- 
mill.   This,  however,  was  immediately  repaired, 


IV 


573 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUXTY. 


but  the  factory  was  not  rebuilt.  After  this, 
the  property  gradually  fell  into  other  hands, 
and  its  former  usefulness  was  greatly  impaii'ed. 
The  firm  of  Wallace  &  Wallace  opened  a  store 
at  the  village  in  about  184-i,  and  carried  a 
stock  of  some  $2,000  worth  of  goods  for  ten  or 
twelve  years.  This  storehouse  is  now  used  as 
a  dwelling.  In  about  1822,  George  Wallace 
succeeded  in  getting  a  post  office  established 
at  Brandywine.  Mr.  Wallace  was  appointed 
Postmaster.  The  village  at  its  best  contained 
some  ten  or  twelve  families. 

The  village  of  Little  York  has  had  a  less 
eventful  history.  In  about  1825,  Henry  Post 
built  a  saw-mill  on  the  site  of  the  village.  He 
did  not  own  the  land,  but  -'squatted"  there  for 
the  purpose  of  sawing  lumber.  His  mill  was 
operated  b}'  water-power,  partly  by  natural 
facilities  and  partlj'  by  artificial.  There  was 
at  that  point  a  heavy  forest  of  whitewood, 
which  at  that  time  was  greatly  in  demand  for 
boats  on  the  canal,  and  for  vessels  on  Lake 
Erie.  The  mill  was  enabled  to  run  some  eight 
months  of  the  year,  and,  for  six  years,  Mr. 
Post  did  an  extensive  and  profitable  business. 
George  Leach  then  got  possession  of  the  mill, 
and,  as  the  dam  was  a  cheap  aflTair  and  liable 
to  be  washed  away  by  the  first  freshet,  a 
larger  and  stronger  one  was  built  in  the  same 
place.  This  man  continued  many  3'ears,  and, 
at  times,  did  an  enormous  amount  of  work, 
operating  two  saws,  and  shipping  by  canal 
large  quantities  of  oak,  maple  and  whitewood 
lumber  to  Cleveland.  In  the  early  history  of 
the  village,  a  blacksmith,  a  shoemaker,  a  tan- 
ner and  a  few  other  tradesmen  and  mechanics 
located  there.  This  has  been  about  the  extent 
of  the  rise  and  fall  of  Little  York. 

The  first  building  at  the  Center  was  very 
likely  a  schoolhouse,  built  as  early  as  1825.* 
Hezekiah  H.  Palmer  erected  the  first  dwelling. 
This  was  a  round-log  cabin,  about  thirty  feet 
square,  built  in  1832,  and  divided  by  partitions 
into  bedrooms  and  sitting-rooms.  A  3'ear  later, 
George  Lillie  built  the  second  dwelling,  and, 
soon  afterward,  Lucien  Bliss,  the  third.  All 
these  were  rough  log  cabins,  hastil}'  constructed, 
and,  from  their  external  appearance,  it  was  evi- 
dent that  the  architect  was  inferior  in  point  of 
genius  to  Michael  Angelo,  or,  perhaps,  he  thought 
that  the  more  beautiful  products  of  his  skill  could 
and  would  not  be  appreciated  in  the  forest.  At  all 

*  Narrated  to  the  writer  by  Ambrose  Bliss. 


events,  the  buildings  were  neither  models  of 
architectural  beauty  and  precision,  nor  equal  in 
point  of  sumptuousness  to  Aladdin's  palace. 
However,  the  families  seemed  to  enjoy  life  just 
as  well  as  they  whose  habitations  were  supe- 
rior and  more  elegant.  During  the  same  year, 
1833,  or  perhaps  the  following  spring.  Col. 
Milton  Arthur  built  a  storeroom  which  is  now 
a  part  of  an  outhouse  belonging  to  Mr.  McCon- 
nell.  Arthur  placed  in  this  storeroom  some 
$500  worth  of  goods,  consisting  of  a  general 
assortment  that  had  been  purchased  at  Cleve- 
land. The  store  did  not  amount  to  much,  but 
was  an  accommodation  to  those  living  in  the 
vicinit3f  and  was  well  patronized.  A  few  years 
later,  B.  F.  Cannon  placed  a  small  stock  of 
goods  in  another  building,  but,  after  a  short 
time,  sold  out  to  Hosea  and  Lucien  Bliss,  who 
increased  the  stock  somewhat.  Soon  after  the 
Bliss  brothers  opened  their  store,  Frank  Allen 
built  another  building  near  by,  and  placed 
therein  a  small  general  assortment.  After  this, 
frequent  changes  were  made  in  the  merchants, 
none  of  whom  remained  any  great  length  of 
time.  The  village  was  not  a  very  lively  trad- 
ing-point. Many  country  stores  were  located 
in  adjoining  townships,  and  even  in  Northfield, 
and  storekeepers,  with  a  few  fortunate  excep- 
tions, were  compelled  to  continue,  if  at  all, 
upon  meager  remuneration.  However,  there 
have  been  some  good  stores  in  the  village.  Af- 
ter Frank  Allen  and  the  Bliss  Brothers,  the  fol- 
lowing merchants  have  held  forth  at  various 
times  in  about  the  order  given  :  Warner  Wal- 
lace, Mr.  Putnam,  Woodman  &  Howe,  James 
McElroy,  Nelson  Decker,  M.  O'Neil,  S.  K.  Alex- 
ander, Lyon  &  Logue  and  J.  G.  Alexander,  the 
present  merchant.  The  most  of  these  men  kept 
ordinar}'  country  stores,  including  limited  deal- 
ings in  all  the  various  kinds  of  country  produce. 
It  was  usual  to  accumulate  a  considerable  quan- 
tity of  the  latter,  which  was  then  conveyed  to 
some  shipping-point  and  sent  off  for  foreign 
consumption.  Other  industries  have  existed 
for  short  periods  in  the  village.  Bliss  &  Taub- 
man  (the  latter  being  an  experienced  tailor), 
opened  a  clothing  store  soon  after.  Ready-made 
clothing  was  kept,  and  suits  of  every  descrip- 
tion were  made  to  order  on  short  notice. 

In  1841,  0.  A.  Bishop  built  a  tavern  which 
was  thrown  open  for  the  entertainment  of  the 
public  the  same  year.  The  building  is  now 
used   as  a  combined  grocery   and  post  office. 


~:f\: 


«> 


ht* 


NORTHFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


573 


The  tavern,  which  was  located  on  the  State 
road,  did  a  good  business  until  the  Cleveland 
&  Pittsburgh  Railroad  was  projected  through  the 
township,  when  it  was  closed  for  lack  of  cus- 
tom. The  first  blacksmith  in  the  village  was 
a  man  named  Phillips.  Ambrose  Bliss  was 
the  first  carpenter.  Dr.  Hosea  Bliss  was  the 
first  resident  physician.  He  became  well 
known,  and  continued  to  practice  his  profession 
until  five  or  six  years  ago.  Dr.  Hazleton  ap- 
peared a  number  of  j-ears  later,  and  soon  se- 
cured a  lucrative  practice.  George  Lillie  was 
the  first  Postmaster,  receiving  his  commission 
in  about  1836,  the  office  having  been  removed 
from  Brand3wine  to  the  Center.  In  about  the 
3'ear  1840,  George  Lillie,  Hezekiah  Palmer, 
Lucien  Bliss  and  Col.  Ai'thur,  each  of  whom 
owned  a  corner  at  the  cross-roads,  threw  out 
half  an  acre  of  land  each  for  a  public  square. 
This  square  is  yet  sacred  to  the  use  of  the 
public,  and  is  likely  to  remain  so.  The  village 
has  not  been  regularly'  surveyed  and  platted, 
the  lots  being  laid  off  and  sold  as  calls  are 
made  for  them.  Perhaps  the  greatest  popula- 
tion the  village  has  had  at  any  one  time  has 
been  about  seventy-five. 

It  is  proper  at  this  point  to  narrate  an  occur- 
rence which  took  place  in  the  township  at  an 
early  day,  and  which,  from  its  peculiarity,  de- 
serves preservation.  We  quote  as  follows  from 
Gen.  L.  V.  Bierce :  "  An  Englishman  named 
Rupert  Charlesworth,  who  was  boarding  with 
Dorsey  Viers  in  1826,  suddenly  and  mysteri- 
ously disappeared.  He  was  traced  to  the 
cabin  of  Viers  on  the  night  of  the  23d  of 
July,  but  on  the  following  morning  when  a 
Constable  went  there  to  arrest  him,  he  was 
gone,  and  no  trace  of  him  could  be  found.  On 
the  arrival  of  the  Constable  Mrs.  Viers  was 
found  mopping  up  the  floor.  Questions  were 
asked,  but  Mr.  Viers  told  contradictor}-  stories 
as  to  the  disappearance  of  the  man.  alleging  in 
one  instance  that  he  jumped  out  of  the  win- 
dow and  ran  off  and  could  not  be  caught,  and 
in  another,  that  he  left  when  Viers  was  asleep, 
and  the  latter  knew  nothing  of  his  where- 
abouts. A  few  days  later,  some  one  announced 
having  heard  the  report  of  a  rifle  at  Vier's 
cabin  the  night  of  the  man's  disappearance, 
and  of  having  seen  blood  on  a  pair  of  bars 
which  led  from  the  cabin  to  the  woods.  Years 
rolled  on,  and  the  excitement  grew  stronger 
with  age,  until,  on  the  8th  of  January,  1831, 


complaint  was  entered  before  George  Y.  Wal- 
lace, Justice  of  the  Peace,  that  Viers  had  mur- 
dered Charlesworth.  Viers  was  arrested,  and 
a  trial  of  eight  days  followed.  Not  only  were 
the  circumstances  above  narrated  proved,  but 
a  hired  girl  who  was  working  for  Viers  at  the 
time  of  the  man's  disappearance  swore  that  a 
bed  blanket  used  by  Charlesworth  was  missing 
from  the  cabin  on  the  day  of  his  departure, 
and  that  it  was  afterward  found  concealed  un- 
der a  haystack,  with  large  black  spots  on  it, 
resembling  dried  and  clotted  blood.  It  was 
also  proved  that  Charlesworth  had  a  large 
amount  of  money,  and  that  Viers  was,  previ- 
ous to  the  disappearance  of  the  man.  compar- 
atively poor,  but  immediately  afterward  was 
flush  of  mone^^  To  complete  the  chain  of 
circumstantial  evidence,  a  human  skeleton  had 
been  found  concealed  under  a  log  in  the  woods, 
beyond  the  bars  already  mentioned.  Matters 
were  in  this  shape  when  two  men  from  San- 
dusky unexpectedly  appearejl  and  swore  that 
the}^  had  seen  Charlesworth  alive  and  well  after 
the  time  of  the  supposed  murder,  though  when 
seen  he  was  passing  under  an  assumed  name. 
On  this  testimony  Viers  was  acquitted,  liut  his 
acquittal  did  not  change  public  sentiment  as 
to  his  guilt.  It  was  generally  believed  that 
the  witnesses  had  been  inducted  to  perjure 
themselves.  Viers,  however,  did  not  let  the 
matter  rest  at  this  stage.  He  began  a  vigor- 
ous and  protracted  search  for  the  missing  man, 
and  continued  it  with  unwavering  perseverance. 
He  visited  all  parts  of  the  Union,  and,  after  a 
search  of  years,  he  one  day  went  into  a  tavern 
at  Detroit,  and  in  the  presence  of  a  large  as- 
semblage of  men,  inquired  if  an}'  one  knew  of 
a  man  named  Charlesworth.  x\ll  replied  no. 
Just  as  he  was  about  to  leave,  a  man  stepped 
up  to  him,  and,  taking  him  to  one  side,  inquired 
if  his  name  was  Viers,  from  Northfield.  Viers 
replied  that  it  was.  The  stranger  then  said, 
'lam  Rupert  Charlesworth.  but  I  pass  here 
under  an  assumed  name.'  Charlesworth  was 
informed  of  all  that  had  taken  place,  and  he 
immediately  volunteered  to  go  to  Northfield 
and  have  the  matter  cleared  up.  On  their  ar- 
rival, a  meeting  of  the  township  was  called, 
and  after  a  thorough  investigation  it  was  the 
unanimous  vote,  with  one  exception,  that  the 
man  alleged  to  have  been  murdered  now  stood 
alive  before  them.  It  appears  that  he  had 
passed  a  counterfeit  $10  bill  on  Deacon  Hud- 


574 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


son,  and  fearing  an  arrest  he  left  the  cabin  of 
Viers  suddenly,  and  soon  afterward  went  to 
England,  where  he  remained  two  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  he  returned  to  the  United 
States  under  an  assumed  name,  and  went  into 
the  backwoods  of  Michigan,  where  his  real 
name,  former  residence  and  liistory  were  un- 
known. Tlie  name  of  the  family  was  thus,  al- 
most b}'  accident,  cleared  of  infamy  and  shame. 
This  renuirkable  case  is  rivalled  only  b}'  the 
celebrated  case  of  the  Bournes  in  Vermont.'' 

The  following  is  also  quoted  from  Bierce's 
history  : 

*•  A  more  tragic  affair  occurred  in  Northtield, 
on  the  24th  of  July,  1837.  On  the  night  of 
that  date,  some  person  or  persons  entered  the 
house  of  Robert  McKisson,  a  respected  citizen 
of  the  township,  and  with  an  ax  struck  Mrs. 
McKisson  as  she  lay  on  the  bed,  splitting,  or 
rather  hewing,  the  right  side  of  her  head 
nearl}'  away,  and  leaving  the  brain  exposed  or 
scattered  upon  the  bedding.  Lucinda  Croning- 
er,  Mrs.  McKisson's  daughter  by  a  former  hus- 
band, lying  on  an  adjoining  bed,  hearing  the 
confusion,  raised  up  and  sci'eamed,  but  was  in- 
stantly knocked  down,  senseless,  with  the  ax. 
An  alarm  was  given  by  some  other  member  of 
the  familj',  and  the  murderer  made  off.  The 
neighbors  collected  and  obtained  from  Mrs. 
McKisson,  who,  a  few  hours  later,  died,  the 
statement  that  the  murder  had  been  committed 
by  her  father-in-law,  Samuel  McKisson.  This 
was  the  d^'ing  declaration  of  the  murdered 
woman,  and  the  testimony  of  the  daughter  at 
the  trial.  Samuel  McKisson  was  arrested  that 
night  at  his  own  house.  Suspicion  immediate- 
ly attached  to  David  McKisson,  a  brother-in- 
law  of  the  murdered  woman,  who  had  been 
paying  his  addresses  to  the  daughter,  but  who 
had  been  refused  admission  to  the  house  by 
the  mother.  He  had  been  lurking  around  for 
several  days,  during  which  time  he  had  ob- 
tained several  interviews  with  Miss  Croninger, 
in  one  of  which  they  exchanged  rings.  A  few 
minutes  after  the  murder,  a  person  was  heard 
running  past  a  house  toward  the  canal  from  the 
direction  of  the  McKisson  cabin.  The  next 
morning,  at  daylight,  he  was  seen  on  the  canal, 
about  three  miles  from  the  place,  getting  a 
passage  to  Cleveland.  A  few  days  later,  he  was 
arrested  on  the  Government  works  at  the 
mouth  of  Maumee  Bay,  with  the  blood  still  on 
his  shirt-sleeves.     The  father  and  son  were   in- 


dicted for  murder  by  the  grand  jury  in  Sep- 
tember, 1837,  and  soon  afterward  tried.  The 
father  was  acquitted,  but  the  son  was  convicted 
of  murder  in  the  first  degree,  and,  on  the  9th 
of  February,  1838,  was  executed  at  Ravenna." 
Abraham  Cranmer,  in  1824,  built  the  first 
house  in  Macedonia.  It  was  a  hewed-log 
building,  with  the  usual  inconveniences  and 
lack  of  attractions,  and  was  located  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  village.  This  house 
stood  until  1854,  when  it  was  taken  down. 
Edwin  Hutchinson  built  the  second,  just  above 
the  church,  in  about  1831.  About  this  time, 
or  soon  afterward,  George  Shattuck  and  Eras- 
tus  Beldin  also  built  dwellings  at  the  village. 
All  these  buildings  were  of  logs,  and  some  per- 
sons have  insisted  that  the  three  buildings  last 
referred  to  were  probably  erected  some  four 
years  sooner  than  as  stated  above.  The  above, 
however,  is  given  on  the  authorit}'  of  Mrs. 
(Cranmer)  Munn,  who  was  living  in  the  village 
with  her  father,  Abraham  Cranmer,  at  the 
time,  and  who  is  probably  not  mistaken.  Sev- 
eral other  dwellings  were  erected  soon  after- 
ward, and  the  citizens  then  began  to  suspect 
that  a  village  was  springing  up  around  them. 
A  few  mechanics  and  tradesmen  appeared,  but 
no  stock  of  goods  was  bi'ought  to  the  village 
until  1852,  when  Odell,  Price  &  Co.  placed 
about  $4,000  worth  in  a  storeroom  that  had 
been  built  by  John  Odell  the  year  before.  This 
partnership  began  a  brisk  business,  selling  or 
exchanging  their  goods  to  the  surrounding 
country,  and  shipping  farm  produce,  including 
eggs,  butter  and  cheese,  to  Cleveland.  The 
quantity  of  cheese  handled  by  this  firm  was  re- 
markable. They  began  slowl}^,  like  cautious 
and  experienced  merchants,  feeling  their  way, 
until  at  last  all  hesitancy  was  thrown  aside, 
from  the  steady  condition  of  the  market,  and 
enormous  quantities  of  cheese  were  purchased 
and  shipped  to  Cincinnati  and  other  points. 
The  cheese  and  butter  products  of  sixty  dairies 
were  handled  by  the  partnership.  Each  dairy 
avei'aged  one  cheese  of  twenty-  pounds"  weight 
dail)',  making,  in  all,  1,200  pounds  that  were 
shipped  away  each  day,  from  the  1st  of  May 
until  the  middle  of  September.  When  the 
number  of  days  are  considered,  it  will  be  seen 
that  about  175,000  pounds  of  cheese  were 
shipped  from  Macedonia  each  season.  During  the 
same  period,  flft)'  pounds  of  butter  were  re- 
ceived daily  from  these  dairies,  and  shipped  oflF 


n^ 


^ 


NORTHFIELD    TOWNSHIP 


575 


with  the  cheese,  making  a  total  of  about  7,000 
pounds  handled  per  annum.  In  1854,  this 
firm  was  succeeded  by  Odell  &  Co.,  who  con- 
ducted the  same  business  even  more  extensive 
ly  than  the  former  firm.  Either  goods  or 
money  were  given  for  butter  and  cheese.  Two 
years  later,  Odell  &  O'Neil  took  charge  of  the 
business,  but,  at  the  end  of  about  eight  months, 
the  senior  partner  bought  the  junior's  interest, 
and  conducted  the  business  alone  until  July, 
1857,  when  he  failed  and  closed  out  his  stock. 
Archibald  Nesbitt  took  up  the  broken  threads 
of  this  trade  in  1858,  and  conducted  a  fair  busi- 
ness until  about  the  time  the  last  war  com- 
menced. After  this,  for  a  few  3'ears,  the  store- 
room was  vacant.  Michael  O'Neil  was  in  for  a 
few  months,  during  the  latter  part  of  the  war. 
In  1866,  Sage  &  Hine  opened  with  a  small 
stock,  and,  a  year  later,  Hine  sold  his  interest 
to  Chamberlain,  and,  in  1869,  Sage  also  sold  to 
Chamberlain  ;  but,  soon  afterward,  Darling  & 
Drennan  took  charge  of  the  store,  increasing 
the  stock  until  it  was  valued  at  $5,200,  and 
handling,  at  the  same  time,  the  cheese  of  two 
factories.  Lewis  Lemoin  became  owner  in  the 
spring  of  1875,  but  sold  out  at  the  end  of  a 
year  to  J.  C.  Johnson,  who  continued  until  the 
spring  of  1879,  when  S.  M.  Ranney  &  Co.  took 
possession  and  have  continued  since.  It  would 
seem  by  the  constant  change  of  ownei's,  that 
the  merchants  were  either  novices  at  their  call- 
ing, or  that  the  mercantile  pursuit  in  the  vil- 
lage was  as  uncertain  as  it  was  unprofitable 
and  unsatisfactory.  Probably  both  of  these 
reasons  have  contributed  to  the  failures. 
O'Neil  &  Wilcox  opened  a  store,  with  $800 
worth  of  goods,  in  1854,  but,  soon  afterward, 
O'Neil  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner,  who,  a 
year  or  two  later,  failed  with  maledictions  on 
his  lips.  Marvin  Ford  sold  groceries  for  a 
short  time  about  1865.  Lewis  Lemoin  bought 
him  out,  and  after  continuing  eight  months, 
with  Palmer  as  his  partner  part  of  the  time, 
sold  his  share  to  Mr.  Stone,  the  latter  selling  to 
Alton  Griswold  a  year  later.  In  1870,  Palmer 
sold  to  Griswold,  and,  four  years  later,  the  lat- 
ter sold  an  interest  to  L.  L.  Palmer,  who,  at  the 
end  of  a  year,  bought  his  partner's  share,  and 
continued  alone  until  1878,  when  the  present 
firm  of  Munn  Brothers  assumed  ownership. 
Merchants  of  Macedonia  have  surely  experi- 
enced a  checkered  career.  They  spring  up  from 
all  quarters,  like  mushrooms  from  a  hot-bed. 


L.  Gr.  Odell  was  the  first  Postmaster,  receiv- 
ing his  commission  in  1852.  Zedick  Everest 
built  an  ashery  in  1844,  and  continued  the 
manufacture  of  potash  until  1858,  turning  out 
a  ton  a  week  the  year  round,  the  most  of  the 
time  he  conducted  the  business.  When  the 
woolen  factory  at  Brandywine  was  swept 
away  in  1843,  David  Armstead  and  Carl 
Storrs  bought  a  portion  of  the  machinery,  and 
immediately  thereafter  erected  a  fine  saw-mill 
at  Macedonia.  They  owned  and  operated  the 
mill  until  1852,  when  Alexander  Nesbitt  bought 
them  out,  and  four  years  later  a  man  named 
Griffith  became  owner.  Stone  &  Buswell 
owned  and  operated  it  during  the  war,  and 
did  an  enormous  business.  They  sawed  vast 
quantities  of  car  and  wagon  lumber  from  oak, 
ash,  maple  and  black  walnut,  which  was  shipped 
by  rail  to  Cleveland.  They  made  their  fortunes 
and  sold  out  when  the  war  ended.  Since  then 
Woodbury,  Lemoin,  Barnum  and  others  have 
owned  the  mill.  Shields  &  Chapin  have  owned 
it  since  1872,  and  are  at  present  doing  a  large 
business  for  the  car  manufacture  at  Cleveland. 
David  Armstead  built  a  hotel  in  1840.  The 
•Riley  House  "  was  built  seven  years  ago.* 

It  is  probable,  though  not  certain,  that  the 
first  term  of  school  was  taught  at  Brandywine. 
A  log  schoolhouse  was  built  there  as  early  as 
1817,  and  a  Mr.  Stiles  was  employed  to  teach 
the  few  children  then  in  the  village.  He  kept 
irregular  hours  and  was  paid  at  the  rate  of 
about  $1  per  scholar  for  the  term.  He  taught 
several  terms,  prior  to  1820,  in  the  same  house, 
which  was  occupied  until  about  1830,  when  a 
frame  schoolhouse  was  built  across  the  road 
opposite  the  old  one.  This  building  was  used 
many  years,  and,  though  silent  and  deserted  at 
present,  is  yet  standing,  a  relic  of  pioneer  times. 
The  old  log  schoolhouse  at  Brandywine  was 
well  attended  from  1820  to  1830.  The  children 
within  a  radius  of  several  miles  were  sent  to  it 
without  regard  to  township  lines ;  for  it  made 
little  difference  whence  they  came,  provided 
they  paid  promptly  their  allotted  subscription. 
Children  from  up  nearly  to  the  center  were 
given  their  first  schooling  in  this  house,  while, 
also,  many  of  those  who  had  attended  the  Stan- 
ford School  while  the  old  log  schoolhouse  was 
standing  there,  were  sent  to  Brand3'wine  when 
it  was  taken  down.  Everybody  at  that  time 
looked  upon  Brandywine  as  an  unusually  prom- 

*Giv<'ii  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Odell,  of  Macedonia. 


rv 


576 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


ising  village,  and  for  many  years  it  was  the 
center  of  education,  religion  and  industry.  The 
place  was  deemed  so  important,  that  its  being 
situated  partly  in  Boston  and  partly  in  North- 
field  was  regarded  as  a  drawback  to  its  im- 
provement and  growth,  and  the  result  was  that 
through  the  influence  of  the  Wallaces  and 
others,  two  lots  were  severed  from  Boston  and 
attached  to  Northfield.  The  following  action 
was  also  taken  by  the  Trustees  of  the  two 
townships  at  a  joint  meeting :  "■  The  second 
school  district  in  the  Township  of  Northfield  is 
this  day  annexed  to  the  second  fractional  school 
district  in  the  Township  of  Boston,  by  the 
Trustees  of  the  said  townships.  December  1, 
1827." 

It  is  thought  by  several,  that  the  first  school 
in  the  township  was  taught  in  the  Bacon  neigh- 
borhood. It  will  be  remembered  that,  in  1815, 
there  were  several  families  living  there,  each 
of  which  comprised  several  children.  Henry 
Wood,  whose  memory  is  now  slowly  failing 
him  on  account  of  age,  but  who  is  probably 
correct,  says  that  school  was  taught  prior  to  1 81 7 
in  a  vacated  log  dwelling  known  as  the  Row- 
ley house.  If  this  be  true,  it  was  the  first  in 
Northfield.  A  man  named  King  was  the  first, 
or  one  of  the  first  three  or  four  who  taught 
there.  In  about  1818  or  1819,  a  log  school- 
house  was  built  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of 
the  cemetery  which  lies  half  a  mile  north  of 
the  Center.  Henry  Wood  was  one  of  the  first 
teachers  in  this  house.  This  was  used  until 
not  far  from  1825,  when  a  schoolhouse  was 
built  at  the  Center,  and  another  about  two 
miles  northwest  of  the  Center.  The  following 
action  taken  from  the  records  was  probably  the 
first  relating  to  the  division  of  the  township 
into  school  districts  :  "  At  a  meeting  of  the 
Trustees  of  Northfield  on  April  12,  1826,  for 
the  purpose  of  dividing  the  township  into 
school  districts,  the  following  division  was 
made  :  Commencing  at  the  northwest  corner 
of  said  township,  thence  south  to  the  center 
line  of  said  township,  thence  east  along  said 
center  line  to  the  road  running  north  and  south 
through  the  center  of  said  township,  thence 
south  along  said  road  to  the  south  line  of  Lot 
7,  thence  east  along  said  line  to  the  east  line 
of  said  township,  thence  north  to  the  northeast 
corner  of  said  township,  thence  west  to  the 
place  of  beginning — said  district  containing 
twenty-four  householders,  and  to  be  known  as 


No.  1.  Also,  commencing  on  the  east  line  of 
said  township  and  running  east  along  the 
center  line  to  the  center  road  running  north 
and  south  through  said  township,  thence  south 
along  said  road  to  the  south  line  of  Lot  47, 
thence  east  along  said  line  to  the  east  line  of 
said  township,  thence  south  along  said  line  to 
the  north  line  of  Boston,  thence  west  along 
said  line  to  the  Cuyahoga  River,  thence  north 
to  the  place  of  beginning — said  district  con- 
taining fifteen  householders,  and  to  be  known 
as  No.  2."  The  following  is  also  quoted  from 
the  records  :  "  We,  the  Directors,  Maurice  Cran- 
mer  and  Levi  Leach,  do  agree  to  have  two 
schools  in  District  No.  1,  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage of  the  inhabitants,  and  the  public 
monc}'  to  be  divided  to  the  number  of  scholars 
each  school  affords  as  one  school,  April  5, 
1828."  This  division  was  formally  made  on 
the  3d  of  the  following  Ma}^,  the  two  districts 
thus  formed  being  designated  1  and  8.  Prior 
to  the  division  of  182G,  the  township  schools 
had  been  supported  wholly  b}^  subscription. 
The  houses  had  been  built  by  everybody  with- 
out regard  to  public  or  individual  expense. 
The  one  built  at  the  Center,  as  previously 
stated,  was  used  until  1835,  when  a  frame 
structure  was  erected  to  take  its  place,  and  was 
used  until  two  years  ago.  Robert  Smith,  after- 
ward School  Examiner,  taught  a  select  school 
in  the  Putnam  storeroom  after  the  latter  sold 
out.  He  taught  several  terms  of  excellent 
school.  He  also  taught  in  the  town  hall,  which 
was  built  in  1848.  Rev.  Andrews  also  taught 
a  select  school  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Esther  Cranmer  taught  the  first  school  in 
Macedonia.  She  went  to  Hudson  for  her  cer- 
tificate, and  was  examined  in  geography,  reading 
writing,  spelling  and  arithmetic  by  Lawyers 
Humphrey  and  Kirkham.  She  taught  a  summer 
school  of  four  months,  and  received  ten  shill- 
ings per  week,  and  boai'ded  around.  This 
school  was  taught  in  about  the  year  1833. 
The  old  house  was  soon  disused  and  a  new  one 
built,  and  another  has  taken  the  place  of  the 
place  of  the  last.  There  are  now  seven  school 
districts  in  Northfield. 

There  are  four  churches  in  the  township. 
For  many  years  prior  to  1831,  Methodists, 
Presbyterians,  Baptists  and  Seceders  held  meet- 
ings in  dwellings  and  schoolhouses,  yet,  so  far 
as  known,  no  society  was  regularl}'  organized 
until  the  year  mentioned.     From  Mrs.  Bacon 


L^ 


NORTHFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


577 


we  learn  that  the  Methodists  organized  a  society 
on  the  21st  of  Juh-,  1831,  with  the  following 
members  :  Abner  Hurt,  Charles  Leader,  Caleb 
Brown  (the  first  minister),  Betsey  Hurt,  Jere- 
miah Cranraer  and  wife,  David  C.  Bacon  and 
wife,  Daniel  S.  Stanley  and  wife,  Abram  Cran- 
mer  and  daughter  Esther,  William  Guy  and  his 
mother,  Mrs.  Duncan,  Morris  Cranmer  and 
wife,  Lyman  Richardson,  and  one  other  whose 
name  is  forgotten,  making  eighteen  members. 
The  minister.  Rev.  Mr.  Brown,  preached  his 
first  sermon  from  the  text,  "  Why  halt  ye 
between  two  opinions  ?"  etc.  The  society  wor- 
shiped in  a  log  schoolhouse  at  Northfield  Cen- 
ter for  some  time,  and  in  Mr.  Stanle3''s  house 
also.  Mr.  Brown,  after  organizing  the  church, 
preached  but  twice  before  going  to  Conference. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Revs.  Alfred  Bronson 
and  John  J.  Steedman.  The  circuit  at  that 
time  included  Cu3'ahoga  Falls,  Ravenna,  etc. 
The  surviving  members  of  the  first  organiza- 
tion are  Mrs.  Jane  C.  Bacon  and  Esther  Cran- 
mer, now  Mrs.  Munn.  Mrs.  Bacon  remembers 
a  camp-meeting  held  in  August,  1832,  the  next 
3'ear  after  the  formation  of  the  church  in 
Northfield,  over  in  Hudson  Township,  at  which 
Mr.  Steedman  preached  one  night  from  the 
text,  "  And  at  midnight  there  was  a  cry  made. 
Behold,  the  bridegroom  cometli ;  go  ye  out  to 
meet  him."  During  the  .sermon  a  most  terrific 
thunder-storm  came  up,  and  as  the  people 
sought  shelter  in  their  tents,  the  minister  took 
the  opportunity'  to  make  the  storm  an  applica- 
tion of  his  argument — that  if  they  did  not 
have  refuge  in  Christ,  etc.,  etc.,  and  following 
the  application,  he  commenced  singing  in  a 
tremendous  voice  the  h^mn  beginning —     * 

"  He  comes,  He  comes,  the  Judge  severe, 
The  seventh  trumpet  speaks  him  near. 
The  lightnings  flash,  the  thunders  roll."  etc. 

The  whole  scene  made  a  lasting  impression 
upon  the  congregation,  and  was  the  means  of 
starting  a  great  revival,  which  continued 
throughout  the  meeting. 

About  the  year  1836,  the  societj'  built  a 
church  edifice.  There  were  several  members 
who  lived  at  Macedonia,  which  led  to  the  organi- 
zation of  a  separate  society  there,  and  the  use 
of  the  church  at  that  place,  or  perhaps  its  undi- 
vided ownership  was  thus  secured.  This 
church  was  built  in  about  1835  by  people  who 
held  a  variety  of  religious  opinions,  among 
whom  perhaps  the  Free- Will  Baptists  predomi- 


nated. One  of  the  greatest  revivals  ever  in 
Northfield  was  conducted  at  Macedonia,  in  the 
old  log  schoolhouse,  b}^  Rev.  Mr.  Worrellow. 
It  lasted  five  weeks,  and  sixty-five  were  con- 
verted, a  portion  of  whom  joined  the  Free-Will 
Baptists,  others  the  Methodists,  and  still  others 
the  Presbyterians.  The  first  services  held  by 
the  Presbyterians  in  Northfield  were  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Hanford,  who  came  over  from  Hudson  and 
preached  occasionally.  A  church  was  built  by 
this  denomination  in  1834,  which  was  used 
until  about  thirt}-  years  ago,  when  the  present 
one  was  built.  Among  the  earl}-  members  of 
this  church  were  A.  Chapin,  John  and  Matthew 
Wilson,  Levi  Taylor,  Mrs.  Ozmun,  Mr.  Hall 
and  others.  A  Congi'egational  society  was 
early  organized,  mainly  through  the  influence 
of  the  Taylors.  A  small  church  was  built  by 
them  about  the  year  184-1.  Most  of  this 
societ}^,  however,  eventually  united  with  the 
Presbyterians,  and  their  church,  which  was  thus 
left  vacant,  was  used  a  few  times  in  which  to 
hold  select  schools,  and  was  then  fitted  up  for  a 
dwelling,  and  is  still  used  as  such.  The  follow- 
ing has  been  handed  us  b}'  Rev.  J.  W.  Logue, 
of  Northfield  :  ••  The  earliest  members  of  the 
First  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  this  town- 
ship came  from  Ligonier  Valley,  Penn.,  in 
1831.  These  and  a  few  others  that  came  in  a 
short  time  afterward,  numbering  in  all  foui'teen 
souls,  formed  themselves  into  a  church  society 
in  1833  by  the  election  of  William  Lemmon, 
Ruling  Elder.  A  short  time  afterward  John 
Nesbitt,  Jacob-  Leslie  and  John  Phillips  were 
elected  to  serve  in  the  same  capacity.  Their 
first  communion  was  held  in  a  schoolhouse  in 
the  vicinity,  the  above  number  of  communi- 
cants uniting  with  them.  Their  first  settled 
minister  was  Rev.  Joseph  Banks,  who  com- 
menced his  ministry  among  them  in  1834, 
remaining  some  five  years.  Their  first  church 
building  was  a  comfortable  frame  house,  about 
35x45  feet,  and  was  erected  in  1837  at  a  cost  of 
about  $1,000,  and  located  near  the  center  of 
Northfield.  Their  second  settled  minister  was 
Rev.  James  W.  Logue,  who  began  his  labors 
among  them  in  1843,  and  has  continued  until 
the  present  time.  Their  second  church  is  a 
commodious  frame  building,  about  40x60  feet, 
tastefully  constructed  and  furnished  at  a  cost  of 
some  $8,000.  It  was  erected  in  1871  on  the 
site  of  the  former  one.  This  church,  the 
strongest  in  the  township,  is  strongly  Calvinistic 


iJ; 


578 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


in  its  principles.  It  took  an  early  and  leading 
part  in  the  anti-slaver}'  reformation  in  this 
community,  and  has  always  been  active  in  all 
moral  reforms.'" 

In  1864,  a  cornet  band  was-  organized  in  the 
township,  composed  of  the  following  members  : 
Thomas  W.  Kichey,  William  F.  Drennen,  Milton 
A.  Van  Horn,  Joseph  Wilson,  L.  Bliss,  J.  Gr. 
Alexander,  George  Eichey  and  Charles  Peck. 
These  members,  with  their  own  means,  pur- 
chased a  set  of  second-hand  brass  instruments, 
and  their  subsequent  efforts  were  crowned  with 
moderate  success.  The  band  continued  thus, 
with  some  changes,  until  1872,  when,  through 
the  efforts  of  A.  W.  Bliss  and  the  liberality  of 
many  citizens  of  the  township,  a  set  of  fine  new 
silver  instruments  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of 
$841.  This  was  sufficient  to  lirouse  the  mem-  i 
bers  of  the  band  to  their  greatest  efforts,  and 
the  surrounding  hills  and  dales  echoed  with 
music  as  sweet  as  that  of  Orpheus.  Perhaps, 
also,  the  birds  of  the  air,  the  fish  in  the  streams, 
the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest,  and  even  the  trees, 
rocks  and  hills,  gathered  around  to  hear  the 
divine  strains.  The  members  of  the  band  shared 
a  fate  almost  as  sorrowful  as  that  of  Orpheus. 
Three  years  after  their  new  instruments  were 
purchased,  they  disbanded,  and  their  delicious 
music  died  out  in  plaintive  echoes.  In  1877,  a 
new  band  was  organized,  composed  in  part  of 
members  of  the  former  band.  This  is  yet  in 
existence.     The  members  have  furnished  them- 


selves with  new  brass  instruments,  and  have 
recently  made  their  appearance  in  a  bright  new 
uniform.  The  present  members  are  George 
Bliss,  Isaac  Buskirk,  Charles  Peck,  Frank 
Brower,  John  N.  McConnell,  Cass  Proctor,  J. 
L.  Ranney,  Henry  Nesbitt,  L.  E.  Stanley,  W.  Tj. 
Palmer,  Frank  Buggies  and  Will  Howe.  The 
band  is  a  credit  to  the  township,  and  should  be 
encouraged  in  a  hearty  and  substantial  man- 
ner. 

A  Lecture  Association  was  organized  in  North- 
field  in  the  winter  of  1878,  of  which  the  folio  wing- 
were  the  six  original  members  :  M.  A.  Van  Horn, 
Dr.  R.  S.  Hubbard,  Lorin  Bliss,  G.  M.  Seidell, 
J.  G.  Alexander,  Jo  Harter,  and  afterward  B. 
A.  Bobinotte  was  added.  The  first  officers  were 
M.  A.  Van  Horn,  President ;  J.  G.  Alexander, 
Secretary  ;  Dr.  R.  S.  Hubbard,  Corresponding 
Secretary,  and  G.  M.  Seidell,  Treasurer.  It  be- 
gan as  a  matter  of  experiment,  and  they  hired 
their  own  lecturers,  for  which  they  paid  out  of 
their  individual  pockets.  It  proved  a  success. 
Lectures  were  held  on  Thursdaj'  evenings  of 
each  week,  alternating  in  the  different  churches. 
The  association  has  become  self-sustaining  by 
the  sale  of  family  tickets,  memberships,  etc., 
and  is  apparently-  on  a  firm  basis.  The  pi-esent 
officers  are  Jo  Harter,  President  ;  B.  A.  Bob- 
inette,  Vice  President ;  Dr.  R.  S.  Hubbard,  Cor- 
responding Secretary  ;  Lorin  Bliss,  Assistant 
Corresponding  Secretary  :  J.  G.  Alexander,  Sec- 
retarv  and  Treasurer. 


CHAPTER    XXV.* 


NORTON  TOWNSHll'— ITS  PHYSK'AL  FEATURES— COMING  OF  TFIE  WHITES  — PIONEER  INDUSTRIES 
—GROWTH  AND  DEVELOPMENT— VILLAGES— CHURCHES  AND  SCHOOLS. 


■Ar|"ORTON  TOWNSHIP  was  originally 
.jJN  known  as  Town  1,  Range  12,  and  was  a 
a  part  of  Wolf  Creek  Township,  which  com- 
prised all  that  territory  now  known  as  Norton 
and  Copley,  in  Summit  Countv,  and  Wads- 
worth,  Sharon,  Guilford  and  Montville,  in  Me- 
dina County.  Wolf  Creek  Township  was  or- 
ganized in  1816,  and,  at  an  election  held  in 
April  of  that  year,  at  the  house  of  Philemon 
Kirkham,  which  stood  on  Lot  11,  in  Norton, 
Henry  Van  Hyning,  Sr.,  and  Salmon   Warner 

*  Contributed  by  M.  L.  Shook. 


were  chosen  the  first  Justices  of  the  Peace. 
Van  H3'ning  lived  on  Lot  19,  and  Warner, 
just  across  the  line  in  what  is  now  Wadsworth 
Township.  Philemon  Kirkham  was  elected 
Town  Clerk  ;  Nathan  Bates,  Jacob  Miller  and 
Abraham  Van  Hyning  were  elected  Trustees. 
Twenty-two  votes  were  polled  at  this  first  elec- 
tion in  a  precinct  whose  boundaries  inclosed 
150  square  miles.  In  1818,  Norton  Township 
was  organized,  with  its  boundaries  the  same  as 
at  pi'esent.  It  had  been  surve3'ed  eight  or  nine 
years  previous  to  this  by  Joseph  Darrow  and 


(r~ 


-^ 


:NOIiTON    TOWNSHIP. 


579 


others,  and  platted  into  lots  half  a  mile  square, 
numbering  from  one  to  one  hundred,  and  be- 
ginning in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  town- 
ship, numbering  fi'om  the  west  to  east,  thus  : 
the  west  lots  were  1,  11,  21,  31,  41,  51,  61,  71, 
81,  91,  to  the  southwest  corner.  It  is  bounded 
on  the  north  bj-  Copley  ;  on  the  east  by  Coven- 
try, part  of  which  boundary  is  marked  b}^  the 
Tuscarawas  River  ;  on  the  south  l)y  Franklin 
and  Chippewa,  and  on  the  west  by  Wadsworth. 
Norton  is  not  exactly  five  miles  square,  as  are 
most  of  the  townsliips  on  the  Western  Reserve, 
the  reason  for  which  we  will  endeavor  to  show. 
That  part  of  the  Reserve  lying  east  of  the  Cuy- 
ahoga River,  Portage  Path  and  Tuscarawas 
Branch  of  the  Muskingum  was  acquired  of  the 
Indians  by  the  treaty  of  Fort  Mcintosh  in  1785. 
It  was  surveyed  in  the  years  1796  and  1797, 
by  running  the  base  line  of  forty-one  degrees 
north  latitude  through  from  the  Pennsylvania 
line  to  the  Tuscarawas,  where  a  mark  was  made 
on  a  tree,  "  56m,"  meaning  fifty-six  miles 
from  the  Pennsylvania  line.  This  made  eleven 
ranges  and  one  mile  over  on  the  base  line.  The 
territory  west  of  Cuyahoga  River,  Portage 
Path  and  Tuscarawas  River  was  not  ceded 
b}-  the  Indians  until  the  treaty  of  Fort  Indus- 
try, in  1805,  after  which  the  balance  of  the  Re- 
serve was  survej^ed,  and  that  part  of  Range  12, 
Town  1,  or  Norton,  lying  east  of  the  Tusca- 
rawas, having  been  annexed  to  Range  11,  Town 
1,  years  before,  was  never  transferred.  An  in- 
cident which  occurred  at  the  time  the  survey 
was  made  will  not  be  out  of  place.  Squire 
David  Hudson,  of  the  town  of  Hudson,  being 
one  of  the  original  owners  of  Norton  Township, 
concluded  to  go  down  and  see  how  the  land 
which  he  owned  lay  ;  and  also  to  ascertain  how 
the  survey  was  moving  along.  Arriving  in 
Norton,  he  accompanied  the  surveying  party 
several  days,  and,  one  day  while  looking  around 
through  the  forest,  he  became  detached  from 
the  rest  of  the  part}'  and  partially  lost,  or  at 
least  did  not  know  which  direction  to  take  to 
find  his  companions.  The  surveyors  did  not 
miss  him  until  they  heard  some  one  making 
a  terrible  noise  a  little  distance  off,  and  at 
once  made  their  way  to  the  spot  from  which 
the  sounds  came.  Here  they  found  Hudson, 
with  his  arms  closel}^  clinging  to  a  tree,  which 
he  was  vainly  trying  to  climb,  and  calling 
lustily  for  some  one  to  •'  Shoot  the  bear ! " 
It   seems    he    had    happened    to   surprise   an 


old  she  bear  and  two  cubs,  which  took  to 
their  heels  as  soon  as  they  saw  him,  being  as 
much  frightened  as  the  Squire  himself  was.  It 
is  reported  that  he  kept  close  to  the  surveying 
party  after  this. 

This  township  is  drained  by  the  Wolf  Creek 
and  its  tributaries.  Wolf  Creek  enters  the 
township  from  the  north,  in  Lot  7,  takes  a 
southerly  course  in  general,  and  empties  into 
the  Tuscarawas  River  from  Lot  88.  Its  chief 
tributaries  are  (beginning  at  the  north)  Pigeon 
Creek,  which  enters  the  township  from  Copley 
in  Lot  10,  flows  south  and  a  little  west  of 
south  through  or  across  the  corner  of  ]jots  10 
and  20,  and  empties  into  Wolf  Creek  in  Lot  19. 
Van  Hyning  Run,  which  rises  in  a  marsh  near 
the  north  line  of  the  township  in  Lots  3  and  4, 
takes  a  southeasterly  course  through  Lots  14, 
15,  16,  26,  27,  37,  38,  and  empties  into  Wolf 
Creek  on  Lot  48.  Hudson  Run  rises  partly  in 
Wadsworth  Township,  Medina  County,  and 
partly  in  Norton  Township,  flows  southeasterly 
through  Lots  21,  31,  32,  42,  43,  53,  54,  64,  65, 
75,  76,  77,  and  empties  into  Wolf  Creek  on 
Lot  78,  near  Wolf  Creek  Lock.  Silver  Creek, 
a  branch  of  the  Chippewa  River,  drains  a 
small  portion  of  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
townsliip.  Hubbard  Run  rises  near  Western 
Star,  in  Wadsworth  Township,  enters  Norton  in 
Lot  41 ,  takes  an  easterly  course  through  Lots 
51,  52,  62,  63,  53,  and  empties  into  Hudson 
Run  on  Lot  54.  A  small  lake,  called  Davis 
Lake,  in  Lot  68,  is  the  only  lake  in  the  town- 
ship. It  has  no  visible  outlet,  and  is  fed  by 
springs,  it  is  supposed,  from  the  bottom.  It  is 
about  a  mile  in  circumference,  and  a  pleasant 
spot.  The  bottom  is  sandy,  and  it  is  conse- 
quently a  favorite  resort  during  the  summer 
months  for  bathing. 

The  soil  in  Norton  Township  is  somewhat 
diversified.  The  extreme  eastern  portion, 
north  and  east  of  Wolf  Creek,  is  inclined  to- 
ward a  sandy  loam,  in  some  parts  more  sandy 
than  in  others.  This  land  is  very  easy  to  till, 
and  with  care  brings  abundant  crops.  The 
land  l^ing  adjacent  to  the  Wolf  Creek  is  of 
a  loamy,  mucky  nature,  and,  when  first  turned 
up  by  the  plow,  resembles  decayed  vegetable 
matter,  of  which,  indeed,  it  is  largely  com- 
posed. West  and  southwest  of  Wolf  Creek, 
we  find  the  soil  contains  more  clay,  but  in 
places  so  mingled  with  gravel  and  loam  as  to 
make  the  best  of  soil  for  agricultural  purposes. 


D  "V 


580 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Drainage  is  sufficient  in  all  parts  of  Norton 
with  the  exception  of  the  south  half  of  the 
Wolf  Creek  bottoms  and  a  portion  of  swamp 
lying  partly  in  this  township  and  partly  in 
Copley.  At  the  building  of  the  Ohio  Canal, 
the  waters  of  Wolf  Creek  were  taken  to  feed 
the  canal  below  Wolf  Creek  Lock.  This 
caused  a  stagnation  in  the  last  few  miles  of  its 
flow,  which  is  the  source  of  a  great  deal  of 
waste  wet  land,  and  that  the  ver}'  richest  soil 
in  the  township.  The  eastern  part  of  the 
township  is  somewhat  broken  and  hilly,  al- 
though very  little  of  it  is  so  rough  as  not  to  be 
utilized.  A  ledge  of  sandstone  just  strikes  the 
township  on  the  northeast  corner.  Another 
ledge  forms  the  Western  boundary  of  the 
Wolf  Creek  bottoms,  this  last  passing  entirely 
through  the  township  from  north  to  south,  and 
from  one  to  two  miles  from  the  east  line.  This 
sandstone  is  quarried  at  several  places,  and 
makes  the  best  of  building  stone.  Among  the 
quarries  now  open  may  be  mentioned  those  of 
Shaw's,  near  Wolf  Creek  Lock  ;  Irish's,  on  Lot 
47,  and  Miller's,  on  Lot  37.  The  principal 
productions  of  Norton  Township  are  wheat, 
oats,  corn  and  live  stock  and  coal.  This  shows 
agriculture  to  be  the  chief  occupation  of  the 
citizens.  Considerable  attention  has  been  paid 
the  past  few  years  to  the  raising  of  stock. 
Some  fine  thoroughbred  cattle  are  owned  in 
the  township.  Among  cattle-raisers,  the  name 
of  A.  D.  Betz  takes  first  rank,  although 
others  have  made  considerable  advance  toward 
fine  stock.  Norton  has  long  been  noted  for  its 
draft  horses,  and,  at  the  fairs  of  the  county, 
the  farmers  of  Norton  very  rarely  take  the  sec- 
ond place  in  the  matter  of  horses.  Norton  is 
well  supplied  with  villages,  no  less  than  seven 
being  wholly  or  in  part  included  in  its  terri- 
tory. New  Portage  is  situated  near  the  east 
line  of  the  township,  and  midway  between  the 
north  and  south  lines,  on  Lots  50  and  60. 
Loyal  Oak,  in  the  north  part  of  the  township, 
about  one  and  three-fourths  miles  from  the 
center  ;  Western  Star,  partly  in  this  and  partly 
in  Wadsworth  Township,  on  the  county  line 
between  Summit  and  Medina  Counties,  two  and 
one-half  miles  west  of  Norton  Center  ;  Denni- 
son  Station,  one  and  one-half  miles  west  and 
one  mile  south  of  Norton  Center  ;  Johnson's 
Corners,  one  and  one- half  miles  south  of  Nor- 
ton Center  ;  Hametown,  one  and  three-fourths 
miles  southwest  of  Johnson's  Corners,  on  the 


Wooster  roajj  ;  and,  last  and  least,  Norton  Cen- 
ter, situated  in  the  geographical  center  of  the 
township. 

Norton  Township,  as  we  have  said,  was  Town 
1,  Range  12,  in  the  Western  Reserve,  and  at  its 
formation  was  named  after  Birdsey  Norton, 
one  of  the  original  owners  of  the  township.  It 
was  formed  into  an  independent  township  in 
the  spring  of  LS18  ;  and  at  an  election  held  on 
the  first  Monday  of  April,  Joseph  D.  Hum- 
phrey was  elected  Town  Clerk  ;  Abraham  Van 
Hyning,  Ezra  Way,  and  Charles  Lyon,  Trust- 
ees. Among  the  Supervisors  of  Highways 
for  that  year,  of  whom  there  were  five,  we  find 
the  names  of  Joseph  Holmes,  Elisha  Hins- 
dale and  John  Cahow.  Henry  Van  Hyning, 
Sr..  was  Justice  of  the  Peace.  Probably  the 
first  purchase  of  land  was  made  by  James  Rob- 
inson, he  having  purchased  Lot  19,  as  early  as 
1810,  and  built  a  hut  on  it.  It  seems,  however, 
that  he  did  not  make  this  his  permanent  resi- 
dence. He  was  originally  from  Otsego  County, 
N.  Y.  In  1815,  he  sold  his  lot  to  Mr.  Henry 
Van  Hyning,  Sr.  About  the  same  time  that 
Robinson  came  to  Norton,  John  Cahow  settled 
on  Lot  20,  about  a  half-mile  east  of  Robinson's 
place,  and  erected  a  log  cabin.  It  is  a  matter 
of  some  dispute,  whether  Robinson's  or  Cahow's 
house  was  the  first  one  built  in  the  township. 
Some  authorities  claim  the  former  and  others 
the  latter.  Cahow  came  from  Marjdand  and 
had  raised  some  crops  before  the  war  of  1812, 
and  kept  a  hotel  or  tavern  as  it  was  then  called, 
during  that  war ;  his  place  being  on  the  great 
trail  from  old  Portage,  on  the  Cuyahoga,  to  the 
Scioto.  No  progress  was  made  toward  set- 
tling up  the  township  until  after  the  war  of 
1812,  when  a  general  rush  of  settlers  found 
their  way  through  the  trackless  forest.  Among 
them  we  notice  Philemon  Kirkham.  who  set- 
tled on  Lot  11  ;  Seth  Lucas,  on  Lot  12  ;  the 
Bates  brothers,  who  settled  south  of  what  is 
now  Johnson's  Cornel's  at  first,  and  soon  after 
two  of  them  removed  to  where  Loyal  Oak  now 
is.  Their  names  were  Nathan  and  Lyman 
Bates.  The}'  each  erected  a  cabin,  one  on  the 
southwest  and  one  on  the  northeast  corner. 
The  place  took  its  name  from  them.  Abraham 
Van  Hyning  came  in  1814  and  settled  on  Lot 
75,  now  Johnson's  Corners.  His  house  stood 
on  a  spot  about  twenty  rods  nearly  due  west  of 
the  present  storehouse,  on  the  l)ank.  John 
Bryan,  or  O'Brien,  perhaps  more  properly,  set- 


w    — 


•-4* 


NORTON    TOWNSHIP. 


581 


tied  a  little  southwest  of  Van  Hyning's  place, 
near  the  present  Wooster   road,  on    Lot   85.  i 
About  the  same  time,  a  family  by  the  name  of 
Clark  settled  at  New  Portage,  and  built  a  log 
cabin,  partly  in  this  and  partly  in   Coventry' 
Township.     A  son  of  this  familj',  named  Miles, 
afterward   became  the  first  physician    of  the 
township.     In  1815,  quite  a  number  of  families 
settled  in  the  township,  among  them    Henry 
Van    Hyning,    who,  with  his    sons,   plaj^ed   a 
most   important  pai't  in  the  earlj'  history  of 
Norton.     Having  purchased  Lot  19,  of  James 
Robinson,  he  I'emoved  his  family  from  North- 
ampton, where  he  had  settled  ten  years  before, 
to  Norton,  where  he  had  intended  to  pass  the 
remainder   of  his   days.      Van   H3'ning  came 
originall}'  from    Saratoga,   N.  Y.,  and  was   of  \ 
Dutch  origin,  his  forefathers  having  emigrated  ; 
from  Holland   to   New   York,  when   that  was 
called  New  Amsterdam.     His  second  wife  was  I 
a  direct  descendant  of  the  great  Bogardus  men- 
tioned in  history.     Van  H3'ning,  with  his  fam- 
ily, left  Saratoga  for  the  West  in  1805,  with  two 
yoke  of  oxen  attached  to  wagons,  and  his  wife 
riding  horseback  through  the    forest,  driving 
three  cows  which  followed  the  wagons  and  re- 
quiring little  effort  on   her  part.     Their  course 
lay  through  Buflfalo,  N.  Y.,  to  Erie,  Penn.,  near 
which  place  Mr.    Van   Hyning   built   canoes, 
lashed  them  together  and  launched  them  on 
French  Creek.     He  passed  down  this  creek  to 
the  Allegheny,  and  thence  to  Pittsburgh,  whith- 
er his  teams  were  coming  as  fast  as  they  could 
travel.      From    Pittsburgh   they    went   across 
the  counti-y  to  what  is  now  Canfield,  Mahoning 
County,  Ohio,  where  they  stopped   about  two 
months.     The  lamily  was  here  increased  by  one 
who  was  named  Sylvester,  and  who  is  now  liv- 
ing on  the  old  homestead.     During  the  stop  at 
Canfield,  Mr.  Van  Hyning  went  on  to  North- 
ampton to  locate  his  home,  whither  he  removed 
as  soon  as  circumstances  would  permit.     From 
Canfield  they  went  to  Ravenna,  thence  back  to 
Warren  where  the}'  laid  in  a  stock  of  provis- 
ions, consisting  of  a  barrel  of  pork,  a  barrel  of 
flour  and   a  barrel  of  whisky,  with   numerous 
other  articles  of  necessity  to  a  backwoodsman. 
From  Warren  they  made   their  way  to  west- 
ward to  the  Cuyahoga  River,  which  they  crossed 
at  a  point  called  "  Brady's  Leap.'"     The  bridge 
across   the  stream  at  tiiis  place,   consisted  of 
two  "  stringers,"  or  logs,  placed  across  the  stream 
(which  was  about  twenty'  feet  wide)  and  a  split 


puncheon  floor.  Over  this  they  crossed  and 
to  Northampton  they  were  obliged  to  cut  a  road 
most  of  their  way.  The  journey,  including  the 
stop  at  Canfield,  occupied  about  four  months. 
These  early  settlers  were  subjected  to  many 
privations  ;  their  provisions  did  not  hold  out 
until  more  could  be  produced  and  after  a  crop 
was  raised  they  had  no  mill  within  a  distance 
of  thirty  miles.  When  they  went  to  mill  they 
had  to  take  a  big  load  or  the  teams  would  eat 
it  all  up  before  they  got  back  home.  A  few 
years,  however,  removed  the  diflSculty.  The 
mill  and  other  comforts  were  added  from  time 
to  time.  This  is  a  sample  of  the  journey  across 
the  unbroken  wilderness  by  the  earl}'  settlers, 
and  one  will  suflSce  as  all  were  much  alike. 

About  the  same  time  that  Van  Hj^ning 
came  to  Norton,  Benjamin  Hoadley  moved  in 
and  settled  in  Lot  15,  near  Loj'al  Oak.  He 
was  from  Connecticut  and  had  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land,  which  he  afterward  cleared  and 
where  his  widow  still  lives  to  tell  of  the  hard- 
ships of  their  early  life.  In  1816,  Joseph 
Holmes  settled  on  Lot  67,  having  bought  197 
acres  in  Lots  67  and  68.  Holmes  came  from  Mass- 
achusetts originally,  but  like  a  great  many  more 
had  stopped  several  years  in  New  York  State,  and 
from  there  moved  to  Ohio.  Previous  to  this,  the 
settlers  had  erected  a  log  house  near  the  line 
between  Norton  and  Coventry  for  school  and 
church  purposes.  Here  Holmes  landed  and 
stayed  a  few  days.  He  moved  on  to  his  land 
on  a  Wednesday,  and  camped  beside  a  big  tree 
which  had  blown  over  on  a  spot  near  where 
William  George  now  lives.  Next  day,  Thurs- 
day, he  cut  the  logs  for  a  cabin,  on  Friday  the 
neighbors  helped  him  -^  log  it  up,"  and  on  Sat- 
urday his  family  moved  into  it.  This  shows 
how  expeditious  these  old  pioneers  were.  Of 
course  the  house  was  not  "  chinked  up."  or 
plastered  with  clay,  yet  it  was  a  dwelling,  and 
sheltered  the  inmates  from  the  chilling  April 
storms.  Our  informant  was  one  of  the  party 
who  camped  beside  that  big  log.  He  says  the 
wolves  howled  around  them  all  night  long,  but 
they  knew  no  fear,  and  suffered  no  harm  from 
them.  The  same  day  that  Holmes  raised  his 
house,  Charles  Miller,  father  of  Cyrus  Miller, 
now  living  near  Norton  Center,  landed  in  the 
township.  He  settled  a  little  west  of  Johnson's 
Corners  on  the  south  side  of  the  Wooster  road. 
Numerous  other  settlers  came  this  same  year, 
and  small  clearings  began  to  spring  up  all  over 


i<r, 


582 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


the  township.  The  3^ears  1817-18  brought 
still  more  emigrants,  and  the  foundation  for 
some  of  the  numerous  villages  were  laid. 
Nearh'  or  quite  all  of  tliose  mentioned  hereto- 
fore were  either  from  New  York  State  or  from 
the  New  England  States,  and  they  earl}'  showed 
their  special  traits  of  character  in  regard  to 
social  customs  and  domestic  life.  \Iuch  of 
their  time  was  spent  in  cutting  I'oads,  clearing 
up  the  land  and  helping  each  other  build  their 
houses.  When  a  road  was  to  be  opened,  all 
turned  out  and  helped  to  cut  the  trees  and  get 
them  out  of  the  way.  If  a  man  had  a  lot 
cleai'ed,  that  is,  cut,  he  invited  his  neighbors  to 
help  him  roll  the  logs  together  and  burn  them. 
None  were  selfish  in  those  days,  for  each  one 
knew  that  he  was  dependent  on  the  others  to 
some  extent  for  his  own  and  his  family's  safety 
and  comfort.  Tallmadge,  or  as  it  is  now  called 
^liddlebury,  was  the  nearest  trading-post,  and 
goods  were  shipped  there  in  boats  up  the  Cuy- 
ahoga to  that  spot,  or  up  the  Muskingum  to 
Upper  Portage  on  the  Tuscarawas,  and  thence 
to  Middlebury  by  teams.  These  boats  were 
long,  narrow  vessels,  frequently  "  dug  outs  "  as 
they  were  called,  from  twenty  to  forty  feet 
long  and  from  three  to  five  feet  wide,  and  pro- 
pelled by  means  of  poles.  Their  capacity  was 
ten  to  twelve  barrels  of  pork,  salt,  flour  or 
whisky.  This  last  being  a  verj'  important 
article  of  consumption  in  those  early  days. 
Stock  of  all  kinds  was  scarce.  Sheep  could 
not  be  kept  on  account  of  the  wolves,  and  many 
a  family's  suppl}*  of  pork  was  prematurely  ex- 
hausted hy  the  hungry  bears  which  prowled 
around  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  For  the  ben- 
efit of  butter-makers,  we  will  relate  the  follow- 
ing of  Van  Hyning's  trip  to  this  township. 
As  already  mentioned,  Mrs.  Van  Hyning  rode 
on  horseback  and  drove  three  cows.  Their 
milk  which  remained  unused  on  breaking 
camp  in  the  morning  was  placed  in  a  large  jug 
and  deposited  in  one  of  the  wagons.  By  night 
a  nice  chunk  of  butter  would  have  been  formed 
in  the  jug  churned  by  the  jolting  of  the  wagon 
over  the  beech  roots.  Farming  was  poor  busi- 
ness in  those  days.  Corn  was  the  main  staple, 
as  this  could  be  fed  to  the  cattle  and  pigs  as 
well  as  the  human  beings ;  wheat  was  raised 
only  for  bread  and  seed,  as  prior  to  the  open- 
ing of  the  Ohio  Canal  it  cost  more  to  get  the 
wheat  to  market  than  it  was  worth  after  it  was 
there.  Beans  were  also  a  very  important  article 


of  production,  since  they  could  be  used  with- 
out being  ground.  Indeed  many  would  cook 
shelled  corn  with  the  beans  to  make  them  hold 
out  longer.  But  this  was  only  the  case  prior 
to  the  building  of  mills  within  reach  of  the 
settlement. 

The  first  birth  within  the  present  boundai'ies 
of  Norton  was  a  child  of  L\'man  Bates,  which, 
however,  did  not  live  long.  Bates  then  lived 
south  of  Johnson's  Corners.  A  few  years  later 
another  was  born,  who  lived.  Soon  after  this, 
Bates  house  was  burned  and  he  removed  to 
what  is  now  Loyal  Oak.  The  first  death  of 
a  white  person  was  Patty  O'Brien,  daughter 
of  John  O'Brien,  aged  about  two  years. 
James  Robinson  and  Lois  Bates  were  the  first 
couple  married  in  the  township.  They  were 
married  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  parents 
south  of  Johnson's  Corners,  by  William  Prior,  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  of  Northampton.  This 
was  in  the  fall  of  1811.  Probably  the  second 
wedding  was  that  of  James  Cahow  and  Miranda 
Holmes,  daughter  of  Joseph  Holmes,  which 
took  place  at  her  father's  residence  about  a  mile 
east  of  Norton  Center,  April  0.  1818,  by  Henry 
Van  Hyning,  Sr. 

No  Indians  remained  in  the  township  after 
1812,  consequently  the  settlers  were  at  peace, 
with  the  exception  of  a  personal  squabble  once 
in  awhile.  A  few  incidents  and  personal  ad- 
ventures will  illustrate  the  times  of  which  we 
write  :  Soon  after  Benjamin  Hoadley  settled  in 
Norton,  he  and  Henry  \n.n  Hyning,  Jr.,  went 
into  the  woods  on  a  hunting  excursion,  as  was 
customai'y  when  provisions  ran  low.  In  the 
course  of  their  hunt  they  found  a  bee-tree,  and. 
as  it  was  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  concluded  to 
leave  it  until  the  weather  was  colder,  and  then  cut 
it  down  and  convc}'  the  hidden  sweets  to  their 
homes.  Some  time  during  the  winter  following 
they  went  forth  to  cut  the  tree.  But  lo  !  the 
tree  had  fallen  down,  and  the  bears,  who  like 
honey  as  well  as  the  human  family,  had  got 
away  with  the  whole  of  it.  A  few  years  after, 
the  same  parties  again  found  a  bee-tree 
over  in  the  southeast  part  of  what  is  now 
Sharon  Township.  This  time  they  thought 
they  would  make  sure  of  their  prize,  :uid 
accordingly  the  next  da}-,  armed  with  axes 
and  a  pail  apiece,  they  made  for  the  spot.  The 
tree  was  soon  felled,  and  the  honey  literally 
flowed.  The  pails  were  soon  filled  with  fine 
white  comb.     Thei'e  beins:  so  much  left  and  the 


.[£ 


NORTON    TOWNSHIP. 


583 


distance  so  great,  they  began  to  contrive  means 
to  take  more  of  it,  and  not  be  at  the  necessity 
of  making  another  trip,  nor  at  the  risk  of  losing 
the  honey  by  the  cunning  bears,  who  woukl  no 
doubt  find  it  before  they  could  make  another 
trip  for  it.  Van  Hyning  wore  a  long,  loose  sort 
of  a  blouse,  and  of  this  they  contrived  to  make 
a  sack,  which  the}'  thought  would  hold  comb 
honey.  So  they  tied  the  blouse  together  at  one 
end,  filled  it  with  the  choicest  honey,  and  secured 
the  other  end  in  a  like  manner.  Slinging  this 
with  their  pails  on  a  pole  which  they  had  cut, 
and  Van  Hyning  taking  the  lead,  oft'  they 
trudged  toward  home.  But  they  had  •'  reckoned 
without  their  host ;  "  the  blouse  was  not  very 
closel}'  woven,  and  the  jar  caused  by  walking 
through  the  woods,  over  logs,  and  up  hill  and 
down,  caused  the  honey  to  run  out  of  the  comb 
and  drip  out  through  the  blouse.  Hoadley  was 
soon  almost  covered  with  hone}',  and  never  for- 
got this,  the  sweetest  adventure  he  ever  expe- 
rienced. 

Henry  Van  Hyning,  Sr.,  had  two  noted  dogs, 
Bose  and  Grunner  by  name — very  large  and 
powerful,  and  ver}-  skillful  in  hunting  bear. 
One  time  soon  after  Nathan  Bates  had  erected 
the  first  cabin  on  the  site  where  now  stands 
Bates"  Corners,  Henry  Van  H3'ning.  Jr.,  went  to 
see  how  he  was  getting  aloug.  When  he  got 
to  Bates'  place,  Bates  told  him  that  there  had 
been  a  bear  seen  in  the  woods  not  far  away  the 
evening  before,  and  suggested  that  they  go  and 
find  him.  Two  of  Bates'  brothers  were  also 
with  him  at  the  same  time.  Van  Hj'ning,  al- 
though acknowledged  a  skillful  hunter,  had  left 
his  rifle  at  home  that  morning,  and  had  only 
l)r<)ught  one  dog  with  him.  They  therefore 
concluded  to  send  one  of  the  brothers  down  to 
Van  H3-ning's  place  for  the  rifle,  and  for 
•'  Bose,'  with  instructions  to  meet  them  on  what 
was  called  the  "  Hog  Back,"  a  hill  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Jacob  Wertraan.  Van  Hyning 
and  the  two  Bates  went  to  this  spot  with  "(run- 
ner "  and  two  rifles.  Near  the ''  Hog  Back  '  was  a 
spring,  and  just  below  the  spring  was  a  bed  of 
sweet  sicily.  This  was  a  favorite  resort  fijr  bear, 
and  for  this  reason,  the  men  went  to  this  place, 
when  Gunner  began  to  show  signs  of  •'  bar." 
His  bristles  stood  erect.  He  sniffed  the  air  and 
whined  as  though  impatient  for  the  fray. 
"Well,"  said  his  master,  "  go  for  them.  Gunner," 
and  Gunner  went.  He  had  no  sooner  entered 
the  marsh  than  he  raised  the  roar,  which  told 


the  men  that  he  had  found  a  bear,  and  the 
sound  told  them  which  direction  the  bear  and 
dog  was  taking.  Snatching  a  rifle  from  Bates, 
Van  Hyning  started  across  the  ravine  to  head 
off"  the  bear.  In  this  he  succeeded  by  taking  a 
route  diagonal  to  that  taken  by  the  bear.  As 
soon  as  the  latter  saw  him  he  started  toward 
him  for  a  fight.  Van  Hyning  reserved  his  fire 
until  he  could  be  sure  of  his  aim.  He  was 
quite  a  distance  from  the  rest  of  the  part}^  and 
had  a  rifle  to  which  he  was  unused,  which  placed 
him  in  a  serious  position.  The  bear,  when 
about  ten  or  twelve  feet  from  the  hunter,  threw 
his  head  down  for  a  moment,  and  this  moment 
was  suflScient  for  Van  Hyning,  who  fired.  The 
bear  turned  a  complete  somersault  and  landed 
in  a  little  hollow,  but  was  not  dead,  although 
his  neck  had  been  broken  by  the  ball.  The 
Bates  brothers  now  came  up,  and  one  of  them 
placed  the  other  rifle  to  the  bear's  ear  with  the 
intention  of  blowing  his  brains  out,  but  the  rifle 
missed  fire.  '•  Open  the  pan,"  said  Van  Hyning, 
and,  priming  the  empt}^  gun  in  his  hand,  he 
held  the  two  pans  together,  and  flashed  the  one, 
which  ignited  the  other.  This  finished  the  bear. 
On  dressing  him  and  weighing  his  quarters,  it 
was  found  that  they  weighed  500  pounds.  It 
was  the  largest  bear  killed  in  all  the  country 
around,  if  not  the  largest  in  the  State.  V^m 
Hyning,  who  still  lives  to  tell  the  story,  says 
he  would  not  run  the  same  risk  again,  and  take 
the  chances,  for  the  whole  of  Summit  County. 

As  we  have  stated,  money  was  scarce  and 
hard  to  get  in  those  early  days.  Prior  to  the 
opening  of  the  Ohio  Canal,  wheat  was  of  no 
value  except  for  food,  and  man)-  had  wheat 
stored  up,  some  to  the  amount  of  several  hun- 
dred bushels.  But  when  tax-paying  time  came, 
some  would  take  their  rifles  and  shoot  deer,  take 
the  hides  on  their  backs  to  Cleveland,  and  thus 
get  money  to  pay  their  taxes.  The  canal,  how- 
ever, worked  a  great  change  in  all  this.  Wiieat 
went  up  first  to  50  cents,  then  on  to  $1  per 
bushel.  Some  settlers  had  scoffed  at  their 
neighbors  "  who  were  spending  their  time  sow- 
ing and  harvesting  more  wheat  than  they  needed 
for  family  use,"  and  storing  it  up  in  their  gar- 
rets. In  at  least  one  instance,  the  joist  had  to 
be  propped  up  to  keep  them  from  breaking 
down.  When  wheat  went  up,  however,  to  $1 
per  bushel,  Joseph  D.  Humphrey,  one  of  the 
scoffers,  said  to  one  of  his  provident  neighbors  : 
"  Squire,    I   am  just   $1,000   out  of   pocket." 


Jli 


584 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


"  Why  so  ?  "  said  the  "  Squire."  "  Why,"  said 
Huraphre}',  "  because  I  have  not  got  1,000 
bushels  of  wheat  to  sell.  I  might  as  well  have 
raised  that  much  and  stored  it  up  as  not." 

New  Portage  was  the  scene  of  an  epidemic 
from  the  years  1825  to  1828,  which  was  called 
typhus  or  malarial  fever.  This  nearly  wiped 
the  town  out  of  existence.  It  seemed  fatal, 
and  those  who  had  clung  to  it  as  the  El  Dorado 
of  their  hopes,  were  loath  to  leave,  but  were 
forced  to  do  so,  or  die  in  their  tracks,  as  scarcely 
an}^  escaped  the  deadly  disease. 

During  the  early  history  of  this  township,  a 
great  deal  of  counterfeit  money  was  in  circula- 
tion, and  a  great  deal  of  suspicion  was  attached 
to  persons  then  living  in  Johnson's  Corners. 
One  De  Course}'  was  generallv  considered  the 
ringleader  of  the  whole  crookedness.  He  was 
a  sharp,  shrewd  man — one  who  seemed  to  know 
all  that  was  going  on  in  the  whole  neighbor- 
hood— for  no  sooner  did  the  Justice  issue  a  war- 
rant for  his  arrest  than  he  took  to  the  woods, 
where  he  would  remain  until  the  storm  had 
blown  over,  when  he  would  again  make  his  ap- 
pearance. At  one  time,  when  the  Constable 
came  with  a  posse  to  arrest  him,  De  Coursey 
spied  them  coming,  and  quick  as  thought  he 
pulled  off  his  coat,  tossed  it  to  George  Beach, 
who  was  with  him  at  the  time,  saying,  "  Be 
quick,  George.  Put  on  that  coat  and  streak  for 
the  woods."  Beach  did  not  wait  to  be  told  a 
second  time,  but  "  streaked."  The  Constable 
and  posse  took  after  him  full  speed.  Beach  ran 
until  he  thought  he  had  carried  the  joke  far 
enough,  when  he  turned  around  and  faced  the 
music  with  the  remark  :  "  What  in  hell  do  you 
want  ?  what's  the  matter  ?  "  "  Sucked,  by  G —  !" 
said  the  Constable.  De  Coursey  in  the  mean- 
while had  time  to  escape.  About  1825,  a  young 
man  named  Henry  Flickinger  came  to  Johnson's 
Corners  with  about  $300  in  money,  which  was 
good,  but  not  the  kind  that  would  pass  at  the  land 
office  where  he  wished  to  use  it  for  the  purpose 
of  buying  land.  De  Course}'  then  had  a  man 
with  him  named  Downs,  who,  they  said,  could 
exchange  money  with  Flickinger.  This  Flickin- 
ger was  glad  to  do,  but  alas  !  when  Flickinger 
came  to  the  land  office  with  his  money,  it  was 
found  to  be  spurious  Virginia  mone3^  He  swore 
out  a  warrant  for  the  arrest  of  Downs,  before 
Esquire  Van  Hyning.  It  was  served  by  Hen- 
ry Sparhawk,  Constable,  who  found  his  man  at 
Yellow  Creek  Basin,  then  a  favorite  resort  for 


counterfeiters  and  horse-thieves.  Downs  had  a 
fine  horse  which  he  rode.  They  proceeded 
on  their  wa}'  to  Norton,  but  had  not  gone  far 
when  Downs  took  to  the  woods,  leaving  the 
horse  in  possession  of  the  Constable,  who 
brought  it  to  Norton,  gave  it  up  to  the  Squire, 
who  in  turn  delivered  it  to  Mr.  Flickinger,  who 
thus  had  a  horse  in  exchange  for  his  $300. 
Suspicion  also  pointed  to  one  James  Hender- 
shott,  who  once  lived  in  a  house  on  the  high 
knoll  just  south  of  where  Jacob  Wertman  now 
lives.  When  the  house  was  torn  down,  soon 
after  he  left  it,  some  counterfeit  half-dollars 
were  found  in  the  cellar,  supposed  to  have  been 
left  there  by  him,  as  he  was  the  last  and  the 
only  suspicious  character  who  ever  lived  there. 

At  the  organization  of  the  township,  only 
three  Democratic  voters  were  present.  They 
were  Abel  Irish,  Joseph  D.  Humphrey  and  Levi 
Waj',  who  lived  in  the  southeast  part  of  the 
town.  Now,  the  Democrats  have  a  raajorit}'  of 
about  sixty  in  the  township. 

Norton  Township  is  abundantly  supplied 
with  coal  of  a  good  quality,  no  less  than  four 
coal  mines  being  in  operation  within  the  limits 
of  the  township  at  the  present  time.  The  first 
coal  was  found  cropping  out  of  the  bank  of  a 
creek,  near  where  the  Bartges  or  Williams 
Brothers  bank  now  is,  as  early  perhaps  as 
1825.  This  coal  was  sold  for  $1  per  load,  and 
each  one  dug  his  own  coal  at  first.  About 
1830-31,  the  bank  on  the  northeast  side  of  this 
creek  was  opened  by  Jason  Jones  and  a  man 
named  Funk.  iVbout  ten  years  afterward,  Jo- 
seph Burgess  opened  the  bank  on  the  other  side 
of  the  creek,  and,  years  after,  the  one  now  in 
operation  on  his  farm,  south  of  Johnson's  Cor- 
ners. In  1876,  a  coal  mine  was  opened  on  the 
farm  of  Charles  Stuver.  In  1863,  the  Atlantic 
&  Great  Western  Railwa}',  now  known  as  the 
New  York,  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Railroad,  was 
opened  through  the  township  from  east  to  west, 
and  while  grading  this,  coal  was  found  in  a  cut 
at  Dennison,  which  led  to  the  opening  of  a  coal 
mine  at  that  place.  Hundreds  of  thousands 
of  tons  of  coal  have  been  taken  from  this 
mine,  and  within  the  last  three  3'ears  two  new 
openings  have  been  made,  and  the  old  bank 
abandoned  and  allowed  to  fill  up  with  water. 
This  mine  supplies  the  railroad  with  coal  for 
their  engines,  at  the  chutes,  near  the  mine,  thus 
saving  transportation  on  a  great  amount  of 
coal. 


■7[< 


k^ 


NORTON    TOWNSHIP. 


585 


Probably  the  first  tavern  or  public  house 
kept  in  the  township  was  situated  on  Lot  20,  a 
little  east  of  the  Wolf  Creek.  It  was  kept  by 
John  Cahow,  who  settled  here  as  early  as  1810, 
and  kept  travelers  at  his  cabin  during  the  war 
of  1812,  and  after,  Joseph  Holmes  who  has 
already  been  mentioned  as  settling  on  Lot  57, 
also  kept  a  hotel  for  the  accommodation  of 
travelers  after  1820.  Thomas  Van  Hyning, 
who  settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Mer- 
vin  Shaw,  was  also  an  earl}^  tavern-keeper. 
Others  will  be  mentioned  in  the  history  of  the 
villages  of  the  township.  The  first  saw-mill 
in  the  township  was  built  by  Thomas  Johnson, 
near  Johnson's  Corners,  several  rods  south  of 
the  present  grist-mill.  It  was  built  about  the 
year  1823.  Thomas  Van  Hyning  built  one  a 
little  farther  up  the  creek.  Hezekiah  Ward 
built  a  saw-mill  on  Hudson  Run,  up  near  the 
Wadsworth  line,  about  1825.  These  were  what 
was  called  sash-frame  saws  and  worked  very 
slow.  About  1837,  Nathan  Seiberling,  who 
had  settled  on  his  present  farm  in  1831,  built  a 
saw-mill  introducing  what  was  called  a  geared 
mule}'  saw,  which  cut  much  faster  than  theold 
style.  Some  years  after,  another  mill  was  built 
still  farther  down  the  creek  than  Seiberlings, 
and  which  is  still  in  use,  although  steam  has 
been  substituted  for  water-power.  The  five 
saw-mills  just  mentioned  were  all  on  Hudson 
Hun  ;  one  was  built  on  Van  Hyning  Creek,  at  an 
earl}^  date,  by  Henry  Van  Hyning,  Jr.  The  first 
grist-mill  built  in  Norton  was  at  Johnson's  Cor- 
ners, and  is  still  in  operation.  It  was  built  by 
Thomas  Johnson  about  1830 ;  he  soon  after 
built  another  farther  down  the  creek,  which, 
however,  did  not  long  continue.  At  the 
raising  of  this  mill,  Dennis  Bates  fell  from  it 
and  was  killed,  having  struck  his  head  on  a 
rock  and  crushed  in  his  skull.  Clark's  Mill 
was  built  by  Carlos  Clark  about  1836-37.  A 
great  deal  of  litigation  has  been  had  about  this 
mill  and  its  water-power.  The  mill  was  finally 
burned  to  the  ground  in  1879  ;  how  the  fire 
originated  was  never  ascertained.  The  mill 
had  been  repaired  but  a  short  time  before,  and 
was  just  getting  under  way  and  doing  good 
work.  There  has  been  but  one  distillery  in  the 
township,  and  it  was  a  short-lived  affair.  It 
was  at  New  Portage,  and  was  carried  on  by 
Uriah  IM.  Chapel,  probably  as  earl}-  as  1825. 
The  proprietor  was  a  powerful  man,  noted  for 
his  strength  and  agility  as  a  wrestler,  but  he 


eventually  found  his  match  in  the  person  of 
Henry  Van  Hyning,  Jr.,  who  threw  him  twice 
in  succession,  at  one  of  the  numerous  "  bees  " 
so  common  in  those  earl}'  da3's.  The  first  tan- 
nery in  the  township  was  at  Western  Star.  It 
was  built  prior  to  1830,  and  was  at  that  date 
operated  by  Lebbens  Hoskinson,  late  of  John- 
son's Corners.  In  1835,  another  was  started  at 
Bates'  Corners,  but  by  whom  we  are  not  able 
to  say  ;  both  of  these  are  still  in  operation. 
A  third  was  started  at  Johnson's  Corners,  con- 
siderably later,  but  has  long  since  ceased  to  ex- 
ist. Samuel  Baker  was  the  first  blacksmith  in 
the  township,  and,  prior  to  his  moving  to  Nor- 
ton, he  plied  his  trade  in  Stow,  where  some 
Norton  people  went  to  get  their  blacksmithing 
done.  Baker's  brother-in-law,  Abe  Van  Hj'u- 
ing,  of  Johnson's  Corners,  was  in  need  of  some 
blacksmithing,  and  concluded  to  go  to  Stow  to 
get  his  friend  Sam  to  do  his  work.  He  had  a 
natural  dislike  for  bear's  meat,  which  formed  a 
very  important  part  of  Baker's  provisions,  and, 
indeed,  was  the  only  kind  of  meat  they  had  at 
the  time.  Baker's  wife  knew  of  this  aversion, 
but  thought  she  would  fix  him  up  a  steak  that 
he  would  relish.  Accordingl}-,  as  Van  Hyning 
had  to  sta\'  all  night,  she  brought  him  a  piece 
of  meat  nicely  served,  calling  it  beef  for  his 
supper,  saying  that  she  knew  he  did  not  like 
bear  meat,  so  she  had  cooked  him  some  beef 
they  had  got  of  a  neighbor.  Van  Hyning  ate 
heartily  of  the  heef^  and  at  last  said,  "  Just  cut 
me  a  small  slice  of  the  bear  meat  to  taste." 
He  was  helped  to  a  small  piece  from  the  other 
dish,  but  pronounced  it  "  strong,  couldn't  eat  it 
no  how."  The  Bakers  managed  to  keep  from 
smiling  until  the  meal  was  over,  but  after  this, 
whenever  Van  Hyning  said  he  didn't  like  bear 
meat,  some  one  was  ready  to  remind  him  of  the 
time  he  ate  it  and  liked  it,  but  supposed  it  to 
be  beef  When  Baker  came  to  Norton,  he  put 
up  his  shop  at  Clark's  Mills,  near  where  George 
Turner  now  lives. 

The  great  Scioto  Trail,  from  the  Cuyahoga 
Portage  to  the  Scioto  River,  lay  through  this 
township.  This  trail  struck  the  township  near 
the  northeast  corner  of  Lot  20,  crossed  Wolf 
Creek  where  Van  Hyning's  Bridge  now  is, 
passed  down  the  west  side  of  Wolf  Creek  Bot- 
toms, where  Stauffer  and  Irish  now  live,  taking 
nearly  the  same  course  of  the  present  road,  till 
near  "where  A.  D.  Betz  lives.  It  then  made  a 
straight  cut  to  Johnson's  Corners.     From  there 


'VK 


5«6 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


it  took  a  southwesterl}'  course  nearly  identical 
with  the  Wooster  road.  This  was  the  onl}' 
important  Indian  trail  in  the  township,  and  was 
the  course  the  first  settlers  traveled  to  find  their 
homes.  It  was  marked  by  a  well-beaten  path, 
in  some  places  almost  a  foot  deep,  but  was  onl}' 
passable  for  foot  passengers.  Trees  had  to  be 
cut  and  underbrush  cleared  away,  before  a  team 
could  get  through.  The  first  road  was  cut 
out  upon  this  trail  prior  to  1816  as  far  as 
Johnson's  Corners.  Philemon  Kirkham  had 
settled  on  Lot  11,  and  Seth  Lucas  on  Lot  12. 
They  petitioned  for  a  road  from  Bigelow  Chapel 
to  Wolf  Creek.  This  was  called  the  Black 
Snake  Road,  on  account  of  its  crookedness. 
Next  a  road  was  cut  through  from  the  east  line 
of  Lots  57  and  67,  and  passed  through  the  cen- 
ter of  the  township,  and  on  through  to  Harris- 
ville,  Medina  County,  where  a  settlement 
had  been  formed  by  Judge  Harris,  some  time 
between  1818  and"l822.  Peter  Waltz,  having 
bought  Lot  81,  came  in  to  clear  up  his  place. 
He  got  as  far  as  Johnson's  Corners  without 
anything  more  serious  happening  than  getting 
stuck  in  the  mud  at  Hudson  Run  ;  but  west 
from  Johnson's  Corners,  however,  the  fun  came 
in.  The  neighbors  turned  in  and  out,  a  day's 
time,  cut  a  road  through  the  woods  to  his 
place,  which  enabled  him  to  proceed.  Soon 
after  this,  a  road  was  cut  through  from  New 
Portage  to  Johnson's  Corners  ;  next  from  New 
Portage  to  the  east  end  of  the  center  road,  on 
Lot  67.  In  the  meantime,  the  settlers  had  cut 
cross  roads,  to  facilitate  travel  in  all  directions, 
so  that,  in  the  course  of  twelve  or  fifteen  years, 
the  township  was  pretty  well  supplied  with 
roads,  such  as  the^'  were.  The  one  across 
Wolf  Creek  Bottom,  east  of  the  center,  was  a 
corduroy  road,  that  is,  made  of  logs  thrown  in 
crosswise,  and  notches  cut  in  for  the  wheels  to 
run  in,  causing  a  great  deal  of  jolting  to  those 
who  were  obliged  to  use  it.  A  stage  route, 
from  Cleveland  to  Massillon,  passed  through 
Norton.  This  was  the  onl}'  public  conveyance 
known  before  the  canal  was  opened.  A  mail 
route  was  established  from  Johnson's  Corners 
to  Cleveland.  The  first  post  office  of  the  town- 
ship was  probably  at  New  Portage,  but  whether 
it  was  in  Norton  Township  or  Coventry,  is  a 
matter  of  some  dispute.  The  Ohio  Canal  was 
opened  for  traffic  in  1827,  and  caused  quite  a 
revolution  in  the  business  of  the  township. 
Farm  productions  advanced  in  price,  and  pros- 


perity began  to  smile  on  the  inhabitants.  But 
the  unstable  quality  of  the  mone}'  of  this  early 
day  was  a  matter  of  great  anno3^ance,  as  a  man 
might  go  to  bed  at  night  with  a  snug  little  fort- 
une under  his  pillow,  and  wake  up  the  next 
morning  and  find  himself  a  beggar  bj^  the 
breaking  up  of  a  "  wild-cat "  bank.  Henr}- 
Van  Hyning,  Jr.,  who  was  Justice  of  the  Peace 
in  those  early  daj'S,  and  who  did  a  great  deal 
of  collecting  for  other  parties,  would  notifj-  the 
parties  in  this  manner :  "  Your  money  is  col- 
i  lected,  and  is  all  good  to-day,  but  I  will  not 
warrant  it  to-morrow."  In  1856.  the  Cleve- 
land, Mount  Vernon  &  Dayton  Railroad  was 
built  along  the  canal,  through  Norton  Town- 
ship. The  first  train  passed  over  the  track 
late  in  the  fall,  and,  as  a  free  ride  had  been  ad- 
vertised, crowds  gathered  along  the  track, 
thinking  the  train  would  stop  at  an}'  place 
where  there  were  people  to  be  seen.  Hundreds 
were  left  standing  and  gaping  at  the  iron 
horse  on  this,  his  first  trip  through  this 
section.  Some  tried  to  catch  the  train,  but  it 
outran  them.  In  1863,  the  Atlantic  &  Great 
Western  Railway  was  built.  Considerable 
mone}'  was  raised  b}'  subscription  on  this  road, 
and  but  little  was  ever  realized  from  the  in- 
vestment. Many  citizens  worked  on  the  grad- 
ing with  teams  and  b}'  hand,  and,  as  wages 
were  high  at  that  time,  money  was  plent}-  all 
over  the  township. 

The  first  bridge  built  in  Norton  was  the  one 
across  Wolf  Creek,  near  Sylvester  Van  Hyning's 
place.  The  abutments  of  this  bridge  were 
made  of  logs  laid  up  "  cob-house  "  st^'le,  and 
four  logs  flattened  on  their  upper  sides  were 
laid  across  for  "  stringers. "  These  were  cov- 
ered with  split  puncheons  laid  as  tight  as  pos- 
sible. The  approaches  were  filled  up  with  logs 
and  dirt  until  they  were  passable.  More  of  the 
same  sort  were  built  at  other  points  as  they 
were  needed.  Stone  was,  however,  soon  put  in 
instead  of  logs  for  abutments,  and  plank  were 
substituted  for  split  puncheons.  Now  we  have 
several  substantial  iron  structui-es  ;  one  across 
Wolf  Creek,  near  Wolf  Creek  Lock,  and  two 
more  on  the  road  leading  from  Johnson's  Cor- 
ners to  New  Portage.  An  immense  wooden 
viaduct  was  built  over  Hudson  Run  by  the 
railroad  compan}-,  about  one-half  a  mile  west 
of  the  north-and-south  center  road.  This  was 
probably  seventy  feet  high  at  its  highest  point, 
and  at  least  four  hundred  feet  long.  A  splendid 


NORTON    TOWNSHIP. 


587 


arched  culvert  was  afterward  thrown  over  the 
run  and  the  gull}^  filled  up  with  earth,  leaving 
the  timbers  in  their  places.  Just  west  of  this 
fill  the  railroad  enters  a  rock  cut  about  three 
hundred  feet  long  and  from  ten  to  twenty-five 
feet  deep.  Betweim  this  cut  and  the  fill  a  new 
branch  was  built  in  1880,  running  south  about 
two  miles  to  Williams  Bros',  coal  mine.  New 
Portage  was  probabl}'  the  first  village  laid  out 
either  wholly  or  in  part  in  the  township.  It 
was  laid  out  in  1818  by  Ambrose  Palmer,  or  at 
least  the  part  was  which  belonged  to  Norton. 
Buildings  both  log  and  frame  sprang  up,  and 
soon  a  thriving  town  stood  where,  a  few  years 
before,  there  were  nothing  but  woods  to  be 
seen.  A  glass  factory  was  started  by  Palmer, 
soon  after,  in  a  large  barn-like  structure,  with 
the  stack  or  furnace  in  the  center.  His  pots 
and  molds  were  brought  from  Zanesville,  Ohio. 
Sand  was  procured  by  pounding  sandstone  in  a 
huge  trough,  the  pounding  or  crushing  being 
done  by  means  of  a  spring  pole  and  pestle. 
Black  salt  was  used  as  a  flux.  This  was 
abundant,  as  black  salt  was  made  at  many 
places  through  this  new  country  where  ashes 
were  plenty  from  the  log  heaps  that  were 
burned  b}'  thousands  in  all  directions.  Wood 
was  used  for  fuel  for  smelting  the  sand,  and  the 
consequence  was  that  much  of  the  glass  was 
smok}'  and  could  not  be  used  for  window  glass, 
when  it  was  made  into  hollow  ware,  such  as 
tumblers,  goblets,  drinking  glasses,  bottles,  and 
many  other  articles  useful  and  oi'uamental.  At 
first  six  blowers  were  employed,  but,  afterward, 
the  shop  was  enlarged  and  eight  blowers  were 
employed.  Sand  of  good  quality  was  found  in 
the  marshes  of  Coventr}-  about  the  time  of  the 
enlargement,  and  it  was  used  from  this  time  on. 
But  the  business  proved  a  failure,  and  Palmer 
joined  the  Mormons  and  "  went  West."  The 
glass  factory  was  situated  on  the  hill  north  of 
where  the  church  and  burying-ground  are  at 
present  located.  The  glass  business  failed  in 
1828,  and  soon  after  New  Portage  fell  a  pre}'  to 
typhus  fever,  as  already  noted,  which  uearl}- 
annihilated  the  settlement.  Thomas  Johnson 
kept  a  tavern  at  New  Portage  in  1817  for  some 
time,  when  he  moved  on  to  a  farm  just  across 
the  south  line  of  Norton  Townshii).  A  family 
named  Nesmith  came  in  1821.  One  of  the 
descendants  of  this  family,  Thomas  Nesmith. 
is  still  living  in  Norton.  A  great  part  of  the 
business  of  New  Portage,  for  the  period  of  per- 


haps tweut3'-five  years,  was  carried  on  in 
Coventry  Township.  About  1850,  however, 
the  Norton  part  of  the  town  again  began  to 
revive,  but  this  time  farther  down  the  canal,  as 
at  present.  During  the  decade  following  1850, 
a  pottery  was  built  by  Jacob  Welsh  just  west  of 
the  present  store.  This  was  operated  for  about 
twelve  years,  at  first  with  one  kiln,  afterward 
with  two.  This  pottery  was  twice  burned  to 
the  ground — rebuilt  the  first  time  and  enlarged. 
Welsh  also  had  a  store  and  did  a  large  business. 
Thirteen  wheels  were  in  use  in  the  pottery.  One 
kiln  of  ware  was  burned  each  week,  turning  out 
six  to  eight  thousand  gallons  of  ware  per  week, 
which  at  first  was  shipped  b}-  canal,  l)ut  soon 
after  the  railroad  was  finished  it  was  shipped  b^' 
rail.  Welsh  had  the  post  office  in  his  store 
during  the  time  that  he  was  in  business,  and 
the  mail,  it  was  thought,  was  robbed  several 
times  while  he  kept  the  office.  He,  it  seems, 
suspected  that  some  one  was  in  the  habit  of 
breaking  open  the  store  during  the  night,  rob- 
bing the  mail  of  valuable  letters.  Upon  a  cer- 
tain occasion  in  November,  1869,  his  son  Cor- 
win  and  himself  concluded  to  watch  the  office 
awhile  to  see  if  an}*  one  should  make  an  attempt 
upon  it.  The  first  night  the}'  watched,  both 
Corwin  and  his  fixther  stayed  in  the  store  until 
midnight,  when  Corwin  went  home,  leaving  the 
fiither  alone  on  watch.  Soon  after  the  son  left, 
Welsh  heard  a  noise  at  the  basement  window, 
next  to  the  canal ;  the  window  shutter  was 
pried  open,  the  window  raised,  and  some  one 
was  heard  coming  up  the  steps  from  the  base- 
ment, who  entered  the  storeroom  just  before 
the  west  end  of  the  counter.  Welsh  was  stand- 
ing back  of  this  counter  with  a  loaded  shot-gun 
in  his  hand,  and  as  the  burglar  arrived  at  the 
head  of  the  stairs  and  stooped  to  strike  a  match 
on  the  floor,  Welsh  fired.  The  man  was  not 
over  six  feet  from  the  muzzle  of  the  gun.  As 
the  man  fell  he  exclaimed,  •  My  (iod,  Welsh, 
you've  killed  me,"  and  expired.  The  neigh- 
bors were  aroused  by  the  noise  of  the  gun.  and 
soon  came  to  see  what  was  the  matter.  The 
supposed  burglar  was  found  to  be  a  citizen  of 
the  place.  These  are  the  facts  as  nearly  as  can 
be  obtained  from  those  present  at  the  in(iuest. 
A  chip  was  found  broken  out  of  the  wall  out- 
side of  the  window  where  the  bar  had  been 
rested  while  prying  open  the  window.  Welsh 
was  ac(}uitted  from  all  blame  by  the  inquest 
held  over  the  bod}'. 


^ 


^. 


588 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


L.  B.  Schneider,  now  of  Akron,  had  a  store 
at  New  Portage  in  1863,  and  was  in  business 
several  years.  After  him  came  first  Weary  & 
Bro.,  then  Weary  &  Witner,  and  still  later 
Weary  &  Downer,  each  continuing  about  a  year. 
Next,  Joe  Ellis  &  Co.,  then  Corwin  Welsh,  dur- 
ing whose  stay  the  shooting  above  related  took 
place.  Next,  Harry  Diesern  took  the  store, 
and.  last.  Mr.  John  McNamara,  who  is  still 
doing  business  in  the  old  original  room.  His 
stock  in  trade  is  probably  worth  |1,200.  New 
Portage  is  a  station  on  the  Cleveland,  Mount 
Vernon  &  Columbus  Railroad,  and  New  York, 
Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Railroad.  The  former  road 
does  a  cash  business  of  al^out  $100  per  month 
at  this  office  in  freight  and  passenger  traffic — 
the  latter  about  $75  or  $80.  Mr.  David  L.  Cart- 
mill  has  had  charge  of  the  office  of  the  New 
York,  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Railroad  for  fifteen 
years  or  more.  The  coal  shipped  from  Norton 
Township  over  this  road  is  all  billed  from  New 
Portage.  This  road  has  a  frame  depot  build- 
ing, pumping-house  of  brick  and  a  water  tank, 
and  a  side  track  for  trains  to  pass,  of  nearly  a 
mile  in  length. 

New  Portage  has  one  of  the  finest  springs  of 
fresh  water  that  can  be  found  in  the  county.  It 
runs  a  stream  just  so  strong,  and  is  never  more 
or  less  so,  whether  in  wet  or  dry  weather.  The 
post  office  at  this  place  was  established  at  an 
early  day,  but  the  exact  date  is  not  known,  but 
is  probably  the  earliest  in  the  township.  At 
present,  Mr.  W.  C.  Jaquith  is  the  Postmaster. 
The  office  pays  a  salar}'  of  about  $140  per  j'ear. 
Two  canal  boats  are  owned  at  this  place — 
"Lily,"  Wellman  Witner,  Captain,  owned  by 
Witner  Brothers,  and  "  Wheeling.'"  Willson 
Witner,  Captain  and  owner. 

Next  in  the  order  of  villages,  we  find  Bates" 
Corners  (Lo3al  Oak  P.  0.)  This  place  was  set- 
tled by  and  named  after  two  brothers — Nathan 
and  Lyman  Bates — who  settled  here  about  1817 
or  1818.  one  building  on  the  northeast  corner, 
the  other  on  the  southwest  corner,  as  it  now 
stands.  The  first  tavern  was  kept  by  James 
Moore,  but  it  could  hardly  be  called  a  public 
house.  Moore  was  also  the  first  blacksmith  in 
the  place.  Thomas  Brown  was  the  first  mer- 
chant of  the  place,  and  had  a  small  store  on 
the  southeast  corner,  as  it  now  stands,  but  did 
not  remain  long,  others  taking  his  place  in  the 
same  business.  Bates"  Corners  has  seen  so 
man\'  changes  in  its  early  da3's,  that  the  half 


of  them  cannot  be  noticed  here.  A  tanner}' 
was  started  in  1835,  and  is  still  in  operation, 
although  it  has  been  rebuilt  since  that  time. 
Mr.  John  J.  Bauer  is  the  present  owner,  having 
bought  it  in  18C4,  remodeled  it,  and  introduced 
steam  power.  His  son,  Byron  B.  Bauer,  is  at 
present  connected  with  him  in  the  business. 
Bates'  Corners  owes  a  great  deal  of  its  pros- 
perity to  Mr.  Peter  Lerch,  who  alone  has  had 
nearly  as  many  buildings  erected  as  all  the  rest 
of  its  inhabitants  together.  He  at  present  occu- 
pies the  new  hotel  at  that  place.  Mr.  Edward 
Laubach  built  a  steam  saw-mill  in  1867,  at  a 
cost  of  $3,200.  Business  was  good,  and  he  in- 
troduced a  pair  of  chopping  buhrs  for  grinding 
feed,  with  which  he  did  a  large  amount  of  work. 
In  1874,  the  mill  burned  to  the  ground,  but  he 
immediately  rebuilt  it,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$1,000.  It  is  at  present  owned  by  J.  J.  Knecht 
&  Brother,  who  are  doing  considerable  work. 
Mr.  Jacob  Flickinger  is  the  blacksmith  at  pres- 
ent. He  builds  some  wagons,  and  occupies  a 
substantial  frame  building  just  east  of  the 
Lo3^al  Oaks  House.  Bates'  Corners  has  one 
church  edifice.  It  is  built  of  stone,  as  a  union 
church,  by  the  Lutheran  and  German  Reformed 
societies,  in  1851.  Mr.  A.  Schneider  is  the 
present  mei'chant  and  Postmaster.  The  post 
office  at  this  place  was  not  established  until  re- 
cently. Western  Star,  or,  as  it  was  originally 
called,  Griswold's  Corners,  was  first  settled  b}' 
a  family  named  Richards,  consisting  of  the 
father  and  five  or  more  sons,  of  whom  the 
father  and  three  sons,  named  Mills,  CuUen  and 
Ezekiel,  lived  in  Norton,  the  others  in  Wads- 
worth.  They  came  here  as  early  as  1819,  per- 
haps earlier  ;  the  father  lived  where  the  old 
Himmelwright  homestead  now  is.  Nathan 
Starr,  of  Connecticut,  was  the  original  owner 
of  a  large  tract  of  land  lying  adjacent  to  and 
east  of  Western  Star.  About  1825,  Hezekiah 
Ward  built  a  saw-mill  about  a  mile  north  of  this 
place,  and,  four  years  later,  in  1829,  the  Gris- 
wold  brothers  came  and  settled  here.  Prior  to 
this,  however,  several  other  families  had  settled 
in  and  around  the  place,  so  that  quite  a  settle- 
ment was  formed.  Dr.  Austin,  the  first  ph}'- 
sician  of  the  place,  lived  in  a  house  on  what  is 
now  known  as  the  Reimer  lot.  The  place  was 
named  Griswold's  Corners  from  the  brothers  of 
that  name,  just  mentioned,  who  came  here  in 
1829.  William  Heustis  came  the  same  year, 
and  worked  for  the  Griswolds,  who  had  a  store 


iht^ 


NORTON    TOWNSHIP. 


589 


and  two  asheries,  or  black  salt  factories,  in  oper- 
ation soon  after  their  advent  in  the  town — one 
at  this  place  and  one  near  where  Dennison  now 
is,  on  the  farm  latel}'^  owned  by  Alpheus  M3'ers. 
The  second  3-ear  the  Griswolds  were  here,  they 
cleared  up  300  acres  of  land  and  sowed  it  in 
wheat.  A  post  office  was  established  about  this 
time,  but  who  the  first  Postmaster  was  we  were 
unable  to  ascertain.  The  Sutton  House  is  the 
first  tavern  of  which  we  have  any  trace,  al- 
though there  probably*  was  one  earlier.  Julius 
Richards  had  a  wagon-shop  in  operation  at  a 
ver}'  early  day.  In  1831,  Nathan  Seiberling 
bought  out  one  of  the  Richards  brothers  and 
settled  where  he  still  lives.  The  first  store 
building  was  erected  on  the  northeast  corner. 
The  first  schoolhouse  was  a  little  farther  north, 
opposite  Shaft'er's  harness-shop.  The  first 
church  was  organized  about  1835-36.  The 
present  school  building  was  erected  as  a  semi- 
nary in  1844.  The  site,  containing  one  acre  of 
land,  was  deeded  by  Nathan  and  Grrace  T. 
Starr,  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  to  certain  persons 
named  therein  as  trustees,  with  the  proviso  that 
"  they  shall  erect  a  suitable  building  for  a  sem- 
inary building,  and  shall  keep  in  good  repair 
at  all  times,  otherwise  the  land  to  revert  to  the 
original  owners."  This  deed  is  dated  November 
7,  1844.  The  seminary  was  started  the  follow- 
ing spring,  with  Revs.  Lorenzo  D.  Williams  and 
Merritt  Matteson  as  teachers.  At  present. 
Western  Star  contains  two  school  buildings, 
one  church  (United  Brethren),  two  stores 
(Dague  Brothers  &  Co.  and  Levi  Shaffer),  a 
carriage  shop,  b}'  Warren  Hanshue,  who  is  at 
present  refitting  an  old  building  as  a  repository 
and  varnish  room,  one  tanner}-,  and,  on  the 
Wadsworth  side,  a  hotel,  by  William  Stevens, 
shoe-shop  and  harness-shop.  It  was  incor- 
porated in  1842,  with  Maj'or,  Marshal  and 
Council.  Has  a  graded  school,  and  is  generally 
prosperous,  (jr.  C.  Dague  is  present  Postmas- 
ter, Aaron  Eicheberger  Mayor,  and  Warren 
Hanshue,  Marshal. 

Dennison  (Sherman  Post  Office),  on  the  New 
York,  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Railroad,  has 
sprung  into  existence  since  the  railroad  was 
built.  At  one  time,  it  contained  a  store,  kept 
by  the  Koplin  Brothers  ;  but  at  present  is  with- 
out a  merchant.  The  post  office  was  established 
about  1864,  with  Joel  C.  Koplin  as  Postmaster, 
who  has  held  the  office  ever  since,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  months.     The  principal  busi- 


ness of  the  place  is  that  caused  by  the  Norton 
Coal  Compan3''s  mines,  which  are  located  here, 
with  coal  chutes  and  a  telegraph  office.  Hame- 
town,  one  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Dennison, 
has  also  been  brought  into  existence  by  the 
coal  business.  It  contains  a  store,  kept  by  J. 
W.  James,  and  two  saloons  and  a  shoemaker's 
shop — ^F.  Schneider,  proprietor. 

Johnson's  Corners  was  the  second  settlement 
in  the  township.  The  first  person  to  settle 
here  was  Abraham  Van  Hyning,  in  1 814.  John 
O'Brien  came  soon  after,  Jacob  Miller  and 
others  followed  soon.  Charles  Miller  came  in 
1816,  with  others  ;  but  all  settled  around  where 
Johnson's  Corners  now  stands.  About  1822-23, 
Thomas  Johnson  moved  from  his  place  just 
across  the  line,  south  of  Norton,  to  this  place, 
and  began  to  build  up  the  town.  His  saw-mill 
was  built  soon  after  he  came,  and,  about  1826-27, 
he  erected  the  hotel  which  is  still  occupied  as 
such.  This  was,  however,  not  finished  for  several 
years.  In  1830,  Johnson  commenced  the  first 
grist-mill  ever  erected  in  Norton  Township, 
which  is  still  in  use  for  the  same  purpose.  The 
saw-mill  that  he  had  built  stood  a  few  rods 
farther  south.  Two  or  three  3ears  after,  John- 
son erected  another  mill,  nearly'  a  mile  farther 
doAvn  the  stream,  and  nearly  opposite  where 
Jacob  Hoch  now  lives.  At  the  raising  of  this 
mill,  Dennis  Bates,  who  had  volunteered  to  help 
to  put  on  the  rafters,  fell  from  the  plate,  struck 
on  a  rock,  and  shattered  his  skull,  causing 
almost  instant  death.  Johnson  had,  in  the 
meantime,  started  a  store,  and  held  the  office  of 
Postmaster.  He  was  probably  the  first  Post- 
master in  the  place.  In  the  year  1835-36,  a 
Methodist  Church  society  was  organized,  with 
Johnson  as  the  first  class  leader.  Rev.  Mr. 
Bigelow  was  probably  the  first  minister.  He 
was  soon  afterward  ordained  as  Presiding  Elder, 
and  Rev.  Messrs.  Jaynes  and  Hazzard  took  the 
circuit.  A  church  building  was  erected  about 
1841,  which  served  as  a  place  of  worship  thirty 
years,  when  a  new  and  imposing  building  was 
erected  b}-  the  3Iethodist  society.  It  is  one  of 
the  best  church  buildings  in  the  county,  outside 
of  the  incorporated  towns,  surmounted  by  a 
tower  and  belfry,  and  is  lighted  by  elegant 
stained  glass  windows.  The  walls  and  ceiling 
are  frescoed  in  fine  style. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  township  was 
kept  at  Johnson's  Corners,  in  a  log  schoolhouse, 
about  1818-1 9.     It  was  taught  by  Sarah  Wyatt. 


.l£ 


590 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


This  village  has  been  blessed  with  perhaps  more 
different  schoolhoiises  than  any  other  in  the 
township.  At  present,  it  has  a  comnaodious 
school  building,  well  filled  with  scholars  when 
school  is  in  session.  One  or  more  stores  have 
been  in  existence  ever  since  Johnson's  time, 
Mr.  Amos  Miller  being  present  merchant  and 
Postmaster.  Besides  this,  the  village  contains 
a  hotel,  by  John  T.  Price  ;  two  blacksmiths,  one 
wheelwright,  one  harness-shop,  two  shoe-shops 
and  a  steam  saw-mill,  built  in  1807,  b}'  Peter 
Hunsicker,  at  a  cost  of  $8,600.  It  was  burned 
to  the  ground  in  1875  ;  but  was  again  rebuilt, 
and  is  doing  considerable  business.  The  cost 
of  rebuilding  was  about  $800. 

Wolf  Creek  Lock,  a  small  hamlet  on  the  Ohio 
Canal,  near  the  mouth  of  Wolf  Creek,  contains 
a  small  grocer}',  kept  many  years  ago  by  Will- 
iam Pierce,  and,  in  later  times,  by  James  Owry, 
who  has  lately  sold  to  William  Hablinger  ;  one 
boat  is  owned  at  this  place,  the  "  Fisher ;'" 
John  Reichard,  Captain.  Norton  claims  another 
boat,  the  '  Crawford  ;""  Henry  Manderbach,  Cap- 
tain and  owner. 

The  first  settlement  made  at  Norton  Center 
was  by  Joseph  D.  Humphrey.  He  was  a  grad- 
uate of  Yale  College,  and  had  studied  law. 
He  settled  at  Norton  Center  about  1816-17, 
and  began  clearing  up  Lot  60.  He  was  after- 
ward elected  as  fix'st  Township  Clerk  of  Norton 
Township,  in  the  spring  of  1818.  Li  1823-24, 
Mr.  Thomas  Brown  came  from  Bates'  Corners 
and  built,  or  started  to  build,  the  house  still 
standing  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  public 
square.  It  was  intended  for  a  store  and 
dwelling.  Brown,  however,  died  before  it  was 
completed,  when  Henr}'  Van  Honing,  Jr., 
bought  it  and  finished  it  up.  Soon  afterward, 
he  rented  it  to  a  man  named  Gillet,  who  occu- 
pied it  as  a  store  and  dwelling-house  for  man}^ 
years.  A  log-house  was  built  soon  after  the 
above  on  the  northwest  corner,  and,  after  a 
number  of  3'ears,  one  on  the  northeast  corner. 
Three  acres  of  land  were  deeded  to  the  town- 
ship by  Birdsey  Norton's  heirs  and  Deacon 
David  Hudson  for  a  public  square,  as  early  as 
1818.  A  schoolhouse  was  also  an  early  acqui- 
sition. The  first  was  a  log  structure,  which 
was  superseded  by  a  frame  building,  this  again 
by  brick,  and  last  a  substantial  frame  school- 
house,  the  largest  and  best  in  the  township, 
with  a  belfry  and  spire.  During  the  last 
twenty  years  of  its  histoi'y.  Norton  Center  has 


been  a  dull  place.  In  1869,  Mr.  Lewis  Setg- 
fried  built  a  hotel  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
the  square,  into  which  he  moved  on  the  last 
da}-  of  March,  1870.  For  j-ears  previous  to 
this,  he  had  kept  a  hotel  about  a  mile  east  of 
the  Center.  In  1871,  Mr.  Aaron  Hartzell  and 
M.  M.  Dickson  opened  a  store  in  partnership. 
A  storehouse  was  built,  a  stock  of  goods 
bought  and  placed  in  it,  and  on  May  1,  1871, 
the  store  was  opened  to  the  public  for  business. 
In  the  fall  of  1872,  the  stock  was  moved  to 
Johnson's  Corners,  as  the  room  had  grown  too 
small  for  the  business  carried  on.  In  the 
spring  of  1877,  Mr.  A.  (}.  Seas  moved  his 
stock  of  goods  from  Johnson's  Corners  to  Nor- 
ton Center,  into  this  same  building.  M.  L. 
Shook  was  taken  in  as  a  partner,  and  together 
the}'  did  a  small  business  until  the  spring  of 
1879,  when  the  stock  was  closed  out  and  the 
partnership  dissolved.  The  post  office  was 
established  at  a  ver}'  early  day,  but  the  date 
and  the  first  Postmaster's  name  have  not  been 
ascertained.  Thomas  Young  was  Postmaster 
for  many  ja^ars,  until  the  year  1872 — probably 
the  winter  of  1872-73— when  it  was  trans- 
ferred to  George  Lahr,  who  had  it  until  the  fall 
of  1873,  when  J.  J.  Stauffer  was  appointed 
Postmaster.  He  moved  away  from  the  Center 
the  following  spring,  and  the  post  oflBce  was 
discontinued.  During  the  fall  of  1877,  an 
effort  was  made  by  the  citizens  of  the  Center 
and  vicinity  to  have  the  oflflce  again  estab- 
lished, which  was  finally  successful,  and,  in 
the  spring  of  1878,  Mr.  A.  G.  Seas  received 
his  appointment  as  Postmaster.  He  retained 
the  office  until  the  1st  day  of  October,  1880, 
when  M.  L.  Shook  was  appointed  in  his  place, 
who  still  retains  the  office. 

During  the  spring  of  1876,  an  eflFort  was 
made  by  several  prominent  farmers  of  Norton 
Township  to  organize  a  grange.  Their  eflforts 
were  finally  successful,  and,  on  the  1st  of 
June,  1876,  a  grange  was  organized  at  Norton 
Center,  with  E.  H.  Yiers,  Master  ;  A.  D.  Betz, 
Overseer,  and  Reuben  Stauffer,  Secretary.  It 
was  called  Summit  Grange,  P.  of  H.,  and  num- 
bered 1,283.  Meetings  were  first  held  in  the 
store  building  owned  by  A.  Hartzell.  The 
organization,  strong  in  numbers  from  the  start, 
slowl}'  increased,  and,  the  following  year,  a 
large  hall  was  built  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  square.  The  hall  is  28x50  feet,  and  two 
stories  high,  with  a  cellar  under  the  south  half 


"71' 


fe^ 


NORTON    TOWNSHIP. 


591 


of  the  building.  The  lower  story  is  finished 
for  a  kitchen  and  dining-room.  The  upper 
floor  has  two  comfortable  ante-rooms  and 
lodge-room  proper,  with  arched  ceiling  and  ros- 
trum. The  acoustic  qualities  are  exceptionally 
fine,  and,  all  in  all,  it  is  one  of  the  best  halls  for 
the  purpose  outside  of  the  cities.  The  grange  is 
still  in  a  flourishing  condition,  with  about  sixty 
members  square  on  the  books.  Present  Mas- 
ter, Henry  Tippery  ;  Overseer,  A.  D.  Betz ; 
Secretary,  Wellington  Miller ;  Treasurer,  Jo- 
seph Burgess. 

Prior  to  the  3' ear  1830,  the  population  of 
Norton  Township  consisted  principally  of  New 
England  people  or  their  descendants,  with  a 
few  Irish  and  a  few  English  interspersed.  But 
about  that  time  a  thrifty,  industrious  class  of 
Pennsylvania  farmers  began  to  show  them- 
selves, and,  attracted  by  the  fertility  of  the  soil, 
soon  we  find  them  buying  out  the  Yankees  and 
superseding  them  in  all  manner  of  business. 
Among  the  first  Pennsylvania  Dutch  families 
we  find  Nathan  Seiberling,  1831 ;  Abraham 
Koplin,  1831  ;  Lautzenhiser,  1831  ;  the  next 
year  brought  still  others,  until  among  the 
farming"  community  we  find  at  present  more 
than  75  per  cent  of  Pennsylvania  people  and 
their  descendants.  According  to  the  census 
of  1880,  the  population  of  Norton  is  2,067. 
Among  them  we  find  81  persons  over  sixty-five 
years  of  age  ;  54  over  seventy  years  of  age,  and 
9  over  eighty  years  of  age.  Twelve  pairs  of 
twins  were  enumerated,  of  whom  two  pairs 
were  both  females,  seven  pairs  both  males  and 
three  pairs  of  one  male  and  one  female.  Two 
hundred  and  eight  farms  were  enumerated, 
averaging  seventy-two  acres  per  farm,  and  in 
the  crop  report  for  1880,  we  find  seventy -two 
farmers  reporting  57,276  bushels  of  corn  in  the 
ear,  averaging  ninety  bushels  per  acre.  Seven- 
ty farmers  reported  23,126  bushels  of  oats,  or 
thirty-eight  bushels  per  acre.  Seventy-eight 
farmers  report  28,551  bushels  of  wheat  on 
1,035  acres,  or  27.5  bushels  per  acre.  Sixty- 
nine  farmers  reported  18,285  bushels  of  apples 
(estimated). 

The  first  organized  church  in  Norton  was  a 
Methodist  society  formed  as  early  as  1816, 
in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township.  The 
earlier  Class-leaders  were  natives  of  Coventry 
Township.  They  held  their  meetings  in  pri- 
vate houses  for  a  number  of  3'ears.  James 
McMahan  and  John  P.  Kent  were  the  circuit 


preachers  at  that  time.  John  C.  Brooks  came 
on  in  1817,  and  was  instrumental  in  bringing 
about  a  great  revival  of  religion  in  that  year. 
We  next  find  Dennis  Goddard  and  a  Mr.  Booth 
on  the  circuit,  with  James  B.  Findlay  as  Pre- 
siding Elder.  About  this  time  the  log-church 
building  in  the  woods  north  of  New  Portage 
was  erected,  where  powerful  work  was  done 
for  the  cause  of  religion.  Under  the  direction 
of  Brooks,  a  Methodist  society  was  formed  at 
Bates'  Corners,  soon  after  the  great  revival  of 
1817.  This  was  at  one  time  a  verj'  strong 
society.  A  church  was  built  and  the  society 
was  prosperous  for  a  considerable  number  of 
3'ears.  Next  after  the  Methodists,  the  Baptists 
got  a  footing  at  Bates'  Corners,  and  organized 
a  society,  but  by  whom  is  not  known.  They, 
in  their  turn,  were  succeeded  by  the  Disciples 
and  Congregationalists,  and  in  1 8-17  a  Union,  or 
more  strictly  speaking,  a  Lutheran  society  was 
formed  with  about  forty  members.  Daniel 
Bauer  and  David  Moser  were  the  first  Elders, 
with  Charles  Miller  and  William  Sweitzer, 
Deacons.  John  Buhl,  a  Reformed  minister, 
was  the  first  one  employed  regularly.  Meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  Disciples'  Church  until 
1851,  when  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  and  Ger- 
man Beformed  united  and  together  erected  the 
church  building  now  in  use.  The  corner-stone 
was  laid  about  the  10th  day  of  Ma^-,  by  Revs. 
D.  Rothacker  and  J.  W.  Hamm  ;  the  latter  had 
been  serving  the  society  some  time  before.  The 
church  is  built  of  stone  and  finished  with  a  gal- 
lery on  three  sides,  at  an  expense  of  about 
$2,300  ;  was  dedicated  in  November,  some  time 
toward  the  close  of  the  month.  Rev.  Rothacker 
was  emploj^ed  b}'  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
society  at  that  time,  and  continued  to  serve 
them  until  October  1,  1875,  when  the  Rev.  J. 
H.  Smith  was  called  to  the  pulpit,  and  has 
served  them  since.  Father  Hamm  served  the 
German  Reformed  societv  from  1849  till  1862. 
Rev.  C.  H.  Reiter.  1862  till  1868.  since  which 
Rev.  S.  C.  Leiter  has  had  charge  of  the  flock. 
Present  number  of  communicants :  Lutheran, 
190;  Reformed,  140. 

At  Western  Star,  a  Methodist  Church  was 
organized  about  1835,  or  perhaps  later.  Among 
the  early  circuit  preachers  were  Rev.  Lorenzo 
Bevin,  in  charge  of  the  society  at  this  place. 
No  regular  church  building  was  erected,  al- 
though a  lot  was  deeded  to  a  religions  associa- 
tion by  Nathan  Starr  and  wife,  of  Middletown, 


W 


A< 


592 


HISTOKY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Conn.,  which  was  to  revert  back  to  the  grantors 
if  not  used  for  the  purposes  and  in  the  manner 
specified.  In  1878,  the  United  Brethren  formed 
a  society  at  this  place,  with  a  membership  of 
fifty-two,  and,  the  following  year,  a  church 
building  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $2,200.  It 
was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Weaver.  Revs. 
Sprang  and  Whitney  served  the  congregation 
the  first  year,  and  at  present  Revs.  Sprang  and 
Moody  have  the  charge.  Present  membership, 
about  fifty.  In  1838,  a  union  society  of  Ger- 
man Reformed  and  Evangelical  Lutheran  com- 
municants was  formed  in  the  southwest  part  of 
Norton  Township,  with  some  members  in  Chip- 
pewa Township.  A  site  was  secured,  and  a 
building  erected  by  Petei  Burkert  (now  living 
in  Akron).  The  building  was  quite  large,  with 
gallery  on  three  sides.  It  was  used  as  a 
church  for  thirty -five  years,  and  originally  cost 
about  $1,700.  In  1873,  a  new  church  was  built 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  in  Waj-ne 
County,  at  a  cost  of  $3,200.  Father  J.  W. 
Hamm  served  this  charge  for  thirty-three 
years  in  succession,  having  been  the  first  Re- 
formed minister  installed  as  Pastor  of  this 
church.  The  present  Pastors  are  Rev.  S.  C. 
Leiter  and  Rev.  Mr.  Sponseller.  At  Johnson's 
Corners  a  Methodist  society  was  organized,  as 
already  mentioned,  in  1835-36.  A  church 
building  was  erected  in  or  about  1841,  and 
used  as  such  until  1871,  when  a  new  church 
was  built  for  the  same  society  at  a  cost  of 
$5,000.  It  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Mr.  Osborn, 
of  Akron.  Present  Pastor,  William  S.  Fitch  ; 
number  of  communicants,  forty.  The  old 
church  was  at  first  seated  with  rough  boards 
laid  across  poles,  with  legs  put  in  by  boring 
holes  in  the  poles  and  inserting  a  short  stick. 
These  served  as  seats  for  some  time,  when 
Thomas  Reese  finall}'  put  in  better  seats. 

The  Reformed  Church  at  Johnson's  Corners 
was  organized  in  1852  by  Rev.  P.  J.  Spangler, 
with  David  Waltz  and  Henry  Yaukey,  Elders, 
and  John  Hoffman  and  Michael  Wise,  Esq.,  as 
Deacons,  and  about  twenty-five  lay  members. 
Their  meetings  were  held  in  the  old  Methodist 
Church  until  1868.  Prior  to  the  organization  of 
this  society.  Rev.  George  Schlosser,  a  German 
Reformed  minister,  had  preached  at  and  around 
this  place  in  schoolhouses.  He  was  a  power- 
ful speaker,  talented  and  able  in  debate.  Span- 
gler was  also  a  good  speaker  and  served  the 


society  seven  or  eight  years  ;  he  was  followed 
by  Rev.  Jesse  Schlosser,  who  remained  about 
two  years  ;  next  came  Rev.  David  H.  Reiter, 
who  also  served  the  charge  about  two  years, 
then  Rev.  Jesse  Hines  about  four  years,  Rev. 
J.  J.  Excell  not  quite  two  years,  when  S.  C. 
Goss  took  the  charge,  and  has  retained  it  ever 
since.  He  was  educated  at  Heidelberg  College, 
Tiffin,  Ohio.  In  1868,  the  society  erected  a 
house  of  worship  of  their  own,  which  was  dedi- 
cated about  the  1st  of  November.  The  church 
cost  about  $2,200,  is  a  medium-sized,  com- 
fortable building  ;  present  membership  about 
seventy-five.  In  1868,  a  church  was  built  at 
New  Portage  for  the  Methodist  society  of  that 
place,  which  cost  $2,500.  It  is  well  finished 
throughout,  and  stands  on  a  hill  overlooking 
the  surrounding  country.  The  present  number 
of  members  is  about  seventy-five,  under  the 
charge  of  William  S.  Fitch.  The  history  of 
the  churches  of  Norton  would  be  incomplete 
without  the  mention  of  the  great  Mormon  ex- 
citement between  1832  and  1838,  and  even  con- 
siderably later  than  that.  When  Joseph  Smith 
settled  at  Kirtland,  Ohio,  to  establish  his  earthly 
Zion,  one  of  his  followers  (who  afterward  be- 
came an  Elder),  Sidney  Rigdon,  began  to  work  as 
a  missionar3^  Around  New  Portage  meetings 
were  held,  frequentl}^  at  private  houses,  and 
people  joined  the  Mormons  by  the  score.  A 
great  love  feast  was  held  by  them  at  one  time, 
at  which  Joseph  Smith  himself  was  present. 
Rigdon  suflfered  considerable  persecution  for 
his  faith,  having  at  one  time  been  treated  to  a 
coat  of  tar  and  feathers  at  Kirtland,  along  with 
Smith.  Rigdon  was  the  originator  of  the  "  spir- 
itual wife "  theory,  which  afterward  led  to 
polj'gamy.  Upward  of  twenty-five  souls  left 
Norton  and  followed  the  Mormons  on  their 
Westward  journe}-  in  search  of  Zion,  and  many 
more  remained  behind  whose  faith  in  Mormon- 
ism  remained  apparently  unshaken. 

Norton  Township  supports  eleven  schools, 
most  of  which  are  in  session  nine  months  in 
the  year.  During  the  year  1880,  $2,707.60 
was  expended  as  tuition  for  an  average  daily 
attendance  of  400  scholars.  Average  price  per 
month  paid  to  teachers  was  to  males,  $28  ; 
females,  $20.  Total  enumeration  between  the 
ages  of  six  and  twenty-one,  664  ;  total  value  of 
schoolhouses  and  grounds,  $8,350. 


ll. 


GREEN    TOWNSHIP. 


593 


CHAPTER     XXVI.* 

,r..\   T0WN8II  IP— I'H VSICA L  FEATURES  —  SQUATTER-H I  NTERS  —  AN  1N( "1  DENT  —  SETTLEMENT  — 
I'lONEEK     HAUDSH  IPS  — MILLS    AND    OTHER    INDUSTRIES  — SCHOOLS— 
(CHURCH  ES  —  GRAVEYARDS  —  VILLAGES.    El'C. 


GREEN  TOWNSHIP  is  situated  in  the 
southern  part  of  Summit  County,  below 
the  forty-first  parallel  of  latitude,  which  is  the 
southern  limit  of  the  Western  Reserve.  This 
township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Coventry 
and  Springfield  ;  on  the  east  b}'  Lake  Township, 
of  Stark  County  ;  on  the  south  b^"  Jackson 
Township,  of  Stark  County,  and  on  the  west  b}' 
Franklin  Township.  Green  is  Township  12  of 
Range  9.  in  what  is  known  as  "  Congress  land." 
It  is  six  miles  in  extent  from  east  to  west,  and 
about  five  and  one-half  miles  from  north  to 
south,  containing  nearl}'  if  not  quite  thirty  three 
square  miles  of  land.  The  general  character 
of  the  land  might  be  considered  rolling,  but 
toward  the  southwestern  portion  the  undula- 
tions are  much  higher  and  these  elevations  are 
called  "  hills  "  by  the  inhabitants.  The  town- 
ship is  naturally  well  drained  by  several  small 
streams  and  creeks,  which  wind  around  the 
hills  and  through  the  vales,  but  this  natural 
drainage  has  been  improved  by  numerous 
ditches.  The  water-shed  between  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley  and  the  St.  Lawrence  basin  ex- 
tends into  this  township  and  divides  the  waters 
which  descend  from  the  heavens.  This  can 
plainly  be  seen  on  several  diflFerent  farms.  A 
short  distance  west  of  the  Gongwer  School- 
house,  near  the  center  of  the  township,  are  two 
small  swamps  ;  the  overflow  from  one  finds  its 
way  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  while  the  waters  of 
the  other  reach  Lake  Erie,  on  their  route  to  the 
sea.  The  soil  of  the  township  is  very  fertile 
and  well  adapted  to  farming,  and  Green  ranks 
with  Springfield  and  Franklin  Townships  among 
the  richest  agricultural  townships  in  Ohio.  Sev- 
eral of  the  farms  are  underlaid  with  beds  of 
rich  coal,  and  the  owners  of  other  tracts  sus- 
dect  that  the  vein  is  also  hidden  beneath  their 
lanp,  but  their  fears  of  disappointment  pre- 
vent them  from  prospecting  for  the  desired 
treasure.     A  mine  has  been  worked  on  Wise's 

*  Contributed  by  Thomas  P.  Hopley. 


farm,  in  Section  24,  for  some  twelve  years,  and 
another  on  Whitacre's  land,  about  one  half- 
mile  south  of  Greentown  Station,  for  nearly,  if 
not  quite,  three  decades.  Some  thirty  rods 
east  of  the  township  line  they  discovered  a  vein 
of  iron  ore,  man}-  years  ago,  which  they  mined 
for  a  short  time,  but  failed  to  find  a  sufficient 
amount  to  make  the  mine  a  profitable  invest- 
ment. Several  veins  of  coal  have  been  struck 
while  miners  were  prospecting  on  various  farms 
in  Green  Township,  but  the  results  obtained 
did  not  please  the  operators,  and  the  mining  was 
discontinued.  Among  these  abandoned  shafts 
is  one  on  John  Kepler's  farm,  southeast  of  the 
village  of  East  Liberty. 

On  Sections  7  and  18  of  this  township,  is  a 
portion  of  Turkey  Foot  Lake,  the  greater  part 
being  situated  in  Franklin  Township,  on  Sec- 
tions 12  and  13.  This  body  of  water  is  about  one 
mile  in  length  from  east  to  west,  and  varj^ing 
in  its  width.  At  the  narrowest  point,  directly  on 
the  township  line,  it  is  but  little  over  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  in  width,  but,  at  both  ends,  it  is  from 
one-half  to  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  width. 
It  is  called  Turkey-  Foot  Lake  because  the  shape 
of  the  sheet  of  water  resembles  the  foot  of  a 
turkey.  Just  north  of  this  lake  is  the  "  Reser- 
voir," a  portion  of  which  extends  into  Green 
Township,  on  Section  6.  Another  small  lake 
or  pond  is  situated  in  this  township,  upon  Sec- 
tion 33.  This  sheet  of  water,  which  would  pos- 
sibly be  more  correctly'  termed  a  marsh,  lies  be- 
tween the  hills,  and  is  about  one  mile  in  extent 
from  north  to  south  and  ver}'  irregular  in 
width.  The  southern  portion  seems  to  termi- 
nate in  a  sink-hole,  which  is  said  by  some  to  be 
bottomless,  but,  by  more  reliable  authority, 
from  sixty  to  eight}-  feet  in  depth  ;  the  sink- 
hole covers  an  area  of  about  three  acres.  There 
are  also  three  very  deep  little  lakes  or  sink-holes 
on  and  near  the  southwest  corner  of  Section  20, 
which  have  destroyed  man}-  head  of  cattle  in 
times  past  that  approached  too  near  them  and 


rnv" 


4 


\^ 


594 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


were  swallowed  in  the  miry  muck  which  sur- 
rounds the  ponds.     Tritt's  pond,  on  Section  31, 
and  Heckman's  mill-race  on  Section  18,  are  ar- 
tificial reservoirs,  which  serve  as  water-power 
for  mills.    Gren.  Bierce  says  :  ''  One  of  the  great- 
est curiosities  of  the  township  in  the  early  settle- 
ment was  'Rattlesnake'  Spring,  on  Section  25, 
first  owned  by  John  Yarrick.     It  is  on  the  road 
from  Greentown  to  Grreensburg.    When  Yarrick 
first  purchased  this  land,  the  spring  was  a  great 
resort  for  rattlesnakes.     The  water  issues  from 
a  crevice  in  a  limestone  rock,  overlaid  with  a 
bold  bank  of  about  twenty  feet  high.     In  the 
\   fall  of  the  year,  the  snakes  would  resort  to  this 
spring  and  enter  the  crevice  of  the  rock,  where 
the^'  remained  through  the  winter.     When  the 
warmth  of  spring  revived  them  from  their  tor- 
i   por,  they  would  emerge  from  their  winter  quar- 
\   ters  to  bask  in  the  sun.     At  this  season   they 
j   fell  an  easy  prey  to  the  destroyer.     Yarrick  and 
I   his  family'  would  kill  hundreds  of  them,  then 
I   pile  the  snakes  on  a  log-heap  and  burn  them. 
By  this  wholesale  butchery  the  spring  was  soon 
rid  of  rattlesnakes,  but  it  ever  afterward  bore 
the  name  of  its  first  venomous  inhabitants.'' 

For  many  years  previous  to  the  settlement  of 
Ohio  by  the  whites.  Green  Township  must  have 
been  a  fiivorite  resort  of  the  aboriginal  race 
which  then  inhabited  the  State,  for  in  the  early 
day,   man}'  remains  of  their  handiwork   were 
found.      Gen.    Bierce  says  :    "  The  northwest 
quarter  of  Section  25,  on  land  purchased   by 
Cornelius   Johnston   of  the  United  States  in 
1813,  appears  to  have  been  a  favorite  hunting- 
ground  of  the  Indians,  as  arrow-heads,  hatchets, 
skinning  knives   and  other    implements    have  i 
been  found  there  in  great  abundance.     From  ' 
the  numerous  flint  chips  found  on  that  quarter  j 
of  the  section,  it  would  seem  to  have  been  a  : 
place  for   manufacturing   their  stone  hatchets  I 
and  arrow-heads.     Where  they  found  the  stone 
is  unknown.     This  spot  seems  to  have  been  se-  ! 
lected  on  account  of  its  being  light-timbered, 
clear  from   underbrush,   and  elevated  a  little 
above  the  surrounding  lands.     Scattered  over  ; 
this  elevated  plateau  were  found  piles  of  stones, 
varying  in  size  from  a  man's  fist  to   his  head, 
and  arranged  in  heaps  of  from  four  to  six  feet 
to  a  little  larger  or  smaller.     Tradition  assigns  i 
to  them  the  honor  of  holding  the  ashes  of  some  ! 
warrior  or  chief,  but  as  no  bones  or  human  re- 
mains have  ever  been  found  in  them,  I  am  in- 
clined to  think  them  altars,  on  which  they  sac- 


rificed to  their  gods,  and  the  spirits  of  their 
departed  braves.  Among  all  the  tribes  sacri- 
fices were  common.  Tradition  saj-s  that  one 
of  the  early  settlers  in  Green  attempted  to 
desecrate  one  of  the  altars,  but  after  throwing 
down  three  or  four  feet  of  it,  and  when  he  was, 
as  he  supposed,  about  to  accomplish  his  object, 
he  was  seized  with  a  supernatural  fear,  and 
abandoned  the  enterprise."  Previous  to  the  war 
of  1812,  Indians  were  quite  plenty  in  the  town- 
ship, but  as  they  sided  with  the  British  the}' 
were  compelled  by  the  white  settlers  to  leave, 
and  since  then  an  Indian  has  rarely  been  seen 
within  the  limits  of  Green.  Man}'  families  who 
located  after  the  war  declare  the  red  men  had 
all  left  when  they  came  from  Pennsylvania. 
The  remains  of  their  old  forts  and  wigwams 
were  seen  as  late  as  1855,  according  to  Gen. 
Bierce,  at  the  head-waters  of  the  Nimishilla,  on 
Sections  36  and  25.  They  also  occupied  sev- 
eral camps  near  Turkey  Foot  Lake,  and  what 
is  now  the  reservoir,  in  1809,  when  the  Kepler 
family  first  located  in  the  township.  "  Among 
the  celebrated  Indians  who  used  this  township 
for  a  hunting-ground  was  a  chief  called  by  the 
whites  '  Beaver  Hat.'  He  had  a  settlement  at 
what  is  how  the  south  part  of  the  village  of 
Wooster,  where  the  Baptist  burying-ground  now 
is.  His  Indian  name  was  Paupellnan,  and  his 
settlement  he  called  '  Apple  Chanquecake,'  or 
apple  orchard.  He  was  a  bitter  enemy  of  the 
whites,  and,  when  drunk,  he  would  take  out  a 
string  with  thirteen  white  men's  tongues  on  it, 
dried,  and  exhibit  them  with  much  pride.  One 
day  he  got  out  his  string  of  tongues,  and  began 
to  shake  them,  when  George  Harter  took  his 
rifle  and  started  after  him,  sa3ing  he  would  go 
and  kill  a  buck.  The  report  of  a  rifle  was  soon 
after  heard,  but  he  brought  back  no  game,  nor 
was  Beaver  Hat  ever  heard  of  more." — Bierce. 
Harter  lived  immediately  south  of  Section  16 
land  for  a  few  years  at  an  early  day.  Most  of 
the  original  permanent  white  settlers  of  Green 
Township  were  Pennsylvania  Dutch  and  their 
descendants,  and  the  cast  and  tone  of  morals 
and  society  still  retain  a  decidedl}'  German 
character.  The  citizens  are  honest,  frugal,  in- 
dustrious and  wealth}'.  Although  the  dialect 
of  the  Pennsj-lvania  Dutch  is  to  a  great  extent 
the  medium  of  communication  between  the 
residents  of  the  township,  it  is  seldom  an  in- 
habitant is  found  who  cannot  understand  when 
asked  a  question  in  English,  and  these  exeep- 


ik^ 


GREEN    TOWNSHIP. 


595 


tional  cases  are  generally  the  aged  and  infirm. 
Many  of  the  early  settlers  and  their  children 
refused  to  adopt  the  advanced  ideas  and  new 
improvements  advocated  by  the  genius  of  the 
most  progressive  nation  known  to  history,  and 
many  of  these  old  fellows  died  still  clinging 
to  their  old  notions  of  the  past,  but  occasion- 
ally one  still  living  and  blessed  with  wealth  will 
declai'e  how  little  he  cares  for  those  glories  of 
the  nation  as  shown  by  mighty  works  of  archi- 
tectural grandeur  ;  and  this  poor  mortal  will 
expect  you  to  accord  to  him  a  meed  of  praise 
and  make  a  virtue  of  his  ignorance.  But  the 
descendants  of  these  men  have,  by  mingling 
with  a  different  race,  caught  the  spirit  of  prog- 
ress which  will  in  future  years  bring  forth  a 
rich  harvest,  for  by  uniting  to  the  bone  and 
muscle  the  industry  and  frugalit}-  of  the  Ger- 
man, the  refinement  and  progressive  spirit  of 
the  Yankee,  a  generation  will  be  born  in  Green 
that  will  i-ank  with  the  best  bone,  muscle  and 
mind  of  the  country. 

Green  Township  was  for  many  years  the 
hunting  ground  of  several  families,  mere 
•'  squatters"  on  the  land,  who  were  as  nomadic 
in  habit  as  the}'  were  transient  in  location. 
They  lived  chiefly  b}'  hunting  and  fishing,  and 
many  of  them  paid  very  little  attention  to  ftirra- 
ing.  Among  these  were  Johnny  Holmes,  an 
old  fellow  who  was  raised  with  the  Indians  and 
was  possibly  a  half-breed.  He  married  an  In- 
dian squaw,  and  they  lived  with  Williams,  an 
Indian,  who  camped  on  Williams  Run.  When 
the  war  of  1812  broke  out,  Williams  was  anx- 
ious to  leave  for  Upper  Sandusky,  but  Holmes 
did  not  wish  to  go,  and  this  created  bad  feeling 
between  the  two.  Williams  left  with  his  wife 
and  after  two  days  sent  back  for  Holmes,  re- 
porting that  he  had  reached  a  place  where  much 
game  abounded  ;  this  had  the  desired  effect 
upon  Holmes,  and  he  left  with  his  wife  for  the 
favored  locality-,  but  upon  reaching  the  place 
found  that  Williams  was  still  feeling  savage 
toward  him,  for  at  supper  time  he  refused  to 
let  Holmes  have  anything  to  eat,  but  supplied 
Mrs.  Holmes  and  his  own  wife.  This  to  Holmes 
was  a  ver}-  bad  sign,  and  he  left  that  night  for 
his  old  home  by  a  different  route  from  the  one 
he  had  previously  traveled.  By  special  agree- 
ment his  wife  returned  another  way  ;  they  met 
at  a  secret  place  in  the  vast  wilderness  which 
was  known  to  both  ;  they  were  then  tired  and 
hungry,  so  famished  that  they  were  willing  to 


feast  on  a  hedge-hog  which  Holmes  shot.  This 
old  fellow  afterward  settled  near  New  Portage, 
and  after  living  ihere  some  years  moved 
away. 

There  is  considerable  ignorance  among  many 
old  pioneers  of  Green  in  regard  to  the  first 
family  that  settled  in  the  township.  Gen. 
Bierce  in  his  history  stated  that  "  it  was  John 
Kepler,  who  came  in  the  fall  of  1809."  This  is 
a  slight  error  ;  Kepler  was  the  first  person  to 
purchase  Government  land  and  make  a  perma- 
nent settlement,  but  when  he  arrived  in  1805), 
there  were  several  families  temporarily  located 
on  Section  16  land.  These  were  John  Cruzen, 
David  Hartman,  Bazil  Viers,  the  Dixons,  the 
Triplets,  and  their  families.  This  statement  is 
made  on  the  authority  of  Jacob  Kepler,  son  of 
John,  Mrs.  Mary  Paulner  and  Mrs.  Sarah  War- 
ner, daughters  of  Andrew  Kepler,  and  John 
Buchtel.  The  former  three  are  over  seventy- 
five  years  of  age,  and  came  with  their  parents 
in  1809  and  1810.  Mr.  Buchtel  was  twelve 
years  old  when  he  settled  in  Green,  shortly 
after  the  Keplers  did.  Both  John  and  Andrew, 
sons  of  Andrew,  deny  this  statement  and  de- 
clare that  no  other  families  were  living  in 
Green  Township  when  the  Keplers  came,  but 
Andrew  was  not  born  till  1815,  and  consequent- 
ly obtains  his  knowledge  through  other  parties, 
and  John  says  he  was  only  three  years  old 
when  his  fiither  moved  to  Ohio.  Very  little  is 
known  of  some  who  located  temporarily  on 
these  school  lands  at  an  early  day.  They  were 
generally  very  poor,  and  the  Trustees  of  the 
township  permitted  them  to  live  on  Section  16 
lands  if  they  would  each  year  put  a  certain 
amount  of  improvements  upon  the  farms  they 
occupied.  There  is  some  doubt  in  regard  to 
which  family  first  located  on  these  lands. 
Mrs.  John  Hunsberger,  of  Greensburg,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Triplet,  relates  that  her  father 
always  claimed  that  either  he  or  John  Cruzen 
was  the  first  settler  of  the  township.  The  wives 
of  these  two  men  were  cousins.  Cruzen  had 
a  large  family  of  children.  He  once  killed  an 
elk  near  a  small  stream  which  was  afterward 
named  Elk  Run.  This  spot  was  one  mile  and  a 
half  southwest  of  Greensburg  Village  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Widow  Beltz.  It  is  claimed 
that  this  was  the  only  elk  ever  killed  in  this 
section  of  the  State,  but  a  pair  of  elk-horns 
were  afterward  found  on  old  Philip  Hartong's 
farm.      Cruzen    remained  in  Green  Township 


3) 


:tv: 


596 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


but  a  few  years,  and  then  removed  to  near  San- 
dusk}-  City. 

William  Triplet,  who  was  the  second  settler 
of  the  township  if  Cruzen  was  the  first,  appeared 
about  1807.  By  the  statements  of  John  Buch- 
tel  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Warner,  he  came  several 
years  previous  to  1809  (the  year  John  Kepler 
located  in  the  township).  William  was  the  son 
of  Joseph  Triplet,  who  also  settled  in  Grreen 
with  his  family'  a  short  time  after  his  son  did. 
Joseph  was  born  in  England,  and  for  many  years 
followed  the  sea  as  a  captain's  cook.  By  his 
first  wife  he  had  three  children — Hetty,  John 
and  Charles  ;  they  did  not  remove  to  Green 
with  the  father.  The  two  sons  left  for  the  West 
before  their  father  did,  and  were  never  heard  of 
afterward.  Joseph's  second  wife  was  a  Miss 
Drake,  of  Mar^^land.  He  followed  butchering 
in  Baltimore,  then  moved  to  South  Branch,  Ya., 
where  his  daughter  Hett}'  married  a  man  named 
Wolf  Joseph  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  then 
located  for  a  short  time  in  Ohio,  near  Steuben- 
ville,  and  afterward  in  Green  Township.  This 
old  gentleman  must  have  spent  much  of  his 
time  moving  ;  he  finally  died  about  the  year 
1825,  aged  seventy-one,  at  the  residence  of  his 
son  William,  in  Coventry  Township.  He  dressed 
in  buckskin,  with  coat,  pantaloons  and  vest  of 
that  material ;  wore  moccasins  on  his  feet  and 
a  fur  cap,  made  from  wild-cat,  otter  or  raccoon 
skin,  on  his  head.  Bj'  his  second  wife,  Joseph 
had  eight  children,  all  of  these  were  early  set- 
tlers of  Green  Township.  They  were  William, 
the  first  or  second  settler  of  Green  ;  James 
died  in  Coventr}^  ;  Polly,  married  Simeon  Payne 
and  removed  to  Licking  County  ;  Abraham, 
settled  inDe  Kalb  County,  Ind.;  Betsy,  married 
Jonathan  Potts,  and  they  moved  West  ;  Sallie, 
married  Samuel  Hanes,  they  settled  in  Brimfield 
Township  ;  Solomon,  who  traveled  with  a  cir- 
cus at  an  early  da}',  and  afterward  located  in 
Licking  County  ;  Jacob  moved  to  Indiana. 
These  eight  children  of  Joseph  Triplet  are  all 
dead.  Many  incidents  are  related  in  regard  to 
this  family.  When  they  first  located  in  Green 
Township,  they  had  to  secure  all  supplies  at 
Steubenville,  and  secured  their  grist  at  a  mill 
on  the  Sandy  Biver,  until  the  old  ''  tub-mill " 
was  built  at  Middlebury.  It  is  said  that  Will- 
iam Triplet  would  plow  all  day  with  his  horse, 
and  turn  it  out  to  pasture  at  uight,  but  the 
wolves  being  very  troublesome,  it  was  neces- 
sary to  guard  the  animal,  and  Triplet  would 


lay  down  near  the  animal  with  his  rifle,  remain- 
ing all  night  near  the  faithful  beast,  in  order  to 
protect  it.  One  day  the  Triplets  heard  their 
pigs  squealing,  and  when  William  visited  the 
pen  to  investigate  matters,  he  discovered  a  bear 
walking  off  with  a  fine  article  of  bacon  ;  Bruin 
alwaj's  relished  pork  meat,  and  never  failed  to 
make  the  settlers  uneasy  in  regard  to  the  safe- 
ty' of  their  winter  supply.  An  Indian  squaw 
paid  a  visit  to  the  Triplet  family  on  one  occa- 
sion, and  greatly  admired  the  dress  worn  by 
little  John  Triplet ;  the  effect  of  her  covetous- 
ness  was  that  she  stripped  the  white  child,  and 
adorned  her  own  papoose  with  the  stolen 
clothing.  William  once  shot  at  a  deer  and 
missed  it  ;  he  followed  the  animal  for  a  short 
distance,  and  was  suddenly  confronted  by  an 
Indian,  who  exclaimed,  "  Whoa  !  see  me  buck  ?  " 
This  unexpected  appearance  of  the  native  who 
desired  information  in  regard  to  '  his  buck  " 
cooled  the  ardor  of  the  white  deer- hunter,  and 
he  relinquished  all  claim  to  the  animal  he  de- 
sired to  capture.  The  Indians  claimed  all  the 
game  in  the  forests,  and  when  the  whites  com- 
menced to  settle  the  county,  the  red  men  ap- 
peared moi'e  frequentl}'  on  this  portion  of  their 
hunting-ground,  in  order  to  secure  as  much  of 
their  ''  own  property  "  as  they  could.  W^illiam 
Triplet  was  drafted  during  the  war  of  1812  ; 
that  is,  ever}'  able-bodied  man  was  expected  to 
turn  out  and  })rotect  the  settlement  fi'om  the 
British  and  Indians.  Triplet  visited  Canton, 
but  was  so  sick  that  the  doctor  exclaimed,  "  We 
don't  want  any  such  looking  men  as  you  are  ! '" 
and  William  was  sent  home.  The  Triplets 
lived  on  Section  16  land  for  six  or  seven 
years,  then  moved  to  Coventry  Township,  where 
Joseph  and  his  son  William  died.  The  latter 
married  Mary  Dixon,  daughter  of  Thomas  Dix- 
on, an  early  settler  of  Green  Township.  Will- 
iam Triplet  was  the  father  of  nine  children — 
John,  Hetty,  Cynthia,  Joshua,  Eliza,  William, 
Amanda,  Marian  and  Sophia.  The  eldest,  John, 
is  now  a  resident  of  Coventry  Township  ;  Cyn- 
thia is  now  living  in  Greensburg,  the  wife  of 
John  Hunsberger.  These  are  the  onl}'  two  of 
Triplet's  children  now  living  in  Summit  County. 
Another  early  settler  on  Section  16  land 
was  Thomas  Dixon.  John  Buchtel  thinks  that 
the  Dixons  were  the  first  settlers  of  Green 
Township.  They  appeared  about  the  same  time 
the  Triplets  did,  and  the  two  families  were  con- 
nected by  marriage.     Thomas  was  a  weaver  by 


-^—^ 


GREEN    TOWNSHIP. 


597 


trade,  and  his  daughter  Ann  assisted  him  at 
this  occupation.  The  Dixons  had  previously 
lived  near  Steubenville,  Ohio.  Thomas  had 
five  daughters  and  four  sons— Marj'  Dixon  mar- 
ried William  Triplet ;  Ann  married  Bazil 
Viers  ;  Betsy  married  Jacob  Smith  ;  Margaret 
married  David  Hartman  ;  the  fifth  daughter, 
Jane,  died,  being  unmarried.  Triplet,  Viers, 
Hartman  and  Smith  were  early  settlers  in 
Green  ;  the  first  three  lived  on  Section  16 
land,  near  their  father  in-law.  Very  little  is 
known  in  regard  to  Hartman  and  Viers,  but  it 
is  related  of  old  "  Grann}'  "  Viers,  possibly  the 
mother  of  Bazil,  that  she  was  a  good  hand  to 
call  on  in  case  of  sickness,  and  once,  when  a 
cow  in  the  neighborhood  was  bitten  bj'  a  snake, 
old  granny  collected  some  herbs  and  cured  the 
valuable  beast.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  many 
other  good  deeds  were  recorded  for  this  old 
lady  in  the  "  good  book  above,"  for  she  passed 
over  the  river  fifty  years  ago.  Thomas  Dixon 
afterward  removed  to  Coventry  Township,  with 
his  two  sons-in-law,  Triplet  and  Viers,  and  died 
about  the  year  1822.  Dixon's  four  sons  were 
Liberton,  Michael,  James  and  John  ;  the  latter 
died  at  New  Portage  ;  James  and  Michael  re- 
moved to  Richland  Count}-. 

About  the  name  of  Liberton  Dixon  is  clus- 
tered much  that  is  romantic,  for  he  of  all  the 
earl}'  settlers  of  Green  Township  has  been 
handed  down  to  posterit}'  as  the  daring  advent- 
urer of  the  early  day.  There  is  considerable 
added  to  the  credit  of  this  mighty  hunter  of 
the  past  which  would  not  bear  the  closest  scru- 
tiny of  an  unbiased  historian  ;  but,  if  we 
should  fail  to  give  Green  Township  due  credit 
for  lieing  the  home  of  this  illustrious  Nimrod, 
and  record  on  these  pages  some  of  the  stories 
told  about  him,  then  every  true  son  of  Green 
would  brand  the  Summit  County  history  as  a 
''fraud."  It  is  said  that  Liberton  lived  with 
the  Indians  for  seven  years,  until  one  evening 
an  old  Indian  got  mad  at  Liberton  while  they 
were  around  the  camp-fire,  and  took  after  liim 
with  a  huoe  knife.  The  famous  hunter  being 
convinced  that  "  discretion  is  the  better  part  of 
valor,"  fled  from  the  camp  and  was  followed  by 
the  warrior.  Liberton  accidentally  tumbled 
over  a  brush  heap,  and  the  brave  sliared  the 
same  misfortune.  It  was  a  lucky  accident  for 
Liberton,  but  an  unlucky  one  for  the  Indian, 
who  dropped  the  knife  when  he  fell  ;  Liberton 
seized    the    weapon,   killed   the    savage,    and 


decided  to  return  again  unto  the  haunts  of  civili- 
zation. When  on  the  way  to  the  white  settle- 
ments he  was  chased  by  the  Indians  who  had 
discovered  the  body  of  their  comrade.  Liber- 
ton sought  shelter  from  their  bullets  behind  a 
tree,  but  the  trunk  was  so  small  that  it  did  not 
satisfactorily  answer  the  desired  purpose,  and 
some  seven  shots  were  put  through  his  clothing, 
but  nevertheless,  he  escaped,  and  afterwai'd  set- 
tled in  Green  Township  ;  but,  in  his  after  years, 
he  became  a  bitter  enemy  of  the  red  man  in 
consequence  of  their  treachery  toward  him. 
According  to  his  own  accounts  man}'  Indians 
sufljered  death  by  his  hands.  It  is  said  that,  in 
relating  his  exploits,  be  would  always  leave  his 
hearers  to  infer  that  the  savage  antagonists 
with  whom  he  had  frequent  encounters  had  all 
been  sent  to  the  "  happy  hunting  grounds  "  in 
consequence  of  his  skill  as  an  "  Indian  hunter." 
But  the  event  of  his  life,  which  relates  more 
particularly  to  Green  Township,  was  the  tragic 
death  of  Wam-pe-tek.  This  savage  was  the 
chief  of  a  band  containing  about  forty,  and 
they  had  their  headquarters  near  Turkey  Foot 
Lake.  These  inoffensive  red  men  never  harmed 
the  whites,  but  spent  most  of  their  time  hunt- 
ing, fishing  and  resting,  at  which  latter  occupa- 
tion they  were  very  successful.  But  one  day 
Liberton  and  the  chief  quarreled  about  a  bee- 
tree  which  both  claimed.  The  result  was, 
shortly  afterward,  the  Indian  was  missing.  Some 
one  hearing  the  report  of  a  rifle,  asked  Liberton 
what  he  had  shot.  "  I  shot  at  a  deer,"  was  the 
reply.  "  Where  is  your  prize  ?"  was  the  next 
question,  and  his  answer  was,  "I  missed  the 
animal."  Dixon  was  a  crack  shot  with  the 
rifle,  and  never  missed  the  object  he  fired  at ; 
consequently,  his  statements  on  this  occasion 
were  not  believed,  and  it  has  always  been  said 
that  Wam-pe-tek,  and  not  the  deer,  was  his 
mark  ;  the  chief  never  appeared  to  clear  the 
mystery,  and  the  supposition  is  that,  while 
the  savage  was  standing  on  a  log  near  Indian 
Pond  the  fatal  bullet  struck  him.  Dixon  then 
threw  the  body  in  the  pond,  which  is  situated 
about  one  mile  west  of  East  Liberty,  and  just 
northwest  of  the  schoolhouse  at  that  point. 
Other  persons  add  other  statements  in  regard 
to  the  matter.  It  is  stated  that  a  few  days 
after  tlie  chief  disappeared  the  aslies  of  a  fire 
were  discovered  in  the  woods,  and  in  them  only 
half  consumed  were  several  articles  formerly 
owned  by  the  savage.     Also  that  the  band  of 


tr 


® k^ 


598 


IILSTOHY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Indians  suspected  Liberton,  and  would  have 
killed  him,  but  Dixon's  brother  John  interfered. 
This. brother  John  was  also  a  hunter  of  some 
note  ;  but,  fortunately,  did  not  consider  it  was 
necessary  to  slaughter  ever}'  inoffensive  Indian 
who  crossed  his  path.  It  is  related  of  John 
that  he  killed  a  very  large  wild-cat  at  the 
swamp  which  is  just  west  of  Grreensburg,  and 
this  locality  was  afterward  called  "  Wild-Cat 
Swamp."  He  also  shot  a  large  bear  which  was 
on  a  chestnut  tree,  standing  upon  land  now 
owned  by  Widow  Spitler,  of  Greensburg.  Lib- 
erton married  Mrs.  Hannah  Culver,  formerly 
Miss  Pelton,  and  removed  to  Coventry  Town- 
ship, where  he  died  about  1830.  There  are 
some  old  settlers  who  declare  that  toward  the 
end  of  his  life  he  was  afraid  to  go  out  after 
night  through  fear  that  the  spirits  of  some  of 
the  savages  he  had  killed  would  capture  him. 
Liberton  was  the  father  of  four  children  ;  they 
all  moved  West.  It  is  related  of  Liberton  and 
his  brothers  that  they  were  brought  up  in  the 
backwoods  and  were  inured  to  all  kinds  of 
hardships  ;  they  could  sleep  on  the  ground,  and 
were  not  particular  about  a  shelter  to  protect 
them  from  snow  and  rain  if  they  desired  repose  ; 
they  could  eat  an^-thing  and  live,  march,  and 
work  without  eating  for  a  much  longer  time 
than  the  men  who  were  the  permanent  settlers 
of  the  township.  The  Dixons  were  not  afraid 
of  danger,  and,  therefore,  more  valuable  in 
turbulent  times  during  the  war  of  1812  than  a 
score  of  the  farmers  who  inhabited  the  town- 
at  that  time. 

John  Kepler,  who  made  the  first  permanent 
settlement  in  Green  Township,  came  out  to  the 
new  country  with  his  family  in  the  fall  of  1809. 
Re  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  worked  at 
this  occupation  some  in  his  new  home.  Tlis 
brother  Andrew  brought  him  out  to  Ohio  with 
his  four-horse  team ;  he  then  returned  to  Penn- 
s\ivania  for  his  own  family,  and  they  reached 
Green  Township  in  the  spring  of  1810.  The 
Keplers  were  born  in  Bucks  County,  Penn., 
and  married  twin  sisters.  John's  wife  was 
Magdalena  Cramer,  and  Andrew  married  Mary. 
The  Keplers  purchased  from  the  Government 
320  acres,  comprising  the  east  half  of  Section 
17.  John  occupied  the  western  part  of  this 
tract  and  Andrew  the  eastern  half  In  after 
years  they  purchased  other  extensive  tracts, 
which  are  now  the  propert}'  of  their  descendants. 
When  John  first  arrived  with  his  family,  they 


lived  for  some  time  in  a  hut  built  beside  a  log  ; 
then  erected  a  more  permanent  residence  on 
the  land  afterward  occupied  by  his  brother  An- 
drew, which  the}'  owned  during  the  first  win- 
ter, and  for  a  short  time  after  Andrew's  fiimily 
came,  in  1810  ;  for  a  brief  period  both  families 
occupied  the  same  cabin.  John  Kepler  was 
not  able  to  go  to  the  war  of  1812.  and  so  he 
assisted  in  sending  young  John  Dixon  as  his 
substitute,  furnishing  him  with  blankets  and 
other  articles  of  clothing.  John  was  a  resident 
of  Green  Township  for  about  twenty-five  j^ears 
and  was  then  killed  while  working  a  cider-press. 
His  wife  survived  him  many  years.  John  was 
buried  in  the  grave^'ard  on  his  brother  An- 
drew's farm.  He  was  the  father  of  nine  children, 
as  follows  :  Catharine,  married  Henry  Warner, 
of  Coventr}- ;  John,  formei'ly  of  Green  ;  Jacob, 
now  a  resident  of  Coventry  ;  Andrew,  shot 
on  August  IG,  1871,  by  his  son-in-law;  Dan- 
iel, moved  to  De  Kalb  County,  Ind.  ;  George, 
formerl}'  of  Coventry,  now  deceased ;  Henry, 
died  at  eighteen  ;  Samuel,  died  in  Illinois,  and 
Lena,  died  after  marrying  Henry  Cook.  Dan- 
iel was  the  ^'oungest  child  when  the  family  re- 
moved to  Ohio.  After  x\ndrew  Kepler  moved 
his  family  to  Ohio,  he  sold  two  of  his  horses  to 
his  brother  John,  and,  shortly  afterward,  the 
other  two  animals  died.  He  then  purchased 
oxen  to  aid  in  farming.  The  family  suffered 
man}'  hardships  for  several  years.  The  Indians 
would  frequently  appear  with  their  ponies,  dogs 
and  papooses ;  the}'  brought  baskets  which 
they  desired  to  trade  for  flour,  meal,  potatoes 
and  other  articles.  When  Andrew  was  with 
the  American  army,  during  the  war  of  1812, 
the  Indians  kept  his  wife  supplied  with  ven- 
ison, which  they  exchanged  for  meal  and  pota- 
toes. Mrs.  Kepler  never  feared  the  savages, 
for  they  were  always  friendly  and  kept  their 
promises.  It  was  only  necessary  to  supply  one 
with  a  loaf  of  liread  and  tell  him  that  venison 
was  desired  at  a  certain  time,  and  he  never 
failed  to  respond.  But  the  wolves  were  ver}- 
troublesome,  and  would  occasionally  approach 
within  five  or  six  rods  of  the  fire  where  Mrs 
Kepler  was  cooking  the  meals.  Mrs.  Rebecca 
Herring,  formerly  Miss  Kepler,  says  :  •'  We 
children  did  not  hate  the  Indians  so  much  as 
we  did  the  wolves ;  these  animals  howled 
around  the  house  at  night  until  we  thought 
the  clap-boards  on  the  roof  were  shaking." 
Finally,  the  State  offered  a  bounty    for   each 


■7< 


GREEX    TOWNSHIP. 


59!) 


wolf  scalp,  and  the  howling  tribe  of  the  forests 
commenced  to  decrease  in  numbers,  and  in  a 
score  of  years  farmers  were  able  to  raise  sheep 
with  profit.  At  one  time,  during  the  absence 
of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Andrew  Kepler  caught  a 
wild  turke}'  with  her  hands  ;  she  made  a  feast, 
to  which  she  invited  her  relatives  and  friends. 
About  the  same  time,  old  Joseph  Triplet's  wife 
having  obtained  a  rumor,  from  some  source, 
that  the  British  and  Indians  were  coming, 
alarmed  the  neighborhood.  The  two  Kepler 
families,  the  Smiths  and  the  Buchtels  hastil}' 
prepared  to  leave,  and  got  half-wa}'  to  Canton 
before  they  found  the  alarm  was  false.  (This 
was  possibly  at  the  time  Capt.  Drake,  in  order 
to  try  his  men,  gave  a  false  alarm,  and  his 
men  became  panic-stricken.)  Andrew  Kepler, 
after  living  in  the  township  nearly  fifty  years, 
died  January  16,  1855,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
seventy-eight  years  and  eleven  months.  He 
was  buried  in  the  graveyard  at  East  Liberty. 
He  was  the  father  of  eleven  children.  Nine 
grew  to  maturity,  were  married  and  raised 
large  familes,  and  the  Kepler  descendants  are 
very  numerous  in  Green  Township  and  else- 
where. These  nine  children  are  located  as  fol- 
lows :  Elizabeth  married  Samuel  Stover  and  re- 
moved to  Illinois  ;  Mary  married  three  times, 
and  is  now  the  widow  of  Jacob  Paulner,  at 
Grreensburg  ;  Catharine  married  Peter  Wilhelm, 
of  Green,  and  died  ;  Safah,  now  Mrs.  David 
Warner,  of  Green  ;  John,  of  Green  ;  Rebecca, 
now  the  widow  of  Lewis  Herring,  of  Green  ; 
Jacob  A.  died  in  Green  ;  Andrew,  of  East  Lib- 
erty, and  Samuel,  struck  by  lightning  on  August 
10,  1854. 

Gen.  Bierce  says  in  1854 :  -Jacob  Smith,  Ja- 
cob Coleman  and  Col.  Dillman  nextcame  into  the 
township.  They  were  all  from  Center  County. 
Penn.  Coleman  and  Smith  died  about  fifteen 
^•ears  ago  (1839)  and  Dillman  twentj^  (1834)." 
Of  these  three  men,  Coleman  settled  on  land  now 
owned  by  Alex  Stine,  and  was  buried  at  Union- 
town  ;  Jacob  Smith  was  the  son  of  Conrad 
Smith,  who  entered  the  northwest  quarter  of 
Section  17  in  the  spring,  and  died  six  months 
after  .settling  upon  it;  previous  to  his  death, 
he  endeavored  to  make  a  bedstead  to  sleep  up- 
on but  failed.  His  son  Jacob  put  a  large 
bowlder  upon  his  grave,  and  in  rough  letters 
carved  the  name  of  his  father  on  the  stone. 
It  is  reported  that,  after  the  farm  was  sold  to 
the  Baughmans,  this  rude  monument  was  taken 


for  the  corner-stone  of  a  new  barn.  "Col. 
Dillman,"  it  should  be  Conrad  Dillman,  settled 
upon  1  GO  acres  now  owned  by  John  Gougler  ; 
he  was  a  very  moral  and  religious  man,  and 
would  go  from  house  to  house  with  his  Bible 
teaching  the  people.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church  at  an  early 
day,  and  afterward  united  with  the  Evangelical 
Association.  His  youngest  daughter  married 
Rev.  Adam  Klinefelter,  for  many  years  a  prom- 
inent citizen  of  Green  Township.  Dillman  was 
buried  on  the  southwest  corner  of  his  farm. 
The  Buchtel  family  also  settled  in  Green 
Township  at  an  earl}'  da}-.  Peter  Buchtel 
came  in  May,  1811,  with  a  large  family  of  chil- 
dren, and  entered  at  the  Government  office  at 
Steubenville  the  land  now  owned  by  John 
Kepler.  Peter  was  in  the  iVmerican  army  dur- 
ing the  war  of  1812,  and  died  of  disease  at 
Sandusk}'  Cit}-.  John,  his  oldest  son,  who  re- 
sides north  of  Akron,  is  the  father  of  Hon. 
J.  R.  Buchtel,  of  that  cit}'.  John  relates  the 
following  :  ■•  The  first  house  we  lived  in  was 
built  of  stakes  taken  from  a  large  chestnut 
tree  which  we  cut  down,  and  formed  a  rude 
hut  by  leaning  the  stakes  against  the  log  ; 
there  were  eleven  children  in  our  family,  but 
we  never  had  a  doctor  in  our  house.  We  lived 
mostly  on  deer's  meat  and  wild  honey  ;  father 
killed  twenty-five  deer  one  fall,  and  found  one 
bee-tree  which  contained  eighteen  gallons  of 
honey  ;  after  father  died,  I  had  to  assist  in 
supporting  the  family ;  I  had  to  work  four 
days  for  a  bushel  of  wheat,  and  two  da3's  for  a 
bushel  of  rye."  Peter  Buchtels  wife  was  Mar- 
garet Cramer  ;  she  was  a  sister  of  Mrs. 
Mary  and  Magdalena  Kepler ;  their  brother 
Daniel,  Jacob  and  Abraham  Cramer  were  also 
early  settlers  of  Green  Township,  locating  up- 
on Vfovernment  laud  about  1812.  Among 
those  who  settled  in  the  township  previous  to 
1820,  were  John  Yarrick,  who  entered  the  east 
side  of  Section  25  about  1809;  his  daughter 
was  the  mother  of  Lewis  Miller,  Esq..  of 
Akron  ;  William  Ball,  southwest  quarter  of  25. 
about  1809  ;  Thomas  Macbee,  northwest  of  36, 
about  1809  ;  Abraham  DeHaven.  southwest  of 
24,  about  1810;  Ludwig  Spotts,  southeast  of 
34,  in  1812;  Daniel  Raber,  southeast  of  24. 
about  1813:  William  Beltz.  southwest  of  26. 
about  1813;  Henry  Everhart,  northeast  of  36, 
about  1813;  Jacob  Sichley,  northeast  of  26,  in 
1813  (this  gentleman  always  claimed  he  heard 


^ 


-Jl §1 


600 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


the  roar  of  the  cannon  during  Perry's  victory 
on  Lake  Erie,  from  his  farm  in  Green  Town- 
ship); —  Swales,  southeast  of  26,  about  1813  ; 
Cornelius  Johnston,  northwest  of  25,  in  May, 
1814;  Simon  Yarrick,  father  of  Adam,  in 
1814;  Daniel  Wise,  about  1813;  John  Kreigh- 
baum,  in  1814  ;  Michael  Myers  and  sons  with 
their  families,  in  1814 ;  Philip  Hartong,  about 
1813;  Henry  Raber,  Sr.,  about  1814;  Adam 
Working,  about  1815;  Robert  Hall,  in  1817; 
Jost  Sn3'der,  in  1810  ;  John  Hunsberger  came 
with  his  family  in  1822,  and  purchased  400 
acres  on  Sections  15  and  22  ;  he  brought  $800 
with  him  from  Pennsylvania,  and  the  money 
was  hid  in  the  churn  while  traveling  to  Ohio ; 
Hunsberger  built  upon  his  land  the  finest  house 
and  barn  which,  up  to  that  time,  had  been 
erected  in  the  township ;  the  children  of  the 
family  received  in  Pennsylvania  a  good  com- 
mon-school education,  and  have  always  taken 
a  prominent  position  in  Green  Township. 
Abi'am,  the  eldest  son,  taught  school  for  twenty- 
one  successive  winter  terms;  served  as  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  for  twenty-four  years,  and 
was  also  Township  Clerk  twenty-one  years. 
Among  the  prominent  families  who  have  set- 
tled in  the  township  since  1820,  are  the  follow- 
ing: John  Foust,  in  1822;  Henry  Warner, 
1823;  Jacob  Hartong,  1824;  Jacob  Dicker- 
hoff,  1826  ;  Henry  Beard,  1827  ;  Michael  Heck- 
man,  1828;  Peter  Thornton,  1829;  George 
Chisnell,  previous  to  1830  ;  Jacob  Vandersoll, 
John  Mottinger  and  George  Bidleman,  in 
1830;  David  Grotz,  1832;  Jacob  Humbert 
and  Michael  Schreiner,  about  1833 ;  Joseph 
Grable  and  Charles  Stroman,  Sr.,  1834;  Peter 
Wise,  1835;  David  Smith,  1836;  John  Goug- 
ler,  about  1837  ;  Jacob  Grable,  1838  ;  Joseph 
Stauffer,  1840;  Isacc  Franks,  about  1841; 
George  Foster  and  George  Kline,  in  1842. 

Most  of  the  early  settlers  of  Green  Township 
suffered  many  hardships.  At  first,  there  were 
no  mills  nearer  than  Steubenville,  Ohio,  and 
other  supplies  had  to  be  obtained  about  the 
same  distance  from  their  new  homes ;  fre- 
quently, some  families  would  run  entirely  out 
of  provisions,  or,  by  living  on  short  rations  for 
weeks,  secured  an  appetite  which  would  de- 
vour anything  that  could  be  "  chawed."  Alex 
Johnston  relates  an  incident  in  regard  to  one 
family  in  their  neighborhood,  who,  for  a  time, 
had  only  "  parslej'  for  breakfast,  parsle}^  for 
dinner  and  parsley  for  supper."     Fortunately, 


after  several  days,  the}'  secured  other  diet. 
Another  household  demolished  the  last  food  in 
the  larder.  After  planting  their  early  potatoes 
and  growing  hungry,  they  dug  up  the  "  seed- 
lings," devoured  the  outside,  and  then  planted 
the  eyes.  But  the  soil  was  very  fertile,  and,  in 
a  few  years,  all  had  an  abundance.  Then  each 
man  desired  to  sell  his  surplus  grain  ;  but,  for 
years,  there  was  no  market  for  anything  raised 
on  the  farm.  Consequently,  money  was  very 
scarce.  When  a  new  settler  arrived  from  Penn- 
sylvania, he  generally  had  a  small  balance  in 
cash,  but  desii'ed  something  to  eat.  The  result 
was,  that  there  was  a  strife  among  those  having 
produce  to  see  these  new  settlers  before  their 
neighbors  did,  and  secure  a  portion  of  this 
money  to  pay  necessary  bills,  such  as  taxes. 
John  Spotts  relates  that  when  his  father  settled 
in  the  township  in  1812.  wheat  was  so  scarce 
that  Ludwig  had  to  pay  $3  for  a  bushel.  In  a 
few  years,  the  old  gentleman  had  wheat  to  sell, 
and  then  he  could  not  get  25  cents  for  the  same 
amount  of  grain.  In  those  days,  farmers  re- 
ceived so  little  for  their  produce  that  frequently 
men  hauled  a  load  of  wheat  to  Cleveland,  and 
exchanged  it  for  a  barrel  of  salt.  Money  being 
scarce,  people  considered  themselves  poor,  al- 
though they  had  plenty  to  eat  and  clothes  to 
wear.  Their  apparel,  however,  was  general h' 
home-made.  Before  the  canal  was  completed, 
all  store  goods  were  high,  and,  consequently, 
settlers  without  funds  could  not  alwa3-s  secure 
these  high-priced  luxuries  ;  but  they  clothed 
themselves,  for  there  were  many  spinning-wheels 
brought  from  Pennsylvania,  and  the  women 
knew  how  to  use  them.  The  men  frequently 
wore  buckskin,  and  garments  made  from  tliis 
material  were  not  an  uncommon  sight  many 
years  after  1820.  The  forests,  for  a  few  years, 
were  full  of  game  ;  but  the  white  population  of 
the  township  increased  so  i-apidly  that  b}'  1825 
scarcel}-  any  wolves  or  deer  could  be  found. 
The  last  deer  shot  in  the  township  was  possibly 
killed  by  Simon  Yarrick,  about  the  year  1830. 
Bears  and  panthers  were  hunted  down  and  ex- 
terminated many  y(iars  previous.  Gen.  Bierce 
saj-s  :  "  Superstitious  notions  about  '  spooks  ' 
were  formerly  somewhat  common  among  many 
of  the  early  Dutch  settlers,  who  dreaded  the 
spirit  of  a  dead  Indian  far  more  than  they  did 
the  living  spirit  encased  in  flesh  and  bones, 
however  well  armed.  In  the  earl}'  settlement 
of  the  township,  the  low  grounds  were  noted 


/.^ 


^J^^:;^^^^^:-^^-^'     <LA/y^^^^i^ 


k 


GREEN    TOWNSHIP. 


601 


for  the  appearance  of  the  ignis  fatuus,  or  '  Will- 
o-the-wisp."  By  the  superstitious  pioneers, 
these  dancing  and  deceiving  lights  were  sup- 
posed to  be  the  spirits  of  the  Indians  or  '  spooks,' 
who  had  come  back  to  visit  their  hunting- 
grounds,  and  upbraid  the  pale  faces  for  their 
fraud  and  double  tongues.  These  harmless 
lights  caused  many  a  strong  man  to  tremble,  as 
he  paced  his  solitary  waj'  through  the  dense 
and  dark  forest. 

But  the  early  settlers  of  Green  Township 
were  not  all  farmers,  and  this  was  fortunate, 
considering  the  large  amount  of  produce  raised 
each  3'ear,  which  could  not  be  sold,  for  want  of 
a  market.  When  these  tillers  of  the  soil  ex- 
changed, at  Canton,  forty-four  bushels  of  r^-e 
for  a  barrel  of  salt,  they  could  not  so  readily 
complain  because  some  men  thought  it  was  not 
expedient  for  all  mankind  to  be  farmers,  and  so 
followed  other  occupations.  Some  of  the  early 
settlers  who  purchased  farms,  occasionally 
worked  at  trades  thej^  had  learned  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. John  Kepler  and  Michael  Myers  were 
blacksmiths  as  early  as  1814,"  and  erected 
forges  near  their  dwellings.  Myers  transferred 
his  forge  to  his  son  Henry,  and  he  to  his  son 
Michael,  who  to-da}'  uses  the  vise  brought  from 
Pennsylvania  by  his  grandfather.  Ludwig 
Spotts,  who  came  in  1812,  also  followed  black- 
smithing.  A  man  named  Kauffman  started  a 
rude  tan-3-ard  at  an  early  day,  on  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  C.  Long,  west  of  Greensburg.  In 
those  days,  tanners  were  "  luck}^ "  men,  for 
their  goods  were  in  greater  demand  than  the 
fruit  of  the  soil.  Nearly  everybody  had  wheat, 
but  few  had  leather,  which  they  all  needed  ; 
consequently,  leather  was  valuable,  and  it  was 
the  article  with  which  everj'thing  else  could  be 
obtained.  Tanners  would  not  exchange  their 
work  for  wheat  at  all  times,  for  in  those  da3's 
leather  was  as  good  as  cash,  and  it  was 
frequently  the  medium  of  exchange  between 
the  settlers,  notwithstanding  it  did  not  have  the 
stamp  of  the  Government  upon  it.  Kauffman 's 
tannery  was  afterward  removed  to  Greensburg. 
There  was  also  a  tan-3'ard  near  East  Liberty  at 
an  early  da}'.  The  first  shoemaker  that  started 
a  regular  shop  was  old  Adam  Musser's  son 
John,  who  manufactured  and  repaired,  about 
one  mile  east  of  what  is  now  Greensburg. 
Previous  to  this,  Adam  Working  followed  this 
trade  some  at  his  farm,  which  he  entered  about 
1815.     John  Foust,  who  came  in  1822,  was  a 


shoemaker,  and  worked  at  this  occupation 
during  the  winter,  when  his  services  were  more 
in  demand.  In  those  early  days,  the  Knights 
of  St.  Crispin  would  wander  through  the  coun- 
try, and  deliver  the  settlers  from  the  evils  of 
going  barefooted.  These  cobblers  would  re- 
main with  a  family  until  all  the  members  were 
"  shod  "  to  order,  and  then  seek  emplo3-ment 
elsewhere.  The  first  weaver  who  appeared  was 
Thomas  Dixon,  and  he  was  assisted  by  his 
daughter  Ann.  George  Dull,  who  came  in 
1814,  was  a  weaver  for  two  years,  then  returned 
to  Pennsylvania.  Jost  Snyder  appeared  in 
1819,  bringing  his  loom  from  Pennsylvania, 
and  followed  weaving  for  many  years.  In  1824, 
Jacob  Hartong,  father  of  Cyrus,  settled  on  land 
now  owned  b}^  the  Widow  Thursby,  and,  while 
his  sons  farmed,  Jacob  provided  the  clothing 
for  his  own  families  and  man3'  other  settlers  of 
the  neighborhood.  Philip  Hartong,  brother  of 
Jacob,  came  in  1 8 1 3.  For  several  years,  he  kept 
an  inn  on  the  old  Portage  road,  near  where  Ja- 
cob King's  brick  residence  is  at  the  present 
time.  The  hotel  business  being  unprofitable, 
he  built  a  saw-mill  on  land  now  owned  by 
Henr}'  Krumroy.  This  mill  was  erected  about 
1819,  and  reported  to  be  the  first  in  the  town- 
ship, but  this  is  ver}^  doubtful,  as  there  were 
man3^  families  133'  that  time,  and.  in  all  new  set- 
tlements, a  saw-mill  is  generall3'  provided  b3'^ 
some  enterprising  man  at  a  much  earlier  period 
in  the  histor3^  of  the  community.  However, 
mills  of  this  description  were  soon  numerous. 
The  Hartong  Mill  was  run  b3'  Philip  and  his 
son  Samuel  for  some  twenty -five  3'ears.  About 
the  same  time  Hartong  erected  his  saw-mill, 
John  Richards  built  one  on  the  site  now  occu- 
pied b3'  the  Peter  Heckman  mill.  Richards 
ran  this  about  five  3'ears,  until  he  died,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1823.  Another  was  also  erected  previ- 
ous to  1827,  in  the  extreme  southeastern  part 
of  Green  Township,  on  land  now  owned  b3' 
Simon  Young.  Henr3'  Beard  started  another 
mill  by  1828,  and  he  thinks  there  was  also  one 
on  Turkey  Foot  Lake,  in  Green,  run  by  a  Mr. 
Rex.  Beard  continued  the  business  nearl3- 
forty  years.  He  also  Iiad  a  fulling-mill  and 
carding  machine  in  connection  with  his  saw- 
mill, which  establishments  were  conducted  for 
some  fifteen  years.  David  Eb3"  also  ran  a  card- 
ing and  fulling-mill  for  several  3'ears.  There 
were  also  one  or  two  flouring-mills  operated  at 
an  earl3-  day.     Gen.  Biercesays  :     "  George  A. 


602 


HISTOEY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


Rex  erected  the  first  mill  in  the  township 
(1816-17),  at  the  outlet  of  Turkey  Foot  Lake 
(this  was  possibly  in  Franklin  Township),  but 
when  the  State  took  possession  of  the  water 
for  their  reservoir,  and  raised  the  level,  the 
mill-site  was  ruined."'  However,  the  State  paid 
damages.  Christian  Swartz  milled  at  what  is 
now  the  StaufFer  flouring-mill,  for  three  3'ears 
after  he  came,  in  1835,  and,  in  1827,  Tritt  op- 
erated a  mill,  which  stood  near  the  present  site 
of  the  Tritt  Mill.  When  Peter  Wilhelm  set- 
tled in  Grreen  Township,  May,  1814,  he  put  up 
a  distillery,  at  which  was  manufactured  much 
that  did  not  improve  the  citizens.  The  estab- 
lishment was  located  just  south  of  the  present 
site  of  Greensburg.  John  Yarrick  also  started 
a  still-house  about  1820,  just  southwest  of  what 
is  now  Greentown  Station.  After  some  twelve 
years,  this  "gin-mill  "  was  discontinued,  as  was 
also  Wilhelm's. 

The  eary  settlers  of  Green  Township  found  it 
a  very  difficult  task  to  travel  from  one  section 
to  another  for  the  lack  of  roads.  The  first 
thoroughfare  laid  out  through  what  is  now 
Summit  County,  was  the  old  Portage  "  Path," 
which  extended  from  Canton  to  Cleveland,  bj' 
the  way  of  Portage.  This  was  in  the  early 
days  a  route  extensively  traveled  by  many 
desiring  to  journey  from  Stark  County  and  that 
section  of  Ohio,  to  the  lake.  The  road  was 
located  at  a  very  early  period,  but  not  com- 
pleted as  a  highway  for  several  years.  This 
Portage  road  entered  the  township  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  Section  35,  and  crossed  it  in  a 
northwesterly  direction,  passing  nearly  one 
mile  west  of  what  is  now  Greensburg.  A 
considerable  portion  of  this  old  "  Portage  Path  " 
is  still  used  as  a  highway,  but  in  some  places 
has  been  vacated.  Many  years  since.  Rev.  E. 
Staver  had  the  section  across  his  farm,  in 
Green  Township,  abandoned  and  a  new  road 
opened.  When  the  early  settlers  wished  to  go 
any  place  with  their  wagons,  it  was  necessary 
to  go  out  with  an  ax  and  cut  the  underbrush 
away.  The  second  road  through  the  township 
was  laid  out  by  John  Richards,  from  his  farm, 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  Section  13,  to  Can- 
ton. It  is  doubtful  if  Richards  ever  had  the 
route  of  his  highway  recorded,  but  deemed 
that  by  general  consent  the  settlers  would  al- 
ways permit  the  road  to  remain,  and  so  they 
did,  for  the  "  Richards "  road  remains  to  this 
day,  cutting  across  Sections  24,  25  and  36  of 


Green  Township  in  a  southerly  direction,  and 
bearing  to  the  east.  Other  roads  were  planned 
and  finished  to  suit  various  neighborhoods,  but 
for  years  some  of  these  were  ver^^  unsatisfactory 
highways,  at  first  only  paths  cut  out  through 
the  trackless  forests,  but  they  were  improved 
year  after  year,  until  at  the  present  time  the 
roads  of  Green  Township  will  compare  favor- 
ably with  the  highwa3's  of  any  other  farming 
township  in  the  State  not  traversed  by  stone 
pikes. 

Until  1840,  Green  Township  formed  a  por- 
tion of  Stark  County,  which  was  organized  in 
1809.  In  1811,  what  is  now  four  townships 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  was  organ- 
ized, with  one  set  of  officers.  Gen.  Bierce  says 
in  regard  to  this  :  '  The  township  then  em- 
braced Green,  Lake,  all  of  Franklin  lying  east 
of  the  Tuscarawas,  and  Jackson.  The  first 
election  was  held  at  the  house  of  Nathan  De- 
Haven,  one  and  a  half  miles  northwest  of  Green- 
town,  on  the  6th  of  JUI3',  1811.  Abraham  De- 
Haven,  Jacob  Harsh  and  Joseph  Triplet  were 
Judges  of  the  election  ;  Jonathan  Potts  and 
William  Triplet  were  Clerks.  Peter  Dicker- 
hof,  of  what  is  now  Lake  Township  ;  Christian 
Bolmer,  of  what  is  now  Jackson  ;  and  John 
Yarrick,  of  what  is  now  Green,  were  elected 
first  Trustees.  Samuel  Spitler,  a  resident  of 
what  is  now  Lake,  was  elected  Clerk  ;  George 
Knoddle,  Treasurer  ;  William  Ball,  Assessor  ; 
Simeon  Harsh  and  John  Kepler,  Constables. 
At  the  fall  election,  October  3,  1811,  there  were 
only  sixteen  votes  polled  in  the  territory  com- 
prised by  these  townships,  and,  at  the  Pres- 
idential election,  October  20,  1812,  during  the 
war,  only  nine  votes.  Peter  Dickerhoff  was  the 
first  Justice  of  the  Peace  ;  his  commission  bore 
date  August  21,  1811.  The  commission  of 
John  Wise,  who  was  the  next  Justice,  bore 
date  June  16, 1814.  He  resided  in  what  is  now 
Lake  Township,  and  died  in  Greentown,  in 
January,  1853."  Green  Township  as  it  now  is 
was  organized  April  7,  1815,  and  the  following 
officers  were  chosen :  Trustees,  George  Mc- 
Cormic,  William  Ball  and  Joshua  Richards  ; 
Clerk,  Robert  Lawson  ;  Treasurer,  Daniel  Wise  ; 
Constables,  David  Hartman  and  Thomas  Par- 
ker. At  the  election  held  only  seventeen  votes 
were  polled.  Green  Township  continued  a  por- 
tion of  Stark  County  until  1840,  when  Summit 
was  formed  from  fourteen  townships  of  the 
Western   Reserve,    and    Franklin   and   Green, 


i\£l^ 


GREEN    TOWNSHIP. 


603 


from  Stark  County.  Bierce  says  in  regard  to 
this  :  "That  it  was  the  first  instance  in  which 
the  southern  line  of  the  Reserve  had  been 
brolven  in  the  erection  of  a  county,  and  when 
the  bill  was  being  considered  in  the  Legislature, 
Senator  Hostetter,  of  Stark,  declared  :  '  You 
might  as  well  attempt  to  make  a  Dutch  horse 
and  a  Yankee  broad-horn  work  together,  as  the 
inhabitants  on  the  opposite  sides  of  that  line 
to  amalgamate.'  Experience,  however,  has 
shown  that  such  fears  were  groundless,  and 
such  divisions  wholly  imaginary."  However, 
the  citizens  of  Green  Township  were  not  gen- 
erally satisfied  with  the  new  arrangement,  and, 
consequently,  when  the  question  of  a  county 
seat  was  submitted  to  the  voters,  certain  men 
from  Cuyahoga  Falls  appeared  among  them 
and  promised  to  use  their  influence  and  have 
Green  re-attached  to  Stark  if  the  dissatisfied 
citizens  of  Green  would  cast  their  votes  in 
favor  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  as  the  county  seat  in 
preference  to  Akron.  If  any  votes  were  se- 
cured by  these  fickle  promises,  they  failed  to 
change  the  result  of  the  election,  for  it  was  de- 
cided in  favor  of  Akron. 

Most  of  the  early  settlers  of  Green  Township 
were  Pennsylvania  Dutch,  and  many  of  these 
were  veiy  ignorant  and  superstitious,  conse- 
quentl}'  at  an  early  da^-  the  cause  of  education 
did  not  flourish.  Possibl}'  the  first  school  held 
in  the  township  was  taught  b}-  William  Trip- 
let, who  endeavored  to  instill  into  a  few  youth- 
ful minds  the  first  rudiments  of  knowledge. 
The  children  assembled  at  an  old  shanty  on 
Section  16  land,  and  Triplet  undoubtedly  did 
his  duty,  but  was  not  appreciated  by  the  par- 
ents of  his  pupils.  John  Buchtel,  who  resides 
north  of  Akron,  states  :  "  I  never  learned  to 
write,  as  there  were  no  schools  in  Green  Town- 
ship at  an  early  da}-."  Mrs.  Herring,  of  East 
Libert}-,  says  :  "In  those  days,  they  had  to  pay 
50  cents  a  month  for  each  scholar,  and  if  a 
teacher  failed  to  secure  enougii  scholars,  no 
school  could  be  held  for  two  or  three  years." 
Mrs.  Herring  was  the  daughter  of  Andrew 
Kepler ;  her  sister,  Mrs.  Paulner,  declares  :  "  I 
had  to  plow  many  a  day  for  my  father,  and 
had  no  time  to  go  to  school."  This  was  the 
secret  of  the  absence  of  educational  facilities; 
it  cost  something,  and  they  wanted  the  children 
to  work,  and  the  ignorant  minds  possessed  by 
some  of  Green  Township's  early  inhabitants 
failed  to  comprehend  the  benefits  of  a  culti- 


vated intellect ;  consequently  they  refused  to 
permit  their  oflTspring  to  have  advantages 
W'hich  were  possessed  by  themselves  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  a  race  was  multiplied,  a  genera- 
tion raised  in  ignorance  the  effect  of  which  will 
be  felt  to  the  third  and  fourth  generation.  Sev- 
eral years  after  Triplet  attempted  to  establish 
a  school  in  that  neighborhood,  Nicholas  Sichley, 
who  married  Andrew  Kepler's  sister.  Susan, 
made  a  second  trial  in  a  log  building  on  Sec- 
tion IG  land  ;  this  building  had  possibly  been 
occupied  as  a  residence  by  some  of  the  early 
settlers  on  the  school  lands.  Sichley 's  sup- 
port was  not  extensive,  and  he  was  followed 
months  afterward  by  William  Early  in  the 
same  building.  This  gentleman  also  taught  in 
other  districts  of  Green  Township.  About 
1820,  he  was  employed  in  a  building  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  land  belonging  to  the 
Foust  heirs  ;  William  Sweeney  also  taught  at 
the  same  place.  A  schoolhouse  was  put  up  at 
an  early  day  in  what  is  now  the  King  District, 
which  was  also  used  as  a  church.  Alex  John- 
ston says  :  "  The  first  school  I  attended  was  at 
what  is  now  Greensburg  about  181 G.  It  was 
taught  ]iy  an  Irishman  named  Robert  Lawson, 
in  a  building  which  had  been  erected  by  George 
Dull  for  a  weavers  shop."  The  first  school- 
house  in  District  6  was  built  about  one  mile 
west  of  my  residence  after  1820,  but  at  that 
time,  there  were  special  buildings  for  school 
purposes  in  other  districts.  Simon  Yarrick 
relates  :  "  We  didn't  go  to  school  much  in  those 
days,  in  good  weather  had  to  stay  at  home  and 
tramp  our  wheat ;  boys  attended  school  longer 
than  they  do  now,  sometimes  until  twenty- 
four  and  twenty-five  }ears  of  age.'"  In  about 
1823,  a  German  school  was  tauglit  by  a  Mr. 
Crum  in  the  district  east  of  East  Liberty  ;  it 
was  held  in  a  log  building  put  up  for  school 
purposes  some  two  years  previous.  Henry 
Beard  taught  a  few  scholars  at  his  home  about 
the  year  1827.  and  thinks  this  was  the  first  at- 
tempt made  in  southwestern  Green,  but  the  lands 
in  that  section  were  not  settled  until  after  many 
inhabitants  were  in  other  portions  of  Green.  It 
is  a  satisfaction  to  learn  of  one  Dutch  mother 
who  appreciated  education,  as  Adam  Yarrick 
relates  :  "  My  mother  used  to  spin  on  the  spin- 
ning wheel  in  order  to  secure  money  to  i)ay  ttie 
tuition  of  her  children.  She  got  a  dollar  for 
spinning  six  dozen  cuts  and  could  finish  eighteen 
each  day,  netting  her  twenty- five  cents.     Con- 


i    V^ 


604 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


sequentlj'  we  got  a  better  education  than  most 
children  of  the  township."  Among  those  who 
taught  in  the  township  at  an  early  day,  not 
previously  mentioned,  were  Henry  Gates,  John 

Betz,  Pjlecta  Tuppei',   McCauley,  Jacob 

Everhart,  George  Tousley, Showalter.  Mc- 
Cauley went  to  sleep  one  day  in  his  chair,  and 
was  tipped  over  by  the  large  boys  of  the  school. 
Alex  Johnston  also  taught  many  terms,  and 
Abram  Hunsberger  was  emplo3ed  for  twenty- 
one  successive  winters  at  teaching  in  various 
districts.  Simon  Yarrick  relates  of  him  :  "  Once 
we  barred  old  Abram  Hunsberger  out,  and 
kept  him  out  for  three  days  because  he  would 
not  treat  us  to  apples  on  Christmas."  Apples 
were  very  scarce  in  those  days  and  prized  more 
by  the  children  than  at  the  present  time,  when 
every  farm  contains  a  fine  orchard  of  the 
choicest  varieties. 

The  first  ministers  to  preach  the  Gospel  in 
Green  Township  were  pioneer  missionaries  of 
the  Methodist  Church  ;  among  these  were  Revs. 
Hollowa}'  and  Green.  Several  families,  formerly 
members  of  the  Evangelical  Association  in  Penn- 
sylvania, united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
congregation,  continuing  their  support  to  this 
denomination  until  some  time  after  Evangel- 
ical ministers  appeared  in  the  township  ;  one  of 
these  early  members  was  Conrad  Dillman,  who 
would  go  from  cabin  to  cabin  with  bis  Bible 
teaching  the  settlers.  The  public  services  were 
held  at  private  cabins  and  log  schoolhouses  for 
over  two  decades  ;  in  later  years,  the  congrega- 
tion used  the  First  Evangelical  Church  until 
some  time  after  1840,  when  a  brick  meeting- 
house was  erected  in  Greensburg  on  land  do- 
nated by  a  Mr.  Switzer ;  William  McBride 
built  this  church,  which  was  fi^nall}^  torn  down 
in  the  spring  of  1881.  At  one  time,  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  congregation  was  a  strong  and 
influential  church,  containing  about  seventy 
members,  but  man}-  died  or  moved  West ; 
other  troubles  weakened  the  church,  and  services 
were  held  very  irregularl}' ;  at  the  present  time, 
the  few  members  left  are  without  a  church  or 
regular  preaching.  Closely  following  the  Meth- 
odist ministers  in  the  pioneer  days,  were 
missionaries  of  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran 
Churches,  holding  services  in  the  German  lan- 
guage. At  that  time,  the  differences  between 
these  two  denominations  were  so  slight  that 
many  families  encouraged  and  supported  minis- 
ters of  both   sects.     It  is  said  that  Rev.  John 


Hamm,  a  Reformed  or  German  Presbyterian, 
first  conducted  services  in  a  round  log-house 
which  stood  on  Phillip  Hartong's  farm,  now 
owned  b}'  Jacob  King.  This  building  had  former- 
ly been  used  by  Hartong  as  a  residence,  but  when 
he  built  another  cabin,  his  first  rude  home  was 
donated  for  school  and  church  purposes.  Rev. 
Hamm  lived  at  Manchester  for  man}^  years, 
until  he  died  some  five  years  since.  In  the 
early  days  it  was  his  custom  to  walk  over  from 
Manchester  to  this  log  building,  accompanied 
by  his  wife  ;  he  organized  the  Reformed  Con- 
gregations in  Green  Township,  both  at  Greens- 
burg and  East  Liberty,  and  it  is  said  those  at 
Uniontown  and  Mud  Brook.  It  is  possible, 
however,  that  Rev.  Wier,  of  the  Lutheran,  and 
Rev.  Faust,  of  the  Reformed  Church,  conducted 
services  in  Green  Township,  at  private  houses, 
before  Rev.  Hamm  did,  as  they  preached  at 
Manchester  before  he  appeared  in  this  section 
of  the  State.  Among  the  early  ministei's  of 
these  sects  were  Revs.  Wyant,  Happock,  Hart- 
brook  and  others.  The  Reformed  Congrega- 
tion erected  the  church  at  Greensburg,  now  used 
by  the  Church  of  God,  or  Winebrennarians, 
and  another  building  was  erected  at  East  Lib- 
erty and  used  b}^  both  the  Lutherans  and  Re- 
formed congregations.  The  principal  religious 
sect  in  the  township  at  the  present  time  is  the 
Evangelical  Association,  which  has  two  flour- 
ishing and  influential  congregations,  one  at 
Greensburg  and  the  other  at  East  Liberty.  It 
is  not  certain  who  the  minister  of  this  denomi- 
nation was  that  first  held  services  in  Green, 
but  among  those  who  preached  at  the  cabins 
of  early  settlers  and  log  schoolhouses  were 
Revs.  Hosier,  Samuel  Van  Gundy,  — Fr}^,  Abra- 
ham or  Henry  Neeble,  George  Mottinger,  Jo- 
seph Long,  Aaron  Yombert,  Adam  Klinefelter, 
Elias  Staver.  John  Kopf,  Abraham  Ream,  Adam 
Hennich,  John  Triesbach  and  others.  Each 
one  of  the  last  four  has  been  claimed  by  differ- 
ent persons  to  have  been  the  first  minister  who 
conducted  services  in  the  township  in  the  in- 
terest of  the  Evangelical  Association,  but  it  is 
conceded  by  most  authorities  that  the  first 
regular  circuit  was  organized  in  1829,  that 
Revs.  Adam  Klinefelter  and  P^lias  Staver  were 
the  ministers  in  charge  ;  they  organized  the 
association  at  Greensburg,  which  was  the  first 
congregation  of  this  sect  established  perma- 
nently in  Summit  County.  These  men  rode  a 
circuit  of  about  four  hundred  miles  ;    it  was 


(S — 


?iv 


llL 


GREEN    TOWNSHIP. 


605 


said  of  Rev.  Klinefelter  at  his  death  :  ■'  His 
travels  were  extensive,  as  he  frequently  had  to 
make  long  and  tedious  journeys  back  and  forth 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  in  the  saddle  ;  the 
circuits  then  embraced  as  much  territory  as 
the  entii-e  conference  district  does  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  He  preached  almost  ever}'  day  ;  was 
exposed  to  all  kinds  of  weather  ;  lodged  in 
poor  huts  and  rude  log  cabins,  with  a  great 
change  of  diet ;  almost  impassable  roads.  The 
greatest  hardships  he  endured  were  in  Ohio, 
when  the  country  was  yet  a  wilderness,  thinly 
inhabited  and  the  people  mostl}'  poor."  Serv- 
ices were  conducted  at  the  cabins  of  various 
pioneer  settlers  ;  among  these  were  Jacob  Kauff- 
man's,  Conrad  Dillman's,  Elias  Benner's,  Fan- 
nej-'s,  John  Mottinger's,  John  Buchtel's,  Peter 
Thornton's  and  others.  Schoolhouses  were  also 
occupied  for  man}'  j'ears  ;  finally,  about  the 
year  1838,  the  congregation  erected  a  house  of 
worship  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  west  of 
Greensbui'g,  at  the  present  site  of  the  grave- 
yard. This  church  was  dedicated  by  Bishop 
Long  and  the  General  Conference  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Association  held  in  it  from  October  23 
to  November  2,  1843.  Some  years  afterward, 
another  edifice  was  erected  in  Greensburg, 
which  building  is  now  occupied  by  the  congre- 
gation. The  church  at  East  Liberty  was  erected 
in  1869,  at  a  cost  of  $3,200  ;  the  congregation 
was  organized  many  years  previous,  and  a  Sun- 
day school  started  since  1869.  The  first  camp- 
meeting  held  in  Green  Township  was  conducted 
about  the  year  1828  on  land  belonging,  at  that 
time,  to  Phillip  Dundore,  now  to  John  Leonard  ; 
it  was  continued  about  one  week  under  the 
direction  of  Revs.  Joseph  Long,  Aaron  Yom- 
bert,  George  Mottinger  and  others.  Several 
camp-meetings  were  afterward  held  at  the  same 
place  in  after  yeai's.  Disciple  ministers  ap- 
peared occasionally  after  1840  and  held  meet- 
ings ;  among  these  were  Elders  Row,  Green 
and  his  son,  Lockhart  and  others.  Services 
were  conducted  in  the  schoolhouse  at  Greens- 
burg, and  afterward  in  the  Winebrennarian 
Church.  About  four  j-ears  since  the  Disciple 
congregation  built  their  present  meeting-house, 
which  is  one  of  the  neatest  chapels  in  the 
county.  The  Church  of  God  or  "  Winebren- 
narians  "  organized  their  congregation  after  the 
year  1850,  and  about  twenty  years  since  pur- 
chased their  present  house  of  worship  from  the 
Reformed    Church  for  $400.     Rev.  Cassell    is 


Pastor  at  the  present  time.  This  sect  has 
another  congregation  in  the  southwestern  part 
of  the  township,  who  occupied  ■  Tritt's  Bethel." 
This  building  was  erected  about  the  3'ear  1871, 
while  Rev.  Lily  was  Pastor  ;  Samuel  Thursby, 
Joseph  Tritt  and  Emanuel  Working  were  the 
first  Trustees  of  the  association.  A  Total  Absti- 
nence Societ\^  was  started  by  Abram  Huns- 
berger  and  Jacob  Dillman  previous  to  1830, 
which,  for  a  short  time,  exerted  quite  an  influ- 
ence on  some  of  the  young  men. 

"  All  that  tread  the  earth  are  but  a  handful 
to  the  tribes  that  slumber  in  its  bosom."  This 
can  be  appreciated  by  one  who  endeavors  to 
write  a  record  of  all  the  burying-grounds  of 
Green  Township.  It  is  not  known  who  was  the 
first  white  person  laid  beneath  the  sod  by  those 
earl}'  pioneer  settlers.  Andrew  Kepler's  little 
son,  Andrew,  died  about  1812,  and  was  buried 
on  his  father's  farm,  and  possibly  the  first  regu- 
lar graveyard  of  the  township  was  then  estab- 
lished. The  exact  spot  is  near  the  center  of 
the  east  eighty  acres  of  the  southeast  quarter 
of  Section  17.  When  others  died  in  this  neigh- 
borhood, they  were  laid  beside  young  Kepler. 
About  fifty  interments  wei'e  made,  but  scarcely 
a  dozen  stones  were  erected  to  the  memory  of 
these  departed  ones,  and  most  of  the  graves 
have  been  desecrated.  Possibly,  old  Conrad 
Smith  died  before  young  Kepler.  He  was  buried 
on  his  own  land,  and  a  huge  stone  placed  over 
the  grave  by  his  son,  who  carved  upon  it  his 
father's  name.  In  after  years,  the  bowlder  was 
used  for  the  corner  stone  of  a  barn.  When 
John  Rhodes  died,  about  the  year  1825,  he  was 
buried  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Conrad  Dill- 
man's  land.  Other  settlers  were  buried  here, 
and  the  spot  of  ground  became  consecrated 
earth,  and  sacred  to  the  memory  of  these  dead, 
was  fenced  in,  and  Mr.  Dillman  deeded  the 
ground  for  cemetery  purposes.  Years  after- 
ward, he  was  interred  upon  this  land,  as  was 
also  his  wife,  Rev.  Adam  Klinefelter,  his  son- 
in-law,  Mrs.  Klinefelter  and  many  of  their  chil- 
dren. When  a  man  named  Herring  committed 
suicide,  about  1828,  he  was  buried  just  south- 
west of  this  ground.  John  Richards  died  Octo- 
ber 26,  1823,  and  his  wife  Katharine,  two  days 
later.  They  were  buried  on  their  own  land. 
Their  graves  were  inclosed  by  a  neat  fence,  and 
plain  stones  put  up  to  mark  the  spot.  Some  of 
Mr.  Palmer's  children,  who  lived  where  Levi  J. 
Hartong  does  now,  were  interred  on  that  farm 


T^ 


606 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


as  early  as  1830.  Old  Jonatliaii  (Irable  was 
also  buried  here,  and  about  one  dozen  others. 
When  Henr}'  Beards  infant  daughter  Christina 
died,  May  4,  1832,  slie  was  laid  beneath  the  sod 
on  Beard's  farm.  Others  of  that  neighborhood 
were  placed  beside  her.  The  ground  was  fenced 
in,  but  no  stones  ever  erected.  The  Evangelical 
Church  gravej'ard,  about  one  half  mile  west  of 
Grreensburg,  was  started  about  the  year  183G. 
Peter  Thornton  states  he  donated  the  first  piece 
of  this  land  to  the  church  for  cemetery  pur- 
poses, and  that  his  son,  Creorge  Thornton,  aged 
about  twelve,  was  the  first  person  buried  there. 
In  1875,  an  additional  acre  of  land  was  pur- 
chased from  George  Gougler,  and  added  to  this 
cemetery.  Rev.  Klias  Stoeber  was  possibly  the 
first  person  buried  in  the  new  addition.  The 
cemetery  at  East  Libert}'  was  started  about 
1845,  and  is  already  well  filled  with  those  who 
formerly  lived  in  that  neighborhood.  But  those 
who  died  in  Grreen  Township  were  not  all  laid 
within  these  cemeteries  ;  for  in  those  early  da3's, 
many  mothers  oft  wept  beside  little  graves 
placed  in  leafy  dell,  or  near  the  babbling  brook. 
These  little  mounds,  unmarked  by  marble  slab, 
were  only  consecrated  b}'  their  tears.  Many  of 
these  lonely  burial-places  have  been  desecrated, 
and  the  ground  plowed  over  by  those  who  were 
either  ignorant  or  careless  in  regard  to  the 
sacredness  of  that  soil. 

There  is  considerable  speculation  in  regard 
to  the  first  marriage  ceremony  performed  in 
Green  Township.  Gen.  Bierce  says  in  regard 
to  this  :  "  The  first  recorded  marriage  in  the 
township  was  Abraham  Bair  to  Elizabeth  Har- 
ter,  who  were  married  by  Abraham  DeHaven 
on  March  31,  1812,  though  tradition  shows  that 
previous  to  that  time  Jacob  Smith,  Jr.,  was 
married  to  Miss  Betsy  Dixon,  but  of  which  no 
record  was  ever  made.  Ti'adition  says  the  mar- 
riage ceremony  of  this  first  couple  was  '  You 
bromis  to  take  te  voman  you  holt  by  te  hant  to 
pe  your  vife,  and  tat  you  will  shtick  to  her 
through  hell-fire  and  dunder  ?  Den  I  bronounce 
you  man  and  voman,  by  cot  ! "  Blair  died  soon 
after  the  marriage,  and  his  widow  subsequently 
married  Jehu  Grubb,  and  now  resides  in  Plain 
Township,  Stark  County."  (This  was  written 
in  1855  :  it  is  said  that  she  is  still  living  there, 
although  it  is  now  nearly  seventy  years  since 
her  first  marriage).  The  general  opinion  of 
many  old  settlers  is  that  the  quaint  ceremony 
above  mentioned  was  actually  performed,  and 


that  the  man  who  married  the  couple  was  old 
Andrew  Kepler.  Several  of  his  children  ad- 
mit that  he  performed  the  ceremon}',  but  his 
oldest  living  daughter,  Mrs.  Mary  Paulner,  says 
the  story  is  not  true.  John  Buchtel  states  that 
Kepler  performed  this  marriage  before  he  re- 
ceived his  commission  of  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  that  afterward  he  refused  to  serve  in  this 
capacity.  Others  state  that  the  last  words  ut- 
tered by  Kepler  to  the  bride  and  bridegroom 
were  "Now,  vers  mine  tollar?"  These  ad- 
ditional words  furnish  more  convincing  proof 
to  the  truth  of  this  incident  than  the  second- 
hand statements  of  several  men.  It  is  doubt- 
ful who  the  first  child  born  in  Green  Township 
was.  The  earliest  of  which  we  can  obtain  anj' 
knowledge  is  John  Triplet,  son  of  William,  who 
is  now  a  resident  of  Coventr}'.  He  was  born 
March  4,  1809,  and  must  have  been  among 
the  first  two  or  three  white  natives  of  the  town- 
ship. However,  there  were  several  other  fam- 
ilies at  that  time  living  near  Triplet's,  and  the 
first  birth  might  have  occurred  among  one  of 
these. 

Since  the  settlement  of  Green  Township,  three 
villages  have  been  laid  out  within  its  borders  ; 
these  are  Greensburg,  East  Liberty  and  My- 
ersville.  Greensburg,  the  oldest  of  these,  was 
surveyed  August  27,  1828,  by  David  Baer,  on 
land  belonging  to  Abraham  Wilhelm.  This 
village  is  located  on  the  southwest  part  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  Section  27  ;  it  lies  consid- 
erabl}^  south  and  a  little  east  of  the  township's 
center.  A  short  time  after  the  village  plat  was 
first  made  and  recorded,  Wilhelm  decided  not 
to  establish  a  town  on  his  land,  but,  after  sev- 
eral years,  the  village  was  permanently  located. 
The  place  contained  only  six  or  eight  houses 
for  many  years.  The  tax  duplicate  of  1846 
shows  that  it  then  had  onl}'  ten  frame  houses, 
although  the  plat  contained  at  that  time  Mty- 
three  lots.  When  Greensburg  Seminary  was 
established,  it  received  a  "  boom,"  and  a  move- 
ment was  made  to  have  the  place  incorpor- 
ated, but  it  is  said  objection  was  raised  to 
this  by  some  who  were  afraid  their  cows  would 
not  then  be  permitted  to  graze  on  the  streets, 
and  the  movement  was  squelched.  Among  the 
earl}^  business  of  the  burg  and  vicinity  were  the 
following  establishments  :  Wilhelm  kept  an 
inn  a  short  distance  south  previous  to  1820  ;  he 
also  had  a  stopping-place  for  the  old  stage  line 
which  ran  from  Massillon  to  Middlebury,  but 


GREEN    TOWNSHIP. 


607 


this  four-horse  stage  was  only  run  a  short  time 
over  this  route  and  then  changed  to  a  road  run- 
ning through  Manchester  and  Canal  Fulton. 
One  of  the  Wilhelms  had  a  distillery  just  south 
of  the  village,  previous  to  1820,  and,  after  it 
was  discontinued,  a  Mr.  Moulton  ran  a  chair- 
factory  in  the  same  building.  John  Shick 
started  the  first  store,  about  1836,  and  also  kept 
the  first  hotel ;  he  ran  this  latter  establishment 
five  or  six  years,  and  it  was  finally  destroyed 
by  fire  ;  another  was  built  on  the  same  site, 
which  was  run  by  Benjamin  Seiss  for  about  ten 
years  ;  it  passed  through  several  hands  and  is 
now  owned  bj'  Peter  Thornton  and  run  by  Jerry 
Garmon.  The  present  landlord  enlisted  in  1861 
in  the  Union  army,  and  served  faithfully  during 
the  war ;  he  then  joined  the  regular  army  for 
several  years.  Jacob  Garmon,  his  father,  put 
up  a  hotel  on  the  northwest  corner,  previous  to 
1840,  and  this  building  was  also  destroyed  by 
fii'e.  John  Hunsberger  started  his  mercantile 
establishment  in  the  village  about  1838  ;  he  was 
appointed  first  Postmaster  of  the  place  under 
Van  Buren's  administration  ;  when  he  settled 
in  the  village,  there  were  only  six  houses  ;  these 
were  two  hotels,  one  pump-factory,  Hunsberg- 
er's  residence,  and  a  wagon-shop,  which  was 
run  b}'  George  E.  Smith  for  many  years.  The 
pump-maker,  Peter  Weidman,  remained  about 
ten  years.  About  1840,  the  first  schoolhouse 
was  built  in  the  village  ;  previous  to  this  the 
scholars  went  to  school  about  one  mile  south. 
Harry  Raefsnider  started  a  tan3^ard  south  of 
the  village  previous  to  1838,  but  quit  after  a 
few  years  ;  then  another  was  established  nearer 
Greensburg  by  Jacob  Kauffman  ;  this  was  af- 
terward sold  to  John  Hunsberger,  who  trans- 
ferred it  to  I.  W.  France.  The  first  blacksmith- 
shop  was  owned  by  Lewis  Denious,  and  John 
Wetzel  built  the  first  saw-mill.  Some  thirty 
years  since,  a  brickyard  was  established  b3^Adam 
Leopard.  Daniel  Bender  commenced  man- 
ufacturing and  repairing  harness  as  early  as 
1843. 

Many  other  industries  have  been  carried 
on  for  a  time  in  the  village  and  then  discon- 
tinued. The  first  physician  to  locate  there  was 
Dr.  John  Thomas,  who  remained  about  two  years. 
Among  those  who  practiced  there  in  later  3'ears 
were  A.  H.  Mann,  H.  Peters.  Jacob  Musser, 
Wesley  Boden, Garber,  C.  A.  Perdue,  Da- 
vid Joseph,  B.  F.  Sampsell,  Levi  Markam,  A. 
M.   Weidler,   0.  E.   Brownell,    Parmlee, 


Howland, 


Reynolds  and  others.     An 


addition  was  added  to  the  village  by  Elias  Her- 
ring, which  was  surveyed  by  Henry  Beard ; 
John  Switzer  afterward  added  another. 

The  most  important  enterprise  ever  estab- 
lished at  Greensburg  was  the  seminary.  This 
educational  institution  was  for  a  few  ^^ears  in  a 
very  flourishing  condition.  It  was,  to  a  great 
extent,  under  the  control  of  the  Evangelical 
Association,  and,  at  one  time,  two  conferences 
of  this  sect  desired  to  control  the  seminary, 
and  much  bad  feeling  was  occasioned.  It  was 
finally  re-organized  with  twenty-six  stockhold- 
ers, at  $50  per  share,  and  at  another  period  of 
its  history  was  conducted  in  the  interest  of  the 
Disciples'  Church.  It  was  originally  started  in 
1855,  with  Prof  J.  W.  Raubalt  as  Principal, 
and  Miss  Jennie  Wells  as  x\ssistant.  The  di- 
rectors at  that  time  were  Revs.  Abraham 
Leonard,  P.  W.  Hahn  and  E.  Stavei-,  Alex 
Johnston  and  D.  Cramer.  Prof  Raubalt  re- 
mained two  years,  and  was  succeeded  for  three 
years  bj'  Prof  Barnes,  who  had  assisted  Rau- 
bault  one  year ;  then  Prof  Idgins  was  Princi- 
pal for  one  year,  and  he  followed  by  Profs.  A. 
A.  Smith  and  J.  W.  Hahn.  Under  the  Disci- 
ples' Church  management,  Prof  Williams  had 
charge  and  G.  F.  Burgetts  was  assistant. 
Prof  Davis  ran  the  institute  for  a  short  time 
in  his  own  interest.  During  the  time  the  sem- 
inary was  conducted,  many  of  the  young  folks 
of  Green  Township  attended  ;  these  acquired  a 
higher  and  more  complete  education  than  the 
children  of  those  settlers  who  did  not  appre- 
ciate the  value  of  the  institution.  During  the 
Know-Nothing  movement,  quite  an  influential 
order  of  this  political  secret  society  was  estab- 
lished at  Greensburg,  and  for  a  time  flourished 
like  a  "  green  bay  tree,"  and  then  gave  way 
before  the  "  irrepressible  conflict "'  which  re- 
sulted in  the  rebellion  of  1861.  The  farmer 
opposed  the  "  middlemen  "  for  a  short  time  by 
organizing  a  grange  which  continued  for  sev- 
eral years,  but  the  onlv  secret  societ}'  of  Green 
Township  at  the  present  time  is  Hadassah 
Lodge,  No.  450,  of  the  I.  0.  O.  F.;  this  was  in- 
stituted July  9.  1870,  by  Horace  Y.  Beebe, 
with  seven  charter  members,  as  follows :  D.  F. 
Hunsberger,  O.  E.  Brownell,  J.  P.  Snyder,  W. 
P.  Hoff'ert,  J.  H.  Anderson,  Stephen  Zembrot 
and  C.  Intermela.  The  lodge  met  for  some 
eight  }"ears  in  a  small  room  back  of  Hunsber- 
ber's  store.     At  the  present  time  they  have  one 


-a)    V 


^1 


-^R 


608 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


of  the  finest  lodge-rooms  in  Ohio  for  a  village 
the  size  of  Greeusburg. 

East  Liberty  was  laid  out  on  land  belonging 
to  John  Castetter  February  15,  1839.  It  was 
surveyed  b}-  Henr}'  Beard,  and  Adam  Yerrick 
assisted  in  carrying  the  chain.  George  An- 
drews put  up  the  second  house  immediately 
south  of  Castetter's,  who  then  occupied  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  town  ;  Castetter  kept 
a  cabinet-shop  there  for  about  fifteen  years. 
George  Andrews  opened  the  first  shoe-shop. 
Daniel  Lutz  started  a  tannery  at  an  early  day, 
which  he  sold  to  Henry  Raefsnider  and  David 
Thornton ;  the  latter  sold  out  to  the  former, 
and  after  ten  years  the  business  was  continued. 
About  1841,  Andrew  Kepler  built  the  tavern 
now  owned  by  Kroft.  Several  stores  have 
been  established  in  the  village  during  the  past 
forty  years ;  prominently  among  these  is  the 
establishment  conducted  by  Charles  Stroman 
for  some  fifteen  years.  This  gentleman  taught 
school  for  twenty-one  terms,  was  Clerk  and 
Treasurer  of  the  township  for  many  years, 
took  the  census  for  one  decade,  and  was  Post- 
master ten  or  twelve  years ;  he  died  May  8, 
1879.  The  first  physician  who  settled  in  the 
village  was  Dr.  L.  S.  Witwer,  who  remained 
about  six  years,  and  was  succeeded  for  about 
five  years  by  Jonathan  Buchtel.  There  is 
some  jealousy  and  strife  between  the  two 
villages  of  East  Liberty  and  Greensburg,  which 
is  manifested  mostly  at  spring  elections.     By 


general  consent,  the  polls  are  held  at  Greens- 
burg in  the  fall  and  at  East  Liberty  in  the 
spring.  The  result  of  this  is  that  the  town- 
ship officers  are  generally  "  East  Libertyites," 
and  this  occasionally  causes  some  of  those  as- 
piring to  these  same  positions  who  reside  at 
and  near  Greensburg  to  feel  dissatisfied  with 
the  successful  political  spring  campaigns 
waged  by  the  sons  of  Liberty,  but  in  the  fall  the 
Greensburgites  generally  do  the  "smiling." 

Myersville,  which  is  destined  in  the  near 
future  to  be  the  most  important  village  of 
Green  Township,  was  surveyed  by  Jacob  Mish- 
ler  on  the  land  of  J.  B.  Myers.  The  plat  has 
not  yet  been  recorded  by  Mr.  M3'ers.  The  first 
house  was  built  by  Moses  Kroft  in  the  summer 
of  1876.  The  next  year  William  Miller 
erected  one,  and  Curt.  Brause  and  James  Rilej^ 
started  the  saw-mill.  A  storeroom  was  built 
and  Edward  Steese  opened  out  a  stock  of 
goods,  and  afterward  sold  out  to  William 
Sweeten,  who  continued  the  business  from 
April,  1880,  to  February,  1881,  when  he  re- 
moved to  East  Liberty.  The  warehouse  was 
erected  b}^  Edward  Steese  in  the  summer  and 
fall  of  1879  ;  it  is  now  leased  by  Hunsberger 
&  Shick ;  the  first  grain  was  purchased  March 
17,  1880.  The  construction  train  of  the  Val- 
ley road  first  passed  over  the  Uniontown  pub- 
lic Road  at  Myersville  Station  August  4,  1879, 
at  10:15  A.  M. 


CHAPTER     XXVIL* 

RK'IIIIKLK  TOWNSinr— DKS('Kir»TION  AND  TOPOGRAPHY —EARLY  SETTLEMENT  — DEVELOPMENT 

OF  INDUSTRIES— VILLAGF^IS  — CHURCHES  AND  SCHOOLS— INCIDENTS 

—  THE  GREAT  SLEIGH-RIDE.  ETC..  ETC. 


IN  writing  the  history  of  even  so  small  a 
pai't  of  the  earth's  surface  as  is  contained  in 
one  of  the  Western  Reserve  townships,  it 
becomes  evident  that  nothing  like  absolute  jus- 
tice and  impartiality  can  be  attained  in  any 
history  whatever.  The  truth  is,  no  history 
absolutely  correct  in  every  particular  was  ever 
written.  To  give  just  the  right  amount  of 
importance  and  space  to  each  individual  and 
interest  would  manifestly  be  impossible.  It 
might  be  a  curiosity  to  see  a  book  wherein  each 

*  Contributed  by  Dr.  A.  E.  Ewing  and  S.  U.  Oviatt. 


individual  was  allowed  to  dictate  or  write  up 
his  own  consequence  and  that  of  his  family  ; 
but  such  a  production  would  give  a  very  incor- 
rect idea  of  individuals  and  their  affairs.  Some 
would  be  swelled  out  of  all  proportion  to  their 
real  importance  in  the  community,  while  others, 
through  innate  modesty,  would  only  occupy  a 
few  lines,  if  they  allowed  themselves  to  appear 
at  all. 

Gen.  Bierce,  of  Akron,  published  in  1854  a 
small  volume  of  "reminiscences."  His  labor 
must  have  been  great,  and  his  reward  small. 


«<^  s- 


L^ 


RICHFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


609 


From  his  book  many  items  in  this  sketch  are 
taken  and  duly  acknowledged.  Where  his 
words  have  been  copied,  quotation  marks  are 
used ;  but,  in  some  cases,  his  facts  are  given 
without  such  credit.  Of  Indian  history,  treat- 
ies, etc.,  Gen.  Biei'ce  saj^s  :  "  By  the  treaty  of 
Fort  Mcintosh  in  1785,  the  Cuyahoga  River, 
Portage  Path  and  Tuscarawas  River  were 
the  western  boundary  of  the  United  States. 
Tliis  was  confirmed  by  what  was  called  '  Wa3'ne's 
Treaty,'  made  at  (Ireenville,  August  3,  1795; 
the  chiefs  of  twelve  tribes  were  present  and 
ratified  it.  The  land  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Cuj'ahoga  was  not  purchased  until  1805,  when 
the  United  States  acquired  it  by  the  treaty  of 
Fort  Industry,  on  the  Maumee.  This  fort  was 
on  the  land  of  a  Wyandot  chief  b}^  the  name 
of  Ogonst,  who,  with  his  tribe,  hunted  on  the 
grounds  between  the  Maumee  and  Cuyahoga, 
in  connection  with  the  Miamis,  Pottawatomies, 
Delawares,  Shawanese,  Ottawas  and  Senecas. 
There  was  also  a  small  band  of  Mingos  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Cuj-ahoga,  being  a  part  of  the 
Ca^nigas,  but  formed  a  distinct  band."  Here 
follows  in  Gen.  Bierce's  book  some  further  par- 
ticulars, which  will  be  found  in  fewer  words, 
and  with  a  trifling  error  or  two  corrected 
further  along  in  this  chapter. 

The  township  of  Richfield  is  known  as  Town 
4,  in  Range  12,  and  may  well  be  considered 
one  of  the  choice  townships  in  the  Connecticut 
Western  Reserve.  Its  estimated  value  in  an 
early  da}'  as  a  township  was  adjudged  above 
the  average.  A  strip  of  land,  designated  as 
"  Tract  7,"  about  seventy-two  rods  in  width 
east  and  west,  and  extending  the  whole  length 
of  the  township  from  north  to  south,  containing 
about  seven  hundred  acres,  was  cutoflF  the  east 
side  of  the  tovvnship  and  annexed  to  the  town- 
ship of  Boston,  thereby  placing  the  geograph- 
ical center  about  thirty-six  rods  west  of  the 
centers  of  other  townships  in  the  same  range. 

The  surface  of  the  land  in  Richfield,  from  a 
point  about  a  mile  northeast  of  the  center,  in 
what  is  called  '•  Furnace  Run  Valley,"  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  township,  is  very 
broken  and  hill}-,  but  the  township  generall}' 
exhibits  a  rolling  and  undulating  surface,  pos 
sessing  a  rich  and  fertile  soil,  and  consisting  of 
a  gravelly  loam,  with  a  clay  subsoil,  producing 
good  crops  of  both  grain  and  grass,  and  distin- 
guished likewise  for  its  fine  fruits.  The  extreme 
altitude  of  the  township  is  about  eight  hundred 


feet  above  Lake  Erie,  and  1,365  feet  above  tide 
water  at  New  York,  giving  to  it  a  circulation  of 
pure  air,  free  from  miasma  or  any  malarial 
influence.  One  of  the  old  pioneer  physicians, 
Dr.  Rawson,  after  forty  years'  practice,  said  that 
he  never  knew  a  case  of  fever  and  ague  that 
originated  in  this  township.  Richfield  is 
bounded  on  the  north  b}-  Brecksville  Township, 
in  Cuyahoga  Count}' ;  on  the  east  by  Boston 
Township  ;  on  the  south  by  Bath  Township,  and 
on  the  west  by  Hinckley  Township,  in  Medina 
County.  It  abounds  in  springs  of  pui'e  water 
well  distributed,  and  two  considerable  creeks, 
viz.:  a  branch  of  Rocky  River,  which  flows  for 
a  mile  or  two  through  the  west  part  of  the 
township  in  a  southerly  direction,  then  enters 
Medina  County  and  Furnace  Run,  which  rises 
in  the  northwest  part  of  Richfield,  flows  south- 
east and  empties  into  the  Cuyahoga  River  at 
Everett,  in  the  southwest  part  of  Boston  Town- 
ship. The  name  of  Furnace  Run  was  obtained 
through  the  discover}-  of  iron  ore  in  the  valley 
bordering  it,  and  the  probability  of  the  erection 
of  a  furnace  in  the  immediate  neighborhood. 
When  first  seen  by  white  men  there  were  in  the 
west  and  south  parts  of  the  township  a  heavy 
growth  of  beech,  maple,  hickory,  ash,  black 
and  white  walnut,  interspersed  with  large  oaks 
of  the  diflferent  varieties,  while  nearly  all  the 
eastern  part  was  covered  almost  exclusively 
with  white  oak. 

When  the  Western  Reserve  was  conveyed  to 
the  State  of  Connecticut,  and,  in  turn,  by  the 
State  to  the  "  Connecticut  Land  Company," 
Richfield,  in  "  the  draft,"  became  the  property 
of  five  or  six  proprietors  or  land  speculators. 
Col.  Benjamin  Tallmadge  owned  the  northwest 
quarter,  which  was  designated  as  "  tract  one ;  " 
Capt.  John  Smith,  tract  two,  and  a  fraction 
north,  in  southwest  quarter  ;  Edwards  &  Green, 
tract  three,  in  south  and  southeast  part  of  the 
township ;  Uriel  Holmes,  a  tract  in  the  north- 
east quarter,  and  J.  Wilcox  tract  six,  in  the 
east  part.  The  northwest  quarter,  or  tract  one, 
containing  4,000  acres,  was  sold  in  1811,  by 
Col.  Tallmadge  to  Capt.  Heman  Oviatt,  for  the 
sum  of  $5,000,  who,  soon  after,  had  it  re-sur- 
veyed into  quarter-sections  by  Alfred  Wolcott, 
the  father  of  Hon.  A.  Wolcott,  of  Boston 
Township.  For  this  service  he  received  fifty 
acres  of  land,  and  was  allowed  to  take  his 
choice  of  any  fifty  acres  in  tract  one.  He 
chose  a  lot   near  where  John  Corastock  now 


^ 


«♦• 


610 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


lives.  The  name  Richfield  seems  to  have  orig- 
inated from  a  weed  whicli  grew  here  in  great 
abundance,  in  an  early  day,  and  which  was  very 
nutritious  and  greatly  relished  by  stock.  It 
was  called  b}-  some  "  ox-balm,"  but  more  gen- 
erall}-  known  as  "rich-feed,"  and,  bj-  a  very 
slight  corruption,  it  became  "  Richfield."  This 
name  was  given  to  the  township  at  the  time  of 
its  organization  in  1816,  by  the  Commissioners 
of  Portage  County.  For  two  years  after  the 
organization  of  Richland,  it  included  what  is 
now  the  township  of  Bath.  The  first  officers 
elected  for  Richfield,  in  April,  1816,  were  as 
follows  :  Daniel  Keys,  Nathaniel  Oviatt  and 
William  Jourdan,  Trustees  ;  John  Bigelow, 
Clerk  ;  Isaac  Welton,  Treasurer  ;  Jared  Barnes 
and  John  Farnam,  Overseers  of  the  Poor  ;  John 
Bigelow  and  Isaac  Hopkins,  Constables  ;  John 
Farnam,  Jason  Philips,  Isaac  Welton,  P]lijah 
Hale  and  John  Holmes,  Supervisors.  In  the 
3'ear  1818,  the  township  of  Bath  was  setoff 
from  Richfield,  leaving  the  boundaries  of  the 
latter  as  they  are  at  the  present  da3\ 

The  first  white  man  to  settle  in  what  is  now 
Richfield  Township  was  Launcelot  Mays,  who 
came  here  in  1809,  and  was  followed,  in  1810, 
by  Jared  Barnes,  Daniel  and  John  Mallet 
(father  and  son),  with  their  families.  During 
the  same  year,  a  daughter  was  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  Mallet,  which  was  the  first  white 
child  born  in  the  township.  In  1811,  Nathaniel 
Oviatt,  of  Goshen,  Conn.,  came  to  this  town 
with  his  family,  performing  the  journey  with 
oxen  and  cart  the  whole  distance.  The  same 
year,  also,  Enoch  D.  Buck,  Mr.  Nelson,  Jason 
Philips  and  Ben  Payne  ai-rived,  with  their 
families.  In  1812,  the  first  death  of  a  white 
person  occurred,  that  of  Polly  Payne,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  and  three 
months.  She  was  a  sister  of  the  venerable 
John  Payne,  who;  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years,  is  still  living  in  the  town.  The  first 
couple  married  was  William  Carter  and  Miss 
Betsey  Mays.  They  were  married  b}^  Alfred 
Wolcott,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  in  1812.  Al- 
fred Wolcott  and  Lernan  Farnam  were  the 
two  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  territory'  now 
comprising  the  townships  of  Richfield,  Bath, 
Boston  and  Northampton  from  1812  to  1816, 
when,  upon  the  organization  of  the  township  of 
Richfield,  Isaac  Welton  was  elected  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  his  commission  (now  in  the  hands 
of  I.  T.  Welton)  bearing  date  July,  1816. 


In  1812,  Amos  and  Johnsey  Barnes  also 
settled  in  the  township.  Judge  Isaac  Welton 
came  in  1812,  cleared  off  the  ground  and  sowed 
six  acres  of  wheat.  He  then  returned  to  Con- 
necticut on  foot,  and  moved  back  here  with  his 
family  in  1813.  John  Farnam  and  family  came 
also  in  1812,  and  located  north  of  the  center, 
on  what,  with  its  numerous  additions,  is  called 
the  "  Farnam  Domain,"  and  is  owned  by  Ever- 
ett Farnam,  who  is  still  living,  at  the  agejaf 
fourscore  3'ears.  At  about  this  time,  and  for 
two  or  three  years  following,  we  find  Amos  and 
Jonathan  Searles,  Timothy  Hurlburt,  Moses 
Woi'den,  Jacob  Spaftbrd,  John  Bigelow,  Ste- 
phen Welton,  Elijah  Welton,  Bildad  and  Israel 
Hubbard,  Stephen  Pixley,  John  Wilcox,  Na- 
than Carpenter,  Daniel  Moulton  (father  of  Col. 
Moulton,  now  of  the  Treasury'  Department), 
Earl  Moulton,  William  West,  Reuben  Coole}', 
Alvin  Coole}',  Newcomb  Carter,  Bradfoi'd  Stur- 
tevant,  Salmon  Oviatt,  Elijah  Ellsworth,  Augus- 
tus Adams,  Birdse}'  H.  Oviatt,  Samuel  Robin- 
son and  John  Newton,  as  settlers  in  Richfield 
Township,  nearly  all  of  whom  came  from  Con- 
necticut and  Massachusetts.  Vigorous  in  mind 
and  body,  and  with  willing  hands,  they  came 
prepared  to  battle  with  the  wild  beasts  of  the 
forest,  and  have  succeeded  in  leaving  to  their 
descendants  the  beautiful  homes  they  to-da}' 
enjoy. 

[The  following  narrative,  which  scarcely  be- 
longs in  the  histor}'  of  Richfield  Township,  is 
given  herewith,  as  illustrative  of  pioneer  life, 
and,  at  the  request  of  the  writers  of  the  chap- 
ter on  Richfield,  many  of  whose  citizens  are 
descendants  of  the  "  captives  "  mentioned.  The 
narrative  was  originality  published  in  the  Litch- 
field (Conn.)  Enquirer  in  1833,  and  in  the  Ohio 
Observer  in  1846. — Historian.] 

Soon  after  the  "  Frencli  and  Indian  war,"  Mr, 
Nathaniel  Carter  removed  from  Killingworth  to 
Cornwall  (Conn.),  where  he  purcliased  a  farm  and 
resided  for  some  years.  But,  as  the  tide  of  emigra- 
tion was  at  that"  time  setting  from  New  England 
toward  the  pleasant  and  fertile  valleys  of  the  Dela- 
ware and  Susqueliauna  in  Pennsylvania,  early  in 
1763,  Mr.  Carter,  with  some  of  his  hardy  neighbors, 
began  to  make  i)n'i)arations  for  removing  thither, 
Tlie  aeeounts  wliicli  they  had  received  of  that 
country  had  filled  them  with  glowing antieii)ations, 
though  they  were  by  no  means  unmindful  of  the 
fact  that  the  life  of  a  pioneer  was  one  of  hardship 
and  peril.  Mr.  Carter's  family  at  this  tune  con- 
sisted of  a  wife  and  six  children — Jemima,  the  eld- 
est daughter,  having  a  short  time  before  been  mar- 
ried to   Mr.  John   Bates,  of  Warren.     The   other 


4<- 


RICHFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


611 


children  were  Nathan,  Surah  aged  eleven  years, 
Elizabeth  eight,  Nathaniel  six,  and  an  infant. 

On  a  beautiful  morning  in  the  spring  of  the  year 
above  mentioned,  this  family  (except  the  married 
daughter),  together  with  two  other  families  from 
the  same  neighborhood,  took  up  the  line  of  their 
journey  to  the  "  land  of  promise."  After  a  tedious 
tour,  marked  with  the  usual  vicissitudes  and  advent- 
ures of  such  a  journey,  they  arrived  in  safety  at 
the  forks  of  the  Delaware,  where  they  remained  a 
short  time,  and  ultimately  settled  on  the  Lacka- 
waxen  Creek,  in  Wayne  Count}',  about  twelve  miles 
below  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Bethany. 
They  advanced  about  lifteen  miles  beyond  any 
other  white  settlement,  cleared  a  small  spot  near 
the  bank  of  the  stream  and  erected  a  building  of 
logs,  in  which  the  three  families  resided.  Here 
they  passed  a  few  months  in  apparent  security,  en- 
gaged in  various  employments  to  improve  the  safety 
and  comfort  of  their  new  residence.  The  tall  trees 
immediately  before  their  dwelling  they  had  in  part 
cleared  away,  some  grain  and  garden  vegetables 
were  growing  near  b^^  while  around  the  doorway  a 
few  flowers,  transplanted  from  their  dear  native 
New"  England,  were  budding  and  blossoming — add- 
ing variety  and  beauty  to  the  scenes  of  their  wil- 
derness home.  While  some  were  laboring,  others 
carried  the  muskets  and  ammunition,  acting  as 
sentinels,  that  they  might  seasonably  be  apprised  of 
approaching  danger,  Every  day  seemed  more  prom- 
ising of  future  happiness  and  security,  and  added 
something  to  their  little  stock  of  comforts.  The 
wild  scenery  had  become  familiar  to  their  view,  and 
an  agreeable  interest  had  associated  itself  with 
most  of  the  objects  which  were  embraced  by  the 
little  horizon,  formed  ])y  the  tall  and  unbroken 
forests  which  stretched  away  to  an  almost  inter- 
minable breadth  around  them. 

One  day  in  the  latter  part  of  September,  when  the 
inmates  of  this  little  settlement  were  occupied  in 
their  usual  pursuits,  Mr.  Carter,  with  his  eldest  son 
and  one  or  two  others,  being  engaged  in  building  a 
house  a  short  distance  in  the  woods,  and  the  man 
whose  business  it  was  to  act  as  sentinel  having 
gone  a  few  rods  out  of  sight  of  the  house  to  examine 
some  traps,  the  Indians,  who  had  been  secretly 
watching  for  their  prey,  uttered  their  savage  war- 
whoop,  and  rushed  upon  these  defenseless  women 
and  children.  At  this  moment,  Mrs.  Carter  and 
her  daughter  Elizabeth  were  a  few  yards  from  the 
door  engaged  in  picking  corn  for  dinner,  Elizabeth, 
seeing  them  before  the  war-whoop  was  given,  and 
knowing  from  their  peculiar  appearance  that  they 
were  banded  for  war,  turned  to  her  mother  and 
gave  the  alarm,  but  her  words  were  scarcely  uttered 
before  she  saw  that  beloved  parent  turn  deadly 
pale,  and  the  next  moment  she  beheld  the  toma- 
hawk buried  deep  in  her  skull.  The  Indians, 
twelve  in  number,  then  rushed  into  the  house, 
where  were  the  elder  females,  one  of  whom  was 
confined  to  the  bed  by  illness,  a  daughter  of  the 
same  woman  aged  sixteen,  who  was  also  ill;  the  in- 
fant daughter  of  Mr.  Carter  and  five  other  children. 
One  of  the  Indians  seized  the  infant  and  dashed  its 
brains  out  against  the  logs  of  the  house;  and  the 
two  sick  women  were  instantly  put  to  death  with 


tomahawks.  The  man  who  had  gone  to  examine 
the  traps,  hearing  the  shrieks  of  the  sutferers,  hast- 
ened to  their  defense,  but  had  only  time  to  dis- 
charge his  gun  once,  before  he  received  a  death- 
blow from  the  hands  of  the  assailants. 

The  Indians,  having  selected  such  of  their  cap- 
tives as  they  supposed  could  best  endure  the  hard- 
ships of  savage  life  and  taken  the  scalps  from  thos(> 
they  had  killed,  and  also  having  taken  the  clothing 
and  utensils  which  the}'  thought  would  best  serve 
their  convenience,  they  set  fire  to  the  house,  and 
then  hurried  off  to  their  encampment  a  short  dis- 
tance from  thence,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek. 
The  captives  were  three  children  of  Mr.  Carter 
(Elizabeth,  Sarah  and  Nathaniel),  Mrs.  Duncan,  and 
three  children  belonging  to  the  other  family.  At 
the  encampment  they  found  about  200  Indians, 
principally  warriors.  Several  large  fires  were  burn- 
ing, around  which  the  Indians  began  to  regale 
themselves  with  roasted  corn  and  other  refresh- 
ments, which  they  had  brought  from  the  white 
settlement.  After  having  freely  indulged  them- 
selves in  exultations  at  their  recent  success,  and, 
night  approaching,  they  secured  their  captives  with 
cords  and  stretched  themselves  on  the  ground  aroimd 
the  fires.  Sarah,  the  eldest  of  the  three  children  of 
Mr.  Carter,  appeared  perfectl}"  distracted  by  the 
circumstances  of  her  situation.  She  continued  cry- 
ing and  calling  for  her  father  to  come  and  rescue 
her.  The  Indians  several  times  appeared  deter- 
mined to  silence  her  screams  with  the  tomahawk. 
At  length,  when  they  had  become  Ijuried  in  sleep, 
Sarah  obtained  a  small  brand  from  the  fire,  with 
which  she  barely  succeeded  in  burning  the  cord 
which  bound  her  to  the  savages,  but  leaving  her 
hands  still  tied  together.  In  this  situation,  and 
surrounded  by  the  midnight  dai-kness,  she  suc- 
ceeded in  finding  a  canoe,  and  loosing  it  from  its 
fastenings,  in  which  she  reached  the  opposite  bank, 
and,  finally,  found  her  way  back  to  the  smoking 
ruins  of  her  recent  home,  where  she  gave  way  to 
the  most  violent  lamentations.  Though  her  cries 
were  distinctly  heard  at  the  encampment,  she  was 
not  pursued  until  morning,  when  she  was  re-taken. 

The  Indians  then  commenced  their  journey 
through  the  woods,  carrying  their  captives  on 
horseback.  After  pursuing  their  route  three  days 
in  a  westerly  direction,  they  halted  and  sent  back  a 
war  party  of  about  one  hundred.  After  five  or  six 
days,  the  party  returned  with  several  scalps,  and 
the  horror  of  the  unfortunate  c«i:)tives  can  scarcely 
be  imagined,  when  they  discovered  among  the  num- 
ber, those  of  Mr.  Carter  and  Mr.  Duncan.  These 
men  on  returning  from  their  labors  and  seeing  the 
desolation  wrought  by  the  Indians,  repaired  to  the 
nearest  white  settlement,  and  procured  the  aid  of 
forty  men,  with  whom  they  returned  for  the  cattle, 
and  with  the  faint  hope  of"  recovering  the  captives. 
Just  as  they  gained  the  vicinity  of  their  recent 
home,  they  were  suddenly  surprised  by  the  yell  of 
these  savages  and  by  the  flight  of  their  arrows. 
About  half  of  Carter's  men  instantly  deserted,  and 
left  their  companions  to  fight  the  battle  as  best  they 
could.  Yet.  though  struggling  against  such  fearful 
odds,  these  brave  men  stood  their  ground,  till  Car- 
ter  fouml   himself  alone — all  besides  having  l»eeu 


® 


(^ 


^t 


613 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


either  killed  or  disabled.  lie  had  stationed  himself 
behind  a  rock,  and  still  kept  up  the  fire  until  struck 
down  by  the  tomahawks  of  the  enemy.  Some  four 
or  five  of  those  wounded  in  the  earl}^  part  of  the 
enjj;agement,  succeeded  in  crawling  so  far  into  the 
forest  as  to  elude  the  subsequent  search  of  their 
wily  foes,  and  at  length  reached  their  homes. 

On  the  return  of  the  Indian  warriors  to  the  en- 
campment, there  was  great  lamentation  and  mourn- 
ing among  the  savages,  over  those  of  their  number 
who  had  fallen  in  the  battle,  more  than  half  of  the 
100  being  afliong  the  slain.  The  Indians  then  re- 
commences their  march  through  the  woods  to  the 
residence  of  their  nation.  As  nearly  us  the  captives 
could  recollect,  they  traveled  several  days  diligently 
in  a  northwesterly  direction,  and  at  length  arrived 
at  their  place  of  destination.  Here  in  dark  filthy 
huts,  ornamented  with  the  scalps  of  their  parents 
and  friends,  separated  from  each  other,  did  these 
lonely  captives  spend  the  long  and  tedious  winter, 
in  a  state  of  almost  perfect  starvation.  The  Indians 
would  never  go  abroad  to  obtain  new  supplies  of 
food  so  long  as  one  morsel  remained,  and  then  some- 
times returned  with  little  success. 

Nathaniel,  the  youngest  of  the  captives,  having 
from  the  first  been  a  general  favorite  with  the  Indi- 
ans, was  treated  by  them  with  great  comparative 
kindness  and  attention,  and  with  so  much  success, 
that  the  little  white  stranger  soon  ceased  to  mourn 
his  bereavements,  and  join  heartily  in  the  amuse- 
ments and  pastimes  which  they  devised  for  the  pur- 
pose of  diverting  him,  and  making  sport  for  tliem- 
selves.  Early  in  the  spring  they  deserted  their 
winter  quarters  and  journeyed  toward  the  lakes. 
After  a  tour  of  several  weeks  the}"  arrived  in  the 
vicinity  of  Fort  Niagara,  where  Elizabeth  and  Sarah 
were  ransomed  through  the  negotiations  of  Sir  Will- 
iam Johnson.  But  all  efforts  to  obtain  Nathaniel 
were  unavailing.  No  consideration  would  tempt 
the  Indians  to  part  with  him,  and,  strange  as  it  may 
appear,  he  had  become  so  much  attached  to  them 
that  he  would  not  consent  to  leave  them.  His  sis- 
ters, after  bidding  him  an  affectionate  and  final 
farewell,  were  conveyed  to  Albany,  where  their 
Connecticut  friends,  being  apprised  of  their  ransom, 
met  them,  and  they  soon  had  the  unspeakable  grat- 
ification of  once  more  visiting  the  home  of  their 
nativity,  and  of  finding  themselves  surrounded  by 
sympathizing  friends  and  relatives.  Yet  it  was 
long,  very  long,  b^ore  thej'  ceased  to  mourn  over 
the  dreadful  scenes  through  which  they  liad  passed, 
and  their  sad  bereavements. 

The  reader  who  has  followed  thus  far  our  narra- 
tive, may  feel  an  interest  to  know  something  of  the 
subsequent  historj^  of  the  captives.  Sarah  Carter, 
from  h(!r  ill  treatment  and  mental  sufferings  never 
fully  recovered.  Though  she  lived  to  old  age,  her  in- 
tellect was  permanently  impaired;  she  died  in  Go- 
shen, Conn.  Elizabeth  was  married  to  Mr.  Benjamin 
Oviatt,  of  Goshen,  and  died  in  that  town  in  1835. 
Among  her  children  were  Mr.  Luman  Oviatt,  of  Go- 
shen; Ileman  Oviatt,  Esq.,  an  enterprising  citizen 
of  Hudson,  and  a  liberal  patron  of  the  college  at 
that  place,  more  recently  a  resident  of  Richfield; 
Mr.  Nathaniel  Oviatt  and  Mr.  Salmon  Oviatt,  of 
Richfield. 


Nathaniel  grew  up  among  the  Indians,  im- 
bibed their  habits,  and  married  one  of  their 
daughters.  It  is  a  remarkable  circumstance  that 
among  the  articles  which  the  Indians  carried  away 
with  their  captives  was  a  Bible,  which  they  after- 
ward gave  to  their  young  favorite.  He  had  previ- 
ously learned  to  read,  and  by  means  of  this  book, 
which  he  kept  till  manhood,  he  ever  retained  that 
knowledge.  He  died  in  the  Cherokee  nation,  at  the 
age  of  about  seventy. 

Some  years  later,  while  the  foreign  mission  school 
was  in  operation  at  Cornwall,  Conn.,  Mr.  Isaac 
Bates,  a  warin  friend  of  the  school,  received  a  letter 
from  a  missionary  among  the  Indians,  stating  that 
he  had  sent  on  to  be  educated  a  young  half-breed 
Indian,  of  fine  talents  and  exemplary  piety,  named 
Carter,  exj^ressing  a  wish  that  he  would  become  ac- 
quainted with  him.  An  early  acquaintance  with 
the  young  man  was  sought  by  Mr.  Bates,  and  great- 
ly to  his  siu-prise  he  discovered  in  him  a  son  of  the 
long  lost  captive.  The  youth  remained  at  the  school 
some  time,  frequentlj^  visiting  his  relatives  in  that 
vicinity.  After  completing  his  studies,  he  returned 
to  his  native  country  with  a  view  of  there  preach- 
ing the  Gospel. 

The  first  saw-mill  was  built  in  1818  by  John 
Farnam,  about  one  and  one-fourth  miles  north 
of  the  Center,  on  Furnace  Run,  near  what  is 
now  called  "  Lake  John."  A  few  ^^ears  later, 
it  was  moved  lower  down  the  creek.  In  subse- 
quent 3'ears,  there  were  no  less  than  seven  saw- 
mills on  Furnace  Run  at  different  times,  and 
two  saw-mills  and  one  grist-mill  in  the  west 
part  of  the  township.  But  the  first  and  most 
primitive  grist-mill  was  built  by  Enoch  D. 
Buck.  It  was  made  by  hollowing  out  the  top 
of  a  white-oak  stump,  and  using  a  pestle 
worked  by  a  spring-pole  to  crack  or  grind  the 
grain. 

There  are  two  villages  in  the  township,  one 
at  the  Center  and  one  (now  the  largest  and 
most  flourishing)  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
west  of  the  Center,  and  is  called  West  Rich- 
field. Between  the  two  villages,  and  near 
West  Richfield,  is  a  steam  grist  and  saw  mill, 
that  has  been  in  successful  operation  for 
twenty-three  years,  owned  by  A.  C.  Shepard. 
The  oldest  frame  building  now  standing  is  at 
the  center  of  Richfield  (occupied  b}^  S.  R. 
Oviatt),  and  was  built  by  Gen.  0.  M.  Oviatt  in 
1820.  He  also  built  the  store  at  the  center  of 
Richfield  in  the  same  year.  Two  of  the  old 
pioneers  who  assisted  in  building  the  store  are 
still  living,  viz.,  John  Paj'ne  and  Lester  Hall. 
The  following  year,  the  frame  houses  of  John 
Farnam,  John  Newton,  Salmon  Oviatt  and 
Nathaniel  Oviatt  were  erected.     The  two  latter 


^^. 


:li 


RICHFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


613 


were  built  by  two  young  men  who  were  car- 
penters, and  who  came  on  foot  from  Guilford, 
Conn.,  in  1820,  with  their  knapsacks,  and  set- 
tled for  a  short  time  in  Brecksville  ;  their 
names  were  Martin  Chittenden  and  James  W. 
Weld.  A  few  years  later,  they  settled  in  Rich- 
field, and,  together  with  Deacon  T.  E.  Ells- 
worth, were  for  some  years  the  building 
mechanics  of  Richfield,  and  were  among  our 
most  worthy  citizens.  Deacon  T.  E.  Ellsworth 
still  is  living  in  West  Richfield.  Mr.  Chitten- 
den served  a  few  years  as  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  died  in  1841.  James  W.  Weld,  about 
1830,  built  and  occupied  the  first  frame  hotel 
(now  called  the  Ellas  House)  at  the  center  of 
Richfield.  It  was  the  stopping-place  for  the 
four-horse  stage-coach  on  its  route  through 
from  Cleveland  to  Massillon.  He  was  Justice 
of  the  Peace  for  a  number  of  years,  and  a 
well-read  lawyer,  although  he  never  practiced 
at  the  bar.  He  was  Treasurer  of  Medina 
County  two  years,  from  1840  to  1842.  He 
returned  to  Richfield,  and  was  an  active  leader 
in  every  moral  and  religious  enterprise.  He 
died  in  March,  1863. 

Among  those  who  devoted  considerable  at- 
tention to  fine  fruit,  for  which  Richfield  was 
distinguished  in  an  early  day,  may  be  men- 
tioned the  Weltons,  Lernan  Farnam,  J.  Humph- 
rej'  and  Wadhams  ;  and,  at  a  more  recent  date, 
J.  W.  Weld. 

William  Wheatly  and  Robert  Garget  have 
paid  special  attention  to  Durham  cattle,  and 
are  among  the  largest  owners  in  the  township. 
In  an  early  day,  I.  T.  Welton  did  much  to  im- 
prove the  stock  of  this  section.  Richfield, 
although  a  grazing  and  farming  township,  is 
not  without  its  mechanical  industries.  Three 
or  four  blacksmith-shops,  two  harness-shops, 
two  carriage  and  wagon  shops,  two  furniture- 
shops,  two  drug  stores,  two  dry  goods  stores, 
two  hotels,  one  grocery  and  meat-market,  and 
one  barber-shop  are  among  its  business  indus- 
tries. 

Richfield  contains  four  churches,  viz.,  Con- 
gi'egational,  Methodist  Episcopal,  Baptist  and 
United  Brethren.  The  first  church  organiza- 
tion was  effected  Ma}-  15,  1818,  under  the 
name  of  the  "  Church  of  Christ,"  and  is  now 
known  as  the  "  First  Congregational  Church  of 
Richfield."  It  was  organized  by  two  mission- 
aries, viz.,  Rev.  William  Hanford  and  Rev. 
John  Seward,  from  Portage  Coimt}',  with  the 


following  members  :  Elijah  W^elton  and  Han- 
nah, his  wife  ;  Isaac  Welton  and  Anna,  his 
wife  ;  Stephen  Pixley,  Newcomb  Carter,  Bird- 
sey  N.  Oviatt,  Augustus  Adams  (now  living), 
Mary  Oviatt,  wife  of  Salmon  Oviatt,  Sarah 
Sturtevant,  wife  of  Bradford  Sturtevant,  and 
Lj'dia  Carter.  Newcomb  Carter  was  the  first 
Clerk,  and  he  and  Isaac  Welton  the  first 
Church  Committee.  Meetings  were  occasionally 
held  under  the  auspices  of  Missionaries  Sew- 
ard and  Hanford  until  November  2,  1820,  when 
Revs.  J.  Treat  and  Israel  Shaler,  as  mission- 
aries, oflSciated.  Rev.  Israel  Shaler  was  duly 
installed  the  first  Pastor  of  the  "  Church  of 
Christ"  April  24,  1821,  and  Stephen  Pixley 
elected  the  first  Deacon  August  30, 1822.  The 
church  formerly  united  with  the  (jrand  River 
and  Portage  Presbytery  February  18,  1824. 
In  April,  1837,  it  united  with  the  Western 
Reserve  Congregational  Association  at  Ober- 
lin.  April  1,  1833,  the  First  Congregational 
society,  of  which  this  church  formed  a  part, 
was  "  incorporated  "  and  organized.  It  hired 
the  Rev.  Horace  Smith  as  its  Pastor  until  1849, 
and  again  from  April,  1854,  to  April,  1860. 
Rev.  S.  C.  Leonard  occupied  the  pulpit  from 
1849  to  April,  1854,  and  Rev.  Reuben  Hatch 
from  1860  to  1863.  From  August,  1864,  to 
the  present  time.  Rev.  J.  A.  McKinstry  lias 
supplied  the  pulpit.  The  church  building  was 
erected  in  1832,  and  is  still  in  good  condition. 

The  first  Methodist  church  building  erected 
was  raised  and  inclosed  in  1822,  but  not  fin- 
ished for  many  3'ears,  and  was  burned  in  1852. 
It  was  succeeded  by  the  present  beautiful 
building,  nearly  west  of  Richfield,  with  a  flour- 
ishing societ}-  worshiping  therein.  The  Baptist 
Church,  built  at  West  Richfield  in  1838,  is  still 
in  good  condition,  and  has  sustained  religious 
services  most  of  the  time  since  its  erection. 
The  Church  of  the  United  Brethren,  in  south- 
east Richfield,  is  a  large  and  flourishing  church, 
with  a  new  building,  recently  erected,  called 
the  "  Centennial  Church." 

The  old  Richfield  Academy-  is  worth}'  of 
mention.  It  was  built  in  1836,  and  was  in 
successful  operation  for  about  thirt}-five  years  ; 
then,  yielding  to  the  modern  free-school  sj'S- 
tem,  it  passed  away  with  other  relics  of  the 
pioneer  days.  Under  the  administration  of 
Rev.  Harvey  Lyon,  who  was  its  Principal  for 
many  years,  it  stood  in  the  foremost  rank  of 
the  academical  institutions  of  the  West.    From 


© 


W 


614 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


its  spacious  halls,  where  "  studious  lore  was 
conned,"'  went  forth  many  of  our  practical 
business  men.  Teachers  in  vast  numbers, 
students  for  college,  merchants,  mechanics, 
surveyors,  etc.,  etc.,  here  received  their  educa- 
tion and  the  foundation  for  their  liigher 
honors. 

Richfield  was  one  of  the  foremost  townships 
in  Summit  Count}'  in  establishing  a  township 
librar}'.  Such  an  organization  was  made  in 
1825,  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  Rawson.  It 
contained  at  one  time  several  hundred  volumes 
of  the  best  standard  works  to  be  obtained,  and 
was  well  sustained  and  patronized  until  re- 
centh',  when  our  common  and  high  school 
libraries  have  superseded  it. 

Among  the  historical  incidents  of  Summit 
Count}',  and  one  which  attaches  to  Richfield 
Township,  possessing  more  than  a  passing  in- 
terest to  its  citizens,  is  the  great  sleigh-ride  of 
1856.  The  following  is  the  substance  of  this 
memorable  event,  as  taken  from  a  recent  news- 
paper article  :  The  winter,  like  the  one  just 
past  (1880-81),  was  one  of  unusal  severity,  with 
much  snow,  which  lay  on  the  ground  until  far 
into  the  spring.  Upon  a  certain  occasion  dur- 
ing the  winter,  a  border  township  turned  out 
quite  a  number  of  four-horse  sleighs,  while  one 
of  the  number  bore  a  rude  banner  made  of  cot- 
ton, a  yard  square,  upon  \\4iich  was  painted  a 
negro  boy  with  his  thumb  upon  the  end  of  his 
nose,  his  hand  spread  out,  and  a  scroll  from  his 
mouth  bearing  the  legendary  words,  "  You  can't 
come  it."  This  friendly  challenge  brought 
other  townships  into  competition,  and  the  rude 
banner  passed  as  a  prize,  from  one  to  another, 
as  it  was  captured  by  a  larger  number  of  four 
or  six-horse  ("none  other  counted)  sleighs  than 
had  been  turned  out  by  the  predecessor,  until 
it  finally  became  the  prize  of  Richfield  Town- 
ship. To  such  an  extent  had  the  affair  gone 
that  it  now  became  a  county  matter,  and  Cu}-- 
ahoga  and  Medina  Counties  entered  the  contest. 
A  day  was  set— March  14,  1856 — when  they 
(one  or  the  other)  would  wrest  the  prize  from 
Summit.  The  day  came,  and  with  it  a  large 
concourse  of  people  to  witness  the  friendl}-  bat- 
tle. As  Richfield  held  the  prize,  it  was  decreed 
that  the  meeting  should  take  place  in  this  town- 
ship, and  the  particular  township  turning  out 
the  largest  number  of  sleighs  on  the  great  trial 
day  should  receive  the  flag,  and  in  turn  present 
it  to  its  respective  county.     When  all  had  as- 


sembled, the  marshals  proceeded  to  count  the 
sleighs  from  each  county,  when  they  were 
found  to  be  as  follows  :  Medina  County,  140  ; 
Cu^'ahoga  County,  151  ;  and  Summit  County, 
171 — a  total  numlxu"  of  462  four  and  six-horse 
sleighs  in  one  grand  and  friendly  rivalry  for  a 
rude  banner  that  cost  originally  just — six 
cents.  The  procession  was  formed,  and  passed 
on  to  Akron  with  the  most  perfect  order  and 
decorum.  Upon  arrival,  the  flag  was  presented 
to  Hudson  Township,  as  having  the  largest 
number  of  teams,  by  James  W.  Weld,  of  Rich- 
field, and  received  on  behalf  of  Hudson  by  Dr. 
C.  R.  Pierce,  who  presented  it,  in  accordance 
with  a  pre- arrangement,  to  the  County  of  Sum- 
mit. It  was  variously  estimated  b}-  eye-wit- 
nesses that  not  less  than  five  or  ten  thousand 
persons  witnessed  this  grand  slelgh-ride.  Many 
of  the  sleighs  were  handsomely  decorated  with 
evergreens  and  profusely  ornamented  with 
flags.  All  passed  off  in  the  utmost  harmony,  and 
not  an  accident  of  any  kind  occurred  during  the 
day.  Akron  received  the  baimer  with  great 
dignity,  which  was  to  be  preserved  among  the 
valuable  relics  of  the  county  until  some  rival 
should  come  with  a  larger  number  of  teams 
than  she  had  turned  out  on  this  occasion.  The 
glory  of  being  the  possessor  of  the  prize  was 
short-lived.  On  the  following  Tuesda}-,  Medina 
County  came  over  with  185  four  and  six-horse 
sleighs,  being  fourteen  more  than  Summit 
County  had  turned  out.  The  banner  was 
turned  over  to  her  and  carried  to  Medina,  where 
it  was  de})osited  among  the  archives  of  the 
county,  to  be  kept  until  captured  by  some  other 
rival.  It  still  remains  the  prize  of  Medina 
County.  And  thus  ended  the  most  remarkable 
sleigh-ride  on  record. 

For  a  period  of  nearly  twenty  3'ears,  Rich- 
field was  tiie  central  point  for  the  union  fair  of 
this  and  adjoining  townships.  The  institution 
is  now  abandoned,  and  the  agricultural,  horti- 
cultural and  mechanical  interests  of  the  town- 
ship are  more  or  less  represented  in  the  county 
fair  at  Akron. 

A  lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  was 
instituted  in  Richfield  September  5,  A.  L.  5823, 
known  as  Meridian  Sun  Lodge,  No.  69.  The 
charter  members  were  Isaac  Welton,  Isaac  M. 
Morgan,  Abraham  Freese,  John  Smith,  Adon- 
iram  Swift,  Jonathan  Sheldon,  Salmon  Oviatt, 
David  Green,  David  Jones  and  others.  The 
first  Master  of  the  lodge  was  Isaac  Welton,  who 


'i^ 


RICHFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


615 


held  the  office  until  November,  1826,  when 
Solomon  Curtis  was  elected  Master,  and  served 
as  such  until  1828.  The  lodge  held  its  meet- 
ings at  the  house  of  Orson  M.  Oviatt  from 
1823  to  the  close  of  the  year  1828,  when  they 
removed  to  the  house  of  Ebenezer  Palmer. 
Willis  Welton  was  elected  Master  in  1828,  and 
served  as  such  until  1832,  at  which  time  the 
lodge  disbanded.  In  October,  1855,  it  was  re- 
organized as  Meridian  Sun  Lodge,  No.  266,  in 
Richfield,  with  the  following  charter  members  : 
Hiram  Bronson,  L.  F.  Ward,  James  W.  Ward, 
Elihu  Parmelee,  Joshua  Finch,  Ebenezer 
Palmer,  John  Churchill,  Sr.,  Thomas  E.  Ells- 
worth and  Oliver  Hart.  The  first  Master  was 
Hiram  Bronson.  The  lodge  room  is  located 
over  the  furniture  store  of  Thomas  E.  Ells- 
worth, in  West  Richfield. 

The  township  of  Richfield  early  took  an  act- 
ive and  prominent  part  in  the  war  of  the  re- 
bellion. When  the  news  came  that  the  rebels 
had  fired  on  Fort  Sumter,  the  excitement  was 
intense,  and  in  a  few  days  the  men,  old  and 
young,  were  drilling.  The  first  company'  that 
grew  out  of  the  excitement  was  composed  of 
all  classes  of  citizens,  and  was  commanded  b}' 
Norris  Humphrey  as  Captain,  and  Martin  Big- 
elow,  First  Lieutenant.  The  company  were 
usually  known  as  the  "  String  Beans."  We 
met  every  Saturday  afternoon  for  drill,  and, 
though  no  one  knew  ver}'  well  what  was  re- 
quired in  the  way  of  military  tactics,  we  made 
up  for  all  deficiencies  by  the  ardor  with  which 
we  went  to  work.  This  organization  finallj^ 
died  a  natural  death,  and  from  its  remains  wei'e 
formed  the  Richfield  Grays,  A.  N.  Goldwood, 
Captain  ;  R.  C.  Ellsworth,  First  Lieutenant ;  C. 
W.  Wood,  Second  Lieutenant.  The  members 
of  this  company  were  of  the  very  best  material 
(all  young  men),  and  was  one  of  the  most  thor- 
oughl}-  drilled  and  efficient  volunteer  militar}^ 
companies  ever  in  Summit  County,  nearly  all 
of  the  members  of  which  sooner  or  later  drifted 
into  the  army.  Our  township  furnished  137 
soldiers  for  the  Union  arm}'  in  the  great  war  of 
the  rebellion.  There  are  at  the  present  forty 
soldiers  living  in  Richfield.  Of  this  number, 
twenty-five  are  of  the  original  137  ;  the  balance 
are  those  that  have  come  into  the  township 
since  the  war. 

About  the  1st  of  October,  1862,  tlic  first  and 
only  draft  of  men  occurred.  Of  Richfield  men, 
thirt}'  were  taken,  none  of  whom  went  into  the 


army  at  that  time,  but  all  furnished  substi- 
tutes. We  lost  in  the  war  twenty-seven  sol- 
diers. Of  this  number  five  were  killed  ;  the 
rest  died  of  disease  contracted  while  in  the 
South.  Six  of  our  soldier  friends  carr}-  hon- 
orable scars,  received  from  our  misguided 
brethren  in  the  late  unpleasantness.  Thirteen 
remember  the  genial  hospitalities  extended  to 
them  b}'  the  Southern  Brigadiers  in  the  pleas- 
ant picnic  grounds  of  Libb}^,  Andersonville, 
Salisbur}'  and  other  pleasant  resorts  of  comfort, 
happiness  and  plent}-,  which  were  so  freelj'  ex- 
tended to  them  by  their  rebel  friends.  The 
larger  part  of  our  old  comrades  have  emigrated 
to  the  Western  States,  where  the}'  are  now  en- 
gaged in  the  different  pursuits  of  life. 

Another  of  Richfield's  claims  to  notoriet}-  is 
contained  in  the  fact  that  the  now  famous  '  Old 
John  Brown "  was  once  a  resident  within  its 
borders.  If  he  was  not  an  •'  Ohio  man ''  origi- 
nally, he  was  certainly  a  citizen  of  Ohio  for  a 
time.  For  a  few  years — how  many  is  not  re- 
membered now — between  1840  and  1850,  he 
lived  in  Richfield  Township.  Says  a  corre- 
spondent writing  from  Richfield  :  '■  A  man 
though  somewhat  visionary  and  unfortuate  in 
business  aflfairs,  yet  honest,  firm  and  unyield- 
ing in  his  convictions  of  right,  he  challenged 
the  admiration  of  the  world  in  his  devotion  to 
human  liberty  and  freedom." 

To  Dr.  T.  E.  Ellsworth  are  we  indebted  for 
a  record  of  mortality  for  a  portion  of  the  time 
in  our  past  history.  From  1839  to  1880,  a 
period  of  41  years,  there  were  860  deaths :  the 
greatest  number  in  one  year  was  31,  the  least 
being  in  1838,  which  was  4.  In  1822,  17  chil- 
dren died  who  were  under  seven  years  of  age. 
The  population  of  our  town  the  last  50  years 
has  been  from  1,000  to  1,300,  being  in  1870, 
1,019,  and  in  1880, 1,253  ;  it  is  thought  that  in 
1840  it  was  about  1,300.  There  have  been 
9  residents  of  our  town  who  were  pensioned 
for  services  rendered  in  the  war  of  1812,  of 
whom  Stephen  Welton  is  the  only  survivor. 

Many  of  our  Western  Reserve  townships 
have  been,  in  the  way  of  holding  re-unions  from 
from  year  to  year,  for  the  purpose  of  getting 
together  present  and  past  residents,  renewing 
old  memories,  etc.,  but  Richfield  was  behind  in 
this  respect  till  August  11,  1880.  On  that  day, 
such  a  gathering  was  witnessed  in  a  grove 
owned  by  Mr.  John  Kirby,  as  was  never  held 
here  before.    It  is  safe  to  say  that  at  some  time 


;r^" 


616 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


during  the  day,  every  man,  woman  and  child  in 
town,  able  to  be  around,  visited  the  grounds. 
The  neighboring  towns  all  sent  huge  delega- 
tions, and  many  old  residents  were  here  from 
hundreds  of  miles  away.  Gov.  Axtell,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Re- union  Association  delivei'ed  a 
fine  address  of  welcome,  after  which  he  read 
the  following  "  greeting,"  written  by  Dr.  A.  E. 
Ewing,  who  was  not  able  to  be  present,  and 
was  therefore  compelled  to  perform  his  part  b}' 
proxy.     The  greeting  is  as  follows  : 

"Back  to  the  mother  that  bore  you  ;  back  to  the 
land  of  your  birth; 

From  field,  from  workshop  and  office,  back  from  the 
ends  of  the  earth; 

Back  to  the  haunts  of  your  childhood  we  welcome 
you  every  one  ; 

Yet  not  as  the  patriarch  hoary  welcomed  his  prod- 
igal son. 

"We  hall  you  with  unalloyed  pleasure,  imtinged  by 

sorrow  and  tears; 
But  the  patriarch's  joys  were  darkened  at  thought 

of  the  wasted  years; 
At  thought  of  the  wasted  treasure  the  profligate 

youth  had  strown 
Among  the   wanton  and  vicious,    while  traveling 

that  broadway  down. 

"We  gi-eet  you  with  song  and  with  laughter,  from 
hearts  all  aglow  with  delight; 

But  sigh  as  we  must  for  the  missing,  who've  per- 
ished and  gone  from  our  sight; 

May  we  meet  them  again  in  the  future,  when  life 
and  its  turmoils  are  o'er; 

Or  is  their  abode  so  distant  that  their  presence  will 
glad  us  no  more  V 

"  Let  us  trust  that  they  still  are  near  us  and  join  in 
our  joys  to-day; 

That  none  of  us  here  are  more  blissful  than  those 
who  liave  fallen  by  the  way; 

And  hope,  when  our  time  comes  to  travel  the  shad- 
owy road  they  have  trod, 

We  may  meet  in  a  grander  re-union  by  the  bright- 
shining  rivers  of  God." 

After  this,  speeches  were  called  for  and  re- 
sponses came  from  S.  R.  Oviatt,  Sheriff  Lane, 
of  Akron,  Andrew  Hale,  of  Bath,  the  first  white 
child  born  west  of  the  Cuj'ahoga  River  ;  George 
Howlet,  of  Cleveland,  and  F.  Wilcox — sons  of 


Richfield.  Then  followed  Gen.  Voris,  of  Akron, 
Rev.  M.  McKinstry  and  the  Hon.  M.  C.  Hills,  of 
Medina,  Dr.  Pixley,  of  Peninsula,  and  possibly 
others  not  now  remembered.  The  music,  both 
vocal  and  instrumental,  was  highly  appreciated, 
and  the  dinner,  which  was  abundant  in  quantity 
and  superb  in  qualit}',  was  enjoyed  by  the  many 
thousands  in  attendance.  Toward  the  close 
of  the  afternoon,  a  vote  was  taken,  and  with- 
out a  dissenting  voice,  all  agreed  to  meet  on 
the  same  grounds  one  year  from  date. 

The  second  man  who  settled  in  the  township, 
as  already  stated,  was  Henr}'  Mallet.  He 
located  in  the  southeast  part,  on  land  owned 
afterward  by  Richard  Sweet.  Mallet  had  two 
brothers,  John  and  Daniel,  who,  as  well  as  him- 
self, were  in  favor  of  hard  currency.  They 
accordingly  erected  a  mint  on  a  point  of  land 
ever  since  known  as  "the  money  shop,"  just 
over  the  line  in  Northampton,  where  they  manu- 
factured "  the  hard  "  currency  to  order.  This 
drew  to  the  settlement  a  set  of  individuals  that 
did  not  add  to  its  respectability,  and  the  inhab- 
itants, therefore,  destroyed  the  shop  with  fire. 
Notwitlistanding  the  destruction  of  his  mint, 
Mallet  continued  to  tinker  with  the  currency 
until  he  was  finally  "  taken  into  the  employ  of 
the  State,"  and  died  in  Columbus. 

In  1820,  the  people,  being  without  a  stated 
preacher,  met  in  town  council  to  elect  a  person 
"  to  lead  in  meeting "  (presumably  a  sermon 
reader).  The  candidates  were  Bradford  Stur- 
tevant  and  Elijah  Ellsworth.  On  a  full  can- 
vass, Ellsworth  was  declared  duly  elected  ''to 
hold  his  office  during  good  behavior."  As  he 
was  somewhat  addicted  to  swearing,  he  agreed 
to  abandon  the  practice  so  long  as  he  held  the 
office.  He  fulfilled  his  engagement,  and  more 
than  answered  the  expectations  of  his  friends. 
In  fact,  he  did  his  work  so  well  that  he  was 
afterward  elected  the  first  "  train-band  captain  " 
in  town,  and  finally  rose  to  the  post  of  Colonel. 
He  lived  in  town  till  quite  an  old  man,  and 
then  moved  to  the  south  part  of  Bath,  where 
he  died  about  twenty  years  ago. 


^{T-O 


O-D 


® 4^ 


liL 


BATH    TOWNSHIP. 


617 


CHAPTER    XXVIII.* 

BATFf    TOWNSHIP  — DESCRll'TIVE  — THE    I'INERY  — SQUATTKflS    AND  EARLY  SETTLERS— PfONEER 

HARDSHIPS— ERECTION  OF  MILLS— AGRIOULTURAL  IMPROVEMENTS 

—  V I LLAGES  —  SCHOOLS  —  CH  U  RCH  ES. 


THE  greater  share  of  Bath  Township  is  ex- 
tremely rough  and  preciiDitous.  Its  central 
and  northern  portions,  though  far  from  being 
level,  are  not  as  rough  and  irregular  as  the  bal- 
ance of  the  township.  The  eastern  third,  and  all 
the  land  along  the  valley  of  Yellow  Creek  are  cut, 
divided  and  subdivided  into  innumerable  bluffs 
and  hills  of  all  shapes,  sizes  and  altitudes. 
Deep  gorges  wind  around  the  bases  of  the  bluffs, 
and  in  some  cases  are  fully  300  feet  below  the 
summits  of  the  conical  knobs,  which  appear 
almost  mountainous,  when  viewed  from  below. 
On  account  of  the  extreme  roughness  of  Bath, 
the  land  was  not  considered  desirable  ;  so  that, 
in  early  j-ears,  settlers  passed  on,  and  it  was 
only  after  the  lapse  of  time,  that  large  additions 
were  made  to  the  original  pioneers.  The  prin- 
cipal and  only  stream  of  note  is  Yellow  Creek. 
In  many  respects,  it  probably  has  no  equal  in 
the  county.  It  is  reported  that,  either  from 
actual  measurement  or  careful  estimation,  this 
stream,  in  flowing  across  the  township  (five 
miles),  has  a  fall  of  400  feet.  While  the  stream 
does  not  afford  any  noticeable  natural  falls, 
almost  its  entire  course  is  characterized  by  a 
succession  of  rapids,  rendering  the  creation  of 
first-class  water-power  an  undertaking  at  once 
easy  and  permanent.  Since  the  earliest  settle- 
ment, these  facts  have  been  well  known,  and 
tliis  will  account  for  the  large  number  of  saw 
and  grist  mills  that  have  been  located  along  the 
stream.  During  the  warmer  months  of  dry 
seasons,  the  water  becomes  almost  or  quite  in- 
sufficient for  milling  purposes  ;  but,  in  ordinary 
years,  and  especially  during  the  rainy  months, 
the  creek  is  a  rushing  torrent,  which  sweeps 
noisily  down  the  valley  over  its  bed  of  I'ocks. 
One  of  the  finest  natural  views  in  the  county  is 
in  this  valley,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town- 
ship. At  a  place  where  the  creek  takes  a  sud- 
den turn  toward  the  north,  a  basin  of  two  or 
three  acres  is  formed  on  the  western  side  of  the 

*  Cjiitiibuted  by  \V.  A.  Goodspeed. 


creek  bottom.  Looking  southward  from  the 
northern  part  of  this  basin,  the  beholder  sees 
an  attractive  picture.  The  iDluffs,  which  extend 
upward  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees,  form 
a  graceful  curve,  and  are  covered  with  a  fine 
forest  of  pine  trees.  These  trees  are  found  no- 
where else  along  the  creek,  and  form  a  beauti- 
ful contrast  with  the  neighboring  oaks  and 
maples,  which  greets  the  eye  of  the  spectator 
with  pleasure.  The}-  are  the  white  pine  {Fiiius 
strobiis),  and  extend  along  the  creek,  mostly  on 
the  south  side,  for  a  distance  of  about  eighty 
rods.  The  larger  ones  have  been  cut  down  and 
sawed  into  lumber,  several  of  which  measured 
almost  four  feet  in  diameter,  though  at  present 
they  are  largely'  of  a  smaller  growth.  Numer- 
ous springs  of  pure  water  are  found  in  various 
parts  of  the  township.  A  small  stream,  in  the 
northeast  part,  drains  that  portion  of  the  town- 
ship, and  flows  directl}'  into  the  Cuyahoga. 
Another  interesting  creek  rises  near  the  north- 
west corner,  and  takes  a  southeasterly  course, 
flowing  into  Yellow  Creek  at  Ghent.  On  the 
northwest  corner  of  Lot  37  is  quite  a  large 
pond,  drained  by  the  last-named  creek,  which, 
so  far  as  the  writer  knows,  is  nameless. 

Yellow  Creek  flows  across  Lots  80, 79,  78,  83, 
77,  64,  65,  66,  67,  68,  69  and  70.  Its  bed  is 
stony,  and  the  stream,  through  an  unknown 
period  of  3'ears,  has  cut  its  way  deeply  into  the 
soil.  This  is  rendered  apparent  by  the  steep, 
high  bluffs,  bordering  the  creek  and  the  rapid 
flow  of  the  water.  The  surface  soil  is  largely 
clay,  mingled  in  many  places  with  pebbles,  ren- 
dering tillage  unpleasant  and  difficult.  In  ba- 
sin-like portions  of  the  township,  the  soil  con- 
tains considerable  decaying  vegetation,  and 
these  portions  are  valued  highly  by  the  agri- 
culturist. An  abundance  of  excellent  sand- 
stone is  easily  obtained.  The  eastern  half  of 
the  township  is  rich  in  mineral  and  fossiliferous 
remains.  There  is,  unquestionably,  a  large  per- 
centage of  iron  oxides,  or  perhaps  bog  iron  ore. 


)  i«y 


4v 


618 


HISTORY  OF    SITMMIT    COUNTY 


in  the  soil,  as  is  proved  by  the  character  of  the 
water  and  the  peculiar  coloring  of  earth  when 
newl}'  turned  up.  The  most  of  the  water  is 
strongl}^  ferriferous,  and  even  the  streams  de- 
posit along  the  banks  a  reddish  precipitate,  or, 
perhaps,  this  peculiar  coloring  is  produced  by 
the  action  of  the  iron  held  in  solution  in  the 
water,  upon  the  clay  along  the  banks.  At  an}- 
rate,  the  soil  along  the  banks  is  discolored,  and 
iron  is  the  agent.  Col.  Riall  McArthur,  who 
originally  survej'ed  the  township,  made  the  fol- 
lowing entry  in  his  note-book  :  "  The  attraction 
of  the  needle  on  these  lines  (in  the  eastern  part 
of  Bath),  is  on  account  of  the  vast  quantity  of 
iron  ore  that  lies  in  the  earth,  under  where  the 
lines  pass  or  near  them.  There  is  all  the  ap- 
pearance of  ore  in  the  rivulets.  Small  pieces 
lifted  and  held  toward  the  needle  had  particular 
influence  on  it,  and  by  passing  through  the  deep 
hollows  has  had  particular  influence  on  the 
lines."  Upon  examination  the  stones,  even  on 
the  surface,  are  found  to  contain  a  large  per- 
centage of  iron,  and  the  swampy  portions  of 
the  township  are  usually  underlain  with  a 
thick  bed  of  bog-iron  ore.  Swampy  tracts  of 
land  that  have  been  drained  are  found  to 
contain  this  ore.  It  is  utterly  improbable, 
however,  that  smelting  works  and  iron  manu- 
factories will  ever  be  erected  in  Bath.  The 
iron  ore  is  much  too  scanty  and  impure  to  ever 
be  profitabl}'  mined,  although  it  is  possible 
that  future  years  may  reach  some  vein  of  the 
requisite  richness.  Tn  portions  of  the  eastern 
part,  there  are  also  found  large  quantities  of 
fossiliferous  limestone.  So  far  as  the  writer 
knows,  this  has  not  been  classed,  by  those  who 
have  examined  it.  with  an}'  known  group  of 
rocks.  On  the  contrary,  the  formation  seems 
to  have  been  placed  there  by  local  causes,  the 
nature  of  which  is  difficult  to  deterniine.  The 
rock  seems  to  be  made  up  almost  wholly  of  the 
casts  of  animals  that  must  have  existed  under 
the  surface  of  water.  A  more  detailed  descrip- 
tion of  this  I'ock  will  l^e  found  in  the  chapter 
on  geology.  The  rock  is  covered  with  man}' 
feet  of  earth.  It  has  been  used  for  making 
lime,  and  is  excellent  for  that  purpose.  It 
would  pay  the  owners  of  the  land  where  it  is 
found  to  burn  it  and  ship  the  lime  by  rail  to 
distant  points.  Large  quantities  of  coral  of 
the  honeycomb  and  sponge  varieties  are  also 
found,  not  only  on  the  surface  but  far  under 
the  soil. 


Bath  Township  was  not  owned  by  the  Grov- 
ernment  until  after  the  treaty  of  Fort  In- 
dustry in  1805.  If  any  persons  other  than  the 
Indians,  and,  perhaps,  French,  lived  upon  the 
soil,  they  were  squatters,  and  only  held  a 
"  squatter  sovereignty "  in  the  land.  The 
township  is  No.  3  in  Range  12,  and  was 
originally  called  Wheatfleld,  and  is  so  named 
in  the  field-book  of  Rial  McArthur  and  R. 
Warden,  who  surveyed  the  township  into  lots 
in  1808.  The  name  is  said  to  have  been  given 
by  these  men  from  the  fact  that  the  soil  looked 
as  though  it  would  raise  excellent  wheat.  How 
long  the  name  was  used  is  not  definitely 
known,  but  it  went  out  of  use  in  two  or  three 
years,  and  then  the  township  became  popu- 
larly known  as  Hammondsburg,  named  thus 
for  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  prominent 
settlei's.  Letters  from  Connecticut  with  this 
address  were  received.  They  also  came  direct- 
ed to  Township  3.  Range  12,  Western  Reserve, 
Ohio.  In  fact,  this  was  the  ordinary  way  of 
addressing  letters  that,  were  sent  to  this  section 
of  country. 

Bath  was  not  settled  as  early  as  some  of  the 
neighboring  townships,  at  least  by  those  who 
owned  the  soil.  When  the  squatters  first 
entered  cannot  be  known  with  any  degree  of 
certainty.  It  may  be  that  wandering  hunters 
built  their  rude  cabins  immediately  after  the 
treatv  at  Fort  Industry.  At  least,  it  is  well 
known  that  when  the  first  permanent  settlers, 
who  were  owners  of  the  land,  appeared  in 
1810,  there  were  then  living  in  the  township 
some  six  or  eight  squatters,  several  of  whom 
had  made  no  little  improvement.  It  was  not 
customary,  however,  for  squatters  to  bother 
themselves  much  about  the  clearing  of  the 
land  or  other  improvements.  All  they  wanted 
was  a  small  garden,  wherein  their  half-clothed, 
half-starved  wives  and  children  could  raise  a 
few  potatoes  and  other  vegetables.  Many  of 
these  squatters  lived  in  the  rudest  and  most 
primitive  fashion.  They  apparently  copied  the 
customs  of  the  Indians,  and  many  of  them 
existed  in  about  the  same  miserable  plight. 
The  Indians  got  so  they  built  small  bark  shan- 
ties, but  little  better  than  deer-skin  wigwams, 
and  many  of  the  squatters  erected  and  inhab- 
ited the  same  kind  of  dwellings.  The  meat 
was  largely  venison,  but  this  was  extremely 
dry,  so  that  the  earliest  settlers,  when  they 
could  procure  a  piece  of  fat  pork,  thought  they 


■71 


BATH    TOWNSHIP. 


619 


had  secured  a  luxuiy  indeed.  Wild  turkej-s 
were  abundant,  and  were  so  fat,  it  is  said,  that 
sometimes  when  the}'  fell  to  the  eartli  after 
being  shot  from  the  top  of  high  trees,  the  skin 
upon  their  backs  burst  open  like  a  ripe  pod. 
Wolves  were  very  troublesome,  and  gave  the 
settlers  any  amount  of  annoyance  if  sheep  and 
other  domestic  animals  were  to  be  protected. 
Sheep  brought  into  the  backwoods  had  a  sorry 
time  of  it,  and  usually  died  either  under  the 
sharp  fangs  of  wolves  or  bears,  or  on  account 
of  the  peculiarities  of  the  food  upon  which 
they  were  necessarily  compelled  to  subsist. 
Even  cattle  and  horses  suffered  greatly  on  the 
latter  account.  The  poor  oxen  were  annoyed 
by  swarms  of  flies  and  gnats  that  thirsted  for 
their  blood.  It  is  even  asserted  that  oxen  were 
killed  by  these  flies,  so  great  was  the  annoy- 
ance. Bears  seemed  to  relish  pork  better  than 
any  other  kind  of  meat,  and  woe  unto  the 
porker  that  fell  into  their  hands  (or  rather 
claws).  A  bear  would  attack  a  hog  in  the 
woods,  would  mount  upon  its  back,  burj-ing 
the  sharp  teeth  in  the  neck,  and  tearing  the 
sides  of  the  fated  swine  with  its  powerful 
claws.  Piercing  squeals  would  re-echo  through 
the  forest,  sometimes  reaching  the  ears  of  the 
owner,  who  would  seize  his  rifle  and  rush  to 
the  rescue,  and  then  it  often  fared  hard  with 
Mr.  Bruin.  Sometimes  the  owner  would  be 
glad  to  give  up  the  swine  and  call  the  account 
square ;  but,  in  a  case  of  this  kind,  the}' 
always  changed  their  minds  soon  afterward, 
and  vowed  future  vengeance  upon  all  members 
of  the  genus  Ursus.  The  bears  were  usually 
so  well  satisfied  with  the  terms  of  settlement 
that  they  afterward  undertook  to  obtain  a  re- 
newal of  the  account,  that  a  similar  settlement 
might  be  enjoj-ed.  Sometimes  they  succeeded  ; 
sometimes  they  died. 

Prior  to  1810,  there  lived  in  the  township 
the  following  squatters  :  Aaron  Miller,  Gib- 
son Gates,  Hezekiah  Burdit,  Aaron  and  Moses 
Decker  and  Moses  Latta.  When  these  men 
first  entered  the  township  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained, and  probably  never  will  be.  Two  or 
more  of  them,  at  least,  came  in  during  the 
spring  of  1810,  but  the  date  of  the  arrival  of 
the  others  is  missing.  These  men  had  erected 
rude  shanties  in  different  parts  of  the  township, 
and  were  busily  engaged  in  hunting  and.  possi- 
bly, trapping,  and  some  of  them  had  begun  to 
make  improvements.    The  township  was  owned 


by  several  proprietors  in  Connecticut,  among 
whom  were  Ezekiel  Williams  and  Thomas  Bull, 
of  Hartford.  In  the  Bull  tract,  Jason  Ham- 
mond had  first  choice,  and  Jonathan  Hale  .sec- 
ond. Moses  Latta  had  squatted  near  Ellis' 
Corners,  and  Aaron  Miller  had  performed  the 
same  act  on  Lot  11.  Mr.  Hammond's  lots  were 
26,  27,  28,  20  and  30.  Jonathan  Hale's  were 
11,  12.  13  and  part  of  14.  The  other  squatters 
named  above  located  mostly  in  the  southeast- 
ern part.  Abel  Vallen  also  located  in  that  por- 
tion, though  whether  as  a  squatter  or  an  owner 
is  not  stated.  A  few  jears  later,  this  man  was 
living  on  the  Cuyahoga,  in  Northampton,  where 
he  opened  adistiller}-.  These  and  a  few  others 
were  the  first  settlers,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  they  were  alone  in  the  toAvnship.  West 
of  them  was  an  unsettled  wilderness  of  indefi- 
nite extent,  while  east  of  them  various  settle- 
ments had  been  made,  some  of  them  ten  years 
previous.  William  Cogswell,  one  of  the  most 
expert  hunters  ever  in  this  part  of  the  county, 
lived  in  the  township  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  there  is  scarceh'  a  hill  or  vale  that  has  not 
echoed  with  the  sharp  report  of  his  rifle.  He 
became  celebrated  as  a  bear  hunter,  and  subse- 
quent generations  have  listened  with  interest  to 
his  recital  of  daring  acts,  that,  beyond  doubt, 
actually  transpired.  On  one  occasion,  he 
started,  late  in  the  evening,  from  Granger  to  go 
to  the  cabin  of  Aaron  JMiller.  in  northeastern 
Bath.  Night  came  on,  and  Cogswell,  not  wish- 
ing to  proceed  zx\y  farther  at  that  time,  pre- 
pared a  couch  of  branches,  and,  stripping  the 
bark  from  a  large  tree,  covered  himself  with  it 
and  laj'  down  to  sleep.  At  daylight  he  awoke, 
and,  throwing  oft'  his  coverlet,  arose  to  his  feet, 
when  he  found  that,  during  the  night,  about 
three  inches  of  snow  had  fallen,  cohering  him 
completely,  and  rendering  his  situation  warm 
and  comfortable.  He  started  on  toward  the 
cabin  of  Miller,  where  he  soon  arrived  with  an 
excellent  appetite  for  breakfast.  3Irs.  3Iil]er 
furnished  him  with  a  quantity  of  cold  boiled 
hominy,  which  he  devoured  with  relish  and  sat- 
isfaction, apparently  thinking  his  breakfast  fit 
for  a  king.  Indeed,  it  was  no  uncommon  oc- 
currence for  settlers  to  live  for  weeks  upon  a 
single  article  of  food.  Sometimes  venison  was 
all  the  cabin  could  furnish  ;  at  otlier  times, 
especially  in  the  dwellings  of  those  settlers  who 
were  inferior  hunters,  meat  would  be  lacking 
for  man}'  days.      Hunters  fared   better  as  re- 


:rz 


::s: 


620 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


gards  meat,  while  those  who  devoted  more  at- 
tention to  gardening  enjoyed  eating  the  greater 
number  of  vegetables. 

The  settlement  and  improvement  of  Bath 
were  at  first  slow.  The  war  of  1812  no  doubt 
had  something  to  do  with  this  state  of  things. 
A  few  came  in  during  the  war.  but  no  extensive 
improvements  were  made  until  a  short  time 
prior  to  1820.  As  near  as  can  be  remembered, 
the  following  arrivals,  at  about  the  dates  men- 
tioned, took  place  :  Old  man  Jourdan  and  his 
sons  James,  Moses.  Joseph  and  John,  1813  ; 
old  man  Dunbar  and  his  sons  Lewis,  Thomas 
and  two  or  three  others,  1814  ;  Isaac  Hopkins, 
1813  ;  Salmon  Skinner  and  Eleazur  Rice.  1816  ; 
Hopkin  Nash,  1817  ;  Theodore  and  Calvin 
Hammond.  1814;  Phineas  Nash,  1819;  and 
besides  these,  there  came  in  during  the  same 
years,  or  perhaps  later,  the  following  well- 
known  men  :  George  W.  Story,  the  first  black- 
smith in  the  township.  William  Jones,  Junius 
Darrow.  Lemuel  Hoadle}',  James  Hoot,  Nathan 
Green,  David  Willey,  Elijah  Jacox,  Joseph  and 
Samuel  Hawkins,  Benjamin  Bishop,  James  P. 
Baldwin.  Mr.  Heater.  Mr.  Boughton,  Mr.  Brad- 
ford, Mr.  Seakons,  Mr.  Frost.  John  McFarland, 
William  Williamson,  Orville  and  William  Mc- 
Farland, Deacon  Crosby,  Simeon  Crosby,  John 
Kent,  Manville  Thorp,  E.  W.  Simmons!  Noble 
Simmons,  Asa  Jackson,  Mr.  Collins,  Mr.  Hatch, 
George  Phillips,  a  large  family  of  Shaws,  the 
father's  name  being  Constant,  and  some  of  his 
sons,  Sylvester,  Samuel  and  Phillip,  Mr.  Doolittle, 
Levi  Bissell.  Asa  Hurd,  Adam  Vance,  Seymour 
Ganyard,  Benjamin  Damon.  Dr.  Henry  Hutson, 
two  or  three  Whitcrafts.  some  of  whom  be- 
came prominent  in  the  township,  Henry  Van- 
sickle,  Mr.  Fowler,  Lyman  Nash.  John  Duryea, 
William  Davis  ;  after  1830,  Deacon  Smith.  Abin 
Sage,  Mr.  Lloyd,  and  many  others  whose  names 
have  passed  out  of  recollection.  It  may  be 
said  that  the  greater  number  of  these  men  were 
Connecticut  Yankees,  and  almost  all  came  di- 
rectly from  that  State  to  the  Western  Reserve. 
Several  came  from  the  settlements  a  few  miles 
east,  and  undoubtedl}'  a  great  manj'  came  in 
who  afterward  became  dissatisfied  and  removed 
farther  west,  or  went  back  to  the  East.  The 
The  settlers  were  usually  industrious,  and  it 
was  not  long  before  cabins  could  be  seen  in 
great  numbers  over  the  township,  and  the  busy 
hum  of  human  life  took  the  place  of  the  wolf's 
dismal  howl  and  the  Indian's  wild  whoop.     In 


every  direction  forests  could  be  seen  going 
down,  that  were  afterward  burned  in  great  con- 
flagrations, that  rivaled  the  sweeping  prairie 
fires  of  the  West.  Small  fields  of  corn  and 
wheat  waved  their  green  plumage  in  the  sum- 
mer air  ;  deer  bounded  past  within  easy  rifle 
shot ;  the  peculiar  howl  of  wolves  could  be 
heard  ;  the  ring  and  echo  of  ax  and  rifle  awoke 
the  sleeping  voices  of  the  hills  ;  snakes,  irmum- 
erable  and  venomous,  wound  their  slow  length 
along,  and  a  multitude  of  circumstances,  un- 
known to  the  present  generation,  presented 
themselves.  And  3'et  the  early  settlers  were 
happy,  or  thought  themselves  so,  which  is  much 
the  same.  They  made  enjo^^ment  from  their 
surroundings.  But  the  cultivation  of  the  high- 
er qualities  of  mind  and  heart  were  omitted 
from  the  forest  curriculum,  and  it  may  be 
wisely  doubted  whether  the  early  settlers  en- 
joyed themselves  so  well  after  all. 

The  township  was  organized  in  1818,  and, 
when  that  is  said,  about  all  the  tale  is  unfolded. 
Where  the  first  election  was  held,  who  were  the 
first  officers,  what  action  was  taken  on  that  in- 
teresting occasion,  and  many  other  important 
things,  have  been  locked  forever  in  the  jeweled 
casket  of  the  Muse  of  history.  Some  other 
historian  will  be  allowed  the  privilege  of  prowl- 
ing through  the  township  to  quicken  into  life 
the  dying  embers  of  the  fires  of  recollection. 
Until  then,  many  events  will  remain  in  the 
gloom  of  forgetfulness.  Success  to  the  patient 
worker  !  As  was  before  remarked,  the  town- 
ship was  first  called  Wheatfield,  and  then  Ham- 
mondsburg.  At  the  time  of  the  organization 
of  the  township,  the  settlers  were  called  upon 
to  select  a  name  by  which  said  township  should 
be  known  in  the  future.  Various  names  were 
suggested,  but  none  seemed  to  give  satisfaction. 
A  few  insisted  on  its  being  called  Hammonds- 
burg,  whereupon  Jonathan  Hall  called  out, 
"  Oh,  call  it  Jerusalem,  or  Jericho,  or  Bath— 
anything  but  Haramondsburg.''  Bath  was  im- 
mediately selected  and  bestowed  upon  the  town- 
ship. Dr.  Henry  Hutson  (or  Hudson)  was 
the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace,  if  the  writer  is 
correctly  informed,  while  Eleazer  Ilice  was  the 
first  Constable.  Rice  was  a  small  man,  and 
was  not  verjf  well  liked.  One  Sunday,  Lewis 
Hammond  and  Isaiah  Fowler,  in  sport,  tipped 
over  Rice's  sled,  and  lo  !  it  was  broken.  Rice 
entered  complaint  before  Squire  Hutson.  for  a 
violation  of  the  Sabbath,  and  as   he  was  the 


BATH    TOWNSHIP. 


621 


only  Constable,  the  warrant  was  placed  in  his 
hands  for  service.  The  two  men  went  willingly 
before  the  Squire  to  answer  to  the  charge  ;  but, 
just  as  they  got  there,  instigated  by  a  little  of 
the  spirit  that  Jesus  once  cast  out  of  a  Syro- 
Phenician  woman's  daughter,  they  both  started 
and  ran  in  opposite  directions.  The  Constable 
was  in  a  dilemma.  He  linally  started  in  pur- 
suit, unfortunately,  of  the  larger  man.  How 
the  "  trial"  terminated,  the  writer  has  not  been 
informed.  This  was  the  first  "  case "  in  the 
township.  Abner  Robinson,  the  poet,  men- 
tioned elsewhere  in  this  work,  lived  in  Bath  for 
a  time.  He  had  a  peculiar  manner  of  speaking, 
which  Gen.  Bierce  characterizes  as  "crawfish." 
Robinson  one  day  said  of  Jacob  Morter  :  ■  Jake 
says.  '  Abner,  come  and  look  at  my  pigs.'  I 
went,  and  they  were  fine  ones.  Jake  says, '  The 
youngest  is  the  oldest — no — I  mean  the  biggest 
is  the  littlest — no-o — I  talk  like  a  d — d  fool  ! 
Any  liow,  they. look  so  much  apart  you  can't 
tell  'em  alike.' "  A  petition  for  a  road  leading 
from  Boston  to  Old  Portage,  was  presented  in 
1811,  to  the  Commissioners  at  Ravenna.  This 
was  the  first  authorized  road  that  touched  Bath. 
Perhaps  the  next  was  the  one  on  the  southern 
line  of  the  township,  called  the  Smith  road.  This 
was  well  traveled  in  early  years,  and  numerous 
taverns  for  the  accommodation  of  travelers  were 
erected,  one  or  two  of  them  in  Bath.  Moses 
Latta  opened  his  house  for  a  public  tavern  as 
early  as  1818.  He  took  in  a  great  many  shil- 
lings from  travelers,  and  made  considerable 
money. 

By  1820,  the  township  was  quite  well  popu- 
lated. Improvements  were  pushed  rapidh^, 
and  industries  began  to  arise  as  the  demand 
for  various  articles  nearer  home  was  created. 
In  1818,  Maj.  Hoadle}'  built  a  saw-mill  at 
Ghent.  Excellent  water-power  was  obtained, 
and  the  enterprise  promised  success.  The  fol- 
lowing year  the  mill  was  purchased  by  James 
Root,  but  was  sold  again  in  two  or  three  years 
to  James  Myers.  The  mill  was  located  so  far 
from  the  dam,  that,  on  account  of  the  great 
fall  of  the  stream,  the  lower  part  of  the  race 
was  a  wooden  trough,  resting  on  posts.  The 
wheel  was  overshot.  A  few  years  later,  Mr. 
Root  built  a  new  saw-mill  about  a  quarter  of 
of  a  mile  west  of  Ghent.  This,  in  after  years, 
proved  a  valuable  mill.  David  Parker  built 
one  about  the  same  time,  locating  it  down  Yel- 
low Creek,  not  far  from  the  eastern  boundary 


of  the  township.  An  enormous  dam,  built  on 
the  "  beaver  principle,"  was  constructed  ;  but 
some  time  afterward  this  was  washed  awa}-  b}' 
a  sudden  freshet.  James  Root  built  a  distillery 
at  an  early  day.  It  was  at  the  height  of  its 
prosperity  when  the  great  temperance  revival 
swept  over  the  county.  Some  of  the  citizens 
asked  him  to  stop  his  distillery,  whereupon  he 
turned  suddenly  upon  them  with  the  pointed 
question,  •  Stop  !  what  am  I  to  live  on  ?  cow- 
slips ?  T  can't  stop  the  distillery."  And  he 
did  not  stop,  but  whisky  flowed  from  it  at 
the  rate  of  about  two  barrels  per  day.  Much 
of  this  was  shipped  oft',  and  sold  at  the  rate  of 
from  12  to  18  cents  per  gallon.  James  P. 
Baldwin  did  more  in  early  3'ears  to  improve  the 
township  than  any  other  man.  He  built  many 
mills,  both  for  sawing  lumber  and  grinding 
grain,  and  filled  every  enterprise  that  he  touched 
with  life.  James  Root  built  several  mills,  and 
was  quite  a  wealth}'  man,  but  he  did  not  put  the 
energy  into  his  undertakings  that  was  necessary 
to  make  them  highly  successful  and  useful. 
He  is  said  to  have  remarked  in  later  years, 
"I  have  ruined  the  township; "  meaning  thereby 
that  most  of  his  enterprises  had  been  of  no 
use  to  the  township.  Yet  this  is  not  doing  Mr. 
Root  credit.  It  is  certain  that  his  improve- 
ments drew  intelligent  and  enterprising  citizens 
to  the  township.  Many  mills  were  built  in 
early  years,  and  very  likely  errors  will  occur  in 
attempting  their  description.  In  about  1826, 
J.  P.  Baldwin  built  the  Miller  grist-mill.  It 
was  a  frame  building,  three  stories  in  height, 
about  thirty-five  b}-  seventy  feet,  and  in  it  were 
placed  four  sets  of  stone.  It  was  one  of  the 
best  mills  ever  in  the  township.  In  addition 
to  custom  grinding,  it  did  a  large  amount  of 
merchant  work,  sending,  during  its  best  years, 
about  three  hundred  and  fifty  liarrels  of  flour 
each  day  to  Cleveland,  by  canal.  After  a  num- 
ber of  yeai's,  the  mill  was  purchased  by  Henry 
Harris  ;  but  a  few  years  later  it  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  The  present  one  was  built  on  the  same 
site  in  about  1846.  It  is  a  large  frame  build- 
ing, and  has  done  good  work.  It  is  at  present 
owned  by  W.  C  R.  Miller.  Baldwin  also  built 
a  saw-mill  the  same  time  his  grist-mill  was 
built.  It  was  coimected  by  shafting,  or  other- 
wise, with  the  machinery  of  the  grist-mill. 
This  was  also  destroyed  by  fire.  In  1859, 
Henry  Harris,  Jr.,  built  a  saw-mill  on  the  same 
site.     This  is  3'et  in  operation.     Baldwin  built 


^1 


633 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


another   saw-mill  a  sliort    distaiujc    down    the 
creek  from  this  mill.     It  did  good  work  for  a 
few   years.     Jason    Hammond   and    his    sons 
built  a  saw-mill,  as  early  as  1820,  on  a  branch 
of  Yellow  Creek,  west  of  the  center.     The  dam 
was  so    situated  that  thirty  or  forty  acres  of 
woodland    was  flooded  with  water.     The  trees 
man}"  of  them,  fell  down  and  began  to  decaj', 
and  soon  this  dam  was  regarded  as  a  breeder 
of  malaria  and  pestilence.     At  last  proceedings 
were  begun  in  law  to  abate  the  whole  thing  as 
a  nuisance.     The  proceedings  were  successful, 
and  the  water  was  let  oft,  much  to  the  relief  of 
families  living  in  the  neighborhood.  A  Mr.  Beach 
built  a  saw-mill  near  where  William    Barker 
lives,  in  about  the  year  1838.     It  was  operated 
some  eight  or  ten  years,  and  then  was  aban- 
doned.     William  Barker   bnilt   one   near  the 
same  place,  in  1859.     This  mill  has  furnished 
considerable  material,  which  has  been  shipped 
awa}',  among  which  are  railroad  ties,  three-inch 
plank  and  flitch.     A  year  or  two  ago.  the  dam 
was  washed  away,  and  the  mill  is  not  running 
at  present.     Just  after  the  last  war,  Hemming- 
way.   Hopkins  &    Burris  and  William   Barker 
erected  a  hub,  spoke  and  felloe  factory  within 
a  lew  rods  of  INIr.  Barker's  dwelling.     The  com- 
pany and  Mr.  Barker  each  owned  a  half  inter- 
est in  the  business.     A  planing-mill  was  con- 
nected with  the  factor}-,  and  for  a  number  of 
3^ears   a   good    business    was    done,    but    the 
destruction  of  the  dam  caused  it  to  stop.  Will- 
iam Jones  conducted  a  distillery  for  a  number 
of  years.      tt  was   located  back   on  his  farm 
some  distance  from  the  road.     It  is  said  that 
the    bears,  on   several  successive  nights,   had 
carried   oft'   his    hogs,  and    he   determined  to 
watch.     He  summoned  a  few  convivial  spirits, 
and  with  those  already  at  the  distillery,  had  a 
loud  time  of  it   during  the  night.     No  bears 
were   seen.     The   Ghent   Champion    Mill    was 
built  by  James  Root  at  an  early  day.     It  was 
operated   b}'  him   until    1853,   when    Alanson 
Barker  assumed  control,  but  a  year  later  Will- 
iam Barker  became  owner,  and   remained  so 
until    1871,  when   the    mill    went   to    Edward 
Heller,  who  now  owns  it.     The  mill  has  done  a 
great  deal  of  good  work ;  not  only  custom,  but 
merchant.     Mr.  Root  also  built  and  operated  a 
saw-mill,  near  the  grist-mill,  at  an  early  day.  i 
Peter   and   John    Marshall    erected   a  woolen  | 
factory  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  the  j 
Harris   grist-mill.      It  was  probably  built   in 


about  1840.  A  limited  quantity  of  light  cloth 
was  manufactured,  but  in  about  ten  or  twelve 
years  the  Marshalls  retired  from  the  pursuit, 
and  the  building  was  transformed  into  a  lath 
factory.  The  grist-mill  west  of  Ghent  was 
erected  earl}',  antl  has  been  one  of  the  best  in 
the  township.  It  has  changed  owners  various 
times,  and  has  done  considerable  merchant 
work.  Several  other  mills  have  been  built  and 
operated  along  Yellow  Creek  and  its  branche.«  ; 
and  it  may  be  said  that  on  no  other  stream  in 
the  county,  of  the  same  size,  has  thei'e  been  so 
many  mills  and  so  good  ones.  Dams  are  easily 
built  from  the  stone  and  timber  along  the  creek, 
and  owing  to  the  narrow  bed  of  the  stream  and 
the  narrow  valley,  short  dams,  strongly  built, 
furnish  splendid  water-power.  We  will  now 
leave  the  imperfectly  treated  subject  of  mills 
and  notice  the  growth  of  villages. 

Unlike  other  townships,  Bath's  Center  never 
grew  to  the  dignity  of  a  village.  A  small  shoe- 
shop,  opened  there  at  quite  at  an  early  day, 
was  about  the  only  attempt  toward  village- 
making.  Shoes  were  taken  to  this  shop  for  re- 
pairs, but  probably  before  this  was  opened,  the 
following  circumstance  occurred  :  One  day, 
Alonzo  Coffin,  his  little  sister  and  another  girl 
of  about  her  age,  none  of  whom  were  older  than 
ten  years,  were  sent  to  Brandywine  to  have 
their  shoes  mended.  The  families  lived  near 
there  at  that  time.  The  shoes  were  mended, 
but  by  this  time  darkness  had  thrown  her  sa- 
ble curtain  over  the  earth.  Just  as  the  chil- 
dren were  about  to  start  for  home,  the  wolves 
were  heard  howling  dismally  in  the  woods, 
through  which  they  must  pass,  and  Mr.  Mc- 
Clellan,  the  cobbler,  declared  he  would  not  go 
through  the  woods  at  that  time  for  anything, 
and  told  the  children  they  had  better  sta}' 
all  night.  But  Alonzo  said  he  was  not  afraid, 
and  told  Mr.  McClelian  to  "  get  me  a  torch,  and 
I'll  go."  A  large  torch  of  hickory  bark  was 
procured  and  lighted,  and  the  three  little  chil- 
dren started  out  through  the  darkness  for 
home.  They  had  no  sooner  reached  the  woods 
than  the  wolves  surrounded  them  with  angry 
howls,  but  kept  at  a  respectful  distance  on  ac- 
count of  the  fire.  The  children  hurried  on, 
keeping  close  together,  and  the  wolves  con- 
tinued to  follow  them  until  they  were  within  a 
few  rods  of  home,  when  the  savage  animals, 
disappointed  at  not  getting  the  expected  feast, 
ran  off  through  the  dark  forest.     It  was  custo- 


•el 


f 


—    ^ 


BATH   TOWNSHIP. 


623 


mar}^  in  early  years,  for  cobblers  to  travel 
around  from  house  to  house  to  pl}^  their  craft, 
often  furnishing  everything  and  making  shoes 
for  the  whole  family.  Three  villages  proper 
have  arisen  in  Bath — Hammond's  Corners, 
Ghent  and  Ellis'  Corners.  The  Hammonds 
were  probabl}'  the  first  residents  at  the  former. 
It  is  thought  that  Royal  and  Horatio  Ham- 
mond brought  the  first  stock  of  goods  to  the 
village,  but  the  date  is  indefinite.  If  there  at 
all,  they  probably  opened  up  before  1830.  John 
Rhodes  was  there  with  a  small  stock  soon  after 
1833.  Reison  Randolph  sold  goods  there  for 
many  years.  Joseph  Whitcnift  is  there  at 
present,  and  has  been  doing  a  good  country 
store  trade  for  quite  a  number  of  years.  Him- 
self and  store  are  highly  spoken  of  A  few 
others  have  sold  goods  in  the  village.  Among 
other  industries  may  be  mentioned  the  wagon- 
works  of  Clem  Jagger.  This  man  has  followed 
the  occupation  for  many  years.  A  post  office 
was  secured  at  the  Corners  in  about  1838. 
Prior  to  that  date,  the  office  had  been  at  the 
Center,  whei*e  Phineas  Nash,  Theodore  King, 
and  probably  Lewis  F.  Lane  and  others,  had 
served  as  Postmaster.  Various  parties  have 
held  the  office  at  the  Corners,  the  present  one 
being  Mr.  Whitcraft.  Dr.  Hutson,  who  came 
to  the  township  in  about  1819,  was  the  first 
practicing  physician  in  the  township.  His  res- 
idence and  office  were  a  short  distance  north  of 
the  Center.  He  was  a  kind  old  man,  and  would 
preach  to  the  settlers  in  their  dwellings,  or  in 
the  schoolhouses.  Some  time  after  1833,  Dr. 
H.  A.  Robinson  came  to  the  township,  and  for 
man}'  years  he  prescribed  for  the  temporal  dis- 
orders of  the  citizens.  He  was  quite  skillful 
with  ague  and  the  typhus  fevers,  and  secured  a 
lucrative  practice.  Ghent  has  had  a  different 
experience  and  a  different  growth.  In  1818, 
there  were  three  or  four  families  living  at  what 
is  now  Ghent.  Mr.  Boughton  opened  a  small 
store  about  the  same  time,  placing  his  goods 
in*  a  small,  rough,  frame  building  that  is 
3'et  standing,  though  altei'ed  and  remodeled,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Center  road,  near  the 
bridge.  This  man  had  considerable  money, 
which  was  invested  in  young  cattle.  The  ani- 
mals were  herded  in  the  woods  and  along  the 
open  spaces  near  the  streams.  The  foi'ests  fur- 
nished abundant  food  for  the  cattle.  The  rich 
browse  was  abundant,  and  was  eaten  in  large 
quantities  with  excellent  results,  as  the  ani- 


mals gained  rapidly  in  weight,  until  at  last 
they  were  driven  to  the  Eastern  markets.  Oth- 
ers engaged  successfully  in  the  same  pursuit, 
Mr.  Boughton  did  not  continue  his  store  but  for 
about  four  years.  As  near  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, the  village,  after  he  left,  was  without  a 
store  for  a  number  of  years.  Moses  McFarland 
was  in  with  a  stock  of  goods  in  1844,  and  had 
probably  begun  as  early  as  1840.  Mr.  Leggitt 
was  connected  with  him  in  business,  and,  in 
about  1848,  bought  McFarlands  interest  in  the 
stock  and  store.  A  few  years  later,  he  sold  to 
Francis  Husong,  who  probably  had  about  $1,500 
worth  of  goods.  Finney  &  Fairchild  succeeded 
Husong,  but  closed  their  store  after  a  few 
years.  Thomas  Pierson  sold  groceries  about 
thirty-five  years  ago.  Henry  Pardee  opened  a 
store  during  the  last  war.  This  he  conducted 
until  1881,  when  he  sold  out  to  James  Green- 
leese,  the  present  storekeeper.  Mr.  Pardee 
kept  a  good  store,  and  has  been  an  energetic 
and  respected  citizen.  The  oldest  woolen  fac- 
tory in  the  State  is  located  in  the  village.  It 
was  first  started  in  1832,  by  x\lleu  &  Bloom, 
but,  three  years  later,  was  sold  to  Alpheus  Bab- 
cock,  and  soon  after  this  to  Spafford  Brothers. 
These  men  failed  in  business,  and  the  property 
fell  into  the  ownership  of  Johnson  &  Fuller. 
In  1801,  the  factoi'y  was  purchased  by  its  pres- 
ent owner,  Alonzo  Coffin,  who  has  conducted 
it,  with  the  exception  of  five  years,  ever  since. 
As  high  as  10,000  pounds  of  wool  have  been 
bought  in  one  year.  Yarns,  flannels,  satinets, 
fulled-cloth,  cassimeres  and  other  kinds  of 
cloth,  have  been  manufactured.  Five  or  six 
years  ago,  Mr.  Coffin  removed  to  Akron,  and 
the  factory  was  idle.  It  is  now  in  operation 
again.  Soon  after  1850,  Thomas  Pierson  be- 
gan making  barrels,  buckets,  kegs,  etc.,  and  do- 
ing a  general  cooper- wook,  which  he  continued 
some  twelve  or  fifteen  years.  James  Myers 
conducted  a  small  grist-mill  (or  '  pepper-mill," 
as  it  was  significantl}-  called)  in  the  village,  in 
about  1828.  Whether  he  built  the  mill  is  not 
stated.  It  was  finally  destroyed  by  fire.  Mc- 
Farland &  Leggitt  were  conducting  an  ashery 
at  Ghent  in  1858.  Archibald  Hubbard  owned 
and  conducted  it  before  them.  How  early  he 
began  is  not  remembered.  James  Root  is  said 
to  have  built  the  first  house  in  Ghent.  This 
was  the  Boughton  store-building.  In  1846, 
there  were  about  twelve  families  living  in  the 
village.     It  may  be  stated  that  Mr.  Pardee  was 


f 


N* 


t 


624 


HISTORY  or    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


connected  with  the  woolen  factory  for  a  few 
years,  perhaps  about  1858.  He  is  now  en- 
gaged in  manufacturing  water-proof  goods,  ac- 
cording to  some  new  and  valuable  recipe. 
Thomas  Pierson  was  very  likely  the  first  Post- 
master at  this  point.  Mr.  Pardee  assumed 
control  of  the  office  about  the  time  Mr.  Lin- 
coln went  into  the  White  House.  The  mantle 
of  Government  position  looked  well  on  Mr. 
Pardee.  However,  he  did  not  become  afflicted 
with  aristocracy  on  that  account,  nor  did  he 
believe  himself  a  prospective  candidate  for  said 
White  House,  because  he  had  been  honored(?) 
with  an  humble  position  under  Uncle  Sam. 
James  Root  is  thought  to  have  laid  out  the 
original  surve}'  of  lots  at  Ghent.  The  date  is 
indefinite.  Some  say  that  James  Myers  named 
the  village,  but  wh}'  the  particular  name  Ghent 
was  selected  is  not  known.  Dr.  Cooley  lived 
and  practiced  in  the  township  before  1820.  Dr. 
Darling  and  Dr.  Chaffee  were  in  the  township 
at  an  early  day. 

Mr.  Latta's  tavern  was  the  center  around 
which  the  citizens  of  Latta's  Corners  congre- 
gated in  early  years.  This  man  probably  erected 
the  first  building  in  the  village.  Other  tavern- 
keepers  were  Mr.  Ellis,  Parvin  Delong,  Milo  Ful- 
ler, Moses  McFarland,  James  Moore,  Carter 
Smith,  and  others.  Orrin  Walker  was  selling 
goods  in  about  1835.  After  him  were  Frank 
Smith,  Mr.  Doolittle,  Archibald  Hubbard,  Fred 
Nash,  N.  D.  Hanson,  A.  R.  Damon  and  Albert 
Beach.  All  these,  except  Walker,  were  east  of  the 
hotel,  and  some  of  them  kept  excellent  stores. 
Morris  Lyon  is  the  present  merchant.  The 
village  was  at  first  Latta's  Corners,  but  when 
Mr.  Ellis  became  the  central  figure  it  graduall}' 
assumed  the  name,  Ellis'  Corners.  Dr.  Humphre}' 
Robinson  located  at  the  village  not  far  from 
1830.  He  continued  to  practice  until  his  death, 
about  thirty  years  ago.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Dr.  Robert  McNeil,  who  also  died  a  short  time 
before  the  last  war.  Dr.  Sales  was  the  resident 
physician  just  before  the  war,  as  was  also  Dr. 
Merriman.  Dr.  E.  King  Nash  located  perma- 
nentl}'  in  the  village,  and  began  to  pi'actice 
his  profession  in  1865.  He  served  the  coun- 
try during  the  war  in 
sistant  Surgeon  of  the 
Fortieth  Regiment,  but 
war  came  out  as  Surgeon, 
practiced   in   the   village  after 


the    capacit}'  of  As- 
One    Hundred    and 
at  the   close   of    the 
Dr.    Merriman 
the   war,   and 


until    four    years    ago.      Among    the    indus- 


tries that  have  been  conducted  was  an  ashery 
at  an  early  da}^  by  Mr.  Ellis.  Also  a  wagon- 
shop  b3'  Burris  &  Son.  This,  in  outline,  has 
been  the  growth  and  decay  of  business  indus- 
tries. A  post  office  was  secured  at  an  early 
day,  and  letters  came  directed  to  Montrose. 

Schools  are  the  oflTspring  of  civilization. 
They  are  unknown  among  barbarous  people, 
and  are  found  numerous  and  perfect  in  the 
degree  of  the  removal  from  the  savage  state. 
The  ignorant,  those  who  willfuUj^  and  persist- 
ently remain  unlettered,  triumphantly  quote,  or 
rather  misquote,  "  Ignorance  is  bliss  ;  'tis  folly 
to  be  wise."'  The}'  assert  that  extended  educa- 
tion only  opens  the  eyes  and  heart  to  disap- 
pointments and  defeats,  and  that  nothing  but 
absolute  ignorance  of  the  great  majority  of 
surrounding  circumstances  can  give  satisfaction 
and  the  resulting  happiness.  That  mode  of 
conduct,  carried  into  effect  by  actual  experi- 
ment, would  reduce  man  to  the  savage  state, 
and  lead  to  the  utter  extinction  of  the  race. 
Knowledge  does  not  end  with  a  revelation  of 
cares  and  defeats.  It  reveals  countless  paths 
of  happiness  to  be  traversed,  and  points  to  the 
cultured  a  ready  means  to  avoid  those  spots  on 
the  journe}'  of  life,  over  which  the  dark  clouds 
of  sorrow  and  sin  pass.  Knowledge  is  the 
shield  that  wards  off  the  strokes  of  unpropi- 
tious  surroundings.  At  the  same  time  it  pro- 
tects the  shrinking  form  of  humanit}'  from  the 
bitter  blasts  of  adversity.  It  amplifies  the 
vision  of  the  intellect,  widens  the  moral  and 
social  capabilities,  and  elevates  the  enchanted 
observer  to  mountainous  heights,  from  which 
countless  glittering  domes  of  beauty  and  excel- 
lence are  seen.  It  multiplies  the  sources  of 
enjoyment,  divides  those  of  sorrow,  and  adds 
to  the  happiness  of  human  life.  It  is  highly 
necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the  American 
Govei'nment  that  the  people  should  foster  and 
protect  schools  as  the}'  would  their  jewels. 
The  nature  of  the  government  and  the  pecu- 
liarities of  its  institutions  should  be  taughtin 
every  school.  Too  many  young  men,  and  even 
those  in  maturer  3'ears,  know  comparatively 
nothing  of  the  aim  of  the  government  as  out- 
lined in  the  constitution.  There  is  seen  the 
strange  paradox  of  citizens  voting  for  officials 
to  administer  laws,  the  nature  of  which,  though 
vitally  important  to  them,  is  almost  whoU}-  un- 
known. The  wonderfully  rapid  growth  of 
educational  advantages  insures  to  the  masses 


-•^ 


BATH    TOWXSIITP. 


625 


of  the  people  a  speedy  and  practically  pei'fect 
knowledge  of  the  fundamental  principles  of  the 
government.  Millions  in  mone}'  are  annuall}- 
expended  in  rearing  that  unpretending  temple 
of  learning — the  sehoolhoase.  The  standard 
of  scholarship  is  steadily  rising  in  the  United 
States  among  the  great  body  of  the  people. 
This  is  the  onl}'  salvation  for  our  government, 
but  the  people  must  learn  to  control  their 
excesses,  or  the  nation  we  all  love  so  well  will 
go  down  in  darkness  like  Rome.  Tlie  morals 
must  be  educated,  the  appetites  must  be  con- 
trolled, the  passions  must  be  checked,  the 
desires  must  be  directed  to  proper  objects,  pur- 
suits and  practices  must  be  elevating  in  their 
tendencies,  and  together  with  all  these  people 
must  acquire  wisdom. 

The  first  school  in  Bath  was  taught  in  the 
northeastern  corner,  in  a  log  house  that  had 
been  built  in  1810,  by  Aaron  Miller,  one  of  the 
few  first  settlers  in  the  township.  The  building 
was  about  sixteen  feet  square,  and  the  first 
teacher's  name  was  Maria  Lusk.  The  first 
terra  was  in  1811,  and  after  that  date  schools 
were  held  quite  regularly  in  the  neighborhood, 
sometimes  in  one  house  and  sometimes  in 
another,  depending  for  location  on  their  prox- 
imity to  the  homes  of  the  greater  number  of 
children.  In  truth,  the  schools  for  many  years 
continued  to  follow  the  scholars,  going  as  near 
as  possible  to  where  the  greater  number  lived. 
Alfred  Wolcott  was  one  of  the  early  teachers. 
Tt  is  related  that  on  one  occasion,  that  genius 
of  mischief,  the  school-boy,  in  the  absence  of 
the  teacher  at  intermission,  fortified  the  chair 
of  the  latter  with  pins  bent  in  a  fiendish  man- 
ner. The  result  was  a  sudden  bound,  and  the 
following  I'everent  exclamation :  "  Who,  in 
heaven's  name,  has  been  meddling  with  this 
chair  ?  '  Such  questions  were  often  asked  in 
early  j'ears,  but  seldom  answered.  So  far  as 
known,  Mr.  Wolcott  shared  the  same  fate  as 
other  early  teachers.  There  were  several  3'ears 
when  no  school  was  taught  in  northeastern 
Bath,  but  the  scholars  were  sent  to  a  well- 
attended  school  in  northwestern  Northampton. 
A  veiy  early  school  was  taught  in  Mr.  Ham- 
mond's house.  Mr.  Lucas  was  one  of  the  first 
teachers  in  that  neighborhood.  Schools  were 
usually  taught  b}-  subscription,  and  at  stated 
times  teachers  were  accustomed  to  send  in  their 
bills  for  collection  or  settlement.  Although 
it  seems  unaccountable,  3'et  it  is  asserted  that 


the  first  schoolhouse  in  the  northeastern  part 
was  not  erected  until  after  1830,  but  that  schools 
continued  to  be  held  in  dwellings  and  abandoned 
houses.  This  house  was  a  frame,  about  16x16 
feet,  and  the  first  teacher,  as  near  as  can  be  as- 
certained, was  Edward  Brown,  a  nephew  of 
John  Brown,  whose  soul  is  yet  supposed  to  be 
marching  on.  This  house  was  used  for  some 
twenty-five  years,  when  the  present  one  was 
built.  A  school  was  taught  very  early  at  Mr. 
Yallen's  residence  in  the  southeastern  part,  but 
unfortunately  nothing  definite  could  be  learned 
of  it.  It  ma}'  be  said,  in  general,  that  all  schools, 
prior  to  1820,  were  held  in  buildings  that  were 
temporarily  devoted  to  that  use.  It  is  probable 
that  the  first  building  erected  for  a  school- 
house  was  either  near  Hammond's  Corners  or  at 
Grhent,  although  both  the  dates  and  the  facts 
are  uncertain.  School  was  taught  as  earl}'  as 
1816,  at  Latta's  Corners,  and  at  Ghent  a  few 
years  later.  In  1820,  the  citizens  living  at 
Ghent  sent  their  children  to  school  in  a  log 
house  that  had  been  built  about  thirty  rods 
from  the  present  residence  of  Mr.  Spitzer,  b}'^ 
William  Wood.  Mr.  Wood  had  abandoned  the 
house,  which  was  then  devoted  to  educational 
purposes.  Henry  Boot  was  one  of  the  first 
teachers  in  this  house,  and  the  following  circum- 
stance is  related  of  him  by  Benjamin  Bishop  : 
The  teacher  started  one  cold  morning  for  his 
schoolhouse,  and  while  on  his  wa}^  through  the 
woods  was  confronted  by  a  large,  gaunt,  hun- 
gry-looking wolf  The  animal,  evidentl}-  ren- 
dered desperate  by  hunger,  advanced  with  open 
mouth  and  glaring  eyes  upon  the  apprehensive 
teacher,  who,  having  no  weapons  save  a  jack- 
knife,  caught  up  a  heavy  club,  and  backed 
against  a  rail  fence  as  the  wolf  continued  to  ap- 
proach. When  the  animal  was  within  reach, 
Mr.  Root  struck  at  its  head,  but  only  succeeded 
in  giving  it  a  partial  stroke.  The  wolf  caught 
the  end  of  the  club  in  its  teeth,  and  for  some 
moments  Mr.  Root  was  unable  to  withdraw  it 
for  the  purpose  of  delivering  another  blow. 
Several  blows  were  struck,  all  of  which  the 
wolf  avoided,  but  finally  a  fortunate  stroke 
disabled  the  animal,  which  was  then  quickly 
dispatched  by  repeated  blows  on  the  head. 
How  many  teachers  would  now  enjoy  such  an 
encounter?  Do  not  all  speak  at  once.  Mr. 
Root  then  dragged  the  dead  wolf  to  the  school- 
house,  where  it  remained  during  the  day.  The 
historian  is  also  compelled  to  record  that  the 


:V 


626 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


teacher  complained  of  the  confusion  and  whis- 
pering in  the  schoolroom,  and  of  the  almost 
universally  imperfect  lessons  on  that  day.  A 
young  lady  named  Eveline  Hall  taught  in  this 
same  building  as  early  as  1818.  School  was 
early  taught  in  Mr.  Rice's  house.  There  have 
been  three  different  schoolhouses  at  Ghent,  the 
last  one  being  built  a  few  years  ago.  In  the 
Hurd  neighborhood,  in  a  building  that  had  been 
vacated  by  Mr.  Banks,  school  was  taught  as 
early  as  1828.  The  next  year  a  schoolhouse 
was  erected  near  by,  and  one  of  the  first  teach- 
ers was  Robert  McNeil.  The  building  was  used 
as  a  meeting-house,  but  after  a  number  of  years 
it  took  fire  and  burned  to  the  ground.  Two 
other  houses  in  the  neighborhood  have  suc- 
ceeded it.  The  township  was  first  divided  ofi" 
into  two  school  districts,  and  some  alterations 
were  made  in  these  annually,  until,  at  last, 
another  one  or  two  were  added.  Many  disputes 
arose  in  consequence  of  the  shifting  of  the  dis- 
tricts. iVU  desired  schools  within  a  few  rods 
of  their  own  dwellings,  and  when  this  was 
found  to  be  impossible,  the  vials  of  their  wrath 
were  freely  poured  upon  the  naked  heads  of 
all  opposers.  The  districts  continued  to  be 
divided  and  subdivided,  until  they  at  present 
number  ten. 

Religious  societies  took  root  in  the  township 
in  early  days.  It  is  always  the  case  in  a  newly 
settled  country,  that  the  citizens,  many  of  them, 
are  members  of  churches  in  the  land  whence 
they  came,  and  having  experienced  the  bless- 
ings and  reality  of  religion,  ai-e  desirous  of 
renewing  their  devotions.  This  state  of  afiairs 
would  result  in  numerous  meetings  at  the  set- 
tlers' homes,  where  either  a  local  preacher  or 
an  itinerant  one  would  be  called  upon  to  pre- 
side. The  Presbyterians  and  Congregation al- 
ists  built  a  log  meeting-house  on  the  "  accom- 
modation plan,"  at  the  Center,  in  about  the 
year  1818.  This  building  afterward  became 
famous  for  its  revivals.  It  saw  continual  use 
until  about  1834,  when  a  frame  building  was 
erected  in  its  stead.  The  frame  was  used  until 
1870,  and  was  then  remodeled  and  converted 
into  a  town  hall.  The  following  is  quoted  from 
the  church  records  :  "At  a  meeting  previouslj' 
appointed  to  be  held  at  Bath,  November  2-1, 
1823,  present  Caleb  Pitkin,  John  Seward  and 
Israel  Shaler,  missionaries,  the  meeting  was 
opened  with  prayer  by  Brother  Seward,  after 
which  Robert  Bell  and  Mary,  his  wife,  from  the 


church   in   Stow ;    William    Jones,   from    the 
church  in    Randolph ;    William   and    Hannah 
Smith,  from  the  church  in  Sandsfield,  Mass.; 
Mrs.  Mary  Heater,  from  the  church  in   Can- 
field  ;    Mrs.  Mercy   Hall,  from  the  church  in 
Grlastonbury,  Conn.;    Laura,  wife  of   William 
Jones,  and  Samuel  Petei's  and  Esther,  his  wife, 
from  the  world,  presented  themselves  with  the 
request  to  be  organized  into  a  Church  of  Christ. 
As  a  preparatory  step,  the  council  proceeded 
to  an  examination  of  these  persons  respecting 
their  doctrinal  and  experimental  knowledge  of 
the   Christian  religion,  and  their  views  of  the 
duties  and  privileges  of  a  Christian  Church. 
Being  satisfied  on  these  subjects,  the  council 
proceeded  to  organize   the   church.      Brother 
Pitken  preached  from  the  text, "  Jesus  answered, 
'  My  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world,' "  etc.,  after 
which  Brother  Seward  read  the  confession  of 
faith  and  covenant  to  the  persons  above  named, 
and  proceeded   to  constitute   them  a  church, 
regularly  organized  and  entitled  to  all  the  priv- 
ileges   and    ordinances    of    the    Grospel,   and 
solemnly  charged   them    in   the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  work  worthy  of  the  high 
calling.     Being  thus  organized,  the  church  was 
put    under    the    care    of    the    Presbytery  of 
Huron,  as  the  First  Congregational  Church  of 
Bath.     Their  confession  of  faith,  covenant  and 
articles  of  practice  are  the  same  that  have  been 
prepared  and  presented  b}^  the  Presbytery  in 
this  section  of  the  county  (signed)  Caleb  Pit- 
kin,   Clerk   of    Organizing   Committee."      Al- 
though not  so  stated  in  the  report  of  the  meet- 
ing, the  session  was  held  in  the  old  log  house 
at  the  center  of  the  township.     The  following 
persons  joined   the   church    June    30,    1832  : 
Ward  K.  Hammond  and  wife,  Rojal  Hammond, 
Robert  McNeil,  Nancy  Smith,   Aurora   Piper, 
Elisha  and  Ann  McNeil,  Mary  and  Jane  Ful- 
ton, Sarah   Nash,  wife  of  Phineas  Nash,  and 
Lavina  Banks.    Phineas  Nash  joined  in  Decem- 
ber, 1823.     It  is  stated  that  James  Root  gave 
nearly  $3,000  as  a  permanent  fund  for  the  use 
of  this  church.     The  truth  of  this  is  left  to  the 
reader.     The  church  since  its  organization  has 
not  always  been  in  good  working  order.     Al- 
though  there  is  no  church  building  at  Ellis' 
Corners  at  present,  the  L'nited  Brethren  have 
a  society  there.     Among  the  members  are  Will- 
iam Reed,  Abraham  Spitzer,  Lot  Watson,  Mor- 
ris Lyon,  Samuel   Briggs  and   N.    I).  Hauser. 
This  society   purchased  a   Methodist  Church, 


Y 


FRANKLIN    T0WN8H1P. 


627 


located  at  Stony  Hill,  and  moved  it  to  the  Cor- 
ners a  short  time  after  the  last  war.  This  was 
used  b}'  the  society  for  a  number  of  years ; 
l)ut  the  building  was  subsequently  sold  for  $50, 
and  is  now  devoted  to  other  uses,  and  the  mera- 
"i)ers  assemble  in  the  schoolhouse.  Rev.  William 
Whitney  is  prominent  among  the  membership. 
A  Methodist  societ}'  was  instituted  at  Ghent  as 
earl}'  as  1818,  some  of  the  members  being 
Messrs.  Hoadley,  Bradford.  Seakins,  Rice  and 
Frost.  They  assembled  in  dwellings  for  a  few 
years,  and  finally  the  organization  was  dis- 
solved, or,  perhaps,  as  some  say,  it  finally 
started  up  again,  and  became  the  foundation  of 
the  present  iVIethodist  Church  in  the  northern 
part.  Their  building  was  erected  many  years 
ago,  and  is  known  as  ••  Moore's  Chapel."  It 
cost  some  S3,000,  and  is  the  best  building  of 
the  kind  in  the  township.  This  church  is  well 
attended  and  prosperous.  There  are  many 
Germans  living  in  the  eastern  part,  and  this 
section  of  the  township  is  familiarl}'  known  as 
•  Germany."  Many  years  ago,  an  Evangelical 
society  was  organized,  and  soon  afterward  a 
small  chun^i  was  built  in  •'  Germany.  "     Here 


this  industrious  class  of  citizens  meet  to  con- 
duct their  religious  ceremonies  in  their  char- 
acteristic way.  The  United  Brethren  started 
up  at  an  early  day,  and  first  began  holding 
meetings  in  the  schoolhouse  near  Kurd's  Cor- 
ners. Here  the}'^  assembled  for  some  time, 
shifting  their  location,  finall}',  to  neighboring 
schoolhouses,  to  be  as  near  as  possible  to  the 
greater  number  of  members.  After  a  few 
years,  this  state  of  things  became  somewhat  ob- 
noxious, and  the  propriety  of  erecting  a  small 
comfortable  church  was  discussed.  Several 
objected,  saying  that  the  tax  was  greater  than 
they  desired  to  sustain.  At  last  the  voice  of 
majorit}'  was  in  favor  of  Iniilding  such  a  church, 
which  was  accordingly  done,  at  what  is  known 
as  Hurd's  Corners.  Although  there  are  but 
four  churches  in  the  township,  the  religious 
element  is  not  confined  to  these  alone  ;  for  at 
Ellis'  Corners  is  a  society,  and  a  large  portion 
of  the  citizens  in  the  western  part  belong  to  a 
Disciples'  Church,  which  is  located  in  Granger 
Township,  Medina  County.  The  churches  and 
schools  throughout  Bath  are  up  to  the  standard 
of  those  in  the  country  townships  in  the  count3^ 


CHAPTER    XXIX.* 


FRANKLIN   TOWNSHir  — THVSI(\A.L  FEATURES— COAL   AND   OTHER  MINERALS  —  SETTLEMENTS  OK 

THF,  WHITES— CH.ANBMRRY  GATHERING— INDUSTRIAL  GROWTH— VI LLAOES 

—  EDUCATIONAL    AND    RELIG  OUS    INSTITUTIONS. 


T' 


the  mysteries  of  the  silent  past  do  not 
end  with  the  beginning  of  authentic  history, 
but  linger  with  multiplied  beauty  around  the 
strange  myths  and  fairy  tales  that  come  to  us 
through  the  lapse  of  unknown  centuries. 
Through  the  medium  of  ethnology,  archgeology 
and  philolog}^,  a  wonderful  vision  of  past 
years  is  revealed  to  the  present  age — one  that 
haunts  the  inquiring  mind  of  the  historical  in- 
vestigator like  the  face  of  an  angel,  instead  of 
like  the  dismal  shadow  that  shook  its  gory 
locks  at  Macbeth.  The  vision  reveals  that, 
thousands  of  years  before  the  Christian  era — 
unknown  centuries  before  a  means  of  recording 
human  events  had  been  invented — the  human 
race  lived  a  quiet  pastoral  life  in  Central  Asia. 

*Contributed  by  W.  A.  Goodspeed. 


Seen  through  the  mists  of  years,  their  homes 
and  haunts  became  the  source  of  many  a  legend 
or  poetic  tale,  that  had  its  creation  on  the  bold 
summits  of  the  Scythian  hills,  or  in  the  fertile 
valley  of  the  Oxus  or  the  Jaxartes.  Every 
known  field  has  been  carefully  searched  to 
clear  up  the  darkness  that  antedates  recorded 
history  ;  but  the  sacrifice  of  time  and  labor  by 
the  assiduous  inquirer  has  been  almost  wholly- 
fruitless,  and  has  met  with  continued  disap- 
pointment and  rebuff;  and  the  early  mythical 
traditions  are  believed  to  be  an  imperfect  ac- 
count of  what  actually  transpired  in  pre-his- 
toric  times.  Since  tlie  origin  of  writing,  the 
most  valuable  invention  ever  given  to  the  hu- 
man race,  remarkable  strides  have  been  made 
in  intellectual  and  moral  advancement,  and  in 
all  that  makes  a   people  great.     During   the 


J^dl 


hL 


628 


HISTORY    OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


passage  of  time,  though  unnumbered  events  of 
vital  importance  to  the  liuman  race  have  been 
left  unrecorded  ;  yet  "  line  upon  line  and  pre- 
cept upon  precept"  of  measureless  value  to 
man  have  been  written  for  his  perusal  and  im- 
provement. History  is  but  an  imperfect  record 
of  human  experience,  though,  notwithstanding 
its  defects,  it  is  of  almost  infinite  importance 
to  the  race,  for  the  probable  events  of  the 
future  can  be  foreknown  only  b}'  a  knowledge 
of  the  past.  Men  and  nations  are  wise  only  as 
they  can  look  into  the  future  and  anticipate 
coming  events  which  cast  their  shadows  before, 
and  this  can  be  done  onl}^  from  analog}'  with 
what  has  taken  place  in  the  past.  "  The  proper 
study  of  mankind  is  man,"  and  history  in  its 
widest  and  grandest  sense  is  such  a  study. 
This  places  the  historian  in  the  light  of  a  pub- 
lic benefactor  to  succeeding  generations  ;  but 
a  prophet — one  that  can  anticipate  the  future 
— labors  on  without  the  respect  or  honor  of  his 
own  country  and  age.  His  name  will  become 
embalmed  in  song  as  the  C3'cles  of  time  sweeps 
by,  will  become  colossal  in  the  hearts  of  gen- 
erations yet  unborn,  a  sublime  monument  to 
the  departed  genius  of  past  ages. 

It  is  not  expected  that  the  simple  narrative 
of  these  pages  will  be  prophecy,  for  the  art  of 
divination  is  yet  in  its  swaddling  clothes.  It 
is  difficult  enough  for  ordinary  capabilities  to 
acquire  a  correct  and  comprehensive  knowl- 
edge of  what  has  taken  place  in  past  years, 
without  borrowing  trouble  by  attempting  to 
peer  with  curiosit}'  into  some  Pandora's  box  of 
the  future.  Fictions  and  hopes  and  idealisms 
are  thrown  down,  and  facts  of  all  hues  are 
taken  up  to  be  woven  into  the  gaudy  Miric  of 
local  historv.  The  historian,  like  the  insur- 
ance agent  or  the  undertaker,  has  a  thankless 
task,  but  he  takes  comfort  in  knowing  that 
coming  generations  will  fully  appi'eciate  the 
result  of  his  labors.  It  may  appear  to  some 
that  the  historian  has  an  easy  time  in  rummag- 
ing through  dusty  memorials,  or  following- 
some  Jack-with-the-lantern  tradition  that  con- 
stantly eludes  him,  but  knowing  as  he  does 
that  the  weight  of  the  responsibility  of  record- 
ing the  truth,  giving  to  each  item  of  history 
its  appropriate  and  comparative  degree  of  im- 
portance, leaving  no  path  partially  neglected  or 
wholly  unsearched,  resisting  the  demands  of 
the  bigots  who  insist  in  having  their  names  en- 
rolled high  on  the  page  of  honor,  rests  upon 


his  shoulder  like  the  sphere  of  Atlas,  he  puts 
forth  his  greatest  powers  to  encompass  the  sit- 
uation and  to  hand  to  posterity  an  accurate 
and  comprehensive  record.  Nothing  but  pa- 
tient, protracted  labor  brings  the  desired  infor- 
mation. It  thus  occurs  that,  in  looking  over 
Franklin  Township,  much  difficulty  is  experi- 
enced in  accumulating  its  past  history.  Tra- 
ditions are  vague  and  unsatisfactor}',  and  an 
accurate  knowledge  of  all  the  facts  is  out  of 
the  question.  It  often  occurs  that  no  two  men 
who  are  questioned  give  a  similar  account  of 
the  same  event,  thus  adding  much  to  the  per- 
plexity of  the  historian,  or  placing  the  subject 
beyond  the  possibility  of  a  correct  solution. 
A  cheerful  readiness  to  tell  eveiything  known, 
and  to  volunteer  much  information  of  events 
of  doubtful  occurrence,  is  met  with  everywhere. 
Men  yet  living,  who  were  in  the  township  at 
the  time  of  its  creation,  cannot  i-ecall  any  of 
the  incidents  connected  therewith.  The  names 
of  many  of  the  earliest  settlers  have  passed 
beyond  the  powers  of  recollection,  and  the 
gloom  surrounding  many  important  circum- 
stances refuses  to  yield  to  the  historian's  re- 
peated and  emphatic  injunction,  "Let  there  be 
light ! "  It  is  again  necessar}-  to  call  the  at- 
tention of  the  reader  to  the  fact  that  history 
at  best  is  but  a  partial  narration  of  events. 

In  1854,  Lucius  V.  Bierce  wrote:  "The 
portion  of  Franklin  Township  lying  east  of  the 
Tuscarawas  was  surveyed  in  February,  1800, 
by  Kbenezer  Buckingham.  The  Tuscarawas 
was  then  the  boundary  between  the  United 
States  and  the  Indians,  which  was  the  reason 
why  the  balance  of  the  township  was  not  sur- 
ve5"ed  at  the  same  time.  It  will  be  recollected 
that  the  Indian  title  east  of  the  Cuyahoga,  the 
Tuscarawas  and  the  portage  path  was  extin- 
guished by  the  treaty  of  Fort  Mcintosh 
(Beaver)  in  1785.  Their  title  to  the  territor}' 
west  of  those  rivers  was  not  extinguished  until 
the  treaty  of  Fort  Industry,  in  1 805.  It  is  a 
singular  feature  of  these  treaties  that  the  In- 
dians, in  the  first  treaty,  ceded  the  territory 
east  of  those  rivers,  and,  in  the  last  treaty,  all 
west  of  those  rivers,  but  have  never  ceded  the 
rivers,  the  fee  of  which  is  still  in  the  Indians. 
This  township  is  No.  2  of  Range  10  of  the 
Ohio  Land  Company's  purchase.  In  forming 
ranges,  the  United  States  began  at  the  east 
line  of  the  State,  on  the  base  of  the  Western 
Reserve,  and  ever}-  six  miles  west  was  a  range, 


yr, 


J^j 


FRANKLIN    TOAVNSHIP. 


639 


numbering-  from  the  east  toward  the  west' 
The  townships  on  the  east  side  counted  from 
the  Ohio  River  north  to  the  base  line  of  the 
Reserve.  Thus  the  north  township  in  tlie  first 
range  in  Stark  County  on  the  base  line  of 
the  Reserve  is  No.  19,  Range  16,  lying  nine- 
teen townships,  or  114  miles  north  of  the  Ohio 
River,  and  6  townships  or  36  miles  west  of  the 
east  line  of  the  State.  The  townships  contin- 
ued to  be  thus  numbered  until  they  reached 
the  Ohio  Land  Company's  purchase,  when  they 
count  from  the  nortli  line  of  that  purchase. 
This  regularity  continues  until  Range  10  is 
reached,  when  the  north  township  (Franklin)  is 
numbered  2  from  the  following  circumstances : 
Li  1800,  when  the  survey  was  made  and  the 
township  and  ranges  numbered,  there  was  but 
a  fraction  of  Franklin  lying  east  of  the  Tusca- 
rawas and  within  the  Grovernment  limits — all 
west  of  the  river  belonging  to  the  Indians.  In 
running  the  west  line  of  Range  10,  the  survey- 
ors struck  the  Tuscarawas  in  Lawrence  Town- 
ship, next  south  of  Franklin,  and,  as  they 
could  not  cross  the  river  to  complete  the 
required  six  miles  east  and  west  of  those  two 
townships,  they  named  them  Fractions  1  and  2 
in  Range  10.  In  1807,  two  years  after  the 
land  west  of  the  Tuscarawas  became  the  prop- 
ert}^  of  the  (xovernment,  it  was  surveyed  b}^ 
Joseph  H.  Harwell,  and  enough  was  added  to 
the  fractional  townships  on  the  east  to  make 
two  full  townships  each  six  miles  square,  but 
the  numbers  have  never  been  changed  ;  so  that 
what  originally  stood  for  the  numbers  of  frac- 
tions now  stands  for  the  numbers  of  the  town- 
ships." Franklin  is  thus  No.  2  instead  of  No. 
1,  as  it  should  be  to  conform  with  adjoining 
townships. 

In  early  years  the  situation  of  the  township 
was  looked  upon  with  favor  by  the  settlers. 
An  abundance  of  excellent  water-power  could 
easily  be  obtained  on  almost  ever}'  stream,  es- 
pecially at  places  where  the  smaller  ones  en- 
tered the  Tuscarawas.  The  river,  then  a  much 
larger  stream  than  it  is  at  present,  afforded  fine 
communication  with  the  southern  portion  of 
the  State.  Several  lakes  were  in  the  township, 
in  which  an  abundance  of  excellent,  though 
small,  fish  abounded.  The  soil,  though  lying 
flat  and  ver}'  wet,  was  rich  with  decaying  vege- 
table remains,  and  gave  promise  of  boundless 
fertility,  when  the  stagnant  water  could  be 
turned  into  some  of  the  neighboring  streams, 


and  the  action  of  the  sun  could  be  unchecked 
by  the  removal  of  the  forests.  The  township 
is  a  fraction  over  five  miles  north  and  south, 
and  exceeds  that  distance  by  a  little  east  and 
west,  although  not  quite  six  miles.  The  sur- 
face like  the  greater  portion  of  Ohio  is  irregular, 
though  in  some  portions  is  comparatively  level. 
There  are  thirty-six  sections.  No.  1  being  in  the 
northeast  corner,  and  No.  36  in  the  southeast. 
The  northern  and  western  tiers  of  sections  are 
fractional.  The  Tuscarawas  River  enters  the 
township  on  Section  4,  thence  crossing  Sections 
9,  16,  20,  29,  32,  and  leaving  from  31.  Chip- 
pewa River  joins  the  Tuscarawas  on  Section  31. 
Nimisilla  Creek  drains  the  greater  portion  of 
the  southern  part,  and  finally  unites  with  the 
Tuscarawas  in  Stark  County.  The  southeastern 
part  is  drained  by  several  small  streams  which 
flow  into  the  Tuscarawas.  Polecat  Run  rises  in 
the  northwestern  part,  and  flowing  southward 
joins  the  river  about  a  mile  north  of  Clinton. 
Mud  Lake,  a  small  body  of  water  of  about  fifty 
acres,  lies  in  the  eastern  part  of  Section  32. 
Turkey  Foot  Lake,  pi'obabl}'  the  largest  body 
of  water  in  the  county,  lies  near  the  northeast- 
ern corner  of  the  township.  It  is  said  to  have 
been  named  for  a  noted  Indian  chief  Its  out- 
line is  very  irregular,  the  lake  consisting  of 
several  distinct  bodies  of  water,  joined  by 
straits  of  different  width.  It  probably  covers 
about  a  section  of  land,  and  its  extreme  length 
is  about  two  miles,  while  the  greatest  width  will 
not  exceed  half  a  mile.  An  enlargement  of  the 
outlet  of  this  lake,  in  the  extreme  northeast 
corner,  is  used  as  a  reservoir,  where  large  quan- 
tities of  water  are  stored  up  during  the  rainy 
months,  to  be  gradually'  used  for  milling  and 
other  purposes  in  dr}'  portions  of  the  year.  The 
lake  is  quite  deep,  though  the  water  is  inclined 
to  be  '  drumlie,"  as  Robert  Burns  says  of  the 
streams  about  the  Castle  of  Montgomer3^ 
However  it  is  a  fine  lake,  and  its  value  will  be 
slowly  developed  as  time  passes.  There  are 
several  small  lakes,  or  rather  ponds,  scattered 
over  the  township,  though  the  number  has 
greatly  decreased  since  the  township  was  first 
settled.  Several  have  been  drained,  others  have 
dried  up,  and  a  few  yet  remain  to  l)e  subjected 
to  the  same  fate.  In  traveling  over  the  town- 
ship, ihe  chief  characteristic  which  meets  the 
eye  is  the  prevalance  of  depressed  tracts  of 
land,  or  more  properly  basins,  that  at  an  indefi- 
nite period  in  the  past  wei'e  undoubtedly  small 


■<< 


630 


HISTOin^   OF    SUMMIT    COrNTY 


lakes.  Some  of  these  contain  peat,  and  not  a 
few  of  them  contain  a  considerable  quantity  of 
bog  iron  ore.  The  township  is  rich  in  that 
valuable  mineral  deposit,  coal.  In  1838,  there 
were  three  coal  mines  worked,  but  at  that 
date  a  Prussian  miner,  named  Michael  Becker, 
came  to  the  township  and  opened  up  several 
others,  giving  such  impetus  to  coal  raining  that 
about  fifteen  yeai's  later  the  exports  of  coal  ex- 
ceeded 60,000  tons  annually.  There  ai-e  now 
twelve  or  fifteen  mines,  and  the  exports  are  not 
far  from  100,000  tons  per  annum.  Side  tracks 
are  laid  b}'  the  railroad  companies  to  many  of 
the  mines,  thus  favoring  extensiA^e  and  rapid 
work.  The  coal  deposits  are  enormous  and  are 
practically  inexhaustible. 

In  earl}'  years  thousands  of  bushels  of  cran- 
berries grew  annually  in  the  numerous  Franklin 
swamps.  These  cranberry  fields  were  called 
marshes,  and  the  berries  were  gathered  by  the 
Indians  before  the  first  settlers  arrived,  and 
taken  to  Pittsburgh  and  other  towns  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Virginia,  where  they  were  exchanged 
I'or  ammunition,  clothing,  ornaments,  etc.  The 
berry  is  a  member  of  the  heath  family,  and  is 
known  to  liotanists  as  Oxycoccus  macrocarpus. 
The  plant  is  a  creeper,  or  trailer,  with  slender, 
hardy,  woody  stems  and  small  evergreen  leaves, 
more  or  less  white  underneath,  with  single 
flowers,  borne  on  slender,  erect  pedicles,  and 
having  a  pale,  rose  corolla.  The  stems  are 
from  one  to  three  feet  long,  and  the  flowers  are 
lateral,  rendering  easy  the  gathering  of  the 
berries.  Tlie  plants  require  very  wet  ground, 
and  are  often  found  growing  where  the  soil  is 
covered  with  several  inches  of  water.  The 
conditions  for  the  possible  life  of  the  plant 
have  been  removed  almost  wholly,  and  cran- 
berries no  longer  grow  in  paying  quantities  in 
the  township  or  county.  Tlie  berries,  which 
get  ripe  in  autumn,  are  red,  with  some  3'ellow, 
and  are  ver}'  acid.  The  harvest  begins  in 
October,  and  is  only  closed  by  cold  weather,  or 
perhaps  the  quantity  of  berries  fails.  They  are 
gathered  during  the  spring  months  also,  having 
remained  out  all  winter.  The}'  are  less  acid 
when  gathered  in  the  spring,  as  the  freezing 
converts  portions  of  the  starchy  substance  of 
the  berries  into  sugar  compounds,  and  in  this 
condition  the  berries  are  valued  more  highly, 
as  less  sugar  is  required  to  fit  them  for  the 
table.  When  the  township  was  first  settled  the 
berries  were  almost  worthless,  as  there  was  no 


market  for  them  in  the  west,  and  the  lack  of 
sugar  required  to  sweeten  them  prevented  their 
general  use  in  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  The 
settlers  were  compelled  to  forego  the  use  of 
such  luxuries,  being  satisfied  often  with  the 
bare  necessities  of  life.  However,  after  a  few 
years  they  were  worth  25  cents  per  bushel, 
and,  in  about  1830,  had  arisen  to  from  50  cents 
to  |1  per  bushel.  The  cranberry  business  then 
became  very  extensive.  Thousands  of  bushels 
were  purchased  annually  by  the  merchants  at 
Clinton,  Manchester,  and  other  neighboring  vil- 
lages, and  taken  by  v/agon  to  Pittsburgh,  Phila- 
delphia and  New  York,  the  teamsters  bringing 
back  loads  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  salt,  notions, 
etc.  Water-tight  barrels  were  filled  with  tlie 
berries,  after  which  the  remaining  space  was 
filled  with  water,  and  the  barrel  closed.  In 
this  condition  the  berries  kept  fresh  and  bright 
for  many  months.  So  great  became  the  quan- 
tity purchased  at  one  timeb}'  Mr.  Patterson,  an 
early  merchant  at  Clinton,  that  he  either  could 
not  find  market  for  them,  or  could  not  procure 
wagons  in  which  to  ship  them  East,  and  300 
bushels  spoiled  on  his  hands,  and  were  thrown 
away.  Very  likely  the  same  thing  happened 
to  others.  When  cranberry  picking  was  at  the 
height  of  its  prosperit}'  many  of  the  settlers 
were  thus  engaged,  several  of  whom  made  no 
little  money.  Tiiose  gathering  the  berries — 
men  and  women — wore  long-legged  boots  to 
keep  out  the  water,  and  as  a  precaution  against 
snake  bites. ,  The  berries  grew  on  their  short 
stems,  on  the  under  side  of  long,  wiry  vines 
that  crept  over  the  mosses  and  sedges,  growing 
in  profusion  in  the  marshes.  A  section  of 
plank  from  a  foot  and  a  half  to  two  feet  long 
and  about  a  foot  wide  was  taken,  and  around 
one  end  was  bound  a  tough  band  of  hickory 
bark,  forming  a  sort  of  box.  The  other  end  of 
the  plank  was  serrated,  the  teeth  being  about 
eight  inches  long.  Two  handles  were  attached, 
and  the  rude  implement  thus  completed  was 
used  in  gathering  cranberries.  The  teeth  were 
placed  over  one  of  the  long,  slender  vines,  and 
the  implement  was  held  so  that  when  it  was 
pushed  along  tlie  berries  were  scooped  into  the 
box  at  tlie  other  end.  Fifteen  or  twenty 
bushels  were  often  gathered  in  one  day  with 
this  implement.  Whole  families  turned  out 
during  the  cranberry  season,  and  the  marshes 
swarmed  with  settlers,  some  of  whom  came 
man}'  miles  and  remained  several  days,  camp- 


e) 


:l^ 


FRANKLIN    TOWNSHIP. 


631 


ing  in  their  wagons.  AVhen  a  sufficient  quan- 
tity of  berries  was  gattiered  to  fill  the  wagon- 
bed,  it  was  taken  to  some  of  the  villages  and 
sold.  The  berries  when  first  gathered  were  full 
of  leaves,  moss  and  grass,  and  had  to  be  cleaned 
before  they  were  taken  to  market.  A  sort  of 
ladder  was  made,  having  the  cross  pieces  about 
an  inch  apart.  When  emptied  upon  this  rude 
seive,  the  berries  fell  through  the  slits,  and  the 
grass,  etc.,  was  collected  on  the  slats.  Large 
quantities  of  berries  were  cleaned  in  a  few 
hours  b}'  means  of  this  rude  screen. 

Immediately  after  the  Indian  title  to  the 
soil  west  of  the  river  was  extinguished,  a 
wealthy  Quaker,  named  Richard  Carter,  living 
in  Wheeling,  purchased  the  land,  and  em- 
ployed John  Harris,  Esq.,  and  David  L.  Mc- 
Clure  to  lay  out  a  town  at  the  junction  of  the 
rivers,  Tuscarawas  and  Chippewa,  the  latter  at 
that  time  being  known  as  Indian  Creek.  This 
was  accomplished  in  Septembei',  1806,  and  the 
village  in  honor  of  its  founder  was  named 
Cartersville.  It  was  located  on  the  low  land  at 
the  junction  of  the  rivers,  and  at  ever}-  freshet 
its  uninhabited  lots  and  unworn  streets  were 
overflowed  by  the  murky  waters.  If  any  build- 
ing was  erected  in  this  village,  or  if  an}'  im- 
provement was  made  other  than  laying  out  the 
streets  and  lots  and  platting  the  same  on  paper, 
such  improvements  are  unknown.  Very  likely 
the  village  existed  only  in  name,  but  the  infer- 
ence is  that  as  soon  as  it  had  its  origin  on 
paper,  its  ambitious  founder  made  efforts  to 
have  settlers  locate  there.  Like  many  another 
man  in  early  years,  his  hopes  were  destined  to 
be  blasted.  His  village  died  out  with  the  plat- 
ting and  christening,  and  nothing  remains  to 
mark  the  spot  where  it  once  was  located.  It 
surpasses  in  loneliness  the  "  deserted  village  " 
of  Groldsmith  : 

"Sweet  smiliug-  village,  loveliest  of  the  hiwn. 
Thy  sports  are  fled  and  all  tlij'  eliarms  withdrawn. 
Amidst  thy  bowers  the  Tyrants  hand  is  seen. 
And  desolation  saddens  all  thy  green." 

After  this  event,  no  permanent  improvement 
or  settlement  was  made  until  the  spring  of 
1814.  Prior  to  that  time,  the  township  was 
the  home  of  those  wandering  hunters,  who  kept 
moving  westward  as  the  tide  of  settlement  ad- 
vanced, and  whose  practical  training  in  wood- 
craft and  in  the  arts  of  the  chase  could  furnish 
pleasure  onl}'  in  the  depths  of  the  uninhabited 


wilderness.  The  forest  was  filled  with  wild 
game,  and  the  swamps,  rivers  and  lakes  were 
the  resort  of  man3M'^aluable  fur-bearing  animals, 
that  afforded  the  trappers  almost  his  only 
means  of  support.  Small  cabins  were  erected 
in  which  were  domiciled  their  wives,  who,  to 
all  appearances,  were  capable  of  living  without 
any  visible  means  of  support,  and  who  were 
frequently  left  alone  in  the  cabins  for  weeks  at 
a  time,  while  the  husband  and  father  was  off 
on  a  long  hunting  excursion.  The  whole  family 
were  inured  to  privation,  and  if  the  cabin  did 
not  contain  the  needful  supply  of  food,  it  was 
no  unusual  occurrence  for  the  mother  to  go  out 
into  the  surrounding  woods  and  bring  down  a 
deer  or  a  squirrel  or  some  other  animal  that 
would  afford  food  for  the  hungry  children. 
This  was  true,  not  only  of  the  families  of  the 
professional  hunters  who  came  to  the  most 
remote  frontier  ;  but  also  of  families  living  in 
localities  where  considerable  advancement  had 
been  made  in  settlement  and  civilization.  A 
skillful  hunter  often  made  by  the  sale  of  flesh 
and  furs,  upward  of  a  $1,000  during  the  hunt- 
ing and  trapping  season,  a  large  share  of  which, 
instead  of  being  used  in  purchasing  land,  or  in 
providing  much  needed  comforts  for  the  family, 
was  squandered  at  neighboring  grog-shops  and 
distilleries.  Traditions  are  in  existence,  that 
several  of  these  hunters  lived  for  short  periods 
in  rough  shanties  or  wigwams  in  the  vicinity 
of  Turkey  Foot  Lake  and  on  the  Tuscarawas. 
In  the  spring  of  1814,  Christopher  Johnson, 
or  "  Yankee  Johnson,"  as  he  was  called  by  the 
Dutch,  came  to  the  township  and  settled  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  Section  24.  He  built  a  log 
cabin  and  made  some  improvements  in  the  way 
of  clearing  and  cultivation,  but  after  a  few 
years  he  became  tired  of  his  home,  and,  dis- 
posing of  his  land,  he  removed  his  family  to 
Steubenville.  What  finally  became  of  liim  is 
not  known.  On  the  20th  of  April,  1814,  two 
men — Thomas  Johnson,  from  the  Keystone 
State,  and  William  Hallowell,  from  Eastern 
Ohio — arrived  in  the  township,  built  their  rude 
dwellings,  and  began  making  improvements. 
Thomas  Johnson  located  on  Section  27.  where 
he  resided  with  his  family  several  years,  after 
which  he  moved  to  Norton  Township,  settling 
at  what,  in  his  honor,  was  afterward  known  as 
"  Johnson's  Corners."  Wdliam  Hallowell  lo- 
cated on  Section  28,  about  a  mile  northeast  of 
Clinton.     Here    he    lived   and   labored    until 


632 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUXTY. 


1833,  when  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Rich- 
field. After  this,  the  settlers  came  in  quite 
rapidly.  Among  the  settlers  who  came  in  at 
this  time,  or  soon  after,  were  Jacob  Sour,  Jo- 
seph Mishler,  John  Hick,  Mr.  Hai'ter,  Jacob 
Balmer,  George  Rex,  Jacob  HoUinger,  Michael 
Bradenburg,  David  Harvey,  Mahlon  Stewart, 
John  Snider  and  others.  By  1820,  there  were 
as  many  as  thii'ty  families  living  in  the  town- 
ship. Other  early  settlers  were  the  following, 
who  obtained  patents  of  their  land  from  the 
Government:  Samuel  Burgner,  Mr.  Vander- 
hof,  Mr.  Smith,  Mr.  Himelright,  Matthias  Da- 
vis, John  Swaisgood,  Adam  Marsh,  and  a  little 
later,  Mr.  Ludwick,  Christian  Clay,  John  Spi- 
del,  Mr.  Waltenberger.  George  Righley,  Mr. 
Wholf,  Mr.  McMurray,  William  Harvey*  John 
Scott,  Ephraim  Brown,  Mr.  Wise,  Mr.  Green- 
hoe,  Jacob  Hook,  Gorham  Chapin,  Mr.  Rosse- 
ter,  Jacob  Grove,  John  Stump,  John  A.  Stump, 
Charles  Herring.  JohnTeeple,  Mr.  Bliler,  George 
Wirt,  Mr.  Wagner,  John  Hoy,  J.  W.  Hamm,  Dr. 
Levi  Brooks,  Dr.  Troup,  Henry  Troup,  Mr.  Dai- 
ley.  Mr.Wiltrout,  Benjamin  Bear,  Jacob  and  John 
Row,  John  and  Adam  Sorrick,  and  many  others. 
The  names  of  some  of  the  most  prominent  of 
the  early  citizens  have  been  unfortunately  for- 
gotten. From  1815  to  1820,  the  rush  into  the 
township  was  very  great,  the  settlers  being 
largely  Dutch  from  Pennsylvania,  with  a 
sprinkling  of  Yankees  from  the  Reserve  and 
from  the  East.  Improvements  were  begun  in 
all  directions,  and  waving  seas  of  wheat  and 
corn  could  be  seen  where  once  the  monarch  of 
the  forest  reared  his  majestic  head.  Villages 
sprang  up  as  if  by  magic  ;  the  forests  echoed 
with  the  hum  of  industries ;  schools  and 
churches  began  their  mission  of  intellectual 
and  moral  improvement,  and  the  aspect  of  the 
township  became  materially  altered. 

Early  in  1817,  the  Commissioners  of  Stark 
County,  having  been  properly  petitioned  by 
the  citizens  then  residing  in  Franklin,  ordered 
the  organization  of  the  township  by  the  election 
of  the  necessarjf  number  of  officei's.  The  elec- 
tion was  held  in  April,  1817,  but  only  part  of 
the  officers  elected  on  this  important  occasion 
are  remembered.  Jacob  Balmer  and  David 
Harve}'  were  elected  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and 
Jacob  Hollinger,  Michael  Bradenburg  and  Mah- 
lon Stewart,  Trustees.  From  this  time  onward, 
the  growth  of  the  township  was  rapid.  The  set- 
tlers belonged  mostlv  to  that  industrious  and 


sober  class  of  people  of  whom  William  Penn 
was  a  representative  man.  Instead  of  endeav- 
oring to  make  a  living  by  their  wits,  or  by 
hunting  and  trapping,  they  went  resolutely  to 
work,  and  their  comfortable  homes  soon  proved 
the  wisdom  of  their  course.  In  1814,  John 
Johnson,  a  son  of  Thomas  Johnson,  was 
born,  being  the  first  birth  in  the  township. 
The  parties  to  the  first  marriage,  which  oc- 
curred in  1815,  were  John  Hick  and  Cath- 
arine Flickinger.  The  second  was  in  1816, 
between  Jacob  Sour  and  Mary  Hartner.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1815,  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Balmer  was  bitten  b}-  a  rattlesnake,  and  before 
the  needed  relief  could  be  obtained,  she  died 
from  the  effects,  her  death  being  the  first. 

The  rapid  settlement  of  the  township  be- 
tween the  3ears  above  mentioned,  led  to  the 
immediate  erection  of  mills  and  other  mechan- 
ical industries.  During  the  winter  of  1816-17, 
George  Rex  erected  a  grist-mill  at  the  outlet  of 
Turkey  Foot  Lake.  The  mill  was  a  rude  af- 
fair, but  was  the  outgrowth  of  home  demand. 
Notwithstanding  the  presence  of  a  good  mill  at 
Middlebury  and  at  other  neighboring  villages, 
the  demand  for  one  in  the  township  resulted  in 
its  erection.  The  distance  to  Middlebury  was 
practically  double  that  at  present,  owing  to  the 
almost  impassable  condition  of  pioneer  roads 
(if  the}'  deserve  such  a  dignified  title).  Rex 
built  a  dam  across  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  lo- 
cating it  at  a  point  where  he  could  obtain  the 
advantage  of  as  much  tall  as  possible.  He  suc- 
ceeded in  furnishing  quite  a  fair  article  of 
flour,  and  was  sufficiently  well  patronized  to 
warrant  continuing  the  pursuit  for  many  years. 
Finally,  when  the  lake  was  converted  by  the 
State  into  a  resorvoir  for  feeding  the  canal,  the 
mill-site  was  ruined,  and  Ptcx  was  paid  for  the 
damage  done  him.  His  mill  was  one  of  the 
best  in  the  township  in  earl}'  years.  In  about 
the  year  1825.  or  perhaps  later,  Mr.  Caldwell 
built  a  saw-mill  in  the  western  part,  on  Polecat 
Run.  He  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  fair  water- 
power,  and  continued  operating  the  mill  some 
fifteen  or  twenty  years,  when  it  was  abandoned, 
and  a  grist-mill  built  on  the  same  stream  a  lit- 
tle below  it.  After  a  number  of  years  it  was 
sold  at  Sheriff's  sale.  Prior  to  the  erection  of 
Mr.  Caldwell's  saw-mill,  another  had  been  built 
very  early  above  it,  on  the  same  stream.  It 
was  located  on  a  low  piece  of  ground,  and  how 
it  was  operated  is  a  mystery,  as  there  is  no 


IV 


FRANKLIN    TOWNSHIP. 


G33 


stream  passing  the  site  of  the  old  mill,  and  ap- 
parently never  was  one.  The  location  seems 
to  have  been  a  swamp,  but  this  does  not  explain 
the  nature  of  the  motor.  Its  owner  and  oper- 
ator are  forgotten.  At  a  point  on  the  river 
just  east  of  Clinton,  Mr.  Harvey  built  a  grist- 
mill in  about  the  year  1820.  He  did  a  paying 
business  until  the  canal  was  projected  through 
the  township.  At  that  time  some  understand- 
ing was  entered  into  between  Harvey  and  the 
canal  authorities  as  to  the  surplus  water  of  the 
canal,  in  consequence  of  which  Harvey  went  to 
work  to  build  a  large,  strong  dam  ;  but  the 
canal,  instead  of  being  projected  according  to 
agreement,  was  extended  along  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  and  his  mill-site  was  ruined. 
He  had  conve^'ed  large  stones  into  the  river 
where  the  dam  was  to  be  located,  but  all  this 
labor  was  thrown  away.  Mr.  Chapin  also 
built  a  saw-mill  at  an  early  day,  on  the  waste 
water  of  the  canal.  It  was  located  at  a  point 
where  there  was  considerable  fall,  and  the  result 
was  that  the  dam  was  washed  away  some  five 
times,  entailing  an  additional  cost  for  repairs 
of  nearly  $1,000.  He  then  abandoned  the  en- 
terprise that  had  lost  him  so  much  monej'. 
His  mill  was  a  good  one,  with  patented  re-action 
wheels,  but  was  idle  a  large  portion  of  the 
time,  on  account  of  the  frequent  breakage  of 
the  dam.  Mr.  Smith  also  located  a  saw-mill 
on  the  canal,  using  the  waste  water.  The  mill 
has  been  operated  almost  all  the  time  until  the 
present,  and  has  been  one  of  the  most  valuable 
in  its  time  ever  in  the  township.  Mr.  Smith 
and  the  members  of  his  famil}-  have  owned  and 
operated  it  during  the  entire  period  of  its  con- 
tinuance. It  is  impossible  to  estimate  the 
enormous  quantity  of  native  lumber  turned 
out  b}'  this  mill.  John  Grill  erected  a  saw- 
mill on  Polecat  Run,  locating  it  a  short  dis- 
tance above  the  Caldwell  Mill  He  drove  a 
thriving  business  for  a  number  of  3'ears.  On 
account  of  the  large  number  of  frame  build- 
ings that  were  going  up  in  early  years,  the 
mills,  notwithstanding  their  number,  ordinarily 
did  a  thriving  and  paying  business.  Roughly 
though  strongly  built  frame  buildings  soon 
took  the  p'ace  of  the  primitive  log  cabin, 
though  occasionally  one  of  the  latter  is  yet  to 
be  seen,  standing  like  a  monument  over  the  de- 
caj'ing  habitations  of  early  3-ears.  The  first 
cabins  were  usually  built  of  I'ound  logs,  but  a 
little  later  nicel}'  constructed  hewed-log  build- 


ings could  be  seen,  and  later  still,  the  present 
frames  were  erected.  As  soon  as  the  canal  was 
opened,  much  native  lumber  was  sent  to  Cleve- 
land for  ship-building  on  the  lakes,  and  for 
shipment  to  other  cities.  This  no  doubt  con- 
tributed to  the  paying  operation  of  the  mills. 
There  were  several  other  mills  in  the  township 
in  early  years,  both  for  grinding  grain  and  for 
sawing  lumber.  After  Mr.  Chapin  died  in  1841, 
his  old  mill  is  said  to  have  been  haunted. 
Strange  sounds  are  said  to  have  been  heai'd 
there  by  those  who  had  occasion  to  pass  the 
old  mill  during  the  solemn  hours  of  the  night. 
It  was  said  by  the  credulous  that  Mr.  Chapin's 
ghost  would  wander  into  the  old  mill,  and 
a  strange  noise  like  the  filing  of  a  saw  thrilled 
the  hearts  of  listeners.  There  was  a  grist- 
mill, which  did  a  large  amount  of  grinding, 
erected  at  an  early  day,  either  at  Manchester  or 
near  there,  but  the  name  of  the  owner  has  been 
forgotten. 

Three  or  more  distilleries  were  erected  in  the 
township  prior  to  1833.  A  Mr.  Wholf  built 
one  probably  as  early  as  1820,  but  this  was 
abandoned  about  1830.  John  Hoy  and  Mr. 
Rex  each  built  one  as  early  as  1825,  but  these 
were  likewise  abandoned  before  18-40.  The 
grain  out  of  which  the  liquor  was  manufactured 
was  probably  ground  at  the  nearest  grist-mills. 
A  certain  aspect  of  respectability  was  conceded 
the  distiller  in  early  years.  Whisky  was  upon 
every  side-board,  and  the  custom  of  dram- 
drinking  was  universal.  It  was  no  uncommon 
thing  for  women  to  indulge  in  this  luxur}',  and 
many  children  ma}'  be  said  to  have  been  raised 
on  the  whisky  bottle.  In  view  of  this  fact,  and 
the  fact  that  children  largely  inherit  the  appe- 
tite for  strong  drink  from  their  parents,  it  must 
not  be  wondered  at  that  the  (}uantity  of  liquor 
consumed  is  so  large.  That  the  quantity  con- 
sumed, on  the  average,  per  capita,  is  a  great 
deal  less  at  present  than  it  was  formed}'  is  evi- 
dent to  those  who  have  made  the  subject  a 
study.  Liquor  will  always  be  drunk  so  long  as 
there  is  a  demand  for  it,  and  the  demand  will 
only  decrease  as  the  appetite  is  denied  or  eradi- 
cated altogether.  People  must  learn  to  control 
their  appetites ;  until  then  the  problem  of 
intemperance  will  remain  unsolved.  The  dis- 
tilleries mentioned  had  a  large  custom  trade, 
though  it  is  not  remembered  whether  their 
products  were  shipped  away  or  not.  They 
started  up  about  the  time  the  canal  was  being 


n^ 


jVl? 


Jk- 


634 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


built,  as  it  was  seen  that  an  enormous  demand 
for  liquor  would  be  made  by  the  canal  laborers. 
There  is  no  neighborhood  through  which  the 
canal  extended  that  did  not  have  its  drunken 
brawls  and  fights,  often  accompanied  with  seri- 
ous injmy  to  one  or  more  participants.  The 
expression,  "  Can  drink  as  much  as  a  boatman," 
became  familiar  to  settlers  living  along  the 
canal.  It  is  likely  that  the  distilleries  turned 
out  whisk}-  or  brandy  at  the  rate  of  about  a 
barrel  per  day  each.  The  old  settlers  speak  in 
high  terms  of  the  qualit}'  of  this  whisk}'.  They 
say  "  It  was  no  such  stuff  as  we  get  now-a- 
days."  They  also  state  that  there  was  not  as 
much  drunkenness  at  the  "  rollings "  and 
"  raisings  "  in  early  times  as  there  is  at  present 
throughout  the  township.  This  is  probably  a 
mistake.  The  fact  that  liquor-drinking  was  so 
common  removed  all  cases  of  debaucheiy  be- 
yond observance,  except  the  more  serious  ones. 
To-day  every  case  is  noted  and  criticised,  and 
the  careless  comparison  magnifies  the  present 
number  of  drunkards.  Almost  every  early 
settler,  soon  after  he  came  in,  set  out  a  peach 
orchard,  and  in  a  few  years  enormous  quantities 
of  peaches  were  raised.  The  prevalence  of 
heavy  timber  throughout  the  State  modified  the 
climate,  rendering  this  condition  of  things  pos- 
sible. The  distilleries  made  an  excellent  quality 
of  peach  brandy  that  was  rapidly  consumed  by 
the  early  settlers.  In  addition  to  this,  large 
quantities  of  peaches  were  dried  and  shipped 
East,  so  long  as  the  demand  was  lucrative. 
These  distilleries  closed  as  stated,  and  there 
has  been  but  one  in  the  township  since.  This 
was  built  in  about  1854,  and  located  about  half 
way  between  Clinton  and  Manchester.  It  did 
not  amount  to  much,  and  closed  at  the  end  of 
about  three  years  to  the  joy  of  all. 

Prior  to  1860,  a  well-traveled  line  of  under- 
ground i-ailroad  crossed  the  township,  being 
confined  to  what  is  known  as  the  Chestnut 
Ridge,  with  occasional  side  tracks.  Prominent 
oflScials  on  this  road  were  Alexander  Russell. 
James  Hile,  Harvey  Maranville,  Washington 
Heffleman  and  George  Wirt.  These  men  lost 
no  opportunity  of  assisting  runaway  slaves  to 
Canada.  On  one  occasion,  Messrs.  Russell  and 
Maranville  were  notified  that  five  slaves — two 
women  and  three  men — were  west  of  Clinton,  in 
the  heavy  woods  on  Chestnut  Ridge,  waiting 
for  food  and  clothing.  They  were  accordingly 
supplied,  and  directed  on  their  course  to  the 


next  station.  On  another  occasion,  a  settler  in 
the  township  who  had  come  from  Kentucky, 
seeing  a  negro  traveling  northward  through  the 
woods  with  a  gun  on  his  shoulder,  ran  after 
him  and  took  away  the  gun,  saying  as  he  did 
so,  "  It's  against  the  law  for  nig's  to  carry  a 
gun."  Two  or  three  of  the  men  mentioned 
above  informed  this  settler  to  return  the  gun 
to  the  negro  immediately,  or  trouble  would  en- 
sue, whereupon  the  fellow  reluctantly  did  so. 
When  questioned  as  to  where  the  gun  was  ob- 
tained, the  negro  replied  that  "  Massa  Wales," 
of  Massillon,  had  given  it  to  him  to  kill  part- 
ridges and  other  game,  upon  which  to  subsist 
while  traveling  North.  Wales  was  probably 
train-dispatcher  on  this  road.  He  was  a  good 
one,  and  no  collision  has  since  been  computed 
to  his  fault.  John  Hall,  of  Springfield  Town- 
ship, often  took  negroes  who  were  closely  pur- 
sued by  their  masters,  and,  having  concealed 
them  several  days  at  his  residence,  placed  them 
in  his  close  carriage  and  conveyed  them  the  en- 
tire distance  to  Cleveland,  where  he  saw  them 
safe  on  board  Canada-bound  steamboats  before 
he  parted  from  them.  This  man  was  a  promi- 
nent oflBcial  on  another  line.  Mr.  Hile  was  a 
Methodist,  and  a  poor  man.  as  far  as  this  worlds 
goods  were  concerned,  but  in  many  of  the  car- 
dinal virtues,  was  a  millionaire.  It  is  said  that 
"  He  would  run  his  legs  off  any  time  to  assist 
runaway  slaves."  The  reader  is  cautioned 
against  construing  this  statement  in  a  literal 
sense.  It  simply  means  that  Mr.  Hile  would 
fly  ai'ound  the  township  when  escaping  slaves 
were  in  trouble.  The  reader  is  further  cau- 
tioned not  to  render  the  last  sentence  in  a  literal 
sense,  for  Mr.  Hile  would  have  been  a  rara  avis 
indeed,  had  such  a  condition  of  things  tran- 
spired. 

Franklin  has  been  the  site  of  four  or  more 
villages.  The  first  laid  out  has  already  been 
referred  to.  No  house  was  built  there,  and 
consequently  the  ''  village  "  existed  only  in  the 
''  mind's  eye  "  of  the  projector.  In  the  ex- 
treme southwestern  part  of  the  township,  on 
the  north  side  of  Chippewa  River.  David  Har- 
vey laid  out  a  village  as  early  as  Mai'ch,  1816. 
It  was  platted,  and  properly  recorded  at  Can- 
ton, and  one  or  more  additions  of  lots  were 
afterward  made.  Lots  sold  quite  rapidly,  and 
erelong  the  Aallage  could  boast  of  a  popula- 
tion of  about  sixty.  One  or  more  small  stores 
were   built   and  filled  with  a  small  stock  of 


k.. 


FRANKLIN    TOWNSHIP. 


635 


goods  each.  A  blacksmith  came  in,  and  the 
sound  of  his  hammer  re-echoed  through  the 
muddy  streets.  A  carpenter  appeared,  and 
began  to  ply  his  craft.  A  shoemaker  built  a 
small  shop,  whei'e  "  patching  '  could  be  se- 
cured on  short  notice.  He  probabl}-  kept  a 
small  stock  of  shoes  for  sale.  A  tailor  also 
located  in  the  village,  and  passers-by  on  the 
streets  could  see  him  sitting  cross-legged  in 
his  little  shop,  busil}'  engaged  on  a  suit  of 
clothes  for  some  one  of  the  settlers.  It  is  likeh' 
that  a  saw-mill  was  started  on  the  river  in  the 
village,  although  this  is  not  certain.  The  vil- 
lage, which  had  been  named  Savannah,  grew 
quite  rapidly — not  so  much  so,  perhaps,  as 
"  Jack's  bean  stalk  "  or  "  Jonah's  gourd  " — 
yet  improvements  went  on  until  it  was  seen 
that  the  coming  canal  would  not  touch  the 
town,  in  which  case  the  latter  would  be  sup- 
planted by  its  more  fortunate  rivals.  The 
location  of  the  village  was  not  healthful,  as 
some,  of  the  citizens  were  shaking  or  ailing 
almost  all  the  time.  In  addition  to  these, 
other  circumstances  arose,  and,  finally,  in 
about  1825,  a  grand  rush  was  made  for  Clinton 
and  other  points  on  the  canal,  and  Savannah 
became  entirely  deserted.  The  stores  and  the 
trades  were  the  first  to  leave,  and  soon  after- 
ward the  villagers,  seeing  the  impending  fate 
of  their  village,  likewise  -  took  up  their  beds 
and  walked."  It  is  stated  that,  in  1827,  no 
family  resided  in  the  village,  although  several 
deserted  buildings  were  yet  standing.  Many 
of  the  buildings  were  taken  apart  and  re- 
moved, after  which  they  were  again  put  to- 
gether where  they  had  been  conveyed.  Thus 
were  the  hopes  of  Mr.  Harvey  blasted.  How- 
ever, he  had  cause  to  be  grateful,  as  his  son, 
William  Harvey,  who  had  laid  out  Clinton  in 
Februarj-,  1816,  owned  valuable  property  at  that 
place,  and  as  the  rush  from  Savannah  was  main- 
1}'  to  Clinton,  the  loss  to  the  famil}-  was  not  so 
serious  after  all.  Clinton,  from  1825  to  1840, 
did  more  business  compared  with  its  popula- 
tion than  any  other  village  in  Summit  County. 
The  village  had  no  sooner  been  laid  out  by  Mr. 
Harve}-  than  William  Christmas  and  J.  W^. 
Lathrop  made  additions  to  it,  and  industries 
of  various  kinds  made  their  appearance  imme- 
diatelv.  Stores  were  opened,  hotels  were 
erected,  mechanics  and  tradesmen  appeared, 
numerous  dwellings  were  built,  and  finally  the 
rush  from   Savannah  and  the  opening  of  the 


canal  tripled  improvements  of  all  kinds,  and 
lifted  Clinton  to  prominence  and  wealth.  The 
village  immediately  entered  upon  a  career  of 
prosperity  unknown  to  it  before  or  at  present. 
Three  good  storerooms  were  built,  and  were 
constantly  occupied  b}'  fair  stocks  of  goods,  in 
charge  of  capable  salesmen.  Tradesmen  and 
mechanics  began  their  needed  labors.  Black- 
smiths, carpenters,  shoemakers,  tailors,  gun- 
smiths, wagon -makers,  merchants,  doctors, 
lawyers,  butchers,  tavern-keepers,  liquor-deal- 
ers, millers,  warehousemen,  preachers,  teach- 
ers, and  a  variety-  of  others,  entered  upon  the 
prosecution  of  their  individual  duties,  and  the 
village  soon  gained  wide  reputation  as  a  lively 
trading-point.  Three  large  warehouses  were 
built  quite  early,  and  the  quantit}-  of  grain 
purchased  and  shipped  north  on  the  canal 
seems  marvelous.  All  three  buildings  were  50 
feet  square  ;  one  was  three  and  a  half  stories 
in  height  and  the  others  two  and  a  half  Mr. 
Maranville,  who  kept  books  and  purchased 
grain  for  the  owners,  saj's,  that  at  one  time  the 
largest  warehouse  was  filled  to  the  roof  with 
wheat,  and  contained  100,000  busliels.  and  the 
other  two  were  almost  as  full.  He  says  that 
he  purchased  as  high  as  1,500  bushels  of 
wheat  from  sun  to  sun,  and  that  several  other 
buyers  at  the  same  time  did  about  the  same. 
Farmers  from  as  far  west  as  3Iansfield  brought 
their  grain  to  the  village.  In  fact,  a  largo 
share  of  the  producers  in  Richland.  Ashland, 
Wayne  and  Medina  Counties  sold  their  grain 
at  Clinton.  The  presence  of  so  man}'  farmers 
in  the  village  afforded  the  merchants  an  exten- 
sive trade.  From  1840  to  1850  more  wheat 
was  purchased  at  Clinton  than  at  Akron. 
It  is  said  that  lines  of  teams  extending  into 
the  countr}'  a  mile  waited  their  turns  to 
unload,  and  many  a  man  sat  in  his  wagon 
patientl}-  waiting  until  after  midnight.  An 
average  price  of  about  40  cents  per  bushel 
was  paid  for  wheat.  Clinton  became  a  point 
to  which  merchants  living  west  in  the  coun- 
ties above  referred  to  ordered  their  goods 
to  be  shipped.  Upon  their  arrival  by  boat,  an 
arrangement  was  made  by  which  they  were  de- 
posited in  the  warehouses  until  the  owners  could 
send  teams  for  them.  A  small  commission  was 
charged  for  the  storage.  Teams  loaded  with 
grain,  coming  from  distant  villages,  returned 
loaded  with  goods  for  the  merchants.  Corn, 
clover-seed  and  other  grains  and  seeds,  were 


j)    fy 


^'. 


636 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


purchased  b}'  parties  in  the  village.  The 
enormous  grain  trade  infused  life  into  every 
industry  in  the  village.  It  soon  became  a  great 
coal  center,  and  large  quantities  were  shipped 
b}'  boat  to  Cleveland,  to  be  used  on  the  lake 
steamers,  and  to  be  taken  to  cities  on  the  lake 
shore.  Large  quantities  of  iron  and  salt,  and 
leather,  and  merchandise  and  other  articles, 
came  to  the  village,  to  be  used  throughout  the 
country  by  the  farmers,  mechanics  and  dealers. 
A  large  wool  business  was  also  done  at  the  vil- 
lage. A  carding  machine  was  started,  but,  for 
some  unknown  reason,  abandoned  the  contem- 
plated project.  Among  the  merchants  have 
been  Mr.  Chapin,  Hardy  &  Mofflt,  John  Patter- 
son, Sorrick  and  Welhouse,  Filson  &  McCon- 
nell,  Alexander  Russell,  M.  D.  Wellman,  Henry 
Davis,  John  Price,  and  many  others.  Mr.  Rus- 
sell kept  store  many  years.  He  died  a  few 
years  ago,  and  his  business  was  graduall}' 
closed  b}^  his  daughter  Maggie.  Dr.  Alexan- 
der Porter  located  in  Savannah  when  that  vil- 
lage was  at  the  zenith  of  its  prosperity.  Some 
of  the  Clinton  followers  of  Esculapius  have 
been  Dr.  Chapin,  Dr.  Richie,  Dr.  David  Chi- 
chester (the  last  two  keeping  drugs).  Dr.  Ed- 
wards and  Dr.  Andrew  Oberlin.  Dr.  William 
Bo  wen,  of  Massillon,  practiced  in  the  township, 
as  did  also  Dr.  Dolbear,  of  Fulton,  and  Dr. 
Armstrong,  of  Do3^1estown.  Charles  Rinehart, 
a  lawyer,  lived  at  the  village  a  number  of  years. 
Several  pettifoggers,  the  most  prominent  being 
Jacob  Bradenstine,  have  also  practiced  law.  A 
post  office  was  secured  about  the  time  the  canal 
was  opened.  Mr.  Rosseter,  who  kept  a  small 
tavern  on  the  bank  of  the  canal,  in  1833,  was 
one  of  the  first  Postmasters.  He  made  out 
three  different  reports  for  the  same  time,  all  of 
which  were  returned  marked  "  incorrect."  He 
said  to  Mr.  Maranville,  "  I've  made  out  three 
reports,  and  can't  make  'em  stick."  Mr.  Maran- 
ville assisted  him,  and  the  next  report  "  stuck." 
Some  of  the  merchants  employed  five  or  six 
clerks,  although  the  stock  of  goods  kept  on 
hand  was  usually  not  very  large.  Clinton,  like 
almost  every  other  village,  has  been  in  its  time 
a  "tough  place."  Large  quantities  of  liquor 
were  drunk  there  in  earl}-  years,  and  several 
times  the  crowds  of  half-drunken  men  have 
taken  possession  of  things.  Squads  of  miners 
would  come  to  the  village,  get  drunk,  and  con- 
vert themselves  into  beasts  generally.  The 
citizens  were  imposed  upon,  until,  finall}',  they 


sent  to  Cleveland  and  purchased  a  dozen  re- 
volvers, or  perhaps  pistols,  and  warned  those 
who  were  in  the  habit  of  creating  a  disturbance 
that  such  conduct  must  cease.  It  gradually 
did.  Like  all  places  where  miners  are  in  the 
habit  of  congi'egating,  fights  and  drunken 
brawls  have  been  unpleasantly  frequent.  The 
village  at  its  best  has  had  a  population  upward 
of  five  hundred.  At  present  it  is  about  three 
hundred.  Clinton  was  first  laid  out  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  river,  but,  in  1835,  Gorham  Cha- 
pin, on  the  opposite  side,  laid  out  another  vil- 
lage, which  he  named  Orradeen.  The  lots  were 
so  low  and  wet,  however,  that  but  few  persons 
located  there,  and  two  years  later  William  and 
Francis  Pumro}-  laid  out  the  village  of  Pumroy, 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  adjoining  Orradeen 
and  a  little  below  it.  Here  it  was  that  the 
business  centered,  and  Clinton  proper,  on  the 
west  side,  was  almost  deserted,  many  of  the 
lots  being  sold  at  Sheriff's  sale.  The  post  of- 
fice is.  Clinton,  but,  in  conve3'ances  of  real  prop- 
erty, the  names  Orradeen,  Pumroy  and  Clinton 
are  employed,  depending  where  such  property 
is  located. 

Manchester  has  had,  in  many  essential  re- 
pects,  a  widely  different  history.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1815,  Mahlon  and  Aaron'  Stewart  laid  out 
the  village,  platting  the  same  and  properly  re- 
cording it  at  the  county  seat.  Lots  were  im- 
mediately sold,  and  the  village  began  a  per- 
manent and  rapid  growth.  The  site  was  much 
pleasanter  than  that  of  Clinton,  and  in  many 
I'cspects  a  better  class  of  citizens  located  at  the 
former  place.  Mr.  Palmer  opened  the  first 
store,  not  onlj-  in  Manchester,  but  also  in  the 
township,  and  John  Snider  opened  the  first  tav- 
ern. The  settlers  poured  into  the  neighbor- 
hood rapidly,  manj'  of  whom  built  dwellings 
in  the  village,  where  they  resided.  Tradesmen 
mechanics,  teachers,  merchants,  etc.,  appeared, 
and  by  the  time  the  canal  Avas  opened  through  the 
township,  three  or  four  good  stores  and  other  in- 
dustries to  a  like  extent  were  in  good  running 
order.  By  this  time,  Manchester  had  become 
quite  prominent  as  a  trading-point.  Its  stores 
were  well-conducted,  and  were  capable  of  sup- 
pl3'ing  almost  an3'thing  in  the  usual  line  of 
merchandise.  Its  citizens  were  enterprising 
and  industrious,  and  withal  Manchester  was  a 
pleasant  place  for  country  people  to  trade. 
When  the  proposed  canal  became  a  settled  re- 
ality.   Manchester    suffered    considerablv,    as 


>l^ 


FRANKLIN    TOWNSHIP. 


fi3'; 


many  of  its  citizens  removed  to  the  more  favored 
villages  that  sprang  up  on  this  highway  of  wa- 
ter. It  did  not  die,  far  from  it.  It  suffered  the 
drain  from  its  vitals,  and  when  the  worst  had 
been  done,  it  slowl}'  regained  much  of  its  lost 
strength.  Of  course,  Manchester  was  never  the 
grain  point  that  Clinton  was.  Its  removal 
from  the  canal  rendered  that  out  of  the  ques- 
tion, besides  several  industries  that  were  con- 
ducted with  great  vigor  at  Clinton.  On  the 
other  hand,  Manchester  enjojed  the  absence  of 
many  perplexing  problems,  proposed  for  the 
villagers  at  Clinton  to  solve.  It  was  never 
captured  b}-  a  brutal  and  drunken  mob  of  reck- 
less men,  nor  were  its  citizens  insulted  and 
persecuted.  Whisky  was  sold,  and  men  got  be- 
yond their  reason,  or  in  other  words,  drunk,  but 
beyond  a  few  light  skirmishes  at  times,  the 
citizens  enjoyed  the  blessings  of  peace.  Ad- 
ditions have  been  made  to  the  village,  and 
Manchester  at  its  best  has  had  about  as  large 
a  population  as  Clinton.  Hon.  John  Hoj^  lived 
at  Manchester,  and  Hon.  Hugh  R.  Caldwell  at 
Clinton,  both  of  whom  served  as  County  Judges 
after  Summit  was  created.  When  this  event 
occurred,  or  just  before  it,  great  opposition  was 
manifested  in  the  township,  when  it  was  pro- 
posed that  Franklin  should  be  severed  from 
Stark  County,  and  made  a  portion  of  the  new 
county  of  Summit.  The  citizens  opposed  it  to 
the  bitter  end,  and  emplo3'ed  every  means  to 
prevent  it,  but  without  avail.  They  dx'eaded 
the  idea  of  becoming  a  part  of  ''  Cheesdom,"  as 
thej'  called  the  Reserve,  and  clung  with  filial 
affection  to  ''  Molly  Stark,"  to  whom  they  were 
deeply  attached.  They  begged  to  be  let  alone, 
and,  like  Rachael  weeping  for  her  children,  re- 
fused to  be  comforted  because  they  were  not. 
Notwithstanding  their  earnest  and  repeated  pro- 
tests, the  dreaded  change  took  place,  and  went 
into  effect  as  silently  and  perfectlj-  as  the  late 
financial  resumption.  Nobod}'  saw  any  change 
save  in  their  "  mind's  e3'e,  Horatio."  The  Dutch 
mingled  with  the  Yankees  with  impunity,  and 
were  not  harmed.  The  Yankees  visited  the 
Germanic  portion  of  the  count}',  and  went  back 
loaded  to  the  muzzle  with  glowing  metaphors 
in  its  praise.  The  change  took  place  without  a 
ripple,  and  the  quiet  waters  of  contentment 
laughed  to  scorn  the  words  of  prophec}',  that 
had  predicted  unpleasant  and  even  direful  re- 
sults. 

Schools  were  opened  in  Franklin  at  an  earl}^ 


day.  The  necessity  for  educating  the  pioneer 
children  forced  itself  upon  the  attention  of  the 
early  settlers,  and,  like  the  ghost  of  Banquo, 
would  not  "  down."  Some  of  the  adjoining 
townships  had  been  settled  earlier,  and  had 
opened  school,  such  as  they  were,  at  the  time 
the  township  was  first  visited.  Large  scholars 
could  traverse  the  long  distance  through  the 
woods  to  these  distant  schools,  but  the  smaller 
ones  were  compelled  to  remain  at  home  until 
nearer  schools  were  begun,  or  until  they  in 
turn  had  grown  large  enough  to  be  trusted  on 
the  long  journev.  It  is  stated  that  a  small 
log  church  had  been  built  at  Manchester 
as  early  as  1816  or  1817.  This  building  was 
probably  intended  both  for  a  church  and  a 
schoolhouse.  At  least,  it  is  remembered  that 
in  the  year  1817,  a  3'oung  man  named  Joseph 
Mishler,  of  Teutonic  descent,  taught  in  this 
old  log  building.  The  room  was  provided  with 
a  goodl}'  number  of  roughly  constructed  seats. 
A  large  fire-place,  capable  of  taking  in  a  log  of 
almost  any  dimensions,  occupied  one  end  of  the 
room,  and  a  small  table  was  provided  at  the 
other,  to  establish  for  the  teacher  a  permanent 
position  from  which  to  pronounce  decrees,  issue 
commands,  and  administer  condign  punishment 
to  offending  pupils,  or,  perhaps,  it  was  intended 
as  an  altar,  from  which  some  pioneer  preacher 
could  thunder  the  anathemas  of  heaven  upon 
the  hj-dra- headed  forms  of  infidelity,  or  pour 
divine  blessings,  in  golden  showers,  upon  the 
joyous  hearts  of  the  faithful.  As  was  stated, 
Joseph  Mishler  was  a  German,  and  could 
handle  the  glib  idioms  of  his  native  tongue 
with  fluency  and  precision.  Mr.  Mishler  had 
but  one  personal  drawback — he  was  verj' 
homely.  It  is  true  he  could  not  help  that,  al- 
though it  may  be  presumed  that  be  ruefully 
contemplated  his  ugh'  features  in  that  blessing 
of  civilization — a  looking-glass— and  wished 
with  all  his  heart  that  he  could  have  the  priv- 
ilege of  chiseling  his  nose  to  a  more  respect- 
able shape,  of  rounding  the  irregular  outlines 
of  his  face,  or  of  taking  all  the  features  of  his 
face  apart  and  putting  them  together  again 
after  the  ideal  his  aching  heart  had  created. 
These  things  are  to  be  presumed.  Yet,  through- 
out all  his  trials,  Mr.  Mishler  remained  as 
homely  as  ever.  One  thing  is  certain,  he  was 
a  good  disciplinarian  and  a  competent  in- 
structor, and  his  school  was  liked  so  well  that 
it  was  continued  from  that  time  onward.     Mr. 


63» 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


^lishler  enjoyed  the  honor  of  "  boarding 
around."  It  is  no  wonder  tii.it  he  vviis  homely, 
and  tliat  gray  liairs  soon  sliovved  tliemselves  in 
the  auburn  loclis  on  his  brow.  •'  Boarding 
around "  is  a  direful  enough  punishment 
among  relined  people  ;  but  when  that  burden 
is  thrust  upon  the  unfortunate  shoulders  of  a 
pioneer  pedagogue  by  backwoods  people,  it 
becomes  cruelty  unspeakable.  This  old  house 
was  used  but  a  few  3'ears,  and  was  then  replaced 
by  a  larger  and  better  one.  One  or  more  other 
schoolhouses  have  taken  the  place  of  the  old 
one.  It  is  quite  certain  that  school  was  taught 
in  Savannah,  although  nothing  definite  on  this 
point  has  been  learned.  Where  fifty  or  sixty 
people  resided  for  several  ^ears,  it  is  not  out  of 
place  to  presume  that  schools  sprang  into  life. 
At  all  events,  when  Savannah  was  deserted,  a 
building  that  had  been  used  there,  either  for  a 
schoolhouse  or  a  store,  was  taken  apart,  con- 
veyed to  Clinton,  where  it  was  put  together 
again,  and  used  for  a  schoolhouse.  This 
building  was  thus  used  until  about  1836,  when 
a  "compromise"  schoolhouse  was  erected  about 
half  a  mile  north  of  the  village.  This  was 
caused  by  the  fact  that,  from  the  shape  of  tlie 
school  district,  several  families,  living  about  two 
miles  north,  were  unwilling  to  go  so  far  to  school, 
and  insisted  on  having  the  new  schoolhouse 
located  nearer  their  i-esidences.  It  may  be 
said  here  that,  in  early  3'ears,  schools  followed 
the  scholars  instead  of  the  reverse.  Two  other 
schoolhouses  have  been  built  in  Clinton.  About 
the  time  the  canal  was  projected  through  the 
township,  two  or  tlu-ee  school  districts  were 
formed.  As  time  passed  on,  these  were  in- 
creased, and  now  Franklin  can  boast  of  having 
many  good  schools.  Mr.  Maranville,  who 
located  in  Franklin  in  1833,  says,  that  at  that 
time  there  wei'e  but  few  competent  teachers  in 
the  township.  Large  numbers  applied  for  cer- 
tificates to  the  Board  of  Examiners,  and  if  any 
were  permitted  to  teach,  the  grade  of  the  teach- 
ers' qualification  must  be  lowered.  This  was 
done,  and  persons  not  familiar  with  even  the 
rudiments  of  the  fundamental  branches  became 
teachers.  Mr.  Maranville  says  that,  on  one 
occasion,  a  "  teacher  "  came  to  him  for  assist- 
ance, having  become  "  stuck  "  on  a  problem  in 
long  division.  Teachers  assembled  evenings 
and  assisted  each  other  on  the  next  day's 
problems.  Spelling  schools  were  numerous, 
and  afforded  a  2:reat  deal  of  amusement.     It  is 


related  that  one  of  the  country  spelling 
schools  was  once  broken  up  b)'  a  gang  of 
roughs,  and  the  occasion  ended  in  a  pitched 
battle,  although  it  is  probable  that  some  of  the 
participants  did  not  afterward  designate  the 
occasion  as  ainusive. 

The  early  church  history  of  the  township  is 
almost  wholly  lost  in  the  shadows  of  the  past, 
and  man}'  dates  and  interesting  incidents  re- 
lating thereto  have  faded  from  the  memory  of 
the  oldest  settlers.  Many  of  the  early  settlers 
were  members  of  various  religious  organiza- 
tions, and  these  began  to  meet  earl}^  at  des- 
ignated dwellings  to  woi'ship  God.  It  was  not 
long  ere  the  propriety  of  erecting  log  churches 
began  to  be  discussed.  Itinerant  ministers  ap 
peared  in  the  township  as  early  as  1816,  and 
held  meetings  in  the  cabins  of  the  settlers. 
They  traveled  over  large  sections  of  country, 
and  always  stopped  to  preach  where  a  few  were 
readv  to  listen.  At  the  close  of  the  services,  a 
collection  was  usually'  taken  for  the  benefit  of 
the  preacher.  Some  of  these  collections  did 
not  "  pan  out "  as  well  as  the  minister  desired, 
i^tany  of  the  earlj'  preachers  were  eccentric 
characters,  singularly-  gifted  with  a  rude  elo- 
quence that  fired  the  hearts  of  the  pioneers. 
Man}'  had  renounced  all  social  ties,  save  such 
as  bound  them  to  the  house  of  praise  and 
prayer.  With  hearts  overflowing  with  love  for 
Grod  and  humanity,  they  had  come  into  the 
wildnerness  to  preach  "  peace  on  earth  ;  good 
will  toward  men."  They  were  instrumental  in 
laying  the  foundation  of  man}'  of  the  fine  relig- 
ious organizations  that  are  seen  throughout  the 
country  to-day.  So  far  as  known,  the  first 
church  was  the  old  log  building  located  at 
Manchester,  as  alreadv  referred  to  above,  unless 

'■  The  groves  wore  God's  first  temples." 

Meetings  were  conducted  in  this  old  house  by 
local  preachers,  and  by  some  of  the  more  prom- 
inent of  the  early  settlers.  It  is  not  certain 
which  denomination,  if  an}',  predominated  at 
these  gatherings.  It  is  likely  that  all  pro- 
fessors of  religion,  without  regard  to  creeds  or 
sects  met  here  and  worshiped  in  unison  and 
harmony.  An  early  minister  in  the  township 
was  Rev.  J.  ^Y.  Hamm,  an  Old-School  Presby- 
terian, who  was  a  Grerman,  and  who  could 
preach  either  in  his  native  tongue  or  in  broken 
English.  If  the  German  element  predominated 
in    his   cono-regation.   the   word   of  God   was 


'/• 


COPLEY    TOWNSHIP. 


639 


preached  in  that  language  ;  but  if  many  were 
present  who  could  understand  German  imper- 
fectly or  not  at  all,  the  sermon  was  preached 
in  English.  The  Presbyterians  built  a  church 
at  Manchester  a  few  3'ears  after  the  canal  was 
opened,  and  this  society,  at  times,  has  been 
quite  strong,  and  has  done  much  good  in  the 
neighborhood.  It  is  impossible  to  estimate 
the  great  good  done  by  a  lively  religious  so- 
ciety. The  nobler  instincts  of  life  are  strength- 
ened, many  species  of  vice  are  shunned,  and 
the  result  is  an  abundant  harvest  of  pure  lives 
and  morals.  May  religious  societies  continue 
their  noble  work  until — 

' '  All  crimes  shall  cease,  and  ancient  frauds  shall  fail, 
Returning  Justice  lift  aloft  her  scale  ; 
Peace,  o'er  the  world,  her  olive  wand  extend, 
And  white-robed  Innocence  from  heav'n  descend. ' ' 

Some  eight  or  ten  years  after  the  Presby- 
terian Church  was  built,  an  Evangelical  Church 
was   erected   at  Manchester.     This  society  is 


said  to  be  doing  well.  About  the  same  time, 
the  Methodists  constructed  a  church  at  Clinton. 
At  the  head  of  this  denomination  were  Alex- 
ander Russell,  Washington  Heffleman,  James 
Hile  and  others.  The  United  Brethren  also 
built  a  church  at  Clinton,  during  the  late  war. 
About  four  years  ago,  the  English  Lutherans 
started  up,  and  built  a  church  at  Clinton.  The 
most  of  these  churches  are  doing  well.  When 
the  Germans  make  up  their  minds  to  join  a 
church,  like  a  flock  of  sheep  they  go  with  a 
rush,  and  go  to  stay.  The  German  Lutherans 
have  a  small  church  in  the  northern  part.  The 
congregation  is  considerably-  reduced.  Franklin 
is  well  supplied  with  good  churches  and  schools, 
and  no  family  of  children  need  be  raised  to 
their  ma,jority  without  a  good  common-school 
education,  sufficient  for  the  transactions  of  life, 
and  the  acquirement  of  that  earl}'  religious  and 
moral  training,  which  furnishes  sober,  intelli- 
gent and  upright  citizens. 


CHAPTER    XXX.* 


(OPLEV    TOWNSHIP— EARLY    PHYSICAL    CONDITION  —  NAMES    OK    EARLY    SETTLERS  —  PIONEER 

IVIPROVEMENTS  — RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF  INDUSTRIES— COPLEY 

CENTER— SCHOOLS  AND  CHURCHES. 


THE  generations  of  to-day  can  scarcely 
realize  the  hardships  passed  through  by 
their  parents  and  grandparents  more  than  half 
a  century  ago.  The  countiy  was  covered  with 
an  unbroken  forest,  through  which  wild  ani- 
mals and  wild  men  roamed  at  will,  and  nothing 
but  continued  toil  and  privation  could  be  ex- 
pected if  pleasant  homes  were  to  be  created. 
The  roads  were  mere  paths  through  the  woods, 
and  these  were  in  a  state  bordering  on  chaotic. 
Indeed,  it  is  averred  by  the  early  settlers  that 
during  the  spring  of  the  year  they  could  be 
traveled  in  but  one  direction — toward  China — 
and  during  the  remainder  caused  many  a  sober 
and  moral  man  to  violate  his  church  vows. 
What  caused  the  greatest  anxiet}',  however, 
was  the  extreme  difficulty  in  getting  supplies  of 
every  kind.  Men  who  came  to  the  back  woods 
with  but  little  money  or  property  and  a  large 
family  of  almost  helpless  children,  were,  indeed, 
to  be  pitied,  as,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  a  mis- 

♦Contributed  by  W.  A.  Goodspeed. 


erable  existence  was  before  them,  without  any 
satisfactory  promise  of  improvement  for  a 
score  or  more  of  years.  Store  supplies  of  all 
kinds  were  almost  fabulous  in  price  ;  wages 
were  reduced  to  a  starving  minimum  ;  crops 
raised  under  tr^'ing  and  adverse  circumstances 
brought  scared}'  any  return  ;  schools  did  not 
exist,  even  in  name  ;  neighbors  were  far  apart, 
each  struggling  to  make  a  living,  and  the 
homes  were  cheerless,  uninviting,  and  too  often 
uncomfortable.  This  is  the  darker  side  of  the 
picture.  Some  families  came  to  the  backwoods 
with  abundant  means.  These  succeeded  in  ren- 
dering their  situation  comfortable,  and  very  often 
attractive,  and,  after  a  comparatively  short  pe- 
riod were  independent  and  happy.  5lany  times 
families  were  compelled  to  relinquish  their 
farms  and  return  to  their  former  homes  in  the 
East. 

The  long  slopes  of  land  in  Copley  Township 
render  it  one  of  the  most  beautiful  tracts  of 
land  in  the  county.     The  vision  is  not  bounded 


V 


^'i 


^       ^>' 


640 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


by  short  distances,  but  extends  across  exten- 
sive valleys  or  basins,  through  which  the  prin- 
cipal streams  flow.  These  valleys  are  not 
bounded  by  bluffs,  but  have  a  gradual  ascent, 
in  some  cases,  for  several  miles,  and  the  higher 
lands,  even  after  that  distance,  do  not  reach  an 
altitude  but  little  exceeding  eighty  feet.  How- 
ever, there  is  some  rough  land  in  the  township, 
perhaps  mostly  in  the  eastern  and  southern 
portions.  Wolf  Creek  enters  from  the  west, 
crossing  Lots  31,  32,  39,  42,  43,  48  and  47. 
Pigeon  Creek  rises  in  the  northwest  corner, 
and  flows  across  Lots  11,  20,  19,  22,  23,  17,  24, 
25  and  26.  Shocolog  Creek  (an  Indian  name, 
probably)  rises  in  the  northern  part,  and  crosses 
Lots  3,  8,  7,  14,  17,  16  and  25.  The  land 
bordering  these  streams,  with  some  exceptions, 
is  swampy  even  at  the  present  day,  and  in  eai'ly 
years  must  have  been  great  bodies  of  muck 
and  water.  Wolf  Creek,  throughout  the  most 
of  its  course,  is  not  so  swampy.  Shocolog 
Pond  is  an  enlargement  of  the  creek  of  the 
same  name.  White  Pond  is  located  on  Lot  35, 
and  Black  Pond  on  Lot  36.  In  several  places 
along  the  swampy  valleys  of  these  streams, 
there  are  what  might  be  called  islands.  These 
are  small,  irregular-shaped  bodies  of  land,  rising 
in  some  cases  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  swamp,  and  presenting  the  appear- 
ance of  having  been  surrounded  with  water  at 
no  very  remote  period.  One  of  these,  called 
"  Fort  Island,"  near  the  residence  of  Delos  Bos- 
worth,  is  the  site  of  what  is  unquestionably  the 
remains  of  an  ancient  earth  fortification.  A 
description  of  this  interesting  "  fort "  will  be 
found  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  An  island 
near  this  is  called  "  Beech  Island,"  and  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  used  in  ancient  times  as  a 
cemetery,  and  small  mounds,  resembling  graves, 
are  pointed  out.  Another  body  of  land  farther 
down  the  same  stream  (Shocolog  Creek)  is 
called  "Sugar  Island."  Pigeon  Creek,  after 
leaving  the  township  from  Lot  26,  takes  a  cir- 
cuit in  Portage  Township,  and  returns,  crossing 
Lots  36,  45  and  46.  These  three  lots  are  cov- 
ered with  an  extensive  swamp,  which,  in  early 
days,  was  the  resort  of  countless  millions  of 
pigeons  that  came  there  to  roost.  In  fact,  all 
along  the  valleys  of  these  streams,  the  pigeons 
were  accustomed  to  assemble  in  spring  and 
autumn.  Large  numbers  were  killed  and  eaten 
by  our  parents.  It  was  dangerous  to  enter  the 
swamps   at   night,   as  very  often   large   limbs 


were  broken  from  the  trees  when  the  birds  set- 
tled upon  them.  An  unusual  noise  would  cause 
millions  to  rise,'  and  after  they  had  circled 
around  a  short  time  in  the  darkness,  all  the 
time  following  a  leader,  they  would  suddenly 
descend,  and,  very  likely,  all  would  try  to 
alight  on  the  same  tree,  which  would  be  broken 
down.  In  the  northeast  part  is  a  small  creek, 
called  Sand  Run.  An  abundance  of  excellent 
sandstone  is  to  be  found  in  the  township.  The 
traveler  over  Copley  notices  that  the  township 
is  crossed  by  several  prominent  ridges,  which 
have  a  general  direction  east  and  west.  These 
ridges  are  a  mile  or  two  apart,  and  seemingly 
belong  to  that  series  of  terraces  or  ridges,  which 
extends  across  Ohio,  south  of  Lake  Erie  and 
north  of  the  water-shed,  which  geologists  main- 
tain was  formed  during  the  Glacial  period.  On 
the  farm  of  William  Wagner  is  a  large  mound, 
supposed  by  some  to  have  been  built  by  the 
Mound-Buiiders,  and  by  others  to  have  been 
formed  by  natural  means  during  the  Griacial 
epoch. 

The  whereabouts  of  the  early  records  of  the 
township  is  unknown  or  forgotten,  and  thus 
much  interesting  material  is  placed  be^'ond  the 
reach  of  the  historian.  •'  What  is  everybod^^'s 
business  is  nobody's  business,"  is  verified  in 
the  case  of  the  early  records.  The  proceedings 
on  the  occasion  of  the  oi'ganization  of  the  town- 
ship are  alwa^^s  interesting,  and  will  continue 
to  become  more  so  as  time  advances.  A  few 
items  are  recollected  and  these  will  be  recorded 
in  their  proper  connection.  The  first  settler  in 
the  township  is  said  to  have  been  Jonah  Turner, 
who  came  from  Pennsylvania  and  located  on 
the  Stony  Ridge  east  of  Miller's  Tavern.  He 
came  in  1814,  and  built  a  small  log  cabin.  A 
3'ear  or  two  before.  Turner  had  marched  along 
what  is  now  well  known  as  the  Smith  road  with 
the  battalion  under  Maj.  Crogan,  of  which  he 
was  a  member.  The  army  had  camped  near 
where  Turner  afterward  selected  his  farm,  and 
on  this  occasion  (as  is  related)  he  concluded 
that,  if  his  life  was  spared  thi'ough  the  dangers 
of  war,  he  would  locate  in  that  vicinity.  He 
lived  here  until  his  death.  William  Green  also 
came  to  Copley  in  1814.  It  is  not  known 
to  the  writer  whether  this  man  was  a  relative  of 
Gardner  Green,  one  of  the  purchasers  of  the 
township,  from  Connecticut,  or  not.  The  latter 
owned  perhaps  more  than  any  other  of  the 
original  proprietors,  and  in  his  honor  the  town- 


^ 


a k^ 


J>L 


COPLEY    TOWNSHIP. 


641 


ship  had  been  informally  styled  "  Greenfield  ;  " 
but  afterward,  for  some  reason  unknown,  the 
name  was  changed  to  Copley  in  honor  of 
Green's  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Copley. 
These  two  were  probably  the  only  settlers  in 
the  township  until  the  foil  of  1815,  when  Sam- 
uel Hawkins  came  from  the  Green  Mountain 
State,  and  located  in  the  northwest  corner. 
His  son,  George  Washington,  was  the  first 
white  child  born  in  Copley,  his  birth  occurring 
December  29,  1815.  The  following  list  is  only 
approximately  correct :  Lawrence  3Ioore,  a 
Scotchman  who  had  come  to  x\merica  in  1797, 
settled  on  Lot  1,  in  1816.  He  was  a  sailor,  and 
soon  after  coming  to  this  country  was  im- 
pressed on  board  the  British  frigate,  Tartar, 
where  he  served  for  six  years,  but  finally  pur- 
chased his  release  by  paying  $1,225.  Moore 
built  a  small  log  cabin,  and  lived  until  a  few 
years  ago.  In  1817,  Allen  Bosworth  came 
from  Rhode  Island,  and  settled  near  the  center. 
His  son  Delos  was  the  second  child  born  in  the 
township,  his  birth  occurring  in  January  of  the 
following  year.  Delos  Bosworth  is  yet  living, 
and  it  is  due  to  his  unusuall}'  retentive  mem- 
ory that  many  of  the  events  narrated  here  are 
rescued  from  falling  into  forge tfulness.  In 
1818,  Jacob  Spafford,  Nathaniel  Davis,  Jona- 
than Starr  antl  Gat  Yale  ai'rived.  In  1819. 
Chester  Orcutt  came.  In  1820,  Parker  and 
Benjamin  Taylor,  and  within  the  next  ten  years 
the  first  settlers  came  about  as  follows  :  David, 
Samuel  and  James  Griffin,  H.  C.  Aikens,  Na- 
thaniel Norville,  Erastus,  Flavil  and  Harvej' 
Beckworth,  David  Ta3'lor,  Chauncey  and  Will- 
iam Davis,  Smith  and  Austin  Hull,  Noah,  Al- 
bert and  Thomas  Spafford,  Budd  Hopkins, 
Levitt  and  Peter  Wicks,  Benjamin  Sandford, 
Noah  Robinson  and  otiiers.  There  also  came 
in  soon  afterward  Henry  Francisco,  Jackson 
Chapman,  Ashabel  Chapman,  H.  D.  Patch,  Will- 
iam and  Hiram  Randall,  James  Smith,  Frank 
Wilcox,  Darwin  and  CuUen  Clark,  Lorenzo 
Russell,  Joseph  Younglove,  William  Hanson, 
Dr.  Alpheus  Babcock,  S.  P.  Starr,  Thomas  Cole, 
Dow  Hanson,  Lawrence  Brewer,  Alonzo  Coon, 
George  Traver,  William,  Jacob  and  Thomas 
Weager,  M.  D.  Pratt,  John  Mann  and  several 
others.  Dr.  Elijah  Canfield  and  his  bi'other 
William  came  in  about  1824.  Prior  to  1835, 
there  also  came  in  Lyman  Green,  William  Hux- 
ley, Chauncey  Lease,  Robex't  Stimpson,  Henry 
Begun,  Daniel,  Joseph  and  Richard  Riley,  Dan- 


iel Sandford,  John  Pratt,  Salmon  Haysington 
and  several  others. 

In  1825,  evidences  of  civilization  were  every- 
where apparent.  Log  houses  sprang  up  from 
all  directions,  and  various  industries  began  to 
arise.  The  settlers  slowl^^  began  to  surround 
themselves  with  something  more  than  the  bare 
necessities  of  life.  Schools,  churches,  mills, 
etc.,  began  to  appear,  and  something  like  pleas- 
ure was  felt  in  living  in  the  fast  disappearing 
forests. 

The  homely  ways  and  rude  garb  be- 
gan to  give  way  before  the  advance  of  the 
autocTat  Fashion.  Calico  could  be  obtained 
for  less  than  75  cents  a  yard ;  axes  were  no 
longer  $5  or  $6  ;  all  supplies  steadily  decreased 
in  cost,  as  the  roads  and  means  of  transporta- 
tion became  better  ;  wages  for  the  poor  man 
were  soon  higher,  and  the  township,  and  in- 
deed many  other  townships  in  Ohio,  entered  an 
era  of  prosperity  unknown  to  it  before.  In 
1281,  a  ball  was  given  in  the  township,  at 
which  all  attended.  The  girls  came  out  with 
their  calico  dresses  with  flowing  skirts,  and  the 
boys  appeared  in  the  rustic  garb  of  fashiona- 
ble pioneers.  The  entertainment  was  a  finan- 
cial enterprise,  created  in  the  brain  of  Smith 
Hull,  who  agreed  to  furnish  everything  neces- 
sary except  whisky  and  music,  provided  each 
gentleman  would  chop  wood  for  him  two  da3's. 
Roswell  Barnett  played  the  fiddle,  for  which 
each  couple  paid  him  a  bushel  of  corn  (not  the 
juice).  AH  was  gayety  and  enjoyment.  Cupid, 
the  little  wretch,  was  abroad,  armed  with  bow 
and  arrows,  whose  barbed  points  had  been 
dipped  in  the  green  poison  of  jealousy.  His 
skill  at  archery  was  better  than  usual  on  that 
occasion,  and  even  he,  hard-hearted  though  he 
be,  must  have  enjoyed  the  music  and  dance,  as 
during  the  evening  he  shot  several  arrows  into 
warm  hearts — arrows  that  had  not  been  pois- 
oned with  jealousy — hearts  that  wxre  after- 
ward united.  The  ball  was  a  domestic  event, 
as  well  as  a  financial  success.  "Scheming 
mammas"  were  present  to  select  husbands  for 
their  daughters — at  least  they  were  present. 
There  was  snow  on  the  ground,  and  what  a 
merry  time  they  had  going  home.  How  "  eyes 
looked  love  to  eyes,"  and  each  throbbing  heart 
beat  a  responsive  echo  to  the  one  near  it !  How 
short  seemed  the  walk  through  the  woods,  and 
how  the  parting  was  protracted,  as  the  first 
warm  kiss  of  love  was  given  and  returned ! 


-^ 


642 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


There  comes  to  the  mind  the  sweet  music  of 
Burns — 

•'How  sweetl}^  bloomed  tlu'  gay  green  birk! 

How  rich  the  hawthorn's  blossom! 
As  underneath  their  fragrant  shade, 

I  clasped  her  to  my  bosom. 
The  golden  hours  on  angel  wings 

Flew  o'er  me  and  my  dearie; 
For  dear  to  me  as  life  and  light. 

Was  mj^  sweet  Highland  Mary." 

■'  Wi'  mony  a  vow  and  locked  embrace, 
Our  parting  was  fu'  tender; 
And  pledging  aft  to  meet  again 
We  tore  oursel's  assunder." 

But  the  walk,  so  short  and  enjoyed  so  much, 
was  ended — the  sweet  dream,  like  a  vision  of 
heaven  passed  awaj^  and  the  sober  realities  of 
pioneer  life  swept  over  the  bright  scene  with 
their  gloom  and  shadow.  How  many  hearts 
that  on  that  happy  evening  beat  with  love  for 
the  first  time,  could  afterward  cry  out  in  sorrow 
as  Burns  did — 

"O!  pale,  pale  now,  those  rosy  lips, 

I  aft  hae  kissed  sae  fondly; 
And  clos'd  for  aye  that  sparkling  glance, 

That  dwelt  on  me  sae  kindly. 
And  moldering  now  in  silent  dust. 

The  heart  that  loved  me  dearly: 
Yet  still  within  my  bosom's  core, 

Shall  live  my  Highland  Mary." 

Is  there  anything  more  precious  than  the  sweet 
recollection  of  a  sainted  face  that  was  once  s  » 
bright  in  youth  and  health,  but  which  now  lies 
pale  and  cold  in  the  embrace  of  death  "?  Ah  ! 
how  man}'  hearts,  in  the  morning  of  life,  with 
every  prospect  delightful  and  ever}'  impulse  of 
heart  and  mind  ennobled  by  the  vision  of 
divine  ideals,  have  been  stricken  down  in  fren- 
zied sorrow  as  their  earthly  idols  were  laid  low 
in  the  dust — have  gone  weeping  away,  clothed 
in  the  mourning  raiment  of  sackcloth  and 
ashes.  Then  how  kind  is  Solace  to  enter  the 
sorrowing  heart  with  sweet  promises  of  the 
renewal  of  love  in  the  shadowy  world  revealed 
to  us  in  dreams. 

Copley  belonged  to  Medina  County  before 
Summit  County  was  created.  It  was  Town- 
ship 2,  Range  12,  of  the  Western  Reserve,  and 
was  one  of  six  which  composed  Wolf  Creek 
Township,  the  others  being  Norton,  Wads- 
worth,  Sharon,  Guilford  and  Montville.  It  was 
organized  into  a  distinct  township,  with  its 
present  boundaries  and  territory,  in  July, 
1819.     The  first  township  election  was  held  in 


the  barn  of  Allen  Bosworth,  as  is  shown  by 
the  following,  which  is  quoted  from  the  rec- 
ords :  "  On  motion,  Thomas  Beckwith  was 
elected  Chairman,  and  then  the  meeting  was 
adjourned  to  the  barn  of  Allen  Bosworth  for 
the  purpose  of  doing  business."  A  year  or 
two  before,  Lawrence  Moore  had  been  com- 
missioned one  of  the  Justices  of  Wolf  Creek 
Township,  of  which  Coplej'  was  a  part,  and 
after  the  creation  of  the  latter  he  served  out 
his  time.  At  this  first  election,  Joseph  Bos- 
worth and  Jonathan  Starr  were  rival  candi- 
dates for  the  position  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
(not  much  rivalry,  however,  as  neither  was 
anxious  to  officiate  in  that  capacity).  Thirteen 
votes  were  polled,  of  which  Bosworth  received 
seven  and  Starr  six.  Owing  to  some  imperfec- 
tion, either  in  the  election  or  in  the  qualifica- 
tion, these  proceedings  were  annulled,  and  a 
new  election  was  ordered  to  be  held  June  10, 
1820,  at  which  time  Starr  was  elected.  From 
the  fact  that  the  official  duties  in  early  years 
were  light  or  altogether  wanting,  it  was  cus- 
tomary to  honor  one  man  with  the  responsibil- 
it}'  and  dignity  of  several  offices.  It  thus 
occurred  that  Starr  was  the  first  Township 
Clerk.  Thomas  Beckwith  was  elected  Super- 
visor in  April,  1820,  and  Jacob  Spafford  and 
Lawrence  Moore  were  elected  Overseers  of  the 
Poor.  The  names  of  the  other  early  officers 
are  forgotten.  The  first  lawsuit  begun  in  Cop- 
ley was  before  Justice  Lawrence  Mooi'e.  Suit 
was  instituted  at  the  suggestion  of  David 
Point,  whose  wife  had  loaned  a  spinning-wheel 
to  Mrs.  William  Green,  the  latter,  as  was 
alleged,  refusing  to  return  certain  portions  of 
the  machine.  The  matter  was  compromised 
before  trial  through  the  influence  of  Moore, 
who  advised  Mrs.  Point  in  this  wise  :  "  You 
keep  the  grass  too  well  trod  between  your 
houses  ;  let  it  grow  thicker,  and  you  will  agree 
better."  Some  years  afterward,  Gat  Yale  arose 
one  Sunday  morning,  and  going  out,  discovered 
a  bear  endeavoring  to  escort  a  member  of  the 
genus  Sus.  against  its  wishes  and  vociferous 
protests,  into  the  forest ;  whereupon  Yale,  re- 
gardless of  the  day,  pursued  the  bear  and  shot 
it.  He  was  prosecuted  before  Squire  Moore 
for  violating  the  Sabbath,  and,  upon  conviction, 
was  fined  $1.  Whether  this  had  anything  to 
do  with  Gat's  subseijuent  conduct  is  not 
known  ;  but  he  soon  afterward  joined  the 
Mormon  ranks,  and  was  living,  not  many  years 


COPLEY    TOWNSHIP. 


^ «) 


643 


k 


ago.  ;it  Salt  Lake  City.  From  the  fact  that 
most  of  the  earlier  settlers  of  Cople}^  have 
passed  awa}-  like  the  twilight,  and  also  that  the 
township  was  settled  later  than  others  in  its 
vicinit}^  it  has  been  impossible  to  get  posses- 
sion of  personal  incidents  of  adventure,  with- 
out which  a  township  record  lacks  an  attractive 
feature.  That  many  exciting  and  interesting 
hunts  took  place  in  early  years  is  well  known 
to  the  citizens.  A  circular  hunt  was  instituted 
in  about  the  year  1823,  and  a  large  portion  or 
the  whole  of  the  township  was  inclosed.  The 
center  was  one  of  the  lax'ge  swamps.  But  lit- 
tle could  be  learned  by  the  writer  concerning 
this  hunt,  except  that  quite  a  large  number  of 
deer,  bears,  wolves,  etc.,  was  killed.  It  is  related, 
that,  in  the  disposal  of  the  game  after  the 
hunt  had  ended,  two  men,  each  of  whom  enter- 
tained a  bitter  grudge  against  the  other,  be- 
came angry,  and  a  savage  and  protracted  fight 
occurred,  in  which  both  men  were  badly  used 
up.  William  Cogswell,  who  settled  in  Granger 
Township,  Medina  County,  was  one  of  the 
most  noted  of  the  early  hunters  in  this  section 
of  country.  He  often  penetrated  the  swamps 
in  Cople}'.  and,  if  the  fticts  could  be  known, 
many  an  exciting  and  dangerous  hunt,  in 
which  he  played  the  role  of  a  star  actor,  could 
be  told.  Almost  all  of  the  earliest  settlers 
who  had  arrived  at  man's  estate  when  they 
first  came  in  could  boast  of  having  killed  bears 
during  the  few  earliest  ^-ears.  At  that  time,  it 
was  no  trouble  to  kill  deer,  as  even  the  most 
inexperienced  could  fire  a  rifle  (if  they  had  a 
rest),  and  often  that  was  the  only  effort  neces- 
sary to  bring  down  the  quarry. 

It  was  not  long  ere  Copley  was  well  popu- 
lated, with  numerous  industries  and  institutions, 
which  arose  to  improve  the  domestic,  intellectual 
and  moral  status  of  the  citizens.  The  steady 
and  extensive  demand  for  alcoholic  drinks  gave 
rise  (as  it  alwaj-s  will)  to  numerous  distillei'ies, 
which  began  to  furnish  an  abundance  of  whisky, 
which  numbers  its  victims  by  the  millions.  So 
prevalent  had  become  the  practice  of  drinking, 
and  so  manj'  men  had  become  confirmed  drunk- 
ards, despite  reiterated  statements  to  the  con- 
trary, that  efforts,  made  in  a  few  localities  to 
end  the  manufacture  and  consumption,  atti'acted 
general  attention,  and  were  imitated  throughout 
not  only  Copley  and  vicinit}-,  but  over  the  State 
and  country.  These  efforts  received  a  splendid 
impetus  in  about  1830,  at  which  time  almost 


every  township  in  what  is  now  Summit  County 
organized  well-attended  temperance  societies, 
and  soon  the  various  organizations  could  num- 
ber its  members  in  the  aggregate  by  thousands. 
In  1828.  the  church  societies  throughout  the 
country'  recommended  a  day  to  be  observed  in 
humiliation,  fasting  and  prayer,  on  account  of 
the  prevailing  sin  of  intemperance.  In  accord- 
ance with  this  recommendation,  a  meeting  was 
announced  to  be  lield  for  the  purpose  stated  at 
the  old  log  schoolhouse,  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  Copley.  The  house  was  filled  with  enthusi- 
astic people,  and  prayers  for  the  speed}^  termi- 
nation of  the  prevailing  evil  were  freely  offered. 
Remarks  were  made  b}^  several  of  those  present, 
during  which  the  pointed  question  was  asked, 
"  Is  it  consistent  for  Christians  to  pray  for  the 
abrogation  of  any  particular  sin,  or  evil,  when 
their  actions  and  influence  favor  its  continu- 
ance ?"  This  question  unmasked  the  whole 
situation,  and  led  to  a  spirited  discussion  as  to 
what  should  be  done  in  the  case  b}^  consistent 
and  earnest  Christian  people.  A  committee 
was  appointed  to  draft  a  constitution,  which 
was  to  be  submitted  for  adoption  or  rejection 
at  a  subsequent  meeting.  On  the  29th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1829,  the  committee  reported  the  following 
preamble  and  constitution,  which  is  given  in 
full,  as  it  is  said,  on  good  authority,  to  have 
been  the  first  one  drafted  and  adopted  in  Ohio  : 

Viewing,  with  feelings  of  deep  regret,  the  fatal 
consequences  resulting  from  the  intemperate  use  of 
ardent  spirits,  and  believing  that  so  far  from  con- 
tributing to  health,  happiness  or  prosperity,  the 
immoderate  use  of  ardent  spirits  has  a  direct  ten- 
dency to  destroy  health,  debase  the  understanding 
and  corrupt  the  morals  ;  and  that  it  introduces  vice 
and  misery  into  families,  and  has  a  demoralizing 
influence  on  the  community  at  large. 

We,  therefore,  the  subscribers,  professing  to  be 
friends  to  morahty  and  good  order,  and  desiring  to 
lend  oin-  influence  to  check  the  progress  of  an  evil 
so  fatal  in  its  consequences,  do  hereby  form  our- 
selves into  a  Temperance  Society,  by  adopting  and 
adhering  to  the  following  constitution  : 

Article  1.  This  society  shall  be  called  "The 
First  Temperance  Society  of  Medina  Count}-." 

Art.  3.  The  object  oi  the  compact  shall  be  the 
suppression  of  intemperance,  by  doing  away  with 
the  unnecessary  use  of  ardent  spirits. 

Art.  6.  The  members  of  this  society  pledge 
themselves  not  to  use  ardent  spirits,  unless  neces- 
sary for  the  promotion  of  health  or  its  restoration, 
and  also  to  discoiu'age  their  use  by  others. 

Art.  4.  (Refers  to  the  duties  and  appointment 
of  officers). 

Art.  5.  The  members  of  the  compact  shall  make 
use  of  the  means  in  their  power  to  prevent  the  in- 


644 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


temperate  use  of  ardent  spirits,  and  shall  use  their 
endeavors  to  disseminate  a  knowledge  of  the  direful 
and  fatal  effects  of  intemperance  upon  individuals 
and  upon  society  generally. 

Art.  6.     (Refers  to  the  time  of  holding  meetings). 

Art.  7.  Each  meeting  shall  be  opened  and  closed 
by  prayer. 

Art.  8.  Any  person  may  be  a  member  of  this 
society,  by  signing  the  foregoing  articles  and  ad- 
hering to  the  same. 

Art.  9.  This  constitution  may  be  altered  by  a 
majority  vote  of  the  society,  notice  being  given  to 
that  effect  at  a  previous  meeting. 

John  Codding,  of  Coddingville,  is  believed 
to  have  been  the  writer  of  this  constitution.  It 
was  the  first  declaration  of  temperate  independ- 
ence in  Ohio,  and  the  first  four  persons  who 
appended  their  •'  John  Hancock's  "  to  this  in- 
teresting document  are,  in  order,  as  follows  : 
Lawrence  Moore,  John  Codding,  Eurt  Codding 
and  Charles  Goodwin.  This  organization  did 
good  work,  and  yet  apparently,  it  did  not  de- 
crease, in  the  least,  the  use  of  alcoholic  drinks  ; 
for,  while  some  few  signed  and  kept  the  pledge, 
many — through  spite  or  otherwise — -resisted  the 
movement,  and  encouraged  the  manufacture 
and  consumption  of  whisky.  The  organization 
of  the  society'  was  largely  brought  about  by 
the  evil  effects  of  several  distilleries  which  had 
early  been  erected  in  the  township,  and  which 
were  doing  a  large  business.  The  first  one  had 
been  erected  by  Chancey  and  William  Davis, 
about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  Center,  in  the 
year  1820.  Their  grain  was  ground  at  neigh- 
boring mills,  and  finally  at  Akron,  and,  despite 
the  establishment  of  temperance  societies  and 
the  attack  made  on  intemperance,  this  distil- 
lery was  conducted  for  more  than  thirty  years, 
turning  out  during  its  continuance  large  quan- 
tities of  whisky,  brandy,  gin,  and  wine  for 
sacramental  and  other  purposes.  It  is  said  to 
have  averaged  as  high  as  fifty  gallons  a  day, 
and  large  quantities  were  shipped  to  distant 
points,  and  a  fine  revenue  was  returned  to  the 
owners.  In  about  1826,  Allen  Bosworth  erected 
a  distillery  one-half  mile  west  of  the  Center. 
He  did  a  large,  paying  business  for  a  number 
of  years,  and  then  rented  the  distillery  to 
Alonzo  Coon,  who  also  conducted  the  business 
almost  as  extensively.  It  is  said  that  the  dis- 
tillery averaged  about  forty-five  gallons  a  day 
while  it  was  conducted.  The  building  and  ap- 
paratus were  purchased  in  1842,  by  Heman 
Oviatt,  who  almost  immediately  closed  out  the 
business.     About  this  time,  Alonzo  Coon  built 


another  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road.  He 
also  manufactured  extensively  for  some  four 
years,  when  he  severed  his  connection  with  the 
business.  Daniel  Arnold  erected  a  distillery  in 
about  the  year  1840,  and  for  some  ten  or  twelve 
years  averaged  about  twenty-five  gallons  of 
liquor  a  day,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  like- 
wise changed  his  occupation.  William  Wel- 
house  built  an  institution  of  the  same  kind 
about  the  same  time,  and  averaged  some  forty 
gallons  a  day  during  the  greater  part  of  ten 
years.  This  sums  up  the  record  of  these  dis- 
tilleries, and  yet  it  is  impossible  to  write  their 
complete  history.  Who  shall  tell  of  the  evil 
done  by  them,  of  the  homes  and  lives  made 
desolate,  of  the  misery  created  in  families  that 
before  were  bright  with  the  sunshine  of  happi- 
ness. The  business  was  so  common,  that  those 
engaged  in  it  thought  no  evil  of  what  they  were 
doing  ;  and,  in  earlier  days,  the  manufacture 
was  considered  respectable  and  even  laudable, 
as  the  distilleries  furnished  a  market  for  grain, 
and  supplied  whisky,  which,  on  account  of  cus- 
tom, was  indispensable  to  farm  management. 
It  thus  occurred,  that  many  of  the  most  re- 
spected and  prominent  citizens  were  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  liquor. 

It  is  thought  that  Chancey  and  William 
Davis  built  the  first  saw-mill  in  the  township. 
It  was  located  a  short  distance  north  of  the 
village.  They  put  in  the  same  building  a  turn- 
ing-lathe and  one  run  of  stone  for  grinding 
grain.  A  dam  was  built  across  Pigeon  Creek, 
and  a  fair  water-power  was  obtained  by  means 
of  a  race.  After  operating  the  mill  about  ten 
years,  it  was  sold  to  Reuben  Lord.  It  after- 
ward was  owned  and  operated  for  short  peri- 
ods b^^  Col.  John  Stearns,  Charles  Fuller,  Hen- 
ry Clark,  George  Welhouse,  Charles  Crum, 
Henry  Stimpson,  Ransom  Arnold,  and  several 
others.  It  is  yet  standing,  and  is  owned  by 
Mr.  Arnold.  While  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Lord,  the  turning-lathe  and  set  of  stones  were 
removed,  and  were  not  afterward  replaced. 
The  mill  has  always  been  a  good  one,  and,  in 
its  time,  has  furnished  large  quantities  of  lum- 
ber, much  of  which  ma}-  yet  be  found  in  dwell- 
ings and  other  buildings  over  a  large  tract  of 
country. 

Lawrence  Moore  built  a  saw-mill  in  about 
the  year  1830,  locating  it  on  Yellow  Creek, 
in  the  northwest  part  of  the  township. 
It  was  abandoned  at  the  end  of  some  ten  or 


•K* 


COPLEY    TOWNSHIP. 


645 


twelve  years.  A  saw-mill  was  built  on  Wolf 
Creek,  in  about  the  year  1832,  by  Col.  John 
Stearns,  but  was  sold  a  year  or  two  later  to 
Benjamin  Stimpson,  who,  after  operating  it  six 
or  eight  years,  sold  out  to  John  Hetrick,  upon 
whose  hands  it  ran  down,  and  was  not  subse- 
quently rebuilt  or  re-operated.  Parker  &  T3'ler 
built  one  on  the  same  stream  a  year  or  two 
after  the  erection  of  the  last  mentioned,  and 
after  operating  it  quite  extensively  fifteen  or 
twent}^  years,  it  was  purchased  by  Allen  Par- 
dee, who  improved  it  and  built  a  grist-mill  on 
the  same  dam.  The  saw-mill  was  soon  afterward 
discontinued.  Peter  and  Levitt  Wicks  also 
built  a  saw- mill  on  Wolf  Creek  prior  to  1835. 
At  the  expiration  of  about  five  years,  the  mill 
was  purchased  by  George  Welhouse,  under 
whose  management  it  was  conducted  success- 
fully for  about  fifteen  years,  when  it  went  into 
the  possession  of  Mr.  Austin,  who  removed  the 
machiner}'  to  another  locality.  Chancey 
Davis  and  Col.  Stearns  built  a  saw-mill  in  the 
swamps  in  the  eastern  part,  in  about  the  year 
1844.  It  ran  for  a  number  of  yeai's,  and  was 
burned  down,  but  was  rebuilt.  It  was  aban- 
doned long  ago.  Two  or  three  others  have 
been  built  in  the  swamps  in  later  years,  the 
most  of  which  have  been  operated  by  steam. 
David  Grill  built  one  within  the  corporate  lim- 
its of  the  village  some  seven  years  ago.  It 
is  operated  by  steam.  A  carding-mill  was 
erected  at  an  early  da}-  on  Wolf  Creek,  but  af- 
ter two  or  three  years,  the  enterprise  was  aban- 
doned. 

The  grist-mill,  conducted  by  the  Davis  Broth- 
ers north  of  town,  was  the  first  in  Copley. 
Allen  Pardee  conducted  his  grist-mill,  men- 
tioned above,  until  some  sixteen  years  ago. 
Charles  Zeigler  owns  and  operates  the  mill  at 
present.  It  is  said  that  Allen  Pardee  was  the 
only  one  among  the  earl}'  owners  of  grist-mills 
who  derived  a  paying  income  from  the  busi- 
ness. The  mill  under  his  management  is  said 
to  have  been  excellent,  and  a  large  amount  of 
merchant  work  was  done  in  addition  to  the  reg- 
ular custom  work.  Mr.  Welhouse,  at  the  time 
he  got  possession  of  the  saw-mill  on  Wolf 
Creek,  built  a  grist-mill  on  the  same  dam, 
wliich  was  burned  down  some  ten  years  later. 
It  was  a  good  mill,  and  did  good  work.  Col. 
Stearns  and  Darwin  Clark  built  a  grist-mill  at 
the  Center  in  about  1858,  in  which  were  placed 
three  run  of  stone.    The  mill  started  finely,  but. 


two  years  later,  was  burned  to  the  ground,  and 
was  not  afterward  rebuilt. 

In  1837,  a  stock  company  was  formed  for  the 
purpose  of  furnishing  teams  and  a  stage,  to  be 
run  from  Cleveland  to  Massillon,  by  the  way 
of  Brecksville,  Copley  and  Clinton.  Some  $2,500 
worth  of  stock  was  subsci'ibed  and  paid  in,  and 
sixteen  horses  were  purchased  to  be  used  on  the 
route.  The  round  trip  from  Cleveland  was 
made  in  two  daj's  by  a  change  of  horses  at  the 
different  stations.  The  Shepard  Brothers,  at 
Brecksville,  had  been  largely  instrumental  in 
securing  the  subscription,  and  some  twent}-  or 
twenty-five  men  along  the  route  had  taken  stock 
in  the  company,  several  of  whom  lived  in  Cop- 
ley. About  a  year  after  the  stage  began  run- 
ning, for  some  cause  which  the  writer  was  un- 
able to  learn,  all  the  horses  were  taken  to 
Cleveland,  where  they  were  detained,  and  the 
stage  ceased  its  regular  trips.  The  company 
was  not  incorporated,  the  members  being  simply 
bound  together  by  a  naked  contract.  The  de- 
tention of  the  horses  at  Cleveland  was  probably 
a  scheme  to  defraud  the  greater  number  of  the 
members  out  of  their  stock.  But  this  was  not 
to  be  permitted,  and  several  citizens  along  the 
route  went  to  Cleveland  and  got  at  least  a  num- 
ber of  the  horses,  and  the  matter  was  finally 
adjusted. 

The  first  building  at  the  center  was  a  log 
schoolhouse,  located  opposite  Mr.  Cole's  Hotel, 
and  was  built  in  the  year  1819.  In  referring 
to  the  village,  the  present  corporate  limits  are 
not  included,  but  simpl\-  the  clusters  of  houses 
at  the  geographical  center.  According  to  the 
reports,  the  next  building  was  the  Thomas  store, 
built  by  Peter  and  Levitt  Wicks  in  about  the 
year  1826.  These  men,  as  stated  by  several, 
placed  in  the  building  about  $500  worth  of 
goods,  which  the}^  continued  to  sell  until  they 
were  bought  out  by  Oviatt  &  Baldwin.  Other 
reports  are  to  the  effect  that  the  Wicks  Brothers 
did  not  keep  a  stock  of  goods  at  all.  but  that 
the  storeroom  was  unoccupied  until  it  was  pur- 
chased by  Oviatt  &  Baldwin.  At  least,  it  is 
known  that  the  latter  firm  placed  goods  valued 
at  about  $2,000  in  the  room,  in  about  the  j-ear 
1832,  and  continued  selling  some  five  years, 
when  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  the 
junior  member  entered  the  Cole  Hotel,  which 
had  been  erected  by  him  two  jears  before,  and 
formally  opened  the  building  for  the  entertain, 
ment  of  the  public.     After  the  dissolution  of 


:v 


4j 


646 


HLSTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


the  partnership,  Mr.  Oviatt  almost  immediately 
retired,  and  engaged  in  other  pursuits.  Patch 
&  Robinson  succeeded  him,  probably'  buying 
his  stock  of  goods,  which  was  increased ;  but 
these  men  retired  after  about  one  }ear  and  a 
half  They  were  followed  by  Robert  Codding, 
who  likewise  engaged  in  other  pursuits  after 
two  or  three  years.  The  room  remained  unoc- 
cupied for  a  short  time  ;  but,  in  1845,  Augus- 
tus Warner  entered  it  with  a  small  stock, 
which  was  steadily  increased,  until,  at  the  ex- 
piration of  six  years,  it  was  worth  at  least 
$3,000.  He  kept  a  good  store,  and  is  said  to 
have  made  considerable  money,  which  he  knew 
how  to  save.  Nash  &  Stebbins  followed  War- 
ner, but  two  years  later  they  were  succeeded 
by  John  Starr,  who  continued  until  the  spring 
of  18G5,  making  in  the  meantime  no  little 
money.  He  then  sold  to  Mr.  Lame}^,  who,  at 
the  end  of  eighteen  months,  transferred  the 
stock  to  William  P.  Craig,  the  latter  remaining 
in  the  business  some  six  3'ears.  Nathan  Furst 
was  Craig's  partner,  at  least,  a  portion  of  the 
time.  He  continued  the  pursuit  after  the  re- 
tirement of  Craig,  but  six  months  later  failed, 
and  his  goods  were  sold  at  auction  and  other- 
wise throughout  the  surrounding  country'.  The 
building  was  then  vacant  a  year  or  so,  after 
which  Mr.  Gardner  placed  in  it  a  small  stock 
of  goods  ;  but  in  about  1875,  0.  T.  Lane  be- 
gan with  a  new  stock,  and  two  years  later  sold 
to  Callow  &  Leonard.  The  building  is  at  pres- 
ent occupied  by  Mr.  Thomas. 

The  town  hall  building  was  erected  by  Joseph 
and  Henry  White  in  about  the  year  1837.  It 
was  designed  for  a  storeroom,  but  for  some 
reason  unexplained  was  not  entered  until  about 
1841,  when  Wicks  &  Parmele  placed  a  stock 
of  goods  in  the  building,  and  conducted  the 
mercantile  pursuit  some  three  years,  when  Par- 
melee  purchased  his  partner's  share,  and  soon 
afterward  removed  his  stock  to  the  Welhouse 
settlement,  at  which  place  he  sold  goods  for  a 
number  of  years.  Two  or  three  other  parties 
were  in  the  White  building  for  a  short  time. 
George  Babcock  was  in  with  a  small  stock 
some  twelve  years  before  the  last  war,  but  with- 
drew at  the  expiration  of  about  two  3'ears,  and 
the  building  has  not  been  used  since  as  a  store- 
room. This  has  been  the  extent  of  the  mer- 
cantile pursuit  in  Copley  Center,  though  there 
have  been  one  or  two  country  stores  in  the 
western    part   of  the   township.      The   tavern 


building  has  been  used  as  such  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  time  since  it  was  built  and  opened 
b}'  Andrew  Baldwin.  Since  then,  the  follow- 
ing and  others  have  kept  public  house  in  the 
village  :  Noah  Robinson,  Hiram  Randall,  Mr. 
Van  Evera,  Lewis  Norton  and  Daniel  Taylor. 
The  building  was  used  a  number  of  years  by 
Oviatt  &  Stearns  as  a  cheese  dry-iiouse.  It  is 
now  occupied  b}'  Dennis  Cole,  an  experienced 
landlord,  whose  personal  appearance  in  every 
way  resembles  that  of  his  fellow-countr3'man, 
the  patron  saint  of  boys  (not  girls),  Santa  Glaus, 
or  Kurcht  Globes.     It  is  also  true  that — 

"  The  stump  of  a  pipe  he  holds  tight  in  his  teeth. 
And  the  smoke  it  encircles  his  head  like  a  wreath, 
He  lias  a  broad  face  and  a  little  round  body 
That  shakes  when   he  hiuglis  like  a  bowl  fidl  of 
toddy," 

Various  industries  have  flourished  in  the 
village.  Isaac  Moneysraith,  as  early  as  1833, 
erected  a  suitable  building,  and  began  doing 
cabinet  work.  He  emplo^^ed  three  or  four 
workmen,  and  made  bedsteads,  tables,  bureaus, 
chairs,  etc.,  and  continued  until  about  1837, 
when  Douglass  Storr  became  proprietor.  This 
man  continued  the  l)usiness  perhaps  ten  years, 
or  possibly  longer,  manufacturing  coffins  and 
running  a  hearse  a  portion  of  the  time.  The 
building  was  finally  burned  down.  Dow  Ben- 
nett was  engaged  in  cabinet  business  for  a 
short  time.  Soon  after  the  last  war,  Coon  & 
Son  started  a  cheese  factory,  one-half  mile  west 
of  the  Center,  and  have  continued  doing  a  good 
business  since.  The  White  Brothers  opened  a 
wagon-shop  in  about  the  year  1832.  They 
employed  some  four  workmen,  and  continued 
the  occupation  ten  3'ears,  when  they  sold  to  W. 
P.  Craig,  who,  at  the  end  of  three  or  four  years, 
transferred  the  property  to  William  Whitehill, 
in  whose  ownership  it  burned  down.  It  was 
rebuilt  by  Henry  Leiby  about  eight  years  ago. 
Edward  Voluntine  now  owns  the  shop,  and  is 
doing  a  fair  business.  The  public  green  or 
square  at  the  Center  was  the  joint  gift  of  four 
men.  whose  land  in  earlj-  years  cornered  at  the 
cross-roads.  These  four  men  were  Heman 
Oviatt,  Levitt  Wicks,  Simon  P.  Starr  and  Jon- 
athan Starr,  who  gave  the  land  in  about  the 
year  1832.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Oviatt,  about 
the  same  time,  laid  out  a  number  of  lots  on  the 
northwest  corner,  which  were  platted  and  prop- 
erly recorded  at  the  county  seat.  Additions 
have  since  been  made  to  the  original  lots,  and 


?p 


COPLEY    TOWNSHIP. 


647 


possibly  some  of  these  additions  have  been 
recorded.  A  Grange  lodge  was  organized  in 
the  village  a  few  years  ago.  Dr.  Alpheus  Bab- 
cock,  who  was  among  the  earliest  settlers, 
began  practicing  his  profession  soon  after  his 
arrival,  and  continued  some  ten  years.  Dr. 
Elijah  Canfield  practiced  in  the  township  for 
thirty  3^ears,  over  a  large  section  of  country. 
Dr.  Samuel  Austin  was  in  for  a  few  years.  Dr. 
Jackson  Chapman  began  about  1835,  and  con- 
tinued twelve  or  fifteen  years.  Dr.  Byi'on 
Chapman  was  the  township  phj^sician  about 
thirty-five  years  ago.  The  township,  since  its 
creation,  has  had  a  resident  physician  the 
greater  portion  of  the  time,  several  of  whom 
secured  a  wide  practice  and  the  confidence  of 
their  fellow-citizens. 

Opinion  is  divided  in  the  township  as  to 
where  the  first  school  was  taught,  and  where 
and  when  the  first  house  was  built.  The  old 
log  schoolhouse  at  the  Center,  as  before  men- 
tioned, was  erected  in  1819,  and  the  first  term 
therein  was  taught  the  following  winter  by 
Jonathan  Starr.  Other  reports  are  to  the  ef- 
fect that  while  Starr  might  have  taught  the 
first  school  in  the  township,  he  was  not  the 
first  teacher  in  the  old  house  at  the  Center,  this 
honor  being  accorded  to  John  Codding,  Esq. 
They  were  both  verj-  early  teachers,  and  it 
may  be  that  the  first  school  was  taught  in  the 
old  log  schoolhouse  in  the  northwest  corner  of 
the  township,  instead  of  in  the  schoolhouse  at 
the  Center,  as  it  is  known  that  the  Hawkins 
Schoolhouse  was  built  very  early,  some  ac- 
counts fixing  the  date  before  that  when  the 
log  house  was  built  at  the  Center.  The  subse- 
quent township  historian  will  be  allowed  the 
honor  and  pleasure  of  uni'aveling  the  mystery. 
The  old  house  at  the  Center  was  used  for  school 
and  many  other  purposes  some  tea  or  twelve 
years,  when  a  frame  building  was  erected  on 
the  square  to  take  its  place,  after  which  it  was 
abandoned.  The  frame  building  was  used  as 
a  schoolhouse  until  the  erection  of  the  brick 
building  in  about  1858,  and  possibly  several 
terms  were  taught  there  after  the  erection  of 
the  brick.  It  is  said  that  two  or  three  years 
before  the  last  war  was  begun,  two  or  three 
schools  were  in  session  in  the  village  at  the 
same  time.  The  frame  building  is  now  used 
as  a  shop,  and  the  brick  was  disused  in  1872, 
when  the  present  house  was  devoted  to  school 
purposes.     This    building    is    located    in   the 


southern  part  of  the  village,  and  since  it  has 
been  used  the  village  has  had  an  excellent 
school.  In  truth,  no  other  village  in  the  county 
of  the  same  size,  except,  perhaps.  Peninsula, 
in  Boston  Township,  haa  had  so  much  to  do 
with  school  ventures  and  enterprises  as  Copley 
Center.  A  short  time  before  the  last  war,  the 
villagers  became  dissatisfied  with  the  appli- 
ances made  of  the  township  school  fund.  They 
saw  that,  while  the  village  had  no  better 
schools  than  those  in  suri'ounding  districts,  the 
Center  District  was  paying  a  much  greater 
amount  of  school  tax  than  any  of  the  others. 
New  schoolhouses  in  neighboring  districts  were 
erected,  and  the  villagers  were  burdened  with 
a  tax  which  seemed  out  of  proportion,  and 
which  they  paid  only  under  remonstrance. 
The  subject  was  freely  discussed,  and  it  was  at 
last  resolved  to  secure  the  incorporation  of  the 
Center  School  District,  which  was  accordingl}^ 
done.  This  procedure  freed  them  from  anj^ 
school  tax,  save  that  necessary  for  the  main- 
tenance of  their  own  school.  The  interest  in 
school  affairs  had  arisen  to  high-water  mark, 
and  while  at  the  flood  the  tide  was  turned  in 
the  proper  direction,  and  it  ma^'  be  said  that, 
since  the  incorporation  of  the  district  for  school 
purposes,  the  interest  in  educational  progress 
has  been  strong  and  steady.  In  about  1858, 
the  building  now  used  as  a  town  hall,  which 
had  been  built  at  an  early  day  for  a  storehouse, 
was  purchased  for  $1,000,  by  ten  men,  each  of 
whom  furnished  $100.  These  men  were  M.  D. 
Pratt.  Cyrus  Wicks,  J.  H.  Lyon,  John  C. 
Stearns,  Peter  Wicks,  James  Hammond,  Aaron 
Oviatt,  Lorenzo  Chamberlain,  Delos  Bosworth 
and  Alanson  Foster.  They  fitted  up  the  build- 
ing for  a  schoolhouse,  and  employed  Rev.  John 
Ensell,  a  capable  instructor  and  a  scholarly 
gentleman,  to  take  charge  of  the  school,  which 
was  then  opened.  A  goodly  number  of  schol- 
ars was  enrolled,  and  a  moderate  tuition  i)aid, 
and  it  seemed  as  if  the  school  was  destined  to 
exert  a  wide  and  beneficial  influence.  But  the 
war  came  on  with  its  damaging  influence,  other 
discouraging  events  arose,  and  the  school 
ended  some  five  years  after  it  began.  The 
school  in  the  northwest  corner  has  always  been 
a  good  one.  It  is  a  union  district,  comprising 
parts  of  Copley,  Bath.  Granger  and  Sharon. 
It  was  an  early  settled  neighborhood,  and  on 
account  of  the  interest  which  centered  there, 
became  well  known  and  largely  attended.    One 


648 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


or  more  new  houses  have  taken  the  place  of 
the  old  log  one.  In  other  neighborhoods  than 
the  northwest  corner  and  the  Center,  schools 
were  not  taught  until  about  1828,  and  in  some 
districts  even  later  than  that.  It  was  about 
that  period,  also,  that  the  township  was  first 
laid  out  into  school  districts. 

Two  religious  societies  were  organized  in  tlie 
township,  but  the  date  when  this  occurred  can 
not  be  given,  at  least  with  certainty.  The 
Methodists  and  Congregationalists  started  up 
about  the  same  time,  and  the  date  is  not  far 
from  1830.  Among  the  leading  Methodists 
were  Joseph  and  Henry  White,  Parker  Tyler, 
Alpheus  Northrup  and  others.  In  the  winter 
of  1836-37,  this  society  had  the  greatest  re- 
vival probabh'  ever  in  the  township.  The 
sweeping  statement  is  made,  "  Why,  everybody' 
joined  church."  Two  ministers  of  State  reputa- 
tion— Dr.  Cone  and  Elder  Poe — had  charge  of 
the  meetings,  and  under  their  experienced 
and  able  guidance  and  management,  scores 
were  converted  and  the  churches  strength- 
ened by  large  additions  to  the  membership. 
Alpheus  Noi'thrup  was  a  local  minister,  about 
whom  a  curious  incident  is  related  by  M.  D. 
Pratt.  Pratt  was  converted— at  least,  he  joined 
the  Methodist  Church — and  one  day  Northrup 
came  to  him  and  wanted  to  borrow  one  of  his 
horses,  of  which  he  owned  several,  some  of 
them  being  idle.  The  request  was  readily 
granted,  and  the  local  man  of  Grod  rode  the 
animal  away.  After  two  or  three  weeks  had 
elapsed,  several  of  the  neighbors'  boys,  at  dif- 
ferent times,  spoke  to  Mr.  Pratt,  saying  that 
the  horse  which  had  been  borrowed  was  getting 
poor  and  did  not  appear  to  be  well  taken  care 
of,  upon  which  the  owner  conferred  with  the 
minister  about  the  matter,  the  latter  confessing 
that  the  animal  was  getting  thin,  and  saj'ing 
that  he  would  get  some  grain  and  see  that  bet- 
ter care  was  taken  in  the  future.  A  few  weeks 
later,  the  minister  called  on  Mr.  Pratt,  saying 
that  the  horse  was  dead,  and  expressing  his  de- 
sire to  pay  for  the  damage  done.  He  also  in- 
sisted that,  under  existing  circumstances,  the 
price  should  be  cut  down  at  least  half  Mr. 
Pratt,  glad  to  get  an3'thing  for  the  animal  from 
the  minister,  who  was  in  extremely  indigent 
circumstances,  agreed  to  the  proposal,  and  the 


price  was  fixed  at  $25.  Northrup  gave  his 
note  for  the  amount,  and  took  his  departure. 
A  few  days  later,  Pratt  was  astonished  to  see 
the  minister  riding  the  animal  which  was  re- 
ported to  have  died,  and  he  perceived  that  he 
had  been  outflanked.  He  kept  still,  however, 
hoping  to  realize  on  the  note  ;  but  time  passed 
awa}',  the  day  of  maturity  came  around,  but 
nothing  was  paid,  and  thus  the  matter  rests  to- 
day. It  is  said  that  Mr.  Northrup's  mind  was 
injured  in  some  wa}',  and  that  he  often  did  pe- 
culiar things — things  which  otherwise  would 
reflect  seriously  on  his  honest  intentions.  Mr. 
Pratt  tells  the  tale  with  some  bitterness, 
which,  under  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the 
case,  may  be  permitted.  The  Congregational 
society  grew  in  strength  and  grace,  and  among 
its  early  members  were  the  following  :  Law- 
rence Moore,  Heman  Oviatt,  Joseph  and  Sam- 
uel Hawkins  and  Andrew  Baldwin.  In  the 
year  1844,  the  two  societies  united  means  and 
erected  the  church  at  the  Center.  Here  they 
have  continued  to  assemble  alternately  until 
the  present.  Each  society  has  had  its  years  of 
adversity  and  prosperity,  sometimes  rejoicing 
in  the  strength  of  a  large  memberstiip  and  an 
abundance  of  funds,  at  other  times  reduced  in 
numbers,  funds  depleted,  and  a  noticeable  lack 
of  religious  zeal.  That  the  societies  have  done 
a  great  deal  to  improve  the  morals  of  the  com- 
munity and  control  the  wayward  tendenc}'  of 
youth,  is  apparent  to  all  who  will  soberly  think 
of  the  subject.  However  skeptical  a  man  may 
be,  though  his  opinions  may  be  those  of  Diab- 
olus  himself,  he  cannot  successfuU}'  deny  the 
beneficent  effect  of  good  morals  on  society. 
He  may  denounce  the  church  and  traduce  its 
servants,  yet  he  cannot  truthfully  deny  that  it 
creates  a  world-wide  benefit  to  the  human  race. 
A  Methodist  Church  was  built  at  quite  an  early 
daN'  on  the  northern  line  of  the  township,  the 
members  living  both  in  Cople}-  and  Bath.  The 
The  building  is  now  used  as  a  dwelling  in  the 
village  of  Ellis'  Corners,  if  the  historian  has 
been  correctly  informed.  Citizens  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  Cople}'  attend  church  in  Medina 
County,  while  man}-  of  those  on  the  opposite 
side  attend  the  Akron  churches  when  the 
weather  is  fair. 


> 


^v 


?  ■ 


TWINSBURG   TOWNSHIP. 


649 


k. 


CHAPTER     XXXI.* 

TWINSBURG    TOWNSHIP— PHVSICAL    AND    CLIMATIC    FEATURES— EARLY    SETTLEMENT   AND    IM- 
PROVEMENT—PROGRESS OF  INDUSTRIES— INCIDENTS  OF  PERSONAL  NATURE 
—TWINSBURG    INSTITUTE  — SCHOOLS    AND    CHURCHES. 


Toe  AL  history  possesses  a  peculiarity  which 
J  evades  a  cursory  view,  remaining  concealed 
until  persons  of  greater  penetration  peer  be- 
neath the  covering  of  average  superficial  human 
thought.  People  must  be  content  with  an  ac- 
cuiate,  though  sifted,  partial  narration  of  events. 
Innumerable  transactions  and  events  occur  in 
life  that  should  and  must  forever  remain  unre- 
corded, that  should  die  out  in  memory  with  the 
age  in  which  they  transpired.  History,  at  best, 
is  but  a  partial  narration  of  particulars,  depend- 
ing largely  upon  the  mental  and  moral  caliber 
and  culture  of  the  writer.  Perhaps  no  two 
writers,  in  describing  the  same  historical  event, 
will  present  the  same  features,  the  same  shades 
of  thought  or  sentiment,  the  same  degree  of 
power  and  importance  which  each  composing 
element  bears  to  its  fellows  or  to  the  whole. 
Historians  cannot,  especially  if  they  were 
absent  when  the  event  transpired,  which  is 
Lisuall}'  the  case,  they  cannot  write  all  the  cir- 
cumstances, all  the  motives,  all  the  intricate 
blendings  and  relations  of  which  an  occurrence 
is  composed.  The}'  must  give  an  outline,  must 
give  the  salient  points  with  their  proper  degree 
of  importance,  must  overleap  the  dark  chasms 
of  non-essentials  which  j'awn  beneath  them, 
and  touch  only  on  the  heights  where  the  sun- 
shine of  human  experience,  human  nature  and 
human  frailties  reveals  not  only  the  object  for 
Avhich  history  is  written,  but  the  long  vistas  of 
prominent  events  which  are  to  be  recorded  for 
future  usefulness  and  improvement. 

The  peculiarity  spoken  of,  which  is  connected 
with  the  narration  of  local  history,  consists  in 
the  writer's  being  required  by  an  inexperienced 
and  short-sighted  people  to  give  an  account  of 
occurrences  which  are  better  unrecorded,  which 
have  no  special  significance  nor  value  in  com- 
ing years,  which  are  a  clog  to  the  mind  of  the 
reader  while  endeavoring  to  decipher  the  more 
important  events  from  the  general  obscurity, 

♦Contributed  by  W.  A.  Goodspced. 


and  which  are  onlj'  required  that  the}-  may 
answer  individual  ends.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  historian  must  be  careful,  must  be  broad  of 
heart  and  mind,  that  he  may  grasp  the  local 
situation,  and  paint  events  in  their  true  colors  ; 
must  be  argus-eyed,  that  nothing  may  escape 
his  scrutiny  ;  and  must  be  honest  and  consci- 
entious, that  his  discoveries  may  be  truthfully 
recorded.  He  should  also  be  a  good  judge  of 
human  nature,  that  the  suggestions  of  selfish 
and  bigoted  people  may  be  impartially  scanned, 
and  accepted  or  rejected.  Events  are  often 
omitted,  which,  apparently,  should  have  been 
given  ;  and  again,  events  ave  often  given  which 
should  have  been  omitted.  Human  judgment 
is  prone  to  err  "  as  the  sparks  to  fl}'  upward  ;" 
and  even  historians  are  not  exceptions  to  this 
rule.  It  is  the  object  in  these  pages  to  give 
onl}-  that  portion  of  the  past  that  is  worthy  of 
preservation.  Trifiing  personal  incidents,  ad- 
ventures and  ambitions  are  omitted,  except 
such  as  show  the  surroundings  under  which  the 
settlers  labored  ;  and  the  great  mass  of  histor- 
ical rubbish,  though  perhaps  of  present  interest, 
is  thrown  aside  as  useless  and  burdensome. 
Onl}'  those  events  which  will  be  valuable  twenty 
generations  hence  are  designed  to  be  given. 

Twinsburg  is  situated  in  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  county.  It  was  originally  attached  to 
Portage  County,  from  which  it  was  severed 
when  Summit  Count}-  was  formed.  LjMng  as 
it  does  at  the  side  of  North  field,  its  soil  par- 
takes largely  of  the  valuable  character  of  the 
latter.  There  are  several  valuable  stone  quar- 
ries lying  so  near  the  surface  that  a  heav}-  blast 
of  powder  would,  apparently-,  throw  out  hun- 
dreds of  perches  of  the  gritty  sandstone.  As 
it  is,  large  quantities  are  taken  out,  and  are 
used  not  merely  in  the  count}-,  but  in  adjacent 
counties.  The  township  is  well  watered,  and 
also  well  drained.  In  times  of  drought,  the 
wells  are  not  so  liable  to  fail  as  those  located 
on    the    bluffs    which    bound    the    Cuyahoga 


-4.: 


650 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    C0U:NTY. 


River.  The  township  is  drained  almost  wholly 
by  Tinker's  Creek.  This  stream  enters  near 
the  southeast  corner  and  flows  northwest,  leav- 
ing one  mile  east  of  the  northwest  corner. 
There  are  several  valuable  falls,  the  principal 
one  being  at  Millville.  In  early  years,  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  township,  the  bed  of  the 
creek  widened  out  to  three  or  four  times  its 
ordinary  width,  thus  creating  what  might  be 
termed  a  lake  on  a  small  scale.  There  is  con- 
siderable quite  level  land,  which,  when  the 
country  was  new,  was  very  wet,  affording  but 
little  satisfaction  to  those  who  were  obliged  to 
cross  it.  Since  the  opening  of  the  forests  has 
let  in  the  heat  of  the  sun,  the  soil  is  found  to 
be  in  about  the  proper  condition  to  work.  The 
soil  is  mainl}'  destitute  of  clay,  consisting 
mostly'  of  a  dark  loam,  which  contains  a  large 
proportion  of  decaj'ing  vegetable  ingredients. 
Large  quantities  of  stone  are  being  taken  out 
at  the  quarry  one  mile  north  of  the  Center. 

Much  of  the  early  history  of  this  township 
has  already  been  written  by  some  of  its  earliest 
and  most  reliable  citizens.  While  much  of  this 
must  be  repeated,  not  only  from  its  value,  but 
from  the  fact  that  it  is  unusually  complete, 
new  items  of  historical  importance,  which  have 
been  carefully  gathered  and  selected,  will  be 
added.  The  writer  has  taken  pains  to  collect 
additional  information  on  those  subjects  which 
are  treated  quite  fully  by  Ethan  Ailing,  Luman 
Lane  and  Gen.  Bierce.  In  a  few  instances, 
those  writers  have  made  mistakes,  some  of 
which  have  been  discovered  and  will  be 
avoided.  Other  subjects  have  not  been  treated 
as  thoroughly  as  their  historical  value  de- 
mands, resulting  no  doubt  from  the  primary 
nature  of  these  records.  Again,  other  impor- 
tant topics  have  been  altogether  overlooked. 
The  writings  of  the  above-named  men  are  valu- 
able, and  ai'e  mainly  followed. 

The  original  proprietors  of  Twinsburg  were 
Mills  &  Hoadley,  who  owned  the  south  and 
southeasterl}'  parts ;  Henry  Champion,  who 
owned  the  west  and  northwesterly  parts,  and 
Moses  and  Aaron  Wilcox,  who  owned  the  north 
and  northeasterly  parts.  The  principal  stream 
in  the  township  was  named  by  Gen.  Moses 
Cleaveland,  in  honor  of  the  principal  boatman, 
Joseph  Tinker,  who  accompanied  the  first  ex- 
ploring expedition  sent  to  the  Western  Reserve 
by  the  Connecticut  Land  Company.  While  par- 
ties of  the  surveyors  were  running  the  merid- 


ians in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Reserve,  during 
the  summer  of  1796,  Gen.  Cleaveland,  accom- 
panied by  Joseph  Tinker,  went  up  the  lake  on 
an  exploring  voyage,  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the 
Cuyahoga,  and  then  up  that  river  until  they 
discovered  a  large  creek,  which,  in  honor  of  his 
boatman.  Gen.  Cleaveland  named  "  Tinker's 
Creek."  Tinker  was  engaged  the  following 
year  in  the  same  capacity,  in  the  second  explor- 
ing expedition  to  the  Reserve.  In  the  fall, 
when  the  company  was  returning  down  the  lake, 
the  boat  containing  Tinker  was  capsized,  and 
he  was  drowned.  But  the  stream  still  bears  his 
name,  and  will  until  the  end  of  time. 

In  1810-17,  Lewis  Ailing,  of  Connecticut, 
purchased  400  acres  of  land  of  Mills  &  Hoad- 
ley, l3'ing  in  the  southeast  part  of  Millsville 
Township  (now  Twinsburg).  On  the  3d  of 
March,  1817,  he  sent  his  son  Ethan,  then  a  strip- 
ling aged  sixteen  years,  to  this  land  in  the  Re- 
serve to  commence  an  improvement.  Three 
young  men — Zeri  Ailing,  Rodolphus  Wolcott 
and  Lex  Johnson — were  hired  and  sent  out  at 
the  same  time  to  assist  him.  After  a  muddy 
journc}',  except  one  day's  travel  on  the  ice  from 
Buflialo  to  Dunkirk,  this  little  part}'  of  four  ar- 
rived at  the  cabin  of  Mr.  Post,  in  Hudson,  on 
the  last  day  of  March.  The  next  da}'  the  party, 
accompanied,  or  rather  guided,  by  Mr.  Mills, 
started  north  to  have  a  look  at  the  land,  upon 
which  they  were  destined  to  undergo  many  hard 
da3's'  labor.  Following  a  line  of  marked  trees, 
they  at  last  reached  a  spot  which  Mr.  Mills  in- 
formed them  was  the  center  of  the  township. 
They  all  sat  down  and  rested  under  a  beech 
tree  which  stood  just  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  square.  The  spot  was  muddy  and  uninvit- 
ing, and  the  party  followed  up  the  creek  until 
the}^  came  to  "the  falls,"  where  the}' found  some 
sticks  of  hewed  timber  which  had  been  drawn 
there  by  settlers  of  Hudson  who  designed  build- 
ing a  saw-mill.  The  project,  however,  had  been 
abandoned,  although  a  small,  partly  finished 
log  cabin  had  been  erected,  which  was  yet 
standing,  an  emblem  of  desertion  and  loneliness. 
After  returning  to  Hudson  and  remaining  there 
two  weeks,  clearing  in  the  meantime  a  piece 
of  land  to  be  planted  in  corn,  the  boys  selected 
a  hill  known  now  as  the  Hawkins  farm,  the 
land  being  a  portion  that  had  been  purchased 
by  Lewis  Ailing,  and  began  clearing  oft'  the 
timber.  On  the  15th  of  April,  the}'  "moved" 
to  the  half-finished  log  cabin  already  referred  to, 


TWINSBUEG    TOWNSHIP. 


651 


taking  with  them  a  barrel  of  stale  pork  that  had 
been  bought  of  Capt.  Oviatt  for  $25,  a  barrel 
of  flour  that  had  cost  $8,  ten  bushels  of  pota- 
toes that  had  cost  $5,  and  a  gallon  of  whisky 
that  had  cost  $1.50.  The}"  were  supplied  with 
a  bake-kettle  without  a  bail,  two  tin  pans,  one 
case  knife,  one  iron  spoon,  and  were  compelled 
to  use  chips  for  plates  and  sharp  sticks  for 
forks.  Ethan  Ailing  kept  house,  doing  the 
cooking,  etc.,  not  onl}'  for  his  part}-  but  for  va- 
rious visitors  who  were  attracted  to  the  spot,  in 
order,  perhaps,  to  get  a  "  square  meal."  On  the 
7th  of  Jul}',  Lewis  Ailing  and  his  family  ar- 
rived, and  moved  into  a  log  house  that  had  been 
erected  b}'  the  boys  about  the  1st  of  June.  This 
building  was  the  home,  during  the  3'ear,  of  the 
Ailing  famil}-,  and  also  of  several  others,  num- 
bering in  all  fourteen  persons.  The  house  was 
two-storied,  having  one  room  above  and  one 
below,  and,  although  ever^'thing  was  in  the  most 
primitive  fashion.  3-et  all  seemed  to  live  well 
and  enjoy  themselves.  Provisions  were  very 
costl}',  though  venison  could  be  had  without 
much  trouble.  Pork  sold  for  about  $8  per  hun- 
dred, while  the  same  quantity  of  venison  could 
be  bought  for  $\.  Salt  was  $10  per  barrel,  cot- 
ton shirting  50  cents  per  yard,  and  calico  75 
cents  per  3ard. 

Toward*^the  latter  part  of  May,  1817,  Maj. 
Elisha  Loomis,  E.  W.  Mather  and  Lester  Davis 
arrived  from  Connecticut,  and,  after  stopping 
a  few  days  with  the  Allings,  built  a  log  cabin 
at  a  place  since  known  as  Loomis  Mills.  Mr. 
Loomis  had  been  a  sailor  on  the  ocean  for 
many  years,  having  sailed  twice  round  the 
world  in  the  ship  Oneida.  Frederick  Stanley 
came  in  about  the  saine  time  Loomis  did.  On 
the  1st  of  Jul}-,  Lewis  Ailing,  Jr.,  Gideon 
Thompson  and  Zenas  Ailing  arrived  with  a 
drove  of  104  merino  sheep,  having  driven  them, 
in  thirty  days,  660  miles.  It  was  thought  that 
sheep-rearing  could  be  made  profitable,  but  the 
owners  were  doomed  to  disappointment.  The 
wolves  killed  many  of  them,  as  did  also  the 
dogs,  while  others  died  of  strange  diseases 
which  baffled  all  care.  The  flock  were  soon  all 
gone.  At  the  close  of  1820,  the  following  set- 
tlers had  found  homes  in  the  township  :  Lewis 
Ailing.  William  Allen,  Elisha  Loomis,  Elias 
Mather,  Joel  W.  Thompson,  Josiah  Myric, 
Noah  P.  Nichols,  A.  J.  Palmer,  Henry  Bennett, 
Amos  C.  Taylor,  Lyman  Richmond,  Keuben 
Chamberlain,  Frederick  Stanley,  John  Bassett, 


Samuel  Vail,  Edwin  Vail,  Homer  Vail,  John 
Dodge,  Isaiah  Humphrey,  Roman  Humphrey. 
Nestor  Hurlbut,  Ezra  Osborn,  Preston  Pond, 
Samuel  Alger,  Cyrus  Hodskin,  N.  S.  Barnett, 
Cotton  M.  Leech,  Levi  Leech,  Emery  Alger, 
Elijah  W.  Bronson,  Asa  l^pson.  Orrin  Tucker, 
Leonard  Kilbourn,  Oliver  Clark  and  Messrs. 
Perkins,  Sawyer,  Davis  and  Darling. 

The  township  was  organized  in  1819.  An 
election  was  ordered  to  be  held  in  April  of  that 
year,  by  the  Commissioners  of  Portage  County, 
and  on  that  occasion  nineteen  voters  were  pres- 
ent. Frederick  Stanley  was  chosen  Clerk,  and  a 
few  other  offices  were  filled ;  but  it  was  found  nec- 
essary during  the  following  autumn  to  elect  the 
the  remainder,  at  which  time  Lewis  Ailing  and 
Samuel  Vail  were  chosen  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
receiving  their  commissions  from  the  county 
court.  Elisha  Loomis  was  the  second  Clerk. 
E.  W.  Bronson  third,  and  Luman  Lane  fourth, 
the  latter  serving  in  1822.  The  township  was 
named  in  1819,  in  honor  of  and  at  the  sugges- 
tion of,  the  Wilcox  brotheis.  who  were  twins. 
These  brothers  did  not  come  West  until  1823  ; 
but  owning  as  they  did  several  thousand  acres 
in  the  northeastern  part,  they  proposed  giving 
six  acres  at  the  center  for  a  public  square,  and 
$20  toward  building  the  first  schoolhouse.  pro- 
viding the  township  was  named  Twinsburg  in 
their  honor.  Their  proposal  was  accepted  :  but 
prior  to  that  time  the  township  was  known 
either  by  its  range  and  number,  or  as  Millsville. 
Elijah  W.  Bronson  was  the  real  estate  agent  of 
the  Wilcox  brothers,  being  authorized  to  dis- 
pose of  their  land  previous  to  their  coming  to 
the  township.  Luman  Lane  was  the  first,  or 
one  of  the  first,  to  erect  a  dwelling  on  the  Wil- 
cox tract.  Maria  Stanley  was  the  first  child 
born,  that  event  occurring  November  23.  1819. 
The  first  death  was  in  the  spring  of  1819.  and 
was  that  of  a  child  of  Reuben  Chamberlain. 
The  first  marriage  occurred  INIarch  19.  1821. 
between  p]mery  W.  Alger  and  Eliza  Dodge, 
Lewis  Ailing,  Esq..  performing  the  ceremony  in 
backwoods  fashion. 

In  1817,  Elisha  Loomis  erected  a  saw-mill  in 
the  southeastern  corner  on  Tinker's  Creek.  A 
natural  fall  in  the  stream,  of  some  ten  feet,  aided 
by  a  strong  dam.  furnished  a  fine  water-power. 
Water  was  supplied  by  means  of  a  race,  and 
the  mill  continued  to  do  good  work  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  In  1818,  E.  W.  Mather  built  a 
frame  grist-mill  at  the  same  place,  on  the  op- 


"e)  ^ 


652 


HISTORY   or    SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


posite  side  of  the  creek.  This  mill  was  oper- 
ated until  about  1840,  when  it  ceased  from  lack 
of  patronage.  The  presence  of  these  two  mills 
at  the  falls  served  to  atti-act  settlers  to  that 
locality,  and  several  dwellings  were  soon  seen 
on  the  adjoining  hills.  This  proceeding  met 
the  approval  of  the  proprietors  of  that  tract, 
who  had  already  placed  on  paper  a  plat  of  the 
prospective  village  of  "  Millsville."  They  saw 
a  general  disposition  on  the  part  of  the  settlers 
to  locate  there,  and  determined  to  profit  by  it. 
They  accordingly  laid  out  a  number  of  lots,  and 
offered  them  for  sale  at  prices  ranging  from 
$50  to  $200  ;  but  they  had  greatly  miscalcu- 
lated, as  scarcely  a  lot  was  sold.  There  were 
but  few  mechanics  in  the  country  then,  and 
they  sought  larger  villages  in  which  to  pi}'  their 
craft.  And  then  the  price  asked  was  ten  times 
too  much  for  that  early  period  of  the  growth  of 
the  village.  All  shunned  the  village,  and  at 
last,  when  the  proprietors  awoke  to  the  true 
state  of  affairs,  they  were  too  late  to  remedy 
the  evil.  There  was  no  demand  for  the  lots 
then  at  any  price.  The  tradesmen,  mechanics 
and  merchants  had  gone  elsewhere,  leaving  the 
proprietors  to  repent  in  sackcloth  and  ashes  for 
their  short-sightedness.  The  mills,  at  this  antici- 
pated village,  were  not  the  only  ones  in  Twins- 
burg  in  early  years.  Apollos  White  built  a 
dam  across  Tinker's  Creek  in  about  1835,  and 
erected  thereon  two  mills — one  for  grinding 
grain  and  the  other  for  sawing  lumber.  Both 
did  fair  work  for  a  number  of  years.  White 
finally  sold  the  grist-mill  to  a  man  named  Gibbs, 
who,  after  operating  it  a  few  years,  sold  to  other 
parties.  It  finall}-  burned  down  in  about  1865, 
George  and  Alfred  Ledgsham  being  the  owners 
at  the  time.  These  mills  did  good  work,  and 
had  an  extensive  patronage  in  their  day.  It 
was  an  accommodation  to  get  flour  and  lumber 
so  near  home,  for  it  saved  tiresome  journeys 
through  roads  whose  bottom  was  too  far  down 
to  be  reached  with  comfort. 

Roads  were  important  considerations  when 
the  countr}'  was  first  settled.  If  a  path  was 
cleared  through  the  woods  for  that  purpose,  it 
seemed  as  if  all  the  stagnant  water  for  rods 
around  was  sure  to  settle  there.  The  turnpike 
was  largel}'  graded  by  the  owners  of  the  land 
across  which  it  ran.  Mills  and  Hoadley  worked 
the  turnpike  along  their  land,  as  did  also  Henry 
Champion.  These  men  evidently  had  an  ob- 
ject in  view  in  this  proceeding,  as  they  after- 


ward charged  an  additional  dollar  per  acre  more 
for  the  land  adjoining  the  turnpike  than  for 
other  portions.  The  citizens  gave  from  $10  to 
$50  each  to  assist  in  defraying  the  expense  of 
constructing  this  road,  the  amount  given  reach- 
ing very  nearly  $3,000.  In  1821,  the  citizens 
living  on  the  road  running  north  from  the  Cen- 
ter, pledged  themselves  to  labor  on  that  road 
each  alternate  Saturda}'^  afternoon,  or  forfeit  a 
half-gallon  of  whisk}'.  Tradition  tells  us  of  a 
great  many  forfeits  paid  ;  but  does  not  utter  a 
syllable  as  to  what  became  of  the  whisky.  In 
spring  time,  when  Tinker's  Creek  was  raging, 
the  settlers  living  on  the  opposite  side  found  it 
extremely  difficult  to  cross  over  to  the  Center. 
This  finally  led  to  the  erection  of  a  bridge  more 
than  forty  rods  in  length,  which  lasted  for  a 
number  of  years.  Brush  and  stone  and  logs 
were  placed  in  muddy  spots  in  the  roads  ;  and, 
some  time  in  the  distant  future,  when  these 
places  are  invaded,  and  portions  of  the  wood 
found  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation,  newspaper 
speculations  as  to  how  long  they  have  been 
there  will  be  in  order. 

In  1825,  J]than  Ailing  began  the  dairy  busi- 
ness with  twenty-two  cows,  several  of  which 
had  been  bought  for  $12  each.  The  butter 
made  was  taken  to  Akron  once  each  week,  and 
sold  at  8  cents  per  pound  for  the  use  of  the 
canal  laborers.  Considerable  cheese  was  also 
made,  but  from  a  lack  of  suitable  places  in 
which  to  keep  it,  a  large  portion  was  lost.  Six 
hundred  pounds,  however,  were  sold  at  Aurora 
for  5  cents  a  pound.  This  was  the  first  cheese 
made  in  Twinsburg.  In  1828,  Joseph  Cham- 
berlain also  began  making  cheese  and  butter 
from  the  milk  of  some  thirty  cows.  About  the 
same  time,  several  others  began  the  same  occu- 
pation, which  was  conducted  so  extensively 
that  money  began  to  flow  into  Twinsburg,  in- 
stead of  out  of  it  as  befoi'e.  About  $1,000 
came  to  the  township  in  1833  from  this  source 
alone.  Twinsburg  has  since  been  noted  for  its 
interest  in  dairy  matters.  The  sales  steadily 
increased  until,  in  1860,  they  amounted  to 
more  than  $75,000,  and  in  1880  to  nearly 
$100,000.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  scarce 
money  was  in  pioneer  times,  and  how  people 
managed  to  get  along  without  it.  When  the 
settlers  first  rushed  to  the  township,  there  was 
considerable  money  for  a  few  years  ;  but  when 
a  lull  in  the  immigration  occurred,  the  ready 
money  flowed  away  like  water,  leaving  the  set- 


\J<j(s- 


■k^ 


TWTNSBURG    TOWNSHIP. 


653 


tiers  to  discover  some  means  of  getting  along 
without  it.  At  first,  when  raone^^  was  abund- 
ant, prices  were  ver}'  high  ;  bat  when  the  mone}^ 
had  served  its  purpose  and  gone  to  distant 
places,  prices  gradual!}'  went  down  until  they 
became  ver}^  low.  The  settlers,  who  afterward 
came  drizzling  in  (if  the  expression  may  be 
allowed)  brought  ready  mone}',  and  the  settlers 
already  there  were  anxious  to  become  their 
bosom  friends.  This  rapid  change  created  two 
distinct  prices — one  called  the  trade  price,  and 
the  other  the  cash  price.  Promissory  notes, 
due  at  some  future  day,  were  made  payable  in 
horses,  cattle,  hogs,  wheat,  potatoes,  etc.,  etc. 
Quite  a  number  who  came  early  were  induced 
to  promise  to  pay  $5  or  $6,  per  acre  for  their 
farms.  Some  succeeded,  but  most  of  them 
failed,  and  were  obliged  to  leave  the  farms, 
several  of  which,  with  all  their  improvements 
upon  them,  were  afterward  sold  for  $3  an  acre. 
Early  in  the  spring  of  1821,  Joel  W.  Thomp- 
son, seeing  around  him  a  strong  demand  for 
liquor,  erected  a  small  distillery  at  a  spring  in 
the  southeastern  part  of  the  township.  Con- 
siderable rye  whisky  was  made  for  a  short 
time,  which  was  carried  away  in  gallon  bottles, 
as  fast  as  it  was  made.  In  1826,  a  strong  im- 
pulse was  given  to  the  temperance  cause  in 
Summit  County,  or  what  is  now  Summit  County. 
Societies  for  the  suppression  of  liquor-traffic 
and  liquor-drinking  were  organized  in  every 
township,  not  only  in  this  county,  but  through- 
out the  eastern  part  of  the  Reserve.  Great  en- 
thusiasm prevailed  among  the  workers,  and 
scores  of  persons  ceased  to  manufacture  and 
sell  ardent  spirits.  A  branch  society,  with 
headquarters  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  was  organized 
in  Twinsburg  in  about  1830,  and,  three  years 
later,  the  society  boasted  of  224  members — all 
living  in  the  township.  Those  who  were  sell- 
ing liquor  at  the  Center  were  induced  to  close 
up  their  business  and  join  the  society,  which 
could  soon  boast  that  there  was  no  place  in  the 
township  where  liquor  was  sold.  It  was  about 
the  time  of  the  organization  of  this  society 
that  the  first  effort  was  made  to  secure  the 
raising  of  log-buildings  without  whisky,  but 
the  movement  was  met  with  violent  opposition 
from  those  who  thought  liquor  one  of  the  neces- 
saries of  life.  These  men  refused  to  appear  at 
such  raisings,  but,  when  their  temperate  neigh- 
bors refused  to  assist  them,  unless  whisk}'  was 
omitted  from  the  programme,  they  finally  either 


dropped  the  use  of  liquor  on  such  occasions, 
or  sought  associations  more  congenial  with 
their  intemperate  habits.  A  spirit  of  hostility 
was  thus  created  between  parties,  which  termi- 
nated only  when  the  temperance  cause  pre- 
vailed. 

Many  interesting  incidents  are  told  by  old 
hunters  or  their  descendants  concerning  advent- 
ures had  with  bears  or  other  wild  animals. 
Ezra  Clark  was  one  day  chopping  on  a  piece  of 
woodland  belonging  to  Mr.  Lane,  when  sud- 
denly he  heard  a  hog,  off  some  twenty  rods 
distant,  begin  to  squeal  as  though  in  the  great- 
est distress.  Clark  instantly  surmised  that  a 
bear  was  endeavoring  to  carry  off  the  hog.  or 
was  killing  it  on  the  spot.  Though  unarmed, 
he  instantly  made  up  his  mind  to  prevent,  if 
possible,  the  untimely  death  of  the  tSus  scro/a. 
He  hurriedly  cut  a  heavy  club,  and,  seizing  it, 
he  ran  rapidly  forward  to  a  large  log,  behind 
which  he  beheld  a  scene  which  was  often 
enacted  in  the  backwoods.  A  savage-looking 
bear  of  average  size  had  thrown  a  full-grown 
hog  on  the  ground,  and  was  busily  engaged  in 
tearing  its  flesh  with  teeth  and  claws.  A  large 
hole,  from  whii;h  the  blood  freely  flowed,  had 
been  torn  in  the  hog's  shoulder,  and,  when  first 
seen,  the  bear  had  just  fastened  his  long  white 
teeth  in  the  tender  flesh,  with  the  design  of 
tearing  out  another  large  mouthful.  Mr.  Clark 
was  at  first  in  a  quandary  what  to  do,  whether 
to  consult  his  own  safety  in  flight,  or  to  cour- 
ageously attack  the  bear.  His  ax  was  still  in 
his  hand,  and,  after  hesitating  but  a  moment, 
he  approached  with  the  intention  of  striking  it 
into  the  bear.  But  the  moment  the  bear  be- 
held his  approach,  it  leaped  back  from  the  hog. 
and,  rearing  up  on  its  hind  feet,  in  the  act  of 
defense,  faced  the  woodsman  with  a  savage 
growl,  showing  two  rows  of  gleaming  teeth 
discolored  with  blood.  The  man  stopped 
short,  as  he  had  no  desire  to  encounter  the  em- 
braces of  the  animal.  He  threw  his  club,  how- 
ever, with  all  his  strength,  fairly  striking  the 
bear,  which  dropped  on  all  fours  and  shambled 
off  a  few  rods,  when  it  turned,  showed  its  teeth, 
and,  after  viewing  the  intruder  a  moment, 
turned  and  made  off  as  fast  as  it  could  through 
the  forest.  On  another  occasion,  a  bear  was 
seen  to  pass  across  the  southern  part  of  the 
township,  going  north.  An  alarm  was  given, 
and  a  party  of  men  with  dogs  and  guns  started 
rapidly  in  pursuit.     The  bear  was  overtaken 


:^ 


^'. 


654 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


by  the  dogs,  and  treed  near  the  cabin  of  Aaron 
Post.  The  men  came  up,  when  one  of  them 
fired,  bringing  the  bear  to  the  ground.  It  was 
badly  wounded,  but  had  plenty  of  life  and 
flight  remaining,  and  the  men,  knowing  that  it 
could  not  escape  them,  determined  to  have 
some  fun,  if  it  could  be  called  fun.  The  dogs, 
five  or  six  in  number,  were  urged  on  ;  but 
whenever  they  came  within  reach  of  the  bear, 
they  wex'e  knocked  about  like  foot-balls.  They 
soon  learned,  by  sorry  experience,  to  keep  at  a 
respectable  distance,  contenting  themselves 
with  sudden  approaches  and  nips,  when  the 
bear's  back  was  turned.  The  animal  handled 
its  fore  feet  with  remarkable  strength  and  dex- 
terity, wheeling  round  and  round  to  escape  the 
sharp  teeth  of  the  dogs,  and  occasionally  send- 
ing one  of  ihem  end  over  end  a  rod  or  more 
away.  At  last,  one  of  the  men,  with  gun 
cocked,  went  close  to  the  bear,  and  fired  di- 
rectly at  its  head,  expecting  to  stretch  it  dead 
in  its  tracks  ;  but,  just  as  he  fired,  the  bear 
made  a  sudden  movement,  and  thus  escaped 
the  shot  unhurt.  Another  tried  the  same  ex- 
periment, and  succeeded  in  killing  the  wounded 
animal.  It  is  related  by  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
(Walker)  Lappin,  of  Boston  Township,  who  is 
the  oldest  settler  living  in  the  count}',  having 
been  born  in  October,  1788,  and  who  came  to 
Hudson  in  1802,  that,  on  one  occasion,  a  man 
named  Cackler,  while  hunting  in  the  woods  in 
Twinsburg.  as  early  as  1808,  came  very  nearly 
being  killed  by  a  bear.  While  following  its 
trail  rapidly,  with  head  bent  down,  he  came  di- 
rectly upon  it  so  suddenl}'  that  he  had  no  time 
to  raise  his  gun  or  retreat.  The  animal  reared 
upon  its  hind  feet,  with  a  fierce  growl,  and 
struck  a  fearful  blow  at  the  hunter  with  its 
fore-paw,  but,  luckily,  he  leaped  back  far 
enough  to  avoid  the  stroke.  He  raised  and 
cocked  his  rifle,  probabh'  in  the  same  move- 
ment, and,  as  the  bear  was  upon  him,  he  thrust 
out  his  gun,  with  the  intention  of  making  a 
quick  shot,  and,  as  luck  would  have  it,  the 
muzzle  was  plunged  into  the  animal's  mouth. 
The  trigger  was  instantly  pulled,  and  a  ball 
went  crashing  through  the  brain  of  the  huge 
animal,  which,  a  moment  later,  fell  upon  the 
ground  in  the  agonies  of  death.  Had  it  not 
been  for  the  lucky  thrust  of  the  rifle,  it  would 
have  fared  hard  with  the  intrepid  hunter.  Mrs. 
Lappin  says  that  her  father,  John  Walker, 
killed  sixteen  bears  after  coming  to  the  county, 


and  that,  on  several  occasions,  he  had  narrow 
escapes  from  death.  He  had  a  large  butcher- 
knife,  which  he  invariably  carried  with  him, 
and,  whenever  a  bear  was  killed,  a  notch  was 
cut  on  the  deer-horn  handle.  This  knife  is 
now  in  possession  of  Mr.  Walker's  grandson, 
who  lives  in  Indiana,  and  upon  the  handle  are 
the  sixteen  notches,  cut  there  more  than  half  a 
centur}^  ago  by  the  fearless  old  bear  hunter. 
Many  other  interesting  stories  of  a  similar  na- 
ture might  be  narrated. 

It  is  probable  that  I^lijah  W.  Bronson,  the 
laud  agent  of  the  Wilcox  brothers,  erected  the 
first  house  in  the  village  of  Twinsburg.  The  exact 
date  is  not  remembered,  but  was  prior  to  1824. 
The  second  house  was  built  by  Mr.  Myric,  and  was 
a  frame  structure,  located  on  the  south  side  of 
the  public  square.  The  Bronson  building  was 
on  the  east  side,  and  was  constructed  of  logs. 
In  1824,  Leverett  Clark  bought  the  Myric 
property,  the  latter  moving  East.  A  man 
named  Gould  lived  about  ten  rods  west  of  the 
square  in  1824.  In  1823,  Moses  and  Aaron 
Wilcox  built  a  small  frame  house  on  the  north 
side,  and  hei'e  the  brothers  "  bached ''  for  a 
short  time,  selling,  in  the  meantime,  portions 
of  their  land,  and  using  their  best  efforts  to 
induce  settlers  to  locate  at  the  village  or  farther 
north  on  their  tract.  They  did  not  commit  the 
mistake  that  resulted  so  disastrously  to  Mills 
&  Hoadle3^  The}'  had  already  given  land  for 
the  public  square,  and  $20  toward  building  the 
first  schoolhouse,  and  they  now  not  only  sold 
their  village  lots  at  a  low  figure,  but  gave  lots 
to  tradesmen  and  mechanics  who  would  locate 
there  permanently.  The  result  was  that  in  five 
or  six  3'ears,  ten  or  twelve  families  were  living 
at  or  near  the  Center,  and  various  industries 
had  arisen,  giving  the  place  a  business-like  ap- 
pearance. While  •'  baching,''  the  brothers  em- 
ployed Mi's.  Clark  to  bake  their  bread  ;  but 
they  otherwise,  very  probably,  did  their  own 
cooking.  In  about  1826,  each  of  the  brothers 
built  a  small  frame  house  on  the  north  side, 
and  both  of  these  buildings  are  yet  standing 
in  a  fair  state  of  i^reservation,  and  both  are 
occupied.  In  the  fall  of  1825,  Ethan  Ailing, 
after  quitting  the  dairy  business,  commenced 
building  a  tavern  at  the  Center,  and  the  follow- 
ing year,  the  structure  having  been  completed, 
Mr.  Ailing  moved  in  about  the  1st  of  Decem- 
ber. The  tavern  was  formally  opened  on 
Christmas  with  a  ball,  and  music  and  dancing 


"e)  V 


:k^ 


TWINSBURG   TOWNSHIP. 


655 


ruled  the  hour.  This  building  is  yet  standing, 
and  composes  a  part  of  the  large,  low  frame 
structure  which  stands,  dark  and  deserted,  on 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  square.  In  the  bar  of 
this  tavern,  liquor  was  kept  for  sale,  a  universal 
thing  in  those  days.  The  Wilcox  brothers  had 
succeeded  in  getting  a  Post  Office  at  the  Center 
as  early  as  1825,  and  Moses  Wilcox  was  com- 
missioned first  Postmaster.  At  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  the  autumn  of  1827,  iMr. 
Ailing  applied  for  the  appointment,  and  was 
commissioned  October,  1827.  Mail  was  then 
obtained  from  Hudson  once  a  week.  The  total 
amount  of  postage  received  in  1828  was 
.S36.01  ;  in  1839,  it  was  8256.67,  and  in  1860, 
about  $400.  Twenty  periodicals  came  to  the 
office  in  1828  ;  about  seven  hundred  came  in 
1 860.  At  that  time  a  well-traveled  stage  route, 
running  from  Hudson  to  Cleveland,  passed 
through  Northfield  Township,  bringing  an 
enormous  custom  to  hotels  there,  and  filling 
every  industry  with  life.  Mr.  Ailing  and  others 
in  Twinsburg  saw  this,  and  became  envious  ; 
or,  at  least,  they  resolved  to  make  the  effort  to 
have  the  stage  route  changed  so  as  to  pass 
through  Twinsburg  Center.  With  this  object 
in  view,  Ethan  Ailing  and  Jabez  Gilbert,  in 
1828,  bought  out  the  entire  stage  pi-operty. 
The  sequel  is  easily  guessed.  The  route  was 
immediately  changed,  and  the  splendid  impetus 
given  to  every  industry  at  the  village  soon  pro- 
duced a  marked  result.  New  life  was  infused 
into  every  undertaking  ;  mechanics  and  teach- 
ers appeared,  and  the  outlook  for  the  village 
seemed  highly  favorable.  It  was  one  of  the 
most  important  events  occurring  in  the  history 
of  the  township.  A  tri-weekly  mail  was  thus 
secured,  and  from  one  to  five  stages  passed 
over  the  route  daily.  The  road  was  exten- 
sively traveled  by  persons  going  to  Cleveland 
to  market,  who  had  previously'  gone  by  some 
other  route.  It  is  said  that  very  often  as  high 
as  fifty  horses  were  kept  over  night  at  the  tav- 
ern barn.  But  although  the  stage  line  was  a 
splendid  thing  for  the  village  and  township,  it 
was  a  losing  investment  to  the  owners.  This 
is  difficult  to  understand  in  view  of  the 
fact  that,  so  far  as  can  be  learned,  the  stage 
line  was  well  patronized.  However,  Mr.  Ailing 
lost  $600  the  first  year  he  was  connected  with 
the  undertaking,  and  it  is  likely  that  those 
connected  with  him  also  lost  heavily.  In  1829, 
Mr.  Ailing  commenced  the  mercantile  pursuit 


in  his  tavern  bar,  a  room  six  feet  by  eight, 
placing  therein  $3.50  worth  of  tobacco  and 
Scotch  snuff.  A  few  groceries  were  added  the 
following  year,  and  as  the  trade,  though  ex- 
ceedingly limited,  seemed  brisk  and  prom- 
ising, Mr.  Ailing  finally  concluded  to  engage  in 
the  pui'suit  more  extensively.  He  accordingly 
rented  his  tavern  in  1831,  to  Samuel  Edgerly, 
and  built  a  frame  house,  an  apartment  in  which 
he  fitted  up  for  a  storeroom,  the  remainder 
being  devoted  to  the  use  of  his  family.  A  few 
hundred  dollars'  worth  of  goods  comprised  his 
stock  ;  but  this  was  slowly  and  steadily  in- 
creased until,  in  1835,  the  goods  wei-e  valued 
at  some  $600,  when  he  erected  a  large  store- 
room on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  square. 
Here  a  good  business  was  done  with  a  stock 
which,  at  its  best,  was  worth  about  $7,000.  All 
the  different  varieties  of  country  produce  were 
bought  and  sold,  and  the  store  did  much  to 
centralize  the  efforts  of  the  citizens  in  the  vil- 
lage. The  sales  of  goods,  exclusive  of  flour, 
salt  and  produce,  amounted  in  1817  to  $14,000, 
In  1848,  Mr.  Alling's  sons,  Frank  A.  and  George 
H.,  were  given  charge  of  the  store,  and  con- 
tinued until  about  1851,  when  George  pur- 
chased his  brother's  interest,  and  conducted 
the  business  until  1856,  when  he  died,  and  the 
store  fell  into  the  hands  of  Bishop  &  Chamber- 
lain. The  stock  at  this  time  was  worth  about 
$10,000,  and  a  brisk  and  profitable  trade  was 
had  with  the  surrounding  country.  At  the 
expiration  of  two  years.  Chamberlain  sold  his 
interest  to  his  partner,  the  latter  continuing 
alone  until  about  the  opening  of  the  war,  when 
he  likewise  sold  out.  In  1830,  the  tavern  now 
owned  and  conducted  by  Mr.  E.  W.  Clark,  was 
built  by  Eli  and  Otis  Boise.  It  was  intended 
for  a  combined  store  and  dwelling,  and,  in 
what  is  now  the  office,  about  $1,000  worth  of 
goods  were  placed.  The  brothers  sold  or  traded 
out,  two  years  later,  to  Edward  Kichardson, 
who,  at  the  end  of  some  three  years,  disposed 
of  his  goods  and  converted  the  building  into  a 
tavern,  a  use  to  which  it  has  since  been  devoted. 
In  about  the  year  1839,  Odell  &  Taylor  erected 
a  frame  store  building  on  the  present  site  of 
the  stone  store,  and  began  the  mercantile  pursuit 
with  between  $4,000  and  $5,000  worth  of  a  gen- 
eral assortment  of  goods.  They  likewise  bought 
produce,  and  enjoyed  a  lucrative  trade.  At 
the  end  of  about  five  years,  Mr.  Odell  pur- 
chased  his   partner's    interest   and   continued 


^ 


JV' 


656 


HISTORY   OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY 


until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  about  1851. 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Delos  Odell,  now 
conducting  a  harness-shop  in  Macedonia,  and 
two  or  three  other  gentlemen,  all  under  the 
partnership  name  of  Odell,  Price  &  Co.  In 
1857  or  1858,  A.  L.  Nelson  took  possession  of 
this  store  building,  but  was  soon  afterward 
burned  out,  whereupon  he  erected  the  stone 
store  building  he  now  occupies.  This  mer- 
chant, at  times,  has  done  an  excellent  business. 
Messrs.  Hart,  Dodge,  Santford  and  Bishop,  in 
about  1851,  built  the  store  building  now  occu- 
pied by  the  Madden  Brothers.  These  men, 
who  were  partners,  began  selling  goods,  and 
continued  thus  some  four  or  five  years,  when 
Mr.  Bishop  sold  to  the  others  and  withdrew. 
Three  years  later,  Mr.  Dodge  sold  to  the  Ste- 
phens boys,  and  thus  the  partnership  continued 
until  some  three  years  later,  when  the  parties 
failed  and  made  an  assignment  of  their  goods. 
After  that,  the  building  was  vacant,  or  practi- 
cally so,  until  1866,  when  MaddenBrothers  took 
possession  and  began  to  manufacture  and  sell 
ready-made  clothing.  They  were  practical  tail- 
ors, and  did  a  good  business  in  their  line,  con- 
tinuing until  the  present  time.  The  firm  is 
known  as  I.  &  P.  Madden.  Richardson  &  Tay- 
lor commenced  the  mercantile  pursuit  in  about 
1846,  and  continued  until  1850,  when  Mr. 
Richardson  sold  to  Mr.  McFarland,  and  the 
latter,  two  years  later,  to  Osman  Riley.  Soon 
afterward,  the  partners  failed  in  business,  and 
the  building  was  finally  destroyed  by  fire,  and 
was  not  rebuilt.  Other  merchants  have  held 
forth  in  the  village  at  different  times,  but  these 
were  the  principal  ones.  James  Alexander,  at 
an  early  day,  began  to  manufacture  wagons, 
conducting  the  work  in  a  small  shop,  on  a  small 
scale.  He  steadily  increased  his  business  until, 
in  1849,  he  gave  employment  to  ten  or  twelve 
workmen,  and  turned  out  large  numbers  of 
first-class  wagons  and  carriages.  He  burned 
out  in  1851,  but  immediately  rebuilt,  and  has 
continued  the  same  occupation  until  the  pres- 
ent, although  in  late  years  the  business  has 
greatly  fallen  off.  It  should  be  mentioned  that 
Mr.  Ailing,  at  an  early  day,  bought  ashes  and 
manufactured  a  limited  quantity  of  potash  for  a 
number  of  years,  in  the  village.  A  few  other 
industries  of  less  consequence  have  flourished 
from  time  to  time. 

It  was  customary  when  the  country  was  first 
settled  that,  when  a  death  occurred,  the  de- 


ceased should  be  buried  on  their  own  farms. 
This  was  done  in  Twinsburg.  In  September, 
1823,  a  cemetery  of  one  acre  was  purchased 
northeast  of  the  square,  and  Lucretia  Hull, 
who  died  in  September  of  the  same  year,  was 
the  first  person  buried  there.  In  1846,  a  new 
cemetery  was  prepared  on  Lot  10,  Tract  3, 
consisting  of  an  acre  and  a  half  The  yard 
was  fitted  up,  planted  with  trees,  and  a 
stone  wall  built  around  it,  at  an  expense  of 
$1,079.66.  Other  improvements  were  made, 
and,  by  1860,  the  cemetery  had  cost  the  citi- 
zens about  $1,850.  It  is  known  as  Locust 
Grove  Cemetery. 

It  should  be  noticed  that  the  first  principal 
settlement  in  the  township  was  made  upon  the 
Wilcox  tract.  This  tract,  it  seems,  was  in- 
cumbered by  a  mortgage  which  had  been  given 
by  the  Wilcox  Brothers  to  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut. These  men,  though  undoubtedly  up- 
right in  their  intentions,  were  unable  to  pay  off 
the  mortgage,  thus  leaving  settlers  who  had 
purchased  of  them  in  an  embarrassing  situa- 
tion. When  this  condition  of  things  became 
known,  settlement  upon  this  tract  largely 
ceased,  which  accounts  for  the  slow  manner  in 
which  it  was  improved.  Finally,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Bissell  took  the  matter  in  hand,  and,  by  his 
intercession  with  the  proper  authorities,  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  prompt  and  honorable 
relief  The  Wilcox  Brothers  were  remarkable 
in  many  respects.  As  has  been  said,  they 
were  twins,  and,  upon  arriving  at  man's  estate. 
married  sisters,  Huldah  and  Mabel  Lord,  of 
Killingsworth,  Conn.  "  In  life,  they  so  resem- 
bled each  other  that  none  but  their  most  inti- 
mate friends  could  distinguish  between  them. 
They  married  sisters,  had  an  equal  number  of 
children,  held  all  their  property  in  common, 
wrote  alike,  thought  alike,  looked  alike,  dressed 
alike,  were  taken  sick  on  the  same  day,  with 
the  same  disease,  died  on  the  same  day,  and 
were  buried  in  the  same  grave-yard."*  This 
remarkable  coincidence  in  similarity  probably 
never  before  occurred. 

In  the  year  1822,  a  log  schoolhouse  was 
built  upon  the  square  at  the  Center.  This  was 
the  first  public  building  of  any  character  in  the 
township,  and  it  was  used  as  a  schoolhouse,  a 
town  hall  and  a  church.  The  first  teacher  was 
Miss  Lovina  M.  Miream,  who  taught  a  short 
term,  receiving  her  pay  by  subscription.     This 

*Gen.  Bierce. 


'i^ 


TWINSBURG    TOWNSHIP. 


657 


lady  afterward  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  North. 
Other  district  schools  were  not  instituted  until 
about  1828,  and  several  were  as  late  as  1833. 
The  houses  put  up  were  usually  rude  log  build- 
ings, which  were  used  for  a  few  years,  or  until 
there  seemed  occasion  for  the  erection  of  better 
ones.  Although  these  schools  have  been  fair 
in  their  wa}',  j'et  they  have  been  mainly  primar}^ 
in  their  nature,  from  the  reason  that,  ordinarily, 
as  soon  as  the  scholars  became  quite  well  ad- 
vanced in  their  studies,  they  were  sent  to  the 
Twinsburg  Institute.  So  that,  really,  the 
country  schools  have  been  hardly  equal  to  the 
average  throughout  the  county.  The  history 
of  the  township  would  be  incomplete  without 
a  record  of  the  Twinsburg  Institute,  an  insti- 
tution which,  for  more  than  half  a  century  of 
usefulness,  has  done  more  to  improve  the  in- 
tellect and  morals  than  perhaps  any  other  or- 
ganization, not  even  excluding  the  churches. 
It  dates  its  origin  as  far  back  as  1 828,  when 
yet  the  townsnip  was  but  a  frontier  settlement, 
and  almost  its  entire  surface  was  covered  with 
primitive  forests.  Its  founder  and  supporter, 
who  is  3'et  living,  hale  and  hearty,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  more  than  fourscore  years,  was 
Rev.  Samuel  Bissell,  a  native  of  Connecticut 
and  a  graduate  of  Yale  College.  Immediately 
after  receiving  his  diploma,  Mr.  Bissell  began  a 
course  of  theological  studies,  designing  to  en- 
ter the  ministry  upon  their  completion.  These 
studies  were  completed  under  many  difficulties  ; 
in  truth,  the  life  of  this  man  has  been  one  un- 
ceasing round  of  struggles,  through  which 
nothing  but  invincible  determination  in  the 
path  chosen  and  unfaltering  patience  and  self- 
denial  could  have  proved  triumphant.  Soon 
after  his  ordination,  he  came  to  Aurora,  Ohio, 
and,  in  1826,  began  a  private  school,  which 
was  continued  until  1828,  when  he  was  invited 
to  take  charge  of  the  Congregational  society 
at  Twinsburg,  an  invitation  he  accepted.  A 
block-house  had  been  erected  for  his  accom- 
modation, about  a  mile  west  of  the  Center,  into 
which  he  moved.  On  the  same  lot  was  a  rude 
log  house,  twenty  by  thirty  feet,  with  rough 
boards  on  the  floor,  and  loose  ones  for  the  ceil- 
ing, the  building  having  been  originally  built 
for  a  shoe-shop.  Three  openings  were  made  in 
the  logs  composing  the  walls,  in  each  of  which 
was  placed  a  sash  containing  four  small  panes 
of  glass,  while  at  one  end  of  the  dismal  room 
was  a  broad  fire-place,  with  chimney  built  of 


stones  and  sticks  plastered  with  cla}'.  In  the 
room  were  placed  a  few  rudely  and  hastily  con- 
structed seats  and  desks,  and  the  onl}-  cheerful 
feature  of  the  apartment  was  the  roaring  fire 
which  lighted  the  place  with  fitful  and  ruddy 
glow.  Mr.  Bissell,  upon  his  arrival,  had  made 
known  his  wish  to  teach  the  youth  of  the  neigh- 
borhood ;  and  with  his  first  school  in  the  room 
just  described  began  that  unusual  system  of 
philanthropy  which  became  a  characteristic 
feature  of  his  institute,  and  was  the  means 
of  educating  so  many  indigent  3'outh.  This 
schoolroom  was  thrown  open  to  any  young 
people  who  desired  to  attend,  without  any 
charge,  except  from  those  disposed  to  pay, 
in  which  case  the  tuition  for  the  term 
was  to  be  $2.  About  forty  students  attended 
the  first  winter,  and  so  much  interest  was  creat- 
ed that  several  terms  were  taught  in  the  old 
house,  but  in  1831,  a  combined  church  and 
schoolhouse  was  erected,  in  which  Mr.  Bissell 
taught  and  preached  until  1835,  when  he  went 
to  Portage  Count}',  but  returned  in  1837,  and 
built  a  house  20x35  feet,  in  which  he  taught 
for  twenty-nine  consecutive  years.  Two  years 
later,  this  building  was  enlarged,  and  other  ar- 
rangements made  to  meet  the  growing  demands 
of  the  institute,  which  was  fast  getting  a  name. 
In  1843,  a  large,  two-storied  frame  building 
(the  Ailing  Hotel  property)  was  secured  and 
fitted  up  for  the  accommodation  of  students,  a 
lai'ge  number  of  whom  were  from  a  distance, 
and  were  compelled  to  board  in  the  village. 
Within  the  next  five  years,  two  other  large 
buildings  were  secured  for  a  similar  purpose. 
There  were  now  in  attendance  about  three 
hundred  students,  at  least  fifty  of  whom  were 
boarders.  Seven  teachers  and  assistants,  at 
the  head  of  whom  was  the  Principal,  Mr.  Bis- 
sell, were  necessary  to  conduct  the  numerous 
classes.  A  thorough  academical  course  of 
studies,  including  the  classics,  higher  mathemat- 
ics, French  and  German,  vocal  and  instru- 
mental music  and  penmanship,  was  provided, 
and  all  necessary  opportunities  were  aflforded 
to  prepare  students  for  college.  No  charter 
was  ever  obtained,  and  no  public  money  ever 
appropriated  to  strengthen  the  institute,  which 
rested  upon  the  shoulders  of  one  man.  The 
:^uition  charged  was  usually  $2  for  the  term, 
and  never  more  than  $4,  even  when  the  classics 
were  taught.  Elaborate  and  systematic  ar- 
rangements were  made  for  boarding  the  stu- 


IV 


658 


HISTORY  OF    SUMMIT    COUNTY. 


dents  in  the  numerous  buildings  referred  to,  at 
a  cost  to  eacli  of  from  0  to  12  shillings  per 
week.  The  great  value  of  the  institute  to  the 
village  and  to  all  the  surrounding  countr}' 
need  not  be  detailed.  Twinsburg  became  noted 
lor  its  thrift,  energy  and  general  excellence  in 
education  and  morals.  More  than  six  thou- 
sand students  have  been  in  attendance  at  the 
institute  during  its  continuance,  and,  out  of 
these,  about  two  hundred  have  been  Indians  of 
the  Seneca,  Ottawa,  Pottawatomie  and  Ojibway 
tribes.  Ministers,  statesmen,  generals,  law- 
yers, professors,  physicians  and  artisans,  in  all 
portions  of  the  country,  trace  the  beginning  of 
their  education  to  the  door  of  the  Twinsburg 
Institute.  A  good  librar}^  was  secured,  and 
literary  and  other  societies  were  instituted. 
The  benevolence  of  Mr.  Bissell  was  such  that 
he  not  only  greatly  lowered  the  tuition,  but 
even  educated  hundreds  at  his  own  expense, 
who  were  unable  to  pay  their  own  wa^^  He 
was  accustomed  to  give  such  students  a  few 
light  chores  to  do,  and  these  trifling  duties 
were  so  divided  and  subdivided,  that  the  work 
was  more  in  name  than  in  reality.  It  is  re- 
lated that  on  one  occasion,  after  Mr.  Bissell 
had  gone  to  extremes  in  this  respect,  some  of 
the  students  thus  detailed  grumbled  about 
having  more  to  do  than  others.  Considerable 
ill-will  was  thus  incited.  One  morning  Mr. 
Bissell  arose  at  his  usual  hour,  5  o'clock,  and, 
beginning  with  these  chores,  completed  the  en- 
tire round  before  the  time  for  opening  the 
school.  Not  a  word  was  said,  but  the  act 
spoke  in  volumes  to  the  fault-fiuding  students, 
who,  after  that,  vexed  the  ear  of  the  Principal 
with  no  more  grumblings.  Among  the  Indian 
youth  was  George  Wilson,  a  Seneca,  about  whom 
a  great  deal  has  been  said.  He  became  a  fine 
scholar — superior  in  mauj^  important  respects 
to  any  other  ever  in  the  institute.  His  pres- 
ence was  fine  and  imposing,  and  he  displayed 
rare  gifts  in  logical  force  and  fervid  eloquence. 
Mr.  Bissell  saj^s  that  the  qualitj^  of  his  elo- 
quence, the  unusual  power  of  his  intellect  and 
the  force  of  his  delivei'y,  resembled  in  a  marked 
manner  those  of  Daniel  Webster.  He  after- 
ward became  chief  of  his  tribe,  and  was  sent 
to  represent  their  interests  to  the  New  York 
Legislature,  and  to  the  New  York  Historical 
Society,  receiving  from  the  latter  several  thou- 
sand dollars  for  his  people,  who  were  in  a  starv- 
ing condition  in  the  West.  Another  one  named 


Jackson  Blackbird,  or  "  Mack-a-de-bennessi," 
was  an  Ottawa,  and  a  direct  descendant  of  Pon- 
tiac.  He  excelled  in  composition,  and  composed 
a  comedy,  three  hours  in  length,  that  was  pre- 
sented by  the  societies  of  the  institute  publicly 
to  lai'ge  audiences  with  great  success.  He 
afterward  did  his  people  good  service  in  Mich- 
igan, as  is  seen  b}'  the  following  in  his  own 
language:  "  I  left  Traverse  Bay  the  last  of 
February,  1851,  and  went  on  snow-shoes  to 
Saginaw  Ba}^,  on  m}-  way  to  the  capital  of  Mich- 
igan with  petitions  from  my  people  to  become 
citizens  of  the  State.  I  appeared  before  the 
Governor  and  officers  of  the  State,  and  obtained 
the  passage  of  a  joint  resolution  of  both  Houses 
in  favor  of  the  petitions."  Mr.  Bissell  became 
known  throughout  the  Reserve  for  his  philan- 
thropy in  the  cause  of  Indian  education. 
Some  two  hundred  were  educated  at  the  Institute, 
from  whom  no  compensation  worth  mention- 
tioning  was  ever  received.  AH  their  expenses 
were  paid,  including  board,  tuition,  room,  fuel, 
light,  washing,  books  and  stationery,  and  some 
clothing,  at  the  fair  estimate  of  $200  each,  a 
year.  This  expense,  borne  by  no  one  except 
the  Principal,  estimated  at  these  figures,  has 
amounted,  during  the  history-  of  the  institute 
to  over  $40,000.  Almost  as  much  has  been 
expended  on  indigent  white  youth,  and  when 
the  cost  of  erecting  the  various  buildings 
is  added  to  this,  the  total  amount  foots 
up  to  the  enormous  sum  of  over  $80,000, 
all  of  which  has  been  borne  b}'  Mr.  Bissell.  To 
offset  this,  not  more  than  $12,000  have  been 
received  from  all  sources.  These  expenses 
were  too  heav}^  to  be  borne,  and  an  embarrass- 
ing debt  was  the  result.  When  the  last  war 
broke  out,  the  institute  was  greatly  injured. 
Several  of  the  buildings  were  sold  to  pa}'  the 
debts,  which  amounted  to  some  $6,000.  A  few 
hundred  dollars  were  left,  which  purchased  a 
small  building  that  was  used  for  the  school. 
At  this  time,  and  without  means,  the  founda- 
tion of  the  present  stone  building  was  laid. 
The  manual  labor  connected  with  the  erection 
of  this  house  was  largel}'  done  by  Mr.  Bissell. 
He  obtained  the  loan  of  $1,500,  and  with  this 
purchased  the  necessary  tools,  a  horse  and 
wagon,  etc.,  and  without  any  previous  experi- 
ence, put  on  the  roof,  made  the  doors,  window 
frames,  etc.  The  entire  cost  was  about  $8,000, 
and  when  it  is  known  that  the  age  of  Mr.  Bis- 
sell at  that  time  was  seventy,  not  only  was  the 


-I 3 


ht. 


T  W I  IS  SBURG   TOWNSHIP. 


659 


undertaking  gigantic,  but  its  wisdom  may  be 
doubted.  The  institute  is  likelj'  to  fail  altogether, 
when  the  Principal's  hand  is  removed  by  death 
from  the  helm.  Mr.  Bissell  is  now  almost 
penniless,  and  is  compelled  to  teach  for  a  liv- 
ing at  the  age  of  more  than  eighty  years.  Con- 
sidering the  invaluable  service  he  has  ren- 
dered the  village  and  township  in  the  past,  how 
scores  of  people  now  living  there  have  been 
the  recipients  of  his  generous  bounty,  how 
patient  self-denial  and  faith  in  God  have  been 
the  watchwords  of  this  venerable  old  man,  it  is 
unquestionably  due  from  the  citizens  to  pro- 
vide him  with  at  least  the  necessaries  of  life. 
Religious  meetings  were  held  in  the  township 
prior  to  1820.  They  had  been  held  in  one  or 
two  of  the  few  dwellings  and,  it  is  said,  in  the 
upper  stor}'  of  the  grist-mill,  ver}^  likely  bj' 
Kevs.  John  Seward,  of  Aurora,  and  William 
Hanford,  of  Hudson.  After  the  erection  of 
the  schoolhouse,  in  1822,  at  the  Center,  they 
were  usually  held  there.  Lewis  Ailing,  Sr., 
usually  led  the  meetings  ;  Asa  Upson  also  did. 
A  circuit  minister,  whose  name  is  forgotten, 
organized  a  class  at  the  house  of  Asa  Upson 
as  early  as  1821,  and  the  first  members  were 
Asa  Upson,  Emer}^  Alger  and  their  families. 
Mr.  Seward  was  preaching  for  the  society  at 
this  time  about  once  a  month.  Mr.  Hanford 
also  held  regular  service  there.  A  Congrega- 
tional society  was  organized  August  23,  1822, 
and  at  that  time  consisted  of  the  following 
members :  Lewis  Ailing,  Luman  Lane,  Han- 
ford White,  John  A.  Wells  and  the  following 
and  their  wives :  Robert  Hurd,  J.  H.  Kelsey, 
Belizer  Beech,  also  Irena  Thomas,  Comfort 
Nichols  and  Julia  White.     Revs.  Seward  and 


Hanford  organized  the  society.  It  was  greatly 
strengthened  by  a  revival  in  1827.  On  the 
30th  of  April,  1828,  Rev.  Bissell  was  given 
charge  of  the  societ}'.  Rev.  Hair  was  its  Pas- 
tor in  1835.  At  this  time  or  soon  afterward,  a 
division  was  made  in  the  society,  and  Rev. 
Bissell  became  the  Pastor  of  one  of  them. 
Revs.  Treat,  Ward  and  Chapin  occasionally 
preached  at  the  Center.  Rev.  R.  C.  Learned 
was  Pastor  in  18-13  ;  Horace  W.  Palmer,  in 
1848  ;  Joseph  H.  Scott,  in  1853  ;  Sidney  Bry- 
ant, in  1860,  and  the  President  and  professors 
of  Western  Reserve  College  have  also  filled  the 
appointment.  A  proposition  to  build  a  com- 
bined church  and  schoolhouse  on  the  square 
met  with  opposition.  Timbers  were  prepared, 
and,  finally,  under  protest,  the  house  was 
erected.  The  house  was  twice  moved,  and 
then  torn  down.  Another  building  was  erected 
in  1831,  at  a  cost  of  $700.  The  present  one 
was  built  in  1848,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000. 

The  fine  marble  monument  standing  in  the 
public  park  is  a  credit  to  the  patriotism  of  the 
citizens  and  an  emblem  of  gratitude  to  the 
brave  boys,  living  and  dead,  who  fought  in  the 
last  great  war.  Their  names  and  the  compa- 
nies and  regiments  in  which  they  served  are 
chiseled  into  the  white  stone.  The  structure 
was  erected  the  "  semi-centennial  year  of  the 
settlement  of  Twinsburg.'"  Its  total  height  is 
twenty-eight  feet,  and  it  rests  upon  three 
superimposed  bases  of  sandstone,  which  form 
a  series  of  steps  to  the  foot  of  the  marble  col- 
umn. Standing  on  the  summit,  with  wings 
outspread,  is  a  life-sized  statue  of  the  Ameri- 
can eagle. 


s F- 


:Rr 


PART    III. 


BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


ALLEN  FAMILY,  Akron.  Jesse  Allen,  Sr., 
the  progenitor  of  the  Allen  family,  was  born 
in  1770,  in  Cornwall,  Conn.  His  father  Na- 
thaniel Allen  was  killed  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  when  Jesse  was  rather  young.  He  (Jesse) 
lived  with  a  family  in  Connecticut,  until  he  grew 
up,  and  there  learned  shoemaking.  When  a 
young  man  he  went  to  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  he  married  a  lady  of  German  origin 
named  Catharine  Teithrich,  in  1796  ;  she  was 
born  in  Trenton,  N.  J.,  in  1776.  He  abandoned 
his  trade  for  farming,  and  bought  a  farm  near 
Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  but  lost  it  by  "  bailing  "  a  man, 
and  thus  his  hard  earnings  were  swept  away, 
except  a  few  hundred  dollars,  with  which  he 
determined  to  remove  to  Ohio,  and,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1811,  set  out  with  his  family  of  seven 
children,  and  brother's  famil}-,  bound  hither  ;  he 
bought  land  which  adjoins  the  Sixth  Ward, 
then  Middlebur}'.  During  the  war  of  1812,  he 
served  under  Maj.  Spicer,  and,  while  gone  an 
Indian  spy  came  into  the  house,  and  the  little 
boys  working  in  the  clearing  came  with  their 
axes  to  hew  him  down  ;  it  is  supposed  the  same 
Indian  was  killed  near  Summit  Lake.  Mr.  Al- 
len continued  to  reside  in  Coventry  Township 
until  his  death,  Sept.  12,  1837.  Mr.  A.  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in  the  early 
days,  before  ministers  came  to  the  country,  he, 
being  an  excellent  reader,  used  to  read  sermons 
at  the  pioneer  religious  meetings.  He  was  the 
father  of  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  were  born 
near  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  as  follows  :  Jonah  (see 
sketches  in  Coventry  Township). 

Levi,  the  second  son,  was  born  Feb.  10, 1799, 
and  was  12  years  old  when  the  family  came  to 
Ohio  ;  he  walked  all  the  way  and  drove  cattle. 


The  following  incident  is  not  inappropriate. 
When  on  the  beach  of  Lake  Erie,  the  wagons 
with  the  provisions  were  delayed  by  accident, 
and  Levi  and  other  boys,  with  John,  a  little  fel- 
low, were  on  before  with  the  cattle  and  were 
without  provisions,  except  the  milk  of  the  cows. 
At  night,  he  (Levi)  covered  John  with  sand  to 
keep  him  warm,  and  thus  they  passed  the  night 
alone.  Their  first  work  upon  arriving,  in  July, 
1811,  was  reaping  in  a  harvest  field  for  Mr. 
Norton.  He  (Levi)  grew  up  a  close  thinker, 
and  was  a  man  of  sound  judgment. 

David,  the  third  son,  was  born  Dec.  2, 1800  ; 
when  about  18,  he  learned  the  trade  of  machin- 
ist ;  he  and  his  brother  Jesse  and  McMillin  com- 
menced the  manufacture  of  carding  machines 
about  1833.  He  (David)  married,  in  1829, 
Beulah  Jones.     He  died  in  1842. 

Jacob,  the  fourth  son  of  Jesse  and  Catharine 
Allen,  was  born  in  Lansing,  Tompkins  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Feb.  11,  1803  ;  he  was  8  j'earsold  when  his 
family  removed  to  Akron  ;  he  learned  his  trade 
with  Humphrey  &  Bagley  in  the  woolen  mills 
at  Middlebury,  Ohio,  and,  when  about  18,  he 
went  to  New  York  State  and  built  a  woolen 
factory  near  Ithaca,  where  he  lived  until  1835, 
when  he  returned  to  Akron  and  built  several 
woolen  factories,  which  he  started,  and  sold 
while  in  successful  operation.  He  was  in  corn- 
pan}'  with  Simon  Perkins  and  Jedediah  Cum- 
mins for  several  jears,  and  was  interested  in 
all  the  railroads,  doing  all  he  could  to  promote 
the  interests  of  Akron,  widening  Howard  street 
and  making  various  improvements.  He  was 
interested  in  the  manufacture  of  flour  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  established  an  office  for  its  sale, 
which  his  son,  Frank  H.,  is  now  conducting  in 


lLl 


662 


BIOGRAPPIICAL    SKETCHES: 


New  York  City.  He  was  a  Democrat ;  never 
sought  office,  but  was  several  times  in  the  Coun- 
cil. He  married  Miss  Catharine  Van  Sickle 
Feb.  10,  1830  ;  she  bore  him  five  children,  three 
of  whom  are  living— Frank  H.,  Mrs.  Rufus 
Wright,  of  Brooklyn,  Long  Island,  and  Miss 
Lizzie  Allen.  He  was  liberal  in  the  support  of 
all  churches,  and  died  Nov.  25, 1879,  in  his  77th 
year. 

John,  the  fifth  son,  was  born  Dec.  5,  1804  ; 
he  learned  the  trade  of  stone-cutter,  and  was  a 
contractor  on  the  locks  of  the  Ohio  Canal.  He 
died  at  Piketon,  Ohio,  Nov.  23,  1829. 

Jesse,  the  sixth  son,  was  born  May  1. 1807  ; 
he  learned  the  trade  of  stone-cutter  also,  and, 
with  his  brother  David,  manufactured  carding 
machines  in  Akron  in  early  times  ;  he  engaged 
in  flouring-mills  in  1856,  which  he  continued 
until  his  death,  Sept.  24, 1863.  He  was  a  strong 
Whig  during  the  last  thirt}'  years  of  his  life, 
and  an  active  business  man,  and  firmly  estab- 
lished in  uprightness  and  integrity  ;  of  high 
moral  standing,  talented  ;  to  know  him  well  was 
to  esteem  him. 

Catharine  was  born  Feb.  9,  1809,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  32  3'ears.  She  married  Mills 
Thompson,  of  Hudson,  Ohio  ;  leaves  six  chil- 
dren. 

Sarah  was  born  Jan.  3,  1812,  and  was  the 
first  one  of  the  children  born  in  Ohio.  She  mar- 
ried James  M.  Hall,  .^larch  22,  1832.  She  died 
Jan.  27,  1877. 

Hiram  was  born  Sept.  14,  1814  ;  he  came  to 
Akron  in  1840,  and,  with  Jacob  Allen,  his 
brother,  erected  in  succession  a  woolen  mill  on 
Cherrj'  street,  the  old  portion  of  Cit}-  Mills  and 
brick  mills,  now  occupied  b^'  Allen  &  Co.,  first 
used  as  woolen  factories  ;  he  erected  the  block 
north  of  the  Beacon  Block,  and  which  burned 
in  1871,  when  he  immediatel3'  put  up  the  pres- 
ent one.     He  died  Sept.  21, 1878,  unmarried. 

Christiana  (Allen)  Caldwell,  the  youngest 
of  ten  children,  was  born  Jan.  30,  1822  ;  she 
came  to  Akron  in  1840,  where  she  still  resides 
in  a  pleasant  home  on  Broadway'. 

Albert  Allen,  the  son  of  Levi  Allen  and  the 
grandson  of  Jesse  Allen,  Jr.,  was  born  March 
12,  1827,  in  Coventry  Township,  where,  until  he 
attained  his  majority,  he  was  emploved  at  farm- 
ing and  clearing,  after  which  he  learned  mill- 
wrighting  under  John  S.  Gilcrest,  of  Spring- 
field, and  engaged  in  pl3'ing  his  trade  for  a 
period  of  nine   years.      In    1856,  he  built  for 


J.  &  J.  Allen  &  Co.,  the  Allen  Mill,  and  was 
employed  as  manager  of  the  same  for  ten 
years.  In  18(j7,  in  company-  with  Alexander 
H.  Commins.  he  purchased  the  Stone  Mills, 
which  then  had  but  four  runs  of  stone  ;  they 
conducted  a  successful  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  Commins  &  Allen,  which  contin- 
ued up  to  the  time  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Com- 
mins, in  1880,  since  which  time  the  firm  name 
has  not  been  altered.  The  mills  do  an  entirely 
merchant  business,  and  grind  from  two  hundred 
and  fifty  to  three  hundred  barrels  of  flour  per 
day.  In  the  spring  of  1881,  the  mills  were 
changed  to  the  Hungarian  process,  which  en- 
larges the  capacity  of  the  mills  to  four  hundred 
and  fift}'  barrels  of  flour  per  da}'. 

FRANK  ADAMS,  President  and  Superin- 
tendent of  Akron  Sewer  Pipe  Company.  Sixth 
Ward  ;  was  born  in  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  July  5, 
1819,  and  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Betsey 
(Crowley)  Adjuns,  who  were  natives  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  were  married  in  Vermont,  where 
they  had  moved  with  their  parents  when  young. 
In  1838,  they  came  to  Ohio,  the  journey  being 
made  by  a  wagon  to  Troy,  N.  Y.;  thence  by 
canal  to  BuflTalo  ;  thence  b}'  lake  to  Cleveland  : 
and  thence  to  Norton  Township,  in  what  is  now 
Summit  Co.,  where  they  settled  on  a  farm  pre- 
viousl}'  purchased  ;  the}'  farmed  thereabout  ten 
3'ears,  when  they  removed  to  Akron,  v>'here 
the}'  lived  a  retired  life  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  Nov.  22,  1849  ;  Mrs.  Adams  died 
about  twenty  years  later.  They  were  members 
of  the  M.  Vj.  Church  for  more  than  forty  years, 
and  took  an  active  interest  in  all  church  affairs. 
Frank  remained  at  home  until  within  a  few 
months  of  his  majority  ;  his  education  was 
confined  to  a  limited  attendance  at  the  district 
schools.  Upon  leaving  home,  he  went  to  live 
with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Samuel  Manning, 
who  was  publishing  maps,  and  with  him  re- 
mained two  years,  in  the  printing  department. 
He  then  engaged  as  clerk  in  the  post  office  at 
Akron,  remaining  one  year,  when  he  left,  and. 
at  the  expiration  of  another  year,  he  returned 
to  the  post  office,  remaining  this  time  two 
years,  when  he  engaged  in  the  map  business, 
forming  the  partnership  of  ^Manning  &  Co.,  and 
remained  one  year,  when  the  firm  became  Ad- 
ams &  Egleston,  the  latter  buying  out  Man- 
ning. They  continued  until  the  spring  of  1 848, 
when  their  building  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
which  necessitated  a  dissolution  of  the  firm  and 


<i fc-_ 


k. 


CITY   OF    AKRON. 


663 


the  discontinuance  of  the  business  in  Akron. 
He  then  took  an  active  part  in  the  campaign, 
and  was  Treasurer  of  the  Whig  Club.  In  March, 
1849,  he  , was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Akron 
by  President  Zachary  Taylor,  and  held  the  of- 
fice during  his  administration  and  that  of  his 
successor,  Millard  Fillmore.  After  retiring 
from  the  post  office,  he  opened  a  hat  store, 
which  was  burned  in  the  spring  of  1855.  In 
May  following,  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
business  of  Mei'rill,  Powers  &  Co.,  and,  in  1859, 
the  firm  became  Hill  &  Adams,  which  contin- 
ued until  1868,  when  the  business  was  merged 
into  a  stock  compan}',  known  as  the  Hill  & 
Adams  Sewer  Pipe  Company,  and,  in  January, 

1871,  Mr.  Hill  retired,  and  the  corporate  name 
became, as  now,  "The  Akron  Sewer  Pipe  Com- 
pany-," of  which  Mr.  Adams  was  made  President, 
also  Superintendent,  which  offices  he  still  re- 
tains, having  held  them  from  the  first  for- 
mation of  the  stock  company.  During  the 
war,  Mr.  Adams  served  as  a  member  of  the 
School  Board,  member  of  Council,  Treasurer  of 
School  Board,  Corporation  Treasurer,  and  Treas- 
urer of  the  Soldiers'  Relief  Fund.  He  was 
married  Jan.  21,  1846,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Gale,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  Akron  when 
young,  with  her  parents.  She  died  Jan.  11, 
1863.  They  had  three  children,  two  living, 
viz.,  Julia  Latham  and  Ma}'  Perkins,  both  of 
Akron.  He  was  again  married,  Sept  2,  1863, 
to  Mrs.  Janetta  L.  Murphy,  formerly  Miss  Hart ; 
they  have  two  children,  viz.,  Frank  H.  and 
Belle  M.  Mr.  Adams  was  a  Whig  up  to  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party,  and  a  Re- 
publican since  that  time.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Episcopal  Church  for  twelve  years. 

ISAAC  C.  ALDEN,  Treasurer  of  Whitman 
&  Miles  Manufacturing  Co.,  Akron,  Ohio  ;  is  a 
son  of  Henr}'  and  Abbie  C.  (Smith)  Alden,  and 
was  born  Nov.  20,  1851,  at  Bridgewater,  Mass. 
When  very  young,  the  family  moved  to  Abing- 
ton,  Mass.,  where  he  went  to  school  until  he 
was  15  3'ears  old,  and  then  entered  a  wholesale 
dry  goods  store  in  Boston,  remaining  two 
3ears.  In  1869,  he  entered  the  knife  manufac- 
or}'  at  Fitchburg,  which  place  he    held  until 

1872,  when  he  came  to  Akron  and  was  made 
Assistant  Treasurer  of  the  Whitman  &  Miles 
Manufacturing  Co.,  and,  in  1877,  he  was  made 
Treasurer  of  the  concern.  He  was  married, 
Dec.  10,  1874,  to  Miss  Emma  L.  GiflTord,  of 
Fitchburg,  Mass. 


ANGELO  ANDREW,  of  R.  L.  &  A.  Andrew, 
Akron  ;  was  born  Feb.  1,  1846,  in  Boston  Town- 
ship, this  county  ;  he  lived  at  home  until  1 7  3'ears 
of  age,  when  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  printer's 
trade  with  the  Akron  Bmcon.  After  serving 
two  years,  he  went  to  Cleveland  and  worked  on 
the  Ohio  Farmer  until  Aug.  23,  1864,  when  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  H,  177th  O.  V.  I.,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  taking  part  in  all  the 
engagements  in  which  his  regiment  partici- 
pated. On  his  return  from  the  arm3',  he  fol- 
lowed the  business  of  painting,  in  Peninsula, 
for  three  3'ears  ;  he  then  engaged  as  clerk  in 
the  same  village,  in  a  general  merchandise 
business,  for  a  period  of  five  3'ears.  He  then 
came  to  Akron  and  worked  at  his  trade  with  his 
brother,  and,  in  1877,  formed  the  partnership 
indicated  above.  Their  business  is  confined  to 
wall  paper  decorations  for  public  buildings  and 
residences,  which  they  handle  by  the  wholesale 
as  well  as  retail,  and  all  kinds  of  painting,  em- 
plo3'ing  from  six  to  twelve  skilled  workmen. 
Their  store  is  22x66  feet,  with  two  stories  and 
a  basement ;  church  and  hall  decorations  are  a 
special  feature  of  their  business.  Aug.  14, 
1873,  he  married  Miss  Lizzie  Warburton,  a 
native  of  Northampton  Township  ;  they  have 
three  children — Ma3'belle.  Frank  and  Bessie. 

R.  L.  ANDREW,  of  R.  L.  &  A.  Andrew, 
Akron.  R.  L.  Andrew,  senior  partner  of  the 
firm  of  R.  L.  &  A.  Andrew,  is  a  native  of  Bos- 
ton Township,  this  count3' ;  his  parents,  Robert 
and  Ann  A.  ( Tubbs)  Andrew,  were  natives  of 
England  ;  his  father  came  to  America  in  1838, 
and  lived  with  a  brother  in  Boston,  Summit  Co., 
Ohio  ;  in  the  following  3'ear,  he  returned  to  En- 
gland and  married,  returning  to  Boston  with  his 
wife  in  1840  ;  here  he  followed  the  trade  of  orna- 
mental painter,  remaining  in  Boston  until  1873, 
when  he  moved  to  Akron,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. Mrs.  Andrew  died  in  Akron  Oct.  3, 1879. 
R.  L.  Andrew  was  born  May  24,  1841.  the  eldest 
of  three  children  ;  he  lived  at  home,  learning 
the  trade  of  his  father,  and  clerking  at  Penin- 
sula and  Akron  for  some  five  years  until  1862. 
In  June  of  this  year  he  enlisted  in  the  85th  O. 
V.  I.,  Co.  B.  and  served  four  months,  taking 
part,  in  the  meanwhile,  in  the  engagements  at 
Prentiss,  Miss.,  and  Yickburg.  In  August,  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  H,  177th  0.  V.  I.,  and  served  to 
the  close  of  the  war  with  the  rank  of  Sergeant ; 
he  was  present  at  the  battle  of  the  Cedars,  the 
engagement  at  Shelb3'ville  Pike,  Town  Creek, 


664 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


and  was  present  at  Johnston's  surrender.  Re- 
turning home  after  the  war,  he  engaged  as  clerk 
in  the  store  of  E.  H.  Cole,  at  Peninsula.  He 
subsequently  went  to  Michigan  and  clerked  in 
a  store  in  lona,  then  at  Marshall,  and  finall}'  at 
Ann  Arbor,  for  E.  B.  Thompson  &  Sons,  who 
moved  their  business  about  as  indicated. 
Oct.  6,  1869,  he  came  to  Akron  and  took  up 
the  business  connected  with  his  trade  of  orna- 
mental painting.  In  1873,  he  built  the  present 
store  propert}',  240  East  Mill  street,  where  he 
has  since  conducted  his  business.  Jan.  1, 1877, 
he  formed  the  partnership  with  his  brother  An- 
gelo.  Sept.  6,  1866,  he  married  Miss  Emerancy 
Hall,  a  native  of  Northampton  ;  she  died  April 
3,  1879.  Two  children  were  born  to  them,  both 
deceased. 

JOHN  H.  AUBLE,  real  estate,  insurance, 
railroad,  steamship  and  foreign  exchange  agent, 
Akron,  Ohio  ;  was  born  Dec.  2,  1842,  and  is  a 
son  of  Daniel  and  Susanna  (Orwig)  Auble,  na- 
tives of  Miftliuburg,  Union  Co.,  Penn.,  where 
our  subject  was  born.  His  parents  came  to 
Ohio  in  1854,  and  settled  near  Wadsworth, 
Medina  County.  He  worked  on  a  farm  until 
15,  when  he  entered  the  store  of  E.  G.  Loomis, 
at  Wadsworth,  as  a  clerk,  until  July,  1861, 
when  he  was  made  a  partner,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Loomis,  Auble  &  Co.  He  was  doing 
a  prosperous  business,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
I.  103d  0.  V.  I.,  Aug.  2,  1862.  Soon  after  en- 
listment he  was  detached  as  Clerk  A.  G.  0., 
under  Maj.  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  and  served  in  the 
army  of  Mississippi ;  was  in  active  service  first 
against  the  rebel  Gen.  Kirb}'  Smith,  in  Ken- 
tucky ;  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  with  Gen. 
Sherman,  on  the  Yazoo,  and  Grant  at  its  final 
surrender.  He  was  in  the  Missouri  campaign 
under  Rosecrans,  with  Thomas  at  Nashville, 
and  in  Gen.  Scofield's  department  during  the 
last  months  of  service.  He  was  mustered  out 
with  his  regiment  at  Camp  Cleveland,  June  24, 
1865,  and  returned  home.  He  was  at  once 
emplo3'ed  as  salesman  by  M.  W.  Henry  &  Co., 
of  Akron,  where  he  remained  five  years,  and, 
in  1871,  engaged  in  the  real  estate,  insurance, 
foreign  passage  and  exchange  business.  In 
January,  1875,  he  took  the  business  manage- 
ment of  the  Beacon  Publishing  Co.,  leaving  it 
in  the  fall  of  1877  with  its  financial  condition 
greatl}'  improved.  He  is  Secretary  of  the 
Akron  Coal  Co.,  operating  rich  mines  in  Guern- 
sey County.     In  May,  1880.  he  was  appointed 


agent  for  the  New  York,  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio 
Railroad,  a  position  he  still  holds.  He  was 
married  in  August,  1870,  to  Miss  Harriet  E., 
only  daughter  of  Rev.  W.  F.  Day,  D.  D.,  for- 
merly of  Akron  M.  E.  Church.  They  have  five 
children — Anna  Helen,  Susie  Orwig,  Hattie 
Day,  Bessie  Norris  and  John  Henry,  Jr. 

J.  PARK  ALEXANDER.  The  subject  of 
these  lines  was  born  to  John  and  Mai-y  (Scott) 
Alexander  on  Aug.  7,  1834,  in  Bath  township. 
Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm 
until  the  age  of  18,  attending  district  school 
and  the  academy  at  Richfield.  At  the  age  of 
20  he  went  to  the  normal  school  at  Marlboro, 
entering  the  engineering  class  under  Pi'of 
Holbrook,  being  a  class-mate  of  Prof  Menden- 
hall.  Having  completed  an  engineering  course, 
he  was,  in  1856,  emplo^-ed  in  the  public  schools 
of  Akron,  where  lie  taught  two  years.  In 
1865-66,  he  bought  the  present  site  of  his  fire- 
brick manufactory-,  then  used  as  a  manufactorj' 
of  stoneware,  being,  at  that  time,  a  small  con- 
cern. He  enlarged  the  buildings,  and  at  the 
same  time  contracted  for  such  an  amount  of 
stoneware  as  twelve  or  fifteen  manufactories  of 
Summit  count}-  could  make.  The  aggregate 
amount  of  some  years  was  two  million  gallons 
of  ware.  He  established  a  warehouse  at  De- 
troit, maintaining  it  eight  years,  and  one  at 
Chicago  five  years.  In  1867,  he  began  manu- 
facturing fire-brick,  which  he  has  greatl}-  im- 
proved in  quality.  In  1875,  he  succeeded  in 
obtaining  a  patent  for  the  manufacture  of  a 
nearl}'  pure  (98.78)  silica  brick  from  white 
pebble.  This  was  the  first  business  of  the  kind 
in  Ohio.  They  make  about  one  and  one-half 
million  bricks  per  year,  employing  twenty  men 
in  the  making,  and  a  large  number  in  the  hand- 
ling of  them  for  market.  In  1872,  he  bought 
two  oil  refineries  in  this  city  and  ran  them,  in 
connection  with  the  Standard  Oil  Compau}-,  for 
five  years.  In  1858,  he  was  elected  Secretary 
of  the  Summit  County  Agricultural  Society, 
holding  the  position  for  five  years,  which  were 
followed  by  seven  3'ears  in  the  presidency  of  tiie 
same,  during  which  time  (1858  to  1870),  great 
improvements  were  made  in  the  society.  In 
1868,  he  was  elected  member  of  the  State 
Board  of  Agriculture,  and,  in  1872,  Treasurer 
of  the  same.  He  was  made  member  of  the  City 
Council  in  1865,  and,  with  the  exception  of  two 
years,  has  continued  such,  being  for  the  past 
eight  vears  President  of  the  same,  and  witness- 


:rv: 


iUl 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


665 


ing  during  that  time  all  the  public  improve- 
ments, the  city  having  grown  from  3,500  to 
20,000  inhabitants.  Religious  and  educational 
institutions  have  repeatedly  been  the  recipients 
of  his  munificent  gifts.  On  Sept.  5,  1860,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Martha  D.  Wright,  of  Tall- 
madge,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Francis  H.  Wright,  of 
which  union  there  were  eight  children,  one  of 
whom,  George  B.,  is  dead.  Those  living  are 
Clara  W.,  Helen  B.,  Grace  F.,  Mattie  D.,  Bessie 
H.,  J.  Park,  Jr.,  and  Alice  S. 

DAVID  S.  ALEXANDER,  agricultural  im- 
plements, Akron,  Ohio  ;  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Scott)  Alexander,  both  of  whom  were 
born  in  Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  and  were  mar- 
ried in  1828.  In  February,  1831,  they  came  to 
Ohio,  and  settled  in  Bath  Township,  where  he 
had  previoush'  bought  175  acres  of  land,  upon 
which  was  some  impi'ovements.  He  followed 
farming  there  for  several  years,  and,  about 
1840,  began  to  import  fine  sheep  (Saxon  breed) 
from  Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  of  the  McKeever 
stock,  driving  overland.  He  was  for  some 
years  a  prominent  breeder  and  wool-grower, 
and  brought  into  the  county  the  first  flock  of 
Spanish  merinoes.  He  died  in  1856,  aged  58, 
and  his  wife  in  June,  1880,  at  the  age  of  80 
years.  The^'  had  four  sons,  of  whom  David,  the 
subject,  was  the  oldest,  and  was  born  July  7, 
1829,  in  Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  and  was  an  in- 
fant when  the  family  came  to  this  county.  He 
grew  up  on  the  farm  in  Bath  Township,  receiv- 
ing his  education  in  the  schools  of  Bath,  and 
attending  school  in  Akron  from  18-47  to  1849, 
under  Gen.  Leggett,  now  of  Cleveland.  At  24 
years  of  age,  he  commenced  business  for  himself, 
and,  in  1851,  bought  the  farm  of  J.  P.  Baldwin, 
and  for  eleven  years  followed  grain  and  stock 
farming  successfully.  In  1861,  he  came  to 
Akron,  and  bought  several  lots  on  "  Ely 
Tract,"  and  commenced  dealing  in  sheep,  but 
dogs  were  very  destructive  to  them,  and  he 
quit  the  business.  In  1871,  he  began  to  deal 
in  agricultural  implements,  which  he  still  con 
tinues.  His  establishment  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1879,  entailing  upon  him  a  loss  of 
$12,000.  In  rebuilding,  he  fell  from  a  scaffold 
and  broke  his  thigh.  In  June,  1853,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  C.  Hale,  a  daughter  of  William 
Hale,  of  Bath  Township.  Five  daughters  were 
born  to  them.  Lucy  J.  was  the  wife  of  C.  R. 
Grant,  of  Akron,  and  died  June  8,1880.  Three 
brothers  of  subject  died  when  3'oung  ;  those 


living  are  David  S.  (subject),  Joseph  H.,  J. 
Park  and  William  G.,  who  is  a  commission 
merchant  at  Toledo,  Ohio. 

FRANK  M.  ATTERHOLT,  lawyer,  Akron, 
son  of  John  and  Emeline  (Williams)  Atterholt, 
was  born  Dec.  19, 1848,  near  New  Lisbon,  Ohio, 
where  he  lived  on  a  farm  until  he  was  14  years 
of  age,  in  the  meantime  attending  school,  and 
then  entered  the  New  Lisbon  High  School, 
which  he  attended  for  three  years.  At  the  age 
of  17  he  began  teaching,  and  continued  some 
twelve  years,  spending  his  summer  vacations 
in  the  National  Normal  School  of  Lebanon.  He 
graduated  from  Mt.  Vernon  College  in  1870, 
having  entered  three  years  previous.  He  was 
for  three  years  Superintendent  of  the  Colum- 
biana Public  Schools,  and  for  some  time  editor 
of  the  Independent  Register  of  that  place.  In 
the  Medina  Normal  School  of  1872  he  taught 
mathematics,  and  in  1873  was  made  Principal 
of  the  West  Salem  Public  Schools,  which  posi- 
tion he  retained  for  five  years.  In  June,  1878, 
he  began  the  stud}'  of  law  under  the  direction 
of  Upson,  Ford  &  Baird,  and  pui'sued  his 
studies  with  them  two  years,  being  admitted  to 
the  bar  on  Oct.  5,  1880,  at  the  session  of  the 
Supreme  Court  at  Columbus,  and  has  since 
been  in  practice  here,  having  moved  here  in 
1879.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Mar}'  E.  Beard, 
of  Columbiana,  Ohio,  Dec.  31,  1872  ;  she  was  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  that  place.  She 
bore  him  one  child,  a  son. 

O.  C.  BARBER,  Vice  President  Diamond 
Match  Co.,  Akron.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  a  natiA'c  of  Middlebury,  now  Sixth  Ward 
of  Akron,  Ohio.  He  was  born  April  20,  1841, 
and  is  the  fourth  of  eight  children  born  to 
George  and  Eliza  Barber,  who  were  natives 
of  Connecticut  and  Ohio  respectively.  George 
Barber  was  born  in  the  year  1804.  His  par- 
ents, Ezriah  and  Ann  Barber,  moving  to  Onon- 
daga Co.,  N.  Y.,  when  he  was  1  year  old,  and 
where  he  remained  until  he  became  of  age, 
his  schooling  was  confined  to  a  few  months 
each  year  at  the  district  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood. At  the  age  of  18,  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  coopering,  and  worked  for  three  years. 
In  the  year  1826 — feeling  the  same  pioneer 
spirit  that  had  actuated  his  parents  and  grand- 
parents before  him  (he  being  a  descendant  of 
a  family  that  came  to  this  country  from  En- 
gland in  1620) — he  thought  he  would  take  a 
look    at   what   was   then   considered    the   far 


:fv" 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


West,  i.  e.,  Ohio,  and,  after  a  few  years'  travel 
through  the  State  hi  the  clock  business,  he 
finally  settled  down  at  Middlebury,  where  a 
considerable  milling  interest  was  well  estab- 
lished, and  where  and  at  Akron  he  followed  his 
trade  until  the  year  1845,  when  he  began  the 
manufacture  of  matches,  being  one  of  the  first 
to  take  up  the  business  in  the  West.  Meeting 
with  indifferent  success  at  first,  owing  to  the 
great  difficult}^  of  distributing  the  goods  he 
manufactured.  There  being  no  railroads  at  that 
time  that  would  transport  matches,  it  was  nec- 
essary to  distribute  his  product  by  wagons.  In 
the  year  1852,  feeling  somewhat  tired  of  the 
struggle,  and  the  necessity  of  a  rest,  he  con- 
cluded to  retire  from  the  business,  and  traded 
his  fixtures  and  factoiy  for  a  hotel  at  Middle- 
bury,  and  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Middle- 
bury,  under  Pierce's  administration.  Of  this 
he  tired  in  about  one  year,  and  again  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  matches  and  buttons,  the 
latter  part  of  the  enterprise  proving  unprofit- 
able was  soon  abandoned,  and  he  again  gave 
his  entire  time  and  attention  to  the  manufacture 
of  matches,  the  facilities  for  which  were  in- 
proved  from  time  to  time,  to  keep  pace  with 
the  growing  demands  of  the  trade  ;  and  from 
making  matches  by  hand  in  a  barn,  step  by 
step  the  business  was  so  increased  that  in  the 
year  1880,  the  business  was  conducted  in  build- 
ings that,  if  on  one  floor  twenty-two  feet  wide, 
would  be  over  one  mile  long,  and  in  which  are 
made  enough  matches  every  twenty-five  days, 
if  placed  end  to  end,  to  span  the  earth,  and 
from  which  the  Grovei'nment  received  for  inter- 
nal revenue  stamps  over  $2,000  per  day.  Our 
subject,  who  is  the  only  surviving  son  of  the 
founder  of  this  immense  business,  was  raised 
in  his  native  village,  and  received  a  course  of 
study  in  the  common  schools.  The  circum- 
stances of  the  family  early  ushered  him  into 
business  affairs,  thus  at  the  age  of  16,  he  began 
selling  matches  for  his  father,  operating  in  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Michigan  and  Penns3dvania,  in  which 
States,  through  his  activity  and  industr}',  the 
reputation  of  the  Barber  match  soon  became 
well-established.  In  the  3'ear  18(52,  the  entire 
management  was  left  to  his  dictation,  from 
which  time  the  success  of  the  enterprise  became 
more  marked.  Ver}^  much  of  this  success  Mr. 
Barber  attributes  to  his  associate  and  active 
business  friend,  J.  K.  Robinson,  who  about  this 
time  took  charge  of  introducing  the  goods  into 


new  markets,  as  well  as  the  taking  charge  of 
the  markets  where  the  reputation  of  the  goods 
were  established,  and  no  man  in  the  entire  West 
is  better  or  more  favorably  known  to  the  job- 
bing grocer  trade  of  the  country  than  Jack 
Robinson,  as  he  is  familiarh'  dubbed  by  his 
many  friends.  In  1864,  the  business  was  merged 
into  a  stock  company',  known  as  the  Barber 
Match  Co.,  of  which  George  Barber  was  the 
President  and  0.  C.  Barber  the  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  and  John  K.  Robinson  was  General 
Agent.  In  January,  1881,  the  company  had  by 
far  the  largest  and  best  equipped  match  works 
on  this  continent.  The  same  enterprise  that 
had  made  it  what  it  was,  suggested  to  Messrs. 
Barber  &  Robinson  the  propriety  and  economy 
of  consolidating  all  the  match  companies  of  the 
States  into  one  ownership  or  one  company,  and 
through  them  and  other  active  manufacturers, 
a  consolidation  was  made  of  twenty-eight  of 
the  leading  manufacturers  of  the  country,  un- 
der the  name  of  the  Diamond  Match  Co., 
with  a  capital  of  $2,250,000,  of  which  William 
H.  Swift,  of  Wilmington,  Del.,  is  President ; 
0.  C.  Barber,  Vice  President ;  and  William  B. 
Gates,  of  Frankfort,  N.  Y.,  is  Treasurer.  The 
business  of  this  company'  is  conducted  or  man- 
aged by  these  officers,  as  an  Executive  Com- 
mittee, with  co-ordinate  powers,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  having  charge  more  direct!}'  of 
all  the  compan^^'s  factories  in  the  States  west 
and  south  of  Pennsylvania  ;  the  sales  depart- 
ment in  the  same  territory  being  in  the  charge 
of  John  K.  Robinson.  0.  C.  Barber  married 
Miss  Laura  L.  Brown,  of  Akron,  Oct.  10,  1866. 
By  the  marriage  there  have  been  two  children, 
one  of  whom  is  living,  viz.,  Anna  Laura : 
Charles  H.  is  deceased. 

JOHN  RICHARD  BUCHTEL,  manufact- 
urer of  reapers  and  mowers,  Akron,  whose  por- 
trait appears  in  this  work,  was  born  Jan.  18, 
1822,  in  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  the  son 
of  John  Buchtel,  a  farmer,  and  the  grandson 
of  Peter  Buchtel,  who  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sj'lvania,  whence  he  moved  to  Ohio  in  1809, 
entering  service  here  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  dying  in  the  army.  He  engaged  in 
farming  when  a  youth,  with  no  opportunity  of 
obtaining  other  education  than  such  as  he 
could  acquire  b}'  himself  so  that,  when  he  at- 
tained his  majority,  he  could  with  difficulty 
write  his  name.  At  that  age  he  began  to  work 
land  on  shares,  continuing  it  for  several  years, 


*7l 


-^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


667 


until  at  length  he  was  able  to  purchase  a  small 
farm  of   twent}^   acres.     Finally   disposing  of 
this,  he  bought  a  farm  of  IGO  acres  in  Coven- 
try Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  which  he  im- 
proved  and  lived  upon    until    1854,  when    he 
sold  it,  and  purchased  a  farm  in  La  Porte  Co., 
Ind.,  purposing  at  the  time  to  remove  there, 
and  continue  faiming.     Before  doing  so,  how- 
ever, he  modified   his  plans  and   entered  into 
the  employ  of  Ball,  Aullman  &  Co.,  of  Can- 
ton, then  just  beginning  to  make  and  introduce 
very  extensively  the  ''Ohio,"  and  afterward  the 
"  Buckeye"  mower  and   reaper,  continuing  as 
their  agent  until  the  spring  of  1856.     The  fiim 
was  burnt  out  soon  alter,  and  made  an  assign- 
ment to  him   for  the  benefit  of   its  creditors. 
They  obtained  an  extension,  and  he  gave  them 
such  important  aid  that  the  fiim,  C.  Aullman  & 
Co.,    was   again    on  a  secure   foundation.     In 
1864,  he  succeeded  in  persuading  the  Canton 
manufacturers  of  the  "Buckeye"  machines,  to 
build   a  manufactorj'  at  Akion   also,   and  he 
superintended  the  constiuction  of  the  neces- 
sary buildings,  and  purchased  a  one-sixth  inter- 
est in  the  new  establishment.     By  the  following 
spring   they    began    manufacturing   their   ma- 
chines in  the  new  buildings.     The  next  year 
the  business  was  organized  as  a  stock  ccmpany, 
of  which  he  was  elected  President.     This  com- 
pany   has   over   $1,000,0(10    of    paid-up    cap- 
ital, and    $500,000    surplus.     Its   works   have 
capacit}-  for  building  over  ten  thousand  ma- 
chines annuall}'.     The   Akron  Iron  Company, 
with  its  large  rolling-mills  and  fine  blast  furn- 
aces, and  the  Akron  Knife  Works,  of  the  Whit- 
man &  Miles  Manufacturing  Ccmpany.  for  the 
production  of  knives  and  sickles  for  mowers, 
grew  indirectly  out  of  the  establishment  of  the 
Buckeye  works ;  and  the  Akron   paper-mill  of 
Thomas  Phillips  &  Co.,  the  rubber  works,  the 
the  chain  works,  and  man}-  other   flourishing 
industries,  owed  very  much  to  Mr.  Buchtel  for 
their  location  in  Akron.     He  was  an  officer  of 
the  Canton  incorporation  of  C.  Aultman  &  Co., 
a  Director  of  the  Akron  Iron  Company,  of  the 
Bank  of  Akron,  and  of  the  Weary.  Snyder  & 
W^ilcox  Manufacturing  Company,  besides  many 
smaller  business  interests.     In  politics  a  Re- 
publican, and  in  temperance  matters  a  prohibi- 
tionist ;    he   was   the  candidate  of   the  latter 
party  for  Secretary  of  State  of  Ohio,  in  1874. 
He   was  appointed  by  Gov.  Hayes,  and  con- 
firmed by  the  Senate,  one  of  the  Trustees  of 


State  Agricultural  College,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  executive  committee  during   the   erec- 
tion of  its  buildings.     Througliout  the  war  of 
Secession,  his  services  to  the  community  were 
simply  invaluable.     When  others  deemed  the 
obstacles  to  filling  up  the  quota  and  escaping 
the  draft  to  be  insurmountable,  he,  b}-  his  di- 
rect and  supervisory  eflfbrts  obtained  the  appor- 
tionment laid  upon  his  town.     In  religious  be- 
lief, he  is  a  stanch  I^niversalist,  but  neverthe- 
less   contributed    for    the   erection   of    everj- 
church  built  in  Akron,  after  he  began  to  take 
an  active  part  in  ati'airs.     The  crowning  work 
of  his  unstinted  liberality  was  reached  in  the 
establishment  and  endowment  of  Buchtel  Col- 
lege, Akron,  an  institution  under  the  control 
i  and  patronage  of  the  Universalist  dencmina- 
j  tion    of    Ohio.     As   the    outgrowth   of    three 
I  years  of  earnest  thought  and  persistent  eflfert, 
I  the  corner-stone  of  this  college  was  laid  Julj- 
4,  1871,  Horace  Greeley  delivering  the  address 
of  the  occasion.     Besides  donating  at  the  out- 
j  set,  his  library  to  the  institution,  he  from  time 
to  time  contributed  toward  its  ccm.pleticn  and 
peimanent  endowment,  until  his  gilts,  in  this 
direction,   amounted  to  over  $100,000.     This 
college,  at  first  an  experiment,  steadily  made 
its  way  foiward   until  it  holds  a  place  of  ac- 
knowledged merit  among  the  most  flourishing 
institutions  of  the  West.     His  generous  contri- 
butions to  the  Akron  Library  Association,  of 
which  he  was  President,  did   much    to   place 
that  organization  upon  a  peimanent  basis.     It 
ma}-  be  safely  said  that  he  gave  away  all  he 
earned,  and  was  a  great   public   and    private 
benefactor.     In  1844,  he  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth   Davidscn.    and    their   union    is   without 
issue.     In  1877,  Mr.  Buchtel  went  to  Athens 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  for  the  Akron 
Iron    Company,    on    the    line   of   the   Hock- 
ing Valley  Branch  Bailroad,  1,400  acres,  com- 
prising    some     of    the     richest    deposits    of 
coal  and  iron  in  the  State.     During  the  same 
year,  the  railroad  compan}-  located  a  station  on 
these  lands,  and  in  honor  of  his  ettbrts  to  de- 
velop the  mines,  they  named  the  station  Buch- 
tel. and  later,  the  post  office  there  received  the 
same  name.     As  purchaser,  projector  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  company  during  the  past 
four  years,  he  has  made  five  openings  and  es- 
tablished large  furnaces,  which   combined,  re-   i 
quire  a  force  of  over  four  hundred   men   to 
operate,  with  a  mining  capacity'  of  1,000  tons 


^^=f* 


668 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


of  superior  furnace  coal.  The  rich  veins  of 
iron  there  are  worked  with  great  facility  on 
account  of  contiguous  quarries  of  limestone 
which  produce  lime  suitable  for  fluxing. 

CAPT.  GEORGE  BILLOW,  undertaker, 
Akron,  the  representative  of  his  line  of  busi- 
ness, has  an  eventful  history.  He  was  born 
April  2,  1833,  in  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany, 
and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Milljus) 
Billow,  both  natives  of  Hesse-Darmstadt.  His 
parents,  with  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  about  the  year 
1844,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Sandusky, 
Ohio.  George  remained  with  his  parents  till  he 
was  17  3'ears  old,  and  then  went  to  Fremont, 
Ohio,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  wagon-maker  ;  he 
spent  three  years  there  at  learning  his  trade, 
and  then  he  went  to  Cleveland,  where  he  fin- 
ished in  fine  workmanship  ;  he  then  came  to 
Akron,  and  for  a  time  was  emplo3'ed  by  E.  A. 
Collins.  About  this  time  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Conrad  and  Charlotte 
(Graff)  Fink  ;  their  marriage  took  place  on 
Sept.  19,  1854.  His  wife,  as  well  as  her  father 
and  mother,  were  natives  of  Germany.  After 
his  marriage  he  returned  to  Cleveland  for  a 
time,  and  then  again  came  to  Akron,  when  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  spokes  for  Mr. 
Collins,  and  for  Oviatt  &  Sperry,  of  Tallmadge. 
About  the  time  he  was  engaged  in  this  busi- 
ness, the  war  of  the  rebellion  had  grown  to  a 
point  when  President  Lincoln  issued  a  call  for 
300,000  men.  Mr.  Billow  sold  out  and  closed 
up  his  interests  as  best  he  could,  and  then  entered 
the  army  ;  he  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  107th  0.  V.  I., 
as  a  private  ;  this  was  a  German  regiment,  and 
was  enlisted  specially  for  Sigel's  command  ;  he 
entered  the  army  in  July,  and  in  the  following 
November  he  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieu- 
tenant ;  shortly  after  this  he  rose  to  the  rank 
of  First  Lieutenant,  and  then  was  made  Captain 
of  his  company.  Much  of  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment was  spent  in  detail  service,  though  he  saw 
some  hard  fighting  ;  he  was  in  the  Fredericks- 
burg campaign,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Chan- 
cellorsville  from  July  1  to  4  ;  in  the  first  bayonet 
charge  at  this  battle,  the  Captain  and  thirty 
men  of  his  company  were  lost.  Hagerstown 
and  Boonsboro  will  also  l)e  remembered  by 
him  as  places  of  battle  in  which  he  participated. 
From  Warrenton  Junction  they  embarked  for 
South  Carolina  ;  their  command  had  been  so 
cut  up  that  the  1st  Division  of  the  11th  Corps 


was  united  with  Gordon's  Division,  and  the  com- 
mand known  thereafter  as  Gordon's  Division. 
They  went  to  Folly  Island,  under  command  of 
Gen.  Q.  A.  Gilraore.  Capt.  Billow  was  at  the 
capture  of  Fort  Wagner,  and  about  Christmas, 
1863,  he  was  at  the  battle  of  James'  Island ; 
he  was  subsequently  ordered  to  the  assistance 
of  the  troops  at  Jacksonville,  Fla.  ;  there  he 
was  stricken  with  typhoid  fever,  and,  after  re- 
covering, he  was  detailed  Brigade  Commissary 
of  Subsistence,  which  position  he  held  for  three 
months,  and  had  the  honor  of  having  been 
complimented  by  Commissary  General  Kil- 
bourn  on  his  success.  Again  he  was  detailed, 
and  this  time  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Foster,  as 
Post  Commissary  at  Fernandina  ;  he  remained 
there  about  nine  months,  and  was  then  sent  to 
Jacksonville  as  local  Provost  Marshal,  and  was 
there  for  three  months,  and  then  he  was  re- 
turned to  Fernandina,  where  he  remained  till 
the  close  of  the  war.  When  he  returned  from 
the  army  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
in  Akron,  with  Mr.  C.  Kolb  ;  thev  were  in  busi- 
ness for  about  two  years,  when  he  took  charge 
of  the  co-operative  grocery  ;  he  then,  for  about 
one  and  a  half  3'ears,  was  traveling  and  selling 
stoneware.  Having  seen  much  of  the  South 
during  the  war,  he  removed  to  Huntsville,  Ala., 
where,  for  four  years,  he  was  on  a  cotton  plan- 
tation ;  finding  this  speculation  unprofitable,  he 
returned  to  Akron,  where  he  arrived  the  1st  of 
April,  1875.  He  has  now  been  Notary'  for  five 
years,  and  is  doing  an  extensive  business  as 
agent  for  different  ocean  steamship  lines  and  in 
foreign  exchange  ;  this,  in  connection  with  his 
business  as  undertaker,  makes  an  extensive 
trade.  He  is  a  member  of  Akron  Commander}', 
No.  25  ;  and  while  he  was  in  Alabama,  he  was 
a  member  of  Huntsville  Commander}-,  No.  7, 
and  held  the  office  of  Grand  Captain  of  the 
Guard  of  the  order  in  that  State.  Politically, 
he  is  a  Republican.  His  famil}^  consists  of  the 
following  children  :  Anna,  George  W.,  Charles 
Fernando  (named  after  the  Major),  Ida,  Albert 
C,  Jacob  L.,  Edwin  M.,  and  the  baby,  Claire. 
WILLIAM  BUCHTEL,  lumber,  etc.,  Akron; 
a  son  of  John  and  Catharine  (Richards)  Buch- 
tel,  was  born  Dec.  23,  1822,  in  Green  Township 
of  this  county.  His  father  had  but  little  means, 
except  his  land  (106  acres)  and  his  children 
only  went  to  school  when  they  could  be  spared 
from  the  farm  in  winter.  He  (subject)  and  his 
brother,  John  R.,  cleared  a  large  portion  of  his 


'k^ 


CITY    OF   AKRON. 


669 


father's  farm.  At  22.  he  commenced  for  him- 
self, and  in  one  year  bought  the  homestead,  and 
engaged  largely  in  wheat-raising.  He  followed 
farming  until  1856,  when  he  bought  an  interest 
(having  rented  out  his  farm)  in  the  Chamberlin 
Mills,  which  he  operated  for  some  time  with 
good  success.  He  served  in  the  164th  0.  N.  Gr. 
during  the  late  war,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  the  fall  of  1864.  After  leaving  the 
arm}',  he  removed  to  Akron,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing year  he  made  one  of  the  firm  of  Jackson, 
Buchtel  &  Co.,  and  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  for  five  years — subject  being  most  of 
the  time  in  the  pineries  near  Saginaw,  Mich., 
supe^-intending  the  manufacture  of  lumber.  He 
is  at  present  in  the  lumber  business.  Since 
1865,  he  has  located  and  handled  over  20,000 
acres  of  GoA'ernment  and  State  lands,  in  Clare, 
Isabella  and  Missaukee  Counties,  Mich.,  and 
still  owns  some  3,000  acres  there.  He  was 
married  March  7,  1842,  to  Miss  Martha  Hen- 
derson, of  Springfield  Township.  By  this  mai'- 
riage  there  are  four  children,  viz. :  James  H., 
John  D.,  Wm.  M.  and  C.  J. 

JOHN  D.  BUCHTEL,  Akron,  second  son  of 
Wm.  and  3Iartha  (Henderson)  Buchtel  was  born 
May  20, 1849,  in  Coventry  Township,  this  county. 
In  1864,  when  his  father  went  into  the  army,  he 
came  to  Akron,  and  worked  in  the  mill  until 
his  return,  when  he  went  to  school  for  two 
3'ears.  He  then  engaged  in  a  flour  and  feed 
store  ;  attended  commercial  school  in  Pough- 
keepsie  in  1868,  and  spent  two  summers  at 
Saginaw,  Mich.  He  was  in  the  employ  of 
Thomas  &  Son  one  year  (1871),  and  teller  in 
the  Citizens'  Savings  and  Loan  Association, 
from  May,  1872,  to  March,  1877,  when  his  health 
failed  and  he  lay  sick  for  some  time.  In  1878, 
he  was  a  member  of  Tlermania  Printing  Co.  for 
a  short  time  and  then  went  to  Chautauqua  Lake 
where  he  clerked  in  a  hotel  for  three  months. 
He  then  came  back  to  Akron,  and  in  November, 
1878,  opened  a  feed  store  on  Mill  sti'eet,  which 
he  kept  until  the  spring  of  1881,  when  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm  of  Wm.  Buchtel  & 
Sons,  lumber  dealers. 

CHARLES  W.  BROWN,  barber,  Akron,  a 
son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Groves)  Brown,  was 
born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  May  7,  1843,  where  he 
lived  until  15  years  of  age,  attending  the  public 
schools  of  that  city.  At  the  age  of  14  he  en- 
tered his  father's  barber  shop  as  an  apprentice  ; 
he,  being  a  leading  barber  on  Superior  street 


for  some  fifty  j-ears.  Subject  worked  in  the 
shop  until  the  war  broke  out.  He  had  drilled 
with  a  compan}'  of  colored  men  under  Capt. 
Paddock  of  the  "  Cleveland  Grays."  This 
company,  through  John  Brown  (subject's  father) 
tendered  their  services  to  Gov.  Tod,  who  tele- 
graphed in  response  :  "  When  we  want  niggers 
we'll  let  you  know."  Subject  then  recruited  fif- 
teen men,  and  upon  offering  themselves  to  Rhode 
Island  were  accepted.  He  then  returned  and 
raised  twenty  men  more,  but  Ohio  had,  in  the 
meantime,  discovered  that  "niggers"  would 
stop  bullets  as  well  as  whites,  and  got  out  an 
injunction  against  their  leaving  the  State. 
Gov.  Sprague  of  Rhode  Island  was  notified,  and 
sent  two  of  his  ablest  attorney's  to  manage  the 
case.  In  the  trial  of  the  case,  Gov.  Tod's  tele- 
gram was  offered  in  testimon}',  and  after  a  full 
discussion  of  the  pros  and  cons,  the  "  niggers  " 
were  allowed  to  follow  their  own  bent,  and  at 
once  reported  to  Rhode  Island,  where  they 
were  mustered  into  the  14th  Rhode  Island 
Heavy  Artillery.  They  entered  the  service  in 
October,  1862,  and  were  discharged  at  New 
Orleans  in  the  spring  of  1865.  Subject  served 
in  the  Gulf  Department,  and  was  in  the  battles 
of  Red  River,  Mobile,  Plaquemine,  La.,  and  was 
1st  Sergeant  of  Co.  K.  He  came  to  Akron  in  the 
fall  of  1865,  and  has  done  a  good  business  as 
barber  ever  since.  His  shop  is  located  under 
the  x\cademy  of  Music,  and  runs  from  three  to 
five  chairs  with  competent  artists,  and  has  a 
bath  room  attached.  He  has  always  been  a 
stanch  Republican  and  is  the  first  colored  man 
elected  to  office  in  Summit  Count}',  b}'  a  popular 
vote,  being  elected  Trustee  of  Portage  Township 
in  1880,  an  oflfice  he  has  faithfully  filled.  He 
was  married,  July  29,  1867,  to  Miss  Laura  V. 
Lewis,  of  Cleveland  ;  the}'  have  two  daughters 
and  one  son.  His  parents  were  free-born  and 
came  to  Cleveland  about  1820,  where  the 
mother  still  lives,  aged  85  :  father  died  in  1868. 
They  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Sub- 
ject is  a  fine  musician,  and  was  leader  of  the 
first  colored  band  ever  raised  in  Akron. 

DAVID  BUNN,  policeman.  Akron.  Ohio  ; 
a  son  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  A.  (Whaler)  Bunn  ; 
was  born  in  Wells  Co.,  Ind.,  May  23,  1842,  his 
father  having  mo\'ed  to  that  locality  in  an  early 
da}'.  Subject  worked  on  a  farm,  and  helped  to 
clear  200  acres  of  woodland.  He  went  to 
school,  two  miles  distant,  and,  at  19,  came  to 
Ohio,  where  he  worked  for  David  Gailhouse.  of 


670 


BIOGKAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Wayne  Coimty,  on  farm  and  in  coal  bank.  He 
enlisted,  Aug.*  22,  1862,  in  Co.  G,  of  the  120tli 
0.  V.  I.,  and  participated  in  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi and  Vicksburg  campaign,  and  the  Red 
River  expedition.  He  was  captured  at  Snagg 
Point,  Red  River,  and  imprisoned  at  Camp  Ford 
for  thirteen  months  ;  was  at  one  time  sentenced 
to  be  shot  by  the  rebels,  and  taken  out  for  that 
purpose,  but  was  not  executed  for  some  cause. 
After  being  inhumanly  treated,  rendering  him 
an  invalid  for  five  years,  he  was,  in  1865,  pa- 
roled at  Camp  Ford,  and  returned  to  Doyles- 
town,  Ohio,  and  clerked  for  one  year  for  his  old 
employer,  on  farm  and  in  coal  bank.  He  was 
married,  October  11,  1866,  to  Miss  Almira 
Spriiiger,  of  Doylestown,  where  he  lived  until 
1875.  They  have  three  children,  two  sons  and 
one  daughter.  Mr.  B.,  in  1866.  engaged  in  the 
grocer}'  business,  and  afterward  dealt  in  dry 
goods.  In  1875,  he  came  to  Akron,  and  opened 
a  boot  and  shoe  store  on  Howard  street,  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  closed  out  and  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Teeples  &  Maxim  for  about 
one  and  one-half  years.  In  1878,  he  was  ap- 
pointed, by  Mayor  Scott,  policeman  for  the 
Fourth  Ward,  and  has  been  on  the  force  ever 
since,  a  faithful  and  vigilant  officei'.  He  has 
always  been  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics. 

J.  MARTIN  BECK,  Akron  Varnish  Works, 
Akron,  Ohio,  is  a  son  of  Adam  and  Christina 
(Hoefer)  Beck,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Selb,  Bavaria,  Germany,  Oct.  14,  1843.  At  14, 
he  entered  as  an  apprentice  in  a  wholesale  gro- 
cery and  drug  house,  and  served  four  years 
without  compensation,  and  paid  over  $300  to 
learn  the  business.  He  passed  a  regular  ex- 
amination, and  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1862,  and  to  Akron  in  August  of  the  same 
year.  Here  he  first  entered  the  employ  of  M. 
W.  Henry  &  Co.,  Mr.  Wolf,  his  half-brother, 
being  a  partner.  He  remained  six  3'ears,  when 
his  health  failed,  and  he  changed  his  location 
to  Cleveland,  where  he  was  employed  by  E.  I. 
Baldwin  &  Co.  as  a  salesman  for  one  year.  In 
the  spring  of  1869,  he  went  to  Europe  and  re- 
mained till  fall,  and  returned  to  the  United 
States  in  improved  health.  He  entered  into 
partnership  with  John  Wolf  and  H.  J.  Church, 
in  the  dry  goods  business,  until  1878,  when  he 
sold  out,  and  shortly  after  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  E.  G.  Kubler,  and  established  the 
Akron  Varnish  Works,  the  first  and  only  fac- 
tory of  the  kind  in  the  county.     The  business 


has  largely  increased  since  its  establishment. 
Jan.  12,  1871,  he  married  Miss  Kate  J.  Buch- 
tel,  daughter  of  William  Buchtel,  Esq.  The}' 
have  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

SOL  J.  BUCHER,  Constable,  Akron;  son 
of  David  and  Catherine  (Baird)  Bucher,  was 
born  in  Franklin  Township,  this  county,  April 
10,  1846.  He  lived  there  until  the  war  broke 
out.  At  16,  he  entered  the  array,  enlisting 
August  5,  1862,  in  Co.  H,  104th  0.  V.  I.  He 
served  in  the  Kentucky  and  East  Tennessee 
invasion,  and  the  Atlanta  campaign.  At  Co- 
lumbia, Tenn.,  he  was  wounded  on  the  28th  of 
November,  1864,  while  on  skirmish  line  ;  he 
was  shot  by  a  sharpshooter,  and  the  ball  en- 
tered under  his  left  nostril,  crashing  through 
the  hard  palate,  grazing  the  base  of  the  skull, 
and  lodged  between  his  ear  and  bones  of  the 
neck.  The  wound  was  probed  by  surgeons, 
and  they  removed  a  half  ounce  ball.  His  hear- 
ing and  eyesight  were  affected  for  some  time. 
He  joined  his  regiment  at  Greensboro,  N.  C, 
in  May,  1865,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Cleve- 
land with  his  regiment.  On  his  return,  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Coventry  Township,  until 
1869,  when  he  removed  to  Akron,  and  was 
there  in  the  employ  of  Thomas  &  Sous,  in  the 
planing  business,  for  about  a  year  ;  then,  for 
some  time,  engaged  in  the  grocery  business. 
Next,  he  worked  in  the  different  departments 
of  the  ''  Excelsior  Works,"  on  i-eapers  and  mow- 
ers, and  subsequently  in  the  Akron  Rubber 
Works.  In  1875,  he  was  elected  Constable  for 
Portage  Township,  which  position  he  has  filled 
by  annual  elections  ever  since.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Republican  County  Committee 
for  two  years.  September  28,  1866,  he  mar- 
ried, at  Millersburg,  Ohio,  Mrs.  Harriet  L. 
Bucher,  widow  of  the  late  David  Bucher,  Jr., 
and  daughter  of  David  Flickinger,  formerly  of 
Summit  Co.  His  father  was  born  in  Maryland 
in  1808,  and  came  to  Canton  with  his  parents 
in  1810,  the  present  city  having  then  but  four 
cabins.  He  grew  up  there,  and  moved  near 
Clinton,  this  county,  in  1838.  He  married 
Miss  Catharine  Baird,  of  Canton,  a  lady  of 
Scotch  descent,  born  in  1813.  He  farmed  in 
Franklin  Township  until  his  death,  in  1858. 
Ho  was  one  of  the  "Minute  Men"  during  the 
Mexican  war.  He  was  the  father  of  fourteen 
children,  eleven  of  whom  are  deceased  ;  but  six 
grew  up,  viz.,  David,  Jr.,  John,  Joseph,  Solo- 
mon J.,  Lavina  and  Amelia,  Henry  (deceased). 


^ 


L^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


671 


John  was  a  member  of  the  1st  Battalion  of  the 
18th  U.  S.  A.,  and  died  at  Park  Barrack,  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  Dec.  9,  1862.  Mrs.  David  Bucher, 
Sr.,  is  still  living.  Theobald  Bucher,  grand- 
father of  subject,  was  a  French  soldier,  and  re- 
moved from  Alsatia,  France,  to  America,  just 
after  the  American  Revolution,  settling  at  Bal- 
timore, Md.;  then  removed  to  Bellefonte,  Center 
Co.,  Penn.,  and,  in  1810,  to  Canton,  Ohio,  with 
his  family. 

JAMES  BUCHANAN,  foreman  in  paper 
mills,  Akron  ;  is  a  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Patterson)  Buchanan  ;  she  a  daughter  of  Frank 
Patterson.  All  were  natives  of  County  Donne- 
gal,  Ireland  ;  but  emigrated  to  America,  and 
settled  at  Quebec,  Canada,  in  1853,  the  same 
year  coming  to  Cuyahoga  Falls.  James  and 
Elizabeth  Buchanan  had  four  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living — our  subject,  born  in  1846, 
and  Helen,  now  a  Mrs.  Fred  Langs ;  he  a 
molder  at  Webster,  Camp  &  Lanes.  The  j^oung- 
est  and  the  oldest  children  died  in  infancy. 
James  received  a  limited  education,  and,  at  9 
years  of  age,  began  working  in  the  paper  mill 
at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  wliere  he  worked  a  number 
of  years,  and  learned  the  different  departments 
of  the  work.  In  Aug.  2,  1862,  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  G,  115th  0.  V.  I.,  and  was  afterward  trans- 
ferred to  the  Second  U.  S.  Calvary,  in  which  he 
served  two  and  a  half  years.  He  was  mustered 
out  of  service  in  August,  1865  ;  returned  home, 
and  learned  the  harness-maker's  trade,  at  which 
he  worked  three  years.  In  1868,  he  re-engaged 
in  the  paper  mill  at  the  falls,  working  with  the 
engines  and  machines,  until,  in  the  year  1874, 
from  which  time  until,  in  1876,  he  was  em- 
ploj^ed  at  the  Monroe  Falls  Paper  Mills.  In 
1876,  he  came  to  the  Akron  Paper  Company, 
and,  in  1879,  accepted  the  position  of  foreman 
of  the  works.  He  was  married  to  Mary  Ann 
Nesbitt,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  three 
of  whom  are  now  living,  viz.,  Ellen,  Emma  and 
Frank.  He  is  a  member  of  Summit  Lodge, 
No.  50,  I.  0.  0.  F.  He  is  also  connected  with 
the  Episcopal  Church. 

FREDERICK  BISHOP,  Superintendent  Ak- 
ron Iron  Company,  Akron  ;  son  of  Thomas  and 
Ann  (Warner)  Bishop  ;  was  born  in  the  county 
of  Warwickshire,  England,  October  30,  1843. 
When  a  child,  his  parents  removed  to  the  iron 
region  of  South  Staffoi'dshire,  England.  When  12 
years  old,  he  entered  a  rolling  mill  at  Wednes- 
bury,  Eng.,  in    the    heart   of   the    iron    coun- 


tr}'.  He  worked  in  almost  ever}^  department 
of  the  business  there,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1868,  stopping  at  Pittsburgh,  Penn., 
from  August  to  November,  when  he  came  to 
Akron,  and  entered  the  employ  of  this  company, 
as  puddler's  helper  for  some  six  months,  when 
he  was  assigned  the  management  of  the  finish- 
ing mills,  a  position  he  held  some  six  years, 
after  which  he  was  employed  in  the  mills  of  the 
Mahoning  Valley  as  superintendent  of  mills 
(at  different  points)  for  four  years.  He  then 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Akron  Iron  Company, 
in  September,  1878,  as  superintendent,  which 
position  he  has  held  ever  since.  He  has  been 
in  the  iron  business  for  twentj'-six  years,  and 
is  thoroughly  acquainted  with  all  the  processes 
known  as  to  its  manufacture.  May  31,  1869, 
he  married  Miss  Ann  Baldwin,  of  Wednesbury, 
England.  He  has  two  children  living,  and  three 
dead.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  is  living 
with  his  wife  in  England.  They  were  once  in 
the  United  States. 

JOHN  BROWN,  deceased.  The  champion 
of  universal  liberty,  the  zealous  friend  of  the 
colored  race,  and  the  hero  of  Harper's  Ferry, 
was  born  at  Torrington,  Conn.,  on  the  9th  of 
May,  in  the  year  1800,  and  was  the  son  of  Owen 
and  Ruth  (Mills)  Brown.  His  ancestry  is 
traced  back  in  an  unbroken  line  to  Peter 
Brown,  one  of  the  fugitive  pilgrims,  who  landed 
from  the  Mayflower  on  Plymouth  Rock  in  De- 
cember, 1620.  Without  tracing  the  family 
back  to  this  renowned  ancestor,  suffice  it  to  say 
that  Capt.  John  Brown  (the  grandfather  of 
subject),  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary 
army,  and  died  of  disease  during  his  term  of 
service.  He  was  of  the  fourth  generation  from 
Peter  Brown  in  regular  descent.  Capt.  John 
Brown's  youngest  son  was  named  Owen,  and 
was  the  father  of  our  subject.  He  came  to 
Ohio  in  1805,  when  the  latter  was  but  five 
years  old,  and  settled  in  Hudson  Township 
(now  in  Summit  County),  where  he  became  one 
of  the  principal  pioneer  settler's  of  that  section. 
He  was  commonly  called  Squire  Brown,  and 
was  one  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Oberlin 
College;  was  spoken  of  as  being  endowed  with 
energy  and  enterprise,  and  of  going  down  to  his 
grave  honoi-ed  and  respected,  about  1852,  at 
the  age  of  87  years.  Subject's  mother  died 
when  he  was  but  8  years  old,  a  loss  he  mourned 
long  and  sincerely.  When  the  war  broke  out 
with  England  (1812),  his  father  engaged  in  fur- 


\ 


672 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


nishing  the  troops  with  beef  (sattle.  During 
this  war  lie  had  some  chance  to  form  his  own 
bo3'ish  judgment  of  men  and  measures,  and  to 
become  somewhat  familiarly  acquainted  with 
many  who  figured  before  the  country  in  after 
3'ears.  A  circumstance  occurred  during  this 
war  that  made  him  a  most  determined  Aboli- 
tionist, and  led  him  to  declare  eternal  war  on 
slavery.  He  was  staying  for  a  short  time  with 
a  man  who  owned  a  slave  boy  about  his  own 
age.  This  man  made  a  great  pet  of  him  (sub- 
ject), brought  him  to  table  with  his  first  com- 
pany and  friends,  and  called  their  attention  to 
every  little  smart  thing  he  said  and  did,  while 
the  negro  boy  was  badly  clothed,  poorly  fed 
and  lodged  in  cold  weather,  and  beaten  before 
his  eyes  with  anything  that  came  first  to  hand. 
At  the  age  of  10  an  old  friend  induced  him  to 
read  a  little  history,  by  which  he  acquired  some 
taste  for  reading  ;  formed  the  principal  part  of 
his  early  education  and  diverted  him,  in  a  great 
manner,  from  bad  company.  By  reading  the 
lives  of  great  and  good  men,  and  their  writings, 
he  grew  to  dislike  vain  and  frivolous  conversa- 
tion and  persons.  In  early  life  he  became  am- 
bitious to  excel  in  an3'thing  he  undertook  to 
perform,  and  especially  in  the  full  labor  of  a 
man  in  any  hard  work.  At  an  early  age  he 
became,  to  some  extent,  a  convert  to  Chris- 
tianity, and  was  ever  after  a  firm  believer  in 
the  divine  authenticity  of  the  Bible.  With  this 
book  he  became  very  familiar,  and  possessed 
an  unusual  memory  of  its  entire  contents.  He 
was  married  June  21,  1820,  at  Hudson,  to  Miss 
Dianthe  Lusk,  an  industrious  and  economical 
girl  of  excellent  character,  earnest  piet^^,  and  of 
good  practical  common  sense.  By  this  marriage 
he  had  seven  children,  viz.,  John,  Jason,  Owen, 
Frederick.  Ruth,  Frederick  (2d),  and  an  infant 
son,  buried  with  its  mother,  Aug.  10,  1832. 
three  days  after  its  birth.  By  his  second  wife, 
Mary  A.  Da^-,  to  whom  he  was  married  at 
Meadville,  Penn.,  he  had  thirteen  children,  viz., 
Sarah,  Watson,  Salmon,  Charles,  Oliver,  Peter, 
Austin,  Anne,  Amelia,  Sarah  (2d),  Ellen,  infant 
son,  Ellen  (2d).  From  his  21st  to  his  26th 
3-ear,  he  was  engaged  in  the  tanning  business 
and  as  a  farmer  in  Ohio.  At  26,  he  went  to 
Crawford  Co.,  Penn.,  where  he  carried  on  his 
old  business  until  1835,  characterized  as  a 
thoroughly  honest  man.  In  1835,  he  moved 
to  Franklin  Mills,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
remained  until  1840,  when  he  went  to  Hudson 


and  engaged  in  the  wool  business  with  Mr. 
Oviatt,  of  Richfield.  In  1814,  he  moved  to 
Akron,  and  in  1846,  to  Springfield,  Mass.,  where 
he  lived  until  1849,  and  then  removed  to  Essex 
Co.,  N.  Y.  In  1851,  he  returned,  with  his 
family  to  Akron,  Ohio,  where  he  managed  Mr. 
Perkins'  farm  and  carried  on  the  wool  business. 
It  was  in  1839  that  he  first  conceived  the  idea 
of  liberating  the  Southern  slaves.  He  had  seen 
the  blasting  and  blighting  manhood  of  the 
nation,  and  had  listened  to  the  "voice  of  the 
poor  that  cried."  This  sentiment  was  cherished 
b}'  him,  and  his  efforts  in  that  direction  pushed 
forward,  until  he  expiated  with  his  life  the  zeal 
he  felt  for  the  down-trodden  African.  In  1855, 
on  starting  for  Kansas,  he  again  moved  his 
household  to  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  now  his 
"bod}' lies  moldering  in  the  dust."  But  from 
the  period  of  his  going  to  Kansas,  until  an 
ignominious  death  closed  his  eventful  career, 
his  acts  and  his  deeds  are  a  part  of  the  nation's 
history,  and  require  no  repetition  in  this 
sketch. 

JAMES  N.  BALDWIN,  merchant  miller, 
Akron.  Benson  C.  Baldwin  was  born  in  1797, 
in  Granville,  Mass.,  and  his  wife,  Louisa  A. 
Neal,  in  Tallmadge,  Ohio,  in  1812.  He  was 
a  minister  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
preached  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  at  Medina  in  1844.  He  was  the 
father  of  three  sons,  and  James,  the  second 
child,  was  born  Feb.  22,  1839,  in  Medina,  Ohio. 
He  lived  in  Middlebury  from  1844  to  1851, 
when  his  mother  moved  to  Hudson.  Here  he 
attended  school  until  he  was  19,  when  he  came 
to  Akron  and  clerked  for  the  Hall  Bros,  until 
1862,  when  he  was  emplo^'ed  as  book-keeper 
and  Secretary  of  the  Chamberlain  Company, 
continuing  until  1878,  in  which  year  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  George  AV.  McNeil,  and 
leased  the  ^Etna  Mills,  which  they  have  con- 
ducted with  ftiir  success  since.  In  March, 
1864,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Augusta  Eldred, 
of  Akron,  who  bore  him  two  children ;  she 
died  in  January,  1875.  In  July,  1879,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Harriet  L.  Andrus,  of  Akron. 

DENNISON  BABCOCK,  butcher,  Akron,  is 
a  son  of  George,  he  of  Samuel  Babcock,  who 
were  natives  of  Groton,  Conn.  George,  with 
two  brothers  and  one  sister,  came  to  Ohio  at 
an  early  date,  he  settling  in  Middlebury,  and 
engaging  in  mercantile  pursuits,  which  he  aft- 
erward   pursued   in   Akron   Cit}'  proper.     He 


IV 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


673 


was  married,  June  14,  1829,  to  Clarissa  Will- 
iams as  a  second  marriage,  by  whom  he  had 
five  children — ^Martha  Calista,  born  July  1, 
1830;  Sarah  Susannah,  May  18,  1833;  Will- 
iams Pierpont,  Oct.  27,  1835 ;  Clarissa  E., 
Jul}'  31,  1840  (now  deceased),  and  the  subject 
of  'this  sketch,  born  Feb.  12,  1844.  Paul 
Williams,  born  in  1767,  and  Sarah  Williams, 
born  in  1763,  the  grandparents  of  our  subject, 
came  to  Akron  and  erected  the  first  log-house 
in  the  cit}'  proper,  the  location  of  which  was 
on  Broad  street,  near  the  knife  works.  The 
family  nearly  all  died  during  the  building  of 
the  canal,  none  being  left  except  the  grand- 
mother and  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  who  lived  until  1868.  The  grand- 
mother died  in  1832,  from  the  effects  of  sick- 
ness in  1827.  Dennison  attended  school  in 
Akron  until  17  years  of  age,  when  he  learned 
butchering,  and  worked  for  a  time  at  the  car- 
penter's trade.  At  18  j-ears  of  age,  he  enlist- 
ed in  Co.  H,  104th  0.  V.  I.,  in  which  he  served 
until  July,  1865,  receiving  in  the  meantime  a 
wound  at  the  battle  of  Knoxville  which  sent 
him  to  the  hospital  for  a  considerable  time, 
which  he  occupied  in  filling  the  position  of 
Hospital  Steward.  In  the  spring  of  1867,  he 
engaged  with  his  brother  in  the  feed-store  bus- 
iness, but  disposed  of  the  same  the  following 
fall.  Then  engaged  in  butchering  for  about 
two  years,  after  which  time  he  traveled  four 
years  for  Alfred  Pitkin  &  Co.,  steam-heating 
apparatus,  subsequent!}'  engaging  in  the  bus- 
iness of  carpentering  and  pattern-making  for 

D.  W.  Thomas,  continuing  for  about  three 
years.  In  March,  1879,  he  began  the  butcher- 
ing business  with  a  meat  market  at  No.  322 
East  Mill  street,  where  he  is  now  engaged  with 

E.  W.  Russell,  doing  an  average  business.  He 
was  married,  Nov.  12,  1873,  to  Lucy  Maria 
Upson,  daughter  of  Julius  Upson,  a  resident 
of  Cuyahoga  Falls.  He  is  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  Republican  party. 

JOHN  H.  BELLOWS,  retired  farmer  ;  P.  O. 
Akron  ;  is  the  eldest  son  of  Itharaar  Bellows, 
who  was  born  Feb.  11,  1794,  in  Groton,  Conn., 
and  died  in  1868,  he  being  a  son  of  Ephraim, 
who  came,  among  the  earh'  settlers,  to  Coventry 
and  Springfield  Townships.  The  wife  of  Itha- 
mar  was  Lanah  Haynes,  born  June  28,  1796  ; 
died  Jan.  17,  1867.  Her  parents  were  Daniel 
and  Jane  (Ha3'nes)  Haynes,  who  were  the  first 
white  settlers  in  Coventry  Township.    The  father 


of  our  subject  drove  an  ox -team  from  Groton, 
Conn.,  to  Coventry,  in  the  fall  of  1811,  for 
Capt.  Amos  Spicer,  with  whom  he  lived  until 
his  marriage  to  Lanah  Haynes.  b}^  whom  he 
had  seven  children — Laura,  born  March  30, 
1816  ;  John  H.,  April  24,  1818  ;  Samantha  J., 
Oct.  20,  1823;  Ephraim  G.,  Dec.  15,  1825; 
Harriet  D.,  March  11, 1830  ;  Henry  J.,  Dec.  18, 
1833,  and  Mary  E.,  Dec.  22,  1837.  He  was 
alwa^'s  a  ver}'  hard-working  man,  honest  and 
upright  in  all  his  dealing,  by  which  he  amassed 
a  considerable  fortune,  although  very  liberal, 
and  meeting  with  many  reverses.  John  H., 
being  the  oldest  son,  received  a  very  limited 
education,  he  being  employed  in  assisting  his 
father  in  clearing  up  the  old  homestead  until 
about  25  years  of  age.  He  was  married,  Oct. 
9,  1857,  to  Lydia  Ann  Myers,  daughter  of 
Simeon  Mj^ers,  an  old  settler  in  Norton.  They 
have  two  sons — Francis  Leroy,  born  Dec.  25, 
1859,  now  engaged  as  Assistant  Superintendent 
at  Akron  Rubber  Works — and  Charles  Orlando, 
born  Oct.  25,  1861,  now  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facturing of  brooms,  with  Bechtel  &  Pontius. 

JAMES  H.  BURT,  book-keeper  at  Brewster 
Coal  Chutes,  Akron  ;  was  born  Aug.  19,  1843  ; 
the  son  of  William  Burt,  whose  father  was  also 
named  William  ;  they  were  natives  of  England. 
Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Glamorganshire, 
South  Wales  ;  and,  in  the  fall  of  1853,  came 
from  Liverpool  to  New  York  with  his  parents 
and  four  sisters.  They  resided  at  Wampum, 
Penn.,  for  one  3ear  ;  then  came  to  the  cit}'  of 
Youngstown,  Ohio,  where  the  father  now  lives, 
and  is  engaged  as  an  horticulturist.  His  mother 
was  a  sister  to  John  Beese,  whose  histor}'  ap- 
pears in  Coventr}'  Township.  James  attended 
school  until  13  years  of  age,  when  he  engaged 
as  a  mule  driver  in  the  Mahoning  Valley  until 
the  breaking-out  of  the  war,  when  he  enlisted 
as  drummer  in  an  independent  band  called 
"  Dixon's  Band  ;"  but  was  subsequentl}^  con- 
nected with  the  155th  Penns3'lvania  Regiment, 
the  band  being  discharged  some  time  after  en- 
listment, he  returned  home,  and  re-enlisted  in 
the  84th  0.  V.  I.  three  montlis'  men  ;  but  were 
kept  several  months  overtime,  when  they  were 
discharged.  He  then,  immediately,  Jan.  2, 1864, 
enlisted  in  the  15th  Ohio  Battery,  in  which  he 
served  until  June,  1865,  when  he  returned  home, 
and  worked  on  a  farm  and  attended  school  un- 
til April,  1866.  when  he  was  engaged  as  book- 
keeper l)y  the  Crawford,  Davis  &  Co.  Coal  Mining 


:|^ 


074 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES; 


Companj',  near  Youngstown,  until  1874,  at  which 
time  he  accepted  the  position  which  he  now 
occupies.  He  was  married,  Nov.  28,  1867,  to 
Harriette  E.  Beatty,  daughter  of  John  and  Lu- 
cretia  (Darrow)  Beatty,  natives,  he  of  Ii'eland, 
she  of  New  England.  B_y  this  marriage,  there 
were  five  children — Harrison  J.,  Franklin  P., 
Clara  May,  Alfred  and  Martha  J. 

ARTHUR  F.  BARTGES,  Akron  ;  son  of  Dr. 
Samuel  W.  Bartges  ;  was  born  in  North  George- 
town, Ohio,  April  2,  1838,  and  came  with  his 
parents  to  Akron  in  1842,  where  he  attended 
the  public  schools  until  he  was  16,  entering 
Western  Reserve  College  of  Hudson  in  1856, 
where  he  spent  two  j-ears.  In  1857,  he  entered 
the  law  office  of  Ranney,  Backus  &  Noble,  of 
Cleveland,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the 
session  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Columbus, 
April  4,  1859.  Returning  at  once  to  Akron, 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Gen.  A.  C.  Voris, 
which  lasted  until  1864.  In  1865,  he  opened  a 
coal  mine  in  Norton,  and  engaged  in  the  coal 
business,  going  to  Cleveland  in  1869,  vvhere  he 
had  his  principal  office,  and  did  a  large  busi- 
ness in  the  sale  of  coal  until  1877,  when  he 
again  came  to  Akron,  and  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  being  in  active  practice  ever  since. 

CAPT.  A.  P.  BxiLDWIN,  Agent  Akron 
Iron  Company,  Akron,  oldest  son  of  James 
and  Mary  (Robertson)  Baldwin,  was  born  Jan. 
28,  1838,  near  110  North  Howard  street, 
Akron  ;  at  14,  he  entered  the  employ  of  P.  D. 
Hall  &  Co.,  as  clerk,  where  he  remained  until 
1859,  when  his  father  opened  a  hardware  store 
on  Howard  street,  under  the  firm  name  of 
James  Baldwin  &  Son ;  this  they  conducted 
until  the  war  broke  out,  and,  in  October,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  the  6th  Ohio  Light  Batter}^  or- 
ganized at  Mansfield,  Ohio,  b}'  John  Sherman, 
by  whom  he  was  commissioned  2d  Lieutenant. 
After  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge  he  was  pro- 
moted to  1st  Lieutenant,  and  during  the  Hood 
campaign  he  was  made  Captain  of  the  6th 
Battery  ;  he  was  mustered  out  at  New  Orleans 
September  1,  1865,  having  served  nobly  in  the 
Pittsburg,  Shiloh,  Perryville,  Stone  River,  Chat- 
tanooga, Lookout  Mountain,  Atlanta  Cam- 
paign, Resaca,  Atlanta  (Jonesboro),  Spring 
Hill  and  Nashville  battles.  For  his  gallant 
services  at  Spring  Hill,  of  Franklin,  Tennessee, 
he  was  offered  a  commission  in  the  regular  army, 
by  Corps  Commander  Gen.  D.  Stanley,  but  de- 
clined it.     On  his  return  to  Akron  he  went  into 


the  hardware  business  with  H.  W.  Wetmore, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Wetmore  &  Baldwin,  and 
in  1 867,  it  became  Wetmore,  Baldwin  &  Paige,  so 
continuing  until  1869,  when  he  retired,  and  in 
March  became  General  Agent  for  the  Akron 
Iron  Compan}',  a  position  he  still  retains,  repre- 
senting the  company  throughout  the  East,  West 
and  South.  November  10,  1863,  he  married 
Miss  Celia  F.  Ayres,  of  Akron  ;  he  has  four 
children — James  A.,  John  Sherman,  Susie  and 
Mary  E 

JAMES  BALDWIN,  Akron,  was  born  at 
Amsterdam,  N.  Y.,in  1S05,  and  came  to  Akron 
in  1831,  having  but  little  means  ;  he  was  a  car- 
penter and  builder.  The  firm  of  Kilbour  & 
Baldwin  was  presented  with  lots  on  corner  of 
Howard  &  Market  streets,  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting  a  hotel,  which  they  did,  and  named  it 
the  "Pavilion  Hotel;"  they  rented  it  to  Charles 
B.  Cobb,  who  kept  it  for  several  years.  Mr. 
Baldwin  put  up  the  present  block,  comprising 
Nos.  102,104  and  108  North  Howard  st.  He 
went  into  the  hardware  business  in  1859,  con- 
tinuing until  1864,  when  he  retired,  and  died 
Sept.  19,  1865.  His  wife,  Mary  (Robertson) 
was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Penn.,  in  1805,  came  to 
Ohio,  with  her  parents,  in  1831,  and  was  mar- 
ried. She  died  in  1872,  leaving  a  family  of  six 
children,  viz.,  Miranda  P.,  resident  of  Aki'oii ; 
Isabella  R.,  wife  of  William  C.  Sullivan,  of  Oak- 
land, California  ;  Aaron  P.  (of  whom  see 
sketch)  ;  James  W.,  died  in  1875,  near  Cincin- 
nati ;  Mar}'  J.,  who  was  the  wife  of  B.  D.  A. 
Melvin,  of  Akron,  and  died  in  1877  ;  and  Olive 
J.,  wife  of  C.  L.  Benjamin,  of  Dennison,  Tex. 
James  Baldwin  was  a  civil  engineer  on  the 
railroad  from  Schenectady  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in 
1830,  the  first  railroad  in  the  United  States, 
with  Hon.  Horatio  Allen  and  James  Mills  ;  he 
was  a  man  of  great  industry,  and  possessed  a 
character  without  a  flaw. 

JAMES  F.  BRUOT,  Notary  Public,  general 
insurance  and  real  estate  agent,  Akron ;  was 
born  Jan.  29,  1827  ;  is  the  son  of  John  Nicho- 
las Bruot  and  Catharine  Bruot,  nee  Guyot,  of 
Valentigney,  near  Montbeliard,  Department  of 
Doubs,  France,  and  the  descendant  of  an  an- 
cient Huguenot  family.  He  was  educated  in 
the  normal  school  of  his  native  town,  and  in 
1843  came  out  best  of  his  class  and  drew  the 
first  prize  of  honor  ;  in  May,  1848,  he  came  to 
the  United  States,  stopping  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
where  he  engaged  to  work  for  an  attorney  in 


w 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


675 


order  to  learn  the  English  hmguage  ;  he  went 
back  to  France  in  1851  on  a  visit,  and  while 
tliere  received  a  power  of  attorney  from  Mr. 
Peter  Gressard,  of  Coventry  Township,  Summit 
Co.  On  his  return  to  the  United  States,  and  at 
the  solicitation  of  Mr.  Gressard,  he  came  to  this 
count}'  and  visited  the  latter,  when  he  first  became 
acquainted  with  his  wife  ;  he  did  not  remain 
long,  however ;  he,  being  an  only  child  was 
again  called  to  France  by  his  parents  for  the 
third  time.  AVhile  there  his  father  died  acci- 
dentally, and,  after  arranging  matters  relating 
to  the  estate,  he  returned  to  Buffalo,  and,  Dec. 
2,  1854,  was  married  in  Akron  to  Miss  Kosalie 
Gressard.  He  took  his  wife  to  Buffalo,  and  re- 
mained there  in  the  grocery  and  provision  bus- 
iness until  November,  1857,  when  he  sold  out 
his  house,  lot  and  business,  at  a  good  margin, 
and  took  his  wife  and  first  child  on  a  visit  to 
Europe.  In  1860,  he  returned  with  his  lamily 
to  Akron,  where,  a  few  months  later,  after  the 
death  of  his  father-in-law,  he  purchased  the 
latter's  farm.  In  1864,  he  erected  a  large  build- 
ing on  South  Main  street,  where  he  opened  a 
wholesale  and  retail  grocery  store,  and,  a  few 
years  later,  erected  the  Harmonic  Block,  at  a 
cost  of  $23,000  ;  in  November,  1871,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  general  insurance  and  real  estate 
business,  and  is  at  present  Notary  Public,  insur- 
ance and  real  estate  agent.  He  has  five  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  B.  has  made 
eight  trips  to  Europe,  which,  with  his  original 
trip  to  the  United  States,  makes  seventeen  times 
crossing  of  the  Atlantic. 

G.  C.  BERRY,  merchant,  Akron,  of  the  well- 
known  firm  of  G.  C.  Berry  &  Co. — of  which  so 
much  is  said  in  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Henry  of  this 
firm — is  a  native  of  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  though  he 
became  aresidentof  Summit  County  when  he  was 
3  years  old  ;  in  1863,  he  became  a  partner  in  the 
firm  of  which  he  now  stands  at  the  head,  which 
change  was  made  in  1874.  His  has  been  a  life 
without  remarkable  incident,  yet  crowned  with 
success.  During  his  early  life  he  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  public  schools  of  Akron  ;  his 
opportunities  were  not  left  unimproved,  the  re- 
sult of  which  was  the  acquirement  by  himself 
of  a  good  education.  In  social  as  well  as  in 
business  affairs,  he  is  not  given  to  ostentation. 
He  was  a  member  of  Co.  F  of  the  164th  0.  V.  I., 
100  days  service  during  the  war  of  the  rebell- 
ion ;  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education  of  Akron,  which  fact  is  pretty  good 


evidence  of  his  ability  and  the  confidence  of  the 
people  ;  he  is  a  member  of  Summit  Lodge,  No. 
50,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  a  Republican  in  politics. 
He  has  been  almost  wholly  dependent  upon 
his  own  resources,  and,  however  prominent 
his  position  may  be  in  connection  with  the 
mercantile  industries  of  Akron,  that  position 
has  been  attained  by  his  own  energy,  ambition 
and  honesty. 

GEORGE  BURKHARDT,  retired,  Akron, 
who  is  a  representative  of  the  industrious  and 
enterprising  German  element  of  Akron  popu- 
lation, was  born  in  Baden,  Germany.  When  he 
was  11  years  old,  his  father  died,  and,  at  the 
age  of  13,  he  was  doubly  orphaned  by  the 
death  of  his  mother.  He,  however,  had  the 
advantage  of  attending  school  until  he  was  14 
years  of  age.  When  15  years  of  age,  he  was 
apprenticed  for  three  years  to  a  toolmaker  to 
learn  that  trade,  in  addition  to  serving  which 
time,  he  paid  $32.  At  the  closing  of  his  term 
of  apprenticeship,  he  began  life  among  stran- 
gers on  his  own  account,  by  beginning  a  tour  of 
five  years'  travel  through  the  States  of  Germany, 
and  by  special  pass  into  France  and  Switzer- 
land. This  period  of  travel  was  for  the  pur- 
pose of  working  in  the  different  States  of  Ger- 
many, and  was  what  was  known  as  his  term  of 
journey-man  workmanship,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  was  termed  a  master  workman.  In 
1848,  he  emigrated  to  America  and  came  direct 
to  Akron,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  first 
began  work  for  a  Mr.  James  Hale,  at  Lock  No. 
7,  of  Akron.  His  work  has  been  principally 
in  iron  and  brass.  He  has  received  good 
wages  on  account  of  his  being  a  fine  workman. 
By  saving  his  mone}'  and  investmg  it  in  real 
estate  he  has  become  the  owner  of  valuable 
residence  and  business  propert}'  in  Akron.  To 
aid  him  in  succeeding  better  in  his  business,  he 
for  a  time,  shortly  after  his  arrival  in  Akron, 
attended  a  night  school  for  the  special  instruc- 
tion of  Germans  in  the  American  or  English 
language.  Mr.  Burkhardt  has  not  been  a 
political  office  seeker,  though  he  has  held  the 
office  of  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Akron  Fire 
Department,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Akron  City  Council  from  the  Fourth  Ward. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  A.,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  of  a  number  of  secret  societies  that  are 
strictly  German.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  Church.  In  1870,  he  paid  his  Father- 
land a  visit,  where  he  remained  for  about  three 


"TH 


v 


A^ 


676 


BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


months.  He  is  now  one  of  that  class  of  the 
residents  of  Akron  who  are  reaping  the  reward 
of  their  early  industry  and  economy  in  the 
possession  of  a  comfortable  home  and  a  com- 
petency for  old  age. 

ALMON  BROWN,  County  Coroner  and 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  Middlebury  (Sixth  Ward, 
Akron),  was  born  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Nov.  26,  1801,  on  his  father's  farm,  and  is  the 
third  child  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  born 
to  Holland  and  Sarah  (Mix)  Brown.  They 
were  natives  of  Brimfield,  Mass.,  and  Litchfield, 
Conn.,  and  were  married  in  Tompkins  Co., 
whither  they  had  removed  with  their  parents. 
In  January,  1814,  Mr.  Brown  and  family,  then 
consisting  of  seven  children,  came  to  Ohio. 
His  means  of  transportation  was  a  sled,  drawn 
by  two  yoke  of  oxen,  the  stronger  members  of 
the  family,  of  whom  was  Almon,  our  subject, 
walking  the  entire  distance.  The  trip  required 
twenty-six  days.  Upon  his  arrival  he  bought 
160  acres  of  timber  land,  and,  while  building  a 
cabin,  lived  with  a  friend.  The  cabin  put  up 
b}^  Mr.  Brown  was  twenty  feet  square,  and  of 
round  logs  ;  there  was  one  room,  "  cut  down  " 
inside,  oiled  paper  window,  board  door,  made 
from  the  sled  box,  and  a  stick  chimney.  He 
lived  here  two  years,  then  sold  his  improve- 
ments and  bought  135  acres  adjoining,  on 
which  he  erected  another  log  cabin,  and  com- 
menced clearing  his  land.  He  lived  in  the 
vicinity  some  ten  j^ears,  making  in  the  mean- 
time several  improvements.  He  then  removed 
to  what  is  now  Wadsworth  Township,  Medina 
Co.,  where  he  bought  land,  upon  which  he  lived 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  April,  1844. 
His  wife  died  in  Medina  in. 1861,  where  she  had 
lived  with  a  daughter  most  of  the  time  after 
her  husband's  death.  Almon  Brown,  our  sub- 
ject, made  his  home  with  his  parents  until  he 
was  21  years  of  age.  He  received  but  a  limited 
education — his  schooling  amounting  to  about 
four  months'  attendance,  one  month  each  at 
four  different  terms  of  district  schools.  He 
was  married,  Jan.  1,  1828,  to  Miss  Rosalind 
Hinman,  a  native  of  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who 
came  to  this  county  (Coventry  Township)  with 
her  parents  about  the  year  1818.  She  died 
May  13,  1847,  leaving  five  children.  He  was  a 
second  time  married,  on  Sept.  9,  1847,  to  Miss 
Evan  Shively,  a  native  of  Columbiana  Co., 
Ohio.  She  died  June  17,  1857.  Two  children 
were  born  of  this  marriage.     May  13,  1858,  he 


was  again  married,  to  Mrs.  Read,  formerly  Miss 
Catharine  Paulus,  a  native  of  Huntingdon  Co., 
Penn.  She  was  born  June  13,  1811,  and  was 
the  third  of  five  children  born  to  Daniel  and 
Hannah  (Miller)  Paulus.  They  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  and  were  mar- 
ried in  Pennsylvania,  removing  to  Ohio  in  the 
year  1815.  The}'  settled  in  Jackson  Township, 
Stark  County,  where  Mr.  Paulus  died  the  next 
year  after  settlement.  His  widow,  two  years 
later,  married  Mr.  Jacob  Jubb,  and  bore  him 
five  children.  They  lived  in  Stark  Co.  until 
his  death,  when  she  went  to  Indiana,  and 
passed  the  remainder  of  her  life  with  her 
children.  Catharine,  the  wife  of  our  subject, 
lived  at  home  until  her  first  marriage  to  John 
Read,  a  wagon-maker  in  Middlebury.  He  died 
Aug.  18,  1856  ;  they  had  no  children.  She  has 
since  resided  here,  with  the  exception  of  about 
eight  3'ears  passed  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county.  x\fter  the  first  marriage  of  our  sub- 
ject, he  followed  carpentering  for  about  twenty 
years,  and  then  worked  at  wood-turning  in 
Norton  Township,  and,  in  1866,  came  to  Mid- 
dlebury, where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has 
served  most  of  the  time  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  ;  also  served  as  Ward  and  Township 
Assessor  some  eight  or  nine  years.  He  was 
mail  agent  for  several  years,  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  fifth  term  as  County  Coroner.  He  was 
Mayor  of  Middlebury-  two  terras — the  last  dur- 
ing the  vote  to  annex  it  to  Akron.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Disciples'  Church  since 
1834,. and  an  J]lder  of  the  same  a  number  of 
years.  Mrs.  Brown  was  a  Methodist  about 
thirty  years,  but  since  1860,  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Disciples'  Church.  Mr.  Brown's 
first  vote  for  a  Presidential  candidate  was  for 
John  Quinc}-  Adams.  He  was  a  Whig  until 
1840  ;  then  anti-slavery  until  the  organization 
of  the  Republican  party,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  a  zealous  member  of  it. 

JUDGE  CONSTANT  BRYAN,  lawyer,  Ak- 
ron. A  son  of  Elijah  and  Content  (Fowler) 
Bryan  ;  was  born  Sept.  6,  1809,  in  Delaware 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  brought  up  on  a  farm 
until  he  was  16  years  old.  He  then  com- 
menced teaching,  continuing  it  for  three  years, 
when  he  entered  upon  the  stud}'  of  the  law  at 
Bainbridge,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  the  office 
of  John  C.  Clark,  remaining  with  him  about 
two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1831,  he  went  to 
Milford,  Conn.,  and  afterward  to  New  Haven, 


<a »^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


677 


where  he  continued  his  studies  in  the  Law  De- 
partment of  Yale  College,  teaching  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  during  the  summer  vacation.  In 
the  fall  of  1833,  he  came  to  Ohio  and  located 
in  Akron,  and,  in  1834,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Columbus,  he  walking  to  Wooster,  and 
going  by  stage  from  that  place.  He  opened  an 
office  for  practice  at  once  ;  was  the  partner  of 
George  Bliss  for  two  or  three  years.  In  1852, 
he  was  elected  Probate  Judge  of  Summit  Co. 
Judge  BrN'an's  practice  has  been  chiefly  in 
civil  cases  and  in  the  chancery  courts.  He 
was  the  first  Recorder  of  the  incorported  vil- 
lage of  Akron,  and  long  a  member  of  the 
School  Board.  He  was  one  of  the  early  Free- 
Soilers,  and  was  elected  Probate  Judge  by  that 
party  and  the  Democrats.  He  was  married  in 
May,  1839,  to  Miss  Sophia  Dennison,  a  native 
of  Rutland,  Vt.  Two  children  were  born  of 
this  marriage,  one  of  whom  is  living — Henry 
E.,  City  Clerk  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  His  wife 
died,  and  in  September,  1854,  he  was  again 
married,  to  Miss  Susan  L.  Barnum,  of  Flor- 
ence, Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  Of  this  marriage, 
there  are  two  children  living — Fred  C,  in  the 
Cincinnati  Law  School,  and  Isaac  J.,  at  home. 
Judge  B.  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 

REV.  JOHN  B.  BROUN,  Pastor  of  St. 
Bernard's  (German  Catholic)  Church,  Akron, 
was  born  in  Rennes,  France,  March  2,  1834. 
When  he  was  13,  his  family  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  in  Monroe,  Mich.,  in 
1847.  He  entered  Assumption  College  at 
Sandwich,  Ontario,  at  the  age  of  20,  remaining 
there  three  years,  then  entered  St.  Thomas 
College,  near  Bardstown,  Ky.,  where  he  gradu- 
ated in  June,  1859  ;  was  in  St.  Mary's  Semi- 
nary one  year  in  Cleveland  ;  studied  theology 
three  years  in  Assumption  College,  and,  Aug.  28, 
1863,  was  ordained  priest,  in  the  Cathedral  St. 
Mary,  by  Bishop  Baraga.  He  was  located  at  Eagle 
Harbor,  on  Lake  Superior,  Mich.,  having  a  ter- 
ritory of  fifty  miles  in  length,  containing  three 
churches  and  sixteen  missions,  comprising  over 
one  thousand  families.  He  visited  each  mis- 
sion every  month  and  church  every  two  weeks, 
for  three  years,  often  traveling  on  foot.  In 
1866,  he  came  to  Cleveland,  and  was  sent  to 
St.  Bernard's  Church  at  this  place,  where  he 
has  since  remained,  with  the  exception  of  a 
short  visit  to  Europe  in  1873.  The  church 
had  but  sixty  families  when  he  came,  and  now 


it  has  three  hundred  with  about  nine  hundred 
communicants,  full  particulars  of  which  are 
given  in  the  history  of  St.  Bernard's  Church  in 
another  chapter. 

J.  W.  BAKER,  of  Baker,  Merriman  &  Co., 
Akron,  was  born  in  Auburn,  Cayuga  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Jan.  27,  1827,  and  was  the  youngest  of  ten 
children  born  to  Edward  and  MoUie  (Sherman) 
Baker,  who  were  natives  of  Massachusetts. 
He  was  an  edge-tool  maker.  In  1843,  he  came 
to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Akron.  The  subject  of 
these  lines  lived  at  home  about  one  year  after 
coming  to  Akron,  and  then  went  to  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  he  learned  the  cabinet-maker's 
trade,  serving  until  he  became  of  age,  and 
then  returning  to  Akron,  working  at  his  trade 
until  1850.  In  company  with  others,  he  then 
went  to  California  overland,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  engaged  in  mining.  He  returned 
via  Panama  and  New  York,  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  musical  instruments,  continu- 
ing until  the  spring  of  1857.  He  then  became 
a  member  of  the  Akron  Melodeon  Company, 
manufacturers  of  musical  instruments,  contin- 
uing in  that  business  ten  j^ears,  when  he  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  cigar  boxes,  and 
gradually  added  wood-turning  and  -japanning. 
In  about  1870,  he  and  Mr.  J.  C.  McWilliam 
established  the  present  business,  which  they 
have  since  continued.  In  May,  1853,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Caroline  Tha3er,  a  native  of  New 
York,  who  bore  him  three  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living,  viz.,  Frank  and  Alice.  Politi- 
cally, he  is  a  Democrat. 

CHARLES  BAIRD,  Prosecuting  Attorney, 
Akron.  Is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Helen  Knox 
(Moir)  Baird  ;  was  born  in  Akron  March  25, 
1853.  His  father  was  the  son  of  William  and 
Susan  (Smith)  Baird,  and  was  born  in  Kineff, 
Kincardineshire,  Scotland,  March  8, 1818.  His 
father  and  grandfather  were  blacksmiths,  and 
while  quite  a  boy  he  learned  the  trade,  which  he 
has  followed  all  his  life.  In  1842,  he  and  his 
brother  came  to  the  United  States,  and  he 
worked  at  his  trade  at  Buffalo  until  Ma}-,  1843, 
when  he  came  to  Akron,  engaging  his  services 
at  his  trade  until  1846,  when  he  established  a 
shop  of  his  own  on  Main  street,  at  which  place 
and  in  which  business  he  still  continues.  On 
Sept.  21,  1846,  he  married  Miss  Helen  Knox 
Moir,  a  native  of  Buchan,  Forfarshire,  Scot- 
land. She  bore  him  five  children,  viz.,  Will- 
iam (of  Akron),  Isabel,  Charles  and  Mary  (of 


^" 


ll'-Y 


678 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Akron),  and  Helen,  who  died  at  the  age  of  21. 
Charles,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Akron,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1872.  In  August,  1873,  he  en- 
tered the  office  of  Upson  &  Ford,  where  he 
studied  law,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the 
session  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Columbus 
Nov.  2,  1875,  immediatel}'  afterward  forming  a 
partnership  with  William  H.  Upson,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Upson  &  Baird,  which  continued 
until  the  return  of  Mr.  Ford  from  Mexico  Jan. 
10,  1877,  when  the  firm  became  Upson,  Ford  & 
Baird.  Oct.  20,  1875,  he  was  appointed  Clerk 
of  Portage  Township,  which  office  he  retained 
until  April,  1878,  being  twice  elected.  On 
Feb.  15,  1879,  he  was  appointed  Canal  Col- 
lector for  the  port  of  Akron,  which  he  contin- 
ued to  be  until,  on  Jan.  15,  1881,  he  resigned 
the  office  to  take  charge  of  the  Prosecutor's 
office,  having  been  elected  Prosecuting  Attor- 
ney of  Summit  Co.  in  October,  1880,*at  which 
election  he  ran  largely  ahead  of  his  ticket. 
With  the  exception  of  one  year,  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Republican  Central  Committee 
since  1875. 

ALFRED  BALDWIN,  undertaker,  Akron. 
William  and  Lucinda  (Ladd)  Baldwin  were 
natives  of  Vermont,  and  were  the  parents  of 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  their  second 
son  Alfred,  the  subject  of  these  lines,  being 
born  to  them  on  March  18.  1823,  near  Sackett's 
Harbor,  in  Northern  New  York.  In  1836,  they 
moved  to  Ohio,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Port- 
age County,  where  the}"  lived  until  1870,  except 
a  period  of  seven  years.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  lived  there  on  a  farm  until  1853,  when 
he  went  to  Ravenna,  Ohio,  there  to  assume  the 
duties  of  Deput}^  Auditor,  remaining  such  until 
185G,  when  he  was  elected  Auditor  of  Portage 
County  on  the  Republican  ticket,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  for  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  again  served  as  Deputy-  for  two  years. 
(At  that  time,  the  County  Auditor  was  given 
but  one  term.)  In  1 863,  he  became  Deputy  Clerk 
in  the  Probate  Judge's  office,  which  he  continued 
two  years.  During  these  years,  he  retained 
the  farm  which  he  owned  at  Rootstown,  on 
which  he  lived  until  1865,  when  he  came  to 
Akron  and  purchased  the  furniture  estab- 
lishment of  E.  D.  Dodge,  and,  with  E.  A. 
Reed,  continued  the  business  one  year,  when 
Reed  retired.  In  February-,  1880,  Mr.  George 
W.  Weeks  became  a   partner,    and   the   busi- 


ness since  then  has  been  conducted  under 
the  firm  name  of  Baldwin  &  Weeks.  They 
cany  a  full  line  of  undertakers'  goods,  bur- 
ial robes,  caskets,  and  the  elegant  appoint- 
ments of  the  business.  On  Sept.  29,  1850.  he 
married  Miss  Anjanette  E.  Reed,  of  Roots- 
town,  Portage  Co.,  daughter  of  Horace  Reed, 
who  was  born  in  1806.  in  Rootstown,  and  who 
is  said  to  be  the  first  white  male  child  born  in 
Rootstown.  One  daughter — Lois  E.,  was  born 
of  that  marriage.  Subject  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church.  His  father  died  in 
1870,  aged  90  years,  and  his  mother,  nine  years 
later,  followed  him,  aged  91.  Both  were  con- 
sistent members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  His 
brothers  and  sisters  are  Wm.  L.,  Methodist 
minister,  now  located  at  Clilmore,  Ohio  ;  Rev. 
Chance}',  of  Centralia.  111.,  and  Eucebia,  wife 
of  Thomas  Kingsbury,  of  Berwick,  111.  His 
sister  Sarah  A.,  who  was  the  wife  of  Harvey 
Laughlin,  died  at  Deerfield,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio, 
in  her  25th  3'ear.  One  sister,  Armelia,  died  at 
16  years  of  age. 

TALMON  BEARDSLEY,  retired,  Akron. 
On  Dec.  15,  1799,  to  Daniel  and  Hannah 
(Bailey)  Beardsley,  was  born  a  son,  whom  they 
named  Talmon,  and  who,  over  eighty  years 
later,  becomes  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  and 
we  would  pen  a  few  incidents  in  a  life  well 
spent.  The  place  of  his  birth  was  Delhi  Town- 
ship. Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  on  a 
farm  until  1810,  when  his  parents  moved  to 
Licking  Co.,  Ohio,  settling  on  wild  land,  whore 
Talmon  aided  at  clearing  and  farming,  making 
out  of  chaos  a  clean  spot  for  a  home;  here  also, 
he  went  to  school  about  three  months  peryenr. 
The  schoolhouse  was  one  of  those  primitive 
kind,  having  slab-seats,  paper  windows,  and  a 
fire-place  the  full  length  of  the  building,  with  a 
"cat-and-clay "  chimne}'.  In  the  summer  of 
1818,  he  started  for  Middlebury  with  only  his 
walking  stick  as  a  companion,  intent  upon  find- 
ing something  to  do  as  a  means  of  earning  a 
livelihood,  and  further  schooling.  When  he 
reached  this  place,  he  found  the  old  Cuyahoga 
furnace  in  operation,  and  secured  work  there 
for  a  few  months,  going  to  school  a  part  of  the 
time.  He  was  employed  in  1819  by  Henry 
Chittenden,  and  for  fourteen  years,  he  made  his 
home  with  iiiin.  working  by  the  year  at  farm- 
ing and  teaming,  doing  a  considerable  amount 
of  the  latter,  as  his  employer  had  contracted 
to  furnish  1 6.000  bushels  of  lime  for  the  locks 


'JLI 


J^^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


G79 


of  the  Ohio  Canal  then  in  progress.     In  haul- 
ing the  lime,  he  drove  a  six-horse  team.     On 
the  memorable  occasion  of  the  first  breaking  of 
the  ground  on  the  Licking  Summit  for  the  Ohio 
Canal,  he   was    present,   and  a  witness  to  the 
formal  and  ceremonious  reception  of  De  Witt 
Clinton,  two   Van  llensselaers  and  other  dis- 
tinguished personages   who,  on  their  arrival, 
accompanied  b}-  their  colored   waiters,  and  a 
fine  display  of  baggage,  were  met  near  Newark 
and   greeted   with    cannonading   and   martial 
music.     On  that  day,  3Ir.  Beardsley  drove  the 
team    which   bore    the   waiters    and   baggage. 
Clinton,  who  threw  out  the  first  shovelfuls,  did 
so  with  great  ceremony.     Under  the  contract  of 
Chittenden  &  Crosby,  Mr.  Beardsley  superin- 
tended the  construction  of  the  deep  cut  on  the 
canal  of  a  half-mile  between  Bolivar  and  Zoar, 
having  charge  of  about   fifty    hands,   and  he 
built  the   locks  near  Zoar  for  a  man  named 
Rhodes.     The  first  boat  was  sent  on  July  4, 
1827,  to  Cleveland.     In   the  years  1824  and 
1825,  he  was  employed  in  a  hotel.     On  Oct.  27, 
1831,  he  married  Miss  Temperance  Spicer,  who 
was  the  fourth  daughter  of  Maj.  Minor  Spicer. 
The  five  children  are,  viz.,  Ann,  wife  of  George 
Hart,  a  farmer  of  Stow   Township  ;  Mills   H., 
hotel  keeper  at  Ogden,  U.  T.;  Avery  S..  farmer 
in  Portage  Township  ;  Harriet,  wife  of  A.  Gr. 
Babcock.  of  Akron,   and   Louisa   D.,   wife   of 
George   Stover,   Canal   Fulton,   Stark    Co.     A 
daughter,  Emily,  died  at  the  age  of  19.     After 
marriage,  he  settled  near  Middlebury  on  a  farm 
of  75   acres,  which  he  purchased  for  .$6  per 
acre.     This  land  was  where  the  shaft  of  Pa3aie 
&  Cross,  of  Cleveland,  mines  are  now.     At  that 
time,  the  existent  coal  in  that  locality  was  un- 
suspected b}'  any  one,  else  he  would  not  have 
sold  the  land  as  he  did  two  or  three  years  after 
for  the  small  sum  of  $20  per  acre.     After  sell- 
ing that,  he  moved  to  Coventry  Township  where 
he  bought  100  acres  of  land  and  farmed   it. 
The  date  of  his  going  to  Coventry  was  1833  ; 
a  year  previous  to  tlys,  he  was  made  Captain 
of  the  canal  boat  "  Western  Reserve,"  carrying 
iron  ore  from  Zoar  to  this  place,  and  provis- 
ions to   Cleveland,  Ohio,  from   1832  to  1835, 
from  which  date  up  to  1858  he  followed  farm- 
ing in  Coven tr}',  when  he  left  that  place  and 
moved  to   Akron,  where  he  has  since  retired 
from  business,  except  attending  to  affairs  con- 
nected with  his  estate.     He  was  a  Whig,  cast 
his  fii'st  vote  for  Henr3'  Clay,  and  has  been  a 


Republican  ever  since  the  organization  of  the 
part}-.  He  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  Cov- 
entry, and  filled  man}'  other  township  offices. 
He  has  been  Assessor  of  the  ward  in  which  he 
lives  a  number  of  times.  He  is  a  Universalist, 
and  a  member  of  the  church. 

CHARLES  W.  BROWN,  Akron,  whose  por- 
trait appears  in  this  work,  son  of  Jonas 
and  Mary  (Williams)  Brown,  was  born  Oct. 
2,  1796,  in  North  Stonington,  Conn.  His 
father  died  when  he  was  5  ^eai's  old,  at  New 
London,  Conn.,  of  yellow  fever.  After  the 
death  of  his  father,  he  went  to  district 
school  until  he  was  18  j-ears  of  age,  attending 
about  two  months  per  year.  When  he  was 
16  years  jold,  he  commenced  learning  the  car- 
penter and  joiner  trade,  serving  as  an  appren- 
tice two  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
commenced  working  at  Lyme,  Conn.,  where 
he  remained  a  year.  On  Feb.  3,  1817,  with 
one  3'ear's  wages  as  his  onl}-  capital,  he.  in 
company  with  two  other  3'oung  men,  shoul- 
•dered  their  knapsacks  and  started,  on  foot, 
for  Ohio — for  the  purpose  of  making  places  for 
themselves  in  the  great,  bustling  world — reach- 
ing Middlebury,  on  the  evening  of  the  28th  of 
February,  after  a  journe}-  of  about  700  miles. 
On  his  arrival  he  found  about  sixteen  buildings, 
the  majorit}'  of  which  were  log.  there  being  but 
a  very  few  frame  houses  then  at  this  place. 
(Previous  to  his  coming  here,  he  was  married 
in  Connecticut,  to  Miss  Henrietta  Halsey, 
which  marriage  occurred  on  June  9,  1816  ;  his 
wife  came  here  in  August,  1817,  with  Capt. 
Gear,  who  drove  through  with  an  ox  team.) 
At  Middlebur}'  he  kept  house  some  fifteen 
years,  engaged  at  his  trade,  and  putting  up 
many  of  the  first  frame  houses  there,  and  in 
that  vicinity.  In  1825,  he  purchased  45  acres 
of  woodland,  where  his  present  place  is  situ- 
ated, moving  there  in  1832,  and  adding  to  it 
various  lots,  until  he  owned  115  acres.  Several 
of  the  earl}'  bridges  were  built  by  him,  and 
quite  a  number  of  buildings  in  Akron  are  of 
his  handiwork,  among  which  is  the  Baptist 
Church.  He  helped  to  cut  the  way  for  Market 
street,  and,  in  after  years,  graded  the  same 
road  for  five  miles,  reaching  from  Akron  to 
Copley.  After  1840,  he  devoted  himself  to 
other  pursuits.  For  five  years  he  held  a  Lieu- 
tenant's commission.  He  raised  five  daughters 
and  one  son,  viz.,  Mary,  wife  of  Kdward  F. 
Pulsifer.  of    Chicago,  and    Prudence,  wife  of 


^ 


680 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


J.  W.  Sabin,  of  Akron,  both  of  whom  are  dead. 
Antoinette,  wife  of  Benjamin  McNaughton,  of 
Akron  ;  Luc}',  who  died  in  1850,  and  was  tlie 
wife  of  Robert  Henry  ;  Alice,  wife  of  William 
H.  Mills,  of  Akron,  and  Henry  H.  Brown,  of 
Akron.  His  wife,  Henrietta,  died  on  Sept. 
23,  1859.  On  May  14,  1864,  he  married  Mrs. 
Lydia  Williams,  of  Connecticut,  who  died  on 
Sept.  6,  1865.  For  some  years  he  has  en- 
joyed the  rest  which  his  toiling  has  so  richly 
deserved.  At  the  present  time,  in  the  same 
house,  are  four  generations  of  the  Brown  fam- 
ily, each  of  which  is  represented  by  a  male 
member. 

PHILO  BENNETT,  retired,  Akron.  This 
gentleman  was  born  in  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
16, 1810,  and  is  the  oldest  of  three  children  born 
to  Ephraim  and  Lucinda  (Hutchins)  Bennett. 
Shortly  after  his  birth,  the  family  moved  to 
Brownville,  where  he  lived  until  he  was  22  years 
of  age.  At  the  age  of  16,  he  was  apprenticed 
to  the  harness  and  saddle  trade,  and  served  un- 
til he  became  of  age.  A  year  later,  he  moved 
to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  worked  at  his  trade  and 
at  carriage  trimming  until  1837,  when  he  moved 
to  Tallmadge,  and  worked  at  his  trade.  The 
following  year  he  visited  St.  Louis,  returning 
in  1839.  In  1842,  he  came  to  Akron,  engaged 
in  the  harness  business,  and  was  identified  with 
the  same  until  1862,  since  which  time  he  has 
retired.  In  September,  1852,  he  married  Miss 
Emma  Francis,  a  native  of  England,  who  came 
to  Akron  about  the  year  1843,  where  she  lived 
with  her  sister  until  her  marriage.  By  their 
marriage  there  was  one  child,  now  deceased. 

ANTON  BERG,  lock  and  gunsmith,  Akron  ; 
is  a  native  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany.  He 
was  born  Feb.  14,  1820.  His  father.  Christian, 
was  a  farmer,  and  Anton  assisted  in  work  on 
the  farm  until  he  reached  his  16th  year,  when 
he  was  apprenticed  in  the  city  of  Worms,  on 
the  Rhine,  to  the  locksmith  business.  After 
serving  three  years,  he  worked  as  a  journeyman 
for  a  3'ear,  when  he  was  drafted  into  the  array. 
He  served  twent3^-one  months  in  active  military 
service,  but  during  the  remainder  of  his  six 
3'ears'  term  of  service,  he  worked  at  his  ti'ade. 
A  part  of  the  tiine  he  was  empioj-ed  at  the  ar- 
senal, manufacturing  friction  cannon  caps,  the 
inventor  of  which  was  his  commanding  officer, 
Capt.  Hartman.  After  serving  his  full  term  of 
service,  and  being  discharged,  he  began  prepar- 
ations for  emigrating  to  America.     He  manu- 


factured the  tools  he  needed  for  his  trade,  and 
on  June  9,  1847,  he  started  for  the  new  coun- 
try, landing  in  New  York  in  the  following  Au- 
gust. He  left  immediately  for  Buffalo,  where 
he  met  friends  and  got  work  at  his  trade,  being 
employed  by  Mr.  Ketchum,  an  inventor  of  a 
reaping  aud  mowing  machine.  Mr.  Berg  made 
the  first  knife  bar  for  machines,  a  business  that 
has  since  grown  to  large  proportions.  In  the 
spring  of  1848.  he  came  to  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
where  he  had  relatives,  and  worked  at  his  trade 
until  1849.  On  June  16  of  that  year,  he 
walked  to  Akron,  and  found  work  on  stove 
mounting,  which  he  followed  five  years.  Sept. 
6,  1854,  he  returned  to  his  old  business,  manu- 
facturing and  repairingguns,  etc.,  which  he  still 
continues.  Mr.  Berg  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
beginning  as  a  strong  anti-slavery  man.  He  was 
a  personal  friend  of  John  Brown,  and  when  the 
latter  went  to  Kansas,  Mr.  Berg  repaired  his 
arms  free,  working  nights  in  order  to  escape  the 
detection  of  hostile  parties.  Dec.  17,  1849,  he 
married  Miss  Augusta  Cappella,  a  native  of 
Germany,  who  had  that  year  come  from  her  na- 
tive land,  and  came  to  Akron  the  same  day  he 
did,  though  not  formerly  acquainted.  Four 
children  have  resulted  from  this  marriage,  three 
of  whom  are  living  :  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  William 
Durand  ;  Edward,  grain  dealer  in  McPherson, 
Kan.;  and  Libbie,  a  teacher  in  the  South  School, 
in  Akron,  Ohio  ;  Hermann  died  in  infancv. 

CAPT.  EDWARD  BUCKINGHAM^  ex- 
County  Auditor,  Akron  ;  was  born  in  Water- 
town,  Conn.,  July  15,  1835,  and  is  the  eldest  of 
three  children  of  George  and  Betsy  (Merriman) 
Buckingham,  who  were  natives  of  Connecticut. 
In  1844,  they  came  to  Middlebury,  Ohio,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  woolen  ma- 
chinery, and  followed  the  same  until  his  death 
in  1861.  Mrs.  Buckingham  is  still  living  on 
the  old  homestead.  At  about  the  age  of  18, 
Edwai'd  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  wholesale  house 
in  Cleveland.  A  few  years  later,  he  became  a 
clerk  in  the  post  office  at  Indianapolis,  a  posi- 
tion he  obtained  through  his  acquaintance  with 
Judge  Weeks,  the  Postmaster,  and  served  there 
some  three  years.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  the  115th  0.  V.  I.,  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war ;  he  entered  the  service  as  First 
Lieutenant,  and  in  three  months  was  promoted 
to  Captain  of  his  company.  During  this  term, 
he  served  as  Provost  Marshal  of  Cincinnati  for 
awhile,   also  of  Murfreesboro ;    of  Cincinnati 


k,. 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


681 


during  the  Morgan  raid.  After  the  close  of  the 
war,  he  returned  to  Akron,  and  became  Collector 
of  Internal  Revenue,  which  office  he  held  until 
1871,  when  he  entered  the  office  of  County 
Auditor — serving  continuously  for  nine  years, 
being  elected  to  the  office  on  the  Republican 
ticket.  He  was  married  March  10,  1863,  to 
Miss  Frances  Johnston,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabetli  (Newton)  Johnston,  old  residents  of 
the  county.  By  this  marriage  there  have  been 
born  six  children,  of  whom  four  are  living,  viz. : 
George  E.,  John  S.,  William  J.  and  Hulda  ;  all 
of  them  are  living  at  home. 

G.  S.  BEATTY,  dentist,  Akron ;  is  an  old 
member  of  the  dental  profession,  though  lo- 
cated in  Akron  but  for  a  few  months.  He  be- 
gan the  stud}'  of  dentistry  in  Meadville,  Penn., 
and  after  finishing  his  studies,  he  went  to  Mer- 
cer, ^Mercer  Co.,  Penn.,  and  practiced  there  for 
one  and  a  half  3'ears.  In  1844,  he  removed  to 
Canton,  Ohio,  where  he  practiced  until  the  fall 
of  I860,  and  then  he  went  to  Silver  Creek, 
Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.  From  there  he  removed 
to  the  cit}'  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  for  thirteen 
years  he  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  that  city.  He  was  married  in 
Silver  Creek,  and  while  a  resident  of  Toledo, 
his  wife  died.  From  Toledo  he  went  to  Penn- 
sylvania, and  in  the  fall  of  1880,  he  returned  to 
Ohio  and  located  at  Akron.  During  all  these 
travels,  he  has  been  an  earnest  student  of  the 
profession,  and  now,  after  so  many  years  of 
practice,  he  is  able  to  do  the  very  finest  of  op- 
erating ;  the  fitting  of  celluloid  plates,  or  of  the 
artificial  palate,  known  as  the  Kingsley  patent. 
In  his  short  term  of  practice  in  Akron,  he  has 
already  become  well  and  favorably  known,  and 
bids  fair,  in  a  short  time,  to  stand  as  an  equal 
in  reputation  to  an^-  of  the  dentists  of  the 
city.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  A..  F. 
&  A.  M.,  and  has  made  frequent  contributions 
to  scientific  journals. 

DR.  WILLIAM  BOWEN  (deceased) ,  was 
born  in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  30,  1805  ; 
his  father  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  and, 
having  served  out  his  term  of  enlistment,  was 
returning  to  his  home  across  Lake  Erie  on  the 
ice,  and,  losing  his  way,  perished  from  cold. 
His  widow  was  left  with  six  small  children, 
and  in  ver}'  limited  circumstances.  Our  subject 
was  apprenticed  to  the  carpenter's  trade  when 
very  young,  and,  completing  his  terra  of  service, 
he  came  West,  stopping  in   Stark   Co.,   Ohio, 


where  he  obtained  employment  with  John 
Brown,  at  that  time  building  a  grist-mill  near 
Canton,  for  William  Reynolds.  The  subject 
was  what  was  termed  a  "  book- worm,"  and  had 
but  little  taste  for  the  pleasures  and  sports  in 
which  young  men  usually  indulge,  but  pre- 
ferred spending  his  leisure  hours  with  some  fa- 
voi'ite  book.  These  facts  coming  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  Mr.  Reynolds,  who  being  pleased  with 
the  young  man,  he  kindly  proffered  to  lend  him 
assistance.  Mr.  Reynolds  also  assisted  him  to 
attend  the  select  school  of  Barak  Michener,  at 
that  time  a  popular  teacher  in  the  higher 
branches  of  education.  Upon  the  completion 
of  a  term  at  school,  he  commenced  teaching  in 
the  village  of  Paris,  Stark  Co.;  while  thus  en- 
gaged, he  made  the  acquaintance  of  Dr.  Robert 
Estep,  then  living  in  Paris,  and  a  warm  friend- 
ship at  once  sprang  up  between  them.  Through 
the  influence  of  Dr.  Estep,  our  subject  was  in- 
duced to  undertake  the  study  of  medicine  ;  but 
as  this  part  of  Dr.  Bowen's  life  is  given  in  the 
chapter  devoted  to  the  medical  profession,  it 
will  be  omitted  here.  In  1853,  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  near  New  Portage,  in  Summit  Co., 
and,  without  giving  up  his  practice,  he  devoted 
considerable  attention  to  farming.  He  moved 
to  Akron  in  1857,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death,  which  took  place  Jan.  14,  1880,  in  the 
75th  year  of  his  age.  He  married  Miss  Huldah 
Chittenden  while  engaged  m  the  study  of  his 
profession  ;  there  were  born  of  this  marriage 
nine  children,  seven  girls  and  two  boy,  only 
three  of  whom,  with  their  mother,  still  survive 
him.  Dr.  Bowen  was  emphatically  a  self-made 
man ;  his  success  was  the  result  of  his  own  in- 
dividual eflTorts,  improving  the  circumstances 
and  advantages  as  they  presented  themselves. 
S.  M.  BURNHAM,  Secretary  Webster,  Camp 
&  Lane  Machine  Compan}-,  Akron  ;  was  born  in 
Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  23,  1824,  and  is  the 
second  of  ten  children  of  Simeon  and  Anna 
(St.  John)  Burnham,  natives  of  Massachusetts 
and  New  York.  He  moved  to  New  York  with 
his  parents  about  the  j-ear  18U9,  and  lived  at 
home  with  them  until  his  marriage,  about  the 
3'ear  1821  ;  his  wife  moved  to  New  York  with 
her  parents  a  few  years  after  he  did,  and 
after  their  marriage,  IMr.  B.  followed  farming, 
and  also  was  in  the  insurance  business  as  an 
agent — a  business  followed  during  the  latter 
years  of  his  life  ;  he  died  May  10,  1862  ;  his 
death  resulted  from  an  accident  with  a  run- 


^F 


*i^ 


682 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


1 


away  team  ;  she  continued  on  the  old  home- 
stead, and  died  a  few  days  later.  S.  M.  (the 
subject)  lived  at  home  until  1844,  and  received 
an  academic  education  in  a  neighboring  village, 
finishing  off  at  the  Wyoming  Academy.  In 
1844,  he  came  to  Ohio  and  taught  school  in 
Madison,  Lake  Co.,  and  the  following  summer 
he  returned  to  New  York  and  attended  school 
at  Wyoming  Academy  ;  after  this  he  took  a 
commercial  course  in  Buffalo,  where  he  after- 
ward taught  penmanship.  In  April,  1848,  he 
settled  in  Akron,  and  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  the 
Rattle  &  Tappan  warehouse  on  the  Ohio  Canal ; 
two  years  after,  Mr.  Tappan  retired  and  opened 
an  iron  store,  where  Mr.  B.  went  with  him  as 
clerk  and  with  his  successor  until  1855  ;  he 
then  engaged  with  the  Austin  Powder  Co.,  and 
was  with  them  two  years,  and.  after  being 
book-keeper  in  Franklin  Mills  for  a  time,  he,  in 
January,  1858,  engaged  as  Deput}-  Auditor  for 
Gr.  W.  Crouse,  and  also  as  Deputy  for  S.  S. 
Wilson,  County  Treasurer,  serving  in  both 
nearly  four  yeai's,  and  serving  as  Auditor  for 
an  unexpired  term  b}^  appointment.  In  March, 
1862,  he  became  Count}^  Auditor  by  election, 
and  was  re-elected  for  the  three  succeeding 
terms.  In  the  fall  of  1872,  he  was  elected  to 
the  Legislature  from  the  Summit  County  Dis- 
trict in  the  Sixtieth  Assembl}',  in  which  he 
took  an  active  part.  Upon  his  return  in  vaca- 
tion, he  was  made  Secretary  and  one  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  building  Buchtel  College. 
In  1873,  he  engaged  in  his  present  business, 
and  was  made  Secretar}-.  He  was  married,  Nov. 
5,  1848,  to  Miss  Anne  M.  Row,  a  native  of 
Connecticut ;  she  came  to  Medina  Co.,  Ohio, 
with  her  parents  when  quite  3'oung  ;  they  had 
six  children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  viz., 
Lillie  M.,  Charles  S.  and  Clifford  D. 

A.  A.  BARTLP:TT,  Recorder,  Akron  ;  is  a 
native  of  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  born 
June  22,  1840.  Until  the  age  of  17,  he  lived 
upon  the  farm  ;  he  then  went  to  work  in  a  saw- 
mill for  a  year  or  two,  subsequentl}'  conducting 
the  mill  on  the  shares.  He  was  thus  engaged 
at  the  breaking-out  of  the  war.  In  July,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  49th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  for  three 
3'ears  or  during  the  war.  He  served  with  the 
regiment  in  the  Potomac  army,  and  was  in  all 
the  engagements  of  the  command  up  to  the 
battle  of  Antietam,  where  he  was  wounded, 
which  occasioned  the  loss  of  his  left  arm. 
April  6,  1863,  he  was  discharged,  and  returned 


to  his  home  in  New  York,  and  gave  his  atten- 
tion to  a  small  place  he  owned.  Some  two 
years  later,  he  went  to  Corry,  Penn.,  where  he 
engaged  in  a  steam  saw-mill  as  engineer,  and, 
one  year  later,  took  charge  of  the  business.  In 
the  spring  of  1867,  he  came  to  Akron,  and  soon 
engaged  in  the  planing-mill  of  George  Thomas 
&  Son,  and  was  connected  with  the  business 
until  1870.  During  the  latter  eight  years  of 
that  time,  he  served  as  foreman  of  the  estab- 
lishment, though  conducted  under  sevei'al 
different  firm  names.  In  the  fall  of  1878,  he  was 
elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  as  County  Re- 
corder, and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office 
in  January  following.  In  1860,  he  married 
Miss  Imogene  Travers,  a  native  of  Chautauqua 
County,  N.  Y.;  by  the  marriage,  there  has  been 
three  children,  two  of  whom  are  living — Mary 
and  Jennie. 

ALEXANDER  BREWSTER,  President 
Brewster  Coal  Co.,  Akron  ;  was  born  in  Augusta 
Township,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,Sept.  10,  1808,  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  is  the  youngest  of  six 
children,  born  to  Stephen  and  Lydia  (Bellows) 
Brewster,  who  were  natives  of  Connecticut. 
Mr.  Brewster  traces  his  ancestors  back  to  Rev. 
William  Brewster,  one  of  the  Pilgrims  who 
came  over  in  the  Mayflower.  Stephen  Brew- 
ster, the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  May  4, 
1770  ;  in  1797  he  moved  to  New  York,  with  his 
wife  and  onechild,  and,  in  1811,  he  came  to  Ohio. 
He  bought  160  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now 
Coventry  Township,  and  then  returned  to  New 
York,  and  the  next  year  brought  out  his  fam- 
ily. They  started  in  June,  and  came  by  ox 
team,  and  were  thirty-three  days  on  the  way, 
landing  in  Coventry  July  4,  1812.  His  cabin 
was  the  fourth  built  in  the  township,  and  was 
the  proverbial  log  cabin.  They  lived  here  until 
1815,  when  the}-  were  enabled  to  build  a  better 
one.  He  was  a  carpenter,  and  worked  at  his 
trade,  building  many  of  the  houses  of  the  early 
settlers.  He  died  July  4,  1858,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  88  years  ;  his  wife  died  in  the  fall  of 
1842,  aged  71.  Our  subject  lived  at  home  un- 
til of  age,  receiving  a  limited  education  at  the 
district  schools.  He  learned  the  carpenter's 
ti'ade  with  his  father.  He  was  married  Jan.  9, 
1830,  to  Miss  Margaret  Ann  Kinney,  a  native 
of  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  who  came  to  Spring- 
field, Ohio,  about  the  year  1813.  She  was  the 
youngest  of  three  children,  born  to  Ephraim 
and    Mary    (Danes)    Kinney,  natives   of   New 


-l£ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


083 


York.  They  settled  in  Springfield  Township  in 
1813,  where  the}'  lived  until  their  death;  he 
died  about  1820,  and  she  in  1861.  IMr.  Brew- 
ster now  owns  the  place  on  which  they  settled. 
Mrs.  Brewster,  the  wife  of  subject,  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1854,  leaving  five  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living,  viz.,  Alfred  A.,  General  Agent  of  the 
Brewster  Coal  Co. ;  Austin  K.,  Secretary  and 
Treasurer  of  the  Brewster  Coal  Co.;  Louisa, 
now  Mrs.  J.  F.  Meeham,  of  Akron  ;  Mar^^  M., 
now  Mrs.  Russell  Kent,  of  Akron.  Mr.  Brew- 
ster married  a  second  time  in  December,  1857, 
to  Mrs.  Brown,  formerly  Minerva  Dyer,  a  native 
of  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio ;  she  died  June  27, 
1873.  In  September,  1877,  he  married  Mrs. 
Chamberlain,  formerh'  Luc\'  Jane  Gale,  a  na- 
tive of  Massachusetts,  who  came  to  Ohio  with 
her  parents  in  the  year  1825.  ]\Ir.  B.,  after 
marriage,  followed  farming  in  Coventry  until 
1 848.  Coal  having,  in  the  meantime,  been  dis- 
covered on  his  farm,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
mining,  and,  in  1849,  shipped  over  1,000  tons 
to  Cleveland  via  canal.  In  1850,  he  left  his 
mines  in  competent  hands,  and  went  to  Cali- 
fornia overland,  his  object  being  mining.  He 
remained  in  the  land  of  gold  but  a  short  time, 
and  returned  home  via  Panama  and  New  Or- 
leans, arriving  home  in  1851.  He  prosecuted 
his  coal  mining,  and,  about  the  year  1865, 
formed  a  stock  company,  of  which  he  is  the 
President,  the  capital  being  $100,000.  He  and 
his  sons  subscribed  the  stock.  They  built  a 
railroad  from  the  mines  to  the  basin  of  the 
Ohio  Canal,  a  distance  of  five  miles,  which  cost 
about  $120,000,  the  rolling  stock  making  it 
about  $150,000.  They  mine  from  30,000  to 
60,000  tons  of  coal  per  year,  and  own  docks  in 
Cleveland  for  the  purpose  of  handling  coal,  and 
sell  as  high  as  200.000  tons  per  annum.  In 
July,  1872,  Mr.  B.  moved  to  Akron,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  In  1871,  he  visited  Califor- 
nia, in  company  with  his  eldest  daughter. 

GEORGE  G.  BAKER,  physician,  Akron  ;  is 
a  native  of  Ohio  ;  he  was  born  at  Norwalk,  Hu- 
ron Co.,  Dec.  3,  1849,  and  is  the  third  of  four 
children  born  to  Daniel  A.  and  Harriet  (Van- 
dercook)  Baker.  They  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut and  New  York.  Daniel  A.  Baker  came 
to  Ohio  when  about  17  j'ears  of  age.  or  about 
the  year  1831,  and  located  in  Huron  Co.,  where 
he  began  as  a  clerk  in  a  mercantile  business, 
and,  after  a  number  of  years,  he  became  a  part- 
ner, and  was  identified   with  the  mercantile  in- 


terests of  Norwalk  most  of  the  time  until  the 
year  1858  or  1859,  when  he  became  interested 
ui  the  banking  business  of  that  place,  and  has 
continued  in  the  same  to  the  present  time.  Our 
subject  entered  the  Western  Reserve  College  at 
Hudson,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  17.  and  graduated 
in  1869  ;  he  began  reading  medicine  in  1868, 
with  Drs.  Read  &  Ford,  of  Norwalk,  Ohio,  and, 
having  in  the  mean  time  taken  two  courses 
of  lectures  at  Ann  Arbor  and  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
he  began  practice  in  1872  with  Dr.  George  P. 
Ashmun,  of  Akron  ;  in  1875,  he  graduated  at 
Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of 
the  Summit  Count}'  Medical  Society,  and  also 
a  member  of  the  Union  Medical  Association  of 
Northeastern  Ohio,  of  which  he  has  been  Record- 
ing Secretar}'  a  number  of  years.  In  June,  1 873, 
he  married  3Iiss  Celia,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  George 
P.  Ashmun,  of  Akron  ;  by  this  marriage  there 
has  been  four  children,  of  whom  three  are  liv- 
ing, viz.,  Fred  A.,  Harry  and  an  infant. 

B.  F.  BATTELS,  photographic  art  gallery, 
Aki'on,  was  born  in  Wadswortb,  Medina  Co..  Ohio, 
April  21, 1832,  and  is  the  second  child  in  a  family 
of  seven  children  born  to  Caleb  and  Juliana 
(Hard)  Battels  ;  they  were  natives  of  IMassa- 
chusetts  and  Vermont ;  he  came  to  Middlebur}^, 
Ohio,  when  he  was  young  ;  arriving  before  the 
canal  was  built,  he  overseeing  the  building  of 
locks  on  same.  Mrs.  Battels  came  to  Ohio  with 
her  parents,  who  settled  in  River  Styx,  Medina 
Co.,  Ohio,  at  an  earl}'  day,  they  being  pioneers 
in  that  locality.  After  the  marriage,  Caleb, 
who  is  a  natural  mechanic,  worked  as  a  carpen- 
ter and  builder  ;  about  the  year  1852,  he  came 
to  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  and  bought  and  occupied 
his  present  place  where  he  now  lives.  Our 
subject  lived  with  his  parents  until  he  was  20 
years  of  age  ;  he  was  brought  up  on  the  farm, 
and  I'eceived  a  common  school  course  of  study  ; 
also  taught  a  number  of  terms  during  the  win- 
ters. In  1852,  the  family  moved  to  Mount  Ver- 
non ;  B.  F..  tiring  of  farm  life,  began  looking 
around  for  a  suitable  change,  and  was  favorably 
impressed  with  daguerreotyping,  then  quite  a 
new  business  ;  he  soon  obtained  an  opportunity, 
and  learned  the  new  business,  and  such  was  the 
ability  he  displayed  that  within  a  few  weeks  he 
had  a  set  of  tools  and  was  on  his  way  to  Wads- 
worth,  where  he  opened  an  office  ;  the  business 
those  days  was  of  a  transient  character,  and  lie 
moved  from  i)lace  to  place.  In  1 852,  he  located 
at  Bucyrus,  Ohio,  and  in  the  winter  of  1855  he 


W 


^ 


684 


BI0GRA.PH1CAL    SKETCHES: 


came  to  Akron,  and  opened  his  present  place 
in  the  spring  following,  and  lias  remained  in 
the  same  location  since.  In  his  chosen  field  he 
has  found  ample  room  for  his  genius,  and  his 
popularity  as  an  artist  attests  the  appreciation 
of  his  patrons  for  his  genius.  He  married 
Miss  Sarah  M.  Edgerly,  a  natiA'e  of  Hudson, 
Ohio. 

A.  M.  BARBER,  buyer  and  shipper  of  grain 
and  produce,  Akron.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Bath  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio, 
Oct.  2, 1830,  and  is  the  fourth  of  five  children  born 
to  Isaac  W.  I.  and  Mary  (Brown)  Barber  ;  they 
were  natives  of  Connecticut  and  New  York. 
Isaac  W.  I.  Barber  was  raised  on  a  farm  ;  about 
the  year  1820,  he  left  Connecticut  for  the  West, 
coming  with  a  wagon  load  of  boots,  shoes,  etc.; 
arriving  in  Bath  Township  he  bought  110  acres 
of  wild  land,  which  he  cleared  and  improved. 
March  1, 1824,  he  married  Miss  MarjJ^,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Lucinda  (Coy)  Brown. 
Samuel  Brown  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier  and 
a  pensioner  during  latter  years  ;  he  was  a  na- 
tive of  New  York,  and  came  to  Ohio  about  the 
year  1810,  settling  in  Boston  Township,  and 
later  moving  to  Springfield  Township,  where 
he  died  in  1845  ;  he  was  twice  married  ;  his  first 
wife  died  in  Boston  Township  soon  after  they 
came  there;  in  1817,  he  married  Miss  Lucinda 
Bishop.  I.  W.  I.  Barber  settled  on  his  land  in 
Bath  Township  after  his  marriage,  and  lived 
there  until  his  death,  in  1833  ;  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbj'terian  Church,  in  the  affairs 
of  which  he  took  an  active  interest ;  foremost 
in  improvements,  he  was  well  known,  and  his 
death  was  lamented  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 
Some  years  after  his  death,  Mrs.  Barber  married 
Capt.  Fanning,  who  died  in  1845,  she  continuing 
on  the  old  homestead  until  1856,  when  she  sold 
her  interest  to  A.  M.  Barber  and  moved  to 
Kansas,  where  she  lived  with  her  children  until 
her  death,  about  the  year  1874.  A.  M.  Barber 
was  raised  on  the  farm  ;  the  country  being  new, 
and  he  losing  his  father  during  his  infancy, 
afforded  him  limited  opportunities  for  obtaining 
an  education.  Oct.  6,  1857,  he  married  Miss 
Sarah,  a  daughter  of  Henr}^  and  Mary  (Em- 
mons) Vansickle ;  after  the  marriage,  he  re- 
mained on  the  farm  one  year,  and  in  January, 
1859,  came  to  Akron  and  bought  the  Pearl 
Mills,  which  business  he  was  identified  with  for 
four  years  ;  he  then  engaged  in  the  grain  and 
produce  business,  in  which  he  has  done  an  ex- 


tensive trade  ;  the  volume  of  his  transactions 
have  amounted  to  $1,500,000  per  annum  ;  he 
was  a  director  upon  the  formation  of  the  Bank 
of  Akron,  and  is  also  identified  with  several  of 
the  leading  manufacturing  interests  in  the  city. 
In  1880,  he  had  finished  his  elegant  and  com- 
modious brick  block,  Nos.  150  and  152  South 
Howard  street,  known  as  Barber's  Block,  which 
ranks  among  the  leading  business  blocks  of  the 
city.  Though  starting  out  in  life  in  the  most 
adverse  circumstances,  he  has  by  his  energy 
and  perseverance  been  successful,  and,  while 
remembering  that  he  has  been  the  architect  of 
his  own  fortune,  he  has  also  lived  so  as  to  not 
only  win,  but  also  to  deserve  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all  who  know  him. 

JUDGE  JAMES  S.  CARPENTER,  attor- 
ney, Akron  ;  is  the  son  of  William  and  Lucina 
(Sumner)  Carpenter  ;  he  was  born  at  Swanzey, 
Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H.,  on  Aug.  17,  1805,  from 
which  place  his  father  moved  eighteen  months 
later  to  the  woods  of  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  at  Pots- 
dam, N.  Y.  ;  here  he  labored  hard  on  the  farm 
and  at  clearing.  He  does  not  know  when  or 
where  he  first  learned  the  beauties  and  myste- 
ries of  the  alphabet,  but  it  was  probably  at 
home,  for  his  earliest  recollections  of  school 
experience  was  spelling  in  his  a-b,  abs,  in  one 
of  the  primitive  log  cabin  schoolhouses,  where 
subscription  teachers  applied  the  kibricating 
oil  to  the  complicated  machiner3'  of  the  human 
mind  ;  his  first  lessons  in  reading  he  well  re- 
members were  at  the  side  of  his  mother's  foot- 
wheel,  which  was  fast  flying,  when,  after  some 
assistance  on  her  part,  and  utter  unbelief  of 
his  ability  to  read  "  in  readings,"  he  astonished 
himself  by  finding  that  with  a  little  help  from 
her  he  could  and  did  read  "  The  history  of  a 
little  boy  found  under  a  haycock."  He  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  youth  on  the  farm,  and 
at  the  age  of  17  attended  the  St.  Lawrence 
Academy,  in  Potsdam  ;  he  taught  in  the  State 
of  New  York  a  part  of  each  year  until  he  at- 
tained his  twentieth  3'ear,  by  which  time  he  had 
acquired  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  English 
branches.  In  the  winter  of  1825-26,  he  taught  in 
New  York,  and  in  tlie  spring  of  1826  he  went 
to  Lower  Canada,  where  he  taught  until  the 
fall  of  1828,  a  part  of  the  time  in  Montreal  ; 
from  there  he  went  to  Amherst,  Mass.,  and  be- 
came assistant  teacher  in  the  Amherst  Academy, 
and  later  teacher  of  the  Ladies'  Seminary  at 
Springfield,  Mass.,duringthesummerof  1829  ;  in 


k^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


685 


the  fall  of  that  year  he  entered  the  freshman  class 
of  Amherst  College,  where  he  remained  until 
his  health  failed  from  overwork,  being  engaged 
simultaneously  in  the  capacity  of  both  pupil 
and  teacher.  He  then  returned  to  his  home  in 
New  York,  where  he  resumed  teaching,  and 
kept  up  his  studies  in  the  branches  of  the 
college  course.  In  June,  1832,  he  came  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  taught  languages  in 
the  Cleveland  Academy,  but  the  school  was 
shortly'  after  broken  up  by  the  sudden  appear- 
ance of  cholera,  which  was  brought  to  Cleve- 
land by  the  steamboat  "  Henry  Clay."  Mr. 
Carpenter  next  removed  to  Ravenna,  Ohio, 
where  he  organized  a  class  in  French,  but  de- 
parted soon  after  for  Massillon,  where  he  taught 
that  winter  ;  in  the  spring  of  1833,  he  returned 
to  Ravenna,  and  became  Principal  of  the 
Ravenna  Academy,  which  position  he  held  for 
two  years.  He  retii'ed  then,  being  still  in  a 
poor  state  of  health,  and  rented  a  portion  of 
a  farm  near  there,  which  he  farmed  one  season. 
On  May  1,  1835,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Fran- 
ces C  Saltonstall.  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.  In  Novem- 
ber of  the  same  3' ear,  he  went  to  Medina,  Ohio, 
and  there  started  the  Medina  Constitutionalist, 
a  Whig  and  anti-slaveiy  paper,  of  which  he 
was  the  editor,  at  the  same  time  studying  law 
under  the  direction  of  Camp  &  Canfield  ;  he 
continued  with  the  paper  until  the  winter  of 
1838-39.  On  May  29,  1838,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  at  Springfield,  Ohio,  reaching  there 
on  horseback,  after  a  journey  of  four  days. 
He  practiced  at  Medina,  with  Judge  McClure, 
from  1840  to  1850.  In  the  fall  of  1839,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Ohio  Legislature, 
and  of  the  Ohio  Senate  in  1840,  serving  with 
distinction  in  both  houses  ;  in  the  Legislature 
he  was  the  onl}-  avowed  Abolitionist.  While 
he  was  a  member  of  the  House.  Mr.  Fisher,  of 
Shelby,  introduced  a  set  of  resolutions  denounc- 
ing the  Abolitionists  with  barbaric  vituperation. 
It  was  in  a  speech  upon  these  resolutions  that 
Mr.  Carpenter  declared  that  slaver}'  and  freedom 
could  not  co-exist  in  this  (xovernment,  a  doc- 
trine which,  ten  years  later,  blazed  from  a  higher 
standard,  when  Mr.  Seward  proclaimed  the  "  ir- 
repressible contiiet,"  in  the  United  States  Sen- 
ate. While  in  the  Senate,  Mr.  Carpenter  had 
frequent  occasion  to  defend  his  Abolition  prin- 
ciples, on  bills  introduced  by  him  to  charter 
institutions  for  the  education  of  the  colored 
people  ;  they  being  then  wholh'  excluded  from 


the  common  schools  and  from  the  common 
school  fund,  and  yet  taxed  to  support  that  fund, 
and  in  numei'ous  other  ways,  when  the  course 
of  legislation  brought  before  the  Senate  the 
injustice  and  cruelty  they  were  suffering  in 
Ohio,  both  under  and  against  its  laws.  About 
the  last  of  these  conflicts  was  on  a  bill  to  re- 
peal the  charter  of  Oberlin  College.  It  was  de- 
feated. Our  subject  never  joined  the  Liberty 
party  ;  he  said  he  was  for  the  abolition  of 
slavery  everywhere.  The  Liberty  part}'  was 
organized  not  for  the  abolition  of  slaverj',  but 
to  stop  its  advance.  The  abolition  move- 
ment was  by  the  diffusion  of  moral  truth, 
while  the  Liberty  party  was  political.  What- 
ever moral  truth  it  disseminated  was  outside  of 
its  platform,  and  but  auxiliary  to  its  political 
end.  He  was  Secretary,  in  1834,  of  the  first  Coun- 
ty Anti-Slavery  Society,  at  Ravenna,  and  has 
held  various  prominent  positions  of  trust.  He 
came  to  Akron  in  1846,  and  has  practiced  law 
here  ever  since.  In  1856,  he  was  elected  Judge 
of  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  served  a  term 
of  five  years.  He  is  the  father  of  three  chil- 
dren, viz.,  Gilbert  S.,  Captain  in  regular  army 
at  Camp  Douglas,  near  Salt  Lake  Cit}',  Utah  ; 
Dr.  William  T.  Carpenter,  of  Ishpeming,  Mich., 
and  Abbie  L.,  still  at  home.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church. 

N.  A.  CARTER,  contractor  and  builder, 
Akron,  Ohio ;  was  born  in  Twinsburg,  Sum- 
mit Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  the  second  of  nine  chil- 
dren born  to  Thaddeus  A.  and  Esther  A. 
(Marshall)  Carter  ;  they  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut ;  he  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  and 
early  went  to  peddling  clocks,  operating  prin- 
cipally in  the  Western  Reserve  ;  about  the  yeav 
1826,  he  settled  in  Twinsburg  Township,  Sum- 
mit Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  cleared  a  farm  upon 
which  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1870.  He 
was  twice  married;  his  first  wife  died  Sept.  1, 
1845.  In  December  of  that  year,  he  married 
Miss  Margaret  McKisson,  a  native  of  Marj-- 
land  ;  she  died  about  the  year  1846.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Metliodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  took  an  active  interest  in  its  affairs  ;  he 
was  well-known  and  respected  b}'  all.  Our 
subject  lived  at  home  seventeen  years  :  he  then 
apprenticed  to  the  carpenter  and  joiners  trade 
at  Hudson,  serving  three  years,  after  which  he 
worked  as  a  journeyman  in  that  vicinity  until 
1871,  when  he  came  to  Akron,  where  he  has 
continued  in  the  business  as  contractor  and 


:r^ 


686 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES; 


builder.  la  all  he  has  followed  the  trade  for 
a  third  of  a  century,  during  which  time  he  has 
built  many  buildings,  principal  among  which 
are  the  Buchtel  College,  the  Bttckeije  office  and 
many  other  leading  structures.  He  served  on 
the  Board  of  Education  of  Hudson,  and  also 
as  a  Councilman.  In  1879,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Akron  Council  for  Second  Ward 
and  was  re-elected  in  1881.  June  24,  1852,  he 
married  Miss  Jane  R.  Herrick,  a  native  of 
Twinsburg;  they  had  live  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living — Ella  J.,  Frank  N.,  Walter  T. 
and  Emor}'  J.  Mr.  Carter  is  a  u:ember  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  has 
held  man}-  of  the  offices  usual  to  that  denomina- 
tion, and  has  otherwise  taken  an  active  interest 
in  its  affairs. 

DR.  MASON  CHAPMAN,  dentist,  Akron  ; 
was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Copley  Town- 
ship, Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  June  28,  1838.  His 
parents,  Lucius  and  Sally  B.  (Mason)  Chap- 
man were  natives  of  New  York ;  he  was  a 
farmer ;  was  born  Nov.  20,  1807,  on  a  farm 
called  Cone  Hill,  in  Onondaga  Co.;  were  mar- 
ried in  Sennet,  N.  Y.,  June  2,  1829;  they 
came  to  Ohio  in  June,  1833,  and  settled  in 
Copley  Township,  where  they  lived  until  1857. 
Mrs.  Chapman  died  in  1852.  In  1857,  he 
moved  to  Wisconsin,  and  later,  to  Anamosa, 
Jones  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he  now  resides.  His 
father,  Ashbel  Chapman,  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts May  20,  1775  ;  he  came  to  Ohio  about 
the  year  1836,  and  settled  near  Copley  Center, 
where  he  died  Jan.  25,  1865  ;  his  wife  also  died 
there  March  9,  1862;  they  were  married  in 
Massachusetts  Aug.  8,  1800.  Our  subject  lived 
with  his  father  until  December,  1 864  ;  his  early 
life  was  spent  on  the  farm.  In  Wisconsin  he 
clerked  in  a  grocery  and  boot  and  shoe  store, 
after  which  he  joined  his  father  in  Iowa,  and 
assisted  on  the  farm.  The  following  winter,  he 
attended  Cornell  College  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Iowa, 
alternating  on  the  farm  and  at  college  for  two 
3'ears.  He  then  taught  school  for  two  terms, 
and,  in  the  fall  of  1862,  he  began  the  study  of 
dentistry-  with  Dr.  Matson,  of  Anamosa,  with 
whom  he  studied  for  two  years  ;  he  then  visited 
in  New  York  State,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1865, 
he  came  to  Akron  and  practiced  one  year  with 
Dr.  Bolles,  after  which  he  bought  the  business, 
and  has  continued  the  practice  since.  Nov.  3, 
1867,  he  married  Miss  Alice  L.  Randall,  a  na- 
tive of  Copley  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio. 


They  have  one  child — Clo3'd  M.  Chapman. 
During  the  term  1878  to  1880,  the  doctor 
served  the  cit}'  of  Akron  as  Councilman. 

DR.  JOSEPH  COLE,  deceased  ;  was  born  in 
Winfield,  N.  Y.,  in  September,  1795  ;  he  was 
raised  on  the  farm  and  began  reading  medicine 
in  1820,  with  Dr.  Clark,  graduating  from  the 
Fairfield,  N.  Y.,  Medical  College.  In  1824,  he 
came  to  Summit  County,  Ohio,  and  practiced 
for  three  years  at  Old  Portage  ;  he  then  came  to 
Akron,  where  he  jn-acticed  until  his  death  in 
1861 ;  he  was  married  in  November,  1826,  to 
Miss  Charlotte  Dewe\',  a  native  of  Westtield, 
Hampden  Co.,  Mass. ;  she  came  West  with  her 
parents  in  1822  ;  there  were  ten  in  the  family  ; 
all  came  in  one  wagon,  the  male  members  often 
walking ;  they  settled  at  Old  Portage  and  with- 
in three  years,  father,  mother,  three  brothers 
and  one  sister  died  from  the  fever  then  preva- 
lent in  that  localit}'.  Charlotte  lived  with  her 
brothers,  who  were  farming  in  that  vicinity,  un- 
til her  marriage ;  by  the  marriage  were  seven 
children,  all  of  wliom  have  since  died.  Mrs. 
Cole  is  living  in  the  old  homestead,  where  she 
has  lived  since  1832,  and  by  her  family  has 
thi-ee  grandchildren — Helen  L.  Agard,  of  Sara- 
toga, N.  Y.,  and  H.  D.  and  Fannie  F.  Cole,  living 
with  her.  Their  father,  H.  D.,  was  the  young- 
est son  of  Dr.  Joseph  and  Charlotte  (Dewe}') 
Cole  ;  he  was  born  in  Akron  in  1840  ;  he  re- 
ceived a  high  school  education,  and  in  his  latter 
years  was  engaged  in  the  livery  and  undertak- 
ing business  ;  he  died  in  April,  1876.  In  1864, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Hattie  Farnam,  a  na- 
tive of  Akron,  daughter  of  Daniel  Farnam  ;  they 
had  two  children,  viz. :  H.  D.  and  Fannie  F. 
Mrs.  Hattie  Cole  is  also  living  in  the  old  home- 
stead with  her  mother-in-law. 

CHARLES  A.  COLLINS,  carriage  manu- 
facturer, Akron ;  is  a  native  of  Richmond, 
Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.  He  was  born  July  26, 
1816,  and  is  the  3'oungest  of  six  children  born 
to  Ralph  and  Hannah  (Hickox)  Collins ;  the}' 
were  natives  of  Connecticut ;  he  died  in  Mas- 
sachusetts Aug.  4.  1817.  Our  subject  lived 
with  his  mother  until  1827,  when  they  moved 
to  Berkshire,  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  she  lived 
for  three  years  with  her  married  daughter. 
Charles  A.,  while  in  Massachusetts,  worked 
about  at  farm  work,  and  attended  district 
school.  In  New  York  he  lived  with  an  uncle, 
working  on  the  farm  in  summers,  and  attend- 
ing select  school  winters.     In  the  fall  of  1830, 


^ 2) 


K 


CITY    OF    AKRON 


687 


he  and  mother  came  to  Ohio  and  settled  at 
Talhnadge,  where  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Amos 
Aveiy,  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wag- 
ons. Charles  A.  apprenticed  with  his  uncle, 
and  remained  until  he  became  of  age.  His 
mother  lived  there  with  a  'laughter  until  her 
death  in  November,  1849.  In  1838,  the  firm 
of  Collins  &  Hale  established  a  carriage  manu- 
factory in  Middlebury,  now  Sixth  Ward,  Akron. 
The}'  continued  until  1841,  though  Mr.  Collins 
was  identified  with  the  business  until  it  was 
burned  in  1860.  During  this  year,  the  business 
was  established  b}'  Collins  &  Bell  in  South 
Akron,  where  the  business  was  conducted  until 
1869.  In  February,  1870,  the  present  firm  of 
C.  A.  Collins  &  Son  erected  a  shop  corner  of 
Main  and  Church  streets,  Akron,  where  they 
have  done  business  since.  While  residing  in 
the  Sixth  Ward,  Mr.  Collins  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Education  for  several 
terms,  a  member  of  the  Village  Council,  and 
Mayor  of  Akron  for  the  years  1 862  and  1863,  also 
member  of  City  Council,  1876  to  1878.  Jan. 
16,  1839,  he  married  Miss  Louisa  Hine,  a  na- 
tive of  Milford,  Conn.,  and  youngest  child  of 
Abraham  and  Abigail  (Elton)  Hine,  who  came 
to  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  about  tlie  year  1820.  By 
the  marriage  there  have  been  seven  children,  of 
whom  four  are  living,  viz.:  George  A.,  with 
father ;  Mrs.  Josephine  A.  Kent,  of  Kent, 
Ohio ;  Charles  E.,  formerly  cashier  Second  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Akron,  now  with  the  Colwell  & 
Collins  Manufacturing  Co.  of  Cleveland,  and 
Nettie  E.,  at  home. 

A.  L.  COTTER,  retired,  Akron  City;  was 
born  in  Cornwall,  Conn.,  Dec.  28,  1795,  and  is 
the  second  of  five  children  born  to  Andrew  and 
Rhoda  (Rogers)  Cotter,  natives  of  Connecticut, 
and  who  died  in  their  native  State.  Our  sub- 
ject lived  at  home  until  he  was  22  years  of  age. 
He  assisted  his  father  at  farming,  and  in  his 
blacksmith-shop.  His  education  was  limited, 
and  confined  to  the  district  schools.  At  the 
age  of  22  years,  he  opened  a  blacksmith-shop 
of  his  own  some  three  miles  from  his  father's, 
where  he  continued  in  business  for  about  two 
years,  when  he  went  to  Bristol,  and  worked 
there  for  one  3'^ear,  engaged  in  ironing  wagons. 
He  returned  to  his  native  place,  where  he  was 
identified  with  the  blacksmith  business  until 
1824,  when  he  came  to  Ohio,  with  a  cousin  who 
lived  in  Middlebury.  Satisfied  with  the  coun- 
try, he  returned  home,  made  himself  a  wagon, 


and  removed  to  Ohio  with  his  family,  consisting 
then  of  a  wife  and  one  child.  He  located  in 
Middlebury,  where  he  followed  blacksmithing 
until  about  the  3'ear  1868,  when  he  retired  to 
his  present  place,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
His  residence  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  Feb.  12, 
1875,  and  the  following  year  he  built  his  pres- 
ent dwelling.  He  served  a  number  of  years  as 
Trustee  of  Tallmadge  Township  while  a  resident 
of  Middlebury.  He  was  married,  Nov.  21, 1821, 
to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Pratt,  a  native  of  Killing- 
worth,  Conn.  ;  she  died  July  28,  1836.  The 
result  of  this  marriage  was  seven  children,  of 
whom  five  are  living.  Samuel  A.  and  James 
P.  live  in  Connecticut ;  Charles  S.  lives  in  Ra- 
venna, Ohio  ;  Mary  E.,  now  Mrs.  Myers,  lives 
near  the  old  home  ;  Henry  C.  lives  in  Toledo  ; 
Edward  died  in  1831  and  Emily  in  1868.  Mr. 
Cotter  was  married  on  Nov.  1,  1837,  to  Miss 
Mary  Talcott,  a  daughter  of  Alvin  and  Philo- 
melia  (Root)  Talcott.  Mr.  Talcott  traces  his 
ancestry  back  to  the  family  of  Warwickshire, 
England.  The  original  emigrant,  the  Worshipful 
John  Talcott,  came  to  Boston,  Mass.,  Sept.  16, 
1632,  in  the  ship  Lyon.  He  soon  after  went  to 
Hartford,  Conn.,  where  he  was  married,  and 
afterward  lived.  Mr.  Cotter  is  a  Presbyterian, 
and  has  been  a  member  of  that  church  for  over 
fifty  3'ears  ;  Mrs.  Cotter  has  been  a  member  for 
over  fort}^  years.  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  Republican 
in  politics  ever  since  the  organization  of  that 
party. 

JAMES  H.  CASE,  druggist,  Middlebury 
(Sixth  Ward),  Akron  ;  was  born  Dec.  23,  1844, 
and  is  a  native  of  Middlebury,  Ohio.  He  is  the 
eldest  of  two  children,  born  to  S.  S.  and  Jane 
(McDowell)  Case,  who  were  natives  of  New  York. 
S.  S.  Case  came  to  Ohio  in  an  eai-l}^  day,  and  lo- 
cated in  the  vicinity  of  Painesville,  where  he  fol- 
lowed harness-making ;  and,  a})out  1842,  came  to 
Middlebury.  Here  he  followed  the  harness  busi- 
ness, and  later,  became  an  extensive  dealer  in 
stoneware.  He  also  took  some  contracts  on 
the  Mount  Vernon  Railroad.  In  1864,  he  en- 
listed in  the  army,  and  was  transferred  to  the 
Government  shops  at  Chattanooga  for  the  manu- 
facturing of  harness,  etc.  He  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  then  located  in  Cincinnati, 
thence  to  Xenia,  where  he  died  June  9,  1879, 
at  the  age  of  67  years.  James  H.  (the  subject), 
has  always  made  his  home  in  Middlebury.  At 
the  age  of  17  A'ears,  he  apprenticed  himself  to 
the  carriage-ironing  trade,  at  Greenville,  Penn.; 


\ 


688 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


be  did  not  complete  his  apprenticeship,  but 
retired  to  Middlebury,  and  worked  one  and  a 
half  3-ears  in  the  machine  shops  of  Kent  &  Bald- 
win. In  ISUa,  he  enlisted  in  the  Second  Ohio 
Cavahy,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  Peters- 
burg, Shenandoah,  Cedar  Creek,  Winchester, 
Five  Forks  and  at  the  surrender  of  Lee.  He 
was  at  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  and 
then  moved  West,  remaining  at  Springfield, 
Mo.,  until  the  September  following,  when  he, 
with  regiment,  was  mustered  out  at  St.  Louis, 
and  returned  home.  He  then  completed  his 
trade  as  a  machinist,  and  followed  it  some  four 
years.  He  then  worked  in  the  Buckeye  Reaper 
W^orks  until  the  spring  of  1876,  when  he  opened 
his  present  business.  He  was  married,  Jan.  1, 
1872,  to  Wiss  Ella  S.  Farrar,  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  a  daughter  of  C.  S.  Farrar,  of 
Akron,  whither  they  came  about  the  year  1870. 
By  the  marriage,  there  is  one  child,  viz.,  Charles 
F."^  Case. 

DR.  W.  E.  CHAMBERLIN,  physician,  Ak- 
ron, was  born  in  Allegheny  City,  Penn.,  Nov. 
29,  1840,  and  was  raised  in  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia, where  his  parents  lived  during  his 
infancy,  moving  to  Peninsula,  Summit  Co., 
Ohio,  in  1858.  His  father,  C.  W.  Chamberlin, 
was  a  physician  and  druggist.  Our  subject 
began  at  the  age  of  12  years  to  assist  in  his 
father's  store  and  to  read  medical  works,  which 
he  continued  in  connection  with  his  schooling, 
which  consisted  of  a  high-school  course  and  a 
course  by  a  special  instructor,  which  included 
French  and  German.  At  the  age  of  18,  he  be- 
gan practice  under  his  father,  and  Sept.  9, 1861, 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  1st  Ohio  Light  Artiller3% 
and  was  detailed  by  Gen.  Nelson  as  physician 
and  surgeon,  in  which  position  he  served  until 
October,  1862,  when,  owing  to  ill  health,  he 
was  discharged  and  returned  home.  During 
the  winter,  he  attended  lectures  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor,  resuming  his 
profession  in  the  spring  at  Brimfield,  Portage 
Co.,  Ohio.  Tn  September,  1865,  he  removed  to 
Clinton,  Summit  Co.,  where  he  practiced  until 
Januar}^,  1875,  during  which  time  he  became 
well  known  as  a  newspaper  correspondent,  cor- 
responding for  the  Akron  Beacon,  City  Times, 
Cleveland  Hemhl,  the  Plaindealer  and  numer- 
ous others.  From  Clinton  he  came  to  Akron 
and  located  at  1 04  North  Howard  street,  where 
he  has  remained  since.     In  1869,  he  graduated 


at  the  Charity  Hospital  Medical  College  of 
Cleveland.  A  member  of  the  Union  Medical 
Societ}'  of  Northeastern  Ohio,  he  has  served 
the  same  as  delegate  to  the  State  and 
National     Medical     Conventions.     March    31, 

1862,  he  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Pritchard, 
of  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  Of  their  two  children, 
one  is  living,  viz.,  M^-rtle.  June  22,  1875, 
he  married  Mrs.  McCoy,  formerly  Miss  Wilhel- 
mina  Kohler.  While  in  Franklin  Township, 
the  Doctor  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  and 
Notar}'.  He  also  conducted  a  drug  business, 
which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1874. 

B.  S.  CHASE,  M.  D.  (deceased),  was  born 
Jan.  9,  1834.  He  was  a  native  of  Vermont, 
and  lived  on  a  farm  until  he  came  of  age,  gain- 
ing an  education  in  the  meanwhile  at  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  an  academic  course  at  the 
Chester  Academy.  On  reaching  his  majority, 
he  came  West  and  engaged  in  the  sale  of  some 
maps  for  which  he  had  secured  territory  in 
Michigan.  After  several  years  spent  in  this 
way,  he  came  to  Akron  and  began  reading 
medicine  with  his  uncle,  Dr.  E.  W.  Howard,  of 
Akron,  and  afterward  graduating  at  Ann  Ar- 
bor, Mich.  He  began  his  practice  in  partner- 
ship with  his  uncle  and  preceptor,  continuing 
in  this  way  until  1862,  when  the  war  opened 
up  a  new  avenue  for  his  services.  He  entered 
the  army  as  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  16th  0. 
V.  I.,  remaining  with  the  regiment  until  June, 

1863,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  53d  Mis- 
sissippi (colored)  Regiment  as  Surgeon.  He 
continued  with  this  regiment  to  the  close  of 
the  war,  acting  on  the  Operating  Board  at  the 
battle  of  Chickasaw  Bayou  and  during  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg.  Subsequently  he  returned 
to  Akron,  where  he  continued  his  practice  until 
his  death  Feb.  23,  1878.  Jan.  26,  1863,  he 
married  Miss  Henrietta  Sabin,  a  native  of 
Akron,  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  W.  Sabin,  a 
long-time  and  prominent  merchant  of  Akron. 
Mrs.  Chase's  mother  was  Prudence,  a  daughter 
of  C.  W.  Brown  (who  is  mentioned  elsewhere), 
a  native  of  New  York  and  an  earl}'  pioneer  of 
the  Sixth  Ward  of  Akron.  Mr.  Sabin  died 
March  5,  1876  ;  his  wife  died  Dec.  27,  1880. 
Mrs.  Chase's  family  consists  of  five  children — - 
William  S.,  Charles  H.,  Martha,  Byron  S.  and 
Sabin  Ford,  the  latter  a  nephew  whom  she  has 
adopted  into  her  family. 

J.  G.  CASKEY,  of  Diehl  &  Caskey,  Akron  ; 
is  a  native  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.;  was  born 


'k* 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


689 


in  Strasburg  Township,  Sept.  3.  1832.  His 
parents,  Samuel  and  Mary  (Brown)  Caske}', 
were  natives  of  York  and  Lancaster  Cos.,  Penn. 
His  father  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and  was  born 
July  1,  1798.  In  1835,  his  parents,  with  four 
children,  came  in  wagons  to  Norton  Township 
in  this  county.  Here  his  father  bought  wild 
land,  cleared  a  farm,  and,  in  the  meanwhile, 
worked  at  milling  on  shares.  The  latter  busi- 
ness occupied  the  principal  part  of  his  time 
until  1869,  when  he  gave  up  a  calling  in  which 
he  had  engaged  for  nearly  tifty  years.  Feb.  1, 
1875,  his  wife  died  at  the  age  of  75.  Both 
were  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  in  which 
he  still  takes  an  active  interest.  In  politics,  he 
followed  the  fortunes  of  the  Democratic  party 
until  the  rise  of  the  Republican  part}',  to  which 
he  has  since  given  his  suffrage.  He  still  lives 
at  the  old  homestead  in  Norton,  and  lacks  but 
a  few  days  of  being  the  oldest  man  in  the 
township.  J.  Gr.  Caskey  lived  at  home  until  he 
reached  his  majority,  working  on  the  farm  and 
in  the  mill,  gaining  a  practical  knowledge  of 
both  occupations.  On  becoming  of  age,  he 
entered  the  Baldwin  University  at  Berea,  where 
he  studied  for  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
this  term,  he  returned  to  the  farm,  spending 
his  winters  in  teaching  school  for  some  two  3'ears. 
He  then  turned  his  attention  exclusively^  to 
milling,  which  he  followed  until  1871,  save 
two  years  while  in  the  army.  Aug.  30,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  29th  0.  V.  V.  I.,  and 
served  two  years,  taking  part  in  the  battles  of 
Chancellorsville,  Gett3'sburg,  Lookout  Moun- 
tain and  jMission  Ridge.  Mr.  Caskey-  was  sub- 
sequenth'  taken  ill  and  confined  in  the  hospital 
at  Murfreesboro,  and  later  received  a  furlough 
and  discharge.  He  returned  home,  and,  after 
regaining  his  health,  he  resumed  his  milling 
business.  In  1871,  he  moved  to  Akron  and 
conducted  a  restaurant  for  some  nine  years. 
In  1880,  he  became  a  partner  in  the  present 
business.  Feb.  15,  1860,  he  married  Miss  Har- 
riet B.  Burget,  a  native  of  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio. 
They  have  two  children,  S3'bil  A.  and  Charlie  E. 
JOHN  S.  CLEMENS,  foreman  gearing  de- 
partment of  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.,  Akron ; 
a  native  of  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  was  born  Aug.  30, 
1832,  and  is  the  oldest  son  in  a  family  of  three 
children  born  to  Daniel  and  Leah  (Cameron) 
Clemens,  natives  of  Stark  Co.  His  (subject's) 
grandfather,  Nicholas  Clemens,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  came  from  Pennsylvania 


to  Stark  Co.  previous  to  that  war.  At  the 
age  of  19,  subject  was  apprenticed  to  learn 
blacksmithing  at  Paris,  in  Stark  Co.,  where  he 
worked  until  1857,  when  he  entered  the  employ 
of  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.,  at  Canton,  as  a 
blacksmith.  He  remained  here  until  1864, 
when,  at  the  opening  of  the  company's  shops 
at  Akron,  he  came  here  to  take  charge  of  the 
blacksmithing  department,  and  was  foreman  of 
that  department  until  1869,  when  he  was  made 
foreman  of  the  gearing  department,  which  he 
has  made  very  efficient.  He  was  married  in 
November,  1854,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Flickmyer, 
of  Paris,  Ohio.  They  have  two  sons  ;  a  daugh- 
ter died  in  childhood. 

JOEL  R.  CARTER,  of  Carter  &  Steward, 
millers,  Akron,  a  son  of  Joel  R.  and  Mary 
(D^er)  Carter,  was  born  in  Devonshire,  En- 
gland, March  13,  1841.  His  father  was  a  miller, 
and  when  but  a  boy  he  began  to  learn  the  mill- 
ing business.  He  worked  in  the  City  Mills  of 
London,  England,  about  five  jears,  and  in  1865, 
he  came  to  the  United  States  and  to  Akron. 
He  entered  the  present  mill,  where  he  worked 
for  Robert  Turner  one  3^ear,  and,  in  1868, 
bought  a  fourth  intei'est  in  the  firm.  He  be- 
came half-owner  in  1873,  with  Mr.  Steward, 
firm  Carter  &  Steward.  In  February,  1869,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Jane  Rhodes,  daughter  of 
John  Rhodes,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls.  There  has 
been  born  of  this  marriage  one  son  and  one 
daughter.  Mr.  C.  came  here  without  capital, 
and  by  his  own  exertions  has  become  one  of 
Akron's  stanch  business  men.  His  parents 
still  reside  in  P]ngland,  where  his  father  has 
followed  milling  all  his  life,  at  Dotten,  twelve 
miles  from  Exeter. 

JOHN  COOK,  deceased,  was  born  April  18, 
1818,  in  Bavaria,  Germany.  On  leaving  school 
in  his  native  country,  he  learned  the  trade  of 
stone-mason,  at  which  he  worked  until  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  the  United  States  in  1839. 
He  came  at  once  to  Akron,  and  found  employ- 
ment in  the  JEtna  Mills,  where  he  soon  became 
foreman  in  the  packing  department.  He  went 
overland  to  California  in  1850.  encountering 
many  perils  and  hardships.  He  remained  there 
two  years  in  the  provision  business,  and  re- 
turned home  via  Panama  route.  In  1855,  he 
started  a  giocery  on  Market  street,  and  b}' 
close  application  to  business  built  up  a  large 
and  lucrative  trade — was  one  of  the  largest 
dealers   in  Akron,  and  for  several  years   the 


690 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


business  partner  of  Jacob  Dussell.  When  his 
sons  John  J.  and  William  H.  Cook  o^rew  up,  he 
took  them  into  partnership,  which  lasted  until 
his  death,  Dec.  1,  1880.  He  was  raised  a  Cath- 
olic, and  at  the  organization  of  the  German 
Catholic;  Church  became  a  member,  and  was 
for  many  years  a  trustee  and  liberal  supporter 
of  it  ;  later  in  life  was  a  member  of  the  St.  Vin- 
cent's Church.  He  was  Councilman  two  3'ears, 
and  took  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs. 
He  was  married  October  17,  1843,  to  Miss 
Mary  Bilz,  of  Akron.  She  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, Dec.  5,  1821,  and  came  with  her  parents 
to  the  United  States  in  183G,  and  were  among 
the  earl}^  residents  of  Akron.  Subject  has  two 
sons  living — William  H.  and  John  J.;  oldest 
son,  Francis,  died  when  he  was  but  two  3'ears 
old. 

DR.  ISRAEL  E.  CARTER,  retired,  Akron, 
was  born  in  Concord,  N.  H,  April  8,  1810, 
where  he  lived  in  the  vicinity  until  1836. 
He  began  the  stud}'  of  medicine  in  1831, 
and  at  the  same  time  supported  himself 
by  teaching  school  during  the  winters.  He 
graduated  in  June,  1835,  from  the  Ver- 
mont Medical  College  at  Woodstock,  and 
came  to  Ravenna,  Ohio,  in  May,  1836  ;  being 
in  poor  health,  he  found  he  could  not  stand 
regular  practice,  so  took  up  the  study  of  den- 
tistry with  Dr.  M.  T.  Willard,  of  Concord,  N.  H., 
in  1835,  and  after  coming  to  Ravenna  began 
its  practice.  He  did  a  successful  business  then 
from  1836  to  1843,  when  he  came  to  Akron 
and  located  here  permanently.  He  remained  in 
active  practice  here  until  his  election  as  Count}' 
Treasurer  in  1862,  holding  the  office  until 
1867,  being  elected  each  time  by  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  was  Mayor  of  the  incorporated 
village  of  Akron  in  1848  and  1849,  and  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board  two  terms.  Owing  to 
failing  health,  he  has  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness. He  was  married  July  4,  1840,  to  Miss 
Mary  L.  Williamson,  of  Ravenna.  Three  chil- 
dren by  this  marriage  are  living — Frances  L. 
(Mrs.  t.  D.  McGillicuddy);  William  H.,  book- 
keeper ;  and  Charles  E.  His  wife  died  June 
19,  1862,  in  her  43d  year.  He  is  a  charter 
member  of  Summit  Lodge,  No.  50,  I.  0.  0.  F., 
organized  in  1845,  and  has  always  been  an 
active  and  zealous  member  of  it ;  was  Deputy 
Grand  Master  one  term. 

HENRY  J.  CHURCH,  merchant,  Akron. 
Calvin    Church  was   born    in    East    Haddam, 


Conn.,  in  1794,  where  the  Church  family  set- 
tled on  their  arrival  from  England,  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  seventeenth  century.  The  early 
members  of  the  family  were  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  he  was  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
Adjutant  in  the  Ohio  militia.  He  settled  in 
Rome,  x\shtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  in  about  1804. 
Miss  Susan  Crowell,  whom  he  married,  was  a 
sister  of  Judge  Crowell,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
The  Crowell  family  came  from  Connecticut 
about  the  same  time  that  the  Church  family 
did,  and  were  among  the  first  pioneers  of  Rome, 
Ohio.  Both  families  were  strong  churchmen  of 
the  Episcopal  faith,  and  Bishop  Chase  preached 
in  his  grandfather  William  Crowell's  kitchen, 
as  early  as  1819.  The  descendants  have  been 
Episcopalians  ever  since.  To  Calvin  Church 
were  born  seven  children,  of  whom  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  is  the  youngest.  His  wife  died 
in  her  73d  year,  in  1876,  and  he  in  his  63d 
year,  in  1856.  Henry  J.  Church  was  born  at 
Thompson,  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  on  April  16, 
1845.  In  December,  1858,  two  years  after  his 
father's  death,  he  came  to  Akron,  where  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Henry  &  Oberholser,  as 
clerk,  attending  school  during  the  winters  for 
six  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  became 
salesman,  with  Oberholser,  Keller  &  Co.,  con- 
tinuing for  five  years,  when  he  received  an  in- 
terest. Avhich,  at  the  end  of  one  year,  he  sold 
out.  April  20,  1870,  the  copartnership  of 
Wolf  Church  &  Beck  was  formed,  and  they 
did  a  large  wholesale  and  retail  business  in  dry 
goods.  In  1878,  Mr.  Beck  retired,  and  the 
firm  dropped  his  name,  being  Wolf  &  Church. 
Their  business  rooms  are  at  Nos.  200  and  202 
East  Market  street,  being  100x37  feet  dimen- 
sions, with  basement  and  second  story.  They 
employ  eleven  men  and  two  ladies  as  clerks, 
salesmen  and  book-keepers.  On  May  6,  1868, 
he  married  Miss  Mary  H.  Sanford,  daughter  of 
D.  G.  Sanford,  of  Akron  ;  she  bore  him  six  chil- 
dren, five  living.  He  was  confirmed  in  the 
Episcopal  Church  in  1869,  as  was  also  his  wife. 
For  ten  years  he  has  been  Superintendent  of 
the  Sabbath  school.  He  is  a  member  of  Sum- 
mit Lodge,  No.  50,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  has  been  its 
presiding  officer,  and  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  Akron  Lodge,  No.  547,  whose  or- 
ganization he  was  among  the  first  to  suggest. 
THOMAS  W.  CORNELL,  Akron  ;  was  born 
in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  8,  1820,  raised  on 
a  farm,  and,  at  22,  with  but  little  capital,  com- 


^; 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


691 


menced  in  life  for  liimself.  He  was  for  some  ! 
time  in  a  brewery  in  Auburn,  N.  Y.  He  came  j 
to  Cuyahoga  Falls  in  December,  1855,  where 
he  bought  a  distillery,  which  he  conducted 
seven  or  eight  years.  In  1863,  he  came  to 
Akron,  Ohio,  and  became  one  of  the  original 
stockholders  of  the  First  National  Bank  at  their 
first  meeting,  being  elected  President,  which 
position  he  has  since  retained.  The  original 
capital  stock  was  $100,000,  and  the  deposits 
have  reached  to  $250,000.  Since  1865,  he  has 
been  President  of  the  Akron  Gas  Works. 

REV.  W.  W.  CASE,  Pastor  of  First  M.  E. 
Church,  Akron  ;  is  a  son  of  William  and  Polly 
(Hempsted)  Case,  natives  of  Rensselaer  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  was  born  Dec.  13, 1838.  His  father 
was  a  farmer,  and  he  was  brought  up  on  a  farm 
until  17  years  of  age,  when  he  commenced 
teaching,  and  at  19  became  Superintendent  of 
Schools  of  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.  During  the  year 
1858,  he  was  converted,  and  soon  after  entered 
tiie  ministry  under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  laboring  for  the  first  five  years  in 
Western  New  York.  In  1864,  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Wisconsin  Conference,  and  filled 
successively  the  pulpits  at  Edgerton,  Beloit, 
Milwaukee  (latter  place  three  years),  and  then 
at  Fond  du  Lac.  He  was  transferred  to  the 
Cincinnati  Conference  in  1875,  and  stationed  at 
Mt.  Auburn  Church,  Cincinnati,  for  three  years, 
and  was  then  transferred  to  First  M.  E.  Church 
of  Akron.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Examining 
Committee  of  Mt.  Union  College  ;  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Management  of  Law- 
rence University,  and  of  Phoenix  Literary  So- 
ciety of  that  institution. 

CHARLES  CRANZ,  Secretary  of  Wads- 
worth  Coal  Co.,  Akron  ;  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and 
Wilhemina  (Renz)  Cranz,  and  was  born  Feb. 
13,  1817,  in  Wiesenbach  Village,  Wurtemberg, 
German}'.  He  was  educated  in  his  native 
country,  and  spent  two  years  as  an*apprentice 
in  a  drug  store.  At  the  age  of  17  he  came  to 
the  United  States  with  his  parents,  arriving  in 
Baltimore  in  July,  1834.  The}',  journeyed  by 
team  to  Wheeling,  Va.,  when  the  river  proved 
too  low  for  navigation,  and  they  continued  on 
their  journey  by  land  to  Holmes  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  the  father,  who  was  a  Lutheran  minister, 
had  letters  of  introduction  to  parties.  He 
resided  there  until  his  death  in  1876,  in  his 
87th  year,  having  continued  preaching  until 
the  age  of  82.     Subject  worked  on  a  farm  in 


Holmes  County  two  years,  when  he  started  out 
for  himself,  securing  a  clerkship  in  Nashville, 
Holmes  Co.,  for  a  short  time,  when  he  went  to 
Canton  and  became  a  clerk  in  a  hardware  store 
for  six  years.  In  1842,  he  came  to  Akron,  and 
together  with  F.  A.  Schneider  (firm  of  C.  Cranz 
&  Co.),  opened  the  first  hardware  store  in  the 
cit}' ;  while  in  business,  donated  arms  to  •'  Old 
John  Brown."  Continued  for  about  ten  j'^ears, 
when  Mr.  C.  Ijought  out  his  partner,  and  in 
1865,  L.  B.  Schneider  became  a  partner,  re- 
maining as  such  until  1875,  when  subject  sold 
out  to  him.  Mr.  C.  was  one  of  the  original 
stockholders  and  incorporators  of  J.  F.  Seiber- 
ling  &  Co.,  and  was  consecutively  Director, 
General  Agent,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  and 
upon  the  failure  of  the  company  became  one  of 
the  assignees  by  request  of  the  creditors  and 
stockholders.  He  is  at  present  Secretary  of  the 
Wadsworth  Coal  Co.  In  September,  1845,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Mai'garet  D.  Schneider, 
daughter  of  F.  A.  Schneider,  of  Akron.  The}' 
have  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  viz.,  Charles, 
Jr.,  and  Frank  are  in  the  mines  of  Arizona  ; 
Harry,  clerk  in  a  hardware  stoi'e  in  Omaha, 
Neb.;  William  S.,  a  student  in  Lehigh  Univer- 
sity, and  Emma  R.,  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  K. 
Pei'kins,  of  Akron. 

FRANK  D.  CASSIDY,  lawyer,  Akron  ;  is  a 
son  of  William  P.  and  Caroline  M.  (Kohler) 
Cassidy,  and  was  born  Jan.  29,  1849,  at  Penin- 
sula, Summit  Co.  His  father  was  a  carpenter 
and  joiner,  and  moved  to  Akron  about  the  year 
1853  ;  was  a  native  of  Blair  Co.,  Penn.,  and 
was  born  in  October,  1811.  He  was  of  Irish 
descent,  his  great-grandfather  coming  to  Penn- 
sylvania from  Ireland,  and  the  larger  portion 
of  the  family  still  living  in  Blair  County,  where 
the  elder  Cassidy  laid  out  the  town  of  Newry, 
named  for  their  native  town  in  Ireland.  The 
father  of  subject  was  for  fifteen  years  foreman 
in  the  factory  of  W.  B.  Doyle  &  Co.,  of  Akron, 
and  died  in  June,  1878.  leaving  two  sons  and 
one  daughter— Frank  D.  (subject);  James  H., 
physician  at  Sharon  Centre,  Medina  Co.,  and 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  D.  G.  Steese,  of  Akron.  In 
1869,  he  (subject)  became  assistant  bookkeeper 
in  the  Akron  Iron  ('o.,  remaining  one  year,  and 
then  went  to  Cleveland  and  accepted  the  posi- 
tion of  assistant  book-keeper  in  a  wholesale 
coal  concern,  which  he  held  for  three  years, 
when  he  became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Steese 
&  Co.,  coal  dealers  and  shippers,  continuing  until 


-^ » 


693 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


1875,  when  he  returned  to  Akron,  and  for  some 
time  assisted  his  father  in  the  management  of  his 
real  estate  business,  In  1877,  he  began  the 
study  of  the  law  with  Edgerton  &  Kohler,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  March,  1879,  and 
has  been  in  practice  here  ever  since.  He  was 
married  Dec.  30,  1878,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Francis, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  Francis,  Sr.  They  have 
one  cliild — Carrie  M. 

JOHN  H.  CAMPBELL,  lawyer,  Akron  ;  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Matilda  (Ervine)  Camp- 
bell ;  was  born  Nov.  9,  1848,  in  Wayne  Co.,  and 
when  an  infant,  the  family  moved  to  Hancock 
Co.  He  lived  there  on  a  farm  until  1861,  when 
the  family  moved  back  to  Wayne  (.o.  He  be- 
gan teaching  in  1868,  and  in  1870  graduated  in 
Mt.  Union  Commercial  School  ;  in  the  fall  of 
1871,  he  entered  the  Law  Department  of  the 
Michigan  University,  from  which  he  graduated 
March  26,  1873,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
at  Wooster  in  June,  1872.  In  April,  1873,  he 
came  to  Akron,  and  began  practice,  and  Janu- 
ary, 1875,  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Edgerton,  Kohler  &  Campbell,  until   August, 

1876,  when  the  firm  was  dissolved,  and  he  has 
been  alone  since.  He  is  now  located  in  Math- 
ews' block,  over  No.  127  South  Howard  street. 
In  October,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Carrie  E. 
Oswald,  of  Wayne  Co.  They  have  three  sons. 
His  father  (John  Campbell)  was  born  in  Greene 
Co.,  Penn.,  Oct.  29, 1810,  and  came  there  with  his 
father,  George  Campbell,  in  1822  ;  his  father 
dying  three  years  thereafter,  John  virtually  be- 
came the  head  of  the  family,  and  worked  on 
the  farm  until  the  youngest  child  was  21  years 
old.  January  21,  1842,  he  married  Matilda 
Ervine,  of  Baughman  Township,  of  that  county. 
John  H.  is  his  only  son. 

NEWTON  CHALKER,  lawyer,  Akron. 
James  Chalker  was  born  in  Soutliington,  Ohio, 
his  parents  being  natives  of  Connecticut,  as 
were  also  those  of  Miss  P]liza  Hyde,  whom  he 
married,  and  whose  birthplace  was  Farmington, 
Trumbull  Co..  Ohio.  His  ancestors  settled  in 
Saybrook,  Conn.,  in  about  1640,  and  his  parents 
moved  to  Ohio  in  about  the  year  1805,  as  also 
did  hers.  To  James  and  Eliza  (Hyde)  Chalker, 
at  Southington,  Ohio,  on  Sept.  12,  1842,  was 
born  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Newton 
Chalker,  who  spent  his  early  youth  at  his  native 
home,  on  a  farm,  until  he  was  15  years  of  age, 
a  year  previous  to  which  time  he  entered  the 
Western    Reserve    Seminary    of    Farmington, 


continuing  with  his  studies  there  until   he  was 

20,  teaching  in  the  district  schools,  in  the 
meantime,  from  the  age  of  16,  In  June,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  87th  0.  V.  I.,  his  term 
expiring  in  October  of  the  same  year.  In  the 
spring  of  1863,  his  21st  year,  he  entered  Alle- 
ghan}'  College,  at  Meadville,  being  assigned  to 
the  freshman  class  ;  taking  a  classical  course, 
he  graduated  in  June,  1866.  In  the  fall  of  the 
same  year,  he  was  elected  by  the  Trustees  of 
Dixon  Seminary,  at  Dixon,  111.,  Principal, 
which  position  he  filled  for  one  year,  when  he 
was  elected  Superintendent  of  the  Darlington 
Union  Schools,  Wisconsin,  filling  that  position 
for  the  same  length  of  time.  In  August,  1868, 
he  entered  the  Law  Department  of  the  University 
of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  graduating  there  in  June, 
1869.  Shortly  after  his  graduation,  he  opened 
an  oflflce  for  the  practice  of  law  in  Cameron, 
Mo.,  where  he  remained  five  years.  On  Aug. 
14,  1874,  he  came  to  Akron,  where  he  has 
practiced  law  ever  since. 

CHARLES  S.  COBBS,  City  Solicitor,  Akron, 
was  born  near  Alliance,  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio, 
Julv  7,  1853,  and  lived  on  a  farm  until  18  ;  he 
entered  Mt.  Union  College  in  the  fall  of  1872, 
and  graduated  in  July,  1877.  He  then  became 
Superintendent  of  the  Malvern  Union  Schools, 
continuing  two  years,  studying  law  in  the  mean- 
time. May,  1879,  he  came  to  Akron  and  entered 
the  law^  office  of  J.  J.  Hall,  stud3'ing  until  his 
admission  to  the  bar  in  May,  1880,  at  the  session 
of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  after 
which  he  located  in  Akron,  and  has  been  in 
active  practice  since.  In  April,  1881,  he  was 
elected  City  Solicitor,  on  the  Republican  ticket. 

JAMES  CRISTY,  tanner,  Akron.  James, 
oldest  son  of  Patrick  and  Eliza  (McMoran) 
Cristy,  was  born  Feb.  4,  1820,  in  Spring- 
field Township,  this  count3',  where  he  lived 
on  a  farm  until  he  attained  his  majority, 
attending  clistrict  school  in  his  earliest  school 
days,  and  select  school  at  Middlebur}-  from  the 
time  he  was  16  until  he  reached  his  19th  jear. 
At  the  age  of  20,  he  began  teaching,  in  which 
he  engaged  for  two  terms.     Soon  after  he  was 

21,  he  came  to  Akron,  where  he  soon  estab- 
lished a  tannery  on  North  Howard  sti'eet,  in 
company'  with  one  James  Sawyer,  who  was  his 
partner,  running  it  under  the  firm  name  of 
Cristy  &  Sawyer,  until  1851,  when  the  part- 
nership dissolved.  The  year  following,  he  and 
his  brother,  John  H.  Cristy,  fitted  up  a  small 


^1 


'i^ 


i^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


693 


tannery  on  the  same  street,  which  they  ran  un- 
til 1856.  when  they  built  the  present  one,  con- 
tinuing as  partners  until  1879.  when  the  firm 
dissolved,  leaving  subject  proprietor,  who  then 
took  in,  as  partners,  his  sons  James,  Jr.,  and 
William,  under  the  firm  name  of  James  Cristy 
&  Sons.  They  are  doing  a  good  business  at 
the  present  time,  manufacturing  leather,  buying 
and  selling  leather,  hides,  furs  and  leather  find- 
ings, and  making  a  specialty  of  harness  leather. 
In  18-11,  he  started  in  business  at  this  place 
with  but  $500,  and  whatever  of  success  he  has 
attained  is  the  result  of  his  own  labor,  energy 
and  perseverance.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republi- 
can, having  been  such  since  the  organization  of 
the  part}'.  A  member  of  no  church,  he  attends 
the  Congregational,  and  gives  it  his  support. 
For  several  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
City  Council.  His  father,  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey, was  of  Irish  descent,  and  his  mother,  a 
Scotch  lady,  was  born  in  Scotland.  In  1812, 
they  came  to  Stark  County  from  Northumber- 
land Co.,  Penn.,  settling  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship, this  county,  two  years  later,  purchasing 
30  acres  of  land  of  Judge  Hinckley,  for  whom 
the  father  of  our  subject  was  land  agent.  Our 
subject  was  one  of  nine  children,  of  whom  but 
three  are  living — himself,  a  brother  and  Mrs. 
Saw3'er,  widow  of  his  former  partner.  His 
father  died  in  1864,  being  in  his  74th  year,  and 
his  mother's  death  occurred  in  1872,  in  her 
83d  year.  Subject  was  married  October,  1849, 
to  Miss  Jennie  Warner,  of  Akron,  Ohio,  and  of 
this  union  five  children  were  the  issue,  all  of 
whom  are  living. 

ALEXANDER  H.  COMMINS  (deceased). 
His  father,  Jedediah  D.  Commins.  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Charlotte,  Yt.,  on  the  9th  day  of 
July,  1790  ;  in  1814,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Sophia  Field,  of  Wethersfield,  Windsor 
Co.,  Vt.  They  soon  after  removed  to  Western 
New  York,  where  the}'  resided  until  1832.  At 
that  date  he  came  to  Akron  ;  here  he  found 
but  few  improvements,  but  being  a  keen  lover 
of  nature,  <he  selected  for  his  home  the  most 
desirable  site  adjacent  to  the  village,  and 
erected  a  residence  on  Fir  street,  ever  since  re- 
tained by  the  family.  Mr.  Commins  opened 
the  first  drug  store  in  the  village,  and  for  many 
years  was  the  leading  druggist  of  the  town  ; 
he  was  a  very  careful  and  precise  merchant, 
sustaining  his  credit  through  the  panic  of 
1837,  which  wrecked  all  the  other  merchants  of 


that  period  except  his  friend  P.  D.  Hall.  He 
espoused  the  principles  of  Democracy,  and  at 
once  became  a  leader  of  his  party  in  this  sec- 
tion. Among  the  first  he  saw  the  advantages 
which  would  arise  from  the  organization  of  a 
new  county  with  Akron  as  its  center,  and,  with 
unceasing  efforts,  he  gave  time  and  influence  to 
that  end  ;  he  was  sent  as  a  lobby  member  to  the 
Legislature,  and  to  his  labors  with  that  body 
we  are  indebted  largely  for  the  organization  of 
Summit  County.  But  this  was  not  his  only 
measure  of  beneficence ;  he  originated  the 
idea  of  a  rural  cemeter}^,  and  secured  the 
passage  of  a  bill  authorizing  corporations  to 
purchase  lands  for  such  purposes,  and  put  his 
beautiful  theory  into  operation  in  the  purchase 
of  40  acres  for  the  Akron  Rural  Cemeter}', 
probably  the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  State. 
That  he  was  denied  the  discipline  of  school 
training  did  not  discourage  a  mind  which  could 
draw  a  lesson  from  every  object  of  nature.  He 
gathered,  studied  and  classified  a  fine  collec- 
tion of  insects,  minerals  and  flowers.  He  was 
an  excellent  botanist  and  a  thorough  student  of 
nature  ;  he  was  familiar  with  the  best  works  of 
French  and  English  literature  ;  he  greatly  ad- 
mired Shakspeare,  and  could  repeat  many  pas- 
sages from  memory,  and  could  read  the  French 
language  with  ease.  He  was  a  highly  esteemed 
and  influential  citizen,  who  labored  earnestly 
for  the  public  weal  as  foremost  champion  of 
every  good  work.  He  died  in  1867,  respected 
by  all.  Alexander  H.  Commins,  oldest  son  of 
Jedediah  D.  Commins,  was  born  at  Lima,  Liv- 
ingston Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  21,  1815  ;  at  17.  he 
came  with  his  father  to  this  locality,  and  ere- 
long entered  the  Western  Reserve  College,  at 
Hudson,  where  he  spent  some  time  in  laying 
the  foundation  for  his  future  usefulness.  On 
leaving  college,  Mr.  Commins  entered  the  drug 
store  of  his  father,  and  for  several  3'ears  de- 
voted his  talents  to  that  business.  In  1845, 
with  Col.  Simon  Perkins,  he  became  interested 
in  the  woolen  mills  of  Akron ;  he  continued  in 
the  manufacture  of  woolen  goods  for  a  period 
of  ten  years,  and,  in  1856,  converted  it  into  a 
flouring-mill ;  he  at  this  time  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Jacob  and  Jesse  Allen,  which  lasted 
until  I860.  In  company  with  Albert  Allen,  in 
1867,  he  purchased  the  old  stone  mills,  which 
have  since  been  known  as  the  Commins  &  Allen 
Mills,  on  account  of  the  large  and  important 
additions    made   to   the  original  structure  by 


^ 


\ 


094 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


them.  During  the  period  of  copartnership  of 
Mr.  Corainins  with  Mr.  Albert  Allen,  mutual 
friendshii)  and  confidence  became  so  strong  that 
Mr.  Commins  so  fashioned  his  will  that  his  es 
teemed  partner  was  given  entire  control  of  his 
large  business  and  estate  until  the  heirs  should 
reach  their  majority,  and,  in  case  of  the  death 
of  their  mother,  he  should  become  the  guar- 
dian of  his  children  and  executor  of  his  will, 
and  all  without  bonds  {dr  hoiu's  noit).  This 
partnership  continued  with  the  most  cordial  re- 
lations, until  his  death,  Aug.  17,  1880.  Mr. 
Commins  was  raised  in  the  l^resbyterian 
Church,  but  later  in  life  gave  his  support  to  the 
Episcopal  Church.  He  inherited  man}'  of 
the  admirable  traits  of  his  father,  having  ex- 
cellent business  capacity  ;  an  extensive  reader, 
he  was  well  informed  on  all  current  topics. 
He,  like  his  father,  was  a  stanch  Democrat,  and 
although  he  never  sought  office,  had  those  qual- 
ities which  stamped  him  as  a  leader  of  his 
party  in  this  county  and  district,  hence  he  was 
nominated  for  many  positions  of  honor  and 
trust.  Oct.  8,  1860,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Addie  H.  Starks,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  of 
this  marriage  nine  children  were  born,  seven  of 
whom  are  yet  living  Mr.  Commins  was  a  pub- 
lic-spirited citizen,  whose  loss  was  deeply  felt. 
GEORGE  W.  CROrSE,  manufacturer, 
Akron.  George  W.  Crouse,  manufacturer  of 
reapers  and  mowers,  at  Akron,  Summit  Co., 
Ohio,  was  born  November  23,  1832,  at  Tall- 
madge,  same  county.  He  is  the  son  of  George 
Crouse,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Margaret 
H.  (Robinson)  Crouse,  of  Irish  descent.  His 
boyhood  was  passed  on  a  farm,  during  which 
period  he  acquired  such  knowledge  of  the  En- 
glish branches  as,  at  the  age  of  17,  enabled  him 
to  teach  school  in  a  creditable  manner,  which 
occupation  he  engaged  in  for  a  period  of  five 
years.  Ambition,  which  country  school-teach- 
ing and  farming  could  not  satisfy,  having  en- 
tered "  the  chamber  of  the  gifted  boy,"  he  com- 
menced looking  about  him  for  more  congenial 
employment,  and  so  it  happened  that,  in  1855, 
he  came  to  Akron  with  no  other  capital  than 
energy,  integrity,  common  sense  and  detei'mi- 
nation  to  aid  him  in  securing  such  a  position  as 
he  desired.  Arriving  here,  he  very  soon  found 
employment  under  the  County  Auditor  and 
Treasurer,  as  accountant  and  penman,  in  both 
of  which  he  excelled.  He  held  these  positions 
for  three  jears,  during  which  time  he  became 


so  familiar  with  the  work  of  each,  and  had  also 
extended  his  acquaintance  so  favorably,  that, 
in  the  fall  of  1 858,  he  was  elected  County  Aud- 
itor, being  only  25  years  of  age,  and,  at  that 
time,  the  youngest  officer  ever  elected  in  the 
county.  He  held  this  office  during  the  follow- 
ing two  3'ears,  and  was  tluni  re-elected,  but.  be- 
fore the  expiration  of  his  second  term,  a  vacan- 
cy occurred  in  the  office  of  County  Treasurer, 
which  the  County  Commissioners  appointed 
him  to  fill.  This  led  to  the  resignation  of  his 
office  as  Auditor.  His  conduct  in  these  offices 
had  become  so  favorably  known  throughout  the 
county  that  he  was  solicited  to  accept  a  respon- 
sible agency  for  the  Atlantic  &  Great  Western 
Railroad  Co.,  the  road  having  been  completed 
as  far  as  Akron.  The  agency  being  local,  he 
accepted,  and  conducted  both  the  business  of 
his  county  office  and  that  of  his  new  engage- 
ment with  great  care  and  efficienc}'.  About 
the  20th  of  August,  1863,  he  connected  him- 
self with  the  firm  of  C.  Aultman  &  Co.,  being 
financial  manager  of  their  branch  concern  at 
Akron.  In  co-operation  with  J.  R.  Buchtel, 
he  superintended  the  erection  of  the  new  build- 
ings of  the  same,  at  the  same  time  attending 
wholly  to  the  financial  managementof  the  branch 
house.  In  the  summer  of  1865,  it  was  re-or- 
ganized as  a  stock  company,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.,  of  which,  as  a 
stockholder,  Mr.  Crouse  was  elected  Secretary 
and  Treasurer,  his  duties  being  to  manage  the 
finances  and  dispose  of  the  goods.  The  first 
year  of  its  existence,  the  company  manufact- 
ured 2,900  machines.  Under  the  able  manage- 
ment of  its  executive  officers,  the  business  so 
rapidly  increased  that,  in  1880,  the  machines 
manufactured  were  12,000,  the  gross  sales 
amounting  to  $1,800,000.  The  capital  invested 
is  $1,000,000.  the  business  giving  employment 
to  over  400  men.  Decidedly  successful,  this 
company  has  returned  a  dividend  each  year  to 
its  stockholders.  Mr.  Crouse  has  done  his  full 
share  in  achieving  a  well-merited  success  for 
the  "  Buckeye  Mower  and  Reaper."  His  qual- 
ities of  industry  and  rare  ability  have  caused 
him  to  be  much  sought  by  his  townsmen  for 
local  offices.  A  member  of  the  City  Council, 
he  has  served  as  its  President ;  mem!)er  and 
President  of  the  Board  of  Education,  he  has 
been  three  years  a  Count}'  Commissioner,  and 
Chairman  of  the  County  Central  Republican 
Committee.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Protestant 


<3 


CITT    OF    AKRON. 


695 


Episcopal  Church,  and,  for  some  years,  has 
been  a  Vestryman  of  the  same.  In  addition  to 
the  business  in  which  he  is  principally  en- 
gaged, he  has  encouraged  and  aided  other  busi- 
ness enterprises  in  Akron,  among  which  were 
the  Whitman  &  Barnes  Manufacturing  Co.,  the 
Akron  Rubber  Works,  doing  business  as  B.  F. 
Goodrich  &  Co.,  a  joint  stock  company  in 
which  he  is  a  Director  ;  the  Akron  Manilla 
Paper  Co.,  doing  business  as  Thomas  Phillips 
&  Co.,  a  copartnership  in  which  he  is  a  one- 
third  owner.  In  1870,  he  assisted  to  organize 
the  Bank  of  Akron,  in  which  he  is  a  stock- 
holder, and  of  which  he  is  President.  In  poli- 
tics, he  is  a  Republican,  carrying  the  same  ear- 
nestness into  the  partisanship  of  his  political 
convictions  that  characterizes  him  elsewhere. 
He  married  Miss  Martha  K.  Parsons,  of  Port- 
age County,  on  Oct.  18,  1859,  of  which  union 
there  are  five  children,  four  daughters  and  one 
son,  viz.,  Martha  P.,  Julia  M.,  Mary  R.,  Nellie 
J.  and  George  W.,  Jr. 

ARTHUR  L.  CONGER,  manufacturer,  Ak- 
ron, was  born  to  John  and  Hannah  (Beales) 
Conger  Feb.  19,  1838,  in  Boston,  this  county, 
Ohio.  He  spent  his  early  days  working  on  his 
father's  farm  and  in  his  brick-yard,  until  he 
was  20  years  old,  when  he  spent  two  summers 
boating  on  the  Ohio  Canal,  attending  school  in 
winter,  b^'  his  own  efforts  gaining  such  knowl- 
edge of  the  English  branches  as  enabled  him 
to  teach,  which  vocation  he  followed  from  1860 
to  July,  1802,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  115th  0. 
V.  I.  as  a  private  soldier,  having  recruited  a 
large  number  of  men  before  entering  the  serv- 
ice. Of  this  company  he  was  successively 
made  1st  Lieutenant  and  Captain,  serving  with 
it  nearly  three  years  in  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland under  Gen.  Thomas,  being  mustered 
out  in  Jul}^  1864,  having  been  for  much  of  the 
time  on  detached  duty.  Assigned  to  the  staff 
of  Gen.  Ammon,  as  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant 
General,  at  Covington,  Ky.;  there  he  acted  al- 
so as  Provost  ^larshal,  and  served  as  a  member 
of  the  court  martial  under  Judge  Advocate  R. 
M.  Corwin,  serving  on  this  court  100  days, 
during  which  time  a  large  number  of  impor- 
tant cases  were  disposed  of  B}'  Mr.  Corwin's 
special  request,  he  then  became  a  member  of 
a  new  court  martial  subsequentl3'  organized, 
but  his  regiment  being  ordered  to  the  front,  he 
went  with  it,  and  was  detailed  in  the  Engineer 
Corps  as  an  Assistant  Inspector  of   railroad 


defenses  in  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland. 
His  experience  in  this  branch  becoming  known 
to  Gen.  Thomas,  that  officer  recommended  his 
appointment  as  a  Captain  and  Commissary  of 
Subsistence,  with  the  view  of  having  him  is.sue 
rations  by  special  train  to  the  garrisons  of  tiie 
block-houses  and  railroad  defences  throughout 
the  Department  of  the  Cumbei'land,  in  addition 
to  his  duties  as  Inspector,  but  the  war  came  to 
a  close  before  this  appointment  could  be  made, 
and  Mr.  Conger  returned  to  Boston,  and  for  a 
year  after  worked  on  a  farm,  when,  in  1866.  he 
was  elected  Treasurer  of  his  native  county, 
serving  one  term,  when  he  was  re-elected  and 
served  the  second  term,  in  all  four  years.  His 
wife,  formerly  Miss  Emily  V.  Bronson,  of  Pe- 
ninsula (second  daughter  of  H.  V.  Bronson, 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Boston  Township,  of 
whom  see  sketch),  whom  he  married  Nov.  1, 
1864,  proved  herself  truly  worthy  by  assist- 
ing him  at  that  time,  doing  whatever  of  writ- 
ing he  could  place  in  her  hands,  which  saved 
for  him  no  small  amount  of  the  salary  which 
otherwise  had  been  placed  in  the  pocketbook 
of  a  deputy.  It  cannot  be  estimated  how 
much  of  men's  success,  financially  and  other- 
wise, is  due  to  their  wives'  helpful,  loving 
hearts  and  hands.  In  1867,  Mr.  Conger  moved 
to  Akron,  and,  in  1870,  he  became  a  stock- 
holder and  director  in  the  Whitman  &  Miles 
Manufacturing  Co.,  and  at  the  close  of  his 
official  duties  as  Treasurer  of  Summit  Co..  he 
became  the  traveling  salesman  for  this  com- 
pany, and  much  of  its  western  business  was 
built  up  by  his  sagacity  and  personal  efforts. 
The  business  of  the  company  was  manufactur- 
ing mower  and  reaper  knives,  sickles,  sections, 
etc.  In  1876,  he  was  made  Vice  President  of 
this  company.  In  1877,  the  Whitman  &  Miles 
Manufacturing  Co.  was  consolidated  with 
George  Barnes  &  Co.,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  under 
the  name  of  The  Whitman  &  Barnes  Manufact- 
uring Co.,  with  works  at  Akron,  Ohio,  and  Syra- 
cuse, N.  Y.  Of  this  new  compan}'  he  was  made 
Vice  President,  with  increased  responsibilities. 
Later  the  corapan}-  established  works  at  Can- 
ton, Ohio,  and  St.  Catharines,  Ontario,  and  Mr. 
Conger  was  given  the  management  of  the 
western  business.  The  new  company  make  a 
specialty  of  manufacturing  mower  and  reaper 
knives,  sickles,  sections,  guard-plates,  spring 
keys  and  cutlery,  and  complete  cutting  appa- 
ratus for  mowers  and  reapers.     It  is  the  larg- 


^1 


696 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


est  establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  United 
States  or  in  the  world,  employing  in  all  over 
five  hundred  men,  and  its  business  aggre- 
gating over  $1,000,000.  In  1879,  Mr.  Conger, 
in  company  with  G.  W.  Grouse,  Col.  George 
T.  Perkins  and  John  McGregor  re-organized 
the  old  Akron  Steam  Forge  Company.  Of 
this  new  organization,  Mr.  Conger  was  elected 
President.  The  company  have  done  a  prosper- 
ous business  in  the  manufacture  of  car-axles 
and  heavy  bridge  works,  with  an  annual  prod- 
uct of  $150,000.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education  of  Akron,  and  Secre- 
tary of  the  same.  Has  served  several  j-ears  as 
Treasurer  of  Portage  Township  and  the  city  of 
Akron.  He  is  a  prominent  Republican,  and 
an  active  and  sagacious  worker  in  its  organi- 
zation. Has  been  for  man}'  years  a  member 
of  the  Republican  Count}^  Central  and  State 
Committees,  and,  in  1880,  served  as  Chairman 
of  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee. 
He  is  a  member  and  vestr3'man  of  St.  Paul's 
Episcopal  Church,  Akron.  He  has  four  chil- 
dren, viz.;  Kenyon  Bronson,  Erastus  Irving 
(deceased),  Arthur  Whitman  and  Latham  Hub- 
bard. 

WILSON  M.  DAY,  associate  editor  of  the 
Daily  Beacon,  Akron,  is  of  New  England  par- 
entage. His  father,  Rev.  William  F.  Da^',  D.  D., 
now  of  Titusville.  Penn.,  was  born  in  West 
Springfield,  Mass.,  Nov.  11, 1821,  and  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Ann  Delia  Grover,  was 
born  in  Tolland,  Conn.,  March  19,  1822.  Both 
came  to  the  West  early  in  life.  Mr.  Day,  their 
second  son,  was  born  in  Clarion,  Clarion  Co., 
Penn.,  Nov.  5,  1850.  Following  the  fortunes  of  a 
Methodist  minister's  famil}',  he  lived  success- 
ively in  Clarion,  Penn.,  in  1850 ;  Franklin, 
Penn.,  in  1851-52;  Northeast,  Penn.,  in  1853-5-1; 
Akron,  Ohio,  in  1855-56  ;  Poland,  Ohio,  in 
1857-58;  Cleveland, Ohio, in  1859-60;  Ravenna, 
Ohio,  in  1861-62;  Meadville.  Penn.,  in  1803- 
65;  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  in  1866-67;  removing 
to  Akron  for  the  second  time  in  August,  1868. 
Completing  his  preparatory-  studies  in  the 
Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  Union  School  and  Collegiate 
Institute,  from  which  he  graduated  June  17, 
1868,  he  entered  the  Sophomore  Class  of  Ohio 
Wesleyan  Univei'sit}',  Delaware,  Ohio,  in  the 
fall  of  1868,  graduating  from  the  classical 
course  June  29,  1871,  one  of  a  class  of  46  mem- 
bers. In  1874,  he  received  from  his  Alma 
Mater  the  degree  of  M.  A.,  in  cursu.     He  ac- 


cepted the  position  of  city  editor  of  the  Akron 
Daily  Beacon,  under  Mr.  S.  A.  Lane,  in  August, 
1871,  and  upon  the  accession  of  Mr.  T.  C.  Rej'- 
nolds  to  the  editorship,  in  December  of  that 
year,  became  associate  editor,  which  position  he 
has  suice  held,  with  the  exception  of  an  interval 
of  about  six  months — from  November,  1874, 
to  Ma}',  1875 — when  he  served  as  night  editor 
of  the  Cleveland  Leader.  In  March,  1876,  he 
sailed  for  Europe,  spending  six  months  abroad, 
and  visiting  England,  Scotland,  Ireland,  Hol- 
land, Belgium,  France,  Ital}',  Bavaria,  German^' 
and  Switzerland.  He  was  married,  May  15, 
1878,  to  Mattie  A.,  eldest  daughter  of  Judge  N. 
D.  Ti))bals,  and  has  had  two  children,  one  of 
whom  died  June  7,  1880. 

WILLIAM  F.  DRESSLER,  grocer,  Akron, 
eldest  son  and  second  child  of  Reuben  and 
Matilda  Dressier,  was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio, 
May  4,  1841,  and  lived  on  a  farm  until  he  was 
25,  when  he  came  to  Akron.  His  father  and 
mother  were  of  German  descent,  and  natives  of 
Berks  Co.,  Penn.;  they  both  came  to  Ohio  when 
young  and  were  married  in  Wayne  Co.  His 
father  still  lives  in  Wadsworth  ;  he  was  a  plas- 
terer, and  our  subject  learned  the  trade  of  him 
when  a  boy  and  engaged  at  it  at  Akron  until 
1 877,  controlling  from  fifteen  to  thirt}'  hands  and 
executing  plain  and  ornamental  work  on  the 
principal  buildings  of  Akron.  October,  1877, 
he  opened  a  grocery  and  provision  store  at  624 
East  Mill  street,  which  since  he  has  conducted 
with  good  success.  March  9,  1871,  he  married 
Miss  Sue  F.  Zwisler,  of  Canfield,  Mahoning 
Co.,  Ohio.  They  have  one  child.  His  sisters 
and  brothers  are  :  Miss  Flora,  of  Akron  ;  Sam- 
uel, of  Akron  ;  Mary  M.,  wife  of  J.  H.  Arm- 
strong, Wayne  Co.,  Ohio  ;  Miss  Laura,  of  Akron, 
and  Miss  Adelia,  a  student  at  Oberlin. 

REV.  JACOB  DAHLMAN,  minister,  Ak- 
ron ;  was  born  at  Barmen,  Rhenish-Prussia, 
to  John  Jacob  W.  and  Helena  (Hahn)  Dahl- 
man,  on  the  11th  day  of  April,  1831.  He  was 
baptized  on  the  27th,  and  confirmed  at  the 
adjoining  town  of  Elberfeld  April  7,  1846,  by 
the  Rev.  F.  W.  Krummacher,  D.  D.,  afterward 
court  preacher  of  William  IV.  After  his  con- 
firmation he  entered  as  apprentice  in  a  count- 
ing-house at  Elberfeld,  where  he  remained  two 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1848.  with  the  family 
of  his  father,  he  sailed  for  the  United  States, 
and  landed  at  New  York  City  in  June.  They 
journeyed  westward  to  Wooster,  Ohio,  where 


IV. 


^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


697 


our  subject,  not  being  able  to  speak  English, 
found  employment  in  a  tannery,  and  served  a 
thorough  apprenticeship  at  the  tanner  and  cur- 
rier's trade  for  three  years  with  one  Harvey 
Robinson.  He  then  worked  at  his  trade  as 
journe3'man  throughout  the  cities  of  Ohio, 
Pennsylvania,  New  York  and  Michigan,  and 
while  soj  aiming  at  Detroit  in  1854,  from  his 
convictions  of  dut}'  for  some  time  impressed 
upon  his  mind,  he  determined  to  study  for  the 
ministr3^  From  this  time  he  so  shaped  his 
affairs  that  in  September,  1855,  he  entered 
Franklin  and  Marshall  College  at  Lancaster, 
Penn.,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1860.  He 
then  entered  for  two  3'ears  the  theological  sem- 
inary at  Mercersburg,  Penn.,  graduating  in 
1862.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Philadel- 
phia Classis  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  was 
by  it  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  ministry 
June  15,  1862,  and  simultaneously  began  his 
ministerial  labors  in  the  organization  of  a  Ger- 
man congregation  in  West  Philadelphia,  which 
was  effected  in  1862,  and  was  known  as  the 
(lerman  Evangelical  Reformed  Emanuel's 
Church.  On  Sept.  23,  1862,  he  married  Miss 
Catherine  M.  Kopp,  of  Lancaster,  Penn.  His 
first  pastorate  extended  over  a  period  of  over 
eighteen  years,  during  which  he  built  a  large 
church  and  commodious  i^arsonage,  and  raised 
the  membership  to  245  communicants.  But 
Mr.  Dahlman's  labors  were  not  confined  to 
simpl}'  his  own  congregation.  He  was  Stated 
Clerk  of  the  Philadelphia  Classis  from  1863  to 
1873,  and  while  in  that  body  labored,  and  also 
in  the  General  Synod  of  which  he  was  Assistant 
Clerk,  for  the  interests  of  the  German  portion 
of  the  church,  and  to  his  efforts  are  largely  due 
the  organization  of  the  German  Classis,  which 
leaves  that  element  in  the  Church  unfettered  to 
advance  the  interests  of  their  people  without 
the  restraint  of  geographical  limits.  He  also 
labored  for  the  organization  of  the  German 
Synod,  of  which  he  is  Stated  Clerk.  Mr.  Dahl- 
man  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
from  Ursinus  College,  of  Collegeville,  Penn.,  in 
1880.  In  November,  1880,  Dr.  Dahlman  re- 
ceived a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Ger- 
man Reformed  Church  of  Akron,  and  severing 
the  valued  and  cordial  relations  with  his  first 
charge,  he  assumed  the  new  duties  in  1880. 

R.  N.  DOWNEY,  proprietor  Cascade  House, 
Akron  ;  was  born  in  Yates  Count}-,  N.  Y.,  Aug. 
1,  1831,  where  he  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm,  re- 


ceiving common  school  advantages.  He  en- 
tered a  hotel  when  21  at  Watkins,  N.  Y.,  serv- 
ing as  clerk  some  four  years.  In  1858,  he  re- 
moved to  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  and  clerked  in  a  hotel 
until  1862,  when  he  went  to  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.,  re- 
maining two  years  in  a  like  position.  July  13, 
1864,  he  came  to  Akron  and  clerked  for  Brown 
&  Folger,  in  the  Empire  House,  until  April  1, 
1866,  when  he  bought  the  entire  stock  and  fur- 
niture and  leased  the  building,  conducting  the 
house  with  fair  success  until  1876,  a  year  later 
leasing  the  Cascade  House,  which  hotel  he  still 
conducts.  The  house  is  convenient  to  the 
depot,  and  has  thirty-six  light,  airy,  comforta- 
ble rooms  for  guests,  and  the  proprietor  fur- 
nishes his  table  with  the  substantial  and  luxu- 
ries of  the  season.  He  was  married  July  4, 
1864,  to  Julia  A.  Kitchen,  of  Wayne  County, 
N.  Y.     They  have  one  daughter. 

WILLIAM  A.  DURAND,  Chief  Clerk  and 
Cashier  N.  Y.,  P.  &.  0.  R.  R.,  Akron  Depot,  is  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  born  in  Provi- 
dence Township,  Luzerne  Co.,  of  that  State, 
April  30,  1848,  and  is  the  second  of  five  chil- 
dren born  to  Silas  and  Phoebe  (Drake)  Durand, 
a  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  William  lived  at  home  until  he  was 
26  years  of  age.  At  the  age  of  16  he  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  brass  molder  and  served  about 
three  years  ;  he  then  came  to  Akron  and  took 
the  position  of  laborer  in  the  freight  house  of 
the  N.  Y.,  P.  &.  0.  R.  R.,  and  has  been  in  the 
employ  of  the  company  ever  since,  save  about 
eighteen  months.  By  strict  attention  to  busi- 
ness, he  has  been  advanced  through  the  differ- 
ent positions  up  the  important  one  he  now 
holds.  During  some  ten  years  of  his  time  with 
this  company,  he  had  charge  of  the  ticket  de- 
partment of  the  road  at  this  station.  In  No- 
vember, 1877,  he  accepted  the  position  of  book- 
keeper for  Barber  &  Gi'ant,  grain  dealers,  but 
returned  to  the  emplo}'  of  the  railroad  in  the 
spring  of  1879.  He  has  held  his  present  posi- 
tion upward  of  eleven  years,  save  the  time 
stated.  Feb.  25,  1874,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  Berg,  a  native  of  Akron,  and  daughter  of 
Anton  and  Augusta  (Capella)  Berg.  By  this 
marriage  there  are  two  children — Lottie  A.  and 
Edward  J. 

DtEHL  &  CASKEY,  house  furnishing,  dec- 
oration and  floor  covering,  Akron.  This  firm  was 
established  in  1875  by  Diehl  &  Oviatt.  In  1878, 
the  business  was  moved  to  Nos.  219  and  221  East 


(^ 


698 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Market  street,  where  the  business  occcupies 
the  entire  three  floors,  90x40  feet.  In  1880, 
the  present  partnership  succeeded  the  old  firm, 
Mr.  Caskey  bu^'ing  the  interest  of  Mr.  Oviatt. 
This  is  the  only  house  in  the  city  dealing  ex- 
clusively in  this  line  of  goods.  W.  H.  Diehl  of 
this  firm  is  a  native  of  Summit  County,  being 
born  in  Manchester  July  5,  1843.  His  father, 
Daniel  Diehl,  came  here  from  York  County, 
Penn.,  and  settled  in  Franklin  Township,  this 
county,  in  1827  ;  he  married  Miss  Hannah  Har- 
ter.  W.  H.  Diehl  was  the  second  of  four  chil- 
dren born  of  this  marriage.  His  younger  days 
were  spent  in  Manchester,  but  at  the  age  of 
11  years  his  parents  moved  on  a  farm,  where 
he  remained  until  1861.  In  August  of  this 
year  he  enlisted  in  the  2d  0.  V.  C,  and  served 
three  j'ears,  taking  part  in  the  engagements 
and  raids  led  by  Gen.  Sanders  to  Knoxville  ; 
at  Bull's  Gap.  Richmond,  Ky.,  where  he  was 
slightly  wounded,  but  remained  with  his  com- 
pany ;  at  Lebanon,  Ky.,  HuflT's  Ferry,  Tenn., 
Campbell's  Station,  at  the  siege  of  Knoxville, 
and  in  the  march  to  Atlanta.  In  September, 
1864,  he  returned  home  and  attended  school  at 
Akron.  In  the  following  spring,  he  entered  a 
dry  goods  store  of  Akron  as  clerk,  where  he 
was  engaged  for  eight  years.  In  1871,  he  en- 
gaged with  Oliver  Baker  as  clerk  in  the  carpet 
business,  and  some  four  years  later,  opened  up 
a  business  of  his  own.  Mr.  Diehl,  on  Sept.  26, 
1867,  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Sisler,  a  daughter 
of  Dr.  William  Sisler,  of  Akron.  This  marriage 
has  been  blessed  with  three  children — John, 
Jennie  and  Fred. 

SILAS  DURAND,  General  Station  Agent 
New  York,  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Railroad, 
Akron ;  was  born  in  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y., 
March  7,  1822,  and  is  the  third  child  of  a  fam- 
ily of  five  children  born  to  Samuel  and  Phoebe 
(Earner)  Durand  ;  his  father  was  a  farmer,  and 
Silas  assisted  on  the  farm,  gaining  his  rudiment- 
ary education  at  the  district  schools  until  the 
age  of  19  ;  at  this  time,  he  began  attending  an 
academy,  and,  after  studying  a  3'ear,  he  began 
teaching,  following  this  occupation  for  a  number 
of  years  in  York  State  and  Pennsylvania,  in 
Providence  and  Scranton.  In  1848,  he  engaged 
with  a  mercantile  establishment  in  Dunmore, 
near  Scranton,  as  book-keeper,  where  he  re- 
remained  until  1850.  Moving  then  to  Monroe- 
ville,  Ohio,  he  engaged  with  the  firm  of  D. 
Squires  &  Co.,  merchants  of  that  place,  and 


continued  with  them  for  about  two  years,  when 
the  business  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  the  fix'ra 
dissolving  by  mutual  consent,  the  business  was 
not  revived.  Mr.  Durand  then  went  to  Crest- 
line and  took  charge  of  the  books  of  a  ware- 
house and  lumbering  establishment,  continuing 
here  some  four  or  five  years,  during  which 
time  he  served  one  term  as  Mayor  of  the  vil- 
lage. From  this  point  he  went  to  Delaware, 
and  became  Auditor  and  Treasurer  of  the 
S.,  Mt.  V.  &  P.  Railway,  holding  the  position 
until  the  sale  of  the  road  some  three  years 
later  ;  he  then  moved  to  Gallon,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  appointed  Ticket  Agent  of  the  C,  C,  C.  & 
I.  Railway  ;  subsequently  he  engaged  with  the 
A.  &  G.  W.  R.  R.  Co.,  and  was  assigned  to  the 
office  at  Urbana,  which  he  opened  ;  being  versed 
in  the  business  and  the  first  agent  here,  he 
instructed  the  agents  along  the  line  toward 
Gallon;  November,  1 864,  he  was  sent  by  H. 
F.  Sweetzer,  General  Superintendent,  as  agent  at 
Akron,  Ohio  ;  in  the  following  spring,  he  moved 
his  family  to  Akron,  and  has  since  been  a  resi- 
dent of  the  city.  While  teaching  at  Providence, 
Penn.,  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Drake,  a  native 
of  that  city  ;  five  children  have  blessed  this 
union — Mary  H.,  now  Mrs.  Parrott,  of  Bryan. 
Ohio  ;  William  A.;  Norman  N.;  Frank  S.,  bag- 
gage master  and  car  clerk  at  Akron  ;  and  Eu- 
gene, deceased  November,  1864,  at  Gallon. 
Mr.  Durand  is  an  old  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  dating  his  connection  with  the  church 
some  thirty-eight  years  back.  In  politics,  he 
affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party,  but  is 
more  infiuenced  by  the  fitness  of  the  candi- 
date than  by  his  party  connections. 

JOHN  H.  DIX,  Superintendent  of  W.  B. 
Doyle  &  Co.,  Akron  ;  was  born  in  Portage  Co., 
Ohio,  Oct.  25,  182:^,  and  is  the  eighth  of  ten 
children  of  John  and  Polly  (Bigelow)  Dix,  who 
were  natives  of  Vermont  and  came  to  Portage 
Co.  in  1813  ;  he  was  a  stone-cutter  b^'  trade, 
and  also  followed  farming  ;  he  cleared  up  a  farm 
in  Portage  Co.,  on  which  he  died  July  4,  1839. 
Mrs.  Dix  is  still  living  in  the  vicinity  of  the  old 
homestead  at  the  advanced  age  of  91  years.  The 
subject  lived  at  home  until  1846  ;  in  the  fall  of 
that  year,  he  married  Miss  Rosette  Durham, 
who  died  in  1857  ;  they  had  three  children,  two 
of  whom  are  living — Ella  R.  and  Edwin  H. 
Mr.  Dix  came  to  Akron  in  1847,  and  worked  as 
a  carpenter  until  1852;  in  company  with  Na- 
thaniel Finch  the  firm  of  J.  H.  Dix  &  Co.  was 


^ 


,> 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


G99 


formed  and  leased  a  water-power  near  the 
^■^]tna  Mill,  and  fitted  up  a  planing-mill  and 
flouring-mill — the  first  in  the  eit}' — and  con- 
tinued until  1856,  when  the  mill  was  burned  ; 
after  burning  out,  the  firm  erected  the  brick 
mill  now  occupied  b}^  W.  B.  Doyle  &  Co.;  in 
1857,  the  firm  of  J.  H.  Dix  &  Co.  sold  out,  and 
Mr.  Dix  worked  as  foreman  seven  years  in  the 
same  mill  with  different  firms  ;  he  in  Septem- 
ber, 18G5,  became  a  partner  in  W.  B.  Doyle  & 
Co.,  which  has  since  continued.  April  10,  18G3, 
he  was  married  a  second  time  to  Miss  Celia 
Stowell,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  who  came  to 
Summit  Co.  with  her  parents  about  the  year 
1853  ;  three  children  are  the  result  of  this  mar- 
riage, viz.,  Harry  N.  G.,  Marian  J.  B.  and  Ber- 
tie C.  W.  Mr.  D.  has  aflSliated  with  three 
political  parties — was  raised  a  Democrat,  then 
was  a  Eepublican,  and  of  late  years  has  been  a 
Green  backer. 

W.  B.  DOYLE,  of  the  firm  of  W.  B.  Doyle 
&  Co.,  lumber  dealers  and  manufacturers, 
Akron,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn., 
March  5,  1825,  and  is  the  youngest  of  three 
children  born  to  Thomas  J.  S.  and  Ann  (Ta}-- 
lor)  Doyle.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Carlisle, 
Cumberland  Co.,  Penn.  His  father,  Thomas 
J.  S.,  was  a  native  of  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  and 
was  the  son  of  Barnabas,  the  son  of  Felix 
Doyle,  who  came  from  Ireland  to  this  country, 
and,  as  near  as  can  be  learned,  first  settled  in 
Eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  afterward  joined  a 
party  of  pioneers  who  attempted  to  make  a  set- 
tlement at  Burnt  Cabins,  in  Southwestern  Penn- 
sylvania, which  was  then  Indian  territor}'.  These 
settlers  were  driven  out  by  the  soldiers  under 
orders  of  the  Governor,  and  their  cabins  burned. 
This  was  before  the  French  and  Indian  wars. 
Afterward  he  purchased  1,000  acres  of  land  in 
Franklin  Co.,  then  a  wilderness,  and  settled 
there,  where  four  generations  have  since  lived. 
Thomas  J.  S.  Do^ie  was  raised  a  farmer  ;  during 
the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile business  at  Concord,  in  his  native  county. 
W.  B.  Doyle  was  also  raised  on  the  farm,  and 
received  a  limited  common-school  education. 
At  the  age  of  13,  he  went  to  Shippensburg, 
Penn.,  where  he  apprenticed  to  the  cabinet  trade, 
and  served  for  three  3'ears  ;  he  then  returned 
home,  and  soon  after  visited  his  brother,  a  man- 
ufacturer of  fanning-mills  at  Williamsport,  Md. 
While  here,  he  determined  to  go  to  Tiffin,  Ohio, 
taking  a  boat  on  the  canal,  which  met  with  an 


'accident  at  Johnstown,  I'enn.,  and  he  walked 
from  there  to  Pittsburgh  (ninet}'  miles),  where 
he  worked  a  few  months  and  then  resumed  his 
journej',  stopping  at  Akron,  where  he  got  a  job 
at  his  trade,  and  concluded  not  to  go  to  Tiffin. 
He  worked  at  his  trade,  and  in  the  fall  bought 
the  business  of  his  employers.  Being  short  of 
funds,  he  fell  back  with  the  rent,  and  in  the 
spring  he  made  a  trip  to  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  made  some  collections,  and  returned  and 
paid  his  rent,  continuing  in  the  business  several 
3ears,  when  he  sold  out  and  engaged  in  the 
meat  business,  which  he  followed  for  fifteen 
years.  He  then  occupied  a  farm  near  Akron 
he  had  previously  bought,  and  lived  on  same 
for  four  years,  when  he  sold  the  place  and  stock 
for  $16,000.  Going  back  to  his  old  home  in 
Pennsylvania,  he  decided  to  go  to  Tennessee, 
but  having  some  business  in  Akron,  he  visited 
the  city,  and  while  there  bought  the  lumber 
manufacturing  business  of  S.  G.  Wilson,  the 
consideration  being  $35,000,  and  associated  J. 
H.  Dix  and  Daniel  Farnam  with  himself,  staling 
the  firm  W.  B.  Doyle  &  Co.;  they  have  contin- 
ued to  the  present.  Mr.  Doyle  has  been  four 
times  married  ;  first  in  1845  to  Miss  Phebe 
Budd,  a  native  of  Ithaca,  N.  Y.;  she  died  about 
the  year  1 850.  The  second  wife  was  Miss  Har- 
riet Sage,  a  native  of  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.;  she 
died  in  1862  ;  of  their  tAvo  childreii  one  is  liv- 
ing. The  third  wife  was  Miss  Mary  Ann  Lantz, 
a  native  of  Akron,  Ohio  ;  she  died  in  her  native 
city ;  they  had  three  children,  viz.  :  Willie, 
Delia  and  Dean,  all  at  home.  His  present  wife 
was  Mrs.  Louisa  Baird,  a  native  of  Springfield 
Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  They  have  one 
child,  viz.,  Anna. 

WILLIAM  EMMITT,  retired,  Akron,  whose 
portrait  appears  in  this  history  as  a  representa- 
tive pioneer  of  Springfield  Township,  was  born 
Sept.  20,  1805.  His  people  are  of  Scotch  ori- 
gin, though  his  grandfather  was  a  native  of 
Ireland.  He  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Penn.  During  the  war  of  1812,  when  the 
Indians  were  giving  the  settlers  in  Montour 
Co.  (whither  they  had  removed)  so  much 
trouble,  he  returned  to  liancaster  Co.  When 
the  Indian  troubles  had  subsided,  he  removed 
to  what  is  now  Columbia  Co.,  Penn.  There 
John  Emmitt,  the  father  of  William,  was  mar- 
ried to  Jane  Aikman,  whose  people  were  for- 
merly of  New  Jersey.    William  was  the  young- 


-^^ 


700 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


est  of  eight  children,  and  when  he  was  about  6 
months  old  his  father  died.  His  mother,  with  a 
large  family  of  small  children,  was  left  to  manage 
the  farm  and  bring  her  family  to  honorable 
manhood  and  womanhood.  William  attended 
school  until  he  was  12  years  old,  and  then  had 
no  more  opportunities  for  doing  so  until  he 
was  18,  except  a  few  weeks  in  his  17th  year. 
When  18,  he  spent  three  months  only  in 
school,  but  he  had  a  natural  aptitude  for  learn- 
ing, and  with  the  poor  opportunities  afforded 
him  he  succeeded  in  getting  a  good  education, 
and  in  becoming  a  good  civil  engineer,  a  busi- 
ness that  he  has  spent  more  or  less  time  at 
since  his  becoming  a  resident  of  Summit  Co. 
In  September,  1829,  he  married  Miss  Mary 
McBride,  an  old  schoolmate,  and,  in  the  follow- 
ing April,  they  began  a  twelve  days'  joui'ne}' 
westward  by  team,  which  brought  them  to 
their  new  home  in  Springfield  Township.  Two 
children  were  born  to  them — Franklin  and 
John,  both  of  whom  are  well-to-do  farmers  of 
Tallmadge  Township.  They  were  given  a  lib- 
eral start  b}^  their  father,  and  have  profited  by 
his  kindness.  Mr.  Emmitt  first  bought  125 
acres  of  land  upon  his  arrival  in  Springfield, 
and  though  he  has  bought,  sold  and  given 
awa}^  other  tracts  since  that  time,  he  still  owns 
his  original  purchase.  During  his  residence 
in  the  township  of  Springfield,  he  held  the 
different  offices  of  Township  Trustee,  Clerk 
and  Justice,  besides,  in  1870,  he  took  the  cen- 
sus of  several  townships  of  Summit  Co.  The 
1st  of  April,  1875,  he  bought  a  neat  little  home 
in  Akron,  whither  he  and  his  wife  removed. 
Mrs.  Emmitt,  however,  lived  but  a  short  time 
to  enjoy  the  rest  she  had  so  richly  earned.  On 
April  27,  the  same  month  of  their  arrival,  she 
died,  leaving  Mr.  Emmitt  but  little  hope  of 
happiness  in  the  new  home  that  had  been 
looked  forward  to  with  so  much  of  gladness. 
Mr.  Emmitt  is  a  member  of  the  Disciples' 
Church,  and  during  his  life  he  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest  in  the  building-up  of 
churches  and  schools  and  in  the  cause  of  tem- 
perance. 

G.  L.  W.  EDAM,  of  Edam  &  Johnston, 
manufacturers  of  white  lime,  etc.,  Akron,  is  a 
native  of  Baden,  Germany,  and  was  born  April 
21,  1849,  and  came  to  the  United  States  with 
his  parents  when  but  3  or  4  years  old.  They 
settled  in  Cleveland,  where  they  now  live.  In 
1869,  subject   went  to  Marblehead,  near  San- 


dusky, where  he  conducted  a  limestone  quarry 
for  five  3'ears ;  he  then  engaged  in  the  lime 
business  in  partnership  with  his  brother  J.  A. 
(firm  of  Edam  Bros.),  in  Cleveland,  and  in  1875 
he  came  to  Akron  and  built  the  present  manu- 
factor}'.  The}'  continued  business  here  and  in 
Cleveland  until  January,  1879,  when  subject 
became  the  sole  proprietor,  and  the  following 
January-  he  took  Mr.  C.  N.  Johnston  in  as  a 
partner,  and  the  firm  still  continues.  At  first 
the  business  was  nothing  more  than  a  lime 
manufactory,  and  has  since  added  commercial 
fertilizers,  employing  in  the  business  ten  men. 
He  was  married  May  5,  1874,  to  Miss  Mary 
Groh,  a  native  of  Cleveland.  They  had  three 
children,  two  living — Mary  Annie  and  George 
Adam  ;  Anna  Clara  is  dead. 

TIMOTHY  ERASMUS,  retired,  Akron,  is  a 
native  of  Northampton  Co.,  Penn.,  where  he 
was  born  Oct.  6,  1810.  His  father,  John  Eras- 
mus, was  a  tailor  b}'  trade,  though  he  taught 
school  a  considex'able  portion  of  the  time,  hav- 
ing qualified  himself  at  Bethlehem  College.  He 
died  in  Philadelphia  about  1817  ;  he  was  a 
native  of  Lehigh  Co.,  Penn.,  and  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  At  the  age  of  10 
years,  Timotly  was  put  to  work  on  a  farm  in 
his  native  county,  where  he  worked  until  he 
was  18  years  of  age,  when  he  was  apprenticed 
to  the  cabinet  trade,  serving  three  years  in  Beth- 
lehem. He  then  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he 
worked  several  years,  participating,  while  there, 
in  the  celebration  of  Washington's  birthda}'. 
From  here  he  went  to  Easton,  where  he  worked 
two  years  at  the  carpenter's  trade  ;  thence  to 
New  York  City,  and  in  1836,  he  went  to  Mas- 
sillon  by  wagon  with  a  friend.  Here  he  re- 
mained one  year,  working  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  when  he  went  to  Chiy  Co.,  Ind.,  and 
entered  some  land.  He  made  his  wa^-  west  on 
foot  and  returned  in  the  same  way  to  Massillon 
in  the  following  spring.  In  the  summer  of 
1839,  he  came  to  Akron,  where  he  has  lived 
since.  He  engaged  at  his  ti-ade  of  carpenter 
and  builder  until  the  past  ten  3'ears,  during 
which  he  has  lived  a  retired  life.  October  19, 
1841,  he  married  Miss  Clarissa  K.  Smith,  a 
native  of  Connecticut ;  she  came  West  with  her 
parents  when  young.  She  died  in  1850,  leav- 
ing three  children,  all  of  whom  have  since  died. 
January  3,  1854,  he  married  Mrs.  Anson,  for- 
merly- Mar}'  J.  Barriball,  a  native  of  Baltimore, 
and  came  west  with   her  people  when  young. 


«/ 

^ 


:1^ 


CITY   OF    AKRON. 


701 


In  1 880,  he  served  as  Real  Estate  Assessor  for 
the  First,  Second,  Third,  Fourth  and  Fifth 
Wards  of  Akron  City. 

JOHN  GEORGE  EBERHARD,  Eberliard 
Manufacturing  Co.,  Akron,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Baden,  Germany,  March  21, 1829,  where  he  went 
to  school  until  he  was  1-1  years  old,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  public  schools,  he  for  three  years  had 
instruction  in  mechanical  ai'ts.  He  also  worked 
in  his  father's  shop  (his  father  was  a  tool-maker), 
and  at  16  could  fashion  almost  any  edged  tool. 
At  19,  he  went  to  Berne,  Switzerland,  and 
worked  for  a  short  time  in  a  carriage-shop  ; 
also  worked  a  short  time  in  a  manufactory  of 
agricultural  implements,  when  he  returned 
home.  Soon  after,  he  was  drafted  into  the 
German  army,  when  he  left  without  pass,  and 
went  to  France  ;  sailing  from  Havre,  he  arrived 
in  New  York  Aug.  31,  1850.  From  there  he 
went  to  Newark,  N.  J.,  where  he  worked  for 
a  time  in  edge  tools,  carriage-shop,  and  at 
ship-building,  and  afterward  in  a  harness 
and  trimming  shop  and  forging  wrought-iron 
hames.  In  the  fall  of  1859,  he  came  to  Sharon, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  bought  a  farm, 
when  for  six  3'ears  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
in  the  manufacture  of  wooden  and  wrought-iron 
hames.  In  December,  1866,  he  came  to  Ak- 
ron, and  built  a  shop  for  the  manufacture  of 
hames  and  machinery.  Shop  was  in  Akron 
until  November,  1880,  when  he  moved  it  to 
Cleveland,  where  it  is  now  in  successful  opera- 
tion under  the  name  of  Eberhard  Manufactur- 
ing Co.  He  was  married  May  22,  1852,  to 
Miss  Louisa  Clauser,  of  Newai'k,  N.  J.  She 
was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  German}-,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  October,  1850. 
Three  sons  and  four  daughters  were  born  of 
this  marriage — George  F.,  Louisa,  John  J., 
Anna  C,  Fredei'ick,  Bertha  and  Katie.  Mr.  E., 
in  1875,  invented  the  ''hollow  hame,"  now 
largely  used.  He  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church,  in  which,  for  fourteen  years, 
he  has  been  an  Elder,  and  long  the  Superintend- 
ent of  the  Sundav  school. 

WILLIAM  EBERHARD,  Akron;  son  of 
George  F.  and  Mary  Catharine  (Miller)  Eber- 
hard ;  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  June  17, 
1837.  His  father  was  a  manufacturer  of  edged 
tools,  near  Millheim,  Baden,  and  with  him  our 
subject  worked  at  odd  times  from  his  10th  to 
his  16th  year.  When  10  years  old,  he  made  a 
pocket  knife.     When  16,  the  family  came  to  the 


United  States,  reaching  Akron  in  December, 
1852.  William  worked  for  Lorenzo  Chamber- 
lain, in  Copley  Township,  during  the  first  year, 
at  agricultural  implements,  and  on  the  farm. 
Afterward,  for  two  3'ears,  he  worked  with  his 
brother  at  Sharon  in  the  blacksmith-shop.  In 
1857,  he  went  to  Keokuk  Co.,  Iowa,  and  worked 
there  a  3'ear  in  his  brother's  shop  ;  thence  to 
Washington,  same  State,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  forging  department  of  the  engine  machine- 
shop,  working  his  wa}'  up  until  he  was  given  a 
partnership  in  the  business  for  his  services.  In 
the  summer  of  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  5th  Iowa 
V.  I.  He  passed  through  the  Missouri  cam- 
paigns with  Gens.  Fremont  and  Halleck ;  was 
at  New  Madrid,  and  Island  No.  10,  and  was  in 
the  battle  of  luka.  Miss.  September,  1862,  he 
was  wounded  by  a  musket  ball,  while  his  regi- 
ment was  making  a  desperate  attack  on  the 
rebel  ranks  of  Gen.  Price.  Only  twelve  men  of 
his  company  (F)  came  out  of  the  battle  alive. 
Twentv'  of  these  brave  men  were  buried  in  one 
grave,  and  twelve  were  badl}-  wounded.  The 
shot  fractured  the  bone,  one  and  a  half  inches 
below  his  left  shoulder,  and  fourteen  pieces  of 
bone  were  taken  out ;  the  ball  split  and  tore 
away  a  large  portion  of  the  muscles  of  the  up- 
per arm.  He  la}^  twenty -four  hours,  weak  from 
loss  of  blood,  on  the  field,  and  then  walked  some 
miles  to  luka.  By  constant  application  of  water 
he  saved  his  arm  from  amputation  ;  but  it  is 
still  badly  disabled.  While  at  Corinth,  Miss., 
in  the  camp  hospital,  weak  and  covered  with 
vermin,  from  which,  in  his  helplessness,  he  could 
not  protect  himself,  the  surgeons  decided  to 
amputate  his  arm  ;  but  a  woman,  named  Mrs. 
A.  M.  Penfield,  dressed  and  bound  it,  setting 
the  bone,  and  attended  him  for  a  week,  thus 
saving  it  for  him.  He  was  discharged  at  Keo- 
kuk, Iowa,  Feb.  27,  1863.  He  was  foreman  and 
partner  in  the  machine-shops  at  Washington, 
Iowa,  for  two  years  ;  and,  in  1865,  he  came  to 
Akron,  Ohio,  where,  on  July  2,  1867,  he  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Matilda  Allgayer,  of  Sigourney,  Iowa. 
He  established  a  machine-shop  here  in  1865, 
and  has  been  engaged  in  that  business  ever 
since.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  firm  of  W. 
&  J.  G.  Eberhard,  and  manufactures  oat-meal 
machinery,  engines  and  boilers.  He  has  taken 
out  several  patents,  the  principal  ones  being 
for  the  improvement  of  oat-meal  machinery  and 
steam  boilers.  He  has  suffered  b}'  fire  several 
times  ;  but  is  doing  a  good  business,  with  fair 


1^ 


703 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


prospects  for  future  success.     He  has  two  chil- 
dren. 

HON.  SIDNEY  EDGf]RTON,  lawyer,  Akron, 
Ohio,  is  a  son  of  Amos  and  Zervia  (Cxraham) 
Edgerton,  and  was  born  Aug.  17,  1819,  in 
Cazenovia,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  but  two  years  oltl,  and,  having 
been  blind  for  some  tiraci,  left  his  ftxmih'  in 
actual  proverty.  His  widow  moved  with  her 
family  to  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  (sub- 
ject) lived  until  he  was  8  A^ears  old,  when  he 
started  iu  life  for  himself,  and  by  his  own  in- 
domitable energy  managed  to  educate  himself 
out  of  his  wages,  and  at  the  age  of  16  set 
in  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner 
with  his  brother.  At  17  he  began  teaching, 
and,  at  18,  entered  Wesleyan  Seminary  at 
Lima,  N.  Y.;  after  remaining  two  terms,  he 
was  emplo3'ed  as  teacher.  In  April,  18-14,  he 
came  to  Akron  a  stranger,  and  with  but  $3 
in  money  ;  after  being  here  a  few  days,  he  be- 
gan the  study  of  law  with  Judge  Rufus  P. 
Spaulding,  and,  in  1846,  graduated  from  the 
Cincinnati  Law  School,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  that  cit}'.  He  opened  an  office  here 
in  1846,  and  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney 
in  1852,  serving  four  years;  in  1858,  he  was 
elected  to  Congress,  and  re-elected  in  1860,  the 
second  Republican  elected  from  this  district ; 
assisted  in  organizing  the  Republican  party  at 
Pittsburgh,  in  1856.  His  term  expired  in  Con- 
gress in  1863,  when  he  was  appointed  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  Idaho  by  President  Lincoln,  and  took  his 
family  from  Omaha  to  Bannock  Cit}^  in  wagons  ; 
in  January,  1864,  he  came  on  horseback  from 
there  to  Salt  Lake  City,  sleeping  on  the  ground 
during  the  trip,  and  via  coach  to  IMississippi 
River ;  proceeding  to  Washington,  he  succeeded 
in  having  Montana  organized,  the  bill  for  which 
he  prepared  himself  After  its  passage,  he  set 
out  to  return  home,  and  upon  his  arrival  at 
Salt  Lake  City,  he  found  that  he  had  been  ap- 
pointed Governor  of  Montana  by  President 
Lincoln  ;  this  position  he  held  until  Feb.  23, 
1865,  when  he  resigned,  his  resignation  being 
accepted  in  July,  1865.  He  returned  to  Akron 
in  Januar}',  1866,  overland,  and  has  been  in 
active  practice  here  since.  In  April,  1849,  he 
married  Miss  Mar}'  Wright,  of  Tallmadge. 

NEWTON  FORD,  City  Clerk,  Akron,  son  of 
Marvin  and  Lydia  (Cornwell)  Ford  ;  was  born 
on  jNIarch  24,  1852,  in  Northfield  Township, 
this  county,  where  he  resided  on  a  farm  until 


1863  ;  he  resided  in  Hudson  from  1863  to  1868, 
assisting  father  in  post  office  and  store  at  Mace- 
donia ;  in  the  spring  of  1870,  he  entered  the 
Western  Reserve  College,  remaining  until  1873, 
when  he  began  teaching  in  the  public  schools 
of  this  county.  The  following  3'ear,  he  began 
the  study  of  law  under  H.  B.  Foster,  of  Hud- 
son ;  two  3'ears  later,  he  came  to  Akron  to  con- 
tinue his  studies  with  Foster,  Marvin  &  Grant ; 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  at  this  place  on  Aug. 
28,  1876,  and  in  April,  1877,  located  here  for 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  up  to  which  time 
he  had  continued  at  intervals  in  the  vocation  of 
teaching.  In  February,  1878,  he  associated  him- 
self with  H.  C.  Sanford,  having  since  continued 
under  the  firm  name  of  Sanford  &  Ford.  He 
was  elected  Clerk  by  the  City  Council  in  April, 
1879,  and  re-elected  in  1880.  In  November, 
1879,  he  married  Miss  Rosine  McKinley,  of 
Hudson. 

GEORGE  TOD  FORD,  lawyer,  Akron,  son 
of  James  R.  and  Julia  A.  (Tod)  Ford  ;  was  born 
May  21,  1841,  in  Akron,  where  he  attended 
the  public  schools  until  he  was  16  years  of 
age.  In  1865,  he  graduated  from  Yale  College, 
and,  two  years  later,  entered  upon  the  studv  of 
law  under  the  direction  of  W.  H.  Upson  ;  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1869,  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Akron. 
In  1873,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  W.  H. 
Upson,  which  continues. 

SAMUEL  FINDLEY,  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  Akron,  is  a  son  of  Abel  Findley,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  New  Concord,  Ohio, 
Dec.  1,  1831,  whei'c  his  grandfather,  David 
Findlc}',  settled  in  about  1806.  His  grand- 
father was  Judge  of  the  court  in  early  times, 
and  gave  each  of  his  six  sons  a  one-fourth  sec- 
tion of  land  near  New  Concord.  Samuel  is  the 
second  son  living  of  his  father.  He  lived  on 
the  farm,  entering  the  Preparator}'  Department 
of  the  Muskingum  College  when  quite  young, 
and  continuing  there  until  about  17  when 
his  father  moved  to  a  farm  in  Greene  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  assisted  in  farm  labor  two  years, 
and  then  taught  country  schools  in  the  same 
county  some  four  years,  in  the  meantime  teach- 
ing one  3'ear  in  the  Xenia  Public  Schools.  In 
1855,  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  and  for  two  years 
was  publisher  and  manager  of  the  Freshi/terian 
Witness,  carrying  a  religious  book  concern  with 
it.     In  the  spring  of  1857,  he  removed  to  Mon- 


li.; 


■k. 


CITY    or    AKRON. 


703 


mouth,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  book  busi- 
ness for  a  short  time,  selling  his  interest  to  his 
partner,  and  again  resuming  school-teaching 
near  Monmouth,  continuing  two  j-ears  with 
good  success.  In  the  fall  and  winter  of  1859, 
he  was  the  agent  of  Monmouth  College,  work- 
ing in  Ohio.  In  1860,  he  began  teaching  in 
Greene  Co.,  and  in  the  fall  of  1861,  became 
teacher  in  the  Xenia  Union  Schools,  leaving 
that  position  after  a  few  months  to  accept  a 
call  to  the  principalship  of  a  ward  school  of 
Columbus,  Ohio.  Here  he  taught  two  years. 
In  June,  1864,  he  was  called  to  the  principal- 
ship  of  the  old  Brownell  Street  School  of 
Cleveland.  In  1865,  a  new  building  was  sub- 
stituted, and  he  organized  the  new  school,  with 
eighteen  teachers,  remaining  until  the  fall  of 
1868,  when  he  was  called  to  the  superintend- 
ency  of  the  Akron  Schools,  which  position  he 
accepted  and  retains.  Then  the  schools  had 
but  twenty-three  teachers  in  all,  there  being 
but  eleven  little  frame  buildings  of  one  room 
each,  in  addition  to  the  central  building.  There 
are  now  fiftj^-seven  teachers.  Since  1869.  he 
he  has  been  County  Examiner  here  ;  most  of 
that  time.  Clerk  of  the  Board,  and  member  of 
the  City  Board  of  Examiners  since  1870.  For 
twenty  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  State 
Teachers'  Association.  In  1873,  he  was  Presi- 
dent of  the  Superintendents'  Section,  and  Presi- 
dent of  the  Association  in  1877.  He  received  a 
State  certificate  ;  was  given  the  degree  of  A. 
M.  by  Buchtel  College  in  1876,  and,  in  1880, 
that  of  Ph.  D.  from  Wooster  University.  In 
March,  1853,  he  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Hardie, 
of  Xenia,  Ohio.  She  bore  him  four  sons  and 
two  daughters  ;  all  are  living. 

PROF.  ELIAS  FRAUNFELTER,  Professor 
of  Mathematics  in  Buchtel  College,  Akron  ;  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Reaser)  Fraun- 
felter,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to 
Ohio  in  1846,  settling  near  Ashland,  where 
they  resided  until  their  death,  she  in  1871  and 
he  in  1879,  leaving  three  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters. Of  this  family,  the  subject  is  the  second 
son,  and  was  born  near  P]aston,  Northampton 
Co.,  Penn.,  April  3,  1840,  and  came  here  when 
but  6  years  of  age.  He  lived  on  a  farm  until 
17,  when  he  began  teaching  in  the  public 
schools  of  Ashland,  and  about  the  same  time 
entered  Vermilion  Institute,  and  was  made 
Tutor  of  Mathematics  in  1859,  continuing  as 
such  until  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  120th 


0.  V.  I.,  organized  at  Mansfield.  He  entered 
as  a  private,  and  was  soon  after  made  Sergeant, 
then  Orderly  Sergeant,  and  after  the  battle  of 
Chickasaw  Bluffs  and  Arkansas  Post  was  com- 
missioned First  Lieutenant.  He  was  detailed 
as  aide-de-camp  to  Gen.  Osterhaus,  command- 
ing Ninth  Division  of  Thirteenth  Army  Corps. 
In  May,  1863,  he  was  commissioned  Captain  of 
Co.  F  in  his  regiment,  and  commanded  it  in  all 
the  engagements  during  the  seige  of  Vicksburg. 
He  was  made  Adjutant  of  the  120th  0.  V.  I., 
and  was  with  Gen.  Banks  in  the  invasion  of 
Louisana  after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg.  His  reg- 
iment was  with  Gen.  Banks  on  the  Red  River 
Expedition,  and  on  the  4th  of  May,  1864,  he 
and  a  large  portion  of  the  regiment  were  cap- 
tured at  Snaggy  Point,  on  Red  River,  and  were 
taken  to  different  points,  until  finally  landed  at 
rebel  prison  in  Texas  called  Camp  Ford,  where 
they  were  confined  for  thirteen  months,  and 
were  badly  treated  and  ill-fed  on  chopped  corn. 
He  and  Capt.  Miller  were  the  only  ones  ex- 
changed at  New  Orleans  in  July,  1865,  were 
furloughed  home  and  mustered  out  at  Colum- 
bus in  August.  He  then  returned  to  Vermil- 
ion Institute  as  teacher  of  mathematics,  remain- 
ing until  spring  of  1866,  when  he  with  Rev.  S. 
T.  Boyd  organized  Savannah  Academy,  at  Sa- 
vannah, Ohio,  a  private  school,  where  he  con- 
tinued until  1873,  successfully  put  up  large 
buildings,  and  in  the  fourth  year  (1870)  cata- 
logued 385  students.  In  1873,  he  came  to 
Akron,  and  accepted  the  Chair  of  Mathematics 
in  Buchtel  College,  which  he  still  fills.  He  was 
married  April  2,  1867,  to  Miss  Laura  J.  Cald- 
well, a  daughter  of  Rev.  J.  P.  Caldwell,  of 
Barnesville,  Ohio.  They  have  one  son  and  one 
daughter.  Prof  F.  received  the  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts  in  Bethany  College  in  1873, 
and  the  degree  of  Ph.  D.  in  Lombard  University 
at  Galesburg,  111.,  in  July,  1879. 

CHARLES  WHITTLESEY  FOOTE,  lawyer, 
Akron  ;  is  a  son  of  Horace  and  Rosanna 
(Whittlesey)  Foote,  a  sister  of  Col.  Charles 
Whittlese}',  and  was  born  in  Tripoli,  Syria,  near 
Beyrout,  Jan.  21,  1853  ;  his  parents  were  mis- 
sionaries. When  he  was  about  2  years  old, 
they  returned  to  America ;  his  mother  died 
Dec.  24,  1854,  off"  Sand}'  Hook;  his  father  came 
on  with  his  child  to  Tallmadge,  where  he  lived 
with  his  uncle.  Dr.  L.  C.  Walton.  In  the  fall 
of  1870,  the  subject  entered  Western  Reserve 
College,  and  graduated  as  valedictorian  of  class 


:i^ 


704 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


of  1874.  lie  spent  the  next  three  years  in 
Cornell  Universit}'  in  post-graduate  studies, 
received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  in  1876,  Ph.  D.  in 
1877  ;  the  next  year  was  spent  in  Tallmadge 
with  his  father,  and  during  the  summer  and 
fall  of  1878  was  assistant  historian  on  Cuya- 
hoga Count}'  Histor}-,  published  by  Lippin- 
cott  &  Co.  In  the  fall  of  1878,  he  began  read- 
ing law  with  Marvin  &  Grant,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  June,  1879,  at  Wooster.  He  at 
once  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  with  whom 
he  had  studied.  He  was  married  July  30, 1879, 
to  Miss  Harriet  M.,  daughter  of  Prof.  Hosford, 
of  Hudson. 

REV.  JOSEPH  F.  FAHS,  minister,  Akron  ; 
was  born  at  York,  Penn.,  Jan.  18,  1825.  At 
14  he  entered  a  store  as  clei'k  at  Litiz,  Penn., 
remaining  four  years,  in  the  meantime,  through 
his  own  endeavors,  obtaining  a  fair  knowledge 
of  the  English  branches.  At  18,  he  returned 
to  York,  where  he  again  clerked  in  a  store  and 
recited,  in  his  leisure  moments,  to  a  Moravian 
minister.  In  two  3'ears  he  began  teaching  in  a 
private  school,  continuing  about  two  years,  at 
the  same  time  carrying  on  his  studies,  when  he 
was  appointed  a  teacher  in  the  York  Co.  Acad- 
emy, and  there  pursued  the  languages.  At  the 
expiration  of  one  j'ear,  he  taught  vocal  music, 
and  engaged  in  the  study  of  theology  and 
languages.  At  this  time,  through  his  own  ef- 
forts, he  was  proficient  in  Latin  and  Greek.  In 
1851,  he  placed  himself  under  the  instruction 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Seiss,  of  Cumberland,  Md.,  for 
about  one  and  one-half  years.  In  1852,  he 
was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Maryland  Synod 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  began  his  minis- 
terial labors  at  Hancock,  Md.,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
his  health  failed.  After  recovering,  he  took 
charge  of  a  Lutheran  Church  in  Newtown,  Va., 
for  foui'teen  months,  when  his  health  again 
failed.  His  next  field  of  labor  was  at  Williams- 
port,  Penn.;  here  he  continued  five  years,  and 
was  then  called  to  Allentown,  Penn.,  where  he 
labored  for  about  ten  years  with  good  success, 
part  of  the  time  teaching  in  Nuremburg  Col- 
lege. In  October,  1872,  he  came  to  Akron, 
where  he  became  Pastor  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  which 
position  he  still  retains,  having  more  than 
trebled  the  membership  of  the  church  in  less 
than  a  decade.  May,  1854,  he  married  Miss 
Emma    Miller,   of    Norristown.    Penn.     There 


whom  are  living. 

CHARLES  S.  FARRAR,  Akron,  oldest  son 
of  Sumner  and  Sophia  (Bruce)  Farrar  ;  was 
born  in  Old  Concord,  Mass.,  Feb.  22,  1825. 
Here  he  lived  until  he  was  14,  when  he  lived 
at  Millbury,  same  State,  for  four  years,  after 
which  he  went  to  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  where  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  until  he  was  29,  when  he  entered  the 
employ  of  Page,  Whitman  &  Co.,  first  as  wood- 
worker for  a  3'ear,  and  he  subsequently  worked 
on  the  knives,  sickles  and  edged  tools,  working 
as  journeyman  and  foreman  there  until  1869, 
in  April  of  which  year  he  came  to  Akron, 
Ohio,  and  took  charge  of  the  manufacturing 
department  of  the  Akron  Knife  Works,  having 
charge,  also,  of  the  erection  of  the  buildings, 
which  at  that  time  were  not  commenced.  He 
has  since  been  Superintendent  of  the  works. 
Aug.  21,  1847,  he  married  Miss  Emma  Bruce, 
of  Fitchburg,  Mass.  She  bore  him  three  chil- 
dren, viz.,  Mary  T.,  Freddie  S.  and  Ella  S. 
The}'  adopted  two  children,  viz.,  Willie,  who 
died  when  ten  months  old,  and  George  Francis, 
who  died  at  Akron  Sept.  18,  1880,  in  his  30th 
year.  Sumner  B'arrar  died  ten  years  after  the 
birth  of  our  subject,  leaving  him  to  battle  for 
himself 

NAHUM  FAY,  manufacturer,  etc.,  vVkron  ; 
is  a  son  of  Hannaniah  and  Rebecca  (Mansfield) 
Fay,  and  was  born  July  26,  1811,  in  Reading, 
Windsor  Co.,  Vt.  His  youth  was  spent  there 
on  a  farm  until  he  was  20  years  old.  He  re- 
ceived a  common-school  and  academic  educa- 
tion, and  began  teaching  at  the  age  of  18,  con- 
tinuing for  six  winters.  He  then  traveled  for 
three  years  for  a  map  publishing  company, 
during  the  time  learned  the  art  of  printing  them 
from  copper-plates.  In  July,  1836,  he  came  to 
Akron  in  the  interest  of  his  company.  Their 
maps  were  of  the  United  States,  also  of  Ohio 
and  other  States.  He  worked  in  the  establish- 
ment (except  winters)  for  six  years.  In  1837, 
he  went  back  to  Vermont  and  was  married  to 
Miss  Lucia  Cumings,  of  Windsor  Co.,  Vt,  and 
at  once  returned  to  Ohio  by  canal  and  lake. 
They  have  two  children — Henry  C.  M.,  and 
Emma  V.,  wife  of  James  W.  Chamberlain,  of 
Akron.  Mr.  F.  taught  five  winters  in  North 
Akron,  the  first  two  winters  in  the  old  post 
oflSce  building.  In  the  fall  of  1843,  he  was 
elected  by  the  Whig  party   County  Recorder 


'k^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


705 


and  re-elected  in  184G,  serving  in  all  six  years; 
he  had  also  been  City  Clerk  and  Marshal  and 
Township  Clerk.  He  was  appointed  Deputy 
Treasurer  in  1849  under  Wm.  H.  Uewey  for 
two  years,  and  under  Frederick  Wadsworth  two 
years,  and  under  Dr.  Rice  two  years,  afterward 
bought  grain  for  several  j'ears.  About  the 
year  18G0,  he  began  the  manufacture  of  cord- 
age, which  he  has  continued  ever  since.  His 
machines  are  run  by  hand,  and  the  articles  of 
cordage  thus  made  are  of  the  best  qualit3^ 
Mr.  Fay  is  the  third  son  in  a  family  of  three 
sons  and  four  daughters,  two  of  whom  are 
living. 

DR.  W.  K.  FOLTZ,  physician,  Akron  ;  is  a 
native  of  Mifflin  Co.,  Penn.  He  was  born  Nov. 
15,  1829.  His  father  was  a  carpenter  and 
joiner,  and  he  was  raised  to  the  same  business. 
At  the  age  of  18,  he  began  teaching,  which  he 
continued  till  1850,  when  he  began  reading 
medicine  with  Dr.  C.  F.  Stauber,  of  Wooster, 
Ohio,  and  read  with  him  for  two  years.  He 
then  attended  the  Heidelberg  College,  at  Tif- 
fin, Ohio,  and  alternated  teaching  for  two 
3'ears.  In  the  summer  of  1855,  he  began  prac- 
tice in  La  Fa^^ette  Center,  Medina  Co.,  and,  the 
following  year,  he  moved  to  Sharon  Center, 
where  he  remained  until  1867.  He  graduated 
from  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  of  Cincin- 
nati. In  1867,  he  engaged  in  a  drug  business, 
and  practiced  his  profession  at  Ashland,  Ohio. 
April  14,  1877,  his  business  was  consumed  by 
fire,  and,  the  following  August,  he  came  to 
Akron,  where  he  has  practiced  since.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical 
Association.  He  was  married.  May  12,  1856, 
to  Miss  Carrie  L.  Lehman,  a  native  of  Wayne 
Co.,  Ohio  ;  they  have  one  child — Kent  0. 

DR.  A.  E.  FOLTZ,  physician,  Akron  ;  is  a 
native  of  Wayne  Township,  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  was  born  Jan.  29,  1840.  His  father,  Moses 
Foltz,  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  taught 
school  during  winters.  A.  E.,  the  subject, 
learned  his  father's  trade.  At  the  age  of  17, 
he  began  teaching,  and  lived  at  home  until 
1862.  In  July,  of  that  3'ear,  he  enlisted  in  the 
102d  0.  V.  I.,  Co.  I,  in  which  compan}'  and  in 
one  tent  wei'e  his  four  brothers.  He  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  The  five  brothers 
were  in  the  various  engagements  of  the  regi- 
ment, among  which  were  the  siege  of  Decatur, 
and  the  battle  of  Athens.  They  returned  home 
at  the  close  of  the  war.     Our   subject  began 


reading  medicine  in  October,  1865,  at  Sharon 
Center,  Medina  Co.,  with  Dr.  W.  K.  Foltz,  and 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1869  at  Charity 
Hospital  Medical  College  of  Cleveland,  which 
is  now  known  as  the  Medical  Department  Uni- 
versity of  Wooster.  In  the  summer  of  1869, 
he  began  practice  at  Ashland,  Ohio,  and,  after 
one  year,  came  to  Akron,  where  he  has  since 
practiced.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Summit  Co. 
Medical  Society,  and  also  the  Union  Medical 
Society  of  Northeastern  Ohio.  Oct.  6,  1870, 
he  married  Miss  Frances,  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
William  Bowen.  She  is  a  native  of  Stark  Co., 
Ohio. 

L.  H.  FARRAND,  groceries,  Akron ;  is  a 
somewhat  recent  addition  to  the  list  of  grocery 
merchants  of  Akron,  yet  one  who  has,  by  good 
financiering  and  a  close  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness, placed  himself  among  the  rank  of  success- 
ful merchants,  and,  as  such,  is  entitled  to  more 
than  a  passing  mention.  His  name  is  of  En- 
glish origin,  and  he  is  a  native  of  Wyoming 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  whei'e,  at  the  age  of  18  years,  he 
began  work  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  fol- 
lowed it  as  a  business  until  he  engaged  in  the 
grocer}'  trade,  except  the  time  spent  in  the 
army  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  In  Au- 
gust, 1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  of  the  140th 
N.  Y.  V.  I.,  but  was  transferred  to  the  1st  N. 
Y.  Dragoons,  with  which  force  he  served  for  a 
time,  and  was  then  detailed  as  Sei'geant  of  a 
corps  of  engineers,  which  was  stationed  near 
Fortress  Monroe.  In  due  time  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge  from  the  proper  authori- 
ties, after  which  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in 
New  Yoi'k.  Seven  years  ago,  he  came  to 
Akron,  when  his  first  introduction  into  the 
business  in  which  he  has  been  so  successful 
was  in  the  capacit}^  of  a  salesman  for  Messrs. 
Heaston  &  Smith,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
about  four  months.  He  then,  in  company- with 
Mr.  N.  B.  Allen,  engaged  in  the  business  on  his 
own  account,  and  located  in  South  Akron.  The 
firm  was  known  as  N.  B.  Allen  &  Co.,  Mr.  Far- 
rand  having  almost  exclusive  charge  of  the 
business.  His  next  step  was  to  bu}-  Mr. 
Allen's  interest  in  the  business,  and,  a  few 
years  thereafter,  he  moved  to  his  present  place 
of  business,  corner  Main  and  Exchange  streets, 
which  is  a  well-finished  business  room.  20x65 
feet.  His  success  in  the  future  can  hardl}'  be 
questioned,  if  the  past  may  be  taken  as  a  cri- 
terion, as  he  began  business  on  a  capital  of 


'K 


J^ 


9 i^ 


706 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


$150,  and  has  now  a  business  of  an  aggregate 
annual  sale  of  $3,200.  He  employs  two  clerks, 
and  runs  a  delivery  wagon.  Lest  he  may 
think  we  design  this  as  an  advertisement,  in- 
stead of  a  brief  sketch  of  his  business  career, 
as  well  as  other  historical  facts,  we  will  only 
add  that,  in  1 854,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Try- 
phena  H.  Lancaster,  who  is  the  mother  of  their 
only  child.  Master  Alfred,  aged  4  years. 

DANIEL  FARNAM,  of  W.  B.  Doyle  &  Co., 
Akron,  was  born  in  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  8, 
1816,  and  is  a  son  of  Amasa  and  Polly 
(Thompson)  Farnam,  natives  of  the  Eastern 
States,  who  were  married  in  New  Hampshire, 
and  moved  to  Northern  New  York  at  an  early 
day,  and  to  Vermont  in  1817,  where  they  re- 
sided until  1831,  when  they  came  to  Ohio,  their 
mode  of  traveling  being  by  team  and  canal  to 
Buffalo,  thence  by  lake  to  Sandusky,  Ohio,  and 
by  team  to  Marion  County  ;  thence  a  few  years 
later  to  Hardin  County.  Here  they  died,  and  their 
son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  Akron 
on  a  visit  to  relatives  and  concluded  to  remain. 
He  worked  awhile  in  a  saw-mill,  and  then  in 
the  powder  factorj-,  where  he  remained  for  six 
years.  He  then  bought  an  interest  in  the  lin- 
seed oil  works,  and  three  years  later,  the  oil 
and  powder  business  were  consolidated.  Mr. 
F.  was  identified  with  the  business  some  three 
years,  when  he  sold  out  and  bought  a  farm  in 
Hardin  County.  Two  years  later,  he  rented 
his  farm  and  went  to  Xenia,  where  he  became 
superintendent  of  the  powder  works,  continuing 
for  two  and  a  half  years,  during  the  time  buj-ing 
an  interest  in  the  powder  works  of  Akron,  and 
finally  returning  to  that  place.  He  continued 
in  the  business  until  1865,  when  he  sold  out 
and  became  a  partner  in  the  present  business. 
He  was  married  Dec.  23,  1843,  to  Miss  Lydia 
Todd,  a  native  of  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  was 
living  in  Akron  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Andrews. 
Seven  children  were  born  of  this  marriage,  of 
whom  six  are  living,  viz.,  Harriet  A.,  now  Mrs. 
Cole,  of  Akron  ;  George  D.,  who  lives  in  Akron  ; 
Abbie  T.,  now  Mrs.  Reed,  of  Iowa  ;  Francis  J., 
Carrie;,  and  Mary  E.,  at  home.  Mr.  F.  voted 
first  for  Gen.  Harrison,  and  has  voted  with  the 
Whig  and  Republican  parties  ever  since.  He 
is  a  Baptist,  and  has  been  a  member  of  that 
church  for  over  fifty  years. 

DR.  H.  M.  FISHER,  physician,  Akron,  is  a 
native  of  Warren,  Penn.,  where  he  was  born 
Sept.  1,  1848,  and  is  the  eldest  of  six  children 


and  one  of  two  surviving,  born  to  Andrew  and 
Elizabeth  (Shafer)  Fisher.  He  is  a  native  of 
Alsace,  France,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
when  but  13  ^ears  of  age,  with  his  parents,  who 
settled  at  Warren,  Penn.  He  is  a  dentist  b}' 
profession,  and  has  followed  it  for  the  past 
thirt}'  years.  His  wife  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  now  live  at  Warren.  H.  M.  (the 
subject),  lived  at  Warren  until  1872,  except  six 
years  spent  with  his  parents  in  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin.  He  received  an  academic  education 
in  the  Fi'anklin  and  Warren  Academies,  and  en- 
tered and  pursued  a  collegiate  course  at  the  Alle- 
gheny College,  at  Meadville,  Penn.,  for  two  and 
a  half  years,  when,  owing  to  ill  health,  he  was 
compelled  to  discontinue  his  studies.  He  began 
reading  medicine  in  1867,  with  Dr.  Daniel 
Shanahan,  of  Warren,  and  in  March,  1872,  he 
graduated  at  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  of 
Philadelphia.  In  June  following,  he  began 
practice  in  Warren,  remaining  a  few  months, 
when  he  came  to  Akron.  In  December,  1872, 
he  removed  to  Allegheny-  City,  Penn.,  where  he 
practiced  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Thomas  El- 
liott until  March,  1876,  when  he  again  came  to 
Akron,  and  has  since  practiced  here.  He  was 
appointed  surgeon  for  the  N.  Y.,  P.  &  0.  R.  R. 
at  Akron  Jan.  26,  1881.  He  is  a  member  of 
Union  Medical  Society  of  Northeastern  Ohio, 
and  of  the  Summit  County"  Medical  Society,  of 
which  he  has  been  Recording  Secretary.  He 
was  married  Ma}-  21,  1873,  to  Miss  Mary  Tal- 
bott,  a  native  of  Warren,  Penn.  They  have  two 
children,  viz.,  Frank  T.  and  Clara  E. 

NATHAN  L.  GLOVER,  teacher  of  music, 
Akron.  The  subject  of  these  lines  is  a  son  of 
Joel  and  Elizabeth  (Shannon)  Glover.  He  was 
born  in  Coshocton  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  1,  1842. 
Here  he  grew  to  manhood,  emplo3-ed  b}^  the 
multifarious  duties  of  farm  life,  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  28.  When  but  a  bo}^,  how- 
ever, he  began  the  study  of  music,  and,  at  10 
years  old,  could  read  it  quite  readily.  Im- 
pelled solely  by  his  love  for  the  art,  he  strug- 
gled on  with  only  the  meager  advantages 
aftbrded  at  home  and  at  the  singing  school 
until,  in  1865,  he  gained  such  a  mastery  of 
vocal  music  that  he  began  teaching  and  form- 
ing classes,  first  in  Indiana  and  subsequently 
at  various  points  in  his  native  State.  In  1868, 
he  became  a  pupil  of  the  Normal  Music  School 
held  that  year  at  Painesville.  Ohio,  under  the 
management   of    N.    Coe   Stewart   and   S.    B. 


"©IV 


.^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


707 


Hamlin,  and,  in  1869-70,  he  resumed  the  work 
of  teaching,  with  increased  success.  During 
the  summer  of  1870,  he  entered  the  school 
again  at  Painesville,  Ohio,  as  pupil.  In  1871, 
the  Normal  Music  School,  which  for  several 
years  has  been  under  the  direction  of  Prof. 
N.  Coe  Stewart,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  who  has 
associated  with  him  some  of  the  finest  musi- 
cians and  prominent  teachers  in  the  West,  was 
held  in  Akron,  Ohio.  This  school,  held  each 
year  (except  1876)  in  some  town  or  city  of 
Ohio,  has  educated  a  large  number  of  pupils 
throughout  Oliio  and  adjoining  States,  who 
have  done  more,  perhaps,  to  popularize  music 
than  any  other  agenc}'  in  the  State.  Mr. 
Cxlover  became  assistant  teacher  in  the  Normal 
of  1871,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1872,  he  went  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  placed  himself  under  the 
personal  instruction  of  Prof.  Stewart,  remain- 
ing until  the  summer  session  opened  in  Akron, 
where  he  was  again  emploj^ed  as  instructor. 
In  September,  1872,  he  was  employed  as 
teacher  of  music  in  the  public  schools  of  Ak- 
ron. Up  to  this  time,  no  systematic  attempt 
had  been  made  to  introduce  music  in  the 
Akron  schools.  A  few  lessons  had  been  given 
by  Mr.  N.  C.  Stewart  at  long  intervals.  While 
a  vast  number  desired  musical  instruction  for 
their  children,  many  believed  that  only  the 
•'  favored  few  "  could  be  taught  to  sing  and 
read  music,  and  among  the  last-named  were 
some  of  the  members  of  the  board,  who  looked 
upon  the  introduction  of  music  as  a  doubtful 
experiment.  It  was  during  this  crucial  period 
that  our  subject  began  his  labors  in  the  Akron 
schools,  and  nine  years  of  persistent,  earnest 
work  have  removed  this  branch  of  stud}^  from 
the  realm  of  uncertainty.  It  has  demonstrated 
that  every  child  not  deformed  can  be  taught  to 
sing.  The  course,  which  begins  with  the  ele- 
ments in  lowest  primaries,  carries  the  pupil 
step  by  step  over  a  twelve  j'ears'  course  to  the 
high  school,  where  classical  music  is  sung. 
The  results  which  follow  the  systematic  study 
of  music  arc  second  to  none  in  importance, 
and  offer  discipline  of  mind  and  culture  of  the 
heart  that  can  be  obtained  in  no  other  way. 
In  addition  to  Mr.  Grlover's  continuous  nine 
years'  work  in  the  Akron  schools  since  1872, 
he  has  simultaneously  taught  six  years  in  the 
Wooster  schools,  seven  years  in  Kent,  seven 
years  in  Ravenna,  two  years  in  Wads  worth 
and   one  year  in  the  Cuyahoga  Falls  public 


schools,  and  has  at  present  over  five  thousand 
pupils  under  his  immediate  instruction.  Since 
1871,  he  has  been  associate  teacher  during  the 
summer  sessions  of  the  Normal  Music  School, 
held  successively  at  Akron,  Zanesville,  Woos- 
ter, Sandusky,  Delaware,  Warren,  Youngstown 
and  Shelby.  Mr.  Glover  was  chorister  of  the 
Congregational  Church  of  Akron  from  1872  to 
1877,  when  he  was  called  to  a  like  position  in 
the  First  M.  E.  Church,  where  he  still  remains. 
He  has  also  been  leader  of  the  Choral  Society 
of  Akron  for  several  years.  He  was  married, 
Aug.  21,  1873,  to  Miss  Kate  Morledge,  of 
Waynesburg,  Ohio.  Of  this  mai'riage  there 
are  two  daughters — Mary  M.  and  Nellie  L. 

CHARLES  R.  GRANT,  attorney  at  law,  Ak- 
ron ;  son  of  William  T.  and  Esther  (Treat) 
Grant ;  was  born  Oct.  23, 1846,  in  Orange,  New 
Haven  Co.,  Conn.,  where  he  lived  until  the  war 
of  the  rebellion  broke  out,  when  he  enlisted  in 
the  12th  Conn.  V.  I.,  under  Gen.  Butler,  and  held 
the  position  of  dispatch  bearer  (which  was  often- 
times a  very  perilous  one,  as  at  times  he  was 
obliged  to  journey  from  400  to  500  miles),  on 
Gen.  Butler's  staff  in  the  Department  of  the 
Gulf,  and  continued  in  that  position  on  Gen. 
Banks'  staff  until  October,  1863,  when  he  was 
discharged.  In  April  of  the  following  year,  he 
located  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  until  1868,  in  the  meantime  employ- 
ing his  spare  moments  in  study.  In  September 
of  the  same  3'ear,  he  entered  the  freshman  class 
of  the  Western  Reserve  College,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1872,  as  valedictorian  of  his  class, 
which  was  composed  of  eighteen  students.  He 
then  went  to  Denver,  Colo.,  where  he  remained 
until  the  fall  of  1873,  recruiting  his  health.  In 
October  of  that  year,  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and 
married  Miss  Frances  J.  Wadhams,  of  Boston 
Township,  after  which  he  entered  the  office  of 
Judge  Tibbals,  of  Akron,  as  student,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  September,  1874,  at 
this  place.  His  wife  died  Sept.  14,  1874.  His 
health  failing  him,  he  again  engaged  in  farming, 
until  January,  1876,  when  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  H.  B.  Foster,  and  began  the  practice 
of  law  at  Hudson,  continuing  until  Nov.  9,  1876, 
when  he  married  Miss  Luc}'  J.  Alexander,  of 
Akron,  and  at  once  located  here,  where  he  has 
since  continued  practice,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Foster,  Marvin  &  Grant.  He  has  contributed 
several  articles  to  the  Central  Law  Journal,  of 
St.  Louis,  and  the  Southern  Law  Review,  which 


708 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


have  attracted  considerable  attention  from  the 
legal  magnates,  some  of  his  subjects  being  as 
follows,  viz.,  "  Statutor}'  Liability  of  Guardians," 
"  Constitutionality  of  Local  Option  Laws,"  and 
"  A  Monograph  on  the  Monroe  Doctrine."  His 
second  wife  died  on  June  8,  1880,  leaving  one 
daughter.  His  father  is  a  native  of  Virginia, 
of  Scotch  descent.  His  grandfather,  William 
Grant,  was  shot  by  a  Tor}'^,  on  his  return  from 
the  Revolutionary  war.  His  mother  was  a  de- 
scendant of  Gov.  Robert  Treat,  one  of  the  early 
Colonial  Governors  of  Connecticut.  The  father 
of  our  subject  moved  to  Connecticut  when  a 
young  man,  and  married,  in  about  the  year 
1830.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  ti'ade,  and  an 
intelligent,  well-read  man,  being  a  member  of 
the  Connecticut  Legislature  in  1844-45,  and 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  twenty-five  3^ears.  He 
was  the  father  of  three  sons  and  four  daughters, 
of  which  family  our  subject  is  the  3^oungest 
son.  One  of  the  children  is  now  deceased. 
Charles  R.  Grant  is  a  verj'  able  attorney,  and 
possesses  rare  intellectual  endowments. 

EDWIN  P.  GREENE,  lawyer,  Akron,  a  son 
of  Charles  and  Mary  T.  I.  (Bowen)  Greene,  and 
was  born  March  10,  1828,  at  Gaysville,  Windsor 
Co.,  Vt.  He  lived  in  the  village  until  about  15 
years  of  age,  receiving  his  education  at  com- 
mon schools,  and  at  Bradford  Academy.  After- 
ward, he  commenced  the  study  of  law  at  Little- 
ton, N.  H.,  and,  in  1852,  came  to  Akron,  where 
he  finished  his  studies  with  Upson  &  Edgerton, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Akron  in  Sep- 
tember, 1853.  In  the  fall  of  1854,  he  was 
elected  Clerk  of  the  Court,  which  office  he  held 
for  six  years,  when  he  resumed  his  practice  of 
the  lay  ,  and  has  continued  it  ever  since. 

BENJAMIN  F.  GOODRICH,  President  of 
rubber  goods  manufactory,  Akron,  is  a  native 
of  Ripley,  N.  Y.,  and  a  son  of  Anson  and 
Susan  (Dinsmore)  Goodrich,  and  was  born  Nov. 
4,  1841.  He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  until 
12  years  of  age,  when  his  parents  died.  About 
four  years  were  spent  in  schools  at  Fredonia, 
N.  Y.,  and  Austinburg.  Ohio.  In  1858,  he 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  at  Westfield, 
N.  Y.,  and  graduated  at  the  Western  Medical 
College  at  Cleveland  in  February,  1861.  He 
went  into  the  9th  N.  Y.  V.  C.  as  Hospital 
Steward,  and,  the  following  spring,  was  made 
Assistant  Surgeon,  and  assigned  to  the  Bat- 
talion of  U.  S.  Engineers,  serving  in  that 
capacity  until  November,  1862,  when  he  entered 


the  University  of  Pennsylvania  to  attend  a 
course  of  lectures,  returning  to  his  old  post  in 
the  army  in  the  spring  of  1863,  and  serving 
until  September,  1864  ;  a  short  time  in  charge 
of  a  hospital  at  Aquia  Creek.  In  1865,  he 
went  to  New  York  City  and  engaged  in  real 
estate  business  until  1870,  when  he  came  to 
Akron,  and,  in  the  following  fall,  built  a  factory 
and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  rubber 
goods,  and,  in  partnership  with  H.  W.  Tew, 
conducted  the  business  until  1875.  The  first 
year,  $60,000  worth  of  goods  was  manufact- 
ured, which  was  increased  under  his  manage- 
ment to  $300,000.  The  business  was  con- 
ducted until  June,  1880,  under  the  partnership 
of  B.  F.  Goodrich  &  Co.,  when  a  stock  com- 
pany was  formed,  with  subject  as  President ; 
A.  Work,  Vice  President,  and  Geo.  T.  Perkins, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer.  This  was  the  first 
factory  of  the  kind  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mount- 
ains. It  employs  from  eighty  to  a  hundred 
hands  in  the  busy  season.  Mr.  G.  is  President 
(1880)  of  City  Council.  He  was  married,  in 
1869,  to  Miss  Mary  Marvin,  a  daughter  of 
Judge  R.  P.  Marvin,  of  Jamestown,  N.  Y. 
Three  children  are  the  fruit  of  this  marriage. 
HON.  NATHANIEL  W.  GOODHUE,  law- 
yer, Akron,  is  a  native  of  Lincoln  Co,  Me.; 
was  born  Dec.  20,  1818,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Elizabeth  (Pei'kins)  Goodhue,  also  natives 
of  Maine.  They  were  married  in  Grafton  Co., 
N.  H.  Father  died  at  village  of  St.  Christo- 
pher in  1866,  in  his  83d  3'ear,  and  mother  died 
in  1867,  in  her  80th  3'ear.  The3'  had  seven 
children  ;  five  living — Julia,  second  daughter, 
is  Mrs.  Aai'on  Morrill,  of  Danville,  Quebec ; 
James,  a  merchant  at  St.  Cristopher  ;  (subject); 
Jacob  P.  died  in  1852  on  his  wa3'  to  California 
and  is  buried  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  ;  Joseph  L. 
is  merchant  and  manufacturer  at  Danville,  and 
Elizabeth  P.  is  teacher  in  Summit  Co.  The 
grandfather  of  subject,  Stephen  Goodhue,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and,  but  17 
years  of  age,  was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill, 
where  he  was  wounded ;  he  was  within  a  few 
feet  of  Gen.  Warren  when  he  fell  in  that  battle. 
When  subject  was  3  3'ears  old,  the  famil3^ 
moved  to  the  Province  of  Lower  Canada,  now 
Quebec,  where  they  lived  on  a  farm  in  the 
woods  for  a  number  of  years,  the  nearest  house 
to  them  being  thirteen  miles  distant ;  followed 
lumbering  and  farming.  In  May.  1837,  he 
removed    to    Canaan    Township,   Wayne    Co., 


•^  Q 


'.\t 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


709 


Ohio,  where  subject  employed  himself  teaching 
during  winter  and  peddling  in  summer.  Most 
of  his  education,  except  two  terms  at  Danville, 
Canada,  was  obtained  around  the  fireside.  He 
commenced  teaching  at  1 8,  and,  in  April,  1840,  he 
came  to  Greensburg  in  this  county,  where  he 
taught  during  the  summer,  and  in  the  winter  in 
Greentown  village  (Lewis  Miller,  C.  Aultman, 
Jacob  Miller,  Geo.  Cook  were  pupils).  Early 
in  the  summer  of  1841,  he  became  a  clerk  for 
Johnston  &  Irving,  of  Middlebury,  Ohio  ;  after- 
ward, Kent  &  Co.  He  taught  the  Middlebury 
school  in  the  winter  of  1845-46.  In  February, 
1845,  he  began  the  study  of  law  with  Hand  & 
Nash,  and,  in  the  winter  of  1846-47,  was 
Engrossing  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tiA'es  at  Columbus,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  the  September  term  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  at  Akron,  in  1847.  In  October,  1848, 
he  was  elected  County  Auditor,  and  re-elected 
in  1850,  both  times  on  the  Whig  ticket.  On 
the  expiration  of  his  last  term  as  Auditor,  he 
opened  a  law  office  in  Akron,  where  he  has 
been  in  practice  ever  since.  He  was,  by  ap- 
pointment of  Gov.  Chase,  Canal  Collector 
from  1856  to  1858,  and,  from  September,  1862, 
to  September,  1866,  was  Deputy  Collector  of 
Internal  Revenue,  haAdng  entire  charge  in  Sum- 
mit County.  In  1873,  he  was  elected  on  the 
Republican  ticket  to  the  State  Senate  from  the 
district  composed  of  Summit  and  Portage  Cos. 
He  declined  a  renomination  to  the  position. 
He  was  chosen  Republican  P]lector  for  the 
Eighteenth  Ohio  District  in  1880,  and  was 
President  of  the  Electoral  College  of  Ohio. 
His  first  vote  was  cast  for  Harrison  in  1840, 
and  has  been  Whig  and  Republican  ever  since. 
He  was  married,  Dec.  20,  1841,  to  Miss  Nancy 
Johnston,  of  Green  Township,  in  this  county. 
They  have  four  children — James  P.,  died  at  8 
months  old  in  January,  1844  ;  Allan  J.,  manu- 
facturer at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  served  three 
years  in  the  104th  O.  V.  I.;  Mary  H.,  wife  of 
Rev.  Samuel  Maxwell,  Rector  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  of  Youngstown,  Ohio,  and  Nathaniel 
P.,  law  student  and  assistant  in  his  father's 
office.  Mr.  G.  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

JOHN  T.  GOOD,  retired,  Akron  ;  was  born 
Oct.  25,  1818,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mar- 
garet (Richert)  Good,  natives  of  Alsace,  France, 
lived  within  twenty  miles  of  Strasbourg.  He 
attended  common  schools  until  14  yeai's  of  age. 


and  one  year  at  a  private  school.  His  father 
was  a  farmer  and  grain  dealer,  and  took  con- 
tracts to  convey  emigrants  from  Bavaria  and 
Baden  to  Havre,  a  distance  of  500  miles,  in 
wagons  ;  in  1838,  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
arriving  in  New  York  on  the  5th  of  May,  where 
he  took  canal  to  Buffalo,  and  lake  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  thence  to  Chicago, and  from  thereto  Cin- 
cinnati by  stage,  and  on  foot  thence  to  St. 
Louis  ;  thence  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  had 
intended  staying,  but  fearing  yellow  fever, 
went  to  Pittsburgh,  remaining  there  and  work- 
ing in  brewery  until  the  next  year,  when  he 
came  to  Canton,  Ohio  ;  he  secured  work  with 
a  wealthy  farmer  in  the  neighborhood  of  Can- 
ton, where  he  remained  until  December,  when 
he  became  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  John  Robin- 
son, at  Canal  Fulton,  the  largest  establishment 
outside  of  the  cities.  For  eighteen  months  he 
continued  in  the  store,  and  in  May,  1842,  came 
to  Akron,  where  he  obtained  emploj'ment  in 
the  store  of  P.  D.  Hall,  then  the  largest  in  the 
city  ;  he  remained  in  this  store  about  three 
years,  and  went  into  the  grocery  business.  In 
1845,  he  built  the  first  brewery  in  Summit 
County,  which  he  operated  until  1855,  and  kept 
a  grocery  until  1865,  with  good  success.  In 
March,  1850,  in  company  with  about  forty 
others,  he  went  to  California,  under  Capt.  Howe, 
reaching  Placerville  in  August  ;  he  worked  in 
the  mines  for  awhile,  but  his  health  failing,  he 
went  into  a  grocery  and  provision  store,  and  in 
December  returned  to  Akron,  via  Panama. 
In  1865,  he  bought  the  oil  refinery  on  Furnace 
street,  which  he  enlarged  until  it  had  a  capacity 
of  250  barrels  per  da}'.  His  son,  Charles  W., 
was  his  partner  in  this  business,  and,  as  J.  T. 
Good  &  Co.,  conducted  it  successfully  until 
1872,  when  he  retired  from  active  life.  He  was 
married,  April  16,  1844,  to  Miss  Barbara  C. 
Yost,  of  Stark,  Co.,  Ohio  ;  four  children  living — 
Charles  W.,  hardware  merchant,  of  Cleveland  ; 
Charlotte,  wife  of  Edward  Schweyer,  of  New 
York  City  ;  George  P.,  wholesale  merchant,  of 
Joplin,  Mo.  ;  J.  Edward,  student  in  Kenyon 
College.  Mr.  G.  is  a  member  of  the  English 
Lutheran  Church,  and  is  Republican  in  politics. 
OMAR  N.  GARDNER,  Akron,  son  of  James 
and  Elvira  C.  (Chamberlain)  Gardner  ;  was  born 
in  Akron  on  Dec.  2.  1854  ;  his  parents  were 
natives  of  New  York  State,  and  came  here  from 
Genesee  Valley  in  about  1850  ;  here  his  father 
followed  the  trade  of  brick- mason,  and  died  in 


yr. 


^'. 


710 


BIOGllAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


the  spring  of  1873  ;  his  mother  died  in  1876. 
He  is  the  only  son,  and  has  one  sister  in  James- 
town, Lottie  S.,  now  Mrs.  K  P.  Robertson. 
Until  the  age  of  16  he  attended  the  public 
schools  ;  in  1872-73,  he  was  engaged  as  engi- 
neer on  the  Valley  Railroad,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1873,  he  entered  Buchtel  College,  remaining 
one  year.  In  1875,  he  entered  the  City  En- 
gineer's Office,  as  assistant,  and  remained  nearl}^ 
a  year  ;  from  that  time  to  1878,  he  was  engaged 
in  engineering  and  surveying.  In  the  spring  of 
1878,  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  City  En- 
gineer, and  has  been  re-elected  every  ^^ear 
since.  In  1880,  he  got  up  a  system  of  sewer- 
age for  the  entire  city,  and  superintended  the 
sewering,  grading,  curbing  and  guttering  of 
Carroll  street.  In  September,  1877,  he  married 
Miss  Ella  J.  Bush,  of  Jamestown,  N.  Y. 

THEODORE  GORNER,  Akron,  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Gorner  &  Planz,  file  manu- 
facturers. He  purchased  the  establishment  of  a 
Mr.  Harter,  the  founder,  in  1873.  and  carried  on 
the  business  one  and  a  half  years,  when  he  sold 
to  H.  Pohle,  he  taking  in  Mr.  Planz,  and  being 
unable  to  pay  for  the  business,  it  reverted  to 
the  former  owner.  He  was  born  Dec.  15, 1845, 
in  Saxon}',  near  Waldenberg,  to  Gotlieb  and 
Catharine  (Magenhammer)  Gorner,  she  a  native 
of  Bavaria,  the  father  a  native  of  Saxony,  a 
shoemaker  by  trade,  and  came  to  his  son  in 
this  country  about  five  years  ago.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  learned  the  trade  of  file-cutting 
in  1859,  at  which  he  worked  in  Germany,  Den- 
mark, France  and  Austria,  until  his  departure 
for  this  country  in  1867.  After  his  arrival  in 
this  country,  he  worked  in  the  principal  Eastern 
cities  and  traveled  throughout  the  Western 
country,  returning  in  1868,  and  began  working 
for  Mr.  Harter,  who  had,  in  that  year,  started 
the  works.  He  was  married  in  1873  to  Eliza- 
beth Miller,  a  native  of  Akron  and  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Christine  Seidle.  They  have  no 
children.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias. 

ALDEN  GAGE,  deceased  ;  son  of  Elijah  B. 
and  Margaret  (Hoffman)  Gage,  was  born  in  Her- 
kimer, Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  July  27,  1836. 
The  family  moved  to  Norfolk,  N.  Y.,  where  his 
mother  died  when  he  was  but  4  years  old, 
and  he  lived  on  a  farm  adjacent  to  Norfolk,  at- 
tending a  school  taught  by  one  E.  P.  Greene. 
When  a  young  man,  he  entered  the  Academy 
at  Potsdam,  N.  Y.,  to  prepare  for  college,  and 


spent  two  years  in  Amherst  College,  when  his 
father  died,  after  which  he  came  to  Akron  in 
1856,  and  secured  the  position  of  Deputy  Clerk 
of  the  Court  under  Edwin  P.  Greene,  whose 
pupil  he  had  been  in  Norfolk.  In  the  fall  of 
1861,  he  became  Assistant  Quartermaster  un- 
der Capt.  Myers,  and  followed  the  fortunes  of 
the  Union  array  until  the  fall  of  1864.  In  No- 
vember, 1865,  he  secured  a  clerkship  under 
Capt.  Nash  in  the  Provost  Marshal's  office  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  remaining  in  that  position  a 
year,  during  which  time,  on  Sept.  20,  1865,  he 
married  Miss  Belle  Webster,  second  daughter 
of  Charles  Webster,  of  Akron,  Ohio.  Mr.  Gage 
returned  to  Akron  in  1865,  and  became  Cashier 
of  the  Second  National  Bank,  continuing  five 
years.  In  Julv,  1870,  at  the  opening  of  the 
bank  of  Akron,  he  became  First  Cashier  and 
held  that  position  until  his  death,  November 
12,  1875,  at  Santa  Barbara,  Cal.,  where  he  had 
gone  to  find  relief  from  consumption.  He  was 
highly  esteemed,  public  spirited  and  well  in- 
formed. He  was  an  ardent  Republican,  but 
never  sought  office.  His  only  child,  Martha, 
died  when  but  8  months  old. 

H.  G.  GRIFFIN,  groceries,  notions,  etc.,  Mid- 
dlebury,  is  a  native  of  Ohio  ;  he  was  born  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Geauga  County,  Oct.  8, 1840,  his 
parents,  S.  B.  and  Huldah  (King)  Griffin,  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  He  came 
West  and  settled  in  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  in  the 
year  1829,  and  farmed  there  until  his  death. 
He  was  well  known  and  respected  ;  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  took  an 
active  interest  in  its  affairs.  Mrs.  Griffin  lives 
on  the  old  homestead  ;  our  subject  lived  at 
home  until  1861.  On  Sept.  10  of  that  year,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  G,  41st  0.  V.  I.,  and  served 
two  and  a  half  years  ;  he  was  in  the  battles  of 
Shiloh,  Murfreesboro,  Chickamauga,  Mission 
Ridge  and  the  other  engagements  of  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  to  which  he  belonged,  up  to 
the  time  of  his  dischai'ge,  by  reason  of  ill 
health.  After  recuperating  on  the  farm  about 
a  year  he  began  the  manufacture  of  cheese  for 
Budlong  &  Stokes,  of  New  York,  the  factory  be- 
ing located  in  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio.  He  con- 
tinued some  three  3'ears  ;  then  started  a  cream- 
ery for  L.  J.  Randall,  being  the  first  in  this 
State  ;  about  a  year  later,  he  went  to  Kentucky 
and  managed  a  cheese  factory  in  Woodford 
County  for  two  3'ears,  when  he  moved  to  Paines- 
ville,  Ohio,  and,  in  company  with  L.  F.  Miller, 


-^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


711 


opened  a  groceiy  and  crockery  establishment, 
and  about  one  and  a  half  years  later,  he  came 
to  Middlebury,  where  he  became  connected 
with  the  grading  of  the  Valley  Railroad.  In 
1875,  he  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise 
business  with  George  Viall  &  Co.,  and,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1880,  he  began  his  present  business. 
On  Dec.  22,  1865,  he  married  Miss  Hattie  Tay- 
lor, a  native  of  Ohio.  The}'  have  two  children, 
viz. :  Lizzie  T.  and  Lucy  H.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  School  Board  of  Akron,  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in 
the  party. 

NOAH  HODGE,  lawyer,  Akron,  Ohio  ;  was 
born  in  Springfield,  111.,  Feb.  6, 1842,  to  Richard 
and  Catharine  E.  (Divelbiss),  and  lived  there 
until  1868.  His  father  started  to  California 
with  his  family  in  1852,  and  died  of  cholei-a 
about  seventy  miles  west  of  Ft.  Kearney,  where 
he  is  buried,  near  the  Platte  River.  After  the 
father's  death,  the  family  returned  to  Spring- 
field, where  the  subject  of  these  lines  attended 
the  Illinois  State  University,  now  St.  Paul's 
College.  From  this  he  graduated  in  June, 
1 862,  and  the  following  month  he  enlisted  in 
the  124th  111.  V.  I.,  and  fought  in  the  Vicks- 
burg  campaign.  In  September,  1864,  he  was 
commissioned  1st  Lieutenant ;  he  held  the 
regimental  position  of  Adjutant  in  the  52d  U. 
S.  Colored  Regiment  until  his  resignation  in 
1865,  the  war  being  over,  immediately  after 
which  he  became  a  tutor  in  the  college  from 
which  he  graduated,  continuing  one  year,  when 
he  was  made  Professor  of  English  and  Latin, 
and  Principal  of  the  Preparatory  Department,  in 
which  capacity  he  acted  until  1868,  when  he 
received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  from  the  college  ; 
and  the  same  year  became  Superintendent  of 
the  public  schools  of  Mt.  Carmel,  111.,  continu- 
ing a  year.  In  September,  1868,  he  married 
Miss  D.  L.  0.  Johnston,  of  Clinton,  Miss.,  whom 
he  had  met  while  in  the  army.  In  June,  1869, 
he  went  to  Clinton  on  a  visit,  and  in  the  fall 
he  removed  with  his  family  to  Jackson,  Miss. 
He  was  appointed  by  the  military  commander, 
Gen.  Ames,  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Hines 
County,  Miss.,  and  subsequently,  b}'  Gov.  Al- 
corn, in  November,  1871  ;  he  was  re-elected  to 
the  same  position,  retaining  it  until  1876.  He 
began  the  study  of  law  in  1865,  continuing  it 
at  intervals,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Mississippi  in  January, 
1875.     His  wife  died  Aug.   10,  1874,  at  Jack- 


son, Miss.,  of  typhoid  fever,  and  is  buried  there. 
She  left  a  son,  Edgar  0.,  and  a  daughter,  D.  L. 
0.  In  February,  1876,  he  came  to  Columbus, 
Ohio,  was  examined  by  the  Supreme  Court,  on 
the  2d,  and  admitted  to  the  bar  ;  in  March  fol- 
lowing, he  opened  an  office  in  Akron,  and  has 
since  been  in  active  practice  here.  May  16, 
1876,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  W.  Ashmun, 
daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  George  P.  Ashmun,  of 
Akron  ;  she  bore  him  a  daughter,  Fanny  A., 
who  died  in  her  third  year. 

MILTON  W.  HENRY,  merchant,  Akron, 
Ohio,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Rachel  (Frary) 
Henry,  and  was  born  Oct.  13,  1816,  in  Blan- 
ford,  Hampden  Co.,  Mass.,  where  he  lived  on  a 
farm  until  13  years  of  age,  engaged,  as  he  says, 
in  useful  emploj'ment.  In  May,  1830,  the 
family  came  to  Westfield  Township,  Medina 
Co.,  by  teams,  and  settled  in  the  woods,  where 
a  home  was  carved  out  of  the  great  wilderness. 
In  the  fall  of  1835,  subject  entered  McGregor 
Academy,  at  Wadsworth,  remaining  one  year, 
and  during  the  time  aiding  Roswell,  H.  B.  Kent 
&  Spelman  in  their  ^store  of  mornings  and  even- 
ings and  of  Saturdays.  At  the  expiration  of 
his  year,  he  was  employed  by  them  at  $100  per 
year.  He  remained  with  them  until  they  sold 
out  in  the  latter  part  of  1837,  and  was  employed 
by  the  new  firm,  G.  &  J.  Miller,  until  1841. 
In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Spelman  located  in  Akron, 
and  with  Mr.  Clapp,  opened  a  store  under  firm 
name  of  Clapp  &  Spelman.  An  urgent  letter 
from  Mr.  Spelman  to  subject  brought  him  to 
Akron  in  October,  1841,  and  as  a  clerk  he  re- 
mained with  them  until  the  spring  of  1843, 
when,  having  saved  up  $1,000,  he  bought  a 
third  interest  in  the  store,  Mr.  Spelman  owning 
the  balance,  and  Clapp  having  retired.  The 
firm  was  now  H.  B.  Spelman  &  Co.,  and  so 
continued  until  1848.  when  Mr.  Henry  bought 
out  Spelman,  and  subsequently  sold  an  interest 
to  Jas.  Zwisler,  and  firm  name,  M.  W.  Henry 
&  Co.,  lasted  three  years.  Dec.  27,  1849,  a  fire 
destroyed  a  large  portion  of  building  and  goods, 
on  which  was  a  small  insurance.  At  10  o'clock 
he  had  rented  another  building,  and  with  the 
few  goods  left  began  business,  continuing  three 
years,  when  the  owner  rebuilt  on  the  present 
site  and  Mr.  H.  bought  an  interest  in  the  build- 
ing and  entered  it  in  1854,  and  has  remained  in 
it  ever  since.  He  remodeled  it  in  1857,  and  re- 
built it  in  1877.  The  firm  of  G.  C.  Berry  &  Co. 
was  formed  in   1875.     The  first  floor  of  this 


;r^ 


712 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


elegant  store  is  40x65  feet ;  the  second  is  same 
size,  and  comprises  tlie  wall  paper,  shawl  and 
underwear  departments  ;  the  third  floor,  car- 
pets, oil  cloths,  matting,  etc.  The  upper  floors 
are  utilized  by  the  aid  of  an  elevator  ;  there 
are  fourteen  persons  emploj'ed,  three  of  whom 
are  ladies.  The  cash  principle  was  adopted  in 
1876.  Mr.  H.  has  been  a  member  of  the  City 
Council  for  a  number  of  years,  and  a  member 
of  School  Board  for  nine  years.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder and  director  in  Taplin,  Rice  &  Cos'. 
foundry,  and  in  Austin  Powder  Co.,  of  Cleve- 
land. In  1863,  he  became  one  of  the  original 
stockholders  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Akron,  and  has  since  been  its  Vice  President 
and  Director.  He  was  married  Dec.  5,  1843,  to 
Miss  Abigail  Weeks,  a  daughter  of  Moody 
Weeks,  of  Copley  Township.  Of  this  marriage 
there  ai'e  six  daughters  and  one  son,  viz. :  Olive 
C,  Ella  C,  Julia  A.,  Hattie  A.,  Charles  M.,  Grace 
P.  and  Mattie  W.,  all  of  whom  are  living. 

PHILANDER  D.  HALL,  prominent  and  old- 
est merchant  of  the  city  of  x\kron,  Ohio,  repre- 
sents the  seventh  generation  of  the  Hall  family, 
who  came  from  Lancashire,  England,  with  the 
New  Haven  colony  in  1639.  They  soon  after- 
ward took  possession  of  a  grant  of  land  given 
tliem  by  Charles  I,  extending  from  Long  Island 
Sound  northerly,  twelve  miles  long  and  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  wide,  and  near  the  city  of 
Bridgeport,  Conn.,  a  part  of  which  city  it  now 
includes,  and  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  Oct.  10,  1808.  He  was  educated  at 
Weston  Academy,  where  his  family  held  a  free 
scholarship,  the  academ}'  being  endowed  by  land 
given  to  it  by  his  famil3\  At  the  age  of  20.  he  left 
the  school  at  Weston,  and  taught  in  the  acad- 
em}'  at  Saugatuck,  Conn.,  afterward  entering  a 
dry  goods  store  at  that  place,  wiiere  he  remained 
one  and  one-half  years.  Returning  to  Bridge- 
port, he  engaged  in  the  grocery  shipping  busi- 
ness, and  importing  West  India  products.  In 
July,  1834,  he  made  his  first  visit  to  Akron, 
and  in  May,  1835,  opened  his  goods  in  his  pres- 
ent location,  then  called  Cascade  Store  ;  he 
rentedofDr.  Crosby,  the  assignee  of  Howard,  Ire- 
dell &  Fenn,  who  had  recently  failed  ;  the  crash  of 
1837  destroyed  the  credit  of  all  the  merchants, 
fourteen  in  number,  except  his  own,  J.  D.  Com- 
mins  and  Kent's.  Feb.  17, 1851,  his  store  build- 
ing was  destro3'ed  by  fire,  and  the  present  build- 
ing was  rebuilt  and  occupied  in  December  of 
the  same  year.     From  1835  to  1857,  Mr.  Hall 


gave  his  entire  attention  to  the  business,  remov- 
ing in  the  fall  of  1857  to  New  York  City,  where, 
as  buyer  for  Hall  Bros.,  he  still  resides;  1858, 
Mr.  Hall  spent  most  of  the  year  in  traveling  in 
Europe,  visiting  the  principal  countries  on  the 
continent  and  the  British  Islands,  and  has  since 
made  two  journeys  to  the  Pacific  Coast.  Mr. 
J.  D.  Commins,  Mr.  R.  P.  Spalding  and  Mr.  Hall 
were  among  the  original  subscribers  to  the 
Akron  Rural  Cemetery,  and  he,  with  Dr.  Ackly, 
originated,  and  helped  support  the  P]piscopai 
Cluirch.  Orlando  Hall,  deceased,  the  younger 
brother  of  P.  D.  Hall,  was  born  on  the  family 
place  near  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  in  1820.  He 
joined  his  brother  in  business  at  Akron  in  1842. 
He  was  married  to  Sophia  R.  Towne  Dec.  12, 
1854,  and  died  March  10,  1855.  He  was  a  pop- 
ular business  man,  greatly-  esteemed  by  a  large 
circle  of  acquaintances  for  his  many  virtues, 
and  sincerely  lamented. 

CALVIN  P.  HUMPHREY,  lawyer,  Akron, 
Ohio  ;  is  a  son  of  Van  Rensselaer  &  Laura 
(Pease)  Humphre}-,  and  was  born  in  Hudson, 
Ohio,  June  21,  1840.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  and  his  mother  of 
Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Judge  Calvin  Pease,  and  married  first  G.  W. 
Tallmadge,  who  died  in  Tallmadge  Township, 
where  she  afterward  married  Mr.  Humphrey. 
Subject  graduated  at  Western  Reserve  College 
in  1863,  and  began  the  study  of  law  with  his 
father.  Judge  Humphre}^,  who  died  in  1864.  In 
the  fall  of  1865,  he  (subject)  entered  Cleveland 
Law  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1866. 
After  graduating,  he  located  at  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
and  lived  there  until  1 874,  when  he  came  to 
Akron.  He  was  elected  City  Solicitor  in  the 
spring  of  1879.  On  the  20th  of  September, 
1864,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Delia  Whedon, 
of  Hudson. 

WILBUR  F.  HAWXHURST,  insurance 
agent,  Akron  ;  second  son  of  Isaac  and  Clarissa 
(Miller)  Hawxhurst ;  was  born  in  El^ria,  Lo- 
rain Co.,  Ohio,  June  19,  1844.  He  was  14  when 
his  father  died.  Shortly  after,  in  1860,  he  en- 
tered Baldwin  Universit}-,  at  Berea,  where  he 
studied  two  years,  and  was  then  employed 
by  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Co.  about  two 
years  as  operator  at  the  stations  at  Elyria  and 
Youngstown.  March  20,  1864,  he  enlisted  in 
the  65th  0.  V.  I.  as  private  soldier.  In  the 
summer  of  the  same  year,  he  was  detached  as 
clerk  for  the  Assistant  Inspector  General  of 


J^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


713 


the  District  of  Etowah,  and  located  at  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn.,  for  Capt.  Mills  and  his  successor, 
Capt.  George  M.  Bray  ton,  until  June,  1865, 
when  he  was  ordered  to  his  regiment,  then  in 
Nashville,  and  again  detailed  as  clerk  to  the 
Assistant  (James  I.  Wilson)  Commissary  of 
Musters  for  the  Second  Division  of  the  Fourth 
Army  Corps,  and  served  in  that  position  until 
March  4,  1866,  when  he  was  discharged  at  In- 
dianola,  Texas.  On  his  return,  he  was  in  the 
commercial  school  at  Oberlin  for  some  time. 
He  again  entered  Baldwin  University  in  the 
fall  term  of  1866,  remaining  two  years.  In 
1868,  he  became  book-keeper  for  Charles  W. 
Stearns  &  Co.,  of  Cleveland,  and  continued  un- 
til 1870,  when  he  entered  the  insurance  office 
of  W.  F.  Fox,  of  Cleveland,  State  agent  for  the 
old  Putnam  Insurance  Co.,  and,  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year,  he  opened  a  local  agency  fire 
insurance  office  at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  which  he 
conducted  one  year.  In  November,  1871,  he 
was  given  the  Ohio  and  Indiana  State  agency 
for  the  Watertown  Fire  Insurance  Co.,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  field  until  January,  1874,  when 
he  accepted  a  like  agency  for  the  Royal  Insur- 
ance Co.,  of  Liverpool,  England,  serving  one 
year.  In  1875,  he  was  employed  for  a  year  as 
rating  agent  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  by  the  Na- 
tional Board  of  Fire  Underwriters,  and  served 
also  another  year  as  rating  agent  throughout 
the  Western  States.  In  1877,  he  was  special 
agent  in  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Michigan  for  the 
Connecticut  Fire  Insurance  Co.,  of  Hartford, 
and,  in  December  of  the  same  3'ear,  he  located 
at  Akron,  and  associated  with  M.  Mattison  in 
local  insurance,  representing  several  of  the 
leading  fire  and  life  companies.  Sept.  22,  1868, 
he  married  Miss  Clara  L.  Mattison,  of  Hinckley, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio.  They  have  one  son  living, 
and  one  son  deceased. 

JOSEPH  HAYS,  foreman  molders' depart- 
ment Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.,  Akron  ;  a  son  of 
Hugh  and  Mary  (Pollock)  Ha3-s  ;  was  born 
Oct.  17,  1843,  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  the 
youngest  son  in  a  famil}'  of  ten  children,  five 
of  whom  are  living  ;  parents  are  both  deceased 
and  were  both  natives  of  Ireland.  In  1858,  he 
began  to  learn  the  trade  of  molder  with  E. 
Ball,  at  Canton,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  at 
molding  until  June  5,  1861,  when  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  F,  4th  0.  V.  I.,  for  three  years.  He  was 
with  McClellan  in  the  Army  of  West  Virginia, 
and  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  with  Gen.  Shields, 


and  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  after  the 
seven  days'  fighting  before  Richmond,  and  re- 
mained with  it  until  the  battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville,  March  3,  1863,  where  he  was  wounded  by 
a  musket-ball,  which  shattered  his  elbow-joint. 
He  was  disabled  eighteen  months,  and  in  Wash- 
ington Hospital  about  eight  months,  when,  in 
Febi-uary,  1864,  he  was  discharged.  He  draws 
a  pension.  He  came  to  Akron  soon  after,  and 
began  work  as  a  molder  for  Aultman,  Miller 
&  Co..  in  March  following.  He  woi'ked  as  a 
journeyman  until  Feb.  21,  1880,  when  he  was 
made  foreman  in  the  molding  department, 
which,  when  full,  employs  110  men,  and  melts 
about  twenty-eight  tons  of  iron  per  da}-.  He 
was  married  Aug.  10,  1865,  to  Miss  Cora  Dun- 
bar, of  Canton,  Ohio  ;  they  have  one  son. 

JOHN  W.  HOLLOWAY,  master  of  ma- 
chinery on  C,  Mt.  V.  &  C.  R.  R.,  Akron,  a  son 
of  Joseph  T.  and  Susan  (Hawk)  Holloway, 
was  born  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  May  26,  1831. 
In  1848,  he  apprenticed  himself  to  the  trade 
of  machinist,  first  at  Cleveland,  but  in  1849 
came  to  Akron  and  entered  the  machine  shops 
of  G.  D.  Bates  &  Co.,  serving  with  them 
two  years.  He  went  to  Cumberland,  Md.,  and 
took  a  place  in  the  shops  for  a  time,  and  dur- 
ing one  year  run  a  locomotive  from  Cumber- 
land to  the  mines.  He  next  became  an  engineer 
on  a  steamboat  on  the  Ohio  River,  plying 
between  Shawneetown,  111.,  and  Paducah,  Ky., 
and  was  so  employed  for  about  one  year.  In 
the  fall  of  1854,  he  went  to  La  Fayette,  Ind., 
and  was  employed  in  the  shops  of  the  La  Fay- 
ette &  Indianapolis  Railroad  Company  for  one 
and  one-half  years,  and,  in  1856,  became  mas- 
ter of  machinery  on  the  Cleveland,  Zanesville 
&  Cincinnati  Railroad,  now  the  Cleveland,  Mt. 
Vernon  &  Columbus,  a  position  he  has  held 
ever  since.  In  November,  1854,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Caroline  E.  Tifft,of  Cuyahoga  Falls. 
Of  this  marriage  there  are  five  children.  His 
(subject's)  father  was  a  native  of  New  Jersej', 
and  came  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  about  1820, 
where  he  lived  until  1831,  when  he  removed  to 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  and  resided  there  until  his 
death  in  1878.  He  was  a  cabinet-maker,  and 
in  later  years  was  an  insurance  agent,  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  etc.j  served  also  as  Coronor  of 
the  count}'. 

REV.  JOSEPH  D.  HOLLINGER,  deceased 
(widow  resides  at  No.  1203  South  Broad wa}-, 
Akron),  died  Oct.  4,  1871,  and  was  buried  at 


if^r 


714 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Manchester,  Franklin  Township,  witli  other  of 
his  rehitives.  His  birth  occurred  near  the 
place  of  his  burial  Jan.  22,  1839.  His  educa- 
tion was  obtained  in  the  district  schools,  with 
the  additional  advantages  of  the  seminary  at 
Greensburg,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  the 
oldest  son  of  Jacob  and  Barbara  (Dail}')  Hol- 
linger,  she  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Daily,  one  of 
the  old  pioneers  of  Franklin  Township.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  a  twin  brother  to 
Michael  Hollinger,  who  has  resided  in  Franklin 
Township  the  longest  of  any  person  now  liv- 
ing. Our  subject  connected  himself  with  the 
Evangelical  Association  and  began  preaching 
in  his  23d  3'ear,  first  serving  at  North  Lima, 
Ohio,  for  one  year  ;  then  at  New  Salem,  Penn., 
one  year  ;  near  New  Hamburg,  Mercer  Co.,  Ohio, 
one  year  ;  thence  back  to  North  Lima,  where  he 
served  two  years  ;  thence  to  Osnaburg,  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  served  two  years,  subse- 
quently returning  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  filled  the  pulpit  at  Fulton  Street  Mis- 
sion, Pittsburgh.  While  there,  he  was  elected 
as  Presiding  Elder  of  Franklin  District  by  the 
Church  Conference  then  in  session.  While 
serving  in  this  office,  his  lamentable  death  oc- 
curred as  stated  above.  The  supposition  is 
that  his  fatal  sickness  was  caused  by  overwork, 
as  the  ministers  of  that  church  are  required  to 
go  through  a  four  years'  course  of  study  be- 
fore becoming  regular  members  of  Conference, 
their  examinations  occurring  every  year,  the 
successful  termination  of  their  second  exami- 
nation being  the  occasion  of  their  ordination 
as  Deacons,  and  the  fourth  entitling  them  to 
the  highest  honors  of  the  church,  that  of 
Elders,  receiving  license  in  full.  The  spring 
following  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Hol- 
linger moved  to  the  city  of  Akron,  where  she 
now  resides.  He  was  married,  Dec.  13,  1858, 
to  Mary  E.  Leuszler,  born  May  5,  1836,  of 
Holland  Dutch  extraction,  to  John  and  Catha- 
rine (Long)  Leuszler,  he  of  Hesse-Darmstadt, 
Germany.  Came  early  with  his  parents  from 
the  land  of  his  nativity  and  settled  in  Doyles- 
town,  Penn.,  and,  in  1853,  settled  near  Wads- 
worth,  Medina  Co.  Their  children  are  Anna 
M.,  born  Aug.  23,  1859,  teacher  at  No.  7,  south 
building  public  school ;  Harvey  M.,  Aug.  28, 
1861,  engaged  in  the  Buckeye  works  ;  Clara 
E.,  May  7,  1863  ;  Royal  E.,  April  10,  1866. 

LEVI  S.  HERROLD,  ex-Mayor,  958  South 
Main  street,  Akron  ;  was  born  on  the  17th  day 


of  November,  1820.  Is  a  son  of  Col.  John 
George,  the  son  of  Frederick  Herrold,  who 
came  from  Germany  to  that  part  of  Northum- 
berland Co.,  Penn.,  now  known  as  Snyder 
County,  deriving  its  name  from  a  distinguished 
gentleman  of  that  name.  The  Herrolds  were 
the  first  settlers  in  a  township  of  the  above- 
named  county,  where  they  took  up  several 
hundred  acres  of  land  and  have  always  resided. 
The  family  having  grown  numerous,  occup}- 
the  principal  part  of  one  or  two  townships  in 
that  section  of  country.  His  mother  was  Mary 
Steese,  daughter  of  Frederick  Steese,  a  verj' 
prominent  man  and  mill-owner  in  Union  and 
other  counties  in  Pennsjdvania.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch,  on  account  of  the  indigent  circum- 
stances of  his  parents,  was  compelled  to  labor 
in  various  employments  to  support  himself  and 
secure  the  meager  educational  advantages 
which  he  received,  amounting  to  three  terms  of 
district  school.  He  at  one  time  was  employed 
as  driver  on  the  canal  from  McKees'  Half-Falls 
to  Havre  de  Grace  on  the  tide-water ;  then 
steadily  advancing,  as  his  own  energy  and  nat- 
ural tact  in  business  have  shown  in  following 
him  briefl}'  through  his  subsequent  business 
life  of  about  ten  years  in  general  merchandising. 
Immediately  after  marriage,  his  official  career 
began  by  being  elected  for  a  term  of  five  years 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Snyder  County,  at 
the  expiration  of  which  he  was  re-elected  for  a 
second  term,  but  after  having  served  two  years, 
he  was  called  upon  by  the  people  of  his  county 
to  serve  a  term  of  three  years  as  second  Sheriff 
of  the  county  after  its  organization.  In  the 
spring  of  1865,  he  came  with  his  family  to 
Akron,  having  purchased,  the  preceding  sum- 
mer, the  grist  and  saw  mill  now  owned  by 
Brewster  &  Sons,  which  he  run  successfully  for 
ten  years  ;  he  served  as  Assessor  of  the  Fifth 
Ward,  a  term  of  three  years  as  Infirmary 
Director,  and,  in  the  year  1875,  was  elected 
Mayor  of  the  city  of  Akron  ;  after  having  filled 
successfully  the  last-named  office  until  the 
expiration  of  his  terra,  he  retired  to  a  quiet  life 
and  the  superintendenc}'  of  his  farm  in  Spring- 
field Township.  He  was  married  Aug.  2, 1842, 
to  Lydia  Motz,  daughter  of  John  and  Barbara 
(Moyer)  Motz,  who  were  Union  County  people. 
They  had  eight  children — four  sons  and  four 
daughters — Mary  M.,  born  Sept.  9,  1843 ; 
George  I.,  April  26,  1845  ;  Alfred,  Jan.  21, 
1847  ;  John  S.,  Sept.   6,  1850;  Henry  S.,  Dec. 


l^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


715 


12,  1853  ;  Ada  B.,  April  24,  1856  ;  Martha  A., 
Aug.  4,  1858  ;  Ida,  Oct.  3,  1865.  Mary  M. 
married  Capt.  H.  Harrison  in  the  fall  of  1863, 
and  died  Oct.  18,  1867,  of  hemorrhage  of  the 
lungs,  in  the  depot  at  Cleveland,  on  her  return 
home  with  her  husband,  having  gone  there  for 
medical  aid.  She  left  one  child,  Mai'v  Ida,  born 
Aug.  23,  1865.  George  died  Feb."  26,  1859; 
Alfred,  April  9,  1847  f  Henry,  Dec.  20,  1853  ; 
Ada  B.,  Feb.  9,  1859  ;  Ida,  May  9,  1867.  John 
was  married  to  Mar}^  Cook,  daughter  of  Louis 
Cook,  of  Akron  ;  she  d3ing  in  the  spring  of 
1875,  leaving  one  child,  Lilly  May,  born  Sept. 
26,  1872.  Both  grandchildren  are  living  with 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

J.  H.  HOWER,  of  Hower  &  Co.,  manufactur- 
ers of  oat  meal,  Akron,  is  a  native  of  Stark  Co., 
Ohio,  and  was  born  Feb.  22,  1822.  His  father, 
Jesse  Hower,  was  a  native  of  Center  Co.,  Penn., 
and  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents  about  the 
year  1815.  His  father,  Jacob  Hower,  was  a 
native  of  Penns3dvania,  and  a  shoemaker  by 
trade.  He  moved  to  Stark  County,  whei*e  he 
settled  and  improved  a  farm.  Jesse  moved  to 
Clinton  about  the  year  1823,  and  bought  a  farm 
of  his  father,  upon  which  he  built  a  saw-mill, 
but  died  soon  after  completing  same.  Mrs. 
Hower  then  moved  to  her  folks',  near  New 
Berlin,  where  she  lived  some  five  or  six  years, 
when  she  married  Mr.  John  Snyder,  and  located 
near  Doylestown,  where  she  died  about  the 
year  1855  or  1856.  J.  H.  (the  subject)  lived 
at  home  until  he  was  30  years  old,  receiving  a 
common-school  education,  working  on  the  farm 
and  teaching  school  during  the  winters  from 
the  time  he  was  18  years  of  age.  At  the  age 
of  28,  he  bought  an  interest  in  a  general  store 
at  Doylestown  (firm  Graham  &  Hower),  and  con- 
tinued for  five  years,  when  he  sold  out  and 
bought  a  pottery,  which  he  operated  for  two 
years,  and  then  sold  out  and  organized  the 
Excelsior  Reaper  and  Mower  Works  of  Doyles- 
town, now  conducted  by  Seiberling,  Miller  & 
Co.  Mr.  H.  was  connected  with  the  works 
until  1875,  though  he  came  to  Akron  in  1866, 
and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Excelsior 
Reaper  Works,  as  above,  of  which  he  was  Vice 
President,  and  continued  for  some  ten  years. 
In  1879,  he  bought  an  intei'est  in  the  Turner 
Mills  of  Akron,  and,  in  1881,  his  sons,  Harvey 
Y.  and  M.  Otis,  bought  out  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Turner,  and  formed  the  present  firm  of  Hower 
&  Co.     He  was  married  in  1852,  to  Miss  Susan 


Youngker,  daughter  of  J.  Youngker,  of  Doyles- 
town. By  this  marriage  there  have  been  three 
children — Harve}^  Y.,  M.  Otis  and  Charles  H. 
Mr.  H.  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  En- 
glish Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest,  being  one  of  its  organ- 
izers, and  a  Trustee  since.  He  was  originally  a 
Democrat,  but  a  Republican  since  the  organi- 
zation of  that  party. 

JACOB  D.  HOLLINGER,  druggist,  Akron, 
junior  member  of  the  wholesale  and  retail  drug 
firm  of  Warner  &  Hollinger  ;  was  born  in  1844, 
and  is  a  native  of  Summit  Co.  His  people 
were  among  the  earl}'  pioneers  of  Franklin 
Township.  The  early  life  of  J.  D.  was  spent 
on  a  farm.  He  was  educated  at  the  Evangel- 
ical College  of  Greensburg,  and  is  a  graduate  of 
the  Pittsburgh  Commercial  College.  This  latter 
attainment  led  to  his  accepting  the  situation  of 
book-keeper  for  Mr.  George  Weimer,  who,  for 
many  years,  was  one  of  the  leading  druggists 
of  Akron.  During  Mr.  HoUinger's  connection 
with  the  firm  as  book-keeper,  Mr.  Warner  was 
employed  as  prescription  clerk.  Though  both 
3'oung  men,  they  now  compose  a  firm  that 
ranks  among  the  leading  druggists  of  the  cit3^ 
Their  house  was  established  in  1852,  and  the 
dimensions  of  their  present  house.  No.  213  and 
215  East  Market  street,  is  33  feet  frontage  by 
80  feet  in  depth,  two  floors  and  double  basement 
cellar.  Polilicall}',  Mr.  Hollinger  has  taken  no 
active  part,  he  choosing  rather  to  devote  his 
time  and  energies  to  the  building  up  of  a  good 
business.  He  is  a  member  of  Akron  Lodge, 
No.  547,  I.  0.  0.  F.  During  the  war  of  the 
rebellion,  he  served  as  a  volunteer  in  Co.  G, 
19th  0.  V.  I.,  three  months'  service,  and  also  in 
the  104th  0.  V.  I.,  three  years'  service. 

H.  B.  HOUSEL,  millwright,  Akron  ;  was  born 
April  9,  1821,  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  When  he 
was  about  1  year  old,  his  parents  moved  to 
Brewster's  Corners,  Summit  Co.  He  was  the 
oldest  of  a  fiimily  of  sixteen  children,  ten  of 
whom  are  still  living,  and,  at  that  earh^  day  in 
the  settlement  of  Summit  Co.,  but  little  oppor- 
tunity was  afforded  him  for  getting  an  etluca- 
tion.  At  the  age  of  19,  he  began  learning  the 
trade  of  a  millwright  with  one  John  Gilcrist, 
with  whom  he  served  an  apprenticeship  of  two 
3'ears,  which  included  six  months  of  schooling 
given  him  by  Mr.  Gilcrist.  The  first  summer 
after  completing  his  trade,  he  worked  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  ;  and,  in  the  following  winter, 


'f 


^ 


(16 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


he  came  to  Akron,  and  helped  to  build  the  city 
mills.  He  followed  "jour"  work  for  about 
eight  3'ears,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been 
contracting  and  building  mills  in  Ohio  and  ad- 
joining States.  In  1847,  he  bought  the  old 
homestead  farm,  which  was  the  home  of  his 
family  until  1865,  when  he  removed  to  Akron. 
In  1877,  when  the  co-operative  store  was  organ- 
ized, he  became  interested  in  it ;  and,  in  1880, 
he  was  made  one  of  the  directors  ;  and,  at 
present,  when  not  otherwise  engaged,  he  spends 
his  time  at  the  store.  Jan.  24,  1844,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Eunice  Meach,  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  but  who  came  to  Wayne  Co., 
Ohio,  with  her  people,  when  she  was  a  child. 
Six  children  have  been  born  to  them,  of  whom 
but  one  son  and  two  daughters  are  living. 
George,  the  son,  has  a  decided  talent  for  music, 
and,  at  present,  he  is  connected  with  the  schools 
of  Muscatine,  Iowa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Housel  are 
both  members  of  the  First  M.  E.  Church  of 
Akron.  He  is  well  known  throughout  the  count}', 
and  is  a  man  whose  name  and  reputation  stand 
above  reproach. 

D.  W.  HOLLOWAY,  merchant,  Akron  ;  is  a 
native  of  Center  Co.,  Penn.,  and  is  the  son  of 
Daniel  C.  and  Sarah  M.  (Speaker)  Hollowaj^  both 
of  whom  lie  buried  at  Aaronsburg,  Penn.,  the 
former  home  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
the  place  where  most  of  his  early  life  was 
spent ;  there  he  also  received  a  fair  education, 
and,  though  he  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  early 
age  of  14  years  (he  is  now  24),  and  principall} 
dependent  upon  his  own  resources,  he  has  suc- 
ceeded not  only  in  establishing  himself  in  a  good 
business,  but  has,  by  carefuU}'  associating  witli 
that  class  of  people  who  are  possessed  of  a  self- 
respect,  built  for  himself  a  worthy  name  and 
reputation.  His  mercantile  life  began  in 
Aaronsburg  when  he  was  14  years  old,  and, 
though  a  part  of  his  boyhood  days  were  spent 
on  a  farm,  he  soon  became  partial  to  the  life  of 
a  merchant,  and  how  great  his  talent  in  that  di- 
rection lay  is  evidenced  by  his  present  position 
and  success.  Nov.  1,  1879,  he  and  Mr.  Harri- 
son became  the  successors  of  Mr.  E.  P.  Hollo- 
way,  under  the  firm  name  of  Harrison  &  Hol- 
loway  ;  their  place  of  business  is  located  on  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Exchange  streets,  South 
Akron  ;  it  is  a  large  storeroom,  27  feet  front- 
age by  78  feet  in  depth,  stocked  with  every- 
thing pertaining  to  the  dry  goods  business. 
Mr.  Holloway  began  first  as  a  salesman  for  E. 


P.  Holloway,  and,  the  better  to  enable  him  to 
do  business  successfully  and  accui'atelj',  he  at- 
tended the  night  school  of  the  Commercial 
College  of  Akron,  from  which  he  graduated  ; 
he  now  keeps  the  firm's  books,  and,  though  still 
a  young  man,  he  stands  upon  an  equal  footing 
with  many  of  his  competitors  who  are  double 
his  age. 

H.  HARRISON,  merchant,  Akron  ;  senior 
member  of  the  dry  goods  firm  of  Harrison  & 
Holloway  ;  has  been  a  resident  of  Summit  Co. 
since  18(35  ;  he  is  a  man  now  42  years  of  age, 
and  a  native  of  Snyder  (formerly  Union)  Co., 
Penn.  His  boyhood  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and 
the  most  of  his  early  life  in  his  native  State. 
Sept.  IG,  1861,  he  entered  the  Federal  army, 
and  gave  his  services  to  his  country  to  aid  in 
the  suppression  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion  ;  he 
was  made  Captain  of  Co.  F,  of  the  172d  Penn. 
V.  M.,  and  remained  in  the  service  until  Aug. 
1,  1862.  In  1865,  he  came  to  Summit  Co.,  and 
for  about  one  and  a  half  years  he  was  in  the 
employ  of  E.  P.  Holloway  ;  subsequently  he 
engaged  in  milling  ;  he  and  ex-Mayor  Herrold, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Herrold  &  Harrison, 
were  proprietors  of  the  South  Akron  Mills. 
For  about  one  year  he  resided  in  the  country 
and  was  interested  in  farming  ;  again  he  be- 
came a  resident  of  Akron,  and,  after  having 
spent  some  time  as  a  clerk  for  Mr.  E.  P.  Hol- 
loway, he  and  W.  H.  Holloway  bought  the  es- 
tablishment on  Nov.  1,  1879.  He  is  a  member 
of  Aetolia  Lodge,  No.  24,  K.  of  P.,  and  a  man 
in  ever}'  way  worthy  to  be  identified  with  the 
business  and  social  interests  of  Akron. 

DR.  ELIZUR  HITCHCOCK,  physician, 
Akron  ;  is  a  native  of  Summit  County.  He 
was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Tallmadge, 
Aug.  15,  1832,  and  is  the  fourth  of  seven  chil- 
dren born  to  Lucius  W.  and  Eleanor  (Wolcott) 
Hitchcock.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut, his  father  coming  on  foot  in  1822,  to 
Tallmadge,  where  he  bought  a  farm,  married 
and  raised  his  famil}'.  In  1873,  he  lost  his 
wife,  and  left  the  farm,  coming  lo  Akron,  where 
he  now  resides.  Dr.  Hitchcock  remained  at 
home  until  the  spring  of  1850,  working  on  the 
farm  and  gaining  such  education  as  the  schools 
of  the  neighborhood  aftbrded.  At  18,  he  en- 
tered the  Western  Reserve  College  at  Hudson, 
where  he  studied  two  3'ears,  and  then  entered 
the  Junior  Class  in  Yale  College,  graduating 
there  in  1854.     During  the  next  four  years,  he 


ik 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


m 


taught  select  schools  in  Tallmadge  and  Grus- 
tavus,  dividing  the  time  between  them.  In 
1857,  he  began  reading  medicine  with  Dr. 
Dudley  Allen,  at  Kinsman,  Ohio,  and  in  1860, 
graduated  at  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
Western  Reserve  College,  at  Cleveland,  having 
taken  a  course  previously  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 
He  began  his  practice  at  Mecca,  but  in  the  fol- 
lowing spring  located  at  Orwell,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years.  He  then  went  into  the 
armv  as  Sui'geon  of  the  7th  0.  V.  I.,  and  resigned 
after  serving  about  six  months.  In  the  fall  of 
1868,  he  located  in  West  Williamsfield,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  until  1869,  when  he  sold 
out  his  business  and  attended  the  Bellevue 
Hospital.  In  1870,  he  came  to  Akron  and  has 
since  practiced  his  profession  here.  He  is  a 
member  and  President  of  the  Summit  County 
Medical  Societ}',  and  also  a  member  of  the 
Union  Medical  Association  of  Northeastern 
Ohio.  On  Nov.  24,  1861,  he  married  Miss 
Hattie  Reed,  a  native  of  Mecca,  Trumbull  Co., 
Ohio,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Gertrude  R. 
His  wife  died  in  May,  186-1.  In  November, 
186-t,  he  married  Miss  Lucretia  Kellogg,  a  na- 
tive of  West  Andover,  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  by 
whom  he  has  two  children — Halbert  K.  and 
Lucius  W. 

H.  P.  HITCHCOCK,  general  insurancic  and 
local  and  special  adjusting  agent,  Akron  ;  is 
a  native  of  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  born 
on  his  father's  farm  in  this  county,  July  18, 
1841,  and  lived  there  until  he  was  16  years  of 
age.  He  then  engaged  as  clerk  in  the  general 
merchandising  business  of  Starr  Bros.  &  Co., 
in  Elyria,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  one  3'ear, 
when  he  returned  to  his  parents'  home  and  re- 
mained until,  at  the  age  of  20,  he  entered  the 
emplo}'  of  the  A.  &  G.  W.  R.  R.,  now  known  as 
the  N.  Y.,  P.  &  0.  Railway  Company.  He  con- 
tinued in  this  employ  some  seven  and  a  half 
years,  serving  in  all  the  suboi'dinate  positions  up 
to  that  of  conductor.  During  the  construction 
of  the  road  from  Marion  to  Dayton,  he  had 
charge  of  the  construction  train  with  from  fifty 
to  sevent3'-five  men,  for  about  a  year.  Upon 
leaving  the  railroad  compan}',  he  began  work- 
ing for  the  Continental  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany of  New  York,  as  solicitor.  During  the 
year  he  was  engaged  with  this  compau}*,  he 
took  $360,000  worth  of  lisks.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  this  time,  he  engaged  with  the  Enter- 
prise Fire  Insurance  Co.  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 


This  was  about  1870,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  constantl}'  engaged  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness, adding  to  his  agency  various  companies 
until  now  the  combined  assets  of  the  compa- 
nies which  he  represents  reaches  the  immense 
sum  of  $100,000,000.  His  list  of  companies 
includes  some  of  the  oldest  and  most  reliable 
in  this  and  the  old  countries.  In  1876,  he  took 
the  field  as  an  adjuster,  and  has  served  with 
distinguished  ability  in  this  department  since. 
For  the  past  three  ^-ears,  Mr.  Hitchcock  has 
served  as  a  special  agent  and  adjuster  for  the 
Meridian,  Fanieul  Hall  and  Fairfield  Companies, 
and  is  now  acting  in  the  same  capacity  for  the 
Niagara  of  New  York.  He  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  C.  Upson,  a  native  of  Summit  Co., 
Ohio.  By  this  marriage  there  have  been  two 
children — one.  Eva,  living. 

JOSEPH  HUGILL,  contractor  and  builder 
in  stone  and  brick,  Akron  ;  was  born  in  York- 
shire, England,  September  1, 1834.  His  father, 
George  Hugill,  was  a  railroad  contractor.  Jo- 
seph was  apprenticed  at  the  age  of  14  to  the 
stone  mason's  trade  and  served  three  years, 
when  he  came  to  the  United  States  and  settled 
in  Cleveland,  where  he  lived  with  a  married 
sister.  Remaining  in  that  vicinity  several 
years,  he  went  to  Canada,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade  on  the  Grand  Trunk  R.  R.,  for  two 
3'ears,  after  which  he  contracted  stone  work  on 
the  Bufl^alo  &  Lake  Huron  R.  R.  He  went  to 
California  via  New  York  and  Panama  during 
the  Frazer  River  excitement  in  1858.  He 
went  to  El  Dorado  Co.,  and  worked  at  his  trade 
in  Placerville  one  year  ;  the  next  3'ear,  he  fol- 
lowed mining,  and,  in  1860.  imbued  with  tlie 
excitement  which  then  prevailed,  he  went  to 
Nevada,  working  at  his  trade  in  Carson  Cit3-, 
where  he  built  the  county  buildings.  He  next 
went  to  Virginia  Cit3',  where  he  did  the  stone 
work  on  the  Gould  &  Curr3-  Quartz  Mills.  He 
returned  to  Cleveland  in  1864  cia  Panama  and 
New  York,  and  thence  to  Canada,  where,  on 
September  28  of  the  same  3'ear,  he  married 
Miss  Sarah  Wells,  at  Hamilton.  She  was  a 
native  of  South  Dumfries,  Brant  Co.,  Canada. 
In  the  spring  of  1866,  the3'  came  to  Akron 
where  he  has  since  conducted  the  business  of 
contractor  and  builder  in  stone  and  brick.  In 
1872.  he  purchased  some  land  upon  which  he 
has  developed  a  stone  quarry*  which  furnishes 
an  inexhaustible  supply  of  building  material. 
B3'   their   marriage  there  have  been  four  chil- 


:(^ 


J^'. 


zfku 


718 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


dren,  of  whom  three  are  still  living,  viz  ,  Willie 
E.,  Franklin  W.  and  Daisy. 

A.  J.  HUSE,  cabinet-maker,  is  a  native  of 
Vermont ;  he  was  born  in  Windsor  County, 
June  7,  1804.  His  father,  Robert  Huse,  was  a 
shoemaker  b}'  trade,  but  followed  farming  ;  he 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  His  father  was 
a  sea  captain,  and  lost  his  life  in  a  storm 
at  sea.  Robert  moved  to  Rochester,  A^t.,  about 
the  year  1797,  of  which  place  he  was  one  of 
the  pioneers.  Our  subject  was  born  and  raised 
on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  22  he  was  ap- 
prenticed to  the  cabinet  trade,  and  on  Sept. 
6,  1829,  he  married  Miss  Louisa  W.  Austin, 
a  native  of  Vermont.  The  following  year  the}" 
moved  to  Cayuga  County,  New  York,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  until  183(3,  when  he 
took  the  water  route  to  Ohio  and  settled  in 
Middlebury,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  until 
1844  ;  he  then  worked  in  a  woolen  machinery 
manufactory  until  1872,  since  which  time  he 
has  done  general  business  pertaining  to  his 
trade.  By  his  marriage  there  were  five  chil- 
dren, of  whom  but  one  lives,  viz.,  Charles  W., 
of  Akron,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huse  have  been 
connected  with  the  Universalist  Church  for  the 
past  forty  years.  September  6,  1879,  thej^ 
celebrated  their  golden  wedding,  on  which  occa- 
sion friends  to  the  number  of  300  joined  in  the 
ceremonies. 

WILLIAM  FOSTER  HOPE,  manager  of 
Aki'on  Malleable  Iron  Works,  Middlebury  (Sixth 
Ward  of  Akron),  is  a  native  of  Pittsburgh,  Penn.; 
was  born  Aug.  4,  1838  ;  his  father,  Richard 
Hope,  was  a  contractor  and  builder,  in  which 
capacity  he  is  well  known  in  Pittsburgh,  where 
he  built  man}^  of  the  leading  buildings  of  that 
city.  William  F.  (subject)  lived  in  his  native 
city  until  September,  1880,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  city  schools,  and  also  a  course 
at  Jefferson  College.  At  the  age  of  18,  he 
engaged  as  a  book-keeper  with  Holmes  &  Co., 
edge  tool  manufacturers,  where  he  remained 
two  years  ;  he  then  engaged  in  the  grain  com- 
mission business  for  himself,  continuing  for 
four  years,  when  he  took  a  position  as  general 
ticket  agent  for  the  Allegheny  Valle}'  R.  R.  for 
seven  years.  Next,  he  engaged  as  book-keeper 
for  a  wholesale  grocery  house  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  became  book-keeper  in  the 
Second  National  Bank  of  Pittsburgh,  remaining 
two  years,  and  then  went  into  the  Auditor's 
Department  of  the  Allegheny  Valley  R.  R.,  and 


remained  there  until  July,  1880,  when  he  came 
to  Akron,  Ohio,  in  September  following,  having 
formed  a  partnership,  in  August  previous,  with 
John  F.  Greer,  under  style  of  Akron  Malleable 
Iron  works,  which  is  spoken  of  elsewhere  in 
this  Work.  He  was  married  in  February,  1864, 
to  Miss  Lizzie  E.  Greer,  a  native  of  Pittsburgh. 
They  have  three  children,  viz. :  Mary  E.,  Annie 
W.  and  Nellie  M. 

A.  M.  HEATHMAN,  groceries,  provisions, 
flour  and  feed,  432  Centre  street,  Akron,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Coventry  Township,  Summit  Co.,  and 
was  born  July  28,  1832  ;  is  the  eldest  of  seven 
children  born  to  Elijah  and  Melintha  (West- 
phall)  Heatliman,  natives  of  Springfield  and 
Coventr}'  Townships.  Elijah  was  the  third  son 
of  Bennett  Heathraan,  a  native  of  Maryland, 
who  came  to  Coventry  in  the  early  pioneer 
days,  and  followed  farming  there  until  his  death. 
He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  worked 
also  at  carpenter's  trade  ;  also  woi-ked  on  Ohio 
Canal.  Mrs.  Heathman  died  at  the  residence 
of  her  daughter,  in  Copley  Township,  in  the 
summer  of  1880.  A.  M.  (subject)  lived  at 
home  until  twenty  years  of  age,  brought  up  on 
the  farm  ;  also  worked  at  carpentering,  and 
visited  Michigan,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Wisconsin 
and  Iowa.  He  was  married  Nov.  28,  1861.  to 
Miss  Agnes  R.  Kidder,  a  native  of  Akron,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Phoebe  (Savage)  Kidder, 
who  were  old  residents  of  the  place.  In  1872, 
he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  the  firm, 
Breniger  &  Heathman,  continuing  seven  years; 
he  then  sold  out  and  engaged  in  his  present 
place.  Five  children  have  been  born  to  him, 
four  of  whom  are  living,  viz. :  Melintha,  George, 
Etha  and  Alexander — Ida,  deceased. 

DAVID  E.  HILL,  President  of  the  Hill  Sew- 
er Pipe  Co.,  Akron  ,  was  born  in  Cattaraugus 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  25,  1825,  and  is  the  youngest 
of  four  children  born  to  David  and  Avis  (Mc- 
Millan) Hill,  natives  of  Rhode  Island,  and  who 
removed  to  New  York  in  an  earl}'^  day.  He 
was  a  carpenter  b}'  trade,  and  died  in  Cattarau- 
gus Co.  at  the  age  of  77  years  ;  she  died  at  the 
age  of  79  j-ears.  David  E.  (the  subject)  lived 
at  home  eighteen  years  ;  his  brother  was  a  cab- 
inet-maker, and  he  learned  the  same  trade  with 
him.  His  education  was  received  at  the  dis- 
trict schools.  In  1843,  he  came  to  Middlebury, 
Akron,  and  worked  for  his  uncle,  Reuben  Mc- 
Millan, manufacturer  of  woolen  machinerv,  un- 
til 1849,  when  the  firm  of  Hill,  Foster  &  Co.,  for 


■^ 


■i^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


719 


the  manufacture  of  stoneware,  was  formed.  The}' 
occupied  the  old  "  Black  Mills,"  and  continued 
in  business  until  about  1851,  when  Mr.  McMillan 
sold  his  interest  to  Hill  &  Foster.  Mr.  Hill 
was  identified  with  the  business  until  1855,  and 
retired  for  one  year,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
he  came  back,  and  the  firm  became  Hill  &  Pow- 
ers, and  later,  Hill  &  Adams,  which  continued 
until  1868,  when  it  was  merged  into  a  stock 
company,  known  as  the  "  Hill  &  Adams  Sewer 
Pipe  Co.,"  Mr.  Hill  being  President.  He  retired 
from  the  business  in  1871.  The  old  firm  of 
Hill,  Merrill  &  Co.  made  the  first  machine  for 
the  manufacture  of  sewer  pipe  in  America. 
About  the  year  1866,  Mr.  Hill  became  one  of  a 
company  of  five  men,  who  bought  the  present 
building,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  goods — known  as  the  "  Middlebury 
Woolen  Mills."  The  business  finally  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Hill  and  John  Townsend, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1873,  the  machinei-y  was 
sold,  the  building  was  fitted  for  the  manufact- 
ure of  sewer  pipe,  and  the  Hill  Sewer  Pipe  Co. 
was  formed  and  incorporated,  with  Mr.  Hill  as 
President ;  his  son,  George  R.,  being  Secretary 
and  Treasurer,  with  James  Viall  as  Superin- 
tendent. Mr.  Hill  has  always  been  a  public- 
spirited  man,  favoring  all  improvements  for  the 
benefit  of  town  or  county.  He  served  several 
years  as  a  member  of  Middlebury  School 
Board  ;  also  as  a  member  of  Cit}'  Council  of 
Akron,  and  as  a  County  Commissioner  for  six 
years.  He  was  an  Abolitionist  until  formation 
of  Republican  party  ;  since  then  he  has  voted 
with  that  party.  He  was  married  in  June, 
1848.  to  Miss  Harriet  L.  McMillan,  a  daughter 
of  Reuben  McMillan.  They  have  had  three 
children,  but  one  of  whom  is  living — George  R. 
DENNIS  A.  HINE,  deceased  ;  was  born  in 
Milford,  Conn.,  in  the  year  1808.  His  parents 
moved  West  and  settled  in  Tallmadge  Town- 
ship, Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  at  an  early  day.  Our 
subject  lived  on  the  farm  until  1829,  when  he 
came  to  Middlebury,  and  engaged  as  clerk  in  a 
general  merchandise  business  of  John  Mc- 
Millan's, and  some  years  later,  in  company  with 
Mr.  M.  L.  Sherman,  he  engaged  in  the  general 
merchandise  business  in  Middlebury,  they  con- 
tinuing a  number  of  years,  after  which  he 
clerked  in  Middlebury-  and  at  Tallmadge,  and 
later  conducted  a  butchering  business  in  Mid- 
dlebury, and  next  engaged  in  the  fishing  busi- 
ness on  Lake  Huron,  after  which,  in  company 


with  Drs.  Jewett  and  Wright,  conducted  a  wa- 
ter-cure establishment  for  a  number  of  years 
in  Middlebury  ;  he  then  engaged  in  the  nursery 
business,  which  he  followed  many  years.  He 
died  July  27,  1878.  Dec.  29,  1831,  he  married 
Miss  Lucy  A.  Smith,  a  native  of  Groton,  Conn. 
Of  their  eleven  children,  but  five  are  living,  viz.: 
Henry  and  Lewis  C,  both  married  and  live  in 
Akron ;  Addie,  now  Mrs.  I.  L.  Bevis,  of  St. 
Louis,  Mo.;  Augusta,  now  Mrs.  B.  M.  Allison, 
of  Middlebury  ;  and  Jennie,  now  Mrs.  Jacob 
Replogle,  of  Middlebury.  Mrs.  Hine  is  living 
on  the  old  homestead. 

DR.  E.  W.  HOWARD,  physician,  Akron  ;  is  a 
native  of  Andover,  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  and  comes 
of  a  family  noted  for  its  longevity'  ;  his  father 
reached  the  age  of  89  ;  his  father's  mother 
reached  95  ;  a  great-aunt  reached  115,  and  his 
great-grandmother  the  age  of  97.  Dr.  Howard's 
parents,  David  and  Cynthia  (Crossman)  Howard, 
were  natives  of  Massachusetts.  His  father's 
family  was  one  of  those  that  contributed  all 
their  available  male  force  to  the  Revolutionary 
war  ;  his  grandfather  David,  with  his  brothers 
James,  Solomon,  Joseph  and  Elias,  went  as 
soldiers,  the  latter  being  killed  in  the  service 
of  his  country.  Dr.  Howard,  the  seventh  child 
of  a  family  of  ten  children,  was  born  April  14, 
1816  ;  his  youth  was  spent  upon  the  farm,  ac- 
quiring the  rudiments  of  an  education  in  the 
schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  more  liberal 
advantages  in  a  course  at  the  Chester  Academ}^ 
At  the  age  of  19,  he  made  a  visit  to  the  West, 
calling  on  his  cousin.  Prof  R.  L.  Howard,  a 
physician  in  Elyria  ;  was  by  him  persuaded  to 
study  medicine,  and  accordingly  began  reading 
with  him  ;  this  was  in  1835.  He  subsequently 
attended  lectures  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  going  later 
to  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  to  read  with  L.  G.  Whiting, 
with  whom  he  read  for  two  years.  In  1838,  he 
graduated  at  the  Berkshire  Medical  College,  at 
Pittsfield,  Mass.,  when  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Prof  R.  L.  Howard,  in  Elyria,  Ohio.  He 
practiced  at  Elyria  only  a  year  when  he  came  to 
Akron,  where  he  has  remained  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  up  to  the  present.  During  the  late 
war,  he  was  sent  by  Gov.  Tod  to  assist  in  car- 
ing for  the  wounded  after  the  battle  of  Antie- 
tam.  He  was  assigned  to  the  hospital  at 
Frederick  City,  Md.,  where  he  served  about  a 
month.  In  the  following  winter,  the  Governor 
again  sent  him  to  assist  in  caring  for  the  troops, 
this  time  spending  several  months  in  hospital 


>1^ 


IX" 


rso 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


work  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  Dr.  Howard  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Summit  Countj  Medical 
Society  since  its  organization,  of  which  be  has 
also  been  President.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Union  Medical  Association  of  Northeastern 
Ohio,  which  he  has  served  two  terms  as  Presi- 
dent ;  of  the  Ohio  State  Medical  Association, 
and  of  the  American  Medical  Association.  In 
1876,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  International 
Medical  Congress,  held  at  Philadelphia.  June 
16, 1840,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Chittenden, 
a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Sprague) 
Chittenden,  who  were  natives  of  Connecticut, 
and  pioneers  in  Springfield  Township.  There  are 
two  children — Henry  C,  for  the  past  seven  years 
practicing  in  partnership  with  his  father  ;  and 
Frank  D.,  engaged  in  the  foundry  business. 

B.  C.  HERRICK,  of  Herrick  &  Cannon, 
wholesale  and  retail  china,  ci'ocker}"  and  glass 
goods,  Akron  ;  is  a  native  of  Twinsburg  Town- 
ship, in  this  county,  and  is  the  eldest  of  five 
children,  born  to  J.  E.  and  Philo  (Clark)  Her- 
rick ;  his  parents  were  natives  of  New  England ; 
his  father  came  when  a  3'oung  man  from  Massa- 
chusetts to  Ohio,  settling,  in  1825,  in  Twins- 
burg, where  he  met  and  married  his  wife,  a 
native  of  Connecticut ;  she  came  there  with 
her  parents  in  1826.  The  older  members  of 
the  famil}'.  including  herself,  walked  a  greater 
part  of  the  way,  while  an  ox  team  transported 
the  household  effects.  After  marriage  they 
settled  on  a  piece  of  land,  cleared  it,  and  are 
still  living  there,  at  the  advanced  age  of  over 
75.  In  1878,  they  celebrated  their  golden 
wedding.  B.  C.  Herrick  was  born  Oct.  25,  1829, 
and  lived  at  home  on  the  farm  until  25  j-ears 
of  age,  gaining  the  foundation  of  his  education 
at  the  district  schools,  and  later  graduated  at 
the  Twinsburg  Institute  ;  at  the  age  of  18  he 
began  teaching  winter  school,  continuing 
through  ten  seasons.  In  1854,  he  went  to  New- 
bury, Gi-eauga  Co.,  Ohio,  and,  with  his  brother 
Earle,  bought  the  business  of  E.  Stone,  Esq., 
and  continued  dealing  in  general  merchandise, 
butter  and  cheese,  for  some  two  years,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Herrick  &  Bros.  He  then 
sold  his  interest  and  bought  a  farm  in  Twins- 
burg, where  he  resided  until  1867,  traveling, 
however  in  the  meanwhile,  as  a  commercial 
ti-aveler  for  four  years.  At  this  time  he  came 
to  Akron,  and  in  compan}-  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  W.  B.  Cannon,  formed  the  present  business 
partnership.     Mr.    Herrick   is   a   Trustee  and 


Steward  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  church  matters.  Feb.  4, 
1858,  he  married  Miss  H.  C.  Cannon,  a  native 
of  Aurora.  B3'  this  marriage  he  has  three 
children,  Oakle}'  C,  Winnie  C.  and  Victor  M. 
DAVID  HANSCOM  (deceased) ;  was  born 
Oct.  18,  1814,  on  his  father's  farm,  near  Port- 
land, Maine  ;  at  the  age  of  6  years,  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.;  at  the  age  of  18,  he 
began  learning  the  cooper's  trade,  and,  when  of 
age,  he  came  to  Ohio,  stopping  at  Middlebury, 
where  he  remained  one  year,  working  at  his 
trade  ;  he  then  went  to  Lake  Co.,  and  pursued 
the  same  business  there  for  three  years.  In 
1840,  his  father's  family*  came  to  Summit  Co. 
and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Portage  Township 
which  the  bo3's  bought,  the  parents  living  with 
them.  Our  subject  worked  at  Cuyahoga  Falls 
some  two  years,  then  went  to  Ravenna,  where 
he  kept  a  hotel ;  also  kept  a  hotel  (half-way 
house)  between  Bedford  and  Twinsburg ;  he 
afterward  came  to  Akron,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  cooper  shop  for  two  years  :  he  then 
kept  grocery  until  1850,  when  he  sold  out  to 
James  Gardner,  his  partner  ;  he  then  became 
one  of  a  party  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
going  to  California  ;  he  went  to  Pittsburgh  and 
chartered  a  steamboat  for  the  party,  the}-  em- 
barking at  Wellsville  ;  they  went  direct  to  St. 
Joseph  and  thence  overland  to  California,  being 
three  months  on  the  way.  Our  subject  en- 
gaged in  the  grocer}'  business,  and,  after  aj'ear's 
stay  in  the  land  of  gold,  returned  home  b}'  way 
of  Panama  and  New  York.  Soon  after  his  re- 
turn, he  and  his  brother  Charles  (the  firm  D.  & 
C.  Hanscom)  engaged  in  the  grocery  business, 
and,  some  five  or  six  years  later,  built  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  Howard  and  Market  streets, 
also  taking  their  brother  George  in  as  a  partner, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Hanscom  Brothers  ; 
they  continued  until  about  1862,  when  they 
sold  out,  and,  about  a  year  later,  engaged  in 
the  business  again  and  continued  about  three 
years,  when  he  again  sold  out ;  one  year  later, 
one  of  his  rooms  ])ecoming  vacant,  he  put  in  a 
stock  of  groceries  and  once  more  engaged  in 
the  business,  continuing  about  seven  years, 
since  which  time  he  lived  retired  until  his 
death,  March  26,  1881.  The  deceased  was 
twice  married — first,  to  Miss  Sarah  Pemberton, 
of  Lake  Co.,  Ohio;  she  died  Oct.  21,  1844; 
they  had  three  children,  viz.,  Mrs.  Thayer,  of 
Westville,     Ohio,     and    John     and     Coi'nelia. 


ik^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


721 


March  17,  1845,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Stim- 
son,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  came  with  her 
parents  to  Ohio  about  1840  ;  there  are  two 
children — Mrs.  Jennings,  of  Al^ron,  and  Frank. 
COL.  JOHN  C.  HART,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Cornwall,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  April  17, 
1798.  In  1802,  his  father,  Rufus  Hart,  moved 
to  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  until 
1815,  when  he  moved  to  Ohio.  In  the  war  of 
1812,  his  father  was  a  Lieutenant  in  a  company 
commanded  by  Capt.  Mallison,  and  was  in  the 
battles  of  Chippewa  and  Lundy's  Lane  and 
the  burning  of  Buffalo.  Between  the  age  of 
14  and  15,  John  C.  enlisted  in  a  company  of 
cavahy  at  Rocnester,  N.  Y.,  under  Capt.  Stone, 
and  was  with  his  father  at  Newark,  Fort  George 
and  other  contested  points.  He  was  at  Black 
Rock  as  a  bearer  of  dispatches  when  the  Brit- 
ish attacked  Fort  Erie  in  1814.  After  the  war, 
he  and  his  father  returned  to  Genesee  Co.,  and, 
in  1815,  they  removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  at 
IMiddlebur}-,  now  the  Sixth  Ward  of  Akron. 
At  the  Jige  of  21,  John  C.  started  south,  going 
on  foot  to  Steubenville,  thence  by  raft  down  the 
Ohio.  His  raft  lodging,  he  went  on  foot  to 
Cincinnati,  thence  by  canoe  or  skiff  to  Shaw- 
neetown.  111.,  thence  on  foot  to  St.  Louis,  where, 
for  a  time,  he  worked  in  a  mill,  and.  later,  made 
bricks  at  Milton.  The  June  following,  he  re- 
turned home  and  bought  50  acres  of  land  just 
south  of  Middleburv,  which  he  improved.  He 
was  married,  Feb.  24,  1831,  to  Miss  Margaret 
A.  Sterling,  by  which  marriage  he  had  six 
children — four  sons  and  two  daughters.  She 
died  March  7,  1869,  and,  Dec.  22,  1870,  he 
married  IMrs.  Mary  A.  Sterling,  formerl}'  Miss 
Todd,  a  daughter  of  Stephen  Todd,  of  Beaver 
Co.,  Penn.  She  was  born  May  1.  1828, 
and,  when  16  3'ears  of  age,  her  parents  removed 
to  Wooster,  Ohio,  and,  two  years  later,  to  Canal 
Dover,  where  she  married  John  Sterling,  a  mer- 
chant of  that  place.  He  was  born  June  16, 1818, 
and  died  Dec.  14,  1854.  By  this  marriage 
there  were  two  children — John  S.,  of  Cleveland, 
and  Flora  E.,  now  Mrs.  Beardsle\',  of  Cleveland. 
After  her  husband's  death,  she  moved  to  New 
Lisbon,  thence  to  Cleveland,  where  she  lived 
until  her  marriage  with  Col.  Hart,  Dec.  22, 
1870.  Col.  Hart  obtained  his  military  title  by 
raising  a  regiment  of  cavalry  at  Middlebur3' 
under  the  old  militia  law  of  the  State,  and  of 
which  he  was  commander  at  the  time  it  was 
disbanded. 


HIRAM  HART,  retired,  Akron  ;  was  born 
in  Batavia,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  19,  1804, 
and  is  the  fourth  child  in  a  family  of  seven 
children  born  to  Rufus  and  Esther  (Cotter) 
Hart,  who  were  natives  of  Goshen,  Conn. 
They  were  married  in  that  State,  and  moved  to 
New  York  about  the  3ear  1798,  where  they 
farmed  until  1815,  when  he  moved  to  Ohio. 
Two  of  his  sons  had  come  out  the  preceding 
spring.  He  settled  on  100  acres  of  land  in 
what  is  now  Coventry  Township,  which  he  had 
bought  before  coming  to  the  State,  and  which 
had  been  partly  improved  by  a  man  named 
John  Collins.  Mr.  Hart  lived  in  this  vicinit}' 
until  his  death,  which  occuiTed  in  1840,  his 
wife's  death  also  occurring  about  that  time. 
Hiram  Hart  (our  subject)  lived  at  home  until 
he  was  25  years  of  age.  His  educational  ad- 
vantages were  limited,  and  confined  to  the  dis- 
trict schools  in  New  York,  and  a  short  period 
in  Ohio.  He  was  married,  Jul\'  18,  1830,  to 
^liss  Sarah  Smith,  daughter  of  Moses  and 
Sarah  (Haley)  Smith,  who  were  natives  of 
Massachusetts,  and  came  to  Ohio  about  the 
year  1825.  After  his  marriage,  he  occupied  a 
piece  of  land  containing  50  acres,  and  continued 
upon  it  until  1844,  when  he  bought  the  old 
homestead.  In  October,  1863,  his  wife  died, 
leaving  seven  children,  three  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing— Delos,  a  farmer  in  Springfield  Township  ; 
Milton,  cigar  manufacturer,  Akron,  and  Louisa, 
now  Mrs.  Thos.  F.  Cleveland,  of  Akron.  Soon 
after  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Hart  moved  to 
Akron,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Pratt,  formerly  Miss  Sophia 
M.  Packer,  a  native  of  New  York,  who  came 
to  Ohio  with  her  parents  about  1832.  They 
settled  in  Portage  C!o.,  where  he  died  ;  she  died 
in  Akron,  where  she  was  living  with  her  daugh- 
ter. He  was  a  prosperous  farmer,  and  was 
widely  known  as  a  leading  dairjnnan. 

0.  W.  HALE,  Deputy  County  Clerk; 
Akron  ;  was  born  in  Bath  Township,  Summit 
Co.,  Ohio,  April  1,  1841,  and  is  the  third  of 
five  children  born  to  William  and  Harriet 
(Carlton)  Hale.  They  were  natives  of  Connecti- 
cut and  Ohio.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John 
Carlton,  who  died  from  wounds  receiA-ed  in  the 
war  of  1812.  William  Hale  came  to  Ohio  with 
his  parents  in  the  year  1810,  they  being  among 
the  first  permanent  settlers  in  Bath  Township. 
He  was  raised  on  the  farm  where  he  lived  until 
1857,  when  he  located  in  Hudson,  and  in  1861 


722 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


he  moved  on  his  farm,  where  he  died  the  year 
following.  He  was  three  times  married.  His 
first  wife,  Miss  Sallie  C.  Upson,  of  Tallmadge, 
died  about  six  months  after  marriage.  His 
second  wife,  who  was  Miss  Harriet  Carlton, 
died  in  1853.  His  third  wife,  Miss  Adaline 
Thompson,  survives  him,  and  is  now  the 
Matron  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum,  at 
Fairbault,  Minn.  Our  subject  lived  at  home 
on  the  farm  until  1861,  when  he  enlisted 
in  the  29th  0.  V.  I.,  but,  owing  to  his  father's 
illness,  received  his  discharge  and  returned 
home.  Sept.  23,  1862,  he  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Hanson,  a  native  of  England,  who  came 
with  her  parents  to  Summit  Co.  at  the  age 
of  13.  By  the  marriage  there  were  two  chil- 
dren, one,  H.  C.  now  living.  In  1868,  Mr. 
Hale  moved  to  Portage  Co..  where  he  lived 
two  years.  He  then  went  to  Corry,  Penn., 
and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  and 
two  years  later  he  removed  to  Huntingdon, 
W.  Va.  where  he  also  engaged  in  the  lum- 
ber business.  While  at  the  latter  place,  he 
lost  his  wife,  in  1874.  He  next  moved  to 
Akron  and  engaged  as  book-keeper  in  an 
agricultural  implement  store.  In  1879,  he  took 
the  position  of  Deputy  County  Clerk  in  the 
office  under  Sumner  Nash,  and  has  filled  the 
position  since.  Nov.  26,  1876,  he  married 
at  East  Cleveland,  Mrs.  Cozad,  formerly  Miss 
L.  E.  Hine.  She  has  one  child  by  her  former 
marriage,  viz.,  Henry  Irving  Cozad. 

LEVERETT  JOSEPH  IVES  was  born 
in  Westfield,  Mass.,  on  the  19th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1806.  He  was  a  son  of  Joseph 
Ives  and  Sarah  Bishop,  both  natives  of  New 
Haven,  Conn.  His  paternal  ancestor,  William 
Ives,  likewise  recorded  "  Eves,"  came,  it  is 
supposed,  from  England,  previous  to  1639. 
He  settled  in  New  Haven,  and  was  one  of  the 
sixty-three  original  free  planters,  who,  upon 
the  4th  day  of  June,  1639,  signed  the  "Funda- 
mental Agreement  of  Quinnipiack  "  in,  as  tra- 
dition states,  the  barn  of  Mr.  Robert  Newman. 
Joseph  Ives,  son  of  William,  married  Jan.  2, 
1672  or  1673,  Mary  Yale,  born  April  16,  1650, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Yale,  Esq.,  and  Mary 
Turner,  of  New  Haven.  Mary  Turner  was  a 
daughter  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Turner  ;  he,  with 
Mr.  Thomas  Gregson,  of  New  Haven,  were  of 
that  "  Godly  company "  who  perished  in  the 
Phantom  Ship,  and  both  were  direct  ancestors 
of  Leverett   Joseph  Ives.     Gov.    Elihu  Yale, 


in  honor  of  whom,  through  his  munificent 
donations,  Yale  College  received  its  name,  was 
likewise  a  son  of  Thomas  Yale,  Esq.,  and 
brother  to  Mary  (Yale)  Ives.  Ensign  and  Dea- 
con Samuel  Ives,  son  of  Joseph  Ives  and  Mary 
Yale,  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Nov.  6,  1677  ; 
he  died  there  Nov.  24,  1726,  aged  49  years  ;  he 
was  one  of  the  first  two  Deacons  of  the  First 
Society  Church  of  New  Haven.  He  married 
Jan.  3,  1706,  Ruth  Atwater,  born  Dec.  31,  1688, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Atwater  and  Ruth  Peck, 
of  New  Haven.  Ruth  Peck  was  a  grand 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Peck,  who,  "  in 
1660,  was  established,  according  to  an  act  of 
court,  in  the  Hopkins  Collegiate  Grammar 
School,  of  New  Haven,  and  there  taught  the 
languages  and  sciences."  Capt.  Jonathan  Ives, 
son  of  Deacon  Samuel  Ives  and  Ruth  Atwater, 
was  born  March  14,  1716,  ''which  perhaps  is 
1716-17."  He  married  Feb.  19,  1737-38, 
Thankful  Cooper,  daughter  of  Joseph  Cooper, 
of  New  Haven  ;  she  was  born,  probably,  April 
11,  1721.  Capt.  Jonathan  Ives  had  four  sons, 
all  of  whom  served  faithfully  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  Jeremiah  Ives,  son  of  Capt. 
Jonathan  Ives  and  Thankful  Cooper,  was  born 
in  New  Haven,  Nov.  19,  1738  ;  he  married  June 
7,  1768,  Hannah  Bassett,  born  Dec.  26,  1739, 
daughter  of  Abraham  Bassett,  of  New  Haven, 
and  Mehitable  Street,  of  Wallingford.  Joseph 
Ives,  son  of  Jeremiah  Ives  and  Hannah  Bas- 
sett, was  born  in  New  Haven,  Feb.  2,  1771  ;  he 
married  Sarah  Bishop,  born  Feb.  3,  1777  ;  she 
was  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Bishop  and  Sarah 
Macomber,  of  New  Haven.  Joseph  Ives  and 
Sarah  Bishop,  as  already  stated,  were  the 
parents  of  Leverett  Joseph  Ives.  On  the  25th 
of  April,  1832,  he  married  in  Perry sburg,  Cat- 
taraugus Co.,  N.  Y.,  Fidelia  Elvira  Field,  born 
April  31,  1805,  at  Grass  Hill,  Gill,  Mass.  ;  they 
settled  in  the  adjoining  town  of  Lodi.  About 
1833,  Mr.  Ives  removed  to  Hamilton,  Canada, 
West.  In  the  spring  of  1837,  owing  to  the 
occurrence  of  the  Canada  rebellion,  being  un- 
willing to  swear  allegiance  to  the  British  Crown, 
he  removed  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  in  the 
following  autumn,  became  a  resident  of  Akron, 
Ohio,  where  he  lived  twenty-three  years,  ac- 
quiring there  prominence  as  a  druggist ;  he 
identified  himself  largely  in  the  interests  of  the 
town ;  was  energetic  in  promoting  its  early 
growth,  and  may  be  truly  styled  one  of  its 
pioneers.      In   1860,  he  removed    to  Chicago, 


*^ 


K. 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


723 


111.  After  remaining  in  the  "West  a  number  of 
years,  he  returned  East,  and  died  at  his  resi- 
dence, in  East  Orange,  N.  J.,  on  the  20th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1876,  aged  70  years  and  1  da}-.  He  was 
honest  and  upright  in  his  dealings  with  men,  a 
good  citizen,  a  kindl}'  friend  and  neighbor  ;  his 
manners  were  pleasing,  and  full  of  hospitality ; 
in  politics,  he  originally  belonged  to  the  school 
of  Whigs  ;  in  1848,  he  voted  the  Republican 
ticket,  and  adhered  thereafter  firmly  to  the 
Anti-Slavery  party.  He  gave  to  "Old  John 
Brown,  the  martNT,"  the  rifle  he  took  to  Kan- 
sas. Prominent  in  the  early  histor}'  of  Akron, 
was  the  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Fidelia  Elvira  Ives,  daughter  of  Rodolphus 
Wright  Field  and  Hannah  Dwight  Hollister,  of 
Grass  Hill,  Grill,  Mass.  She  traces  her  lineage 
through  a  number  of  the  original  settlers  of 
New  England,  among  whom  may  be  mentioned 
Samuel  Wright,  of  Springfield,  Mass.  ;  Elder 
John  Strong,  of  Northampton,  Mass. ;  Thomas 
Ford,  of  Dorchester,  Mass. ;  Lieut.  John  Hollis- 
ter and  Richard  Treat,  both  of  Wethersfield, 
Conn. ;  and  Zachariah  Field,  of  Northampton, 
Mass.,  grandson  of  John  Field,  of  England,  the 
astronomer,  who,  in  1556,  wrote  the  first  astro- 
nomical work  ever  published,  based  upon  the 
tables  of  the  Copernican  system  ;  through  it 
he  has  become  known  to  history  as  the  "  Proto 
Copernican  "  of  England.  Like  her  ancestors, 
Fidelia  E.  Ives  possesses  energ}^,  activity  and 
strength  of  character ;  through  all  the  years 
of  her  residence  in  Akron,  her  gentleness  of 
spirit  and  large  benevolence  secured  her  many 
friends. 

HENRY  WARD  INGERSOLL,  Akron, 
Ohio.  Lemi  IngersoU  was  born  in  Lee,  Berk- 
shire Co.,  Mass.,  and  was  raised  on  a 
farm.  Theodosia  S.  Humphrey,  whom  he  mar- 
ried, was  born  at  Goshen,  Conn.  They 
both  came,  when  young,  with  their  re- 
spective families,  to  this  county.  Six  sons  and 
two  daughters  were  the  fruit  of  their  marriage. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  to  them 
Oct.  23,  1833,  in  Richfield  Township,  Sum- 
mit Co.,  Ohio.  When  he  was  2  years  old, 
his  family  moved  to  Hudson.  In  1857,  he 
graduated  from  the  Western  Reserve  College, 
and  at  once  entered  upon  the  study  of  law 
with  Van  R.  Humphrey,  of  Hudson,  then  with 
Wolcott  and  Upson,  of  Akron,  being  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  the  Supreme  Court  of  Columbus, 
on  March  29,  1859,  after  which  he  located  in 


Akron,  where  he  has  practiced  ever  since,  ex- 
cept during  the  period  passed  in  the  army.  He 
enlisted  in  September,  1861,  in  the  2d  0.  V.  C, 
as  a  member  of  the  regimental  band,  serv- 
ing in  the  Western  campaign  in  the  division  of 
Gen.  Blount.  During  that  and  the  follow- 
ing years  the  regiment  made  an  excellent  rec- 
ord. After  the  band  was  discharged  by  order 
from  the  War  Department,  he  enlisted  at  the 
call  of  Gov.  Brough,  in  1864,  in  164th  Regiment, 
Company  A.,  0.  N.  G.,  and  served  on  the  Po- 
tomac, where  they  were  garrisoned  in  six  forts. 
In  1862,  he  was  commissioned  by  Gov.  Tod, 
Captain  in  the  124th  0.  V.  I.,  but  owing  to  the 
consolidation  of  the  companies,  he  was  mustered 
out.  He  came  again  to  Akron  in  the  fall  of 
1864,  and  has  been  in  continuous  practice  since. 
For  several  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Council,  and  Recorder  and  Attorney  for  the 
corporation.  In  1863,  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Council  and  took  the  census  and  prepared  the 
necessary  papers  and  obtained  from  the  Secre- 
tary- of  State,  the  present  charter  as  a  city 
of  the  second  class.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  chorister  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
June  6,  1866,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  H.  Board- 
man,  of  Newton  Falls  ;  there  are  two  children 
living. 

JAMES  IRVIN,  deceased ;  was  born  in 
Center  Co.,  Penn.,  May  29,  1806.  His  father  was 
a  farmer,  and  he  was  raised  to  the  same  busi- 
ness. He  came  to  Ohio  about  the  year  1 838,  and 
located  in  Middlebury,  at  that  time  one  of  the 
most  energetic  business  places  on  the  Reserve. 
He  here  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  John 
Johnson,  and  did  a  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness for  a  number  of  years,  when  Mr.  Irvin  re- 
tired, and  so  lived  until  his  death,  Sept.  4, 1863. 
He  married  Nov.  2, 1842,  to  Miss  Martha  Clark, 
a  native  of  Springfield  Township,  Summit  Co., 
and  a  daughter  of  Wm.  L.  and  Sarah  (De 
Haven)  Clark.  Mrs.  Irvin  is  living  still  on  the 
old  homestead,  in  Middlebury,  where  so  many 
years  of  her  life  have  been  passed  ;  she  has  no 
children.  Her  father,  William  L.  Clark,  was  a 
native  of  Union  Co.,  Penn. 

DANIEL  A.  JAMES,  Akron ;  youngest 
son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Pells)  James,  was  born 
in  Paris  Township,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  13, 
1846.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Wales,  and 
died  in  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1846  ;  his  mother 
was  a  native  of  New  York  State.  He  learned 
cabinet-making  in  Ravenna,  Ohio  ;  in  1866,  he 


:r^ 


Mi 


734 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


came  to  Akron,  and  worked  for  Miller,  Thomas 
&  Co.,  until  1875,  when  he  started  a  manufact- 
ory of  office  and  churcli  furniture  and  interior 
decorations,  which  business  he  has  carried  on 
since  with  fair  success  ;  in  1876,  he  located  at 
218  West  Market  street,  employing  five  skilled 
workmen  constantl}' ;  he  experiences  a  stead}' 
growth  of  business.  He  is  the  youngest  of 
sixteen  children,  of  whom  but  five  are  living. 
In  February,  1879,  he  married  Louisa  Thomas, 
daughter  of  George  Thomas,  of  Akron. 

M.  JP]WETT,  physician,  Middlebury  ;  is  a 
native  of  Massachusetts  ;  he  was  born  in  Grreen- 
wich,  Sept.  4,  1815.  He  came  to  Ohio  in  the 
year  1836,  and  located  at  Hudson,  where  he 
read  medicine  with  Drs.  Noble  and  Town  ;  in 
1839,  he  began  practice  at  Mogadore,  and  the 
years  1850  and  1851  he  spent  in  California, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  during  the 
winters  of  1855-56  and  1856-57,  he  represented 
Summit  County  in  the  State  Legislature.  In 
1858,  he  removed  to  Middlebury,  where  he  has 
since  practiced  his  profession.  The  Doctor 
attended  lectures  at  Willoughby,  Ohio,  and 
graduated  from  that  college  after  its  re- 
moval to  Cleveland.  Now  66  years  of  age, 
he  is  one  of  the  oldest  practitioners  in  the 
county ;  he  has  been  associated  in  practice 
with  Dr.  Ferguson  (a  former  student),  of  Moga- 
dore, Drs.  L.  S.  Esbright  and  S.  T.  OdelCof 
Akron,  and  at  the  present  time  with  Drs.  C.  C. 
Davison  and  F.  W.  Reed.  Having  a  great  love 
for  horticultural  matters,  he  has  given  his  leis- 
ure moments  to  the  management  of  a  small 
farm,  and  has  now  in  bearing  the  largest  peach 
orchard  in  the  count}-,  besides  a  great  variety 
of  other  fruits,  the  care  of  which  afford  an  ap- 
preciated recreation. 

DR.  W.  C.  JACOBS,  605  High  street, 
Akron,  is  a  native  of  Lima,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  born  Feb.  26,  1840.  His  parents,  T.  K. 
and  Ann  (Elder)  Jacobs,  were  natives  of  Juni- 
ata Co.,  Penn.,  whence  they  came,  in  1836, 
to  Ashland,  moving  two  years  later  to  Ijima, 
where  they  have  since  lived.  His  father  was 
a  tailor  by  trade,  though  turning  his  atten- 
tion to  farming  in  the « new  country,  and  was 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  the  latter  place. 
Dr.  Jacobs,  the  fourth  in  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, spent  his  early  years  on  the  farm  and  in 
the  village  until  the  age  of  16.  when  he  received 
an  appointment  to  the  National  Naval  School 
at  Annapolis,  Md.     He  resigned  in   1859,  and 


began  the  study  of  medicine  in  Cincinnati  with 
Dr.  William  Carson,  graduating  in  1862,  at  the 
Ohio  Medical  College  in  that  city.  In  April, 
1862,  he  was  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon  in 
the  4th  0.  V.  C,  and  served  with  the  regiment 
until  December,  1862,  when  he  was  promoted 
to  the  position  of  Surgeon  and  assigned  to  the 
81st  0.  V.  I.,  with  which  he  served  until  the  end 
of  the  war.  During  the  Atlanta  campaign,  he 
served  on  the  Operating  Board  of  the  Second 
Division,  Sixteenth  Army  Corps.  October, 
1865,  he  came  to  Akron,  where  he  has  since 
practiced  his  profession.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Summit  County  Medical  Societv,  of  the 
Union  Medical  Society  of  Northeastern  Ohio, 
of  the  State  Medical  Society,  and  of  the  Ameri- 
can Medical  Association.  Of  the  second  named 
societ}'  Dr.  Jacobs  was  the  first  Secretary,  and 
has  held  offices  in  other  of  the  societies.  Sep- 
tember 10,  1863,  he  married  Miss  Huldah  M. 
Hill,  a  native  of  Knox  Co.,  Ohio.  Her  father, 
Luther  Hill,  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and 
settled  with  his  parents  in  Richland  Co.,  Ohio, 
in  1811.     Dr.  Jacobs  has  one  child — Herald  L. 

TIMOTHY  S.  JONES,  of  the  firm  of  Jones, 
Wait  &  Co..  potters,  Middlebury,  was  born  in 
Venango  Co.,  Penn.,  April  22,  1829.  His  father, 
Alpheus  Jones,  was  a  blacksmith.  At  the  age 
of  16,  our  subject  began  the  potter's  trade,  and 
worked  at  same  for  five  years.  He  then  went 
to  Tionesta,  Penn..  where  he  was  lumbering 
until  1855.  In  this  year  he  came  to  Ohio  and 
settled  in  Middlebury',  working  for  three  3'ears 
in  the  Sewer  Pipe  Company.  He  then  worked 
as  a  potter  one  year,  when,  in  company  with 
Harvey  Baldwin,  he  opened  a  pottery,  which 
they  coiiducted  a  number  of  years,  when  he  sold 
his  interest  and  worked  at  his  trade  as  a  hand. 
In  November,  1880,  the  present  company  of 
Jones,  Wait  &  Co.  was  formed.  They  have 
liberal  facilities  for  making  all  kinds  of  stone- 
ware, and  will  add  double  their  present  capacity 
during  Uie  summer.  April  25,  1842,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Martha  H.  Watson,  a  native  of  Ve- 
nango Co.,  Penn.  Of  their  seven  children,  four 
are  living,  viz.,  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  D.  C.  Allen,  of 
Middlebury  ;  Onna,  now  Mrs.  C.  M.  Wait ;  Ada 
H.,  now  Mrs.  H.  Akers  ;  and  Wilburn  L.,  the 
latter  and  Mr.  Wait  Akers  and  T.  S.  Jones 
forming  the  company. 

PARK  B.  JOHNSTON,  Akron,  is  a  native 
of  Middlebury  (now  Sixth  Ward  of  Akron).  He 
was  born  Sept.  23,  1846,  and  is  fifth  in  a  family 


:^" 


iL. 


CITT    OF    AKROX. 


725 


of  ten  children  born  to  John  and  Elizabeth  R. 
(Newton)  Johnston.  Our  subject  lived  at  home 
until  the  year  18G5,  when  he  took  a  position  as 
clerk  in  the  Post  Office  Department  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  where  he  remained  until  1871. 
He  then  returned  to  Akron  and  took  the  posi-. 
tion  of  Deputy  Auditor,  which  office  he  held 
until  November,  1880.  Oct.  16,  1878,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Lois  Caruthers,  a  daughter  of  Perry 
C  and  Cj'nthia  Clark  Caruthers,  of  Tallmadge 
Township.  By  the  marriage  there  is  one  child, 
viz.,  Ethel  Lois  Johnston. 

MRS.  ELIZA  KENT,  Middleoury  (Sixth 
Ward),  is  the  widow  of  Roswell  Kent.  He  was 
born  in  Leyden,  Mass.,  May  18,  1798,  and  was 
a  son  of  Zenas  and  Ann  (Plumb)  Kent,  who 
were  natives  of  Massachusetts.  They  removed 
to  Ohio  about  the  year  1812,  and  settled  in 
Hudson,  where  he  followed  his  trade  of  carpenter 
and  joiner.  He  soon  after  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Portage  Co.,  and  lived  in  that  vicinity  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1824.  Mrs.  Kent 
lived  with  her  son  Roswell  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  in  Middlebury  about  the  3'ear 
1838.  Roswell  Kent  lived  at  home  until  some 
time  after  attaining  his  majority.  His  educa- 
tional advantages  were  limited.  When  he  be- 
came of  age,  he  went  to  Ravenna,  where  he 
clerked  in  his  brother's  store.  About  1820,  he 
came  to  Middlebury  to  establish  a  business  for 
his  brother  and  3Ir.  Oviatt,  and  about  the  j-ear 
1826  he  bought  the  establishment,  continuing 
in  the  business  for  a  number  of  years.  He  then 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  woolen  machin- 
ery and  later  in  the  manufacture  of  sewer-pipe, 
which  he  followed  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
July  19,  1871.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza 
Hart,  who  was  born  August  6,  1808,  in  Middle- 
bury, and  was  the  first  white  child  born  there, 
and  the  third  in  Tallmadge  Township.  She  was 
the  seventh  child  in  a  family  of  eight  children 
of  Joseph  and  Annie  (Hotchkiss)  Hart.  He 
was  a  native  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  at  the  age  of 
12  years  went  to  sea,  being  a  sailor  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  finally  became  captain  of  a 
vessel.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  New  Haven, 
Conn.  In  1804-5,  they  came  to  Ohio  and 
stopped  at  Deerfield,  and  in  April,  1808,  came 
to  Tallmadge  Township,  where  the  same  year 
they  erected  a  saw  and  griet  mill.  He  died 
about  the  year  1830.  Mrs.  Hart  lived  in  this 
vicinit}'  with  her  son  William  until  her  death. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kent  had  seven  children,  of  whom 


but  three  are  living — Ella  K.,  now  Mrs.  Finley 
McNaughton,  of  Akron  ;  Russell  H.,  of  the  Ak- 
ron Stone  Ware  Company,  of  Middlebur}',  and 
Flora  K.,  now  Mrs.  T.  S.  Paige. 

DAVID  L.  KING,  manufacturer,  Akron ; 
was  born  in  Warren,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec. 
24,  1825.  He  was  the  third  son  of  a  family  of 
eight  children  born  to  Leicester  and  Julia  Ann 
(Huntington)  King,  both  natives  of  New  En 
gland.  Mr.  King's  father  commenced  business 
as  a  merchant  in  Westfield,  Mass.,  but,  in  1817, 
desiring  to  establish  himself  in  business  at 
Natchez,  Miss.,  he  came  West,  spending  some 
weeks  in  Warren,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio.  He  pro- 
ceeded to  his  destination,  where,  although  the 
prospect  of  success  was  ver}"  bright,  he  could 
not  reconcile  himself  to  the  thought  of  rearing 
his  famil}'  under  the  degrading  influences  of 
slaver}'.  He  finall}^  abandoned  his  scheme,  and 
returned  to  New  York  b}-  vessel,  narrowly 
escaping  death  from  the  3'ellow  fever  on  the 
voyage.  The  same  year,  he  removed  to  War- 
ren, Ohio,  and  engaged  in  a  successful  mercan- 
tile business  until  1833,  when  he  became  inter- 
ested in  the  land  upon  which  Akron  is  built. 
He  served  one  term  as  Associate  Judge,  and 
subsequent!}'  represented  the  Trumbull  County 
District  in  the  State  Senate  for  two  terms,  from 
1835  to  1839.  He  became  an  ardent  opponent 
of  the  institution  of  slaverj,  and  afterward 
allied  himself  with  the  Liberty  party,  refusing 
the  most  flattering  offers  of  advancement  from 
the  Whigs,  in  obedience  to  his  convictions  upon 
the  question  of  slavery.  He  was  the  nominee 
of  this  party  for  Governor  in  1844,  and  of  the 
Free-Soil  party  for  Vice  President  in  1847. 
though  he  subsequently  declined,  and  gave  his 
support  to  Mai'tin  Van  Buren.  He  died  Sept. 
19,  1856,  just  as  the  principles  for  which  he 
had  labored  were  made  the  foundation  of  that 
great  political  party  which  has  carried  them  on 
to  such  glorious  fruition.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch,  David  L.  King,  graduated  at  an  early 
age  at  Harvard  College,  and  removed  to  Akron 
in  1846,  where  he  at  once  entered  upon  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  King  &  Taylor. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Cleveland  in 
1848,  and,  in  1851,  established  his  residence 
there,  practicing  his  profession  with  success 
until  1856,  when  he  returned  to  Akron. 
Here,  in  1867,  he  abandoned  his  profession  and 
accepting  the  offices  of  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer in  the  Akron  Sewer  Pipe  Co.,  the  largest 


\ 


^'. 


726 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


institution  of  the  kind  in  the  world,  he  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  "  vitrified  sewer  pipe." 
Since  that  time,  this  constantl}'  increasing  busi- 
ness has  absorbed  his  wliole  attention,  liapid 
success  followed  his  management  of  this  com- 
pany, the  product  of  which  in  the  past  year 
reached  the  amount  of  $400,000.  The  com- 
pletion of  the  Atlantic  &  Great  Western  Rail- 
way, in  1864,  gave  a  great  impetus  to  the 
manufacturing  interests  of  Akron,  and  to  Mr. 
King's  intelligent  activity  and  financial  ability 
is  largely  due  the  advanced  position  as  a  manu- 
facturing point  of  which  Akron  is  justly  proud. 
All  enterprises  for  the  promotion  of  the  city's 
growth  have  found  in  Mr.  King  a  liberal  sup- 
porter and  a  capable  worker.  He  was  promi- 
nent in  securing  the  extension  of  the  Baltimore 
&  Ohio  Railroad,  and,  in  1871,  was  elected  Pres- 
ident of  the  Valley  Railroad,  the  establishing 
of  which  he  did  so  much  to  secure.  At 
the  death  of  his  father,  Mr.  King  assumed 
the  management  of  the  large  landed  estate 
which  his  father  owned  in  company  with  Gen. 
Simon  Perkins,  pursuing  a  policy  in  the  dis- 
posal of  these  lands  which  materially  aided  the 
interests  of  the  growing  city.  A  member  of 
St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church,  and  for  fourteen 
years  an  active  Superintendent  of  its  Sunday 
school,  he  has  ever  been  found  a  prominent 
worker  in  all  charitable  and  benevolent  enter- 
prises. He  is  known  throughout  the  com- 
munity as  an  indefatigable  worker,  and  is  highly 
esteemed.  He  was  married,  May  1,  1849,  to 
Miss  Bettie  Washington  Steele,  of  Charleston, 
Va.,  a  grand-neice  of  Gen.  Washington.  Of  this 
union  were  born  Ellen  Lewis,  Bettie  Steele, 
Howell  Steele,  Susan  Huntington  and  Martha 
Perkins  King,  all  of  whom  are  living  except 
Ellen  Lewis,  who  was  married,  Jan.  19,  1870,  to 
David  R.  Paige,  of  Akron,  and  died  Dec.  20, 
1878,  leaving  two  sons,  Charles  Cutler,  born 
Nov.  25,  1870,  and  David  King,  born  May  20, 
1872.  The  second  daughter,  Bettie  Steele,  was 
married,  Dec.  10,  1873,  to  John  Gilbert  Ray- 
mond, of  Akron,  and  has  one  child,  Harrv 
King,  born  April  29,  1877. 

FRANK  J.  KNAPP,  manufacturer  of  stone- 
ware, Akron,  is  a  native  of  Baden,  Germany. 
His  parents,  John  and  Barbara  (Schneider) 
Knapp,  came  to  Amei'ica  in  1847  and  settled  at 
Pittsburgh,  going  thence  to  Minnesota,  and,  in 
1850,  to  Akron.  His  father  was  a  stone-mason 
and  followed  the  trade  in  this  country  ;  he  died 


about  1867  ;  his  wife  died  three  years  previous. 
Frank  J.  was  born  in  Germany  June  4,  1840 ; 
he  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents,  with 
whom  he  lived  until  he  was  about  22  3'ears  of 
age.  At  the  age  of  13,  he  was  apprenticed  to 
the  potter's  trade,  and  six  jears  later,  he  was 
conducting  his  own  shop  ;  entering  his  wares 
at  an  agricultural  fair,  he  secured  the  first 
premium  over  five  competitors.  He  has  been 
conducting  the  business  here  ever  since,  save 
for  eight  years,  during  three  of  which  he  was 
engaged  at  the  business  in  Stark  County,  and 
later,  worked  five  years  with  Johnson  &  Bald- 
win, in  the  Sixth  Ward.  He  started  his  pres- 
ent business  in  1868  or  1869,  which  has  grown 
until  he  now  employs  about  thirty  hands  and 
from  four  to  six  teams,  turning  out  from  12,000 
to  15,000  gallons  per  week.  His  business  is 
done  entirely  upon  orders,  although  he  employs 
no  agents.  In  1862,  he  married  Miss  Louisa 
Hines,  of  Coventry,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  and  by 
her  had  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  now 
living — Mary  and  Emma.  In  the  fall  of  1878, 
he  married  Miss  Katie  Strumk,  of  Wadsworth, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio. 

REUBEN  N.  KRATZ,  book-keeper,  Akron ; 
was  born  in  Milton  Township,  Wayne  Co..  Ohio, 
July  2,  1845  ;  at  18  he  began  teaching,  having 
received  a  good  high-school  education  at  Smith- 
ville.  Until  1870,  he  taught  in  Medina,  Sum- 
mit and  Wayne  Counties.  In  1871,  he  went  to 
Pentwater.  Mich.,  where,  for  two  years,  he  had 
charge  of  the  Union  schools.  In  1873,  he 
came  to  Akron,  and,  in  August  of  the  same 
year,  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  Miller, 
daughter  of  Charles  Miller,  of  Akron  ;  she 
bore  him  two  sons  ;  one  is  deceased.  He  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Mr.  Miller,  having  charge 
of  the  shops  and  lumber  yards  ;  finally,  the 
firm  was  changed  to  Miller  &  Kratz.  In  1877, 
he  became  a  partner  with  Harvey  F.  Miller, 
continuing  one  year,  followed  by  a  year  of 
teaching  in  the  public  school,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  book-keeper  for  D.  W.  Thomas. 
His  mother  was  a  native  of  Bucks  Co.,  Penn., 
and  his  father,  Jacob  Kratz,  was  of  German 
descent,  also  a  native  of  Bucks  Co.,  Penn., 
where  he  engaged  in  farming ;  he  came  to 
Wajaie  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1838,  and  resided  on  a 
farm  there  until  his  death  in  1872,  leaving  a 
family  of  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  now 
living,  viz.  :  Samuel,  a  farmer  in  Wayne  Count}' ; 
Maria,  wife  of  J.  C.  Stiner,  of  same  count}^ ; 


^ 


vS) 


CITY   OF   AKRON. 


727 


Reuben  N.  (subject) ;  Henry  E.,  of  Bucyrus, 
Ohio ;  Jacob  L.,  farmer  at  Salt  River,  Mich., 
and  Lee  Gr.,  a  student  in  the  Cincinnati  Con- 
servatory of  Music.  Reuben  N.  Kratz  is  a 
member  of  the  English  Lutheran  Church,  and 
Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school. 

J.  A.  KOHLER,  lawyer,  Akron,  Ohio  ;  is  a 
son  of  Henry  Kohler,  and  was  born  Aug.  15, 
1835,  in  Franklin  Township,  in  this  county.  He 
received  his  education  at  the  public  schools  of 
the  neighborhood,  and  at  18,  went  to  the  Lodi 
Academy.  In  1853,  he  came  to  Akron,  where 
he  apprenticed  himself  to  one  Sanford  for  four 
years,  and  then  began  the  study  of  law  with  N. 
W.  Groodhue,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1859  ;  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  two  terms, 
beginning  in  1868  and  continuing  to  1872  ; 
practiced  with  Hon.  Sidney  Edgerton  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  since  1881,  in  firm  of  Kohler 
&  Saddler.  He  was  married  in  May,  186U,  to 
Miss  Frances  Coburn,  daughter  of  Dr.  Coburn, 
of  Akron.  The}'  have  two  children — Burt  and 
George.  Subject's  grandfather  came  from  Hol- 
land, and  settled  in  Berks  Co.,  Penn.,  at  begin- 
ning of  19th  century.  He  was  born  about  1788, 
and  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  ;  he  came 
to  Franklin  Township,  this  county,  about  1836, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1843. 

RICHARD  H.  KNIGHT,  publisher  of  Akron 
City  Times,  Akron,  Ohio  ;  is  the  second  son  in 
a  family  of  seven  children  born  to  Jonathan 
and  Deborah  (Barber)  Knight,  Connecticut. 
The  father  was  of  English  descent,  but  was 
born  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  1832,  when  he  came  to  Ohio  and 
settled  at  Ridgeville,  and  resided  there  until  his 
death.  He  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters  ; 
five  children  still  living.  Richard  H.  (subject) 
was  born  Nov.  11,  1813,  in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn., 
and  came  with  his  father's  family  to  Ridgeville 
as  above  (in  1832)  and  followed  farming  and 
stone-cutting  in  Lorain  Co.  for  fourteen  years, 
and  then  moved  to  Dover,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  where 
he  lived  until  1873.  He  owned  a  farm  there, 
on  which  was  a  stone  quariy,  and  he  worked  in 
the  various  departments  of  stone-work  at  Ely- 
ria,  and  on  the  Cleveland,  Columbus  &  Cin- 
cinnati R.  R.  In  1873,  he  removed  to  Akron, 
and  purchased  the  Akron  Cif>/  Times,  and  has 
devoted  himself  to  the  business  management  of 
it  since.  He  was  married  Dec.  31,  1837,  to  ]Miss 
Emma  Beebe,  of  Ridgeville,  Ohio.  They  have 
three   children,  viz.:    Eber   H.,   carpenter,    at 


Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  ;  Ellen,  a  teacher  at  Cu}-- 
ahoga  Falls,  Ohio,  and  Clarence  R.,  editor  of 
the  x\kron  Citi/  Times,  who  was  born  at  Dover, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  9,  1850.  He  (Clar- 
ence R.)  entered  Lombard  University,  at  Gales- 
burg,  111.,  at  the  age  of  17  years,  for  four  years, 
and  in  1871-72  was  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan 
University,  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  Came  to  Akron 
in  1872,  and  at  the  opening  of  Buchtel  College, 
matriculated  and  finished  the  course  in  1873; 
when  in  the  December  following  he  took  charge 
of  the  editorial  department  of  the  Times,  which 
position  he  has  since  retained. 

ARZA  KELLOGG,  retired,  Akron.  The 
birthplace  of  our  subject  was  in  Addison  Co., 
N.  Y.  His  parents  were  David  and  Christiana 
(Traver)  Kellogg.  From  the  date  of  his  birth, 
which  was  Feb.  11,  1799.  he  lived  there  for 
thirty-five  years,  attending  school  in  his  boy- 
hood, and  acquiring  a  thorough  common-school 
education.  When  he  attained  his  majority,  he 
began  to  fight  his  own  life-battles,  and  farmed 
at  that  place  until  1834,  when  he  discontinued 
the  vocation,  and,  with  a  good  team,  started  for 
Akron,  which  place  he  reached  in  September. 
For  several  years  he  engaged  in  teaming,  but 
when,  in  1848,  the  "gold  fever  "  reached  Akron, 
he  grew  discontented,  and,  in  the  spring  of  the 
following  year,  he,  in  company  with  fifteen  oth- 
ers, driving  thi'ee  six-horse  teams,  traversed 
the  overland  route,  arriving  at  Sacramento  in 
August,  which  was  five  months  from  the  time 
of  his  leaving  Akron.  There  he  engaged  in  the 
dairy  and  gardening  business,  within  two  miles 
of  Sacramento,  on  the  river,  all  the  products 
selling  for  high  prices  ;  this  he  followed  with 
good  success  for  four  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  returned  to  Akron.  It  was  in  the  spring 
of  1854  that  he  bought  his  present  place,  on 
Maple  street,  the  lot  consisting  of  5:^  acres.  In 
1856,  he  was  employed  as  Sexton  of  the  Akron 
Rural  Cemeter3%  which  place  he  held  for  twelve 
years,  since  which  time  he  has  farmed  land 
which  he  owned  here.  In  1874,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Superintendent  of  the  Akron  Cold 
Spring  Co.,  and  is  one  of  its  principal  stock- 
holders. In  March,  1825,  he  married  Miss 
Polly  Marshall,  of  Starksboro,  Vt.,  from  which 
union  one  child  was  the  issue,  whom  the}' 
named  Julia  0.,  and  who  died  at  Akron  in  her 
19th  year.  His  wife,  Polly,  is  a  granddaughter 
of  Rev.  Joseph  Marshall,  a  noted  and  eccentric 
clergyman  of  Starksboro,  Vt. 


-"^ — ©pv  ^ 


^ 


728 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


SAMUEL  A.  LANE,  Mayor  of  Akron,  and 
whose  portrait  appears  in  this  work,  was  born 
in  Suffleld,  Hartford  Co.,  Conn.,  June  29,  1815. 
His  father,  Mr.  Comfort  Lane,  commonly  called 
b}'  his  townsmen  "  Judge  Lane,"  beside  culti- 
vating a  small  farm,  carried  on  quite  an  exten- 
sive carriage  building  establishment,  his  spe- 
cialty being  the  old  fashioned,  ante-railroad, 
thorough-brace  stage  coach  ;  "  Judge  "  Lane 
was  also  something  of  an  inventor,  and  beside 
fabricating  a  number  of  labor-saving  devices 
for  facilitating  his  own  business,  was  the 
inventor  of  a  cotton-picking  machine  called  the 
"  Suffield  cotton  gin,"  that,  when  perfected,  he 
expected,  would  rival  if  not  entirely  super- 
sede the  celebrated  Whitne}'  cotton  gin,  then 
and  ever  since  mainly  used  by  the  cotton 
planters  of  the  United  States.  The  letters 
patent,  on  parchment,  for  this  machine,  bearing 
the  autograph  signatures  of  John  Quincy  Ad- 
ams, Pi-esident,  Henry  Cla}',  Secretary  of  State, 
and  William  Wirt.  Attorne}-  General,  and  the 
great  seal  of  the  United  States,  under  date  of 
March  24,  1825,  are  still  in  the  possession  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr  Lane,  the  father, 
d3'ing  before  successfull}'  introducing  his  ma- 
chine to  the  public,  it  was  never  utilized,  and 
the  expenses  incurred  in  its  invention,  construc- 
tion, patenting,  etc.,  were  of  course  a  dead  loss. 
The  boyhood  of  "Lant,"  as  he  was  familiarly 
called,  was  about  equally  divided  between  the 
district  school,  the  farm,  and  the  painting  room 
of  the,  carriage-shop,  it  being  the  intention  of 
his  father  to  bring  him  up  to  the  trade  of  a 
carriage  painter — his  next  elder  brother,  Henry 
Leander,  being  designed  by  the  provident 
father  to  be  a  wood- workman  in  the  same  line 
of  business.  The  death  of  the  father,  however, 
Sept.  20,  1828,  when  Alanson  was  but  13  years 
old,  thwarted  this  plan  so  far  as  he  was  con- 
cerned, though  the  brother,  who  had  already 
been  at  work  a  year  or  so  as  an  apprentice  to 
the  trade,  was  enabled  to  secure  a  situation  in 
the  then  celebrated  establishment  of  George  & 
Henry  Francis,  in  Hartford,  and  complete  his 
trade.  The  condition  of  the  deceased  father's 
affairs  was  such,  on  settlement  of  the  estate, 
that  it  became  necessar}^  for  the  sons  old 
enough  to  do  so  to  win  their  own  bi-ead.  B}- 
working  for  the  neighboring  farmers  in  summer 
and  doing  chores  for  his  board  while  attending 
school  winters,  Alanson  was  not  only  able  to 
provide   for   himself  but    also    to    contribute 


something  toward  the  replenishment  of  the 
famil}^  larder  until  the  spring  of  1831,  when,  by 
an  arrangement  made  for  him  by  his  eldest 
brother.  Comfort  U.  Lane,  who  had  been  for  sev- 
eral years  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  Owen  &  Hurl- 
but,  extensive  paper  manufacturers  in  the  village 
of  South  Lee,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  he  entered 
the  adjoining  store  of  Mr.  Billings  Brown, 
quite  an  extensive  mill  owner  in  the  same  vil- 
lage— the  distance  from  Suffield  to  South  Lee 
being  about  fifty  miles.  Commencing  with  Mr. 
Brown  May  1,  1831,  being  then  not  quite  16 
years  old,  the  relations  of  the  merchant  and  his 
clerk  were  of  the  most  friendly  and  confiden- 
tial character  for  a  year  and  a  half,  when  Mr. 
Brown,  b}-  reason  of  his  other  more  important 
interests,  substantially  abandoned  his  mercan- 
tile business,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1832,  3'oung 
Lane's  clerkship  was  transferred  to  the  store  of 
Mr.  Austin  Ha3'den,  in  the  more  important  vil- 
lage of  Pittsfield,  in  the  same  county.  Here 
he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1833,  when,  on 
visiting  home  (after  an  absence  of  just  two 
years,  during  which  time  he  had  outgrown  the 
knowledge  of  his-most  intimate  acquaintances), 
he  entered  into  an  arrangement  with  a  Hart- 
ford book  publisher  to  canvass  Merrimack  Co., 
in  the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  for  Goodrich's 
History  of  the  United  States.  Simultaneously 
with  his  arrival  at  Concord,  the  count}-  seat  of 
Merrimack  Co.  and  the  capital  of  the  State,  was 
the  arrival  of  Gen.  Andrew"  Jackson,  President 
of  the  LTnited  States,  who,  with  his  Cabinet,  was 
at  that  time  making  a  grand  triumphal  tour 
through  New  England.  The  military  and  civic 
display  on  that  occasion  was  probably  greater 
than  was  ever  witnessed  in  that  State,  either  be- 
fore or  since,  and  though  the  embryo  book  agent 
was  obliged  to  sleep  for  two  consecutive  nights 
in  a  stage  coach  in  the  stable  yard  of  the  hotel 
where  he  had  intended  to  stop,  he  laughingly 
remarks  that  he  has  always  felt  gratified  at  the 
honors  then  and  there  paid  to //«'?»  and  "Old 
Hickor}-."  Though  his  father  had  been  a  stanch 
Democrat  before  him,  the  sight  of  the  old  hero 
and  the  "pomp  and  circumstance"  of  that  oc- 
casion, probably  had  a  tendency  to  confirm 
young  Lane  in  his  Democratic  proclivities,  and 
in  making  him,  for  many  3'ears  after  attaining 
his  majority,  an  active  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic partj'.  The  display'  over,  the  canvassing 
business  was  vigorously  proceeded  with,  every 
family  and  business  establishment  in  the  cit}' 


liL 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


729 


and  county  being  visited,  and  the  work  so  sat- 
isfactorily done,  that  on  his  return  to  Hartford, 
thougli  then  but  a  little  over  17  years  old,  he 
was  detailed  to  do  similar  work  in  Georgia  and 
South  Carolina,  with  his  headquarters  at  Au- 
gusta. Arriving  at  his  destination  in  January, 
1834,  the  principal  towns  in  the  river  counties 
above  that  point,  in  both  States,  were  canvassed 
during  the  winter,  spring  and  early  summer, 
and  a  good  portion  of  the  books  delivered.  A 
hitch  in  the  receipt  of  books  from  the  North 
occurring,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  summer, 
young  Lane  entered  the  office  of  the  South- 
ern Spy,  an  anti-nullification  or  radical  Union 
paper,  as  assistant  editor  and  general  helper,  in 
the  village  of  Washington,  Wilkes  Co.,  Ga., 
then  and  for  many  years  afterward  the  home  of 
the  since  notorious  Southern  politician  and 
rebel  General,  "  Bob  "  Toombs.  At  the  close 
of  the  election  campaign,  in  October,  18.34,  in 
which  the  Unionists  of  Wilkes  Co.  were  tri- 
umphant over  the  Nullifiers  for  the  first  time  in 
several  years,  and  having  closed  his  canvassing 
matters,  young  Lane,  with  a  view  of  resuming 
mercantile  operations  somewhere  in  the  South, 
visited  Mobile  and  New  Orleans,  in  both  of 
which  cities,  in  January,  1835,  he  made  a  dili- 
gent effort  to  obtain  a  clerkship,  but  being  a 
stranger,  and  there  being  at  least  twenty  appli- 
cants to  each  vacancy,  he  was  unsuccessful,  and 
concluded  to  return  North.  Leaving  New  Or- 
leans by  steamer,  and  making  short  stops — 
at  Louisville,  Cincinnati  and  Columbus — he 
reached  Cleveland  about  the  1st  of  March, 
whence  he  proceeded  directly  to  Aurora,  in 
Portage  Co.,  where  an  aunt  and  other  ac- 
quaintances from  Connecticut  resided.  After  a 
somewhat  prolonged  visit  among  his  Aurora 
friends,  and  a  short  time  spent  at  Ravenna,  the 
county  seat  of  Portage  Co.,  he  wended  his  way 
to  the  then  new  village  of  "  Cascade,"  now  the 
busiest  portion  of  the  city  of  Akron,  taking 
up  his  abode  at  the  "Pavillion  House,"  kept  b}' 
Mr.  Charles  B.  Cobb,  now  residing  on  his  mag- 
nificent farm  just  west  of  the  city  limits.  This 
hotel  stood  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Howard 
and  Market  streets,  where  the  fine  brick  block 
of  Dr.  E.  W.  Howard  and  Edward  Oviatt,  Esq., 
now  stands.  Being  now  rather  short  in  funds — 
in  fact,  substantially  "dead  broke  " — our  young 
adventurer  was  glad  to  avail  himself  of  Mr. 
Cobb's  offer  to  let  him  work  for  his  board — 
clerking,  tending  bar,  waiting  on  guests,  etc. — 


until  something  more  favorable  should  "  turn 
up."  This  was  on  the  10th  day  of  June,  1835, 
and  nineteen  days  before  he  had  attained  his 
20th  birthday.  Mercantile  clerkships  being 
less  plenty  than  aspirants  therefor,  and  no  eli- 
gible situation  presenting  itself,  our  impecunious 
young  friend  continued  to  mix  whisk}'  toddies 
and  perform  the  multifarious  duties  of  a  village 
hotel  tapster  for  about  two  months,  when  he 
was  offered  and  accepted  a  temporary  situation 
in  the  shop  of  a  house  and  sign  painter  by  the 
name  of  Burt,  as  a  sort  of  half-apprentice,  half- 
journeyman,  at  ver}'  low  wages,  and  to  board 
in  the  family  of  his  employer — the  very  first 
jobs  assigned  to  him  being  some  ornamental 
work  be3'ond  the  skill  and  capacity  of  his  em- 
ployer and  so-called  instructor.  Applying  him- 
self diligentl}'  to  the  business  in  hand,  with  his 
natural  taste  for  designing,  lettering,  etc.,  and 
his  youthful  experience  in  and  about  his 
father's  carriage-shop,  he  was  in  three  months 
the  peer  of  his  employer  in  all  branches  of  the 
business  carried  on,  and,  in  some,  his  superior. 
This  arrangement  continued  until  about  the  1st 
of  December,  1835,  when  work  substantial!}^ 
closing  down  for  the  winter,  our  young  "  artist " 
returned  to  his  old  quarters  at  the  Pavilion. 
Shortly  afterward,  however,  he  was  offered  and 
accepted  the  position  of  "  pedagogue,"  in 
School  District  No.  7,  Portage  Township,  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  Akron,  on  the  Medina 
road.  Though  not  liberally  educated,  having 
graduated  from  the  district  school  of  his  native 
town  at  the  age  of  15  years,  and  though  several 
of  his  scholars  were  older  than  himself,  and 
one  or  two  in  some  branches  greatly  his  supe- 
riors, he  managed  to  get  creditably  through 
his  term  of  three  months,  or  at  all  events  to 
draw,  if  not  earn,  the  munificent  salar}'  which 
the  Trustees  had  stipulated  to  pay  him,  to  wit : 
%11  a  month  and  hoard  'round.  In  tlie  spring 
of  1836,  yielding  to  his  natural  tastes  in  that 
direction,  his  dire  necessities,  and  the  encour- 
agement of  his  friends,  Mr.  Lane,  then  not 
quite  of  age,  rented  a  shop  and  started  in  busi- 
ness on  his  "own  hook,"  as  a  full-fledged 
"  house,  sign  and  ornamental  painter,"  soon  at- 
taining, and  for  many  years  maintaining,  a  fair 
standing  in  that  profession. 

In  Septembei-,  1837,  while  successfully  pursu- 
ing his  chosen  avocation  as  a  painter,  availing 
himself  of  the  slight  knowledge  of  the  printing 
business  and  journalism  acquired  in  the  office 


^ 


730 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


of  the  Southern  Spy,  and  taking  an  active  interest 
in  the  reformatory  measures  then  being  inau- 
gurated for  ridding  the  village  of  certain  profes- 
sional gamblers  and  other  disreputable  charac- 
ters, Mr.  Lane  commenced,  and  for  a  year  and 
half  maintained,  the  publication  of  a  small 
semi-monthly  paper,  under  the  unique  title  of 
the  Akron  Buzzard,  a  more  extended  history 
of  which  will  be  found  under  the  head  of  the 
"  Press  of  Summit  County,"  Mr.  L.,  however, 
continuing  his  painting  business  without  inter- 
ruption. November,  11,  1838,  Mr.  Lane  then 
23  years  old,  was  married  to  Miss  Paulina  Pot- 
ter, of  Castleton,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  the  foster- 
sister  of  Mr.  Paris  Tallman,  now  living  in 
happy  retirement  from  active  business,  at  No. 
803  East  Market  street.  A  few  days  later,  Mr. 
Henry  L.  Lane,  the  carriage  builder  heretofore 
spoken  of,  arrived  in  Akron  from  Connecticut, 
with  the  view  of  establishing  himself  in  busi- 
ness here,  and  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the 
brother,  and  to  alla}^  the  fears  of  his  young 
wife  for  his  personal  safet}^,  by  reason  of  his 
fearlessly  exposing  the  disreputable  charac- 
ters and  practices  of  the  village,  combined 
with  other  causes,  in  March,  1839,  the  Buz- 
zard was  discontinued,  and  a  copartnership 
was  formed  between  the  two  brothers,  under 
the  firm  name  of  H.  L.  &  S.  A.  Lane,  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  on  a  general  carriage  mak- 
ing and  painting  business.  Shops  were  erected 
on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  brick  black- 
smith-shop of  James  A.  Moody,  on  South  Main 
street.  Though  quite  limited  in  means,  every- 
thing in  those  days  having  to  be  done  on  the 
"  truck  and  dicker  "  principle,  a  fair  business 
was  being  done,  when,  on  the  20th  day  of  July, 
1841,  the  elder  brother,  Henry  L.  Lane,  sud- 
denly died,  about  two  months,  only,  after  his 
marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Hovey,  of  Granville, 
Ohio.  The  surviving  junior  partner  continued 
the  business,  though  to  great  disadvantage,  by 
reason  of  his  non-acquaintance  with  the  main 
branches  thereof,  until  the  close  of  that  year, 
when  he  associated  with  himself  an  old  gradu- 
ate of  his  father's  establishment,  lately  arrived 
from  Connecticut,  Mr.  Jonathan  Remington, 
the  father  of  Mr.  0.  H.  Remington,  the  jeweler 
now  doing  business  on  Howard  street.  The 
new  firm  of  Lane  &  Remington  continued  in 
operation  about  two  years,  when  the  concern 
was  sold  to  other  parties.  Too  close  applica- 
tion to  his  own  branch  of  the  business  (paint- 


ing) having  by  this  time  very  materially  im- 
paired Mr.  Lane's  health,  and  having  meantime 
also  become  deeply  interested  in  the  success  of 
the  Washingtonian  Temperance  Reform,  then 
agitating  the  country,  in  the  spring  of  1844, 
Mr.  Lane  again  embarked  in  the  newspaper 
business,  in  connection  with  Mr.  William  T. 
Coggeshall,  as  detailed  elsewhere,  reviving  the 
Buzzard  as  a  temperance  organ,  but  soon 
changing  its  name  to  the  Cascade  Roarer,  which 
was  continued  with  a  fair  degree  of  success  for 
something  over  two  years,  Mr.  Lane  leaving 
to  his  partner  the  general  conduct  of  the  office, 
and  devoting  most  of  his  own  time  to  lecturing, 
canvassing  for  subscribers  to  the  paper,  corres- 
pondence, etc.  One  novel  feature  adopted  by 
Mr.  Lane,  as  a  lecturer,  was  to  take  the  other 
side,  i.  e.,  traveling  in  connection  with  another 
lecturer,  and  discussing  the  question  pro  and 
con,  Mr.  Lane  using  the  same  arguments  in  favor 
of  drinking,  selling,  etc.,  usually  urged  by 
drinkers  and  venders,  and  by  carrying  them  out 
to  their  legitimate  results,  with  the  introduction 
of  ludicrous  illustrations  to  show  that  the  use 
of  intoxicating  liquors,  instead  of  shortening, 
prolongs  life  ;  instead  of  poverty,  brings  riches  ; 
instead  of  sorrow,  happiness,  etc.,  often  produ- 
cing a  greater  impression  upon  the  minds  of 
those  addicted  to  their  cups,  and  those  engaged 
in  the  traffic,  than  the  most  eloquent  straight- 
forward lecturing  could  possibly  do,  the  "  dis- 
cussions," unlike  the  regulation  temperance  lect- 
ure, calling  out  the  very  classes  sought  to  be 
reformed  and  benefited.  On  the  discontinuance 
of  the  Cascade  Roarer,  in  the  fall  of  1846.  Mr 
Lane  continued  to  occupy  the  lecture  field,  for 
the  most  part,  until  the  fall  of  1847,  when,  with 
improved  health,  he  again  embarked  in  the 
painting  business,  assiduously  devoting  himself 
thereto  until  the  spring  of  1850,  so  closely,  in 
fact,  that  during  the  previous  j-ear  a  serious  re- 
lapse of  his  old  malady — a  sort  of  paralysis  of 
the  stomach,  or  an  aggravated  form  of  dyspepsia 
— had  substantially  unfitted  him  for  that  or  any 
other  active  business.  With  the  view  of  bet- 
tering his  physical  as  well  as  his  financial  con- 
dition, with  some  200  other  Summit  Co.  men, 
he  started  overland  for  California  on  the  14th 
day  of  March,  1850,  and  though  many  of  his 
friends  believed  that,  in  the  pi'ecarious  condi- 
tion of  his  health,  he  would  never  live  to  reach 
the  Pacific  Coast ;  and  though  the  journey  was 
very  hazardous  and  fatiguing,  he  not  only  got 


•k* 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


731 


safely  through,  but  heavier  by  thirt3'-two 
pounds  than  when  he  left  Akron,  and  six  pounds 
heavier  than  ever  before  in  his  life  ;  a  condition 
of  things — thanks  to  the  pure  air,  vigorous  ex- 
ercise and  coarse  food  of  the  plains  and  mount- 
ains, and  the  salubrious  climate  of  California — 
more  than  maintained  during  his  entii-e  two 
years  sojourn  upon  the  Pacific  Coast.  Arriving 
at  Placerville,  the  first  town  entered  in  Califor- 
nia, August  4,  ]  850,  after  a  day  or  two  spent 
among  the  mines,  and  a  stop  of  one  day  at  Sac- 
ramento, Mr.  Lane  proceeded  immediately  to  San 
Francisco,  where  he  remained  during  his  stay  in 
California,  making  his  rooms  the  general  head- 
quarters of  Summit  Co.  gold-seekers  visiting 
the  city,  whether  en  route  for  home  or  on  their 
wa}'  to  the  mines  via  the  Isthmus  route ;  also 
acting  as  the  regular  semi-monthly  correspond- 
ent of  both  the  Beacon  and  the  Democratic 
Standard,  in  keeping  the  "  loved  ones  at  home  " 
posted  as  to  the  movements  of  their  friends  in 
the  mines  and  other  portions  of  California — a 
service  very  greatly  appreciated  by  the  people 
of  Akron  and  Summit  Co. 

On  reaching  San  Francisco,  a  few  days  were 
spent  in  "  prospecting,"  and  finding  nothing  bet- 
ter suited  to  his  tastes  or  his  finances,  Mr.  Lane, 
having  thoroughly  regained  his  health  and 
3'outhful  vigor,  then  being  35  j-ears  of  age, 
again  embarked  in  the  painting  business,  rent- 
ing a  small  second  floor  room  for  a  shop,  and 
earning  with  his  own  hand  over  and  above  his 
board  and  expenses,  about  $200  per  month.  At 
that  time,  Mr.  James  G.  Dow,  a  former  Akron 
merchant,  one  of  the  "  Forty-niners,"  was  en- 
gaged in  the  retail  auction  business,  which  was 
netting  him  about  $3,000  per  month.  In  Octo- 
ber, Mr.  Dow  disposed  of  his  stock  of  goods, 
with  the  view  of  spending  the  winter  with  his 
family  in  Massachusetts.  Before  leaving,  Mr. 
Dow  advised  Mr.  Lane  and  Mr.  Charles  G.  Cald- 
well, also  a  "  Forty-niner,"  and  an  Akron  boy, 
then  operating  a  small  "  ranch  " — growing  milk, 
butter,  eggs,  etc. — at  Sacramento,  to  embark  in 
the  auction  business,  in  which  he  had  done  so 
well,  offering  to  lease  to  them  for  six  months  a 
building  owned  b}-  him,  on  the  corner  of  Jack- 
son and  Montgomery  streets,  for  which  he  was 
then  receiving  $800  per  month  in  rents,  for 
$600  per  month,  $350  of  which  was  to  be  paid 
monthly  in  advance  to  the  land-owner,  the  re- 
maining $250  to  remain  in  their  hands  until 
his  return  in  the  spring.      The  plan  appearing 


perfectly  feasible,  Mr.  Lane  added  his  little 
"  pile  "  of  about  $600  to  the  Mr.  Caldwell's  cash 
surplus  of  about  $1,400.  the  firm  of  Lane  & 
Caldwell  borrowing  $1,000  from  a  mutual 
friend,  and  with  a  cash  capital  of  a  little  over 
$3,000,  "  sailed  in,"  Mr.  Dow  aiding  them  in 
the  purchase  of  their  goods  and  in  getting 
started.  The  "  grand  opening  "  took  place  Dec. 
1 ,  1 850,  and  for  a  time  gave  promise  of  abundant 
success.  Within  three  weeks,  however,  and  al- 
most before  Mr.  Dow  had  got  outside  the  har- 
bor, one  of  those  sudden  and  disastrous  com- 
mercial revulsions  then  peculiar  to  the  Pacific 
Coast — a  regular  panic  and  stagnation  in  al- 
most every  branch  of  trade — occurred,  in  con- 
sequence of  which  not  only  was  it  almost  im- 
possible to  sell  anything,  at  any  price,  but 
affecting  the  wholesale  trade  to  such  an  extent 
that  they  could  go  into  the  market  and  dupli- 
cate the  ver}'  goods  the}'  had  in  stock  at  less 
than  one-half  the  prices  they  had  paid  for  them. 
This  condition  of  things  continued  for  several 
months,  the  result  being,  that  though  thev 
struggled  hard,  and  held  on  in  hopes  of  better 
times,  they  sunk  every  dollar  invested  (though 
managing  finally  to  refund  their  borrowed  mon- 
ey), besides  coming  out,  at  the  end  of  the  six 
months,  nearly  $1,500  in  debt  to  their  generous- 
hearted  landlord  ;  the  building,  however,  having 
been  destroyed  in  the  big  fire  of  Ma}-  4,  1851, 
about  one  month  before  the  expiration  of  the 
lease.  Before  this,  however,  Mr.  Lane  had  re- 
turned to  his  paint-pots  and  brushes,  and  Mr. 
Caldwell  to  his  cows  and  chickens,  which,  in 
the  mean  time,  had  been  in  chai-ge  of  Mr.  Will- 
iam H.  White,  also  an  Akronian,  and  now  the 
head  miller  in  the  Allen  Mills  of  Akron.  On 
his  return,  about  the  1st  of  June,  1851,  Mr. 
Dow,  after  listening  to  the  lugubi'ious  story  of 
the  broken-down  merchants,  philosophically  re- 
marked :  "  Well,  boys,  you've  had  a  pretty 
rough  time  of  it,  but  it's  all  in  a  life-time  ;  and 
there's  one  consolation  about  it,  the  more  you 
have  of  it  the  shorter'll  be  the  life-time.  But," 
he  continued,  "  I'll  not  be  hard  on  you,  boys, 
for  I  know  how  it  feels  to  be  a  '  busted- up  com- 
munity' myself  and  if  you'll  make  me  up  50 
cents  on  the  dollar.  111  call  it  square."  This  offer 
was  of  course  gladly  accepted,  each  contributing 
his  equal  share,  Mr.  Lane  at  this  time  earning 
at  his  trade  about  $300  per  month,  net.  Soon 
after  this,  Mr.  Dow  and  IMr.  Charles  W.  Tap- 
pan,  a  lately-arrived  Akronian,  embarked  in  the 


732 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


same  business  which  had  proved  so  disastrous 
to  Messrs.  Lane  &  Caldwell,  in  which,  the  panic 
being  over,  they  made  money  very  rapidly, 
their  net  pi-ofits  averaging  over  $150  per  day 
for  a  year  or  more  thereafter.  Mr.  Lane  con- 
tinued to  wield  the  brush  with  varied  success 
all  the  time,  however,  earning  good  wages,  un- 
til about  the  middle  of  September,  1851,  when 
he  entered  the  service  of  Messrs.  Dow  &  Tap- 
pan,  as  an  auctioneer,  on  a  salary  of  $275  per 
month.  About  the  1st  of  November,  the  firm 
established  a  branch  store  on  the  same  street, 
with  Mr.  Lane  and  a  young  Massachusetts 
Yankee  by  the  name  of  Humphre}'  Sawyer,  as 
salesman.  Dec.  1,  Messrs.  Lane  and  Sawyer, 
and  Hallett  Kilbourn,  another  Akron  boy, 
(now  a  well-known  operator  in  Washington 
City),  each  bought  a  one-fourth  interest  in  the 
"  branch,"  Messrs.  Dow  &  Tappan  retaining  the 
other  one-fourth,  Mr.  Dow  doing  the  purchas- 
ing, and  the  junior  partners  running  the  "  che- 
bang."  Feb.  1,  1852,  Mr.  Kilbourne  withdrew, 
Messrs.  Lane  &  Sawyer,  then,  with  the  old  firm 
of  Dow  &  Tappan,  becoming  each  one-third 
owners.  March  1,  Messrs.  Lane  &  Sawyer 
bought  of  Dow  &  Tappan  the  remaining  one- 
third  interest,  thus  becoming  the  sole  owners  of 
the  concern,  Mr.  Dow  still  doing  their  purchas- 
ing on  a  small  commission.  The  plan  was  to 
buy  at  auction  from  wholesale  houses,  by  cata- 
logue, goods  that  would  I'etail  readily,  such  as 
clothing,  boots  and  shoes,  hats,  blankets, 
watches,  jewelry,  revolvers,  notions,  etc.,  and 
sell  them  either  at  auction  or  private  sale,  al- 
ways, of  course,  aiming  to  obtain  a  good  liberal 
margin  over  and  above  the  original  cost  of  the 
goods,  but  very  often  selling  them  at  less  than 
one-half  the  original  cost  of  production.  Busi- 
ness slowing  up  somewhat  during  the  months 
of  March  and  April,  Mr.  Sawyer  became  dis- 
heartened, and  insisted  on  closing  the  concern 
out,  which  was  accordingly  done  on  the  1st  day 
of  June,  1852,  Mr.  Lane  not  having  sufficient 
capital  to  purchase  his  partner's  interest  and 
run  it  alone.  Dividing  their  goods,  Mr.  Saw- 
yer immediately  disposed  of  his  share  at  a 
loss,  through  a  wholesale  auction  house,  while 
Mr.  Lane  packed  and  stored  his  share  to  await 
the  "  logic  of  events."  While  "  waiting  and 
watching"  for  something  else  to  "turn  up," 
Mr.  Lane  something  more  than  paid  his  current 
expenses  by  doing  occasional  jobs  of  lettering 
for  an  established  house  and  sign  painting  firm, 


until  the  latter  part  of  August,  when,  yielding 
to  a  strong  desire  to  see  his  wife  and  children, 
from  whom  he  had  then  been  absent  about  two 
years  and  a  half,  and  the  rather  urgent  so- 
licitations of  several  Akron  boys  just  in  from 
the  mines,  en  route  for  home,  he  sold  his  goods 
at  a  slight  margin  above  cost,  closed  up 
his  affairs,  and  on  the  1st  day  of  September, 
1852,  on  the  new  and  stanch  steamer  "Win- 
field  Scott,"  set  sail  for  Panama,  by  no  means 
rich,  but  still  with  quite  a  fair  showing  for  his 
thirty  months'  time  and  labor,  considering  the 
utter  failure  of  the  first  half  thereof;  and  with 
what  was  far  better  than  gold,  good  health. 

In  the  spring  of  1853,  Mr.  Lane  invested  his 
California  savings  in  a  clothing  and  merchant 
tailoring  establishment  in  Akron,  which  busi- 
ness he  conducted  with  reasonable  success  until 
the  spring  of  1855,  when  ever}'  dollar  was  swept 
away  by  fire.  In  the  fall  of  1853,  the  Temper- 
ance Reform  party  of  Summit  Co.  put  Mr. 
Lane  forward  as  an  Independent  candidate  for 
Representative  to  the  State  Legislature,  in  com- 
petition with  the  regular  nominees  of  the  Whig 
Democratic  and  Free-Soil  parties.  Afterward, 
an  arrangement  was  made  between  the  friends 
of  Mr.  Lane  and  the  Whig  and  Free-Soil  leaders, 
by  which  all  three  candidates  should  submit 
their  claims  to  a  union  mass  convention,  which 
was  accordingly  done,  the  contest  being  between 
Mr.  Lane  and  Dr.  Porter  G.  Somers,  of  Cuya- 
hoga Falls.  Union  Hall  was  completely  packed, 
and  the  vote  was  taken  by  passing  around  the 
hat,  with  no  check  whatever  as  to  the  number  of 
ballots  cast,  or  the  right  of  any  person  to  vote. 
The  count  resulted  in  a  small  majority'  for  the 
Doctor,  who  was  triumphantly  elected  over  the 
pro-slavery,  pro-whisky.  Democratic  candidate; 
though  it  was  more  than  suspected  at  the  time 
that  the  honest  sentiment  of  that  mass  conven- 
tion was  defeated  by  partisan  "  strategy',"  and 
that  Mr.  Lane  should  have  been,  by  right,  de- 
clared its  nominee.  In  January,  1854,  Mr. 
Lane  was  appointed  by  the  Town  Council  of 
Akron  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation of  the  incorporated  village,  occasioned 
by  the  death  of  Mr.  Horace  Canfield.  On  the 
re-organization  of  the  board  in  the  following 
April,  Mr.  Lane  was  elected  Treasurer  of  the 
Board,  holding  the  position  until  the  expiration 
of  his  term  in  1856.  In  the  fall  of  1855,  Mr. 
Lane  having  been  thrown  out  of  business  by  the 
fire  above  spoken  of,  and  having  naturally  allied 


■7- 


i?v 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


733 


himself  with  the  newly  organized  Republican 
party,  presented  himself  before  the  Republican 
County  Nominating  Convention  as  a  candidate 
for  State  Representative  ;  but  the  honors  were 
fairl}'  won  by  that  then  stanch  Republican,  Dr. 
Mendall  Jewett,  of  Mogadore,  now  an  equally 
stanch  Prohibitionist  of  the  Sixth  Ward  in  Ak- 
ron. On  the  accession  of  Salmon  P.  Chase  to 
the  Grubernatorial  Chair  of  Ohio,  in  January, 
1856,  Mr.  Lane,  backed  by  a  majority  of  the 
business  men  of  Akron,  both  Republicans  and 
Democrats,  applied  for  the  position  of  Canal 
Collector  for  the  port  of  Akron  ;  but  his  genial 
and  rotund  friend,  Nathaniel  W.  Goodhue,  Esq., 
carried  too  many  political  guns  for  him,  and 
won  the  prize  for  himself  Thus  far,  though 
doing  his  best  to  establish  and  maintain  Re- 
formatory and  Republican  principles,  Mr.  Lane's 
political  aspirations  had  proved  such  utter  fail- 
ures that,  though  still  working  both  on  the 
rostrum  and  with  the  pen  and  the  paint-brush, 
in  the  fabrication  of  pai'ty  banners  and  mottoes, 
he  had  concluded  to  make  no  further  efforts  in 
the  office  line,  when,  in  the  fall  of  1856,  during 
the  celebrated  Fremont-Buchanan  campaign, 
the  Republicans  in  different  parts  of  Summit 
Co.  spontaneousl}'  fixed  upon  him  as  their  can- 
didate for  Sheriff,  and  in  their  Nominating  Con- 
vention nominated  him  for  that  position  on  the 
first  ballot,  by  the  ver}'  handsome  majority  of 
17  over  all  competitors,  some  six  or  seven  in 
number.  Though  bitterly  opposed,  on  account 
of  his  radical  temperance  proclivities,  he  was 
triumphantly  elected,  and  in  1858,  was  renomi- 
nated by  acclamation,  and  re-elected  by  a 
greatly  increased  majorit}'.  On  the  expiration 
of  his  second  term,  Januarj^  1,  1861,  Mr.  Lane 
became  the  editor-in-chief  of  the  Summit  County 
Beacon,  then,  as  now,  the  sole  Republican  organ 
of  Summit  Co.  Some  three  months  after  as- 
suming his  editorial  duties,  he  was  appointed 
by  Gov.  William  Dennison,  without  solicitation 
on  his  part,  or  on  the  part  of  his  friends.  Pro- 
bate Judge  of  Summit  Co.,  to  fill  the  vacancy 
occasioned  by  the  death  of  Judge  William  M. 
Dodge.  The  honor,  however,  was  respectfully' 
declined,  his  editorial  duties  not  permitting  him 
to  fill  both  positions,  and  as  the  appointment 
was  only  until  the  ensuing  October  election, 
about  three  months,  and  as  he  had  but  just  re- 
tired from  the  office  of  Sheriff,  he  did  not  feel 
like  asking  the  people  for  another  county  office 
so  soon.     Mr.  Lane  continued  to   devote   the 


best  energies  of  his  mind  and  body  to  the 
building-up  of  the  Weekly  Beacon^  and  its  later 
adjunct,  the  Akron  Daily  Beacon,  as  detailed 
elsewhere  in  this  volume,  for  nearly  fifteen 
years,  meantime  becoming  the  one-third  owner 
thereof,  when,  from  causes  entirely  beyond  his 
control,  he  was  obliged  to  retire  therefrom  in 
the  fall  of  1875,  without  a  dollar.  At  this 
crisis  in  his  affairs,  he  again,  in  the  fall  of  1876, 
asked  the  people  of  Summit  Count}-  for  his  old 
position  of  Sheriff,  which,  notwithstanding  the 
objections  urged  against  him  that  he  was  too 
old  (being  then  61  years  of  age);  that  he  had 
already  held  the  office  two  terms,  and  that  he 
was  too  radical  in  his  temperance  and  other 
reform  notions,  was  generously  given  to  him  b}' 
a  handsome  majority  of  the  voters  of  the 
count}' ;  as  was  also  another  term,  by  a  still 
larger  majority  at  the  October  elections  in  1878. 
Notwithstanding  his  "  advanced  "  age,  his  ad- 
ministration of  the  office  was  so  successful  and 
satisfactory  to  the  people,  that  still  another 
term  would  undoubtedly  have  been  tendered  to 
him,  but  for  the  constitutional  provision  that  no 
incumbent  of  that  office  shall  serve  more  than 
four  years  in  any  consecutive  six  years.  Trans- 
ferring his  office  to  his  successor,  William  Mc- 
Kinney,  Esq.,  on  the  3d  day  of  January,  1881, 
Mr.  Lane  continued  to  make  himself  generally 
useful  about  the  court  house,  as  Mr.  McKin- 
ney's  Chief  Deputy,  some  three  months,  when, 
on  the  1st  day  of  April,  1881,  the  Republican 
Convention  of  the  City  of  Akron  placed  him  in 
nomination  for  Mayor,  by  the  very  decisive 
vote  of  36  to  12.  At  the  election,  April  5, 
almost  superhuman  efforts  were  made  to  com- 
pass his  defeat,  not  only  by  his  old-time  bitter 
enemy.  Democracy,  but  by  the  entire  "  bummer  " 
and  ''  hoodlum  "  element  of  the  city,  and  though 
in  no  way  seeking  or  working  for  the  office 
himself.  Republicanism  and  Law  and  Order 
prin«3iples  so  far  prevailed  as  to  secure  the 
election  of  Mr.  Lane  by  a  small  majority,  to  be 
the  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Akron  for  the  period 
of  two  years. 

In  thus  presenting  the  merest  outlines  of  the 
varied  and  somewhat  eventful  history  of  Mr. 
Lane,  compiled  mainly  from  data  furnished  by 
himself,  we  have,  at  his  request,  omitted  a  large 
number  of  interesting,  thrilling,  as  well  as  ludi- 
crous reminiscences  of  his  life — his  youthful 
exploits  as  a  "  Gay  Lothario  "  among  the  girls, 
and  otherwise  ;   his  rich  experiences  as  clerk 


M^ 


734 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


and  book  agent  ;  his  getting  lost  in  tlie  woods 
and  spending  a  night  among  the  untamed  Creels: 
Indians  in  Alabama  ;  his  frequent  personal  ren- 
contres with  blacklegs  and  other  desperate 
characters,  while  publishing  the  Buzzard  and 
Cascade  Roarer;  the  numberless  egg-peltings 
and  other  indignities  received  while  preaching 
the  gospel  of  temperance  ;  the  hazards  and 
hardships  of  his  overland  journey  to  Califor- 
nia ;  scenes,  tragical  and  comical,  including  the 
excitements  of  the  vigilance  committee  period, 
in  San  Francisco  ;  his  "  hair  breadth  'scapes  by 
land  and  sea,"  from  shipwreck  and  pestilence 
upon  the  journey  home  ;  the  successful  system 
of  criminal  detection  pursued  by  himself  and 
others,  while  filling  the  office  of  Sheriff  from 
1856  to  1861  ;  his  man}-  encounters  with  both 
male  and  female  desperadoes  in  and  about  the 
jail  during  his  eight  years  of  official  service  ; 
his  experiences  with  the  fire-fiend  by  which  he 
was  twice  reduced  from  compai'ative  affluence 
to  substantial  beggary  ;  his  struggles  with  pov- 
erty, with  disease  and  with  domestic  afflictions  ; 
all  possess  an  interest  of  no  ordinary  type,  but 
which  Mr.  Lane  thinks  would  occup}'  more 
space  in  this  volume  than  their  importance 
to  the  public  would  justify.  But  a  few  words 
more  regarding  the  family  matters  of  Mr.  Lane 
should  not  be  omitted.  With  the  wife  of  his 
youth,  Mr.  Lane  lived  harmoniousl}'  and  hap- 
pil}-  for  almost  a  third  of  a  century,  her  death 
occurring  on  the  2d  day  of  July,  1871.  To  them 
were  born  eight  children,  four  of  whom,  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  were  taken  from  them 
by  death,  in  infanc}'  and  early  childhood.  Of 
the  survivors,  the  eldest,  Julius  Sherman  Lane, 
now  in  the  40th  year  of  his  age,  is  an  honored 
citizen  of  Akron,  a  machinist  by  trade,  and  is 
one  of  the  proprietors  and  the  superintendent 
of  one  of  Akron's  most  successful  manufactur- 
ing establishments — The  Webster,  Camp  & 
Lane  Machine  Company.  The  next  son,  Fred- 
erick Alanson  Lane,  now  in  his  32d  year,  is  an 
engineer  and  pressman  ;  at  present,  after  about 
ten  years'  acceptable  service  in  the  extensive 
newspaper  and  job  press  rooms  of  the  Beacon 
Publishing  Company,  in  Akron,  is  in  charge  of 
the  presses  and  machiner}'  of  the  Ohio  Farmer 
in  the  city  of  Cleveland.  The  third  son,  Arthur 
Malcolm  Lane,  now  25  years  old,  is  under  the 
training  of  his  elder  brother,  both  a  practical 
machinist  and  an  experienced  draughtsman, 
and,  after   about  three  years'    service  in  the 


draughting  room  of  the  celebrated  Baldwin 
Locomotive  Works,  in  Philadelphia,  is  now  fill- 
ing a  similar  position  in  the  Rhode  Island  Lo- 
comotive Works,  in  the  city  of  Providence. 
The  youngest,  a  daughter,  Carrie  Maria  Lane, 
now  23  years  of  age,  was  married,  Sept.  11. 
1878,  to  Mr.  Albert  J.  Pitkin,  also  a  graduate 
from  the  works  of  the  Webster,  Camp  &  Lane 
Machine  Company,  in  Akron,  who,  after  four 
3'ears  experience  in  the  draughting  rooms  of 
the  Baldwin  Locomotive  Works,  at  Philadel- 
phia, is  now  the  superintendent  of  the  draught- 
ing department  of  the  Rhode  Island  Locomotive 
Works,  above  alluded  to,  at  Providence.  And 
now,  in  summing  up  this  brief  sketch  of  his 
famil}',  Mr.  Lane  bids  us  say  that  each  and  all 
of  his  living  children  are  in  every  respect  the 
superior  of  their  paternal  ancestor,  a  circum- 
stance which  he  attributes  entirely  to  the  care- 
ful early  training  bestowed  upon  them  by  their 
sainted  mother.  Nov.  11,  1872,  Mr.  Lane  mar- 
ried, for  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Emeline  Manning, 
a  sister  of  the  former  Mrs.  Lane,  with  whom  he 
has  since  lived  in  perfect  harmony  and  happi- 
ness. Thus,  in  the  66th  year  of  his  life,  though 
not  rich  in  this  world's  goods,  Mr.  Lane  is  com- 
fortably situated,  and,  in  the  companionship  of 
his  most  excellent  wife,  the  society  of  his  chil- 
dren and  grandchildren,  and  surrounded  by 
kind  friends  and  neighbors,  he  is  happy  in  the 
thought  that  during  his  nearly  half  a  century's 
residence  among  them,  he  has  so  largely  attained 
and  retained  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his 
fellow-citizens  of  the  city  of  Akron  and  of  Sum- 
mit Co. 

CARSON  LAKE  was  born  March  17,  1852, 
at  Fredonia,  N.  Y.,  being  descended  on  his  fath- 
ers side  from  stock  of  Gen.  Warren,  of  Bunker 
Hill  fame,  and  on  his  mother's  side  from  the 
family  which  numbered  among  its  branches  the 
noted  scout  Kit  Carson,  and  the  Hills  of  South- 
ern fame.  He  was  the  sole  survivor  of  a  family 
of  six  children.  His  father  died  when  he  was 
quite  young,  and  in  1861,  his  mother  going 
into  the  hospitals  of  Alexandria,  Va.,  he  spent 
some  two  years  amid  the  thrilling  surroundings 
of  Washington  and  Alexandria  at  that  period, 
a  portion  of  the  time  serving  as  a  Government 
messenger.  Returning  North,  after  some  time 
in  the  Akron  schools,  he  was  sent  for  a  year  to 
the  well-known  Academy  at  Madison,  Ohio,  and 
then  entered  the  office  of  the  Weekly  Beacon  as 
an  apprentice.     His  first  newspaper  work  was 


-4* 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


735 


done  about  this  time  as  local  correspondent  for 
the  Cleveland  Herald.  He  was  finally  promot- 
ed to  the  position  of  reporter,  after  the  start- 
ing of  the  Daily  Beacon.  For  some  months, 
although  not  yet  18  years  of  age,  during  an 
unsettled  condition  of  the  office  affairs,  he  had 
entire  editorial  charge  of  the  paper.  Resign- 
ing to  enter  college,  he  was  for  a  year  a  student 
at  Dennison  University,  Granville,  Ohio,  and  a 
year  at  Buchtel  College,  leaving  the  latter  just 
before  graduating,  to  accept  a  position  on  the 
Tri- Weekly  and  Weekly  Times,  which  was  re- 
signed a  year  later,  the  Tri-  Weekly  having  sus- 
pended, and  the  Times  changed  hands,  to  accept 
the  position  of  managing  editor  of  the  Toledo 
Democrat  and  Herald,  the  organ  of  northwestern 
Ohio  Democracy.  He  occupied  this  position 
for  a  year  and  a  half,  when  he  was  for  a  year 
business  manager  of  the  Toledo  Daily  Commer- 
cial. In  December,  1876,  he  purchased  the  Akron 
Daily  and  Semi-  Weekly  Argus,  which  he  sold  in 
Jul}',  1879,  to  Messrs.  Weiner  &  Nelson,  in 
order  to  accept  the  position  of  corresponding 
secretary  of  the  Democratic  State  Executive 
Committee.  This  position  kept  him  in  Colum- 
bus for  a  year,  during  which  time  he  was  man- 
aging editor  of  the  Times  and  Statesman,  and 
State  correspondent  of  the  Cleveland  Plain 
Dealer.  In  September,  1878,  he  became  editor 
and  manager  for  the  Gazette  Co.  of  the  Sunday 
Gazette.  In  1878,  he  was  appointed  an  aide  on 
the  staff  of  Gov.  Bishop,  with  rank  of  Colonel, 
but  resigned  the  following  year.  He  has  a  wide 
acquaintance  throughout  the  State,  and  has 
several  times  been  prominently  mentioned  in 
connection  with  State  offices.  He  has,  how- 
ever, never  desired  such  mention.  Being 
warmly  attached  to  Gen.  Ewing's  cause,  it  is 
probable  he  would  have  been  given  a  promi- 
nent position,  had  that  gentleman  been  elected 
Governor.  He  was  married  in  1873  to  Olie  E. 
Heifer,  by  whom  he  has  four  children. 

DENNIS  J.  LONG,  Agent  Union  Express 
Company,  Akron ;  was  born  in  Alban}',  N.  Y., 
Nov.  28,  1844,  where  he  lived  until  he  was  15 
years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Akron  with  his 
brother,  J.  A.  Long.  In  1859,  he  became  an 
apprentice  in  the  Beacon  office,  where  he  served 
about  four  years.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  H,  104th  0.  V.  I.,  serving  the 
first  two  years  as  private  soldier.  In  February, 
1864,  he  was  appointed  to  a  clerkship  in  the 
office  of  Gen.  Schofield,  where  he  remained  in 


the  Department  of  Ohio  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  June  28,  1865,  he  was  mustered  out  at 
Greensboro,  N.  C.  On  his  return,  with  A.  L. 
Paine,  he  started  a  new  weekly  paper  entitled, 
the  Summit  County  Journal,  in  1865,  with 
Judge  Carpenter  as  editor  ;  this  they  conducted 
with  good  success  two  years,  when  Mr.  Long 
sold  out  his  interest  and  bought  a  one-third  in- 
terest in  the  Beacon,  being  connected  with  that 
paper  as  stockholder  and  proprietor  until  1875, 
when  he  became  book-keeper  in  the  office  of 
the  Akron  Iron  Company-,  continuing  for  two 
years.  March  1,  1877,  he  was  appointed  agent 
of  the  Union  Express  Company  ;  he  is  now 
agent  of  the  Union,  American  and  Adams  Ex- 
press Companies.  In  May,  1870,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Eliza  A.  Potter,  of  Akron. 

CHARLES  LIEBMAN,  Akron;  was  born 
at  Dayton,  Ohio,  June  30,  1854 ;  when  very 
young,  his  family  removed  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
that  he  might  have  better  opportunities  for 
studying  music.  His  father,  Rev.  L.  Liebman, 
was  a  Rabbi  at  Dayton,  Cincinnati,  Columbus 
and  Cleveland  ;  also  twelve  years  at  Youngs- 
town,  Ohio.  At  each  of  these  places  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  studied  music,  for  which  he 
had  early  formed  a  great  love.  From  1874  to 
1876,  he  attended  the  New  England  Conserva- 
tory of  Music,  at  Boston,  Mass.,  studying  the 
piano  and  violin.  In  1876,  he  went  to  New 
York  Cit}'  where  he  was  under  Prof  Mills  and 
other  noted  teachers.  In  1877,  he  became 
director  of  the  Youngstown  Maennerchor,  where 
he  remained  two  years  ;  in  June,  1879,  he  came 
to  Akron,  and,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  Akron 
Harmonic  Society,  he  became  the  leader,  also 
engaged  in  teaching  piano,  organ,  violin  and 
theory ;  he  is  a  director  of  the  society.  Oct. 
26,  1877,  he  married  Miss  Emma  Ritter,  of 
Youngstown,  Ohio. 

REV.  W.  LOTHMAN,  Akron;  oldest  son 
of  Ernest  Lothman,  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Buer,  situated  in  the  southreu  part  of  the  King- 
dom of  Hanover,  Jan.  31,  1845.  He  was  but 
2\  years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  where  his  mother  still  lives,  and 
where  his  father  was  in  the  employ  of  Morgan, 
Root  &  Co.,  having  charge  of  their  grocery  un- 
til his  death  in  1861.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  attended  the  Cleveland  Public  Schools 
until  he  was  confirmed  in  1858,  when  he  en- 
tered Concordia  College  at  Fort  Wayne,  Ind., 
and  graduated   from   the  gymnasium  of  that 


736 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


school  iu  1862.  He  then  entered  the  Concordia 
University  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  June,  1866,  when  he  entered  the 
ministry,  serving  the  German  Lutheran  Church 
at  Elyria  and  the  St.  Paul's  Church  at  Liver- 
pool, Medina  Co.,  on  alternate  Sabbaths  for  six 
years,  during  which  period,  the  membership  of 
the  Elyria  Church  largely  increased,  a  new 
building  was  erected  and  a  school  established. 
In  1872.  he  received  a  call  from  Zion's  Lu- 
theran Church  of  Akron,  and  became  its  Pastor 
in  August,  having  since  continued.  On  June 
20,  1867,  he  married  Miss  Betty  Hu.smann, 
daughter  of  Rev.  F.  W.  Husmann,  Pastor  of 
the  German  Lutheran  Church  of  Euclid,  Ohio. 
She  bore  him  five  children,  and  all  are  living. 

J.  A.  LONG,  Secretary  and  Treasurer 
of  Akron  Iron  Co.,  Akron  ;  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Margaret  (Reilley)  Long,  and  was  born 
April  10^  1837,  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
lived  until  18  years  of  age,  when  he  left  school 
and  took  the  position  of  clerk  in  a  lumber  yard. 
In  1855,  he  came  to  Akron,  Ohio,  and  became 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Summit  Co.  for 
eleven  terms,  and  working  during  vacation  at 
various  eraplo3'ments.  In  1864,  he  became 
book-keeper  for  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.,  remain- 
ing with  them  for  five  years,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  Akron 
Iron  Co.,  which  position  he  still  holds.  Since 
his  connection  with  the  establishment,  its  busi- 
ness has  inci'eased  threefold.  He  was  married, 
Nov.  10,  1859,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Falor,  daugh- 
ter of  Geo.  A.  Falor,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Coventry  Township.  Twelve  children  have 
been  born  of  this  marriage,  seven  of  whom  are 
living — Ludie  B.,  Celia  R.,  Bennie  A.,  John  H., 
George  A.,  Mary  A.  and  Lloyd  G.  Mr.  L.  is 
Republican  in  politics  ;  is  a  member  of  the 
Central  Committee.  Was  first  City  Clerk,  and 
held  the  office  from  1865  to  1867,  and  Council- 
man from  1867  to  1869. 

FRANK  F.  LOOMIS,  an  engineer  in  fire 
department,  Akron  ;  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Elizabeth  (Taylor)  Loomis  ;  was  born  in  Akron 
April  2,  1854,  where  he  attended  public  schools 
until  his  father  died,  when  he  lived  with  an 
uncle  at  Wadsworth  for  some  time.  In  1869, 
he  went  into  a  potterj',  working  in  it  for  one 
year;  then  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and,  in 
1870,  he  became  a  minute  man  in  Steamer  No. 
1,  and  served  as  fireman  and  blacksmith  in  the 
city  fire  department.     At  the  death  of  James 


H.  Stanford,  he  was  made  engineer  of  steamer 
in  January,  1881.  He  was  married,  July  10, 
1879,  to  Miss  Barbara  Grad,  of  Akron.  His 
father  was  born  in  Medina  Co.,  and  lived  there 
till  he  was  14,  and  then  went  to  Lake  Co. 
When  grown,  he  came  to  Akron,  and  became 
captain  of  a  canal-boat  for  the  Navigation  Co. 
He  followed  this  business  until  the  war  broke 
out,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  29th  0.  V.  I.,  and 
after  a  hard  campaign  with  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  he  caught  cold  from 
fording  a  river,  and  died  at  Cumberland,  Md., 
in  January,  1862.  Subject  is  the  oldest  son  ; 
one  brother,  Charles  H.,  is  a  farmer,  near  Sears, 
Mich.     Mother  still  lives  in  Akron. 

DR.  THOMAS  M.  LEIGHT,  physician,  Ak- 
ron ;  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Perr}' 
Township,  Snyder  Co.,  Penn.  (then  included  in 
Union  Co.),  on  the  8th  of  August,  1827,  and 
resided  in  the  vicinity  until  1857.  He  was 
married,  Feb.  8,  1853,  to  Miss  Bella  R.  Bobst, 
of  Milton,  Penn.  They  have  no  children.  He 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office 
of  Drs.  Wilson  &  Bibighouse,  of  Selin's  Grove, 
then  Union  Co.,  Penn.  (now  Snyder  Co.)  He 
read  with  them  some  four  or  five  years,  and 
then  began  practice  at  McKee's  Falls,  in  Snyder 
Co.,  where  he  remained  about  nine  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  attended  lectures  at  Phila- 
delphia (Jefferson  Medical  College);  also  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  attending  a  month 
or  two  each  year,  graduating  at  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College  in  July,  1857.  From  McKee's 
Half-Falls,  he  removed  to  Mifflin,  Juniata  Co., 
Penn.,  where  he  practiced  in  partnership  with  Dr. 
E.  D.  Crawford  about  seven  years,  during  which 
time  they  served  as  surgeons  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania R.  R.  Co.  He  then  came  to  Akron,  Ohio, 
where  he  has  since  practiced.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Summit  County  Medical  Society,  of 
which  he  is  now  (1881)  Vice  President,  and  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Union  Medical  Society  of 
Northeastern  Ohio. 

HON.  SAMUEL  W.  McCLURE,  son  of 
Jairus  McClure  and  Amma  Hobbs,  was  born 
Nov.  8,  1812,  at  Alstead,  Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H. 
His  parents,  when  he  was  about  3  years  old, 
returned  to  the  place  of  their  nativit}^  Brook- 
field,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  with  their  children, 
two  in  number,  consisting  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  and  an  elder  sister.  There  they  remained 
until  he  was  about  7  years  old,  when  they  emi- 
grated   to    Western     New    York,    ultimately 


^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


737 


^ 


settling  in  Monroe  County,  near  what  is  now 
the  city  of  Rochester.  There  they  remained 
until  the  spring  of  1828,  when  they  removed  to 
Medina,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  where  both  died — 
the  father  in  1865,  in  the  89th  year  of  his  age, 
and  the  mother  several  years  earlier,  at  the  age 
of  71.  His  parents  were  of  Scotch  ancestrj-, 
though,  on  the  paternal  side,  the}'  had  lived  in 
the  North  of  Ireland  for  two  generations  or 
more  before  emigrating  to  the  United  States,  or 
rather  to  the  British  colonies  of  America,  for 
such  the}'  then  were.  The  mother,  inheriting  the 
fervent  religious  sentiments  of  her  Scotch  an- 
cestry, intended  to  devote  her  son  to  the  Chris- 
tian ministr}^  and  molded  his  youthful  efforts 
and  education  in  that  direction  ;  and,  she  was 
so  far  gratified  that  she  saw  him  enter  into 
full  membership  with  the  Congregational 
Church  at  the  age  of  15.  With  the  ministry  in 
view,  he  pursued  his  academical  studies  while 
he  lived  in  New  York,  and  until  he  was  near 
16  years  old.  At  the  age  of  18,  he  commenced 
teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  Medina 
County  during  two  or  three  years  ensuing, 
when  he  entered  Allegheny  College,  Meadville, 
Penn.,  and  where  he  prosecuted  his  colle- 
giate studies  with  great  zeal,  embracing  in 
them  other  branches  as  well  as  the  prescribed 
course.  At  about  the  expiration  of  three 
3'ears,  he  retired  from  the  institution  and  took 
private  instruction  for  nearly  one  year  of  Rev. 
Lee,  who  was  then  Pastor  of  the  church  to 
which  he  belonged.  He  was  in  advance  of  his 
class  when  he  left  college.  In  1837,  he  opened 
a  select  school  in  Medina,  taught  the  same  two 
terms,  and  at  the  same  time  entered  the  law 
office  of  Canfield  &  Camp  as  a  student,  with 
the  view  of  entering  the  legal  profession.  In 
1838,  he  went  to  Ashland,  then  in  Richland 
County,  and  organized  a  select  school  there, 
which  was  afterward  called  the  Ashland  Acad- 
emy  when  transferred  to  a  new  building  erected 
b}'  the  citizens  expi'essly  for  its  accommoda- 
tion. In  this  school  he  was  employed  less  than 
two  years,  successfully  managing  the  same,  and 
also  prosecuting  his  legal  studies,  a  portion  of 
the  time  in  the  office  of  Silas  Robbins,  Esq., 
and  the  residue  in  the  office  of  the  late  North- 
ern District  Judge,  Hon.  Charles  S.  Sherman. 
During  a  part  of  the  above  time,  he  also  edited 
the  Ashland  Phoenix,  a  non-partisan  paper,  and 
made  of  it  a  first-class  literary  and  racy  paper  for 
his  readers.  In  1840,  he  returned  to  Medina,  and 


took  charge  of  the  editorial  department  of  the 
Medina  Constitutionalist,  its  former  editor,  then 
James  S.  Carpenter,  Esq.,  having  been  elected 
to  the  State  Senate  for  the  Medina  district.  All 
through  the  exciting  campaign  which  resulted 
in  the  election  of  William  H.  Harrison  to  the 
Presidency,  both  through  the  columns  of  his 
paper  and  upon  the  stump,  he  advocated,  with 
much  success,  the  cause  of  the  Whig  party, 
whose  candidate  Harrison  was.  Soon  after  his 
return  to  Medina  County,  he  formed  a  law 
partnership  with  Senator  Carpenter,  and  in  the 
organization  of  the  new  county  of  Summit, 
Grant  B.  Turner,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  was  added 
to  the  firm — Carpenter  and  McClure  residing 
in  Medina  County,  and  Turner  in  Summit.  In 
January,  1842,  he  married  Miss  Matilda  E. 
Deming,  of  Ashland,  and,  in  the  spring  of  the 
same  3'ear,  settled  in  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where 
he  continued  to  live  until  1865,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Akron,  where  he  now  resides.  Grant 
B.  Turner  did  not  remain  long  in  the  practice 
of  the  law,  and,  retiring  from  the  firm,  it  was 
left  as  originally  formed,  until  1850,  when  it 
was  dissolved.  He  was  elected  Prosecuting 
Attorne}'  of  his  county  in  1847,  but  the  next 
year,  and  before  his  term  as  Prosecutor  had 
expired,  he  was  nominated  and  elected  to  a 
seat  in  the  Ohio  Legislature,  which  office  he 
held  for  one  term  only.  From  1850  to  1864, 
he  had  associated  with  him,  as  law  partner,  the 
Hon.  Henry  McKinney,  late  State  Senator 
from  Summit  and  Portage  District,  and  now 
Common  Pleas  Judge  of  the  Cleveland  sub- 
division. 

In  1865,  he  associated  with  himself  as  law 
partner,  Edward  Oviatt,  Esq.,  and  that  firm 
continued  until  the  spring  of  1871,  when  he  was 
elected  to  the  Common  Pleas  Bench,  for  the 
subdivision  composed  of  Summit,  Medina  and 
Lorain  Counties,  serving  in  that  capacitj'  five 
3'ears  ;  and,  not  desiring  a  re-election,  he  re- 
tired to  private  life,  and  measurably  fx'om  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  Possessed  of  an 
ample  fortune,  it  was  not  necessary  for  him  to 
endure  the  drudgery  and  fatigue  of  active 
practice.  Still  he  is  largely  called  upon  for 
counsel  in  important  business  matters  and  suits, 
and  occasionally  engages  in  the  trial  of  causes, 
especially  in  the  District  Court.  In  the  mean 
time,  he  has  visited  Europe  with  his  younger 
daughter  ;  and  with  his  wife  and  same  daughter 
he  visited   California,  making  thorough  tours 


738 


BIOGKAPPirCAL    SKETCHES: 


in  each  of  those  great  sight-seeing  portions  of 
the  globe. 

He  had  by  his  marriage  two  daughters  :  Julia 
E.,  who  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Henry  G. 
Mathews,  with  whom  she  lived  fourteen  years, 
and  died  in  Februar}',  1881  ;  and  Ida  M.,  who 
continues  to  live  in  her  father's  family.  Judge 
McClure  possessed  elements  of  strength  which 
gave  him  extraordinary  power  as  a  lawyer. 
He  was  an  incessant  and  tireless  worker,  in- 
tensely enthusiastic  in  whatever  he  undertook 
to  accomplish  ;  had  great  courage,  and  was 
wonderfully  quick  in  his  perceptions.  These 
qualities,  combined  as  they  were  with  a  remark- 
able grasp  for  business  atfairs,  rendered  him  n 
most  dangerous  adversary,  and,  for  many  years, 
made  him  one  of  the  very  foremost  lawyers  of 
the  State.  Probably  no  law3'er  in  Ohio  tried 
more  causes  during  the  twenty-five  years  of 
his  life  between  1846  and  1871,  than  he,  or  was 
more  successful.  He  more  than  made  the 
cause  of  his  client  his  own.  With  all  his  zeal, 
however,  he  never  forgot  the  courtesy  due  from 
one  gentleman  to  another  ;  and  while  dealing 
the  hardest  kind  of  blows,  in  an\^  given  pro- 
fessional contest,  he  always  left  opposing 
counsel  feeling  kindly  toward  him  personally, 
and  to  young  men  especially  he  was  considerate 
and  encouraging.  Naturally  he  possessed  a  very 
quick,  fiery  temper,  which  required  for  its  con- 
trol constant  watchfulness  and  a  strong  will,  and 
this,  as  a  general  rule,  he  succeederl  well  in  ac- 
complishing, under  all  the  varjang  changes  of 
practice  at  the  bar.  For  ready  wit,  vigorous 
thought  and  thrilling  eloquence,  he  had  no 
superior  among  his  associates  at  the  bar.  He 
was  always  systematic,  logical  and  ready  in  his 
public  addresses  ;  a  fact  somewhat  surprising, 
since,  at  the  commencement  of  his  career,  he 
dared  not  venture  an  attempt  at  speaking  ex- 
temporaneously, and  until  he  was  30  years  old 
he  had  always  carefully  to  write  and  commit  to 
memory  all  his  public  addresses,  being  too  timid 
and  nervous  to  trust  himself  before  an  audience 
without  such  preparation. 

He  never  was  a  politician,  in  the  popular  ac- 
ceptation of  the  term,  though  he  always  took 
an  earnest  interest  in  public  aflfairs,  and  occa- 
sionally took  an  ctive  part  in  political  contests  ; 
not  so  much  from  a  partisan  standpoint  as  from 
his  thorough  convictions  of  what,  in  the  given 
contest,  was  the  better  public  policy  ;  that  is, 
what  was  right.     From  his  first  appearance  be- 


fore the  public  until  the  close  of  the  war  of  the 
rebellion,  he  was  a  most  earnest  anti-slavery 
man,  and  took  a  resolute  and  pronounced  posi- 
tion against  the  system  of  slavery  and  its  ag- 
gressions ;  and  on  all  proper  occasions  sought 
to  educate  public  sentiment  in  harmony  with 
his  own  convictions.  He  was,  as  already  stated, 
elected  to  represent  Summit  County  in  the 
General  Assembly,  in  1848,  and  as  a  Whig,  and 
was  a  candidate  for  re-election  in  the  fall  of 
1849,  but  was  beaten  by  the  united  votes  of  the 
Democrats  and  Free-Soilers,  by  a  majority  of 
less  than  one  hundred,  while  the  balance  of  the 
ticket  was  beaten  by  about  four  hundred  votes. 
He  occupied  a  more  flattering  position  in  the 
Legislature,  being  universally  recognized  as 
one  of  its  ablest  and  most  useful  members. 
His  nomination  for  legislative  position  both 
times  was  much  against  his  wishes,  and  he  only 
consented  to  accept  as  a  matter  of  public  duty, 
on  account  of  the  peculiar  attitude  of  the  two 
leading  political  parties  upon  the  slavery  ques- 
tion, that  then  being  the  all  absorbing  question 
with  the  electors  of  Northern  Ohio. 

Judge  McClure's  industry  and  painstaking 
preparation  of  his  cases  when  a  practitioner, 
made  him  exceedingly  restive  when  he  was  on 
the  bench,  at  the  heedless  and  dilatory  modes 
of  lawyers  who  came  into  court  unprepared  to 
tr}'  their  causes  ;  and,  occasionally,  provoked 
him  into  sharp  reminders,  that  the  public  inter- 
ests before  him  should  not  be  sacrificed  to  the 
indolence  of  attorneys,  and  occasionally  caused 
the  summar}'  disposition  of  their  cases.  But, 
as  his  modes  and  motives  became  understood 
and  appreciated,  the  lawyers  ascertained  that 
their  true  interests  were  best  subserved  by  will- 
ing co-operation  with  the  court.  He  disposed 
of  his  judicial  business  with  great  dispatch,  and 
to  the  general  satisfaction  of  the  bar.  His 
sense  of  justice  and  fair  pla}',  always  acute,  led 
him  first  to  find  where  justice  lay,  and  then,  he 
was  almost  sure  to  find  some  rule  of  law  by 
which  justice  could  be  upheld.  His  great  ex- 
perience as  a  lawyer  made  him  a  ver}'  able  tryer 
of  causes,  and  his  general  knowledge  of  the  law 
and  the  practice  of  the  courts,  made  him  a  very 
first-class  Judge,  when  exercising  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  an  appellate  court,  sitting  as  he  did, 
during  his  entire  term,  mainly  in  Cleveland  and 
Toledo. 

In  the  early  years  of  his  practice,  he  was 
appointed  United  States  Commissioner  because 


-4v 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


739 


of  his  strict  stand-up  to  his  convictions,  es- 
pecially to  cope  with  a  band  of  counterfeiters, 
who,  for  years,  had  been  preying  upon  the  coin 
and  currency  of  the  country,  headed  by  the  no- 
torious Jim  Brown.  While  acting  as  such  Com- 
missioner, a  singular  incident  occurred,  in  which 
he  was  a  prominent  actor,  and  it  illustrates  a 
peculiar  social  condition  in  the  community 
where  it  occurred.  Brown,  for  years,  had  de- 
fied the  State  authorities  in  his  raids  upon  the 
currency,  and  thus  far  had  been  singularly  suc- 
cessful in  eluding  the  vigilance  of  the  General 
Government.  Though  notoriously  recognized  as 
the  leader  of  these  law-breakers,  he  was  elected 
and  served  term  after  term  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  of  Northampton  Township  ;  and,  to  his 
credit  it  may  be  said,  that  he  performed  the 
duties  of  the  office  well.  Complaint  had  been 
made  before  Commissioner  McClure,  and  he 
had  issued  his  warrant  for  the  apprehension  of 
Brown  upon  a  charge  of  counterfeiting,  and, 
while  this  warrant  was  out,  standing  in  the 
hands  of  the  Sheriff  and  unexecuted,  Judge 
McClure  appeared  before  Brown  for  one  of  two 
parties  litigant.  The  trial  being  concluded,  the 
Justice  took  the  case  under  advisement,  but 
was  arrested  and  lodged  in  jail  before  he  de- 
cided the  case.  He  then  rendered  his  judgment 
in  favor  of  McClure's  client,  remarking,  as  he 
did  so,  that  he  hoped  the  Commissioner  would 
take  a  similar  favorable  view  of  his  case,  and 
in  his  favor,  whenever  the  same  came  up  for 
hearing.  Judge  McClui-e  did  so,  by  holding 
Brown  under  $20,000  bond  for  his  appearance 
before  the  United  States  Court  at  Columbus, 
which,  however,  was  afterward  reduced  to  $5,000 
by  the  Federal  Judge. 

There  is  no  telling  how  much  the  pulpit  lost 
by  the  making  of  so  able  a  lawyer.  There  is 
no  question,  however,  that  he  would  have  won 
distinction  as  a  divine.  But  his  logical  and 
independent  cast  of  mind,  on  reaching  full 
maturity,  led  him  to  distrust,  and,  in  fact,  to 
despise  dogmatism,  and  to  demand  demonstra- 
tion ;  or,  at  least,  that  every  pi'oposition  and 
doctrine  should  challenge  the  approval  of  right, 
reason  and  common  sense  before  his  continued 
assent  could  be  secured  for  the  toleration  of 
any  given  tenet,  theory  or  system,  whether  in 
ethics,  philosophy  or  religion.  Consequently, 
at  an  early  period  of  his  life  he  abandoned,  or, 
rather,  never  fully  fell  into  the  ways  that  had 
been  with  the  very  best  motives  marked  out 


for  him.  He  may  be  classed  with  those  who 
are  popularl}'  known  as  Free-thinkers  or  Lib- 
eralists  :  who  believe  in  being  good,  and  doing 
good  for  goodness'  sake,  irrespective  of  relig- 
ious creeds,  beliefs  or  sanctions,  for  they  are 
legion ;  who  advocate  a  greater  degree  of 
religious  influence  in  the  world  than  even  sec- 
tarians, but  it  is  the  religion  of  humanity — the 
only  genuine  human  ideal.  It  consists  in  lov- 
ing human  beings  and  other  deserving  objects, 
such  as  we  know  and  can  benefit,  and  not  in 
loving  a  God  or  gods  about  whom  we  know 
nothing,  and  who,  if  they  exist  at  all,  are  infi- 
nitely beyond  the  reach  of  the  adoration  of 
mortals. 

LEWIS  MILLER,  manufacturer  and  inven- 
tor, Akron,  the  youngest  of  three  sons  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (York)  Miller,  was  born  in 
Greentown,  Lake  Township,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio, 
Aug.  24,  1829.  His  parents  were  respectable 
and  industrious  people.  His  father,  a  cabinet- 
maker, house-builder  and  farmer,  originally 
came  from  Marj^land,  removing  to  the  West  in 
1812.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  and 
universally  esteemed,  holding  a  prominent  po- 
sition in  his  community.  Lewis,  the  subject  of 
this  article,  spent  his  boyhood  on  a  farm,  until 
about  17,  attending  school  in  one  of  the  old- 
time  schoolhouses  built  of  logs,  having  slab 
benches,  etc.  In  1846,  he  learned  the  plastering 
trade,  serving  two  years  with  a  man  named 
Wm.  Essig  ;  he  worked  at  this  trade  for  five 
years,  also  attending  acadamies  in  Illinois  dur- 
ing winter  seasons  and  teaching  in  Stark  Co., 
Ohio,  two  terms,  in  that  time  having  moved  to 
Plainfield,  111,  near  Chicago,  in  the  meanwhile. 
In  1851,  he  returned  to  Greentown,  where  he 
connected  himself  as  a  partner  with  the  manu- 
facturing firm  of  Ball,  Aultman  &  Co.  (after- 
ward of  Canton)  and  by  patience,  determina- 
tion and  energ}',  soon  mastered  the  machinist's 
trade,  serving  for  but  50  cents  per  day  at  first 
while  learning.  In  the  fall  of  1851,  the  company 
with  $6,000  capital  in  all,  removed  to  Canton. 
The  partners  were  six  in  number,  viz  :  E.  Ball, 
C.  Aultman,  David  Fouser,  Lewis  Miller,  Geo. 
Cook  and  Jacob  Miller.  They  first  manufact- 
ured threshing  machines,  stoves  and  plows, 
and  old  Obed  Ilussey  reapers,  and  did  repair- 
ing. They  had  no  competition  in  reapers  ex- 
cept one  shop  on  the  Ohio  River.  During  1849, 
our  subject  worked  on  the  old  "Hussey"  reaper, 
and  ever  since  that  time  he  has  been  experi- 


740 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


meriting  on  reapers,  every  season,  in  harvest 
field.  His  remarkable  aptitude  for  the  ma- 
chinist's trade,  manifested  itself  so  plainh',  that, 
in  a  short  time  after  his  apprenticeship  he  was 
advanced  to  the  superintendency  of  the  works, 
and  while  in  this  position  he  invented  the 
world-renowned  "Buckeye  Mower  and  Reaper" 
— known  in  the  market  as  the  double-hinged 
floating-bar — a  distinctive  feature  from  which 
all  two-wheeled  floating-bar  machines  are  pat- 
terned. To  this  great  and  valuable  invention 
he  afterward  added  others  of  scarcely  less 
utility,  chief  among  which  is  his  table  rake 
(a  self-rake),  which  he  invented  in  1865,  and 
which  attained  a  wonderful  popularity,  within 
a  few  years.  With  the  manufacture  of  the 
"Buckeye"  the  business  of  the  Canton  house 
became  so  largely  increased  that,  in  1863,  it 
was  found  necessary  to  establish  a  branch  con- 
cern at  Akron,  under  the  incorporated  name  of 
Aultraan,  Miller  &  Co.,  and  in  the  following 
year  he  removed  to  Akron  to  take  charge  of 
the  works  here,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
superintendent  and  had  full  charge  of  the  same. 
In  this  position  he  has  lived  to  see  the  once 
insignificant  shop  expanded  into  wider  halls, 
wherein  is  executed  a  business  which,  of  its 
kind,  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  in  the  coun- 
try, which  grand  success  is  due,  no  doubt,  to 
each  partner  giving  all  his  time  and  attention 
to  active  work,  wearing,  so  to  speak,  when  the 
business  was  first  commenced  at  Canton,  the 
work  apron  himself,  instead  of  hiring  other 
men  to  do  it.  No  dividends  were  declared  un- 
til 1 866.  They  attained  success  thi'ough  hard 
labor,  and  some  disappointments.  On  May  5, 
1855,  while  they  were  all  filled  with  machines 
ready  for  market,  their  entire  establishment 
burned  to  the  ground,  with  a  loss  of  $50,000, 
there  being  only  $7,000  insurance.  It  was  in 
June,  1856,  that  the  first  patents  were  granted 
for  the  "Buckeye,"  and  at  various  times  over 
one  hundred  patents  were  granted  to  the  firm, 
one  of  which  was  for  "Miller's  Binder,"  which 
machine  is  the  result  of  Mr.  Miller's  study. 
The  business  has  increased  from  six  threshers 
and  ten  or  twelve  reapers  per  year,  to  twelve 
hundred  threshers  and  about  twenty  thousand 
reapers  and  mowers  per  year,  or  one  complete 
machine  to  every  four  and  one-half  minutes 
during  working  hours.  They  began  building 
the  traction  engine  in  1877,  the  capacity  now 
being  five  hundred  engines  per  year.     At  the 


present  time,  he  is  President  of  the  Canton 
manufactory,  and  of  the  Akron  Iron  Co.;  also 
Superintendent  of  the  Akron  manufactory,  and 
member  of  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Weary, 
Snyder  Manufacturing  Co.,  of  Akron.  He  is  a 
Director  of  the  Bank  of  Akron,  and  a  stockholder 
in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Canton.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  was 
twice  President  of  the  same.  He  has  taken  a 
deep  interest  in  politics,  and  worked  in  the  Re- 
publican party,  being  an  anti-slavery  man,  he  is 
now  connected  with  the  National  party.  He 
became  a  member  of  theM.  E.  Church  in  1843, 
has  held  all  positions  in  the  church,  and  been 
Sunday  School  Superintendent  for  twenty -eight 
3'ears.  He  was  three  times  a  lay  delegate  to  the 
General  Conference  of  the  church,  and  has  been 
honored  from  time  to  time  with  other  promi- 
nent positions  of  trust.  He  was  President  of 
the  Ohio  Sundaj^  School  Association  ;  and  of 
the  Chautauqua  Association,  having  been  the 
originator  of  the  Chautauqua  scheme,  and,  as  co- 
worker with  Dr.  J.  H.  Vincent,  has  infused  new 
life  into  the  methods  of  Sabbath  school  work, 
always  the  President.  In  educational  matters  he 
has  taken  a  great  interest,  especially  so  in  the 
case  of  Mt.  Union  College.  He  is  President  of 
Mt.  Union  College  Board  of  Trustees,  and  is  a 
Trustee  of  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University,  and 
of  Allegheny  College.  On  Sept.  16,  1853,  he 
married  Mary  D.  Alexander,  of  Plainfield,  111., 
who  bore  him  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom  are 
living,  and  are  viz.,  Jennie,  Ira  M.,  Edward  B., 
Robert  A.,  Lewis  A.,  Mina,  Mamie,  Grace,  John 
V.  and  Theodore  W.     Eva  died  when  16. 

JOHN  McGregor,  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer of  the  Akron  Steam  Forge  Company  ;  he 
was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  near  Wells- 
ville,  June  14,  1836  ;  his  parents,  John  and 
Margaret  (McBean)  McGregor,  are  natives  of 
Scotland  ;  they  emigrated  to  America  in  1828, 
and  settled  in  Columbiana  County,  where  they 
now  reside.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
raised  on  his  father's  farm,  and,  in  1861,  en- 
tered Jefferson  College  at  Cannonsburg.  Penn., 
from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1863, 
standing  sixth  in  a  class  of  thirt3'-nine  ;  he 
then  entered  Ohio  Law  College,  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  one  year.  In  1864, 
he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession 
at  Akron,  continuing  at  this  for  seven  years, 
during  which  time  he  was  elected  City  Solic- 
itor, filling  this  position  two  years,  from  1869 


t 


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CITY   OF    AKRON. 


741 


to  1871  ;  he  then  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
Akron  Steam  Forge  Works,  and  when  the  es- 
tablishment was  re-organized  in  1872,  under 
the  control  of  a  joint-stock  company,  he  was 
elected  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  associa- 
tion, which  position  he  has  faithfully  filled  ever 
since.  Mr.  McGrregor  is,  at  the  present  time, 
Treasurer  of  Portage  Township ;  he  was  first 
chosen  for  this  office  in  1877,  and  has  been  re- 
elected each  succeeding  spring  since  then.  He 
was  married  Nov.  11,  1868,  to  Miss  Hattie  E. 
Folger,  daughter  of  William  M.  and  Julia  A. 
(Hayden)  Folger  ;  they  are  the  parents  of  three 
children — Julia  F.,  John  and  Mary. 

CHARLES  MERRIMAN,  Akron  ;  youngest 
child  of  Jesse  and  Rhoda  (Fox)  Merriman  ; 
was  born  July  1,  1800,  in  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass., 
where  he  lived  on  a  farm.  When  he  was  10 
years  of  age  his  mother  died,  leaving  two  sons 
besides  our  subject,  and  one  daughter,  viz.: 
Andrews,  a  physician,  who  settled  in  Madison, 
Lake  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1816,  and  practiced  in  that 
place  forty-nine  years  and  ten  months  ;  Clarissa, 
oldest  of  the  children,  who  married  Justin 
Cole,  now  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Lake  Co.,  and 
Alvin,  who  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  going  to 
Parkersburg,  W.  Va.,  in  about  1840,  where  he 
lived  a  few  years,  then  went  to  Centralia, 
Southern  Illinois,  and  lastly  to  Bloomington, 
111.,  where  he  died.  Mr.  Merriman  received,  in 
his  boyhood,  a  good  common  school  education. 
Soon  after  his  mother's  death  the  other  children 
married,  and  left  home,  but  he  remained  and 
farmed  there  until  1835,  taking  care  of  his 
father,  who  was  quite  aged,  and  who  afterward 
came  here,  and  died  in  his  89th  year.  In  1834, 
accompanied  by  his  father,  he  came,  by  canal 
and  lakes,  to  visit  friends  in  Lake  Co.,  and  in 
March,  1835,  bought  272  acres  of  wild  land  in 
Portage  Township,  on  the  canal,  two  and  a  half 
miles  from  Akron,  for  which  he  paid  $1,200. 
On  May  5  they  started,  with  a  team,  to  Madison, 
Ohio,  completing  the  trip  in  fifteen  days  ;  they 
remained,  improving  some  property  there,  until 
August,  when  they  came  on  to  their  wild  land. 
There  they  lived  in  a  small  cooper-shop  with 
Charles  Webster  and  famil}'  for  two  weeks. 
They  could  only  with  great  difficult}'  obtain 
lumber  ;  he  built  a  house  of  round  logs  hewn 
down  inside,  and  having  unplaned  boards  for 
the  floor,  living  there  for  seven  years,  when  he 
built  a  large  frame  house,  in  which  he  lived 
until    1869,    when   he   moved  to  Akron.     He 


owned  125  acres  in  Lorain  County,  which  he 
exchanged  for  95  acres  near  New  Portage.  He 
was  a  successful  stock  farmer,  and  a  natural 
mechanic,  putting  up  his  own  buildings.  On 
Dec.  1,  1824,  he  married  Miss  Harriet  Allis,  of 
Dalton,  Mass.,  who  bore  him  four  children, 
viz.,  Rhoda  F.  (who  died  in  her  seventh  ^ear, 
and  was  buried  at  Dalton),  Charles  Rector 
(now  a  physician  of  Akron,  Ohio),  Wells  E.  (a 
machinist  of  Akron,  being  a  pattern-maker), 
and  Louisa  E.  (who  died  in  her  second  year). 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held 
several  offices  of  trust  in  that  party  ;  he  was 
formerly  a  Whig.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church,  he  having 
joined  it  at  the  age  of  17. 

ANDREWS  MAY,  retired,  Akron.  The  par- 
ents of  the  subject  of  this  article  were  Dexter 
and  Sarah  (Andrews)  May.  He  was  born  at 
Royalston,  Hampshire,  Co.,  Mass.,  on  Aug.  6, 
1792.  When  6  years  old  his  parents  moved  to 
Concord,  Vt.,  where  the}'  lived  about  six  years, 
then  moved  to  Montpelier  ;  when  he  was  12 
years  old,  he  went  to  district  school,  and  con- 
tinued to  attend  about  three  months  per  year, 
until  16  years  of  age,  when  he  learned  painting, 
and  helped  to  paint  the  first  State  House  ever 
constructed  in  Vermont.  Finding  that  the 
poisonous  preparation  of  lead  used  in  paint  was 
not  conducive  to  his  health,  he  abandoned  the 
trade,  and  commenced  the  carpentering,  mill- 
wrighting  and  joiner  trades,  which  he  followed 
in  Vermont  until  1816.  On  July  1,  1818,  he 
came  to  Ohio,  sending  his  tools  by  wagon,  hav- 
ing been  employed  for  four  years  previous  at 
Champlain,  N.  Y.,  by  William  H.  Price  in  build- 
ing mills.  In  the  spring  of  1812,  he  volun- 
teered in  the  service,  and  three  companies  were 
drilled  three  months,  and  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  Gren.  Dearborn.  The  regiment  to 
which  our  subject  belonged,  all  volunteered  to 
the  expedition  against  Montreal,  but  were  or- 
dered back  to  Swanton  Falls,  in  winter  quarters 
to  guard  the  frontier  against  the  encroachments 
of  Gen.  Mayo  with  1,000  hostile  Indians.  These 
three  companies  remained  until  spring,  when 
they  were  mustered  out.  Subject  again  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Plattsburg  ;  he  rode 
on  horseback  through  the  neighborhood,  rally- 
ing the  men,  who  marched  in  good  spirits  to 
the  battle.  His  employer,  William  H.  Price, 
bought  a  tract  of  land  at  Kent,  of  700  acres 
(Kent  was  called-  Franklin  Mills  post  office). 


742 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Subject  then  built  a  large  flouring-mill  at  Kent, 
supposed  to  be,  at  that  time  (1818),  the  largest 
in  the  State.  Remaining  in  that  vicinity,  he 
built  a  large  house  for  Judge  Whitmore,  in 
Stow,  in  1820  and  1821.  This  place  is  now 
called  Cuj-ahoga  Falls.  In  1821,  he  went  to 
Thornd^'ke,  and  there  went  into  partnership 
with  Israel  Thornd3'ke  ;  started  a  nail  factor}^, 
bringing  good  machiner}'  from  Massachusetts, 
grind  stone  from  Nova  Scotia,  and  nail  plate 
from  Albany,  N.  Y.,  the  freightage  on  all  of 
which  being  over  $6  per  hundred.  Although 
they  made  excellent  nails,  they  failed  to  collect 
their  pay  for  goods,  and  were,  therefore,  obliged 
to  abandon  the  business.  In  1823,  he  went  in- 
to the  plow  business,  employing  Dr.  L.  Croby, 
of  Middlebur}',  to  mold  over  two  hundred  cast 
plows.  The}'  were  called  "  Jethro  Woods,  No. 
4."  This  was  befoi-e  the  canal  was  put  through, 
and  he  had  five  counties  to  work  in,  viz. :  Port- 
age, Medina,  Cuyahoga,  Wayne  and  Stark,  and 
being  obliged  to  travel  on  horseback  to  collect 
bills,  he  could  not  make  it  successful,  even  fail- 
ing to  collect  enough  to  pay  traveling  expenses. 
At  Franklin,  he  established  a  cupola  furnace, 
using  charcoal  to  cast  plows.  This  he  con- 
tinued some  four  years,  when  he  let  it  drop  be- 
cause of  some  infringements  on  the  patent, 
which  Wood  did  not  litigate.  In  Dec.  31, 1824, 
he  married  Miss  Ann  L.  Uttey,  of  Hartford, 
Conn.,  which  marriage  was  blessed  with  five 
children,  two  of  whom,  Horace  U.  and  Horace 
IT.  second,  died,  the  former  at  Akron  in  his 
sixth  year,  and  the  latter  (his  namesake),  at 
Akron  in  his  22d  year.  Those  living  are 
Albert  D.,  of  Yosemite  Valley,  Cal. ;  Helen  M., 
at  home,  and  Frank  H.,  fruit  dealer  at  Chicago, 
111.  After  leaving  the  plow  business,  he  farmed 
in  Franklin  about  one  year,  sending  sixtj-  bar- 
rels of  flour  to  New  York,  this  was  in  1833. 
In  about  1834,  he  built  a  house  for  Ithiel  Mills, 
of  Akron,  which  is  still  standing.  In  1835,  he 
moved  to  Akron,  and  in  that  year  built  the 
"  Summit  House,"  which  is  also  standing.  This 
place  becoming  then  so  unhealthy,  he  moved  to 
Wadsworth,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  five  years 
employed  in  building.  He  returned  in  1840  to 
Akron,  and,  having  a  carriage  then,  he  drove 
in  that  year  to  all  the  meetings  with  the  Dem- 
ocrats. After  moving  here  he  engaged  in  team- 
ing and  building  until  about  1875,  when  he  was 
atliicted  with  paralysis.  In  belief,  he  is  a  Uni- 
versalist,  but   belongs   to   no   society,  and   is 


thoroughl}^  a  cosmopolitan.  He  is  a  Republi- 
can and  a  Whig,  and  voted  his  first  Presiden- 
tial ticket  for  James  Madison. 

GEN.  GKORGE  W.  McNEIL,  miller,  Akron, 
son  of  Samuel  and  Martha  (Coakley)  McNeil ; 
was  born  Sept.  16,  1813.  in  Montgomery  Co., 
N.  Y.  At  the  age  of  1 0,  with  his  father's  fam- 
ily, he  moved  to  a  spot  near  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
His  father  was  a  boat-builder,  and  George  be- 
gan to  assist  him  when  a  boy,  continuing  to  do 
so  until  1837,  when  he  came  to  Massillon, 
Ohio,  where,  in  the  fall  and  winter  of  the  same 
year,  he  worked  at  carpentering  and  boat- 
building. In  the  spring  of  1838,  he  entered 
the  employ  of  Beach  &  Co.,  in  the  stone  mills 
at  Akron,  acting  as  clerk,  which  position  he 
retained  until  1840,  in  the  fall  of  which  year  he 
was  made  captain  of  the  canal-boat  "  Cornelia," 
of  Akron,  which  he  ran  to  Cleveland,  Buffalo 
and  Albany,  a  distance  of  900  miles,  it  being 
the  longest  run  of  an}-  boat  previous  to  that 
time.  In  the  spring  of  1841,  he  and  Nicholas 
Rector  put  a  run  of  stone  in  the  old  Center 
Mills,  conducting  it  about  one  3'ear,  when  they 
sold  out,  purchased  the  site  for  and  built  the 
City  Mills,  of  which  they  sold  a  part  interest 
to  Philo  Chamberlain,  in  1843.  Subject  re- 
mained in  that  mill  until  1874,  when  he  took 
charge  of  the  manufacturing  department  of  the 
firm  of  Chamberlain  &  Co.,  which  firm  pur- 
chased the  ^Etna  Mills,  in  1862,  both  mills 
continuing  under  the  control  of  Chamberlain, 
up  to  1880.  In  July,  1874,  Mr.  McNeil  with- 
drew from  the  company,  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  grain-cleaning  machinery, which 
occupation  he  followed  until  1878,  five  years 
previous  to  which  date  he  invented  the  "  Mc- 
Neil Grain  Scourer,"  which  is  still  manufact- 
ured by  G.  W.  McNeil  &  Sons,  of  this  place. 
In  December,  1877,  the  firm  of  McNeil  &  Bald- 
win was  formed,  and  they  rented  the  ^Etna 
Mills  of  Chamberlain  &  Co!  In  1879-80,  they 
repaired  it,  and  arranged  for  the  new  process 
of  making  flour.  He  was  elected  Brigadier 
General  of  the  Eighteenth  Division  Ohio  Mi- 
litia in  1858-59.  In  1858,  he  was  elected  on 
the  People's  Ticket  Mayor  of  Akron.  He  was 
raised  in  the  Whig  school,  and  became  a  Pro- 
hibitionist in  1872.  For  twelve  years,  he  has 
been  connected  with  the  Sons  of  Temperance 
as  a  prominent  worker.  Nov.  4,  1842,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Eleanor  C.  Martin,  of  Akron,  who 
bore  him  one  daughter  and  two  sons,  viz.,  Em- 


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CITY    OF    AKRON. 


r43 


ma  (wife  of  A.  E.  Angier,  of  Columbus,  Ohio), 
Charles  A.,  of  Akron,  and  George  W.,  Jr.,  of 
New  York. 

REV.  THOMAS  E.  MOxNROE,  minister,  Ak- 
ron. Rev.  Thomas  E.  Monroe,  the  able  Pastor 
of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Akron, 
Ohio,  is  of  Scotch  descent,  and  one  of  four 
children  of  Job  and  Phebe  (Collins)  Monroe, 
being  born  at  Plainfield,  Conn.,  on  April  28, 
1829.  His  father  was  born  in  Massachusetts, 
and,  in  his  early  manhood,  studied  law  ;  but, 
his  health  failing,  he  engaged  in  farming.  In 
the  war  of  1812,  he  was  Captain.  He  died  in 
Oberlin,  Ohio,  in  1872,  being  in  his  87th  year. 
His  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  excepting  the 
subject  of  these  lines,  are  Abel,  a  banker  of 
Woonsocket,  R.  I. ;  Prof.  James  Monroe,  of 
Oberlin  College,  and  Mary,  who  is  deceased. 
The  subject  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm,  attend- 
ing to  farm  duties,  and  receiving  such  an  edu- 
cation as  the  New  England  schools  afforded,  in- 
cluding Latin.  At  17,  he  began  teaching  in 
the  public  schools  of  Rhode  Island,  continuing 
for  three  years,  when  he  entered  a  preparatory 
school  at  Providence,  R.  I.  The  year  following, 
he  entered  Oberlin  College,  taking  a  classical 
course,  in  which  he  graduated  in  1856  ;  and,  in 
two  years  after,  graduated  in  a  theological 
course.  In  the  summer  of  1859,  he  was  or- 
dained by  the  Cleveland  Conference  a  minister 
of  the  Gospel.  For  one  year,  he  was  located 
at  Amherst,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  becoming  Pastor 
of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Mt.  Ver- 
non, Ohio,  in  1860,  which  place  he  filled  until 
1873,  in  the  meantime  having  increased  the 
membership  from  150  to  437.  During  his  stay 
with  that  people,  they  built  a  church  costing 
$38,000.  On  April  1, 1873,  he  came  to  Akron, 
and  became  Pastor  of  its  First  Congregational 
Church,  which  position  he  holds,  having  now 
650  members,  exclusive  of  122  absent  ones, 
being  an  increase  of  504  over  the  membership 
when  he  took  charge  of  it.  In  June,  1859,  he 
married  IMiss  Mary  Bernard,  of  Philadelphia, 
who  bore  him  one  child. 

JAMES  MATHEWS,  insurance,  Akron,  is 
a  son  of  James  and  Jane  (Archer)  Mathews, 
and  was  born  April  23,  1803,  in  Washington 
Co.,  N.  Y.  When  he  was  8  years  of  age,  his 
parents  moved  to  Crown  Point,  and,  a  few  3'ears 
later,  to  Vermont.  He  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm,  and,  at  the  age  of  22  years,  commenced 
learning  the  cabinet-making  business  and  paint- 


ing, giving  special  attention  to  ornamental  paint- 
ing. His  health  failing,  he  discontinued  the 
business,  and  was  appointed  Constable  of  Orange 
Co.,  Vt.,  and  was  thus  employed  until  1839, 
when  he  came  to  Akron,  Ohio.  He  first  com- 
menced the  manufacturing  of  grain  shovels,  and 
then  engaged  in  building ;  and,  in  1840,  in 
working  on  Perkins  &  Co.'s  Woolen  Factor}', 
now  used  as  a  mill.  He  next  embarked  in  the 
grocery  business,  which  he  continued  until  1845, 
when  he  built  the  Mathews  residence,  corner  of 
East  Market  and  Broadway,  which  was  the 
second  brick  building  in  that  part  of  the  city. 
In  the  spring  of  1849,  he  went  into  the  insur- 
ance business,  as  agent  of  five  of  the  leading 
companies,  viz.,  ^Etna,  Phoenix,  Springfield, 
Home  of  New  York,  and  Hartfoi'd,  continuing 
fii'e  insurance,  until,  in  1873,  when  he  gave  it 
over  to  his  son,  Henry  G.  In  January,  1857, 
he  became  agent  of  the  Mutual  Life  of  New 
York,  and  has  retained  it  ever  since,  a  period 
of  twenty-four  years.  He  is  now  the  oldest 
agent  of  that  company  in  the  State,  and  has 
the  best  ratio  of  business,  and  has  insured  to  the 
amount  of  over  $12,000,000.  He  was  married 
in  Januaiy,  1833,  at  Wells  River,  Vt,  to  Miss 
Agnes  Grant,  of  that  place.  Three  children 
were  born  of  that  marriage— George  H.  (died 
in  December,  1872,  in  his  33d  year) ;  Henry,  of 
Akron,  and  Charles  H.,  book-keeper  of  Booth's 
Theater,  New  York.     His  wife  died  in  April, 

1870.  Mr.  Mathews  was  a  Jackson  Democrat ; 
but,  after  the  campaign  of  Gen.  Cass,  in  1848, 
he  became  a  Whig  ;  and,  upon  the  organization 
of  the  Republican  party,  adopted  its  principles. 
In  1865,  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city  of 
Akron  for  two  years  by  a  unanimous  vote,  and 
during  his  term  of  ofiSce  made  man}'  needed  im- 
pi'ovements  in  streets,  etc.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  first  Board  of  Education  of  Akron,  which 
was  elected  in  1847.  He  was  a  second  time 
married,  on  the  23d  of  November,  1871,  to  Mrs. 
Isabella  Tayler,  widow  of  the  late  James  D. 
Tayler,  and  a  daughter  of  Alonzo  Howard,  one 
of  the  pioneer  merchants  of  Middlebury,  where 
she  was  born.  Mr.  M.  built  the  Mathews  Block 
on  Howard  street,  in  1850,  and  rebuilt  it  in 

1871.  He  is  a  writer  of  considerable  merit ; 
is  of  Scotch  descent,  and  has  a  warm  admira- 
tion for  the  ballads  and  verses  of  Scotia's  im- 
mortal bard.  During  the  residence  in  Vermont, 
he  was  thrown  among  the  Scotch  people  of 
Caledonia  Co.,  where  he  acquired  a  taste  and 


^ 


744 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


aptness  for  the  Scotch  dialect,  which  he  speaks 
"  Hke  a  native  " — if  occasion  requires  it.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Town  Council  in  1842-43, 
and  is  now  the  only  survivor  of  those  bodies. 

CHARLES  MILLER,  manufacturer,  Akron; 
was  born  in  Upper  Nazareth  Township,  North- 
ampton Co.,  Penn.,  Nov.  29,  1815  (a  more  com- 
plete history  of  whose  family  appears  under 
the  head  of  Norton  Township).  The  first  nine- 
teen years  of  his  life  were  spent  on  the  farm 
and  in  receiving  a  verj^  meager  education  ;  the 
following  spring,  he  went  to  learn  the  car- 
penter and  joiner's  trade  with  one  Charles 
Glass,  hiring  for  two  years,  which  he  served 
with  the  exception  of  about  three  months  ;  his 
salary  was  board,  washing  and  mending,  with  a 
few  tools  at  the  expiration  of  his  apprentice- 
ship ;  the  cause  of  his  not  serving  the  full  time 
was  on  account  of  a  hard  master,  and  being 
compelled  to  do  a  great  deal  of  work  after 
night.  During  the  time  of  his  apprenticeship, 
he  was  engaged  on  the  Beaver  Meadow  &  Haz- 
leton  Branch  Railroad,  from  Beaver  Meadow 
to  Mauch  Chunk,  which  was  at  that  time  one 
the  first  railroads  in  the  State.  In  the  spring 
of  1838,  he  came  to  Guilford  Township,  Medina 
Co.,  where  he  followed  his  trade  until  late  in  the 
fall,  when  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
worked  at  White  Haven,  which  was  at  the  head 
of  the  Lehigh  Canal;  later  he  returned  to  North- 
ampton Co.,  remaining  there  until  in  1843, 
when  he  again  came  to  Ohio,  stopping  for  a 
time  in  Wayne  Co.  He  worked  at  his  trade 
and  engaged  in  farming  until  in  1857,  when  he 
entered  into  a  partnership  with  Abraham  Krotz 
in  the  sale  of  farming  implements  for  C.  M. 
Russell  &  Co.,  of  Massillon,  in  which  they  con- 
tinued two  years;  the  partner  appropriating  the 
money  obtained  from  sales  and  dying  on  his 
way  home  from  Illinois  where  they  had  been 
operating,  left  Mr.  Miller  in  almost  destitute 
circumstances  when  the  indebtedness  was  paid 
up.  In  1861,  after  John  F.  Seiberling  began  the 
manufacture  of  the  Excelsior,  at  Doylestown, 
Mr.  Miller  acted  as  general  agent,  operating  in 
a  large  territory  and  selling,  himself,  nearly 
half  of  the  machines  manufactured  by  that 
company.  In  1863,  he  purchased  a  quarter 
interest  in  the  Seiberling  patents,  and  subse- 
quently was  compelled  to  expend  hundreds  of 
dollars  in  the  purchase  of  other  prior  inven- 
tions to  make  their  patents  valid.  In  1865,  he 
having  prior  to  that  time  formed  a  partnership 


of  several  of  Akron's  prominent  business  men 
and  purchased  the  ground  for  the  manufacture 
of  the  Excelsior  Mower  and  Reaper,  they  built 
the  works  of  that  company  on  Broad  street  in 
the  city  of  Akron.  John  F.  Seiberling  after- 
ward became  connected  with  the  firm  which 
stood  until  in  1875,  when  they  made  an  assign- 
ment, at  which  time  Mr.  Miller  was  the  owner 
of  $65,500  in  stock,  besides  having  loaned  the 
firm  several  thousand  dollars,  which  has  been 
almost  a  total  loss.  In  1879,  he,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  sons,  purchased  the  chain  works 
of  a  Mr.  Matherson,  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  and 
moved  the  same  to  Akron,  having  purchased 
the  Schevere  works  where  they  are  now  exten- 
sively engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  all  kinds 
of  chains  and  running  from  sixty  to  eighty  men. 
He  was  married  in  February,  1843,  to  Hannah 
Bechtel,  daughter  of  Abraham  Bechtel ;  b}-  this 
marriage  there  have  been  four  sons  and  three 
daughters — Emma  Elizabeth,  Henry  D.,  Aman- 
da Ann,  Harvey  F.,  Levin  J.,  S.  Samuel,  Cora 
0.;  four  are  married  and  residents  of  Akron — 
Emma  E.,  now  Mrs.  Frank  Reifsnider,  he  a 
traveling  salesman  for  the  rubber  works  in 
Cleveland ;  Henry,  married  to  Miss  Minnie 
Sigley  ;  Amanda,  now  wife  of  Mr.  Kratz,  su- 
perintendent at  the  Thomas  Planing  Mill ; 
Harvey,  married  to  Miss  Mary  Hayes.  Levin 
J.  is  engaged  in  business  in  the  West.  Mr. 
Miller  has  been  a  man  of  great  energ}^  and 
business  ability,  and  the  manner  in  which  he 
has  adjusted  the  great  losses  which  he  has  suf- 
fered has  made  him  many  warm  friends  in  his 
declining  age. 

JUDGE  ULYSSES  L.  MARVIN,  lawyer, 
Akron ;  is  a  son  of  Ulysses  and  Elizabeth 
(Bradley)  Marvin,  and  was  born  March  14, 
1839,  in  Stow  Township,  this  count}^,  where  his 
youth  was  spent  until  the  age  of  15,  when  he 
began  painting  with  his  father  during  the  sum- 
mer. His  education  was  received,  in  addition 
to  the  public  schools,  in  Twinsburg  Institute, 
and  Franklin  Institute,  at  Kent,  teaching  in  the 
meantime  from  the  time  he  was  16  years  of 
age.  In  1858,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  H. 
R.  Foster,  at  Hudson,  and  the  next  spring  came 
to  Akron  and  completed  his  studies  with  Hon. 
Sidney  Edgerton,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
May  2,  1860.  In  1861,  he  became  Principal  of 
the  Union  School  of  Kent,  where  he  married 
Miss  Dorena,  only  daughter  of  Hon.  David 
Rockwell,   of  that  place,  Nov.   27,   1861.     In 


^  (3 W 


-^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


745 


August,  1862,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
the  115th  0.  V.  I.,  and  served  as  a  clerk 
in  the  office  of  Judge  Advocate,  at  Cincin- 
nati, until  August,  1863,  when  he  was  com- 
missioned as  1st  Lieutenant  in  the  5th  U.  S. 
Colored  Infantry,  and  as  a  part  of  the  18th 
Army  Corps  pai'ticipated  in  the  Peninsular 
campaign  of  1864.  In  the  attack  on  Peters- 
burg and  that  campaign,  he  commanded  the 
skirmish  line  at  the  Burnside  mine  explosion. 
During  the  siege  of  Richmond,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  Captain,  and  was  wounded  while 
leading  his  company  at  New  Market  Heights, 
Sept.  29,  1864,  which  disabled  him  for  two 
months,  when  he  returned  to  his  command  and 
was  assigned  to  duty  as  Adjutant  General  on 
Gren.  Shurtliff's  staff,  was  sent  to  Ft.  Fisher, 
then  to  Raleigh,  N.  C,  and  was  at  the  sur- 
render. He  was  brevetted  Major  at  the  close 
of  the  war  for  gallant  and  meritorious  serv- 
ice, and  made  Judge  Advocate  on  the  staff 
of  Gen.  Paine,  serving  as  such  until  mustered 
out  of  the  service  in  October,  1865.  He  then 
returned  to  Kent  and  opened  a  law  office,  and 
two  years  later  removed  to  Akron,  forming  a 
partnership  with  J.  J.  Hall  for  eighteen  months. 
In  the  fall  of  1869,  he  was  elected  Probate 
Judge,  serving  until  February,  1876  ;  since 
then  he  has  been  in  practice  of  law  first  as  the 
firm  of  Foster,  Marvin  &  Grant,  now  the  firm  of 
Marvin,  Grant  &  Foote. 

EDWIN  H.  MERRILL,  of  E.  H.  Merrill  & 
Co.,  manufacturers  of  stoneware,  Akron,  is  a 
son  of  Abijah  and  Abigail  (Scott)  Merrill,  and 
was  born  Feb.  9,  1808,  in  Painesville,  Ohio, 
where  he  went  to  school  in  winter,  and  began 
his  trade  of  potter  with  his  father  when  but  a 
boy,  growing  up  with  the  business.  In  1830, 
when  he  was  22  years  old,  he  came  to  Spring- 
field Township,  working  successively  for  Fisk 
and  for  Purdy,  when  he  bought  out  Fisk.  (The 
pottery  and  sewer-pipe  business  is  one  of  the 
most  extensive  of  Akron  and  Summit  County, 
and  receives  full  notice  in  the  chapter  devoted 
to  the  industries  of  the  city.)  After  he  bought 
out  Fisk,  his  father's  family  came  on  (about 
1835),  and  they  began  the  manufacture  of  beer 
bottles,  b}'  machinery  invented  by  subject,  and 
upon  which  he  had  secured  a  patent.  They 
remained  in  Springfield  until  1847,  and  had  in 
the  meantime  began  the  manufactory  of  to- 
bacco pipes  b}-  machinery.  They  then  moved 
to   Middlebury,    and    made    priucipall}'    beer 


bottles,  tobacco  and  water  pipes — making 
300,000  bottles  per  year.  They  also  invented 
a  machine  for  making  stone  pumps,  which  they 
manufactured  for  a  time.  In  1854,  they  (Mer- 
rill Brothers),  invented  a  machine  for  making 
sewer-pipe,  and  began  their  manufacture,  under 
firm  of  Merrill,  Powers  &  Co.,  the  brothers 
owning  one-half  interest.  They  did  well  until 
1857,  when  the  panic  came,  and  their  principal 
buj-ers  of  Chicago  could  not  sell,  and  having 
a  large  amount  on  hand,  were  forced  to  sell  at 
reduced  prices.  About  the  same  time,  subject 
bought  his  brother's  interest  in  the  bottle  fac- 
tory, which  he  continued  until  1860,  when  it 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  with  total  loss.  He 
then  came  to  his  present  place,  404  South 
Main  street,  and  purchased  the  building  now 
in  use,  where  he  has  done  a  good  business. 
The  firm  was  Merrill  &  Sons,  and  they  em- 
ployed a  force  of  some  thirty  men  and  boys. 
He  was  married,  in  1838,  to  Miss  Emily  Glea- 
son,  of  Bedford,  Ohio.  They  have  two  sous 
and  one  daughter  living.  Henry  E.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  ;  William  G.  is  in  the  pottery 
business  in  Virginia ;  Grace,  now  Mrs.  F.  W. 
Butler,  who  is  a  member  of  the  present 
firm.  In  Februar}',  1880,  William  G.  re- 
retired  from  the  firm  of  Merrill  &  Sons,  and  F. 
W.  Butler  became  a  partner,  and  the  firm  was 
changed  to  E.  H.  Merrill  &  Co. 

CYRUS  MILLER,  merchant,  Akron,  Ohio  ; 
was  born  in  1831,  in  Allegheny  Co.,  Penn.  At 
an  eai'ly  age  he  was  left  an  orphan,  and  that 
portion  of  his  life  was  spent  in  the  homes  of 
different  families,  as  chance  might  offer  and 
as  his  services  were  counted  as  compensa- 
tion. He  had  no  opportunities  of  gaining  an 
education,  and  at  the  age  of  14  he  began  as  a 
driver  in  the  coal  mines  at  Chippewa,  Ohio, 
he  having  for  some  years  previous  to  this  been 
a  resident  of  the  State.  He  continued  at  driv- 
ing in  the  mines  for  about  five  ^'ears,  and  then 
he  spent  three  years  in  mining.  He  then  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  shipper  for  ]Mr.  David 
Morris,  who  was  engaged  in  the  shipment  of 
coal  from  Girard,  Trumbull  Co.,  to  Cleveland. 
For  about  nine  years  he  was  engaged  in  ship- 
ping, when  he  purchased  a  hotel  in  Girard,  of 
which  he  spent  the  following  eight  years  as 
landlord  and  proprietor.  His  last  change,  little 
ovev  ten  years  ago,  was  to  come  to  Akron,  and 
with  a  capital  of  $500,  engage  in  the  grocery 
trade.     With  this  small  amount  as  a  beginning, 


V 


746 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


lie  has  built  up  a  business  that  ranks  among 
the  leading  mercantile  houses  of  the  city,  as,  in 
the  year  1880,  the  aggregate  sum  of  his  sales 
was  $80,000.  His  place  of  business  is  located 
at  No.  142  South  Howard  street.  Mr.  Miller  is 
a  quiet,  unassuming  man,  who  has  given  his 
whole  attention  to  his  business,  and  though  he 
began  a  poor  boy,  and  was  left  dependent  upon 
his  own  resources,  he  holds  a  position  among 
the  business  men  of  Alcron  of  which  he  may 
justly  be  proud.  In  1849,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Delilah,  daughter  of  John  Wilson,  of 
Starli  Co.,  Ohio. 

GEORGE   S.  MAY,  lawyer,  Akron,  Ohio  ; 
was  born  Jan.  31,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Horace 
and  Eleanor  (Stow)  May,  the  latter  of  the  same 
family  of  Mr.  Stow,  the  founder  of  Stow  Town- 
ship.    His  (subject's)  father  was  born  in  Caz- 
enovia,  N.  Y.,  July  6,  1811,  and  came  to  Akron 
in  1837,  where  he  engaged  in  general  mercantile 
business ;    having   stores  at   Lock    1,   one   in 
North  Akron,  and  a  branch  at  "  Slankertown." 
By  prudence,  economy,  and  a  general  adapta- 
tion to  the  business,    he   was   successful,    and 
retired  on  account  of  failing  health   in   1856, 
having  accumulated  a  competency,  which   he 
managed  with  care  until  his  death,  in  August, 
1867.     Mr.  M.  was  alwaj^s  at  the  front  in  all 
enterprises  of  a  public  nature,  and  did  much  to 
establish  the  commercial  and  political  impor- 
tance of  the  town.     A  man  of  sterling  worth, 
and  with  the  reputation  of  being  an  excellent 
business  man,  he  had  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  all  who  knew  him.     Those  who  have  listened 
with  interest  to  his  stories  of  business  experi- 
ences of  Akron  in  the  early  times,  will  remem- 
ber with  what  pride  he  would  boast  of  never 
having  paid  a  debt  a  day  after  it  was  due  in 
his  life.     His  social  qualities  drew  about  him  a 
host  of  friends  and  intimate  acquaintances,  and 
his    home   was   always   filled    with   company. 
Among  others,  Hon.  B.  F.  Wade,  R.  P.  Ranuey, 
Judge  V.  R.  Humphrey,  were  life-long  friends, 
and  always  found  a  welcome  with  Mr.   May. 
Subject  was  but  16  years  old  when   his  father 
died,  and  at  the  solicitation  of  Mr.  Wade,  took 
up  the  study  of  the  law  in  the  office  of  Edger- 
ton  &  Kohler,  where  he  remained  until  his  ad- 
mission to  the  bar,  Sept.  2,  1872.     In  October 
following,  he  made  a  trip  to  the  Old  World, 
visiting    the    larger    portions   of  Continental 
Europe  and  Great  Britain,  spending  one  year  in 
the   Law   Department    of    the    University    of 


Heidelberg,  Germany.  He  returned  home  in 
1874,  and  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Akron, 
where  he  has  since  remained.  He  was  mar- 
ried Sept.  30, 1875,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  S.  Rogers, 
of  Boston,  Mass.  She  died  June  10,  1877, 
leaving  two  daughters. 

REV.  HENRY  F.  MILLER,  Akron  ;  a  son 
of  John  S.  and  Ann  (Forer)  Miller  ;  was  born 
in  Athens  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  22, 1829.  His  youth 
was  spent  on  a  farm,  and,  at  the  age  of  18,  he 
entered  the  Ohio  University  at  Athens,  and 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1853.  He  then  be- 
came Principal  of  Transylvania  University  at 
Lexington,  Ky.,  remaining  one  year.  He  taught 
in  Meigs  Co.,  Ohio,  two  years,  and  in  Pome- 
roy  two  years.  In  1859,  he  entered  the  minis- 
tr}'  of  the  Universalist  Church,  and  removed 
the  next  year  to  Madison,  Ind.,  where  he  became 
Pastor  of  a  church  until  1863.  He  was  then 
sent  as  general  army  agent  to  look  after  the 
sick  and  wounded  soldiers  in  the  Southwest, 
and  distribute  sanitary  stores  and  attend  to 
other  charitable  work,  under  the  auspices  of 
his  church,  with  headquarters  at  Louisville, 
Ky.  In  July,  1865,  he  returned  to  Madison 
and  was  appointed  b}^  the  Northwestern  Con- 
ference of  the  Universalist  Church  General 
Financial  Secretary  to  raise  an  endowment 
fund  for  Lombard  University  at  Galesburg,  111., 
and  succeeded  in  raising  $100,000  in  two  years, 
He  was  appointed  to  a  like  work  for  the  build- 
ing and  equipment  of  Smithson  College  at 
Logansport,  Ind.  He  resigned  the  position  in 
1869,  and  was  elected  general  agent  of  the  Ohio 
State  Convention,  Universalists,  for  the  found- 
ing of  an  institution  of  learning  in  Ohio,  and 
in  pursuance  of  this  object,  during  same  year, 
he  made  the  acquaintance  of  John  R.  Buchtel, 
of  Akron,  and  enlisted  him  in  behalf  of  the 
enterprise.  The  result  was  the  founding  of 
Buchtel  College,  a  history  of  which  is  given 
elsewhere.  He  continued  in  management  of  its 
finances  until  the  building  was  erected  and 
opened  for  the  admission  of  students.  He  con- 
ceived and  carried  to  success  the  idea  of  hav- 
ing Hon.  Horace  Greeley  deliver  an  address  at 
the  laying  of  the  corner-stone,  which  gave 
the  college  considerable  prestige.  Since  1871, 
with  somewhat  broken  health,  Mr.  M.  has 
divided  his  time  between  the  work  of  the  min- 
istr}'  and  business  pursuits.  He  was  married, 
in  1853,  to  Miss  Apphia  Brown  Cable,  of  Athens, 
Ohio.     Of  this  marriage  thex-e  were  seven  chil- 


l^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


747 


dren,  five  of  whom  are  living — Henry  E.  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Akron  schools,  and  is  now  farming 
in  Medina  Co.;  Clinton  D.  is  proprietor  of  the 
"99-cent"  store  of  Akron  ;  Paul  R.,  a  student 
of  the  Class  of  1881,  in  Buchtel  College  ;  Mattie 
C.  and  Ernest  still  reside  at  home.  Subject's 
parents  were  born  in  New  Jerse3\  and  settled 
in  the  woods  of  Athens  Co.,  Ohio,  in  the  early 
part  of  1829. 

C.  H.  MYERS,  boots  and  shoes,  Akron ;  is 
a  good  representative  of  the  boot  and  shoe 
trade  of  South  Akron,  and,  in  fact,  one  of  the 
leading  dealers  in  the  city.  In  speaking  per- 
sonally of  some  of  the  promoters  of  Akron's 
business  industries,  his  name  is  worthy  of  more 
than  a  passing  mention.  He  was  born  Dec.  6, 
1 852,  in  Middlebur}',  or  what  is  now  known  as 
East  Akron,  and  is  the  son  of  Charles  F.  and 
Elizabeth  (Swope)  Myers,  the  former  a  native 
of  France,  and  a  carpenter  and  architect  by 
trade.  When  C.  H.  was  about  10  years  old,  his 
father  moved  to  the  country  and  engaged  in 
farming.  About  seven  years  of  the  life  of  C. 
H.  wa5  spent  at  hard  work  on  the  farm,  when 
his  people  removed  to  Akron  again,  which 
move  gave  him  a  better  opportunit}'  of  getting 
an  education,  both  of  a  commercial  and  literary 
nature.  After  leaving  school  he  spent  about 
one  year  in  the  gearing  department  of  the 
Buckeye  Reaper  Works.  With  the  money 
earned  by  himself  in  this  way  he  took  a  thor- 
ough course  and  graduated  at  the  commercial 
college  of  Akron.  After  leaving  college,  he 
spent  one  3-ear  on  the  road  as  traveling  sales- 
man for  a  hardware  house.  He  then  began 
clerking  for  Mr.  E.  P.  Holloway,  with  whom  he 
remained  till  the  spring  of  1876,  when  he  and 
C.  A.  Holloway,  also  an  employe  of  E.  P., 
engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade  under  the 
firm  name  of  Holloway  &  Myers,  and  so  con- 
tinued to  do  a  very  prosperous  business  until 
the  spring  of  1881,  when  he  purchased  the 
interest  of  Mr.  Holloway,  and  is  now  conduct 
ing  the  business  alone  in  the  old  successful 
way.  In  the  spring  of  1877,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Catharine,  daughter  of  Albert  and 
Mary  (Braenton)  Corne}'.  She  was  born  May 
11,  1854,  in  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  and,  when  a 
child,  came  to  Cu^-ahoga  Falls  with  her  parents. 
She  lived  there  about  twelve  years,  when  her 
people  removed  to  Akron.  They  were  married 
b}'  the  Rev.  Henry  Baker.  They  are  both 
members  of  the  First  M.  E.  Church  of  Akron  ; 


he  has  been  a  member  for  the  past  fourteen 
years.  One  child  has  been  born  to  them — 
Gracie,  who  was  born  on  March  30,  1878,  and 
died  on  March  4,  1880. 

J.  A.  MYERS,  foreman  of  the  shipping  de- 
partment at  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.'s,  Akron  ; 
is  a  son  of  David  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Moller) 
Myers — she  a  native  of  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  he  of 
Germany,  but  he  came  to  Ohio  with  his  wid- 
owed mother  when  about  6  months  old  ;  she 
married,  in  Cleveland,  a  Mr.  Green,  and  moved 
to  Independence,  where  she  still  lives,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  83  years.  David,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  moved  from  Wayne  Co.  to  La- 
Porte  Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  lived  thirteen  3'ears, 
when  he  returned  to  Ohio  in  1864,  and  resided 
at  Canal  Fulton  and  Clinton  until  1868,  when 
he  came  to  Akron,  where  he  now  resides.  He 
had  three  children — J.  A.,  the  eldest,  born  Jan. 
15,  1847  ;  Nancy,  a  Mrs.  Henninger,  and  Etta, 
a  maiden.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received 
a  ver}^  limited  education,  and,  at  twelve  years 
of  age,  went  into  a  drug  store,  in  which  busi- 
ness he  continued  until  1866,  making  rapid  ad- 
vancement in  the  knowledge  of  the  business. 
He  then  worked  with  his  father,  who  was  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  until  Oct.  27,  1867,  when  he 
accepted  the  second  position  in  the  shipping 
department,  where  he  is  now  employed,  serving 
nine  3ears  in  that  capacity,  after  which  he  ac- 
cepted his  present  position.  He  was  married;, 
Sept.  12,  1869,  to  Emma  Clark,  born  Dec.  29, 
1848,  in  Sheffield,  England,  but  came  when  1 
3-ear  old  to  this  countr3'  with  her  parents,  Sam- 
uel and  Sarah  Clark,  who  were  farmers  in 
Springfield  Township,  both  of  whom  are  now 
deceased.  B3'  this  marriage  there  are  five 
children — Clarence  Arthur,  born  Jul3-  1,  1870  ; 
Edna  May,  July  9,  1872  ;  Daisy  Emma,  April 
3,  1875  ;  Myrtle  Grace,  Oct.  27,  1877  ;  Ches- 
ter Albert,  April  6,  1881.  31  r.  Myers  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  greatly  interested  in  educa- 
tion, a  liberal  supporter  of  churches,  and  he, 
with  his  family,  are  members  of  the  Evangel- 
ical Association. 

FATHER  THOMAS  F.  MAHAR,  Akron  ; 
was  born  in  Scranton,  Penn.,  Sept.  28,  1851.  In 
1866,  he  entered  St.  Louis  College  at  Louisville, 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  and  remained  three  years, 
having  been  for  four  years  previous  a  student 
in  St.  Mary's  College.  In  1869,  he  went 
to  Rome,  Italy,  where  he  began  his  eccle- 
siastical studies  in  the  American  College,  con- 


^1®" 
I 


748 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


tinuing  until  1875,  when  he  came  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  and  was  made  Assistant  Pastor  in  St. 
John's  Cathedral,  serving  until  Aug.  1,  1880, 
when  he  was  sent  to  the  pastorate  of  St.  Vin- 
cent's Church  of  Akron.  He  received  the 
degrees  of  Ph.  D.  and  D.  D.  at  Rome,  Italy. 
He  is  the  oldest  son  living  born  to  Thomas  and 
Ann  (Hart)  Mahar,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
the  United  States  and  are  now  residents  of 
Cleveland,  where  the  husband  superintends  a 
rolling-mill. 

RUDOLPH  A.  MAY,  of  the  firm  of  May  & 
Fiebeger,  Akron,  dealers  in  stoves  and  tinware, 
also  galvanized  iron  cornices,  etc.  Mr.  May,  of 
this  firm,  was  born  in  Bohemia,  Austria,  April  3, 
1847,  and  is  the  fourth  of  six  children  born  to 
Anthon}-  and  Rosialia  (Drey thaler)  May,  natives 
of  Bohemia,  Austria.  Anthon}-  May  came  to 
the  United  States  m  1848.  and  in  1850,  his  wife 
and  one  child,  (the  three  other  children  having 
died),  came  also  to  Akron,  where  he  had  been 
working.  Mr.  Ma}'  first  worked  in  the  woolen  fac- 
tory, and  in  1851,  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, which  he  followed  until  his  death  in  1855. 
Mrs.  Ma}^  soon  after  married  Mr.  Joseph  Fiebe- 
ger, who  was  also  a  native  of  Austria.  They 
live  now  in  Akron.  Rudolph  A.,  the  subject. 
lived  at  home  until  he  was  14  j-ears  old,  when 
he  went  to  Columbus,  where  he  worked  at 
silver-plating.  Some  months  after  he  appren- 
ticed to  the  tinning  trade,  receiving  wages  after 
the  first  year  ;  he  lived  in  Columbus  two  years, 
and  then  returned  to  Akron,  and  a  year  after- 
ward formed  a  partnership  with  J.  B.  Cramer 
(firm  Cramer  &  May),  continuing  until  1880, 
when  the  firm  dissolved  and  was  succeeded  by 
the  present  one  of  May  &  Fiebeger.  He  was 
married  Sept.  9, 1874,  to  Miss  Susan  R.  Rhodes, 
a  native  of  Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  They  have  three 
children — Mary  M.,  Lewis  R.  and  Nellie  L. 

DR.  THOMAS  McEBRIGHT,  physician, 
Akron  ;  was  born  April  14,  1824,  at  Carlisle, 
Penn.  He  is  the  youngest  of  eight  cliildren 
born  to  George  and  Barbara  (Brunner)  Mc- 
Ebright.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Penns}'!- 
vania  ;  moved  in  1833  to  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  his  father,  though  a  tanner  b}'  trade,  de- 
voted his  attention  to  farming.  Here  both  lived 
until  their  death,  living  to  an  advanced  age. 
Dr.  McEbright  lived  on  the  farm  until  the  age 
of  16  3-ears,  when  he  entered  the  Ohio  Wesle}'- 
an  University,  continuing  his  studies  at  inter- 
vals  until   1848,  teachino;  district  and    select 


schools  in  the  meantime  to  support  him  in  col- 
lege. He  finall}'  abandoned  his  college  course, 
before  completion,  on  account  of  his  health. 
He  at  one  began  reading  medicine  at  Wooster, 
Ohio,  with  Dr.  T.  H.  Baker,  and  graduated  at 
the  Starling  Medical  College,  of  Columbus, 
Ohio.  He  began  practice  at  Nashville,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  seven  3'ears,  going  from 
there  to  Millersburg.  In  1861,  he  went  from 
the  latter  place  to  the  army  as  Surgeon  of  the 
8th  0.  V.  I.,  remaining  with  the  regiment  two 
years.  Resigning,  he  returned  to  Millersburg, 
and  soon  after  raised  the  59th  Battalion,  con- 
sisting of  five  companies,  which,  upon  the  call 
for  100  days'  men,  was  attached  to  the  166th 
Regiment.  Dr.  McEbright  was  made  Colonel, 
but  preferring  to  act  as  Surgeon,  at  his  request. 
Gov.  Tod  appointed  Col.  Blake  to  succeed  him, 
and  commissioned  Dr.  McEbright  as  Surgeon. 
He  soon  after  rose  to  the  position  of  Brigade 
Surgeon,  and  in  this  position  was  detailed  as 
Chief  of  the  Operative  Board  at  the  battles  of 
Antietam,  Winchester,  Wilderness  seven  days' 
fight,  Rich  Mountain,  and  the  other  engagements 
up  to  Gettysburg.  In  the  fall  of  1864,  he  was 
mustered  out  with  his  regiment  and  returned, 
coming  to  .\kron  to  resume  his  practice,  where 
he  has  since  been  engaged.  Dr.  McEbright  is 
an  active  societ}^  man  ;  a  member  of  the  Sum- 
mit County  Medical  Society  ;  was  one  of  its 
founders,  and  among  its  earliest  Presidents. 
He  is  a  member  also  of  the  Union  Medical  So- 
ciety of  Northeastern  Ohio,  the  State  Medical 
Society,  and  the  American  Medical  Association, 
serving  in  different  official  capacities  in  the  two 
former.  In  June,  1853,  he  married  Miss  Nancy, 
daughter  of  Judge  Thomas  Liggett,  of  Millei's- 
burg,  Ohio.  The}^  have  had  five  children,  only 
two  of  whom  are  now  living :  "  Kit,"  who  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  at  the 
Cornell  University,  at  the  age  of  19  ;  she  has 
also  received  the  same  degree  at  the  Buchtel, 
and  is  now  completing  a  French  coui'se  at  St. 
Marie  De  Monoir,  Canada.  Carrie,  the  younger 
daughter,  is  attending  school  in  her  native  cit}', 
Akron. 

WILLIAM  McKINNEY,  Sheriff,  Akron; 
was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio,  Dec.  39, 
1833,  and  is  the  youngest  of  five  children  born 
to  Cineum  and  Abigail  (Patterson)  McKinney  ; 
he  was  butcher  by  trade,  and  dealt  largely  in 
stock  ;  he  died  in  1834.  Mrs.  McKinney  after- 
ward married  Mr.  Luther  R.  Prentiss,  a  farmer 


-?[< 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


749 


of  Cuyahoga  County,  where  she  lived  until  her 
death,  about  the  year  1855.  Mr.  Prentiss  is 
yet  living  in  Cuyahoga  County,  aged  78  years. 
Our  subject  lived  with  his  mother  until  he  was 
16  years  of  age,  when  he  was  apprenticed  to 
shoemaking  and  served  three  vears,  after  which 
he  followed  his  trade  in  Twinsburg,  and  in 
Iowa  and  Kansas  for  three  or  four  years.  In  j 
1860,  he  returned  to  Twinsburg  and  opened  a 
shop ;  in  1862,  he  left  his  shop  in  his  broiher- 
in-law's  care,  and  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  115th  O.V.  I., 
serving  until  the  close  of  the  war  ;  he  was  first 
appointed  Corporal  and  afterward  promoted  to 
2d  Sergeant;  in  1863,  he  was  detailed  with 
Lieut.  Nash  to  take  charge  of  a  block-house  at 
Luverne,  near  Nashville,  and,  upon  the  transfer 
of  Lieut.  Nash^  the  Sergeant  was  left  in  com- 
mand, and  so  remained  until  Dec.  5,  1864, 
when  the  place  was  captured  by  Forest ;  they 
were  held  prisoners,  and,  in  March  following, 
were  moved  to  Black  River,  near  Vicksburg  ; 
here  the  Sergeant  escaped  the  guard  and  went 
to  Vicksburg,  where  he  took  a  hospital  boat  to 
St.  Louis,  and,  from  there,  returned  home,  his 
weight  being  eighty  pounds  ;  after  remaining 
home  about  a  month,  he  went  to  Camp  Chase, 
where  he  received  his  discharge,  and  returned 
to  Twinsburg,  where  he  resumed  shoemaking, 
which  he  continued  there  until  1871,  when  he 
was  appointed  Postmaster  by  President  Grant, 
and  held  the  office  until  Jan.  1,  1881.  In  the 
fall  of  1880,  he  was  elected  Sheriff  on  the 
Republican  ticket,  and  entered  upon  the  duties 
of  his  office  in  January  following.  Feb.  8, 
1853,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  A.  Carver,  a  na- 
tive of  Twinsburg,  and  a  daughter  of  George 
W.  Carver,  whose  father  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  that  Township  ;  by  the  marriage,  there  has 
been  born  six  children,  of  whom  three  are  liv- 
ing, viz. :  Clara,  Perry  and  Paul. 

JAMES  C.  McNEIL,  proprietor  of  Akron 
Boiler  Works,  Akron,  Ohio  ;  was  born  in  Onon- 
daga County,  N.  Y.,  May  8,  1836,  and  is  a 
son  of  Samuel  and  Nancy  (Cokely)  McNeil, 
who  were  natives  of  New  York,  and  emigrated 
to  Ohio  about  the  year  1838,  and  settled  in 
Coshocton  County  ;  they  carried  on  farming 
there  until  his  death  in  1847,  when  his  widow 
continued  same  until  1859,  when  she  came  to 
Akron,  to  live  with  James  C,  and  died  in  1867. 
The  subject  came  to  Akron  in  the  year  1847, 
to  live  with  his  brother,  and  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools;  at  the  age  of  18,  he  apprenticed 


to  the  machinist  trade,  with  Webster  &  Taplin, 
of  Akron,  and  served  until  he  became  of  age  ; 
he  followed  the  trade  about  six  years  in  Cleve- 
land, with  the  Cleveland  &  Mahoning  R.  R. 
Co. — three  and  a  half  3'ears  foreman  of  shops 
and  two  and  a  half  years  engineer  on  railroad — 
and  then  returned  to  Akron,  and  took  charge 
of  the  machinery  in  the  Akron  Barrel  Factor}', 
where  he  continued  for  two  and  a  half  years. 
In  1866,  the  firm  of  Moffatt  &  McNeil  was 
formed,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
boilers  and  boiler  plate-work  ;  they  continued 
four  years,  when  Mr.  McNeil  became  sole  pro- 
prietor and  has  continued  ever  since.  In  1880, 
Mr.  McNeil  built  the  present  brick  shop,  64x96 
feet ;  he  does  a  large  business,  and  is  a  practi- 
cal man  ;  employs  from  twenty-five  to  thirty 
hands.  He  was  married,  in  1859,  to  Miss  Mary 
Gale,  a  daughter  and  youngest  child  of  Justus 
and  Sarah  (Hyde)  Gale,  a  prominent  famil}', 
and  a  native  of  Akron  ;  they  have  two  children, 
viz. :  Grant  C.  and  Sarah  G.  He  has  been  a 
Republican  since  organization  of  the  part}-, 
and  from  1866  to  1869.  was  Chief  of  the  City 
Fire  Department. 

J.  C.  McMILLEN,  of  Baker,  Merriman  &  Co., 
Akron  ;  was  born  in  Clarion  County,  Penn., 
March  8,  1827,  and  is  the  second  of  a  famil}- 
of  four  children  born  to  John  and  Sallie  (Max- 
well) McMillen.  Mr.  McMillen's  parents  were 
natives  of  Westmoreland  County,  Penn.  ;  his 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  subsequently,  in  1862, 
moved  with  his  family  to  Iowa,  where  the 
mother  died,  July  4,  1876.  The  family  then 
moved  to  Michigan,  where  he  is  now  living 
with  a  son.  J.  C.  McMillen  lived  with  his 
parents,  assisting  on  the  farm,  until  he  was  18 
years  of  age,  when  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
cabinet  manufacturer,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  he  attained  his  majority  ;  he  continued 
about  three  years  longer  as  a  journeyman, 
when  he  came  to  Akron  and  engaged  in  his  trade. 
Some  four  years  later,  he  united  with  others  in 
establishing  the  Melodeon  Company,  and  has 
been  in  company  with  Baker  ever  since.  Nov. 
29,  1853,  he  married  Miss  Evaline  Reed,  a  na- 
tive of  Sharon  Township,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio  ; 
she  died  Feb.  21,  1858,  leaving  one  child, 
Laura,  now  Mrs.  Brush,  of  Michigan.  Sept. 
19,  1861,  Mr.  McMillen  married  Mrs.  Fulton, 
formerly  Miss  Catharine  Schley,  a  native  of 
Chambersburg,  Penn.  ;  three  children  have 
blessed  this  union — Guy,  Mar}-  and  Emma. 


:^ 


M' 


750 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


A.  J.  McNEIL,  boots  and  shoes,  Akron  ;  is 
the  3'oungest  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Pur- 
sell)  McNeil,  of  Peninsula,  and  was  born  Dec. 
23,  1850.  He  lived  at  Peninsula  until  18G4, 
when  he  came  to  Akron  as  clerk  in  the  employ 
of  David  Snyder,  in  the  grain  and  produce  busi- 
ness, continuing  for  two  years.  In  May,  1866, 
he  became  a  clerk  for  Cutter  &  Howe,  of  Akron, 
where  he  remained  until  January,  1870.  He 
then  went  to  Indianapolis  and  clerked  in  a 
shoe  store,  but  returned  to  Akron  the  next 
year  and  entered  the  emplo}'  of  his  old  firm, 
Cutter  &  Howe.  In  company  with  A.  L.  Bow- 
man, he,  in  1873,  bought  the  shoe  establish- 
ment of  C.  R.  Howe,  and,  under  the  firm  of 
Bowman  &  McNeil,  did  business  four  years. 
In  1878,  was  engaged  as  traveling  salesman  for 
Childs,  Groff  &  Co.,  wholesale  boot  and  shoe 
dealers,  of  Cleveland,  and  continued  with  them 
two  years.  In  1880,  was  employed  by  M.  T. 
Cutter  as  salesman  for  one  year,  and  in  March, 
1881,  associated  himself  with  his  brother,  S.  C. 
McNeil,  at  121  S.  Howard  street.  He  was 
married,  in  Jul}',  1873,  to  Miss  Emma  E.  Ladd, 
of  Akron.     They  have  one  daughter. 

S.  C.  McNEIL,  boots  and  shoes,  Akron  ;  is 
a  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Pursell)  McNeil, 
and  was  born  at  Sharon,  June  28,  1843.  He 
was  ten  j-ears  old  when  the  family  moved  to 
Peninsula,  Summit  Co.,  where  he  grew  up.  He 
clerked  here  for  some  time,  and,  in  1862,  be- 
came the  partner  of  Frederick  Wood  in  general 
store,  continuing  until  about  the  year  1865, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Wood  &•  McNeil.  In 
1865,  he  went  to  Denver,  Colo.,  remaining  six 
months  ;  then  returned  to  Peninsula,  and,  in 
the  fall  of  1866,  purchased  a  canal-i)oat,  and 
ran  from  Peninsula  to  Cleveland,  with  stone, 
lumber,  etc.,  until  the  fall  of  1870,  when,  in 
company  with  Thomas  Wood,  he  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  under  the  firm  of  Wood  & 
McNeil.  In  March,  1881,  he  opened  a  shoe 
store  at  121  South  Howard  street,  with  a  large 
stock  of  new  goods,  embracing  every  variety  of 
boots  and  shoes,  and  a  shop  for  custom-work. 
The  entire  stock  was  bought  at  the  most  favor- 
able season,  direct  from  the  manufacturers  for 
cash,  also  including  the  largest  stock  of  trunks 
and  valises  in  the  city.  Mr.  McNeil  has  se- 
cured the  services  of  his  brother,  A.  J.  McNeil, 
who  has  had  fifteen  years'  experience  in  the 
shoe  business.  He  was  married,  April  24, 
1872,  to  Miss  Jennie  Beers,  daughter  of   L. 


Beers,  a  pioneer  of  Boston  Township.  The}^ 
have  one  son  and  one  daughter. 

CAPT.  THOMAS  W.  NASH,  Recording 
Clerk,  Akron  ;  is  a  native  of  Williamsburg, 
Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.  ;  he  was  born  Dec.  7, 
1832,  and  is  the  fourth  of  five  children  born  to 
Hophni  and  Lovisa  (King)  Nash.  They  were 
natives  of  Massachusetts  ;  he  was  born  Jan. 
10,  1797  ;  his  father  was  a  farmer,  and  he  was 
raised  to  the  same  pursuit ;  in  the  fall  of  1817, 
he  came  to  Ohio  in  compan}'  with  his  cousin, 
John  A.  Nash  ;  he  settled  in  Richfield  Town- 
ship, where  he  was  burned  out,  after  which  he 
moved  to  Bath  Township,  of  which  locality  he 
was  one  of  the  pioneers ;  he  lived  in  Bath 
Township,  except  a  few  years  in  his  native 
State,  until  the  fall  of  1880,  when  he  retired  to 
Akron,  where  he  now  lives.  Our  subject  lived 
at  home  on  the  farm  until  the  year  1861  ;  he 
received  a  common  school  course  of  study,  and 
taught  at  home  and  in  Indiana,  where  he  was 
visiting.  Oct.  3,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H, 
29th  0.  V.  I.,  and  served  throughout  the  war, 
during  which  time  he  was  several  times  pro- 
moted, ranging  from  Orderly  Sergeant  to  (Jap- 
tain  (see  record  of  regiment  in  this  work)  ;  he 
was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Port  Repub- 
lic, and  held  three  months  in  Libby  and  Sauls- 
bury  Prisons,  after  which  he  was  paroled.  He 
returned  home  in  July,  1865,  and  soon  after 
visited  in  Livingston  Co.,  111.,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm.  Feb.  14,  1866,  he  married  Miss 
Nettie  Culver,  a  native  of  Richfield  Township, 
Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  and  the  following  month 
occupied  his  farm  in  Illinois,  and  farmed  until 
the  spring  of  1873  ;  he  then  moved  to  Chats- 
worth,  111.,  and  became  agent  for  Howe's  sew- 
ing machines,  and  also  taught  school.  In  1879, 
he  returned  to  Akron,  and  has  resided  there 
since,  and  has  followed  his  present  business. 
By  the  marriage  there  has  been  two  children, 
viz.,  EflSe  M.  and  Clyde  C. 

SUMNER  NASH,  County  Clerk,  Akron  ; 
was  born  in  Bath  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio, 
May  10,  1836,  and  is  the  youngest  of  five  chil- 
dren born  to  Hophni  and  Lovisa  (King)  Nash, 
who  are  spoken  of  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Our 
subject  remained  on  the  farm  until  he  was  20 
years  of  age,  receiving  a  common  school  and 
academic  course  of  study  ;  he  then  went  to 
Wisconsin,  where  he  took  a  contract  to  clear 
a  way  through  the  forest  near  Pl3'mouth  for  the 
Sheboj'gan  &  Fond  du  Lac  Railroad,  making 


k. 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


751 


ties  and  cording  the  timber.  He  next  drove 
stage  between  Oshkosh  and  New  London.  In 
the  Spring  of  1857,  he  took  charge  of  a  hard- 
ware store  in  Oshkosh,  for  E.  H.  Barber,  and 
the  following  summer  he  returned  home  and 
took  charge  of  the  farm  which  he  managed  and 
taught  school  during  the  winters  until  1862. 
Aug.  6,  of  that  year,  he  enlisted  in  the  serv- 
ice, and  was  assigned  to  the  115th  0.  V.  I., 
and  served  three  years  ;  he  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate and  was  successivel}'  promoted  to  the  ra  nk 
of  1st  Lieutenant.  In  1863,  he  was  detailed  to 
relieve  Lieut.  John  Eadie,  in  command  of  the 
military  forces  at  Dayton  during  the  election. 
In  1864,  he  was  placed  under  Maj.  Willet,  and 
served  as  Assistant  Inspector  of  Railroad  De- 
fenses, which  position  he  held  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  In  July,  1865,  he  returned  home,  and 
in  September  following  bought  a  farm  in  Liv- 
ingston Co.,  111.  March  8,  1866,  he  married 
Miss  Rebecca  M.,  daughter  of  John  A.  Means, 
of  Summit  Co.,  Ohio  ;  after  the  marriage,  he 
occupied  his  farm  in  Illinois,  and  lived  there 
until  1868,  when  he  returned  to  Summit  Co., 
where  his  wife  died  July  18,  1869.  They  had 
one  child,  M.  Maud.  He  managed  his  father- 
in-law's  farm  for  two  years  ;  in  the  spring  of 
1872,  he  engaged  as  agent  for  G.  G.  Baker  & 
Co.,  manufacturers  of  lightning  rods,  etc.,  and 
traveled  for  them  in  Illinois  until  the  following 
winter,  when  he  returned  to  Summit  Co.,  and 
was  appointed  Deputy  County  Clerk  by  John 
A.  Means,  which  office  he  held  until  the  term  ex- 
pired ;  he  then  served  as  Deputy  for  George 
W.  Weeks,  and  in  the  fall  of  1878  he  was  elected 
County  Clerk  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and 
entered  the  duties  of  the  office  Feb.  10  follow- 
ing. June  23,  1874,  he  married  Miss  Linnie 
A.  Cross,  of  Columbus,  Ohio. 

THOMAS  NORTON,  retired,  Middlebury ; 
was  born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  16,  1806, 
and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Elethina  (Thompson) 
Norton,  natives  of  Farmington,  Conn.  There 
is  a  record  of  the  Norton  family  running  back 
through  nineteen  generations,  and  the  Ameri- 
can branch  of  the  family  trace  their  ancestry 
through  the  same  line.  The  earliest  of  the 
name— Lord  Norville,  of  France — was  an  officer 
under  William  the  Conqueror,  and  went  into 
England  in  1066.  A  genealogical  chart  of  the 
family  is  kept  at  Cambridge,  Mass.:  "  Norville 
is  a  corruption  of  the  French  term  Nordville, 
North-ville,   or  North   town,   and   Nor-ton  or 


Norton  was  subsequently  adopted."  Peter 
Norton,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  farmer, 
and,  in  1806,  moved  to  Smithfield,  Trumbull 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  for  his  uncle, 
Luther  Thompson,  who  settled  there  four  years 
previous.  In  1809,  Mr.  Norton  moved  to  Tall- 
madge.  Summit  Co.,  and  purchased  fifty  acres 
of  timber  land,  on  which  he  settled  and  lived 
for  several  years.  In  1812,  he  was  drafted, 
but,  owing  to  family  affairs,  his  son  Almeron 
went  in  his  place,  serving  a  short  term.  In 
1813,  the  family  settled  on  the  place  where 
Thomas  (subject)  now  lives,  Mr.  N.  having 
bought  200  acres  of  wild  land,  upon  which  he 
lived  until  his  death,  Aug.  23,  1822.  He  was 
Treasurer  of  Tallmadge  Township  for  many 
years.  Mrs.  Norton  afterward  married  Elisha 
Farnam,  and  died  Nov.  24,  1844.  The  subject 
lived  with  his  mother  until  her  death,  and 
remained  on  the  place,  which  now  belonged  to 
his  brother  Almeron.  In  1851,  his  brother 
died,  and  subject  bought  out  his  brother's 
heirs,  thus  becoming  the  owner  of  the  old 
homestead.  He  has  always  followed  farming. 
He  was  married,  Jan.  10,  1847,  to  Miss  Hannah 
M.  Coney,  a  native  of  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  who  was 
born  April  13,  1812,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Nancy  (Hamlin)  Coney,  he  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to  Stark  Co.  a 
young  man,  and  she  a  native  of  Virginia,  who 
came  to  the  same  county  with  her  parents. 
Subject  has  one  child — Martha  M.  (now  Mrs. 
Theodore  Johns,  boot  and  shoe  dealer,  Des 
Moines,  Iowa).  Theodore  Johns  was  born  in 
Middlebury,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  March  23, 1845, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Nancy  (Grant)  Johns, 
he  having  been  born  on  the  line  between  Dela- 
ware and  Maryland,  and  she  in  New  Jersey. 
They  were  married  in  Philadelphia,  and  lived 
in  New  Jersey  until  about  the  3'ear  1832,  when 
they  came  to  Middleburj',  where  he  carried  on 
shoemaking.  About  the  year  1852  he  moved  to 
Akron,  and,  in  1855,  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  He 
there  opened  the  shoe  business,  which  he  con- 
ducted until  1874,  when  he  retired,  and  his  son 
Theodore  took  his  place,  continuing  with  the 
old  firm  name.  He  (Theodore)  was  married  to 
Martha  M.  Norton  (daughter  of  Thomas  Nor- 
ton) June  2,  1873.  They  have  had  two  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  is  living,  viz.,  Nettie. 

WILLIAM  ACER  NOBLE,  foreman  C.-B. 
Dep't,  Akron ;  a  son  of  Theron  and  Lydia  Dow 
(Acer)  Noble  ;  was  born  Dec.  1,  1851,  and  is  a 


^t 


753 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


native  of  Pittsburgh,  Peiin.  Wlien  a  j-ear  old, 
famih'  removed  to  Aliron,  wliere  his  father  had 
lived  before.  Subject  was  educated  in  Akron 
in  the  public  schools,  and,  at  16,  was  appren- 
ticed to  the  trade  of  machinist,  in  Taplin, 
Rice  &  Co.'s  foundry,  where  he  remained  three 
years.  He  then  went  to  Florida,  where  he  re- 
mained two  3'ears,  and,  in  1873,  returned  and 
entered  the  employ  of  Taplin,  Rice  &  Co.,  un- 
til the  spring  of  1876,  and,  in  December  of  that 
3'ear,  engaged  with  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.  as  a 
mechanic,  and,  Sept.  1,  1877,  was  made  fore- 
man in  cutter-bar  department,  which  embraces 
three  rooms  and  employs  fifty  men.  He  was 
married,  in  October,  1877,  to  Miss  Kate  Big- 
elow,  of  Mansfield,  Ohio  ;  one  daughter  living. 
Mr.  N.  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  ;  is  Republican  in  politics.  His  father 
was  born  in  New  York,  and  came  to  Akron 
about  1835,  and  was  one  of  the  first  Auditors 
of  this  count}'.  He  was  a  tanner,  but  followed 
milling,  and  ran  the  old  Black  Mill  in  Middle- 
bury  several  years.  Afterward,  he  owned  the 
Cascade  Mills  ;  died  Sept.  20,  1877,  aged  73 

EDWARD  OVIATT,  Akron.  Edward  Ovi- 
att,  son  of  Marvin  and  Mary  (Foot)  Oviatt ; 
was  born  on  May  19,  1822,  at  Hudson,  Summit 
Co.,  Ohio.  He  spent  a  part  of  his  time  on  a 
farm  during  his  3'outh,  and  attended  school  at 
the  Richfield  Academy  at  Granville,  and 
Western  Reserve  College,  during  a  portion  of 
his  minority.  In  Ma}',  1842,  he  came  to  Akron, 
entering  the  Hon.  D.  K.  Cartter,  now  the  Pres- 
ident Judge  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  for 
purpose  of  studying  law,  where  he  remained 
four  3-ears,  and  until  Cartter  removed  to  Mas- 
sillon.  In  September,  1844,  he  was  admitted 
at  Medina  as  a  practitioner  at  the  bar  in  the 
State  Courts,  and,  in  November,  1856,  at  Cleve- 
land, as  a  practitioner  in  the  courts  of  the 
United  States.  He  practiced  law  alone  until 
Jul}',  1865,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Hon.  S.  W.  McClure,  which  lasted  until  May, 
1870,  the  latter  having  been  elected  as  one  of 
the  Judges  of  the  Coui't  of  Common  Pleas.  He 
continued  the  practice  alone  till  September, 
1876,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
George  G.  Allen,  who  had,  a  short  time  before 
that,  been  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  with  whom 
he  still  continues,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Oviatt  &  Allen.  He  was  one  of  the  members 
of  the  Briard  of  Education  of  the  cit3' for  sev- 


eral 3'ears  ;  was  City  Attorney  from  1854  to 
1862,  and  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  this  county 
from  1865  to  1869  inclusive,  having  been 
almost  unanimously  nominated  b3'  the  Repub- 
lican part3'  earl3'  in  September,  1864,  and,  on 
the  da3'  of  his  return  from  the  100  days'  serv- 
ice, leaving  Akron  as  a  member  of  Co.  A,  54th 
Battalion  0.  N.  G.,  but,  on  arriving  in  camp  at 
Cleveland,  in  the  organization  of  the  164th 
Regiment  0.  V.  I.,  Col.  John  C.  Lee  command- 
ing, he  was  appointed  and  served  as  Color 
Bearer  of  the  regiment  until  his  return  home, 
the  regiment  having  been  located  on  Arlington 
Heights,  Va.,  during  the  entire  summer.  He 
started  in  life  without  capital,  and,  for  whatever 
of  success  in  business  he  ma3'  have  acquired,  it 
was  gained  b}'  industr}-  and  econom3'.  On 
Sept.  8,  1847,  he  married  Anna  M.  Wads- 
worth,  daughter  of  Frederick  Wadsworth, 
who  bore  him  one  daughter — Emma,  now  the 
wife  of  Calvin  Edgerton,  a  lawyer  residing  in 
San  Francisco,  Cal.  His  wife  died  Aug.  9, 
1854.  Dec.  5,  1855,  he  mai'ded  Frances  A. 
Lansing,  of  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who  bore  him 
two  children — Olivia  F.,  wife  of  George  G. 
Allen,  and  Edward  Ailing,  the  three  above 
named  being  his  onl}'  children.  An  ardent 
Republican,  but  not  ambitious  for  oflflce  or  po- 
litical preferment,  he  has  devoted  his  time  and 
energies  to  his  profession,  seeking  a  reputation 
for  fidelit3'  and  trustworthiness  in  business, 
rather  than  political  honors.  He  adopted  the 
rule  early  in  life  to  owe  no  man  anything  pecu- 
niarily, and  if  a  debt  was  contracted  in  the 
purchase  of  real  estate  or  otherwise,  he  lost  no 
time  or  opportunity  in  meeting  the  obligation, 
and  to  this  principle  he  gives  the  credit  for 
much  of  his  success  in  business. 

HERBERT  A.  PRUNER,  Palmer  &  Pruner, 
artificial  stone,  Akron  ;  is  a  native  of  Dundas 
Co.,  Ontario,  and  was  born  July  5, 1849,  receiv- 
ing a  common-school  education.  At  the  age 
of  16  years,  he  came  to  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  he  worked  on  a  farm  for  two  years,  when 
he  returned  to  Canada,  remaining  there  one 
year,  and  then  went  back  to  New  York.  For 
two  3'ears  he  was  employed  in  a  cheese  factor}' 
in  Chautauqua  Co.,  and  then  returned  to  his 
old  employment  in  Cattaraugus  Co.,  where  he 
remained  two  years.  About  the  year  1873,  he 
went  into  the  shops  of  the  N.  Y.,  P.  &  0.  R.  R. 
at  Randolph,  in  the  blacksmithing  department, 
but   again   returned   to   the   farm.     In   April, 


^  S" 


CITY    OF    AKRON^. 


753 


1878,  he  came  to  Akron,  and  was  employed  by 
S.  Matherson,  in  chain  works  at  Cuyahoga 
Falls  for  one  3'ear,  when  he  returned  to  New 
York.  In  October,  1879,  he  came  back  to 
Akron,  and,  in  January,  1880,  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Palmer  &  Pruner,  manufact- 
urers of  artificial  stone.  (See  Mr.  Palmer's 
sketch.)  He  was  married,  March  24,  1880,  to 
Miss  Belle  Le  Vere,  of  Akron.  He  started 
without  capital,  and,  until  the  age  of  21  years, 
gave  his  earnings  into  the  hands  of  the  family. 
HARRY  A.  PALMER,  Palmer  &  Pruner, 
artificial  stone,  Akron,  Ohio,  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Sophia  (Brock)  Palmer,  and  was  born  July 
16,  1851,  in  Somersetshire,  England.  The  fam- 
ily came  to  the  United  States  in  1852,  when  he 
was  but  8  months  old,  and  settled  in  Tallmadge 
Township  on  a  farm,  where  he  was  brought  up 
until  he  was  15,  when  he  went  to  work  in  a 
paper  mill  at  Cu3-ahoga  Falls,  remaining  about 
one  year,  and  then  became  engineer  for  his 
brother-in-law  at  Mansfield,  in  Richland  Flour- 
ing Mills.  Two  years  later,  mills  were  burned 
down  and  firm  removed  to  Ashland,  and  he 
was  again  emplo^'ed  as  engineer.  In  1870,  he 
went  to  Shelb}'  and  ran  an  engine  about  one 
year  and  then  returned  to  Tallmadge  in  1872, 
and  took  charge  of  a  farm.  In  the  fall  of  1873, 
he  went  to  Onarga,  111.,  and  Jan.  1,  1873,  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Risser,  of  Ashland, 
Ohio.  He  bought  a  fruit  farm  near  Onarga,  111., 
and  did  well  for  two  years,  and  in  1876,  bought 
a  farm  in  Edinburg  Township,  Portage  Count}', 
where  he  farmed  two  years.  In  1878,  he  went 
to  Ashland,  as  engineer  in  the  mills,  until  Sep- 
tember 1 879,  when  he  came  to  Akron  and  bought 
the  right  of  manufacture  and  sale  of  artificial 
stone  in  Summit  Count}'.  Jan.  10, 1880,  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  Herbert  A.  Pruner,  and 
opened  a  manufactory  at  203  North  Howard 
street.  The  following  is  given  as  a  matter  of 
scientific  interest:  Artificial  stone  has  been  in 
use  probably  as  long  as  any  other  building  ma- 
terial, and  is  unquestionably  one  of  the  lost 
arts.  In  conformation  of  this,  history  informs 
us  that  the  Moors  long  ago  manufactured  a 
durable  artificial  stone,  specimens  of  which 
may  yet  be  found  at  Gibralter,  which  have  with- 
stood successfull}'  the  storms  of  ten  centuries. 
The  Coliseum  at  Rome  is  a  sample  of  artificial 
work  by  the  ancients.  The  Cisterns  of  Solo- 
mon, near  the  city  of  Tyre,  are  of  still  more 
ancient  origin,  yet  these  immense  stuctures  are 


almost  complete  in  their  preservation.  The 
noted  Small  Cob,  together  with  a  large  number 
of  scientific  men,  is  of  the  opinion  that  the 
Pyramids  were  built  of  artificial  blocks,  manu- 
IVictured  upon  the  ground  from  the  sands  of 
the  surrounding  plains,  by  some  cunning  proc- 
ess that  perished  with  the  builders.  Some  of 
the  largest  and  most  permanent  harbors  and 
government  works  in  the  European  countries, 
the  great  aqueducts  of  Central  Europe,  together 
with  the  Seagirt  railroad  station,  and  piers  of 
the  great  bridge  at  New  York,  are  instances 
where  artificial  stone  is  used  almost  entirely 
and  with  the  best  of  success.  Business  blocks 
that  are  not  surpassed  in  beauty  and  grandeur 
in  New  York,  Chicago,  San  Francisco  and  many 
of  the  principal  cities  of  the  United  States,  are 
constructed  entirely  of  this  material.  The 
great  advocates  of  this  building  material  are 
the  eminent  chemists  and  engineers  of  English 
fame,  together  with  Maj.  Gen.  Gilmore,  corps  of 
engineers  United  States  Army,  whose  engineer- 
ing skill  has  given  him  a  world-wide  fame. 
Many  different  processes  have  been  invented, 
^•et  all  have  met  with  more  or  less  difficulty  in 
trying  to  obtain  a  solid,  durable  stone.  Under 
the  patent  process  which  Messrs.  Palmer  & 
Pruner  now  control  in  this  county,  these  diffi- 
culties have  been  overcome,  and  the}^  are  now 
manufacturing  a  quality  of  artificial  stone,  per- 
fect in  appearance  and  adapted  to  all  classes  of 
work  where  natural  stone  or  any  other  building 
material  is  used.  Being  of  a  hydraulic  natui'e, 
it  will  harden  and  improve  in  solidit}'  under 
water,  it  resists  the  action  of  steam,  acids,  and 
other  disintegrating  influences  as  well  as  our 
best  building  stone.  The  Boston  Journal  of 
Chemistry  says  that  artificial  stone  is  as  safe 
and  durable  as  natural  stone,  that  its  chemical 
nature  is  such  that  it  becomes  almost  as  hard 
as  granite,  and  that  there  cannot  be  a  doubt 
that  it  will  subsei-ve  all  the  desirable  purposes 
for  which  that  material  is  employed.  In  some 
of  our  larger  cities  this  stone  is  fast  supersed- 
ing the  use  of  other  building  material,  and  is 
being  extensiveh'  used  for  walks,  trimming 
brick  buildings,  lawn  vases,  fountains  and  or- 
namental work  of  all  descriptions.  The  sand  in 
this  location  is  particularly  adapted  to  making 
this  stone,  it  being  coarse,  sharp  and  siliceous. 
Ornamental  work  can  be  furnished  at  about 
one-half  the  cost  of  natural  stone  and  will 
stand  fire  much  better. 


:Rr 


^t. 


754 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


GEORGE  K.  PARDEE,  lawyer,  Akron:  is 
a  son  of  Hon.  Aaron  and  Evaline  (Eyles)  Par- 
dee, and  was  born  March  1,  1839,  in  Wads- 
worth,  Ohio,  where  he  was  brought  up,  and 
where  he  lived  until  1862,  when  he  enlisted  as 
a  private  in  Co.  K,  42d  0.  V.  I.,  Gen.  Gar- 
field's regiment.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Chickasaw  Bluffs,  where  he  was  wounded  by  a 
musket  ball.  He  was  Second  Lieutenant,  and 
for  gallant  services  was  promoted  to  Adjutant 
of  the  regiment.  He  was  also  at  Young's 
Point,  Grand  Gulf,  Thompson's  Hill,  Champion 
Hill,  Black  River  Bridge,  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
Jackson,  Miss.,  and  in  the  Red  River  cam- 
paign and  other  engagements  of  his  regiment ; 
finally  promoted  to  Captain  of  Co.  D.  He  re- 
turned to  Wadsworth,  and  kept  a  dry  goods 
store  for  three  years,  during  which  time  he  com- 
pleted his  study  of  the  law  under  his  father, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1866.  He 
commenced  practice  in  the  courts  of  Medina 
until  1875,  when  he  removed  to  Akron,  where 
he  has  been  in  active  practice  since.  He  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  the  United  States  Court 
in  1878.  He  was  married,  in  December,  1860, 
to  Miss  Caroline  C.  Hard,  daughter  of  Cyrus 
Hard,  of  Wadsworth.  Four  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  viz.,  Karl  A.,  Lionel  S.,  Julia  and 
William  E.  His  father's  family  consisted  of 
five  sons  and  three  daughters — William  E.  was 
an  attorney,  and  died  April  6,  1866  ;  Henr}'  C, 
attorney,  at  Medina  ;  Almira  S.,  wife  of  John  G. 
Houston,  of  New  Orleans  ;  Judge  Don  A.,  attor- 
ney and  United  States  Circuit  Court  Judge  at 
New  Orleans  ;  George  K.  (subject);  Fanny,  de- 
ceased, was  wife  of  P.  B.  Wilkins  ;  Ella  N., 
wife  of  Dr.  Wallace  A.  Briggs,  of  Sacramento, 
Cal.,  and  Sutliff  E.,  attorney  at  Wadsworth, 
Ohio. 

CHARLES  E.  PERKINS,  Akron  ;  sixth  son 
of  Col.  Simon  Perkins  ;  was  born  in  Akron, 
May  7, 1 850  ;  attended  public  school,  and  made 
further  preparations  at  Hudson  College  ;  and, 
in  about  1868,  he  entered  the  Tro}'  Polytechnic 
Institute,  where  he  pursued  the  engineer's  course 
for  three  years,  taking  both  a  civil  and  mining 
course.  On  his  return  to  Akron,  he  was  elected 
City  Engineer  of  Akron,  continuing  six  years, 
the  first  year  acting  as  assistant,  and  the  last 
five  being  in  the  West.  In  the  spring  of  1878, 
he  opened  an  agricultural  warehouse  on  Canal 
street,  where  he  has  since  conducted  business 
with  good  success.     He  handles  all  kinds  of 


agricultural  implements,  carriages,  wagons, 
scales  and  feed.  In  January,  1880,  he  married 
Miss  May  Adams,  daughter  of  Frank  Adams, 
of  Akron. 

COL.  GEORGE  T.  PERKINS,  banker,  Ak- 
ron, son  of  Col.  Simon  Perkins,  was  born  in 
Akron  May  5,  1836.  His  education  was  ac- 
quired in  the  schools  of  Akron  and  at  Marietta 
College.  In  April,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  private 
soldier  in  the  19th  0.  V.  I.,  and  at  the  organi- 
zation of  Co.  B  was  elected  its  Second  Lieut- 
enant, and  participated  in  the  West  Virginia 
campaign.  In  August,  1862,  he  rc-enlisted  in 
the  105th  0.  V.  I.,  and  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Major.  He  was  with  the  army  of  Gen. 
Sherman  and  Gen.  Thomas  in  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign. In  1864,  he  was  made  Colonel  of  the 
gallant  105th  Regiment,  and  was  its  com- 
mander until  the  close  of  the  war,  being  mus- 
tered out  at  Washington  in  June,  1865.  On 
his  return  to  Akron,  he  became  Secretary  of 
Taplin,  Rice  &  Co.,  and  held  that  position  until 
July,  1870,  when,  at  the  organization  of  the 
Bank  of  Akron,  he  became  its  President,  con- 
tinuing in  that  office  until  1876,  when,  at  the 
demise  of  Mr.  Alden  Gage,  Mr.  Perkins  became 
Cashier.  He  is  also  Seci'ctary  of  B.  F.  Good- 
rich &  Co.,  of  the  Akron  Rubber  Works. 

COL.  SIMON  PERKINS,  of  Akron,  son  of 
the  late  Gen.  Simon  Perkins,  of  Warren,  Ohio, 
was  born  at  the  latter  place  Feb.  6,  1805,  where 
he  remained  until  1834,  when  he  came  to  Akron 
and  settled  upon  a  tract  of  wild  land  contain- 
ing some  5,000  or  6,000  acres,  which  he  pur- 
chased in  1827.  For  a  number  of  years  prior 
to  his  removal  to  Akron,  he  assisted  his  father 
in  the  management  of  various  land  agencies, 
and  in  earlier  years  had  experience  in  clearing 
up  the  wild  lands  of  his  native  town.  His  ed- 
ucation was  at  the  common  schools  of  Warren. 
In  September,  1832,  he  married  Miss  Grace  I. 
Tod,  daughter  of  Judge  Tod,  and  sister  of  the 
late  Gov.  David  Tod,  of  Youngstown,  by  whom 
he  had  eleven  children  ;  eight  of  them  are  still 
living.  Col.  Perkins  came  of  good  Pui'itan  and 
Revolutionary  ancestry,  being  the  descendant 
of  John  Perkins,  who  came  to  America  with 
Roger  Williams  in  1661.  His  grandfather  was 
Captain  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  his 
father  commanded  the  forces  raised  in  North- 
ern Ohio  for  the  defence  of  the  frontier  in 
the  war  of  1812.  His  mother  was  a  Doug- 
lass, descendant  of  William  Douglass,  one  of  a 


^\ 


:l^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


755 


Boston  coloii}^  which  founded  New  London, 
Conn.  After  settling  in  Akron,  Col.  Perkins 
devoted  himself  to  the  improvement  of  his 
property,  selling  farms  to  settlers  as  they  were 
wanted  ;  raising  improved  breeds  of  stock  and 
sheep,  employing  for  a  series  of  years,  as  Su- 
perintendent of  these  farming  and  stock  opera- 
tions, John  Brown,  afterward  famous  in  the 
anti -slaver}'  annals  of  the  country.  An  event- 
ful period,  financially,  in  the  life  of  Col.  Per- 
kins was  that  in  which  the  Cleveland,  Zanes- 
ville  &  Cincinnati  Railroad  was  constructed  to 
Millersburg.  He  was  President  of  the  road 
from  the  first  organization  of  the  company  un- 
til it  passed  into  other  hands,  and  in  the  con- 
struction and  equipment  of  the  same,  embarked 
his  private  fortune  as  well  as  all  his  energy  and 
weight  of  character,  and  ultimately  sank  in  the 
enterprise  his  own  accumulations  and  what  he 
had  inherited  from  the  estate  of  his  father.  In 
the  later  years  of  Col.  Perkins'  life,  he  has 
found  congenial  employment  in  superintending 
the  improvement  of  the  grounds  of  the  "  Akron 
Cemetery  Association,"  and  whatever  of  beauty 
and  attraction  those  grounds  now  possess  be- 
j-ond  their  natural  wildness  and  suitableness  are 
due  mainly  to  the  Colonel's  good  judgment  and 
love  of  the  picturesque.  Col.  Perkins  was 
never  an  office-seeker,  always  feeling  probabl}- 
that  the  man  was  more  than  any  office,  and  that 
office  should  seek  the  man  to  fill  it.  Grace 
Park  will  always  witness  to  his  magnificent  lib- 
erality. It  was  a  gift  to  Akron  before  Akron 
had  thought  of  being  a  cit}',  and  bears  the  name 
of  his  wife.  There  is  no  flaw  in  Col.  Perkins' 
character.  It  is  sterling  throughout,  and  sound 
to  the  very  core.  His  business  integrity  and 
the  purity  of  his  private  life  have  always  been 
above  suspicion. 

JUDGE  STEPHEN  H.  PITKIN,  lawyer, 
Akron  ;  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Caleb  and  Anna  (Hen- 
derson) Pitkin,  and  was  born  Oct.  5,  1810,  in 
Old  Milford,  Conn.  When  he  was  7  years  old, 
his  father  removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in 
Charleston  Township,  Portage  Co.,  where  he 
preached  to  the  church  at  Charleston  Center 
until  1827,  when  he  went  to  Hudson,  and  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  Western  Reserve  Col- 
lege, its  Vice  President  and  financial  manager — 
was  its  Vice  President  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  about  1864.  Subject  worked  on  a 
farm  in  Charleston  Township  until  he  was  17 
years  of  age,  when  he  entered  Western  Reserve 


College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  June, 
1834.  In  the  following  October,  he  went  to 
Fulton  Co.,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching, 
and  at  the  same  time  entered  upon  the  study 
of  the  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the 
spring  of  1836.  He  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  his  profession  at  Lewiston,  the  count}'  seat 
of  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  and  practiced  under  Stephen 
A.  Douglas,  who  was  his  personal  friend.  He 
was  elected  County  Surveyor  of  Fulton  Co., 
and  Probate  Judge  of  that  county  in  1838  ; 
served  two  terms — four  years.  He  remained 
there  until  1852,  in  active  practice,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Hudson  and  took  charge  of  the  home- 
stead, and  assumed  the  care  of  his  aged  parents  ; 
his  mother  is  still  living,  aged  97  years.  In 
1862,  he  was  elected  Probate  Judge  of  Summit 
Co.,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death 
of  Judge  Dodge  ;  was  re-elected,  serving  until 
February,  1870.  About  the  year  1872,  he 
resumed  his  profession,  and  has  been  in  ac- 
tive practice  ever  since.  In  January,  1871, 
he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  Summit  Co. 
Agricultural  Society,  holding  same  nine  years, 
and  was  President  of  the  society  for  1880.  He 
was  married  in  October,  1854,  to  Miss  Julia 
Lusk,  of  this  county,  who  was  sister  of  the 
wife  of  "  Old  John  Brown."  She  died  Oct.  7, 
1873.  They  had  five  children,  two  of  whom 
are  living — Julian  H.,  Superintendent  of  C. 
Aultman  &  Co.'s  Works,  Canton  ;  Mary,  wife 
of  Abner  Caldwell,  of  this  township.  He  was 
married  a  second  time,  Sept.  24,  1879,  to  Miss 
Helen  B.  Bell,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls. 

S.  E.  PHINNEY,  merchant,  Akron ;  is  a  son 
of  Calvin  and  Emeline  (Martin)  Phinney  ;  his 
father  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  his 
mother  in  Vermont.  His  father  came,  when  a 
boy,  to  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death  in  about  1870.  He  was  for 
many  years  a  merchant  at  Dover,  meeting  with 
fair  success.  S.  E.  is  the  oldest  of  five  chil- 
dren, and  was  born  at  Dover,  Ohio,  Oct.  25, 
1838.  He  employed  his  time  until  20  in  ac- 
quiring a  good  common  school  education  and 
assisting  in  his  father's  store.  He  was  for  two 
years  clerk  in  the  store  of  Edwin  Phinney,  of 
Bath,  this  county.  In  September,  1860,  he 
came  to  Akron  and  was  employed  as  clerk  with 
F.  McNaughton  &  Co.,  in  the  dry  goods  busi- 
ness, four  years.  In  1865,  he  was  employed  by 
the  Government  as  clerk  for  the  Superintendent 
of  Railroad  Repairs,  and  traveled  throughout 


© Jk>- 


.i2£: 


756 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


the  South  and  West.  He  returned  to  Akron  in 
1867,  and  became  the  partner  of  S.  G.  Bardorf 
in  the  shoe  business,  continuing  in  that  house 
until  a  year  after  the  death  of  his  partner, 
when  he  sold  out,  and  was  in  the  employ  of 
Cutter  &  Howe  for  three  and  a  half  3'ears.  In 
1870,  he  opened  a  shoe  store  in  Hanscom's 
Block,  and  has  been  in  that  business  ever  since 
in  the  corner  room,  No.  101  Howard  and  Mar- 
ket streets.  His  store  includes  a  full  stock  of 
all  goods  in  his  line,  and  a  repair  shop.  Oct. 
30,  1868,  he  married  Miss  Nellie  G.  Abbey,  of 
Akron,  daughter  of  H.  S.  Abbe3^  They  have 
two  children. 

HENRY  PERKINS,  Akron  ;  son  of  Simon 
Perkins,  was  born  in  Akron,  on  the  old  home- 
stead, April  8,  1842.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  until  he  attained  his  20th  year,  when 
he  became  clerk  in  the  Quartermaster's  Depart- 
ment, under  his  brother,  Simon,  Jr.,  who  ranked 
as  Captain  and  Assistant  Quartermaster  for  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  followed  the 
fortunes  of  the  army  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
On  his  return,  he  accepted  a  clerkship  with  the 
Cleveland  Rolling  Mill  Co.,  having  charge  of 
the  Lake  Shore  mill  office  for  a  period  of  five 
years.  In  1870,  he  became  Secretary  for  Tap- 
lin.  Rice  &  Co.,  and  has  had  charge  of  the 
business  department  of  the  office  ever  since. 
Oct.  20,  1868,  he  married  Miss  Emma  White, 
of  Cleveland,  Ohio  ;  one  daughter  is  the  result 
of  the  union.  He  is  Superintendent  of  the 
Congregational  Sabbath  School,  and  Deacon  in 
the  church. 

AUGUSTUS  D.  POWER,  foreman  black- 
smith department  in  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co  , 
Akron  ;  a  son  of  Hiram  and  Hester  (Parker) 
Power;  was  born  at  Augusta,  Ky.,  April  14, 
1831.  When  about  2  years  old,  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  his 
father  died  in  1834,  and  the  mother,  with  fam- 
ily, removed  to  Norwalk,  Ohio.  Here  subject 
grew  up,  and,  at  the  age  of  20,  entered  upon 
the  blacksmith's  trade  at  Norwalk,  at  which  he 
worked,  except  two  years,  until  1864.  He  then 
went  to  Meadville,  Penn.,  and,  in  the  employ 
of  the  A.  &  G.  W.  R.  R.,  was  made  foreman 
of  the  blacksmith  department  in  1865  in  the 
company's  shops  at  Kent,  Ohio.  In  1870,  he 
came  to  Akron,  and  at  once  entered  the  employ 
of  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.  as  foreman  of  the 
blacksmith  department,  consisting  of  three  shops 
employing  sixty  men.     He  was  married,  March 


21,  1855,  to  Miss  Jane  L.  Rule,  of  Norwalk, 
Ohio.  The}'  have  two  daughters.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  of  which  he  was 
chorister  until  1877.  He  studied  vocal  music, 
and  was  leader  of  the  choir  at  the  several 
places  where  he  has  lived. 

J.  H.  PETERSON,  dentist,  Akron,  Ohio; 
who  began  the  practice  of  dentistry  in  Akron 
in  1854,  and  who  now  ranks  as  a  pioneer  mem- 
ber of  the  profession  of  Summit  County,  was 
born  July  9,  1830,  in  St.  Johns,  New  Bruns- 
wick. He  is  the  second  son  and  fourth  child  of 
a  family  of  eight  children  born  to  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Laidley)  Peterson,  the  latter  of 
Scotch  ancestry,  and  the  daughter  of  Robert 
Laidley,  a  Captain  in  the  British  service  in  1784. 
John  Peterson  was  a  native  of  Bath,  Me.,  and, 
during  the  war  of  1812,  he  entered  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  sailing  from  Boston  in  his 
own  ship.  He  subsequently  became  a  resident 
of  St.  Johns,  N.  B.,  where  he  was  obliged  to 
take  an  oath  to  become  a  loyal  citizen,  so  long 
as  he  might  remain  a  resident  of  the  place.  He 
afterward  removed  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
engaged  in  land  speculations,  by  which  means  he 
lost  his  fortune.  He  then  removed  to  Portage 
County,  Ohio,  where  his  family  grew  to  their 
majority,  and  chose  for  themselves  a  business 
or  profession.  The  Doctor  first  tried  the  study 
of  medicine,  but  gave  it  up,  and  completed  a 
course  in  the  study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  B.  T. 
Spellman,  of  Ravenna,  Ohio,  after  which  he 
spent  one  year  in  Cleveland  in  practice,  and 
then  at  the  date  above  stated  removed  to  Ak- 
ron. In  his  residence  of  almost  thirty  years, 
the  Doctor  has  progressed  step  by  step  as  the 
science  of  dentistry  has  advanced  to  an  impor- 
tant place  among  the  sciences.  While  he  has 
held  a  position  among  the  first  professional 
men  of  Akron,  he  has  also  devoted  much  of  his 
time  to  other  duties  and  social  affairs.  Polit- 
ically he  was  first  a  Democrat,then  a  Free-Soiler, 
and  finally  a  Republican  ;  with  the  latter  party 
he  has  been  identified  for  man}'  years.  During 
the  war  of  the  rebellion,  he  was  Secretary  of 
the  Republican  Central  Committee  of  Summit 
County.  He  is  a  member  of  Akron  Lodge,  No. 
83,  and  of  Washington  Chapter,  No.  25,  of  the 
order  of  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  Relief  Association.  Nov.  29, 
1856,  he  married  Miss  Caroline  Van  Evera,  a 
native  of  Cherry  Valley,  N.  Y.,  but  a  resident  of 
Akron  at  the  time  of  their  marriage.     Three 


•?  « 


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'k.. 


CITY    OF   AKRON. 


757 


children  have  been  born  to  them,  two  girls  and 
one  boy.  Of  the  Doctor's  three  brothers,  the 
youngest,  William,  entered  the  service  of  his 
countr}'  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  He 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  from 
the  effects  of  which  he  died,  and  his  body  now 
lies  in  the  National  Cemetery,  with  a  Govern- 
ment tombstone  marking  his  last  resting-place. 
George  K.,  the  brother  next  older  than  the 
Doctor,  was  a  civil  engineer  of  some  note,  and 
was  with  John  C.  Fremont  on  his  exploring 
trip  to  California.  The  eldest  brother,  Daniel 
C.,  went  in  an  early  day  to  the  gold  regions  of 
California,  and  was  one  of  the  first  company  of 
miners  that  ever  located  at  Sutler's  Fork. 

ROBERT  S.  PAUL,  surveyor,  Akron  ;  is  a 
native  of  Summit  Co.,  Ohio  ;  was  born  in  Cuy- 
ahoga Falls  Oct.  3,  1842,  and  is  the  fourth  of 
seven  children  born  to  Hosea  and  -Ellen  (Gam- 
ble) Paul.  His  parents  were  natives  of  North- 
field,  Vt.,  and  County  Down,  Ireland.  His 
mother  came  to  this  country  when  a  child  with 
her  parents  to  Colebrook,  N.  H.,  subsequently 
moving  to  Canaan,  Vt.,  where  she  married  Mr. 
Paul,  who  was  then  Postmaster  there.  In  1834, 
they  came  to  Wadsworth,  Medina  Co.  Mr. 
Paul  had  earl}'  studied  and  worked  at  survey- 
ing, and  at  Wadsworth  taught  school.  In  1835, 
he  moved  to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death,  May  29,  1870.  Mrs.  Paul  is 
still  living  on  the  old  homestead  in  Cuyahoga 
Falls.  Robert  lived  at  home  until  he  was  20 
years  old,  completing  in  the  meanwhile  a  course 
in  the  high  schools  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  and 
teaching  in  Stow  and  New  Portage.  He  worked 
at  times  with  his  father  at  civil  and  mining 
engineering.  In  1862,  he  surveyed  the  narrow 
guage  road  for  the  Brewster  Coal  Company. 
In  August,  18C2,  he  was  assigned  for  d\ity 
with  the  Topographical  Engineer  Corps  under 
Col.  J.  H.  Simpson,  in  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, where  he  served  until  1865.  Upon 
his  retui'n  from  the  arm}-,  he  attended  the  col- 
lege at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  for  a  year.  He  then 
went  to  the  oil  regions  and  followed  his  pro- 
fession there  about  eighteen  months.  He  also 
followed  his  profession  in  Cleveland  for  two 
years,  where  he  spent  a  year  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Pol3'technic  College.  He  then  came  to 
Akron,  and  soon  after  was  appointed  County 
Surve3'or,  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term  of  his 
father.  He  has  since  filled  the  position  save 
one  term,  during  which  time  he  was  emplo^'ed 


as  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Ohio  &  Toledo  Rail- 
road. July  25,  1872,  he  married  Miss  Sarah 
M.  Romig,  a  native  of  Indiana.  By  this  mar- 
riage, there  have  been  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living,  Ellen,  Ada,  Laura,  Martha  (deceased). 
Mar}'  and  Edward.  Mr.  Paul  is  President  of 
the  Count}'  Surveyors'  Association,  and  is  serv- 
ing his  second  term.  He  was  elected  in  1881, 
as  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  Ohio  Insti- 
tute of  Mining  Engineers,  making  him  a  recog- 
nized authority  on  these  matters. 

W.  H.  PAYNE,  boat-builder,  Lock  No.  2, 
Ohio  Canal,  Akron  ;  was  born  in  Columbia, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  10,  1822,  and  is  the 
youngest  of  three  children  born  to  Willis  and 
Rhoda  (Bronson)  Payne.  He  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  and  emigrated  to  Lorain  County 
when  a  young  man,  about  the  year  1816  ;  while 
there  he  married  Rhoda  Bronson,  a  daughter 
of  Herman  Bronson,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Boston  Township.  After  his  marriage,  he  came 
to  Akron,  where  he  died  in  1836  ;  she  died  in 
Boston  Township  in  1879.  W.  H.,  the  subject, 
lived  with  his  grandfather,  Herman  Bronson, 
from  childhood  until  he  was  20  years  old,  and 
received  a  common-school  education.  He  was 
married  Feb.  22,  1845,  to  Miss  Julia  Jaynes,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  who  came  here  with  her 
parents  when  young.  After  his  marriage,  he 
worked  with  his  step-father,  Jacob  Barnhart, 
in  his  boat-yard  in  Boston  Township,  and  in 
other  similar  establishments  until  1864,  when 
he  came  to  Akron  and  bought  out  W.  B. 
Storer's  boat-yard,  located  at  Lock  No.  3,  and 
continued  the  business  for  six  years.  He  then 
sold  out,  and  in  1873  established  his  present 
yard  and  has  followed  the  business  of  boat- 
building ever  since.  During  the  six  years  he 
was  in  Akron,  he  built  forty-two  boats,  and 
since  beginning  the  business,  he  has  built  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  boats.  By  his 
marriage,  four  children  were  boi'n  to  him,  of 
whom  three  are  living,  viz.,  Martha  E.,  now 
Mrs.  George  Scott,  of  Akron  ;  Anna  L.,  at  home; 
Charles  H.,  who  married  Miss  Martha  Storm, 
of  Knox  Co.,  Ohio.  He  lives  at  home  and 
conducts  the  business  originally  established  by 
his  father. 

J.  H.  PENDLETON,  Vice  President,  Second 
National  Bank,  Akron  City  ;  was  born  in  Litch- 
field Co.,  Conn..  Feb.  1,  1810,  and  was  the  eldest 
of  eleven  children  born  to  Ward  and  Sallie  (Cook) 
Pendleton,  who  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  and 


i   "V 


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bL 


758 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


came  to  Ohio  in  1819,  in  a  covered  wagon.  They 
settled  in  Stow  Township,  Portage  Co.,  now  Sum- 
mit Co.,  where  they  bought  wild  land,  upon  which 
they  built  a  cabin,  and  proceeded  otherwise  to 
improve  their  purchase.  His  death  occurred  here 
March  5,  1865  ;  his  wife  died  a  few  years  pre- 
vious, June  6.  1860.  J.  H.  lived  at  home  until 
he  was  about  20  years  of  age,  with  limited  op- 
portunities for  receiving  an  education.  At  the 
age  of  20,  he  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  a  general 
store  owned  bj'  Stowe  &  Wetmore  at  Cuyahoga 
Falls.  He  continued  with  them  until  about 
1835,  and  traveled  for  them  through  Northern 
Ohio  selling  goods.  He  then,  in  company'  with 
his  brother,  opened  a  general  store  at  Bruns- 
wick, Medina  Co.,  and,  after  one  season,  re- 
moved the  business  to  Franklin  Mills,  in  this 
count}',  where  he  remained  until  about  1840, 
when  the  business  was  sold,  and  he  engaged  in 
business  with  B.  F.  Hopkins,  conducting  flour 
and  saw  mill,  also  woolen  factor}-  (as  Center 
Manufacturing  Company)  and  general  merchan- 
dise store.  About  1847,  the  business  was  dis- 
solved ;  and,  in  1850,  Mr.  P.  went  to  Cincinnati, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  construction  of 
railroads  until  1860,  with  headquarters  at  Cin- 
cinnati and  Dayton.  He  then  returned  to  Ak- 
ron, and,  in  1863,  upon  the  organization  of  the 
Second  National  Bank,  he  became  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  it,  a  position  he  has  held  ever  since. 
He  has  served  as  Trustee  of  Buchtel  College 
several  terms.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church,  in  the  aflfairs  of  which  he  has  taken 
an  active  interest.  Mr.  P.  has  been  three  times 
married — first  in  1832,  to  Miss  Julia  Corp  ; 
she  died  July  5,  1833  ;  second,  in  November, 
1834,  to  Miss  Sybil  Fletcher  ;  she  died  May  29, 
1841  ;  third,  Sept.  13,  1842,  to  Miss  Eunice  M. 
Post,  a  native  of  Summit  Co.  They  have  one 
child,  viz.,  Nellie  A. 

LOUIS  J.  PROEHL,  physician,  Akron,  Ohio  ; 
is  a  native  of  Akron,  Ohio  ;  he  was  born  Jul}' 
18,  1850,  and  is  the  eldest  of  seven  children, 
born  to  George  and  Mary  Louisa  (Loose)  Proehl ; 
they  were  natives  of  Saxon-Altenburg,  Ger- 
many, and  were  born  near  Leipsic,  the  famous 
battle-ground  of  Napoleon.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  in  the  fall  of  1848,  and  settled  in 
Akron  the  same  year.  In  the  spring  of  1849, 
Miss  Loose  came  to  Akron  (she  was  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Proehl  in  the  old  country).  They 
were  married  July  1,  1849.  He  first  employed 
himself  at  chopping  wood,  and  then  became  a 


helper  at  the  Empire  House.  In  the  spring  of 
1849,  he  began  work  at  his  trade  (stonemason), 
and  continued  at  the  same  until  1858,  when  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Coventry  Township,  and  occu- 
pied the  same  the  following  spring,  where  he 
has  lived  since,  working  at  his  trade  in  the 
summer.  B}^  the  marriage  there  have  been 
seven  children,  viz.,  Louis  J.,  George  A.,  William 
F.,  Tillie  M.,  John  F.,  Emma  and  Ida.  Our 
subject  lived  at  home  until  the  spring  of  1864. 
He  then  apprenticed  with  his  father,  working 
during  summers  and  attending  school  during  the 
winters,  until  he  was  20  years  of  age,  when  he 
began  teaching  during  the  winters,  and  contin- 
ued until  the  spring  of  1873.  He  then  entered  the 
National  Normal  School  at  Lebanon,  Ohio, 
graduating  from  the  same  in  August,  1876, 
after  which,  he  entered  the  Ohio  Medical  Col- 
lege at  Cincinnati,  attending.one  course  of  lect- 
ures, and  read  with  Dr.  W.  C.  Jacobs,  of  Ak- 
ron, until  the  fall  of  1878,  when  he  returned  to 
the  college,  and  graduated  from  the  same  in  the 
spring  of  1879.  He  then  came  to  Akron,  and 
has  practiced  his  profession  there  since,  occu- 
pying an  office  with  Dr.  W.  J.  Underwood.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Summit  County  Medical 
Society,  and  the  Union  Medical  Association  of 
Northeastern  Ohio. 

C.  H.  PALMER,  Superintendent  of  the  Bar 
ber  Match  Company,  Akron  ;  began  to  work 
for  this  company  in  1864,  at  printing  labels  on 
a  hand  press  and  making  the  boxes,  the  Com- 
pany being  at  that  time  located  at  Middlebury. 
In  1866,  he  took  charge  of  the  shipping  depart- 
ment— printing  the  labels,  making  the  boxes, 
covering  the  cases  and  doing  the  billing  ;  and 
now  on  account  of  his  faithfulness  and  gen- 
eral knowledge  of  all  the  different  departments, 
he  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  the  high  and  re- 
sponsible position  which  he  now  occupies.  His 
father  was  Albert  Palmer,  son  of  Stephen  M., 
who  were  natives  of  Lyons,  Wa3'ne  Co.,  N.  Y. 
They  came  to  Middlebury  in  1836,  at  which 
time  the  father  of  our  subject  was  but  11  3'ears 
of  age.  His  grandfather  started  the  first  fan- 
ning-mill  manufactory  in  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try, under  the  firm  name  of  Palmer  &  Stafford, 
the  latter  a  brother-in-law  ;  the}'  did  an  exten- 
sive business  for  a  few  years  when  they  dis- 
solved partnership,  the  latter  subsequently  be- 
coming extensively  engaged  in  a  stencil  manu- 
factory in  the  city  of  New  York.  The  father 
of  our  subject  after  the  death  of  Stephen  M.,  in 


'^ 


CITY    OF    AKKOK 


759 


1849,  in  connection  with  his  brothers  Charles 
and  Henry,  carried  on  the  business  for  several 
3'ears,  when  they  moved  to  Groodlettsville,  Tenn., 
where  the}-  remained  until  near  the  outbreak 
of  the  Rebellion,  when  they  dissolved  partner- 
ship and  returned  to  the  North.  The  mother 
was  Ann  Hoy,  daughter  of  James  and  Shedrick 
(Furgeson)  Hoy,  who  is  still  living.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  married,  Oct.  4.  1876,  to 
Mary  Ann  Peckham,  daughter  of  Thomas  Peck- 
ham,  a  former  partner  in  the  firm  of  Barber  & 
Co.;  he  is  now  one  of  the  traveling  agents. 
Mr.  Palmer  by  his  marriage  has  one  child, 
Thomas  Albert,  born  July  4,  1877.  He  is  a 
stanch  Republican  politically  ;  a  member  of 
the  K.  of  P.,  Ro^'al  Arcanum  and  of  the  K.  of 
H.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Disciples' 
Church,  greatly  respected  and  loved  by  all 
who  know  them. 

CHARLES  PARISETTE,  merchant,  Akron. 
There  are  probably  few,  if  any,  of  the  business 
men  of  Akron  whose  life  has  been  so  full  of  ad- 
venture as  that  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
He  was  born  November  19,  1836,  in  Wesel 
on  the  Rhine,  Rhine  Province,  Prussia.  Until 
he  was  14  years  of  age  his  life  was  spent  most 
of  the  time  in  school.  He  was  then  appren- 
ticed by  his  father  to  learn  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, the  terms  being  that  he  must  serve  three 
years'  time  and  pay  $100.  The  old  gentleman 
was  for  49  years  in  the  civil  and  militarj'  service 
of  his  countr3^  Is  at  present  living  in  New 
York  City,  though  he  and  his  wife,  who  was  a 
Miss  Mary  Banhaus,  and  a  native  of  Prussia, 
were  at  one  time  for  about  three  years,  resi- 
dents of  Akron.  When  our  subject  had  finished 
his  term  of  apprenticeship,  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  firm  whom  he  had  served,  at  a 
salary  of  $50  for  his  first  year's  service.  He 
remained  there  until  he  was  21  years  old,  and 
then  emigrated  to  America.  He  remained  in 
New  York  for  about  13  months,  engaged  as  a 
groceiy  clerk,  and  then  sailed  for  California. 
Once  landed  there,  however,  it  was  not  long  un- 
til he  thought  of  the  mines,  and  the  wealth 
that  possibl}'  awaited  him.  Joining  a  company 
he  was  soon  in  what  has  since  proved  the 
richest  mining  district  in  the  world,  as  he  was 
one  of  the  first  seventy-six  men  who  pitched 
their  camp  and  began  prospecting  on  the  site  of 
Virginia  City.  The  cabin  built  and  occupied 
by  himself  and  partners  was  erected  only  al)out 
200  yards  from  the  mouth  of  the  great  Corn- 


stock  lode.  He  remained  in  Virginia  City 
about  three  months,  when  the  Indian  war  broke 
out  between  the  miners  and  Piute  Indians. 
The  organization  of  miners  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  Maj.  Orsbr3\  The  Piutes  soon  made 
it  so  warm  for  them  that  mining  was  out  of  the 
question.  July  3,  1860,  the  terrible  and  deci- 
sive battle  was  fought  at  Pyramier  Lake.  Maj. 
Orsbry  and  his  son  were  killed,  with  man}' 
others.  Probably  none  would  have  escaped, 
had  not  the  Indians  been  anxious  to  capture  the 
horses,  and  therefore  were  careful  not  to  shoot 
them.  This  desire  on  their  part  was  the  means 
of  Mr.  Parisette's  escape.  He  had  a  splendid 
horse,  and  though  surrounded  by  the  yelling 
painted  demons,  he  watched  his  opportunity, 
and  broke  through  them  and  gained  the  Carson 
River,  across  which  he  swam  his  horse  and  rode 
for  the  mountains.  He  did  not  escape,  how- 
ever, without  some  severe  arrow  wounds,  one 
of  which  was  in  the  right  hand  and  proved  to 
be  very  painful.  His  only  course  now  was  to 
work  his  wa}^  to  San  Francisco,  which  he  did, 
via  the  Hanes  pass.  Arriving  at  San  Francisco 
he  remained  quiet  until  the  recovery  of  his 
hand,  when  he  again  started  for  the  mines. 
This  time,  however,  he  took  good  care  to  keep 
as  far  away  from  the  Piutes  as  possible.  He 
spent  some  time  in  the  gold  mines  of  what  was 
known  as  Dry  Town,  where  he  made  some 
money.  Winter  coming  on,  he  and  his  partners 
went  to  San  Francisco,  and  not  caring  to  lie 
idle,  they  enlisted  in  the  First  Cal.  V.  I. 
for  three  years,  thinking  about  three  months 
would  wind  up  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  In- 
stead of  this,  he  found  himself  booked  for  three 
years  of  hardships  and  privations.  Their  regi- 
ment numbered  1 ,600  men,  and  was  known  as 
the  First  Column  of  California.  It  was  placed 
on  dut}^  most  of  the  time  in  the  West,  and 
served  its  country  in  that  mode  of  warfare 
known  as  bush-whacking,  or  fighting  the  Indi- 
ans. At  one  time  Mr.  Parisette's  bunk-mate 
was  so  careless  as  to  fall  somewhat  in  the  rear 
of  the  command,  and  when  found,  he  was  com- 
pletely skinned,  a  deed  that  had  been  done  by 
the  Apaches.  Mr.  Parisette  was  an  excellent 
shot  and  at  one  time  wore  the  company  badge 
for  two  3"ears  in  succession.  At  last  he  was 
discharged  at  Las  Cruces,  New  Mexico,  on 
August  31,  1864.  He  was  one  of  a  compan}' 
made  up  to  cross  the  plains  on  their  wa}-  to 
New  York    Cit}^,  which  thev  did,   making  the 


TZ 


760 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


journey  in  two  months  and  fourteen  days, 
though  this  included  a  few  days'  time  spent  at 
Ft.  Larned,  Kansas,  to  join  in  a  buffalo  hunt. 
In  this  hunt  he  used  a  Springfield  rifle,  and 
killed  a  number  of  buffalo.  Arriving  in  New 
York,  he  stopped  for  a  time  with  his  brother, 
and  then  came  to  Akron  in  the  fall  of  1864.  On 
December  25,  of  1864,  he  began  as  salesman  for 
N.  Wagnor,  groceryman,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained for  about  one  year  and  three  months, 
when  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  old  grocery- 
man,  John  Cook,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
1870.  He  then  bought  the  property  where  he 
now  does  business  corner  Main  and  Exchange 
streets.  South  Akron,  and  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  on  his  own  account.  His 
business  has  been  growing  3'ear  by  year,  till  now 
his  aggregate  sales  per  annum  are  about 
$40,000.  He  is  a  live,  energetic  business  man 
and  has  established  this  extensive  business  by 
his  own  energy  and  good  financiering.  He  is  a 
member  of  Granite  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  No.  522. 
In  1867,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  Selzer, 
a  native  of  Bavaria.  Five  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  all  of  whom  are  girls. 

MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  late  of  Middlebury,  in 
this  county,  was  a  member  of  the  ancient  and  no- 
ble family  of  O'Coigley,  now  written  Quigley, or- 
iginally from  the  neighborhood  of  the  Giant's 
Causewa}',  in  Ireland,  later  of  Queen's  Count}', 
near  Dublin.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Quigley,  who  was 
honored  with  a  state  prosecution  by  the  British 
Government  in  the  memorable  rebellion  of  '98, 
and  whose  intimac}'  with  Lord  Cloncurry 
caused  the  imprisonment  of  the  latter  in  the 
Tower  of  London  the  same  3'ear.  was  a  member 
of  this  famil}'.  Dr.  Quigle}^  was  one  of  the 
first  victims  of  '98,  having  been  executed  at 
Penendeu  Heath  on  the  7th  of  May  of  that 
year.  The  ancient  arms  of  the  family,  on 
which  is  cantoned  the  celebrated  '-Red  Hand 
of  Ulster,"  still  borne  by  the  members  here, 
attest  their  illustrious  station  in  Irish  history. 
In  early  times,  individual  names  were  indica- 
tive of  personal  qualities.  Quigley^  in  Irish, 
signifies  tall  hero,  and  the  four  young  men  of 
the  family  here,  all  of  whom  are  over  six  feet 
in  heighth,  and  each  of  whom  has  fought  his  way 
to  honorable  distinction,  show  that  they  are  in 
every  sense  worth}'  of  their  ancient  name. 

Martin  Quigley,  the  subject  of  this  article, 
was  born  in  Timahoe,  Queen's  County,  Ireland, 
Nov.  11,  1805.     His  father  was  a  prosperous 


gentleman  farmer,  with  fourteen  children — 
seven  sons  and  seven  daughters,  Martin  being 
the  thirteenth  child.  The  children  were  edu- 
cated partly  in  the  parochial  school,  partly  by 
private  tutors.  The  eldest  son,  Cornelius,  was 
a  distinguished  graduate  of  Dublin  University. 
His  brother  Patrick  was  a  Magistrate  of 
Queen's  County,  and  died  there  a  few  years 
ago  at  the  age  of  84.  He  founded  the  Leinster 
Independent,  the  leading  paper  of  the  county  ; 
owned  more  than  a  hundred  houses  in  Mary- 
boro,  the  county  seat  of  the  county  ;  farmed 
over  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  was  one 
of  the  most  popular  men  in  the  country,  not 
only  for  his  dignity  and  ability  as  a  magis- 
trate, his  enterprise  and  public  spirit  as  a  citi- 
zen, but  for  his  unfailing  fund  of  wit  and 
humor  which  delighted  all  with  whom  he  came 
'  in  contact.  The  writer  of  this  notice  had  the 
pleasure  of  being  entertained  by  him  at  his 
hospitable  mansion  near  Maryboro,  during  quite 
a  little  visit  there  some  years  ago,  and  thus 
had  personal  knowledge  of  these  facts. 

Martin  Quigley,  subject  of  this  notice,  mar- 
ried there,  in  1839,  Miss  Mary  Ann  Moore,  of 
the  old  famil}'  of  the  O'Moore's,  once  Princes 
of  Leix  and  Offaly,  and  formerly  Kings  of 
Leinster.  Her  brother,  the  Hon.  James  Moore, 
who  had,  in  part,  represented  the  city  of  Boston 
for  four  terms  in  the  Legislature  of  the  State 
of  Massachusetts,  prevailed  on  Mr.  Quigley  to 
come  to  this  country,  which  he  did  with  his 
family  in  1848.  It  was  expected  that  Mr. 
Quigley  would  settle  in  Boston,  but  he  had  his 
eye  on  the  broader  fields  of  the  West.  Mr. 
John  Dunne,  well  known  forty  years  ago  in 
Summit  County,  was  a  cousin  of  Mrs.  Quigley, 
and  his  reports  of  the  prospects  of  Summit 
County  induced  them  to  locate  here.  They 
came  in  July,  1848,  and,  in  illustration  of  the 
rapidity  with  which  Mr.  Quigley  acted  in  busi- 
ness matters,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  in 
three  days'  time  from  his  arrival  in  x\kron,  he 
had  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Springfield 
Township,  and  had  his  family  settled  on  it.  He 
afterward  bought  the  Landis  farm,  within  half 
a  mile  of  ^liddlebury  ;  later,  another  farm  in 
Copley  Township,  and,  finally,  a  residence 
property  on  High  street  in  Middlebury,  which 
is  still  the  family  homestead. 

One  of  the  chief  industries  of  this  county 
now  is  the  manufacture  of  stoneware,  but  when 
jNh-.  Quigley  came  here  thirty-three  years  ago. 


L^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


761 


this  industry  was  almost  unknown.  Witli  rare 
sagacity  Mr.  Quigley  saw  from  the  start  that 
something  could  be  done  in  this  matter.  He 
had  bought  land  immediately  on  his  arrival 
with  the  intention  of  engaging  in  farming,  but 
he  soon  began  studying  the  stoneware  business. 
There  were  then  but  two  small  potteries  in 
Middlebury  doing  a  trifling  business.  Mr. 
Quigley  prospected  around,  found  a  bed  of  good 
cla}',  bought  it  and  began  to  push  things.  He 
soon  furnished  the  Middlebury  potteries  better 
clay  and  at  lower  rates  than  the}'  had  been  able 
to  get  before.  They  could  not  take  an3^thing 
like  all  his  output,  so  he  looked  abroad  for  a 
market,  and  was  the  first  man  to  ship  this  clay 
out  of  the  State.  He  sent  it  first  by  canal,  and 
later,  by  rail  to  Cleveland,  and  thence  by  boats 
to  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and  other  neighboring 
States.  He  became  an  enthusiast  on  the  sub- 
ject. Unable  to  persuade  the  timid  owners  in 
Middlebury  to  enlarge  their  works,  he  bought 
into  the  business  himself  and  began  to  spread 
it.  Clay,  until  his  time,  had  been  ground  here 
in  the  old  horse-power  mill.  This  was  too 
slow  for  his  quick,  Celtic  blood.  He  went  to 
Cleveland,  bought  a  twenty  horse-power  engine 
and  began  grinding  clay  by  steam.  His  part- 
ners got  frightened ;  he  bought  them  out  and 
ran  the  business  alone  until  1862,  when  his  two 
eldest  sons,  Thomas  and  William  (twins,  b}' 
the  way),  came  on  the  scene.  Having  now 
reared  and  educated  men  to  run  the  business 
according  to  his  own  ideas,  he  turned  the  manu- 
factory over  to  them.  Thomas  and  William 
were  soon  re-enforced  b}'  Hugh,  and  they,  un- 
der the  name  of  the  Quigley  Brothers,  have 
pushed  the  business  until  the}'  have  warehouses 
now  of  a  storage  capacity  of  nearly  three 
million  gallons  of  ware.  They  send  their  goods 
by  rail  and  water  all  over  the  United  States, 
doing  a  business  of  over  a  $150,000  a  3'ear. 
Though  Ml'.  Quigley  turned  the  business  over 
to  "  the  boys,"  he  still  watched  over  it  fondly 
to  the  day  of  his  death,  and  much  of  its  suc- 
cess is,  doubtless,  due  to  his  continued  super- 
vision. He  found  the  business  in  Middlebury' 
a  small  affair,  employing  only  a  few  men.  He 
lived  to  see  it  grow  to  be  one  of  the  leading 
enterprises  of  the  State,  with  millions  of  dollars 
invested,  and  thousands  of  men  employed  in  it. 
He  was  always  proud  of  his  connection  with  it. 
He  loved  to  sit  on  the  broad,  shady  porch  of 
his  house  on  High  street  and  look  out  on  the 


blaze  everywhere  rising  from  the  stoneware 
kilns  ;  on  the  volumes  of  white  smoke  caused 
by  "  salting  off"  the  ware  ;  to  hear  the,  to  him, 
sweet  music  of  the  factory  whistles  while  the 
smoke  rose  in  clouds  from  the  stacks  of  the 
steam  cla^^-raills  he  had  been  the  first  to  intro- 
duce, all  telling  of  triumphs  of  industry,  skill, 
patience  and  intelligence — triumphs  which  to 
him,  probabl}',  more  than  to  any  other  man,  the 
country  was  indebted.  These  triumphs  would, 
doubtless,  have  come  in  time  without  him,  but, 
how  long  the  claj^  lay  there,  comparatively  un- 
touched until  his  arrival !  How  quick  the 
whole  countr}'  heard  of  it  when  he  put  his 
hand  to  the  work  !  His  sons  still  carr}'  on  the 
business,  but  they  exert  themselves  in  the 
larger  field  of  handling  the  manufectured  ware. 

William  married  in  November,  1864,  Miss 
Theresa  Smith,  eldest  daughter  of  Mi\  John 
Smith,  of  Cleveland,  one  of  the  "  solid  "  men  of 
that  city.  Hugh  married,  May  2,  1876,  Miss 
Helena  Daly,  eldest  daughter  of  Mr.  Peter 
Daly,  likewise  a  prominent  citizen  of  Cleveland. 
"  Tom,"  being  still  a  Benedict,  does  the  travel- 
ing for  the  concern.  William,  on  his  marriage, 
withdrew  from  the  firm,  but  carries  on  the  same 
business  on  his  own  account. 

Patrick,  the  youngest  son,  now  known  as  Dr. 
Quigley,  showed  from  his  youth  an  inclination 
for  the  church.  He  made  his  college  course  in 
Cleveland,  and,  later,  also  his  theological  course, 
and  was  ordained  a  priest  in  the  Catholic  Church 
in  1869.  Having  shown  unusual  talents,  the 
Bishop  encouraged  his  going  to  Rome  to  profit 
by  the  higher  instruction  there.  He  spent  four 
years  in  the  Eternal  City,  attending  the  cele- 
brated CoUegio  Romano^  and  came  back  with 
the  proud  distinction  of  being  the  only  Ameri- 
can student  who  ever  won  the  title  of  Doctor 
from  that  institution.  He  has  acquired  con- 
siderable celebrity  in  this  countr}'  as  an  author- 
ity on  Canon  law,  having  given  to  the  public 
the  result  of  some  of  his  studies  on  some 
recondite  branches  of  that  subject,  and  being  at 
this  present  writing  attending  Court  in  Pitts- 
burgh as  an  expert  in  a  case  there  in  which  a 
question  of  Canon  law  is  involved.  He  has 
been  for  eight  or  nine  years  a  professor  in  tiie 
Diocesan  Seminary  at  Cleveland,  in  this  State. 
He  has  the  fine  personal  appearance  character- 
istic of  his  family  and,  rare  thing  for  a  thorough 
student,  is  possessed  of  fine  oratorical  powers. 
His  services  arc  in  sreat  demand  for  addresses 


KV 
^ 


±1 


762 


BIOGRxVPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


on  special  occasions,  and  he  has  taken  a  ver}' 
prominent  part  lately  in  the  public  discussion 
of  the  land  league  question,  attracting  now  so 
much  attention  in  this  country  as  well  as  in 
Ireland.  He  learned  German  while  a  youth  in 
this  country,  and  French  and  Italian  in  Rome, 
so  that  he  preaches  in  English,  German,  French 
or  Italian,  as  occasion  requires. 

To  return  to  the  subject  of  this  memoir.  Mr. 
Quigley  died  in  Akron,  Oct.  8,  1878,  being  then 
73  years  of  age. 

The  Akron  Daily  Beacon,  the  oldest  news- 
paper, we  believe,  published  in  Summit  County, 
had  the  following  notice  of  his  death,  from  which, 
as  furnishing  a  cotemporaneous  account  from  a 
public  print,  we  copy  the  concluding  portion, 
as  follows  : 

"  Mr.  Quigley's  earnest  religious  convictions 
and  his  uniform  readiness  to  discuss,  amicably, 
and  defend  the  tenets  of  his  church — the  Ro- 
man Catholic — have,  for  years,  been  greatly 
respected  by  the  whole  community.  His  regu- 
larity and  vigor  in  attending  the  services  of 
his  church  '  in  season  and  out  of  season  '  have 
for  long  years  been  praised  and  admired  b}' 
members  of  all  denominations.  And  more — 
his  religion  gave  him  a  rule  of  conscience  in 
all  his  business  transactions.  Mr.  Quigley's 
wonderful  devotion  to  his  most  estimable  wife, 
as  well  as  to  all  his  sons'  interests,  have  often 
been  commented  upon  as  a  beautiful  example 
of  a  most  affectionate  and  large-hearted  hus- 
band and  father.  His  obsequies  were  held  yes- 
terday, the  10th  inst.  The  procession  from 
the  family  home  in  the  Sixth  Ward,  to  St.  Vin- 
cent de  Paul's  Church  was  one  of  the  largest 
our  prosperous  city  ever  witnessed.  The  serv- 
ices at  the  church  were  solemn  and  impressive 
and  the  spacious  and  magnificent  edifice  was 
filled  with  the  friends  of  the  deceased.  The 
remains  were  met  in  the  vestibule  of  the  church 
by  clergy  in  cope  or  surplice  and  with  solemn 
chant  escorted  to  the  altar  railing.  The  Rev. 
Dr.  Quigley,  of  Cleveland,  youngest  son  of  the 
deceased,  celebrated  a  Solemn  Requiem  Mass, 
assisted  by  Revs.  John  Brown,  of  this  city,  and 
A.  R.  Sidley,  Pastor  of  the  Immaculate  Con- 
ception Church,  Cleveland,  as  deacon  and  sub- 
deacon.  The  pall-bearers  were  Messrs.  P.  Smith, 
of  Cleveland  ;  E.  Rowley,  H.  Baldwin,  T. 
Johnston,  John  Cooke,  Sr.,  and  James  McCal- 
ister,  Sr.,  of  this  cit3^  Amongst  the  clergy  in 
the  sanctuary,  besides  those  above  mentioned, 


were  Rev.  N.  A.  Moes,  Rector  of  the  Catholic 
Seminary,  Cleveland  ;  Rev.  William  McMahon, 
Pastor  of  St.  Bridget's  Church,  Cleveland ; 
Rev.  Dr.  Maliar,  of  the  Cathedral,  Cleveland  ; 
Rev.  M.  Murphy,  of  Warren  ;  Rev.  P.  O'Mara, 
of  Hudson  ;  Rev.  William  Finucan,  of  Massil- 
lon  ;  Rev.  P.  O'Neil,  of  Kent,  and  Rev.  Father 
Mahony,  Pastor  of  the  deceased.  After  the 
Solemn  Mass,  Rev.  Father  Mahony  delivered 
an  able  funeral  oration  in  which  he  paid  a  high 
tribute  of  respect  to  the  deceased  as  a  most 
devoted  husband,  a  good  father,  and  a  prac- 
tical, fervent  Catholic,  and  stated  that  he  had 
a  golden  record  on  the  parish  books,  and  was 
equal,  if  not  superior,  to  any  other  member  of 
the  congregation  in  supporting  the  interests  of 
religion,  and  in  contributing  to  the  erection  of 
St.  Vincent  de  Paul's  splendid  church.  The 
preacher  even  described  the  generosity  of  the 
deceased  as  '  princely '  and  applied  to  him 
the  words  of  the  Apostle  Paul  :  '  I  have 
fought  the  good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course, 
I  have  kept  the  faith.'  After  the  funeral  ser- 
mon, some  excellent  chanting  was  done  by  the 
clergy  in  the  Sanctuary,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Quigley 
pronounced  the  last  absolutions.  The  funeral 
procession  was  formed  again  and  proceeded  to 
the  vault  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  accom- 
panied by  all  the  above  mentioned  clergy,  where 
the  remains,  were  deposited  temporarilj'.  Later 
they  are  to  be  interred  in  the  family  burial  lot 
in  the  Catholic  Cemetery  on  West  Hill." 

Mr.  Quigley  was  a  most  agreeable  companion, 
always  overflowing  with  wit  and  humor,  and 
had  the  full  measure  of  characteristic  Celtic 
vivacity.  A  small  book  could  easily  be  filled 
with  most  interesting  accounts  of  his  humorous 
and  numerous  controversial  contests,  political 
and  religious,  with  various  celebrities  of  the 
county,  but  lack  of  space  forbids  further  mention 
of  them  here. 

His  beloved  wife,  a  lady  of  well-known  in- 
tellectual powers  and  womanly  virtues,  now 
past  her  80th  year,  sorrowing,  survives  him. 
She  is  of  a  long-lived  family,  her  great-grand- 
father having  attained  the  patriarchal  age  of 
132  years.  She  resides  with  her  son,  Hugh,  in 
Akron,  and  will  long  be  most  affectionately  re- 
membered by  all  who  have  enjoyed  the  pleas- 
ure of  her  acquaintance. 

Mr.  Quigley  was  one  of  the  few  of  whom  it 
may  be  truly  said,  not  only  that  he  was  with- 
out  fear   and  without   reproach,  but  that,  by 


A 


rs 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


763 


reason  of  his  skill  in  opening  up  new  avenues 
of  trade,  his  energy  in  developing  new  sources 
of  wealth  and  his  success  in  furnishing  new 
fields  for  emplo^-ment,  he  ranks  as  a  public 
benefactor,  one  who  has  deserved  well  of  his 
country.  He  is  a  man  whose  memory  this 
communit}'  will  always  delight  to  honor. 

THOMAS  CRAIGHP]AD  REYNOLDS,  A. 
M.,  editor  of  the  Akron  Beacon,  was  born  Sun- 
day, June  18,  1848,  at  Reynolds'  Mill,  just 
south  of  Canton,  Ohio.  He  was  the  foui'th 
child  of  his  father,  Mr.  George  Rej-nolds,  old- 
est son  of  Mr.  William  Re3'nolds,  first  Clerk 
of  Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  the  oldest  son 
of  Mr.  R.'s  second  wife,  Jane  (Lamb)  Rey- 
nolds, oldest  daughter  of  Thomas  Craighead, 
of  Cumberland  Co.,  Penn.,  where  men  of  that 
name  were  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  Scotch- 
Irish,  and  the  first  Presb3'terian  preachers  west 
of  the  Susquehanna  River.  Mr.  George  Rey- 
nolds' paternal  ancestors  were  Virginians,  his 
mother  being  a  daughter  of  a  Newport  (R.  I.) 
sea  captain,  and  both  of  English  stock.  T.  C. 
Reynolds  spent  his  boyhood  with  his  maternal 
grandparents  in  Canton,  attending  private 
school,  and  in  Akron  with  his  parents,  who 
owned  and  kept  the  Empire  House,  attending 
the  public  schools.  Thence,  in  April,  1863,  he 
went  to  the  Western  Reserve  College  Prepara- 
tory School,  and  remained  there  through  his 
freshman  j-ear.  His  college  studies  were  com- 
pleted at  the  University  of  Michigan,  graduat- 
ing from  the  classical  course  June  24,  1868,  at 
20,  the  youngest  of  his  class,  except  Mark  W. 
Harrington,  since  Professor  of  Astronomy  at 
the  University.  His  long  vacations  were  spent 
upon  the  United  States  Survey  of  the  Northern 
and  Northwestern  Lakes,  that  work  being  then 
under  the  superintendence  of  his  uncle.  Gen.  W. 
F.  Reynolds,  of  the  LTnited  States  Engineers, 
to  whom  Mr.  R.  also  owes  the  liberal  advances 
of  money  that  secured  his  education  and  his 
interest  in  the  Beacon  Publishing  Co.  After 
graduating,  and  while  upon  duty  with  a  longi- 
tude part}'  of  the  Lake  Surve}-  at  Oswego,  N. 
Y.,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  offered  a  reporter's  place 
upon  the  Detroit  Fast,  and  began  journalistic 
work  July  14,  1868.  Six  months  later,  he 
went  home  to  Akron  as  the  Beacon's  first  re- 
portei",  soon  being  offered  and  declining  a  recall 
to  Detroit  with  a  better  position  and  salary, 
and  in  January,  1869,  he  began  work  upon  the 
Beacon,  and  on  Dec.  6,  1869,  the  daily  edition 


was  begun.  Six  months  later,  he  left  the  paper 
because  of  an  attempt  to  divide  his  pay  with 
another,  and,  July  14,  1870,  began  work  upon 
the  Pittsburgh  Commercial,  next  under  C.  D. 
Brigham,  as  paragraph  writer  and  associate, 
succeeding  Bartley  Campbell,  the  dramatist, 
and  being  succeeded  by  Col.  Richard  Realf,  the 
brilliant  poet.  In  March,  1871,  he  visited  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  with  a  view  to  starting  an  evening 
paper  there  with  H.  H.  Byram,  relinquishing 
his  Pittsburgh  situation.  This  was  not  practica- 
ble, and  finally  he  got  a  place  in  Cincinnati  upon 
an  insurance  and  manufacturing  journal,  owned 
by  one  Tillinghast,  Mr.  R.  being  associated  with 
Levi  E.  Thorne,  since  editor  of  the  Daily  Amer- 
ican Exchange,  at  New  York.  Thanksgiving  Day, 
1871,  he  returned  to  Akron  as  editor  of  the 
Beacon,  the  internal  trouble  being  terminated 
by  the  purchase  of  the  interest  of  the  trouble- 
makers by  a  number  of  business  men  as  a 
stock  company,  with  Mr.  S.  A.  Lane,  as  busi- 
ness manager.  Nov.  1,  1873,  Mr.  Reynolds 
left  Akron,  ]Mr.  W.  Scott  Robison  having  offered 
him  nearly  a  double  salary  to  edit  the  Cleve- 
land Sunday  Voice  2iwA  the  Trade  Revieic.  Dur- 
ing this  time,  he  also  wrote  upon  the  Leader  s 
editorial  page.  In  June,  1874,  Mr.  R.  went  to 
Toledo  as  Clark  Waggoner's  associate  editor  of 
the  Morning  Commercied,  remaining  until  Jan- 
uar}',  1875,  when  a  re-organization  of  the  Beacon 
Company  brought  him  back  to  Akron  to  sta}'. 
This  had  been  Mr.  R.'s  fixed  purpose  in  all  his 
changes,  and  he  was  joined  in  accomplishing  it 
by  Mr.  Frank  J.  Staral  and  John  H.  Auble. 
Two  years  later,  Mr.  Auble's  interest  was 
bought  by  Re3-nolds  &  Staral,  the  latter  since 
being  business  manager.  When  Mr.  Rej^nolds 
first  went  to  the  Beacon  in  January',  1869,  Mr. 
Staral,  then  a  Bohemian  boy,  had  just  entered 
the  office  as  the  onl}'  bindery  workman.  He 
began  then  to  board  with  Mr.  R.'s  parents, 
making  that  his  home  until  his  marriage  in 
Jul}',  1877,  the  two  being  associated  as  broth- 
ers since.  In  June,  1873,  Mr.  Reynolds  united 
with  the  Congregational  Church  of  Akron,  and 
Jan.  3,  1878.  he  married  Lillian  Alice, 
only  daughter  of  John  H.  and  Laura  A.  Wag- 
goner, of  Akron.  In  December,  1878,  a  son 
was  born  to  them — William  Waggoner  Rey- 
nolds. Mr.  R.  has  held  no  office,  and  seeks 
none. 

GEORGE   T.   RANKIN,   carpenter,    Akron 
City  ;  born  in  the  City  of  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 


r 


i 


^ 


764 


BIOGKAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


21,  1843  ;  he  was  the  son  of  Matthew  and 
Mary  (Linn)  Rankin,  who  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  as  follows :  Ellen,  now  Mrs. 
Amos  Mac}' ;  Charles,  died  in  1880  ;  Matthew, 
now  of  Cleveland  ;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Peter 
Decker  ;  Esther,  now  Mrs.  B.  F.  Harris  ;  George 
T.,  of  Akron ;  Joseph,  of  Hudson,  N.  Y.  ; 
Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Cornelius  Shaw  ;  John,  of 
Cleveland.  Mrs.  Rankin  was  a  lad}'  of  fine 
mental  attainments,  but  died  in  1849,  while 
most  of  her  children  were  quite  small.  Her 
husband  died  Jan.  15,  1871,  in  the  61st  year  of 
his  age.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  when  12 
years  of  age,  moved  to  Waterloo  Township, 
Jefferson  Co.,  Wis.,  where  he  remained  about 
four  years.  In  the  fall  of  1859,  he  returned  to 
Hudson,  N.  Y.,  where  he  learned  the  carpenter 
and  joiner's  trade,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of 
three  years  ;  he  then  removed  to  New  York 
City  and  worked  at  ship  joinering,  pattern 
making  and  general  carpenter  work,  from  the 
year  1862  to  1871.  He  was  married,  Sept.  8, 
1870,  to  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Weimer,  who  was  born 
Jan.  21,  1847  ;  in  May,  1871,  they  settled  in 
Akron,  and  since  then  have  resided  in  the  city. 
Mr.  Rankin  has  frequently  been  employed 
at  fine  designs,  which  required  much  skill,  and 
his  workmanship  on  these  tasks  is  a  lasting 
proof  that  he  is  a  master  mechanic  at  his  trade  ; 
he  was  employed  for  several  years  at  mill- 
wright work  since  settling  in  Akron,  and  was 
agent,  for  some  five  years,  for  the  Cleveland 
Electric  Supply  Company.  At  the  present 
time,  Mr.  Rankin  is  a  general  carpenter  and 
builder,  employing,  at  times,  six  and  eight 
hands.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rankin  are  members  of 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  Akron  ;  they 
are  the  parents  of  two  childi^en — Irving  Cor- 
nelius and  George  Thomas.  By  her  former 
husband,  Mrs.  Rankin  had  one  daughter,  Jennie 
T.  Weimer. 

W.  G.  ROBINSON,  stationer,  Akron,  was 
born  in  Middlebury,  now  included  in  the  city 
of  Akron,  March  20,  1838,  and  is  the  eldest  of 
six  children  born  to  John  C.  and  Margaret 
(Kelly)  Robinson.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
Union  County,  Penn.,  and  en  me  to  Middlebui-y 
in  the  Spring  of  1836.  Mr.  John  C.  Robinson 
was  a  farmer  and  followed  this  business  in 
Ohio  until  his  death  in  1875.  His  wife's  death 
preceded  his  some  four  years,  occurring  in  1871. 
Both  were  active  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  were  highly  respected   in  the  com- 


munity in  which  they  lived.  W.  G.  Robinson 
was  brought  up  on  the  farm,  gaining  his  educa- 
tion in  the  select  schools  in  the  neighborhood 
and  in  the  High  School  of  Akron.  In  1857,  he 
began  as  a  clerk  with  Mr.  A.  Sawyer,  in  his 
book  and  stationery  establishment,  where  he 
continued  for  four  years.  He  then  bought  the 
business  of  Mr.  Sawyer  and  has  since  conducted 
it  with  signal  success.  In  August  of  1879,  he 
associated  himself  with  other  gentlemen  in  the 
formation  of  stock  company,  known  as  the 
Akron  Telephone  Company,  for  operating 
Bell's  telephone  in  the  cities  of  Akron,  Canton, 
Massillon,  Youngstown  and  Springfield,  of 
which  he  was  made  President,  a  position  he 
still  occupies.  He  is  also  Manager  of  the 
Akron  Academy  of  Music,  which  has  been 
under  his  direction  ever  since  its  erection  in 
1869.  Mr.  Robinson  made  his  home  with  his 
parents  until  his  marriage  in  1861.  On  the 
1st  of  January  in  that  year  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Buckingham,  a 
native  of  Watertown,  Conn. 

ENOCH  ROWLEY,  retired,  Middlebury,  is 
a  native  of  Stafljordshire,  England,  and  was  born 
Dec.  22, 1814.  His  father,  William  Rowley,  was 
a  potter  and  Enoch  was  taught  the  trade.  In 
February,  1849,  he  landed  in  New  York,  pre- 
pared to  try  his  fortune  in  the  new  country. 
He  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  having  heard  of 
that  place  in  England.  He  worked  at  farming 
and  gardening  for  about  eight  months,  and  in  the 
fall  of  the  same  year,  he  came  to  Middlebury 
and  bought  his  present  place,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  In  the  Spring  of  1850,  he  and 
his  two  brothers-in-law,  Edwin  and  Herbert 
Baker,  began  the  manufacture  of  yellow  and 
rockingham  ware  ;  it  was  the  first  made  in 
the  county,  and  was  represented  at  the  county 
fair  in  1851.  In  1853,  he  erected  a  stoneware 
manufactory  and  has  been  identified  with  the 
same  ever  since.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  Baker 
April  21,  1834.  She  is  a  native  of  England. 
Of  their  eleven  children  but  one  is  living,  viz., 
William  ;  of  the  deceased  but  two  were  mar- 
ried, one  of  whom  leaves  a  family,  viz.,  Ann  J., 
married  Mr.  F.  Manton,  a  native  of  England, 
who  came  to  America  about  the  year  1 852,  and 
is  now  a  farmer  located  near  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
Ohio.  By  their  marriage  there  were  three 
children,  viz.,  Charles  F.,  Francis  C.  and  Eva  E. 
Mr.  Rowley,  though  coming  a  stranger  to  a  new 
country  has    by  industry  and    econom}   been 


'i^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


765 


successful  in  business,  securing  for  himself  and 
wife  an  ample  competency  for  their  old  age. 
Both  have  spent  over  one-half  a  century  as 
members  of  the  Metliodist  Episcopal  Church,  in 
which  he  has  taken  an  active  interest,  and  has 
served  in  its  several  offices,  being  a  class, 
leader  for  the  past  twent3"-two  3'ears.  In  poli- 
tics, he  has  taken  his  stand  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Republican  party. 

WM.  ROWLEY,  stoneware  manufacturer, 
Middlebury,  Ohio  ;  is  a  native  of  England,  and 
was  born  in  Staffordshire,  Dec.  17,  1837.  At 
the  age  of  12,  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
America,  and  settled  in  Middlebury,  now  Sixth 
Ward  of  Akron,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He 
began  to  work  in  a  pottery,  and,  at  the  age  of 
18,  established  a  business  of  his  own,  erecting  a 
shop  where  his  present  establishment  is.  Since 
the  destruction  of  his  shop  by  fire,  the  building 
has  been  rebuilt  of  brick  and  he  is  now  enlarg- 
ing it  so  as  to  double  its  present  capacity, 
which  will  emplo}'  from  twent^'-five  to  thirty 
hands.  Mr.  Rowley  was  one  of  the  incorpora- 
tors of  the  Middlebury  Clay  Company,  and 
since  the  first  year  he  has  held  the  office  of 
Secretary  and  Superintendent  of  the  same.  May 
10,  1864,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Jane  Wills,  a 
native  of  England.  She  came  to  the  United 
States  with  her  parents,  and  was  living  with 
them  at  Cuyahoga  Falls  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage. Of  their  four  children,  three  are  living, 
viz.:  Arthur  J.,  Maud  L.,  and  an  infant. 

WILLIAM  H.  RAGG,  Marshal,  Akron, 
Ohio.  Wm.  Ragg.  Sr.,  was  born  in  Aberdeen, 
Scotland,  and  came  to  the  United  States  when 
18  3^ears  of  age,  pursuing  here  the  calling  of 
baker  and  confectioner.  He  was  prominently 
connected  with  the  bakery  of  Queen  Victoria, 
in  England.  He  died  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in 
1854,  in  his  43d  year.  Jane  (Farquer)  Ragg, 
(his  wife),  died  at  Paterson,  N.  J.,  in  1840  ; 
she  was  of  French  parentage.  The  only  son  of 
their  marriage  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who 
was  born  in  Paterson,  N.  J.,  Dec.  6,  1840. 
When  8  yeai's  old,  he  went  with  his  father  to 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  afterward  living  in  Water- 
town,  N.  Y.,  until  1853,  when  they  came  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  subject  lived  until  1871. 
At  16,  he  was  apprenticed  to  H.  P.  Hopkins, 
where  he  served  nine  years  at  sign  painting — 
the  last  six  as  journeyman.  Then  he  opened  a 
paint-shop  in  Cleveland,  and  carried  on  busi- 
ness until  1871,  when  he  removed  to  Oil  Cit}', 


Penn.,  and  there  engaged  at  his  trade  four 
3'ears.  In  April,  1875,  he  moved  to  Akron, 
Ohio,  and  entered  the  employ  of  Charles  E. 
Kidney,  as  painter,  continuing  six  months, 
when  he  again  established  a  paint-shop  and 
successfully  carried  on  business  until  1878, 
when  he  was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket 
to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Jacob  Koplin, 
(Marshal),  and  was  re-elected  in  the  spring  of 
1879  for  two  years,  and  in  April,  1881,  was 
again  re-elected  Marshal,  on  the  Republican 
ticket  by  a  large  majorit}-.  Sept.  10,  1861,  he 
married  Miss  Mary  Pauline,  daughter  of  Prof 
Pierre  A.  Gollier,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  They 
have  three  sons  living  and  one  daughter  de- 
ceased. 

REV.  JOHN  F.  ROWE,  minister  and  jour- 
nalist, Akron,  son  of  Martin  and  Mary  M.  (Als- 
house)  Rowe,  was  born  at  Greensburg,  West- 
moreland Co.,  Penn.,  March  23,  1827.  In  his 
3'outh.  he  worked  for  several  years  at  brick- 
laying, being  master  of  the  trade.  In  1839,  his 
father  moved  to  Wooster,  Ohio,  where  our 
subject  prepared  for  college  at  Parrott's  Acad- 
emy, Wooster ;  and  he  entered  Bethany  College 
in  1850,  graduating  four  years  later,  receiving 
B.  A.  degree.  He  was  editor  of  the  college 
paper.  At  24,  he  entered  the  ministry,  being 
ordained  by  Wooster  Church  in  1851.  In 
1855,  he  went  to  Springfield,  111.,  where  he 
became  associate  editor  of  the  Christian  Sen- 
tinel, continuing  two  years,  preaching  at  the 
same  time.  In  1857,  he  went  to  Oskaloosa, 
Iowa,  where  he  became  associate  editor  of  the 
Christian  Evangelist,  being  at  the  same  time 
solicitor  for  Oskaloosa  College  for  two  years, 
when  he  came  to  Wadsworth,  Ohio,  and  was 
Pastor  of  the  Church  of  Christ  for  several 
years.  In  1865,  he  went  to  Corry,  Penn.,  and 
organized  a  church  ;  under  his  administration 
a  church  and  parsonage  were  built ;  he  labored 
there  two  years,  and  then  came  to  Akron, 
where  he  has  since  remained.  When  his  labors 
closed  in  Corry,  he  became  associate  editor  of 
the  American  Christian  Review,  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  for  seven  years.  In  April,  1874,  the 
Akron  Argus,  a  non-partisan  and  independent 
newspaper,  was  started  in  Akron,  and  he  was 
editor-in-chief  for  a  period  of  about  two  yeai'S  ; 
severing  that  relation,  he  was  elected  editor-in- 
chief  of  the  American  Christian  Review,  a  posi- 
tion he  still  retains.  It  is  one  of  the  oldest 
papers  extant  devoted  to  the  interest  of  the 


f 


:^i 


706 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Church  of  Christ.  In  the  last  twenty  3'ears,  he 
has  visited  the  churches  of  about  twenty 
States  and  of  Canada,  being  engaged  in  an 
evangelical  work ;  he  has  been  throughout  the 
West  as  far  as  Salt  Lake  City,  and  South  and 
East.  He  has  brought  many  hundred  persons 
into  the  Church.  He  has  written  several  works 
on  evangelical  subjects,  and  is  a  public  debater 
of  ability.  Sept.  28,  1852,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Editha  3L  Pardee,  daughter  of  Judge 
Allen  Pardee,  of  Wadsworth,  Ohio.  He  has 
five  children,  all  at  home,  viz.,  Eugene  P.,  local 
editor  of  the  Beacon  ;  Kittle  F.  L.,  Ada  .E., 
Frank  E.  and  Louis  F. 

THOMAS  RHODES,  retired,  Akron  ;  is  a 
son  of  Thomas  and  Miriam  (Garside)  Rhodes, 
and  was  bom  April  18,  1826,  in  Lancashire, 
England,  seven  miles  from  Manchester.  When 
7  years  of  age,  his  parents  came  to  America, 
landing  at  New  York  on  tlie  10th  of  April, 
1833.  Soon  after,  they  came  to  Massillon,  Ohio, 
where  they  stopped  for  a  short  time,  and  then 
settled  in  Sharon  Township,  in  Medina  Co., 
where  his  youth  was  spent.  His  education  was 
limited  to  the  district  schools,  and  to  instruction 
received  from  an  older  brother.  About  the 
year  185-4,  he  and  his  brothers  bought  a  tract 
of  land  on  "  Chuckery  Plains,"  which  they 
farmed  until  1859,  when  they  sold  out  and  re- 
moved to  Portage  Township,  and  bought  546 
acres  of  land,  which  they  cleared,  improved 
and  drained  ;  he  still  owns  280  acres.  In  1867, 
he  purchased  his  present  place,  consisting  of  11 
acres,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  has  been 
a  careful  student,  and  has  gathered  a  valuable 
collection  of  books.  In  1865,  subject  and 
his  brother  Samuel  went  to  Panama,  to  exam- 
ine there  specimens  of  natural  history.  Sam- 
uel was  taken  sick,  and,  three  days  after  leaving, 
died  on  board  the  steamship,  Jan.  4,  1866,  on 
the  way  to  New  York.  In  1862,  his  brother 
Samuel  was  drafted,  when  he  took  his  place, 
serving  about  ten  months  in  Co.  A,  72d  O.  V. 
I.,  during  which  time  he  took  part  in  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg.  Subject  was  married  Dec.  21, 
1876,  to  Miss  Sarah  B.  Garside,  of  Wisconsin. 
He  was  a  Republican  from  1860  to  1872,  when 
he  joined  the  Prohibition  party,  and  is  now 
Financial  Secretary  of  the  Ohio  Anti-Liquor 
Alliance,  and  a  thorough  temperance  worker. 

N.  B.  STONE,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of 
the  Weary  Snyder  Wilcox  Manufixcturing  Com- 
pany, Akron  ;  is  not  only  a  pioneer  of  Akron, 


but  he  has  for  many  years  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  lumbering  interests  of  Sum- 
mit Co.,  and,  as  a  representative  and  promoter 
of  this  branch  of  the  county's  industries,  his 
portrait  appears  in  this  work.  Having  for 
many  ^-ears  acted  in  concert  with  those  citizens 
who  are  first  looked  to  in  the  forwarding  of  any 
local  enterprise  resulting  in  the  general  welfare 
of  the  citizens  of  Akron,  his  name  is  worthy  of 
more  than  a  passing  mention.  A  tracement  of 
the  genealogy  of  the  fomily  proves  the  name 
of  that  branch  of  the  ancestry  of  which  Mr. 
Stone  is  a  descendant  to  be  of  English  origin. 
He  was  born  Sept.  18,  1816,  in  Mahoning  Co.. 
Ohio,  and  was  the  third  child  of  a  family  of 
four  children  born  to  Milo  and  Sarah  (Beards- 
ley)  Stone,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut, and  who,  in  the  year  1815,  quitted 
their  native  State,  and,  with  an  ox  team,  made 
their  way  westward  to  the  much-talked-of 
Western  or  Connecticut  Reserve  ;  they  settled 
in  that  part  of  Trumbull  now  known  as 
Mahoning  Co.,  and  subsequently  removed  to 
Tallmadge  Township,  Summit  Co.  ;  this,  also, 
at  that  date,  was  a  pai't  of  Portage  Co.  Their 
settlement  in  Tallmadge  was  in  1817,  which  at 
that  date  was  a  tract  of  almost  unbroken  for- 
est. By  trade,  Mr.  Stone  was  a  carpenter  and 
joiner,  but  in  that  early  day  there  was  but  little 
demand  for  mechanics  of  any  kind  ;  he  there- 
fore purchased  and  began  the  clearing  up  of  a 
farm,  though  he  devoted  a  portion  of  his  time 
to  working  at  his  trade.  The  early  settlers  of 
Tallmadge  Township  being  almost  exclusively 
Connecticut  people,  it  was  not  long  before  the^^ 
established  educational  facilities  far  surpassing 
those  of  the  surrounding  new  settlements  ;  the 
result  of  their  efforts  in  this  direction,  was  the 
establishing  at  the  Center  of  Tallmadge  an 
academy  of  more  than  the  ordinary  standard. 
E.  T.  Sturtevant,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College, 
was  for  many  years  their  principal  instructor, 
and  to  him  many  of  the  now  prosperous  and 
influential  men  of  the  Western  Reserve  owe 
the  foundation  of  their  success,  N.  B.  Stone 
among  the  number.  To  Milo  Stone  is  due 
a  fair  share  of  the  credit  of  thus  early  paving 
a  wa}'  for  the  education  of  his  children  ;  the 
church,  however,  received  his  greatest  encour- 
agement and  most  liberal  support  ;  by  his  early 
and  persistent  efforts,  he  succeeded  in  organiz- 
ing the  first  M.  E.  Church  of  Tallmadge.  Such 
offices  as  he  would  accept  were  given  him,  and. 


-^rv 


CITY   OF    AKEON. 


767 


upon  the  organization  of  Summit  Co.,  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  Real  Estate  Appraisers. 
His  death  occurred  in  April,  1856,  and  that  of 
his  wife  on  Feb.  8,  1861.  Nelson  B.  Stone, 
after  having  received  a  fair  education  at  the 
Tallmadge  Academy,  began  in  earnest  the  bat- 
tle of  life  on  his  own  account  ;  he  spent  sev- 
eral years  in  West  Bloomfield,  N.  Y.,  Ravenna, 
Ohio,  and  Wheeling,  W.  Va.  ;  in  the  latter 
place  he  spent  two  and  a  half  years  at  book- 
keeping ;  in  December  of  1 840,  he  came  to  Ak- 
ron, and,  a  short  time  after  his  arrival,  he  ac- 
cepted the  Deputy  Clerkship  of  Summit  Co.; 
he  continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of  Deputy 
until  1851,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
County  Clerk  for  a  term  of  three  years  ;  he 
discharged  the  duties  and  increased  responsi- 
bilities devolving  upon  him  to  the  satisfaction 
of  all  interested,  and,  at  the  close  of  his  term 
of  office,  he  accepted  the  position  of  Deputy 
County  Clerk  of  Cuyahoga  Co.,  though  he  con- 
tinued his  residence  in  Akron  ;  returning  from 
Cleveland,  or  rather  severing  his  connection 
with  the  official  management  of  Cuyahoga's  af- 
fairs, he  became  for  a  time  connected  with  the 
firm  of  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.  In  1865,  he  be- 
came a  partner  in  the  firm  with  which  he  is 
now  connected,  and  in  which  he  has  since  held 
the  offices  of  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  Mr. 
Stone  has  given  liberally  toward  supplying 
Akron  with  the  different  railroads  that  are  and 
have  been  so  largely  conducive  to  her  success, 
and,  in  the  building-up  of  churches  and  schools, 
he  has  been  an  earnest  worker.  Both  he  and 
Mrs.  Stone  are  members  of  the  First  M.  E. 
Church  ;  in  1843,  when  the  present  Sabbath 
school  of  the  First  M.  E.  Church  was  organized, 
with  an  attendance  of  thirty-three  pupils,  Mr. 
Stone  was  elected  Librarian,  and  has  been  of- 
ficially connected  with  the  school  almost  con- 
tinuousl}^  to  the  present  date,  quite  a  period  of 
time  as  Superintendent.  He  is  an  earnest, 
zealous  worker  in  the  Sabbath  school,  and  at 
present  is  Secretary  of  the  organization.  In 
May  of  1852,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  H. 
Clark,  a  native  of  North  Springfield,  Summit 
Co.;  her  death  occurred  in  April  of  1853  ;  the 
issue  of  this  marriage  was  one  son — Nelson  C. 
— who  is  now  book-keeper  for  the  Weary  Sny- 
der Wilcox  Manufacturing  Co.  In  August  of 
1854,  Mr.  Stone  married  Miss  Elizabeth  H. 
Beardsley,  who  was  born  within  the  incorporate 
limits  of  Akron,  and  whose  people  were  among 


Summit  County's  early  and  prominent  pioneers. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  them — Philo 
C,  who  died  in  1872,  and  Dwight  M.,  living  at 
home. 

INCREASE  SUMNER  (deceased);  was 
born  in  Townsend,  Vt.,  Feb.  25,  1800,  and  was 
a  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Sumner.  He 
lived  in  Vermont  about  sixteen  years,  and  then 
came  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Middlebury,  where 
his  brother  Charles  was  living,  and  where  he 
lived  until  his  death,  Nov.  18,  1868.  He  was 
quite  a  prominent  man,  was  connected  with 
the  milling  business,  was  also  one  of  the  early 
merchants  of  Middlebury,  and  also  a  stone  con- 
tractor, and  built  many  of  the  bridges  of  the 
county,  and  dams  in  Akron,  besides  doing 
much  stone  work  on  the  canal.  *  In  1849,  he 
fitted  up  an  ox-team,  and  with  a  party  of  six- 
teen or  eighteen  men,  of  whom  he  was  Captain 
and  Treasurer,  went  to  California,  arriving  in 
safety.  Throughout  the  trip,  he  disdained  to 
carry  firearms,  feeling  confident  in  his  own 
natural  powers.  Arriving  in  California,  he 
opened  a  store  in  a  mining  district  and  con- 
tinued it  for  nearly  three  years,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Middlebury.  When  he  left,  he  said 
he  would  return  in  three  years  to  prevent  his 
wife  getting  a  bill  of  divorce.  On  his  return, 
the  first  question  he  asked  his  wife  was,  if  the 
bill  had  been  obtained,  and  was  answered 
in  the  negative.  This  was  one  of  the  jokes 
peculiar  to  himself  On  his  return,  he  devoted 
his  attention  to  farming,  but  finally  sold  his 
farm  and  bought  a  piece  of  land  upon  which 
he  opened  a  stone-quarry,  and  contracted  stone 
work.  He  continued  in  this  until  his  death. 
He  was  married  March  29,  1837,  to  Mrs.  Miller, 
formerly  Miss  Elizabeth  Hammel,  they  have  no 
children.  The  first  marriage  of  Mrs.  S.  to 
Arthur  Miller  occurred  Jan.  29,  1827 ;  she 
was  a  native  of  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  and  was  born 
Sept.  21,  1812.  Mr.  Miller  died  July  16,  1830, 
leaving  two  children,  both  of  whom  have  since 
died.  In  September,  1836,  Mrs.  Miller  came 
to  Ohio  and  lived  in  Norton  Township  with 
friends  of  Mr.  Miller  until  the  February  follow- 
ing, when  she  came  to  Middlebury,  and  in 
March  was  married  to  Mr.  Sumner. 

COL.  JULIUS  A.  SUMNER,  retired,  Akron, 
whose  portrait  appears  in  this  histor}'  as  a 
representative  of  that  class  of  the  pioneers  of 
Summit  Count}'  who  have  been  identified  with 
the  progress  of  almost  every  improvement  that 


-^r 


J^l 


768 


B I OG  R  A PII IC AI.    SKETCHES : 


has  placed  Akron  and  Summit  Co.  among  the 
leading  cities  and  counties  of  Ohio,  is  a  de- 
scendant of  one  of  the  old  and  prominent 
families  of  the  United  States.  The  name  of 
Sumner  is  familiar  to  the  people  from  the  fact 
of  different  members  of  the  fiimil}-  having  from 
time  to  time  held  prominent  positions  in  civil 
and  military  life.  Theirs  has  been  a  remark- 
ablv  robust,  large  of  stature,  and  long-lived 
n.ce  of  people.  An  examination  of  the  records 
traces  the  genealogy  of  the  family  back  to  1634, 
when  one  George  Sumner,  who  was  of  the  third 
generation  by  the  name,  emigrated  from  Bices- 
ter, England,  to  the  United  States,  and  settled 
at  Freeman,  Mass.  He  removed  from  there  to 
Milton,  of  the  same  State,  where  he  was  Deputy 
to  the  General  Court  in  1693,  1703,  1708-09. 
He  was  ordained  Deacon,  July  30,  1699,  and 
died  at  Milton,  in  1715.  Edward  Sumner,  of 
the  fourth  generation,  and  son  of  George,  was 
born  at  Milton,  Mass.,  Aug.  29,  1676.  He  lived 
and  died  a  resident  of  Massachusetts.  John 
Sumner,  of  the  fifth  generation,  son  of  Edwaixl 
and  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born 
August  1.  1705.  He  graduated  at  Harvard 
College,  in  1723.  Nov.  20,  1729,  he  married 
Susanna,  daughter  of  Samuel  Stevens,  of  Rox- 
bury.  She  died  Feb.  2,  1733.  In  1737-38  he 
was  Representative  from  Roxbury.  He  settled 
on  Martha's  Vine3'ard,  where,  on  Sept.  22,  1738, 
he  married  Jedidah  Smith.  He  was  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  Duke's  Co., 
from  1761  to  1774,  when  he  removed  to  Spen- 
cer, where  he  died  in  1787.  Thomas  Sumner, 
of  the  sixth  generation,  and  father  of  Julius  A., 
was  a  son  by  the  second  marriage  of  John 
Sumner.  He  was  born  June  2,  1757,  and  was 
married  at  Brookfield,  March  9,  1780,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Holland,  of  the  same  place.  They 
lived  for  a  time  at  Spencer,  and  then  went  to 
Townshend,  Vt.,  and  in  1817  they  removed  from 
there  to  Middlebury,  Ohio,  where  he  died  April 
19,  1825,  and  his  wife  Oct.  10,  1842.  Col. 
Julius  A.  Sumner,  the  subject  of  this  brief 
memoir,  was  born  Jan.  2,  1802.  at  Townshend, 
Vt,  and  from  the  time  of  his  14th  year  he  has 
been  almost  wholly  dependent  upon  his  own 
resources.  At  the  age  of  14  years  he  went  to 
Boston,  and  from  there  across  the  country  on 
foot  to  Tyrone,  Huntingdon  Co.,  Penn.  He 
remained  there  for  a  time,  and  then  started 
again  on  foot  a  distance  of  130  miles,  across 
the  Alleghany  Mountains  to  Pittsburgh.    There 


he  began  work  in  a  nail  factory,  in  the  manu- 
facture of  hand-made  nails.  He  remained  there 
until  16  years  of  age,  and  then  went  to  the 
country  and  engaged  in  teaching  school,  which 
he  followed  for  one  3'ear.  It  may  seem  im- 
probable that  a  boy  of  this  age,  and  with  the 
meager  opportunities  for  attaining  an  education 
that  were  afforded  him,  should  be  able  to  teach 
a  common  school,  but  it  may  be  as  well  to  state 
here,  that  Col.  Sumner  was  a  boy  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability,  energy  and  determination,  all 
of  which  traits  of  character  have  in  later  life 
placed  him  in  a  position  far  beyond  the  average 
pioneer  of  Summit  Co.  In  the  spring  of  1818, 
he  began  his  journey  on  foot  and  alone  to 
Middlebury.  He  arrived  there  in  February, 
and  began  in  compau}'  with  his  father  and 
brothers  the  erection  of  the  first  rolling-mill 
in  what  was  then  Portage  Co.  This  was  for 
the  purpose  of  rolling  strap  and  bar  iron  from 
which  to  manufacture  nails,  and  to  them  must 
be  given  the  credit  of  making  the  first  market 
nails  ever  made  in  Ohio.  In  1824,  he  married 
Miss  Margaret,  daughter  of  Rev.  Obadiah  New- 
comb,  of  Wadsworth,  Ohio.  She  was  a  native 
of  Nova  Scotia,  and  was  the  mother  of  his 
children. 

About  the  time  of  his  marriage,  the  Colonel 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade,  in  which 
he  has  since  been  interested,  and  stands 
to-day  as  the  oldest  or  pioneer  merchant  of 
Akron,  as  he  is  still  interested  in  business  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Clark  &  Sumner,  grocery- 
men.  When  he  began  business,  freights  from 
New  York  to  Middlebury  were  $12  per  100 
pounds.  He  sometimes  ran  as  many  as  three 
stores  at  a  time,  but  when  freights  came  down 
to  $5  per  100,  he  found  so  much  competition 
springing  up,  that  he  gave  up  a  part  of  his 
mercantile  business  and  opened  a  woolen-mill. 
In  1832,  his  health  being  somewhat  impaired 
by  confinement,  he  sold  his  mill  and  store  and 
moved  to  the  country.  He  purchased  a  tract 
of  land,  of  which  he  cleared  175  acres  the  first 
year.  He  began  farming  as  he  did  everything 
else,  on  a  scale  that  surprised  some  of  his 
neighbors.  In  a  short  time  he  owned  1,200 
acres,  most  of  which  he  soon  put  in  a  state  of 
cultivation.  At  this  same  time,  he  built  a  dis- 
tillery at  Lock  17,  on  the  canal,  which  (the 
latter)  was  finished  Aug.  25,  1828.  He  also 
ran  a  pottery  on  his  farm,  and  was  engaged  ex- 
tensively at  merchandising.     As  an  evidence 


1^ 


-^ — ^^  ^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


769 


of  his  executive  ability-,  he  was  at  one  time 
running  a  fixrm  of  1,200  acres,  a  potter}',  two 
distilleries  and  three  stoi'es,  and  at  the  same 
time  he  was  Colonel  of  one  of  the  finest  militia 
regiments  in  Ohio.  He  has  built  many  costly 
buildings  in  Akron,  among  which  is  the  Sum- 
ner House,  erected  in  1868  and  burned  in  1876, 
and  immediately  rebuilt  and  enlarged.  This 
fire  was  a  loss  to  him  of  !|50,000  ;  this,  with 
his  previous  losses  of  $75,000,  was  a  fort- 
une of  itself,  especiall}'  as  it  was  accumulated 
from  a  start  of  $1,  and  yet  to-day  he  is  counted 
one  of  the  wealthy  men  of  Summit  Co.  During 
his  earl}'  career,  the  Colonel  made  eight  differ- 
ent trips  East  with  cattle,  and  crossed  the  Alle- 
ghany Mountains  on  horseback  as  many  times. 
He  and  a  brother  also  were  the  first  shippers 
of  cattle  from  the  Western  Reserve  to  Phila- 
delphia. Col.  Sumner's  first  wife  died  in  1849. 
In  1853,  he  married  the  widow  of  H.  Bradley, 
wlio  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  County. 
They  lived  together  for  twenty-seven  years, when 
her  death  occurred,  Oct.  18, 1880.  His  children 
are,  Charles  A.,  now  a  prominent  merchant  of 
Baraboo,  Wis.  ;  Mary,  wife  of  C.  Ferguson  ; 
Nellie,  wife  of  J.  B.  Haughton  ;  Eliza,  wife  of 
E.  Stilwell,  and  Vick,  wife  of  Geo.  S.  Clark,  the 
Colonel's  associate  in  business.  He  is  still  a 
hale,  vigorous  man,  of  commanding  appearance, 
extensive  knowledge,  and  in  his  matured  age 
enjo3ang  the  rich  possessions  of  the  fruits  of  his 
varied  efforts. 

EDAVARD  SUMNER,  Akron,  a  brother  of 
Charles  Sumner,  was  born  at  Townshend,  Vt., 
June  27,  1796 ;  came  to  Middlebury  about 
1817,  and  in  1818,  in  connection  Avith  his  broth- 
ers Julius  and  Joseph,  built  the  first  rolling 
mill  and  rail  factory  in  the  State,  with  which 
establishment  he  continued  a  number  of  3'ears. 
He  was  married  at  2  o'clock  A.  M.,  Jan.  1, 1822, 
to  Miss  Lucinda  Hart,  a  sister  to  the  wife  of  his 
brother  Charles.  He  subsequently  engaged  in 
merchantile  business  until  his  departure,  in 
1848,  for  Baraboo,  Wis.,  where  he  built  a 
large  hotel ;  also  the  court  house  for  that 
county  ;  he  served  one  term  in  the  Wisconsin 
Legislature,  and,  about  the  close  of  the  war, 
went  to  a  place  near  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  and  mining. 
At  an  early  date  he  was  Colonel  of  the  5th 
Ohio  Militia,  at  that  time  the  finest  in  the  State  ; 
he  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  Masonry, 
joining,  as  soon  as  age  would  permit,  in  the 


State  of  New  York,  and  soon  after  his  settle- 
ment in  Middlebury  he  organized  the  lodge  by 
that  name,  fitting  up  a  hall  in  his  own  house, 
which  was  used  for  several  3'ears,  subsequently', 
with  Judge  Spaulding,  organized  the  Akron 
Lodge. 

MISS  LOUISE  SUMNER,  stock-raiser  and 
farmer,  P.  O.  Akron  ;  the  only  child  of  Charles 
Sumner  and  Clarrissa  Hart,  daughter  of  Rufus 
and  Esther  (Cutter)  Hart,  who  were  natives  of 
Cornwall,  Conn.,  and  migrated  to  Middlebury 
about  1815,  after  a  residence  of  eleven  years  in 
the  State  of  New  York.  She  was  born  May  6, 1 796, 
and  died  March  30,  1877,  after  a  long  and  useful 
life.     The  Sumners  moved  to  Vei'mont  about 
1800  from  Roxbury,  Mass.,  where  the  father  of 
our  subject  was  born,  June  6, 1794  ;  he  resided 
in    Vermont  until  the  fall  of  1816,  when  he 
came  to  Middlebury,  arriving  in  the  spring  of 
1817,  and  was  married  the  June  following  ;  his 
parents,  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Holland)  Sum- 
ner, arrived  in  the  fall  of   1817.     During  the 
early  part  of  his  life  in  Ohio  he  worked  at  the 
clothiers'  trade  and  served  the  people  as  a  minis- 
ter  of  the   Gospel ;    he  built   the  first   frame 
dwelling  house  in  the  village  of  Middlebury, 
hauling  the  lumber  for  the  same  from  Wooster 
and  Cleveland,  and  raising  the  frame  on  the  day 
of   his  marriage  ;  he  also,  in  connection  with 
Pcleg  Mason,  kept  the  first  store  in  the  village, 
and  about  the  same  time  he  built  the  first  card- 
ing mill,  making  subsequent  extensive  additions 
to   the  business  ;    his  congregation,  until   the 
time  of  the  building  of  the  canal,  had  grown 
quite  extensive,  but  was  almost  totally  broken 
up  on  account  of  the  ravages  of  disease  at  that 
time,  there  being  only  four  of  his  flock  left  to 
tell  the  story  which  had  been  so  fluently  im- 
parted from  the  lips  of  their  earnest  and  ener- 
getic   leader,    who   rendered   great   assistance 
during  that  dark  time  to  the  widows  and  or- 
phans,  in    providing    for   them — raising   and 
finding   homes   for   the   orphan   children,  and 
building   houses    upon  his  own   farm   for  the 
shelter  of  the  poor  and  sick.     He  was  a  very 
enterprising,  energetic,  successful  and  liberal 
man,  having,  a  few  years  after  his  removal  to 
this  State,  purchased   a  large  tract  of  land  in 
Springfield  Township,  upon  which  he  kept  a 
large  amount  of  stock  of  all  kinds,  and  engaged 
in  the  business  of  drover,  in  which  he  was  very 
successful,  although  at  many  times  meeting  with 
several  narrow  escapes  in  crossing  the  mount- 


w 


t« — »- 


770 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


ains  ;  his  stock  consisted  of  liorses,  cattle  and 
mules.  He  moved  to  the  farm,  upon  which  his 
daughter  now  lives,  in  1834.  He  was  for  nine 
years  Associate  Judge  of  Portage  County, 
and  was  instrumental  in  the  organization  of 
Summit  Co.,  in  which  he  served  as  Associate 
Judge  from  its  organization  until  his  death. 
His  death  occurred  June  22,  1845,  his  daughter 
acting  as  administratrix  of  the  large  estate,  in 
connection  with  John  Hart,  and,  being  the  onlj- 
child,  became  heir  to  the  liirge  amount  of  prop- 
erty-, which  she  has  managed  with  great  tact 
and  skill  since  her  20th  3'ear.  She  is  a  lady  of 
rare  ability  and  business  tact,  which  was  un- 
doubtedly inherited  from  the  father,  and  by  her 
great  love  and  superior  knowledge  of  all  kinds 
of  stock,  in  which  business  she  has  been  very 
successful ;  having  no  little  playmates  she,  in 
her  attention  to  the  pets  of  the  farm  and  the 
care  of  the  herds  with  her  father,  acquired  that 
great  love  for  the  brute  creation  which  she  has. 
She  has  owned  the  finest  flocks  of  Spanish 
Merino  sheep  in  Northern  Ohio,  having  imported 
some  of  the  finest  thoi'oughbred  sheep  in  the 
country  ;  the  stock  of  her  horses  can  be  de- 
termined from  the  prices  sold  at,  ranging  from 
$500  to  $2,000  singly  ;  she  is  now  dealing  in 
cattle  principall}'.  Her  coal  interests  have 
been  very  extensive  for  several  years,  she 
realizing  from  $3,000  to  $5,000  annually  in 
royalty  from  the  Middlebury  Shaft  and  the 
Sumner  Bank. 

JAMES  H.  STANFORD  (deceased),  Akron, 
Ohio,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Jane  (Stevenson) 
Stanford,  and  was  born  at  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
Aug.  29,  1843.  When  a  boy  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  Akron,  where  he  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  learned  the  trade  of  machinist, 
beginning  in  a  Cleveland  shop  and  finishing  in 
the  shops  of  Taplin,  Rice  &  Co.,  where  he 
worked  until  1868,  when  he  became  engineer  of 
steamer  in  the  Fire  Department ;  he  had  been  a 
fireman  for  some  time.  He  filled  the  position 
with  ability  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
Jan.  3,  1881,  an  event  that  was  deeplj^  felt  by 
the  city.  He  had  b}'  close  attention  brought 
the  appointments  of  the  engine  house  to  great 
perfection.  He  was  a  competent  electrician, 
and  was  one  of  the  oldest  firemen  of  the  serv- 
ice, having  been  a  member  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  department  in  1866.  He  served  in 
the  late  war  in  Shields'  Battery  for  three  years. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Buckeye  Post,  G.  A. 


R.     The  following  is   an   eulogy    by  his   old 
friend  and  teacher,  J.  Park  Alexander: 

To  the  Past  and  Present  Member.s  of  the  Akron 
Fire  Department,  this  eulogy  of  our  dead  friend 
and  comrade  is  respectfully  dedicated  by  his  for- 
mer teacher  and  constant  friend  throughout  a 
period  of  twenty-five  years: 

On  the  1st  of  April,  A.  D.  1856,  upon  promotion, 
there  appeared  in  the  Grammer  Department  of  the 
Akron  Higli  School,  a  boy  small  of  stature,  rugged  in 
appearance,  fair  in  complexion  with  round  visage 
and  rounder  head,  covered  with  intensely  curled 
auburn  hair,  which  boy  entered  into  all  the  labors 
and  tasks  of  the  schoolroom  with  the  same  vigor, 
courage  and  determination  that  marked  him  in  after 
years,  in  our  estimation,  as  a  man.  The  writer  se- 
lected for  him  as  a  declamation  in  our  school  exer- 
cises at  that  time,  "Cutter's  Ode,"  to  the  sentiment 
uttered  b}'  Henry  Clay  at  the  dedication  of  a  monu- 
ment at  Lexington,  Ky.,  erected  over  the  remains 
of  those  who  had  fallen  in  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista, 
among  whom  were  those  of  his  son: 

"And  I  would  coverall  its  height 

And  breiidth  before  that  hour  of  shame, 

Till  space  should  fail  whereon  to  write, 
Even  the  initial  of  anarae. 

" Dissolve  the  Union,  mar,  remove 

The  last  iisylum  that  is  known, 
Where  patriots  ijud  a  brother's  love 

And  truth  may  shelter  from  a  throne. 

"  Give  up  the  hopes  of  high  renown, 

The  legacy  our  fathers  willed, 
Tear  our  victorious  eagles  down. 

Before  their  mission  is  lulflUed. 

"  Dissolve  the  Union,  while  the  earth 

Has  yet  a  tyrant  to  be  slain. 
Destroy  our  freedom  in  its  birth 

And  give  the  world  to  bonds  again. 

"Dissolve  the  Ui^ion,  God  of  Heaven, 
We  know  too  well  how  much  it  cost; 

A  million  bosoms  shall  be  riven 
Before  one  golden  link  is  lost." 

Many  times  during  the  years  1856  and  1857,  our 
boy  patriot  was  called  out  before  school  and  visitors 
to  recite  this  ode,  a  portion  of  which  is  here  given 
— recite  it  because  he  did  it  so  well  he  rejoiced  in 
its  grand  national  sentiments — his  heart  beat  in 
unison  with  its  expressed  patriotism,  the  brightness 
of  his  eye  and  tlie  color  upon  his  boyhood  cheek, 
told  how  enthusiastically  he  drank  at  these  foun- 
tains of  national  existence.  And  now  that  his  spirit 
has  fled,  who  is  there  to  doubt  but  that  with  this 
banner  in  his  heart  he  was  found  in  1863,  enrolled 
among  tlie  magnificent  army  of  patriots  who  fought 
at  Knoxville,  Keuesaw,  Resaca  and  in  the  siege  of 
Atlanta.  Three  years  of  service  in  the  19th  Ohio 
Batterjr  in  the  great  war  of  the  Rebellion,  christened 
the  boy  into  manhood,  unobtrusive  of  its  merits, 
but  nevertheless  recognized.  Before  the  war,  in 
the  year  1859,  he  entered  the  Mahoning  Railroad 
shops  as  an  apprentice  macliinist,  under  his  subse- 
quent Chief  in  the  Fire  Department,  James  McNeil, 
as  foreman.  He  served  in  these  shops  until  August 
1862,  the  date  of  his  enlistment.  After  his  discharge 
from  the   army,  which  occurred  June  20,  1865,  he 


l\±^ 


CITY    or    AKRON. 


771 


was  engaged  for  a  short  time  in  the  railroad  shops 
here  and  with  Taplin,  Rice  &  Co.  until  in  1868, 
when  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  city.  He  died 
with  his  armor  on  in  the  thirteenth  year  of  his  serv- 
ice for  the  cit}',  faithful  to  the  last,  his  life  stands 
a  shining  example  of  his  abilit3%  his  integrity,  his 
worth.  A  silent  captain  among  men — he  led,  they 
followed.  An  indefatigable  student,  he  was  at 
the  same  time  an  accomplished  mechanic.  Theory 
enticed  him  along  her  intricate  path.s,  yet  he  never 
lost  sight  of  the  real,  the  practicable,  and  to-day  all 
over  our  city  and  all  through  this  department,  are 
to  be  seen  examples  of  his  handiwork.  Like  a  great 
balance  wheel  in  motion,  he  moved  steadily  forward, 
stopping  not  at  trifles  nor  moving  more  rapidly 
from  mere  imagination  and  without  cause.  Thirty- 
seven  year  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave.  Thirty- 
seven  years  onward,  upward  !  Thirty-seven  years 
and  this  star  has  risen  to  its  zenith,  blotted  out  in 
its  pathway  at  midday,  it  hath  fallen  into  the  grave 
beneath  oiu-  feet,  and  now,  as  the  shadows  of  life 
point  toward  the  east,  with  joined  hands  around 
this  open  tomb,  we  pledge  anew  our  faith,  our  love, 
our  hope  in  all  that  makes  man  immortal,  as  found 
in  the  remembrances  of  the  life  and  character  of 
our  dead  brother.  We  bow  our  heads  in  sorrow  at 
tlie  taking-away  of  our  friend,  and  as  we  turn  our 
footsteps  awa}'  from  this  tomb,  we  exclaim  in  one 
voice,  surely  the  ways  of  Providence  are  inscrutable 
and  beyond  finding  out.  James  Stanford,  as  at  the 
rising  of  the  sun,  we  bid  thee  a  glad  welcome,  as 
through  the  journey  of  life  we  stood  near  thee, 
loved  and  admired  you,  so  now  we,  in  our  constan- 
cy of  friendship,  although  with  broken  hearts, 
stand  around  thy  grave  at  this  final  separation,  and 
bid  thee,  noble  hearted,  grandly  gifted,  true  hero, 
all  hail  and  farewell. 

FERDINAND  SCHUMACHER,  manufact- 
urer, Akron.  Ferdinand  Schumacker  was  born 
in  Celle,  Hanover,  on  March  30,  1822,  where 
he  attended  school  until  he  was  15  years  old,  at 
which  age  he  had  completed  the  High  School 
course  ;  he  then  went  to  Harburg,  where  he 
worked  five  yeai's  as  an  apprentice  in  a  whole- 
sale and  retail  grocer3^  receiving  no  remunera- 
tion during  that  time.  In  1842.  he  commenced 
clerking  with  his  lather,  and  continued  for  two 
3ears,  when  he  went  to  Hanover,  and  clerked 
in  the  extensive  sugar  refinery  of  Egestorf  & 
Hurtzig,  for  about  six  3'ears,  his  salary  at  first 
being  $150,  and  finally  $200  per  year.  In 
1850,  in  company  with  his  brother  Otto,  he  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States.  He  bought  46 
acres  of  land  in  Euclid,  twelve  miles  from 
Cleveland,  where  he  farmed  for  a  year  and  a 
half,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  left  the  farm 
in  charge  of  his  brother,  and  came  to  Akron, 
where  he  at  once  formed  a  partnership  with 
Theodore  Weibesahn,  and,  in  company  with 
him,  kept  a  fancy  goods,  toy  and  notion  store 


in  the  basement  of  P.  D.  Hall's  store.  After 
eight  months  he  retired  from  this,  and  started 
for  himself  a  small  grocery  store  in  the  site  of 
the  First  National  Bank  ;  this  was  attended 
with  success,  and  he  continued  with  it  until 
1863.  In  1856,  he  rented  water-power  on  the 
Ohio  Canal,  on  North  Howard  St.,  and  put  in  the 
necessary  machinery  for  inaugurating  a  branch 
of  manufacture,  which  steadily  grew  in  value, 
and  which  was  the  manufacture  of  oat-meal  ac- 
cording to  ideas  received  by  him  as  to  the 
proper  method  of  making  palatable  food  out  of 
the  grain  of  the  oat,  while  learning  the  grocer}^ 
business  in  his  native  country.  Into  this,  his 
adopted  country,  he  introduced  excellent  oat- 
meal, by  substituting  machinery,  driven  by 
power,  for  the  hand-mill  he  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  see  used  by  his  employer  in  Germany. 
His  experiment  was  successful,  and  the  next 
year  apparatus  for  pearling  barley  was  added 
to  what  were  appropriately  called  "  German  " 
mills,  and  the  year  following  that,  greater  ca- 
pacit}^  was  given  to  the  mill  itself,  by  increasing 
the  water  power.  In  1863  the  Empire  Barley 
Mills  were  built,  which  were  enlarged  in  1876. 
He  built,  in  1879,  an  elevator  for  the  storage 
of  grain.  In  1872,  the  first  mill  burned,  but 
within  thirty  days  after  the  fire,  a  new  struct- 
ure, known  as  the  present  German  Mills  was 
begun,  and  quite  finished  earl}^  in  1873.  He 
bought  the  Cascade  Flouring  Mills  in  1868,  en- 
larged and  supplied  it  with  modern  machiner}'. 
The  capacity  of  the  Barley  Mills  is  1,000  bush- 
els per  day;  of  the  Cascade  Mills,  250  barrels  of 
flour;  of  the  German  Mills,  250  barrels  oat-meal, 
consuming  about  3,000  bushels  of  oats,  in  ad- 
dition to  which  large  quantities  of  pearl  cracked 
wheat  and  feed  are  turned  out.  His  three 
mills  give  employment  to  about  120  men  and 
women,  and  the  business  amounts  to  $1,000,- 
000,  or  more,  annually,  extending  to  all 
parts  of  the  country,  all  of  it  being  under  his 
personal  direction,  and  with  but  one  traveling 
solicitor.  When  he  began,  all  the  oat-meal  in 
this  country  was  imported  from  Canada  and 
Europe,  but  at  present  the  importations  of  this 
valuable  food  are  trifling  in  amount.  The 
secret  of  his  success  is  perseverance,  energ\', 
and  his  determination  to  excel  in  the  quality  of 
his  goods,  being  quite  dissatisfied  with  any- 
thing short  of  excellence  in  the  way  of  machin- 
er}'.  On  Oct.  7,  1851,  he  was  married,  '  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  to   his  cousin.  Miss  Hermine 


"1^ 


^1 


772 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Schumacher,  of  Bevern,  Brunswick,  Grermany, 
by  whom  he  had  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
are  deceased.  Louis  and  Adolph  are  living. 
He  has  been  a  Prohibitionist  since  1870,  has 
given  support  to  the  various  churches,  and  has 
been  a  member  of  the  City  Council. 

AVERY  SPICER,  Akron,  Ohio.  Avery, 
oldest  son  of  Miner  and  Cynthia  (Allen)  Spicer, 
began  life's  voyage  on  Oct.  26,  1799,  at  Gro- 
ton,  New  London  Co.,  Conn.,  since  which  time 
he  has  rowed  steadily  and  carefully  up-stream. 
He  attended  school  but  little  in  Connecticut, 
his  family  moving  from  there  to  this  site  when 
he  was  only  12  years  old,  at  which  time  they 
were  the  only  white  settlers  where  Akron  now 
stands,  although  there  were  three  white  families 
at  Middlebury.  Here  he  started  to  school,  in 
company  with  six  sisters,  the  schoolhouse 
being  a  frame  building,  at  Middlebury.  built  by 
his  father  ;  his  first  teacher  there  was  named 
Skinner,  whom  Mr.  Spicer  remembered  as  a 
very  severe  man,  priding  himself  more  on  being 
a  "master"  than  a  teacher.  On  arriving  here, 
his  father  bought  260  acres  on  the  present  site, 
none  of  which,  at  that  time,  was  cleared.  The 
three  white  families  then  in  Middlebury  were 
Aaron  Norton,  Rial  McArthur  and  Capt.  Hart. 
Mr.  Spicer's  father  lived  in  McArthur's  house 
for  about  four  days,  when  he  moved  into  a 
cabin,  built  of  round  logs,  with  no  chinking  ; 
there  was  timber  all  around  the  house.  Deer 
came  in  sight  of  the  house  frequently,  and  it 
was  not  an  unusual  occurrence  to  see  bears. 
Mr.  Spicer  recalls  one  occasion  when,  on  going 
to  a  neighbor's,  he  saw  what  he  had  at  first 
supposed  to  be  a  hog  standing  on  his  hind 
feet,  but  which  he  soon  discovered  to  be  a 
bear;  his  dog,  which  accompanied  him,  ad- 
vanced and  received  the  "  hug,"  in  which  affec- 
tionate embrace  he  left  him,  while  he  soon 
lengthened  the  distance  between  them  and 
himself  It  was  about  a  month  after  this  occur- 
rence, that  a  dog's  prolonged  barking  attracted 
his  attention,  and  on  investigation  he  found 
the  disturbance  to  be  at  a  hog-pen.  Securing 
a  candle  and  a  gun,  he  and  his  father  followed 
the  dog,  and  discovered  a  bear,  at  which  he 
took  aim  and  fired,  but  it  escaped.  He  re- 
turned, and,  on  finding  the  hog  dead,  hastened 
to  build  a  fire  to  protect  it,  but  the  bear  suc- 
ceeded in  stealing  it  away  before  he  accom- 
plished his  purpose.  The  next  morning,  he 
sought  and  found  them,  killing  the  bear  with 


gun-shot.  They  had  great  diflflculty  in  obtain- 
ing salt  here  at  that  time,  and,  after  being  here 
two  years,  he,  a  boy  of  14,  led  a  horse  to  Cleve- 
land, and  returned  on  foot  with  a  bag  of  salt, 
having  been  gone  four  days.  The  year  follow- 
ing he  took  a  horse,  loaded  with  three  bags  of 
flour,  to  the  Liverpool  Salt  Works,  at  Rock}' 
River  ;  for  about  fifteen  miles  of  the  way  he 
had  no  guide  but  blazed  trees,  and  when  in 
the  woods  night  came  on,  he  tied  the  horse 
and  went  to  sleep  on  the  bags.  Before  morn- 
ing the  wolves  began  to  howl,  and  he  slept  no 
more  that  night.  One  morning,  as  he  was  just 
about  to  start  a  fire  in  his  father's  house,  blow- 
ing the  embers,  he  saw  a  rattlesnake  coiled  up 
about  one  foot  from  his  hand,  and  to  escape  he 
threw  himself  backward,  and  when  the  light 
shone  up  struck  the  snake  with  the  shovel,  and 
then  sprang  on  the  bed  in  the  dark,  the  fire 
having  gone  out ;  the  snake  was  not  killed,  but 
badly  hurt ;  it  was  but  one  of  the  man}^ 
which  were  then  existent.  When  they  settled 
here,  Indians  were  plenty.  After  Hull's  sur- 
render, Mr.  Spicer's  father  enlisted  and  went  to 
Cleveland,  from  which  place  he  was  sent  back 
as  Captain,  with  about  100  men  in  his  com- 
mand ;  he  established  a  guard  line  from  old 
Portage  to  new  Portage,  and  part  way  to  Cleve- 
land. Subject  was  at  Hudson  when  Perry  won 
his  memorable  victor}',  and  he  distinctly  heard 
the  guns.  He  reverences  greatly  his  name. 
While  his  father  was  in  Cleveland,  during  the 
war  of  ""12,"  his  mother  went  each  night, 
taking  her  family  with  her,  to  lodge  in  the 
home  of  Amos  Spicer,  who  had  settled  in  Cov- 
entry Township  ;  and  one  morning,  on  return- 
ing home  with  subject  and  his  cousin,  Pierpont 
Spicer,  she  discovered  that  the  door  had  been 
opened,  and  supposing  it  had  been  done  by 
Indians,  they  made  cautious  reconnaissance. 
Pierpont,  on  going  to  the  loft,  sprang  down  and 
said  he  saw  Indians  in  bed.  All  three  ran 
from  the  house,  but  Mrs.  Spicer,  being  unable 
to  go  swiftly,  found  a  treasure  in  her  boy,  who 
slacked  his  gait  to  accommodate  hers.  On 
reflection,  they  all  returned,  and  subject  cau- 
tiously and  tremblingly  started  up  the  ladder 
leading  to  the  loft,  followed  very  closely  by 
her  whose  mothei'-heart  bade  her  now  urge 
him  on,  and  now  restrain  him,  which  she  did  by 
gentle  pushing  or  pulling  at  his  coat,  according 
as  she  grew  brave  or  fearful.  On  reaching  the 
loft,    however,    they   found    no   one,  although 


^t^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


773 


there  was  evidence  of  some  two  or  three  per- 
sons having  occupied  their  bed,  who,  no  doubt, 
were  some  of  Hull's  men,  and  not  the  looked- 
for  Indians.  At  the  age  of  21,  he  began  earn- 
ing his  own  living,  working  for  his  father  two 
years  at  "  truck  and  dicker,"  which  emplo3'ment 
brought  him  but  $7  per  month.  Later,  he  be- 
came foreman  of  a  large  number  of  hands  on 
the  Ohio  canal,  furnishing  stone  for  its  locks. 
In  this  he  engaged  for  one  season,  and,  in 
1824  or  1825,  he  and  his  uncle  rented  a  saw- 
mill and  sawed  lumber  for  the  locks  for  a  period 
of  two  years.  He  was  boss  of  the  hands  who 
built  the  log  bridge  across  the  Cuyahoga,  east 
of  Mustle's,  being  paid  the  same  amount  they 
received,  which  was  31  cents  per  day.  He 
married,  on  Sept.  3,  1826,  Miss  Harriet  King, 
daughter  of  Joshua  King,  who  settled  on  the 
Cuyahoga  in  1810.  Harriet  was  born  on  Sept. 
27,  1810,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the  first 
white  child  born  on  the  Cuyahoga  from  Portage 
to  Cleveland.  After  his  marriage,  he  bought 
forty  acres  of  land  at  $8  per  acre,  on  the  south- 
ern part  of  his  father's  farm,  to  which  he  made 
additions  until  he  owned  seventy-tive  acres, 
which  he  farmed  until  1837.  The  first  wheat 
he  raised  sold  for  30  cents  per  bushel.  In 
1837,  he  bought  150  acres  of  land  in  Coventry 
Township,  making  additions  thereto  until  he 
owned  366  acres,  which  he  farmed  with  good 
success,  keeping  a  dair}^  for  several  years.  He 
was  Trustee  of  Coventry  Township  for  many 
years.  In  1857,  he  moved  to  his  present 
place,  corner  of  Spicer  and  Carroll  streets, 
Akron,  where  his  father  formerly  lived.  He 
was  Infirmary  Director  of  this  count}-  for  fif- 
teen years,  serving  during  the  construction  of 
the  present  building.  He  has  five  children 
living,  viz.,  Cynthia,  wife  of  Greorge  Cogshall, 
of  Akron  ;  Austin  A.  (see  sketch  in  Coventry 
Township),  of  Coventry ;  Harriet,  wife  of 
James  T.  Trowbridge,  of  Akron  ;  Harrison  M., 
farmer  in  Coventr}^ ;  and  Ella  C,  wife  of 
Charles  Parmenter,  of  Waltham,  Mass.  Four 
children  are  deceased,  viz.,  Isaac  A.,  who  died 
in  California  in  his  23d  year  ;  Sarah  C,  who 
was  the  wife  of  John  Newton  and  died  in  Mich- 
igan, and  Olive  and  Oliver,  twins,  who  died 
when  5  months  old. 

JOHN  F.  SEIBERLING,  Akron  ;  oldest  son 
of  Nathan  and  Catharine  (Peters)  Seiberling, 
was  born  March  10, 1834,  in  Norton  Township, 
this  county,  where  he  spent  his  youth,  having 


common  and  high-school  advantages.  In  1856, 
he  came  to  Akron,  and  for  two  years  engaged 
in  the  drug  business.  He  returned  in  1858  to 
Norton  Township,  and  there  ran  a  saw-mill  for 
some  two  years,  and,  while  working  in  the  mill, 
became  interested  in  the  improvements  of  mow- 
ing and  reaping  machines,  and,  lacking  favora- 
ble opportunities,  constructed  a  machine  which 
he  brought  out  in  1859.  In  1860,  he  experi- 
mented with  this  machine  and  named  it  the 
"Excelsior."  In  1861,  he  took  out  his  first 
patent — the  main  feature  being  the  "  dropper," 
which  was  the  first  made  or  conceived.  From 
1861,  he  gave  his  whole  time  and  attention  to 
the  business,  going  to  Doyleston,  Ohio,  where 
he  established  a  manufactory  which  is  still  in 
operation.  He  experimented  every  season,  and, 
in  1861,  he  invented  the  side-brace  bar  coupling, 
and,  in  1862,  the  horizontal  folding  fingei'-beam. 
He  was  the  first  to  discover  the  adjustable 
reel,  which  he  did  in  1870,  or  thereabouts.  In 
1875,  he  brought  out  the  empire  table  rake, 
and  in  1880,  the  single- wheel  reaper.  *  *  * 
He  worked  at  Doylestown,  until  1864,  when  he 
went  to  Massillon,  where  he  established  a  manu- 
factory, remaining  one  year.  In  October,  1865, 
he  came  to  Akron  and  organized  the  firm  of  J. 
F.  Seiberling  &  Co.,  for  the  manufacture  of  the 
"  Excelsior,"  from  which  firm  he  withdrew  in 
1869.  In  1871,  he  organized  the  Akron  Straw 
Board  Company,  located  at  Middlebur}-,  of 
which  he  is  still  a  member,  now  being  the 
President  and  Treasurer  of  the  same  ;  to  this, 
by  means  of  his  own  inventions,  he  has  added 
several  new  improvements.  In  1875,  he  com- 
menced the  building  of  the  "Empire,"  a  new 
machine  with  new  features,  which  was  invented 
by  him  during  the  time  not  engaged  in  manu- 
facturing. The  commendable  features  of  the 
"Empire"  are  numerous,  but  it  is  especially 
valuable  because  of  its  strength  and  durability 
(the  gears  being  inclosed,  and  all  the  parts 
made  of  iron),  and  the  new  principle  making 
light  draft  and  little  noise.  The  present  ca- 
pacity is  5,000  machines  per  year,  which  meet 
a  ready  sale.  In  1880,  he  purchased  the  old 
"Excelsior"  works,  and  the  business  is  con- 
trolled by  himself,  he  being  President  and  gen- 
eral manager.  In  September,  1859,  he  married 
Miss  Catharine  L.  Miller,  of  Norton  Township, 
and  of  this  union  there  were  nine  children,  all 
of  whom  are  living,  their  names  being  as  fol- 
lows :  Anna  E.,  Frank  A.,  Charles  W.,  Cora  D., 


f 


^ 


774 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


Hattie  M.,  Grace  I.,  Kittle  G.,  Mary  B.  and 
Ruth.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  a 
member  of  the  School  Board  ;  he  is  a  member 
of  the  English  Lutheran  Church,  and  is  now 
Trustee. 

ROLIN  W.  SADLER,  lawyer,  Akron  ;  was 
born  to  James  J.  Sadler,  July  7,  1856,  in  Cen- 
terville,  St.  Joseph  Co.,  Mich.;  eleven  years 
later,  moving  to  Bryan,  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years,  followed  by  a  two  3'ears' 
stay  in  Wauseon,  at  both  of  which  places  he 
attended  school.  In  1871,  he  entered  Baldwin 
University,  and  remained  one  year,  when  he 
entered  Mt.  Union  College,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated in  1874,  after  which  date  he  engaged  in 
teaching  for  some  time.  In  the  summer  of 
1876,  he  came  to  Akron,  entering  the  law  office 
of  Edgerton  &  Kohler,  as  student,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1878,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  in  active  practice.  Although  3'oung, 
he  is  a  competent  lawyer,  and  owes  his  success 
mainly  to  his  own  efforts,  as,  indeed,  do  nearly 
all  truly  successful  men.  On  Sept.  15,  1880, 
he  married  Miss  Cai'rie  M.  Comstock,  of  Bed- 
ford, at  which  place  he  was  engaged  a  few 
years  ago  as  Principal  of  the  schools,  previously 
having  sei'ved  in  like  capacity  in  the  Reading, 
Mich.,  schools.  The  old  firm  name,  Edgerton 
&  Kohler,  is  changed  to  Kohler  &  Sadler.  His 
father,  James  J.  Sadler,  was  born  in  New  York 
City,  and  moved  thence  to  Pennsylvania,  after 
which  he  came  to  Stow  Township,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood,  receiving  his  education  in 
Twinsburg  Institute.  He  began  teaching  at 
the  age  of  17,  engaging  in  that  vocation  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  Summit  Co.,  and  at  Middlebury. 
He  is  now  Superintendent  of  the  public  schools 
of  Stanton,  Mich.  He  has  six  children,  of 
whom  Rolin  is  the  second  son. 

LOUIS  B.  SCHNEIDER,  hardware  mer- 
chant, Akron.  Frederick  A.  Schneider  was 
born  in  Altona,  near  Hamburg,  Germany,  and 
immigrated  to  Pennsylvania  at  an  earl}'  day, 
where,  when  quite  a  youth,  he  became  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits.  His  ftither  was  a  Cap- 
tain in  the  regular  German  army,  and  gave  him 
a  good  education  in  German,  French  and  En- 
glish. In  Pennsylvania,  he  engaged  in  book- 
keeping for  a  large  house  in  Philadelphia,  and 
teaching  school ;  subsequently  kept  a  liardware 
store  at  Chambersburg,  where  he  met  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Rebecca  Faber,  who  bore  him  nine 
children,    viz.,    Mrs.    Chas.    Cranz,    and    Mrs. 


Judge  G.  W.  Raflt",  of  Canton,  Ohio  ;  Anton  G., 
of  Akron  ;  F.  A.,  of  Omaha  ;  Louis  B.;  Edward 
F.  (deceased),  who  was  an  Adjutant  under 
Gov.  Hayes ;  Mrs.  Henrietta  R.  Wallace,  of 
Canton,  Ohio;  Mrs.  W.  .J.  Broatch,  of  Omaha, 
and  Emma  S.  (deceased).  In  1828,  the  father  of 
subject  moved  to  Canton,  Ohio,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  hardware  business,  and  was  ver}' 
successful.  Positions  of  trust  were  given  him, 
among  others,  that  of  Mayor  of  Canton.  He 
died  in  1867.  His  fifth  child  and  third  son, 
Louis  B.,  was  born  in  Canton,  Ohio,  Nov. 
15,  1834,  where  he  lived  until  he  was  16  years 
of  age,  at  which  period  he  came  to  Akron, 
where  he  engaged  his  services  as  clerk  in  the 
hardware  store  of  C.  Cranz  &  Co.,  retaining 
his  position  seven  years.  In  1858,  he  went  to 
Omaha,  Neb.,  where,  for  two  years,  he  con- 
ducted a  hardware  store  for  his  father,  and 
then  returned  to  Summit  County,  where  he 
established  a  store  of  his  own  at  Mogadore, 
which  he  managed  for  three  years,  at  the  end 
of  which  time,  he  established  and  conducted 
another  at  New  Portage,  which  continued  in 
operation  but  two  years,  both  adventures  being- 
successful.  In  1865,  he  came  to  Akron,  and 
re-entered  the  store  of  Charles  Cranz,  this  time 
as  a  partner,  which  for  ten  years  he  continued 
to  be,  and  in  1875,  he  bought  out  the  store, 
having  since  done  a  good  business.  In  June, 
1859,  he  married  Miss  Emma  L.  Welch,  of 
Mogadore,  and  they  have  two  children — Flora 
M.  and  Faber  E. 

JAMES  B.  STORER,  Postmaster,  Akron; 
son  of  W.  B.  Storer  ;  was  born  in  Akron  Jan. 
22,  1839,  where,  until  he  was  17  years  of  age. 
he  attended  the  public  schools,  after  which  he 
learned  the  jeweler's  trade,  serving  with  W.  H. 
Fallmon,  and  for  a  short  time  with  H.  S.  Ab- 
bey. He  was  subsequently  engaged  in  an  iron 
store  for  a  year,  when  the  war  broke  out,  and 
he  enlisted  as  soon  as  the  news  reached  Akron, 
being  among  the  first  on  the  x'oll  of  Co.  G,  19th 
0.  V.  I.,  and  was  in  service  three  months,  rising, 
in  the  meanwhile,  to  the  rank  of  Sergeant.  He 
re-enlisted  in  Co.  H,  of  the  29th  O.  V.  I.,  en- 
gaging in  the  battles  of  Winchester,  Port  Re- 
public, Cedar  Creek,  South  Mountain,  Antietam, 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Lookout  Mount- 
ain and  Mission  Ridge.  He  was  appointed  Ad- 
jutant and  recruiting  officer,  and  recruited  al- 
most ever}'  man  present  with  the  regiment  in 
December,  1863,  as  veterans.     In  May,  1864, 


"^    ^j; 


>> 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


775 


on  the  Atlanta  Campaign,  in  the  first  engage- 
ment at  Rocky  Race  or  Dug  Gap,  he  was 
wounded  by  a  minie  ritle-ball,  which  struck  his 
spinal  column,  which  resulted  in  paralysis  of 
his  legs.  He  was  carried  from  the  field,  and 
lay  in  the  hospital  at  Nashville  for  three  months. 
He  was  discharged  in  November,  1864,  and  aft- 
er almost  a  year  he  was  able  to  walk  with  the 
aid  of  crutches.  Then  he  purchased  a  jewelry 
store  at  116  Howard  street,  in  which  he  still 
retains  an  interest,  the  firm  name  being  J.  B. 
Storer  &  Co.  In  June,  1870,  he  was  appointed, 
by  President  Grant,  Postmaster  of  Akron,  for 
a  term  of  four  years  ;  re-appointed  in  1874, 
and  again  in  1878,  by  President  Hayes.  On 
Jan.  11, 1864,  he  married  Miss  Lucy  M.,  daugh- 
ter of  Gibbons  J.  Ackley,  of  Akron.  She  bore 
him  one  child,  a  daughter.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  G.  A.  K 

EDWARD  W.  STUART,  lawyer,  Akron; 
son  of  Sylvanus  and  Caroline  M.  (Whittlesey) 
Stuart,  who  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  was 
born  in  Washington  Township,  Litchfield  Co., 
Conn.,  on  May  9,  1840,  and  two  years  later 
came  with  his  father's  family  to  Erie  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  they  still  reside.  He  is  the  oldest  of 
their  two  children,  his  sister  being  now  Mrs. 
Helen  M.  Gibbs,  of  Salina,  Kan.  Until  he  was 
18  years  of  age,  he  farmed  during  vacations 
from  school,  and  in  1858,  he  entered  Western 
Reserve  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
October  of  1862,  the  graduation  of  the  class 
having  been  postponed  because  of  their  enlisting 
in  the  service.  About  seventy  students  formed 
Co.  B,  85th  0.  V.  I.,  and  served,  doing  guard 
duty,  four  months,  after  which,  for  a  period  of 
four  years,  he  was  engaged  in  teaching.  He 
was  two  years  the  Principal  of  Shaw  Academy, 
of  Collamer,  Ohio.  In  1866,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  Cleveland,  having  made  law  a 
study  for  four  years.  He  commenced  practice 
at  Kent,  Ohio,  with  S.  P.  Wolcott,  Esq..  con- 
tinuing there  until  May,  1870,  when  he  came 
to  Akron,  there  forming  a  partnership  with  C. 
P.  Humphrey,  which  continues.  In  April,  1871, 
he  was  elected  City  Solicitor,  which  office  he 
held  until  January,  1877.  In  October,  1876, 
he  w.as  elected  Prosecuting  Attorne}'  of  Summit 
Co.,  and  acted  in  that  capacity  two  terms.  In 
Ma3%  1864,  he  married  Miss  Harriet  Whedon, 
of  Hudson. 

LOUIS  SEYBOLD,  editor  Germania  ;  born 
on  Sept.  22, 1854,  in  Hohenschwangan,  Bavaria. 


Attended  the  Gymnasium  at  Ellwangen,  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany.  Came  to  America  in 
1873,  and  lives  in  Akron  since  1875.  Has 
been  musical  director  of  the  Akron  Harmonic, 
from  1876  to  1879,  and  accepted  the  editor- 
ship of  the  Akron  Germania  in  1878.  Married 
in  1879,  to  Louisa  Doppstatter,  of  Akron  ;  has 
wife  and  one  child. 

FRANK  J.  STARAL,  business  manager  of 
the  Beacon,  Akron.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Julia  (Podstatny)  Staral.  He 
was  born  Feb.  25,  1847,  in  the  town  of  Beroun, 
Bohemia,  where  at  the  age  of  12  he  learned 
book-binding.  He  pursued  this  calling  in  his 
native  town  until  1865,  when  he  came  to  the 
United  States  of  America  and  erelong  found 
employment  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Here  he 
worked  at  book-binding  about  four  3'ears.  He 
came  to  Akron  Jan.  1,  1869,  to  assume  the 
duties  of  foreman  in  the  bindery  of  Lane,  Can- 
field  &  Co.  Mr.  Staral  held  the  same  position 
in  the  Beacon  Publishing  Co.,  organized  in 
1871,  until  1875.  By  his  thrift  and  energy  he 
became  a  stockholder  in  1871.  When  the 
stock  passed  into  present  hands  in  1875,  Mr. 
Staral,  with  a  larger  share  of  stock,  became  its 
book-keeper,  and  succeeded  Mr.  J.  H.  Auble  as 
business  manager  in  1877  ;  a  position  he  has 
since  ably  filled.  July  10,  1877,  he  married 
Miss  Bertha  Weisenberger,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
Of  this  union  there  is  one  son. 

ALOIS  STRAUB,  musical  instruments,  Ak- 
ron, Ohio  ;  is  a  sou  of  Alois  and  Magdalena 
(Gudfried)  Straub,  and  was  born  Sept.  11,  1826, 
in  Baden,  Germany.  He  learned  cabinet-mak- 
ing at  14  years  of  age,  and  after  working  two 
3-ears,  he  began  to  work  on  musical  instruments 
in  Fernbach,  which  he  continued  for  four  years, 
when  he  entered  the  German  Army.  After 
leaving  the  army,  became  to  the  United  States, 
arriving  at  New  York  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
summer  of  1849  ;  he  went  to  Philadelphia  ; 
and  remaining  in  different  parts  of  Pennsyl- 
vania until  October  1851,  he  came  to  Akron, 
Ohio,  and  worked  a  short  time  in  a  cabinet- 
shop.  He  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
musical  insti'uments  for  Horton  &  Rose,  which 
he  continued  about  five  years,  when  his  health 
failed,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1857,  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  traveling  salesman  for  the  company. 
About  the  year  1861,  he  began  dealing  in  in- 
struments on  his  own  account,  it  being  the  first 
music   store   in  the  city,  and  about  1870-71, 


776 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


commenced  this  manufacture,  which  he  con- 
tinued some  five  j-ears,  at  the  same  time  keep- 
ing a  music  store,  which  he  has  continued  ever 
since.  He  sells  the  celebrated  Weber  Pianos 
and  the  Mason  &  Hamlin  organs,  also  the  Bur- 
dette  organs.  He  was  married  Jan.  5, 1857,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Eisenhauer,  of  Akron.  Mr. 
Straub  is  a  member  of  St.  Bernard's  Catholic 
Church. 

H.  C.  SANFORD,  lawyer,  Akron;  a  na- 
tive of  Portland,  Me.,  was  born  Sept.  11. 
1833,     and     is     a     son     of     John     Q.     and 

(De  Lano)    Sanford,  who  were  natives, 

the  former  of  Brunswick,  Me.,  and  the  latter  of 
Plymouth,  Mass.  His  father  was  an  extensive 
lumber  dealer,  and  suffered  heavy  losses  from 
the  embargo  laid  b}'  the  General  Government, 
from  the  effects  of  which  he  never  fully  recov- 
ered. He  died  when  subject  was  but  8  3^ears 
of  age,  and,  being  anxious  to  do  something  for 
himself,  he  left  home  at  the  age  of  9,  and 
went  to  Manchester,  N.  H.,  where  an  older 
brother  resided.  He  worked  in  the  locomotive 
shops  there,  and  attended  the  public  schools, 
and  spent  one  year,  also,  in  Kendall  Academy, 
of  that  cit3^  At  the  age  of  18,  he  came  to 
Ohio,  and  was  engaged  successively'  on  the 
Sandusky,  Mansfield  &  Newark,  and  the  Cleve- 
land &  Toledo  R.  R.  He  commenced  as  fire- 
man, but  was  soon  promoted  to  Engineer,  and 
ran  a  passenger  train  before  he  was  21  years 
old.  He  continued  on  the  C.  &  T.  R.  R.  until 
1855,  when  he  went  to  Quincy,  111.,  and  at  once 
began  running  on  the  "  Northern  Cross  Road," 
now  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy,  and, 
when  the  road  was  completed,  he  took  the  first 
passenger  train  over  it  from  Quincy  to  Gales- 
burg.  He  remained  on  this  road  about  six 
3'ears,  and  then  gave  up  his  position  for  a  train 
at  Augusta,  111.,  that  he  might  be  at  home,  and 
also  to  have  an  opportunity  for  the  stud}-  of 
law,  which  he  had  resolved  upon.  He  procured 
some  law  books,  and  read  them  on  the  foot- 
board of  his  locomotive,  at  the  rate  of  thirty- 
miles  an  hour.  While  running  on  this  road, 
he  saved  a  passenger  train  of  cars  from  run- 
ning into  a  river  near  Plymouth  Station,  whei'e 
a  bridge  had  been  washed  away,  by  running 
his  locomotive  into  the  train.  At  the  time,  he 
was  bringing  out  the  construction  train  in  the 
morning,  and  taking  it  back  in  the  evening. 
The  passenger  trains  transferred  their  passen- 
gers at  the   river,    and,    to  facilitate  matters, 


the  locomotive  was  put  behind  the  train  at 
the  last  station,  to  push  it  to  the  river,  and, 
coming  down  grade  one  day.  at  a  rate  of  speed 
they  were  unable  to  stop  before  arriving  at  the 
broken  bridge,  where  the  water  was  about 
twenty  feet  deep,  and  to  prevent  the  train  go- 
ing into  the  river,  Mr.  S.  started  his  engine  un- 
der a  full  head  of  steam,  and  struck  the  bag- 
gage car,  which  was  in  front.  When  the  trains 
stopped,  his  engine  was  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
end  of  the  rails  over  the  3'awning  river,  and  he 
still  standing'  at  his  post.  The  train  was 
crowded  with  pasengers,  and,  but  for  this  act 
of  heroism  of  his,  doubtless  many  would  have 
lost  their  lives.  The  engineer  of  the  passenger 
train  was  at  once  discharged.  Mr.  S.  left  Illi- 
nois in  1861,  and  came  to  Amherst,  Ohio,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  dr}^  goods  business,  but  soon 
after  went  to  the  oil  regions  of  Pennsylvania, 
but  was  unsuccessful  in  "  striking  ile,"  and  he 
found  employment  on  the  A.  &  G.  W.  R.  R. 
He  did  not  sta3'  long  with  this  road,  but  went 
to  FoT't  Wa3'ne,  Ind.,  and  took  an  engine  on  the 
Wabash  Railwa3'  ;  returned  to  Meadville,  and 
ran  between  that  place  and  Akron,  until  the 
shops  were  put  in  operation  at  Kent,  when  he 
took  charge  of  the  engineers  and  men  at  that 
place,  and  also  of  an  eating-house  for  the  rail- 
road compan3'  at  $175  per  month.  He  left 
their  emplo3-  in  the  summer  of  1867,  and  went 
to  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  and  attended  the  law 
school  one  college  year,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  at  Ravenna,  Ohio,  April  24,  1868.  He 
then  formed  a  partnership  with  Hon.  N.  W. 
Goodhue,  of  Akron,  for  one  3'ear,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  went  to  Kent,  but  returned  to 
Akron  in  1870,  where  he  has  since  practiced. 
He  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorne}'  on  the 
Republican  ticket,  and  served  one  term  ;  was 
elected  City  Solicitor  in  1877,  served  one  term, 
when  he  declined  further  honor.  He  was  mar- 
ried on  the  19th  of  January,  1857,  to  Miss  Em- 
ily J.  Fairchild,  of  Amherst,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
a  dauo'hter  of  Elam  and  Lydia  Fairchild. 

ERHARD  STEINBACHER,  merchant  and 
banker,  Akron ;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Catharine 
Steinbacher,  and  was  born  March  30,  1825,  in 
Bavaria,  German3'.  He  attended  the  common 
schools  until  14  years  of  age,  and  spent  two 
years  at  Heidelberg.  In  1844,  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  remaining  two  3'ears,  a  portion 
of  the  time  as  clerk  in  a  hotel  (Cobb's  Ex- 
change, of  Akron)  at  $8  per  month  ;  then  went 


^ © 


ly^ 


CITY    OF    x\KRON. 


777 


to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1846, 
went  back  to  Europe.  He  stayed  there  five  or 
six  mouths,  and  then  returned  to  the  United 
States,  and  came  to  Akron  in  1847.  In  1849, 
in  company  with  fifteen  others,  went  to  Califor- 
nia by  the  overland  route,  arriving  in  the  land 
of  gold  in  the  latter  part  of  July.  He  was  suc- 
cessful, and  returned  to  Akron,  leaving  Califor- 
nia in  December,  1850,  via  Panama,  reaching 
Akron  in  February,  1851.  He  now  opened  a 
drug  and  grocer}^  store  (firm  of  Weimer  & 
Steinbacher — Weimer  retired  in  1865),  and  has 
been  an  enterprising  business  man  of  Akron 
ever  since.  He  has  been  President  of  "  Citi- 
zens' Saving  and  Loan  Association,"  ever  since 
its  organization  in  May,  1872  ;  he  has  also  been 
a  stockholder  in  the  First  National  Bank  for 
fifteen  years,  and  a  stockholder  and  director  in 
the  Akron  Iron  Co.,  from  its  beginning.  He 
was  married,  in  April,  1853,  to  Miss  Phoebe 
Potter,  of  Suffleld,  Ohio  ;  they  have  three 
children,  viz.,  Kate  L.,  Edward  E.  and  Georgia 
Belle. 

CHARLES  E.  SHELDON,  Superintendent 
of  Whitman  and  Miles  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, Akron.  Is  a  son  of  Samuel  D.  and 
Augusta  (Smith)  Sheldon,  and  was  born  July 
18,  1850,  in  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  where  he  attend- 
ed school  until  16  years  of  age.  He  then 
spent  two  years  in  the  office  of  City  Engineer 
of  Fitchburg.  In  1867,  he  became  a  clerk  in 
the  office  of  the  Whitman  &  Miles  Manufactur- 
ing Co.,  at  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  of  which  establish- 
ment his  father  was  foreman  previous  to  that 
time.  He  was  made  Superintendent  at  Fitch- 
burg, which  position  he  held  until  1876,  and 
the  next  j-ear  he  came  to  Akron,  and  has  since 
been  Superintendent  of  the  Whitman  &  Miles 
works  here.  He  was  married  in  November, 
1870,  to  Miss  Ruth  L.  Gifford  of  Fitchburg, 
Mass. 

HARRY  J.  SHREFFLER,  Akron,  son  of 
Frederick  and  Marj-  A.  (Auble)  Shreffier  was 
born  in  Center  Co.,  Penn.,  March  26,  1847.  At 
18,  he  worked  on  a  farm  near  Wadsworth, 
Ohio,  one  summer.  In  1866,  he  went  into  part- 
nership with  his  father  at  West  Salem,  engag- 
ing in  the  manufacture  of  carriages,  and  con- 
tinuing two  years,  when  the}'  removed  to  Bur- 
bank,  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  continued  in 
the  same  business.  In  July,  1871,  became  to 
Akron  and  clerked  two  years  in  the  post  office, 
he   was  made  Assistant  Postmaster  in  April, 


1874,  and  has  held  that  position  ever  since. 
He  is  superintendent  of  carriers  and  registry, 
and  has  general  charge  in  the  absence  of 
the  Postmaster.  Oct.  29,  1872,  he  married 
Miss  Eva  Cubbison,  of  Akron  ;  she  died  Oct. 
31,  1873.  Aug.  6,  1878,  he  married  Miss 
Fannie  I.  Fouser,  of  Akron,  who  bore  him  one 
daughter. 

LOREN  N.  SMITH,  Akron.  Moses  Smith 
was  born  at  Stonington,  Conn.,  Nov.  30,  1783, 
and  died  at  Akron  in  his  83d  year,  Feb.  4, 
1866.  His  wife,  nee  Miss  Sarah  Haley,  was 
born  Nov.  2,  1792,  at  Groton,  Conn.;  she  was 
married  to  him  on  June  19,  1807,  being  only 
15  years  of  age.  They  moved  to  Akron  in 
1826,  and  the  following  year  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  containing  about  100  acres  ;  hei'e 
he  farmed  and  engaged  at  the  cooper's  trade, 
having  erected  a  shop  for  the  purpose.  He 
was  an  excellent  marksman,  and,  as  game  was 
plentiful,  he  had  many  opportunities  to  display 
his  skill.  He  regarded  his  word  and  was  very 
exact  in  dealing.  He  was  a  stanch  Democrat. 
Six  children  were  born  to  him,  viz.,  Sarah,  wife 
of  Hii'am  Hart,  of  Coventry  ;  she  died  in  1862; 
Warren  IL,  who  died  in  1865,  on  the  Atlantic 
Ocean,  in  which  he  was  buried,  while  on  his 
return  from  California,  being  in  his  53d  year  ; 
Lucy  A.,  wife  of  the  late  D.  A.  Hine,  now  living 
in  the  Sixth  Ward  ;  Henry,  who  died  in  his  6th 
year  ;  Harriet  H.,  who  was  the  wife  of  J.  B. 
Curtis,  and  died  at  Kent,  in  1853,  in  her  35th 
3'ear  ;  Caroline  S.,  widow  of  the  late  Alvin 
Austin,  now  residing  in  Akron  ;  William  H., 
the  onlj'  one  of  the  family  born  in  Ohio,  died 
in  Chili,  South  America,  in  1872,  in  his  45th 
3'ear  ;  and  Loren  N.,  the  subject  of  these  lines 
who  was  born  in  Dalton,  August  16,  1823, 
being  3  v'ears  old  when  his  familj'  moved 
to  Akron  ;  he  remembers  seeing  the  first  tree 
cut  where  his  present  residence  stands.  He 
went  to  school  about  six  mouths  per  3'ear  until 
he  was  17,  learning  the  cooper's  trade  and  to  do 
farm  work,  from  his  father.  In  1841,  he  be- 
came a  clerk  for  the  firm  of  James  Sawyer  & 
Co.,  remaining  in  their  store  until  1844,  in  the 
summer  of  which  3ear  he  became  proprietor  of 
a  confectioner3'  and  grocer3'  store,  it  being  the 
first  one  established  on  North  Howard  street. 
He  was  afterward  engaged  in  the  same  busi- 
ness on  the  site  of  the  First  National  Bank  ; 
from  which  place  he  removed  to  South  How- 
ard street  until  1851,  thence  to  Xenia,  where, 


K 


778 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


*7T; 


under  the  firm  name  of  Austin  &  Smith,  he 
did  a  large  business  in  confectionery  ;  thence 
he  removed  to  Cincinnati,  in  1858,  where  he 
met  with  great  success,  I'emaining  until  1878. 
While  there  he  was  President  of  the  Phoenix 
Insurance  Company  ;  and  a  member  of  '  the 
City  Council  for  several  years.  On  account  of 
failing  health  he  relinquished  his  business  in 
Cincinnati  and  located  in  Akron,  taking  charge 
of  the  old  homestead.  Nov.  6,  1845,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  J.  Adams  of  Akron ;  she 
was  born  in  Cavendish,  Vt.,  and  came  to 
Akron  in  1837.  They  have  three  sons  and  one 
daughter,  viz.,  Henry  N.,  of  Cleveland  ;  Fred. 
A.,  of  Cincinnati  ;  Frank  E.,  of  Cincinnati  ; 
and  Ida  M.,  wife  of  R.  S.  Kirtley,  of  Cincinnati. 

PROF.  GUSTAV  SIGEL,  musician,  Ak- 
ron ;  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  Jan. 
30,  1848.  He  studied  music  in  the  conserva- 
tories of  German}'  until  1868,  when  he  came  to 
the  United  States,  and  for  four  years  taught  in 
Milwaukee,  Wis.  In  1872,  he  came  to  Akron, 
Ohio,  at  the  call  of  the  Liedertafel  Society,  and 
has  since  been  its  Director.  From  1872  to 
1878,  he  was  teacher  of  instrumental  music  in 
Buchtel  College.  He  is  now  teacher  of  piano 
and  stringed  instruments.  He  was  Director  of 
the  Saengerfest  held  in  June,  1880,  at  Akron, 
and  through  his  efforts  it  was  a  success.  He 
owns  some  valuable  stringed  instruments. 

GEORGE  G.  SCHAFFER,  Akron,  son  of 
John  and  Mar}'^  (Good)  Schaffer,  was  born  in 
Alsace  (then  a  province  of  France),  March  13, 
1846.  He  learned  weaving  from  his  father,  and 
engaged  in  that  until  he  was  18  years  of  age, 
when,  alone  and  with  but  a  few  doUai's,  he  came 
to  the  United  States,  where  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  John  T.  Good,  in  whose  oil  refinery  he 
worked  for  three  years,  followed  by  one  year's 
employ  at  Oil  City,  after  which  he  clerked  for 
some  time  for  Jacob  Good,  and  six  years  was 
with  Cook  &  Sons  In  1878,  he  opened  a  gro- 
cery on  West  Hill,  where  he  did  a  good  busi- 
ness. In  1880,  he  built  the  present  two-story 
building,  following  out  his  own  ideas  and  im- 
proving on  the  failures  of  others.  As  a  matter 
of  interest,  we  give  the  following  from  the 
Daily  Beacon,  descriptive  of  this  establishment : 

The  grocery  room  is  22x60  feet  in  the  clear;  it  has 
counters  on  either  side  with  a  cross  counter  in  the 
rear  end  of  the  room;  the  side  counters  contain  one 
of  the  new  features  in  the  way  of  glass  front  cases 
12  inches  high  and  10  inches  wide.  These  cases  are 
about  14  inches  long  and  are  directly  on  the  front 


margin  of  the  counter,  leaving  about  23  inches  of 
counter  room  in  the  rear.  There  are  some  60  of 
these  cases  which  will  at  once  be  seen  serve  to  dis- 
play a  large  amount  of  goods,  doing  away  with  hav- 
ing boxes  standing  around  witli  the  lids  half  off. 
Sugar,  crackers,  etc.,  are  kept  in  barrels  incased  in 
separable  apartments  behind  the  counters,  and  di- 
rectly above  them  are  all  kinds  of  packages  and 
canned  goods  on  shelves,  protected  from  dust  by 
glass  doors.  The  old  style  of  drawers  is  superseded 
with  permanent  Ijoxes  with  glass  door  covers,  show- 
ing tlie  goods  without  exposure.  Beneatli  the  coun- 
ters on  three-inch-liigh  platforms  is  large  space  for 
apples,  potatoes,  etc.,  in  full  sight  but  not  under 
foot  as  is  the  case  in  so  many  places,  and  all  this 
class  of  matter  being  on  platforms  is  free  from  the 
dust  tliat  naturally  accumulates  on  any  floor  in  a 
public  place.  All  classes  of  goods  are  classified  and 
all  articles  of  a  greasy  nature  are  separated  entirely 
from  other  goods,  occupying  the  space  behind  the 
j  rear  counter.  The  entrance  to  the  cellar  is  from  the 
I  warehouse  which  is  conveniently  reached  by  a  parti- 
i  tion  door.  By  this  arrangement  no  odors  from  the 
cellar  can  reach  the  grocery  proper  and  fm-nishes 
every  precaution  against  anything  objectionable  in 
the  grocer}'  department.  The  warehouse  is  arranged 
just  as  sj'stematically  as  the  grocery.  In  one  depart- 
ment is  a  tier  of  shelves  with  the  name  of  streets. 
When  an  order  is  filled,  tlie  goods  are  put  in  a  bas- 
ket and  placed  on  the  proper  shelf.  A  drive-way 
leading  through  the  warehouse,  the  deliverying  man 
can  drive  directly  to  his  place,  load  his  goods  and  be 
off,  doing  away  with  carrying  loads  of  goods  through 
the  store.  Tackling  is  provided  so  that  all  heav}' 
articles  do  not  have  to  be  lifted.  Molasses,  cider, 
oil,  etc.,  are  kept  in  a  department  in  the  wareroom; 
in  fact,  there  will  be  nothing  on  which  to  tear  or 
grease  yoiu-  clothes  as  you  walk  about  in  the  store- 
room, and  everything  will  be  open  to  inspection, 
and  yet  protected  against  dust  or  soiling  by  evapora- 
tion. 

Jan.  29,  1874,  he  married  Miss  Caroline 
Buchman,  of  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  and  have  one 
daughter  and  two  sons. 

HIRAM  J.  SPICER,  Akron,  son  of  Maj. 
Miner  Spicer,  was  born  in  Akron,  Oct.  24, 
1816,  near  the  springs,  about  forty  rods  from 
his  present  residence,  that  being  the  spot  where 
his  father  first  built  his  cabin.  He  worked  on 
the  farm  until  he  was  19  years  old  ;  he  went  to 
school  at  Middlebur}^  his  first  teacher  being 
one  Squire  Brown,  a  very  severe  man,  who  re- 
sorted to  the  "  gad  "  upon  the  slightest  misde- 
meanor, real  or  imaginary,  of  the  pupils.  These 
'gads"  were  first  roasted  and  then  twisted  to 
make  them  tough  in  order  that  they  might  hurt 
more,  and  some  were  notched  for  the  same  pur- 
pose. Subject  shared  the  same  lot  with  other 
school  children  in  those  days  for  three  months 
per  year,  until  he  was  19.  When  he  was  but 
9  years  old,  he  carried   the  mail  once  a  week 


i^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


779 


from  Akron  to  Bolivar,  a  distance  of  forty 
miles,  traveling  on  horseback,  and  continuing 
four  years,  except  during  tlie  winter  seasons. 
At  the  age  of  19,  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  with  one  Gideon  Gardner,  serving  for 
board  and  clothing  two  3'ears  ;  he  soon  after 
began  taking  contracts,  working  with  his  brother 
Miner,  who  was  a  millwright,  on  several  of  the 
early  mills  of  this  vicinit}'.  He  worked  for 
ten  years  on  the  Austin  Powder  Mills,  and  for 
several  j'ears  on  residences.  Feb.  31,  1839,  he 
married  Miss  Marilla  A.  King,  daughter  of 
Joshua  King,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Northampton  Township.  Their  children  are 
Avery  King,  of  Akron,  and  Alice  M.,  wife  of 
Sevillian  Payne,  of  Davis  Co.,  Mo.  Three  died 
when  young.  Our  subject  entered  the  employ 
of  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.,  in  1865,  and  has 
since  continued.  He  has  worked  in  woodwork, 
and  had  charge  of  the  repairs  of  the  shop-ma- 
chinery for  the  last  nine  years.  He  was  a 
Whig  and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  Harrison  ;  became  a  Free-Soiler  in  the  days 
of  Van  Buren,  and  a  Republican  at  the  organi- 
zation of  the  party.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  since  1872. 
His  wife  died  Jan.  19,  1861,  and,  in  August  of 
the  same  yea,Y,  he  married  Mrs.  Cerenia  L. 
Barnett,  of  Akron.  Ohio. 

JOSEPH  S.  SMITH,  druggist,  Akron  ;  son 
of  Christian  Smith,  was  born  in  Warren,  Warren 
Co.,  Penn.,  Dec.  4,  1855  ;  at  14,  he  entered  a 
drug  store  in  Warren,  where  he  remained 
four  and  a  half  years  as  clerk,  after  which  he 
entered  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1877, 
being  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  Philadelphia  house 
at  the  same  time.  In  the  fall  of  1877,  he  and 
his  brother  bought  a  drug  store  at  Wilkesbarre, 
Penn.,  continuing  until  1878,  when  thej'  sold 
out  and  bought  the  present  store  in  September, 
1878,  of  Sisler  &  Sorrick,  located  the  first  door 
north  of  the  post  office  ;  the}'  have  a  full  stock 
of  pure  drugs,  chemicals  and  sundries  ;  the}^ 
have  a  laboratory'  for  the  manufacture  of  fluid 
and  solid  extracts,  gelatine-coated  pills,  elixirs 
and  pharmaceutical  preparations  in  general  ; 
they  are  doing  a  prosperous  wholesale  and  re- 
tail business. 

SIMON  C.  SMITH,  druggist,  Akron  ;  was 
born  in  AVarren  Co..  Penn.,  May  25,  1850  ;  he 
attended  the  public  schools  of  Warren  until  he 
was  1 5,  when  he  clerked  in  the  post  office  under 


his  father  for  five  years  ;  in  1868,  he  clerked 
for  his  father  in  a  shoe  store,  and,  the  following 
year,  became  his  partner,  continuing  as  such 
until  January,  1877,  when  he  became  a  partner 
with  his  brother,  Joseph  S.,  at  Wilkesbarre, 
Penn.,  in  a  drug  store,  remaining  a  year,  when 
they  sold  out,  and,  under  tlie  firm  name  of 
Smith  Bros.,  purchased  their  present  drug  store 
at  193  South  Howard  street;  the  business 
rooms  are  80x22,  with  elegant  modern  appoint- 
ments. He  was  married  at  Indianapolis  Sep- 
tember, 1873,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Cale,  of  that 
place  ;  they  have  one  son  and  one  daughter. 

EDWARD  C.  SIMPSON,  Chief  Engineer  of 
Fire  Department,  Akron  ;  is  a  son  of  Thomas  C. 
and  Mary  J.  (Hildreth)  Simpson,  and  was  born 
in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  Feb.  18,  1836  ;  in  his 
17th  year,  he  came  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  with  his 
father's  family,  and,  in  1854,  came  to  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  where  he  served  an  apprenticeship  with 
Bill  Bros.,  at  the  machinist's  trade,  for  about 
three  and  a  half  years  ;  he  worked  at  different 
points  in  Ohio  until  24,  when  he  went  to  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  where  he  worked  two  years  at  his 
trade  ;  in  November,  1864,  he  came  to  Akron 
and  entered  the  employ  of  the  A.  &  G.  W.  R.  R. 
Co.  as  mechanic  until  June,  1865,  when  he  went 
to  Kent  in  the  employ  of  the  same  company 
until  1873,  when  he  came  back  to  Akron,  and 
was  employed  in  the  C,  Mt.  V.  &  C.  R.  R.  shops  ; 
in  1875,  he  became  foreman  of  the  finishing  de- 
partment of  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.'s  shops, 
emplo3'ing  a  force  at  present  of  ninety  men  ; 
he  entered  the  fire  department  in  1876,  and  w^as 
appointed  Assistant  Engineer,  which  he  held 
until  June,  1878,  when  he  was  appointed  Chief 
Engineer,  a  position  he  still  holds.  He  was 
married  June  3.  1862,  to  Miss  Abbie  Wilson,  of 
Warrensville,  Ohio  ;  the}'  have  three  children. 

WILLIAM  SHUTT, \-etired  farmer;  P.  0. 
Akron ;  is  a  son  of  George,  the  son  of  Jacob 
Shutt,  who  came  to  America  from  Zweibrecben, 
Germany,  before  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
and  was  sold  by  the  ship's  captain  to  pay  his 
pa.?sage  ;  after  his  marriage,  he  took  up  a  large 
tract  of  land  at  Pittsburgh,  where  lie  resided  at 
the  time  of  Gen.  Braddock's  defeat,  and,  on  ac- 
count of  the  troublesome  Indians,  thej'  returned 
to  Maryland,  to  a  farm  near  Boonesboro,  Wash- 
ington Co.,  two  miles  northeast  of  the  battle- 
ground of  Antietam.  He  had  seven  sons  and 
one  daughter^ Jacob,  born  Aug.  15,  1764; 
John,  born  Ma}'  20, 1766,  died  at  the  age  of  96, 


»^ ! 


.^::-=- 


780 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio  ;  Peter,  born  Jan.  18,  1768  ; 
Philip,  born  Dec.  1,  1770  ;  George  (the  father 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch),  and  Henry,  his 
twin  bi'other,  born  Jan.  10,  1772  (George  died 
Sept.  17,  1847)  ;  Adam,  born  March  15,  1774  ; 
Catharine,  born  Jan  16,  1776  ;  all  are  dead. 
The  father  of  our  subject  married  Mary  Mag- 
dalena  Kreitzer,  who  was  also  a  native  of  the 
State  of  Maryland  ;  they  had  seven  sons  and 
two  daughters — Henr3',  Elias,  John,  Susannah, 
Jacob,  George,  Abraham,  William  (our  subject, 
born  July  16,  1822),  and  Margaret;  William 
and  George  are  the  only  two  living.  The  parents 
sold  the  old  homestead  formerly  owned  by  the 
grandfather,  and  moved  in  1836  to  Paint  Town- 
ship, Holmes  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  resided  until 
their  death  ;  in  1852,  William  moved  to  Tus- 
carawas Township,  Stark  Co.,  where  he  resided 
fifteen  years,  and,  in  1867,  removed  to  Coventry 
Township,  where  he  remained  until  in  Decem- 
ber, 1877,  when  he  came  to  the  city  of  Akron, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  married 
Nov.  7,  1844,  to  Catharine  Moyer,  who  died 
about  five  years  later,  leaving  one  daughter, 
who  died  May  2,  1873  ;  he  was  re- married  Oct. 
24,  1850,  to  Amanda  Cook,  daughter  of  Adam 
and  Regine  (Harmon)  Cook,  natives  of  Frank- 
lin Co.,  Penn  ;  the}'  had  two  children — Samau- 
tha,  born  May  6,  1852,  now  Mrs.  W.  M.  Van- 
dersall,  residing  near  East  Liberty  ;  and  Uriah, 
born  Nov.  29,  1856,  died  May  9,  1873.  He  is 
a  stanch  Republican.  He  received  a  liberal 
education,  and  began  teaching  school  in  1844, 
which  he  followed  for  several  terms.  He  and 
family  are  members  of  the  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation. 

COL.  DUDLEY  SEWARD,  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  Akron  ;  was  born  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  Jan. 
14,  1819.  He  is  a  son  of  T.  G.  and  Elizabeth 
Seward,  and  the  fifth  of  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren. His  parents,  in  1812,  removed  to  Water- 
town,  N.  Y.  In  1835,  Dudley  went  to  Man- 
chester (same  State),  where  he  clerked  in  a  gen- 
eral store  some  four  years,  after  which  he  taught 
school  in  winter,  and  worked  on  the  farm  in 
summer,  until  1842,  when  he  came  to  Ohio,  and 
first  located  in  Middlebury,  but  went  to  Wads- 
worth,  then  to  Tallmadge,  and  finall}'  to  Akron. 
In  the  fall  of  1847,  he  was  appointed  Deputy 
Sheriff,  and  served  five  years,  when  he  was 
elected  Sheriff,  and  served  two  terms.  In  April, 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  19th  0.  V.  I.,  Co.  G, 
of  which  he  was  Sergeant.     At  the  end  of  his 


term  of  three  months'  service,  he,  in  company 
with  George  A.  Purington  (now  Captain  in  the 
9th  U.  S.  C),  recruited  Co.  A,  for  the  2d  0.  C, 
Purington  being  Captain,  and  Mr.  Seward  First 
Lieutenant.  He  remained  in  the  service  until 
October,  1865,  and  was  promoted  successively, 
by  regular  gradation,  to  Colonel  of  the  legi- 
ment,  which  position  he  held  when  mustered 
out.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness, 
Rich  Mountain,  etc.,  on  the  Morgan  raid,  the 
Wilson  raid  and  in  other  hard  service.  Upon 
his  return  from  the  war,  he  remained  two  years 
in  Akron,  and  was  assistant  clerk  in  Ohio  Senate 
one  term.  He  was  then  appointed  Captain  in 
8th  U  S.  Cavalry,  and  served  in  California, 
Oregon  and  the  Territories  ;  in  the  regular 
army  four  years.  In  1871,  he  returned  home, 
and  in  1873,  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
which  office  he  has  held  ever  since.  He  was 
married,  Nov.  2,  1848,  to  Miss  Lois  Clark,  a  na- 
tive of  this  count}'.  Three  children  were  the 
fruit  of  this  marriage  ;  two  living,  Louis  D. 
and  Mary  C. 

DAVID  A.  SCOTT,  machine  forger,  Akron ; 
was  born  in  Springfield  Township,  Summit  Co., 
Ohio,  Nov.  21,  1812,  and  is  a  son  of  Josiah  and 
Mary  J.  (Ii'vin)  Scott,  who  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Virginia,  and  were  married  in 
Pennsylvania.  In  1811,  they  moved  to  Ohio, 
by  team,  and  settled  in  Stark  Co.,  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  moving  to  Springfield,  now  Sum- 
mit Co.  He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  followed 
his  trade,  in  connection  with  a  small  farm,  on 
which  he  located,  near  Mogadore,  where  he 
lived  until  his  death  in  1824  ;  she  died  in  1820. 
David  A.  (the  subject),  lived  at  home  until  he 
was  9  years  old,  and  was  then  apprenticed  to 
the  blacksmith  trade,  with  Mr.  Abraham  De 
Haven,  of  Springfield,  and  served  with  him  un- 
til he  became  of  age.  He  then  went  to  Mid- 
dlebury, where  he  worked  at  his  trade  until 
the  fall  of  1836.  After  some  time  spent  at 
Madison,  he  went  into  business  for  himself,  and 
in  1845  removed  to  Tallmadge,  Summit  Co. 
Four  years  later,  he  removed  to  x\kron,  and 
has  worked  at  his  trade  since,  except  a  few 
years,  when  he  served  as  Constable,  later  as 
Deputy  Sheriff,  and,  during  the  war,  as  Deputy 
United  States  Marshal.  He  held  the  office  of 
Deputy  Sheriff  eight  years.  He  was  married, 
Nov.  21,  1838,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Burton,  a 
native  of  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  a  daughter 
of  Smith  and  Elizabeth  (Wilcox)  Burton,  who 


^c 


l^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


781 


came  to  Middlebury,  Ohio,  in  1831.  He  con- 
ducted a  sash  and  blind  factory  there,  it  being 
the  first  of  the  kind  in  the  county.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  to  him,  two  of  whom  are  living, 
viz.,  George  S.,  merchant  in  Akron  ;  Lois  E., 
at  home.  Of  the  two  deceased,  William  I.  was 
telegraph  operator,  and  died  in  1866,  and  Walter 
B.  was  Captain  of  Co.  H,  104th  0.  V.  I.,  and 
died  in  Cincinnati,  April  23,  186  '•.  Mr.  Scott 
was  an  earl}'  resident  of  the  count}^,  and  often 
has  shot  deer  and  turkeys  where  Akron  now 
stands. 

M.  SEIBP]RLING,  Secretary  and  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Akron  Straw  Board  Company, 
Middlebury  (Sixth  Ward),  Akron  ;  is  a  native 
of  Norton  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
was  born  on  his  father's  farm  Jan.  16,  1839, 
and  lived  at  home  until  he  was  25  years  of  age. 
He  is  the  fourth  in  a  family  of  twelve  children, 
born  to  Nathan  and  Catharine  (Peters)  Seiber- 
ling,  and  received  a  common-school  education. 
In  the  spring  of  1844,  he  took  the  management 
of  a  farm  and  saw-mill  he  and  his  l)rother  J.  F. 
had  previousl}'  purchased,  and  conducted  the 
business  for  five  years,  when  he  sold  to  his 
brother  and  moved  to  Canton,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business  for  three  years. 
He  then  sold  out  and  came  to  Akron,  and  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  Akron  Straw  Board 
Company,  and  was  made  the  Superintendent, 
and  the  following  year  he  also  took  the  office 
of  Secretary  ;  both  offices  he  has  held  since. 
He  was  married  in  the  fall  of  1863  to  Miss 
Sarah  L.  INIiller,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
a  daughter  of  John  Miller,  who  came  to  this 
county  about  1843.  B}-  this  marriage,  there 
have  been  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing, viz.,  Emma,  Alton,  Katie,  Ella,  Frederick, 
Laird  and  George.  Mr.  S.  has  always  been  a 
Republican  in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
English  Lutheran  Church,  in  the  affairs  of  which 
he  takes  an  active  interest,  and  has  been  both 
Deacon  and  Elder.  In  the  spring  of  1880,  he 
bought  a  farm  of  100  acres,  located  in  Norton 
Township,  about  eight  miles  southwest  of  the 
city,  which  joins  the  old  homestead,  and  which 
he  operates,  hiring  the  labor. 

FRANKLIN  G.  STIPE,  painter,  Akron, 
eldest  son  of  Harrison  and  Anna  (Neutchen) 
Stipe,  of  Green  Township.  He  was  born  at 
Greentown,  Stark  Co.,  April  23,  1846,  and 
when  quite  small  his  parents  removed  to  Green 
Township,    Summit    Co.,   where  Franklin   was 


raised  and  educated.  He  attended  the  common 
schools,  and  at  the  age  of  14,  entered  the  Semi- 
nary at  Greensburg,  in  which  institution  he  re- 
ceived instructions  for  three  or  four  terms. 
During  the  next  few  years  he  taught  school  in 
various  districts  of  Summit  County,  teaching 
during  the  winter  and  assisting  his  father  on 
the  farm  in  the  summer.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Ohio  National  Guards  during  the  rebellion, 
and  as  such  was  called  into  active  military 
duty  in  1864,  serving  from  May  to  September 
in  Co.  H,  164th  0.  V.  I.  About  the  year  1866, 
he  removed  to  Akron,  and  since  that  time  has 
been  engaged  in  that  city  at  painting.  He  was 
married  Sept.  7,  1865,  to  Soviah  Koontz,  who 
was  born  Nov.  17,  1843.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  Jonas  and  Sarah  (France)  Koontz.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stipe  ai'e  members  of  the  First  Methodist 
Church  of  Akron.  They  have  four  children, 
— Nora  Elnor,  Harry  Jonas,  Mable  Lonely  and 
Mattie  Maria. 

JACOB  SNYDER,  President  of  W.  S.  &  Co., 
and  architect,  Akron  ;  was  born  in  Columbia 
Co.,  Penn.,  March  12,  1823,  and  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Miller)  Sn^'der,  natives  of 
Eastern  Penns3'lvania.  He  was  a  contractor 
and  builder,  and  died  in  Columbia  Countj-,  in 
1849.  She  died  there  about  1854.  Jacob,  the 
subject,  lived  at  home  until  1845,  during  which 
time  he  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and 
builder,  and  also  received  an  academic  educa- 
tion. In  1845,  he  entered  Dickinson  College,  at 
Carlisle,  Penn.,  and  remained  there  three  years, 
taking  a  genei'al  college  course,  also  a  theoret- 
ical course  in  architecture.  He  returned  home 
and  for  two  years  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building  and  practical  ai'chitecture.  He  was 
married  May  21,  1849,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Rine- 
hart,  a  native  of  Cumberland  Co.,  Penn.  He 
came  to  Ohio  in  1853,  and  settled  in  Akron, 
where  he  was  for  a  time  connected  with  the 
grocery  trade.  About  1855,  he  engaged  in  his 
business  of  contracting  and  building  and  archi- 
tecture, which  he  followed  until  1870,  since 
which  time  he  has  devoted  most  of  his  time  to 
architecture.  In  1863,  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship in  the  lumber  manufacturing  business, 
with  Messrs.  Weary,  Wilcox  &  Jackson;  and 
still  continues  his  interest  in  the  business,  most 
of  the  time  having  been  President.  He  has 
served  as  a  member  of  Board  of  Education  and 
as  Trustee  of  Portage  Township.  Of  his  mar- 
riage there  were  four  children,  one  of  whom  is 


-^ 


if^ 


13  i 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


living,  Mrs.  B.  L.  Dodge,  of  Akron.  He  was 
raisetl  a  Democrat  and  adhered  to  tliat  party 
until  tlie  second  election  of  President  Lincoln, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  a  Republican.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  since  1842,  and  taken  an  active  part  in 
its  affairs.  He  was  Superintendent  of  the  Sab- 
bath school  a  number  of  years,  and  is  now  a 
teacher  and  historian  of  the  same.  Mr.  S. 
stands  among  the  first  in  having  contributed 
to  the  modern  and  advanced  idea  of  Sabbath 
scliool  architecture,  and  at  present  his  practice 
in  this  kind  of  design  extends  throughout  the 
State. 

HUGO  SCHUMACHER,  book-keeper,  etc., 
Akron,  Ohio  ;  the  oldest  son  of  William  Schu- 
macher, was  born  in  Saxonj-,  German}^  Jan.  14, 
1853  ;  lie  was  6  3'ears  old  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  the  United  States  and  to  Akron  ; 
from  1 865  to  1868,  he  attended  a  private  school 
at  Braunschweig,  and  returned  to  Akron  in  the 
latter  \'ear,  and  entered  the  mills  as  packer, 
until  1871,  when  he  became  head  book-keeper 
and  cashier  for  F.  Schumacher,  a  position  he  has 
ever  since  held.  In  May,  1875,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Amelia  Mills,  of  Akron  ;  they  have  one 
son. 

DR.  WILLIAM  SISLER,  Akron,  is  a  native 
of  Lycoming  Co.,  Penn.,  and  was  born  Sept.  12, 
1819.  He  is  the  sixth  child  in  a  family  often 
children  born  to  Lewis  and  IMargaret  (Marsh) 
Sisler.  They  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  moved  to  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1826,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming,  where  he  died.  Mrs.  Sisler 
continued  her  residence  there  until  1850,  when 
she  came  to  Manchester,  Ohio,  and  lived  with 
her  children  until  her  death,  in  1872.  At  the 
age  of  21  our  subject  came  to  Manchester,  Ohio, 
where  he  followed  teaching  and  fYirming.  In  1843 
he  began  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  Fernando 
Dalwick,  of  Canal  Fulton,  and  in  1846  or  1847, 
he  moved  to  Manchester,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
began  to  practice,  his  graduation  at  the  Med- 
ical Department  of  Western  Reserve  College 
having  been  delayed  because  of  his  limited 
means.  Upon  the  graduation  of  his  brother,  in 
1852,  they  formed  a  partnership  which  con- 
tinued until  1873.  During  the  war,  he  responded 
to  the  call  of  Gov.  Tod,  and  served  in  the  hos- 
pitals after  the  battles  of  South  Mountain  and 
Antietam.  In  the  fall  of  1867,  he  was  elected 
on  the  Republican  ticket  Representative  from 
this  County,  to  the  State  Legislature,  and  served 


one  year.  Upon  coming  to  Akron,  he,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother-in-law,  John  F.  Hoy, 
opened  a  drug  store,  which  was  continued  until 
the  fall  of  1879.  During  his  residence  in  Akron, 
the  Doctor  has  not  practiced  medicine,  ex- 
cept to  accommodate  some  of  his  friends.  In 
the  fall  of  1875,  he  was  elected  Count}^  Com- 
missioner, and  was  re-elected  in  the  fall  of  1878. 
On  July  23,  1846,  he  married  Miss  L.  R.  Hoy, 
a  native  of  Manchester,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  of 
which  place  her  parents  are  pioneers.  Six 
children  were  born,  of  whom  three  are  living, 
viz.,  Mary  I.,  now  Mrs.  Diehl ;  Emma,  now  Mrs. 
Neiburg,  and  Henry. 

JUDGE  NEWELL  D.  TIBBALS,  Akron. 
Alfred  M.  Tibbals  was  born  in  Granville,  Mass., 
Aug.  4,  1797  ;  he  came  to  Ohio  with  his  father 
in  1804,  and  settled  at  Deerfield,  Portage  Co., 
on  wild  land  ;  here  he  followed  farming  until 
his  death,  in  1858,  being  61  3'ears  old  ;  he  was 
a  successful  farmer,  and  one  of  the  early  and 
influential  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  ;  he  never  sought  public  office. 
He  married,  in  1821,  Miss  Martha  Swein,  a 
native  of  New  Jerse}^,  and  one  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Salem.  She  was  born  in  1800, 
and  is  still  living ;  she  was  the  mother  of 
five  sons,  one  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of 
13  ;  those  living  are  J.  Lincoln,  a  farmer  near 
Kent ;  Frederick  D.,  a  farmer  on  the  old  home- 
stead ;  Curtice  S.,  a  farmer  in  Deerfield,  and 
Newell  D.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was 
born  in  Deerfield,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  on  Sept.  18, 
1833,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  17,  at 
which  age  he  entered  the  IMcLain's  Academy,  at 
Salem,  Ohio,  from  which  he  graduated  in  the 
spring  of  1853.  In  September  of  that  year  he 
came  to  Akron  and  entered  the  law  office  of 
Otis  &  Walcott,  where  he  studied  until  Sep- 
tember, 1855,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
at  Akron,  and  at  once  opened  an  office,  engag- 
ing in  active  practice  until  1875,  when  he  was 
elected  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
of  the  Second  Subdivision  of  the  Fourth  Ju- 
dicial District — -Summit,  Medina  and  Lorain 
Counties.  To  this  position  he  was  re-elected  in 
1880,  for  five  years,  to  date  from  Ma}-,  1881. 
In  the  spring  of  1865,  he  was  elected  City 
Solicitor  (first),  and  filled  that  office  two  terms, 
having  been  influential  in  securing  the  present 
charter  for  the  city  of  Akron,  being  emplo3'ed 
by  the  Council  to  assist  Mr.  H.  W.  IngersoU, 
Recorder  of  the  incorporated  village  of  Akron 


If 


'>> 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


783 


under  old  charter.  la  the  fall  of  1865,  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate  from  Summit  and 
Portage  Counties ;  in  1860,  he  was  elected 
Prosecuting  Attorney,  and  re-elected  two  years 
later  ;  in  1870,  he  participated  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  charter  and  other  papers  for  the 
organization  of  Buchtel  College,  and  has  been 
a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees  ever  since 
its  organization.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
City  Board  of  Education,  and  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ohio  National  Guards.  Oct.  22, 
1856,  he  married  Miss  Lucy  A.  Morse,  of 
Akron,  Ohio  ;  she  bore  him  three  daughters 
and  two  sons. 

COL.  DAVID  W.  THOMAS,  lumber  and 
planiug-mill,  Akron ;  a  native  of  Millersburg, 
Ohio  ;  was  born  March  9,  1841,  and  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Jane  (Wilson)  Thomas.  His  father 
was  mostly  brought  up  in  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  at  the  age  of  20  went  to  Holmes  Co.,  where 
he  was  married  in  about  1840.  His  wife  died 
in  1842,  leaving  an  only  child,  David  W.,  the 
subject,  but  an  infant.  In  1845,  Mr.  Thomas 
came  to  Akron,  and  about  the  year  1847, 
married.  Miss  Mary  Caldwell,  of  Akron,  who 
survives  him,  and  had  six  children.  He  died 
in  1873.  Only  two  of  the  last  family  of  chil- 
dren are  now  living — Louisa  J.,  wife  of  D.  A. 
James,  of  Akron  ;  Eva,  wife  of  William  Picton, 
of  Akron.  For  some  years,  Mr.  T.  did  a  large 
contracting  business,  and  added  lumber,  finally 
establishing  planing-mills  on  Market  street. 
He  built  many  of  the  public  buildings  of  Akron ; 
was  a  member  of  the  Council  for  several  years, 
and  prominently  connected  with  the  interests 
of  the  city.  He  was  a  Free-Soiler  and  one  of 
the  first  Republicans  ;  was  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church  and  a  devoted  Christian.  David 
W.,  the  subject,  was  4  3'ears  of  age  when  his 
father  came  to  Akron.  He  here  attended 
school  until  he  was  16  years  old,  when  he  went 
to  Tallmadge  to  learn  carriage-making  with 
Oviatt  &  Sperry,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of 
four  3ears,  returning  to  Akron  in  February, 
1861.  In  April  following,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G, 
of  the  ''old  19th,"  0.  V.  I.,  for  three  months, 
under  Capt.  Lewis  P.  Buckley,  afterward  Colonel 
of  the  29th  0.  V.  I.  The  19th  served  in 
West  Virginia  until  its  term  expired,  and  was 
in  the  battle  of  Rich  Mountain.  In  October, 
1861,  Mr.  T.  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  of  the  29th  0. 
V.  I.  Their  first  engagement  was  at  Winchester 
in  which  they  were  commanded  by  Gen.  Shields. 


He  was  also  at  Port  Republic,  in  which  his  com- 
pany came  out  with  but  fifty  men ;  at  Cedar 
Mountain ;  Chancellersville,  where  he  was 
slightly  wounded  by  a  fragment  of  shell,  and  at 
Gettysburg.  They  were  next  sent  to  New  York 
to  quell  the  riot  there,  consequent  upon  the 
draft.  Upon  their  return  the}'  were  sent  to  the 
department  of  the  southwest,  and  were  at  Wau- 
hatchie  and  Lookout  Mountain.  Dec.  10,  1863, 
the  almost  entire  regiment  re-enlisted,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  veteran  furlough,  joined  Gen. 
Sherman  in  the  Atlanta  campaign.  Mr.  T.  par- 
ticipated in  all  the  engagements  of  that  stirring 
period.  He  was  made  Sergeant  Major,  and  for 
a  time  commanded  Co.  H,  as  Orderly  Sergeant. 
At  Atlanta  he  was  commissioned  First  Lieu- 
tenant ;  went  with  Sherman  in  his  •'  march  to 
the  sea,"  and,  reaching  Savanah,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  Captain,  and  assigned  to  Co.  A,  the 
post  of  honor.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  June  22,  1865.  On 
his  return  to  Akron  he  engaged  in  the  lumber 
and  planing-mill  business  with  his  father,  until 
1873,  when,  upon  the  death  of  his  father,  Charles 
Miller  and  son  became  partners  with  him,  re- 
maining so  until  1877,  when  subject  sold  out 
his  interest  to  R.  N.  Kratz.  The  firm  of  Mil- 
ler &  Kratz  closed  up  in  1878,  and  subject 
leased  the  planing-mill  and  lumber-yard,  and 
conducted  the  business  two  years,  when  he 
bought  it  and  has  since  done  well  in  it,  employ- 
ing in  the  building  season  from  sixty  to  one 
hundred  men.  In  1876,  subject  was  elected 
Colonel  of  the  9th  0.  N.  G.,  which  was  after- 
ward consolidated  with  the  8th  Regiment,  and  he 
was  assigned  ten  full  companies  ;  it  is  one  of 
the  best-drilled  and  appointed  regiments  in  the 
State.  He  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  G. 
A.  R.  since  its  organization,  and  at  the  annual 
Encampment  in  1880,  he  was  elected  Depart- 
ment Commander.  He  was  married  Sept.  1 1, 
1868,  to  Miss  Alice  Hale,  a  daughter  of  J.  M. 
Hale,  of  Akron.  They  had  four  children,  viz.: 
George  H.,  James  A.,  Frank  and  Elizabeth. 
His  wife  died  Jan.  11,  1880. 

ALBERT  B.  TINKER,  Financial  Secretary 
of  Buchtel  College,  Akron ;  was  born  Jan. 
28.  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Horace  and  So- 
phronia  (Skinner)  Tinker.  He  is  a  native  of 
Portage  Co.,  and  was  brought  up  on  a  farm 
until  18,  when  he  entered  (in  1870)  Hiram  Col- 
lege, teaching  during  the  winters.  In  the  fall 
of  1873,  he  entered  Buchtel  College,  and  gradu- 


e'fV 


784 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


ated  in  June,  1876,  when  he  retired  to  the  farm, 
his  health  being  impaired.  He  taught  during  the 
winter  until  1878,  when  he  came  to  Akron,  and 
entered  the  law  office  of  Green  &  Marvin,  where 
he  studied  until  1879,  when  he  was  elected 
Financial  Secretary  of  Buchtel  College,  a  posi- 
tion he  has  since  filled.  He  was  married  Dec. 
25,  187(i,  to  Miss  Georgie  Olin,  of  Windsor, 
Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio. 

JAMES  B.  TAPLIN,  Akron.  In  Clermont, 
N.  H.,  on  Aug.  12,  1812,  was  born  to  John  and 
Abigail  (Sperry)  Taplin.  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  whose  poi'trait  appears  in  this  work. 
At  the  age  of  5  years,  his  parents  moved  to 
New  Haven,  Vt,  where  he  lived  three  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time,  he  was  taken  with  them 
to  Franklin  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  which  region  he  lived 
until  about  22  yeai's  of  age.  His  3-outh-time 
was  employed  in  farming  and  attending  school; 
the  last  six  months  of  his  school  life  were 
passed  in  the  Franklin  Academy,  at  Malone, 
N.  Y.  When  20  years  of  age,  he  began  to  learn 
carpentering,  but  only  worked  at  that  a  short 
time,  when  he  began  mill  vvrigh ting,  and  followed 
that  in  New  Yo\-k  State  until  1 834.  In  the 
fall  of  1834,  he  came  to  Akron,  Ohio,  partly  by 
canal,  and  partly  on  foot ;  he  then  worked  at 
carpentering  for  a  short  time,  but  followed  mill- 
wrighting  until  1848,  during  which  time  he 
worked  on  most  of  the  earl}'  mills.  In  October, 
1839,  he  married  Miss  Rachel  Grandy,  of  Port 
Byron,  N.  Y.,  who  had  taught  for  some  time  in 
Akron.  In  1840-41,  he  built  a  large  mill  in 
Constantine,  Mich.,  returning  to  Akron  in  July, 
1841.  In  compan}'^  with  G.  D.  Bates  and  Chas. 
Webster,  under  the  firm  of  G.  D.  Bates  &  Co., 
he  started  the  Globe  Foundry  at  Akron,  in  1848, 
in  a  small  building,  and  on  a  small  scale.  In 
some  two  or  three  years,  Bates  retired,  and  the 
business  was  continued  l\y  the  firm  of  Webster 
&  Taplin,  which  continued  with  some  changes 
until  1860,  when  fire  destro3'ed  a  portion  of  the 
work,  and  the  subject  retired  ;  in  1861,  the 
present  foundry  was  built,  the  firm  being  Taplin, 
Rice  &  Ford,  as  partnership  until  1867,  when  a 
stock  company  was  formed,  and  the  business 
incorporated  under  the  name  of  Taplin,  Rice  & 
Co.,  which  t;ontinues.  Of  his  marriage,  there 
are  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  viz.,  John  L., 
superintendent  of  machinery  department;  Chas. 
G.,  book-keeper  for  Standard  Oil  Co.,  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  and  Ella,  who  is  still  at  home.  In 
addition  to  these,  there  were  three   children, 


two  of  whom  died  in  infanc}'.  and  one  son,  Jas. 
F.,  died  at  7.  The  subject  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Council. 

WILLIAM  H.  UPSON,  attorney,  Akron, 
son  of  Daniel  and  Polly  (Wright)  Upson,  was 
born  Jan.  11,  1823,  at  Worthington,  Franklin 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  until  his  10th  3'ear, 
when,  with  his  father's  family,  he  moved  to 
Tallmadge  Township,  this  county.  At  the  age 
of  15,  he  entered  Western  Reserve  College, 
Hudson,  as  a  member  of  the  Freshman  Class, 
and  graduated  from  that  institution  in  July, 
1842,  standing  second  in  his  class  in  scholar- 
ship, and  delivering  the  salutatory  at  its  com- 
mencement exercises.  Directly  on  leaving  col- 
lege, he  began  the  study  of  law  under  the 
direction  of  Judge  Reuben  Hitchcock,  of 
Painesville,  Ohio,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
the  period  of  two  years,  when  he  entered  the 
Law  Department  of  Yale  College,  where  he  at- 
tended one  year.  In  September,  1845,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Cleveland,  and,  in  Jan- 
uary of  the  following  year,  began  his  profession 
at  Akron,  where  he  has  continued  in  successful 
practice  ever  since.  As  general  attorney  for 
the  Atlantic  &  Great  Western  Railwa}'  Com- 
pany (now  the  N.  Y.,  P.  &  O.  R.  R.  Co.),  and, 
later,  as  counsel  for  its  Receiver,  his  attention 
for  years  has  been  especially  directed  to  rail- 
way matters,  in  the  important  litigations  of 
which  he  has  been  called  much  into  other 
States,  and  twice  to  Europe.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican.  He  was  elected  Prosecuting 
Attorney  of  this  county  in  1848,  and  served  in 
that  capacity  two  3'ears.  He  was  elected  to 
the  State  Senate  in  1853  ;  to  the  Forty-first 
Congress  from  the  Eighteenth  District,  com- 
prising the  counties  of  Cuyahoga,  Summit  and 
Lake  (usualh'  called  the  Cleveland  District),  in 
1868,  by  a  majority  of  over  6,000,  and  was  re- 
elected in  1870.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Committee  on  Reconstruction  in  the  Forty-first 
Congress  ;  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Pri- 
vate Land  Claims,  in  the  Fortj'-second,  and  a 
member  of  the  Committees  on  Elections  and 
Manufactures,  in  both.  He  was  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  opposition  to  the  measure  giving 
back-pay  to  members,  from  its  inception.  When 
under  cover  of  a  general  appropriation  bill  it 
was  brought  before  the  House  for  adoption,  his 
moral  sense  was  keen  enough  to  discover  at 
once  the  wrong  sought  to  be  perpetrated,  and 


-^ 


'k* 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


785 


securing,  by  persistent  effort,  a  recognition  from 
the  Cliair,  be  denounced  it  in  no  uncertain 
words,  and  made  the  motion  to  strike  out  the 
objectionable  clause.  This  was  the  key-note  of 
opposition  to  what  is  known  as  the  "  salary- 
grab  ;  "  others,  recognizing  the  justice  of  his 
position,  joined  him  in  that  strenuous  fight 
against  the  measure,  that  gained  for  him  and 
them  the  hearty  approval  and  thanks  of  an  un- 
divided country.  The  old  Eighteenth  (Cleve- 
land) District  was  recognized  as  one  of  the 
most  important  and  influential  in  the  nation. 
Its  wealth,  its  growing  and  diversified  interests 
and  industries,  the  character  of  its  people,  all 
combined  to  make  the  office  of  its  representa- 
tive one  of  peculiar  honor,  responsibility  and 
influence.  The  trust  reposed  in  him  was  so 
well  performed  that  when,  upon  the  close  of  his 
second  term,  he  withdrew  from  political  life, 
its  press  and  people,  without  regard  to*  party,' 
gave  him  the  warmest  and  most  gratifying  ap- 
proval. He  was  a  delegate  to  the  National 
Convention,  at  Baltimore,  which  renominated 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864,  and  was  a  delegate 
at  lai'ge  from  Ohio  to  the  Convention  at  Cin- 
cinnati, which  nominated  Rutherford  B.  Hayes. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Western  Reserve  and  Oberlin  Colleges,  and  also 
of  Lake  Erie  Female  Seminary,  at  Painesville, 
Ohio.  He  was  first  President  of  the  Summit 
Co.  Bar  Association,  and  is  now  a  member  of 
the  Executive  Committee  of  the  State  Bar  As-  ' 
sociation.  On  May  20,  1856,  he  married  Miss  I 
Julia  A.  Ford,  of  Akron.  The}'  have  two  sons 
and  two  daughters. 

P.  UPTNGTON,  harness-maker,  Akron  ;  the 
leading  dealer  in  South  Akron  in  harness,  sad- 
dles, etc.  Came  to  Akron  in  1848,  and  began 
at  "jour"  work  ;  he  followed  his  trade  in  this 
way  for  about  one  year,  and  then  began  business 
on  his  own  account.  He  was  born  March  3, 1821 , 
in  County  Cork,  Ireland ;  he  learned  his  trade 
with  his  father,  and  received  a  fair  education  in 
his  native  land.  In  1847 — the  3'ear  of  the  great 
famine  in  Ireland — he  was  one  of  a  committee 
whose  business  it  was  to  distribute  the  dona- 
tions. In  1848,  as  before  stated,  he  came  to 
Akron,  where,  after  engaging  in  business  on  his 
own  account,  he  continued  it  without  interrup- 
tion, except  during  the  war,  when  he  spent  a 
time  in  the  trimming  department  of  Mr.  Col- 
lins' carriage  factory.  In  1876,  he  built  the 
store  he  now  occupies,  which  is  24  feet  frontage 


b}-  55  feet  deep,  three  stories  and  basement, 
and  located  near  the  corner  of  Main  and  Ex- 
change streets  ;  he  also  owns  considerable  real 
estate  in  diff^erent  parts  of  the  city.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  order  of  A.,  F.  &  A.  M..  and  of 
the  following  Lodges  :  Akron  Lodge,  No.  83  ; 
Washington  Chapter.  No.  25  ;  Akron  Council, 
Nq.  42  ;  and  Akron  Commandery,  No.  25.  He 
was  formerly  a  member  of  Massillon  Command- 
ery No.  4,  and,  upon  the  organization  of  Akron 
Commandery,  he  became  one  of  the  charter 
members. 

W.  R.  UPHAM,  boot  and  shoemaker.  Middle- 
bury  ;  was  born  in  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  in  1810,  and 
was  brought  up  on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  17, 
he  was  appi'enticed  to  his  trade,  and,  after  com- 
pleting same,  went  to  Burlington,  Yt.,  where  he 
worked  for  one  3'ear,  thence  to  Rochester,  N.. 
Y.',  remaining  there  one  year,  and,  in  the  fall  of 
1833,  came  to  Akron.  In  the  spring  of  1844, 
he  moved  to  Middlebury,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  worked  at  shoe-making  until 
1850,  when  he  went  to  keeping  hotel  in  the 
Temperance  House  ;  also  conducted  a  livery 
and  feed  stable  until  1856.  He  then  sold 
matches  for  six  or  seven  years,  traveling  in 
Ohio,  Pennsjdvania  and  Virginia,  after  which 
he  resumed  his  trade,  and  has  worked  at  it  ever 
since.  He  served  as  Constable  in  1848  ;  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1870,  but  did 
not  qualif}'  or  serve.  He  was  a  Whig  in  poli- 
tics, and,  upon  the  organization  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  adopted  its  principles.  He  was 
married,  in  1834,  to  Miss  Susan  E.  Burns,  a 
native  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  ten  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  seven  of  whom  are  living — 
William  Potter  (lives  at  Red  Wing,  Minn.), 
Almira  (Mrs.  Robert  Yance,  also  lives  at  Red 
Wing),  Elizabeth  (now  Mrs.  George  Capell, 
lives  in  Detroit,  Mich.),  Ella  (Mrs.  James  Cur- 
rans,  lives  in  Middlebury),  George  (Red  Wing, 
Minn.),  Charles  (lives  in  Iowa),  Walter  Potter 
(lives  at  home) ;  all  are  married  except  George 
and  Walter. 

DR.  W.  J.  UNDERWOOD,  physician,  Akron  ; 
was  born  in  Dillsburg,  York  Co.,  Penn.,  3Iarch 
20,  1840,  and  is  the  fourth  of  five  children  born 
to  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Wells)  Underwood.  His 
parents  were  natives  of  Penns^dvania,  his  father 
being  of  Quaker  descent  and  his  mother  of 
German.  His  father  was  a  whip-maker,  and 
followed  his  trade  in  Dillsburg  until  his  death 
in   1842.     Mrs.  Underwood   was  subsequently 


1^ 


786 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


married  again,  but  is  now  a  widow  and  living 
at  Wooster,  Ohio.  Dr.  Underwood  lived  at 
home  until  1860,  acquiring  such  education  as 
the  schools  of  the  neighborhood  afforded,  at 
the  same  time  teaching  during  the  winters  up 
to  the  time  of  his  beginning  the  study  of  medi- 
cine. In  1860,  he  began  reading  with  Dr.  Ira 
Day,  of  Mechanicsburg,  Penn.,  and  graduated 
from  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  iu  Philadel- 
phia in  1864.  In  1862,  he  went  out  with  the 
19th  Penn.  V.  M.  as  medical  officer,  and  after  a 
short  period,  the  regiment  being  disbanded,  he 
was  assigned  to  the  hospital  at  Chambersburg 
as  Assistant  Surgeon.  A  month  later  he  was 
transferred  to  the  hospital  at  Camp  Curtin, 
where  he  served  about  two  months,  being 
assigned  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  to  the 
J 51  St  Penn.  V.  I.,  with  which  he  served  as  Assist- 
ant Surgeon  during  the  term  of  that  regiment's 
enlistment.  Returning  from  the  army,  he  com- 
pleted his  studies,  graduating  as  noted  above. 
In  the  spring  of  1864,  he  came  to  Ohio  and 
began  practice  in  company  with  Dr.  A.  Houtz, 
in  Canal  Fulton.  This  partnership  was  contin- 
ued for  two  years,  when  it  was  dissolved.  After 
practicing  a  year  b}'  himself,  he  came  to  Akron 
in  August,  1867,  where  he  has  since  been 
activel}'  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion. Dr.  Underwood  is  a  member  of  the  Sum- 
mit Count}^  Medical  Society,  of  the  Union 
Medical  Association  of  Northeastern  Ohio,  of 
the  Ohio  State  Medical  Society,  and  of  the 
American  Medical  Association.  In  the  two 
first  he  has  served  in  various  official  capacities. 
In  December,  1864,  he  married  Miss  Harriet, 
daughter  of  John  J.  Shoemaker,  Esq.,  of  Har- 
risburg,  Penn.  ;  she  died  Dec.  9,  1873  ;  three 
children  were  born,  of  whom  two  only  are  liv- 
ing—Edward S.  and  Alfred  C.  Feb.  28,  1877, 
he  married  Mrs.  Francis  C.  Pizzala,  of  Brook- 
l3^n,  N.  Y.  In  1878,  Dr.  Underwood  was 
appointed  Examining  Surgeon  for  Pensions, 
an  office  he  now  holds.  He  has  also  served 
the  city  of  Akron  as  Councilman. 

ALVIN  C.  VORIS,  Brevet  Major  General 
United  States  Volunteers,  whose  portrait  ap- 
pears in  this  work,  was  born  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  on  the  27th  of  April,  1827,  the  eldest  of 
nine  brothers  and  four  sisters,  children  of  Peter 
Voris  and  Julia  (Coe)  Voris,  all  of  whom  lived 
to  attain  manhood  and  womanhood  ;  the  first 
death  among  them  occurred  in  the  summer  of 
1864,   from    starvation,    in   the    Andersonville 


rebel  prison  pen  ;  five  of  these  brothers  served 
in  the  Union  Army  in  the  war  of  the  Great 
rebellion,  three  of  whom  lost  their  lives  by 
reason  of  that  service,  and  the  other  two  were 
badly  wounded  and  will  carrj^  to  their  graves 
broken  down  and  painful  bodies  in  consequence 
of  these  wounds.  His  father  was  a  Pennsyl- 
vanian  by  birth,  and,  at  the  age  of  16,  with  his 
parents,  settled  in  Stark  Co.,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  live  till  the  spring  of  1834,  when  he 
moved  into  what  is  now  Summit  Co.,  then  Por- 
tage Co.  Peter  Voris  represented  Summit  Co. 
in  the  General  Assembly  in  1847—18,  was  the 
\Vhig  candidate  for  the  State  Senate  for  the 
Summit  and  Portage  District  in  the  fall  of 
1848,  but  was  defeated  bj'  a  combination  of 
Democrats  and  Free-Soilers  ;  in  1850,  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  Associate  Judges  for  his 
count}",  and  served  in  that  capacity  till  the 
office  was  abolished  by  the  present  Constitu- 
tion. In  1857,  he  removed  to  Illinois,  where 
he  died  in  January,  1880,  at  the  age  ol  81  years. 
Judge  Voris  always  had  the  confidence  of  all 
who  knew  him,  possessed  rare  intelligence  and 
purity  of  character,  was  public  spirited,  fearless 
and  outspoken  with  his  convictions,  and  a  most 
sturdy  hater  of  all  kinds  of  meanness.  Gen. 
Voris  says  of  his  fatlier  that  he  never  heard 
him  utter  an  oath  or  obscene  expression,  that, 
not  only  in  manners,  but  in  essense,  was  he  an 
every-day  Christian  gentleman.  Julia  (Coe) 
Voris  was  a  Connecticut  Yankee  by  birth  and 
education,  and  possessed  great  force  of  charac- 
ter, intelligence  and  grace  of  manners,  was 
richlj'  endowed  with  those  womanly  qualities 
that  eminently  fitted  her  for  society,  and  the 
nurture  and  moral  development  of  her  chil- 
dren; she  was  a  most  devoted  Christian  and  was 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  says  of  himself  that  there 
was  nothing  remarkable  about  his  birth  or 
early  life,  except  that  he  was  the  first  baby  in 
the  family,  but  supposes  that  he  was  as  good  and 
bothersome,  as  studious  and  frolicsome,  and 
heedless  and  playful  as  boys  in  general ;  that  he 
was  a  good  scholar  and  took  his  juvenile  switch- 
ings as  complacently  as  any  other  of  the  boys, 
is  not  denied.  He  lived  with  his  parents  till 
after  he  was  18  years  old,  when  he  went  from 
home  to  school,  one  year  at  Twinsburg  Insti- 
tute, and  the  two  following  years  at  Oberlin 
College,  Ohio,  taking  an  elective  course,  teach- 
public  school,  in  the  winter  months,  and  working 


,\^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


787 


for  a  couple  of  hours  each  day  at  the  shoe 
bench,  iu  the  meantime,  to  pay  for  books, 
tuition  and  board,  for  all  which  he  paid  as  he 
went  along,  without  being  a  burden  to  any  one 
for  a  cent.  In  February,  1850,  he  came  to 
Akron,  where  he  has  since  resided,  and  was 
employed  by  Auditor  Goodhue,  in  his  office, 
for  a  few  weeks,  when  he  went  into  the  Clerk's 
(office,  under  L.  S.  Peck,  Esq.,  where  he  serv^ed 
for  two  years  as  one  of  his  deputies.  On  the 
new  Constitution  going  into  effect,  in  February, 
1852,  Charles  G.  Ladd,  an  attorney  of  the  Sum- 
mit Count}'  bar,  who  had  been  elected  Probate 
Judge,  but  b}'  reason  of  sickness,  of  which  he 
died  in  August  following,  was  never  able  to  get 
to  his  office  personally,  appointed  young  Voris 
his  Deputy  Clerk,  which  place  he  filled  till  the 
decease  of  Judge  Ladd  ;  the  entire  business  of 
the  office  was  thus  thrown  upon  him  ;  that  he 
opened  the  office  well,  and  devised  proper 
modes  for  doing  its  business  and  keeping  the 
records,  is  attested  b}^  the  fact  that  they  have 
l)een  since  followed,  and  that  he  correctly  and 
faithfull}'  acted  for  some  six  mouths  as  de  facto 
Probate  Judge  is  also  attested  by  the  fact  that 
his  acts  in  that  behalf  have  never  been  legalh- 
questioned.  During  all  this  time,  since  he 
came  to  x\kron,  he  was  a  close  student  of  the 
law,  with  reference  to  entering  upon  its  prac- 
tice, was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June,  1853, 
and  at  once  formed  a  partnership  with  the  late 
Gen.  L.  V.  Bierce,  his  law  preceptor ;  this  ar- 
rangement continued  till  1857.  As  a  young 
lawyer,  he  was  singularly  successful,  both  in 
getting  business  to  do  and  in  his  manner  of 
handling  it ;  with  the  next  term  after  his  ad- 
mission till  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion,  he 
was  constantly  pitted  against  the  strongest  law- 
yers of  the  Ohio  bar  ;  his  great  energy,  cease- 
less industry,  courage  and  thorough  preparation 
of  his  cases,  gave  him  a  recognized  standing 
with  the  best  of  them. 

Sept.  25,  1853,  he  married  Lydia  All3-n, 
daughter  of  Israel  Allyn,  Esq.,  then  residing 
near  Akron,  with  whom  he  lived  till  March  1 6, 
1876,  when  Mrs.  Voris  died,  after  a  most  pain- 
ful illness  of  over  four  years.  She  was  a  most 
devoted  wife  and  mother,  and  left  three  chil- 
dren, Edwin^  F.,  who  is  an  attorney  and  prac- 
ticing with  his  father,  and  two  daughters,  Lucy 
A.  and  Bessie  Coe.  Edwin  has  settled  down  in 
life,  married  a  wife,  and  like  his  father,  is  zeal- 
oush'^  engaged  in  raising  a  family  of  children. 


In  1859,  A.  C.  Voris  was  elected  to  repre- 
sent his  count}'  iu  the  General  Assembly,  which 
office  he  held  for  two  years.  In  which,  as  a 
member  of  the  Judiciary  Committee,  Chair- 
man of  Penitentiary  Committee,  and  sev- 
eral important  select  committees,  he  was  dis- 
tinguished for  his  great  industry  and  practical 
knowledge,  which  was  also  true  of  every  mat- 
ter iu  which  he  engaged.  Instead  of  being  a 
society  man,  or  employing  his  efforts  in  mere 
partisan  contests,  he  directed  his  attention  to 
the  practical  business  matters  before  the  Leg- 
islature, and  in  which  he  at  once  took  rank  as 
a  leader.  He  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest 
men  on  the  floor  of  the  House.  He  was  apt 
and  convincing  as  a  debater,  and  always  ready 
as  a  parliamentarian.  He  was  selected  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  House 
when  the  general  appropriation  bills  were 
under  consideration,  because  of  his  sleight  at 
dispatching  business,  and  was  complimented 
with  having  managed  so  as  to  get  through  in 
half  the  time  expected  to  be  consumed.  Before 
his  legislative  term  expired,  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  broke  out.  All  through  the  long 
session  of  1861,  he  took  a  most  decided  stand 
against  backing  down  to  the  demands  of  the 
South,  and  fearlessly  urged  resistance  to  and 
no  compromising  with  treason  or  traitors,  and 
fought  with  all  his  might,  all  efforts  from  what- 
ever source  they  came,  aiming  to  prostitute 
the  Legislature  of  the  State  in  the  interests  of 
slavery,  or  the  treasonable  demands  of  State 
Rights  as  interpreted  by  the  planter  States. 

In  September,  1861,  the  demand  for  men  be- 
came so  urgent  for  the  army  that  he  felt  it  his 
duty  to  go  to  the  war  himself,  and  enrolled 
himself  as  an  enlisted  man  in  the  29th  O.  V.  I., 
but,  without  solicitation  on  his  part,  Gov.  Den- 
nison  appointed  him  a  Second  Lieutenant  for 
the  recruiting  service,  under  which  he  was  mus- 
tered into  the  United  States  volunteer  service 
on  the  2d  of  October  ensuing,  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  regiment,  to  which  he  applied  himself 
with  such  zeal  and  effect  that,  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  67th  Ohio,  to  which  his  men  were 
assigned,  he  was  entitled  to  a  Lieutenant 
Colonelcy  of  the  regiment,  and  would  have  gone 
into  the  field  as  its  Colonel,  if  he  had  said  so  ; 
but  having  had  no  previous  military  training,  he 
chose  to  go  as  its  Lieutenant  Colonel.  His 
regiment  went  into  the  field  in  Western  Vir- 
ginia, Jan.  19,  1862.   He  was  its  chief  instruct- 


:^ 


788 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


or  from  the  date  of  its  organization,  Dec.  18, 
1861,  drilling  and  teaching  men  and  officers,  at 
such  intervals  as  active  service  in  the  field  per- 
mitted. On  the  16th  of  March  following,  he 
became  its  commanding  officer.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  22d  of  the  same  month,  he  took  his 
regiment  into  its  first  fight,  against  a  reconnais- 
sance of  Stonewall  Jackson,  before  Winchester, 
Va..  which  was,  in  fact,  the  opening  of  the  first 
battle  of  Winchester,  one  of  the  most  obsti- 
natel}'  fought  infantry'  battles  of  the  war.  the 
brigade  to  which  the  67th  Ohio  was  attached 
being  ordered  out  to  repel  this  attack,  which 
was  on  our  picket  lines,  to  the  south  of  Win- 
chester. Lieut.  Col.  Voris  turned  out  his  com- 
mand so  rapidl}'  that  he  took  the  lead  of  all  our 
troops,  and,  in  one  hour  from  the  time  he  got 
his  orders,  was  four  miles  from  camp,  and 
pushing  the  enem}',  his  being  the  first  Union 
troops  in  the  fight.  He,  with  his  men,  held  the 
front  the  entire  night,  and  kept  the  advanced 
position  toward  the  enemy  next  morning  till 
ordered  to  support  a  battery  of  artillery',  which 
he  did  under  a  brisk  fire  from  the  enemy's  bat- 
teries, till  the  infantr}'  battle  opened,  when  he 
was  directed  "  to  pitch  in  ; "  not  very  definite 
orders,  as  the  enemy  were'  then  three-fourths  of 
a  mile  off,  and  extended  over  a  wide  front,  and 
mainly  obscured  by  woodland  and  hills.  He 
led  his  men  at  a  double-quick,  against  a  terrible 
fire  of  shot  and  shell  directU'  in  his  front,  and 
right  for  the  point  where  the  infantry  fighting 
appeared  to  be  fiercest,  and  formed  his  men 
immediately  to  the  left  of  Col.  Tyler's  brigade, 
which  was  lying  on  the  gi'ound  in  front  of  a 
rebel  brigade,  within  point-blank  range,  the 
latter  being  thoroughly  protected  by  a  stone- 
wall fence.  Both  sides  kept  up  an  incessant 
fusilade  of  small  arms,  neither  daring  to  ad- 
vance on  the  other,  with  the  advantage  all  on 
the  side  of  the  enemy.  The  67th  formed  ob- 
liquel}'  on  the  head  and  from  of  the  wall,  and 
not  more  than  150  feet  from  the  right  flank  of 
the  rebel  brigade,  from  which  it  got  a  deadly 
fire,  without  being  able  to  do  much  execution 
in  return.  He  held  this  position  but  for  a  short 
time,  and,  not  securing  the  desired  results,  un- 
dertook to  place  his  men  so  as  to  deliver  an  en- 
filading fire  from  behind  the  stone  wall.  While 
making  this  movement,  he  was  shot  in  the  right 
thigh,  getting  a  very  painful  though  not  dan- 
gerous wound.  The  Color  Sergeant  hesitating, 
Lieut.  Col.  Voris   seized  the  colors,    and,  sup- 


ported by  two  men,  under  each  shoulder,  not- 
withstanding his  wound,  called  on  his  men  to 
follow  him,  and,  placing  them  in  such  position 
that  this  wall  afforded  no  protection  to  the  en- 
emy, they  opened  a  most  destructive  fire  upon 
them.  Two  or  three  volleys  caused  the  rebels 
to  waver,  when  he  ordered  a  charge  upon  them, 
which  was  executed  with  such  impetuosit}'  that 
the  enemy  broke  in  great  disorder,  and  the 
67th  dashed  through  their  lines  with  a  yell  that 
was  plainly  heard  above  the  din  of  the  battle. 
Tyler's  brigade  soon  followed  suit,  and  the 
whole  left  wing  of  Jackson's  army  was  thrown 
into  a  disordered  retreat.  Gen.  Voris  deserv- 
edly thinks  this  one  of  the  very  best  public 
acts  of  his  life.  Seeing  that  the  stone  wall  was 
as  good  as  a  fort  for  the  enem}-,  and  that  no 
decisive  movement  could  be  made  against  them 
till  they  were  dislodged  from  it,  he,  of  his  own 
motion,  pitched  into  them  on  their  flank,  a 
movement  that  was  decisive  of  the  onl}^  Union 
victor}^  ever  gained  over  Stonewall  Jackson. 
He  was  promoted  to  the  colonelc}'  of  his  regi- 
ment July  18,  1862,  and  served  with  it  in  the 
most  arduous  enterprises  in  Eastern  and  South- 
eastern Virginia,  till  the  end  of  that  year. 
Among  the  thrilling  incidents  of  the  year,  he 
had  the  ill  luck  to  be  shipwrecked,  with  six 
companies  of  the  67th  Regiment,  off  Fortress 
Monroe,  Va..  en  route  to  re-enforce  Gen.  McClel- 
lan  on  the  Peninsula.  This  was  described  by 
an  eye-witness  as  follows  :  "  In  the  middle  of 
the  night,  the  waves  tumbled  the  old  barge  at 
a  fearful  rate,  and  soon  all  hands  were  aroused 
by  the  startling  cry  that  the  line  towing  the 
barge  had  parted,  and  that  she  was  going  to 
the  bottom.  To  us  on  the  steamer  this  was 
terrible  intelligence  for  half  our  regiment.  Its 
Lieut.  Colonel,  Adjt.  Girty  and  several  line 
officers  were  on  the  wreck.  As  the  barge 
broke  from  the  steamer,  its  rudder  was  crushed 
to  atoms,  leaving  the  craz}'  craft  entirely  at  the 
mercy  of  the  waves.  We  could  see,  through 
the  darkness,  that  the  upper  deck  had  broken 
down,  and  every  indication  showed  that  the 
craft  was  really  going  to  pieces.  The  steamer 
was  swung  round  as  rapidly  as  possible,  to  give 
help.  As  we  passed  round,  we  could  see  frag- 
ments of  the  wreck  floating  by.  Xhe  shrieks 
of  the  frightened  ones  on  the  barge  were  truly 
distressing  to  us.  For  a  long  time,  we  could 
get  no  intelligence  that  gave  us  any  hope,  it 
being  impossible  to  get  near   the  vessel.     Fi- 


*^- 


,^ 


CITY    OF   AKRON. 


789 


nail}',  we  heard  the  clear  voice  of  Col.  Voris, 
giving  orders  and  urging  the  men  to  be  quiet. 
He  tried  to  soothe  them  by  saying  that  '  all 
would  end  well,  if  they  would  let  him  boss  the 
concern.'  By  the  wa}',  the  Colonel  says  that 
bossing  that  ricket}'  old  barge  in  a  storm  is 
worse  than  fighting  Stonewall  Jackson.  By 
great  exertion,  the  boys  were  able  to  cast  the 
anchor  of  the  barge,  and  in  a  little,  time  a  haw- 
ser was  fastened  to  the  wreck,  and  the  steamer 
came  to  the  rescue.  Such  a  scramble  to  get 
otf  never  was  seen  on  dry  land.  One  poor  boy, 
in  his  over  haste,  jumped  overboard  and  was 
drowned,  and  five  others  were  severely  wound- 
ed. Col.  V.  was  the  last  man  to  leave  the 
wreck,  directing  the  delivery  of  his  men  till  all 
were  safe,  before  he  thought  of  himself.  He 
came  on  board  the  steamer  in  rather  an  un-offi- 
cerlike  plight,  bare-headed,  in  shirt  sleeves, 
with  naught  but  shirt,  pants,  vest  and  shoes  in 
the  line  of  dress  ;  all  his  other  fixens  went  with 
the  barge  ; "  and  in  that  undress  he  reported 
to  Gen.  J.  A.  Dix,  the  next  morning,  for  new 
supplies  for  his  men. 

In  January,  1863,  he  was  transferred  with  his 
command  to  the  Department  of  the  South, 
where  he  participated  in  the  siege  operations 
befoi'e  Charleston,  S.  C,  till  the  close  of  that 
3'ear.  He  commanded  his  regiment  in  the  disas- 
trous assault  on  Ft.  Wagner,  the  night  of  the 
18th  of  July,  in  which  he  was  very  severely 
wounded,  and  was  sent  north  in  a  few  days  aft- 
er to  nurse  his  wound.  In  less  than  sixty  days 
after  he  got  this  wound,  he  reported  back  to  his 
command  for  duty,  and  shortly  after  was  in  the 
trenches  before  Charleston. 

When  the  expedition  was  about  to  start  from 
Hilton  Head  to  attack  Charleston,  Col.  Voris, 
with  his  regiment,  was  ordered  to  report  for 
duty  to  Grov.  Saxton,  at  Beaufort,  S.  C,  to  aid 
him  in  his  civil  administration.  He  did  not 
relish  Provost  Marshal  and  other  fancy  work 
while  a  great  enterprise  was  on  foot,  and  went 
at  once  to  Gen.  Hunter,  who  had  command  of 
the  department,  and  inquired  of  him  if  he 
really  intended  to  capture  Charleston.  Being 
answered  in  the  affirmative,  he  told  Gen.  Hun- 
ter that  he  was  making  a  fatal  mistake  in  leav- 
ing his  (Voris')  regiment  out ;  that  there  was 
not  a  man  in  tlie  ranks  of  the  67th  Regiment 
whose  pockets  were  not  full  of  locofoco  matches 
with  which  to  burn  the  cursed  rebel  city.  Col. 
Voris  carried  back  in  his  pockets   an   order  to 


join  the  expedition.     The   67th  did  not  go  to 
Beaufort. 

In  the  spring  of  1864,  he  was  assigned  to 
duty  with  his  regiment  in  the  movement  up 
James  lliver,  Va.,  against  Richmond,  under 
Gen.  Butler,  and  thenceforth  was  identified  with 
the  Army  of  the  James  till  the  close  of  the 
war.  On  the  9th  and  10th  of  May,  186-1,  with 
less  than  2,000  rifles  and  eight  pieces  of  artil- 
lery, he  successfully  fought  and  repulsed  con- 
federate Gen.  Ransom  with  four  times  as  large 
a  force,  some  ten  miles  below  Richmond.  In 
this  engagement,  he  was  specially  conspicuous 
for  gallantry  and  ability,  and  gained  a  brilliant 
victory,  the  first  success  for  Gen.  Butler  in  his 
advance  on  the  confederate  capital.  On  the 
night  of  the  9th,  when  it  became  apparent  that 
there  would  be  a  renewal  of  the  fight  the  next 
morning,  and  (Col.  Voris  had  sent  for  re-enforce- 
ments) Gen.  Gilmore,  to  whom  Col.  Voris  had 
sent  for  re-enforcements,  directed  his  Adjutant 
General  to  send  him  assistance,  but  not  to  send 
them  under  command  of  an  officer  senior  in 
rank  to  Col.  Voris,  that  he  wanted  the  way  left 
clear  for  him  to  fight  with  the  enemy  without 
interference  from  a  superior  officer.  Gen.  A. 
H.  Terry  said  of  this  engagement,  that  if  he 
had  10,000  such  men  as  Col.  Voris  and  the  67th 
0.  V.  I.,  he  could  take  Richmond  with  them. 
For  this  fight  Col.  Voris  was  recommended  for 
promotion  as  Brigadier  General  of  Volunteers  ; 
but  political  reasons  in  his  Congressional  dis- 
trict prevented  so  well-earned  ad\'ancement.  He 
was  then  suffering  from  his  Ft.  Wagner  wound, 
and  was  so  prostrated  by  the  fatigue  and  anxi- 
ety of  the  day,  that  he  had  to  be  helped  to 
camp.  Again,  on  the  20th  of  the  same  month, 
he  fought  the  enemy  at  the  V>^in  Bottom  Church, 
on  the  Bermuda  Hundred  front,  re-taking  our 
picket  line,  from  which  our  troops  had  been 
forced  ;  at  the  same  time  taking  confederate 
Gen.  Walker  prisoner.  He  still  keeps  Gen. 
Walker's  sword  as  a  trophy  of  that  affair.  The 
16th  of  June  following,  while  in  command  of 
the  picket  line,  as  general  officer  of  the  day,  he 
took  the  line  of  rebel  works,  by  which  Gen. 
Butler  had  been  bottled  up  on  the  Bermuda 
Hundred,  taking  quite  a  number  of  prisoners, 
and  several  heavy  guns  in  the  enterprise. 

At  Deep  Run,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  James, 
below  Richmond,  in  August  next,  he  led  the 
skirmish  line  in  an  attack  on  the  enemv's  lines, 
protected    by    temporary   field    works,    which 


nv 


^1 


r90 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


were  carried  with  so  much  impetuosity  that 
the  rebels  could  fire  but  one  volley,  but  so  de- 
structive was  it,  that  one-third  of  the  attacking 
force  was  killed  and  wounded ;  before  they 
could  re-load  their  pieces,  our  boys  were  club- 
bing them  over  their  heads  with  the  butts  of 
their  rifles.  In  an  engagement  on  the  13th  of 
October  ensuing,  he  commanded  a  brigade  of 
colored  troops  ;  also  below  Richmond,  where 
he  urged  his  dusky  soldiers  to  remember  that 
now  was  their  time  to  wipe  out  many  an  old 
score.  If  what  the  boys  say  is  true,  he  told 
the  contrabands  to  give  their  old  oppressers 
h— 1.  Again,  on  the  27th  and  28th  of  October 
following,  he  commanded  a  brigade  of  white 
troops  on  the  Charles  City  road,  in  an  attack 
upon  the  outworks  for  the  protection  of  Rich- 
mond ;  and  in  the  latter  pai't  of  the  next  No- 
vember, he  commanded  a  division  against  an 
attempt  of  the  enem}-  to  turn  our  flauk  on  the 
north  side  of  the  James.  On  the  2d  of  April, 
1865,  he  led  the  charge  on  Fort  Gregg,  Peters- 
burg, Va.,  and  after  having  been  in  the  ditch  of 
the  fort  up  to  his  neck  in  mud  and  water  for 
nearl}'  half  an  hour,  he  climbed  up  on  its  walls 
by  the  aid  of  a  ladder  made  by  the  boys  with 
their  guns  with  bayonets  fixed,  and  thrust  into 
the  walls  one  above  the  other,  being  the  first 
Union  officer  on  the  fort.  This  was  the  last 
fort  taken  by  storm  of  the  confederate  works 
surrounding  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  after 
being  most  tenaciously  defended,  at  a  loss  of 
full}'  one-fourth  of  the  garrison  in  killed.  At 
Appomattox  he  was  in  the  fight  at  the  last 
ditch,  and  got  a  receipt  for  that  day's  work 
from  a  fragment  of  a  shell  on  the  left  arm.  He 
was  breveted  a  Brigadier  General  in  1864,  and 
a  Major  General  of  Volunteers  in  the  year  fol- 
lowing, "  for  distinguished  services  in  the  field," 
as  the  order  appointing  him  recites. 

Upon  the  close  of  hostilities,  he  was  assigned 
to  command  the  politico-military  district  of 
South  Anna,  Va.,  embracing  a  territory  of  tri- 
angular form,  one  angle  at  Richmond,  the  other 
two  in  the  crown  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  extending 
each  way  more  than  a  hundred  miles  ;  the  du- 
ties of  which  were  both  of  a  political  and  mili- 
tary sort,  including  the  supervision  of  all  that 
relates  to  civil  and  militarj'  administration. 
He  was  for  more  than  six  months  as  absolute 
a  satrap  as  ever  governed,  there  being  no  other 
governing  power  except  by  and  through  the 
military,  not  a  single  civil,  police  or  political 


officer  being  recognized  except  by  and  under 
the  military  authorities.  The  colored  people 
just  emancipated  had  to  be  especiall}-  cai-ed 
for  and  protected,  all  the  interests  of  societ}- 
looked  after  and  conserved,  the  prejudices  and 
cruelties  of  the  sj'stem  of  slaver}-  resisted  and 
eradicated,  a  new  system  of  labor  organized, 
the  mutual  distrusts  of  the  whites  and  negroes 
allayed,  and  confidence  created  between  the 
late  slave-owners  and  the  freedmen. 

He  called  together  both  white  and  colored 
people  at  their  county  seats,  and  publicl}'  and 
together  kindly  tried  to  instruct  them  as  to 
their  new  relations,  urging  fair  dealing,  justice 
and  humanit}'  in  their  future  intercourse,  and 
upon  terms  of  impartial  equal  rights.  To  pro- 
tect the  late  slaves,  and  especially  the  infirm, 
old  and  little  ones  from  ill-treatment  and  want, 
he  found  it  necessary  to  make  and  publish 
orders  prohil)iting  all  sorts  of  personal  violence, 
and  turning  off"  such  infirm  and  helpless  ones 
without  adequate  provision  for  their  present 
support ;  and,  in  default  of  which  provision,  he 
directed  adequate  assessment  to  be  made  and 
collected  by  military  power.  He  absolutely 
put  a  stop  to  the  devilish  practice  of  flogging 
colored  people,  and  permitted  no  penalties  to 
be  inflicted  on  them  that  were  not  visited  upon 
white  people  for  like  grade  of  offenses.  So  con- 
siderate was  he  in  the  administration  of  his 
public  duties,  that  he  never  had  a  matter  ap- 
pealed from  his  orders  or  decrees  to  depart 
ment  headquarters  during  the  whole  time  he 
was  in  command  of  this  district,  though  every 
class  of  disputed  right  came  before  him,  com- 
mon to  community  from  murder  down.  His 
Department  Commander  said  of  him  that  his 
was  the  only  district  in  the  State  that  did  not 
make  him  trouble.  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee  was  a 
resident  of  his  district,  and  under  his  command 
for  several  months  after  the  surrender.  The 
Charlottesville  Datl>j  Chronicle  wrote  concerning 
his  administration,  when  he  left  the  district, 
that  "  Gen.  Voris  has  conducted  himself  in  com- 
mand here  in  the  kindest  and  most  considerate 
manner,  and  has  shown  himself  an  energetic, 
faithful  and  just  otlicer.  He  leaves  with  the 
best  wishes  of  our  people."  The  colored  people 
found  in  him  a  most  valued  friend  and  pro- 
tector. 

As  illustrative  of  his  wa}'  of  putting  things, 
we  narrate  the  following  incidents  :  When  he 
went  first  to  Charlottesville,  Va.,  to  organize  for 


fc* 


CITY   OF    AKKON. 


791 


the  civil  administration  of  Albemarle  Co.,  and 
parol  and  amnesty  those  who  had  been  in  open 
rebellion  against  the  United  States,  he  was  in- 
terviewed b}'  a  delegation  of  citizens  as  to  what 
relations  the  freedmen  would  thenceforth  sus- 
tain. To  whom  he  replied,  that  the  freed  men 
were  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and,  as  such, 
possessed  equal  rights  with  all  other  Virginians  ; 
that  the  Greneral  Government  would  protect 
them  as  such  ;  that  he  would  do  all  in  his  power 
to  reconcile  and  harmonize  any  antagonisms 
and  distresses  existing  between  the  two  races  ; 
but  that  they  would  be  required  to  adjust  their 
intercourse  with  them  on  terms  of  reciprocal 
equality  of  rights.  A  fier}'  planter,  not  relish- 
ing this  equalit}^  doctrine,  spoke  up,  "  I  tell  ye 
what  it  is,  if  mj'  niggers  don't  do  as  I  say,  I 
will  flog  them."  Gen.  Voris  instantly  replied, 
"  In  that  case,  if  I  was  your  nigger,  I  would 
take  your  life,  Sir."  The  Episcopalian  Rector 
of  the  same  place,  and  afterward  a  high  digni- 
tary in  his  church,  came  to  him  to  get  indul- 
gence from  the  military  authorities  to  omit  from 
the  prayer  of  their  church  service,  the  President 
of  the  United  States  and  all  others  in  authority, 
etc.,  alleging,  as  a  reason,  that  such  prayer 
would  be  insincere,  and  that  his  congregation 
could  not,  with  their  present  feeling,  join  hon- 
estly in  it.  "  Let  us  see,"  said  the  General, 
"  Is  it  because  they  look  upon  the  President 
and  those  in  authority  as  still  being  enemies  ?" 
It  being  admitted  that  this  was  substantialh' 
their  feeling,  he  replied,  "  I  am  not  much  of  a 
Christian,  and  ma}'  not  appreciate  the  gravity 
of  the  situation,  nor  do  I  know  how  your  church 
people  regard  the  New  Testament  Scriptures  ; 
but  if  you  mean  to  set  them  a  truly  Christian 
example,  I  would  advise  you  to  do  as  Christ 
commanded,  '  Love  your  enemies,  and  pray  for 
them  which  despitefull}'  use  you  and  persecute 
you,'  instead  of  coming  to  the  military  authori- 
ties to  get  excused  from  obeying  the  commands 
of  Almighty  God." 

As  a  soldier  he  never  shirked  dut}-  or  ex- 
posure. He  always  shared  with  his  men  their 
hardships,  dangers  and  privations,  and  never 
asked  of  them  what  he  would  not  do  himself 
So  prompt  was  he  in  the  execution  of  what- 
ever he  had  to  do  that  the  boys  called  him 
''  Old  Promptly,"  a  name  certainh'  not  inappro- 
priatel}'  applied.  All  through  the  war,  in  case 
of  sudden  danger,  he  was  always  first  in  place 
for   action    with    his    men.     His    watchfulness 


and  strict  attention  to  business,  caused  him  to 
be  assigned  to  the  command  of  his  brigade 
when  he  was  junior  colonel  in  it. 

He  was  greatl}-  beloved  by  his  men,  who,  at 
the  close  of  the  war,  gave  him  one  of  the  finest 
presents  given  to  any  officer  during  the  war,  a 
magnificent  sword,  belt  and  sash,  costing  near- 
ly a  thousand  dollars  ;  evei'y  man  of  his  old 
regiment  contributing  toward  its  purchase.  A 
leading  Ohio  daily  paper  in  referring  to  this 
present,  said  :  "  A  worthy  gift  from  one  of  the 
best  regiments  ever  mustered  into  the  service 
to  one  of  the  best  soldiers  that  has  entered  the 
field."  He  always  saw  to  it  that  his  men  had 
every  thiiig  the  commissariat  and  quartermas- 
ter's departments  could  furnish,  and  ever  stood 
up  for  the  just  rights  of  every  enlisted  man  ; 
was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  requiring  exact  and 
prompt  performance  of  duty  from  men  and 
officers  alike.  He  looked  most  carefuU}'  after 
the  honorable  character  and  standing  of  ever}' 
man  and  officer  in  his  command,  not  onh'  as 
soldiers,  but  as  men  and  American  citizens. 
Not  a  man  under  him  but  felt  alwa5S  free  to 
approach  him  at  all  proper  times,  on  terms  of 
pleasant  intimacy,  nor  ever  felt  that  any  griev- 
ance would  be  slighted  by  him,  merel}'  because 
he  was  a  private  soldier.  He  was  proud  of  his 
men.  We  quote  from  his  report  for  the  War 
Department  regarding  the  meritorious  part  the 
67th  0.  V.  I.  had  taken  in  the  war.  After 
having  given  the  various  campaigns  and  actions 
in  which  it  had  participated,  he  says  :  '■  The 
good  order  always  observed  b}'  the  67th,  the 
fidelity  with  which  it  discharged  all  its  duties, 
and  the  fortitude  with  which  it  met  all  its  vicis- 
situdes, amid  shipwreck  on  the  sea,  heat,  cold 
and  storm  by  land,  and  hate  in  an  enemy's 
country,  are  worthy  of  as  high  place  in  the 
archives  of  the  country  as  its  most  glorious 
deeds  on  the  battle-field,  than  which  no  regi- 
ment can  claim  more  glorious.  I  cannot  close 
without  saying  I  am  proud,  proid,  PROUD  of 
the  glorious,  triumphant,  bully  67th." 

We  quote  the  following  from  the  editorial 
columns  of  a  leading  Ohio  paper,  as  showing 
in  what  estimation  he  was  held  by  his  superior 
officers  as  a  soldier  :  "  Every  General  under 
whom  ^''oris  has  served  has  esteemed  him 
highly  as  brave  and  discreet.  Gen.  Teny,  one 
of  his  corps  commanders.  sa3-s  Col.  Voris,  in 
every  action  in  which  he  has  been  engaged,  has 
exhibited  fine  (lualities  as  a  soldier,  and  on  sev- 


-J         9 

r 


793 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


eral  occasions  has  been  conspicuous  for  capacity 
and  courage."  The  editorial  notice  of  him  b}' 
the  leading  Ohio  papers  are  fairly  represented 
by  what  George  A.  Benedict,  editor  of  the 
Cleveland  Herald,  published  concerning  iiis 
record  :  "  Among  civilians  appointed  to  the 
service,  not  a  recipient  has  proved  himself  more 
worthy  the  trust  than  Gen.  Voris.  He  has 
sliown  industry,  perseverance,  discretion,  talent, 
and  an  utter  fearlessness  of  danger."  His 
regiment  won  a  great  reputation  in  the  war, 
much  of  which  was  due  to  the  efforts  and  lead- 
ership of  Gen.  Voris.  He  is  not  onl3'  a  brave 
man  in  danger,  but  possesses  tliat  higher  order 
of  courage  in  an  eminent  degree — the  courage 
of  his  convictions.  He  thoroughly  believes  in 
the  policy  of  frank,  honorable,  fair  dealing  in 
all  things.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the  serv- 
ice in  December,  18G5,  after  having  served  in 
the  arm\'  fifty  and  a  half  months,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Akron  and  engaged  in  the  active  la- 
bors of  his  profession,  but  under  great  diffi- 
culties, owing  to  the  disability  occasioned  by 
his  Fort  Wagner  wound. 

In  November,  1873,  he  submitted  to  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  surgical  operations  in  the 
annals  of  surgery.  His  wound  had  apparently 
healed.  The  bullet  which  caused  it  was  cut  in 
two  parts  on  his  sword-belt  ring,  the  smaller 
part  lodging  in  the  circular  abdominal  muscle, 
and  was  removed  by  the  surgeon  at  the  time  of 
the  injury  ;  the  other  part  passed  downward 
and  backward  in  the  abdominal  cavity,  and 
lodged  on  the  crown  of  his  bladder  and  became 
impacted  in  the  walls  of  that  organ  until  the 
fall  of  1872,  when  it  penetrated  them  and  be- 
came loose  within.  Up  to  this  time  it  had  been 
a  source  of  great  annoyance  and  bodily  infirm- 
it}',  the  cause  not  being  suspected  even  by  Gen. 
Voris.  Nov  it  became  most  torturing,  giving 
constant  and  almost  unendurable  pain,  so 
much  so  that  his  friends  supposed  he  must 
speedily  die.  His  physicians  did  not  suspect 
the  nature  of  his  disorder  till  early  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1873,  too  late  in  the  season  for  a  de- 
sirable operation.  He  waited,  under  the  advice 
of  liis  surgeon,  until  the  ensuing  fall,  when  he 
underwent  the  lateral  operation  in  lithotom}^, 
by  which  three-fourths  of  an  Enfield  rifle  shot 
was  extracted,  weighing  one  and  one-eighth 
ounces.  The  great  wonder  is  that  he  ever  sur- 
vived the  first  effects  of  this  shot,  and  then 
that  he  siiould  carry  it  over  ten  years  and  have 


his  bladder  perforated  by  it,  endure  the  torture 
and  systematic  derangement  it  caused  and  not 
die,  to  say  nothing  of  the  surgical  operation. 
Nothing  but  pluck  and  an  extraordinary  con- 
stitution saved  him.  His  surgeons  say  that  he 
was  the  coolest  and  most  self-possessed  subject 
they  ever  witnessed  at  the  opei'ating  table.  All 
the  years  of  his  life  since  the  18th  of  July, 
1863,  have  been  weighed  down  by  this  injury, 
the  pangs  of  which  are  still  borne  in  nerves 
which  never  cease  to  ache. 

In  the  spring  of  1873,  he  was  elected  a  dele- 
gate to  the  late  Constitutional  Convention,  and, 
though  suffering  terrible  agon}-  from  his  army 
wound,  much  of  the  time  of  its  session,  he  took 
a  leading  part  in  its  deliberations  and  was  one 
of  its  most  efficient  and  influential  members. 
He  is  an  ardent  Republican,  politically,  without 
being  partisan,  eitber  in  feeling  or  action,  and  a 
distinguished  champion  of  protection  to  Ameri- 
can industry.  His  late  campaign  speeches  on 
the  protective  policy  were  conceded  to  !je  mas- 
terly efforts  and  were  widely  circulated.  As  a 
public  speaker  he  is  frank,  candid,  earnest,  elo- 
quent, never  abuses,  and  always  addresses  his 
hearers  as  if  they  were  intelligent  and  self-re- 
specting. He  is  invariably  listened  to  with  in- 
terested attention. 

As  a  law3'er,  though  his  education  was  not 
what  is  strictly  denominated  liberal,  was  ample 
for  all  the  requirements  of  his  chosen  profes- 
sion, especially  when  it  is  considered  that  he 
was  endowed  by  nature  with  a  most  vigorous 
and  exceedingly  wiry  constitution,  and  a  mind 
whose  vigor,  tenacity  and  comprehensiveness 
compared  admirably  with  his  phj'sical  organi- 
zation. What  he  lacked  of  ancient  classical  eru- 
dition was  more  than  compensated  by  the  care- 
fulness and  thoroughness  with  which  he  had 
mastered  the  special  science  that  covered  the 
field  of  his  future  professional  eflforts.  It  was 
not  long  after  he  came  to  the  bar  till  he  took 
his  position  permanentl}-  in  the  foremost  rank, 
composed  though  it  was,  of  the  ablest  competi- 
tors. Whatever  he  undertook  to  do,  he  did 
with  all  his  might,  mind  and  strength,  utterly 
[  fearless,  though  by  no  means  regardless  of  the 
I  degree  and  character  of  the  opposition  to  be 
encountered.  In  his  arguments  to  the  court 
upon  questions  of  law,  he  was  always  clear, 
logical  and  concise.  In  his  addresses  to  the 
jury,  he  was  equally  clear,  S3'stematic,  and 
!  cogent  in  his  statements  of  facts  deduced  from 


& 


-*rr^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


793 


the  evidence,  and  his  own  inferences  and  con- 
clusions therefrom  ;  and  in  such  efforts  he 
often  rose  to  the  ver}^  highest  plane  of  exalted 
and  refined  forensic  eloquence.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  his  professional  career,  he  occa- 
sionally fell  into  a  style  of  orator}-  somewhat 
too  verbose  and  ornate,  and  also  into  action 
and  gesticulation  too  continuous  and  violent  ; 
but  increasing  years  and  experience  soon  ena- 
bled him  to  excide  such  objectionable  superflu- 
ities. In  practice,  and  in  his  social  intercourse 
with  his  brethren  of  the  bar,  he  was  alwaj^s 
courteous  and  considerate  in  regard  to  the  feel- 
ings of  others,  however  much  heated  in  debate. 
He  was  truthful  insomuch  that  arguments 
made  with  him  orally  could  be  relied  upon  as 
implicitly  as  if  reduced  to  writing.  In  his  de- 
meanor toward  the  court,  he  always  recogaized 
its  assumed  dignity,  and  accorded  correspond- 
ing treatment.  As  to  deception,  chicanery,  and 
tricker}''  of  all  sorts,  he  simply  despised  them, 
and  he  equally  despised  and  condemned  every 
professional  shyster  who  practiced  or  attempted 
to  practice  such  arts,  with  a  view  to  thwart  the 
ends  of  justice. 

EDWIN  F.  VORIS,  Akron,  only  son  of  Gen. 
A.  C.  Voris,  was  born  in  Akron,  July  31,  1855. 
He  graduated  from  the  High  School  in  1872, 
and  entered  Buchtel  College  at  its  opening, 
graduating  June  30,  1875.  In  the  fall  of  the 
same  year,  he  entered  the  Harvard  Law  School, 
and  graduated  in  June,  1877,  being  admitted  to 
the  bar  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  Oct.  8,  of  that 
year.  June  8,  1878,  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  and 
the  following  month  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  Missouri.  He  practiced  and  studied  with  J. 
M.  &  C.  H.  Krum,  of  St.  Louis,  until  February 
1879,  when  he  returned  to  Akron,  and  there 
associated  himself  with  his  ftither,  since  which 
time  he  has  continued  to  practice  under  the 
firm  name  of  Voris  &  Voris.  October,  1879, 
he  married  Miss  Lizzie  U.  Slade,  of  Columbus, 
Ohio. 

NICHOLAS  EMMONS  VANSICKLE,  to- 
bacco merchant,  Akron  ;  one  of  seven  chil- 
dren, was  born  in  Germantown,  N.  J.,  No- 
vember 10,  1816,  to  Hemy  and  Mary  (Em- 
mons) Vansickle,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  New  Jersey.  In  1825,  they  moved 
to  Ithaca,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  engaged  in  farm  labor  and 
blacksmithing  with  his  father,  walking  two 
miles  to  school  three  months  per  year.     In  May, 


Valley  Railroad, 
present  tobacco 
He     has     taken 


1837,  by  canal,  they  moved  to  Ohio,  settling  in 
Bath  Township  on  a  farm.  After  settling  in 
this  State,  our  subject  learned  to  make  cloth, 
and  from  1838  to  about  1845,  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  Jacob  Allen,  was  engaged  in  the  cloth 
business,  during  that  period  being  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  City  Woolen  Factory,  now 
occupied  as  the  City  Mills.  In  September, 
1844,  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Mathew,  of 
Akron.  Of  this  union  there  are  two  children, 
Ella  (now  Mrs.  E.  R.  Grant,  of  Norton)  and 
Dora  (now  Mrs.  N.  H.  Bassett,  of  Cleveland). 
In  1848,  he  removed  to  Bedford,  Ohio,  where 
he  kept  a  hotel  on  the  old  stage  line  from  Cleve- 
land to  Pittsburgh,  for  a  short  time,  after  which 
he  engaged  in  the  railroad  business,  at  which 
he  has  been  very  successful,  having  built  con- 
siderable portions  of  several  roads.  In  1861, 
he  returned  to  Akron,  and  for  some  years  fol- 
lowing, was  emploj'ed  in  the  public  works 
of  this  place.  In  1871,  he  built  twenty 
miles  of  the  Tuscarawas 
In  1875,  he  bought  his 
store  on  Market  street. 
an  active  part  in  the  Agricultural  Society  of 
Summit  Count}',  having  been  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  and  of  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors of  the  same.  He  was  formerl}^  a  mem- 
ber of  the  City  Council.  He  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  because  of  which  fact  he  was  several 
times  burnt  out  during  the  three  j-ears  he  was 
in  Hannibal,  Mo.  (from  1857  to  1860),  the  last 
time  at  a  loss  of  $30,000,  in  railroad  contracts 
and  buildings. 

H.  C.  VIELE,  County  Treasurer,  Akron ; 
was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  29, 
1841,  and  is  the  second  in  a  family  of  five 
children  born  to  Hiram  and  Abbie  M.  (McFar- 
land)  Viele.  He  was  a  native  of  Pittstown, 
Renssalaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  born  Sept.  5, 1813. 
His  father  was  a  farmer  and  he  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm  until  he  was  20  years  old,  when 
he  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  the  stove  trade  busi- 
ness at  Rochester,  Monroe  Co.,  and  two  years 
later  he  became  a  partner  in  the  business,  in 
which  he  continued  for  five  yeai's  ;  he  then 
lived  a  year  in  Washington  Co.,  when  the  family 
came  to  Akron  (1842),  he  engaged  as  a  clerk  and 
book-keeper  in  the  Stone  Mills  and  continued 
there  until  1868,  when  he  opened  a  flour  and 
feed  store,  in  which  business  he  remained  un- 
til his  death,  July  25,  1874.  He  was  married 
to  Miss  Abbie  M.    McFarland   Oct.    17,  1838. 


794 


BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCIlES: 


She  is  a  native  of  Salem,  Washington  Co.,  N. 
Y.  Of  their  five  children,  three  are  living,  viz., 
H.  C,  Mary  I.  and  Fannie  G.  Mrs.  Viele  is 
living  on  the  old  homestead.  Our  subject  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  of  Akron, 
and  at  the  age  of  16,  began  clerking  in  the  Stone 
Mills  with  his  ftither  for  eight  or  nine  years.  He 
then  became  the  agent  for  the  Merchants  Union 
Express  Co.,  and  after  one  year  he  entered  the 
office  of  the  C,  Z.  &  C,  now  C,  Mt.  V.  &  C.  R. 
R.,  and  served  two  or  three  years,  when  he  be- 
came a  pai'tner  with  his  father  in  the  flour  and 
feed  business,  and  after  one  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed County  Recorder  to  fill  the  vacancy  of 
Granville  Thorp,  deceased.  He  next  served  as 
a  clerk  in  the  County  Treasurer's  office,  and 
continued  as  such  until  1878,  when  he  was 
elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  as  County 
Clerk,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  office  in  1880. 
Oct.  16,  1873,  he  married  Miss  Libbie  F.  Mack, 
a  native  of  New  York.  They  were  married  at 
her  home,  at  Flat  Bush,  Long  Island.  By  the 
marriage  there  is  one  child,  viz.,  Fannie  Mack. 
GEORGE  VIALL,  Treasurer  Middlebury 
Clay  Co.,  Akron  (Sixth  Ward);  is  a  native  of 
Middlebury  (Sixth  Ward  of  Akron),  and  was 
born  March  12,  1834  ;  is  the  only  child  of 
Thomas  C.  and  Mahala  (Atwood)  Viall,  who 
were  natives  of  Vermont  and  Connecticut,  and 
when  young  came  to  Ohio  with  their  parents. 
He  built  a  woolen  and  saw  mill  in  Middlebury 
which  he  conducted  until  his  death  in  1834. 
She  settled  with  her  parents  in  Springfield 
Township,  where  her  father  owned  1,000  acres 
of  land.  They  were  married  in  1832.  After 
the  death  of  her  husband  in  1834,  she  was  again 
married  in  1840,  to  Nathaniel  Munson,  and  in 
1845,  they  moved  to  New  York,  but  returned 
about  1850.  He  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  and 
followed  the  business  in  Middlebury.  He  died 
in  New  York  while  on  a  visit  to  his  relatives 
about  the  year  1865.  She  is  still  living,  and 
makes  h^r  home  with  her  son,  Leroy  Munson, 
in  Tallmadge  Township.  George  Viall  lived 
at  home  with  his  mother  until  he  was  1 9  years 
of  age,  receiving  a  common-school  education. 
At  the  age  of  19  he  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  at  the  old  forge  north  of  Middlebury. 
He  followed  the  business  some  eighteen  months, 
and  then  sold  out  and  bought  a  canal-boat, 
following  boating  for  three  summers,  when  he 
again  embarked  in  the  grocery  business  in  Mid- 
dlebury, which  he  continued  for  three  years, 


then  sold  out  and  opened  business  in  Akron, 
where  he  did  business  three  years  longer.  He 
then  sold  out  and  commenced  the  manu- 
facture of  stoneware  in  Middlebury,  continuing 
for  eight  years.  He  sold  out  and  went  into 
general  merchandise  in  Middlebury,  and  after 
nine  years  again  sold  out.  He  was  one  of  the 
incorporators  of  the  Middlebury  Clay  Co.,  of 
which  he  is  Treasurer,  and  has  also  served  as 
Secretary.  He  has  served  two  terms  in  the 
Middlebury  Council.  He  was  married  Aug. 
24,  1857,  to  Miss  Maria  Reepsomer,  a  native 
of  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio.  They  have  had  three 
children,  one  of  whom  is  living,  viz.,  Nannie  L., 
also  an  adopted  child,  Edward  Carl. 

JOHN  F.  VIALL,  undertaker,  corner  Water 
and  River  street,  Akron  ;  is  a  native  of  Chau- 
tauqua Co.,  N.  Y. ;  was  born  April  30,  1825, 
and  is  the  fourth  of  a  family  of  nine  children 
born  to  Bennett  and  Wealthy  (Arnold)  Viall. 
They  were  natives  of  Vermont  and  Connecticut, 
and  were  married  in  New  York,  whither  he  had 
gone  when  a  young  man,  and  she  with  her 
parents.  He  farmed  there  until  1832,  when  he 
came  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship, farming  there  some  two  years.  He  then 
came  to  Middlebury  and  took  an  active  interest 
in  a  saw  and  woolen  mill,  built  by  himself  and 
brother  Thomas,  continuing  until  the  latter's 
death,  after  which  he  continued  some  three 
years  longer.  He  then  went  to  Wisconsin, 
where  he  remained  for  two  3'ears,  and  then 
returned  to  Middlebury,  and  soon  after  went  to 
Granger  Township,  in  Medina  Co.,  where  he 
followed  farming  until  his  death  in  1877,  aged 
84  years.  She  died  in  1845.  He  married  a 
second  time  to  Mrs.  S.  Hinckley,  who  died 
about  four  years  after  her  marriage.  A  third 
marriage  was  to  Mrs.  Rhoda  Baker  ;  she  sur- 
vived him  about  one  month.  John  F.  (the 
subject)  lived  at  home  until  he  was  22.  He 
learned  the  cabinet-maker's  trade  with  his 
brother  in  Middlebury.  After  three  years  his 
brother  died,  and  himself  and  brother  Eli  en- 
gaged in  the  furniture  business  under  the  firm 
of  Viall  Brothei's,  and  continued  about  ten 
years.  Subject  then  sold  out  and  worked  for 
G.  W.  Barber  &  Co.  twelve  years,  then  worked 
for  Kent  &  Baldwin,  woolen  machinery  manu- 
facturers, for  two  3'ears.  He  then  bought  an 
interest  in  his  brother's  cabinet-making  busi- 
ness, continuing  three  years,  when  the  firm 
became  Viall  &  Replogle,  the  latter  succeeding 


-Ttl 


t^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


795 


Eli  Viall,  and  three  years  later  he  sold  to  Mr. 
Dewe}',  and  about  three  years  after  John  F. 
Viall  became  sole  proprietor,  and  quit  the  fur- 
niture business  and  followed  the  undertaking 
business  since.  He  was  married,  Nov.  4,  1847, 
to  Miss  Cornelia  C.  Wheeler,  a  native  of  Tall- 
madge  Township.  They  had  seven  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living — Francis  (now  Mrs. 
Obendorf,  of  Middlebury),  Edwin  W.  (married, 
and  lives  in  Middlebury),  Laura  C.  (now  Mrs. 
Charles  B.  Macey,  of  Middlebury),  Arthur  G. 
and  Otis  live  at  home. 

C.  VOGT,  carriages,  Akron.  Though  identi- 
fied with  the  manufacturing  interests  of  Akron 
for  but  a  few  3-ears,  he  has  already  established 
quite  an  extensive  business.  He  is  the  son  of 
John  and  Susan  M.  (Seltzer)  Vogt,  and  was 
born  in  Rhine  Province,  Germany,  in  1846.  In 
1852,  his  people  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
and  settled  in  Springfield  Township,  Summit 
County.  There  he  worked  on  his  father's  farm 
until  he  was  15  years  old,  and  then  he  spent 
one  3'ear  in  the  mines.  He  began  to  learn  his 
trade  in  1865,  after  which  he  spent  three  3'ears 
with  E.  A.  Collins  as  finisher  for  him.  He  then 
spent  one  year  in  Tallmadge.  In  1874,  he  be- 
gan business  in  Akron  on  his  own  account ;  his 
capital  was  small,  and  competition  lively,  but 
with  a  determination  to  succeed  he  pushed 
along,  and  in  1880  built  this  present  manufact- 
uring establishment,  which  is  located  on  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Middlebur}-  streets.  South 
Akron,  and  is  of  the  following  dimensions  :  22 
feet  front  by  136  feet  deep,  three  floors,  and 
blacksmithing  and  trimming-shop  in  the  rear. 
The  ground  floor  is  the  wood-working  room, 
the  second  is  used  as  a  repository  and  office, 
and  the  third  is  devoted  to  painting  and  finish- 
ing. Mi\  Vogt  has  taken  quite  an  intei'est  in 
political  affairs,  though  he  has  been  no  office- 
seeker  ;  however,  he  was  pressed  into  the  service 
so  far  as  to  have  served  four  years  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  City  Council  from  the  Fifth  Ward. 
This  was  b}'  the  courtesy  of  his  Democratic 
friends.  He  was  married  in  1869  to  Miss  Mar}' 
E.  McDonald. 

JAMES  VIALL,  Superintendent  Hill  Sewer 
Pipe  Co.,  Akron  (Sixth  Ward)  ;  is  a  native  of 
Akron,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  Was  born  Jan.  15, 
1828,  and  is  the  sixth  of  nine  children  born  to 
James  and  Sarah  (Hubbard)  Viall,  natives  of 
Vermont,  where  the}'  were  married,  after  which 
they  came  to  Ohio  (about  1822)  and  settled  in 


Summit  Co.  Here  he  followed  for  a  time  char- 
coal burning,  and  later  he  became  a  contractor 
on  the  canal.  After  its  completion,  he  engaged 
as  bridge-builder,  and  built  many  of  the  bridges 
in  this  county.  He  died  in  February,  1837  ; 
his  wife  lived  in  the  vicinity  until  her  death, 
in  the  summer  of  1880,  at  the  age  of  84  years. 
James  (the  subject),  lived  at  home  until  22 
years  of  age,  receiving  but  a  limited  education 
at  the  district  schools.  In  1841,  he  went  on  the 
canal,  following  the  same  until  1865,  the  first  two 
years  as  driver,  and  in  1843 — then  but  15  ^ears 
old — -began  as  steersman,  continuing  as  such  as 
long  as  he  remained  on  the  canal,  running  be- 
tween Pittsburgh  and  Cleveland.  He  embarked, 
in  1865,  in  the  manufacturing  of  stoneware, 
buying  the  business  of  Wm.  Owens,  which  was 
located  in  Springfield  Township,  and  has  con- 
ducted the  same  ever  since.  About  the  year 
1876,  he  sold  a  half-interest  to  George  Markle, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Viall  &  Markle.  He 
also  became  interested,  in  1865,  with  J.  B. 
Woods,  in  the  mining  and  manufacturing  of 
clay,  which  he  has  since  continued,  and  which 
has  been  incorporated  into  the  Middlebury  Clay 
Co.  In  March,  1873,  lie,  in  company  with  Mr. 
Hill  and  others,  incorporated  the  Hill  Sewer 
Pipe  Co.,  of  which  he  is  Superintendent.  He 
was  also  engaged  for  several  3'ears,  with  Moses 
J.  Huggins,  in  the  grocery  business  in  Middle- 
bury, and  for  a  time  were  the  only  representa- 
tives in  that  line  in  the  place.  He  was  married, 
Jan.  29,  1850,  to  Miss  Mary  Davis,  a  native  of 
Middlebur}',  and  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Mary  Davis — the  former  deceased,  Mrs.  Davis 
still  living  with  her  daughter,  aged  86  years. 
Mr.  Viall  served  as  Councilman  several  terms 
in  Middlebury  before  its  incorporation.  He 
has  always  been  Republican  in  politics. 

W.  W.^  WARNER,  abstracter  of  titles,  etc., 
Akron  ;  was  born  in  Springfleld  Township,  in 
this  count}-,  Feb.  28,  1848,  and  is  tlie  eighth  of 
nine  children  born  to  John  and  Mary  (Ettie) 
Warner.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Connec- 
ticut, and  came  to  Oliio  about  1839  and  settled 
in  Portage  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  His 
father  was  a  worker  in  iron,  and  was  principally 
engaged  as  forgeman  after  coming  to  Ohio. 
Aug.  6, 1863,  he  was  drowned  in  the  Cuyahoga 
River  at  Cuyahoga  Falls.  His  mother  died 
Dec.  3,  1859.  Mr.  Warner  lived  at  home  until 
the  death  of  his  father,  when  he  went  to  live 
with  Mr.  Charles  Curtiss,  working  on  his  farm 


Is 


796 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


for  a  3'ear,  when,  Mr.  Curtiss  selling  out,  3^oung 
Warner  remained  with  the  purchaser  of  the 
farm.  After  a  year,  he  went  East,  finishing  the 
education  begun  in  the  district  schools  and 
those  at  the  "  Falls,"  in  the  Quaker  Citj^  Busi- 
ness College  of  Philadelphia.  After  an  absence 
of  two  yeai'S,  he  returned  to  Cuyahoga  Falls 
and  engaged  as  book-keeper  for  Hanford  & 
Yeamans,  and  Hanford  Brothers,  who  succeeded 
the  former.  The  following  year,  he  came  to 
Akron  and  served  as  Deputy  Recorder  for 
James  A.  Lantz,  and  later,  for  Mr.  Thorp,  con- 
tinuing some  two  years  in  all.  In  1871,  he  be- 
gan the  business  of  preparing  abstracts  of 
titles.  In  1874,  he  added  the  feature  of  real 
estate  and  loan  agency  to  his  business,  forming 
a  partnership  with  E.  C.  Ruggles,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Ruggles  &  Warner.  Two  years 
later,  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  Mr.  War- 
ner continuing  the  business  alone  to  the  pres- 
ent. April  15,  1869,  he  married  Miss  Annie 
M.  Yeamans,  a  native  of  Philadelphia ;  she 
died  Oct.  27,  18 — ,  leaving  two  children — Ar- 
thur Lee  and  Harry  Albert,  who  were  twins. 
Oct.  25,  1877,  he  married  Miss  Alice  G.  Little- 
ton, a  native  of  Cleveland.  There  is  one  child 
b}'  this  marriage — (xeorge  Littleton. 

AARON  WAdONBR,  Auditor,  Akron  ;  was 
born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Franklin  Township, 
Sept.  19,  184:4.  His  early  years  were  spent  on 
the  farm,  and  in  the  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, until  the  fall  of  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in 
the  army,  joining  Company  B,  6th  0.  V.  C. 
Soon  after  his  enlistment,  he  was  appointed 
Corporal,  and  later,  a  Sergeant,  finally  reaching 
the  rank  of  Second  Lieutenant  in  command  of 
the  company.  He  was  mustered  out  as  Second 
Lieutenant  in  1865.  This  regiment  was  with 
Sheridan  in  the  Potomac  Army,  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  on  the  raid  to 
Richmond,  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  and 
all  the  engagements  of  the  army.  At  Aldie  he 
was  wounded,  and  for  several  months  was  dis- 
abled for  active  service.  Returning  from  the 
army,  he  came  to  Akron  and  engaged  as  sales- 
man in  the  dry  goods  establishment  of  Over- 
holser,  Keller  &  Co.  After  serving  in  this  ca- 
pacity for  some  eighteen  months,  he  engaged  as 
their  book-keeper,  continuing  for  four  and  a 
half  years,  when  the  firm  dissolved.  In  1872, 
he  entered  the  City  Bank  as  Teller,  continuing 
there  until  1880.  In  the  fall  of  this  year,  he 
was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  as  Auditor, 


entering  upon  his  duties  in  the  following  No- 
vember. April  30,  1868,  he  married  Miss 
Amanda  Smith,  a  native  of  Summit  County ; 
by  the  marriage  there  have  been  born  two  chil- 
dren, viz. :  Mabel  Blanche  and  George  Edward. 

DR.  JOHN  WEIMER,  physician,  Akron  ;  is 
a  native  of  Alsace,  France,  and  was  born  Aug. 
23,  1813.  His  father  was  a  farmer.  Our  sub- 
ject received  an  academic  course  of  study,  and 
at  the  age  of  19  set  out  for  America.  On  his 
arrival  he  felt  the  necessity  of  being  able  to 
speak  the  language  of  the  new  land.  He  en- 
gaged his  services  to  a  Yankee  family,  with 
whom  he  remained  several  months  ;  then  en- 
tered a  store  in  Buflfalo,  N.  Y.,  as  clerk,  and 
after  about  three  months,  while  in  Ohio  on  bus- 
iness, he  met  Dr.  Underwood,  of  Baltimore, 
Stark  Co.,  and  arranged  with  him  to  read  med- 
icine, under  his  instructions,  which  he  began  to 
do  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1832  ;  two 
years  later,  he  read  one  year  at  Canton  with  Dr. 
Breisacher,  and  in  April  of  1836,  he  began  to 
practice  at  Uniontown.  In  1847,  he  removed 
to  Akron,  where  he  has  practiced  since.  The 
Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Summit  Count}-  Med- 
ical Society.  In  September,  1839,  he  married 
Miss  Catharine  Christy,  a  native  of  Springfield 
Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  She  died  in  Jan- 
uary, 1875.  There  were  four  children  and  but 
one  is  living,  viz.,  Mrs  Valentine  Hay,  of  Som- 
erset Co.,  Penn.  Dec.  25,  1879,  he  married 
Miss  Mary  C.  Miller,  a  native  of  Stark  Co., 
Ohio. 

CHARLES  WEBSTER,  President  of  the 
Webster,  Camp  &  Lane  Machine  Company, 
Akron,  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Connecticut, 
Sept.  3,  1810,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  H.  and 
Elizabeth  (Knowles)  Webster,  natives  of  Hart- 
ford, Conn.  When  Charles  was  3  years  old 
his  parents  removed  to  Hartford,  where  they 
lived  some  twenty-three  3'ears.  His  education 
was  confined  to  a  limited  attendance  at  the  dis- 
trict schools.  At  the  age  of  16,  he  (subject) 
was  bound  to  the  carpenter's  trade  until  of  age. 
After  this  he  worked  one  year  in  a  manufactorj'^ 
of  window  blinds.  He  then  followed  his  trade 
until  1835,  having  established  his  residence  in 
Massachusetts.  He  was  married,  April  30, 
1833.  to  Miss  Martha  A.  Atherton,  a  descend- 
ant of  the  Rev.  Hope  Atherton,  who  came 
over  in  the  Mayflower.  The  fruit  of  this  mar- 
riage was  eight  children,  but  one  of  whom  is 
now  living — Isabella,  Mrs.  Gage,  of  Akron.     In 


"Tic 


CITY    OF    AKROK. 


797 


1835,  Mr.  W.  came  to  Ohio  with  his  family  in 
a  one-horse  wagon,  in  company  with  Charles 
Merriman  and  famih'.  The}'  left  Dalton,  Mass., 
May  5,  1835.  and  were  fifteen  days  on  the 
journe}',  arriving  at  Matteson  on  the  20th.  He 
worked  for  a  time  on  a  hotel  for  Mr.  Merriman, 
after  which  he  visited  Akron,  settling  on  a 
tract  of  land  belonging  to  Merriman.  He  built 
a  cabin  on  it,  but  the  following  spring  he  moved 
to  the  then  village  of  Akron,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided.  He  worked  at  his  trade,  and  at 
millwrighting  until  1848,  when  on  the  15th  of 
May,  in  company  with  Gr.  D.  Bates  and  James 
Taplin,  he  formed  a  partnership  under  the  firm 
name  of  Gr.  D.  Bates  &  Co.,  which  continued 
until  1869,  when  a  stock  company  was  formed,  of 
which  Mr.  Webster  is  President.  Their  business 
is  the  building  of  stationary  engines  and  boilers, 
and  mining,  milling  and  pottery  machinery, 
also  of  general  machine  work.  Mr.  Webster 
has  been  identified  with  this  business  ever 
since  its  establishment  in  1848.  When  he  came 
to  Ohio,  he  was  in  veiy  limited  circumstances, 
and  has  accumulated  his  means  by  his  own  in- 
dustry. 

T.  a.  WILLIAMS,  of  Williams  &  Ab- 
bott, stoves,  tinware,  etc.,  Middlebury  (Sixth 
Ward) ;  was  born  in  Durham,  England,  May  2, 
1843.  In  1846,  his  parents,  Rev.  Michael  and 
Mary  (Wilkinson)  Williams,  came  to  America, 
and  resided  successively  in  New  York  City, 
Paterson.  N.  J.,  Johnstown,  Penn.,  Alexan- 
dria, Ind.,  Pittsburgh,  Penn.,  New  Castle,  Penn., 
when  they  remained  at  the  latter  place  several 
years.  While  there  the  subject  went  to  Johns- 
town and  learned  the  tinner's  trade,  and,  at  the 
beginning  of  the  late  war,  enlisted  in  Co.  K, 
(Johnstown  Zouaves)  3d  Penn.V.  I. ;  served  three 
months,  when  the  command  re-enlisted  for  three 
years,  and  again,  at  the  close  of  the  term,  as 
veterans.  In  the  first  enlistment  for  three 
years,  his  command  became  Co.  A,  54th  Penn.  V. 
I.  In  the  re-enlistment  as  veterans,  Mr.  Will- 
iams was  commissioned  as  First  Lieutenant  of 
his  company.  He  participated  in  the  battles 
of  the  first  Bull  Run,  Petersburg,  New  Mar- 
ket, Lynchburg,  Winchester,  Antietam,  Cedar 
Creek,  Fishei''s  Hill,  at  Appomattox,  and  all 
other  engagements  of  his  command.  He  was 
in  the  army  from  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run 
to  the  surrender  at  Appomattox  ;  was  wounded 
twice  in  the  battle  of  Lynchburg,  and  was  con- 
fined some  two  weeks  in  hospital,  when  he  re- 


joined his  regiment  ;  was  again  wounded  at 
Winchester,  but  kept  with  his  command  leather 
than  go  into  a  hospital.  His  regiment  was 
taken  prisoners  a  few  days  before  the  surren- 
der, and  were  afterward  paroled.  They  were 
in  full  view  when  the  surrender  took  place.  He 
was  discharged  at  Harrisburg,  and  afterward 
came  to  Ohio,  his  father  being  on  a  circuit  at 
the  time  in  Twinsburg  Township,  Summit  Co. 
T.  Gr.  (subject),  lived  in  Twinsburg,  and,  about 
1866,  went  to  Cleveland  and  worked  at  his 
trade,  serving  as  foreman  of  Parrish  &  Knight's 
shop  for  four  years.  He  then  engaged  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  at  Atwater,  Portage  Co.,  and 
one  year  later  came  to  Middlebury,  where  he 
engaged  in  business  and  has  since  liA'ed.  He 
was  married,  in  1878,  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Koon,  a 
native  of  Springfield  Township.  By  this  mar- 
riage they  have  three  children,  viz.,  Maud  D., 
May  and  Archibald.  His  parents  came  to 
Ohio  from  Pennsylvania,  and  his  father  has 
preached  in  Ohio  since,  until  recently.  He  and 
his  wife  now  live  at  New  Philadelphia,  Ohio, 
retired. 

S.  C.  WILLIAMSON,  Probate  Judge,  Ak- 
ron ;  was  born  in  Randolph,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio, 
Aug.  18,  1837,  and  resided  there  until  1854, 
when  he  entered  the  preparator}^  school  at 
Hudson,  Ohio,  and,  in  1860,  graduated  from 
the  Western  Reserve  College.  In  the  spring  of 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G.,  19th  0.  V.  I.,  and 
served  three  months,  when  he  re- enlisted  (Octo- 
ber, 1861)  in  the  18th  U.  S.  I.  He  was  ap- 
pointed Sergeant,  and  served  in  this  capacity 
until  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  where  he  was 
wounded  and  was  confined  to  the  hospital  for 
three  months.  After  a  leave  of  absence  of 
several  months,  having  been  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Second  Lieutenant,  he  was  assigned  to 
duty  at  Detroit  and  Grrand  Rapids  as  muster- 
ing and  disbursing  officer,  and  subsequently 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant, 
and,  in  1864,  he  was  ordered  before  the  Retir- 
ing Board  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  and  retired 
with  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant,  and  was  next 
ordered  to  Missouri  on  duty  in  the  Provost 
Marshal  General's  Department,  serving  as  as- 
sistant until  the  closing  of  the  office  ;  he  was 
then  assigned  to  duty  as  Post  Adjutant  and 
Inspecting  Officer  at  Benton  Barracks,  and 
later,  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  as  Assistant 
Commissioner  of  Musters,  where  he  served 
until   January,  1867,    when    he   was   commis- 


^F 


\1 


798 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


sioned  Captain  of  the  42d  U.  S.  I.,  and  was 
stationed  with  the  regiment  at  Hart's  Ishmd 
and  Madison  Barracks,  N.  Y.,  until  the  consoli- 
dation of  his  regiment  with  the  6th  at  Fort 
Gibson,  Indian  Territory,  where  he  was  placed 
on  waiting  orders,  and  resumed  the  reading  of 
law  with  Tibbals  &  McKinne\',  completing  a 
course  interrupted  by  the  war,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1870,  and  began  practice 
in  company  with  F.  S.  Hanford,  and  after  a  year 
or  two  practiced  alone.  In  the  fall  of  1875,  he 
was  elected  Probate  Judge  on  the  Republican 
ticket,  and  was  re-elected  in  1878. 

J.  H.  WISE,  deceased,  was  a  native  of 
Green  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  Ho  was 
born  March  24,  1821.  His  father,  George  H. 
Wise,  was  a  merchant  of  Greentown.  Our  sub- 
ject was  raised  in  his  native  township  Dec.  14, 
1853.  He  married  Miss  Catharine  Middlekauff, 
a  native  of  Hagerstown,  Washington  Co.,  Md. 
At  the  time  of  the  marriage,  and  for  five  years 
thereafter,  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  Greentown,  with  his  brother-in-law. 
In  1858,  he  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  busi- 
ness and  came  to  Akron,  superintending  the 
farm  he  had  bought  just  north  of  the  city.  In 
18G1,  he  engaged  as  agent  for  the  United 
States  Express  Company  at  Akron,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  employ  for  four  years,  and  next 
clerked  in  the  Buckeye  Works;  he  was  in- 
terested in  and  became  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer of  the  Akron  Straw  Board  Company,  but 
sold  his  interest  after  one  year,  after  which  he 
served  as  assignee  for  a  number  of  concerns. 
By  the  marriage,  there  were  three  children,  all 
since  deceased.  Their  son,  W.  W.,  was  Quar- 
termaster of  Co.  L,  2d  0.  V.  I.,  and  died  in  the 
service  of  his  country  at  Ft.  Scott,  Kan.  Mr. 
Wise  died  March  30,  1877.  Mrs.  Wise  has  con- 
continued  her  residence  in  the  old  homestead 
in  Akron. 

ANDREW  WILSON,*  a  descendant  of  a 
family  of  martyrs.  The  late  Andrew  Wilson, 
of  Stow  Corners,  was  a  man  of  sterling  worth 
and  integrity,  withal  a  just  man  in  all  his  rela- 
tions. He  was  born  Oct.  23, 1799,  at  Acworth, 
N.  H.,  and  as  he  was  known  to  state,  he  lived 
during  the  life-time  of  Washington,  Washington 
dying^the  14th  of  December,  1799.  Mr.  Wil- 
son, with  his  father's  family,  moved  from  Ac- 
worth,  N.  H.,  to  Guernsey  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1815,  in 
an  ox-wagon,  driving  their  stock  before  them. 

*Akron  Beacon. 


Their  nearest  neighbor  was  three  miles  distant, 
and  they  were  obliged,  on  one  occasion,  to  car- 
ry a  fire-brand  the  three  miles  to  start  a  fire. 
He  left  his  father's  home  in  the  wilderness, 
bought  his  time  until  he  became  of  age,  and 
came  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1819,  and  was  em- 
ployed with  Judge  Kingsl)ury  in  the  grading  of 
the  streets  around  the  public  square,  and  in 
clearing  the  forests  in  the  county  roads,  when 
Cleveland  was  but  a  hamlet  with  but  a  score  of 
houses.  On  two  occasions  he  returned  to  New 
Hampshire,  walking  all  the  way  there  and  back 
again  to  Cleveland  in  mid-winter.  He  consid- 
ered the  soil  of  no  consequence,  which  he  could 
have  purchased  at  $3  per  acre,  in  the  heart  of 
the  town,  but  instead  purchased  a  large  farm 
a  few  miles  east,  in  Warrensville,  paying  more 
for  it — believing  it  to  be  the  best  investment — 
where  he  resided  for  forty-two  years,  cleared 
olf  the  native  forest,  built  buildings,  and  made 
a  beautiful  home.  He  held  many  offices  of 
trust  and  honor.  He  married  in  1829,  Miss 
Lurancy  Thomas,  of  Hudson,  formerly  from 
York  State,  and  reared  a  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  eight  survive  him.  In  1866,  he 
sold  his  farm,  and  located  at  Stow  Corners,  Sum- 
mit Co.,  where  he  resided  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  His  was  a  famih^  of  noble  lineage.  As 
far  back  as  1606,  the  family  of  John  Wilson 
and  many  others  in  Scotland  were  Presbyterians 
and  come-outers  from  the  Church  of  England, 
and  were  subjected  to  many  mart3Tdoms  and 
persecutions  for  religion's  sake.  It  is  related 
of  the  family  that  there  was  a  grandmother  and 
granddaughter,  both  by  the  name  of  Margaret 
Wilson,  who  were  bound  to  stakes  at  low  water 
tide  in  the  sea,  and  were  permitted  to  perish  at 
high  tide  with  others  who  would  not  recant,  and 
thus  died  in  their  faith.  The  name  Margaret 
has  been  perpetuated,  in  commemoration,  in 
each  generation  down  to  the  present.  The  fam- 
ilj'  subsequently  emigrated  to  Londonderry, 
Ireland,  and  from  there  to  this  country,  in  1718, 
and  located  with  others  in  New  Hampshire,  and 
named  the  town  Londonderry,  after  the  city  of 
their  adoption  in  Ireland.  In  William  Cullen 
Bryant's  recent  history  of  the  United  States, 
page  138,  Vol.  Ill,  we  quote  the  narrative  of 
their  history.     He  sa^^s  : 

"The  emigration  of  some  Scotch  Presbyterians 
to  New  Hampshire,  in  1718,  while  Shute  was  Gov- 
ernor, w^as  of  much  importance.  The  people  who 
undertook  tobetter  their  condition  in  America,  were 


-^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


799 


descendants  of  the  colonists  who  had  been  trans- 
ferred by  James  the  First  to  the  North  of  Ireland, 
where  their  condition, from  penal  laws  against  Prot- 
estants and  from  local  taxation,  had  become  intol- 
erable. Arrived  first  in  Boston,  they  dispersed  in 
various  directions;  but  sixteen  of  the  families  hold- 
ing together,  settled  upon  lands  a  few  miles  north- 
east of  Haverhill,  in  New  Hampshire.  The  disputed 
title  of  the  land  gave  them  some  trouble,  but  under 
the  Governor'' s  protection  they  remained  upon  the 
spot  of  their  choice,  and,  being  joined  from  time  to 
time  by  other  families,  they  called  their  place  Lon- 
donderry in  1723.  Their  minister,  MacGrregor,  in- 
formed Gov.  Shute  how  offensive  it  was  to  them  to 
be  confounded  with  the  Irish,  against  whom  they 
had  fought  always  in  the  defense  of  Protestantism; 
but  the  New  Hampshire  people  were  jealous  of  the 
new-comers,  who  went  into  quiet  possession  of  the 
soil  at  a  time  when  their  own  lauds  were  threatened 
with  litigation.  The  Presbyterians  did  the  province 
the  good  service  of  introducing  the  manufacture  of 
linen  by  the  .spinning-wheel  and  the  cultivation  of 
the  potato.  The  vegetable  was  first  planted  at  And- 
over,  whose  inhabitants  began  by  boiling  the  balls 
instead  of  the  bulbs,  wondering  when  the  result  was 
served  up  at  their  simple  tables,  that  a  potato  was 
considered  an  esculent.  The  prosperity  attending 
the  new  colonists  led  other  people  to  petition  for 
grants  of  land." 

Andrew  Wilson's  grandfathers,  for  six  gen- 
erations in  direct  descent,  were  named  John 
Wilson.  His  own  grandfather,  John  Wilson, 
was  an  original  settler  at  Londonderry,  N.  H., 
and  his  own  father  was  a  triplet,  and  was  so 
small  that  he  was  placed  in  a  quart  cup  at 
birth,  but  subsequently  grew  to  be  a  very  large 
man,  and  was  known  as  "Big  John  Wilson," 
to  distinguish  him  from  another  family,  who 
were  known  as  "Little  Wilsons.'"  "Big  John 
Wilson's ''  family  consisted  of  twenty-one  chil- 
dren, all  living  to  grow  up  and  meet  together 
at  one  time.  Andrew  Wilson  was  one  of  the 
oldest  sons.  The  family  descendants  are  now 
numbered  by  the  hundreds,  and  are  scattered 
from  New  Hampshire  to  Oregon.  He  lived  a 
serene  and  happy  life,  and  died  at  the  ripe  old 
age  of  81  years  and  2  months,  Dec.  23,  1880. 
He  was  a  stanch  Whig  and  Kepublican  in  pol- 
itics during  life.  In  later  ^^ears  a  member  of 
the  Disciples'  Church  where  he  resided.  His 
wife  passed  on  before  him  in  1856  to  the  re- 
ward of  a  faithful  life.  Some  years  later,  Mr 
Wilson  married  for  the  second  time,  Mrs.  Nan- 
cy Lindse}',  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  who  sur- 
vives him."  Andrew  Wilson's  children  were  : 
first,  Harriet,  who  married  Austin  B.  Burdick, 
and  resides  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.;  Nancy  W., 
married  Lansford  W.  Perry,  of  the  lumber  firm 


of  Woods,  Perry  &  Co.,  Cleveland,  Ohio  ;  the 
first  son,  Emery,  died  in  infancy  ;  Julie  E., 
married  William  H.  Hower,  junior  partner  of 
the  firm  of  Hower  &  Son,  dry  goods,  Cleveland, 
Ohio  ;  died  Aug.  25,  1871,  aged  37  years,  leav- 
ing one  child,  a  daughter.  Birdie  E.  Hower  ; 
Andrew  J.,  farmer  and  blacksmith,  a  soldier 
for  three  years,  on  the  Union  side  in  the  great 
rebellion  ;  married  Miss  Laurie  Lindsay,  and  re- 
sides on  his  farm  in  Stow.  Hiram  Y.  resides  in 
Cleveland,  and  is  a  member  of  the  lumber  firm 
of  Fisher,  Wilson  &  Co.  ;  married  Miss  Alma 
Fisher.  Abbie  A.,  married  E.  C.  Simpson.  Chief 
of  the  Akron  Fire  Department  (see  biography) ; 
also  connected  as  foreman  of  the  machine  de- 
partment of  the  Buckeye  Mower  &  Reaper 
Works,  and  resides  in  Akron.  John  W.  was  ac- 
cidentall}'  killed  by  the  fall  of  a  tree  at  his 
home,  then  in  Warrensville,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of 
15  years  ;  Solon  N.,  lumber  dealer  at  Akron, 
where  he  resides  (see  biography)  ;  Mary  Z., 
married  Daniel  Tuttle,  and  resides  at  Grass  Val- 
ley, Cal.;  Mattie  L.,  married  Harpin  A.  Bots- 
ford,  a  brother  of  Solon  N.  Wilson's  first  wife  ; 
resides  at  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

JOHN  J.  WAGONER,  President  Wadsworth, 
and  Manager  Franklin  Coal  Companj-,  Akron  ; 
was  born  in  Franklin  Township,  Summit  Co., 
Ohio,  Dec.  17,  1832,  and  is  the  fifth  child  in  a 
family  of  nine  children,  born  to  George  and  his 
second  wife  Rebecca  (Sowers)  Wagoner.  They 
were  natives  of  Cumberland  and  Lancaster 
Counties,  Penn.  George  Wagoner  was  a  farmer. 
He  came  to  Ohio  in  1812,  and  settled  near  Canal 
Fulton,  in  Stark  Co..  where  he  lived  about  four 
years,  during  which  time  he  lost  his  first  wife. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Rhodes.  By  the 
marriage,  there  were  four  children.  In  1816, 
he  came  to  Franklin  Township,  where  he  bought 
some  wild  land,  which  he  improved,  and  lived 
upon  until  his  death,  on  April  23,  1873.  The 
deceased  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
in  the  affairs  of  which  he  took  an  active  interest. 
He  served  his  township  as  Treasurer  for  sixteen 
consecutive  3'ears  ;  was  well  known  and  re- 
spected by  all.  Mrs.  Wagoner,  his  second  wife, 
survives  him.  She  is  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead, and  is  now  (1881)  past  77.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Sowers,  Sr.,  who  settled  in  Frank 
lin  Township  about  the  year  1814.  He  was  a 
blacksmith,  and  followed  his  trade  in  Man- 
chester. John  J.  Wagoner  received  a  common- 
school  course  of  study.     At  the  age  of  19,  he 


rp* 


800 


BIOGRAPHICAL    .SKETCHES: 


began  teaching  in  East  Liberty,  and  tlie  follow- 
ing spring  he  came  to  Akron,  where  be  engaged 
as  a  clerk  with  J.  D.  &  J.  M.  Edson,  with  whom 
he  remained  until  1855,  when  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  John  Sisler,  and  conducted  a  gen- 
eral merchandise  business  at  Manchester,  this 
county,  until  1862,  when  he  sold  his  interest 
and  returned  to  Akron,  where,  in  the  following 
October,  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
with  iMr.  Jacob  Wise,  and  later  became  first  a 
partner,  and,  upon  the  formation  of  a  stock 
company,  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the 
J.  F.  Seiberling  Company,  of  Akron,  manufact- 
urers of  the  Excelsior  Reapers  and  Mowers, 
which  position  he  held  until  1874,  when  he 
withdrew,  and  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
Wadsworth  Coal  Company,  of  which  he  became 
President.  In  February,  1880,  his  son,  C.  F. 
Wagoner,  purchased  the  Franklin  Coal  Mine, 
of  which  his  father  is  General  Manager.  Nov. 
8,  1855,  he  married  Miss  Catharine  Weaver,  a 
native  of  Fi'anklin  Township.  By  the  marriage, 
there  are  two  children,  viz.,  Charles  F.  and 
Carrie  May. 

S.  N.  WILSON,  lumber  dealer  and  contractor, 
Akron  ;  was  born  in  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct. 
19,  1843,  and  is  the  sixth  of  eight  children  born 
to  Andrew  and  Lurancy  (Thomas)  Wilson.  Our 
subject  was  brought  up  on  the  farm.  He  re- 
ceived an  academic  course  of  study  ;  also  at- 
tended one  year  at  Oberlin,  which  place  he  left 
to  enlist  in  the  150th  0.  V.  I.,  in  which  com- 
mand he  served  about  four  months,  and  was  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  when  attacked  by  the  rebel 
Gen.  Early.  He  returned  home  from  the  army, 
and  took  the  management  of  the  home  farm, 
owning  a  place  on  becoming  of  age,  when  he 
went  to  Kent,  and  conducted  the  lumber  busi- 
ness three  years.  He  then  came  to  Akron, 
where  he  has  conducted  the  business  since. 
Jan.  15,  1868,  he  married  Miss  Alice  E.  Bot- 
sord,  a  native  of  Middlebury,  now  Akron,  Ohio. 
She  died  Jan.  14,  1870.  June  20,  1872,  he 
married  Miss  Nannie  C.  Albertson,  a  native  of 
Millersburg,  Ohio.  They  have  three  children, 
viz.,  Lena  L.,  Ralph  B.  and  Ross  A. 

B.  F.  WHEELER,  grain  buyer,  Akron; 
was  born  in  Salem,  Mass.,  June  9,  1808,  and 
is  a  son  of  Oliver  and  Hannah  (Ashby)  Wheel- 
er, who  were  natives  of  New  Hampshire  and 
Massachusetts,  and  were  married  in  Salem.  He 
removed  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  about  the  year 
1817,  and,  some  ten  years  later,  to  Cattaraugus 


Co.,  where  he  engaged  in  cabinet  manufacture,  in 
connection  with  his  trade  of  millwright,  and 
lived  there  until  his  death,  in  about  1856.  Mrs. 
Wheeler  then  removed  to  Akron,  Ohio,  and 
lived  with  her  son,  B.  F.  Wheeler,  until  her 
death,  in  1865.  Our  subject  lived  at  home 
eleven  years  ;  he  then  went  into  a  drug  store 
for  two  years,  after  which  he  went  to  Rochester 
and  clerked  in  a  dry  goods  store  for  six  years. 
He  then  returned  to  Cattaraugus  Co.,  and 
worked  at  the  cabinet  business  for  a  time.  He 
was  married,  July  11, 1829,  to  Miss  Eliza  Miles, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  and,  in  1836,  he 
moved  with  his  family  to  Ohio,  and  settled  at 
Franklin  Mills,  now  Kent,  Portage  Co.  In  the 
spring  of  1840,  he  moved  to  Akron,  and 
worked  at  painting  several  years,  and  then  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business,  being  the  second 
in  that  line  in  the  place.  He  was  located  where 
the  Empire  House  now  stands,  and  followed 
the  business  some  ten  3'ears.  After  clerking 
for  his  son-in-law  a  few  years,  he  went  into  the 
grain  trade.  During  the  war,  he  bought  and 
shipped  grain,  and,  after  its  close,  he  engaged 
as  buyer  for  Mr.  F.  Schumacher,  and  has  con- 
tinued in  that  capacity  ever  since.  Mr. 
Wheeler  was  formerl}'  a  Democrat,  and.  upon 
the  enactment  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law,  he 
became  a  Free-Soiler,  then  a  Whig,  and  finally 
a  Republican,  upon  the  organization  of  that 
party.  His  wife  died  in  1844  ;  she  was  the 
mother  of  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  now 
living — Sarah,  Mrs.  John  Starr,  of  Akron  ; 
Julia,  Mrs.  M.  Simpson,  of  Michigan,  and  Henry 
F.  Mr.  W.  was  again  married,  October  30, 
1845,  to  Miss  Catharine  F.  Butts,  a  native  of 
Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio.  Three  children  is  the 
result  of  this  marriage — OUie  L.,  now  Mrs.  W. 
H.  Thompson,  of  Meadville,  Penn.;  Minnie  E., 
now  Mrs.  M.  R.  Hayne,  of  Akron,  and  Harry 
E.,  of  Akron.  In  1851,  Mr.  W.  joined  Summit 
Lodge,  No.  50,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  has  been  an 
active  member  ever  since  ;  has  been  Perma- 
nent Secretary  of  his  Lodge  for  the  past  fif- 
teen years.  He  is  a  Past  Grand  and  a  Past 
Patriarch,  and  was  Representative  to  Grand 
Encampment  three  times.  He  has  been  an 
active  worker  in  the  temperance  cause  for  over 
half  a  centur}' ,  and  was  the  first  man  in  "  old 
Cattaraugus  "  to  attempt  to  raise  a  house  with- 
out the  use  of  liquor. 

JOHN  WILLSON,  livery,  feed  and  sale  sta- 
ble, Middlebury;  is  a  native  of  Staffordshire,  En- 


^ 


'-^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON, 


801 


gland,  and  was  born  Nov.  15,  1834.  He  lived 
at  home,  engaged  in  different  kinds  of  labor, 
until  he  was  23  years  of  age.  His  education 
was  wholly'  original,  never  having  attended 
school  a  da}'  in  his  life,  except  Sabbath  school. 
At  23,  he  began,  in  a  small  way,  trading  in 
green  grocei'ies  at  his  house,  and  also  using  a 
wagon  in  same  business,  which  he  continued 
several  years,  when  he  went  to  work  in  a  brick- 
yard, and,  in  1862,  he  came  to  America,  to  ac- 
complish which  he  borrowed  one-half  of  his 
passage  money.  He  landed  in  Quebec,  Can- 
ada, and  soon  located  in  Toronto,  where,  for  a 
time,  he  worked  as  a  hostler.  He  then  went 
to  Meadville,  Penn..  and  worked  on  the  Broad 
Gauge  Railroad,  and,  in  the  summer  of  1863, 
came  to  Akron,  where  he  has  since  lived. 
He  first  commenced  work  in  the  potteries  by 
the  day,  and  afterward  began  teaming  ;  next 
ran  an  omnibus  for  awhile,  and  finally  engaged 
in  his  present  business.  In  the  summer  of 
1880,  his  stable  was  burned,  and,  the  following 
fall,  he  erected  his  present  brick  stable,  1125 
Market  street,  which  is  35x100  feet,  and  two 
stories  high.  He  keeps  from  nine  to  twelve 
horses  in  livery,  and  six  at  teaming  and  job- 
bing. In  the  summer  of  1849,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Esther  M.  Cooper,  a  native  of  Stafford- 
shire, England.  There  have  been  nine  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  living — Henry,  Eliza- 
beth (now  Mrs.  James  White,  of  Akron,) 
Greorge,  Albert  Edward  and  Francis.  Mr. 
Wilson  has  always  been  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. 

ALANSON  WORK,  Vice  President  of  Ak- 
ron Rubber  Works,  Akron.  Alanson  Work, 
Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  moved  to 
Illinois.  He  was  one  among  the  first  of  the 
Anti-slavery  men.  He  was  imprisoned,  in  1841, 
for  helping  slaves  to  escape,  the  sentence  being 
for  twelve  years,  l)ut  he  was  pardoned  out  after 
three  years,  and  with  one  George  Thompson, 
went  as  a  missionary  to  Africa.  Alanson  Work, 
Jr.,  was  born  at  Quincy,  111.  on  March  1,  1842, 
and  when  he  was  about  5  years  old  his  par- 
ents moved  to  Middletown,  Conn.,  thence  to 
Hartford,  where  he  attended  public  schools 
until  he  was  17,  spending  one  year  in  Trinity 
College.  When  19,  he  was  employed  in  the 
Metropolitan  Bank  of  New  York,  and  continued 
seven  years.  In  1868,  he  moved  to  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  and,  as  partner  in  the  firm  of  Cham- 
berlain, Gibbs  &  Co.,  engaged  in  building  rail- 


road bridges  and  railroads,  for  two  years,  and 
when  he  went  to  Rhode  Island  and  took  a  con- 
tract to  rebuild  the  bridges  on  the  Providence 
&  Wooster  Railroad,  putting  up  fourteen  double 
track  bridges  in  about  one  year.  Next  he  took 
charge  of  a  fire  engine  manufactory,  at  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.  He  was  Superintendent  of  the 
Allen  Fire  Department  Supply  Co.  for  five 
years,  and  during  that  time  took  out  several 
patents  on  fire  engine  supplies,  one  now  adopted 
by  tiiC  United  States,  being  Work's  Patent 
Coupling.  Januaiy  1,  1879,  he  became  Vice 
President  and  Superintendent  of  the  Akron 
Rubber  Works,  where  he  has  since  been  em- 
ployed. He  was  married,  in  1865,  to  Miss 
Henrietta  Lane,  of  Brooklyn,  L.  I.  She  bore 
him  seven  children. 

JOHN  WOLF,  merchant,  Akron.  Christo- 
pher Wolf,  physician,  a  native  of  Bavaria,  was 
the  father  of  John  Wolf,  and  died  thi'ee  3-ears 
after  the  birth  of  our  subject,  leaving  him  with 
no  means  other  than  sucli  as  his  own  ingenuity 
might  invent.  John  was  born  in  Town  Selb, 
Bavaria,  Jan.  25,  1837.  He  attended  German 
schools  until  he  was  14  years  of  age.  In  1851, 
he  came  to  the  United  States,  reaching  Aurora, 
Ind.,  in  December  ;  at  this  place  he  clerked  in 
a  store  until  1853,  in  September  of  which  3'ear 
he  came  to  Akron,  and  here  clerked  nine  years, 
two  of  them  with  G.  T.  McCurdy,  and  seven  for 
M.  W.  Henry.  In  1862,  he  became  a  partner 
in  the  firm  of  M.  W.  Henrj'  &  Co.,  which  part- 
nership continued  seven  years  ;  he  sold  out  in 
1869.  In  the  spring  of  1 870,  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Wolf,  Church  &  Beck,  in  the 
Academy  of  Music  building,  remaining  there 
five  years,  when  they  moved  to  their  present 
place,  and  have  since  done  a  large  wholesale 
and  retail  dry  goods  and  notion  business.  Oct. 
25,  1864,  he  married  Miss  Anna  Howe,  of  Ak- 
ron, daughter  of  Richard  Howe,  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Akron.  He  is  a  Director  of  the  Sav- 
ings &  Loan  Association,  and  was  one  of  the 
members  of  the  firm  of  Taplin,  Rice  &  Co.,  and 
a  director  and  stock-holder  in  the  same. 

WILLIAM  WATERS,  foreman  puddling 
department  Akron  rolling-mill,  Akron  ;  son  of 
John  and  Ann  (William)  Waters ;  was  born  in 
Monmouthshire,  South  Wales,  Dec.  27,  1823. 
At  14,  he  entered  a  rolling-mill  as  helper  in  the 
British  Iron  Works  of  Monmouthshire,  and 
worked  at  different  places  as  puddler.  In 
1846,  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  located 


jvj: 


■A> 


802 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


at  Troj-,  N.  Y.,  where  he  worked  in  a  rolling- 
mill  some  three  3'ears,  and  then  came  to  Porae- 
roy.  Meigs  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  employed  in  the 
same  manner  four  years.  He  then  moved  to 
New  Castle,  Penn.,  remaining  until  1860,  and 
moved  thence  to  Niles,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio, 
until  1864,  returning  to  New  Castle,  remaining 
until  1867,  in  each  of  these  places  being  em- 
ployed in  rolling  mills.  In  April,  1867,  he 
came  to  Akron,  and,  at  the  opening  of  the 
mills  here  engaged  as  puddler,  until  December, 
1869,  when  he  was  made  foreman  of  that 
department,  a  position  he  still  retains,  having 
now  about  ninety  men  in  his  department.  Oct. 
3,  1843,  he  married  Miss  Ann  Rodrick,  of  Mon- 
mouthshire, South  Wales.  He  has  eight  chil- 
dren living,  viz.,  Eliza,  Thomas,  Lewis,  Ann, 
Mary,  Kate,  John  and  James.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  for  twenty  years. 

LORENZO  D.  WATTERS,  lawyer,  Akron, 
son  of  Hiram  and  Elizabeth  (Croninger)  Wat- 
ters,  was  born  Oct.  4, 1855,  in  Carroll,  Fairfield 
Co.,  Ohio.  When  he  was  14  3'ears  old,  his  par- 
ents came  to  Akron,  where  he  attended  public 
schools  until  1872,  when  he  entered  Buchtel 
College,  at  its  opening,  remaining  until  1875, 
when  he  spent  one  year  with  his  father  in  the 
construction  of  a  mill.  In  the  spring  of  1877, 
he  entered  the  law  office  of  J.  J.  Hall,  for  the 
purpose  of  studying  the  profession,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  March  17,  1879,  when  he 
at  once  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Hall, 
and  has  since  been  in  active  practice  under  the 
firm  name  of  Hall  &  Watters.  He  is  one  of 
Akron's  best  lawyers. 

JAMES  WILDES,  Akron  ;  son  of  Patrick 
and  Mar^'  (Grough)  Wildes  was  born  in  Kin- 
derhook,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  25,  1838.  His  parents 
were  born  near  Dublin,  Ireland ;  when  James 
was  but  a  child  they  came  to  Portage  Co.,  near 
Ravenna.  Patrick  was  Superintendent  of  the 
Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  Canal  from  Breakneck  to 
the  junction  of  the  Ohio  Canal  at  Lock  1,  and 
for  about  four  3'ears  James  assisted  him,  after 
which  he  went  to  California  by  the  Panama 
route,  and  remained  about  four  3'ears.  He 
worked  in  the  gold  mines  for  some  time,  and 
afterward  in  the  copper  mines  of  Calaveras 
Co.  He  returned  b3'  water  route  in  July,  1864, 
and  located  with  his  father  on  a  fruit  farm  in 
Berrien  Co.,  Mich.,  near  St.  Joseph,  remaining 
a  year,  after  which  he  came  to  Kent  and  entered 
the  employ  of  the   Atlantic  &  Great  Western 


Railroad  Compan3'  as  fireman  and  mechanic. 
In  1868,  he  left  that  position  and  came  to 
Akron,  where  he  laid  the  track  of  the  Brewster 
Railroad,  reaching  from  Main  street  to  the 
mines  of  Coventr3'  Township,  a  distance  of 
some  five  miles.  He  remained  in  the  employ  of 
Brewster  &  Sons  as  manager  and  engineer  for 
ten  3'ears.  In  1878,  he  opened  a  coal  office  on 
Mill  street,  where  he  was  located  until  1879, 
when  he  became  the  agent  for  0.  S.  Jacobs, 
dealer  in  coal,  and  has  since  continued,  doing  a 
large  business.  November,  1864,  he  married 
Miss  Lizzie  Callahan,  of  Tallmadge,  Ohio,  and 
there  are  two  sons  and  two  daughters  of  their 
mai'riage.  He  was  elected  Street  Commis- 
sioner of  Akron  in  April,  1881,  b^^  a  large 
majoritv. 

GEOKGE  I.  WRIGHT,  lawyer,  Akron,  is  a 
son  of  James  Wright  and  was  born  Aug.  29, 1849 
in  Suffield  Township,  Portage  Co.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  England,  and  in  1821,  when  9 
3^ears  old,  came  with  his  parents  to  the  United 
States,  and  in  1832  the3^  settled  in  Springfield 
Township  ;  he  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and 
was  successivel3^  farmer,  saw-miller,  etc.,  in  Lucas 
Co.,  Ohio.  He  bought  a  place  on  North  Hill 
in  about  1865,  where  the  famil3'  now  reside,  on 
Tallmadge  avenue.  He  died  in  November, 
1876  and  was  an  enthusiastic  Republican.  In 
the  winter  of  1870,  subject  entered  Alleghan3' 
College,  at  Meadville,  Penn.,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated in  1874,  with  the  first  honors  of  his  class. 
He  was  three  3'ears  Superintendent  of  Cliagrin 
Falls  schools,  when  he  removed  to  Meadville, 
1?enn.,  remaining  there  until  the  summer  of  1880, 
when  he  returned  and  became  the  law  student 
of  N.  Hodge.  In  August,  1875,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  M.  A.  Williams,  daughter  of  Prof. 
S.  D.  Williams,  of  Meadville,  Penn.  The3'  have 
two  sons. 

GEORGE  W.  WEEKS,  of  the  firm  of  Bald- 
win &  Weeks,  Akron,  a  son  of  Leavitt  and  Celes- 
tia  (Ta3ior)  Weeks,  was  born  Nov.  24,  1831, 
in  Wadsworth  Township,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio. 
In  June,  1832,  the  family  removed  to  a  farm  in 
Copley  Township  of  this  count3^,  where  his 
3'outh  was  spent,  and  where  he  attended  the 
common  and  select  schools  of  the  time.  His 
mother  died  when  he  was  17,  and  the  famil3' 
was  broken  up.  At  18,  subject  went  to  Iowa 
and  worked  on  a  farm  near  Burlington  until 
1854,  when  he  went  to  the  "gold  diggings" 
near  Georgetown,    Cal.,   by   way   of  Panama. 


.1^- 


CITY    or    AKRON. 


803 


He  returned  the  next  year,  by  the  same  route, 
to  Copley  Township,  and  engaged  in  farming. 
In  1864,  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Copley 
Center  and  taught  school  for  a  time.  In  1866, 
he  leased  a  farm  in  the  vicinity,  and  operated  it 
until  1873,  when  he  came  to  Akron  and  as- 
sumed the  office  of  County  Clerk,  to  which  he 
had  been  elected  the  3-ear  previous.  He  filled 
the  office  six  \'ears.  Feb.  4,  1880,  he  became  a 
partner  in  the  firm  of  Baldwin  &  Weeks,  doing 
a  large  business  in  furniture,  undertaking  and 
upholstery.  He  was  married  in  February,  1856, 
to  Miss  Mary  A.  Coon,  of  Copley  Township. 
They  have  six  children  living — ViraE.,  G-eorge 
W.,  Jr.,  Leavitt  A..  Olie  M.,  Irving  H.  and 
John  L.  Mr.  W.'s  father,  Leavitt  Weeks,  was 
born  in  1792,  and  when  a  child,  the  family  re- 
moved to  Vermont,  where  they  followed  farm- 
ing until  about  181i),  when  he  came  to  Wads- 
worth  Township.  There  were  three  brothers — 
Moody,  Peter  and  Leavitt ;  the  two  latter  were 
carpenters.  Leavitt  married  Celestia  Taylor,  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  and  died  in  Michigan  in 
1866.  They  had  ten  children — Darius  died  at 
Middlebui'y  in  1879 ;  Cyrus,  a  farmer  near 
Des  Moines,  Iowa  ;  Maudred  F.,  is  sheep-raiser 
in  Sandwich  Islands  ;  our  subject ;  Rossney 
M.,  oil  producer  at  Bradford,  Penn.;  Martha, 
wife  of  late  Mr.  Ford,  at  Santa  Barbara,  Cal.; 
Mary,  wife  of  M.  L.  Warner,  of  Cuyahoga  Co.; 
Harrison,  a  farmer  in  Copley  ;  Peter,  a  grain 
merchant  at  Beason,  111.;  Henry,  at  same 
place. 

HORTON  WRIGHT,  Akron.  Hortou,  son  of 
Chester  and  Abigail  (Davis)  Wright,  was  born' 
at  Elyria.  Ohio,  Sept.  22,  1825.  The  greater 
portion  of  his  youth  was  passed  in  Cleveland, 
to  which  city  the  family  removed  in  1836, 
Peninsula,  Summit  Co.  and  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind., 
having  in  the  meantime,  been  places  of  resi- 
dence. Remaining  here  for  a  period  of  thirteen 
3'ears,  occupied  for  the  most  part  in  attending 
school,  working  at  the  printer's  trade,  and  in 
the  grocery  business.  He  removed,  in  1849,  to 
Columbus,  and  in  1850,  accepted  a  position  at 
Cincinnati  as  tuner  in  a  musical  instrument 
factory.  In  this  business  he  remained  until 
1875,  being  emplo\'ed  successively  by  H.  B. 
Horton  &  Co,  Akron;  Child  &  Bishop,  Cleve- 
land, and  the  successors  of  the  firm  of  II.  B. 
Horton  &  Co.,  of  Akron,  and  as  a  general  piano 
tuner.  At  the  last-named  date  (1875),  he  be- 
came Librarian  of  the  Akron  Public  Library, 


which  position  he  now  holds.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  two  years'  residence  in  the  West  he  has 
lived  in  Akron  continuously  since  1862.  In 
November  1856,  he  was  married  in  Columbus  to 
Miss  Susan  W.  Baker,  daughter  of  Edward  Baker, 
of  Akron,  and  has  two  sons,  John  B.  and 
Chai'les  B.,  both  of  whom  reside  at  home. 

GEN.  TH031AS  F.  WILDES,  Lawyer,  Ak- 
ron ;  son  of  Patrick  and  Mary  (Gough)  Wildes, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Balbriggan, 
near  Dublin,  Ireland,  where  they  were  mar- 
ried. They  came  to  Montreal,  Canada,  in 
1832,  where  they  lived  until  1839,  when  they 
removed  to  Ohio  and  settled  on  a  farm  near 
Ravenna.  Mr.  Wildes  died  there  in  January 
1877,  and  his  wife  in  November,  1875.  Three 
sons  were  born  to  them,  viz.,  Thomas  F.  (the  sub- 
ject), John  C,  who  enlisted  in  Co.  A.,  4th  Michi- 
gan Cavalry,  and  died  in  Murfreesboro  Hospital, 
April  2,  1863  from  wounds  and  typhoid  fever; 
and  James,  a  coal  dealer  of  Akron.  Thomas  F. 
Wildes,  the  subject  of  these  notes,  was  born 
near  Montreal,  Canada  West,  June  1,  1834.  He 
came  with  his  father's  famil}'  to  Portage  Co., 
Ohio,  in  1839,  and  remained  there  on  a  farm  until 
he  was  1 7  years  of  age,  when  he  left  home  with 
an  education  limited  to  reading  and  writing, 
and  for  several  years  worked  for  farmers  near 
RaA'enna  during  the  summer,  and  went  to 
school  in  the  winter  time.  He  attended  the  Twins- 
burg  Academy,  and  also  an  Academy  at  Marl- 
boro, Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  and  still  later,  1857  and 
1858,  spent  two  years  at  Wittenburg  College, 
Springfield.  He  became  Superintendent  of  the 
Wooster  G^raded  School  during  the  years  1859 
and  1860.  He  purchased  the  Athens,  Ohio, 
Messenger,  of  which  he  became  editor  and 
owner  on  the  1st  of  January,  1861,  and  re- 
mained in  charge  of  it  until  August  1862,  when 
he  I'elinquished  it  to  become  Lieutenant  Colonel 
of  the  116th  0.  V.  I.  He  was  almost  constantly 
in  command  of  this  regiment  or  its  brigade, 
until  February,  1865,  when  he  was  promoted  to 
Colonel  of  the  186th  0.  V.  I.  The  116th  was 
in  twenty-eight  l)attles,  and  according  to  the 
report  of  the  War  Department  made  in  1855, 
it  stood  fourth  among  Ohio  regiments  in  point 
of  number  of  men  and  officers  killed  in  action, 
and  sixth  in  these  regards  and  number  of  men 
who  died  of  disease.  In  all  these  engagements, 
Gen.  Wildes  was  in  command  of  the  regiment 
or  of  the  brigade  to  which  it  was  attached.  He 
was  wounded   several  times  during  the  war  ; 


804 


BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


some  of  these  wouuds  were  so  serious,  that  he 
has  not  yet  recovered  from  their  effects.  One 
of  these  wounds  was  received  at  the  battle  of 
Cedar  Creek,  when  "  Sheridan  was  twent}'  miles 
awa}^"  and  in  whicli  Gen.  Wildes  commanded 
his  brigade.  He  got  off  his  horse,  bound  up 
the  wound,  which  was  in  the  thigh,  with 
his  handkerchief,  and  then  i^eturned  to 
his  saddle  and  there  remained  until  the 
battle  ended.  His  brigade  was  the  only 
one  of  Crook's  corps  which  remained  unbroken 
when  the  Confederate  Gen.  Gordon  struck  and 
flanked  it  that  memorable  morning.  This  bri- 
gade was  composed  of  the  116th,  123d  Ohio, 
34th  Massachusetts  and  battalion  of  the  5tli 
New  York  heavy  ai'tillery — the  battalion  being 
captured  on  the  picket  line.  The  three  regi- 
ments stuck  together  through  that  awful  flank- 
fire,  made  four  separate  charges  during  the  day, 
and  at  night  camped  in  their  old  quarters. 
This  was  the  only  brigade  in  the  corps  that 
saved  its  camp  equipage  and  stores  from  the 
disaster  of  the  early  morning,  and  it  was  done 
by  hai'd  fighting.  For  his  gallant  conduct  in 
this  battle,  Col.  Wildes  was  commissioned  Bre- 
vet Brigadier  General.  In  February  preceed- 
ing  this  promotion,  he  was  made  Colonel  of  the 
186th,  as  already  stated,  and  was  sent  with  it 
to  Chattanooga,  whei'e,  in  command  of  a  brigade 
he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Septem- 
ber 18,  1865,  he  was  mustered  out,  having 
been  in  the  service  over  three  years,  the  larger 
portion  of  the  time  as  Brigade  Commander 
in  the  Army  of  West  Virginia,  the  Army  of  the 
James  and  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  Upon 
leaving  the  ai'my,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
the  law,  and  on  the  2d  of  April,  1866,  he  grad- 
uated from  the  Law  Department  of  the  Cincin- 
nati University,  and  was  simultaneously  admit- 
ted to  the  bar.  He  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Athens,  Ohio,  where  he  resid- 
ed until  1872,  when  he  removed  to  Akron,  and 
has  been  an  active  practitioner  in  the  courts  of 
Summit  and  surrounding  counties  ever  since. 
In  1866,  he  was  a  candidate  before  the  Republi- 
can State  Convention,  and  lacked  but  three  votes 
of  a  nomination  for  Seeretax\y  of  State.  He  was 
also  prominently  mentioned  for  the  same  office 
in  1880,  but  declined  the  candidacy.  He  is  an 
able  lawyer,  a  pleasing  speaker,  an  enthusiastic 
advocate  and  an  energetic  worker  in  political 
campaigns. 

RICHARD   B.    WALKER,  Akron.     Aaron 


W^alker  was  born  in  Belchertown,  Hampshire 
Co.,  Mass.,  as  was  also  Miss  Submit  Clark, 
whom  he  married.  They  were  the  parents  of 
ten  children,  of  whom  but  one  was  a  daughter. 
In  1850,  they  removed  to  Illinois,  where  they 
died.  Richard  B.  was  born  to  them  in  Belcher- 
town, Mass.,  Aug.  11,  1825  ;  he  was  the  seventh 
of  their  nine  sons.  In  January,  1852,  he  mar- 
ried and  came  to  Akron,  previous  to  which 
time  he  had  been  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits. After  his  arrival  here  he  purchased  a 
stock  of  agricultural  implements  which  he  sold 
at  retail,  it  being  the  first  store  of  the  kind  in 
Akron.  Connecting  this  with  hardware  he  did 
a  thriving  business  until  1862,  in  which  year 
he  was  employed  by  Aultman,  Miller,  &  Co.,  as 
traveling  salesman  for  Northern  Ohio.  As  at 
that  time  there  were  but  few  of  the  now  popu- 
lar "  Buckeye  "  machines  in  his  assigned  terri- 
tory, he  was  successful  in  effecting  great  sales. 
Owing  to  their  superiority  over  the  mowers 
and  reapers  he  had  previously  sold,  he  devoted 
his  time  exclusively  to  them  from  1858.  It  re- 
quired a  great  deal  of  labor  to  introduce  the 
first  machines  ;  when  set  up  ready  for  action, 
there  was  alwaj's  a  great  crowd  of  spectators, 
anxiously  awaiting  its  movements.  In  the 
winter  of  1858-59  he  purchased  one  hundi'ed  of 
them,  and,  in  spite  of  the  frost,  sold  ninet}^- 
seven.  From  that  time  the  business  has  been 
constantly  and  rapidly  increasing.  At  one 
time  there  were  many  competitors,  but  the 
number  is  lessened  now  ;  each  year  he  has  con- 
ducted numerous  field  trials  and  has  done  the 
active  outside  work.  In  1859,  the  "  Buckeye  " 
won  a  $10-prize  offered  to  the  machine 
among  the  best  then  made  that  would  most 
quickly  mow  a  half-acre  of  land.  In  Januar}', 
1852,  our  subject  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Jen- 
nie, of  Ware,  Mass. ;  they  have  four  sons,  viz., 
William,  a  book-keeper  at  Cleveland,  Ohio  ; 
George  R.,  a  law3'er  at  Chicago  ;  Charles,  also 
a  book-keeper  at  Cleveland,  and  Arthur  H.,  a 
student  at  Williams  College.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Congregational  Church. 

ADAM  E.  WALKLTP,  painter  and  grainer, 
Akron  ;  born  in  Van  Buren  Co.,  Iowa,  June  28, 
1847,  to  David  and  Elizabeth  (Brower)  Walkup. 
The  Browers  are  of  old  Holland  Dutch  extrac- 
tion and  heirs  of  the  famous  Anneke-Jans-Bo- 
gardus  estate  now  in  litigation.  The  subject  of 
this  brief  sketch  is  the  3'oungest  of  three  sons  ; 
four  daughters  younger  composing  the  family. 


^  a 


L^ 


CITY    OF    AKRON. 


805 


At  the  death  of  his  mother  in  1856,  he  went  to 
live  with  a  man  by  the  name  of  John  Clark, 
who  resided  in  Decatur  Co.,  Iowa,  with  whom 
he  lived  until  his  19th  yeai",  learning  carding 
and  spinning,  which  he  subsequently  followed 
in  different  parts  of  Iowa  and  Illinois,  until  in 
the  year  1869.  In  the  year  1868,  while  work- 
ing at  the  mills  in  Warsaw,  111.,  he  was  caught 
in  a  pair  of  steel  cog-wheels,  which  tore  the 
flesh  from  the  bone  of  his  right  leg,  from  the 
knee  to  the  ankle,  making  a  ver}'  painful  wound, 
which  laid  him  up  for  a  considerable  time  ;  also 
at  Burlington,  Iowa,  he  narrowly  escaped  death 
b}^  being  accidently  caught  in  machinery. 
His  father,  with  the  two  oldest  sons,  fought 
nobly  in  the  late  war,  and,  after  a  second  mar- 
riage, moved  to  Nebraska,  where  he  is  now  liv- 
ing. In  1870,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  came 
to  Millersburg,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  his 
present  occupation,  and  in  the  spring  of  1871, 
came  to  Akron,  where  he  was  married  the  fol- 
lowing November  to  Susie  Henry,  daughter  of 
William  and  Susan  (Evans)  Henry,  residents  of 
Green  Township,  this  county.  By  this  marriage 
there  have  been  born  three  sons — William  Ed- 
mond,  born  Jan.  2, 1874  ;  Royal  Andrew,  Jan.  3, 
1876  ;  Orvil  Stephen,  June  22,  1878.  They  are 
members  of  the  Evangelical  Association,  and 
he  is  a  stanch  Republican. 

HENRY  YOUNG,  son  of  Daniel  and  Anna 
M.  Young,  was  born  in  Wiltshire,  England,  Feb. 
22,  1831,  and  was  but  a  babe  when  the  family 
came  to  the  United  States,  settling  in  Wayne 
Co.,  Ohio.  There  the  father  had  preceded 
them,  and  had  rented  a  mill  three  miles  from 
Wooster.  He  operated  several  mills  in  Wayne 
and  Richland  Cos.  until  his  death  in  1845. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  worked  on  a  farm 
until  he  was  18  years  old,  when  he  learned  the 


cabinet  trade  at  Millersburg,  Ohio,  with  one 
Isaac  Harpster,  serving  thi'ee  years.  He  worked 
at  La  Grange,  South  Bend  and  Logansport,  Ind., 
returning  to  Millersburg  in  1854,  where  he 
opened  a  cabinet-shop,  and  carried  on  business 
until  1864.  He  then  came  to  Akron,  and  at 
the  opening  of  the  Buckeye  works  entered  as 
a  wood  machinist.  In  October,  1867,  he  was 
made  foreman  of  the  wood-work  department, 
which  position  he  still  retains,  having  over  a 
hundred  men  under  his  supervision.  31r. 
Young  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  been 
in  past  years,  and  and  is  now,  a  member  of  the 
School  Board  for  the  Second  Ward.  On  the 
30th  of  May,  1854,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
C.  Justice,  of  Millei'sburg,  Ohio.  Their  only 
child  is  Robert  J.,  of  Akron. 

ROBERT  J.  YOUNG  was  born  at  Millers- 
burg, Ohio,  on  the  1st  day  of  1855,  and  came 
to  Akron  with  his  parents  at  the  age  of  10.  He 
graduated  from  the  Akron  High  School  in  the 
summer  of  1871  ;  entered  Western  Reserve  Col- 
lege in  the  fall  of  1872,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  and  completed  his  collegiate  course  at 
the  University  of  Michigan,  being  a  member 
of  the  class  of  1876,  of  which  he  was  class- 
day  orator.  Having  studied  law  for  a  time  in 
the  office  of  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Upson,  he  went  to 
Toledo  where  he  served  as  cit}^  editor  of  the 
Daily  Commercial  until  the  summer  of  1878. 
Returning  then  to  Akron,  he  resumed  his  law 
reading,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June, 
1879.  Since  that  date,  he  has  practiced  in  the 
city,  first  as  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Hodge 
&  Young,  afterward  alone.  On  the  2Sth  of 
June,  1877,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ida  Mount, 
of  Ann  Arbor.  Mich.,  who  died  at  Akron  on 
Jan.  30,  1881. 


;v 


'^. 


!" 


?> 


806 


BIOGRAPPIICAL    SKETCHES: 


PORTAGE     TOWf^SHIP. 


JOSEPH  BABB,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Akron  ;  was 
born  May  4,  1820,  in  Berks  Co.,  Penn.  His 
fatlier's  name  was  David  Babb  ;  bis  mother's, 
Susan  (Marks)  Babb.  The  grandfather's  name 
was  Mathias;  he  was  a  native  of  Germany.  He 
had  thi-ee  sons,  David,  Samuel  and  John ;  he 
had  also  three  daughters.  The  eldest  son  was 
the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The 
mother  of  Joseph  Babb  had  eleven  children. 
Joseph  came  to  Osnaburg,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio, 
about  1825,  and  stayed  two  or  three  years,  and 
then  came  to  Springfield  Township  where  he 
resided  until  1859,  when  he  moved  to  Portage 
Township  where  he  still  lives.  The  father  of 
Joseph  was  a  cabinet-maker.  He  had  eleven 
children  born,  seven  of  whom  reached  matu- 
rity— Catharine,  Sarah,  Polly,  Susan,  David, 
Samuel,  Joseph.  The  last  mentioned  started 
out  in  life  at  the  age  of  14,  binding  himself  to 
H.  G.  Weaver  (subsequently  a  Representative 
from  Summit  Co.)  for  three  years.  The  terms 
of  the  bond  were  six  months'  schooling,  boaixl 
and  clothing,  and  80  acres  of  Government 
land.  At  the  expiration  of  the  three  years, 
Joseph  took  the  value  of  the  land  in  cash,  pre- 
ferring it  to  the  real  estate.  He  continued  in 
the  employment  of  Mr.  Weaver  for  two  years 
at  $180  a  year,  and  one  summer  at  $12  a  month. 
He  then  went  to  Stark  Co.,  and  worked  for  his 
brother  David  three  years,  at  an  average  of 
$128  a  year.  After  this,  he  rented  the  farm  of 
Mr.  Weaver  and  purchased  a  threshing  machine 
at  the  same  time,  the  two  he  ran  for  three  years. 
His  was  the  first  cleaning  machine  in  Summit 
Co.  Mr.  Babb  subsequently  went  into  the  pot- 
tery business  in  Springfield,  in  tlie  Purdy  Pot- 
tery, which  he  managed  for  two  years.  He 
then  hired  the  Purd}'  farm  in  Mogadore,  work- 
ing it  for  four  years.  After  the  expiration  of 
that  time,  he  returned  to  Stark  Co.,  Lake 
Township,  and  purchased  a  farm  and  saw-mill, 
which  he  owned  for  four  years,  when  he  dis- 
posed of  it  and  came  to  Portage  Township,  this 
count}',  where  he  finally  settled  down,  having 
bought  260  acres  in  the  extreme  northeast  cor- 
ner of  the  township  upon  which  he  continues 


to  reside.  The  land  cost  him  $28  an  acre  and 
is  now  worth  $100.  Mr.  Babb  was  married 
March  25,  1847,  to  Elizabeth  Wise.  His  wife 
was  born  July  80,  1822,  in  Stark  Co.  She  was 
the  eldest  child  of  George  H.  Wise.  The  fam- 
ily of  Mr.  Babb  consists  of  five  sons  and  one 
daughter,  their  names  are  Jacob  M.,  George 
W.,  Amelia  M.,  the  wife  of  Horace  Camp  ;  Wra. 
W.,  Frank  N.  and  Edwin.  The  father  began  in 
Portage  comparatively  poor,  but  by  thrift  and 
economy  has  acquired  a  competence.  In  pol- 
itics, he  is  a  Republican  ;  in  religion,  he  is 
skeptical. 

HARRISON  BAUCHMAN,  faft-mer  and 
dairyman  ;  P.  0.  Akron  ;  was  born  in  Lehigli 
Co.,  Penn.,  Oct.  15,  1888  ;  the  son  of  Theobold 
and  Mary  Ann  (Wilhelm)  Bauchman,  who 
moved  to  Norton  Township  during  the  spring 
of  1835  and  settled  upon  a  farm  of  160  acres 
which  they  purchased  from  a  Mr.  Pardy  ;  the 
Bauchman  family  afterward  removed  to  Spring- 
field Township,  and  finally  into  Coventry, 
where  Theobold  died  in  February,  1866  ;  Mrs. 
Bauchman  died  in  August,  1872.  At  the  age 
of  14,  Harrison  was  employed  by  his  elder 
brother,  who  farmed  their  father's  land  in  Nor- 
ton Township,  and  continued  with  him  until  he 
attained  his  majority  ;  he  then  worked  for  other 
parties  some  twelve  months  ;  when  about  22 
years  of  age,  he  purchased  a  threshing  ma- 
chine, which  he  ran  for  several  seasons  ;  for  the 
next  seven  years,  he  was  employed  by  John  R. 
Buchtel  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  Bauch- 
man, which  he  purchased  from  his  emplo^-er 
some  sixteen  years  ago  ;  he  bought  75  acres  of 
Buchtel  and  15  of  another  man,  sold  84  acres, 
and  has  at  the  present  time  56  acres.  Mr. 
Bauchman  has  been  engaged  in  the  dair}^  bus- 
iness for  many  years  ;  his  establishment,  which 
stands  second  to  none  of  its  kind  in  the  county, 
is  conducted  upon  a  system  adopted  b}'  the  pro- 
prietor after  years  of  experience  ;  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  he  keeps  over  forty  cows,  and  these 
are  mostly  of  the  Jersey  grade.  June  6,  1867, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  Richards, 
daughter  of  William  Richards,  of  Akron  ;  their 


__J) 


PORTAGE    TOWNSHIP. 


807 


present  residence,  built  during  the  summer  of 
1875,  is  one  of'the  largest  farmliouses  in  Sum- 
mit Co.,  and  so  neat  and  tasty  in  appearance 
that  it  would  be  an  ornament  to  the  city  if  lo- 
cated in  the  finest  quarter  of  Akron. 

CHARLES  W.  BAUER,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Akron  ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Northampton  Co.,  Penn.,  Nov.  22,  1836  ;  he  was 
the  son  of  Charles  and  Saloma  (Miller)  Bauer, 
who  moved  to  Summit  Co.  in  1842,  and 
purchased  in  Norton  Township  140  acres  of 
land,  which  tract  was  occupied  by  the  Bauer 
liimil}-  for  over  twenty-five  3'ears,  and  owned 
by  Mr.  Bauer  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1876  ;  his  wife  is  still  living  in  Norton 
Township.  Charles  W.  Bauer  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  Norton,  and,  for  two 
terms,  he  attended  the  Western  Star  Normal 
School ;  he  worked  for  his  father  until  23  years 
of  age;  was  married  May  26,  1860,  to  Miss 
Mary  Serfass,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Sarah 
(Hawk)  Serfass  ;  then  worked  for  his  father-in- 
law  for  two  years.  In  1862,  he  removed  to 
Berrien  Co.,  Mich.,  and  resided  there  nine 
months  ;  then  returned  to  Norton  Center,  and 
for  about  three  years,  worked  at  coopering  ; 
the  next  five  years  he  farmed  in  Norton  Town- 
ship, first  renting  100  acres  of  land  belonging 
to  Jacob  Wise,  and  then  160  acres  of  David 
Baughman  ;  about  the  year  1873,  he  rented  the 
Dodge  farm  in  Portage  Township,  continuing 
on  this  land  four  years  ;  then  purchased  73 
acres  some  three  miles  west  of  Akron,  which  he 
occupied  three  years.  In  the  spring  of  1880, 
he  returned  to  the  Dodge  farm,  upon  which  he 
is  now  located,  managing  at  the  present  time 
this  tract  of  380  acres  and  his  own  farm.  For 
the  past  six  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
dairy  business,  which  he  conducts  very  success- 
fully on  an  extensive  scale.  He  has  always 
been  a  Democrat  and  voted  the  ticket '"  straight " 
at  State  elections  ;  at  other  times  supports  the 
best  men.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bauer  are  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  at  Loyal  Oak.  They  are 
the  parents  of  five  children,  all  living — Hiram 
Elmore,  Albert  Franklin,  Erving  Wellington, 
Artie  Monroe  and  Viola  Jane. 

EDWARD  A.  BARBER,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Ak- 
ron ;  was  born  in  Genesee  Co.  (now  Wyoming) 
N.  Y.,  Dec.  30,  1826;  son  of  JaredB..and 
Electia  (Turner)  Barber,  who  were  both  born  in 
Connecticut,  Jared  B.  on  Feb.  1,  1793,  and 
Electia  June  29,  1799 ;  they  were  married  at 


Wales,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  25,  1815.  Electia 
Turner  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Phoebe 
(Spencei')  Turner,  early  settlers  of  what  is  now 
Buffiilo,  N.  Y. ;  Phffibe  died  Oct.  11,  1811,  and 
was  buried  in  the  woods,  and  the  site  of  her 
grave  is  now  in  the  heart  of  Buflfalo ;  Jacob 
died  Nov.  3, 1820.  Jared  B.  Barber  was  a  sol- 
dier for  a  short  time  during  the  war  of  1812, 
and  his  wife  drew  a  pension  from  the  Govern- 
ment for  several  years  previous  to  her  death. 
They  removed  to  Ohio  in  July,  1831,  and  set- 
tled in  Norton  Township,  then  Medina  County  ; 
after  two  years,  the  Barber  family  removed  to 
Copley  and  purchased  GQ  acres  of  land  from 
Gad  Bronson ;  they  remained  here  some  fifteen 
years,  then  returned  to  Norton  Township  for  a 
short  time,  and,  finally,  settled  on  a  small  piece 
of  land  in  Portage  Township,  where  Jared  B. 
died  April  17,  1854;  Electia  his  wife  died 
March  29,  1881.  They  were  the  parents  of 
three  children — Jane,  now  Mrs.  Dennison  Pet- 
tibone,  a  resident  of  Akron  ;  Spencer  T.  en- 
listed in  the  13th  Mich.,  V.  I.,  during  the 
rebellion  and  died  in  the  service ;  Edward  A., 
the  youngest  child  and  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  four  years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed 
to  Ohio  ;  he  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion and  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  22 
3'ears  of  age ;  then  removed  to  Indiana  where 
he  remained  some  six  months.  He  returned  to 
Ohio  and  purchased,  with  his  brother  Spencer, 
the  66  acres  in  Copley  belonging  to  their  father; 
this  tract  was  too  small  for  both  to  farm  and 
Edward  A.  sold  his  interest  to  Spencer,  and 
shortly  afterwai'd  bought  a  small  piece  of  land 
in  Portage,  to  which  he  has  added  since  then 
other  I'eal  estate,  and  now  owns  about  40  acres. 
After  returning  from  Indiana,  Edward  A.  worked 
at  the  stonemason's  trade  for  five  years  ;  then 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  foUowetl  this 
for  over  twenty  years  in  Akron,  working  both 
in  the  city  and  in  the  country' ;  he  is  at  the 
present  time  engaged  in  farming;  was  married 
May  17, 1851,  to  Miss  Caroline  Derthick,  daugh- 
ter of  Corydon  and  Fannie  (Judd)  Derthick,  of 
Copley  Township  ;  she  was  born  Oct.  6,  1831  ; 
they  have  one  daughter,  Florence,  who  was  mar- 
ried Sept.  4,  1871,  to  Levi  Monosmith.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Barber  and  daughter  are  members  of 
the  Disciples'  Church  of  Akron.  Mr.  Barber 
has  served  for  two  terms  as  Assessor  of  Port- 
age Township. 

SOLOMON  BARE,  retired  farmer  and  gar- 


\-^» 
^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES; 


dener ;  P.  0.  Akron ;  born  in  Berks  Co.,  Penn., 
May  28,  1814;  son  of  John  Adam  and  Susan 
(Knoehr)  Bare,  who  resided  in  Berks  Countx-, 
some  eighteen  miles  from  Reading,  until  the 
year  1833,  when  they  removed  to  Niagara 
Co.,  N.  Y.  John  Adam  was  always  a  farmer ; 
he  afterward  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
died  in  Mercer  County  about  the  year  1863  ; 
his  wife  died  many  3^ears  previous.  Solo- 
mon received  a  knowledge  of  the  common 
branches  in  the  schools  of  Berks  County ;  he 
worked  at  farming  until  about  32  3'ears  of  age, 
then  learned  the  trade  of  a  boat-builder,  and 
was  employed  by  Lyman  A.  Spaulding,  of  Lock- 
port,  for  several  years,  after  which  he  followed 
this  trade  a  short  time  in  Erie,  Penn.,  and 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  About  the  year  1853,  he  re- 
moved to  Summit  County,  and  for  some  three 
years  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade ;  then 
worked  at  Wadsworth,  Medina  Co.,  for  six 
months,  then  removed  to  Norton  Township, 
where  he  continued  in  the  hotel  business  many 
years  ;  was  located  first  at  Bates'  Corners,  then 
at  Johnson's  Corners  and  removing  to  Bates' 
Corners.  While  in  Norton  Township  he  pur- 
chased his  present  propert}'  near  Akron,  pay- 
ing $100  per  acre  for  20  acres,  and  removed  to 
this  land  in  October,  1864,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  was  engaged  for  many  ^^ears  rais- 
ing small  vegetables  for  the  Akron  market, 
which  proved  a  very  lucrative  business.  In 
later  years,  he  laid  out  upon  his  laud  two  addi- 
tions to  the  city  of  Akron,  and  a  street  between 
them  has  been  named  Bare  street  in  his  honor ; 
this  land  has  been  much  improved  by  the  pro- 
prietor, who  has  erected  several  houses  upon 
various  lots,  but  a  portion  has  been  sold  b}" 
him  at  the  rate  of  |1,200  an  acre.  Mr.  Bare 
started  out  in  life  as  a  poor  boy,  but,  by  industr}' 
and  good  management,  he  has  secured  a  com- 
petencj'.  He  was  married  first  to  Miss  Eliza 
Lindsey,  daughter  of  George  W.  Lindsey  ;  by 
her  he  had  two  children — Thomas  J.,  the  eldest 
enlisted  in  the  29th  0.  V.  L,  during  the  rebell- 
ion, and  was  killed  at  Rocky  Face ;  the  young- 
est, Frances  Louisa,  is  now  Mrs.  Thomas  Raw- 
lins, of  Akron  ;  Mr.  Bare's  first  wife  died,  and 
he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Mar}'  Baughman,  daugh- 
ter of  Abraham  Burgey ;  by  her  Mr.  Bare  had 
three  children — Isabella  and  Ida,  who  now  re- 
side with  their  father,  and  William  Henry,  who 
died  aged  4.  Some  two  3'ears  since,  he  was 
married  a  third  time  to  Miss  Caroline  Hartman, 


daughter  of  Peter  Hartman.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bare  are  members  of  Grace  Reformed  Church 
of  Akron.  Mr.  Bare  has  always  been  a  Demo- 
crat, but,  during  the  war,  gave  his  support  to 
the  Union  party,  voting  for  Brough  in  1863, 
and  Lincoln  in  1864. 

SMITH  BUNKER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Akron  ;  is 
a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  State.  His 
parents  were  Dodavah  and  Rebecca  (Hall)  Bun- 
ker. Dodavah  was  born  in  Barnstead  Co.,  N. 
H.,  and  Rebecca,  at  old  Hartford,  Conn.  The}' 
were  married  at  the  latter  place,  and  moved  to 
Huntingdon,  Chittenden  Co.,  Vt.,  where  Smith 
was  born,  Marcii  9,  1818.  The  Bunker  family 
settled  in  Norton  Township  in  1834,  where  they 
remained  one  year  ;  then  removed  to  the  Dodge 
farm,  in  Portage  Township,  and  after  five  years, 
to  Bates'  Corners,  Norton  Township,  where  Mrs. 
Bunker  died.  Her  husband  then  moved  to 
Berrien  Co.,  Mich.,  and  died  there  about  1845, 
at  the  age  of  83.  Smith  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Vermont,  receiving  in- 
struction at  a  school  three  miles  from  his  home. 
When  about  18  years  of  age,  he  purchased  a 
threshing-machine,  in  partnership  with  his 
brother  Abraham.  This  was  an  old  style  ma- 
chine, being  only  a  thresher,  and  it  was  neces- 
sary to  separate  the  wheat  from  the  straw  with 
a  rake.  After  one  year,  Abraham  removed  to 
Michigan,  and  Smith  continued  the  business 
alone  for  nearly  ten  years.  He  then  worked  at 
Gale's  furnace,  in  Akron,  for  twelve  months, 
and  was  employed  on  the  farm  owned  by  Mr. 
Gale's  heirs  for  two  years  ;  then  for  several 
3'ears  worked  for  various  parties  in  Copley  and 
Portage  Townships.  About  the  year  1856,  he 
purchased  from  Horace  May  26  acres  of  the 
farm  he  now  occupies,  trading  for  it  40  acres 
near  Loudonville,  Ohio.  He  afterwaz'd  bought 
31  acres  from  James  Lyon,  and  now  owns  57 
acres.  When  the  Bunker  famil}'  first  settled  on 
this  land,  in  1856,  the  country  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  was  very  wild,  in  consequence  of  the 
condition  of  Copley  Swamp,  whicli  has  since 
been  drained  ;  at  that  time,  Mr.  Banker  could 
from  his  door-step  shoot  wild  turke3's,  and  he 
reports  that  once  he  killed  four  at  one  shot. 
The  swamp  was  in  those  days  a  favorite  "  roost " 
for  wild  pigeons,  and  several  settlers  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  state  that  occasional I3'  the 
pigeons  would  fly  so  thickly  to  and  from  the 
swamp  that  they  could  not  see  the  sun  for  an 
hour.      Mr.    Bunker   was   married,    April    21, 


■Tfi 


Oi, 


PORTAGE    TOWNSHIP. 


809 


1849,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  John  and 
Rpsannah  (Ritchie)  Sherboudy.  She  was  born 
Jan.  23,  1832  ;  they  are  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren— Alfred  T.,  now  of  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and 
married  to  Ella  Tremble;  Rosa,  now  Mrs.  Jason 
Bunker  ;  Sarah,  died,  aged  nearly  3  ;  Lu- 
rinda,  died,  aged  nearl}'  2  ;  Ophelia,  Ella, 
Oscar,  Elmer,  William  and  Homer. 

ROYAL  BROCKWAY,  farmer;  P.  0.  Akron. 
This  gentleman  is  a  native  of  Broome  Co.,  N.Y., 
where  he  was  born  Feb.  1,  1815  ;  when  about 
4  3'ears  of  age,  his  parents  moved  to  Tioga 
Co.,  remaining  there  some  ten  3'ears.  In  the 
fall  of  1830,  they  settled  in  Medina  Co.,  Ohio, 
residing  in  Wadsworth  Township  for  three 
years,  and  after  1833,  in  Norton  Township. 
Royal's  parents  were  William  and  Rhoda 
(Taylor)  Brockway  ;  they  had  four  sons,  who 
removed  to  Medina  Co.  with  them — Almeron, 
died  while  a  resident  of  Sharon;  Royal,  of  Port- 
age Township;  William,  now  of  Sharon;  Lesley, 
died  in  1855  ;  the  father  died  in  1860,  aged  84, 
and  Rhoda,  his  wife,  1867.  Royal  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  New  York  State  and  Medina 
Co.  ;  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  at- 
tained his  majority  ;  removed  to  Indiana,  where 
he  was  married,  July  3,  1838,  to  Miss  Susan  E. 
Hall,  who  was  born  and  raised  in  Perry  Co., 
Ind.  ;  she  was  the  daughter  of  Presley  and 
Nancy  (Anderson)  Hall.  Royal  remained  in 
Indiana  some  twelve  months,  working  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  ;  then  farmed  his  father's  land 
in  Norton  Township  one  year  ;  he  returned  to 
Indiana,  and  remained  three  years.  In  1845, 
he  bought  80  acres  of  land  in  Copley  Town- 
ship, which  he  occupied  until  1853,  when  he 
left  for  California,  remaining  there  three  3'ears, 
during  which  time  he  mined,  kept  boarding- 
house  and  worked  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner  ; 
his  wife  was  with  him  in  California.  They  re- 
turned to  Ohio  in  1856,  and  two  years  after- 
ward, on  April  11,  1858,  he  left  for  Pike's  Peak  ; 
while  crossing  the  plains  to  Denver,  he  had 
charge  of  the  company  to  which  he  was  at- 
tached. Mr.  Brockway  relates  many  interest- 
ing incidents  which  occurred  during  his  life  on 
the  border,  and  of  which  he  had  a  personal 
knowledge.  After  six  months,  he  returned  to 
Summit  Co.,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
farmed  in  Copley-  Township  until  November, 
1864,  when  he  removed  to  Portage,  having  sold 
his  land  in  Cople}'.  Mr.  Brockway  owns  at  the 
present  time,  247  acres   in  Portage,  which   he 


purchased  in  1860.  For  some  years  he  has 
been  engaged  in  the  dair}^  business,  and  was  for 
three  years  connected  with  a  cheese  factory, 
during  which  time  he  kept  from  45  to  75  cows  ; 
he  afterward  made  cheese  on  his  own  farm  for 
a  short  time.  Royal  has  served  as  Trustee  of 
Copley  Township  ;  was  chosen  Captain  of  a 
"  squirrel-hunter  "  company  during  the  rebell- 
ion. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brockway  are  members  of 
the  Universalist  Church,  of  Akron  ;  the\^  are 
the  parents  of  two  children — Rice  W.,"^born 
Dec.  18,  1842,  and  Royal,  born  April  1,  1856. 
Rice  was  a  member  of  the  104th  Regiment  0. 
V.  I.,  and  served  during  the  war  ;  he  was  mar- 
ried, March  30,  1865,  to  Adeline  S.  Thompson, 
and  they  have  one  child — Linus.  Royal,  Jr.,  is  a 
boiler-maker,  and  resides  in  Akron  ;  he  was 
married,  Jan.  3,  1875,  to  Caroline  P.  Stoskopf, 
and  they  have  one  son — Lyle. 

ROYAL  BAIRD,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Akron  ;  is  a 
native  of  New  England,  born  at  Grafton, 
Windham  Co.,  Vt,  Sept.  17,  1806,  the  son  of 
Abijah  and  Abigail  (Stickney)  Baird.  The 
Stickneyshavebeena  prominent  and  influential 
family  of  New  England  and  the  United  States 
for  many  years  ;  the  following  descent  is  taken 
from  a  printed  genealogy,  now  in  3Ir.  Baird's 
possession  :  William  Stickney,  of  Frampton, 
England,  was  baptized  Dec.  30,  1558 ;  his  son 
William  was  baptized  Sept.  6,  1592  ;  Samuel, 
his  son,  was  born  in  England  1633,  and  shortly 
afterward  they  emigrated  to  America ;  William, 
son  of  Samuel,  was  born  Jan.  27,  1674  ;  his 
son  William,  Oct.  14,  1704  or  1705  ;  his  son 
William,  April  3,  1743,  and  his  daughter  Abi- 
gail, March  6,  1770  ;  she  was  married,  June  25, 
1793,  to  Abijah  Baird,  who  was  born,  June  25, 
1767 ;  they  were  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
as  follows  :  Abijah,  Franklin,  Ebenezer,  Abi- 
gail, Esther,  Ira,  Royal.  Louisa,  Celia  Arvilla 
and  Josiah  Dana.  Abijah  died  at  Bridgewater 
in  1844  ;  his  wife,  April  28,  1847.  Royal,  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  came  to  Ohio  in  the  fall  of 
1833;  a  short  time  afterward,  purchased  113 
acres  in  Copley  Township ;  he  returned  to 
Boston,  where  he  engaged  in  business  until 
1836,  when  he  settled  on  his  farm,  but  for  some 
seven  years  he  remained  in  Philadelphia  the 
greater  portion  of  each  3'ear,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed. In  the  spring  of  1850,  he  left  for 
California,  and  stayed  in  the  gold  regions  two 
j-ears  ;  since  then  he  has  been  a  farmer  and 
stock-dealer  ;  he  owns  at  the  present  time  161 


r^ 


810 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


acres  in  Cople}'  and  68  in  Portage  Township  ; 
was  married  May  9,  1836  ;  he  is  the  father  of 
one  child,  Gusta  Minerva  ;  she  was  born  Feb. 
8,  1837,  and  married  Zachariah  R.  Prentice,  of 
Portage  Township ;  they  have  two  childi-en, 
Burton  C,  born  Feb.  5,  1874,  and  Hubert 
Hayes,  born  Aug.  22,  1876.  Mrs.  Baird  was 
born  June  12,  1820  ;  she  is  a  grand-daughter 
of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wiuslow,  who  married  Joseph 
Hawkins,  May  20,  1784  ;  they  settled  in  Ver- 
mont when  that  State  was  comparatively  new, 
and  suffered  many  hardships.  Joseph  was 
born  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  Nov.  3,  1760  ; 
was  a  soldier  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  a  captive  for  three  years  in  a  British  prison  ; 
removed  with  his  two  sons  and  three  daughters 
to  Ohio,  in  1833,  and  died  Nov.  17,  1848  ;  his 
wife  died  May  6,  1829  ;  their  daughter  Susan 
married  Caleb  Casewell,  who  died  in  1826  ; 
Susan  died  February,  1862  ;  they  were  the 
parents  of  Mrs.  Royal  Baird. 

SIMON  BONFIRE,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Akron  ;  was 
born  in  Germany  in  1842,  the  son  of  John  Bon- 
fire, who  came  to  this  country  when  Simon  was  6 
months  old,  and  settled  in  Portage  Township,  in 
what  is  styled  "  Chuckery,"  where  he  engaged 
at  his  trade  of  shoemaker.  August,  1861,  Si- 
mon enlisted  in  Co.  E,  115th  0.  V.  I.,  and  served 
three  years  as  a  soldier,  earning  an  honorable 
discharge.  On  Jan.  17, 1866,  he  married  Maria 
Wise,  who  was  born  March  4,  1840.  For  six 
years  he  worked  in  the  Buckej-e  shops,  but 
since  has  been  engaged  in  farming ;  he  has 
good  property  in  the  township  ;  he  had  one 
child,  Ermie  E.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  7,  of 
diphtheria.  Mr.  Bonfire  votes  the  Republican 
ticket. 

A.  L.  CALDWELL,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Akron  ; 
was  born  Jan.  13,  1838,  near  Logansport,  Ind. 
His  parents  were  Tarleton  and  Julia  (Vrooman) 
Caldwell.  Tarleton  Caldwell  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, near  Clarksburg,  about  the  year  1816. 
His  ancestors  were  natives  of  Ireland,  who, 
coming  to  America,  settled  in  Virginia.  Tarle- 
ton came  West  with  his  parents  when  a  mere 
youth,  settling  in  Indiana,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Vrooman,  who  was  born  in  Scho- 
harie Co.,  N.  Y.  The  Vroomans  are  of  German 
stock.  Our  subject  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Missouri ;  stayed  nine  years,  then  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, in  1849,  and  engaged  in  mining,  where 
the  elder  Caldwell  still  resides  (Lower  Califor- 
nia).    Ten  children  were  born  them,  who  were 


Abner,  William,  Marion,  George,  Charles,  John, 
Jerome,  Hugh,  Ida  and  Dora,  five  of  whom  are 
now  living.  Abner  engaged  in  mining  with  his 
father.  In  1860,  he  returned  to  the  Buckeye 
State.  April  2,  married  Mary  Pitkin,  who  was 
born  in  1843,  in  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  daughter  of 
Judge  Stephen  Pitkin,  who  married  Julia  Lusk, 
daughter  of  Amos  Lusk,  one  of  the  early  pio- 
neers in  the  county.  After  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Caldwell  returned  to  California,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1865.  He  has  since  been  a  resi- 
dent of  the  township,  and  has  been  engaged  in 
farming.  He  was  for  some  time  employed  as 
clerk  previous  to  the  time  he  located  on  his 
farm,  consisting  of  70  acres,  on  Tract  3. 

JAMES  COURTNEY  (deceased)  ;  was  born 
in  1816,  in  County  Kerry,  Ireland;  son  of  Patrick 
and  Mary  McCarthy  Gallee,  who  had  eleven  chil- 
dren born  them — Daniel,  John,  James,  Francis, 
Jerr}',  Thomas,  Patrick,  Mary,  Abigail,  Margaret 
and  James.  James  was  married  in  Ireland  to 
Mar}-  Harrit}',  and  by  her  had  one  son — James, 
who  was  killed  in  the  late  war,  having  served 
all  through  the  rebellion.  He  was  a  member 
of  Co.  A,  1st  Regiment,  and  was  in  the  artil- 
ler}' — a  true  and  valiant  soldier,  and  was  killed 
while  manning  his  gun,  in  1864.  Mr.  Courtney 
emigrated  to  this  country  in  1840.  He  came 
to  Akron,  where  he  worked  for  several  years 
as  a  common  laborer.  Having  no  means  when 
he  came  to  this  country,  was  glad  to  get  work 
for  any  price,  50  cents  per  day  being  the  price 
paid  at  first,  yet  he  succeeded  in  saving  suf- 
ficient means  to  enable  him  to  purchase  30 
acres  of  unimproved  land,  which  he  cleared  up. 
In  1864,  he  moved  to  the  north  part  of  the 
township,  purchasing  100  acres.  His  wife  died 
in  1853.  In  September,  1861,  he  married  Mrs. 
Julia  Hogan,  who  was  born  Feb.  2,  1825,  in 
Kilkenny,  Ireland,  daughter  of  Stephen  and 
Mary  (Welch)  Bergen.  Mr.  Courtney  died  Feb. 
19,  1878.  He  was  esteemed  by  all  who  knew 
him  as  a  good  neighbor  and  an  upright  citizen. 
He  was  a  successful  business  man,  having  se- 
cured all  his  property  by  his  own  industry. 
Mrs.  Courtney  was  first  married  to  Patrick  Ho- 
gan, in  April,  1845,  and  came  to  America  the 
same  year  of  their  marriage,  landing  in  New 
York.  Mr.  Hogan  died  in  1857.  She  came  West 
the  following  year.  By  Mr.  Hogan  she  had  six 
children,  but  three  living — Nora,  who  married 
Frank  Courtney,  son  of  James  Courtney,  by  his 
first  wife.     Mary,   Mrs.  James  McGuire,   and 


PORTAGE    TOWNSHIP. 


811 


Stephen,  now  in  Colorado.  By  last  wife,  Mr. 
C.  had  two  children — Joseph  and  Julia. 

A.  CURTISS,  fanner  ;  P.  0.  Akron  ;  was  born 
in  1836,  in  Boston  Township  ;  son  of  Giles  and 
Fannie  (Carter)  Curtiss.  Augustus  left  home  be- 
fore his  majority.  He  was  raised  to  farming. 
In  1855,  he  went  to  California,  where  he  re- 
mained four  years,  returning  home  after  a  suc- 
cessful experience,  being  engaged  in  mining, 
and  at  one  time  in  the  grocery  trade.  In  Au- 
gust, 1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A.".  2d  0.  V.  C,  and 
served  until  June  the  following  year,  when  he 
was  discharged  on  account  of  disability,  caused 
from  a  heavy  fall  from  his  horse.  He  was 
then  engaged  in  the  dairy  business  in  Stow 
Township  with  his  brother.  In  1864,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business.  Nov.  25,  1865, 
he  was  married  to  Helen  Barniiart,  born  July 
27,  1845,  in  Boston,  daughter  of  William  and 
Laura  (Chaffee)  Barnhai't,  to  whom  were  born 
Laura,  William  H.,  Mary  and  Helen.  In  the 
fall  of  1868,  Mr.  Curtiss  was  elected  Sheriflf  of 
the  county,  and  re-elected  in  1870.  He  after- 
ward served  as  a  Deputy  four  years,  and  dur- 
ing the  whole  time  served  the  people  in  a  man- 
ner creditable  to  himself  and  with  satisfaction 
to  the  people.  He  has  since  been  engaged  in 
tarming,  having  158  acres  of  land.  He  has  no 
children.  Mr.  Curtiss'  father  was  born  in  Con- 
necticut in  January.  1808  ;  son  of  Ethan  ;  his 
wife  in  1807,  in  Ireland.  They  came  to  this 
country  and  settled  in  Boston  Township  in  1815. 
Ethan,  the  father  of  Giles  Curtiss,  had  three  sons 
— Lewis.  Nelson  and  Giles,  the  latter  the  only 
surviving  member  of  the  famil}-.  Ethan  finally 
located  in  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio.  Giles  located 
in  the  southeast  part  of  Northfield,  about  the 
year  1840,  where  he  cleared  up  that  farm,  and 
is  yet  living  with  his  worthy  companion.  They 
have  had  seven  children,  six  of  whom  grevv 
up — William  A.,  George  S.,  Augustus,  Mills, 
Lewis  and  Eliza,  who  married  Sylvester  Hone}', 
and  lives  on  the  homestead. 

HENRY  FREDERICK,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Ak- 
ron ;  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  March  20,  1834 ; 
his  great-grandfather,  Thomas  Frederick,  was 
born  near  Lancaster.  Penn.,  about  1745,  and, 
when  some  7  years  of  age,  his  father,  Noah, 
was  killed  by  the  Indians,  and  Thomas  taken 
prisoner.  He  was  adopted  as  one  of  the  tribe, 
and  remained  with  them  seven  years,  but,  after 
the  treaty  with  the  French  and  Indians,  he,  in 
connection  with  all  other  captives,  was  deliv- 


ered to  the  English  at  Fort  Du  Quesne.  He 
afterward  settled  in  Northumberland  Co., 
Penn.,  from  which  section  he  removed  to  Ohio 
with  his  family  in  the  year  1804,  and  died 
May  3,  1808,  while  a  resident  of  Center  Town- 
ship, Columbiana  Co.  His  wife,  Anna  Marga- 
ret Frederick,  died  Feb.  28,  1826.  Their  son 
Thomas  was  born  near  Lancaster,  Penn.,  Dec. 
1,  1778  ;  emigrated  to  Columbiana  Co.,  with  his 
father,  in  1804  ;  was  married.  May  2.  1804,  to 
Elizabeth  Schock,  who  was  born  March  8, 
1785.  He  was  a  soldier  during  the  war  of 
1812  ;  removed  to  Wayne  Co.,  and  settled  in 
Chippewa  Township  during  the  year  1813.  He 
died  July,  1871  ;  was  the  father  of  fourteen 
children.  His  eldest  son,  Jacob,  was  born  in 
Columbiana  Co.,  February,  1805,  and  removed 
to  Wayne  Co.  in  1813  ;  was  married  to  Marga- 
ret Rasor,  and  removed  with  his  wife  and  fam- 
ily to  Copley  Township  about  1843,  where  he 
now  resides.  Jacob  had  seven  chiklren.  as  fol- 
lows :  Samuel,  Thomas,  Henr}-,  Eli,  Benjamin. 
William  and  Christopher.  Henry,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Do^'lestown  and  Coplej'  Townships  ; 
worked  for  his  father  until  May  20,  1858,  when 
he  married  Miss  Ellen  Viei's,  daughter  of 
James  McClintock  and  Eliza  (Allen)  Tiers'. 
During  the  summer  of  1858,  he  worked  out  b}' 
the  day.  In  October,  1858,  he  rented  John  C. 
Stearns'  farm  of  ninety-seven  acres,  and  farmed 
this  three  years  ;  then  the  farm  owned  by  the 
heirs  of  Jonathan  Spafford  ;  after  about  eighteen 
months,  he  purchased  this  land,  which  he  after- 
ward sold.  In  the  fall  of  1 865,  he  removed  to 
Norton  Township,  and,  after  eiglit  months,  re- 
turned to  Coplev  and  rented  240  acres  of  Peter 
Wicks,  which  land  he  farmed  for  one  year.  In 
1867,  he  purchased  546  acres,  in  connection 
with  Royal  Brockway,  from  the  Rhodes  l)roth- 
ers.  This  land  was  divided  between  Messrs. 
Frederick  and  Brockway.  The  former  sold  a 
portion  of  his,  and  bought  other  tracts,  and  now 
has  233  acres.  Mr.  Frederick  is,  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  engaged  in  raising  stock  and  farming. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Disciples'  Cluirch  of 
Akron.  His  wife  is  connected  with  the  same 
congregation.  The}'  are  the  parents  of  three 
children — Charlotte  Eliza,  now  ^Irs.  Harry  N. 
Sherbondy  ;  James  McHenry.  and  Grant.  Mr. 
Frederick  was  elected  Trustee  of  Portage  Town- 
ship in  1874,  and  served  for  three  years  ;  was 
chosen  Infirmar}-  Director  of  Summit  Co.  in  the 


fK 


812 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


fall  of  1876,  and  re-elected  in  1879.     At  both 
elections,  he  ran  ahead  of  his  ticket. 

FREDERICK  FOUSE,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Akron  ; 
was  born  March  17,  1825,  in  Lake  Township, 
Stark  Co.  ;  son  of  John  and  Christina  (Miller) 
Fouse.  John  Fouse  was  born  in  1794,  in  Blair 
Co.,  Penn.  ;  his  wife  in  1801.  John  Fouse  was 
a  son  of  Nicodemus.  The  father  of  Christina 
was  Abram  Miller,  whose  family  came  to  Ohio 
shortly  after  the  war  of  1812,  locating  in  Stark 
Co.  Tlie  Fouse  famil}'  were  among  the  early 
settlers  in  the  county.  Abram  Miller  settled 
in  Plain  Township  ;  John  Fouse  in  Lake  Town- 
ship, where  he  died,  when  his  son  Frederick 
was  a  babe.  Four  children  were  born  them — 
Savilla,  Nicholas,  Priscilla,  and  Frederick,  who 
is  the  youngest  and  only  surviving  member  of 
the  family.  Frederick  stayed  at  home  until  22 
years  of  age.  May  4,  1848,  married  Elizabeth 
Gaite,  who  was  born  Nov.  25,  1827,  in  Cumber- 
land Co.,  Penn.,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary 
(Keiper)  Gaite.  Jacob  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many. The  Gaite  family  came  West  about  the 
year  1829,  locating  in  Stark  Co.,  and  raised  a 
family  of  nine  children  ;  of  the  number  living 
are  Jacob,  Levi,  Joseph  and  Elizabeth.  After 
Mr.  Fouse  was  married  he  lived  on  the  home- 
stead twenty-seven  years.  In  January,  1873, 
purchased  107^i^2_^  acres,  where  he  now  resides, 
adjoining  Akron  on  the  northeast,  costing  $118 
per  acre.  Of  eleven  children  born,  nine  are 
living,  viz.,  Melinda,  John,  Reuben,  Jacob, 
Edwin,  Menodes,  Fernando,  William  and  Ira. 
He  and  wile  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church. 

BENJAMIN  G  ARM  AN,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Ak- 
ron ;  was  boi'n  June  20,  1819,  in  Lehigh  Co., 
Penn.  ;  son  of  Abram  and  Elizabeth  (Naffe) 
Garman,  to  whom  were  born  Phillip,  Conrad, 
David,  John,  Adam,  Jacob,  Henry,  Abram  and 
three  daughters.  Abram  Garman's  father  was 
a  native  of  German}",  and  came  to  Pennsylva- 
nia, settling  in  Lehigh  Co.  when  the  country- 
was  new.  Elizabeth  Naffe  was  a  daughter  of 
Barnhart,  who  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 
Benjamin,  whose  name  heads  this  page,  was  but 
12  years  of  age  when  his  father  died.  In 
1836,  he  came  to  Ohio  with  his  mother  and 
brother  Eli,  who  located  in  Homer  Township, 
Medina  Co.  Eli  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land,  and  was  for  several  years  the  head  of  the 
family,  who,  besides  himself,  were  Josiah,  Re- 
becca,  Jai'ed,   Benjamin,   Abram,  Levi,  Eliza- 


beth and  Mary.  Benjamin  worked  three  years 
for  his  brother,  then  worked  one  summer  in 
Norton  Township,  and  chopped  the  following 
winter.  Returning  to  Lehigh  Co.,  Penn.,  the 
spring  of  1840,  he  married  Esther  Clouse,  who 
was  born  in  same  county  Dec.  19,  1823,  daugh- 
ter of  Phillip  Clouse,  whose  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Elizabeth  Evart.  both  natives  of 
Lehigh.  Their  offspring  were  Eliza,  Sophia, 
Esther,  Hannah,  Nathan,  David  and  Uriah. 
After  Mr.  Garman's  marriage  he  returned  to 
Homer  Township,  where  he  purchased  forty 
acres  of  unimproved  land  for  $250,  and  subse- 
quently added  to  the  same  until  he  had  120 
acres,  when  he  came  to  this  county,  which  was 
in  March,  1863,  when  he  purchased  151  acres 
at  $34  per  acre  ;  has  since  been  a  constant  resi- 
dent of  Portage  Township,  and  among  its  val- 
ued citizens.  Seven  children  have  been  born 
to  him — Alfred,  Rosa  A.  (who  married  Louis 
Esselburn,  a  resident  of  Homer),  Elizabeth 
(married  Frank  Weygandt,  and  resides  in  Ma- 
con Co.,  111.),  Sarah  (the  wife  of  Leuis  Andrews, 
and  reside  in  Harrisville,  Medina  Co.),  Irene 
(the  wife  of  Mandus  Baughman,  of  Wadsworth, 
Medina  Co.),  Uriah,  and  Alfred  are  residents  of 
this  township.  Mary  married  Charles  Starks, 
of  Akron,  Ohio. 

JOHN  GLENNAN,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Akron  ; 
was  born  1828,  in  Kilkenny,  Ireland;  son  of 
James  and  Bridget  (Killfoil)  Glennan,  the 
grandfather  of  John  was  Darby  Glennan.  John 
left  the  land  of  Eiin  at  the  age  of  22,  to  trj' 
his  fortunes  in  America,  lauding  in  New  York, 
where  he  remained  about  one  3'ear  and  a  half, 
and  in  1852  came  to  Ohio,  and  began  work  in 
Akron  and  vicinity,  working  much  o  f  the  time 
in  the  stone  quarries.  Afterward  purchased 
land,  where  he  now  lives,  which  was  unimproved, 
costing  him  $40  per  acre ;  working  in  the 
quarries  in  the  da}'  time,  and,  upon  his  return- 
ing home,  spent  a  portion  of  the  night  in  clear- 
ing up  his  land.  Oct.  19,  1852.  married  x\nn 
Bergen,  born  June  24,  1824,  in  Kilkenny,  Ire- 
land. Her  pai'ent3  were  Stephen  and  Mar}- 
( Welch)  Bergen,  to  whom  were  born  thirteen 
children.  jNIarch  11,  1878,  after  a  short  and 
sevei'e  illness,  Mrs.  Glennan  died,  leaving  a 
husband  and  five  children  to  mourn  her  demise. 
She  was  a  faithful  wife,  a  loving  mother,  and  a 
valuable  helpmeet  to  her  husband.  The  chil- 
dren are  Katie,  Bridget,  James,  Anna  and 
Julia  ;     two    deceased — Mary,    aged    10,    and 


71 


^k^ 


PORTAGE    T0W:NSIIIP. 


813 


Stephen,  a  babe  of  4  months.  Mr.  Glennan 
has  a  snug  farm  of  thirty-six  acres,  upon  which 
he  has  excellent  buildings,  all  which  have  been 
the  outgrowth  of  his  own  hard  labor,  assisted 
b}'  his  deceased  worthy  companion.  With  the 
exception  of  his  brother  James,  in  Tallmadge, 
he  is  the  only  representative  of  the  family  in 
the  count}'  or  State. 

GEORGE  W.  GLINES  (deceased),  for  many 
years  Superintendent  of  the  Summit  County 
Infirmary,  was  born  in  Vermont  Oct.  10,  1832, 
and  died  March  4, 1878  ;  he  was  the  son  of  Asa 
and  Roxana  (Sinclair)  Glines.  who  removed  to 
Lake  Co.  and  settled  near  Painesville  when  their 
son  was  quite  small  ;  Asa  afterward  settled  in 
Cleveland  ;  his  wife  died  in  1849,  and,  shortly 
afterward,  while  keeping  a  store  on  the  West 
Side,  he  suddenly  disappeared,  and  his  relatives 
never  heard  from  him.  George  W.  was  married 
June  4,  1856,  to  Miss  Julia  Ferguson,  who  was 
born  in  Willoughby,  Lake  Co.,  Dec.  24,  1832  ; 
she  was  the  daughter  of  Finley  and  Julia 
(Judd)  Ferguson  ;  Finley  was  born  in  August, 
1801  ;  was  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  Fergu- 
son, who  were  born  in  Scotland  ;  he  died  Dec. 
8,  1878  ;  his  wife  died  nearly  fifty  years  since. 
The  Judds  were  Yankees,  and  removed  to  Ohio 
from  Boston,  Mass.;  shortly  after,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Glines  were  married  the}'  removed  to  Mayfield, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  where  they  farmed  for  nearly  ten 
years.  In  1864,  Mr.  Glines  enlisted  in  an  artil- 
lery regiment,  and  served  until  the  civil  war 
closed.  He  held  several  minor  offices  in  Cuya- 
hoga Co.,  and,  in  1868,  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  Superintendent  of  the  Summit  County 
Infirmary,  and  was  employed  by  the  Infirmary 
Directors  to  fill  this  responsible  position  from 
April  1,  1868,  until  he  died.  His  widow,  Mrs. 
Julia  Glines,  having  demonstrated,  during  the 
ten  years  her  husband  was  Superintendent,  that 
she  was  eminently  qualified  for  the  position 
made  vacant  by  his  death,  was  appointed  to 
succeed  him,  and  the  best  evidence  that  she  has 
successfully  managed  the  institution  is  the  fact 
that  she  has  been  continued  in  the  same  posi- 
tion ever  since,  and  was,  in  January,  1881,  re- 
appointed for  the  term  commencing  April  1, 
1881.  Mr.  Glines  was  during  his  life  a  member 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  his  widow  is  connected 
with  the  same  denomination.  Two  children 
were  the  result  of  their  marriage — Julia  and 
Charles  ;  the  latter  died  in  infancy  ;  Julia  was 
born  Dec.  14,  1858,  was  married  Nov.  27,  1877, 


to  Worth  Davis,  and  they  have  two  children — 
Worth,  born  July  5,  1879,  and  James  Finlev 
Davis,  born  Aug.' 12,  1880. 

JUSTUS  GALE  (deceased),  was  an  enter- 
prising and  successful  business  man  in  Akron 
during  the  early  history  of  the  place  ;  he  was 
the  son  of  Ephraim  and  Mollie  Gale,  who  were 
residents  of  Guilford,  Windham  Co.,  Vt.,  at  the 
time  of  his  birth,  Jan.  14.  1798  ;  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  State,  and  married, 
June  8,  1823,  Sarah  Hyde,  who  was  born  at 
Guilford,  April  26,  1802  ;  she  was  the  daughter 
of  Dr.  Dana  Hyde,  a  prominent  physician  in 
Guilford  for  many  years,  and  died  July  18, 
1827  ;  her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Lucy 
Fitch.  For  some  ten  years  after  their  marriage, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Justus  Gale  remained  in  Ver- 
mont ;  for  five  years,  he  was  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Dover ;  then  kept  a  hotel  at  Wells 
River  for  about  the  same  length  of  time.  In 
1833,  they  moved  to  Ohio  and  settled  at  Akron 
in  July,  embarking  in  the  mercantile  business 
with  Edward  Pulsipher  and  Alvin  Austin,  who 
were  also  natives  of  Vermont ;  the  firm  was 
styled  Pulsipher,  Gale  &  Austin,  and  their  es- 
tablishment was  at  what  is  now  South  Akron. 
At  this  time  there  were  very  few  houses  at  Ak- 
ron, and  the  country  between  the  village  and 
Middlebury  was  a  wilderness.  After  continuing 
in  the  mercantile  business  for  some  five  years 
with  Messrs.  Pulsipher  and  Austin,  they  dis- 
solved business  relations,  and  then  Mr.  Gale  for 
some  ten  years  ran  a  tin  store  ;  for  a  short  time 
he  was  a  partner  with  Lyman  Cobb  ;  in  con- 
nection with  Paris  Tallman,  they  engaged  in 
the  raanuf!\cture  of  stoves,  kettles  and  castings  ; 
their  furnace  was  situated  on  the  site  now  oc- 
cupied by  C.  A.  Collins'  carriage  establish- 
ment. Mr.  Gale  died  June  28,  1847  ;  previous 
to  his  death,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  furnace, 
and  also  purchased  the  40  acres  now  occupied 
by  his  widow  and  her  son  ;  in  1849.  the  Gale 
family  removed  to  this  land.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
were  the  parents  of  six  children — Lucy  Jane, 
now  Mrs.  Alexander  Brewster,  of  Akron ; 
Sarah,  married  Frank  Adams,  now  a  resident 
of  Middlebury — she  died  Jan.  11,  1863,  leav- 
ing two  daughters — May,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Per- 
kins, and  Julia,  now  IMrs.  Arthur  Latham  ; 
Francis  Gale,  died  in  1845,  aged  16  ;  Ann,  now 
Mrs.  Theodrick  Balch,  of  Akron  ;  Henry,  was 
married  Dec.  3,  1857,  to  Miss  Mary  Pettibone, 
daughter   of  Norman   and    Susan  (Whitmore) 


J^ 


814 


B  rOGPt  APHIC AI .    SKETCHES : 


Pettibone — they  have  two  children,  Jennie 
Adams  and  Susie  Hjde  ;  Maiy,  the  3'oungest 
daughter,  married  James  C.  McNeal,  of  Akron  ; 
tliey  have  two  children.  Grant  and  Sarah. 
Mr.  Gale  served  for  several  years  as  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace  in  Vermont.  His  wife  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Akron. 

ENOS  HAWKINS,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Akron. 
Among  the  early  settlers  of  Portage  Township 
were  the  Hawkins  family,  who  were  natives  of 
New  JEngland.  Enos  was  the  son  of  John  Em- 
erson and  Jemima  (Pratt)  Hawkins  ;  the  former 
was  the  son  of  John  and  Sarah  Hawkins,  and 
was  born  Aug.  18,  1780,  in  Woodstock,  Wind- 
sor Co.,  Vt. ;  Jemima,  who  was  the  daughter 
of  Asa  and  Betsy  Pratt,  was  born  Oct.  20, 1785.  j 
They  were  married  in  1803,  and  nine  children  [ 
were  the  result  of  their  union  :  Enos,  subject 
of  this  sketch  ;  Ira,  who  died  man3-3'ears  since, 
while  a  resident  of  Portage  Township  ;  Lucy, 
married  Ansil  Miller,  and  died  at  Akron  ;  Mary, 
married  Luman  Mills,  and  died  while  a  resident 
of  Wadsworth  Township  ;  John  Wesley  died  I 
at  the  age  of  16  ;  Asenath  married  Wm.  Ellis, 
a  resident  of  Boston  Towhship,  and  died  about 
1843  ;  Horace,  and  Nelson,  the  3'oungest  child,  j 
are  now  residents  of  Portage  Township  ;  Al-  I 
raira,  the  youngest  daughter,  married  Zachariah 
Prentice,  of  Portage  Township,  and  died  man3' 
3'ears  since.  Six  of  the  above  children  moved 
from  Veimont  with  their  parents,  in  1816. 
The3'  reached  Portage  Township,  October  28  of 
that  year,  and  shortl3'  afterward  Mr.  Hawkins 
purchased  100  acres  of  land.  At  that  time  no 
other  families  were  residing  in  the  southwestern 
portion  of  Portage  Township,  but  Josh  King 
lived  near  where  Simon  Perkins  does  now. 
Enos  Hawkins,  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
near  the  Green  Mountains,  Bridgewater  Town- 
ship, Windsor  Co.,  Vt,  Dec.  5,  1803,  and  was 
nearl3'  13  3'ears  of  age  when  his  parents  moved 
to  Ohio.  He  received  a  knowledge  of  the  com- 
mon branches  in  the  schools  of  Vermont  and 
Ohio.  In  1825,  he  was  a  member  of  the  locating 
party  employed  to  survey  the  route  of  the  Ohio 
Canal,  and  continued  at  this  business  for  two 
3'ears.  When  the  canal  was  opened,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Superintendent  of  Repairs,  and  had 
charge  of  the  section  from  Cleveland  to  Short 
Pinery  Level  ;  this  division  was  some  eighteen 
miles  in  length,  and  he  continued  at  this  for 
man3^  years,  until  removed  by  the  Democratic 
Administration  at  Columbus,  Mr.  Hawkins  be- 


ing too  much  of  a  Whig  to  suit  the  ruling 
part3'.  He  then  farmed  in  Independence  Town- 
ship Cuyahoga  Count3',  until  about  the  3-ear 
1872,  when  he  removed  to  his  present  farm. 
In  1830,  he  purchased  nearl3'  100  acres  of  land 
in  Portage  Township  ;  since  then  he  has  sold  a 
portion  of  this,  and  now  has  49  acres.  He  was 
married  in  1836  to  Miss  Mar3'  Parker,  daughter 
of  Cardy  and  Mary  x\nn  (Lee)  Parker.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  children  :  Emil3',  died 
in  infanc3'  ;  Emma,  died  aged  16  ;  Minerva, 
now  Mrs.  A.  W.  Gillett,  of  Portage  Township  ; 
J]lla,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Green,  of  Independence, 
Cu3'ahoga  Co.  Mrs.  Enos  Hawkins  died  Jan. 
11,  1854. 

JOSEPH  HILL,  farmer,  Akron  ;  was  born 
Nov.  30,  1825,  in  Guilford,  Windham  Co.,  Vt. 
His  parents  were  T3'Ier  and  Sallie  (Fish)  Hill. 
Tyler  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  1793, 
son  of  Fisher  Hill,  whose  wife's  maiden  name 
was  Chase.  T3'ler  Hill  emigrated  West  with 
his  family  in  1836,  coming  by  canal  from  Troy 
to  Buffalo,  thence  b3'  water  to  Cleveland.  At 
Brookl3'n,  he  secured  an  ox  team,  conve3'ing 
his  family  to  this  count3',  making  his  settle- 
ment in  the  northeast  part  of  Twinsburg, 
where  he  purchased  144  acres  of  land.  Having 
at  the  time  of  his  arrival  $1,300  in  money, 
which  was  expended  for  land  and  such  neces- 
saries as  circumstances  required  ;  here  he  re- 
mained until  his  death  ;  he  was  a  good  citizen 
and  a  Christian,  who  adhered  to  the  tenets  of 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  Six  children  were 
born  them,  whose  names  were  Delight,  Han- 
nah, Ambrose,  Jane,  Joseph  and  Sarah. 
Joseph  was  married  March  14, 1854,  to  Mehita- 
ble  Drake,  born  Feb.  29,  1836,  in  Boston  Town- 
ship, daughter  of  Nathan  and  Lizzie  (Bowker) 
Drake.  He  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  Dec. 
1,  1786  ;  she,  in  same  State,  Ma3'  30,  1792. 
To  this  couple  were  born  the  numerous  family 
of  fifteen,   whose   names   were,    David,    Silas, 

Mary,  Amy,  A ,    Jasper  B.,  James  N., 

Emily,  John  D.,  Elizabeth,  Joseph,  Benjamin, 
Nathan,  Mehitable  and  Mariamne.  After  Mr. 
Hill  was  married  he  moved  to  Solon  Township, 
where  he  lived  five  years,  then  moved  to  Twins- 
burg and  stayed  two  3'ears,  returning  to  Solon 
and  lived  three  3'ears.  Located  on  the  farm  he 
now  owns,  in  1864  ;  since  remained.  Has  now 
over  300  acres  of  land  situated  in  the  extreme 
north  part  of  the  township.  Of  eleven  chil- 
dren born  him,  Charles  G.,  Jessie,  Ira  M.,  Joit- 


:l^ 


PORTAGE    TOWNSHIP. 


815 


ajuba,  Aquilla,  Schuyler  J.  and  George  M. 
are  living ;  Lillie  L.  died  at  7,  Leander  at  5, 
Lizzie  and  Viva  when  young.  Farming  is  the 
business  in  which  he  has  been  engaged.  Not 
a  member  of  an}'  orthodox  church.  Father 
was  Democratic  ;  Joseph,  llepublican.  The 
parents  of  Mr.  Hill  were  Baptists.  Her  father 
died  in  1852,  mother  about  seven  years  later. 
Were  early  settlers. 

CHAUNCEY  HART,  deceased.  This  pio- 
neer was  born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  10, 
1797  ;  son  of  Reuben  Hart,  who  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut.  Chauncey  moved  to  Tallmadge 
in  1816.  Oct.  10,  1819,  he  married  Rosella 
Hard,  who  was  born  in  1798.  in  Berkshire,  in 
North  Vermont.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Abram 
and  Rebecca  (Flagg)  Hard,  whose  children 
were  Cyrus,  xlbram,  Nelson,  Moses  K.,  Orilla, 
Sophia,  Rosella,  Laura  and  Julia  A.  In  1821, 
Mr.  Hart  moved  to  Wads  worth,  Medina  Co., 
where  he  purchased  some  unimproved  land, 
which  he  improved.  Li  1853,  he  located  in 
Akron,  where  he  lived  several  years  ;  then  he 
located  on  his  farm,  where  he  died,  March  20, 
1877.  His  wife  died  the  year  following,  March 
26.  To  them  were  born  four  children  ;  but  two 
are  now  living,  Mrs.  Cunningham  and  Mrs. 
Beardsley.  For  more  than  one-half  a  century, 
he  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  From 
that  time  forward  he  never  wavered  from  his 
course,  but  attested  the  genuineness  of  his  pro- 
fession by  an  upright  and  blameless  life.  For 
the  last  seven  years,  he  was  an  invalid,  and 
suffered  greatl}',  yet  through  all  his  affliction  he 
waited  with  Christian  resignation  for  his  Mas- 
ter's call,  and  was  ready  to  pass  over  to  the 
shining  shore.  His  remains  now  rest  in  the 
cemetery,  near  by  his  last  home.  Amanda,  his 
j-oungest  daughter,  was  born  in  October,  1840, 
in  Wadsworth.  Oct.  17,  1861,  she  married 
Avery  S.  Beardsley,  who  was  born  in  Coventry, 
this  county,  Oct.  26,  1838,  son  of  T.  and  Tem- 
perance (Spicer)  Beardsley.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Beardsley  have  one  son,  Chauncey  Hart ;  they 
reside  on  the  homestead  farm. 

WILLIAM  H.  JONES,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Ak- 
ron ;  was  born  July  17,  1833,  in  Oneida  Co., 
N.  Y.  Son  of  John  H.  and  Sarah  (Simpson) 
Jones.  The  former  was  born  August,  1806,  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  son  of  Samuel  and  Betsey  (Ham- 
ilton) Jones.  Samuel  was  boi'n  at  Schenec- 
tady, N.  Y.,  in  the  "  Mohawk  Dutch  "  settlement. 
Betsey  Hamilton  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland, 


where  she  lived  until  11  years  of  age.  Sarah 
Simpson  was  a  daughter  of  John.  John  H. 
Jones  came  west  in  1834  to  Ohio,  remained 
some  time,  and  then  moved  to  Indiana.  They 
had  six  children  who  grew  up  to  maturity — - 
Louisa,  William,  James,  Mary  E.,  Charlotte 
and  Sebra.  William  H.,  was  raised  to  farming. 
On  Aug.  25,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Battery  B, 
and  served  one  year,  when  he  was  discharged 
on  account  of  (lisability.  He  returned  home, 
remaining  until  February,  1864,  when  he  re-en- 
listed in  Co.  B,  188th  0.  V.  I.,  and  remained 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  March  14,  1855,  he 
married  Susannah  Best,  a  daughter  of  John 
Best,  who  was  born  in  Mercer  Co.,  Penn.,  in 
1796  ;  son  of  John  Best,  who  came  from  Ger- 
many and  settled  in  Mei'cer  Co.,  when  the  coun- 
try was  new.  John  Best  married  Rebecca 
Watson,  a  daughter  of  Galiriel  Watson,  who 
had  fourteen  children  born  to  him.  John  Best 
came  to  Northampton  in  1832,  where  he  pur- 
chased unimproved  land  at  the  center  of  the 
township,  which  he  cleared  up,  and  lived  on 
the  same  as  long  as  he  lived.  His  death  oc- 
curred March  18,  1861  ;  his  wife  is  yet  living. 
They  wei'e  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  They  had  ten  children.  Mrs.  Jones 
being  the  eldest  of  the  family.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jones  haA^e  been  born  ten  children,  eight 
of  whom  are  living.  They  have  100  acres  of 
land.  Mr.  Jones'  father  was  killed  in  August, 
1868.     His  wife  died  Jan.  14,  1877. 

GEORGE  MILLER,  retired  farmer,  Akron, 
whose  portrait  will  be  found  in  this  work,  has  been 
a  resident  of  the  State  since  1810  ;  was  born  Dec. 
14,  1807,  in  Perry  Co.,  Penn.,  eldest  child  of  Ja- 
cob and  Sarah  (Lutman)  Miller.  The  Millers 
are  of  German  stock,  and  were  among  the  better 
class  of  that  nationality  who  left  the  "  Fader- 
land  "  to  cast  their  lots  with  America  and  its 
varied  interests.  At  the  age  of  3,  our  subject 
"  came  West "  with  his  parents,  who  made  their 
first  settlement  in  Can  field  Township,  Trum- 
bull Co.  He  was  a  carpenter  b}-  trade,  but  his 
worldly  possessions  were  very  limited  indeed. 
His  first  purchase  of  land  was  60  acres,  which 
he  partially  cleared.  The  country  at  this  time 
was  a  dreary  wilderness,  the  inhabitants  were 
very  few  and  much  scattered.  He  immediately 
began  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  a  spot  for 
cultivation,  and  soon  had  a  cabin  erected  in 
which  he  resided  until  1816,  when  he  moved  to 
what  is  now  Wadsworth  Township,  Medina  Co. 


^1 


816 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


(then  Portage),  where  he  purchased  120  acres 
of  Gen.  Wadsworth  at  $3  per  acre.  Here  he 
found  as  uninhabitable  a  place  of  settlement 
as  in  Trumbull  Co.  The  nearest  settlement  on 
the  east  was  that  of  Joseph  Harris,  of  Harris- 
ville  Township,  sixteen  miles  distant.  Upon 
this  place  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
dying  in  1859  ;  his  wife  preceded  him  nearl}'  a 
score  of  years.  Of  the  family  born  to  this 
couple  were  George  and  his  twin,  who  died 
young ;  Samuel,  who  died  aged  1  year,  Petsey, 
who  died  at  14  ;  David  was  killed  at  Akron 
while  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  fireman 
at  a  fire  ;  John  ;  Aaron  died  while  on  his  wa^-  to 
California  in  1851  ;  Catharine  married  Reuben 
Baughman  ;  Mary  now  Mrs.  Alexander  Beck  ; 
Harriet,  now  Mrs.  Shaflfer  ;  and  Susan  married 
Henry  Parmelee.  George  was  raised  to  hard 
labor ;  what  schooling  he  obtained  was  the  plain- 
est rudiments  of  the  cabin  schools,  but  was  in- 
ci'eased  by  careful  study  at  his  father's  fireside. 
His  father  being  a  carpenter  and  cabinet-maker, 
George  soon  learned  the  use  of  tools  and  as- 
sisted his  father  in  his  labors  as  a  house-builder, 
and  manufacturing  such  articles  as  were  re- 
quired by  the  early  settlers  who  came  to  their 
western  homes  without  tables,  (chairs,  or  scarce- 
ly any  furniture.  Coffins  were  manufactured 
for  the  unfortunate  ones,  which  were  split  out 
of  logs,  then  hewn  out  to  encase  the  mortal 
remains  of  the  lone  pioneer.  Mr.  Miller  left 
home  at  the  age  of  23,  made  his  first  purchase 
of  land  in  Sharon  of  60  acres  of  unimproved 
land,  which  cost  him  $4  per  acre  ;  he  afterward 
added  1 5  acres,  and  then  27.  After  a  residence 
of  three  years,  he  returned  to  Wadsworth,  where 
he  purchased  100  acres,  which  he  cleared  up, 
remaining  on  the  same  until  1853,  when  he 
moved  to  his  present  place  on  Tract  4,  which 
has  ever  since  been  his  place  of  living.  In 
1831,  he  married  Rebecca  Baughman,  daugh- 
ter of  Paul  Baughman.  Upon  Mr.  Miller's  ar- 
rival here  he  purchased  of  Gov.  Tod  240  acres 
at  $25  per  acre.  He  has  now  231  here,  and  120 
in  Wadsworth.  His  faithful  wife  was  taken 
from  him  in  the  j'ear  1868,  leaving  him  four 
children — Paul,  now  in  California ;  Sarah,  who 
married  S.  Coplin,  and  has  five  children — 
Charles,  George,  RoUin,  Homer  and  Oscar  ; 
Martha  married  Frank  Springer,  now  of  Medina, 
having  one  child,  Fred,  by  her  first  husband  ; 
John  F.,  at  home,  he  married  Charity  Brouse, 
daughter  of  William  Brouse,  of  Wadsworth  ; 


John  F.  has  one  child,  Elton.  Paul  married 
Matilda  Horn,  and  b}'  her  has  two  sons.  Mr. 
Miller  has  already  passed  the  limit  allotted  to 
mankind  and  is  now  spending  the  eve  of  his 
life  in  the  sweet  quiet  of  his  home.  He  is  held 
in  high  esteem  by  all  who  know  him.  Polit- 
ically he  has  been  Democratic,  and  always  true 
to  the  principles  embraced  by  his  part}-.  Re- 
ligiously, he  was  reai'ed  a  Lutheran,  but  later  in 
life  he  has  become  impressed  with  the  doctrine 
of  universal  salvation.  He  has  been  a  man  of 
industrious  habits,  and  been  prospered  in  all 
of  his  business  undertakings  ;  he  has  taken  an 
active  part  in  whatever  was  calculated  to  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  the  people  at  large  ;  has 
been  a  substantial  member  of  the  comniunit}', 
and  liberal  in  his  contributions  to  charitable 
and  educational  purposes.  He  has  devoted  his 
life  to  agricultural  pursuits,  never  seeking  the 
publicit}-  of  office,  yet,  at  the  solicitations  of 
friends,  has  filled  several  offices  of  trust  in  the 
community.  While  in  Medina  Co.,  he  served  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  Township  Trustee,  Treas- 
urer and  Assessor.  Acting  independently  of 
sect  or  denomination,  yet  has  favored  every- 
thing known  to  be  right  and  opposed  to  wrong  ; 
honestly  and  openh*  laboring  to  promote  good 
morals  and  advance  the  common  interests 
of  all  good  citizens.  By  his  frugality  and  in- 
dustry he  has  acquired  a  handsome  property', 
and  is  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  the  county. 
JOHN  McCAUSLAND,  farmer  and  brick 
manufacturer ;  P.  0.  Akron;  was  born  June 
26,  1824,  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  and  is  a 
son  of  James  and  Jane  (Drain)  McCausland. 
James  was  born  in  Februar}',  1799,  the 
only  son  of  James,  his  father,  who  bore  the 
same  name.  Jane  was  a  daughter  of  Hugh 
Drain.  John  emigrated  to  Ohio  in  1849,  hav- 
ing sei'ved  his  father  several  years  after  his 
majorit}-,  and  came  here  poor.  He  began  work 
in  this  county  as  a  common  laborer,  receiving 
at  first  $8.50  per  month  ;  afterward,  by  the  year, 
receiving  $120,  then  $150  annually.  In  1853, 
he  married  Mary  McQuillan,  who  was  born  in 
Count}'  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  April,  1827 ; 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Mary  (Mulheren)  Mc- 
Quillan. After  Mr.  McCausland  acquired  suffi- 
cient means,  he  bought  a  team  and  the  neces- 
sary implements,  and  engaged  in  farming,  rent- 
ing land  about  six  years  on  the  Phelps  farm. 
In  1859,  he  purchased  where  he  now  lives,  first 
bu3'ing  76  acres,  for  which  he  paid  $28  per 


•^  ( 


lI^ 


PORTAGE    TOWNSHIP. 


817 


acre.  He  has  since  added  to  the  same,  having 
now  112^  acres.  In  1871,  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  brick,  and  has  been  every  year 
increasing  his  facilities  until  he  has  now  pro- 
ductive capacity  of  2,000,000  per  3'ear,  there 
ha\ing  been  such  a  demand  that  he  has  not 
been  able  to  fill  the  orders  that  have  been  given 
liira.  He  has  four  children  living — James, 
John,  Margaret  and  Mary.  Mr.  McCausland 
is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  township. 
Coming  here  a  poor  man,  he  has,  by  diligence 
and  economy,  acquired  for  himself  a  honie  and 
a  sufficient  competence,  and  built  up  a  manu- 
facturing establishment  in  his  line  which  is  the 
largest  in  the  township  ;  a  man  of  intelligence 
and  a  liberal  patron  of  the  public  journals. 

AARON  OYIATT,  retired  farmer;  P.  0. 
Akron  ;  a  member  of  a  numerous,  important 
and. influential  family  of  Summit  County.  He 
is  a  grandson  of  Benjamin  Oviatt.  who  was 
born  Feb.  27,  1755  ;  Benjamin  was  a  soldier 
during  the  Revolutionary  war ;  was  married 
Dec.  8,  1774,  and  died  Sept.  24,  1832  ;  Eliz- 
abeth, his  wife,  was  born  Aug.  29,  1754,  and 
died  Dec.  5,  1832  ;  they  had  eleven  children — 
Heman,  Luman,  Benjamin,  Olive,  Salmon, 
Betsy,  Clarissa,  Nathaniel,  Huldah,  Mary 
and  Anna.  Many  of  these  settled  in 
what  is  now  Summit  County,  at  an  early 
day,  and  became  active  and  energetic  citi- 
zens in  their  respective  communities.  Ben- 
jamin, and  his  sons  Luman  and  Heman, 
bought  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  township 
of  Richfield,  paying  $4,000  for  4,000  acres. 
Luman  never  lived  in  Summit  County,  but 
Heman  settled  at  Hudson  and  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  Hudson  College  ;  Benjamin,  his 
brother,  also  settled  in  Hudson  ;  Salmon  and 
Nathaniel  settled  in  Richfield  ;  Betsy  man'ied 
Elisha  Ellsworth,  of  Hudson  ;  Clarissa  married 
Elijah  Ellsworth,  of  Richfield  ;  Huldah  mar- 
ried a  Mrs.  Thompson,  of  Hudson  ;  Mary  mar- 
ried the  gentleman  after  whom  Hudson  Village 
was  named,  and  when  he  died,  Darius  Lyman, 
of  Ravenna.  Luman  Oviatt,  father  of  Aaron, 
was  born  Sept.  6,  1777  ;  married  May  10, 1796, 
to  Rhoda  Norton,  born  Oct.  9,  1777.  They  re- 
sided in  Goshen  Township,  Litchfield  Co., 
Conn.;  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  many 
of  whom  moved  to  Summit  County,  as  follows  : 
Birdsey,  at  Hudson  ;  Nelson,  at  Richfield  ;  Ke- 
siah  died  at  Groshen  ;  Rhoda,  formerl}'  Mrs. 
Julia   Humphrey,   of    Richfield  ;    Heman,    at 


Richfield  ;  Marcus  died  in  Connecticut ;  Aaron, 
subject  of  this  sketch  ;  Moses,  of  Cuyahoga 
County  ;  Harriet,  formerl}'  Mrs.  Washington 
B.  Bigelow,  of  Richfield  ;  Laura,  formerly  Mrs. 
Jonathan  Spafford,  of  Copley.  These  are  all 
dead  except  Aaron  and  Moses  ;  their  mother 
died  Jan.  10,  1821  ;  Luman  married  a  second 
time  and  had  three  children — Sarah  Lucretia, 
Lyman  B.  and  Samuel — but  they  never  re- 
moved to  Summit  County  ;  their  father  died 
Dec.  7,  1838.  Aaron  was  born  August  4,  1810, 
in  Goshen  Township,  Conn.,  where  he  was 
raised  and  educated.  He  was  married  Jan.  9, 
1833,  to  Electa,  daughter  of  Reuben  Brown,  of 
Noi'folk,  Conn.;  they  had  three  children — 
Orestus  died  aged  9,  Heman  died  in  California, 
Huldah  married  More  Briggs  and  removed  to 
Iowa.  Aaron's  wife  died  and  he  came  to  Sum- 
mit County,  where  he  was  married  Oct.  11, 
1846,  to  Miss  Marion  B.,  daughter  of  Salmon 
and  Mary  B.  (Hawkins)  Hoisington.  He  then 
returned  to  Connecticut,  resided  there  two 
years,  and  removed  to  Copley  and  purchased 
123  acres,  which  land  he  farmed  until  about 
seven  years  since,  when  he  removed  to  Akron 
City.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oviatt  are  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  as  follows  :  Orestus  Aaron,  de- 
ceased ;  Quincy  G.,  deceased  ;  Ella,  now  Mrs. 
Hugh  Mussleman  ;  Truman,  deceased  ;  Clara 
E.,  now  living  in  Cu3^ahoga  County  ;  Jennie 
M.,  now  Mrs.  Fred.  Tarble,  of  Akron  ;  Phila  D. 
and  Edward. 

FRIEDRICH  PFEIFFER,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Akron  ;  was  born  Jan.  17,  1829,  in  Hagenstein 
Kirchenfeld,  Oldenburg,  in  Northwest  Bavaria  ; 
son  of  George  and  Catherina  (Bank)  Pfeiffer. 
George  was  the  only  son  of  his  father,  who 
was  a  manufacturer  of  woolen  cloth,  and  who 
was  accidentally  killed  in  his  mill.  Catherina 
was  a  daughter  of  John  Bank,  whose  wife  was 
Caroline  Haas.  John  Bank  had  eight  children 
born  him,  of  whom  John,  Charles,  Catherina, 
Derothe  and  Caroline  grew  to  maturity.  John 
Bank  was  a  man  of  wealth  and  influence  ;  was 
largely  interested  in  the  manufacturing  inter- 
ests of  the  place,  ran  a  distillery,  an  oil  mill,  a 
blacksmith-shop,  and  owned  several  farms  be- 
sides. He  had  sons  whose  names  were  John, 
Charles  and  John,  two  of  whom  are  prominent 
ministers — Charles,  in  New  York,  John  in  Buf- 
falo. To  George  and  Catherina  were  born 
Frederick,  George  (who  died  in  California  after 
a   residence  of  twenty-two   years),    Catherina 


nv 


u- 


818 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


(married  Rev.  George  Rettig,  of  Iowa),  Jacob 
(now  in  Wadsworth),  Louisa  (now  Mrs.  Mono 
Smith).  Charles  (in  Akron).  Frederick  came  to 
Ohio  in  1848  ;  he  came  to  Akron  poor,  but  was 
not  afraid  to  labor  ;  worked  at  farming,  ran  an 
engine  two  years,  and  worked  in  a  store  and 
mill.  March  19,  1854,  he  married  Catherina 
Grohe,  who  was  born  April  23,  1829,  in  Baden  ; 
eldest  daughter  of  xldam  and  Catherina  (Ret- 
tig) Grrohe.  Adam  Grohe  was  a  son  of  John 
and  Eva  (Shaeffer)  Grohe,  whose  children  were 
Adam,  Michael,  Eva,  Jacob,  John,  Phillip  and 
George.  Mrs.  Pfeiffer  came  to  this  State  in 
1852.  After  Mr.  Pfeiffer  was  married  he  lived 
six  months  in  Defiance  Co.,  then  one  year  in 
Madison  Co.,  Ind.,  and  then  came  to  Akron, 
where  he  worked  a  farm  on  shares.  He  worked 
three  3'ears  in  Wadsworth  on  George  IMiller's 
farm,  rented  a  farm  in  Clinton  one  year,  then 
bought  a  farm  in  Sharon  Township,  Medina 
Co.,  which  he  sold  eight  years  afterward.  After 
making  several  changes,  purchased  where  he 
now  owns,  having  eighty-five  acres  at  a  cost  of 
$7,000.  Has  one  child — George  Frederick, 
born  Nov.  3,  1860. 

WEBSTER  B.  STORER,  horticulturist ;  P.  0. 
Akron.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  for  thirty 
years  an  enterprising  and  energetic  business 
man  of  Akron  ;  born  in  Portland,  Me.,  Jan.  24, 
1809  ;  son  of  Joseph  and  Charlotte  (Knight) 
Storer.  Joseph  was  a  ship-carpenter  and  joiner 
in  Maine  until  1818,  when  he  moved  to  Zanes- 
ville,  Ohio,  with  his  family ;  assisted  b}-  John 
Wilson,  his  partner,  he  built  the  first  forked 
bridge  over  the  Muskingum  River  at  Zanes- 
ville ;  in  1828,  he  removed  to  Cleveland,  where 
he  was  engaged  for  many  3  ears  building  ves- 
sels, steamboats,  canal  boats,  and  other  water 
craft.  Joseph  died  in  the  spring  of  1868  at 
the  advanced  age  of  92 ;  he  was  the  father  of 
six  children  ;  all  are  living,  the  youngest  being 
70,  the  eldest  80,  and  the  aggregate  of  their 
ages  is  450  years  ;  they  are  Eliza  (now  Mrs. 
Joel  Chapman,  of  Erie  Co.),  George  K.  and 
Joseph  (of  Brooklyn,  Cuyahoga  Co.),  Samuel 
(of  Clyde,  Ohio),  Webster  B.,  and  Hester  (now 
Mrs.  Harris  Brainard,  of  Parma,  Cuyahoga 
Co.).  Webster  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Portland  and  Zanesville.  He  served  an  appren- 
ticeship with  his  father,  and  at  the  age  of  21 
commenced  business  for  himself  in  Cleveland  ; 
for  four  3'ears  he  was  employed  at  ship-joiner- 
ing  ;  he  then  farmed  in  Cuyahoga  Co.  for  one 


3^ear  ;  in  1836,  he  removed  to  Akron,  and,  for 
three  years,  was  engaged  building  houses  ;  dur- 
ing this  time  he  erected  the  first  house  ever 
built  on  Mill  street,  upon  the  lot  now  occupied 
b}'  the  Universalist  Church  ;  during  the  next 
quarter  of  a  centurj^  he  followed  canal-boat 
building  for  some  eighteen  years,  employing  at 
times  over  twent}^  hands  to  assist  him,  con- 
structing one  year  twelve  boats  ;  he  built  the 
first  boat  which  had  a  capacity  of  2,600  bushels 
of  wheat ;  he  was  in  partnership  at  this  busi- 
ness for  two  years  with  Jacob  Barnhart,  and  for 
ten  years  with  Ansel  Miller.  About  the  year 
1856,  he  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and 
retail  grocer}'  trade,  continuing  at  this  some 
two  years.  In  1863,  he  sold  his  interest  at 
canal-boat  building  to  William  H.  Payne,  and 
then  ran  an  iron  store  for  five  years  in  partner- 
ship with  his  son-in-law,  J.  L.  Noble.  In  1868, 
having  traded  his  city  property  for  208  acres  of 
land,  he  removed  to  this  tract,  where  he  has 
resided  ever  since  with  his  son-in-law.  For 
some  twelve  years  he  has  been  raising  small 
fruit,  and  is  a  member  of  the  State  Horticult- 
ural Society',  and  an  honorary'  member  in  a 
similar  association  of  Franklin  Co.  He  served 
as  Trustee  of  Portage  Township  several  terms  ; 
was  Infirmary  Director  of  Summit  Co.  for  three 
3'ears  ;  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Educa 
tion  in  1850,  when  the  Central  High  School 
building  was  erected.  Mr.  Storer  was  originally 
a  Democrat  casting  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Gen.  Jackson.  He  supported  Van  Buren 
in  1836  and  1840  ;  then  being  an  ardent  sym- 
pathizer of  the  anti-slavery  movement,  he 
united  with  the  old  "  Liberty  "  party  ;  since 
the  formation  of  the  Republican  party  he  has 
voted  that  ticket ;  was  connected  with  the 
underground  railroad  and  the  men  who  con- 
ducted its  passengers  through  Summit  Co.  ; 
was  chosen  President  of  the  meeting  at  Akron 
called  to  express  the  indignation  of  the  citizens 
when  John  Brown  was  hung.  July  24,  1832, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Bangs,  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Martha  (Nash)  Bangs.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Storer  are  members  of  the  Disciples' 
Church  of  Akron  ;  they  wei'e  among  those 
who  organized  the  congregation  in  1840;  he 
has  served  as  Deacon  and  Overseer  in  the 
church  for  man}'  years.  They  are  the  parents 
of  five  children,  one  died  in  infanc}' ;  the 
others  are  Daniel  W.  (now  of  Shelby)  ;  Hatt}' 
I.  (now  Mrs.  J.   L.  Noble  ;  she   was   married 


PORTAGE    TOWNSHIP. 


819 


Dec.  3,  1855,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  daugh- 
ters—Mary and  Lucj-  M.  Noble),  James  B. 
(now  Postmaster  of  Akron),  George  S.  (now  of 
New  York  City). 

JACOB  SHAKE,  farmer;  P.  0.  Akron; 
was  born  Jan.  19,  1827,  in  Wurteraberg,  Ger- 
many. His  parents  were  Jolin  and  Kate  (Rip- 
le}')  Shake  ;  he  was  a  son  of  Jacob.  Our  sub- 
ject was  the  3'oungest  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren. In  March,  1854,  he  married  Frederica 
Richards,  who  was  born  Aug.  27,  1882,  in  Wur- 
temberg;  daughter  of  Davis  and  Catharine 
(Kutz)  Richards.  Davis  Richards'  father  was 
John  Richards ;  Catharine  Richards  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  George  Kutz.  In  the  same  year  in  which 
he  was  married,  Mr.  Shake  came  to  this  country  ; 
coming  west  to  Ohio,  he  stopped  in  Liverpool 
Township,  Medina  Co.,  where  he  worked  by  the 
month.  After  saving  some  mone}',  went  to 
Northampton,  where  he  bought  25  acres  of  land 
unimproved,  costing  $2  per  acre.  This  place 
he  cleared  up  ;  he  then  moved  to  this  township, 
where  he  purchased  and  has  since  resided.  He 
has  now  100  acres  of  land,  which  he  has  cleared 
up,  and  erected  suitable  buildings  thereon.  He 
has  been  a  hard-working  man,  a  careful  man- 
ager, and  has  been  successful  and  secured  a 
good  home.  He  has  ten  children — Christian, 
who  resides  on  her  father's  farm  ;  Catharina, 
now  the  wife  of  Henry  Schumacher  ;  Mary,  the 
wife  of  Martin  Dice  ;  Helen,  Rosa,  Charles, 
Eliza,  Willie,  John  and  Ida.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shake  are  members  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church. 

C.  M.  SMITH,  farmer;  P.  O.  Akron;  was 
born  in  Lake  Township,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov. 
14,  1818,  of  a  family  of  seven  children  born 
to  James  and  Sarah  (Houser)  Smith.  James 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  Jan.  16,  1790  ;  son 
of  John,  who  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and 
had  born  to  him  five  sons  and  three  daughters. 
James  Smith  married  Sarah  Houser,  who  was 
born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  Jan.  11,  1792. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Peter,  who  was  a  son  of 
John  Houser,  a  native  of  Germany  ;  his  wife 
was  Marj'  Fisher,  by  whom  he  had  thirteen 
children.  Of  those  who  grew  up  were  Mar}^ 
Catharine,  Margaret,  Amelia,  Julia,  Margaret, 
2d,  Peter,  Tunis  and  William.  The  parents  of 
our  subject  were  married  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
emigrated  to  Stark  Co.  about  the  year  1813. 
The^'  entered  160  acres  in  Lake  Township  ;  in 
1823,  he  moved  to  Springfield,  remaining  there 


until  his  death,  Nov.  15,  1858.  To  this  couple 
were  born  Peter,  now  in  Michigan  ;  John,  in 
Elkhart,  Ind.;  C.  M.,  Catharine,  now  Mrs.  M. 
Hagenbaugh,  in  Tallmadge  ;  James,  died  at  the 
age  of  50,  in  this  county  ;  Housel,  in  Bath 
Township  ;  Amelia,  Mrs.  Hiram  Allen,  in  Ne- 
braska. C.  M.  left  home  at  20,  learned  the 
cabinet-maker's  trade,  and  worked  at  the  same 
thirteen  3'ears.  He  was  first  married  to  Re- 
becca Monroe,  who  died  one  year  afterward, 
leaving  one  child,  since  deceased.  His  second 
wife  was  Catharine  Fulkerson,  who  died  two 
3'ears  afterward,  leaving  one  child,  Sylvester. 
On  Jan.  28,  1849,  he  married  Grazella  Ruckel, 
who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  April  18,  1826  ; 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Hagenbaugh) 
Ruckel.  Mr.  Ruckel  came  to  this  country 
about  1832,  and  settled  in  Sharon  Township, 
Medina  Co.  His  wife  died  when  Mrs.  Smith 
was  1  year  old.  Mr.  Smith  moved  to  his  farm 
April,  1858,  bought  111  acres  of  unimproved 
land,  and  cleared  it  up  ;  he  is  a  self-made  man. 
He  has  had  four  children,  three  living — Eliza- 
beth, Mrs.  Joseph  M.  Byerley  ;  Allen  J.  and 
Sarah.  Mr.  Smith  has  the  best  of  farm  build- 
ings, and  is  a  successful  farmer. 

EPHRAIM  SHERBONDY,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Akron  ;  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Portage 
Township,  born  in  East  Huntington  Township, 
Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn.,  Jan.  25,  1612  ;  the 
eldest  son  of  John  and  Rosannah  (Ritchey) 
Sherbondy,  who  settled  in  Portage  Township, 
with  their  family,  in  the  spring  of  1817.  George, 
a  brother  of  John,  came  at  the  same  time  with 
his  family,  and  they  traveled  from  Pennsylvania 
with  only  one  large  wagon  for  the  two  house- 
holds. At  that  time,  there  were  only  nine 
other  families  living  in  the  township  these 
were    Avery    Spicer,    Paul    Williams,    Samuel 

Newton,    Phelps,   John    Hawkins,   

Ayi-es,  Samuel  Nash,  King  and  George 

Sholls.  Of  these  nine  families  only  three  per- 
sons are  now  living,  Avery  Spicer,  his  wife  and 
Enos,  son  of  John  Hawkins.  Several  years 
afterward,  Melkiah  Sherbondy,  father  of  John 
and  George,  moved  to  Portage  and  his  son 
Peter  also  settled  in  Summit  Co.,  with  his 
family  at  an  early  day.  From  these  families 
were  descended  numerous  offspring,  who  are  at 
the  present  time  occupying  most  of  the  land 
originally  purchased  by  their  ancestors.  John 
Sherbondy  was  elected  Trustee  of  Portage 
Township  fifteen  years  in  succession  ;   he  was 


IW 


820 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


also  Assessor  for  many  years  ;  he  died  March 
22,  1866,  at  the  age  of  76 ;  Rosannah  his  wife 
died  Aug.  12,  1852;  they  were  the  parents  of 
fourteen  children,  six  died  before  raaturit}', 
eight  raised  ftimilies  as  follows :  Ephraim, 
Uriah  and  Levi,  now  of  Portage  Township  ; 
Sarah,  now  Mrs.  Jacob  Smith,  of  Copley  ;  Reu- 
ben and  John,  now  of  Portage  Township ; 
Ann,  now  Mrs.  Smith  Bunker,  of  Portage ; 
Homer,  now  of  Nebraska.  Ephraim,  subject 
of  this  sketch  received  a  very  meager  educa- 
tion in  his  youth.  He  worked  on  his  father's 
farm  until  20  ;  then  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for 
fifteen  years,  during  which  time  he  was  em- 
ployed repairing  the  canal  for  the  State.  He 
was  married  Aug.  10,  184-6,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Edwards,  who  was  born  in  Logan  County,  De- 
cember 29,  1824  ;  she  is  the  daughter  of  Justus 
and  Margaret  (Smith)  Edwards ;  Justus  died 
in  October,  1852.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sherbondy 
are  the  parents  of  nine  children,  as  follows : 
Amanda,  now  Mrs.  Thomas  Farell,  of  Cleve- 
land ;  Wallace,  of  Copley  Townshij)  and  mar- 
ried to  Maggie  Porter;  Justus  died  aged  10 
months  ;  Ada,  now  Mrs.  Benjamin  Frederick,  of 
Copley  ;  Eunice,  now  at  home ;  Rosa,  died  aged 
13  in  June,  1873  ;  John,  Giney  and  Lydia  at 
home.  Mr.  Sherbond}-  owns  at  the  present 
time  some  24  acres  of  land,  and  has  been  a 
farmer  since  he  left  the  Ohio  Canal. 

A.  A.  TINKHAM,  former  ;  P.  0.  Akron ; 
was  born  in  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  Jan.  24,  1824, 
the  only  son  born  to  his  parents,  Allen  and 
Mary  Ann  Tinkham.  Mary  x\nn  was  a  daughter 
of  Robert  Cain,  who  came  from  England  and 
settled  in  Dedham,  Mass.,  where  his  children 
Esther,  Harriet,  Mary  Ann  and  Robert  were 
born.  Amos  was  4  years  of  age  when  his 
father  died  ;  his  motlier  afterward  married 
Mr.  Washburn.  The  family  came  West  in 
1832,  first  to  Wayne  Co.,  Canaan  Township, 
where  the}'  lived  until  1837,  when  they  moved 
to  Wooster,  remaining  one  year  ;  then  to  Seville 
in  Medina  Co..  and  remained  there  until  1839. 
Amos  remained  with  his  step-father  until  he 
was  13  3'ears  of  age,  and,  subsequently,  hired 
out  to  Philo  Chamberlain,  in  Akron,  to  drive 
team,  and  do  general  outside  work  until  the 
spring  of  1842,  when  he  entered  the  mill  and 
learned  the  miller's  art,  following  the  same  un- 
til 1849  ;  then  engaged  in  the  livery  business 
at  Franklin,  now  Kent,  remaining  nearly  one 
year,  then  returned  to  Akron,  and  continued  in 


the  business  until  1862,  when  he  went  into  the 
army,  and  served  two  years  in  the  Quarter- 
master's Department ;  returning  home,  lived 
one  3'ear  in  the  city  ;  then  moved  to  the  farm 
where  he  has  since  lived  ;  his  farm  consists  of 
of  150  acres.  May  1,  1853,  he  married  Mar}' 
Bangs,  born  May  24,  1828,  in  Richfield  Town- 
ship, daughter  of  E.  N.  Bangs,  who  was  born 
April  10,  1800,  in  Stanstead,  Lower  Canada; 
his  father  was  James,  who  moved  some  four 
months  previous  from  HaiBpshire  Co.,  Mass., 
to  that  place,  in  1819,  with  his  entire  famih', 
which  consisted  of  Hortensia,  Theodore,  Har- 
riet, Elisha,  Martha,  Samuel,  Clarissa,  Henry, 
Mary  Ann  and  James.  The  family  moved  to 
Norwalk,  Ohio,  1821,  where  he  was  married  to 
Abigail  Wallace,  of  Petersham,  Mass.,  by 
whom  he  had  two  sons  and  four  daughters — 
Henr}-,  Adeline  A.  Barnard,  of  Chicago ;  Mary 
Tinkham,  of  Akron  ;  Louise  Simmons,  of  Chi- 
cago ;  Celestia,  Mrs.  P.  J.  Moersch,  of  Akron. 
Li  1821,  Mr.  Bangs  moved  to  Milan,  Ohio  ;  in 
1825,  removed  to  Richfield,  Summit  Co. ;  in 
1836,  to  Akron,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
Nov.  17,  1878.  Abigail  Wallace  was  a  daughter 
of  Daniel,  whose  children  were  Abigail,  Simeon, 
Lewis,  Miranda,  Harriet  (deceased),  Sarah  L. 
(deceased),  and  Adeline.  Mr.  Tinkham  has 
two  children — Clara.  Mrs.  I.  R.  Miller,  of  this 
township,  and  Fred  at  home. 

A.  TEEPLE,  farmer;  P.  0.  Akron;  was 
born  in  December,  1841,  in  Franklin  Township  ; 
son  of  John  and  Dorothe  (Miller)  Teeple.  He 
was  born  Oct.  5,  1795,  in  New  Jerse}- ;  son  of 
Andrew  Teeple,  who  came  from  Holland.  He 
had  three  sons — Andrew,  George  and  John. 
The  Teeple  family  came  West  to  Ohio,  settling 
first  in  Jefferson  Co.,  at  Steubenville,  where  An- 
drew died  in  1810.  To  him  were  born  Jacob, 
George,  William,  Pitney,  John,  Mary,  Sophia 
and  Ann.  At  the  age  of  18,  John  Teeple.  the 
father  of  the  above,  came  to  Canton,  where  he 
hired  out  as  a  common  laborer.  Being  indus- 
trious and  economical,  he  succeeded  in  saving 
means  to  enable  him  to  engage  in  business  for 
himself  He  worked  for  some  time  at  contract- 
ing. He  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in 
Franklin,  where  he  cleared  up  a  farm  of  160 
acres,  which  cost  at  first  $3  per  acre.  Upon 
this  farm  he  died  Sept.  13, 1864  ;  wife  Nov.  26, 
1806.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Disciples' 
Church.  He  believed  in  Universal  salvation. 
Their  children  were  Catharine,  George,  Isaac 


^Is- 


Ul 


PORTAGE    TOWNSHIP. 


831 


who  was  killed  in  the  late  war  at  Champion 
Hills,  May  16,  1863  ;  member  of  Co.  A,  42d 
0.  V.  I.  ;  Simon,  David,  Aaron  and  John  P. 
Aaron  was  raised  to  farming,  receiving  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  common  district  schools,  and 
finally  attended  two  years  at  Hiram  College, 
having  James  A.  Garfield  as  preceptor.  At  the 
age  of  19,  enlisted  in  September,  1861,  in  Co. 
A,  42d  0.  V.  I.,  and  served  three  years,  partici- 
pating in  the  principal  battles  in  which  the  regi- 
ment was  engaged.  In  the  fall  of  1865,  he  was 
married  to  Rachel  Hiser,  born  Dec.  16, 1843,  in 
Sandusk}'  Co.,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elisabeth 
(Richard)  Hiser,  who  had  the  numerous  family 
of  sixteen  children,  twelve  grew  up.  Mr.  Teeple 
moved  to  this  township  in  1869,  and  has  100 
acres  of  good  land.  He  has  two  children  — 
John  Frank  and  Nellie  E.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Teeple 
are  members  of  the  Disciples'  Church. 

SAMUEL  UNDERHILL,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Akron  ;  was  born  April  9, 1804,  in  Hyde  Park, 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.;  son  of  James  and  Clara 
(Quinby)  Underbill,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  he  in  1870  ;  his  wife  two 
3-ears  later.  The  Underbills  were  of  Quaker 
belief.  James  Underbill  was  a  son  of  Nathan- 
iel, whose  ancestors  came  from  England.  Clara 
Quinb}'  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel,  whose  wife 
was  a  Powell.  To  them  were  born  seven  children 
— Moses,  Obadiah,  Edward,  Mary,  Jane  Catha- 
rine, Ann  and  Clara.  The  children  of  Nathan- 
iel were  James  and  Clara.  Nathaniel  was  a 
lover  of  horses,  and  during  the  time  of  the 
Revolution  purchased  horses  for  the  army. 
The  children  of  James  were  Nathaniel,  Samuel, 
Mary,  Abram,  Philo,  Abel,  James,  Ann,  Sarah 
and  Catharine.  In  1810,  James  Underbill 
moved  to  Coxsackie,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  until 
1813,  when  he  died  of  pneumonia.  Our  subject 
was  early  in  life  left  without  a  home.  At  the 
age  of  20,  he  began  the  stud}'  of  medicine,  re- 
ceived his  first  diploma  at  Saratoga,  N.  Y.; 
afterward  took  lectures  at  New  York  Cit}',  and 
then  came  west  to  Ohio,  first  locating  in  Stark 
Co.,  in  1830,  and  began  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine. Although  educated  an  allopath,  he  after- 
ward changed  to  hydropathy.  After  becoming 
well-read  in  phrenology  and  studying  scientific 
works,  his  views  in  regard  to  religion  became 
changed,  and  has  since  been  a  Spiritualist.  He 
has  practiced  medicine  thirty  years,  also  having 
two  brothers,  Abram  and  Abel,  who  have  been 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine.     He  came 


to  this  township  in  1863.  In  June,  1868,  he 
married  Electa  Sanford,  who  was  born  in  Hud- 
ton  Township,  daughter  of  Garry  and  Emily 
(Richardson)  Sanford,  who  were  early  settlers. 
The  former  died  in  1843  ;  the  latter  in  1873  ; 
they  had  ten  children.  Since  the  Doctor's  loca- 
tion here,  he  has  been  engaged  mostly  in  farm- 
ing.    He  has  one  son. 

DANIEL  B.  WASHBURN,  farmer;  P.O.  Ak- 
ron ;  born  at  Kingston,  Plymouth  Co.,  Mass., 
Dec.  15,  1818  ;  the  son  of  Abiel  and  Rebecca 
(Adams)  Washburn  ;  when  about  thirteen  years 
of  age  his  parents  removed  to  Summit  Co., 
after  stopping  one  winter  in  New  Yoi'k  State  ; 
and  for  some  two  years  Abiel  followed  the 
shoemaker's  trade  until  he  died,  Aug.  25,  1834. 
A  short  time  previous  he  purchased  from  Sam- 
uel Nash,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Summit 
County,  122  acres  of  land,  and  most  of  this  is 
still  owned  by  his  decendants.  When  the 
Washburn  family  removed  to  this  land,  there 
were  only  two  log  houses  and  a  frame  building 
between  their  farm  and  Akron  :  what  is  now 
Wooster  avenue  was  laid  out  but  not  fenced. 
Abiel  and  Rebecca  Washburn  were  professors 
of  the  Swedenborgian  faith  ;  she  died  Aug.  9, 
1865  ;  they  were  the  parents  of  six  children — 
Cornelia  G.,  now  Mrs.  Albert  G.  J^allison,  of 
Akron ;  Lorinda,  a  resident  of  Sacramento. 
Cal.;  Leander,  of  Galesburg,  111.;  Keziah,  mar- 
ried Charles  Mallison,  and  died  about  seven 
years  since  ;  Rebecca,  now  Mrs.  John  Wilbur, 
of  California  ;  Daniel  B.,  of  Portage  Township, 
subject  of  this  sketch,  who  has  resided  upon 
his  present  farm  since  1834 ;  he  received  a 
knowledge  of  the  common  branches  in  the 
schools  of  Massachusetts  and  "York"  State, 
and  finally  "graduated"  at  a  log  cabin  school- 
house  in  Portage  Township.  He  was  married 
December  10,  1849,  to  Mrs.  Anna  M.  Adams, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Betsey  (Viers)  Adams. 
She  was  born  Sept.  15,  1818,  in  Richmond, 
Va.;  her  parents  died  when  she  was  young  and 
she  removed  to  Massachusetts  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Daniel  Adams,  and  by  him  had  four 
children — Louisa  Q.,  now  Mrs.  William  T. 
Babcock,  of  Akron ;  Delia  J.,  now  Mrs. 
Thomas  Thomas,  of  Sonoma  Co.,  Cal.;  Helen 
F.,  now  Mrs.  George  Bunker,  of  Portage 
Township  ;  Francis  B.,  now  of  Akron, 
Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  B.  Washburn 
are  the  parents  of  five  children — Winslow, 
now   at    home  ;  Alice,   now     Mrs.     Lycurgus 


822 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


Force,  of  Middlebury  ;  Julia,  now  Mrs.  Frank 
Sherbondy,  of  Portage  Township  ;  Addie  A. 
and  Anna  A.,  now  at  home.  Mr.  Washburn 
has  always  voted  the  Republican  ticket  since 
the  formation  of  that  part^',  previous  to  that 
time  he  was  a  Whig,  casting  his  vote  for  Will- 
iam Henry  Harrison  in  1840. 

GEORGE  H.  WISE  (deceased);  born  Nov. 
10,  1800,  in  Longstown,  Union  Co.,  Penn.,  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Seibald)  Wise, 
whose  children  were  John,  Jacob,  Henry,  Will- 
iam, George,  Christopher,  Daniel,  Mary  and 
Abram.  Henrj'  Wise  came  West  about  the 
year  1812  ;  John,  his  son,  served  in  the  war  of 
1812  ;  Henry  Wise  settled  in  Lake  Township 
when  the  country  was  new,  remaining  upon  the 
place  of  his  settlement  until  his  death,  which 
took  place  in  1839.  George  H.  was  raised  a 
farmer;  about  the  year  1820,  was  married  to 
Catharine  Wise,  who  was  born  May  11,  about 
the  year  1803,  daughter  of  David  and  Catharine 
(Denious)  Wise  ;  he  was  a  son  of  Frederick  and 
Catharine,  who  came  from  Germany  and  were 
sold  to  pa}'  their  passage.  The  parents  of 
3L-S.  Wise  came  West  when  she  was  but  9 
years  of  age,  settling  in  Stark  Co.,  where  they 
remained  until  their  death.  To  them  were 
born  Betsy,  Poll}-,  Catharine,  Barbara,  John, 
Sarah,  Nanc}'  and  David  ;  of  those  living  are 
David,  John  and  Mrs.  Wise.  For  a  time  after 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Wise,  he  located  in  Green- 
town,  where  he  kept  tavern  and  carried  on  the 
butchering  business  ;  was  a  carpenter  by  trade 
at  which  he  worked  in  the  early  part  of  his 
life.  In  1860.  came  to  the  township  and  pur- 
chased 349  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  lived 
until  his  death  which  occurred  Aug.  22,  1880  ; 
was  ftither  of  thirteen  children  who  wei-e  Jacob, 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Harriet.  Lydia,  Eliza,  Wash- 
ington, Jefferson,  Wesley,  Emma  J.,  Melissa  J., 
Washington  and  Nettie  D.  Wesley  was  born 
Nov.  1,  1838,  died  Dec.  25,  1862;  married  Cla- 
rissa Pryor,  born  in  October,  1843.  in  North- 
ampton, daughter  of  Samuel  S.,  and  Anra 
Everet.     The  Pryors  were  from  Vermont,  and 


the  Everets  from  Germany.  Mr.  Wise  has 
three  children — Mary,  Addie  and  Freddie  ; 
there  are  312  acres  in  the  estate. 

WILLIAM  ZELLER,  larmer;  P.  O.  Akron  ; 
was  born  in  Lake  Township,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio, 
Nov.  4,  1824 ;  son  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth 
(Hoover)  Zeller ;  Adam  was  born  about  the 
year  1789,  in  Union  Co.,  Penn.  The  Zeller  fam- 
ily' came  West  to  Stark  Co.  about  the  j-ear  181"), 
and  settled  in  Lake  Township  ;  he  first  bought 
80  acres,  upon  which  he  settled  ;  he  then 
moved  to  a  place  adjoining,  and,  finaljy.  located 
in  Greentown,  where  he  died  in  1853  ;  he  was 
highly  esteemed  in  the  community,  a  good 
Democrat  and  a  quiet  citizen  ;  his  wife  survived 
him  but  four  days.  Twelve  children  were  born 
to  them — Polly,  Joseph,  Daniel,  Benjamin, 
Sarah,  Anna,  Betsey,  Susan,  William,  Aaron, 
Robert  and  Jeremiah — ten  of  whom  came  to 
maturity  ;  those  living  are  Daniel,  in  Brimfield 
Township,  Portage  Co.;  William,  in  this  town- 
ship ;  Benjamin,  in  Cass  Co.,  Mich  ;  Elizabeth, 
married  Absalom  Shubert ;  Jeremiah,  in  same 
county  and  State.  Our  subject  remained  at 
home  until  1842  ;  he  learned  the  harness- 
maker's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  about  ten 
years.  On  Sept  2,  1847,  he  married  Sarah 
Wise,  who  was  born  May  16.  1825,  in  Stark  Co., 
daughter  of  George  H.  Wise,  who  was  an  early 
resident  of  Stark  Co;  after  Mr.  Zeller  was  mar- 
ried, he  lived  several  years  in  Greentown,  after- 
ward removing  to  Uniontown,  where  he  carried 
on  his  trade  and  was  engaged  in  butchering  ;  in 
1855,  he  moved  to  the  country,  where  he  farmed 
five  years  ;  in  1860,  he  moved  to  Portage  Town- 
ship and  located  where  he  now  I'esides,  pur- 
chasing 70  acres  of  land  (but  6  acres  improved), 
paying  $50  per  acre  ;  he  has  since  cleared  up 
his  farm  and  has  excellent  buildings  thereon  ; 
his  farm  is  situated  in  close  proximity  to  the 
city  of  Akron.  They  have  three  children — Al- 
mira  (Mrs.  B.  F.  Huffman),  Joseph  H.  and 
George.  Mr.  Zeller  is  a  Republican  in  senti- 
ment. His  brother  Aaron  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  late  war,  doing  his  duty  manfully. 


:/L 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


823 


HUDSON   TOWNSHIP. 


JOHN  BUSS  (deceased)  ;  was  born  in  Smar- 
den,  Kent  Co.,  England,  Sept.  28,  1811.  His 
father's  family  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1825,  and  settled  in  Sherman,  N.  Y.  Mr. 
Buss  resided  with  his  jDarents  until  his  18th 
3'ear,  when  he  entered  the  Mayville  Academ}^, 
afterward  "attending  school  at  Dunkirk,  N.  Y. 
In  1833,  he  came  to  Hudson,  intending  to  take 
a  full  college  course,  with  the  object  of  prepar- 
ing himself  for  the  ministry.  He  remained  in 
the  preparatory  department  for  two  years,  and 
entered  the  Freshman  class,  but  was  finally 
compelled  to  abandon  his  studies  on  account  of 
failing  health.  In  July,  1836,  he  entered  the 
store  of  Kent  &  Brewster  as  clerk,  remaining 
with  them  until  November,  1839,  when  he  went 
to  Columbia,  Mo.,  and  engaged  as  private  tutor 
in  the  family  of  a  Mr.  Allen  for  about  one  year, 
thence  to  Lake  Providence,  La.,  where  he  taught 
school  until  May,  1841,  when  he  returned  to 
Hudson,  Ohio.  In  September  of  that  year,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  E.  B.  Ellsworth,  in 
the  dry  goods  business,  in  which  he  continued 
about  three  years,  when  he  retired,  and  entered 
into  partnership  with  T.  M.  Bond,  in  the  store 
now  occupied  by  his  son.  About  three  years 
afterward,  Mr.  Bond  retired,  the  business  being 
continued  by  Mr.  Buss,  until  the  stock  was 
bought  by  Morrell  &  Ingersoll,  in  1856.  They 
were  in  business  about  two  3'ears,  when  Mr. 
Buss  necessarily  resumed  control  of  the  busi- 
ness again,  and  continued  until  1867.  Mr.  Buss 
has  served  the  people  of  Hudson  in  almost  their 
every  office.  He  held  the  office  of  Mayor  two 
terms,  being  elected  in  1858,  and  again  in  1871. 
He  was  Corporation  Treasurer  four  terms  ;  vvas 
member  of  the  Council  and  Trustee  for  many 
years,  and  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  twelve 
years.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Goodman, 
Jan.  1,  1845.  The}'  had  eight  children,  four  of 
whom  survive — Charles  H.  and  Mary  J.,  who 
reside  here  ;  Mrs.  C.  R.  Seymour,  of  Winchester, 
Mass.,  and  Fred  B.,  of  Chicago,  111.  Mr.  Buss 
eujoyed  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens,  which  was  won  b}'  his  strict  honesty 
and  unswerving  integrity.  His  remains  were 
laid  in  '•  God's  acre,"  on  Dec.  1,  1880.     On  the 


I  evening  of  his  death,  a  meeting  of  citizens 
adopted  resolutions  expressive  of  the  esteem  in 
which  Mr.  Buss  was  held,  and  their  sorrow  at 
'  his  demise.  All  places  of  public  business  were 
closed  as  the  funei'al  procession  passed  through 
the  village.  Charles  H.  Buss  became  familiar 
with  mercantile  business  bv  assisting  in  his 
father's  store.  He  attended  school  at  Western 
Reserve  College,  not  completing  a  full  college 
course.  In  1876,  he  and  Sebastian  Miller  pur- 
chased, in  partnership,  the  stock  of  his  father 
(John  Buss),  and  conducted  the  business  under 
the  firm  name  of  Buss  &  Miller.  Subsequently, 
Mr.  Miller  withdrew,  and  Mr.  Buss  has  since 
been  conducting  the  business  alone.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Squire,  Jan.  1,  1872. 
They  have  two  children,  viz.,  Augusta  M.  and 
John  C.  Mr.  Buss  was  elected  Corporation 
Treasurer,  which  office  he  has  held  two  years. 

HARVEY  BALDWIN,  deceased,  son'of  Ste- 
phen Baldwin,  was  born  in  Goshen,  Conn.,  Sept. 
17,  1798.  He  came  here  from  the  old  home 
when  16  years  of  age,  in  1814,  and  accepted  a 
clerkship  in  the  store  of  his  brother,  where  he 
remained  about  three  years.  On  Oct.  6,  1817, 
he  married  Miss  Anne  IMar^'"  Hudson,  daughter 
of  David  Hudson,  who  is  frequentl}-  mentioned 
elsewhere  in  the  history.  Mrs.  Baldwin  was 
born  Oct.  28, 1800,  and  was  the  first  white  child 
born  within  the  limits  of  Summit  Co.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Baldwin  turned  their  attention  to  farming 
and  preparing  for  themselves  a  home,  and  to 
that  end  the}'  moved  to  a  farm  some  few  miles 
from  the  site  of  Hudson,  where  the}'  remained 
about  three  years.  Mr.  Hudson  was  desirous 
to  have  them  reside  near  him,  and  therefore  he 
made  preparations  to  have  them  move,  which 
the}'  did,  coming  to  the  farm  where  Mrs.  Bald- 
win now  resides.  Of  their  four  children,  the 
wife  of  Prof  Edwin  S.  Gregory  is  the  onl}'  sur- 
vivor ;  those  deceased  are  Anna  N.,  who  died 
when  about  7  years  old  ;  Harriet  M.,  and  Lucj' 
S.,  the  youngest,  who  died  at  17.  Mr.  Baldwin 
vvas  identified  with  the  general  improvement  of 
the  vicinity  from  the  time  he  began  to  do  busi- 
ness. He  was  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
Western  Reserve  College  for  over  forty  years. 


K* 


824 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


He  remained  in  full  possession  of  his  faculties 
to  the  last,  and  passed  awa}'  peacefully  June  12, 
1880.  Mrs.  Baldwin  resides  on  tlie  old  home- 
stead, in  probably  the  oldest  residence  in  the 
county  ;  it  was  built  by  her  father  in  1806. 
She  is  possessed  of  extraordinary  vitality  for 
one  of  her  age,  and,  although  she  is  in  her  81st 
year,  she  is  as  attentive  to  the  duties  of  house- 
keeping as  ever.  She  is  the  onl}'  survivor  of  a 
family  of  seven  sons  and  two  daughters. 

F.  W.  BUNNELL  (deceased)  ;  was  born  in 
Waterbury,  Conn.,  July  6,  1820.  He  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade  in  his  native  place, 
and  when  about  21  years  of  age,  he  came  to 
Ohio,  locating  at  Hudson,  where  he  established 
himself  in  the  business  of  contracting  and 
building.  Among  the  buildings  erected  under 
his  direction  may  be  mentioned  the  Pentagon, 
the  M.  E.  Church,  and  some  of  the  best  resi- 
dences in  this  place,  two  churches  in  Twins- 
burg,  and  one  church  at  Ravenna.  These,  in 
addition  to  many  good  residences  throughout 
the  countr}^  are  monuments  of  his  workman- 
ship. He  married  Marie  Mansur  Jan.  12,  1845. 
She  was  born  in  Hudson  March  9,  1825,  and 
the  only  daughter  of  Perley  and  Phylene 
(Bearss)  Mansur.  Mr.  Bunnell  died  here  April 
24,  1875,  leaving  a  widow,  but  no  children. 
Mrs.  Bunnell's  father,  Perley  Mansur,  was  born 
in  New  Hampshire,  in  1800.  He  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade  in  Boston,  Mass.,  and,  in 
1823,  he  came  to  Ohio  and  stopped  with  his 
brother  who  had  located  in  Delaware,  Ohio. 
On  account  of  malarial  affections,  which  were 
then  prevalent  in  Delaware  and  vicinity,  Mr. 
Mansur  disliked  the  locality,  and  he  and  his 
wife  started  with  a  horse  and  wagon  for  the 
North,  hoping  to  find  a  more  desirable  location. 
On  their  wa}^  they  stopped  overnight  at  Hud- 
son with  David  Hudson,  who,  on  learning  that 
Mr.  Mansur  was  a  mechanic,  insisted  upon  his 
making  this  his  future  home,  as  there  was  much 
demand  for  the  labor  in  which  he  was  skilled  in 
the  then  gi'owing  town.  The  citizens,  being  in- 
terested, were  anxious  for  him  to  remain  here, 
and,  to  assure  him  of  their  zeal  in  the  matter, 
they  set  to  work  and  built  him  a  shop  on  Main 
street,  near  where  Mr.  Wadsworth's  present 
shop  is  located.  He  worked  at  his  trade  about 
nine  years,  when  he  moved  to  a  farm  which  he 
had  purchased  in  this  township.  He  engaged 
extensively  in  buying  and  soiling  cattle.  This 
business  he  followed  about  twenty  j'ears,  when 


he  retired  from  business,  and  moved  to  Hud- 
son, where  he  died,  in  1858,  in  his  58th  3'ear. 
His  widow  survived  him  until  1880,  when  she 
died  at  this  place  in  her  78th  year.  They  had 
two  sons—George,  of  Cumberland  Co.,  111.,  and 
James,  in  the  real-estate  business  at  Cleveland. 

THOMAS  BLACKBURN,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Hudson  ;  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England, 
Oct.  9,  1833.  When  about  25  years  of  age,  he 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  came  direct 
to  Summit  Co.,  Ohio ;  he  resided  in  Pennsyl- 
vania about  three  years.  He  enlisted  in  the 
1st  Ohio  Light  Artillery  Sept.  10,  1861,  and 
served  almost  four  years.  At  various  engage- 
ments he  had  two  horses  shot  on  which  he  was 
riding,  and  three  others  wounded,  but  fortu- 
nately escaped  witliout  being  injured  in  the 
least.  With  the  exception  of  two  weeks,  he 
was  never  off  of  duty  during  almost  four  years 
of  continuous  service.  The  regiment  in  which 
he  was,  opened  the  fight  and  closed  it  in  the 
battle  of  Murfreesboro,  which  lasted  seven 
days,  and  participated  two  days  in  the  contest 
at  Chickamauga ;  also  at  Shiloh,  Franklin, 
second  battle  of  Nashville  and  Perryville, 
Tenn.  In  the  latter,  their  regiment  lost  heavily 
— 18  men  killed,  42  wounded,  68  horses  were 
killed,  and  7  guns  were  taken  by  the  rebels. 
He  returned  to  Summit  County  after  his  dis- 
charge, and  April  10,  1866,  he  married  Han- 
nah Cowley,  daughter  of  Joseph  Cowley,  of 
Tallmadge.  They  have  three  children,  viz., 
Florence  J.,  Henry  J.  and  Lottie  H.  Mrs. 
Blackburn  was  born  in  England  and  came  to 
the  United  States  with  her  parents  when  she 
was  4  3'ears  old.  Mr.  Blackburn's  father  died 
in  England  ;  since  tlien  his  mother  emigrated 
to  this  country,  and  is  now  passing  her  declin- 
ing 3'ears  under  the  filial  care  of  her  son's 
famil3\  She  is  in  her  90th  year  and  is  very 
feeble. 

CHARLES  BOUTON,  hotel  and  livery, 
Hudson  ;  was  born  in  Lake  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  3, 
1829.  His  father,  Seth  Bouton,  came  at  an 
early  date  from  New  York,  and  settled  in  Lake 
County,  Ohio.  They  moved  to  Peninsula  in 
1836  ;  they  built  a  log  cabin,  a  Mr.  Beeres 
also  building  one  at  the  same  time  ;  these  con- 
stituted all  the  buildings  or  settlements  at  that 
time  between  Peninsula  and  Hudson.  Here 
the  Bouton  famil}'  lived  about  twelve  years, 
when  they  moved  to  Illinois,  and  where  Seth 
Bouton  now  lives  in  his  82d  year.     When  our 


*?t; 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


825 


subject  (Charles)  was  about  14  years  old,  he 
went  to  learn  the  boat-building  trade  with  one 
Waterman,  in  Peninsula,  where  many  canal- 
boats  were  built.  When  he  was  19  years  of 
age,  he  took  charge  of  the  boat-building  busi- 
ness for  Waterman,  and  remained  until  21 
3'ears  of  age,  when  he  concluded  to  go  to  Cali- 
fornia during  the  rush  to  the  gold  mines  of  that 
State,  where  he  worked  at  mining  for  about  two 
years,  and  met  with  reasonable  success  during 
his  sta^'.  Returning  to  Ohio,  he  resumed  his 
trade  at  Peninsula,  and  in  the  winter  would 
build  a  boat  and  run  it  during  the  summer, 
then  dispose  of  all  in  the  fall  of  the  year  ;  this 
he  followed  for  about  five  years.  In  1859,  he, 
in  companj^  with  Henry  Johnson,  purchased  a 
yard  and  dry-dock  and  conducted  the  boat-build- 
ing business  until  1873,  when  he  sold  out.  To 
Mr.  Bouton  belongs  the  credit  of  building  the 
first  round-stern  propeller  canal-boat  ever  in 
use,  and,  up  to  this  date,  he  built  the  last  boat 
that  has  been  built  in  Peninsula  in  1872. 
When  he  sold  out  in  1873,  he  came  to  Hudson, 
and  purchased  the  Mansion  House  property  in 
1874,  and  has  been  in  the  hotel  and  livery  bus- 
iness since.  He  has  been  twice  married,  first 
in  April,  1854,  to  Helen  A.  Johnson,  daughter 
of  Henr}^  Johnson,  of  Boston  Township  ;  she 
died  Ma}^  29, 1872.  leaving  three  children  :  Lillie 
B.,  now  wife  of  R.  K.  Pelton,  of  Cleveland  ; 
Lawson  and  Clarence.  His  second  marriage 
was  celebrated  with  Ada  D.  Crosley,  of  Cleve- 
land, in  April.  1874. 

WILLIAM  CHAMBERLAIN,  deceased. 
With  his  wife  and  several  children  (viz.,  Joseph, 
William,  Amos,  Reuben,  Samuel,  Philemon, 
Asahel,  Hiram,  Lucy,  Lydia  and  Mary)  emi- 
grated from  Connecticut  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in 
Hudson  Township,  in  1809.  One  daughter, 
Ann,  married  a  Mr.  Case,  and  located  at  Gran- 
ville, Ohio.  They  were  among  the  earl_y  pio- 
neers of  the  county,  and  applied  themselves  to 
clearing  the  land  and  making  general  improve- 
ments ;  bearing  the  many  privations  with  a 
determined  resolution  to  overcome  every  ob- 
stacle. Being  industrious,  the}'  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  material  prosperity.  All  except 
Hiram  have  long  since  mingled  their  dust  with 
that  of  mother  earth.  The  representatives  of 
the  family  still  in  this  vicinity  are  the  lineal 
descendants  of  Amos,  the  third  son  of  William. 
He  (Amos),  was  a  youth  of  about  IG  3'ears 
when  his  parents  came  here ;    he  took  jobs  of 


chopping  by  the  acre,  and  chopped  much  of  the 
timber  in  this  vicinity,  and  thereby  procured 
some  means  to  buy  a  piece  of  land  for  himself. 
He  married  Jerusha  Crane,  who  came  to  Ohio 
from  Connecticut,  at  an  early  date,  with  her 
parents.  They  had  ten  children,  nine  of  whom 
grew  up  to  maturity,  viz.,  Horace  A.,  Harris  B., 
Schuyler  M.,  Laura  M.,  Jerusha  A.,  Catharine 
R.,  Orville  W.,  Cordelia  M.  and  Henry  H.  Both 
Amos  and  his  wife  died  here,  at  an  advanced 
age. 

HARRIS  B.  CHAMBERLAIN  ;  P.  0.  Hud- 
son ;  was  born  May  20,  1819,  on  the  old  home- 
stead, in  this  township.  Having  been  reared 
to  farm  life,  he  began  in  the  same  pursuits,  and 
has  followed  the  same  all  his  lifetime.  His 
course  of  education  was  that  received  at  the 
common  schools.  In  October,  1850,  he  married 
Miss  Maria  Henry,  daughter  of  James  Henry, 
of  Aurora,  Ohio.  The}'  located  on  a  farm  in 
the  vicinity  of  his  early  home,  which  was  for- 
merly the  home  of  John  Brown,  of  Harper's 
Ferry  fame,  where  they  have  resided  ever  since. 
Their  union  was  blessed  with  three  children, 
viz.,  Eliza,  now  Mrs.  D.  C.  Bentley  ;  Ella,  now 
widow  of  Henry  Ellsworth,  and  Clara.  Mrs. 
Chamberlain  was  born  May  4, 1820,  in  Aurora; 
is  the  youngest  of  nine  children  born  to  James 
and  Sarah  (Cochrane)  Henry.  He  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  but  moved  to  Harpersfield,  N. 
Y.  ;  thence  with  his  wife  and  three  children  to 
Aurora,  Ohio,  in  1804.  They  were  the  third 
family  to  settle  in  that  place  ;  there  Mr.  Henry 
officiated  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  many 
years.  At  a  very  early  date  in  the  history  of 
Ohio,  his  wife's  father,  John  Cochrane,  located 
about  1,400  acres,  and  when  on  his  way  out 
with  his  family,  he  took  sick,  and  died  at  Buflalo, 
N.  Y.,  and  was  said  to  be  the  first  white  man 
to  die  at  that  place.  Of  James  Henry's  family, 
those  surviving  are  the  widow  of  F.  Booth,  of 
Twinsburg  ;  Harvey  H.,  of  Iowa  ;  Gilbert  H.,  of 
Emporia,  Kan.  ;  Mrs.  Blanchard,  of  Lyons, 
Mich.,  and  Mrs.  Chamberlin. 

SCHUYLER  M.  CHAMBERLIN,  farmer; 
P.  0.  Hudson  ;  was  the  third  son  born  to  Amos 
Chamberlin,  which  occurred  Nov.  3,  1821.  He 
received  a  fair  education  in  the  common  schools 
and  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  and  by 
care  and  industry  has  been  quite  successful. 
When  about  22  years  of  age,  he  married  ]\Iiss 
Jane  E.  Bliss.  They  began  on  a  farm  almost 
all  in  woods,  which   his  father  gave  him,   and 


826 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


which  he  improved,  making  a  comfortable  and 
pleasant  home.  They  have  three  children,  viz., 
R.  R.,  in  Hudson  ;  Geo.  S.,  in  Streetsboro  Cor- 
ners, and  Julia  B.,  now  Mrs.  Robert  White. 
Mrs.  Chamberlin's  parents  were  Josiah  and 
Sarah  (Cooley)  Bliss,  natives  of  Springfield, 
Mass.  Mr.  Bliss  died  in  Massachussetts,  leav- 
ing a  widow  and  four  children.  (3ne  of  them — 
Sarah  A. — remained  in  Massachussetts  ;  the 
three  other  children — William  B.,  George  J., 
and  Jane  P].,  now  Mrs.  Chamberlin — with  their 
mother,  emigrated  to  Ohio  in  1830.  Mrs. 
Bliss  died  in  x\urora.  Portage  Co.  Her  son, 
Geo.  J.,  is  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  in  the 
Methodist  Church  in  Cleveland  ;  William  B. 
enlisted  during  the  war  of  the  late  rebellion, 
and  was  seriously  wounded  at  the  second  battle 
of  Bull  Run,  and  after  lying  eight  days  on 
the  field  in  a  disabled  condition,  he  was  found 
alive  ;  he  died  soon  afterward  of  exhaustion. 

CARROLL  CUTLER,  President  of  the  West- 
ern Reserve  College,  Hudson  ;  was  born  Jan. 
3L  1829,  in  Windham,  N.  H.  He  was  the 
third  child  born  to  Rev.  Calvin  and  Rhoda 
(Little)  Cutler.  The  Rev.  Calvin  Cutler  was  a 
native  of  Vermont,  and  a  graduate  of  Dart- 
mouth College.  In  1822,  he  entered  the  min- 
istry under  the  auspices  of  the  Presbj^terian 
Church  in  New  Hampshire.  He  was  energetic 
in  establishing  schools,  and  liberal  in  their  sup- 
port whenever  dependent  on  private  subscrip- 
tion, thereby  providing  the  best  possible 
school  facilities  for  his  large  famil}-.  President 
Cutler  began  to  teach  school  when  about  17 
years  of  age  ;  and  at  18  years  he  entered  the 
Phillips  Academy,  at  Andover,  Mass.  In  1850, 
he  entered  Yale  College,  and  graduated  in 
1854.  At  the  close  of  his  collegiate  course  he 
taught  in  Bloomfield.  N.  J.,  one  ^'ear  ;  then  en- 
tered the  Union  Theological  Seminary  at  New 
York.  He  was  appointed  tutor  in  Yale  College 
in  1856,  where  he  remained  two  years.  Aug. 
10,  1858,  he  married  Miss  Francis  E.  Gallagher  ; 
they  went  to  Europe,  where  Mr.  Cutler  spent  a 
year  in  study,  and  traveling,  returning  to  New 
Jersey  in  1859,  and  in  April  of  the  following 
year  he  was  appointed  Professor  of  Mental 
Philosophy  and  Rhetoric,  in  the  Western  Re- 
serve College.  In  1871,  he  was  elected  Presi- 
dent of  the  College.  They  have  one  child,  Su- 
san Rhoda.  Mrs.  Cutler  was  born  at  Sackett's 
Harbor,  N.  Y.  in  1828.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  Capt.  J.  H.  Gallagher,  of  the  U.  S.  A.     He 


resigned  his  commission  in  the  army,  and  en- 
tered the  ministry  in  1838,  His  religious  views 
accorded  with  Presbyterianism  and  in  that 
faith  he  was  ordained,  and  preached  thirteen 
years  ;  when  on  account  of  failing  health  he 
was  obliged  to  withdraw  from  pastoral  duties. 

SIDNEY  COLLAR,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Hudson  ; 
was  born  in  Warren  Co.,  Vt.,  Aug.  2, 1808.  His 
father  (David  Collar)  was  a  carpenter  and  mill- 
wright by  trade,  and  when  our  subject  was 
about  5  years  old,  the  family  moved  from  Ver- 
mont to  New  York.  In  1820,  they  moved  to 
Ohio  with  a  family  of  fourteen  children,  and  in 
1826  they  located  in  Hudson  ;  but  his  father 
removed  to  Lorain  County,  where  he  died 
many  years  ago.  Sidney  was  the  second  child 
and  eldest  son  of  fifteen  children  (one  died  be- 
fore they  came  to  Ohio)  in  all  eight  boys  and 
seven  girls  ;  he  began  on  his  own  account  when 
about  19  3'ears  old.  He  married  Carolina 
Stone  Dec.  23,  1830  ;  she  was  the  daughter  of 
Nathaniel  Stone  who  came  here  in  1810.  Mrs. 
Collar  was  a  babe  onl}^  6  weeks  old  when  her 
parents  left  Connecticut.  Soon  after  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Collar  bought  33^^  acres  where  he 
made  a  comfortable  home,  which  he  finally' 
sold  and  removed  to  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives  in  1835  ;  and  on  which  he  has  lived  ever 
since.  It  was  all  heavy  timber  at  that  time, 
through  which  the  deer  fearlessly  ranged.  Mr. 
and  ^Irs.  Collar  had  three  children — Carolina 
L.,  who  was  married  to  Mr.  Draper,  and  is  de- 
ceased ;  Emeline  E.  was  wife  of  x\lph.  Stone, 
and  died  in  3Iichigan  ;  and  Sarah,  who  is  Mrs. 
S.  Griest,  who  resides  with  Mr.  Collar  and  has 
charge  of  the  farm.  Mr.  Griest  was  a  volunteer 
in  the  late  rebellion,  serving  in  Co.  E.  88th 
Ind.  V.  I.;  at  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned 
to  Ft.  Wa3'ne.  Ind.,  from  which  place  his 
regiment  came.  But  soon  after  the  close 
of  the  war  he  returned  to  his  native  place 
(Summit  Co.,  Ohio)  where  he  was  married  and 
resided  ever  since. 

M.  CHAPMAN,  farmer,  P.  0.  Hudson,  was 
born  in  this  township,  west  edge  of  Lot  84, 
Dec.  18,  1821,  son  of  John  and  Eliza  (Bassett) 
Chapman.  Mathew  was  the  eldest  of  a  family 
of  seven  children,  who  were,  Harriet,  Mary,  El- 
len. John,  Henry  and  Rufus.  Our  subject  was 
raised  to  farming  pursuits.  In  April  1849,  he 
was  married  to  Sarah  B.  Waite,  born  Sept.  25, 
1828,  in  Boston  Township,  daughter  of  Benja- 
min and   Sarah  Chapman,  whose  maiden  name 


*7t 


<S r- 


:i£ 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


827 


was  Kent.  The  above  were  earl}-  settlers  in 
Boston  Township.  With  the  exception  of  a 
few  years  of  his  early  married  life,  which  was 
spent  in  Boston  Township,  he  has  been  a  con- 
stant resident  of  this  township,  and  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  trading  ;  lias  280  acres  of 
land,  and  is  a  neat  and  successful  farmer  ;  has 
two  children — Emily  E.,  now  Mrs.  W.  Morse, 
of  Cleveland,  and  one  son,  William  H.,  on  home 
farm.  John  Chapman,  the  father  of  Mathew, 
was  born  in  England,  about  the  year  1788  ;  .at 
age  of  18  was  pressed  into  the  British  Nav}-, 
and  during  the  war  of  1812,  served  on  the  Hag- 
ship  Queen  Charlotte.  At  the  time  of  Perry's 
victoi-y  he  was  captured  by  the  Americans, 
taken  to  Chillocothe,  where  he  spent  one  win- 
ter, then  taken  to  Cleveland  and  exchanged. 
Shorth'  after,  he  came  to  this  locality  and  en- 
gaged as  a  farm  laborer;  saving  some  means,  he 
made  his  first  purchase  into  Wadsworth  Town- 
ship, Medina  County  ;  afterward,  traded  his 
farm  for  land  in  the  northwest  part  of  this 
township,  locating  there  about  the  3-ear  1829, 
where  he  died  Jan.  15,  18G6,  having  at  the  time 
150  acres  of  land.  He  and  wife  were  meml)ers 
of  the  Congregationalist  Church  ;  was  Demo- 
cratic in  sentiment  and  a  worthy  citizen  of  the 
community. 

LORA  CASE,  retired  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Hudson  ; 
was  born  in  Grranby,  Conn.,  Nov.  17,  1811. 
He  is  the  fifth  child  and  second  son  born  to 
Chaunce}'  and  Cleopatra  (Hayes)  Case,  who 
were  natives  of  Connecticut.  The\-  emigrated 
to  Ohio  with  their  five  children,  viz.,  Laura, 
Chauncey.  Clariuda,  Parintha  and  Lora.  They 
located  on  the  farm,  now  owned  by  Henry,  on 
July  4,  1814.  In  company  with  the  Case  fam- 
ily was  Gideon  Mills  and  wife  (the  latter  was  a 
sister  of  Mrs.  Case),  drove  through,  one  with  an 
ox  team,  and  Mr.  Case  with  a  team  of  horses. 
For  the  nourishment  of  their  children  on  the 
journey,  the}-  drove  along  a  milch  cow  ;  it  took 
them  six  weeks  to  drive  from  Connecticut  to 
Hudson.  Mills  and  his  wife  died  many  years 
ago  in  Hudson.  Suggestive  of  the  inconven- 
ience and  almost  impossibility  to  procure  some 
of  the  necessaries  in  pioneer  days,  we  refer  to 
a  trip  made  by  Mr.  Chauncey  Case  and  his  ox 
team  to  Cleveland  for  a  barrel  of  salt  for  him- 
self and  Dr.  Moses  Thompson,  and  for  which  he 
paid  in  cash  S22.  and  occupied  four  days  to  go 
and  return.  There  were  five  other  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Case  after  their  removal 


to  Ohio,  viz.,  p]dward,  Lucian,  Henry,  Amelia 
and  Maria.  The  ten  children  all  lived  to  ma- 
turitA'.  Laura  died  when  about  21  years  of 
age.  Chauncey  and  Lucian  reside  in  Macomb, 
111.;  Clarinda  was  the  Avife  of  Alvin  Loomis  ; 
she  died  in  Hudson  :  Parintha  married  Amos 
E.  Wood,  of  Wood  Co.,  Ohio,  both  deceased  ; 
Edward  moved  to  Troy,  Kan.,  where  he  died  ; 
Amelia  is  wife  of  Charles  Hunt,  of  Cuyahoga  ■ 
Falls  ;  Maria  is  widow  of  John  Gross,  of  Hud- 
son. When  Lora  was  about  25  years  old,  he 
began  for  himself.  He  married  Sarah  A., 
daughter  of  Thomas  Wright,  who  came  liere 
from  Connecticut  at  an  early  date.  May  10, 
1837.  They  located  in  Streetsboro.  Port- 
age Co..  and  in  1864,  they  removed  to  Hudson 
Township.  They  had  five  children,  three  lived 
to  maturity — Chauncey,  George  (deceased), 
Mary  E..  Julian  W.  (deceased)  and  Wilber  L. 
Mary  E.  is  now  Mrs.  S.  E.  Scott  formerly  of 
Mentor,  Lake  Co.,  and  who  has  entire  charge  of 
the  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Case  reside  with  Mr. 
Scott  in  their  ripening  years. 

HENRY  CASE,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Hud.son  ,  was 
the  son  of  Chauncey  and  Cleopatra  (Hayes) 
Case,  and  was  born  Oct.  30.  1817.  He  was 
brought  up  to  farm  life,  and  received  a  fair  ed- 
ucation in  the  primitive  schools  of  his  time. 
Oct.  29, 1847,  he  married  Mary  L.  Goodman.  She 
was  born  in  New  Hartford,  Conn..  Sept.  7.  1828. 
They  have  eight  children  living,  viz..  Nelson, 
Eugene,  Franklin  (deceased),  Eliza  (deceased), 
John.  Edmond,  Hattie,  Frederick,  Mary  and 
Clara.  His  father  is  mentioned  in  the  sketch 
of  Lora  Case,  and  date  of  emigration  to  this 
State.  They  succeeded  admirably,  considering 
the  man}-  privations  and  wants  of  a  numerous 
famil}'  of  helpless  children  in  the  primitive 
forest.  They  erected  their  commodious  brick 
residence  about  1832,  and  was  one  of  the  first 
if  not  the  only  brick  residence  in  the  county  at 
that  date.  The  old  folks  died  here  on  the  old 
homeste.^d  ;  he  in  1864,  in  his  85th  year,  aud 
she  in  1867.  in  her  87th  year. 

DARROW  FAMILIES,  Hudson,  of  this 
vicinity  are  the  lineal  descendants  of  Joseph 
and  Geoi-ge  Darrow.  who  were  natives  of  the 
State  of  ^e\Y  York  :  had  moved  into  Connecti- 
cut, and  thence  to  the  AVesterri  Reserve,  with 
the  emigrating  party  under  the  direction  of 
David  Hudson,  in  1800.  They  were  .yoiuig 
men.  respectively   about  25   and   23   years   of 

They  located  about 


^i' 


V 


M 


828 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


two  miles  south  of  Hudson  Center,  where  they 
built  and  made  general  improvements,  and 
soon  their  settlement  showed  signs  of  thrift 
and  prosperity.  And,  as  their  tamilies  multi- 
plied, they  generally  settled  in  the  same  vicinity, 
hence  the  name  "  Darrow  street,''  was  given  to 
the  road  leading  south  from  Hudson  through 
their  settlement.  A  younger  brother,  James, 
came  here  a  few  years  subsequent  to  the  first 
settlement,  but  remained  only  a  short  time, 
when  he  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Lebanon, 
and  joined  the  sect  known  as  the  ''  Shakers," 
where  he  died  several  years  ago.  Joseph,  mar- 
ried Sarah,  daughter  of  Simeon  Prior,  in  1803  ; 
they  had  thirteen  children  ;  two  died  in  child- 
hood, four  in  youth,  and  seven  lived  to  maturity, 
viz.:  Polly,  Lyman,  Abbey,  Sophia,  Julia, 
Sarah  A.  and  Charles.  Of  these  only  three  sur- 
vive— Lyman  in  Missouri ;  Julia,  at  Lebanon, 
Ohio,  and  Mrs.  Hial  Danforth,  of  this  place. 
Abbey  married  Ransom  Miller ;  they  moved  to 
Missouri,  where  she  died  ;  Polly,  was  widow  of 
John  Walker  and  died  here  (Sarah  A.  is  the 
deceased  wife  of  Dr.  H.  Danforth).  The  wife 
of  Joseph  Darrow  died  May  30,  1847  ;  he  sur- 
vived until  Nov.  13,  1856,  when  he  died  in  his 
82d  year, 

GrEORGE  Darrow  was  married  to  Olive, 
daughter  of  Joel  G-aylord — date  indefinite — 
but  not  later  than  1801  or  1802,  and  are  said 
to  be  the  first  couple  married  in  Hudson.  They 
reared  eight  children  to  maturity — four  boys 
and  four  girls ;  several  died  in  childhood. 
Eliza  was  married  three  times ;  first  to  Seth 
Fifield,  next  to  D.  Bates  and  last  to  Orin  Mc- 
Neal.  They  moved  to  Iowa  where  she  died  in 
1878.  David  was  twice  married,  his  fii'st  wife 
being  Sophia  Hawkins,  and  after  her  death  he 
married  Chloe  Hayden.  While  digging  a  well 
on  his  premises  in  1850,  he  met  with  a  sad  fate  ; 
he  had  begun  to  ''  wall"  it  up  when  the  banks 
caved  in  and  killed  him.  Amanda  was  wife  of 
David  O'Brien  ;  they  are  both  deceased.  Char- 
lotte was  wife  of  Homer  Oviatt,  and  died  in 
Hudson.  George  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade 
and  worked  on  the  old  homestead  for  some 
time.  He  moved  to  Texas,  thence  to  Iowa, 
where  he  enlisted  and  served  as  Drum  Major. 
He  died  in  hospital  of  disease  contracted  in 
the  service. 

Daniel  Darrow  was  born  Oct.  15,  1816,  on 
the  old  homestead  where  William  resides.  He 
got  a  fair  education  studying  for  a  term  in  the 


Preparatory^  Department  of  Western  Eeserve 
College,  and  one  term  at  Tallmadge.  When  18 
years  of  age,  he  began  teaching  school,  and 
taught  nine  winter  terms,  working  on  the  farm 
during  the  summer.  He  married  Elizabeth  A., 
daughter  of  William  Norton,  March  22,  1849. 
(She  was  born  near  Harrisburg,  Penn.,  Feb.  22, 
1828,  and  came  to  Ohio  with  her  parents  when 
quite  young.)  They  reared  four  children,  three 
of  whom  are  living,  viz. :  Celia,  wife  of  J.  A. 
Conaro  ;  Julia,  wife  of  Luther  B.  Wetmore  ;  and 
Irwin  D.  ;  he  married  Lottie  Moore. 

William  Darrow  was  born  where  he  re- 
sides, Oct.  12,  1818  ;  he  was  reared  to  farm 
life,  and  always  followed  the  pursuits  of  a  farmer. 
He  married  Harriet  E.  Deacon,  Dec.  15,  1842. 
(She  was  born  June  26, 1823,  in  Hudson.  Her 
father,  Henry  Deacon,  settled  here  in  1806.) 
They  had  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing— George  H..  La  Fayette,  William  M.,  and 
Mary,  now  wife  of  J.  Morris  ;  Emma  (deceased) 
was  wife  of  H.  D.  Nickerson ;  Olive  went  to 
Iowa  and  there  married  Thomas  McNeal.  Dur- 
ing the  war  of  1812,  George  Darrow  volun- 
teered his  services  and  rose  to  the  rank  of 
Colonel.  In  the  early  settlement  of  the  coun- 
tr}',  his  residence  was  turned  into  a  hotel,  where 
he  entertained  the  weary  travelers  and  teams- 
ters who  were  ever  passing  and  in  need  of  I'e- 
freshments.  His  wife  was  called  away  Aug. 
9.  1845,  but  he  survived  until  1860,  when  he 
died  at  a  good  old  age,  being  upward  of  80 
years. 

DANFORTH  FAMILY  ;  although  this  fam- 
ily cannot  be  considered  among  the  pioneers 
of  the  count}',  yet  they  were  early  settlers,  and 
those  who  remained  became  influential  and  re- 
spected citizens  in  the  community.  The  pro- 
genitor of  those  bearing  the  name  in  this 
vicinity  was  Enoch  Danforth,  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  who  in  due  time  married  Hannah 
Haines.  They  moved  from  their  native  place 
to  St.  Albans,  Vt.,  where  they  resided  several 
years,  when  they  resolved  to  emigrate  to  the 
west.  In  the  autumn  of  1821,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Danforth,  with  their  seven  children,  set  out  for 
Ohio,  and  in  November  of  that  year  they 
arrived  in  this  county,  and  located  on  what  is 
now  Darrow  Street,  in  Hudson  Township.  The}' 
had  been  here  less  than  two  years,  when  Mr. 
Danforth  concluded  to  remove  to  Illinois  ;  in 
the  meantime  their  eldest  daughter,  Sabrina, 
had   been    married  to  Hiram  Thompson,  and 


HUDSOj!^    township. 


829 


^ 


located  here.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Danforth,  with 
seven  children,  as  their  family  was  increased  by 
one  while  residing  here,  started  for  Illinois,  and 
got  as  far  as  Sandusky,  where  they  were  winter- 
bound  ;  there  they  made  provision  foe  spending 
the  winter,  expecting  to  resume  their  journey 
as  early  as  possible  in  the  spring.  But  in  this 
their  hopes  were  blighted,  as  sickness  assailed 
the  family,  and  death  removed  their  babe  ;  next 
the  grim  messenger  summoned  the  devoted 
husband  and  father,  leaving  a  widow  and  six 
helpless  children,  viz.  :  Hial,  Mary,  Lovina, 
Harrison,  William  and  Judy,  who  were  but 
meagerly  provided  for,  as  traveling  and  sick- 
ness had  exhausted  much  of  their  means.  Af- 
ter Mr.  Danforth's  death,  his  widow  and 
children  retraced  their  steps  to  Hudson.  To 
procure  the  means  of  support,  the  three  boys, 
though  mere  youths,  began  to  work  in  this 
vicinit\  — Hial,  with  one  John  Sawyer  ;  Har- 
rison, with  Capt.  Oviatt ;  William,  with  Horace 
Metcalf;  and  in  these  places  they  remained 
until  they  arrived  at  manhood  and  began  to  do 
for  themselves.  Mrs.  Danforth  and  three  daugh- 
ters returned  to  Vermont.  With  the  expecta- 
tion of  recuperating  his  failing  health,  William 
sailed  from  Boston  on  a  whaling  vessel  when 
about  22  3'ears  of  age  ;  but  died  in  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,  where  the  vessel  called.  Hial 
was  the  second  child  and  eldest  son  of  Enoch 
and  Hannah  Danforth  ;  he  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire,  June  8,  1808  ;  by  the  time  he  had 
arrived  at  manhood  he  had  learned  the  art  of 
boot  and  shoe  making,  with  Mr.  Sawyer,  with 
whom  he  resided  ;  he  opened  a  shop  on  Darrow 
street  and  began  business  on  his  own  account 
when  about  23  years  of  age,  and  was  soon 
afterward  joined  by  his  brother  :  they  conducted 
the  business  about  ten  years,  when  Hial  pur- 
chased a  small  farm,  to  which  he  has  added 
until  he  owns  120  acres  of  good  land,  which 
constitutes  a  good  home,  where  his  advanced 
years  are  passing  in  a  quiet,  retired  manner. 
He  married  Sophia,  daughter  of  Joseph  Dar- 
row, May  4,  1831  ;  they  had  five  children — 
Mary,  Milton  C,  Helen  (who  is  wife  of  Virgil 
T.  Miller),  Charles  and  Edmond  E.  Milton  C. 
and  Helen  are  the  only  survivers  of  their 
children.  Mrs.  Hial  Danforth  was  born  March 
31,  1810;  she  was  the  fourth  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren born  to  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Prior)  Darrow. 
DR.  HARRISON  DANFORTH,  physician, 
Hudson  ;  was  the  fifth  child  and  second  son 


born  to  Enoch  and  Hannah  (Haines)  Danforth, 
in  New  Hampshire,  April  15,  1814.  As  already 
stated  in  the  sketch  of  the  Danforth  famil}',  the 
Doctor  was  early  left  to  do  for  himself,  on  ac- 
count of  his  father's  death.  When  about  21 
years  of  age,  after  associating  himself  in  busi- 
ness with  his  brother  Hial,  his  ambition  was 
unassuaged.  Having  a  decided  inclination  for 
the  study  of  materia  medica,  he  entered  upon 
the  stud}'  of  medicine  with  a  zeal  worthy  of  the 
profession,  and  became  an  ardent  student  under 
Israel  K.  Town,  M.  D.,  of  Hudson.  After  some 
years  of  study  and  experience,  Dr.  Danforth 
diverged  to  some  extent  from  the  allopathic 
system  of  practice.  He  adopted  the  views  of 
the  electic  school,  and  has  practised  his  pro- 
fession for  a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years, 
in  this  vicinity,  with  more  than  ordinar}-  suc- 
cess. The  first  ten  3'ears  were  divided  between 
the  duties  of  his  business  and  profession.  But 
about  the  date  of  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion, 
he  sold  his  farm  and  has  since  given  his  whole 
attention  to  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  en- 
joys the  confidence  as  well  as  much  of  the  pat- 
ronage of  the  communit}'  in  which  he  has 
resided  for  the  last  sixty  years.  Space  forbids 
us  enlarging  on  the  struggles  and  temptations 
intervening  between  the  condition  of  the  poor 
boy,  without  even  parental  advice  and  the  de- 
sirable sphere  which  he  now  enjo3's.  He  married 
Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Joseph  Darrow,  Septem- 
ber, 1836  ;  to  them  were  born  six  children 
viz.,  Francisco  L.,  Lovina  A..  Mortimer  W., 
Theodore  C,  Edwin  H.  and  Clarence  E.  Mrs. 
Danforth  died  in  September,  1869.  The  Doc- 
tor married  a  second  wife,  Martha  Holton, 
Feb.  28,  1874.  In  1861,  Francisco  and  Mor- 
timer responded  to  the  first  call  for  soldiers, 
but  were  discharged,  the  requisite  number 
being  enrolled.  Mortimer  W.  re-enlisted  at 
the  second  call  in  Co.  Gr,  115th  0.  V.  I.,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  on  Dec.  4, 
1864  ;  stripped  of  all  his  valuable  effects,  in- 
cluding a  pair  of  good  boots,  and  marched 
barefoot  to  Meridian,  3Iiss.,  and  suffered  ter- 
ribly from  exposure,  his  feet  and  legs,  to  the 
knees  being  seriously  frozen.  He  was  trans- 
ferred to  Anderson vi He  in  March,  where  he  was 
imprisoned  when  the  war  closed.  Was  dis- 
charged at  Jacksonville. ^la.,  in  June,  1865,  and 
returned  home,  studied  medicine  with  his  father, 
and  graduated  at  Philadelphia  Medical  College, 


3:,50 


BlOGRArillCAL    SKETCHES: 


aud  is  now  practicing  in  Kent  Co.,  Midi. 
Clarence  E.  is  a  graduate  of  the  Columbus 
Medical  College,  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  also 
practicing  his  profession  in  Kent  Co..  Mich. 

HENRY  DEACON  (deceased)  ;  was  a  na- 
tive of  Lancaster,  Penn.,  born  about  the  year 
1795  ;  son  of  Marmaduke  and  Mary  (Car- 
ter) Deacon,  whose  offspring  were  Robert,  Bet- 
sy, William,  Henry  and  Jolin.  Marmaduke 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  son  of  Robert  Deacon. 
jMarmaduke  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
remained  until  his  removal  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Hudson  Township  in  1805,  where  he  purchased 
about  210  acres,  in  the  southwest  part  of  the 
tov/nship,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1832 — -that  of  his  wife  in  180G,  one 
^•ear  after  their  arrival  in  this  county.  Her 
death  was  occasioned  from  the  effects  of  a 
scare.  The  Indians  made  a  raid  upon  her, 
while  her  husband  was  gone  to  mill,  threatening 
to  scalp  her  if  she  did  not  reveal  the  supposed 
place  of  her  husband's  money.  Henry,  his 
son,  succeeded  him,  and  occupied  the  farm.  He 
was  maiTied  to  Elizabeth  Carter,  Feb.  14,  1821, 
and  by  her  had  seven  children,  whose  names 
were:  Mar}-  A.,  born  Dec.  25,  1821;  Harriet 
E.,  born  June  26,  1823;  William  C,  born  Jan. 
1(5, 1825  ;  Fannie,  born  Dec.  5,  1828  ;  Elizabeth, 
born  Oct.  9,  1830  ;  James,  born  June  14,  1833  ; 
Henry  H.,  born  June  17,  1839  ;  the  latter  be- 
ing the  sole  surviving  member  of  the  family. 
Henrj-  Deacon,  the  father  of  the  above,  died 
Feb.  12,  1877,  his  wife  two  days  later,  after  a 
life  companionship  of  fifty-six  3-ears.  They 
were  both  buried  in  one  grave.  Mr.  Deacon 
was  an  industrious  and  successful  farmer,  a 
man  of  quiet  and  unpretentious  disposition, 
who  always  remained  at  home  and  attended  to 
his  own  personal  affairs  ;  was  always  vigorous 
and  health}-,  and,  up  to  the  time  of  his  sickness, 
was  never  sick  a  day  in  his  life.  Although  liv- 
ing man}-  years  near  a  railroad,  never  was  in  a 
coach  or  rode  in  one.  His  son,  Henry  H.,  now 
owns  and  runs  the  farm  ;  has  never  married. 

JOHN  DEACON,  retired  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Hud- 
son. One  among  the  oldest  living  pioneers  of 
this  township  is  the  above,  who  was  born  in 
Lancaster,  Penn.,  Nov.  28,  1802,  and  came  out 
with  his  father,  Marmaduke,  in  1805,  and  for 
three-quarters  of  a  century  has  remained  con- 
stantly on  the  farm  his  father  located  on.  April 
5,  1832,  was  wedded  to  Julia  Ann  E.  Law- 
rence,   who  was  born   May  23,   1813,  in   Cin- 


cinnati. Her  parents  were  Martin  C.  and  Sub- 
rait  (GriflSn)  Lawrence.  He  was  born  in  Dutch- 
ess Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  20,  1793.  He  was  a  son 
of  Chauncey  and  Sallie  H.  (Clark)  Lawrence, 
who  were  borh  Sept.  25,  1767,  and  Sept.  19, 
1769,  respectively,  and  were  blessed  with  fifteen 
children.  Chauncey's  father  was  Uriah,  who 
was  born  Dec.  25,  1720  ;  married  Aug.  13, 1743, 
to  Mary  Clark,  who  was  born  Jan.  15,  1725. 
The  Lawrence  family  trace  their  ancestry  to 
one  Robert  Lawrence,  of  Lancastershire.  En- 
gland, born  in  Rome.  1150.  He  was  an  officer 
attending  his  sovereign,  Richard  I,  and  for 
meritorious  conduct  was  knighted  Sir  Robert 
Lawrence.  There  is  an  estate  now  of  over  $100.- 
000,000,  consisting  of  real  estate  and  money 
in  the  Bank  of  England,  now  awaiting  the  proof 
of  title  to  ownership,  of  which  Mrs.  Deacon  is 
an  heir.  John  Lawrence  (the  great-great- 
grandfather of  Mrs.  Deacon)  married  Mary 
Townly,  daughter  of  Lord  Richard,  whose  wife 
was  Mary  Widrington.  Both  of  the  above  had 
estates  which  were  willed  to  their  heirs,  of 
which  heirs  are  those  of  Mary  (Townly)  Law- 
rence. Mrs.  Deacon  came  West  to  Ohio  with 
her  parents  in  1818,  who  located  in  this  town- 
ship. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deacon  have  been  l)orn 
eleven  childi'en,  ten  living  :  Horace,  John  W., 
David,  Emily,  Cyrus  B.,  Edmond  W.,  Lucinda 
E.,  Lewis,  Frederick  B.,  Louisa  M.,  Caroline  M., 
deceased.  Mrs.  Deacon  has  been  a  member  of 
the  church  since  15  years  of  age.  On  account 
of  the  feeble  health  of  Mr.  Deacon,  the  care 
and  management  of  the  farm  has  fallen  upon 
his  wife,  who  conducts  it  successfully. 

EDWIN  DEWEY,  retired  farmer;  P.  0. 
Hudson;  was  the  son  of  Stephen  and  Percy 
(Mosley)  Dewey,  of  Westfield,  Mass.,  where  he 
was  born  Sept.  17,  1795  ;  he  moved  into  the 
State  of  New  York,  and,  when  about  22  years 
of  age,  he,  with  several  others,  moved  to  Ohio 
and  settled  in  Portage  Co.,  where  he  farmed 
for  several  years  alone,  then  returned  to  Mas- 
sachusetts and  brought  his  parents  and  several 
younger  children  along  with  him  to  Ohio.  Hav- 
ing learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  in  Massachu- 
chusetts,  he  applied  himself  to  the  same  for 
several  years  in  Portage  Co.,  in  connection  with 
his- farming.  He  has  been  married  three  times 
— -first,  to  Eva  Haymaker,  May  7,  1820  ;  she 
died  in  April,  1825,  leaving  three  children — 
Charles,  Electa  (wife  of  John  Beckwith)  and 
Eva  (widow-  of  A.  Hackett)  ;  his  second  mar- 


-^ 


HUDSON    TOAVNSHIP. 


831 


riage  was  celebrated  Sept.  11,  1826,  with  Ann 
Spears  ;  she  died  Jan.  3,  1868,  leaving  one 
child — Isaac  ;  his  present  wife  was  Eliza,  a 
daughter  of  Ehsha  Perkins,  foi-merl}-  of  New 
York,  but  moved  to  this  county  and  settled  in 
Northampton  Township  at  an  early  date.  Mr. 
Dewe}'  removed  from  his  farm  in  Portage  Co. 
to  Darrow  Sti-eet  in  Hudson,  in  1864,  where 
he  spends  his  advanced  years  in  the  enjoyment 
of  a  pleasant  home. 

JAMES  DITTY,  tinner  and  hardware  mer- 
chant, Hudson  ;  was  born  in  Toronto,  Canada, 
Feb.  2,  1849  ;  his  parents  were  Sanderson  and 
Ann  (Foster)  Ditt}^  who  emigrated  from  the 
north  of  Ireland  to  Canada  in  1841  ;  his  father 
died  when  James  was  about  5  3-ears  old,  leav- 
ing a  widow  and  a  large  family.  When  about 
15  years  of  age,  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  tin- 
ner's trade,  in  Toronto,  continuing  for  five 
years  ;  he  worked  at  journej'-work  there  for 
some  time,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1868,  he  came 
to  Cleveland,  where  he  worked  two  years  ;  in 
1870,  he  came  to  Hudson  and  worked  for  J.  L. 
Chapman  two  years,  and  afterward  eight  years 
for  John  N.  Farrar  ;  in  January,  1881,  he  pur- 
chased the  tin  and  hardware  stock  of  J.  L. 
Chapman,  and,  from  a  business  point  of  view,  is 
beginning  a  new  era  in  his  affairs.  He  married 
Sarah  A.  Hussey,  of  Toronto,  Canada,  January, 
1867  ;  they  have  five  children — Lillian,  Walter, 
Annie  M.,  Ralph  and  James  S.  Mr.  Ditty  is 
establishing  a  good  trade,  and  carries  an  assort- 
ment of  general  hardware  and  stoves. 

PHILLIP  FILLIUS  (deceased);  was  born 
in  Bavaria,  Germany,  April  6,  1806.  He 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1833,  and 
located  at  Cleveland,  where  he  iv.mained 
four  years.  He  married  Anna  Barbara  Keis, 
in  1837,  and  soon  after  moved  to  a  farm 
in  Hudson  Township.  Summit  Co.  Here  they 
resided,  and  reared  a  family  of  nine  children, 
viz.,  Catharine,  wife  of  James  Corbett,  of 
Missouri ;  Lizzie,  wife  of  John  Thomas,  of  In- 
diana ;  John,  Phillip  and  Jacob  are  residing  in 
Georgetown,  Colo.,  the  latter  a  member  of  the 
bar  of  that  town,  John,  being  interested  in 
mines  there.  Josephine  is  wife  of  x\lexander 
Nesbitt,  of  Northfield  Township  ;  Ella,  wife  of 
Perry  Sherman,  of  Michigan  ;  (jharles,  member 
of  the  bar  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  and  Ernest,  who 
resides  on  the  farm.  Mrs.  Fillius  was  born  in 
Wurtemberg,  German}',  Aug.  15,  1817,  and 
came  here  with   her   parents,  who  emigrated 


early  in  April,  1831,  and  arrived  in  Cleveland 
in  August  of  the  same  year,  after  four  months' 
traveling,  almost  weary  of  life  itself.  Her  fa- 
ther's name  was  Frederick  Keis.  There  were 
of  them  six  children,  five  girls  and  one  boy. 
Mr.  Fillius  died  on  his  farm,  where  he  first  lo- 
cated in  Hudson,  June  14,  1878.  Ernest  was 
born  May  20,  1856.  He  married  Irene  Carson, 
daughter  of  David  Carson,  formerly  of  Penn- 
sylvania, now  of  Michigan,  Aug.  17, 1880.  They 
reside  with  his  widowed  mother,  and  is  the  only 
one  of  the  family  now  with  her. 

PROF.  E.  S.  GREGORY,  retired,  Hudson ; 
was  bori?  in  Fleming,  N.  Y.,  April  20,  1828. 
His  father,  William  Gregory',  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  and  was  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  died,  leaving  four  children,  viz.,  William, 
Eben,  Munson  and  Marie.  In  1 829,  Mr.  William 
Gregory  walked  to  this  State  on  a  prospecting 
tour,  traveling  to  Cleveland,  which  was  then  a 
mere  hamlet ;  thence  to  Hudson  ;  thence  west- 
ward about  seventy-five  miles,  where  he  pur- 
chased, of  a  settler,  204  acres  of  land,  having 
some  trifling  improvements  and  a  log  cabin,  for 
the  sum  of  $1,100.  He  returned  to  New  York 
for  his  family,  which  consisted  of  his  four  eldest 
children,  second  wife  and  two  babies,  E.  S.  and 
Lydia.  They  came  by  canal  to  Buffalo,  thence 
by  lake  to  Huron,  thence  by  wagon  to  their 
new  home  in  the  almost  unbroken  forest,  in  1830. 
Harmon,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  born 
after  they  came  to  this  State.  Mr.  Gregory 
prospered  in  his  new  home,  and,  by  dint  of  in- 
dustry, made  the  forest  give  place  to  the  fields 
of  grain.  Both  himself  and  wife  are  now  de- 
ceased, he  dying  in  1868,  and  she  in  1879.  Prof 
E.  S.  Gregory  was  the  eldest  child  of  his  father's 
second  marriage,  and  was  only  about  2  years 
old  when  brought  here  by  his  parents.  His 
early  life  was  that  customary  to  farmer  boys, 
until  he  was  about  16  years  of  age,  when  he 
began  teaching  school.  A  year  later,  he  entered 
Baldwin  University,  near  Cleveland,  remaining 
for  some  time.  He  entered  the  Preparatory 
Department  of  the  Western  Reserve  College  in 
the  spring  and  fall  terms  of  1847,  and  taught 
school  during  the  winter  months.  He  entered 
the  Western  Reserve  College  in  1848,  remain- 
ing three  years,  when  he  entered  Harvard  Col- 
lege, where  he  graduated  in  1852.  He  accepted 
the  superintendency  of  the  public  schools  of 
Monroeville  for  one  year  ;  thence  to  the  Western 
Reserve   College   at   Hudson   as  Principal   of 


"IV 


832 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Preparatory  Department,  which  position  he  held 
seven  years.  He  was  appointed  Assistant  Pro- 
fessor of  Latin,  and  served  as  such  in  the  West- 
ern Reserve  College  from  1860  until  he  resigned 
six  years  later.  He  moved  to  Youngs  town, 
and  was  appointed  First  Principal  of  the  Payen 
High  School,  which  position  he  retained  for 
thirteen  years.  While  there,  he  spent  much 
labor  and  time  in  analytical  chemistry,  which 
has  been  his  stud}-  for  some  time.  He  married 
Clara  M.  Baldwin,  July  28,  1852,  she  being  the 
only  surviving  daughter  of  Harvey  Baldwin. 
They  have  two  children — Hattie  M.  and  Anna. 

CHARLES  a.  CxUILFORD,  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Hudson  Enterprise,  was  born  in 
Lanesboro,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  in  October, 
1834.  Served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  print- 
ing business  in  the  office  of  the  Berkshire 
County  Eagle^  in  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  from  1848  to 
1852.  In  the  fall  of  the  latter  year  came  to 
Ohio,  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Cleveland 
Herald.  In  1854,  went  to  Waterbur}^,  Conn., 
where  for  six  months  was  one  of  the  publishers 
of  the  Ncmgatuclx  Valley  Democrat  (a  semi- weekly 
paper.)  Disposing  of  his  interest  in  the  Bemejcra't, 
Mr.  Guilford  returned  to  Ohio  and  again  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Cleveland  Herald,  remaining 
therein  various  capacities  until  the  breaking-out 
of  the  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  Battery  B,  1st 
0.  V.  L.  A.,  Capt.  Stondart,  serving  during  the 
entire  war,  at  the  close  of  which  he  resumed 
his  position  on  the  Heredd.  In  April,  1875,  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  Hudson,  and  two 
years  later,  May  1,  1876,  he  purchased  the 
Hudson  Enterprise,  at  that  time  a  little  ama- 
teur sheet,  unknown  outside  of  the  village 
where  published.  Entering  with  his  whole 
heart  into  the  work  of  building  up  the  paper, 
Mr.  Guilford  has  succeeded  in  making  the  En- 
terprise a  journal  suitable  to  Hudson  and  the 
county.  He  has  a  pleasant  little  farm  of  20 
acres  about  a  mile  east  of  the  village  where  he 
resides.  It  is  located  on  a  ridge,  said  to  be  the 
highest  point  of  land  in  the  county,  and  from 
which  can  be  obtained  a  view  of  four  of  the 
surrounding  villages. 

REV.  HENRY  B.  HOSFORD,  retired  min- 
ister, Hudson ;  was  born  in  Williamstown, 
Mass.,  Dec.  17,  1817.  He  was  the  son  of 
Stephen  and  Annie  (Brown)  Hosford,  who  were 
natives  of  Massachusetts.  His  father  was  a 
merchant  and  manufacturer  in  Williamstown. 
Our  subject  entered  Williams  College  in  1839, 


and  graduated  in  1843.  When  his  collegiate 
course  was  finished,  he  taught  in  the  Hopkins 
Academy  for  one  year,  and  then  returned  to 
Williams  College,  where  he  taught  four  years. 
During  these  four  years,  he  studied  theology 
privately,  and,  in  1839,  he  was  ordained  a  minis- 
ter of  the  Congregational  Church,  at  Jordan, 
New  York.  He  returned  to  Massachusetts  in 
1850,  and  had  charge  of  the  congregation  at 
Sunderland  until  1853  ;  that  summer  he  filled 
the  place  in  Williams  College  left  vacant  by 
the  Professor  of  Mathematics,  who  had  taken  a 
vacation.  In  January,  1854,  he  was  appointed 
Professor  of  Intellectual  Philosophy  and  Rhet- 
oric in  the  Western  Reserve  College  at  Hudson, 
which  position  he  resigned  six  years  afterward. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  Sanitary  Commission 
at  Chattanooga  and  Nashville,  Tenn.,  during  the 
two  last  years  of  the  war.  On  his  return  from 
the  South,  he  resumed  his  ministerial  labors  in 
the  neighboring  churches  which  extended  to 
Akron,  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Hudson,  Kent,  Roots- 
town,  Atwater,  Twinsburg  and  Streetsboro ; 
and  frequently  preached  at  other  places.  He 
married  Miss  Mar}'  E.,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Plant,  of  New  Hartford,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  3,  1850. 
Mrs.  Hosford  was  born  June  17,  1824.  They 
have  seven  children  viz.,  Sarah  A.,  wife  of  Rev. 
John  P.  Jones,  now  a  missionary  in  South 
India  ;  Frances  J.,  ^lary  E.,  Harriet  M.,  wife 
of  Chas.  W.  Foote,  of  Akron  ;  Henry  H.,  Helen 
P.  and  Daniel  M.  Mr.  Hosford  conducted  the 
Female  Seminar}^  in  Hudson  during  the  school 
term  of  1874-75.  Since  failing  health  has 
compelled  his  I'etirement  from  active  life,  he 
attends  to  insurance  at  his  home,  representing 
five  substantial  companies. 

S.  E.  JUDD,  real  estate  and  insurance,  Hud- 
son ;  was  born  in  Watertown,  Conn.,  June  13, 
1813.  His  ancestors  were  a  people  of  remark- 
able longevity,  and  were  early  settlers  of  that 
State.  His  great-grandfather  purchased  from 
some  Indians  the  title  to  some  property  in  the 
early  settlement  of  the  colony,  which  is  owned 
by  representatives  of  the  family  to  this  day. 
His  father's  parents  were  the  first  settlers  of 
Watertown,  Conn.,  his  grandmother  being  the 
first  child  baptized  b}-  the  first  resident  minister, 
in  1739.  She  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  100 
years.  Mr.  S.  E.  Judd  was  the  son  of  Eleazer 
and  Lj'dia  (Brownsou)  Judd.  He  was  engaged 
extensively  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of 
clocks   for   several  years.      He   was    married 


.3 


l2L 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


833 


April  6,  1830,  to  Mar}- L.  Strong,  who  was  born 
April  19,  1811,  in  Connecticut.  In  Jul}^,  1851, 
they  emigrated  to  Hudson,  Ohio,  where  he  en- 
tei'ed  into  the  real  estate  and  insurance  busi- 
ness, and,  although  not  an  earl}'  pioneer  of  the 
place,  he  has  been  identified  with  some  of  its 
public  improvements.  He  has  been  twice  elect- 
ed Ma3or  of  Hudson.  In  1871,  they  removed 
to  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  but  returned  to  Hudson  in 
1873.  Their  only  child.  Jennie  S.,  is  the  wife 
of  Dr.  F.  Hodge.  Mr.  Judd  visited  his  native 
town,  and  participated  in  the  one  hundredth  an- 
niversary of  its  incorportion  on  June  17,  1880. 
The  insurance  companies  represented  by  him  are 
the  ^Etna,  North  American,  Manhattan  of  New 
York,  Niagara  of  New  York,  Watertown  of  Wa- 
tertown,  N.  Y.,  Lancashire  Insurance  Co.  of 
England,  Ashland  County  Mutual,  of  Ashland, 
Ohio,  and  the  ^I<]tna  Life  of  Hartford,  Conn. 

LTTTHER  F.  KILBOURNE,  farmer ;  P.  0. 
Hudson  ;  is  the  second  son  of  Justin  E.  and 
Mar}'  A.  (Fitch)  Kilbourne,  and  the  only  survi- 
vor of  the  family.  He  was  born  where  he  re- 
sides, March  20,  1842.  His  business  has 
always  been  that  of  a  farmer,  except  four  years, 
when  he  was  appointed  Guard  at  the  Ohio  State 
Penitentiary,  at  Columbus.  He  returned  to 
Hudson  and  took  charge  of  the  farm.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  A.  Briggaman  July  2,  1873.  They 
have  two  children  living,  Francis  H.  and  Cor- 
nelia E.  His  grandfather,  George  Kilbourne, 
was  born  in  Berlin,  Conn.,  Nov.  19,  1769. 
When  26  years  old.  he  married  Almira  "Wilcox, 
of  Simsbury.  After  residing  in  Farmington 
and  Goshen  for  about  ten  years,  he  joined  the 
emigrant  party  which  was  induced  to  come 
hither  by  David  Hudson.  Mr.  Kilbourne  traded 
his  property  in  Goshen  to  Birdsey  Norton,  and 
in  part  payment  took  land  in  Hudson  Town- 
ship. The  party  left  Goshen,  Conn.,  Sept.  1, 
1801,  their  teams  being  all  ox  teams  except 
one.  Mr.  Kilbourne  was  obliged  to  buy  a  horse 
by  the  way  to  assist  his  oxen,  in  consequence  of 
the  warm  weather  and  hilly  country.  They 
proceeded  nicely,  their  course  being  thi'ough 
Beading  to  Womelsdoi'f,  thence  via  Lebanon, 
Harrisburg.  Carlisle.  Shippensburg  and  Stras- 
burg,  where  they  came  to  the  mountain  called 
the  "  Three  Brothers,"  a  part  of  the  Allghanies  ; 
after  three  days  hard  work  they  got  over  ;  but 
two  days  later  they  began  climbing  the  hills 
again,  when  their  horse  tired  out.  and  they  sold 
him  to  a  widow  who  lived  there  for  one  loaf  of 


bread.  They  pushed  on  with  a  single  yoke  of 
oxen  until  they  were  almost  exhausted,  when  a 
stranger  passed  with  an  ox  team  which  he 
offered  for  sale.  Mr.  Kilbourne  bought  them, 
paying  in  part  some  boots  and  shoes  which  was 
part  of  his  load.  They  came  on  through  Bed- 
ford, Somerset,  and  so  on  to  Pittsburgh.  They 
crossed  the  Ohio  about  ten  miles  below  Beaver  ; 
from  there  they  proceeded  to  Griersburg,  and 
so  on  until  they  struck  the  southeast  township 
of  the  Western  Reserve,  where  they  found  many 
old  acquaintances  from  Connecticut  who  lent 
them  a  helping  hand  as  they  passed  through. 
When  they  came  to  Ravenna,  Mr.  Kilbourne  sold 
his  wagon  for  a  cow^  and  some  grain  to  support 
him  through  the  winter,  and  on  the  sixtieth 
day  of  their  journey  they  an*ived  in  Hudson. 
Mr.  Kilbourne  stopped  with  Mr.  Bishop  until  he 
got  a  cabin  built.  In  the  course  of  two  years, 
Mr.  Kilbourne  had  cleared  about  25  or  30  acres 
of  land,  when,  in  the  spring  of  1803,  unfortu- 
nately, he  got  his  thigh  broken  by  a  piece  of 
timber  falling  on  him  while  assisting  to  raise  a 
building.  This  together  with  ague  disabled 
him  from  doing  any  farm  work  for  two  years. 
With  the  help  of  the  oldest  boy,  who  was  7 
years  old,  his  wife  was  obliged  to  cultivate  the 
land  and  attend  to  domestic  affairs  as  well.  By 
her  untiring  energy,  she  succeed  in  supporting 
the  family  until  1805.  when  he  found  it  neces- 
sary to  sell  the  farm  and  resume  his  trade, 
which  was  tanning  and  shoemaking.  To  this 
end  he  moved  to  Newburg,  it  being  an  old 
settlement.  Remained  there  three  and  a  half 
years,  when,  by  the  persuasion  of  Rev.  David 
Beacon,  he  moved  to  Tallmadge,  where  he  re- 
sided nine  years,  cleared  a  farm,  and  was  pre- 
pared to  live  comfortable  during  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  His  son-in-law,  Capt.  Oviatt,  in- 
duced him  to  return  to  Hudson,  where  he  died 
March  14,  1865,  in  his  97th  year.  His  noble 
wife  had  preceded  him  in  death  Dec.  19,  1859, 
in  her  8Sth  year.  They  reared  six  children — 
Sophia,  Asahel,  George,  Timothy  E.,  Eliza  and 
Justin  E.  Justin  E.  married  3Iary  Amanda, 
daughter  of  Col.  Fitch.  They  were  the  parents 
of  Luther  L.  Mrs.  Justin  Kilbourne  died  3Iarch 
20,  1876,  and  he  in  Nov.  16,  1880. 

M.  A.  LLTSK,  retired  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Hudson  ; 
born  June  2,  1803,  on  Lot  77,  in  this  township, 
having  been  a  resident  of  the  township  well- 
nigh  fourscore  years,  and  is  the  oldest  living 
resident.     His   father  was  Capt.  Amos   Lusk, 


^ 


834 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


who  commanded  a  company  during  the  war  of 

1812,  and   died  the   year  following,  May  24, 

1813,  aged  40  years.  He  came  to  this  town- 
ship in  1801,  when  it  was  an  unbroken  wilder- 
ness. His  wife  was  Mary  Adams,  who  was 
born  in  Stockbridge,  Conn.,  May  15,  1768,  a 
daughter  of  John  Adams,  who  was  a  cousin  of 
John  Quincy  Adams,  who  graced  the  Presiden- 
tial chair.  Mar}'  (Adams)  Lusk,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  died  Jan.  20,  1843.  She  was  the 
mother  of  nine  children,  among  whom  was  Di- 
anthe,  who  was  born  June  12,  1801.  June  21, 
1820,  she  married  John  Brown,  of  Osawato- 
mie,  Kansas,  and  Harper's  Ferry  fame,  and  by 
him  had  live  children,  viz.,  John,  Jason,  Ruth, 
Owen  and  Frederic.  Our  subject  was  left 
fatherless  at  the  age  of  10.  Learning  the  hat- 
ter's trade,  he  followed  this  vocation  for  several 
3'ears.  At  the  age  of  23.  he  married  Dcnc}- 
Preston,  born  in  Canton,  Mass.;  she  died  of  con- 
sumption ;  by  her  he  had  Henry,  Loring, 
Charles,  Lucy  and  Amos.  Loring  was  killed 
b\"  cars  running  over  him — was  a  brakeman. 
March  31,  1843,  married  Mrs.  Sallie  Secoy, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Post.  She  was  born 
Sept.  14,  1815,  in  Westbrook,  Conn.,  daughter 
of  Joshua  and  MoUie  (Dee)  Post,  to  whom 
were  born  thirteen  children,  Mrs.  Lusk  being 
the  eleventh  daughter.  All  of  the  children 
lived  to  be  over  CO  years  of  age,  with  one  ex- 
ception. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lusk  have  one  daughter 
only,  Dency,  who  married  Henry  Pettengill. 
Mr.  Lusk  has  an  adopted  daughter,  Eva,  who 
has  lived  with  them  since  2  years  of  age.  Mrs. 
Lusk's  first  husband  was  Chester  Secoy ^  by 
whom  she  had  four  children — Lester,  Julitte, 
Mary  and  Pickney.  Charles  served  four  years 
in  the  late  war,  member  of  2d  0.  V.  C.  He 
had  two  horses  killed  under  him.  Amos  and 
Charles  Lusk  also  wore  the  "blue."  Mr.  Lusk 
has  not  been  a  member  of  a  church  since  1835. 
Mr.  Lusk  has  for  several  years  been  retired 
from  farming. 

M.  MESSFR  (retired)  Hudson  ;  was  born  in 
Orwell,  Vt.,  June  25,  1803.  He  was  taught  in 
youth  the  advantages  of  farm  life,  and,  with 
a  view  to  locating  on  Western  land,  he  set  out 
on  a  prospecting  tour  through  Ohio,  in  May, 
1828.  He  traveled  over  the  territory  now  em- 
braced in  Trumbull,  Portage  and  Summit  Cos.; 
thence  to  Cleveland,  which  he  remembers  as  a 
then  mere  hamlet  with  onl}-  about  four  two- 
story  buildings   in   the    place.     He  finally  se- 


lected and  purchased  225  acres  on  which  there 
were  some  trifling  improvements,  a  small  por- 
tion being  cleared,  on  which  was  built  a  log 
cabin.  He  returned  to  Vermont,  thence  to 
Nottingham,  Mass.,  where  he  was  married  to 
Almira  C.  Bates,  March  15,  1829,  moving  the 
same  year  to  the  farm,  where  they  occupied  the 
cabin,  which  was  on  the  premises,  for  eight 
years,  when  they  erected  a  comfortable  resi- 
dence. Finding  his  health  failini£  he  sold  his 
farm,  and  moved  to  Hudson  in  1850.  He  was 
appointed  Treasurer  of  the  proposed  Clinton 
Air-Line  II.  R.,  and  having  loaned  the  company 
about  $16,000,  he  suffered  a  heavy  pecuniary 
loss  on  account  of  the  failure  of  the  company. 
He  was  appointed  Postmaster  in  1861,  and  held 
the  office  for  seventeen  3'ears.  He  has  been 
identified  in  official  capacity  in  the  Presb^'terian 
Church  as  Deacon  upward  of  fifty  3'ears,  and 
fort3'  3'ears  of  that  time  he  has  officiated  as 
Treasurer.  Their  two  children  are  Orelia,  who 
was  the  wife  of  Mr.  Marvin,  of  Atwater,  and 
who  died  leaving  !bur  children,  two  of  whom 
survive,  and  Adelle,  wife  of  G-eorge  W.  Stowe, 
who  has  one  child,  Charles  M.  Mrs.  Messer 
was  born  in   (Iranville,  Mass.,  Sept.  J23,  1805. 

EDWARD  W.  MORLEY,  Professor  in 
Western  Reserve  College  ;  P.  0.  Hudson ;  was 
born  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  Jan.  29,  1838.  He  is 
the  son  of  Rev.  S.  B.  and  Anna  ('.  (Treat) 
Morley.  The  Rev.  S.  B.  Morle3'  was  a  native 
of  Massachussetts  ;  he  graduated  at  Williams 
College,  and  was  a  student  of  Yale  Theological 
Seminar3'.  Our  subject,  Prof  Edward  W. 
Morley,  began  the  study  of  chemistr3'  when 
about  11  years  of  age.  At  the  age  of  18,  he 
entered  Williams  College,  and  graduated  in 
1860.  During  the  late  war,  he  was  appointed 
Agent  for  the  Sanitar}-  Committee  at  Ft.  Mon- 
roe, in  1864  and  1865.  At  the  close  of  the  war, 
he  returned  and  accepted  a  position  as  teacher 
in  South  Berkshire  Institute,  Massachusetts. 
In  1869,  he  was  appointed  Professor  of  Chem- 
istr3'  in  the  Western  Reserve  College,  at  Hudson, 
and  in  1873  he  also  accepted  the  Professorship 
of  Toxicology  in  the  Medical  College  of  Cleve- 
land. He  married  Miss  Isabella  E.  Birdsall, 
daughter  of  James  Birdsall,  Esq.,  of  Hillsdale, 
Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  on  Dec.  24,  1868. 

B.  F.  MELOY,  blacksmith  ;  Hudson  ;  was 
born  in  Juniata  Co.,  Penn,  x\pril  27,  1827. 
His  father  moved  with  his  family  to  Portage 
Co.,  Ohio,  in   1834 ;    there  the   parents  of  Mr. 


d>L 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


835 


Melo^-  died.  In  1843,  our  subject  went  to  Mid- 
dlebury  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade  with 
the  Belden  Bros.,  where  he  served  a  year.  At 
the  expiration  of  his  apprenticeship,  he  came 
to  Darrow  Street,  in  1846,  where  he  woi'ked 
about  a  year,  then  purchased  the  business  in- 
terest of  William  Darrow,  Sr. — who  had  taken  it 
from  one  Fitield — and  here  he  has  continued 
ever  since.  He  marri-d  A.  E.  Canfield,  of 
Litchfield,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  April  15,  1847. 
She  was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  came  with 
her  parents  to  Ohio  when  quite  young.  The}^ 
had  no  children,  e.Kcept  one  adopted  daughter — 
Julia,  now  wife  of  Wm.  Hartel. 

S.  E.  OVIATT,  manufacturer ;  Hudson  ; 
was  born  in  Richland  Township,  this 
county,  Aug.  2,  1832.  He  is  the  son  of  Russell 
and  Julia  (Curtis)  Oviatt.  Russell  was  the  son 
of  Salmon  Oviatt,  who  was  one  of  three 
brothers  (viz.,  Salmon,  Heman  and  Nathaniel) 
who  emigrated  from  Connecticut,  and  were 
among  the  first  pioneers  of  this  count}'.  Rus- 
sell Oviatt  was  a  well-to-do  farmer  ;  hence  the 
first  efforts  of  his  son  (S.  E.)  were  also  in  that 
direction.  Mr.  S.  E.  Oviatt  had  charge  of  the 
farm  when  quite  3^oung,  as  his  father  sustained 
injuries  from  which  he  never  recovered,  caused 
by  jumping  from  a  buggy.  Of  their  five  chil- 
dren, three  lived  to  maturity,  viz.,  Mariam,  S. 
E.,  and  Russelline  ;  Chloe  and  Adrian  died  in 
childhood.  Mr.  Oviatt  received  a  good  com- 
mon-school education.  He  attended  the  Rich- 
field Academy  two  terms,  but  his  assistance 
being  required  at  home,  he  was  not  aflforded  the 
opportunity  of  further  advancement.  He  evi- 
dently conducted  his  agricultural  pursuits  with 
a  thoroughness  seldom  attained  by  young  men, 
as  diplomas  in  his  possession  attest,  which  he 
received  after  entering  in  competition  with 
quite  a  number  of  townships  in  Summit  and 
adjoining  counties,  for  the  best  acre  of  wheat, 
beans,  oats  and  corn,  in  1853  ;  also,  a  diploma 
for  the  best  three-year-old  horse  at  the  same 
time.  Having  a  taste  for  mechanics,  and  being 
naturally  an  inventive  genius,  he  has  produced 
several  valuable  patents,  viz.:  "  The  Oviatt 
grain  thresher  "  ;  also,  the  farm  wagon  known  as 
the  "  Common-sense  Wagon,"  said  to  be  more 
convenient  and  more  durable  than  the  ordinary 
ones  ;  and  a  sled,  known  as  the  "  Independent 
runner,"  Oviatt  patent  ;  this  latter  improve- 
ment has  experienced  a  large  demand.  He 
moved  into  the  village  of  Richfield,  purchased 


and  built  a  residence  worth  about  $3,000,  on 
part  of  what  was  his  grandfather's  old  home- 
stead, reserving  7  acres,  which  he  retains.  He 
endeavored  to  build  up  manufacturing  indus- 
tries at  Riclifield,  and  for  a  time  was  actively 
engaged  with  the  Richfield  Agricultural  Works, 
which  were  operated  by  a  "stock"  company. 
He  established  a  spoke  factory,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  two  years,  when  he  closed  out.  He 
moved  to  Akron  in  1874,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  agricultural  implement  trade  for  about  three 
years,  at  the  same  time  contemplating  an  es- 
tablishment for  the  manufacture  of  his  special 
patents.  He  made  an  eflSort  to  organize  a 
stock  compan}^  in  January,  1878,  at  Hudson, 
and,  so  for  as  the  organization  was  concerned, 
his  efforts  were  successful.  It  was  on  the  co- 
operative plan,  and  the  members  were  mechanics 
without  means,  but  were  men  to  whom  Mr. 
Oviatt  was  willing  to  give  an  opportunity  to 
progress  with  the  enterprise  ;  four  of  the  mem- 
bers became  dissatisfied,  and  those  remaining 
purchased  the  stock  of  the  outgoing  members. 
Although  the  business,  for  some  time  past,  has 
not  been  in  a  thriving  condition,  the  prospects 
of  the  institution  at  present  are  encouraging. 
It  is  known  as  the  "  Oviatt  Manufticturing  Co." 
Mr.  Oviatt  was  married,  Feb.  14,  1856,  to  Fan- 
nie E.  Watkins,  of  Plainfield,  Will  Co.,  111.  She 
was  born  in  Wyoming,  N.  Y.,  May  24,  1836  ; 
her  parents,  with  their  family,  moved  from  New 
York  to  Illinois  when  she  was  small.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Oviatt  are  parents  of  five  children,  viz., 
Julia  A.,  Russell  L.,  Edward  P.,  Fannie  E.  and 
Maud. 

L.  D.  OSBORNE,  M.  D.,  physician,  Hudson  ; 
was  born  in  Onondaga,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  16,  1820  ; 
he  was  the  son  of  Levi  Osborne,  a  cloth- 
dresser.  While  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
yet  in  infancy  his  mother  died,  leaving  three 
children,  two  of  whom  lived  to  maturity,  but 
are  now  deceased  ;  his  father  married  a  second 
time,  by  which  union  there  were  three  children, 
two  of  whom  reside  in  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  one  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  The  family  came 
to  Ohio  in  1833,  and  located  in  Willoughby, 
Lake  Co.,  where  Mr.  Osborne  died  several  years 
ago.  Our  subject.  Dr.  Osborne,  entered  a  pri- 
vate school  conducted  by  Mr.  A.  D.  Lord,  of 
Lake  Co.,  and  was  also  a  student  of  Senator 
Allen,  thus  obtaining  the  preliminary  course  of 
his  education  ;  he  entered  the  Lake  Erie  Medi- 
cal   College,   since   merged    into  the   Starling 


836 


BIOGEAPPIICAL    SKETCHES: 


Medical  College  of  Columbus,  and  graduated 
in  1845  ;  during  his  collegiate  course,  he  read 
medicine  privately  with  Dr.  John  Delamater, 
who  was  a  pi'ofessor  in  the  college  ;  he  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession  with  his  pre- 
ceptor in  Willoughb}-,  in  1843,  where  he  re- 
mained about  five  3'ears,  when  he  moved  to 
Warsaw,  Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y.,  thei'e  remaining 
about  three  years  ;  on  account  of  failing  health, 
he  resolved  to  return  to  Ohio,  and  accordingl}' 
did  so,  locating  in  Portage  Co..  where  he  prac- 
ticed about  four  years.  In  the  fall  of  1854,  he 
established  himself  in  Hudson,  where  he  has 
practiced  the  healing  art  ever  since.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Elenora  Johnson  Aug.  22, 
1848.  Mrs.  Osborne  was  the  daughter  of  Enoch 
Johnson,  of  Charlestown,  Portage  Co.,  where 
she  was  born,  October.  1828.  They  have  three 
children,  viz. :  Mary  E.,  Hattie  E.  (wife  of  Rev. 
T.  S.  Scott,  of  Rocidbrd,  111.),  and  Lulu. 

NEWTON  PECK  (deceased) ;  was  born  in 
Brockfield,  Vt.,  July  25,  1808 ;  he  was  the 
sixth  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  two  of 
whom  survive — Reuben  and  a  sister,  Mrs.  T.  S. 
Paine,  of  Vermont.  When  quite  young  Prof. 
Peck  evinced  a  strong  desire  for  knowledge, 
and  when  the  work  of  his  father's  farm  pre- 
vented him  from  attending  school  he  would 
eagerly  improve  every  opportunity  with  his 
books  ;  when  quite  a  small  boy  and  driving  his 
father's  oxen  at  the  plow,  he  would  carry  his 
Latin  Reader.  "  Liber  Primus,"  which  he  studied 
at  intervals  while  the  animals  were  resting, 
thereby  getting  some  knowledge  of  Latin  ;  at 
17  years  of  age,  he  began  teaching  school  in 
Vermont ;  he  spent  one  year  a  student  in  a 
university  there,  and,  by  ardent  study,  he  soon 
mastered  Latin  and  Greek  ;  he  became  a  good 
Hebrew  scholar,  and  was  said  to  be  one  of  the 
best  readers  of  Sanscrit  in  the  United  States. 
He  conversed  in  French,  could  read  Grerman, 
Spanish  and  Italian.  Considering  his  ability 
as  scholar  and  teacher,  he  was  one  of  the 
most  unassuming  of  men ;  he  was  thorough  in 
the  higher  branches  of  mathematics,  and  ac- 
quired some  knowledge  of  astronomy  ;  while 
teaching  in  West  Virginia,  he  calculated  ac- 
curatel}'^  the  details  of  the  solar  eclipse  of 
1837  ;  he  was  a  careful  student  in  the  natural 
sciences,  and  particularly  fond  of  botany  and 
geology.  In  1837,  he  founded  the  Marshall 
Academ}'  at  Guyandotte,  West  Virginia,  which 
has  since  developed  into  a  college  ;  he  came  to 


Ohio  in  1832,  and  spent  the  first  year  in  study 
at  Western  Reserve  College,  Hudson ;  but 
graduated  from  Augusta  College,  Kentucky,  in 
1837.  His  limited  means  compelled  him  to 
teach  at  intervals  to  procure  the  necessaries  of 
life  during  his  collegiate  course  ;  he  was  ap- 
pointed tutor  in  Kenyon  College  at  Gambler, 
in  1834.  He  married  Aurelia  K.  Brewster,  of 
Ravenna,  Oct.  16,  1834  ;  she  was  a  sister  of 
Anson  A.  Brewster,  one  of  the  pioneer  mer- 
chants of  Hudson.  After  a  few  years  residence 
at  Ravenna,  he  went  South,  but  returned  to  Ohio 
and  located  permanently  at  Hudson  in  1858. 
He  taught  for  a  period  about  forty  years  in  the 
States  of  Vermont,  Ohio,  West  Virginia,  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee ;  and  among  his  pupils, 
who  have  gone  into  official  public  life,  we  men- 
tion the  late  Henry  A.  Smith,  of  Minnesota  ; 
Gen.  E.  B,  Tyler  ;  S.  D.  Harris,  of  the  Ravenna 
Press ;  and  D.  Lyman,  Chief  of  the  Division  of 
Navigation  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Mr.  Peck 
was  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  being  confirmed  in  Vermont  when  22 
years  old.  He  passed  away  July  6,  1880, 
leaving  a  widow  and  two  children,  viz. :  Thos. 
K.  Peck,  of  Wa  Keeney,  Kan.,  and  Eleanor  A., 
who  resides  here  with  her  aged  mother. 

M.  C.  READ,  attorney  at  law,  Hudson,  was 
born  in  Williamsfield,  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio, 
Aug.  21,  1825.  His  parents,  Ira  and  Mary 
(Smith)  Read,  were  natives  of  Massachusetts  ; 
they  moved  to  Ohio  in  1813  ;  Mrs.  Read  car- 
ried their  onl}'  child  on  horseback  the  entire 
distance  from  Massachusetts  to  Ohio.  They 
here  turned  their  attention  to  farming,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  hewing  out  a  comfortable  home  in  the 
forest,  where  they  reared  their  children,  viz.: 
Albert  N.,  Daniel  W.  (deceased,)  Newton  S., 
Matthew  C.  and  Mar}'  C. — twins — she  the 
widow  of  Selby  Bemen,  and  Emeline  R.,  wife 
of  J.  J.  Gray,  of  Ashtabula.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Read 
finall}'  removed  to  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
the}'  passed  their  later  yeai'S,  being  spared  to 
see  and  know  that  their  earl}-  efforts  to  pro- 
cure a  good  home,  and  fit  each  member  of  their 
family  for  his  separate  place  in  society  were 
not  in  vain.  He  died  in  1861,  in  his  72d  year, 
and  she  in  1869,  in  her  79th  year.  Mr.  M.  C. 
Read  was  engaged  until  18  years  of  age,  like 
most  young  men  who  are  reared  on  the  farm. 
About  that  time  he  entered  the  Western  Re- 
serve Academy  at  Farmington  ;  later  the  Grand 
River  Institute  at  Austinsburg,  Ohio.    In  1844 


^\ 


X 


■^ 


HUDSON   TOWNSHIP. 


837 


he  entered  the  Western  Reserve  College  at  Hud- 
son, from  which  he  graduated  in  1848.  He 
taught  a  select  school  in  tbe  city  of  Columbus, 
Ohio,  which  was  well  patronized  by  the  best 
citizens  of  the  place,  but  was  broken  up  by 
cholera,  which  was  then  prevailing  in  the  com- 
munity. Mr.  Read  was  taken  seriously  ill 
with  the  disease,  and  returned  to  his  home, 
placing  himself  under  the  care  of  his  brother, 
a  ph3'sician  in  Ashtabula,  where  he  remained 
about  one  year.  Having  regained  his  health, 
he  taught  the  Academy-  at  Gustavus,  Trumbull 
Co.,  for  one  term.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of 
Chaffee  &  Woodberry,  of  Jefferson.  When  his 
study  of  law  was  completed,  he  was  called  to 
Hudson  to  edit  the  FamiJij  Visitor,  a  journal 
which  was  published  here  at  that  time.  While 
connected  with  the  Family  Visitor  he  taught  I 
the  Grr^mmar  School  in  Western  Reserve  Col- 
lege for  one  year.  He  then  began  the  practice 
of  law  and  continued  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
war,  when  he  was  called  with  the  Sanitary  Com- 
mission, and  was  with  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland until  they  reached  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
where  he  was  stationed  until  the  war  closed. 
On  his  return  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Rev- 
enue Collector,  during  President  Johnson's  ad- 
ministration. In  1869,  he  was  appointed  on 
the  State  Geological  Sarve3ing  Corps,  and  con- 
tinued a  member  in  field  work  until  the  surve}^ 
was  completed.  He  was  appointed  to  lecture 
on  zoology  and  practical  geology  in  Western 
Reserve  College.  His  time  is  now  occupied  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  and  special 
geological  surveys.  He  married  Orissa  E. 
Andrews,  daughter  of  Wm.  Andrews,  an  attor- 
ney of  Homer,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  28,  1851.  Their 
eldest  son,  William  H.,  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Western  Reserve  College,  and  now  a  member 
of  the  Toledo  bar.  The  other  children  are 
Chas.  P.,  Mary  O.  and  Susan  J. 

N.  P.  SEYMOUR,  LL.  D.,  professor  in  the 
Western  Reserve  College,  Hudson;  born  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  Dec.  24,  1813,  was  the  fifth  child  and 
second  son  born  to  Charles  and  Catharina 
(Perkins)  Seymour.  In  1830.  at  the  age  of  16 
he  entered  Yale  College,  graduating  four  years 
later.  After  spending  two  years  in  the  Hart- 
ford Grammar  School,  he  was  appointed  Tutor 
in  Yale  College.  In  1840,  he  accepted  the 
professorship  of  Latin  and  Greek,  in  the  West- 
ern Reserve  College,  a  position  he  filled  for 
thirty  3'ears.     On  the  occasion  of  his  resigna- 


tion in  1870,  the  committee  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  appointed  to  prepare  a  minute  in  rela- 
tion to  his  resignation  reported  the  following, 
which  was  adopted  by  the  board  :  "  Prof  N.  P. 
Seymour  having  at  a  previous  meeting  ten- 
dered to  the  board  his  resignation  of  the  pro- 
fessorship of  Greek  and  Latin,  and  the  same 
having  been  reluctantly  accepted,  the  board 
cannot  permit  a  connection  so  long  continued, 
and  which  has  been  so  highly  advantageous  to 
the  college  to  terminate  without  recording  their 
high  sense  of  the  great  value  of  his  services, 
and  their  conviction  that  by  his  wise  counsel, 
his  eminent  attainments  as  a  scholar,  and  his 
self-denying  devotion  to  the  best  interests  of 
the  institution  for  thirty  3-ears,  he  has  largely 
contributed  to  its  usefulness  and  pi-osperity, 
and  to  the  high  standard  of  scolarship  and  thor- 
ough course  of  instruction  for  which  it  has  been 
distinguished.  And  in  the  liope  that  the  college 
may  still  to  some  extent  enjoy  the  benefit  of  his 
counsel  and  labors,  he  has  been  appointed  Eme- 
ritus Professor  of  Greek  and  Latin,  and  is  invited 
to  give  lectures  from  time  to  time,  as  may  be 
agreeable  to  him  upon  subjects  connected  with 
his  late  department  of  instruction."  Prof 
Seymour  has  thus  retained  his  connection  with 
the  college,  and  lectures  at  times  upon  the  same 
subject  in  other  institutions.  In  1867,  he  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws,  conferred 
bj'  Kenyon  College.  In  1841,  he  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Day,  daughter  of  Hon.  Thomas  Day, 
of  Hartford.  Conn.  Of  their  union,  three  chil- 
dren was  the  issue,  their  eldest  son  Charles,  is 
a  member  of  the  bar  in  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  where 
he  established  himself  soon  after  the  late  war  ; 
Sarah  is  now  the  wife  of  Wm.  C.  Parsons,  of 
Akron  ;  Thomas,  the  youngest,  was  appointed 
professor  of  Greek  language  in  Yale  College  in 
Julv,  1880. 

CHARLES  STONE,  farmer;  Streetsboro 
Township,  Portage  County  ;  P.  0.  Hudson  ; 
was  born  one  mile  east  of  Hudson,  January  12, 
1812.  His  father,  Nathaniel,  and  mother, 
Sally  (Holenbeck)  Stone,  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut. They  removed  to  Ohio  in  1810. 
Mrs.  Sidney  Collar  was  their  only  child,  at  that 
time,  a  mere  babe.  Mr.  Holenheck,  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Stone,  came  from  Connecticut  at  the 
same  time  ;  the}'  drove  through  with  two  ox 
teams  and  a  single  horse,  spending  two  months 
on  the  journey.  They  arrived  at  Hudson  in 
November,  1810,  and,  purchasing   some  land, 


\ 


838 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


began  to  prepare  a  home  thereon.  They  reared 
twelve  children,  ten  of  whom  lived  to  maturity, 
viz.,  Carolina,  Charles,  Sidne}'  J.,  Eroeline  (de- 
ceased wife  of  R.  Cobb),  Randolph,  Helen,  Be- 
linda, Roswell,  Orlando  and  Clelsey.  The  family- 
removed  from  their  first  location  to  their  pur- 
chase in  the  east  of  Hudson  Township  and 
across  the  line  into  Portage  County,  where  the 
old  folks  died,  he  in  1861,  and  his  wife  about 
four  years  later.  Charles  married  Sabrina 
Draper,  April  18,  1837.  They  began  farming 
on  about  60  acres  which  he  got  of  his  father, 
and  built  a  log  cabin.  To  this  land  he  added 
by  purchase,  until  he  owned  200  acres.  They 
had  seven  children,  viz.,  Harriet  E.,  Frederick, 
Salina,  David,  Moses,  Mary  L.  (died  when 
about  3  3'ears  old),  and  Clarinda  S.  Frederick 
enlisted  in  the  9th  Ohio  Battery,  September, 
1861,  and  served  until  March,  1862,  when  he 
died  in  hospital  at  Somerset,  Ky.,  after  a  short 
illness.  Salina  is  wife  of  Charles  Cash,  of  Hud- 
son ;  David  married  Annie,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Wilson,  of  Medina  County — he  and  his 
brother  Moses  have  control  of  the  farm  ;  Har- 
riet E.  and  Clarinda  S.  are  also  at  home  with 
their  parents.  Mrs.  Charles  Stone  was  the  only 
child  of  Moses  Draper  by  his  first  wife.  She 
was  born  in  Washington  County,  N.  Y.,  June 
3,  1818.  Her  mother  died  when  she  was  a 
mere  infant,  and  her  father  married  a  second 
wife,  by  whom  he  reared  several  children  ;  the}' 
all  emigrated  to  Ohio  in  1831,  and  the  following 
year  Mrs.  Stone  came  to  her  Other's  with  a 
family  who  were  coming  here  at  that  time. 
They  have  been  A^er}-  successful,  and  look 
back  on  pioneer  life  with  much  satisfaction. 
On  the  night  of  the  5th  of  February,  1847,  a 
sad  calamity  happened  in  the  burning  of  his 
father's  residence,  in  which  Belinda,  a  young- 
lady  about  21  years  of  age.  pei'ished  in  the 
tlames  ;  the  other  members  of  the  family  barely 
escaped  with  their  lives.  It  was  one  of  the 
primitive  log-cabins,  and  stood  a  little  south  of 
where  Carles'  residence  is  located.  The  acci- 
dent is  supposed  to  have  occurred  by  the  re- 
newal of  the  fire  when  the  last  ones  retired,  for 
tlie  purpose  of  keeping  the  house  warm  through 
the  night. 

CHARLES  J.  SMITH,  Professor  in  West- 
ern Reserve  College,  Hudson,  was  born  in 
Clarendon,  Ohio,  Oct.  16,  1844.  He  is  the 
second  son  born  to  Josiah  and  jMartha  (Has- 
kell) Smith,  w^ho  were  natives  of  Connecticut, 


but  came  to  Ohio  with  their  respective  fami- 
lies in  the  earl}-  settlement  of  the  State,  and 
located  in  Geauga  County.  At  from  16  to  19 
years  of  age,  Prof  Smith  began  teaching  a  dis- 
trict school  in  the  winter  months,  during  the 
summer  season  his  time  being  occupied  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  then  accepted  a  position  as 
teacher  in  the  Bloomfield  Academy,  where  he 
remained  one  and  a  half  years.  He  entei'ed  the 
Western  Reserve  College  in  1866,  and  gradu- 
ated therefrom  in  1870,  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year,  being  appointed  Professor  of  Natural 
Philosoph}'.  He  married  Miss  Julia  E.  King 
Aug.  23,  1871.  Their  children  are  as  follows  : 
Esther  K.,  Charles  K.  and  Charlotte  P.  Mrs. 
Smith  was  born  in  Warren,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio, 
Aug.  20.  1845.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Lester 
King,  who  was  the  son  of  Judge  King,  of 
Warren. 

SYLVESTER  H.  THOMPSON,  retired; 
Hudson,  more  familiarly  known  as  Judge 
Thompson,  was  born  in  Hudson,  Ohio.  July 
28,  1808.  He  was  the  fifth  child  born  to  Dr. 
Moses  Thompson  (who  is  mentioned  in  the 
township  histor}',  as  being  the  first  physician 
of  Summit  County).  Dr.  Thompson  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth  Mills  in  Connecticut,  in  1795; 
they  moved  into  the  State  of  New  York  imme- 
diately after  their  marriage,  where  they  lived 
until  1800,  when  he  came  to  Ohio  and  selected 
land  in  the  vicinity  of  Hudson  ;  then  returned 
to  New  York  for  his  famil}-,  which  con- 
sisted of  wife  and  one  child  ;  the}'  arrived 
here  and  settled  permanently  in  1801.  They 
were  blessed  with  eleven  children,  viz.,  Eliza 
L.  (deceased)  was  wife  of  Horace  Metcalf; 
Susan,  (deceased)  was  wife  of  Horace  Hol- 
brook  ;  Mills,  now  deceased  was  a  prominent 
farmer  :  Erailv  (deceased)  was  wife  of  Samuel 
Woods  ;  Sylvester  H.;  Virgil  M.,  of  Stow 
Township  ;  Ruth,  wife  of  Leander  Starr,  of 
Hudson  ;  Maiy,  widow'  of  John  Flazeltine,  who 
with  her  daughter  resides  west  of  Hudson  ;  Sa- 
rah A.  (deceased),  w^ho  was  the  wife  of  Chas. 
Aikin  ;  Martha,  died  in  youth,  and  Elizabeth, 
who  is  unmarried.  Over  half  a  century  of 
Mrs.  Thompson's  life  and  labors  were  well 
spent  in  this  community.  Besides  the  cai'e  in- 
cident to  rearing  of  her  own  numerous  family, 
it  would  require  a  volume  to  do  justice  to  her 
memory,  as  respecting  her  humane  and  benev- 
olent characteristics  and  acts  toward  the  sick 
or  needy,  during  the  days  of  meager  supplies. 


f.k^ 


HUDSON    TOWNSHIP. 


839 


with  the  pioneei"  settlers  ;  her  life  work  closed 
on  Nov.  20, 1851.  Dr.  Thompson  survived  his 
wife  until  Nov.  17,  1858.  There  was  nothing 
remarkable  in  the  earh^  life  of  Judge  Thomp- 
son ;  he  attended  school  in  boyhood,  and  got  a 
fair  education  in  the  old  primitive  schools  of 
his  earl}-  life.  His  brain  was  spared  the  con- 
fusion of  college  classics,  but  was  possessed  of 
an  abundance  of  practical  good,  hard  sense, 
which  with  strict  integrity,  eventuall}'  placed 
him  in  the  front  rank  of  honored  citizens. 
When  he  was  about  22  years  of  age,  he  began 
farming,  on  his  own  account,  on  80  acres  for 
which  his  father  paid  $420.  He  was  married 
to  Carolina  D.  Peck,  May  14,  1833.  She  was 
born  in  Connecticut,  Dec.  6,  1808,  and  came 
here  from  Waterbury,  Conn.,  on  a  visit  to  her 
brothers,  who  were  contractors  and  builders, 
and  who  built  the  Congregational  Church  in 
Hudson.  Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Thompson,  viz.,  Charles  S.  (deceased); 
Sherman  P.,  Martha  E.  (now  Mrs.  P.  Gr.  Clark, 
of  East  Cleveland)  ;  Theodore  F.  and  Albert 
S.,  and  two  who  died  in  childhood.  Mr. 
Thompson  was  the  first  xlssessor  in  Hud- 
son Township,  and  has  held  other  offices 
which  were  the  gift  of  the  people  of  the  town- 
ship. He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and 
after  serving  one  year  he  resigned,  to  accept 
the  appointment  of  Associate  Judge,  in  1845, 
which  office  he  held  until  the  new  State  Consti- 
tution was  adopted,  with  provisions  which 
abolished  the  office  of  Associate  Judge,  in 
1851.  In  1864,  he  was  appointed .  Commis- 
sioner for  this  county  on  the  Cleveland  &  Pitts- 
burgh Railroad.  He  was  connected  with  the 
City  Bank  of  Akron,  Ohio,  of  which  he  was 
President  for  thirteen  years.  The  first  apples 
which  were  grown  in  this  vicinity,  were  prob- 
ably' those  on  Dr.  Thompson's  premises,  trees 
produced  from  seeds  taken  from  a  piece  of 
pomace,  which  the  Doctor  picked  up  where 
he  stopped  to  feed  his  ox  team  when  coming 
here  through  Pennsylvania,  in  1801,  formed 
nucleus  of  an  orchard.  Judge  Thompson  re- 
members distinctly  the  first  apple  which  was 
borne  thereon,  in  1813.  That  was  the  /^?•.s•^  and 
only  one  produced  on  their  trees  that  year,  and 
as  it  increased  in  size  and  reddened  with  the 
sun,  like  the  "apple"  of  old,  it  was  the  source 
of  considerable  temptation  to  the  children  to 
taste  it  and  not  "  transgress."  so  they  devised  a 
means  :  two  pulled  the  slender  tree  against  the 


house,  to  which  it  stood  close,  a  third  one 
would  climb,  scrape  a  hole  in  the  apple  with 
his  finger  nail  and  carry  the  scrapings  down  to 
those  doing  service  at  the  stem  until  all  would 
have  a  taste.  Although  in  advanced  years,  the 
Judge  is  in  robust  health  and  enjoys  in  a  re- 
tired manner,  the  fruits  of  his  early  indu.Htry, 
as  well  as  the  high  esteem  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens. His  wife,  who  was  his  great  helper  in 
his  much  varied  life,  died  Nov.  23,  1876. 

STEPHEN  THOMPSON,  deceased  :  was 
born  in  Groshen,  Conn.;  he  married  Abigail 
Hutchinson.  They,  with  three  children,  Will- 
iam, Hiram  and  Elijah,  emigrated  to  this  town- 
ship in  the  fall  of  1801.  They  reared  a  family 
of  eleven  children  in  all — William.  Hiram,  Eli- 
jah, Serena,  Lucretia,  Alonzo,  ITriah,  Premila, 
Amos,  Alonzo  2d,  and  Abigail.  The  old  folks 
(Stephen  and  his  wife),  died  many  years  since, 
in  the  east  of  Hudson  Village.  Hiram  was 
born  in  Goshen,  Conn.,  Aug.  30,  1797.  When 
he  was  about  17  years  of  age,  he  began  to  work 
for  himself,  and  paid  for  50  acres  of  land  where 
he  now  lives.  He  married  Sabrina  Danforth, 
Jan.  23,  1823.  She  was  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Enoch  Danfoi'th  ;  she  was  born  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, Jan.  26,  1806.  They  reared  nine  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Lorenzo,  now  in  Kent  Co.,  Mich.; 
Amelia,  wife  of  Dr.  E.  Me^^ers,  of  Uniontown  ; 
Harriet,  deceased,  wife  of  Henry  Sandford  ; 
Jeremiah,  now  in  Le  Mai's,  Iowa  ;  Laura  L. 
is  wife  of  William  Bell  ;  Mar}',  deceased,  wife 
of  Charles  Case  ;  Louisa,  wife  of  Orrin  Rey- 
nolds, of  Chicago,  111.;  William  was  killed  by 
the  cars  when  thrown  from  the  track,  near  Hud- 
son, in  1864  ;  Emma,  wife  of  E.  Cartwright. 
Mr.  Hiram  Thompson  added  to  his  first  pui'- 
chase  until  he  owned  161  acres  of  good  land. 
He  never  worked  a  team  of  horses  on  farm 
work,  but  used  oxen  instead  all  his  time.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Thompson  have  retired  from  the  act- 
ive duties  of  the  farm,  and  left  the  same  to  the 
care  of  their  daughter  and  son-in-law,  WMlliam 
C.  Bell.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
March,  1841,  and  came  here  in  1859  ;  he  en- 
listed in  the  late  rebellion,  in  August,  1861,  Co. 
A,  0.  V.  C.  lie  got  his  discharge  Dec.  31, 
1863,  and  re-enlisted  as  veteran  in  same  com- 
pau}'  and  regiment,  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  got  liis  final  discharge  Sept.  11, 
1865.  He  had  two  horses  shot  from  under 
him,  one  of  which  fell  on  him  and  disabled 
him,  in  September,  1864,  near  Charlestown.  On 


^1 


840 


BIOGKAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


his  return,  he  married  Laura  L.  Thompson. 
The}'  have  three  children,  viz.,  Willie  L.,  Emma 
A.  and  Frederick  W.  At  the  time  Stephen 
Thompson  and  his  family  came,  they  brought 
several  cows  and  about  eighteen  sheep,  which 
the}'  drove  all  the  way  from  Connecticut.  They 
had  hard  work  in  protecting  their  sheep  from 
the  ravages  of  wolves  in  those  daN's,  as  lambs 
and  pigs  were  frequentl}'  carried  off  Wild  tur- 
keys were  plentiful,  and  Hiram  has  shot  several 
at  their  barn,  substituting  corn  for  shot  when 
the  latter  could  not  be  procured. 

HARRY  C.  THOMPSON,  deceased.  He 
was  born  in  Berkshire  Co.,  Conn.,  Nov.  24, 
1801.  He  was  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Poll}' 
(Campbell)  Thompson,  who  moved,  with  their 
ftimily  of  eight  children,  from  Connecticut  to 
Ohio,  in  1814,  locating  at  Ravenna.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Eliza,  now  widow  of  Dr.  Swift,  living 
at  Ravenna  ;  Harry  C,  deceased;  Charles  B., 
deceased  ;  Orrin  C.  T.,  now  a  Presbyterian 
Minister  in  Detroit,  Mich.;  Robert  W.,  deceased  ; 
he  and  Richard  J.,  who  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead at  Ravenna,  were  twins  ;  Mary,  in  Ra- 
venna ;  Charlotte,  deceased.  When  Harry  C. 
was  about  21  years  of  age,  he  discontinued 
farming,  and  apprenticed  himself  to  a  tailor  in 
Ravenna.  When  his  apprenticeship  expired, 
he  went  to  New  York,  and  there  worked  at 
journeywork  until  he  became  perfectly  ac- 
quainted with  the  business.  In  about  two 
years,  he  returned  to  Ravenna,  and  opened  a 
tailoring  establishment — the  only  one  of  the 
kind  in  the  place.  His  trade  increased  until 
he  employed  eight  hands  and  conducted  a  very 
successful  business.  In  1836,  his  health  failed, 
from  too  close  application  to  his  business,  ne- 
cessitating a  withdrawal  therefrom.  He  was 
married  to  Harriet  A.  Ellsworth,  Jan.  7,  1830. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Elisha  and  Elizabeth 
(Oviatt)  Ellsworth,  who  came  here  from  Con- 
necticut in  1811.  Mrs.  Thompson  was  then  a 
child  about  2  years  of  age.  She  was  born  in 
Connecticut  Nov.  23,  1809.  When  Mr.  Thomp- 
son closed  out  his  tailoring  establishment,  they 
opened  a  boarding-house  in  Ravenna,  which 
they  conducted  with  success  for  many  years  ; 
this  he  afterward  sold  out,  and  purchased  a 
farm  north  of  Hudson,  where  they  resided  twelve 
years.  In  1 868,  they  moved  into  Hudson,  where 
they  anticipated  a  life  of  rest  in  their  lives' 
evening-time,  apart  from  the  bustle  and  toil  of 
the  world.     Mr.  Thompson  was  elected  Justice 


of  the  Peace  after  coming  to  Hudson,  and 
served  eight  years.  He  has  been  appointed 
administrator  of  twenty-four  different  estates. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  were  parents  of  two 
children,  viz.:  Robert  W.,  who  resides  on  the 
farm;  and  Elisha,  who  died  at  the  age  of  12. 
Mr.  Thompson's  worldly  cares  ceased  in  death 
Dec.  19,  1877.  Mrs.  Thompson  is  one  of  the 
few  who  came  here  in  pioneer  days,  and,  al- 
though well  advanced  in  her  72d  year,  has  a 
good  memory  and  a  vigorous  constitution. 

AMOS  THOMPSON,  farmer;  P.  0.  Hudson, 
is  the  son  of  Stephen  Thompson,  who  came 
from  Goshen,  Conn.,  with  his  wife  and  three 
children,  settling  here  in  1802.  Amos  was 
born  in  this  tov/nship,  Sept.  13, 181 2.  Through- 
out his  whole  life  he  has  been  a  well-to-do 
farmer  without  any  desire  for  notoriety  in  pub- 
lic life.  He  has  been  twice  married  ;  first  in 
1836,  to  Miss  Laura  Smith,  of  Randolph.  By 
this  union  there  were  six  children,  three  de- 
ceased and  three  living.  Those  surviving  are 
Henry  0.,  Ada  A.  and  Arthur  N.  Their  mother 
was  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
came  here  with  her  parents  about  two  years 
previous  to  her  marriage;  she  died  Sept.  13, 
1874.  Mr.  Thompson's  second  marriage  was 
with  Mrs.  Lavina  Sandford,  widow  of  the  late 
Peter  Sandford,  of  Kent.  The  present  Mrs. 
Thompson  was  twice  married  prior  to  her 
union  with  Mr.  Thompson  ;  she  has  one  child, 
Emma  Arrow,  by  her  first  husband,  John 
Arrow. 

S.  E.  TOWNSEND,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Hudson  ; 
was  born  on  Oct.  8,  1825,  in  New  York,  from 
which  place  his  parents,  Eli  and  Sarah  (Kenyon) 
Townsend  emigrated  to  Ohio  with  two  children, 
viz.  :  Cynthia  and  himself,  in  1833.  They  lo- 
cated in  Richfield,  and,  after  our  subject  had 
passed  his  majority,  he  learned  the  carpenter 
and  joiner  trades  which  he  engaged  in  suc- 
cessfully. He  has  been  twice  married  ;  first  to 
Miss  Vanilla  Smith,  who  died  leaving  four  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  survive,  viz. :  Charles  E.. 
Mary  E.  (now  wife  of  Clifford  Axtell)  and 
Lewis  S. ;  his  second  marriage  was  with  Mrs. 
Sarah  Farnum,  Oct.  18,  1863;  they  have  one 
child — iMyron  E.  Mrs.  Townsend  was  born  in 
Massachusetts  in  1827,  and  came  to  Ohio  with 
her  parents  in  1842.  Her  first  marriage  was 
with  Darwin  Farnum,  of  Richfield,  in  1851  ; 
died  May  18,  1859.  In  December,  1879,  Mr. 
Townsend  purchased  and  moved  to  his  present 


CUYAHOGA   FALLS    TOAVNSHIP. 


841 


home,  which  consists  of  90  acres  of  excellent 
agricultural  land,  lying  immediately  west  of 
the   corporation    limits  of  Hudson.     With  its 


advantages  and  improvements,  besides  the 
natural  beautiful  location,  it  is  all  that  could 
be  desired. 


CUYAHOGA    FALLS    TOWr^SHiP. 


EPHRAIM  BLOOD,  retired,  Cuyahoga 
Falls;  was  born  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May 
27,  182L  His  father,  David  Blood,  was  a 
farmer  by  pursuit,  and  married  a  lady  by  the 
name  of  Maiy  Hewitt.  When  scarcely  of  age, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  went  to  the  trade  of 
carpenter  and  joiner,  which  he  followed 
steadily  until  1852.  He  then  engaged  in 
millwi'ighting,  which  he  continued  to  work  at 
until  1876,  at  which  time  the  firm  of  Snyder 
&  Blood,  builders  and  contractors,  was 
formed.  Both  being  practical  carpenters,  and 
possessing  a  thorough  knowledge  of  their  bus- 
iness, they  immediately  assumed  a  prominent 
position,  and  their  trade  annually  increased. 
In  January,  1881,  Mr.  Blood  withdrew  from 
business  entirely,  and  is  now  leading  a  retired 
life.     His  marriage  was  celebrated  Aug.  18, 

1847,  Miss  Mary  A.  Reece  becoming  his  wife. 
She,  too,  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  and 
was  born  March  18,  1822. 

O.  B.  BEEBE,  diy  goods,  Cuyahoga  Falls; 
is  a  son  of  Oliver  D.  and  Phoebe  (Holt)  Beebe, 
and  was  born  Oct.  17,  1807,  in  New  London, 
Conn.  His  father  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner 
by  trade,  and  moved  to  Middletown,  Conn., 
when  the  subject  of  this  article  was  in  his 
childhood,  and  there  he  grew  to  matiu"ity. 
"While  yet  in  his  youth,  he  learned  the  trade 
of  book-binder,  and  did  "jour"  work  until  he 
came  to  this  cou.nty,  with  the  exception  of  one 
year  that  he  conducted  business  for  himself. 
In  December,  1831,  he  came  to  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  and  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  until 

1848,  when  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits, which  he  has  since  followed,  keeping  at 
present  a  large  and  complete  stock  of  dry 
goods.  His  marriage  was  celebrated  Sept.  80, 
1832,  at  Middletown,  Conn.,  Miss  Sarah  A. 
Babcock  becoming  his  wife.  Their  union  has 
been  fruitful  of  four  children — Jane,  Mary, 
William  O.  and  Robert.     The  elder  son  is  the 


only  one  living,  he  being  his  father's  partner 
in  business.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beebe  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Episcopal  ClAirch.  He  was  Post- 
master of  Cuyahoga  Falls  during  the  adminis- 
tration of  James  K.  Polk;  has  been  Mayor. 
He  is  a  Republican. 

J.  H.  BYRNE,  grocer,  Cuyahoga  Falls ;  was 
born  in  Ireland,  April  14,  1822,  and  is  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  twelve  children  born 
to  Thomas  and  Catharine  (Halleck)  Byrne. 
The  father  died  when  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  only  3  months  old,  and  the 
family  soon  after  emigrated  to  America,  set- 
tling in  Clinton  Co.,  N.  Y  In  1833,  they 
moved  to  what  is  now  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
located  in  Tallmadge  Township.  J.  H.  re- 
ceived but  a  limited  amount  of  schooling,  and 
his  first  effort  at  earning  money  was  perform- 
ing light  work  during  the  surveying  for  the 
Ohio  Canal.  He  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
riage-maker with  Oviatt  &  Avery,  at  Tall- 
madge, Ohio,  and,  in  1838,  came  to  Cuyahoga 
Falls  and  entered  the  machine-shop,  where  he 
worked  for  several  years.  He  conducted  a 
saw-mill  in  Lucas  Co.  two  years,  and  the 
rest  of  his  life  has  been  passed  here,  clerking 
until  1871,  when  he  and  S.  W.  Hei-rington 
engaged  in  business,  keeping  a  store  of  gene- 
ral merchandise  for  three  years.  In  June, 
1879,  he  commenced  his  present  business, 
keeping  a  grocery  and  provision  store.  He 
was  married,  Aug.  28,  1845,  to  Catharine 
Malone.  She  was  born  in  Wood  Co.,  Va., 
May  7,  1825,  and  has  crowned  their  union 
with  two  children,  who  grew  to  maturity — 
William  P.  and  Thomas  C.  The  younger  died 
when  in  his  15th  year.  The  elder  studied 
dentistry,  and  died  Nov.  29,  1879,  having 
been  a  practitioner  for  ten  years.  Mrs.  Byi'ne 
is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  independ- 
ent in  his  political  views. 


842 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


L.  W.  BOYS,  barber,  Cuyahoga  Falls.  L. 
W.  Boys  was  born  in  Bennington,  Vi,  Nov. 
20,  1843.  His  parents  were  G.  L.  and  Sally 
(Davis)  Boys.  The  father  was  also  a  native 
of  the  same  place,  and,  by  trade,  a  machinery - 
molder.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  only 
child  of  his  parents.  In  about  184(),  the  fam- 
ily came  to  Aki'on,  Ohio,  where  they  remained 
two  years,  and  then  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
Here  they  have  ever  since  resided.  Previous 
to  the  civil  war,  the  son  served  an  apprentice- 
ship under  his  father  as  a  machinery-molder. 
He  ran  away  fi-om  home  at  the  age  of  19 
and  enlisted  in  the  United  States  Navy,  under 
Commander  J.  C.  Carter,  of  the  United  States 
steamer  Michigan.  After  he  had  served  about 
a  year,  he  was  taken  sick  with  typhoid  pneu- 
monia, and  was  discharged  for  disability. 
He  returned  home,  and  started  to  learn  the 
cabinet-maker's  trade,  but  his  lungs  were  so 
delicate  because  of  his  previous  illness  that  he 
gave  up  the  trade,  and  a  second  time  ran 
away  from  home.  At  Cleveland  he  again  en- 
listed, this  time  in  the  Volunteer  Navy,  Elev- 
enth District,  Mississippi  Squadron,  and  was 
stationed  under  Acting  Commander  M.  For- 
rest, a  nephew  of  the  rebel  Gen.  Forrest.  He 
participated  in  three  engagements  at  and  near 
Decatur.  He  was  also  on  the  first  gunboat 
that  reached  Knoxville,  Tenn.  He  served  to 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. After  his  I'eturn,  he  again  engaged 
in  the  machine- molding  business  in  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  but,  not  being  able  to  continue  the  busi- 
ness because  of  his  previous  illness,  he  went 
into  the  barbering  business.  He  has  contin- 
ued in  that  line  to  the  present  time;  mean- 
while, he  has  invented  an  improved  barber 
and  dental  chair.  Mr.  Boys  was  married, 
Sept.  20,  1866,  to  Phoebe  E.,  daughter  of  G. 
W.  Hobart,  Esq.,  of  Medina,  Ohio.  He  has 
had  two  children,  both  of  whom  have  died. 
Mrs.  Boys  was  born  June  1 5, 1850.  Mr.  Boys 
is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  is  of  a  race 
of  Old-Line  Whigs.  He  is  a  young  man  of 
push  and  energy,  and  is  destined  to  make  his 
mark  as  a  business  man. 

J.  C.  CASTLE,  attorney,  Cuyahoga  Falls; 
was  born  at  Elkhart,  Ind.,  Sept.  11,  1842,  and 
is  a  son  of  Levi  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Cranson) 
Castle.     His  father  was  an  itinerant  minister 


in  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  passed  many  years 
a  resident  of  the  western  part  of  the  State  of 
New  York.  He  moved  to  Ohio  in  1855,  and, 
in  1861,  became  a  resident  of  Summit  Co., 
where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  life,  dying  in 
Febriiary,  1875,  when  in  his  84th  year.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  commenced  doing  for 
himself  when  young,  his  first  venture,  being  as 
a  newsboy  on  the  C,  C,  C.  &  I.  R.  R.,  during 
which  he  saved  enough  money  to  enter  the 
Baldwin  University  at  Berea,  Ohio.  Before 
the  expiration  of  his  second  year,  the  liber- 
ties of  his  country  were  imperiled  by  armed 
secession,  and  he  laid  aside  his  studies  to 
become  a  soldier.  He  entered  the  9th  Ohio 
Batter}^  and  served  over  one  year,  when  he 
was  discharged  for  physical  disabilities.  In 
1864,  he  became  a  minister  in  the  M.  E. 
Church,  and  was  thus  employed  for  fifteen 
years,  when  he  commenced  the  practice  of  law, 
which  he  had  studied  in  the  meantime,  having 
been  admitted  in  September,  1878.  He 
opened  his  office  at  Cuyahoga  Falls  in  Febru- 
ary, 1880.  He  has  earned  quite  a  reputation 
throughoiit  the  county  as  a  lectiirer,  and  is 
widely  and  favorably  known  as  the  "  sensible 
humorist."  He  was  married  at  New  Philadel 
phia,  Ohio,  June  15,  1869,  Miss  Anna  Camp- 
bell becoming  his  wife.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  four  children.  Those  living  are 
William  A.,  Olin  C.  and  John  H.  Mr.  Castle 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  an-i  of  the  G. 
A.  R.     He  is  a  Republican. 

ROWLAND  CLAPP,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  was 
born  April  1(3,  1804,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Vt.,  and 
is  a  son  of  Reuben  and  Hepzibah  (Gates) 
Clapp,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Worces- 
ter Co.,  Mass.  His  father  was  a  farmer  by 
pursiiit,  and  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
a  resident  of  the  Green  Mountain  State.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  good  common - 
school  education,  and.  when  in  his  21st  year, 
commenced  teaching  school.  In  1826,  he 
left  his  native  State  and  started  for  the  Far 
West,  walking  most  of  the  way  to  the  home  of 
a  ]:)rother  at  New  Albany,  Ind.  He  taught  school 
there  a  short  time,  and  then  came  to  Ohio, 
where  he  finally  made  his  home,  near  the  town 
of  Cuyahoga  Falls.  He  has  followed  various 
callings  and  occupations,  and  has  borne  an 
upright   and  honorable  character  throughout 


.^ ?) 


CUYAHOGA    FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


843 


his  long  residence  in  this  community.  His 
marriage  was  celebrated  Nov.  9,  1834,  Miss 
Martha  Gaylord  becoming  his  wife.  She  was 
born  in  what  is  now  Stow  Township,  Sum- 
mit Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  28,  1813,  a  daughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Martha  (Thomas)  Gaylord,  who 
moved  there  from  Middletown,  Conn.,  in  1809. 
Mr.  Clapp  lost  his  companion  the  (3th  day  of 
June,  1873,  their  union  having  been  crowned 
with  three  childi'en,  named,  respectively,  Eliz- 
abeth, Ashael  and  Emily.  The  oldest  is  the 
wife  of  M.  H.  Barber,  and  the  son  married  a 
lady  by  the  name  of  Maria  Loomis.  Mr. 
Clapp  was  a  communicant  of  the  St.  John's 
Episcopal  Church  at  Cuyahoga  Falls  when 
organized,  over  fifty  years  ago,  and  is  the  only 
one  now  living  who  was  then  a  member.  His 
connection  with  the  chm-ch  has  been  exempli- 
fied by  a  worthy  and  consistent  life,  and  he 
has  for  many  years  been  one  of  the  most  influ- 
ential and  prominent  members.  During  the 
progress  of  the  war,  he  was  appointed  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ohio  Relief  Agency  by  Gov.  Brough, 
and  stationed  at  Annapolis.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 

JAMES  H.  COOKE  (deceased),  .sewer 
pipe  works,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  was  born  in 
Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Hen- 
ry and  Laura  Cooke.  When  1  year  old,  he 
was  brought  to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Ohio,  and 
here  grew  to  maturity.  His  father  was  a 
man  of  entei'].:)rise,  and  was  endowed  with  busi- 
ness qualifications  that  placed  him  among  the 
foremost  men  of  his  time.  James  .was  in  his 
father's  employ  for  some  time,  biit,  Avishing  to 
engage  in  business  that  would  be  of  a  more 
permanent  and  pleasing  character,  he  became 
interested  in  the  sewer  pipe  works  of  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  and  eventually  attained  the  posi- 
tion of  sole  proprietor.  His  business  was  con- 
ducted on  a  large  scale,  and  ranks  among  the 
leading  industries  of  the  enterprising  town  of 
Cuyahoga  Falls.  He  was  manned,  Sept.  11, 
1 855,  at  Galena,  111.,  to  a  daughter  of  Prof. 
Germain.  She  was  born  at  Catskill,  N.  Y., 
Nov.  12,  1837,  and,  a  few  years  later,  her 
father  became  Professor  of  Mathematics  at 
Burlington.  N.  J.,  in  Biu'lington  College  and 
St.  Mary's  Hall.  In  1 849.  he  went  to  Galena, 
111.,  and  engaged  in  civil  engineering.  He 
now  resides  at  Cuvahosra  Falls.     Mr.  Cooke 


died  Sept.  21,  1880,  leaving  a  family  of  five 
children,  named,  respectively,  George,  Laiu'a, 
Kate,  Alice  and  Edward.  Mrs.  Cooke  is  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 

HORACE  B.  CAMF,  manufacturer  of  tile, 
etc.,  Cu.yahoga  Falls;  is  one  of  the  enterpris- 
ing and  energetic  business  men  of  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  in  which  he  has  resided  since  1864. 
He  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  9, 
1 838,  and  is  a  son  of  Hezekiah  and  Abigail 
(Fosdick)  Camp.  His  father  came  to  Ohio 
from  Greene  Co.,  N.  "Y.,  in  1827,  and  for  some 
time  taught  school,  being  a  single  man  at  the 
time.  He  was  an  ingenious  and  enterprising 
man,  and,  in  the  year  1840,  opened  a  coal- 
bank  in  Springfield  Township,  Smnmit  Co., 
Ohio,  and  commenced  shipping  to  Cleveland. 
The  following  year,  he  moved  to  that  city  to 
superintend  his  rapidly  growing  business,  and 
remained  there  until  1852,  when  he  again 
returned  to  Summit  Co.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  water-pipe  at  Middlebury 
until  1861,  when  he  retired  to  a  farm.  He 
died  at  Cuyahoga  Falls  in  August,  1872. 
Horace  commenced  doing  for  himself  when 
of  age,  and  for  one  year  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  Barber  Match  Company,  of  Ala-on,  with 
headquarters  at  Lima,  Ohio.  He  then  con- 
ducted the  farm  until  1 864  when  he  came  to 
Cuyahoga  Falls  and  engaged  in  the  manufact- 
ure of  sewer-pipe.  In  1876,  he  engaged  in 
his  present  business,  with  G.  W.  Babb  for 
partner,  and  the  following  year  withchew  fi'om 
the  sewer  pipe  works,  and  has  since  devoted 
his  attention  to  the  perfection  of  his  rapidly 
growing  business.  He  has  recently  become 
sole  proprietor.  His  marriage  was  celebrated 
in  April,  1873,  Miss  Amelia  M.  Babb  becoming 
his  wife.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Jose])h  and 
Elizabeth  Babb,  and  was  born  in  Summit  Co.. 
Ohio,  August  7,  1852.  Tlii-ee  children  have 
blesged  their  union,  viz. :  Grace,  Henry  H. 
and  Louis.  Mr.  Camp  has  served  as  Mayor 
of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  and  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party. 

JOHN  DOUDS,  farmer;  P.  O.  Cuyahoga 
Falls;  was  born  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland, 
March  17,  1825,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Ellen  ( McEllenhatten )  Douds.  John  left  his 
native  land  in  1843.  and  landed  on  the  shores 


844 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


of  America  on  the  9th  day  of  Jime.  For  one 
year,  he  lived  near  Ottawa,  Canada,  and  then 
came  to  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  settled  in  Boston  Township, 
where  he  cleared  a  farm,  and  has  paid  his 
whole  attention  to  farming  and  dairying.  He 
was  married,  September  2,1845,  to  Mrs.  Mary 
A.  Cooke,  her  maiden  name  being  Drake;  she 
died  October  3,  1878,  having  borne  him  five 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  viz. :  Will- 
iam J.,  who  married  Margaret  J.  Shields; 
Carrie  E.,  wife  of  Albert  C.  Viers,  and  Anna 
M.,  wife  of  John  E.  Whaley.  He  has  also  an 
adopted  son,  named  Joseph  J.  Douds.  He 
was  again  married,  Nov.  27,  1879,  to  Mrs. 
Anna  Duncan,  widow  of  Col.  James  F.  Dun- 
can, of  Cuyahoga  Falls.  She  has  three  chil- 
di*en  living  by  her  first  union — George  A., 
Carrie  D.  and  Thomas  D.  Mrs.  Douds  is  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Chiu-ch.  He  has 
served  as  Trustee  for  many  years;  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 

JOSIAH  GAYLORD, Cuyahoga  Falls;  was 
born  in  Stow  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  in 
September,  1824;  he  is  a  son  of  Steward  and 
Mary  A.  (Creamer)  Gaylord,  and  grandson  of 
Steward  Gaylord.  Josiah's  father  was  a 
ship-carpenter  in  Middletown,  Conn.  Hav- 
ing a  large  family  of  children,  Mr.  Gaylord 
determined  to  come  West  to  Ohio,  that  they 
might,  in  the  then  new  country,  build  homes 
of  their  own.  In  1809,  he  and  a  number  of 
others  of  Middletown,  with  their  families  and 
ox  teams,  started  to  Ohio,  arriving,  after  a 
long  and  eventful  trip  of  forty- four  days,  in 
Stow  Township,  where  JVIr.  Gaylord  had  pre- 
viously purchased  a  tract  of  land  of  Judge 
Stow,  the  proprietor.  Knowing  biit  very  little 
about  pioneer  life,  he  employed  a  man  to  con- 
duct the  place,  while  he  went  to  Cleveland  to 
work  at  his  trade.  His  children  were  Mary, 
John,  Steward,  Almira,  George,  William, 
Josiah,  Hiram  and  Robert.  Mr.  Gaylord  died 
October  6,  1840,  after  having  lived  to  see 
many  of  the  mighty  forests  of  Stow  Township 
leveled  by  the  pioneer's  ax.  The  subject  of 
this  biography  was  reared  on  a  farm,  where 
he  received  the  rudiments  of  a  good  education. 
After  his  father's  death,  he  gradually  assumed 
control  of  the  old  homestead,  buying  out  the 


heirs  and  adding  to  the  place,  until  he  now 
owns  a  fine  faim  of  108  acres,  18  being  in 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  and  the  rest  in  Stow  Town- 
ship. On  the  former,  he  has  cleaa'ed  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  places  in  the  whole  neigh- 
borhood for  pleasure  parties,  picnics,  etc.  The 
grounds  are  admirably  situated  on  the  banks 
of  the  Cuyahoga,  and  a  more  convenient  place 
for  svich  purposes  can  hardly  be  found.  In 
1860,  Mr.  Gaylord  married  Laura  Beckley, 
daughter  of  Noel  Beckley;  she  bore  him  fom* 
childi'en,  viz.:  Mary,  Noel,  Willis  W.  and 
Norman  J .  The  pioneer  Gay  lords  were  old- 
fashioned  Presbyterians  in  religion,  and  Whigs 
(latterly  Republicans)  in  politics. 

W.  M.  GRIS WOLD,  ticket  agent,  Cuyahoga 
Falls;  was  born  July  21, 1835,  in  Middletown, 
Conn.,  and  is  a  son  of  Martin  and  Mary  (Post) 
Griswold,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut. His  father  moved  to  Ohio  in  1843, 
and  seciu'ed  a  farm  in  Summit  Co.,  Stow 
Township,  on  which  he  lived  a  number  of 
years  before  he  retired  to  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
where  he  now  resides.  When  19  years  old, 
W.  M.  commenced  working  in  the  railroad 
o£fice  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  he  has  since 
remained,  an  efficient  and  polite  official.  In 
1875,  he  became  the  telegraph  operator  for 
the  company,  and  combines  the  two  duties  in 
one.  He  was  manied,  in  1855,  t(-  Charlotte 
E.  Deming,  of  Summit  Co.  She  died  Oct.  30, 
1865,  leaving  two  chiildi'en,  Carrie  May  and 
Charlotte  E.  In  1868,  he  was  iinited  to  Mrs. 
Lavina  Stillwell  of  Portage  Co.  Two  chil- 
dren have  crowned  this  union  — Clarence  W. 
and  Ellen  M.  Both  Mi:  and  Mrs.  Griswold 
are  members  of  the  Disciples'  Cluu'ch.  He  is  a 
members  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Royal  Arca- 
num. He  has  served  as  Treasiu-er  of  the 
Township,  and  also  of  the  School  Board,  since 
1877.     He  is  a  Republican. 

J.  B.  HARRISON,  farmer;  P.  O.  Cuyahoga 
Falls;  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July 
16,  1808,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  P.  and 
Eleanor  Harrison,  who  came  to  that  county 
fi-om  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  about  the  year 
1804.  His  father  was  a  farmer  by  pm'suit, 
and  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  While  at 
Sackett's  Harbor,  he  contracted  a  disease 
from  which  he  died  in  December,  1814,  leav- 
ing a  family  of  small  children  to  the  mother's 


■^1 


CUYAHOGA    FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


845 


care.  Before  he  was  yet  10  years  old,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  went  to  live  with  a 
neisfhbor,  receiving;  his  "board  and  clothes" 
for  the  labor  he  could  perform,  and,  while 
thus  engaged,  he  no  doubt  laid  the  foundation 
of  industry  and  perseverance  that  has  been 
among  the  marked  characteristics  of  his  life. 
He  remained  with  him  nearly  five  years,  and 
then,  with  an  elder  brother,  conducted  the 
homestead  left  by  the  father.  When  19  years 
old,  he  commenced  working  out  by  the  month, 
and  for  foiir  years  was  thus  employed,  during 
which  his  hard-earned  money  was  carefully 
saved,  and  he  then  commenced  farming  for 
himself.  In  1836,  he  moved  to  Geauga  Co., 
Ohio,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and, 
in  1848,  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  he 
followed  the  same  business,  being  associated 
with  gentlemen  engaged  in  the  paper-mills  at 
this  point,  the  firm  being  J.  B.  Harrison  &  Co. 
In  1856,  he  withdrew  fi'om  the  store,  but  re- 
tained an  interest  in  the  paper-mills  until 
1865,  when  he  quit,  and  engaged  in  farming, 
owning  a  farm  near  the  town.  He  was  mar- 
ried, Feb.  13, 1832,  to  Miss  Caroline  Nichols; 
she  was  born  in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  June  U, 
1813,  and  accompanied  her  parents  to  Madi- 
son Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1823.  She  died  Jan.  4, 
1879,  having  blessed  their  union  with  thi'ee 
children,  viz.:  Olive,  Helen  A.  and  Joseph  B. 
The  eldest  was  married  to  William  C.  Hitch- 
cock, and  died  Sept.  10,  1857,  leaving  two 
small  children — Ida  M.  and  Charles  F.,  who 
have  been  since  members  of  Mr.  Harrison's 
family,  having  been  adopted,  and  reared  with 
the  same  care  as  his  own  childi-en.  They 
both  attended  the  University  at  Syracuse,  N. 
Y.,  and  the  elder  is  now  a  teacher  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  and  the 
yovmger  has  recently  engaged  in  the  manuf  act- 
m'e  of  pot-rivets,  being  associated  with  two 
other  gentlemen.  Mr.  Harrison's  son,  Joseph 
B.,  was  married  when  young,  to  Louise  Patter- 
son, and  is  now  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Drakesburg,  in  Portage  Co.,  where 
he  has  resided  since  1874.  He  has  one  child 
— CaiTie.  Mr.  Harrison  and  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church. 

F.  S.  HEATH  &  CO.,  di-uggists,  Cuyahoga 
Falls.  Among  the  reliable  business  firms  of 
the  pleasant  town  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  none 


stand  before  the  public  in  a  more  enviable 
position  than  the  one  above  named,  who  con- 
duct one  of  the  best  stores  in  Summit  Co, 
The  proprietors,  F.  S.  and  T.  F.  Heath,  are 
sons  of  Stephen  and  Hannah  (Chamberlain) 
Heath,  and  were  born  in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn. 
In  1835,  their  father  removed  to  Western  New 
York,  where  the  sons  gi"ew  to  matm'ity  and 
passed  their  early  life  on  the  farm.  In  July, 
1851,  T.  F.  Heath  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
having  graduated,  the  previous  March,  fi'om 
the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sm'geons  at 
New  York  City.  He  engaged  in  the  di'ug 
trade,  and,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year, 
was  joined  by  his  brother,  who  has  since  been 
his  partner,  and  conducted  the  telegraph  bus- 
iness since  1858.  The  Doctor  has  had  a 
lucrative  practice  since  coming  here,  and  stands 
high  in  the  medical  profession  of  the  county. 
He  was  married,  in  1854,  to  Emily  A.  Bruce; 
their  union  has  been  fi'uitful  of  thi-ee  children 
—Frank  T.,  Arthm-  T.  and  Gracie  E.  The 
eldest  attended  the  College  of  Pharmacy  at 
Chicago,  and  carefully  fitted  himself  for  the 
business  of  druggist.  Dr.  Heath  has  for 
many  years  been  agent  for  the  Charter  Oak 
Life  Insiirance  Company. 

H.  E.  HOWARD,  clothing  store,  Cuyahoga 
Falls;  was  born  at  Worthington,  Ohio,  Jan. 
2,  1823.  His  father,  C.  Howard,  was  an  en- 
terprising-and  industrious  business  man,  and 
for  many  years  resided  at  Delaware,  Ohio. 
He  moved  to  Cuyahoga  Falls  to  engage  in  the 
manufacture  of  paper,  and.  after  remaining 
hei'e  a  number  of  years,  went  to  Newark,  Ohio, 
where  he  conducted  the  Park  Hotel.  One 
year  later,  he  went  to  Zanesville  and  engaged 
in  the  coal  business,  which  he  followed  the 
rest  of  his  life.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
attended  Kenyon  College  two  yeai's,  and  made 
his  first  venture  in  the  business  world  as  a 
merchant  at  Delaware.  Ohio.  In  1855,  he 
came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  he  has  since 
resided,  being  associated  for  awhile  with  oth- 
ers in  a  paper-mill.  In  18()1,  he  entered  the 
army  as  Chief  Musician  of  the  12th  111.  V.  I., 
and,  when  his  services  were  no  longer  needed 
in  that  capacity,  he  was  employed  in  the  Pay- 
mastei"'s  depjuiment  until  near  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  then  traveled  for  a  large  paper 
fii-m  of  New  York  for  fourteen  years,  and  only 


846 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


recently  settled  down  to  his  present  business. 
His  marriage  was  celebrated  Nov.  (>,  1851, 
IVIiss  Cathariue  A.  Thompson,  of  Delaware, 
Ohio,  becoming  his  wife.  Their  union  has 
been  fruitful  of  seven  children — Mary,  Kate, 
Julia,  Fannie,  Jessie  (deceased),  Charles  and 
Bessie.  Mrs.  Howard  and  the  foui*  eldest 
daughters  are  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.     He  is  a  Republican. 

W.  A.  HL4NF0RD.  Mayor  and  Justice, 
Cuyahoga  Falls;  was  born  in  Noi'walk,  Conn., 
July  11,  181 U,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and 
Ruth  Hanford.  His  father  was  a  farmer  by 
pursuit,  and  died  in  that  State  in  1828.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch,  although  only  V)  years 
old  at  the  time,  came  to  Ohio  to  an  uncle,  who 
lived  at  Hudson,  in  what  is  now  Summit  Co., 
and,  for  three  years,  he  lived  in  that  town. 
After  buffeting  around  for  several  years,  he 
finally  settled  down  in  Tallmadge  Township, 
and  remained  until  1850,  when  he  moved  to 
Cuyahoga  Falls.  Engaging  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  paper,  the  business  prospered  and 
largely  increased  while  he  was  an  interested 
party,  but  the  enterprise  was  marred  by  vari- 
ous misfortunes  that  occurred,  and,  in  1868, 
he  withdrew,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
business  more  suited  to  his  taste  and  inclina- 
tions. He  is  engaged  in  the  insm-ance  busi- 
ness, and  holds  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  was  the  first  Mayor  of  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  and  is  now  filling  the  office  for  the  third 
tiiije.  Mr.  Hanford  is  well  known  throughoiit 
Summit  Co.,  and  has  endeared  himself  to 
many  of  her  citizens  by  his  courteous  manners 
and  business  integrity.  He  was  married, 
March  16,  1840,  to  Mary  T.  Sackett,  who  was 
born  in  Warren,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  June  5, 
181V),  and  accompanied  her  parents  when  they 
removed  to  Ohio.  This  union  has  been 
crowned  with  seven  children,  only  three  of 
whom  are  now  living,  viz.:  Charles,  Lewis  M. 
and  Henry  E.  Mr.  Hanford  was  one  of  the 
leading  spirits  in  the  organization  of  the 
Summit  County  Agricultm'al  Society,  and  held 
the  office  of  Secretary  dm'ing  the  early  part  of 
its  existence. 

W.  S.  HOUGH,  physician  and  surgeon, 
Cuyahoga  Falls;  is  a  son  of  Joel  I.  Hough, 
and  was  born  April  3,  1844,  in  Atwater,  Port- 
age Co.,  Ohio.    In  September,  1 861 ,  he  enlisted 


in  Battery  D,  1st  Ohio  Light  Artillery,  and 
served  for  one  and  a  half  years,  and  then  as 
Hospital  Steward  until  October,  1864.  Re- 
turning home,  he  entered  the  Charity  Hospital 
College  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  fi'om  which  he 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1866.  For  ten 
years  he  practiced  with  i)r.  J.  C.  Ferguson,  at 
Mogadore,  in  this  county,  and  then  located  at 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  he  has  a  lucrative 
practice.  His  marriage  was  celebrated  in 
June,  1867,  Miss  Anna  Golby,  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  becoming  his  wife.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  one  child — William  Condie. 
Dr.  Hough  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

JOSEPH  JONES,  horseshoeing,  Cuyahoga 
Falls;  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  Nov. 
12,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
(Acroyd)  Jones.  His  father  was  a  blacksmith 
by  trade,  and,  in  the  summer  of  1847,  emi- 
gi'ated  to  America  with  his  family  and  settled 
at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Ohio.  He  was  in  humble 
circumstances,  but,  by  industry  and  frugality, 
not  only  sustained  his  family,  but  became  the 
possessor  of  a  good  shop  and  had  a  flourishing 
trade.  He  died  Feb.  24,  1879,  having  been 
on  the  retired  list  for  a  nmnber  of  years. 
Joseph  was  the  eldest  son,  and,  when  10  years 
old,  went  to  work  in  the  shop  with  his  father, 
and,  when  15,  made  a  full  hand  at  the  trade. 
He  was  married,  December  31,  1862,  to  Miss 
Eveline  M.  Newburgh,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
Ohio,  her  birth  being  recorded  May  8,  1847. 
The  next  day  after  his  marriage,  he  assumed 
control  of  the  shop,  which  he  has  condiicted 
successfally  ever  since,  and  has  a  large  and 
flourishing  trade.  His  marriage  has  been 
fruitftil  of  seven  children,  viz.:  Carrie  Ida, 
Frank  E.,  Minnie  E.,  Lulu,  Charles  W., 
Maude  and  Birdie.  Mr.  Jones  is  a  man  of 
industrious  habits,  and  is  esteemed  by  the 
citizens  as  one  of  the  most  honorable  and  up- 
right men.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O. 
F.,  and  of  the  Town  Council.     He  is  a  Repub- 

JOSHUA  L'HOMMEDIEU,  grocer,  Cuya- 
hoga Falls;  was  born  in  Middletown,  Conn., 
March  16,  1821,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Betsey  (Gridley)  L'Hommedieu.  His  father 
was  a  rope-maker  by  trade,  and  passed  his  life 
a   resident   of    Connecticut,   dying  in    1837. 


4i 


ii 


CUYAHOGA    FALLS   TOWNSHIP. 


847 


Joshua  commenced  clerking  in  a  store  in 
Hartford  when  16  years  old,  and,  two  years 
later,  accepted  s  similar  position  at  Amherst, 
Mass.,  where  he  remained  until  1842,  when 
he  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Ohio.  He  en- 
gaged in  business  with  two  brothers  who  had 
preceded  him,  and  paid  his  first  attention  to 
the  manufacture  of  stai'ch,  and,  a  few  years 
later,  ran  a  large  ashery  and  gi'ocery  store  as 
well.  He  subsequently  enlarged  his  business, 
and  kept  a  store  of  general  merchandise,  and 
at  the  same  time  conducted  business  of  a  sim- 
ilar nature  at  Northampton,  and  at  Akron; 
was  also  in  this  kind  of  business  in  the  oil  re- 
gions of  Pennsylvania  during  the  height  of 
the  excitement,  but,  since  18f>i,  he  has  kept  a 
grocery  and  provision  store  only  at  Cuyahoga 
Falls.  He  was  Postmaster  of  Cuyahoga  Falls 
from  1858  to  1861,  and  has  served  as  Mayor 
of  the  town.  He  is  now  serving  hie  fourth 
term  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  a  third 
term  as  a  Director  of  Summit  County  Agri- 
cultui'al  Society.  He  was  maiTied,  in  March, 
1852,  to  Julia,  daughter  of  Sylvester  and 
Emma  Pease.  She  was  born  in  Summit  Co., 
Ohio,  in  April,  1834,  and  has  crowned  their 
union  with  six  chiidi-en,  four  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing, viz.:  Townsend  P.,  Mary  F.,  Arthm'  and 
Joshua  H.  Mrs.  L'Hommedieu  is  a  member 
of  the  Congregational  Church.  He  has  always 
acted  with  the  Democratic  party. 

L.  W.  LOOMIS,  dealer  in  stoves,  tin,  glass 
and  wooden  ware,  etc.,  Cuyahoga  Falls. 
Among  the  prominent  business  men  of  this 
place,  in  which  the  varied  industries  have 
drawn  together  a  large  number,  none,  perhaps, 
exercise  more  tact  or  display  better  judgment 
in  the  management  of  their  business  than  this 
gentleman,  who  conducts  one  of  the  leading 
houses  of  Northern  Ohio.  He  was  born  in 
Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  11,  1836,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Emeline  (Thomas)  Loomis. 
His  early  life  was  passed  on  his  father's  farm, 
and,  when  of  age,  he  commenced  the  battle  of 
life,  with  no  capital  save  his  natural  business 
qualifications  and  a  determination  to  succeed. 
For  foiu'  years  he  was  a  "tin  peddler"  for 
Smith  &  Herrington,  of  Waterloo,  N  .Y.,  and 
then  entered  the  service  of  his  country  as  a 
private  soldier  in  Co.  G,  13th  New  Yoi-k  V. 
I.     At  the  expiration  of  his  enlistment,  which 


was  for  two  years,  he  once  more  entered  the 
service  of  his  old  employers,  and,  in  February, 

1864,  accompanied  by  his  brother,  H.  E. 
Loomis,  he  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls  and 
founded  the  present  business.  Smith  &  Herr- 
ington, owning  a   half  interest.     In   March, 

1865,  he  bought  out  his  brother,  and,  in  1867, 
became  sole  proprietor.  He  has  a  large  num- 
ber of  wagons  on  the  road,  that  are  supplied 
with  wares  manuf  actiu'ed  at  his  shop,  and  by 
this  means  he  is  enabled  to  do  an  immense 
business.  He  has  also  a  large  branch  store  at 
Canton,  Ohio.  Mr.  Loomis  is  associated  with 
Mr.  H.  E.  Parks  in  the  proprietorship  of  the 
"  High  Bridge  Glens  and  Caves,"one  of  the 
most  pictm-esque  and  lovely  resorts  in  North- 
ern Ohio,  the  scenery  being  undoubtedly  the 
finest  in  the  State.  It  is  annually  visited  by 
thousands  of  pleasure- seekers,  and  Mr.  Loomis 
can  justly  be  proud  of  his  connection  with  the 
enterprise.  He  was  man'ied,  June  3,  1863,  to 
Jane  Curtiss,  of  Canandaigua,  N.  Y.  This 
union  has  been  blessed  with  five  children — 
Lilian  M.,  Byron  H.,  Irving  L.,  Melvin  C.  and 
Arthur  N.  Arthur  died  Oct.  30,  and  Melvin 
Nov.  4,  1880. 

JAMES  J.  MOORE,  Superintendent  of  the 
Falls  Wire  Manufacturing  Company,  Cuya- 
hoga Falls;  was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Perm., 
Feb.  14,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Margaret  Moore.  About  the  year  1835,  they 
moved  to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  they  lived 
some  fifteen  years,  and  then  went  to  Williams 
Co.,  Ohio.  James  clerked  in  a  store  for 
awhile,  and  then  secui-ed  a  position  on  the 
railroad  as  express  and  mail  agent.  In  1861, 
he  entered  the  service  of  the  Government,  in 
the  Paymaster's  Department,  and  was  thus  em- 
ployed until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  1870, 
he  entered  the  employ  of  Camp,  Cooke  &  Co., 
with  whom  he  remained  until  the  organization 
of  the  Falls  Wire  Company,  when  he  became 
its  Secretary,  and,  at  the  re-organization  in 
1 879,  under  the  name  of  the  Falls  Wire  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  he  was  retained  as 
Superintendent.  ^h\  Moore  is  a  genial  gen- 
tleman, and  spends  much  of  his  time  in  trav- 
eling in  the  interests  of  his  firm. 

GEORGE  PAUL,  civil  engineer,  Cuyahoga 
Falls;  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  widely 
known  citizens  of  this  county,  in  which  he  has 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCPIES: 


always  lived,  being  born  at  Cuyahoga  Falls 
Sept.  8,  1S87.  His  father,  Hosea  Paul,  was 
born  at  Braintree,  Vt.,  and  reared  at  Danville. 
He  passed  the  early  part  of  his  life  in  a  drug 
store,  and  studied  surveying  and  engineering. 
He  married  a  lady  by  the  name  of  Ellen  Gam- 
ble, who  came  to  America  from  County  Down, 
Ireland,  when  in  her  youth.  In  1834,  he 
moved  to  Ohio,  and  for  one  year  lived  at 
Wadsworth,  in  Medina  Co.,  when  he  came  to 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of 
his  life.  He  first  engaged  in  the  flouring 
business,  in  which  he  was  unfortunate,  and 
then  followed  engineering  and  surveying,  be- 
ing Surveyor  of  Summit  Co.  from  1857  until 
his  death,  in  May,  1870.  George  is  the  eld- 
est but  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  and 
learned  surveying  and  engineering  in  the  best 
of  all  schools — experience.  In  1857,  he  went 
to  the  machinist's  trade  and  served  three 
years  at  this  place,  and  has  the  honor  of  plan- 
ning the  first  steam  canal-boat  that  plied  on 
the  Ohio  Canal.  In  1860,  he  went  East,  and 
for  two  years  was  employed  in  various  shops. 
Passing  the  required  examination  for  an  en- 
gineer in  1862,  he  entered  the  regular  service 
of  the  United  States  Navy,  being  under 
Admiral  Dupont,  of  the  South  Atlantic  Squad- 
ron, three  years,  and  then  retiu-ned  to  his  sur- 
veying and  engineering,  which  he  has  since 
followed,  with  the  exception  of  a  short  time 
he  owned  a  machine-shop  at  this  place,  buying 
it  in  1867.  In  1878,  he  was  elected  member 
of  the  State  Board  of  Public  Works,  an  office 
he  has  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  State. 
He  was  married,  May  10,  1871,  to  Olive  A., 
daughter  of  Austin  and  Eliza  (Taylor)  Bab- 
cock.  She  was  born  May  21 , 1 842,  at  Cuyhoga 
Falls,  Ohio,  her  parents  coming  here  fi'om 
Massachusetts.  Mrs.  Paul  is  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  Politically,  Mr. 
Paul  is  a  Re]iulDlican. 

E.  C.  RUGGLES,  attorney,  Cuyahoga  Falls; 
was  born  at  Canfield,  Ohio,  May  14, 1840,  and 
is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Lucy  (Peck)  Ruggles. 
His  father  adopted  the  legal  profession  in 
early  life,  and  has  always  resided  at  Canfield, 
where  he  is  now  passing  a  retired  and  quiet 
life.  He  has  been  an  energetic  and  enter- 
prising man,  and  is  held  in  high  estimation 
by  the  members  of  the  bar,  with  whom  he  has 


been  associated  for  many  years.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  did  not  enjoy  the  usual  facili- 
ties for  acquiring  an  education,  and  for  some 
time  performed  light  duties  about  the  court 
house.  In  the  s})ring  of  1863,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Recorder  of  Claims  against  the  Gov- 
ernment, with  headquarters  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  and  filled  that  office  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  then  passed  two  years  in  Illi- 
nois, and  returned  to  Canfield  and  commenced 
the  study  of  law.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1869,  and,  in  the  summer  of  1873,  came  to 
Cuyahoga  Falls  from  Kent,  where  he  had 
located  some  two  years  previous.  He  now  en- 
joys a  lucrative  and  growing  practice,  and 
finds  this  a  pleasant  place  for  one  of  his  pro- 
fession. He  was  manried  in  April,  1859,  to 
Catharine,  daughter  of  William  and  Amanda 
(Mygatt)  McFarlane.  This  happy  union  has 
been  blessed  with  one  child — Ellen  M.  Mrs. 
Rugfofles  and  daughter  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church.  He  is  a  Republican. 
DR.  C.  W.  RICE  (deceased);  was  born  at 
Middlefield,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  15, 1803, 
and  was  a  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Bel- 
knap) Rice,  he  being  the  third  of  a  family  of 
ten  children.  He  passed  his  early  life  on  a 
farm,  and,  when  17  years  old,  went  to  the 
trade  of  book-binder,  which  he  worked  at  until 
he  was  25,  and  then  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  Ariel  Spaford,  of  Coopers- 
tovni,  N.  Y.  He  remained  with  him  about 
three  years  as  a  student,  and  graduated  from 
Fairfield  College,  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
January,  1829.  He  practiced  with  his  old 
preceptor  for  one  year,  and  then  came  to  Cuy- 
ahoga Falls,  Ohio,  where  he  soon  had  a  large 
practice.  He  stood  the  acknowledged  head  of 
the  profession  for  many  years,  and  died  Oct. 
7,  1861,  leaving  many  friends  to  mourn  his 
loss.  He  was  married,  Nov.  6,  1834,  to  Lucy 
W.  Wetmore,  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Nancy 
(Willard)  Wetmore.  She  was  born  in  Mid- 
dletown.  Conn.,  July  13,  1812,  and  accompa- 
nied her  parents  to  Ohio  in  1818.  They  se- 
cured a  farm  in  what  is  now  Siammit  Co., 
Stow  Township.  Dr.  Rice  was  throughout 
life  a  man  of  integi'ity,  and  bore  an  upright 
character  in  every  department  of  life.  He 
united  with  the  Episcopal  Church  soon  after 
coming  to  this  place,  and  was  an  upright  and 


-^  <5" 


'k^ 


CUYAHOG.l    FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


849 


cousistent  Christian,  devoting  much  of  his  time 
to  objects  of  charity.  His  marriage  was 
blessed  with  three  children — Sarah  F.,  Will- 
iam C.  and  George  W. 

WILLIAM  SOUTH^IAYD,  insurance,  Cuy- 
ahoga Falls;  was  born  May  16,  1880;  he  is  a 
son  of  Erastus  and  Clarissa  (Rice)  South- 
mayd,  who  were  parents  of  four  sons — Walter, 
William,  and  Horace  and  Henry  (twins). 
William  is  the  only  one  living  of  this  family. 
William's  father,  Erastus,  was  born  in  Mid- 
dletown.  Conn.,  March  29,  1847.  When  a 
young  man,  he  left  home  and  went  to  ISTew 
York  City  to  take  charge  of  a  mercantile  busi- 
ness there  for  his  brother.  His  brother  failed, 
and,  in  the  fall  of  1818,  Mr.  Southmayd  came 
to  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  and  that  winter  taught 
school  there.  In  the  spring  of  1819,  he  came 
to  Stow  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  He 
taught  school  in  that  county,  the  winters  of 
1819  and  1820,  and  then  went  back  to  Con- 
necticut, where  he  remained  but  one  year, 
when  he  again  came  to  Stow  Township,  and, 
April  18,  1822,  married  Anna,  daughter  of 
Caleb  Wetmore.  By  her  he  had  thi'ee  chil- 
dren— Lucy,  Charles  and  Leonard.  Lucy  is 
now  dead.  Charles  was  born  Feb.  4,  1825. 
He  married  Helen  A.  Wilson,  an  adopted 
daughter  of  Darius  AVilson,  and  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Stow  Township.  A  biographical  sketch 
of  Leonard  will  be  found  in  another  part  of 
this  work.  Mr.  Southmavd's  wife  died  Dec. 
19, 1826,  and,  March  21, 1827,  he  married  Clar- 
issa Rice,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Clarissa  Rice  was  born  Feb.  6,  1805, 
and  was  the  second  white  child  born  in  Stow 
Township.  To  this  union  were  born  four 
children,  as  stated  above.  Mr.  Southmayd 
died  Oct.  10, 1866,  and  his  second  wife  March 
14,  1879.  William  Soiithmayd  was  reared  on 
the  old  hom  estead  in  Stow.  He  was  married 
Nov.  4,  1852,  to  Martha,  daughter  of  Darius 
Wilson.  This  union  was  blessed  with  two 
children — Lucy,  born  May  13,  1855,  married 
Charles  N.  Gay  lord,  and  resides  at  Monroe 
Falls;  George  M.,  born  Jan.  12,  1863.  Mrs. 
Southmayd  was  born  Dec.  27,  1831,  and  is 
one  in  a  family  of  seven.  Mr.  Southmayd 
started  in  life  with  scarcely  anything.  He 
now  owns  the  old  homestead  in  Stow— 48 
acres — which  has  been  in  the  Southmayd  fam- 


ily fifty-three  years.  He  owns  a  house  and 
lot  in  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  he  resides.  Mr. 
Southmayd  represents  the  Citizens"  Mutual 
Relief  Association,  one  of  the  best  and  most 
reliable  insiu-ance  firms  in  the  State  of  Ohio. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Southmayd  taught 
school  considerably.  He  is  a  teacher  of  ten 
winters'  experience.  He  and  wife  have  been 
members  of  the  Church  of  Christ  thirty-one 
years,  in  which  he  has  held  positions  of  honor 
and  trust.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
has  been  Township  Clerk  of  Stow  twenty 
years.  In  October,  1879,  he  was  elected  to 
till  a  vacancy  as  one  of  the  Directors  of  the 
County  Infirmary,  and  re-elected  in  1880,  for 
three  years.  Horace  Southmayd,  brother  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  in  the  42d  O. 
V.  I.,  under  Col.  (now  President)  Garfield,  and 
was  in  the  engagement  at  Middle  Creek,  Ky., 
where  the  Union  forces  met  the  rebels  under 
Humphrey  Marshall,  and,  as  it  was  said,  "  let 
daylight  shine  for  the  first  time  in  Kentucky." 
Horace  was  wounded  here,  but  did  not  leave 
the  service  until  he  was  afterward  taken  ill. 
His  folks  went  after  him  and  brought  him 
home,  where  he  died  in  May,  1862. 

P.  H.  STANDISH,  chain  works,  Cuyahoga 
Falls;  was  born  at  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y.,  May  5, 
1835,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Relief  (Hay- 
den)  Standish.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  and  comes  of  a 
family  who  were  noted  for  their  ingenuity 
and  mechanical  skill.  He  was  connected  with 
one  of  the  first  cotton-mills  in  that  State,  and 
his  whole  life  was  one  continued  round  of 
enterprise  and  industry.  He  conducted  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  business  during  his  life-time, 
and  resided  in  various  parts  of  the  Union.  In 
1850,  he  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  he 
remained  some  seven  years,  and  then  went  to 
California,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  life. 
When  the  siibject  of  this  sketch  was  of  age,  he 
crossed  the  mountains  to  the  Golden  State, 
where  his  ingenuity  and  mechanical  skill  were 
in  ready  demand,  and  there  he  engaged  in 
business.  The  manufactui'e  of  agricultural 
implements  received  his  attention,  and  he  in- 
vented the  celebrated  Standish  Steam  Plow, 
that  is  covered  by  letters  patent  in  several 
countries  of  Europe,  as  well  as  in  the  United 
States.     He  was  also  quite  largely  interested 


850 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


in  the  milling  industry.  He  returned  to- 
Missouri  in  1871,  and  resided  in  that  State 
until  1878,  for  two  years  being  master  me- 
chanic in  the  penitentiary  at  Jefferson  City. 
He  was  engaged  in  manufacturing  in  St.  Louis 
quite  extensively,  and  then  came  to  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  where '  he  is  conducting  a  large 
business,  that  adds  materially  to  the  growth 
and  prosperity  of  the  town.  He  was  married, 
in  1857,  to  Marie  Gorham,  of  California, 
Wisconsin  being  the  place  of  her  birth.  This 
union  has  been  blessed  with  one  child,  a 
daughter,  named  Almira. 

GEOROE  SACKETT,  farmer;  P.  O.  Cuy- 
ahoga Falls;  is  a  son  of  Aaron  and  Huldah 
(Tanner)  Sackett,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  and  was  born  Jan. 
6,  1821,  in  that  county.  His  father  was  a 
farmer  by  pursuit,  and  in  1838,  moved  to  what 
is  now  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  and  secured  a  farm 
in  Tallmadge  Township.  His  companion  died 
in  April,  1855,  and  he  in  June,  1873,  at  the 
residence  of  a  son  in  Copley  Township,  where 
he  had  been  living  a  few  years.  George  was 
reared  to  farming,  and,  by  industry  and  econ- 
omy, at  length  secured  a  tract  of  Ifind  in  the 
township  of  Cuyahoga  Falls.  It  was  all  for- 
est, and  was  cleared  mostly  by  himself,  and 
has  since  been  partly  laid  out  and  sold  as 
town  lots.  Mr.  Sackett  was  married,  iu  Sep- 
tember, 1848,  to  Helen  Williams;  she  died  in 
1851,  and  he  was  then  united  to  Fanny  V. 
Grant,  on  the  9th  day  of  February,  1854. 
This  union  has  been  blessed  with  one  child — 
Mary  P.  Mi-.  Sackett  has  a  pleasant  and  re- 
fined home,  and  can  now  enjoy  the  fruits  of 
his  early  labors  with  the  satisfaction  of  know- 
ing that  industry  and  integrity  are  sure  to 
have  iheir  reward.  He  has  held  different 
ofiices,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  citizens  of  the 
county,  and,  in  1880,  was  Real  Estate  Ap- 
praiser of  the  township  of  Cuyahoga  Falls. 
The  same  year,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  State  Board  of  Equalization,  to  represent 
the  counties  of  Summit  and  Portage.  Both 
he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.     He  is  a  Republican. 

E.  N.  SILL,  bank,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  was 
bom  in  Windsor,  Conn.,  Jan.  6,  1801,  and  is 
a  son  of  Elisha  N.  and  Chloe  (Allyn)  Sill.  His 
father  was  a  physician,  and  devoted  the  active 


part  of  his  life  to  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  the  State  of  Connecticut.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  is  the  third  of  a  family  of  nine 
children,  and  graduated  from  Yale  College  in 
1820.  For  several  years  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing, and,  in  1829,  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  For  a  short  time 
he  was  engaged  iu  manuf  actm'ing,  and,  having 
been  instrumental  in  the  organization  of  the 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Portage 
Co.,  was  chosen  Secretary — an  office  he  held 
until  the  expiration  of  its  charter.  The  Sum- 
mit Co.  Branch  of  the  Ohio  State  Bank  was 
located  at  this  point,  and  Mr.  Sill  became  its 
President  soon  after.  He  has  ever  since  held 
that  position  in  the  bank  at  Cuyahoga  Falls — 
first,  in  the  National  Bank,  which  he  organized, 
and  at  present  in  the  Inter-National  Bank. 
He  has  also  been  Director  in  the  First  National 
Bank  since  its  organization.  Mr.  Sill  served 
one  term  as  State  Senator,  and,  for  the  seven 
years  following  that  service,  was  Frmd  Com- 
missioner of  the  State.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church  and  a  well-known 
and  highly  respected  citizen  of  the  town  of 
Cuyahoga  Falls. 

R.  J.  THOMAS,  manufacturer  of  stone- 
ware, Cuyahoga  Falls;  was  born  in  Wales, 
Aug.  24,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Anna 
(Rees)  Thomas.  His  father  was  a  blacksmith 
by  trade,  and,  in  1835,  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  in  Palmyra  Town- 
ship, Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  ever  after 
lived.  Here  he  secured  a  farm,  and,  although 
he  worked  at  his  trade  some  at  first,  he  may  be 
said  to  have  been  a  farmer  after  coming  to 
America.  Five  children  accompanied  the  par- 
ents to  this  country,  and  four  were  born  to 
them  after  their  arrival.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  were  consistent  members  of  the  Uni- 
tarian Church,  and  their  industrious  habits 
crowned  them  with  a  competency  before  their 
death.  She  died  in  February,  1867,  and  he 
in  December,  1868.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  received  a  good  education,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  taught  school  during  the  winter  sea- 
son. In  the  spring  of  1857,  he  entered  the 
employ  of  William  H.  Harris,  of  this  county, 
who  owned  and  operated  a  large  coal-mine, 
and,  in  July,  1859,  he  leased  the  mines  and 
conducted  them  until  the  spring  of  1867,  with 


^ 


i  y 


CLTYAIIOGA   FALLS    TOWNSHIP. 


851 


tlie  exception  of  two  years  that  he  passed  in 
Trnmbull  Co.  He  engaged  in  the  manufact- 
ure of  stoneware  at  that  time,  and  has  a 
younger  brother  for  a  partner.  Their  busi- 
ness is  conducted  on  an  extensive  scale,  but 
fails  to  meet  the  demands  of  their  numerous 
})atrons,  and  they  therefore  buy  largely  from 
other  manufacturers.  Mr.  Thomas  was  mar- 
ried, March  31,  1860,  to  Aim,  a  daughter  of 
David  S.  and  Hannah  Davis.  She  was  born 
in  Wales  in  February,  1838,  and  accompanied 
her  parents  to  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  when  in  her 
childhood.  Their  union  has  been  fruitful  of 
six  children,  fom*  of  whom  are  living,  viz.: 
Edwin  D.,  Irving  Seward,  Hattie  and  Franklin 
W.  Mr.  Thomas  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church. 

GRANT  B.  TURNER,  Variety  Iron  Works, 
Cuyahoga  Falls;  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Rosanna  (Owen)  Turner,  and  was  born  Oct. 
17,  1810,  in  Blooming  Grove,  Orange  Co.,  N. 
Y.  His  father  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  and,  in 
1818,  moved  to  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
remained  ten  j^ears,  and  then  came  to  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his 
life.  Grant  B.  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of 
four  children,  and,  when  19  years  old,  went  to 
the  printer's  trade,  in  the  office  of  the  Western 
Intelligencer,  at  Hudson,  Ohio.  After  five  years 
application,  he  left  the  business,  and  has  since 
devoted  his  attention  to  other  pursuits.  For 
four  years,  he  was  Deputy  Sheriff  of  Portage 
Co.  He  studied  law,  and,  after  his  admission 
to  the  bar,  practiced  the  profession  for  sev- 
eral years.  In  1850,  he,  in  company  with  sev- 
eral other  gentlemen,  founded  the  Variety  Iron 
Works,  the  firm  being  Turner,  Parks  &  Co 
Mr.  Turner  is  the  only  one  of  the  original 
firm  connected  with  the  business  at  the  present 
time,  his  partners  being  Messrs.  J.  A.  Vaughn 
and  W.  A.  Taylor,  two  well-known  business 
men.  Their  facilities  for  manufacturing  are 
excellent,  and  their  reputation,  earned  by 
years  of  careful  attention  to  the  wants  of  their 
patrons,  places  them  in  an  enviable  position 
in  the  business  world.  Among  the  many 
things  manufactured  at  their  shops  are  steam 
engines,  grain- cleaning  machinery,  mill 
gearing,  wire- working  machinery,  and  clay- 
grinding  machines — a  part  of  which  are  cov- 
ered by  patents  taken  out  by  this  firm.     The 


demand  for  their  products  is  not  confined  to 
the  United  States,  but  includes  considerable 
trade  with  several  European  countries.  Mr. 
Turner  was  married,  April  30,  1835,  to  Ada 
Morley,  of  Cunandaigua,  N.  Y.  They  have 
three  children  — Aiigusta,  Hattie  and  Alice,  all 
of  whom  are  married. 

D.  J.  THOMAS,  manufacturer  of  stoneware, 
Cuyahoga  Falls;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Anna 
(Rees)  Thomas,  and  was  born  in  Palmyra  Town- 
ship, Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  April  14, 1841.  When 
19  years  old,  he  came  to  Tallmadge  Township, 
in  Summit  Co.,  and  went  to  work  in  the  coal- 
banks.  Aug.  24,  1862,  he  was  married  to 
Maria  Thomas,  of  Poi'tage  Co.,  whex-e  she  was 
born  April  15,  1841.  Two  days  after  this 
iiniou,  Sir.  Thomas  went  into  camp  at  Massil- 
lon,  having  enlisted,  previous  to  his  marriage, 
in  Co.  C,  115th  O.  V.  I.  He  served  thi-ee 
years,  and  was  captured  at  Laverne,  Tenn., 
but  escaped  ten  days  later,  while  at  Coliunbia, 
being  then  on  his  way  to  the  prison  pens  of 
the  South.  He  returned  to  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
and  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  provision 
business  with  John  I.  Jones,  with  whom  he 
remained  about  one  year,  when  he  withdi-ew 
and  engaged  in  his  present  business.  His 
companion  died  May  31,  1863,  and  he  was 
again  united  in  the  bonds  of  marriage  the 
13th  day  of  July,  1867,  Ruth  Williams,  of  Tall- 
madge, becoming  his  wife.  This  union  has 
been  fniitful  of  six  children,  viz.:  Ella  D., 
Delbert  J.  (deceased),  Lizzie  A.,  Walter 
(deceased),  Sarah  Josephine,  and  Mabel  Carrie 
(deceased).  Mrs.  Thomas  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church. 

MAJ.  CHARLES  WRIGHT  WETMORE 
(deceased),  was  born  in  St.  Albans,  Vt.,  Sept. 
8,  1803,  where  he  passed  his  boyhood  and 
early  manhood.  He  was  man'ied  to  Miss 
Hazeltine  in  1825.  They,  with  their  thi-ee 
children,  moved  to  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  in  1830, 
where  Mr.  Wetmore  established  himself  in 
business.  In  1832,  they  removed  to  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  where  the  remaining  years  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wtemore's  life  were  spent.  During 
these  years,  Mr.  Wetmore  has  repeatedly  oc- 
cupied high  public  trusts  at  the  solicitation  of 
his  fellow-citizens.  He  held  the  office  of 
Mayor  several  successive  tenns,  and  was  so 
generally  popular  throughout  the  Reserve  that, 


;f7 


M'. 


853 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


had  tie  aspired  to  political  honors,  he  would 
undoubtedly  have  received  the  highest  offices 
within  the  gift  of  the  people  of  the  State. 
His  domestic  tastes,  however,  induced  him  to 
seek  a  more  quiet  life,  and  the  circle  of  his 
usefulness  and  civil  duties  were  circumscribed 
by  his  own  choice.  Mr.  Wetmore  was  one  of, 
and  for,  the  people;  distinguished  for  his  sym- 
pathy and  benevolence.  It  was  his  delight, 
during  his  active  life,  to  assist  young  men 
starting  out  in  their  career — professional  or 
business.  For  a  number  of  years  previous  to 
his  death,  Mr.  Wetmore  was  quite  infirm,  but, 
throughoiit  the  time,  a  cheerful,  uncomplain- 
ing invalid,  always  glad  to  see  the  fi-iends  who 
remembered  the  Major  with  affection.  His 
life  work  ended  Sept.  29, 1880.  Funeral  serv- 
ices were  conducted  at  the  house  by  the  Rev. 
E.  V.  H.  Danner,  and  at  the  grave  by  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  of  which  the  deceased  had 
been  a  member  during  the  greater  part  of  his 
life.  His  wife  was  born  in  the  year  1800; 
she  was,  on  her  mother's  side,  a  descendant  of 
the  Worcesters,  who  were  early  settlers  at 
Worcester,  Mass.,  and  from  whom  it  is  said 
the  town  took  its  name.  For  some  time  pre- 
vious to  their  marriage,  Mrs.  Wetmore  had  been 
living  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Judge  Bridges,  in 
St.  Albans,  Vt.,  and  had  enjoyed  the  privilege 
of  a  good  education  and  intelligent  society; 
it  was  hard  for  her  to  think  of  locating  in  a 
Western  hamlet,  without  schools,  churches  or 
anything  which  makes  society  worth  living  for. 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  at  that  time,  had  a  store,  a 
hotel,  a  few  dwellings,  several  mills,  and  a 
schoolhouse;  in  the  latter,  religious  services 
were  held  once  in  two  weeks.  Full  of  the 
spirit  of  enterprise,  added  to  earnest  religious 
zeal,  Mrs.  Wetmore  determined  to  awaken 
interest,  if  possible,  in  the  formation  of  a 
Sabbath  school.  She  met  with  many  discoui*- 
agements,  but  finally  the  influential  family  of 
Mrs.  H.  Newberry  pledged  their  assistance, 
and  the  work  progressed  without  opposition. 
Mrs.  Wetmore,  with  the  aid  of  the  Misses 
Mary  and  Fanny  Newberry,  founded  the  first 
Sabbath  school  in  Cuyahoga  Falls  in  the 
spring  of  1888,  and  continued  one  of  its 
teachers  until  advancing  years  and  growing 
cares  caused  her  to  retire.  So  remarkable  was 
her  modesty,  and  so  unmindful  was  she  of  her 


charitable  deeds,  that  not  till  within  the  past 
few  years  did  she  relate  to  her  family  the 
early  history  of  the  school,  and  her  relation  to 
it.  She  was  one  of  the  few  who  were  instru- 
mental in  organizing  the  first  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  town.  The  Maternal 
Association,  which  was  organized  a  few  years 
later,  she  was  a  leading  member  of.  It  was 
a  society  composed  of  praying  mothers,  who 
often  met  to  consult  in  regard  to  the  religious 
training  of  their  children.  Mrs.  Wetmore 
was  one  of  the  few  who  composed  the  Congre- 
gational Church  at  its  organization.  She  was 
ever  a  consistent  and  devoted  member  of  that 
church,  her  position  being  aggi'essive  against 
anything  that  tended  to  lower  its  orthodoxy  or 
to  enfeeble  its  spirituality.  She  was  pledged 
to  its  benevolent  enterprises.  Her  highest 
ambition  for  her  children  was  that  they  might 
be  intelligent  and  Christian  laborers  in  the 
church  so  dear  to  her.  Her  cheerful  disposi- 
tion added  to  her  faith  in  the  wisdom  of  the 
providences  of  God,  enabled  her  to  rise  above 
sorrow,  and  ever  minister  to  those  of  less  faith 
and  fortitude.  She  was  a  generous  friend  to 
the  home  missionary.  One  of  these,  in 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  a  religious  news- 
paper, on  which  she  annually  paid  the  sub- 
scription for  him,  begged  the  privilege  of  call- 
ing her  "mother."  A  lady  in  Boston  writes: 
"She  was  the  only  mother  I  ever  knew." 
And  many  others,  especially  orphans,  or  those 
whose  circumstances  would  place  them  in 
reach  of  her  care  or  benevolence,  think  they 
also  have  the  right  to  claim  her  as  a  "  mother  " 
indeed.  She  possessed  an  inexhaustible  fund 
of  knowledge,  from  which  she  could  draw  with 
adaptability,  as  occasion  demanded.  Much  of 
the  Bible  she  could  repeat;  one  had  only  to 
commence  a  verse,  when  she  would  continue  to 
repeat,  from  memory,  the  rest  of  the  chapter. 
Her  mind  was  a  storehouse  of  history,  both 
sacred  and  profane.  Possessing  rare  execu- 
tive ability,  excellent  judgment,  and  that  val- 
uable gift,  common  sense,  we  can  justly  say 
she  was  a  j^erson  of  uncommon  character  and 
endowments;  and  at  her  demise — which  oc- 
curred Christmas  night,  1877,  aged  77  years 
and  8  months  —the  loss  was  severely  felt  in 
many  directions,  but  fell  especially  severe  on 
her  own  family.     The  self-sacrificing  mother 


[yi: 


ik* 


NORTHAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 


was  the  idol  almost  worshiped  by  her  children, 
who  delighted  in  her  brilliant,  cultured  intel- 
lect, her  ready  wit  and  her  finely  drawn  con- 
clusions; they  rejoiced  in  her  independence  of 
thovight  and  action,  and  her  pitying  scorn  for 
what  was  wrong,  and  that  she  dared  to  live  a 
life  of  non- conformity  to  the  vain  customs  of 
the  world.  Of  herself  she  seldom  spoke  or 
thought;  for  herself  she  seemed  not  to  have 
ever  lived.  It  was  love  and  ministry  unceas- 
ing for  husband,  children  and  grandchildren, 
that  made  her  appear  like  an  angel  of  light  in 
her  own  household.  She  was  calculated  to 
lead  each  member  of  her  family  in  thought 
and  action;  even  the  strongest  were  leaning 
upon  her  comparatively  unimpaired  faculties, 
when  she  was  suddenly  called  away.  The 
siu'viving  members  of  the  family  are  Miss 
Salome  S.  Wetmore,  who  is  a  resident  of  the 
village;  Mrs.  Louise,  wife  of  Capt.  H.  S.  Wet- 
more,  of  South  America;  and  William  Shep- 
ard  Wetmore,  of  the  firm  of  Frazer  &  Co., 
merchants,  of  Hong  Kong  and  Shanghai, 
China. 

J.  F.  WEIDNER,  cooper,  Cuyahoga  Falls; 
was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  Jan.  18, 
1827.  His  father,  Michael  Weidner,  was  a 
farmer,  and  passed  his  life  in  his  native  land. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  8  days  old 
when  his  mother  died,  and,  as  is  usual  in  such 


cases,  he  grew  to  maturity  without  that  kind 
and  watchful  care  that  none  but  mothers  know 
how  to  bestow.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
cooper,  and,  in  1849,  emigrated  to  America 
for  the  purpose  of  acquiring  a  position  in  the 
world  that  he  considered  was  beyond  his  reach 
while  in  the  "  Fatherland."  Coming  to  Ohio, 
he  passed  one  year  at  Cleveland,  and,  in  March, 
1850.  became  a  citizen  of  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
where  he  has  since  resided  and  worked  at  his 
trade.  His  industrious  habits,  coupled  with 
his  business  integrity,  has  given  him  a  com- 
petency, and  here  he  has,  as  it  were,  realized 
the  dreams  of  his  youth.  He  was  married  at 
Vermillion,  Ohio,  Aug.  9,  1853,  to  Miss  Cath- 
arine Hess.  She  was  born  in  Hessen,  Ger- 
many, July  18,  1832,  and  came  to  America 
when  4  years  old.  Their  happy  and  prosper- 
ous union  has  been  blessed  with  five  children 
— Elizabeth  C,  Charles  A.,  Mary  C,  George 
F.  and  Nellie  G.  The  eldest  married  Mr.  E. 
E.  Pierce,  and  resides  at  New  Brighton,  Penn. ; 
Charles  married  Miss  Elsie  Smith,  and  resides 
at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  he  is  interested  in 
the  manufacture  of  pot-rivets.  Mi*.  Weidner, 
wife  and  two  eldest  daughters  ai'e  members 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  of  which  he  is  Treasurer, 
and  takes  an  active  part  in  its  prosperity,  hav- 
ing been  connected  therewith  over  twenty 
years.     He  is  a  Republican. 


NORTHAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 


JOHN  A.  BOTZUM,  Buckeye.  John  George 
Botzum,  father  of  this  gentleman,  was  born  in 
German}'  in  179G.  He  was  the  son  of  John 
Botzum,  who  was  a  native  of  German\%  and  the 
parents  of  one  son  (John  G.),  and  two  daughters. 
John  G.  was  married  to  Miss  Catharine  Draga- 
ser,  in  1819.  She  was  a  native  of  the  village 
of  Urmmerspach,  Germany,  where  she  was  born 
in  1796.  Her  parents  moved  to  Poland  when 
she  was  7  years  of  age,  leaving  her  with  her 
mother's  brother  in  Germany.  She  never  saw 
her  parents  afterward,  and  continued  to  reside 
with  her  relatives  until  her  marriage  with  Mr. 
Botzum.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing family  of  children  :  Michael,  born  in  1820  ; 
Catharine,  in  1821.  and  died  in  1825  ;  Susan. 


born  in  1823  ;  Nicholas,  in  1825  ;  George,  in 
1827  ;  John,  in  1829,  and  died  in  1834  ;  Adam, 
born  in  1830  ;  Catharine,  in  1832  ;  John  A.,  in 
1834,  and  Conrad  in  183G.  All  of  these  chil- 
dren were  born  in  German}-,  except  Conrad. 
In  1836,  Mr.  Botzum  and  family  left  their  na- 
tive village,  and  went  b}'  ox  team  to  the  sea- 
board, where  thej'  took  passage  on  the  vessel 
Princeosa  for  the  United  States,  arriving  at 
New  York  on  the  17th  of  July  of  the  same  year. 
Here  they  met  an  agent,  who,  after  some  talk, 
persuaded  Mr.  Botzum  to  go  to  South  America, 
where  he  was  told  a  fortune  awaited  him.  Be- 
fore they  had  completed  arrangements  for  the 
voyage,  however,  Mr.  Botzum  learned  from  the 
authorities  that  it  was  a  plan  to  get  himself  and 


854 


lilOGK  A  PII I C  A  J .    SKETCHES : 


lamil}'  to  that  far-off  country,  where  they  would 
be  sold  into  slavery  This  decided  him  in  his 
course,  and,  in  a  short  time,  we  find  the  family 
aboard  a  fiat-boat  on  their  way  to  Albany. 
From  there  they  went  by  canal  to  Buffalo  ; 
thence  by  the  lake  to  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Here 
the  family  were  compelled  to  stop  for  a  time, 
owing  to  sickness  in  the  family.  After  a  short 
time,  they  took  passage  on  an  open  flat-boat  on 
the  canal  for  Niles.  From  there  they  went  to 
(Ihent,  in  Bath  Township.  Here  Mr.  Botzum 
obtained  work  at  50  cents  per  day,  digging  a 
mill  race.  The}'  remained  at  this  place  two 
3'ears,  and,  while  the  father  was  at  work  so  hard, 
his  good  wife  found  time  to  go  into  the  wheat 
fields  of  the  farmers  of  that  neighborhood,  and 
glean,  as  did  Ruth  of  old.  The  first  season  her 
gleanings,  when  threshed,  amounted  to  eight 
husheh  of  nice  wheat.  x\fter  a  sta^'  of  tw'o  3'ears 
at  Grhent,  thej'  removed  to  Niles,  and,  after  four 
years,  purchased  a  farm,  upon  which  the}'  ever 
afterward  resided.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Botzum  were 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  would 
often  walk  great  distances  to  attend  church.  In 
1839.  the}'  walked  to  Canton,  Ohio,  to  attend 
church  at  that  place.  They  were  frugal,  indus- 
trious people,  and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
them.  John  A.  Botzum  was  raised  upon  a 
farm,  receiving  but  a  limited  education.  When 
about  18  years  of  age,  he  went  to  Cleveland, 
and,  for  about  a  year,  was  engaged  as  clerk  in 
a  mercantile  house.  He  then  returned  home, 
and.  until  1858,  was  variously  employed.  He 
then  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Botzum 
Station,  where  he  has  since  remained,  and,  dur- 
ing tiiat  time,  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  that  place. 
He  has  been  quite  an  extensive  dealer  in  lum- 
ber, live  stock  and  real  estate,  and,  when  the 
Valley  Railroad  was  building,  took  the  contract 
for  grading  one  and  a  half  miles  of  the  road, 
near  Botzinn  Station.  The  man  he  contracted 
with  proved  worthless,  and  Mr.  Botzum  lost,  in 
this  undertaking,  over  $5,000.  Mr.  Botzum  was 
married  to  a  Miss  Stout,  a  native  of  Northampton 
Township,  this  county.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
George  and  P]liza  (Woolford)  Stout,  appropriate 
j  mention  of  whom  is  made  in  another  part  of 
I  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Botzum  are  the  parents 
j  of  two  sons,  to  whom  they  have  given  superior 
I  advantages  for  obtaining  educations.  Mr.  Bot- 
zum is  a  self-made  man,  in  the  fullest  sense  of 
I   the  word.     He  is  a  good  and  useful  citizen,  and 


has  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  entire 
community. 

A.  (1.  BILLMAN,  fiirmer  and  stock-raiser  ; 
P.  0.  Akron  ;  was  born  near  Wooster,  Wayne 
Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  18,  1838.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Maria  (Best)  Billman,  and  grandson  of 
David  and  Mary  (McDonald)  Billman.  and 
great-grandson  of  John  and  Julia  (De  Caveren) 
Billman.  The  last  tvvo  were  natives  of  Prussia, 
and  John  was  one  of  the  regular  soldiers  there. 
Becoming  tired  of  the  service,  he  ran  away  and 
shipped  on  board  a  vessel  bound  for  the  United 
States,  where  he  arrived  in  safety.  Soon  aft(n- 
his  arrival  the  war  between  the  colonies  and 
Great  Britain  broke  out,  and  Mr.  Billman 
immediately  offered  his  services  in  behalf  of 
the  colonies  to  Gen.  Washington.  Owing  to  his 
previous  experience  he  was  commissioned  Cap- 
tain, but  by  bravery  was  promoted  to  Colonel. 
He  served  through  the  whole  eight  years, 
participating  in  the  battle  of  Lexingt(jn,  the 
campaign  of  Virginia,  and  was  with  Gen. 
Washington  at  Valley  F  rge,  where,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  rest  of  the  troops,  passed  one  of 
the  most  severe  winters  of  suffering  ever  known 
in  the  history  of  war.  He  was  wounded  three 
times,  but  never  quit  the  service.  After  the 
close  of  the  war,  he  married  Julia  De  Caveren, 
and  was  made  overseer  of  '  Hamilton's  Planta- 
tion" in  Virginia,  four  miles  from  Gen.  Wash- 
ington's. At  the  end  of  four  years  he  had 
saA'ed  sufficient  money  to  purchase  a  large 
farm  of  unimproved  land,  but,  in  time,  turned 
it  into  a  plantation.  In  1818,  he  sold  this 
property  and  purchased  a  large  farm  near  Bal- 
timore, Md..  and,  in  1819,  his  death  occurred. 
His  eldest  son  David  moved  to  Lancaster  Co., 
Penn.,  soon  after  his  father's  death,  and  lived 
there  until  about  1825,  when  he  was  induced  l)y 
Gen.  Bell,  whom  he  had  served  under  as  pri- 
vate in  the  war  of  1812,  to  remove  to  Wayne 
Co.,  Ohio.  He  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land 
near  Wooster.  He  died  here  in  1860.  His 
third  child  was  Henry  Billman.  who  is  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was 
born  in  Lancaster  Co..  Penn.,  and  married  his 
wife,  Maria  Best,  in  Allegheny  Co.  He  came 
with  his  parents  to  Ohio  in  1825,  and,  in  1845, 
came  with  his  family  to  Northampton  Town- 
ship, Summit  Co.,  and  purchased  the  fiirm  on 
which  his  son  Alexander  now  resides.  He  was 
one  of  the  few  men  who  commanded  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  every  one,  and  of   him  could  be 


-k- 


NORTHAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 


855 


trul}'  said  he  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church.  Alexander  G.  Billman  was 
reared  principall}'  on  the  farm,  and  in  3'outh  he 
received  a  good  education.  He  was  married, 
Feb.  21,  1861,  to  Eliza  Hartman,  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  Peter  Hartman,  of  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  to  this  union  there  were  born  the  following 
family — George,  Frank,  Arthur,  one  that  died 
in  infjmcy,  and  Blanche  G.  Mrs.  Billman  was 
born  Feb.  11,  1839.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Billman  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  Mr.  Billman 
is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  owns  207 
acres  of  well-improved  land,  which  has  been  in 
his  famil}'  ever  since  it  was  a  forest. 

MARY  A.  BUTLER,  the  daughter  of  Joseph 
VVallace,  was  born  in  Franklin  Township,  Port- 
age Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  22,  1841.  On  the  22d  of 
February.  1841,  she  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Jackson  Bean,  son  of  Henry  Bean,  and 
by  him  had  three  children  ;  Charles  A.,  Frank 
W.  and  Alanson  J.  Mr.  Bean  was  a  widower 
with  two  children  at  the  time  of  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Wallace.  His  occupation  was  auc- 
tioneering. He  died  July  10.  18G1),  and  Feb. 
6.  1874,  his  widow  married  Heniy  Butler,  who 
was  a  widower  with  four  children.  To  this 
union  there  were  born  three  ciiildren  ;  Fronie, 
Byron  E.  and  Maud  L.  B}'  the  death  of  her 
first  husband  Mrs.  Butler  and  her  children  were 
left  78  acres  near  Old  Portage.  At  present 
she  lives  on  a  farm  of  56  acres  which  was  given 
her  b}'  her  father.  Mr.  Butler  is  a  Democrat, 
and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

L.  H.  COX,  proprietor  of  stone  quarry, 
Cuyahoga  Falls  ;  was  born  in  Northampton 
Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  24, 1837.  He 
is  one  of  the  following  children  born  to  Leon- 
ard and  Lydia  (Thompson)  Cox  :  Lyman  H., 
Lenora  M..  Frances,  deceased,  and  LeRo3\ 
Mr.  Cox  died  July  7,  1862.  Lyman  H.  Cox 
passed  his  ^-outh  and  earl}'  manhood  on  the 
farm,  receiving  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion. When  he  was  21  years  and  11  days 
old  he  commenced  life  on  his  own  responsibility. 
He  was  married  Aug.  6,  1861,  to  Ann  M.  Fitts, 
daughter  of  Roswell  Fitts,  and  by  her  has  one 
son,  Fred,  born  Dec.  8,  1865.  Mrs.  Cox  was 
born  April  8,  1836.  In  1866,  Mr.  Cox  came  to 
his  present  place  and  purchased  4  acres.  This 
tract  of  land  is  underlaid  with  the  best  quality 
of  building  rock  in  Summit  Co.  For  a  better 
description  of    this   rock   see   the    historv   of 


Northampton  Township  in  another  part  of  this 
work.  This  quarry-  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the 
best  in  the  county.  Besides  this  property',  Mr. 
Cox  owns  a  half  interest  in  the  old  homestead 
which  consists  of  100  acres  in  the  western  part 
of  the  township.  Mr.  Cox  is  a  member  of 
Lodge  No.  187,  A.,  F.  and  A.M.,  and  he  is  a 
Greenbacker  in  politics. 

WILLIAM  CARTER,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Cuya- 
hoga Falls  ;  is  a  son  of  William  and  Jane  (Car- 
ter) Carter  and  grandson  of  Jared  Carter.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  and 
was  born  Feb.  13.  1792.  June  16,  1814,  he 
married  Chloe  Wadsworth,  and  by  her  had  fi\-e 
children  as  follows  :  Maria  E.,  born  Maj'  30. 
1815;  Sarah,  born  June  7,  1818;  Mar}',  born 
Jan.  7,  1820  ;  Emily,  born  Oct.  31.  1822,  and 
Amelia,  born  Jan.  31,  1835.  The  mother  was 
born  March  10,  1794;  she  died  Oct.  17,  1826. 
Mr.  Carter  was  a  bricklayer  by  trade  ;  he  came 
to  Northampton  Township  at  a  very  early  time, 
and,  being  a  master  of  his  trade,  received  plenty 
of  employment.  The  first  brick  building  in 
the  village  of  Cu\'ahoga  Falls  was  built  by 
him.  as  was  also  the  jail  at  Akron,  and  many 
other  of  the  best  buildings  in  the  count}'.  His 
second  wife  was  Jane  Carter,  to  whom  he  was 
married  in  Northampton  Township,  Oct.  17, 
1834,  and  b}'  her  had  the  following  family  : 
William  (the  subject  of  this  biograph}^,  born 
Sept.  26,  1836;  Patty,  born  July  25,  1838; 
Mahala,  l)orn  Oct.  11,  1842.  and  Helen,  born 
April  27,  1845;  Patty  married  Wallace  Har- 
rington, and  Mahala  married  Fred  Harrington, 
brothers.  Mr.  Carter  died  April  24,  1876. 
William  Carter,  Jr.,  passed  his  3'outh  and  early 
manhood  on  the  farm ;  he  was  married  Nov. 
19,  1863,  to  Martha  Pardee,  daughter  of  Harr}' 
and  Fanny  (Benedict)  Pardee,  and  to  this  union 
were  born  two  children — Eleanor  F.  born  in 
1864,  and  Harry,  born  in  1865.  Mrs.  Carter 
was  born  Sept.  16, 1838.  Our  subject's  mother 
is  yet  living  on  the  old  Carter  homestead,  which 
consists  of  72  acres.  The  Carters  are  among 
the  old  pioneers  of  Summit  Qounty,  and  are 
also  among  the  leading  citizens. 

SIMEON  DICKERMAN,  farmer  and  dairy- 
man ;  P.  0.  Cuyahoga  Falls  ;  was  born  in  Nor- 
ton Township,  Summit  Co.  (then  Medina  Co.) 
Ohio.  June  22,  1824.  He  was  one  in  a  famiU' 
of  six  children,  born  to  Clement  C.  and  Almira 
M.  (Ormsby)  Dickerman.  The  names  of  these 
children  are  Gilbert  C,  dead  ;  Simeon,  Orlando, 


856 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Henry,  Asenath  and  Chloe,  dead  ;  Henry  mar- 
ried a  Mrs.  Renn,  of  Pennsylvania ;  Asenath  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  P.  Gardner,  and  lives  in 
Minnesota  ;  Orlando  married  Elizabeth  Pear- 
son, sister  of  our  subject's  wife,  and  lives  in 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio.  The  parents  were  married 
in  Norton  Township,  Jan.  11,  1821.  Clement 
C.  Dickerman  came  to  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  at  the 
early  period  of  1816,  and  his  first  location  was 
in  Norton  Township,  now  in  Summit  Count}-. 
Mr.  Dickerman  was  a  poor,  but  hard  working 
citizen.  His  death  occurred  March  21,  184-, 
leaving  a  widow  and  family  to  mourn  his  loss. 
His  widow  is  yet  living  with  her  son  Simeon, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  81  years.  Simeon 
Dickerman  passed  his  early  career  on  the  farm 
assisting  his  mother  in  the  care  of  the  family, 
receiving  but  a  limited  chance  for  an  education. 
On  the  9th  of  Octobei",  1850,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  A.  Pearson,  daughter 
of  Arza  and  Achsah  Pearson,  old  settlers  in 
York  Township,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio.  After  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Dickerman  still  continued  to  re- 
side on  the  old  place  in  Norton  Township,  until 
the  spring  of  1852,  when  he  moved  to  Akron, 
and  for  one  year  engaged  in  teaming.  The 
next  year  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
in  that  city  and  so  continued  for  about  four 
3'ears.  In  1858,  he  came  to  his  present  place 
and  engaged  in  farming  and  sheep-raising.  He 
soon  discontinued  this  and  engaged  in  his  pres- 
ent pursuit,  in  which  he  has  ever  since  been 
engaged.  Mr.  Dickerman  owns  300  acres  of 
excellent  land,  192  acres  of  which  are  in  North- 
ampton, and  the  balance  in  Boston  Township. 
To  his  union  with  Miss  Pearson,  there  were 
born  the  following  family  :  Henry  A.,  born 
Nov.  23,  1856,  died  Nov.  16,  1865  ;  Lydia  A., 
born  Aug.  26,  1863,  and  Charles  E.,  born  Dec. 
20,  1866,  died  Sept.  5,  1874.  Mrs.  Dickerman 
was  born  in  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  April  18,  1831. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickerman  are  among  the  best 
connected  families  in  the  township,  and  are 
good  and  hospitable  people.  Mr.  Dickerman 
is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

EDWIN  FOLK,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Cuyahoga 
Falls  ;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Fulwiler) 
Folk,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  John 
Folk  was  born  in  1796,  and  Mary  his  wife  was 
born  in  1798.  This  couple  were  the  parents  of 
ten    children — Catharine,    Mary,    Sally,   Jesse, 


Edwin,  Hannah,  John,  Daniel,  Polly  and  David. 
The  three  last  were  born  in  Ohio.  All  these 
children  are  living.  In  1833,  this  famil}-  came 
to  Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  commenced 
farming  and  weaving,  the  latter  being  a  trade 
he  had  learned  years  before.  Mrs.  Folk  died 
July  20,  1865.  Mr.  Folk  is  still  living  making 
his  home  with  relatives  in  Trumbull  Co.  Ed- 
win Folk  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  Feb.  25, 
1826.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio  in 
1833,  and,  in  his  j'outh,  received  a  common- 
school  education.  His  people  were  very  poor 
on  their  arrival  in  Ohio,  like  a  good  many  other 
pioneer  families.  An  incident  in  their  life  is 
here  worthy  of  mention,  and  one  that  shows 
what  people  were  sometimes  compelled  to  do 
to  keep  from  starving.  At  one  time  they 
cleared  one  acre  of  timher-land  for  three  bushels 
of  shelled  corn.  When  19  years  of  age,  Edwin, 
like  the  rest  of  his  brothers,  was  given  his  time, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  farmed  and  followed 
the  carpenter's  trade.  He  was  married,  Aug. 
26,  1849,  to  Rebecca  J.  Hart,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Hart,  and  by  her  had  four  children — 
Minnie  S.,  born  June  17,  1851,  and  who  is  now 
the  wife  of  Rev.  0.  0.  Osboi'n,  and  resides  in 
Michigan  ;  Ida  J.,  born  Jan.  16,  1855,  now  the 
wife  of  Griffith  G.  Roberts,  farmer,  and  resides 
in  Northampton  ;  Charles  E.,  born  June  17, 
1860,  died  Sept.  29,  1861  ;  and  Ella  M.,  born 
May  3,  1 863.  Mrs.  Folk  was  born  May  1,1 829. 
Mr.  Folk  is  a  hard-working,  industrious  man. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

MARVIN  GIBBS,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Buckeye  ; 
was  born  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio,  July  13, 
1832.  He  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Isabelle 
(Steele)  Gibbs,  who  were  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing family  :  Margaret,  James  (dead).  Mar}-  A., 
Marvin,  John  S.  (dead),  Warren  (dead),  and  one 
that  died  in  infancy  unnamed.  The  father  was 
a  native  of  Virginia,  and  was  born  in  about 
1799.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  was  I'eared  on  a 
farm.  He  married  Isabelle  Steele  in  1825  ;  she 
was  born  in  1801.  Mr.  Gibbs  came  to  Tus- 
carawas Co.,  Ohio,  in  about  1825,  and  after  a 
residence  there  of  eleven  years,  came  to  North- 
ampton Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject. 
At  the  time  of  their  settlement  in  Northampton, 
there  was  no  clearing  whatever  on  their  place, 
and  being  a  man  of  very  little  means,  Mr. 
Gibbs  was  compelled  to  go  in  debt  for  it.     He 


t 


NORTHAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 


857 


was  a  hard  workei",  and  an  honest,  upright  man 
in  his  dealings  with  men ;  and,  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  the  place  was  cleared  of  all  incum- 
brances. Mr.  Gibbs  died  July  28,  1869.  His 
widow  still  survives  him,  and  resides  with  her 
son,  Marvin,  on  the  old  homestead.  Marvin 
passed  his  j'outh  and  early  manhood  on  the 
farm.  Was  married  Feb.  19,  1861,  to  Amanda 
E.  Burgan,  and  her  parents  were  among  the 
pioneers  of  Sharon  Township,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio. 
To  this  union  there  was  born  one  son,  Charles 
N.,  born  in  1865.  Mr.  Gribbs  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  his  mother  is  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church.  The  homestead  consists  of  85 
acres  of  well-improved  land. 

HARRINGTON  FAMILY.  Job  Harring- 
ton was  born  in  Bennington,  Vt,  March  9, 
1792.  He  was  a  son  of  Richard  Harrington, 
who  was  of  English  descent.  During  the  fall 
of  1814,  Job  Harrington  and  Susan  Hartle,  who 
was  born  in  Georgetown,  Penu.,  Jan.  27,  1796, 
were  married.  To  this  union  there  were  born 
the  following  :  John,  born  Feb.  2, 1818  ;  George, 
born  Aug.  20,  1819  ;  Seth  W.,  born  June  13, 
1821  ;  James,  born  Nov.  17, 1823;  Clarissa,  born 
June  8,  1827  ;  Warren  A.,  born  July  18, 1829  ; 
Alvin.  born  July  17,  1831  ;  William,  born  July 
11, 1833  ;  Fred  L.,  born  Oct.  14, 1835  ;  Wallace, 
born  April  27,  1837,  and  Newton  S.,  born  May 
22, 1840.  John  married  Calista  Prior  and  lives 
in  Iowa  ;  George  married  Clarissa  Turner,  but 
has  since  moved  to  Michigan  and  died  ;  Cla- 
rissa married  Alvin  A.  Wheeler  ;  Warren  has 
never  married  ;  he  went  to  California  in  1853, 
and  has  never  returned  ;  Alvin  died  in  child- 
hood ;  William  married  Chloe  Carr ;  Wallace 
married  Patty  Carter,  a  sister  of  Fred  L.'s  wife  ; 
Newton  served  in  the  late  war  and  died  from 
diseases  contracted  while  in  his  c'ountr3''s  serv- 
ice ;  Seth  W.  married  Freelove  Jones,  daughter 
of  Rees  and  Jane  (Wright)  Jones,  on  the  12th 
of  November,  1846,  and  by  her  had  the  follow- 
ing family  :  Ethelbert  S.,  born  April  17,  1848, 
died  March  3.  1852  ;  Robert  W.,  born  Oct.  25, 
1857  ;  J.  Athaliah,  Oct.  7,  1853  ;  Delbert  R., 
born  Feb.  7,  1857  ;  Grace  N.,  born  Nov.  30, 
1865,  and  J.  May,  born  April  2,  1868.  The 
mother  of  these  was  born  in  Northampton 
Township,  Sept.  6, 1824.  Seth  Harrington  died 
Oct.  23, 1 876.  He  joined  the  M.  E.  Church  when 
16  years  old,  and  alwa3's  remained  in  it.  He  was 
active  in  his  duties  for  the  advancement  of  edu- 
cation and  religion.     He  taught  school  quite  a 


number  of  terms,  and  also  held  various  township 
offices.  He  left  a  large  circle  of  friends  to  mourn 
his  loss.  James  Harrington  married  Lydia 
M.  Hawley,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Esther 
(Gorman)  Hawley,  on  the  7th  of  March,  1850. 
To  this  union  there  were  born  the  following  : 
Amoret  A.,  born  Dec.  30,  1850,  died  Feb.  21, 
1864  ;  Ezra  J.,  born  Dec.  10, 1854  ;  Wilfred  J., 
born  May  11,  1858,  and  Cora  M.,  born  Aug.  6, 
1861.  The  mother  was  born  Feb.  28,  1832. 
Mr.  Harrington  owns  70  acres  of  land,  on  which 
he  resides  in  Northampton.  Fred  L.  Harrington 
married  Mahala  Carter,  Oct.  10,  1866.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  William  Carter,  a  sketch  of  whom 
accompanies  this  work,  and  was  born  Oct.  11, 
1842.  This  union  was  blessed  with  four  chil- 
dren—Charlie E.,  born  Feb.  24.  1869  ;  Burt  C, 
born  April  19,  1872  ;  Frank  L.,  born  Dec.  13, 
1874,  and  Myron  E.,  born  May  22, 1877.  This 
family  resides  on  the  old  Harrington  home- 
stead, which  consists  of  over  100  acres.  Job 
Harrington,  the  father  and  grandfather  of  the 
foregoing  named  individuals,  in  1812,  started 
on  foot  from  Bennington,  Vt.,  to  Tallmadge 
Township.  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  arrived 
the  same  year,  having  traveled  all  the  distance 
on  foot.  On  his  arrival,  he  purchased  a  farm 
for  his  parents,  and  the  next  year,  1813,  his 
parents  came  there,  and,  building  them  a  log 
cabin  in  the  heart  of  the  wilderness,  commenced 
life  there.  In  1815,  Job  and  his  wife  purchased 
and  moved  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Fred  L., 
in  Northampton,  and  there  remained  until  their 
respective  deaths.  Mrs.  Harrington  died  Nov. 
9,  1849.  Mr.  Harrington's  second  wife  was 
Mary  M.  Paige,  to  whom  he  was  married  Nov. 
30, 1851.  She  is  j-et  living  and  resides  in  Cu}'- 
ahoga  Falls.  Mr.  Harrington  died  March  24, 
1869.  He  earl}-  became  identified  in  the  his- 
tory of  Northampton  Township,  by  the  active 
part  he  took  in  advancing  the  best  interests  of 
his  township  and  county.  B}'  his  generous  dis- 
position and  kind  actions  toward  the  Indians, 
he  made  life-long  friends  of  them,  and  they  re- 
garded their  white  friend  as  a  most  good  and 
noble  chief  The  first  four  years  after  his 
arrival  in  Northampton,  Mr.  Ilarrington  was 
unable  to  work,  owing  to  ill-health.  His  whole 
life  in  Ohio  was  one  filled  with  the  stern  real- 
ities of  a  pioneer's  life,  in  which  innumerable 
hardships  presented  themselves.  B3'  the  time 
he  had  begun  to  realize  the  comforts  he  had 
secured  by  his  hardships,  his  life  labors  ceased, 


^1 


858 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


and  he  was  laid  away  at  rest  in  the  grave  ;  a 
rest  that  he  had  denied  himself  in  life.  Mr. 
Harrington  was  regarded  as  among  the  best 
citizens  Northampton  ever  had,  and  his  descend- 
ants are  among  the  first  families  in  the  town- 
ship. 

JOHN  HOVEY,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Buckeye. 
Among  the  old  and  time  honored  residents  of 
Northampton  Township,  is  the  subject  of  this 
biography.  He  was  born  in  the  District  of 
Montreal,  in  the  Province  of  Lower  Canada, 
June  1,  1814.  He  is  the  son  of  Abiel  and 
Martha  (Hardy)  Hove}',  who  were  parents  of 
the  following  family  :  Amos,  Ira,  Aurelia,  Mar}-, 
Abiel,  James,  John,  Martha,  Silas  and  Paulina. 
Of  these,  only  James.  John  and  Silas  are  now 
living.  The  parents  were  natives  of  Massa- 
chusetts. The}'  came  to  what  is  now  known  as 
Boston  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1819. 
and  settled  first  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Thomas  Woods.  After  living  here  and  endur- 
ing the  hardships  of  a  pioneer's  life  two  years, 
Mrs.  Hovey  died.  His  widow  survived  him 
until  1837,  when  she  too  died.  John  Hovey 
was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  not  having  the  school 
advantages  in  those  early  days  that  we  of  the 
present  have,  his  education  was  limited.  He 
was  married,  June  18,  1835,  to  Maria  Chamber- 
lain, daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Deborah  (Schoon- 
over)  Chamberlain,  who  emigrated  to  North- 
ampton Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  from  New 
York,  in  1820.  To  this  union  there  were  born 
five  children — Nelson  A.,  Simeon  E.,  Aurelia, 
Harvey  T.  and  Ephraim  C.  Of  these,  only  the 
oldest  and  youngest  are  living.  Nelson  mar- 
ried Mary  Howland,  and  lives  in  Old  Portage. 
Ephraim  married  Lovisa  Allen,  and  lives  in 
Northampton  Township.  Mrs.  Hovey  was  born 
in  September,  1813,  and  is  one  in  a  family  of 
six.  Mr.  Hovey's  wliole  life  has  been  passed 
in  farming  and  lumbering.  He  now  owns  a 
farm  of  76  acres  of  w^ell-im proved  land,  and  is 
a  stanch  and  unflinching  Republican  in  politics. 

ISRAEL  JAMES,  Cuyahoga  Falls  ;  was 
bom  in  Berkshire  Co..  Mass.,  Mai'ch  13,  1814. 
He  is  a  son  of  Moses  and  Polly  (Vining)  James 
who  were  parents  of  three  children — Israel, 
Orln  and  Joseph,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Mrs. 
James  died  in  1824,  and  Mr.  James'  second 
wife  was  Catharine  Williams,  and  by  her  had 
one  daughter,  Lucretia.  Mr.  James  came  to 
Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  from  Massachusetts  in  1818, 
drivina;  overland  with  an   ox   team.     After  a 


journey  of  six  weeks  they  reached  their  desti- 
nation, where  Mr.  James'  parents  had  pre- 
ceeded  him  one  year,  and  where  he  had  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  containing  1,000  acres. 
Here  Moses  James  and  family  lived  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  undergoing  innumerable  hardships 
incident  to  the  pioneer's  life.  In  about  1858, 
he  moved  to  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  his  78th 
year.  Israel  James  remained  at  home  until  he 
was  fifteen  years  of  age.  He  then  appren- 
ticed himself  to  learn  the  blacksmithing  trade. 
In  1832,  he  came  to  Cuyahoga  Falls  and  has 
remained  there  ever  since.  For  the  first  fifteen 
years  following  his  arrival  he  followed  black- 
smithing,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  started  a 
forge,  which  finally  turned  into  one  of  the  best 
manufacturing  houses  in  the  town.  Soon  after 
his  starting  this  enterprise,  Mr.  James  gave 
$12,000  for  the  property  on  which  his  mill  was 
situated.  He  then,  in  connection  with  two 
other  men.  began  the  building  of  the  'sJames 
Block,"  the  largest  building  in  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
init  his  two  partners  failed  before  the  work  was 
accomplished,  throwing  the  whole  cost  on  Mr. 
James.  He  also  built  the  building  in  which 
the  Schumway  drug  store  is  situated,  but  the 
building  has  since  been  sold.  In  his  enter- 
prises, Mr.  James  has  been  most  unfortunate. 
In  1866.  he  built  a  saw-mill  on  the  site  of 
where  the  Heath  &  Thompson  mill  now  stands. 
In  1869.  this  mill  took  fire,  and  all  in  it,  in- 
cluding his  lath,  shingle  and  latheing  machines 
were  burned  to  the  ground.  In  six  weeks  time 
b}  the  enterprise  of  Mr.  James,  a  new  mill  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $4,000.  In  1871,  the 
mill-dam  gave  way  and  was  destroyed.  This 
was  replaced  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  Mr.  James 
has  done  more  to  build  up  the  town  of  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  than  perhaps  any  other  man.  He 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
He  first  married  Hannah  T.  Steel,  Sept.  25, 
1 835,  and  by  her,  there  were  born  two  children 
— Henry  and  Israel.     This  wife  died    Nov.  9, 

1847,  and  Mr.  James,  for  his  second  and  pres- 
ent wife  married  Mary  E.  Randall,  March  11. 

1848.  To  this  union  there  were  born  three 
childi-en — Laurel  E.,  Frank,  dead  ;  and  Minnie, 
who  is  the  wife  of  E.  J.  Squire.  Mrs.  James 
was  born  Sept.  15,  1821. 

DAVID  Ct.  MYERS,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  ; 
P.  O.  Cuyahoga*  Falls,  was  born  m  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  30,  1819.     His  parents,  George 


W\ 


NORTHAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 


85y 


J.  and  Anne  (Welty)  Myers,  were  both  natives 
of    IMaryland.     The  father  was    born   in    1786,  ! 
and  mother   in    1788.      They   came  to   Stark 
Co..    Ohio,   in    1810,   and  Mr.  Myers,   besides 
iarming,  carried  on  the  mercantile  business  for  i 
a  time.     He  owned  th^  first  dry  goods  store  in 
Uniontown.     Mr.  Myers  died  Dec.  2,  1853,  and 
Mrs.   Myers  died  March  2G,  1858.     They  were  i 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  only  four  of  whom 
are   yet   living.     David  G.  Myers  was  reared 
principally  on  the  farm.     In  1839,  he  came  to 
Akron,  and  for  ten  years  was  captain  of  a  boat 
on   the  Ohio   Canal.     Sept.   11,   1841,   he  was 
united   in    marriage   with    Matilda    P.    Corp, 
daughter  of  Elias  and  Sarah  (Pratt)  Corp,  and 
b}'  her  had  the  following  family  :     Francis  A., 
born  Aug.   10,  1842,   now  the  wife  of  Cyrus 
Shoemaker  ;  Adrian,   born  Mav  9,  1845,  died  ! 
March  21,  1847  ;  Ellen  I.,  born' Sept.  15,  1847  ;  ' 
Alma  L.,  born  April  6,  1850,  now  the  wife  of 
L.  N.  Foust;  George  E.,  born  March  1,  1852  ; 
Mary    A.,    born    June  8,    1854,   now   wife   of  , 
Lewis  Keck  ;  Rena  Y.,  born  May  26,  1856,  now  ! 
wife  of  J.  A.  Johnson,  and  Milton  J.,  born  Sept. 
13,  1858.     The  mother  of  these  was  born  April  ! 
27,  1819,  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.     In  1849,  Mr.  | 
Myers  retired  from  canal  life  and  settled  upon 
a  farm  in  Boston  Township.    He  remained  there 
until  March.  1857,  when  he  moved  to  his  pres- 
ent place  in  Northampton  Township,  and  where  i 
he  has  ever  since  resided.     During  his  farming- 
experience   in    Northamptctn,   Mr.    M3'ers    has 
done  more,  perhaps,  to  build  up  the  stock  in- 
terest than  any  other  man.     He  owns  86  acres 
of  land,  is  Independent  in  politics,  and  is  a  gen- 
tleman in  ever}'  respect. 

WILLIAM'  NORTON  (deceased)  ;  was  a 
native  of  York  Co.,  Penn.,  and  was  born  in 
June,  1803.  His  early  years  were  passed  on  a 
farm,  and  during  that  time  he  received  a  good 
practical  education.  In  1827,  he  married 
Selah  Deniston,  and  in  1829,  he  and  two 
brothers,  with  their  families,  moved  to  Wayne 
Co.,  Ohio  Mr.  Norton's  first  location  was  on 
a  farm  two  miles  south  of  Wooster,  where  they 
resided  two  years.  At  the  conclusion  of  that 
time,  they  purchased  a  farm  of  80  acres,  four 
miles  north  of  Wooster,  whex'e  the}-  resided  four 
years.  At  the  time  of  Mr.  Norton's  settlement 
in  Wayne  Co.,  it  was  but  thinly  populated,  and 
the  citizens  of  the  township  often  made  his 
house  their  place  of  voting  at  the  regular  town- 
ship elections.     In  1835,   Mr.    Norton  moved 


from  Wayne  Co.  to  Northampton  Township, 
Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  where  his  widow  yet  lives. 
To  his  union  with  Miss  Deniston  there  were 
born  nine  children — Elizabeth,  now  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Darrow  ;  James,  who  died  when  19 }ears 
of  age  ;  Mary  J.,  widow  of  Abner  Cannier  ; 
Amanda,  widow  of  Wesley  Appleton,  and  pres- 
ent wife  of  Josiah  Starr;  Charity  A.,  wife  of 
Miles  Oviatt ;  Rebecca,  who  died  when  14  years 
old  ;  William  H.,  married  Mary  Smith,  resides 
in  Northampton  ;  Josiah.  married  Mary  Hart, 
and  lives  in  Michigan,  and  Cyrus  L.,  who  is 
single  and  lives  with  his  mother  on  the  old 
homestead,  which  consists  of  70  acres.  Mrs. 
Norton  was  born  in  York  Co.,  Penn..  in  1808. 
During  the  latter  end  of  Mr.  Norton's  life,  he 
began  suffering  from  a  cancer  in  the  stomach, 
and  after  a  very  long  period  of  uncomplaining 
sufferings,  he  died  as  he  had  always  lived — an 
upright  man  and  a  devoted  Christian.  The  date 
of  his  death  is  July  29, 1866.  Mr.  Norton  was 
a  man  of  considerable  ability  and  self-reliance. 
He  proved  an  invaluable  assistant  in  his  neigh- 
borhood, in  making  shingles  for  himself  and 
neighbors.  In  his  political  views,  he  was  a 
Whig,  until  the  Republican  party  was  organized, 
when  he  became  identified  with  the  latter,  and, 
for  his  honest  and  fair  dealings,  held  various 
positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  gift  of  that 
party.  In  conclusion,  it  can  be  said  that  Mr. 
Norton  was  a  gentleman  in  eveiy  sense  of  the 
word. 

WILLIAM  PRIOR,  Cuyahoga  Falls.  There 
is  not  a  more  appropriate  biography  for  the 
history  of  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  than  is  the 
history  of  the  Prior  family,  who  are  so  in- 
timately connected  with  the  early  history  of 
Northampton  Township  ;  the  earliest  records 
of  this  family  are  traced  back  to  Joseph  Prior, 
who  was  a  native  of  the  Highlands  of  Scot- 
land. The  next,  in  the  order  of  descent,  is 
Joshua,  son  of  Joseph  Prior,  who  was  born  in 
Northern  England.  Of  Joshua  Prior,  not  much 
is  known,  nor  is  the  exact  date  of  this  lamily's 
coming  to  America  known.  Simeon  Prior,  son 
of  Joshua  Prior,  was  born  in  Hampshire  Co., 
Mass.,  3Iay  16,  1754.  On  the  1st  day  of 
January,  1781.  Simeon  Prior  and  Katharine 
Wight  were  united  in  marriage.  The  history 
of  the  Wight  family  is  of  considerable  im- 
portance and  interest ;  Katharine  (Wight)  I'rior 
was  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  proprietc^rs  of  the 
Isle  of  Wiaht,  after  whom  the  island  received 


K 


860 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


its  name  ;  in  their  religious  belief,  this  family 
was    Protestant,  and  during   the   church   dis- 
turbances, the  property  was  confiscated  by  the 
Catholic  Church  (jovernment,  and  the  Wights 
were  compelled  to  flee  to  the  Netherlands  for 
safety  ;    after  the   Restoration,   the  family  re- 
turned to  England  to  reclaim  their  property  ; 
they  were  successful  in  their  petitions,  but  the 
papers  made  out  that  gave  them  the  property 
were  destroyed  in  the  Great  London  Fire,  and 
the  estate  was  lost.     To  the  union  of  Simeon 
Prior  and   Katharine  Wight  there  were  born 
fifteen  children,  only  one  of  whom,  Gurden,  is 
yet  living.     At  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Revolutionary  war,  Simeon  enlisted  in  the 
cause  of  the  colonies  and  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  Col.   Derby  ;    he  participated   in  the 
battles  of  Princeton,  Trenton  and  others,  and 
was  one  of  the  men  who  piloted  Gen.  Washing- 
ton across  the  Delaware  River  at  Trenton.     In 
the  year  1802,  he  and  family  moved  westward ; 
they   started  with  an  ox  team  and  afterward 
took  a  boat,  landing  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cuya- 
hoga River,  where  Cleveland   now  is  situated. 
At  this  early  time  there  was  not  a  frame  build- 
ing in   the   village,  and  only  a   few    log  huts 
marked  the  place  ;  the  Priors  abandoned  their 
boat   at   this    point,  and    started    toward   the 
interior  ;  after  some  indecision,  they  finally  lo- 
cated on  what  is  now  known  as  Lot  No.  15, 
Northampton  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
to  them  can  be  accredited  the  first  settlement 
in   that   township.      In    the    family    born    to 
Simeon  and  Katharine  Prior,  there   was    one 
son,  William,  who  was  born  April  6,  1 783  ;  this 
son  was  married  twice  ;  first  to  Sarah  Wharton, 
by  whom   he  had  seven  children  ;  his  second 
wife  was  Polly  Culver,  by  whom  he  had  two 
children — William  and  George  ;  George  served 
in  the  late  war,  and  was  killed  in  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness.     William  was  born  in  North- 
ampton Township,  April  20,  1825  ;  he  received 
a  good  common-school  education  in  youth,  and 
on  the   20th   of    April,    1847,    married    Ruth 
Woodrow.  daughter  of  Henry  Woodrow,  E-sq., 
and  to  this  union  were  born  two  children — 
Matilda,  who  died  in  infanc}-,  and  Minnie,  who 
is  now  the   wife  of  L.  E.  James.     Mrs.   Prior 
was  born  June  17, 1826.     Mr.  Prior  is  a  gentle- 
man who  takes  quite  an  interest  in  the  advance- 
ment of  education,  and  is  a  teacher  of  thirty- 
three  terms  of  successive  school  teaching.     The 
political  complexion  of  the  present  generation 


of  Priors  is  Republican,  and  they  are  among 
the  best  families  of  Summit  Co. 

SAMUELS.  PRIOR,  farmer;  P.  0.  Cuya- 
hoga Falls  ;  was  born  in  Northampton  Town- 
ship, Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  -4,  1815.  He  is  a 
son  of  Elisha  and  Harriet  (Stiles)  Prior,  and 
grandson  of  Simeon  and  Kathai'ine  (Wight) 
Prior,  of  whom  appropriate  mention  is  made  in 
the  biography  of  William  Prior.  Samuel  Prior 
is  one  in  a  family  of  seven  children  :  Laura, 
Delia,  Samuel,  Amanda,  L.  R.,  Benjamin  and 
Harriet.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  re- 
ceived a  good  common-school  education.  He 
has  passed  his  whole  life  on  the  homestead  of 
his  father,  with  the  exception  of  five  years, 
from  1835  to  1840,  while  he  was  at  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  having  charge  of  an  oil  mill  there.  Dec. 
12,  1839,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Ann  Everett,  daughter  of  John  Evex-ett,  and  by 
her  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  as  follows  : 
Harriet,  born  Slarch  4,  1841;  Stiles  S.,  born 
Sept.  16,  1842  ;  Clarissa,  born  Oct.  4.,  1843  ;  B. 
H.,  born  June  23,  1845  ;  F.  S.,  born  Jan.  23, 
1847  ;  Amanda,  born  April  15,  1851  ;  died 
Sept.  15,  1853  ;  Florence  A.,  born  May  25, 
1854;  Olive  M.,  born  May  1,  1857;  and  Delia 
K..  born  April  12,  1863.  Mr.  Prior  owns  a  nice 
farm  near  the  beautiful  city  of  Cuyahoga  Falls. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  is  an  intelli- 
gent and  enterprising  citizen. 

AMOS  L.  RICE,'^farmer  ;  P.  0.  Cuyahoga 
Falls.  Dr.  Lewis  Rice  was  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  was  born  about  1782.  He  prac- 
ticed medicine  when  quite  a  young  man,  and 
during  the  war  of  1812,  served  in  the  capacity 
of  Assistant  Surgeon.  At  the  close  of  the  war, 
Dr.  Rice  began  looking  for  a  congenial  place  in 
which  to  practice  his  profession.  The  young 
and  popular  State  of  Ohio  was,  at  this  time, 
attracting  considerable  attention,  and  this  State 
suiting  his  fancy.  Dr.  Rice,  in  1814,  emigrated 
westward,  and  located  in  what  is  now  known 
as  Stow  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  There 
being  no  other  physician  in  the  whole  neighbor- 
hood, Dr.  Rice  immediately  received  a  xevy 
large  practice,  being  quite  often  called  ten  and 
fifteen  miles  distant.  He  continued  his  practice 
there  until  1835,  when  he  moved  to  Northamp- 
ton Township,  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  108 
acres.  He  did  not  discontinue  his  practice  on 
his  removal,  but  still  pursued  it  up  to  a  short 
time  before  his  death.  Di'.  Rice  was  twice  mar- 
ried, his  first  wife   being  Lucy  Rice,  by  whom 


TT 


— ® 


NORTHAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 


861 


he  had  three  children — Orlo,  Lucy  A.  and  Are- 
thusa.  These  children  are  all  living.  His 
second  wife  was  Chloe  Pratt,  to  whom  he  was 
married  Jan.  5,  1823.  To  his  second  marriage 
there  was  born  one  son,  Amos  L.,  the  subject 
of  this  biography.  Dr.  Rice's  second  wife  died 
Oct.  28,  1845.  After  a  long  life  of  usefulness, 
Dr.  Rice  died  March  25,  1861.  His  journey  to 
Stow  Township  from  Say  brook,  Conn.,  in  1814, 
was  a  very  eventful  one,  coming  with  two  yoke 
of  oxen  ;  he  was  fifty-two  days  on  the  road. 
Amos  L.  Rice  was  born  in  Stow  Township, 
Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  July  13,  1824.  He  received 
a  common-school  education,  and  on  the  21st  of 
October,  1856,  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Phoebe  0.  Jaqua3's,  daughter  of  John  and  Ag- 
nes (Osborn)  Jaquays,  and  by  her  has  two 
children — Chloe  A.,  born  July  19,  1863  ;  and 
Lewis  P.,  born  June  23,  1874.  Besides  these 
two.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  have  one  child  by 
adoption— Martin  H.,  born  May  27,  1857.  Mrs. 
Rice  was  born  May  3,  1836.  Mr.  Rice  is  one 
of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  Northampton 
Township.  He  is  nicely  situated  near  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  and  he  and  family  are  highly  re- 
spected citizens. 

ISAAC  SCOTT,  farmer  ;  was  born  in  Mus- 
kingum Co.,  Ohio.  March  31, 1817.  He  is  a  son 
of  Banfield  and  Lydia  (Norris)  Scott,  who  were 
parents  of  two  children,  Isaac  and  Sarah. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  the  "  Ba}-  State," 
while  Mrs.  Scott  was  a  native  of  Connecticut. 
Prior  to  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Scott,  Mrs. 
Scott  had  married  Stephen  Lamon3-on,  and  by 
him  had  three  children — Charles,  Cornelius 
and  Stephen.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Lamon- 
3'On,  his  widow  married  Mr.  Scott,  who  died 
during  the  fall  of  1832,  in  Sharon  Township, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Scott's  third  and  last 
husband  was  Joseph  Dean,  and  b}'  this  gentle- 
man bore  one  son,  James.  Our  subject,  Isaac, 
at  the  age  of  15  commenced  the  battle  of 
life  on  his  own  responsibility,  and  from  then 
until  he  became  22,  worked  at  different 
employments  in  Summit  and  neighboring 
counties.  He  was  married  Dec.  28,  1837,  to 
Fannie  Wallace,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Clar- 
issa (Strong)  Wallace,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  three  children — Henry,  born  Dec.  28. 
1840  ;  Wallace,  born  Sept.  15,  1843,  and  Wal- 
ter, born  Jan.  23,  1852,  who  died  Dec.  9,  1864, 
of  cerebro  sjfinal  meningitis.  Henr}",  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Ida  Bishop,  is  a  farmer  and  resides 


in  Northampton.  In  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H, 
29th  0.  V.  I.,  Capt.  Schoonover,  and  was  dis- 
charged for  ill  health  in  1862.  He  re-enlisted 
the  next  year  in  Co.  H,  177th  0.  V.  I.,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
First  Corporal,  but  was  promoted  to  Sergeant. 
Wallace  is  a  farmer,  married  Mary  Best  and 
also  resides  in  Northampton.  Mrs.  Scott  was 
born  in  Stow  Township,  April  14,  1822.  Mr. 
Scott  has  the  most  part  of  his  life  lived  in 
Northampton.  In  1852,  he  purchased  160 
acres  on  lot  No.  51,  but  has  since  sold  7  acres 
of  it.  He  started  in  life  a  poor  boy,  with  no 
one  to  depend  upon,  but  by  hard  labor  and 
economy,  has  secured  a  pleasant  home.  He  is 
a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  favors  a  strong 
anti-license  law,  and  he  and  wife  have  been 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
for  almost  half  a  century.  Mr.  Scott's  father 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  as  was  also 
his  mother's  first  husband.  Mrs.  Scott's  grand- 
father, Theodore  Strong,  was  Captain  of  a 
man-of-war,  under  the  command  of  Admiral 
Porter.  Mr.  Scott  has  been  a  hard  working 
man,  knowing  comparatively'  little  of  the  ease 
and  comforts  of  life  until  later  years.  He  is 
an  excellent  farmer  and  an  honorable,  upright 
gentleman. 

WILLIAM  VIALL,  dairyman  and  farmer  ; 
P.  O.  Cu3'ahoga  Falls  ;  son  of  Burrill  Viall  who 
came  from  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.  during  the 
winter  of  1831,  on  a  sled  to  Middlebur}-  in  what 
is  now  known  as  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  He  is  of 
English  descent  on  his  father's  side,  but  his 
mother,  Sarah  (Ferguson)  Viall  was  of  Scotch 
descent.  At  the  lime  of  their  removal  from 
New  York  to  Ohio,  JMr.  and  Mrs.  Viall  were 
the  parents  of  six  children,  and  after  their  ar- 
rival, there  were  born  to  them  six  more,  mak 
ing  a  total  of  six  sons  and  six  daughters.  Eleven 
of  these  grew  to  be  adults.  There  are  now  liv- 
ing in  this  family  of  children  only  nine.  The 
Vialls  were  in  ver}-  poor  circumstances  at  the 
time  of  their  arrival,  and  Mr.  Viall  had  to  labor 
early  and  late  to  keep  his  family  decently  sup- 
ported. He  first  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Uriah  Horner.  In  1850,  he  and  famih'  em- 
igrated to  Jackson  Co.,  Iowa,  where  they  lived 
until  the  death  of  their  parents.  The  father's 
death  occurred  Dec.  23,  1862,  of  heart  disease. 
He  was  buried  on  Christmas  Day,  1862,  in 
Sterling  Cemeter}-,  Jackson  Co.,  Iowa,  aged  69 
years  8  months  and  25  da3-s.     His  wife  never 


Fv 


863 


BIOGRAnilCAL    SKETCHES: 


survived  the  shock  of  her  husband's  death,  and 
she  died  Jan.  4,  18G3,  aged  G2  years  G  months 
and  15  tlays,  and  was  also  buried  in  Sterling 
Cemetery.  The  father  was  a  Republican  in 
politics,  and  he  and  wife  were  consistent  and 
devoted  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  The 
names  of  the  children  are  Eliza,  Burrill,  Elzi- 
na,  dead  ;  Sullivan.  John  N.,  William,  Mary, 
Julia,  dead ;  Adaline,  Clark,  dead  ;  Amelia 
and  Lafayette.  William,  the  subject  of  this 
biograph}',  passed  his  3'outh  and  early  man- 
hood on  the  farm,  receiving  a  common-school 
education.  He  was  married  Oct.  17,  1849,  to 
Sabina,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Dicker- 
son)  McPherson,  and  by  her  had  four  children 
— Charles  W..  born  Aug.  9,  1852,  died  April 
24,  1853  ;  Martha  T.,  born  April  19,  1854,  now 
wife  of  George  W.  Hanson,  and  resides  in  Me- 
dina Co.,  Ohio  ;  Mary  D.,  born  April  4,  1856, 
and  is  now  the  wife  of  Fred  S.  Prior,  and  resides 
in  Northampton,  and  James  F.,  born  April  25, 
1860.  Mrs.  Viall  was  born  Oct.  16,  1832,  in 
Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  Mr.  Viall  was  born  Aug.  20, 
1828,  in  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.  After  fifteen 
years  of  farming  on  the  prairies  of  Iowa,  our 
subject  returned  to  Ohio,  and  for  the  first  year 
lived  on  the  Lindsey  farm,  in  Stow  Township, 
Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  He  sold  that  soon  after- 
ward, and  the  following  year  purchased  the  old 
"  Lewis  farm  '  in  Northampton  Township,  where 
he  has  ever  since  resided.  He  now  owns  134 
acres  of  well-improved  land.  Is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  has  held  the  office  of  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  twelve  years.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Disciples'  Church,  and  are 
among  the  fi;rst  citizens  of  Northampton  Town 
ship. 

ARIEL  L.  WAITE,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  ; 
P.  0.  Everett.  Walter  Waite,  father  of  Abiel 
Waite,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  was 
born  in  1789.  Oct.  10,  1811.  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Blackford,  who  was  born  April  18,  1789. 
In  1811.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waite  started  westward 
overland  with  one  horse  and  a  wagon,  and  in 
this  wagon  was  conveyed  all  of  Mr.  Waite's 
possessions,  which  consisted  principally'  of  the 
following  ;  His  wife,  a  skillet,  a  gun  and  an 
ax.  They  arrived  in  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  the 
same  3'ear  they  started,  and,  tlius  equipped, 
commenced  life  in  the  wilderness.  In  about 
1820,  they  moved  into  Richfield  Township,  Sum- 
mit Co.,  Ohio.  It  was  here,  April  14,  1829, 
that  the  mother  of  six  children,  and  the  wife  of 


Walter  Waite  died.  Of  the  six  children,  only 
two  are  now  living — Frederick  and  Rufus.  In 
October,  1829,  Mr.  Waite  married  Mary  Hovey, 
sister  of  John  Hovey,  whose  biography  will  be 
found  in  another  part  of  this  work.  To  Mr. 
W^aite's  second  marriage,  there  was  born  the 
following  family  :  Abiel  L.,  John  M.,  Martha 
E.,  Walter  S.,  Mary  V.,  Alfred  C.  and  Lucetta 
M.  Joim  and  Mary  are  dead.  Abiel  was  reared 
on  a  farm,  and  received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. He  was  married,  Jan.  G,  1853,  to  Mary 
McLoney,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Ste- 
phens) McLoncy,  and  to  this  union  were  born 
seven  children — James  E.,born  Sept.  28,  1853  ; 
Walter  F.,  born  Sept.  29,  1856  ;  Mary  V.,  born 
Aug.  22,  1859  ;  Scott,  born  Dec.  22,  1861,  die<l 
Jan.  7,  1863  ;  Ezra  Mc,  born  May  20,  1864  ; 
Sherman  A.,  born  May  30,  1871,  and  Elnora, 
born  Oct.  1,  1874.  Mrs.  Waite  was  born  in 
Northampton,  Dec.  29, 1833.  Mr.  Waite's  father 
died  Sept.  2,  1869,  and  his  mother  Oct.  29,  1868. 
In  our  subject's  family,  there  is  one  child — 
Mary  V.,  who  is  married.  Her  husband  is 
Eugene  Hancock.  In  about  1829,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Waite,  Sr..  came  to  Northampton  Township,  and 
settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Abiel  L. 
This  place  consists  of  187  acres,  on  which  our 
subject  has  always  lived,  with  the  exception  of 
five  years  in  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Waite  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  and  an  influential  citizen. 

JOSEPH  WALLACE,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Buck- 
eye ;  was  born  on  the  Holland  Purchase,  in  New 
York,  Dec.  18,  1813.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Ruth  (Robinson)  Wallace,  who  were  parents 
of  nine  children,  only  the  following  named  being 
alive  :  Ruth  (Baldwin),  Sophronia  (Crawford), 
Sobrina  (Butler)  and  Joseph.  Joseph  Wallace, 
Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and,  in  the  war 
of  Independence,  he  was  one  of  the  "  Green 
Mountain  Boys,"  under  the  command  of  Col. 
Ethan  Allen.  He  served  six  years  in  this 
war.  His  death  occurred  in  1828.  His  widow 
survived  him  until  1840,  when  she  too  died. 
Joseph,  Jr.,  was  reared  on  a  farm,  receiving  a 
good  education.  In  1840,  he  purchased  land 
in  Northampton  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio, 
whei'e  he  now  lives,  and  the  same  year  moved 
to  and  located  on  it.  He  was  married,  in  1836, 
to  Amanda  Wolford,  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Elizabeth  (Worthinger)  Wolfoi'd,  and  by  her 
had  six  children — Alexander  ;  Mary  A.,  now 
wife  of  Henry  Butler  ;  James  E.,  dead  ;  Lewis 
B.,  dead  ;  Sophronia,  now  wife  of  James  Smith, 


-r: 


5) 


STOW    TOWNSHIP. 


863 


and  Byrou  E.  Mrs.  Wallace  was  born  Feb.  27, 
1814,  at  Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  Her  son,  Alexander, 
served  in  the  late  war,  in  Co.  H,  29th  0.  V.  I., 
for  nine  months,  and  then  was  discharged  for 
disabilities.  In  his  time,  Mr.  Wallace  has  taught 
eighteen  terms  of  school.  He  is  Independent 
in  his  political  views,  voting  in  all  cases  for  the 
man  instead  of  the  party.  He  has  held  various 
township  offices,  among  which  might  be  men- 
tioned Township  Treasurer,  which  office  he  held 
eleven  years.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  they  are  excellent  citizens 
in  every  respect.  Mr.  Wallace  owns  a  fine  farm 
of  210  acres,  nicely  situated  near  church,  school 
and  railroad. 

WILLIAxM  H.  WILLIAMSON,  farmer  and 
dairyman  ;  P.  0.  Akron  ;  was  born  in  Orange 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  7,  1829.  He  is  a  son  of 
Palmer  and  Amy  (Horton)  Williamson,  natives 
of  New  York,  who  were  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing family :  Mary  F.,  William  H.,  Bradner, 
Susan,  Jane,  Alveretta  and  Julius  0.  Bradner, 
Jane  and  Alveretta  are  dead.  The  father  was 
a  farmer.  In  1831,  he  emigrated  Westward, 
where  he  had  friends,  and  to  better  his  circum- 


stances. He  first  located  in  Tallmadge  Town- 
ship, Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  on  the  Demmick  farm, 
renting  that  two  years.  He  then  purchased  the 
Isaac  Gaylord  farm.  In  1835,  he  sold  that 
place  an€l  went  to  Stow,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided.  His  wife  died  Sept.  27,  1879. 
William  H.  lived  on  the  old  place  and  worked 
his  father's  farm,  excepting  three  years,  until 
he  was  31  years  of  age.  He  was  married  Nov. 
15,  1860,  to  Mariette,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Hannah  (Chapman)  Stark,  and  to  this 
union  were  born  the  following  family  :  George 
B.,  born  Aug.  18,  18G1  ;  Amy  H.,  Feb.  20, 
1863;  Emily,  born  Nov.  13,  1865,  and  Frank 
P.,  born  Dec.  L  1872,  died  Oct.  18,  1878.  Mrs. 
Williamson  was  born  in  Stow  Township  June 
7,  1838.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Williamson 
farmed  in  Stow  Township  eight  years  and  Hud- 
son Township  one  year.  He  then  came  to 
Northampton  and  located  on  his  present  place, 
where  he  has  since  remained.  He  owns  a  fine 
farm  of  166  acres.  Is  a  stanch  Republican  in 
politics,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Disci- 
ples' Church. 


STOW    TOWNSHIP. 


GEORGE  W.  BAILEY,  farming  and  dairy- 
ing ;  P.  0.  Cuyahoga  Falls  ;  was  born  Feb.  11, 
1836,  in  Stow  Township  ;  he  is  a  son  of  Warren 
Bailey,  who  was  born  in  Middletown,  Conn., 
Sept.  26,  1796  ;  the  father  was  a  ship-joiner  by 
trade,  which  business  he  steadily  followed  until 
he  came  to  Ohio.  While  at  Middletown,  he 
married  Sail}-  Thayer,  who  was  born  Sept.  3, 
1798,  the  marriage  date  being  Sept.  18,  1821. 
From  this  union  the  following  family  was  the 
issue,  viz.:  Mary,  born  Oct.  16,  1822,  died  July 
27,  1847  ;  Lamira,  born  May  14,  1825,  died 
Aug.  2,  1860  ;  John  C,  born  Jan.  2,  1828  ; 
Hannah  M.,  born  March  31,  1830,  died  June  5, 
1868;  George  W.,  born  Feb.  11,  1836;  and 
Francis  M.,  born  Oct.  16,  1838,  died  March  11, 
1868.  Being  a  poor  man,  Mr.  Bailey  concluded 
to  come  West  to  Ohio  to  better  his  own  cir- 
cumstances and  give  his  children  opportuni- 
ties to  build  homes  for  themselves  ;  in  1832, 
they  came  to  Stow  Township,  Summit  (then 
Portage)  Co.,  Ohio,  via  the  ocean  to  New  York  ; 


thence  to  Buffalo  by  canal  ;  thence  to  Cleve- 
land by  Lake  Erie  ;  and  thence  to  Old  Portage 
by  canal.  For  the  first  few  years  after  his  ar- 
rival, Mr.  Bailey  worked  at  his  trade  in  Cleve- 
land, and  also  at  the  carpenter's  trade  during 
the  fall  season  at  home.  He  arrived  in  the  fall 
of  1832,  and  that  winter  lived  with  Nelson 
Sears,  the  next  spring  purchasing  his  home- 
stead, and  continued  to  reside  there.  Mr. 
Bailey  died  March  1,  1867,  aged  70  years;  his 
death  was  caused  by  jumping  from  a  buggy 
while  his  horse  was  running  awa}',  I'esulting  in 
so  serious  a  fracture  of  his  limb  as  to  necessi- 
tate its  amputation,  which  operation  he  did  not 
survive,  and  died  June  2,  1873,  aged  75  years. 
Of  this  family  only  two — John  C.  and  George 
W. — are  living ;  the  former  married  Mary 
Cartwright,  is  a  farmer  and  fruit-grower,  and 
lives  in  Tennessee.  George  W.  was  married 
March  25,  1867,  to  Elizabeth  Brown,  of  Her- 
kimer Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  by  her  had  three  children 
— Millie  M.,  born  April  6,  1869,  died  June  20, 


^|v 


J. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


1869  ;  Bertha  E.,  born  Oct.  G,  1870,  and  one 
that  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Bailey  was  born  in 
New  York  July  1,  1843.  Mr.  Bailey  enlisted, 
Aug.  12,  1862,  in  Co.  C,  115th  (3.  V.  I.,  and  was 
assigned  to  the  Twentieth  Corps  ;  he  was  dis- 
charged July  5,  1865.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  his 
political  views,  and  is  liberal  in  his  religious 
views.  He  owns  154  acres  of  good  land,  and  is 
a  self-reliant,  intelligent  gentleman. 

JOHN  J.  BRADLEY,  farming  and  dairying  ; 
P.  0.  Kent.  Arba  Bradley,  the  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  native  of  the  State 
of  Connecticut.  By  trade  he  was  a  blacksmith, 
but  he  soon  changed  his  vocation  to  silver- 
smithing.  iVt  the  time  of  his  marriage,  he  was 
foreman  in  Starr's  gun  factory  in  Middletown, 
but  preceding  his  coming  to  Ohio  a  short  time, 
he  was  proprietor  of  a  brass  foundry.  His 
wife  was  Esther  Chamberlain,  by  whom  he  had 
the  following  famil}-  :  Elizabeth,  C^'rus,  Samuel, 
Jacob,  Chloe,  Jacob,  Arba,  John,  Robert  and 
Ransom,  twins,  and  Esther.  John  J.  Bradley 
was  born  in  Middletown,  Conn.,  April  21,  1815. 
When  he  was  between  14  and  15  j-ears  of  age, 
he  came  with  his  sister,  Mrs.  Marvin,  to  Stow 
Township,  Portage  Co.  (now  Summit  Co.),  Ohio, 
where  his  father  had  previously  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  of  160  acres.  He  lived  with  his 
sister  during  the  fall  and  winter  of  1829,  while 
he  was  engaged  clearing  the  underbrush  and 
timber  off  as  much  of  his  father's  land  that  he 
possibly  could.  In  June,  1830,  his  father  came 
out,  and  bringing  with  him  a  suppl}^  of  lemons 
and  Santa  Cruz  rum,  instituted  a  "  logging 
bee,"  and  with  the  help  (?)  of  his  sour  punch 
and  the  neighbors,  cleared  a  sufficient  place  to 
plant  an  orchard  and  erect  his  log  cabin.  He 
then  went  back  to  Connecticut,  and  the  same 
tall  returned  bringing  his  family-.  They  built 
their  house  on  the  place  they  had  cleared,  Lot 
50,  and  he  and  wife  lived  here  the  rest  of  their 
lives,  clearing  and  improving  the  place  with  the 
aid  of  their  children,  and  taking  part  in  all  the 
pioneer  industries  of  that  earl}'  day.  John  J. 
Bradle}'  and  Ruth  C.  Brewster  were  united  in 
wedlock,  Dec.  19,  1839,  and  their  home  was 
ever  afterward  in  Summit  Count}'.  To  this 
union  were  born  a  family  of  three — Julia  Ann, 
born  Nov.  12,  1840,  died  in  infancy  ;  Samuel, 
born  March  26,  1843,  died  Oct.  19,  1862,  at 
Camp  Dennison  from  disease  contracted  while 
in  his  country's  service.  Mary  Esther,  born 
Sept.  6,  1847,  died  Oct.  3,  1847.     Mrs.  Bradley 


died  March  10,  1879,  very  suddenly  from  neu- 
ralgia of  the  heart.  Mr.  Bradley's  whole  life 
has  been  passed  on  his  own  place.  He  is  a 
prominent  Democrat  in  politics,  having  held 
various  positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  that 
party.  He  is  a  man  of  considerable  mechanical 
ability,  and  is  among  the  enterprising  men  of 
Summit  County. 

MRS.  FANNY  COCHRAN,  farming  and 
dairying ;  P.  0.  Cuyahoga  Falls ;  was  born  in 
Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  June  15,  1814.  She  is 
the  daughter  of  John  Bird,  and  sister  of  James 
Bird,  who  was  shot  on  Lake  Erie.  When  but 
a  child  she,  together  with  her  parents,  moved 
to  Steubenville,  Ohio,  where  she  remained  until 
her  marriage  with  Robert  Cochran,  which  took 
place  in  1830.  In  about  1834,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cochran  came  to  Stow  Township.  Summit  Co., 
Ohio,  where  Mrs.  Cochran  has  lived  ever  since. 
This  couple  were  parents  of  the  following 
family :  Joseph  (deceased),  John,  Jane  (de- 
ceased), William,  Norman,  Robert,  Maria,  Fan- 
ny, Elraira  (deceased),  James  and  Martha. 
John  married  Miss  L.  Carrier  ;  William  mar- 
ried Maria  Carley  ;  Norman  married  Carrie 
Black,  and  these  three  families  live  in  Michi- 
gan. Robert  married  Martha  Hall,  and  lives  in 
Tallmadge  Township.  Maria  is  the  widow  of 
John  Fannigan,  and  resides  in  Boston  Town- 
ship. Fanny  is  the  wife  of  H.  G.  Moon,  and  is 
a  resident  of  Stow  Township.  Jane  was  the 
wife  of  Richard  Williams  ;  James  married  Ra- 
chel Best,  and  is  a  resident  of  Northampton 
Township  ;  Martha  married  William  B.  Gallo- 
way ;  Elmira  was  the  wife  of  P.  Galloway, 
and  Joseph  died  at  the  age  of  18,  being  un- 
married. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cochran  settled  on  Lot 
No.  72,  in  Stow,  and,  at  the  time  of  their  set- 
tlement, it  was  a  dense  forest.  They  cleared 
land  on  which  they  built  a  log  cabin,  starting 
in  a  truly  pioneer  manner  to  build  them  a 
home.  Mrs.  Cochran  has  been  a  lady  of  more 
than  ordinary  powers,  as  the  following  will 
show  :  After  working  hard  and  enduring  in- 
numerable privations,  Mr.  Cochran  took  the 
gold  fever  at  the  time  of  the  gold  excitement 
in  California,  and  bidding  his  family  adieu,  set 
forth  on  the  long  trip  to  the  gold  mines.  On 
his  arrival  there  he  opened  a  grocery  and  ex- 
change store  at  a  mining  town  called  Placer- 
ville,  and,  after  remaining  here  some  time,  sold 
out  and  started  for  Sacramento  for  the  purpose 

On  the 


-^ 


_®  ^ 


STOW   TOWNSHIP. 


865 


wa},  he  and  his  companion,  bj'  the  name  of 
Morris,  were  attacked  and  murdered  by  the 
Indians.  Mr.  Cochran's  remains  were  recovered 
and  interred  at  a  place  then  called  Haintown, 
on  Doolittle  Ranehe.  This  left  Mrs.  Cochran 
with  a  large  family  dependent  on  her  for  sup- 
port, and  with  80  acres  of  land  that  was  encum- 
bered by  a  mortgage  of  .f  1,100.  By  the  hard- 
est labor  she  has  cleared  the  place  of  all  in- 
debtedness, and  added  to.it  20  acres  more, 
making  in  all  now  100  acres.  In  1872,  her  two 
sons,  Norman  and  Robert,  enlisted  in  the  cause 
of  their  country's  defense,  the  former  being 
in  Company  D.,  29th  O.  V.  I.,  and  the  latter 
in  the  115th  0.  V.  I.  Norman  was  in  quite 
a  number  of  engagements  and  was  twice 
wounded ;  owing  to  ill  health  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Commissar^'  Department.  Mrs. 
Cochran  lives  alone  with  hired  help  on  the  old 
place,  living  the  life  of  an  humble  Christian. 
M.  D.  CALL,  farming  and  dairying ;  P.  0. 
Hudson  ;  is  eldest  in  the  following  family  born 
to  Jerry  and  Lavina  (Danforth)  Call  :  Moses 
D.,  William  D.,  Jerry  C.  and  Hanson  0.  Mr. 
Call's  grandfather,  Moses  Call,  was  a  native  of 
England,  and  on  his  coming  to  the  United 
States,  fii'st  settled  in  Massachusetts.  From 
this  State  the}'  moved  to  Merrimac  Co.,  N.  H., 
where  the  parents  of  our  subject  were  married. 
Mr.  Call,  the  father  of  Moses  D.,  owned  a  farm, 
and  on  this  farm  Moses  lived  until  1838,  when 
he  left  home  and  went  to  Boston,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  bakery  business.  After  remain- 
ing three  years  in  Boston,  he  disposed  of  his 
property  there  and  started  for  Peoria,  III,  but 
on  the  way  stopped  and  visited  friends  in  Sum- 
mit Co.,  Ohio.  While  here  he  was  taken  ill, 
and  when  he  recovered,  instead  of  continuing 
on  to  Illinois,  as  was  his  intention,  he  decided 
to  remain  in  Ohio.  For  four  3'ears  after  his 
arrival,  Mr.  Call  carried  on  the  cooper's  trade 
in  summers  and  taught  school  during  winters. 
In  November,  1842,  he  married  Hai-riet  ^L  Starr, 
daughter  of  the  old  pioneer,  Josiah  Starr,  who 
came  to  Stow  Township  in  1804.  In  1859,  Mr. 
Call  obtained  possession  of  his  present  place, 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  To  his  union 
with  Miss  Starr  there  were  born  four  children — 
Mary,  Emma  A.,  Ellen  J.  and  Charles  A.  Mary 
married  G.  H.  O'Brien,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
agricultural  business  in  Akron.  Emma  is  the 
wife  of  E.  A.  Seasons.  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  La- 
fayette Darrow,  and  Charles  A.  niarried  Olive 


A.  Prior,  the  daughter  of  S.  S.  Prior,  whose 
family  history  accompanies  this  work.  Mr. 
Call  was  born  Jul}'  12,  1815,  and  his  career 
through  life  is  one  of  honor  and  uprightness. 
He  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  and  has 
held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Stow 
Township  for  thirty-four  years,  besides  holding 
various  other  township  offices.  During  the  fall 
of  1877,  he  was  elected  County  Commissioner, 
and  re-elected  during  the  fall  of  1880.  He 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  188  acres  on  Lots  77  and 
67.  His  wife  was  born  in  Stow  Township  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  Call,  Sept.  25,  1818. 

VOLNEY  CHAMBERLAIN,  farmer  ;  P.  0. 
Kent ;  was  born  in  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  De- 
cember, 1804.  He  is  descended  from  English 
ancestors,  whose  family  history  entitles  them  to 
an  old  and  honorable  name.  He  is  a  son  of 
Ebenezer  and  Susanna  (Jones)  Chamberlain, 
who  were  natives  of  Middletown,  Conn.  These 
parents,  at  a  very  early  day,  emigrated  from 
Middletown  to  Redfield,  Hei-kimer  Co.  (now 
Oswego  Co.).  N.  Y.,  the  latter  part  of  their 
journey  being  through  a  dense  forest  by 
"  blazed "  trees.  Volney  remained  with  his 
parents  in  New  York  until  he  was  6  years  old, 
and  then  with  his  parents  moved  back  to  Mid- 
dletown, where  they  resided  until  1814  ;  again 
removing  to  New  York,  where  the  father  died 
in  1829,  and  the  mother  in  1864.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  is  one  in  a  family  of  thirteen 
children,  eleven  of  whom  lived  to  become 
almost  men  and  women.  He  was  married,  Jan. 
18,  1832,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Willet  Ranney, 
and  from  this  union  were  born  the  following 
family  :  Orville  L.,  Marian  Gr.,  Leora  E.,  James 
W.,  (jharles  L.  and  Edgar  V.  Orville  married 
Maria  Grogan,  and  lives  in  Shreveport,  La. 
Leora  married  John  Deuble.  James  married 
Emma  Fay  (is  a  machinist  and  lives  in  Akron); 
Charles  married  Loretta  Woodward,  and  lives 
in  Minnesota  ;  Edgar  married  Mary  Bradley, 
and  lives  at  home,  as  does  Marian,  who  is  un- 
married. In  1853.  the  subject  of  these  lines 
left  New  York,  and  came  directly  to  his  pres- 
ent farm  in  Stow  Township,  which  consists  of 
94^  acres  situated  on  Lots  39  and  40.  Mr. 
Chamberlain  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
has  served  the  various  townships  in  which  he 
has  lived  in  almost  their  every  office.  Mr. 
Chamberlain  is  a  well-informed,  genial,  intelli- 
gent gentleman,  and  he  and  family  command 
the  respect  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


-^ 


^ 


866 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


"CLIFF  HOUSE,"  C.  E.  KIDNEY,  Pro- 
prietor, Stow  Corners.  One  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful resorts  for  pleasure  parties  and  private 
individuals,  is  situated  near  the  famous  glens 
and  eaves  on  the  Cuyahoga  River,  in  Stow 
Township.  During  the  fall  of  1880,  Mr.  Kid- 
ne}'  purehased  the  "  Clifl'  House"  of  Gen.  Gross, 
and  since  that  time  has  been  remodelling  and 
changing  the  appearance  of  the  property,  until 
it  is  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  re- 
sorts for  pleasure  seekers.  This  property'  con- 
sists of  10  acres,  through  which  a  beautiful 
gorge  extends,  and  within  this  gorge  are  glens, 
caves  and  grottoes,  while  half  a  mile  distant  is 
the  beautiful  Silver  Lake.  Cuyahoga  Falls  is 
near  the  '■  Clifl"  House,"  but  yet  far  enough 
distant  to  relieve  the  pleasure- seeker  of  the 
continual  turmoil  and  bustle  of  the  city. 
Around  the  hotel,  Mr.  K.  is  laying  out  walks, 
drives,  croquet  grounds,  swings,  dancing  halls, 
and  in  tact  has  everything  beautiful  that  will 
make  the  "  Cliff  House"  a  continuation  of  what 
it  has  been  since  coming  into  Mr.  Kidney's 
hands, — a  grand  success.  Mr.  Kidne^^  was 
formerly  a  resident  of  Akron.  He  is  a  painter 
by  trade,  but  owing  to  ill  health  he  has  retired 
from  that  business  and  engaged  in  his  present 
occupation. 

HARVEY  DAVIS,  farmer  and  fruit-grower  ; 
P.  0.  Hudson  ;  was  born  in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y., 
in  18L3.  His  parents,  Nathaniel  and  Electa 
(Palmer)  Davis,  were  natives  of  Middletown, 
Conn.,  and  from  their  native  village  they  went 
to  New  York,  in  1807.  From  New  York  they 
came  to  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1818,  where  the}' 
remained  for  a  short  time.  F'rora  this  point 
they  went  to  Copley  Township,  buying  320 
acres  of  woodland,  on  which  they  soon  erected  a 
comfortable  log  cabin,  and  they  then  commenced 
clearing  and  improving  the  place.  Here  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Davis  brought  up  a  family  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  only  our  subject  and  two 
others  are  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  alwa3S 
made  this  place  their  home,  from  the  time  of 
their  arrival  there  to  their  deaths.  Harvey  was 
raised  and  educated  in  Copley  Township.  He 
began  in  life  with  nothing  but  a  strong  consti- 
tution and  willing  hands.  He  was  married,  in 
1842,  to  Clarissa  Bos  worth,  and  by  her  had  a 
family  of  six — Francis,  Nathaniel  (deceased). 
May  and  Fay.  Francis  was  a  soldief  in  the 
war  of  secession,  and  was  a  member  of  Com- 
pany G.,  115th  Regiment,  0.  V.  I.     Since  the 


war,  he  married  Hattie  Nighman,  and  lives  in 
Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio.  Warner  married  Annie 
Grubb,  and  lives  in  Stow  Township.  In  1855, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  went  to  Tennessee,  and 
farmed  there  until  1859,  when  they  came  back 
to  Ohio.  After  living  one  year  in  Copley  Town- 
ship, they  came  to  their  present  place,  which 
consists  of  -to  acres  on  lot  68,  in  Stow  Town- 
ship. Mr.  Davis  deals  quite  extensively  in  fruit, 
and  he  has  one  of  the  finest  vineyards  in  the 
county.  Mrs.  Davis  is  a  member  of  the  Church 
of  Christ.  Mr.  Davis  is  an  intelligent  and  en- 
terprising citizen. 

W.  H.  FERRY,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kent;  was 
born  in  Belcher,  Mass.,  Aug.  20,  1823.  He 
is  one  in  a  family  of  eleven  children  born  to 
Aaron  and  Elizabeth  (Gilbert)  Ferry.  x\aron 
Feriey  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife  be- 
ing Mary  Person,  by  whom  he  had  two  children. 
In  1833,  this  family  came  from  Massachusetts 
to  Ohio,  making  their  home  near  the  northwest 
corner  of  Franklin  township.  Portage  County. 
B}'  trade,  Mr.  Ferry  was  a  brick-maker,  a  busi- 
ness he  followed  to  a  considerable  extent  in 
connection  with  farming.  When  a  \^oung  man, 
he  was  swindled  out  of  almost  all  his  property 
by  a  land  speculator,  and  on  his  arrival  in  Ohio 
only  had  about  $400.  When  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  about  4  ^-ears  old,  he  was  taken 
sick  and  by  injudicious  doctoring,  was  made  a 
cripple  for  life.  When  his  father  married  the 
second  time,  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself 
He  commenced  by  working  b}'  the  month  for 
those  who  would  have  him  in  his  crippled  con- 
dition. Through  all  his  hardships  in  seeking  a 
home,  Mr.  Ferry  displayed  great  determina- 
tion and  energy.  Where  many  others  would 
have  given  up  in  despair,  he  still  continued  the 
struggle,  saving  all  his  hard-earned  pennies  in 
the  hope  he  might  secure  enough  in  time  with 
which  to  commence  a  home.  At  one  time  he 
was  on  board  a  steamboat  on  Lake  Erie,  and 
during  a  terrific  storm  the  boat  was  wrecked, 
but  Mr.  Ferry,  with  the  rest  of  the  passengers, 
were  rescued  by  the  timely  arrival  of  a  steam 
tug,  "The  Arrow."  Mr.  Ferry,  however,  lost 
all  his  property  on  the  boat.  Sept.  5,  1855,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  B.  R.  A. 
Loomis,  daughter  of  II.  A.  Loomis,  of  Portage 
County,  and  to  this  union  were  born  the  follow- 
ing family:  Laura  E.,  born  July  16,  1857; 
Mary  H,  born  Sept.  5,  1861  ;  Phebe  P.,  born 
March  7,   1865.  and  Hannah  N.  A.,  born  Aug. 


4 


1^ 


STOW    TOWNSHIP. 


867 


18,  1868.  Mrs.  Ferry  was  born  April  18, 1832, 
and  died  Feb.  25,  1877.  Mr.  Ferry  came  to 
his  present  place  in  1859,  where  he  has  ever 
since  remained.  He  run  in  debt  $2,700  for  his 
place,  and  for  the  first  four  years  did  not  make 
enough  to  pay  the  interest  on  the  debt,  besides 
his  actual  household  expenses.  The  farm  con- 
sists of  80  acres,  and  in  1863  Mr.  Ferrj'  tried 
to  find  a  purchaser  for  the  place  for  the  same 
amount  he  gave  for  it,  but  without  success. 
He  then  determined  to  keep  and  pa}^  for  it 
himself  or  break  up  altogether.  By  the  hardest 
of  labor,  and  with  close  econom}-,  he  in  time 
began  to  improve  his  land  and  gradually  pa^' 
off  the  debt.  At  present  he  is  entirel}'  out  of 
debt,  and  with  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Stow 
Township.  This  he  has  acquired  by  his  own 
exertions,  working  most  of  the  time  at  a  disad- 
vantage. Mr.  Ferrj',  however,  has  a  stout 
heart,  and  now  after  he  has  accomplished  his 
object,  can  look  back  and  be  merry  over  his 
hard  life  in  the  past. 

F.  M.  GREEN,  Kent.  F.  M.  Green  and  wife 
represent  two  of  the  old  and  time-honored  set- 
tlers of  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  Mr.  Green  was 
born  Sept.  28,  1836.  He  is  one  of  two  chil- 
dren born  to  Philander  and  Tarissa  (Root) 
Green.  His  brother,  Albert  W.,  lives  in  Alli- 
ance, and  is  mail  agent  of  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort 
Wayne  &  Chicago  Railroad.  Philander  Green 
was  born  in  Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1811.  He 
is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Lucy  (Baily)  Green,  and 
grandson  of  Samuel  Green,  who  was  a  near 
relative  of  Gen.  Nathaniel  Green,  of  Revolu- 
tionary war  fame.  In  about  1817,  Philander, 
with  his  parents,  came  to  Coventry  Township, 
removing  thence  to  Bath  Township,  and  from 
there  to  Norton  Township,  in  about  1818. 
Philanders  father  was  twice  married,  the  first 
time  to  Tarissa  Root  on  Nov.  15,  1835.  This 
lady  died  Jan.  8,  1839.  He  afterward  mar- 
ried his  second  and  present  wife,  Lestina 
Briggs.  Mr.  Green  early  became  identified 
with  the  Church  of  Christ,  and,  in  1842,  com- 
menced exhorting  and  preaching  the  doctrine 
advocated  by  that  church.  March  11,  1862, 
his  son  Frances  married  Ellen  E.  Stow,  whose 
father.  Albert  C.  Stow,  was  born  in  Stow  Town- 
ship, at  Monroe  Falls,  July  5,  1810.  He  was  a 
son  of  Capt.  William  Stow  and  Margaret  Gay- 
lord,  who  were  natives  of  Middletown,  Conn., 
the  father  being  a  sea  captain.  The  Stows  are 
of  English  descent,  and  they  trace  the  family 


lineage  back  to  a  lordship,  and  an  old  and  hon- 
ored family.  Early  in  1809,  Mr.  Stows  father 
changed  from  "  a  life  on  the  ocean  wave "  to 
one  on  "  terra  firma,"  and  having  previously 
purchased  land  of  Judge  Stow,  the  proprietor 
of  Stow  Township,  who  was  a  relative,  he  and 
his  famil}'  started  overland  with  ox  teams,  and, 
after  a  long  and  eventful  journey,  arrived  at 
their  possessions — 300  acres — at  Monroe  Falls. 
William  Stow,  in  1812.  built  a  boat  for  the  pur- 
pose of  assisting  the  Government  during  the 
war  of  1812,  and  this  boat  was  the  first  one 
that  sailed  out  of  Cleveland.  At  the  close  of 
the  war,  Mr.  Stow  returned  to  his  family  at 
Monroe  Falls,  and  recommenced  life  in  the 
wilderness.  Albert  C.  Stow  was  married,  Nov. 
22,  1835,  in  Jackson,  Mich.,  to  x\lmira  Barrett, 
and  by  her  had  two  daughters — Ellen  E.  and 
Emma  A.  As  stated  above,  the  former  mar- 
ried F.  M.  Green.  Mr.  Stow  resides  on  a  good 
farm  of  83  acres,  while  opposite  to  him  lives 
his  daughter  and  son-in-law,  who,  with  their 
family,  cheer  and  comfort  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stow 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  in  their  old  age.  To 
the  union  of  Mi*.  Green  and  Miss  Stow  there 
were  born  six  children,  viz..  Lurie  A.,  Fannie 
M.,  Mary  T.  (deceased),  Frank  A.,  Daisy  A.,  and 
one  that  died  in  infancy'.  Both  families,  the 
Greens  and  Stows,  are  active  workers  of  the 
Church  of  Christ,  and  thev  are  Republicans  in 
politics.  F.  M.  Green  became  a  member  of 
that  church  Sept.  9,  1852.  He  preached  his 
first  regular  sermon  Sept.  13,  1863.  He  has 
held  various  positions  in  the  church.  His 
present  employment  is  Corresponding  Secretary 
of  the  General  Church  Missionarj'  Society  of 
the  Christian  Church  denomination. 

H.  B.  GAYLORD ;  P.  0.  Cuyahoga  Falls  ; 
was  born  in  Stow  Township  March  15,  1818. 
He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Betsey  (Butler) 
Gaylord,  and  grandson  of  Jonathan  and  Patty 
Gaylord,  who  were  natives  of  Middletown, 
Conn.  In  1809,  Jonathan  Gaylord  and  famil}- 
started  to  Middletown  with  ox  teams,  and,  trav- 
eling overland  through  the  unbroken  forests  of 
the  West,  arrived  in  the  same  year  in  what  is 
now  known  as  Stow  Township,  Summit  Co., 
Ohio.  Seeing  in  the  surrounding  country  that 
which  would  eventually  be  valuable  land,  he 
located  on  Lots  15  and  16,  and  this  property 
has  ever  since  remained  in  the  Ga3dord  famil}'. 
At  the  time  of  his  settlement,  there  was  not  a 
particle  of  clearing  on  the  lots  he  had  selected. 


868 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


After  clearing  a  place  large  enough,  Mr.  Ga^^- 
lord  erected  a  rude  log  cabin,  and  in  this  man- 
ner lived  through  the  early  history  of  Stow 
Township,  becoming  more  or  less  identified 
with  its  rise  and  progress.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  his  property  was  divided  among  his  three 
sons — Jonathan,  William  and  Thomas.  The 
latter  being  5'oungest,  received  the  home  place. 
To  Thomas  Gaylord  and  Betsey  Butler's  union 
there  were  born  the  following  family  :  Sylvanus, 
Henry  B.,  Charlotte,  Lewis,  Elizabeth,  and  two 
that  died  in  infancy.  Sylvanus,  Lewis  and  the 
mother  are  dead  ;  and  Mr.  Gaylord's  second  wife 
was  Isabell  Speers,  b}^  whom  he  had  two  daugh- 
ters— Jane  and  Polly.  The  parents  are  now 
both  dead.  Henry  B.  Gay  lord  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm,  receiving  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. His  wife  is  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  Banning,  of  Goshen,  Lid.  5lr.  Gay- 
lord  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  owns  a  fine 
farm  of  112|^  acres  of  excellent  farming  and 
grazing  land.  In  their  religious  belief  the 
family  were  of  the  Old  School  Presbyterian 
stock.  As  citizens  they  were  quiet  and  unob- 
trusive. 

A.  L.  GILBERT,  farmer;  P.  0.  Cuyahoga 
Falls  ;  was  born  July  29,  1809.  Is  a  son  of 
Orin  and  Mary  (Barber)  Gilbert,  who  were  na- 
tives of  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  after  moving  to  Ohio,  but  formerl}'  car- 
ried on  the  shoemaking  and  tanning  trade.  In 
the  ftiU  of  1828,  he  came  to  Stow  Township, 
Summit  Co.,  having  exchanged  GO  acres  of  land 
there  for  over  200  acres  in  Stow  Township. 
He  settled  on  Lots  31,  32  and  41,  which  are  now 
owned  by  his  two  sons.  Mr.  Gilbert  was  an  in- 
fluential and  enterprising  citizen,  taking  an 
active  part  in  all  the  improvements  and  enter- 
prises of  his  neighborhood,  either  morally  or 
intellectuall}'.  He  did  as  much  as,  if  not  more, 
for  the  erection  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at 
Cu3ahoga  Falls,  of  which  he  was  a  member, 
than  any  other  one  man.  He  died  Jul}'  13, 
1846,  and  his  wife  March  13,  1874.  They  were 
parents  of  the  following  family  :  Lemiry,  Lewis, 
Mary,  Henry,  Harriet,  Wallace,  Maria,  Edwin, 
Lyman  and  Louisa,  and  one  that  died  in  in- 
fanc}'.  A.  L.  Gilbert  has  been  twice  married. 
His  first  wife  was  Almira  Gaylord,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children — Mary  and  Emily,  both  of 
whom  are  dead.  His  second  and  present  wife 
was  Mary  Tuttle,  by  whom  he  had  six  children 
— Sarah,  Lydia  (dead),  Orin,  Albert,  Frederick 


and  Arthur.  Mr.  Gilbert  owns  180  acres  of  ex- 
cellent land,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of 
the   Episcopal    Church.      Is  a   Republican   in 

I  politics,  and  an  honest  and  influential  citizen. 
GEORGE  W.  HART.     Col.  John  C.  Hart, 

I  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Cornwall,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  April 

I  17,  1798.     He  was  a  son  of  Rufus  Hart,  who 

j  was  born  in  Goshen,  Conn.,  in  1771,  and  Esther 
Cotter  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1795.  In 
1802,  Rufus  Hart  and  family  moved  from  Con- 
necticut to  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  when  he  again 
moved  to  Ohio.  In  the  war  of  1812,  Mr.  Hart 
served  in  the  capacity  of  Lieutenant  in  a  com- 
pany commanded  b}'  Capt.  Mallison.  He  was 
an  active  participant  in  the  battles  of  Chippewa, 
Lundy's  Lane  and  at  the  burning  of  Buffalo. 
When  between  14  and  15  years  of  age,  John 
C.  Hart  enlisted  in  a  cavalry  company  com- 
pany commanded  by  Capt.  Stone,  and  was  with 
his  father  at  Newark,  Ft.  George  and  other  con- 
tested points.  On  their  evacuation  of  Ft. 
George,  they  suffered  incredible  hai'dships, 
their  tents  and  clothing  being  such  as  were 
brought  from  their  homes.  Here  3'oung  Hart 
learned  a  lesson  of  enduring  hardships  that  he 
retained  through  after  life.  After  the  close  of 
the  war,  he  and  his  father  returned  to  Genesee 
Co.,  where  they  remained  but  a  short  time,  and 
in  May,  1815,  the}-  removed  to  Ohio,  locating 
at  Middlebury,  now  the  Sixth  Ward  of  Akron. 
There  were  then  but  three  or  four  log  cabins 
in  what  is  now  that  city,  and  the  surrounding 
country  was  an  almost  unbroken  forest.  When 
21  years  of  age,  John  C.  left  home  for  the 
South  in  search  of  employment.  He  traveled 
on  foot  to  Steubenville,  where  he  got  on  board 
a  lumber  raft  and  floated  down  the  Ohio  River 
until  the  raft  lodged  on  an  island,  he  then  made 
his  way  on  foot  to  Cincinnati.  From  this 
point  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  engaged 
to  work  in  a  mill  for  a  man  living  near  the  city. 
After  about  two  months  at  this  business,  he 
left  and  went  to  a  small  town  called  Milton, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick, 
but  was  soon  after  taken  ill  with  fever  and  ague, 
and  the  following  June  returned  home.  He 
then  purchased  50  acres  of  land  just  south  of 
Middlebur}-,  on  which  he  soon  erected  a  house 
and  barn.  Feb.  24,  1831,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mrs.  Margaret  A.  Sterling,  and 
to  this  union  were  born  George  W.,  John  S., 
Charles  S.,  Hiram  J.,  Elizabeth  and  Fanny  A. 


>L^ 


STOW    TOWNSHIP. 


869 


All  of  these  are  living  except  Hiram  and  Eliza- 
beth. Hiram  served  his  countr}'  faithfully  in 
the  war  of  secession,  and  died  from  diseases 
contracted  while  in  the  service.  The  father, 
John  C,  was  naturally  of  a  military  turn  of 
mind,  which  only  required  opportunity  for  de- 
velopment. When  advanced  in  life,  he  raised 
a  regiment  of  cavalry  of  which  he  was  elected 
Colonel.  Mr.  Hart  died  Aug.  20,  1880.  Of 
his  children  that  are  yet  living,  John  S.  married 
Zilpha  Tinker,  of  Peoria,  111.,  but  that  lady  has 
since  died.  Chas.  S.  married  Mrs.  Molly  Ferney, 
and  lives  in  Middlebury.  Fanny  is  the  wife  of 
Clinton  Ruggles,  and  resides  in  Aliron.  George 
W.  was  born  in  Middlebury,  July  12,  1832, 
and  in  youth  received  the  advantages  of  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  village.  He  was 
married  Aug.  18, 1853,  to  Miss  AnnaH.  Beards- 
ley,  daughter  of  Talmon  and  Temperance  (Spi- 
cer)  Beardsle}'.  Talmon  Beardsley  was  born 
in  Delhi,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  15,  1799. 
He  removed  with  his  fathers  famil}'  to  Licking 
Co.,  Ohio,  in  1810,  and  from  there  came  to  Mid- 
dlebury- in  1818.  He  has  since  purchased  and 
sold  a  farm  in  Springfield  Township,  and  also 
a  farm  in  Coventry  Township,  at  the  latter 
place  living  about  thirty  years.  In  1831,  he 
married  Temperance  Spicer,  daughter  of  Maj. 
Miner  Spicer,  who  was  one  of  Middlebury's 
earliest  pioneers.  To  this  union  were  born 
seven  children,  of  whom  the  living  ones  are 
Mills  H.,  Avery  S.,  Anna  H.,  Hattie  D.  and 
Louisa  J.  Mills  married  Prudence  Spicer,  and 
is  a  resident  of  Ogden  Junction,  Utah.  Avery 
married  Amanda  Hart,  and  lives  in  xlkron. 
Hattie  is  the  wife  of  dates  Babcock,  and  they 
are  residents  of  Akron.  Louisa  married  George 
Stover,  and  lives  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  The  two 
deceased  are  Emily  A.  and  Avery  T.  The  chil- 
dren of  George  W.  Hart,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  his  wife,  are  Freddie,  born  July  1, 
1855,  died  Sept.  26,  1855  ;  Lizzie,  born  April 
22,  1857,  died  April  29,  1862  ;  Emily  F.,  born 
Jan.  13,  1859 ;  Georgie  Anna,  born  Dec. 
■1,  1861,  died  Dec.  28,  1873;  Clarissie  A., 
born  July  25,  1865,  and  Maggie,  born  Ma}-  5, 
1871,  died  Aug.  16,  1871.  Mrs.  Hart  was  born 
in  Middlebury,  July  18,  1832.  The  death  of 
Georgie  Anna  was  accidental,  caused  by  the 
kick  of  a  horse.  She  was  driving  a  team  of 
horses  for  her  father  while  he  was  loading  the 
sled  with  corn.  In  some  way  she  slipped  from 
the  load,  and  fell  beneath  one  of  the  horses  feet. 


The  animal  became  frightened  and  commenced 
to  kick,  one  foot  striking  her  face  disfig- 
uring it  frightfully,  one  of  the  corks  pene- 
trating the  skull.  She  was  sensible  when  taken 
up  and  continued  so  until  the  next  Sunday, 
when  life  became  extinct,  and  the  spirit  of 
Georgie  Hart  forsook  its  cla}-  tenement  and 
returned  to  God  who  gave  it.  She  was  a  bright, 
winsome  child,  the  pride  of  her  friends  and 
pla3'mates.  Of  an  active  and  cheerful  disposi- 
tion, she  was  always  willing  and  ready  to  assist 
in  whatever  was  required  of  her.  Her  faith 
was  firmly  fixed  in  God.  After  the  accident, 
she  asked  her  mother  if  she  thought  she  would 
die  ;  she  was  told  that  they  did  not  know,  but 
were  fearful  she  would.  She  answered  that 
she  was  willing,  and  seemed  not  to  fear  death 
to  the  last.  Her  untimely  fate  was  a  sad  blow 
to  her  parents,  and  the  deplorable  accident 
cast  a  gloom  over  the  entire  community.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hart  have  been  singularly  unfort- 
unate. Of  a  family  of  six  children,  onl}-  two 
are  now  living.  Ever  since  their  marriage, 
they  have  lived  on  their  place  in  Stow  Town- 
ship. The  farm  consists  of  150  acres  of  well- 
improved  land.  Mr.  Hart  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  he  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  J^piscopal  Church.  There  is  no  family 
better  known,  or  more  highly  esteemed  than 
that  of  George  W.  Hart. 

SIMPSON  HIBBARD,  farming  and  dairy- 
ing ;  P.  0.  Hudson  ;  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Stow  Township  were  William  and  Catharine 
(Sadler)  Hibbard,  who  were  natives  of  Ireland. 
Mr.  Hibbard  was  a  poor  boy,  and,  often  hearing 
of  the  beauties  of  America  from  friends  who 
had  come  here  previoush^-,  he  determined  to 
brave  the  perils  of  a  long  voyage  and  cast  his 
lot  among  the  pioneers  of  Ohio  ;  in  1833,  he 
left  his  native  countr}',  and,  after  a  long  voyage, 
arrived  in  the  United  States  in  safety  ;  he  came 
directly  to  Stow  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  subsequent!}-  married  the  mother  of  our 
subject — Catharine  Sadler,  who  bore  to  him  the 
following  famil}' :  Simpson,  Eliza  J.  and  Mary 
E.  Eliza  married  S.  P.  Donaldson,  and  lives 
in  Geauga  Co.,  and  Mary  lives  in  Peninsula. 
Mr.  Hibbard  first  began  life  by  farming  on  40 
acres,  which  he  had  purchased  on  his  arrival 
in  Stow  ;  by  hard  lal)or  and  econom}-  this  has 
been  so  increased  as  to  make  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  Stow  Township.  Mr.  Hibbard's  wife 
is  dead,  but  he  is  yel  living  with  his  son,  at 


870 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


the  advanced  age  of  75  years.  Simpson  was 
born  in  Stow  Township,  June  5,  1844  ;  he  was 
reared  on  the  farm,  assisting  his  father  in 
clearing  and  improving  the  place  ;  he  was 
married  May  18,  1864,  to  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of 
John  Senter,  and  b}'  her  had  a  family  of  fixe 
children,  as  follows  :  Pkldie  A.,  Fred,  John  S., 
Garret  F.  and  Rollon.  Mr.  Hibbard  owns  a 
farm  of  200  acres,  which  has  about  1,000  rods 
of  tileing  on  it ;  he  is  Democratic  in  his  politi- 
cal views,  and  is  a  quiet,  unassuming  gentle- 
man, having  the  friendship  and  good  will  of  a 
large  cii'cle  of  acquaintance. 

W.  L.  HANDFORD  ;  Cu3'ahoga  Falls  ;  was 
born  in  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  13,  1811  ; 
he  is  a  son  of  Uriah  and  Rhoda  (Boalt)  Han- 
ford,  and  grandson  of  Charles  Hanford,  of 
Norwalk,  Conn.  Our  subject's  father  was  a 
sea- faring  man,  and  his  son  remained  at  home 
during  his  father's  voyages  ;  in  his  youthful  days 
he  learned  the  hatter's  trade  ;  in  1826,  he  came 
to  Ohio,  and  his  home  ever  since  has  been  in 
Summit  Co.  In  1844,  he  married  Mary  San- 
ford,  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Clarissa  (Par- 
melee)  Sanford.  who  came  from  Litchfield, 
Conn.,  to  Ohio,  in  1834.  During  1837,  the 
cyclone,  that  passed  through  Stow  Township, 
struck  Mr.  Sanford's  house,  completely  demol- 
ishing it,  killing  Mr.  Sanford  and  his  aged 
father  and  two  sons.  Mrs.  Sanford  and  the 
present  Mrs.  Hanford  were  the  onh'  ones  saved 
of  the  family.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanford  have  had 
born  to  them  one  child  that  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanford  are  members  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church  ;  they  own  a  farm  of  100  acres,  on 
which  they  are  pleasantly  located. 

GEORGE  NORTH,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Cuyahoga 
Falls  ;  was  born  in  Middletown  Conn.,  Dec.  6, 
1819.  He  is  a  son  of  Selah  and  Anna  (Newell) 
North,  and  grandson  of  Simeon  North,  who 
was  the  inventor  of  the  breech-loading  carbine. 
Simeon  North  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordi- 
nar}'  ability,  and  as  a  master  mechanic  was 
known  far  and  near.  About  the  time  of  the 
breaking-out  of  the  war  of  1812,  the  Secretary 
of  War  came  to  Mr.  North  and  made  the  prop- 
osition, that  if  Mr.  North  would  build  a  fac- 
tory for  the  manufacture  of  guns  for  the  United 
States  x\rmy,  he  would  give  him  $52,000.  This 
proposition  was  accepted.  Mr.  North  erected 
a  large  brick  factory  (which  is  yet  standing)  in 
Middletown,  and  employed  a  large  force  of 
men  in  the  manufacture  of  his  improved  car- 


bine. Mr.  North  remained  in  the  employ  of 
the  Government  fiftv-two  ^-ears.  Our  subject's 
father  learned  the  gunsmith's  trade  in  his 
father's  factory.  To  his  union  with  Anna 
Newell  there  were  born  the  following  family  : 
Nancy,  Julia.  Egbert,  (reorge,  John,  Philly, 
Charles.  Sarah  and  Newell.  The  mother  of 
these  died  in  Connecticut,  and  Mr.  North  then 
married  Sarah  Duran,  a  widow  lady,  and  by 
her  had  six  children — Charlotte,  Ellen,  Bessie, 
Selah  (dead),  Selah  and  one  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. In  1834,  Mr.  North  and  family  came  to 
Stow  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  and  first 
located  on  Lot  8.  After  living  here  a  number 
of  years,  they  sold  out  and  moved  near  Monroe 
Falls.  Mr.  North  had  just  built  a  house  there, 
when  one  day  during  a  heavy  thunder  shower 
the  house  was  struck  by  lightning  and  Mr. 
North  was  killed.  The  date  of  his  death  is 
Aug.  13,  1850.  He  was  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church  and  an  excellent  citizen.  In  1841, 
George  North  went  back  to  Middletown.  trav- 
eling the  entire  distance  on  horseback.  For 
the  first  few  years  he  farmed  there,  and  then 
bought  a  large  flouring-mill  which  he  ran  three 
years,  doing  an  extensive  business.  He  was 
married  March  10,  1847,  to  Catharine  Wright, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Patience  Wright,  of 
North  Stonington,  Conn.  To  this  union  there 
were  born  four  children — Charlotte,  Wallace 
N.,  Linus  and  George.  Charlotte  is  the  wife 
of  Benjamin  Brown,  and  lives  in  Michigan  ; 
Wallace  and  Linus  are  dead  ;  (reorge  is  single 
and  lives  with  his  parents  on  the  home  farm  in 
Stow.  Mr.  North  returned  to  Stow  in  1853. 
He  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  100  acres  on  which 
he  resides,  besides  two  lots  and  a  house  in 
Cuyahoga  Falls.  Mrs.  North  was  born  in 
Rhode  Island  June  27.  1820,  but  moved  to 
Connecticut  when  9  weeks  old. 

HIRAM  REED,  farming  and  dairying  ;  P.  O. 
Hudson  ;  was  born  in  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio, 
Jan.  13,  1825  ;  he  is  one  in  a  family  of  twelve 
children  born  to  John  and  Rebecca  Reed.  Mr. 
Reed's  father  was  b}-  trade  a  weaver,  but  he  dis- 
continued weaving  when  Hiram  was  6  years 
old,  and  moved  to  Portage  Co.,  where  he  went 
to  farming.  At  the  age  of  1 8,  Hiram  appren- 
ticed himself  to  a  boss  carpenter  to  learn  the 
trade  ;  after  three  years'  servitude,  he  com- 
menced plying  his  trade  in  his  neighborhood, 
continuing  for  a  number  of  3-ears.  In  October, 
1851,  he  was   united  in  marriage  with  Phebe 


Vl 


b^ 


STOW    TOWNSHIP. 


871 


Sadler,  daughter  of  Arthur  Sadler,  and  the 
three  succeeding  years  he  and  his  wife  lived 
with  her  father.  At  the  time  of  Mr.  Reed's 
marriage,  his  total  possessions  was  only  $10, 
but  for  three  years  he  worked  at  his  trade 
faithfully  until  he  had  acquired  some  capital 
with  which  to  commence  housekeeping ;  his 
father-in-law  then  gave  to  Phebe  20  acres  of 
land,  which  was  increased  to  83  acres  in  1861,  by 
Mr.  Reed  ;  in  18GG,  he  sold  all  his  possessions 
at  this  place,  and  purchased  the  original  Fred- 
erick Wolcott  farm  of  127  acres,  at  Monroe 
Falls  ;  after  three  3^ears,  he  purchased  63  acres 
more  adjoining  him,  and,  in  1871,  sold  out  and 
went  to  Hudson  ;  he  purchased  a  farm  at  the 
latter  place,  but,  after  two  years,  sold  out  and 
moved  where  he  now  resides ;  he  now  owns  a 
farm  of  300  acres,  delightfully  located,  half  of 
which  lies  in  Hudson  and  half  in  Stow  Township ; 
during  the  year  1880,  this  farm  yielded  1,762 
bushels  of  wheat  from  63  acres  of  land.  Not 
being  content  with  farming  alone,  Mr.  Reed 
erected  a  cheese  factor}'  in  1877,  in  which  he 
manufactured  the  American  cheese  ;  in  1878. 
altandoning  that,  and  in  its  stead  manufactured 
Swiss  cheese.  In  this  last  venture,  Mr.  Reed 
has  been  reasonabl}'  successful ;  during  the 
season  of  1880,  this  factor}'  turned  out  over 
fifty-three  and  two-fiftlis  tons  of  an  excellent 
qualit}-  of  Swiss  cheese.  By  his  judicious 
management  and  honorable  dealings,  Mr.  Reed 
has  proven  to  be  one  of  the  best  business  men 
in  Stow  Township  :  he  has  also  proven  that  in 
order  to  be  successful  one  must  not  necessarily 
be  born  wealthy.  His  wife  bore  him  the  follow- 
ing family :  Angeline,  Elizabeth.  H..  Kilen, 
Harriet,  Arthur  and  one  that  died  in  infancy  ; 
the  mother  of  these  died  Feb.  7,  1871,  and, 
March  20.  1873,  Mr.  Reed  married  Mrs.  Sophia 
Galloway,  widow  of  Henry  Gralloway  and  daugh- 
ter of  Broady  McKenzie.  Mr.  Reed  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics. 

REV.  L.  SOUTHMAYD,  minister,  Cuya- 
hoga Falls;  was  born  December  19,  1826,  in 
Stow  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  He  is  a 
son  of  Erastus  and  Anna  (Wetmore)  South- 
ma3'd,  and  grandson  of  Partridge  and  Hannah 
(Fanning)  Southmayd.  Erastus  Southmayd 
was  a  native  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  and  was 
born  March  29,  1787.  He  was  the  sixth  child 
in  a  famil}'  of  nine  children.  When  a  young 
man  he  left  home  and  went  to  New  York  Cit}-, 
engaging  in  the  mercantile  business.     He  failed 


at  this  in  1812,  and  seven  years  later,  emigrated 
westward,  locating  in  Stow  Township,  Summit 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  his  death. 
On  his  arrival  in  Stow,  Mr.  Southma\'d  began 
teaching  school,  which  vocation  he  followed  for 
some  time.  April  18,  1822,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Anna  Wetmore,  daughter  of 
Caleb  Wetmore,  and  of  this  union  were  born 
three  children — Lucy,  Charles  and  Leonard — 
the  mother  dying  after  giving  birth  to  the  last- 
named.  Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  South- 
mayd moved  to  Stow  Corners,  where  he  opened 
a  tavern.  He  afterward  married  Clarissa  Rice, 
who  became  his  wife  March  21, 1827  ;  this  lad}' 
was  born  Feb.  6,  1805,  and  she  is  the  second 
white  child  born  in  the  township  of  Stow  ;  to 
his  second  marriage  four  sons  were  born,  viz. : 
Walter,  William,  and  Horace  and  Henry — 
twins  ;  of  these  William  alone  is  living.  Mr. 
Southmayd's  services,  as  agent,  were  secured 
and  retained  for  a  number  of  years  by  Joshua 
Stow,  the  proprietor  of  the  township,  before  it 
was  sold  to  the  settlers.  He  finally  died  Oct. 
10,  1866,  and  his  wife  March  14,  1879.  In  his 
political  views,  Mr.  Southmayd  was  a  Re- 
publican, and  a  strong  temperance  man  :  he 
was  identified  with  the  Disciples'  Church,  and 
his  descendants  are  members  of  the  same. 
Leonard  Southmayd  received  a  good  education 
in  youth,  and,  in  1850,  married  Elizabeth  A. 
Stark,  daughter  of  the  old  pioneer,  Benjamin 
Stark  ;  their  union  there  was  without  issue  ;  but 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Southmayd  have  raised  three  of 
their  neighbor's  children — Charles  H.  (who  died 
in  the  army).  Fredrick  W.  and  Jessie  R. — the  last 
named  being  the  only  one  that  received  the 
name  of  their  foster  parents.  Mrs.  Southmayd 
was  born  Jan.  14,  1826.  At  the  close  of  the 
war,  Mr.  Southmayd  was  ordained  a  minister 
of  the  Disciples'  Church,  in  which  capacity  he 
has  served  ever  since.  He  owns  the  undivided 
two-thirds  of  the  old  Stark  homestead,  which 
consists  of  144  acres.  Of  the  Southmayds, 
there  are  but  two  others  in  the  State  of  Ohio  ; 
these  are  Charles  and  William  ;  the  former  a 
farmer  in  Stow  Township,  and  the  latter  an 
insurance  agent,  located  at  Cuyahoga  Falls. 

NELSON  SEARS,  retired  farmer,  Cuyahoga 
Falls.  This  gentleman,  one  of  the  old  land- 
marks of  Stow  Township,  is  one  in  a  family  of 
ten  children,  born  to  Daniel  and  Betsey  (Thomas) 
Sears,  and  was  born  in  Middletown.  Conn.,  in 
1802.     When  3  years  of  age,  Mr.  Sears,  together 


872 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


with  his  parents,  moved  to  New  York.  At  the 
age  of  14,  Nelson  determined  to  accompany  liis 
father,  who  was  at  that  time  preparing  to  go  to 
Randolph,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  and,  with  well- 
tilled  knapsacks,  they  began  their  walk  of  nearly 
500  miles  through  the  forests  of  New  York, 
Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  Mr.  Sears'  father  only 
remained  in  Portage  Co.  that  winter,  and  the 
next  spring  he  built  a  sleigh,  and,  loading  it 
with  deer  skins,  went  back  to  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Nelson,  however,  remained,  working  for  his 
grandfather  at  Randolph  for  three  years.  Be- 
coming liomesick,  he  concluded  to  go  back  to 
his  friends  in  York  State,  and,  in  due  time, 
reached  home  in  safety.  On  Jan.  17,  1828,  he 
married  Lucy  Roberts,  of  Middletown,  Conn., 
and  from  that  place  removed  to  New  York, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  the  fall  of 
1831,  when  he  came  to  Stow  Township,  Summit 
Co.,  Ohio,  locating  on  Lot  No.  11.  He  has  ever 
since  resided  in  Stow,  helping  to  clear  and  im- 
prove the  township,  and  build  up  the  town.  By 
legitimate  farming  alone,  Mr.  Sears  has  earned 
valuable  property.  He  only  had  $1.50  on  his 
arrival  in  Stow.  Until  recently,  he  possessed 
225  acres  of  land  ;  but  gave  his  two  living  chil- 
dren 100  acres  apiece,  reserving  for  himself 
and  wife  about  $10,000  worth  of  property.  This 
couple  were  parents  of  the  following  children  : 
Sarah  A.  (deceased),  Robert,  Angeliue,  Julia  A. 
(deceased),  Harris  (deceased),  Ellen  M.  (de- 
ceased) and  Horace  (deceased).  Robert  and 
Angeline  are  both  married,  and  they  are  the 
only  children  living.  Robert  married  Elsie  Haz- 
zard,  and  Angeline  became  the  wife  of  B.  R. 
Bucklin.  Robert  served  his  country  in  the  war 
of  the  rebellion.  Mr.  Sears  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  and  he  has  at  times  held  various  town- 
ship offices.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of  Stow 
Township's  best  citizens. 

ROBERT  STEWART,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Hud- 
son ;  son  of  Joshua  and  Margaret  (Walker) 
Stewart  was  born  in  Stow  Township  April  8, 
1805.  He  is  the  first  white  male  child  born  in 
Stow  Township.  His  father,  Joshua,  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  his  grandfather,  Thomas 
Stewart,  was  an  old  Revolutionary  soldier. 
Joshua  Stewart  came  from  Virginia  to  Ohio  in 
1803,  walking  the  entire  distance.  His  total 
possessions  at  this  time  was  only  an  ax.  He 
married  Margaret  Walker  soon  after  his  arrival, 
and  then,  in  1803,  came  to  Stow  Township,  and 
located  on  Lots  88  and  89.     His  family  were 


the  second  white  settlers  in  the  township. 
Here  they  passed  through  a  long  period  of  suf- 
fering, clearing  the  land,  making  their  own 
clothing  and  enduring  the  hardships  incident  to 
a  pioneer's  life.  'I'here  were  born  to  his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Walker  eight  children — Robert, 
Betse}',  Thomas,  George,  Margaret,  James, 
Sally  and  Joshua.  James  and  Joshua  are 
dead.  Robert  Stewart,  as  well  as  his  brothers 
and  sisters,  were  raised  in  the  woods  of  Stow 
Township.  He  remained  at  home,  working  and 
assisting  his  father  in  clearing  the  home  place 
until  he  was  25  years  of  age.  He  then  started 
out  in  life  for  himself  He  was  married,  Sept. 
11,  1858,  to  Nancy  Tracy,  daughter  of  William 
and  Nancy  (Ish)  Tracy,  of  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  to  this  union  were  born  Franklin  F.,  Will- 
iam, Margaret  J.,  Jeanette,  Sherling  P.,  Nancy 
E.  and  George  I.  (twins).  Mr.  Stewart  started 
in  life  a  poor  boy  with  but  $5  he  could  call  his 
own.  By  hard  labor  and  economy  he  has  made 
for  himself  and  familj-,  with  the  aid  of  his  wife, 
a  fine  home.  They  now  have  54  acres  in  Stow 
Township,  and  155  in  Hudson  Township.  Mr. 
Stewart's  father  and  mother  were  the  first 
couple  married  in  Hudson  Township.  Much 
more  of  the  Stewarts  will  be  found  in  the  his- 
tory of  Hudson  and  Stow  Townships. 

LEVI  SWINEH ART,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Kent ; 
was  born  in  Springfield  Township,  Summit  Co., 
Ohio,  Jan.  20,  183G.  He  is  a  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Catharine  (Garl)  Swinehart,  and  grandson 
of  Christian  Swinehart,  who  was  one  of  the 
brave  men  that  freed  the  colonies  in  America 
from  the  tyrannical  rule  of  Great  Britain. 
Benjamin  Swinehart  was  born  in  Northumber- 
land Co.,  Penn.,  Jan.  30,  1811.  He  came  to 
Uuiontown,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1829,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade — shoemaking — for  a  time. 
March  10,  1835,  he  married  Catharine  Garl,  and 
had  the  following  children — Levi,  Samuel,  Sarah, 
Lucinda,  Harriet  and  Daniel.  Lucinda  lived 
to  become  the  wife  of  Jacob  Brumbaugh,  but 
has  since  died.  Samuel  married  Elizabeth 
Brumbaugh,  Sarah  married  Isaac  Sausaman, 
Harriet  married  Frank  Ewell,  and  all  three  li\'e 
in  Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  Daniel  married  Catha- 
rine Nittle,  and  is  a  resident  of  Sandusky  Co., 
Ohio.  The  father  came  to  Ohio  a  poor  boy, 
but,  by  industry  and  economy,  amassed  a  good 
fortune  by  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr.  Swine- 
hart was  well  known  by  a  large  circile  of  neigh- 
bors, and  his  death,  which  occurred  Feb.   11, 


<^  <s 


STOW    TOWNSHIP. 


873 


1878,  was  deeply  deplored  b}^  a  large  concourse 
of  friends  who  followed  his  remains  to  their 
last  resting-place.  His  widow  never  fully 
recovered  from  the  shock  occasioned  by  the 
death  of  her  husband  ;  she  died  June  28,  1878. 
Levi  Swiuehart  was  raised  in  every  sense  of  the 
word  a  farmer  boy.  His  early  life  was  filled 
with  hard  work  and  privations.  He  carefully 
saved  his  hard-earned  money  until  he  could 
place  it  to  a  good  advantage.  On  the  -Ith  of 
March,  1859,  his  wedding  with  Sarah  Myers 
was  celebrated.  To  their  union  were  born 
Almeda  E.,  Celestia  C,  Eldora  C.  and  Nelson 
E.  (deceased).  Mrs.  Swinehart  is  adaugliterof 
Daniel  and  Esther  M3'ers,  and  she  was  born  in 
Green  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  9, 
1835.  In  1875,  Mr.  Swinehart  purchased  his 
present  farm  in  Stow  Township.  This  place 
consists  of  96  acres  of  tlie  best  land  in  the 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swinehart  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Darrow  Street  Grange. 

VIRGTL  M.  THOMPSON,  son  of  Dr.  Moses 
and  Elizabeth  (Mills)  Thompson,  was  born  in 
Hudson  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  March 
1-1,  1810.  Dr.  Thompson  was  a  native  of 
Goshen,  Conn.,  and  being  one  in  a  large  family, 
his  father  gave  him  his  time  as  his  own  when 
he  was  17.  With  no  mone}'  to  his  name  to 
speak  of,  and  a  small  bundle  of  patched  clothes 
on  his  back  in  a  pack,  Moses  determined  to  hew 
his  wa}',  and  become  a  phj'sician,  and,  being  a 
young  man  of  spirit,  in  time  accomplished  his 
desires.  In  1800,  he  started  on  foot,  and  trav- 
eling the  miles  of  unbroken  forest,  arrived  in 
what  is  now  known  as  Hudson,  Ohio,  whither 
friends  had  gone  the  preceding  year.  Arriving 
in  Hudson  in  x\pril,  he  immediately  purchased 
a  large  tract  of  land  (600  acres),  for  friends 
back  East,  and  160  acres  for  himself  He  at 
once  commenced  clearing  the  land  he  had  se- 
lected for  himself,  and  in  July  went  back  to 
Goshen,  married  Elizabeth  Mills,  and  in  1802, 
removed  to  Hudson,  where  they  remained  un- 
til their  respective  deaths.  To  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Mills  there  were  born  thirteen  chil- 
dren :  Eliza  M.,  Susan,  Mills,  Emily,  Sylvester, 
Virgil,  Ruthy,  Sarah  A.,  Mary,  Martha,  Eliza- 
beth and  two  that  died  in  infanc}'.  All  that 
are  now  living  (five  in  number)  reside  in  Sum- 
mit Co.  Virgil  was  reared  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Hudson.  In  1836,  he  married  Maria 
Smith,  who  died  about  two  years  after  their 
marriage.     Mr.    Thompson's   second  wife  was 


Marie  Antoinette  Turner,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried in  May,  1842,  and  by  whom  he  had  three 
daughters — Celia  M.,  married  to  H.  H.  Cham- 
berlain, but  has  since  died  ;  Mary  A.,  and 
Emma  P.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  her  dead  sis- 
ter's husband,  H.  H.  Chamberlain,  and  Emma 
married  E.  D.  Ellsworth,  by  whom  she  had 
two  children — Fred  and  Mamie.  Mr.  Thomp- 
son purchased  his  present  place  in  1836.  He 
owns  355  acres  of  good  land,  and  is  a  stanch 
Republican. 

H.  E.  TALCOTT,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kent; 
is  a  native  of  Lewis  County,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
born  May  9,  1809.  He  is  a  son  of  Joel  and 
Zilpah  (Kelse}')  Talcott,  who  were  parents  of 
four  children — Electa,  Lucy,  Laura  and  Heze- 
kiah  E.  When  but  four  years  old,  Hezekiah's 
father  died,  leaving  the  widow  and  four  children 
to  struggle  through  life  as  best  they  might. 
Hezekiah  remained  with  his  mother  until  he 
began  doing  for  himself,  and  afterward  the 
mother  made  her  home  with  her  son.  In  1830, 
he  came  to  Ohio,  and  having  relatives  in  Stow 
Township,  Summit  Co.,  he  selected  a  place 
there  on  Lot  1 9,  which  was  at  that  time  an  al- 
most unbroken  forest.  The  fall  succeeding  his 
coming,  his  mother  and  family  came  out,  and 
together  they  started  life  in  the  wilderness. 
Dec.  29,  1833,  Hezekiah  married  Betsey  Bur- 
dick,  daughter  of  John  Burdick,  and  by  her 
had  a  family  of  ten,  as  follows  :  Henry  L., 
Asher  M.,  Charles  G.,  Myra  V.,  Zilpah  A.,  Ellen 
J.,  Emma  E.,  Lorenzo  A.,  Ethe  W.  and  Electa 
M.  ;  all  these  are  living,  and  all  are  married  ex- 
cepting the  two  youngest.  Mrs.  Talcott  was  born 
in  Stow  Township,  in  1816,  and  her  parents 
came  to  the  township  from  Massachusetts,  in 
1812.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Talcott  had  three  sons  in 
the  late  war-^-Charles,  Asher  and  Lorenzo ; 
Charles  passed  about  four  years  in  actual  serv- 
ice, participating  in  some  of  the  most  hotly- 
contested  engagements.  He  was  with  Sherman 
on  his  memorable  march  to  the  sea,  but  during 
all  his  army  career  he  never  received  a  wound. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Talcott's  children  are  married  as 
follows  :  Henr}'  L.  married  Mary  Anthony,  and 
lives  in  Michigan;  Asher  married  Sarah  Thomas, 
and  lives  in  Kansas  ;  Charles  G.  married  Mary 
Evans,  and  is  an  em^Dloj-e  at  the  Buckeye  Works, 
at  Akron,  Ohio  ;  Myra  is  the  wife  of  Edward 
Peck,  and  lives  in  Hudson  ;  Zilpah  married 
Orson  E.  Mooi'e,  of  Bath  Township ;  Ellen 
married  D.  Barnard,  and  is  a  resident  of  Stow  ; 


?F 


^ 


^i 


874 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Emma  married  Martin  Holdridge,  and  lives  in 
Kent.  Ohio  ;  Lorenzo  is  an  artist  in  St.  Paul, 
Minn.,  and  he  married  Mary  Peck.  Mr.  Taleott 
is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  liis  wife 
are  hospitable,  kind  and  courteous  people. 

WETMORE  FAMILY.  The  Wetmores,  of 
Stow  Township,  were  originally  from  Wales.  It 
was  some  time  during  the  sixteenth  century  that 
three  Wetmore  brotliers,  Seth,  Chauncey  and 
one  whose  name  is  forgotten,  emigrated  from 
Wales  to  the  United  States,  and  all  the  Wet- 
mores  in  America  are  said  to  be  the  descendants 
of  these  three  brothers.  One  of  them  settled 
in  Connecticut,  one  in  Massachusetts,  and  one 
in  New  York.  The  Wetmores  of  Stow  Town- 
ship are  the  descendants  of  Seth,  who  settled 
in  Connecticut.  William  and  Titus  were  the 
sons  of  Seth.  In  1804,  William  and  Titus— 
the  former  with  his  family — started  for  what 
is  now  known  as  Stow  Township,  Summit  Co.. 
Ohio,  where  they  arrived  in  June,  the  same 
year,  locating  on  Lots  36,  25  and  35.  William's 
wife's  maiden  name  was  Anne  Ogden,  and  the}' 
were  parents  of  the  following  family  :  William, 
Edwin,  Clarissa  and  Henry.  William  Wetmore. 
Sr.,  was  a  man  very  decided  in  his  views,  and 
of  great  energy  of  character.  Before  the  count}' 
in  which  he  resided  was  divided,  he  was  selected 
as  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas  Court,  of 
Portage  Co.,  and  in  that  capacity  served  with 
general  satisfaction.  Of  his  sons,  William  and 
Edwin  imbibed  some  of  the  political  attributes 
of  their  father,  William  at  one  time  serving  as 
State  Senator  and  Edwin  as  County  Commis- 
sioner. Of  the  children  of  Judge  Wetmore. 
only  one  son,  Henry,  is  yet  living.  Edwin 
Wetmore  was  twice  married  ;  first  to  Polly  Wet- 
more, by  whom  he  had  three  sons — Silas,  Luther 
and  Charles.  His  second  wife  was  was  Polly 
Bell,  by  whom  he  had  two  daughters — Clara 
and  Hattie.  The  three  sons  are  dead,  but  the 
two  daughters,  with  their  mother,  are  j^et  living. 
Silas  Wetmore  was  born  July  4,  1821.  He 
married  Mary  Birge,  Aug.  27,  1846.  and  to  this 
union  were  i)orntwo  sons — Chai'les  B.  and  Ed- 
win S.;  the  latter  is  single.  Charles  married 
Adaline  Kelly,  and  by  her  has  thi'ee  children — 
Arthur,  Ida  and  Jennie  B.  Silas  Wetmore  died 
March  12,  1871.  He  was  an  excellent  citizen, 
and  his  death  was  gi'eatly  deplored  1)y  a  large 
circle  of  friends.  His  widow,  with  her  two 
sons,  resides  on  the  farm  left  b}-  the  husband 
and  father  in  Stow  Township.     In  1807,  William 


Wetmore's  brother,  Titus,  who  came  with  him 
to  Stow  Township  in  1804,  married  Sarah  Wet- 
more, daughter  of  Caleb  Wetmore,  and  by  her 
had  three  children — Seth,  VVillard  and  Josiah. 
Of  these,  Willard  died  in  1831,  and  Seth  in 
1832.  Josiah  was  born  in  Stow  Township,  in 
1816.  His  youth  and  early  manhood  was 
passed  on  the  farm,  during  which  time  he  re- 
ceived the  education  the  common  schools  of 
that  early  day  afforded.  In  1839,  he  married 
Elizabeth  R.  Brainard,  daughter  of  Enoch  S. 
and  Abbey  Brainard,  and  by  her  had  two  sous 
— Willard  W.,  born  in  1843,  and  Luther  B.,  born 
in  1847.  The  former  married  Julia  Gaylord, 
and  the  latter  Julia  Darrow.  To  the  first  union 
there  is  born  one  daughter,  Jessie,  and  to  the 
last,  four  children — Burt  D.,  Harry  J..  Leona 
and  Celia.  Josiah  Wetmore's  wife  died  in 
August.  1879,  and  his  second  and  present  wife 
was  Velonia  Le  Moin,  daughter  of  Noah  and 
Hannah  Le  Moin.  In  their  political  faith,  the 
Wetmores  early  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
Whigs,  but  when  the  Republican  party  was  ci-e- 
ated,  the}'  joined  its  ranks,  and  have  since  been 
among  its  most  powerful  supporters  in  Stow 
Township.  On  their  arrival  here,  they  settled 
on  land  devoid  of  a  particle  of  clearing,  and 
commencing  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  have,  by 
their  honorable,  upright  dealings,  become  among 
Summit  Co.'s  best  and  most  respected  citizens. 
L.  H.  WILLCOX,  retired  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Cuya- 
hoga Falls  ;  was  born  in  Berlin,  near  Middle- 
town,  Conn.,  Aug.  3,  1804  ;  he  is  a  son  of  Isaac 
and  Lucy  (North)  Willcox,  who  were  parents  of 
a  family  of  ten  children.  The  father  of  Mr, 
Willcox  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife 
being  Mary  Randall,  by  whom  he  had  six 
children,  making  a  total  of  sixteen  children  in 
this  one  family.  In  1809,  Mr.  Willcox  and  fam- 
ily, with  a  Mr.  Kelsey  and  family,  started  with 
ox  teams  for  the  West,  in  which  to  seek  homes 
for  themselves  and  children  ;  after  a  journey  of 
forty-two  days  through  an  unsettled  country, 
and  passing  through  almost  innumerable  hard- 
ships, they  arrived,  Oct.  26, 1809,  in  what  is  now 
known  as  Stow  Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio  ;  on 
their  arrival,  they  were  met  by  Indians,  who 
showed  every  demonstration  of  joy  on  their 
coming.  Mr.  Willcox  cleared  a  place  on  which 
to  erect  a  cabin,  and,  after  he  had  cut  and 
hewed  the  logs,  by  the  help  of  the  Indians, 
raised  him  a  comfortable  double  log  cabin  ;  this 
place  was  situated  on  Lots  3  and  4  ;  Mr.  and 


^-, 


STOW    TOWNSHIP. 


875 


Mrs.  Willcox  remained  here  all  the  rest  of  their 
lives,  clearing  and  improving  their  place  by  the 
help  of  their  children,  and  assisting  in  building 
up  a  country  from  a  dense  forest  to  what  is  now 
a  beautiful  farming  country,  dotted  over  b}-  fine 
Airms  and  elegant  homes.  Through  all  their 
earlj-  experiences,  the  Willcoxes  were  regarded 
by  the  Indians  as  firm  friends  ;  the}'  were  al- 
ways faithful  and  honest  in  their  dealings  with 
the  savages,  and  the  Indians  were  not  back- 
ward in  showing  their  gratitude.  Leverett  H. 
Willcox  was  raised  in  the  woods  of  Stow  Town- 
ship. He  was  married,  July  15,  1829,  to  Han- 
nah Porter,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
Porter,  and  to  this  union  were  born  the  follow- 
ing familj-  :  Orpha,  Louisa,  Lydia.  Elizabeth. 
Sophronia.  Mary,  Lemuel,  Clarence,  William, 
Henry  and  two  that  died  in  infanc}'  ;  there  are 
now  five  daughters  and  two  sons  living,  and  all 
are  married  ;  Mr.  Willcox  has  had  twenty-five 
grandchildren  and  two  great-grandchildren. 
Mrs.  Willcox  died  March  4,  1881  :  she  was  an 
exemplary  Christian,  a  kind  wife  and  an  affec- 
tionate mother.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willcox  had  lived 
together  as  husband  and  wife  fifty  years  seven 
months  and  seventeen  days.  Mr.  Willcox,  in 
earl}'  years,  did  not  receive  any  of  the  benefits 
of  school  whatever,  but  has  since  acquired  an 
excellent  practical  education.  With  perhaps 
but  one  exception,  he  is  the  only  one  of  the 
old  pioneers  of  Stow  Township  yet  living. 

JOHN  WELLS  (deceased).  This  gentleman 
was  born  in  New  Lisbon,  (3hio.  Aug.  23,  1803  ; 
he  was  of  English  descent,  and  one  in  a  ftimily 
of  ten  children  born  to  John  and  Polly 
(Walker)  Wells,  all  of  whom  are  now  dead  :  his 
youth  and  early  manhood  was  passed  on  a 
farm,  but  when  he  arrived  at  manhood  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  occupation 
he  steadily  followed  until  he  purchased  his  farm 
in  Stow  Township.  From  New  Lisbon  he 
moved  to  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio,  when  it  was  all 
woods,  there  being  at  that  time  but  few  white 
settlers  in  that  locality  ;  he  settled  at  what  is 
now  Wellsville,  which  was  afterward  named 
after  him  ;  from  this  point  they  came  to  Little 
Ireland,  in  Stow  Township.  Summit  Co.,  Ohio, 
locating  on  a  farm  entirely  devoid  of  clearing. 
He  was  married,  July  15,  1830,  to  Miss  Emily 
Oilbert.  daughter  of  Orin  Gilbert,  a  sketch  of 
whom  will  be  found  in  the  biography  of  A.  L. 
Gilbert ;  to  this  union  were  born  one  son  and 
three  daughters — Henry,  who  died  when  about 


9  years  old  ;  Harriet  (who  died),  the  wife  of 
William  Perkins ;  Frances  and  Alice.  Mr. 
Wells  died  March  2,  1875;  he  was  an  honor- 
able man  in  every  respect,  and  was  one  well 
calculated  to  hold  the  position  he  did  in  the 
hearts  of  his  fellow-townsmen.  He  and  wife 
had  removed  to  Cuyahoga  Falls  soon  after 
their  marriage,  and,  after  a  residence  there  of 
about  two  years,  purchased  a  farm  of  94  acres 
on  Lot  32  in  Stow  Township,  where  his  family 
are  yet  living.  Mrs.  Wells  was  born  Oct.  27, 
1807,  and  her  two  daughters — ^Frances  and 
Alice — and  grand-daughter — Lillie — are  living 
with  her  ;  the  only  other  grandchild — Hattie — - 
is  living  with  her  father  in  Kent,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Hart  was  a  resident  of  Summit  Co.  over  forty 
years,  and  his  life  was  one  of  usefulness  and 
hard  labor.  John  Wells,  the  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biography,  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
of  English  descent,  and  was  a  brave  and  ef- 
ficient soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  ;  he  was  a 
man  loved  and  respected,  and  was  an  upright 
and  honorable  gentleman  :  his  ancestors  came 
over  in  the  Mayflower. 

J.  O.  WILLIAMSON,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Hudson  ; 
was  born  in  Stow  Township  March  14,  1845. 
He  is  a  son  of  Palmer  and  Amy  (Horton) 
Williamson,  and  a  grandson  of  William  and 
Mary  (Palmer)  Williamson.  The  father,  Palmer 
Williamson,  was  born  in  Westchester  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Oct.  9,  1802.  When  he  was  IC  years  of 
age,  he  was  sent  to  live  with  a  merchant  in 
Salisbury.  After  residing  here  two  years,  he 
went  to  Hyde  Park  to  work  on  the  dock  and 
sell  lumber,  remaining  at  this  place  three  years. 
In  1823,  he  obtained  a  position  in  Pougiikeep- 
sie  as  shipping  clerk  and  dock  hand  ;  and,  three 
years  later,  on  Feb.  22.  1827,  he  married  Amy 
Horton,  when  he  began  farming,  which  has 
since  been  his  vocation,  save  one  year,  during 
which  he  kept  tavern  in  Goshen,  N.  Y.  During 
the  spring  of  1831,  he  and  his  family  came  to 
Ohio,  first  locating  in  Tallmadge  Township, 
Summit  Co.,  where  they  remained  three  years, 
^Yhen  they  moved  to  his  present  place  in  Stow 
Township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  His 
wife  bore  him  children,  viz..  Mary,  Horton, 
Bradner  (deceased).  Susan,  Jane  (deceased), 
Aldrette  (deceased)  and  Julius  O.  When  he 
came  to  Ohio,  Mr.  Williamstni  was  probably 
worth  about  $300.  but,  nothing  daunted  by  Ids 
poverty,  with  the  hel|)  of  a  loving  and  brave 
wife,  he  walked  from  the  poverty  of  early  pio- 


^* e) 


^ S) 


876 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


neer  life  to  the  comforts  of  a  later  da_y.  Mrs. 
Williamson  died  Sept.  27,  1880.  Mr.  William- 
son survives  her  death,  and  he  and  his  son, 
Julius  0.,  live  together  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Stow.  Feb.  24,  1875,  Julius  married  llosetta 
Z.  White,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Almira  White, 


and  by  her  has  three  children — Henry  J.,  Ho- 
mer E.,  and  John  P.  Julius  and  his  father 
own  a  large  farm  of  over  250  acres,  which  is 
nicel}-  situated,  being  four  miles  from  Kent, 
four  from  Hudson,  five  from  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
and  nine  from  Akron. 


COVENTRY    TOWNSHIP. 


WILLIAM  ALLEN,  fai-mer;  P.  O.  Akron; 
son  of  Jonah  Allen,  was  born  Oct.  14, 1798; 
died  May  15,  1874;  he  of  Jesse  Allen.  His 
mother  was  Cynthia  Spicer  ( for  further  history 
of  Spicer  family,  see  Avery  Spicer);  she  was 
born  May  21,  1803,  and  died  Sept.  11, 
1860.  The  family  of  Jonah  and  Cynthia  were 
Catharine,  born  Nov.  5,  1822;  Mrs.  Beckwith, 
who  died  Jan.  23,  1855;  Edward,  born  Aug. 
18, 1824,  died  July  9,  1841;  William,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  bom  Feb.  18,  1827;  John, 
whose  history  appears  in  another  place  in  this 
woi'k;  and  Cynthia,  who  died  in  infancy. 
William  received  but  a  meager  district-school 
education,  being  employed  upon  the  farm  until 
about  17  years  of  age,  when  he  began  work  at 
the  Akron  City  Woolen  Mill,  his  father  being 
a  heavy  stockholder,  where  he  learned  the 
various  branches  of  the  business,  such  as  cai'd- 
ing,  coloring,  finishing,  etc.;  subsequently 
returning  to  the  old  farm  south  of  the  city, 
"where  he  and  his  brother  John  farmed  together 
for  a  time;  then  returned  to  the  city,  where 
he  kept  for  one  year  the  boai'diug  department 
for  the  Perkins  Company,  to  whom  the  former 
company  had  sold.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
year,  the  factoiy  being  converted  into  a  floui'- 
ing-mill,  he  again  returned  to  the  farm,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  He  was  married  Nov. 
11,  1847,  to  Amy  Amanda  Beckwith,  daughter 
of  Chauncy  and  Susannah  (Barnes)  Beckwith, 
who  came  to  Norton  Township,  about  1820, 
from  Hartford,  Conn.  Mrs.  Allen  was  the 
second  daughter  of  a  family  of  six  childi'en, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters;  she  was  born 
Sept.  16,  1830,  and  by  her  marriage  has  two 
children — Newton  W,.  born  April  2,  1857;  and 
Cynthia  Anna,  Sept.  11,  1860.  Newton  was 
married,  April  28,  1880,  to  Mary  E.  Grove, 
daughter  of  David  Grove,  a  prominent  farmer 


of  Franklin  Township.  Mr.  Allen  has  held 
the  most  prominent  positions  in  the  township, 
such  as  Trustee,  Township  Clerk  and  Presi- 
dent of  the  School  Board;  a  man  of  good 
business  tact,  which  has  been  conducive  to  his 
success,  and  of  a  Christian  spirit,  he  and  fam- 
ily being  members  of  the  Disciples'  Church, 
to  which  he  is  a  liberal  giver  as  vfell  as  to  all 
other  societies  j^romoting  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity. 

LEVI  ALLEN,  Jr.,  farmer;  P.  O.  Aki'on; 
was  born  July  28,  1824,  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives;  his  education  was  sufficient  to  ena- 
ble him  to  teach.  He  I'emained  with  his  father 
until  the  spring  of  1850,  when  he  started  from 
Aki'on  to  Sacramento  City,  Cal.,  going  most 
of  the  way  on  foot  in  company  with  Edwin 
Allen,  Isaac  Spicer,  Sterns  SpaiTowhawk  and 
Ephraim  Bellows;  they  endm'ed  a  great  deal 
of  hai-dship  and  suffering  on  account  of  lack 
of  provision  and  water;  he  lived  in  the  princi- 
pal cities,  and  engaged  in  mining  in  the 
mountains.  The  latter  years  of  his  stay  there 
were  spent  on  a  ranch  in  the  stock  business 
and  the  raising  of  grain.  At  one  time  while 
retm-ning  on  horseback  to  Sacramento  City 
from  his  mining  interests  in  the  mountains, 
he  was  chased  by  two  desperadoes  (there  being 
a  great  number  in  that  country),  for  eighteen 
miles,  and  only  escaped  by  the  superiority  of 
his  steed  and  the  approach  upon  civilization; 
many  more  incidents  of  the  experience  of 
about  sixteen  years  of  frontier  life  might  be 
related,  but  space  will  not  permit.  On  the 
24th  day  of  December,  1856,  he  was  married 
to  Mary  E.  Ware,  a  native  of  Amherst 
Co.,  Va.,  by  whom  he  has  had  tlu-ee  chikh-en 
— a  pair  of  twin  boys  who  were  buried  there 
with  their  mother,  and  Mary  E.  P.,  born  Aug. 
16,  18-58.     His  second  marriage  occurred  in 


-r|s- 


COVENTKY    TOWNSHIP. 


877 


1868,  to  Cornelia  Adelaide  Knapp,  daughter 
of  William  H.  ard  Deborah  (Wightman) 
Knapp,  who  are  prominent  in  the  history  of 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  where  they  resided,  and  where 
Mr.  Kiiapp  served  the  county  for  nine  years  as 
County  Surveyor,  he  being  a  man  of  influence, 
and  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  in  that  comity, 
their  settlement  being  made  in  about  1810. 
Mr.  Allen  has  two  children  by  his  second 
marriage,  viz.,  Cornelia  Cynthia  Adelia,  born 
June  18,  1871;  Albertina  May  Deborah,  May 
14, 1872.  He  returned  to  Aki'on  in  December, 
1866,  from  the  Pacific  coast,  and  subse(|uently 
engaging  in  a  general  farm  life  and  the  im- 
provement of  stock.  Is  a  member  of  the  Dis- 
ciples' Church,  and  a  man  of  prominence  in 
his  township. 

JOHN  ALLEN,  farmer;  P.  O.  Akron;  was 
born  Oct.  20,  1829,  to  Jonah  Allen,  whose  his- 
tory appears  in  another  place  in  this  work, 
under  the  head  of  William  Allen.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  spent  his  early  life  in  assist- 
ing in  the  farm  work,  and  in  securing  as  good 
an  education  as  the  common  schools  of  his 
time  would  admit  of.  On  the  Dth  of  Decem- 
ber, 1857,  he  was  married  to  Ann  Morgan, 
daughter  of  Isham  and  Juliette  (Meech)  Mor- 
gan, who  came  to  Newburg,  Cuyahoga  Co., 
Ohio,  in  1811,  from  Groton,  Conn.  The  Mor- 
gan family  was  among  the  oldest  and  most 
prominent  families  of  Cuyahoga  Co.  Mr. 
Allen  by  his  marriage  has  four  children — Em- 
ma C,  born  Nov.  2, 1858,  and  married  June  2, 
1880,  to  Henry  B.  Sisler,  one  of  the  coal  mer- 
chants of  Akron;  Jesse M.,  born  April  6, 1864; 
Isham  F.,  Jan.  2,  1868:  John  R.,  March  23, 
1871.  The  Aliens  are  a  quiet  and  unassmn- 
ing  people,  not  aspiring  to  office,  but  paying 
strict  attention  to  the  most  improved  methods 
of  agriculture,  in  which  they  are  engaged,  and 
very  successful.  They  are  members  of  the 
Disciples'  Church,  and  have  at  heart  the  im- 
provement of  the  morals  of  the  people,  and 
the  advancement  of  education  and  religion. 

ISRAEL  ALL YN.  deceased;  was  born  Dec. 
24,  1790,  in  Groton,  New  London  Co.,  Conn., 
and  died  May  7,  1873.  He  moved  to  the  farm 
upon  which  his  two  daughters,  Lucy  and  Han- 
nah now  live,  and  to  whom  we  are  indebted 
for  this  sketch,  in  March,  18 19,  with  a  f tunily 
consisting;  of  wife   and  two  children.      The 


wife  was  Lucy  Gallup,  born  March  22,  1789, 
and  married  Aug.  1,  1813;  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Rebecca  (Morgan)  Gallup,  who  were  mar- 
ried in  1766,  and  were  natives  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut.  Israel's  parents  were  Ephraim, 
born  in  1748,  died  Dec.  28,  1816,  and  Tem- 
perance (Morgan)  Allen,  who  died  Oct.  3, 
1799,  having  been  born  May  4,  1752,  and  mar- 
ried Nov.  15,  1770.  The  wife  of  Israel  died 
July  2,  1850.  Ephraim  was  the  father  of  sev- 
enteen children,  twelve  by  his  first  wife,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  being  one  of  a  pair  of  twins, 
the  eleventh  child  and  seventh  son,  the  foiu" 
oldest  being  daughters.  His  second  marriage 
was  to  Mrs.  Rebecca  (Morgan)  Gallup,  a  sister 
to  first  wife;  she  was  born  April  9,  1766, 
died  July  3,  1834.  By  this  union  five  chil- 
dren were  born,  two  of  whom  are  now  living 
— Erastus  and  Edward,  prominent  men  in  the 
State  of  Connecticut,  and  Austin,  who  died  at 
Canaan,  Conn.,  in  1878.  Israel's  family  con- 
sisted of  seven  cliildren — George  H.,  born  Oct. 
31,  1814;  Israel  M.,  June  20,  1818;  Abel  G., 
Oct.  4,  1820;  Lucy  R.,  Sept.  15, 1822;  Austin, 
Aug.  20,  1828;  Lydia,  June  16,  1831;  Han- 
nah S.,  Aug.  15,  1833.  Three  are  deceased — 
Lydia,  Mrs.  Gen.  Voris,  died  March  16,  1876, 
leaving  three  children — George  H.,  married  a 
Miss  Altay  A.  Hall,  also  leaving  three  childi-eu, 
two  sons  in  Aki'on  and  one  daughter  in  Sun 
City,  Kan.,  with  whom  the  mother  is  living. 
Austin  was  married  in  August,  1 854,  to  Huldah 
Voris,  a  sister  to  Gen.  Voris,  by  whom  ho  had 
six  daughters,  all  living  in  Ottawa  Co.,  Mo., 
except  the  oldest,  who  is  teaching  in  the  high 
school  at  Akron.  He  died  April  15,  1871. 
Israel  M.  resides  near  Eaton  Rajiids,  Mich.; 
was  three  times  married,  first,  to  Hannah 
Mather:  second  to  Mrs.  Caroline  Ludlow,  by 
whom  he  had  two  sons  and  one  daughter; 
third  marriage  to  Elmira  Nichols.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  in  the  war  of  1812;  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  but  engaged  in  farming 
after  coming  to  this  State.  He  is  a  man  of 
rare  abilities,  of  remarkable  force  of  character, 
honest  and  industrious,  a  very  prominent  man 
among  the  people,  and  neai'ly  worshiped  for 
his  kindness  and  assistance  rendered  the  poor. 
He  held  the  most  prominent  offices  in  the 
township  of  Coventry,  and  received  the  honor 
and  praises  of  all  the  people. 


878 


BIOGllAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


ABEL  G.  ALLYN,  fcumer;  P.  O.  Akron; 
is  the  third  sou  of  Israel  Allyn,  whose  history 
appeal's  in  another  part  of  the  biogi'aphical 
department  of  Coventry  Township;  was  born 
Oct.  4,  1820,  in  the  vicinity  of  Akron,  and 
received  a  common  district-school  education 
such  as  could  be  secured  at  that  early  day. 
He  assisted  in  the  management  of  the  old 
homestead  until  1847,  when  he  purchased  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  where  his  life 
has  since  been  spent  in  a  general  farm  and 
dairy  business.  His  marriage  occurred  Oct. 
10,  1847,  to  Adeline  Capron,  daughter  of  Ara 
and  Eliza  (Sweet)  Capron,  who  came  from 
Susquehanna  Co.,  Penn.,  about  1825,  making 
their  settlement  on  the  line  between  Copley 
and  Bath  Townships,  this  county,  where  they 
engaged  in  farming.  They  have  six  childi-en, 
viz.,  Addie.  born  July  23.  f848;  Charles,  May 
25,  1851;  Ida,  Feb.  15.  1854;  Leora,  Mav  14, 
1800;  Ettie,  Jan.  28, 1863,  and  Oertie,  Nov.  24, 
1869.  The  three  oldest  are  married — Addie, 
to  Preston  Barber,  who  is  engaged  at  the  Buck- 
eye Works;  Charles,  to  Ada  Viall,  and  now 
residing  in  Summit,  Greeley  Co.,  Neb.,  where 
he  is  farming,  and  is  also  Postmaster  at  Smn- 
mit,  which  he  named  after  his  native  county; 
Ida,  the  wife  of  States  A.  McCoy,  a  former  resi- 
dent of  this  county,  now  of  St.  Joseph,  Mich. 
Mr.  Allyn  has  held  the  most  responsible  offices 
of  his  township,  and  is  now  serving  his  fifth 
term  as  Director  of  the  agricultural  society  of 
this  county. 

JOHN  BEESE,  Superintendent  Summit 
Mine;  P.  O.  Aki'on;  son  of  Samuel,  who  was 
a  son  of  Sampson,  a  native  of  Somersetshire, 
England,  bu.t  moved  to  Monmouthshire,  South 
Wales,  when  his  son  Samuel  was  4  years  of 
age,  which  was  about  the  year  1800,  there 
living  and  dying  and  raising  a  family,  by  his 
first  marriage,  of  eleven  childi'en,  of  which  our 
subject  is  one,  having  been  born  March  1, 1 82U. 
By  his  second  marriage  he  had  twelve  childi-en, 
foiu'  of  whom  are  still  living  in  their  native 
country.  Five  of  the  childi'en  by  the  first 
marriage  living  in  this  country.  His  mother 
was  Esther  Jones,  who,  at  a  very  tender  age, 
on  account  of  the  loss  of  her  mother,  was 
taken  hj  a  family  named  Roberts,  with  whom 
she  lived  until  her  marriage.  Mr.  Beese  spent 
his  life  with  his  father,  who  was  encraered  in 


mining,  until  the  fall  of  1850,  when  he  came 
to  Youngstown,  working  in  the  Mahoning 
Valley  until  the  fall  of  1868,  when  he  came 
to  Coventry,  accepting  at  that  time  the  super- 
intendency  of  the  Middlebuiy  Shaft,  which 
position  he  held  for  about  eight  years;  then 
that  of  the  Summit  mine,  formerly  the  old 
Steese  bank,  which  position  he  now  holds.  He 
was  for  some  time  Superintendent  of  both 
mines,  which  re<iuired  a  great  amount  of 
business  tact  and  ability.  He  has  been  en- 
gaged in  his  present  business  for  about  twen- 
ty-foTU'  years.  He  was  married.  No.  4,  1853, 
to  Agnes  Thornton,  who  was  born  Jan.  31, 
1836,  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Mary(Meak) 
Thornton,  all  natives  of  Scotland,  who  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Sharon,  Penn.,  in 
August,  1849,  where  her  parents  still  reside. 
The  father  being  one  of  the  most  prominent 
farmers  and  stock- raisers  in  Mercer  County,  and 
both  hale  and  hearty  at  an  advanced  age. 
Their  family,  which  consisted  of  ten  childi-en, 
nine  of  whom  are  living  in  dilferent  parts  of 
the  cou.nty,  are  all  of  considerable  prominence. 
Ml'.  Beese  has  eight  children — Alfred,  born 
Aug.  18, 1854;  Charles,  June  10,  1856;  Eliza, 
June  2, 1859;  Mary,  Nov.  4,  1861;  Belle,  May 
26,  1864;  Samuel, 'Nov.  18,  1866;  John,  Oct. 
16,  1869;  Agnes  Caroline,  June  19,  1873. 
Charles  was  married,  Jan.  8,  1878,  to  Mary 
Hausman,  residing  in  Sharon  Township,  Me- 
dina Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  mining  the  Ebbert  coal, 
which  belong-s  to  his  father.  The  mine  being 
situ.ated  on  township  county  lines,  they  are 
mining  for  two  counties  and  four  different 
townships.  Eliza  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Stro- 
mal!, who  is  engineer  at  the  Brewster  Coal 
Company's  mine  in  Springfield  Township. 

GEOROE  BURONER,  farmer;  P.  O.  New 
Portage.  Jacob  Harter,  the  father-in-law  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  Jan.  10, 
1793,  in  Dauphin  Co.,  Penn.;  he  a  son  of 
Greorge,  who  was  born  about  1757,  and  died 
about  1833;  he  a  son  of  Mathias,  who  came 
from  Germany  very  early  in  1700.  His  mother 
was  Elizabeth  Bauman,  who  died  in  her  95th 
year;  she  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Bauman, 
natives  of  Dauphin  Co.  also.  Jacob  came 
with  his  father  to  Stark  Co.  in  1805,  settling 
near  Canton.  In  the  spring  after  arriving  at 
the  age  of  18  years,  was  "  taken  in  the  first 


4* 


COVENTRY    TOWNSHIP. 


879 


draft,  first  class,"  for  the  war  of  1812.  They 
were  first  sent  to  Wooster  under  Gen.  Bell, 
where  they  built  a  block-house;  no  danger 
being  anticipated,  they  were  sent  still  further 
west  to  Mansfield,  where  they  camped  for  a 
short  time,  and  being  put  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  Simon  Perkins,  they  were  sent  to  his 
camp  about  forty  miles  north,  afterward  going 
to  Lower  Sandusky.  The  war  ending  in  a 
short  time,  he  retui-ned  home.  In  1815,  he 
was  married  to  Catharine  Souers,  daughter  of 
Heni-y  and  Catharine  (Harter)  Souers,  from 
Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  and  early  settlers  in 
Stark  Covmty.  In  the  spring  of  1831,  Mr. 
Harter  with  his  wife  and  seven  children  came 
to  Coventry  Township  from  Franklin.  His 
family  were  ten  in  number,  seven  of  whom 
still  survive — one  son  in  Iowa,  two  in  Indiana, 
and  one  in  Norton  Township,  this  county;  two 
daughters  reside  in  Stark  County,  the  other, 
a  Mrs.  George  Burgner,  with  whom  the  old 
gentleman  resides.  Mr.  Burgner  is  the  son  of 
Jacob,  a  son  of  Peter  Biu-gner,  who  came  from 
Berne,  Switzerland, when  but  15  years  old.  The 
record  of  the  Btu'gner  family  is  contained  in  a 
German  Bible,  printed  in  1573,  and  a  testa- 
ment printed  in  1545,  the  two  books  now  being 
the  property  of  Jacob  Burgner,  who  resides 
at  Fremont,  Ohio.  The  father  of  Jacob  Burg- 
ner arrived  in  Canton  July  4,  181'2.  He  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Jackson  Township,  and, 
in  1815,  came  to  Franklin  Township,  being 
among  the  first  in  that  township.  His  wife 
was  Mary  Com*ad.  George  received  a  very 
limited  education,  in  an  old  log  schoolhouse, 
which  was  built  upon  his  father's  farm,  and 
afterward  taught  in  same  place  in  the  winters 
of  1835  and  1836;  from  that  time  until  1852, 
he  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  the 
warehouses  at  New  Portage.  May  2,  1852, 
he  was  married  to  Anna  Harter,  and  settled 
upon  the  farm  where  they  now  live.  They 
have  had  four  daughters,  of  whom  three  are 
now  living — Amanda,  born  Jan.  9, 1855 ;  Mary, 
Jan.  23,  1859,  and  Clara,  March  10,  1870. 
Amanda  is  the  wife  of  George  A.  Proehl,  by 
whom  she  has  two  childi'en — Clara  Bertha, 
bom  Feb.  26,  1877;  and  Vincent,  Sept.  15, 
1880.  Ml*.  Proehl  is  a  farmer  and  stone  ma- 
son in  Coventry  Township.  Mr.  Burgner  held 
the  ofl&ce  of  Township  Trustee  four  terms,  and 


was  elected  Township  Treasurer,  but  declined 
the  office. 

BREWSTER  BROS.  Coal  Company,  Mid- 
dlebury,  is  composed  of  Stephen,  born  Oct.  2, 
1832;  Jonathan  H.,  Jan.  11,  1834;  James  G., 
Jr.,  and  Hiram,  June  8,  1835;  and  George 
W.,  March  21,  1837;  sons  of  James  G.,  bom 
in  Groton,  Conn.,  Jan.  9,  1797;  and  Martha 
(Hassen)  Brewster,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Jon- 
athan and  Mary  Jirown,  who  were  residents 
of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  James  G.,  Sr., 
was  a  son  of  Stephen,  bom  March  4,  1770, 
and  Lydia  (Bellows)  Brewster,  born  May  14, 
1771.  ■  They  were  married  May  1,  1796.  '  The 
Brewster  Coal  Company  is  well  known  through- 
out Simmiit  Coimty,  and  the  north  ])art  of 
Ohio;  the  biography  of  James  G.  apears  in 
the  biograj)hical  department  of  Springfield 
Township.  Jonathan  H.  and  Hiram  are  bach- 
elors, and  the  family  histories  of  Stephen  and 
George  W.  appear  below^  Stephen,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  is  living  in  the  foiu^th 
house  built  upon  the  same  location  where  his 
grandfather  settled  in  1811,  being  one  of  the 
first  settlers  in  Coventry  Township.  He  was 
man'ied,  April  2, 1874,  to  Charlotte  H.  Meach, 
daughter  of  John  A.  and  Lydia  Ann  ( Housel) 
Meach,  early  residents  of  this  township.  They 
have  four  children — Ephraim  H,  born  Dec. 
25,  1874;  Hayes  Wheeler,  June  25,  1876;  Ste- 
phen M.,  March  5,  1878;  and  Sir  Walter, 
April  1,  1880.  George  W.  was  married,  Oct. 
19,  1876,  to  Marie  L.  Kent,  who  was  born 
June  1,  1843,  to  Josiah  and  Lucia  (Miller) 
Kent,  who  were  among  the  first  settlers  in  Suf- 
field  Township,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  where  the 
father  has  resided  for  about  sixty-five  years  on 
one  farm.  They  have  tlu'ee  children — Georgia 
Marie,  born  Sept.  20.  1877;  Hiram  Wallace, 
Sept.  24,  1879;  Ai-thur  Kent,  Dec.  20,  1880. 

HENRY  J.  BELLOWS,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Aki'on;  is  the  youngest  son  of  Ithamar,  whose 
history  appears  with  that  of  John  H.  Bellows. 
He  received  a  conmion  district-school  educa- 
tion, attending  until  about  20  years  of  age, 
the  intervening  time  being  spent  upon  the 
farm.  He  was  married,  July  4,  1856,  to  Lou- 
isa Weston,  born  Dec.  24,  1837,  and  daughter 
of  Francis  and  Amanda  (Hinman)  Weston, 
who  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  Spring- 
field Township.     They  have  one  child — Mary — 


>^ 


880 


lUOGRAPIIICAL    SKETCHES: 


born  July  16, 1857,  and  married  Sept.  6, 1875, 
to  Frank  Rabenstine,  son  of  Ephraim  Raben- 
stine,  who  was  one  of  tlie  early  settlers  of 
Stark  Co.  They  reside  with  Mr.  Bellows,  and 
have  one  son — Dwight.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  for  seven  years  engaged  in  the  dai- 
rying business,  four  years  on  his  present  farm, 
and  three  years  on  the  Sumner  estate,  south 
of  Middlebury,  where  he  lived  from  the  fall 
of  1878  to  1870.  He  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  a  liberal 
giver  to  the  cause  of  religion,  and  the  advance- 
ment of  missions  and  schools;  is  prominently 
engaged  in  all  the  enterprises  of  the  township, 
Init  not  an  office  seeker. 

BENJAMIN  S.  COOKE,  machinist,  with 
Webster,  Camp  &  Lane,  and  farmer;  P.  O.  Ak- 
ron. The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
Charles  Cooke,  son  of  Benjamin  S.,  a  native 
of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  was  a  harness-maker  by 
trade,  and  engaged  in  business  in  Baltimore, 
Md.,  and  in  Camden,  N.  J.,  where  his  son, 
Benjamin  S.,  was  born  March  22,  1833. 
Charles  was  born  in  Brooklyn  Feb.  18,  1810, 
and  died  June  25,  1849.  He  was  married, 
July  12,  1831,  to  Sarah  Stout,  daughter  of 
James  and  Rebecca  (Stiles)  Stout,  natives  of 
Salem  Co. ,  N.  J. ;  he  was  the  possessor  of  the 
famous  "  apple  orchard  farm  "  opjjosite  Fort 
Delaware.  The  Stouts  and  Stileses  were  of  the 
original  Quakers,  who  settled  before  the  Revo- 
lution in  Burlington  and  Camden  Cos.,  N.  J. 
The  family  names  possess  considerable  wealth 
and  influence  in  England.  The  parents  of 
our  subject  are  both  deceased,  leaving  a  fam- 
ily of  fom-  children — Benjamin  S.,  Rebecca, 
Abigail,  now  deceased,  and  Sallie,  wife  of 
Charles  Peck,  a  business  man  of  Pittsburgh. 
Rebecca,  wife  of  Henry  Carles,  residing  in 
Camden.  Benjamin  S.  received  the  advan- 
tages of  education  until  the  age  of  1  (5  years. 
At  1 8,  he  began  learning  the  trade  of  a  ma- 
chinist, at  which  he  is  now  engaged  with 
Webster,  Camp  &  Lane.  He  has  worked  at 
his  trade  in  a  great  many  difterent  cities  and 
States,  and  was,  at  22  years  of  age,  steamboat 
engineer  upon  the  Delaware  River,  and  dur- 
ing the  war,  engineer  in  Admiral  Farragut's 
squadron  of  the  navy,  and  at  the  taking  of 
Fort   Morgan,  at  the  mouth  of   the  Mobile. 


His  travels  have  been  extensive,  taking  in 
twenty-six  Sates,  Mexico  and  Cviba;  he  came 
to  the  farm  which  he  now  owns,  about  two 
miles  from  Akron,  in  the  spring  of  1868,  from 
Mifflin,  Penn.  In  1878,  he  built  a  portable 
engine,  giving  it  by  his  great  inventive  talent, 
many  new  points,  which  make  it  superior  to 
all  others  of  like  design.  On  his  farm  he  has 
a  very  profitable  pebble  quarry,  with  all  the 
machinery  for  separating  the  pebble  from  the 
sand,  for  fire  brick  manufacturing,  making 
a  superior  quality  of  brick.  He  was  married, 
June  27,  1862,  to  Ermina  K.  Frank,  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Sarah  Frank,  natives  of  Juniata 
Co.,  Penn.  They  have  had  three  children, 
one  of  whom  died  in  infancy;  those  living  are 
Sallie,  born  Sept.  18,  1866;  and  Rebecca, 
April  22,  1873. 

HIRAM  S.  FALOR,  Akron;  born  in  Coven- 
try Township,  at  the  farm  upon  which  he  now 
resides,  March  22,  1829;  the  son  of  George 
A.  and  Nancy  (McCoy)  Falor,  who  were  early 
settlers  of  Summit  Co. ;  he  received  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  common  branches  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  township;  when  19  years  of  age, 
became  an  apprentice  in  the  harness-shop  of 
On-in  Beckwith,  of  Akron,  remaining  thi-ee 
years ;  then  started  a  shop  of  his  own,  and  car- 
ried on  business  some  ten  years.  In  the 
spring  of  1860,  he  went  to  California;  for  a 
short  time  clerked  in  a  wholesale  store  at  San 
Francisco;  then  went  to  Humboldt  Bay, 
crossed  over  the  mountains  to  Salmon  River 
and  mined  for  fo;ir  months.  During  the  lat- 
ter part  of  1860,  he  removed  to  Virginia  City, 
Nev.,  then  a  Territory,  and  opened  the  first 
harness-shop  ever  started  in  that  place;  his 
establishment  was  called  the  "  Pioneer  Har- 
ness-Shop." He  served  as  a  petit  jiu-or  in  the 
first  court  ever  held  in  Storey  Co.  During 
the  early  part  of  1861,  he  organized  the  Vir- 
ginia City  Grays,  and  was  elected  Captain  of 
the  company;  when  the  rebellion  was  inaugu- 
rated the  company  tendered  their  services  to 
the  Government,  but  were  declined  by  the 
national  authorities  who,  at  the  time  early  in 
the  war,  did  not  wish  to  pay  the  expense  of 
transporting  the  company  to  the  seat  of  hos- 
tilities. In  September,  1863,  Falor  returned 
to  Akron,  remaining  for  some  five  years  in  the 
city.     In    1868,  having   purchased    30    acres 


g    - 


-^ 


COVENTRY    TOWNSHIP. 


881 


from  his  father,  he  removed  to  Coventry 
Township,  erected  a  residence  on  this  land,  a 
part  of  the  old  homestead,  where  his  family 
now  resides.  In  January,  1880,  he  was  ap 
pointed  by  Hon.  Joseph  Torney,  Ti'easurer  of 
Ohio,  to  be  Messenger  in  the  office  at  Colum- 
bus; he  also  had  charge  of  the  Attorney 
General's  office  and  the  Mine  Inspector's 
rooms  in  the  Capitol.  Mr.  Falor  was,  on 
April  28,  1858,  elected  by  the  Council  of  Ak- 
ron to  be  Deputy  Marshal  of  the  place,  and 
served  for  two  years.  He  was  Secretary  of 
the  Summit  County  Agricultural  Society  for 
four  years,  and  Assistant  nearly  ever  since  its 
organization;  has  been  a  member  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.  for  over  twenty  vears,  and,  as  early  as 
1854,  filled  the  office  of  Noble  Grand  in  that 
order;  has  also  been  a  Mason  since  1852. 
He  was  married,  July  1,  1854,  to  Miss  Bertia 
E.,  daiighter  of  Benjamin  aud  Bertia  E.  Agard, 
and  by  her  had  four  children — Benjamin 
Stanton,  died  aged  8;  Claude  Emerson,  now 
a  member  of  Co.  G,  10th  Regiment  of  the 
regular  army;  Nancy  Honora,  died  aged  7; 
Minnie  Florence,  now  at  home.  His  first  wife 
died  Jan.  2,  1872,  and  he  was  married  a  sec- 
ond time  to  Mrs.  Phoebe  A.  Lutz;  two  children 
being  the  result  of  this  onion — Hiram,  Garce- 
lon  and  Phebe.  Mrs.  Falor,  by  her  former 
husband,  is  the  mother  of  two  childi-en — Min- 
nie C,  now  Mrs.  Harry  Flower;  and  Sylvester 
E.  Lutz.  Mr.  Falor  is  now  at  the  age  of  52, 
in  reasonalile  good  health  and  circumstances. 
MOSES  FALOR,  farmer;  P.  O.  Akron; 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Akron  ¥eh.  8,  1827,  to 
Abraham  and  Polly  (Osborn)  Falor;  his 
grandparents  were  Adam  and  Elizabeth  Falor, 
who  came  from  Pennsylvania  among  the  first 
settlers  of  Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  The  Osborns 
were  from  the  State  of  Connecticut.  There 
were  ten  children  in  his  father's  family,  seven 
sons  and  three  daughters,  of  which  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  is  the  fifth  son,  and  has  lived 
near  the  city  of  Akron  his  whole  life,  noting 
the  rapid  progress  of  that  place,  in  the  build- 
ing-up of  the  great  manufacturing  interests 
of  which  she  can  now  boast.  Mr.  Falor 
received  but  a  limited  education,  his  time 
being  spent  on  the  farm  with  his  father  in  the 
performance  of  the  various  duties  connected 
with  farm  life.     His  marriage  occurred  Feb. 


10,  1858,  to  Hannah  H.  Wilson,  born  1827, 
Oct.  20,  and  daughter  of  Moses  D.  and  Jane 
(McCoy)  Willson,  who  were  among  the  first 
settlers  in  Coventry  Township.  They  have 
had  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters— Albert,  born  Feb.  22,  1854;  Ida  Jane, 
Feb.  y,  1856:  Clinton,  Oct.  10,  1857;  Rollin 
J.,  Dec.  18,  1859;  Clara  L.,  Sept.  12,  1868; 
Grace  N.,  Oct.  11,  1866;  Cora  May,  Dec.  18, 
1869;  Jasper  M.,  May  26,  1874.  All  are  liv- 
ing except  Clara,  who  died  Oct.  20,  1866. 
Clinton  was  married  July  18,  1880,  to  Isabel 
Kintz,  daughter  of  Samuel  Kintz,  and  is 
engaged  in  the  molding-room  at  the  Buckeye 
Works.  They  are  engaged  quite  extensively 
in  farming  and  dairying.  They  are  members 
of  the  Disciples'  Church,  respected  and 
esteemed  as  citizens. 

ADAM  GREEN  WALT,  grocer  and  farmer; 
P.  O.  Akron;  son  of  Michael  and  Henrietta 
(Brehm)  Greenwalt,  who  were  natives  of  Ger- 
many, but  emigrated  to  America  in  1841,  and 
settled  in  York  State,  where  he  worked  at  farm 
work  until  1848,  when  he  came  to  Massillon 
and  worked  in  a  warehouse  for  eight  years; 
then  purchased  a  farm  two  and  a  half  miles 
north  of  that  place,  where  he  died  Jan.  13, 
1873,  in  his  54th  year.  His  wife  survives 
him  at  the  old  homestead  in  her  60th  year, 
she  coming  to  Massillon  in  1889.  Adam  was 
born  Sept.  18,  1845;  received  a  limited  educa- 
tion and  enlisted  Oct.  18,  1862,  in  Co.  C,  13th 
O.  V.  I.,  lander  Capt.  William  B.  Lamberts,  at 
Mansfield,  and  sworn  in  to  service  at  Colum- 
bus; thence  to  Cincinnati,  Louisville  and 
Cave  City,  where  he  joined  his  regiment  and 
began  the  hard  life  of  active  soldiering,  which 
lasted  for  more  than  three  years,  during  which 
time  he  participated  in  all  the  hotly  contested 
battles  and  skirmishes  engaged  in  by  the 
Southern  army.  At  Murfreesboro,  the  regi- 
ment was  badly  cut  to  pieces,  siiflering  great 
loss;  also  at  Mission  Ridge,  engaging  in  the 
gi-eat  charge  at  that  place,  with  Grant  the 
great  leader,  by  his  side;  thence  to  Knoxville, 
Chattanooga  and  the  seven  months  Georgia 
campaign;  then  back  to  Chattanooga,  Hunts- 
ville,  Franklin  and  Nashville,  engaging  in 
the  battle  at  that  place;  thence  to  Texas, 
landing  at  Indianola;  afterward  to  San  Anto- 
nio, where  he  was  discharged  by  Capt.  D.  A. 


Tv 


^  ^ 


882 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Geiger,  on  the  26th  day  of  October,  1865,  after 
having  displayed  great  bravery  and  discharged 
nobly  the  duties  of  a  soldier.  He  is  one  of 
the  six  or  seven  members  of  the  original  com- 
pany, who  returned  home.  He  came  to  this 
county  about  1867,  from  Stark  Co.,  and  about 
seven  years  later  in  company  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  pui'chased  the  farm  of  82  acres  upon 
which  he  now  lives.  He  was  married,  Oct. 
10,  1867,  to  Catharine  Koontz,  daughter  of 
Frederick  and  Charlotte  (Dippey)  Koontz, 
who  were  natives  of  Grermany,  but  emigi-ated 
to  America  about  forty- live  years  ago.  They 
have  three  childi'en  living — William  Henry, 
John  and  George  Adam. 

MATHIAS  HARTEE,  farmer;  P.  O.  Ak- 
ron. The  Harter  families  in  our  county  and 
country  have  become  quite  numerous.  The 
original  stock  emigi-ated  fi'om  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  in  the  year  1748.  Three  brothers 
landed  in  that  year  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia. The  colonial  laws  then  allowed  the 
owners  of  ships  to  sell  all  emigrants  for  a 
stated  time,  so  as  to  pay  their  indebtedness  to 
the  ihip.  The  voyage  having  been  both  tedi- 
ous and  perilous,  all  the  emigrants  had  to  be 
sold  for  debts.  One  of  the  brothers  being 
lame  he  didn't  bring  anything  on  the  block, 
so  the  mother  of  the  family,  who  was  a  stout 
woman,  was  sold  and  worked  out  the  indebt- 
edness. Two  of  the  brothers  moved  into  the 
interior  of  Pennsylvania,  and  one  went  to  the 
colony  of  New  York  and  settled  in  the  valley 
of  the  Mohawk.  The  name  was  originally 
Herder,  similar  to  the  Herder  who  was  one 
of  Germany's  most  distinguished  authors,  the- 
ologians and  teachers.  The  names  of  some  of 
the  Harters  who  were  among  the  first  settlers 
in  the  southern  jjart  of  this  county  are  An- 
di'ew,  who  settled  near  the  village  of  Man- 
chester, and  Jac  Harter,  who  lives  now  in 
Coventry  Township.  These  Harters  are  first 
cousins.  Andrew  came  to  Franklin  Township 
in  1814.  But  John  Harter,  the  father  of  Jac, 
moved  to  Stark  Co.  previoiis  to  the  war  of 
1812.  The  Harter  family  to  which  Andrew 
and  Jac  belong,  is  noted  for  its  longevity. 
The  former  is  past  87  years,  while  the  latter 
has  rounded  up  his  88th  year.  Andrew  has 
now  a  brother  living  in  Center  Co.,  Penn., 
who  is  90  years  old,  and  two  sisters  who  are 


past  80.  The  name  of  the  original  gi'and- 
father  who  came  fi'om  Germany  was  Mathias. 
It  was  he  who  was  lame  and  did  not  bring 
an^^thing.  Andi'ew  Harter's  father's  name 
was  John,  who  was  born  and  raised  in  Leb- 
anon Co.,  Penn.  The  family  of  Andrew  Hai*- 
ter  consisted  of  five  sons  and  one  daughter, 
who  was  the  wife  of  Mi-.  Daniel  Diehl,  of 
Franklin  Township.  Two  of  the  sons  are 
dead — Andrew  and  Isaac.  George  resides  at 
Independence,  Iowa;  Daniel  and  Mathias 
reside  in  Coventry  Township.  The  latter 
lived  in  the  State  of  Missouri  when  the  Wcu* 
of  the  rebellion  broke  out.  And  as  he  resided 
in  one  of  the  hottest  hot-beds  of  secession,  he 
had  great  opportunities  to  learn  the  real  spirit 
of  the  Southei'ners.  After  the  fall  of  Fort 
Sumter,  he  took  his  wife  and  two  children 
and  started  for  Iowa,  where  he  formerly  re- 
sided, and  after  locating  them  as  comforta- 
bly as  he  could,  he  enlisted  in  the  Uth  Regi- 
ment of  O.  V.  I.  After  the  battles  of  Look- 
out Mountain  and  Mission  Ridge  in  the  fall 
of  1868,  he  re-enlisted  for  three  years  more,  or 
during  the  war.  He  was  with  Gen.  Sherman 
on  his  great  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea, 
and  thi-ough  the  Carolinas  and  Vii'ginia  to 
Washington,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  in  the  month  of  Jrme,  I860.  After 
the  war  was  over,  he  moved  with  his  family 
to  the  city  of  Aki-on,  where  he  started  the 
"Akron  File  Works,"  in  the  fall  of  1868. 
Mathias  Harter  was  married,  in  1855,  to  Miss 
Sallie  M.  Hall,  the  youngest  daughter  of 
John  Hall,  second  of  Springfield  Township, 
who  was  one  of  its  earliest  pioneers.  The 
family  of  Mathias  Harter  consists  of  three 
sons — Edwin  C,  Sigel  F.  and  James  Hall; 
and  two  daughters — Jennie  Winona  and  Sal- 
lie  Belle.  The  two  first  sons  and  the  first 
daughter  were  born  at  Independence,  Iowa; 
of  the  remaining  two,  the  daughter  was  born 
in  Aki'on,  and  the  son  in  the  township  of  Cov- 
entry. 

JOHN  HEINTZ,  farmer;  P.  O.  Aki'on; 
came  to  New  York  in  August,  1884,  from 
Hesse,  Hamburg,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Rhine,  near  Franlcfort-on-the-Main,  which 
country  now  belongs  to  Prussia.  He  was  born 
Oct.  24,  1812,  to  Peter  and  Louisa  (Bauers) 
Heintz;  she  was  a  daughter  of  George  and 


COVENTRY    TOWNSHIP. 


883 


^Margaret  Bauers.  His  father  was  a  promi- 
nent farmer  in  his  native  country:  his  family 
consisting  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters, 
John  being  the  only  son  now  living:  his  old- 
est sister  living  in  Germany,  the  second,  Loii- 
isa,  wife  of  Urias  Whitner,  of  Coventry:  and 
Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Slager.  now  residing  near 
Aurora,  111.  John  was  married,  March  20, 
1886.  in  Cleveland,  to  Sophia  Kech.  daughter 
of  Conrad  Kech,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Trum- 
l)ull  Co..  Ohio:  by  her  he  had  seven  childi'eu, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Tohn  F.  in  his 
29th  year,  after  having  been  married  some 
time  to  Susannah  Renninger,  who  is  also 
deceased,  leaving  three  children — Charles  and 
Edward,  living  in  Bath  Township,  and  Jo- 
seph living  with  relatives  in  East  Libei*ty. 
There  are  four  children  living,  one  son  and 
tluve  daughters — Louisa,  wife  of  Louis  Moore, 
residing  in  Pine  Bluffs,  Ark. ;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Joseph  Arnold,  a  farmer  in  Sharon  Township, 
Medina  Co. :  Amelia,  widow  of  Hemy  Bolin- 
ger.  she  residing  in  Clarke  Co..  Ind. :  and 
George,  married  to  Sarah  A.  HaiTis,  a  farmer 
in  Bath  Township.  The  fii'st  wife  of  John 
Heintz  died  in  1849:  his  second  mamage 
occurring  May  20,  1851,  to  Margai'et  (Rost) 
Bollen,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Agnes  (Boll 
inger)  Bollen,  who  were  natives  of  Schaff- 
hausen,  Switzerland,  came  to  New  Yoi'k  in 
1848;  subsequently  moving  to  Norton  Town- 
ship. Mr.  Heintz  after  complying  with  the 
requirements  of  the  compulsory  education 
law,  learned  the  painter's  trade.  After  com- 
ing to  America  he  sought  for  work  at  his 
trade,  and  not  being  able  to  speak  the  English 
language,  was  unable  to  secure  a  position. 
He  then  ti'aveled  in  search  of  work,  a  part  of 
his  time  being  spent  in  Holmes  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  in  Cleveland,  where  he  learned  the  butch- 
er's trade,  which  he  followed  in  the  latter 
place,  and  in  Alo-on,  subsequently  learning  the 
cooper's  trade  which  he  followed  until  1858, 
when  he  moved  to  the  farm  which  he  now 
occupies.  He  has  held  the  various  township 
offices  of  trust,  and  with  his  family,  are  con- 
nected with  the  Gennan  Reformed  Chiu'ch  of 
Akron. 

GEORGE  HEINTZ,  farmer;  P.  O.  Aki'on; 
son  of  Philip,  whose  history  appears  in  that  of 
John  Heintz,  in  another  place,  was  born  Jan. 


28,  18  7.  Philip  came  from  Germany  in  the 
spring  of  1845,  to  the  farm  on  which  our 
subject  now  lives,  with  his  wife,  two  sons  and 
two  daughters — seven  more,  two  sons  and  live 
daughters  being  born  after  their  emigi-ation 
to  Coventry  Township,  he  dying  Dec.  29, 187<), 
in  his  f)7th  year;  of  the  whole  number  of 
children  eight  are  now  living — two  brothers, 
Philip  and  John,  in  Bath  Township,  this 
county,  engaged  in  farming;  one  sister,  for- 
merly Mrs.  Jacob  Glass,  who  died  in  Kansas, 
she  afterward  marrying  Elias  Gaskanbach,  a 
farmer  in  Miami  Co.,  Kan.,  where  they  now 
reside;  the  others  are  Mrs.  Matilda  Sherbondy, 
whose  husband  is  Superintendent  in  rubber 
works:  Mary,  Mrs.  Urias  Kramer,  also  engaged 
in  rubber  works ;  Magdalena,  a  Mi-s.  Eli  Petrti, 
engaged  at  the  sewer-pipe  works;  Catharine, 
formerly  a  Mrs.  Philij^  Biu-gy,  now  a  Mrs. 
Philip  Laubert,  working  at  the  Seiberling 
Company  Works;  all  residing  in  Akron. 
George,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  M.  Beck,  bom  Sept.  1,  1853, 
and  daughter  of  George  Beck.  They  have 
one  child — George  Philip,  born  Aug.  21, 
1878.  The  mother  of  our  subject  is  Mary 
(Baird)  Heintz,  born  Sept.  29,  1814.  George 
learned  the  potter's  trade,  at  which  he  worked 
eight  years,  the  rest  of  his  life  being  spent  in 
a  general  farm  avocation.  They  are  members 
of  the  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  living  Chi'is- 
tian  lives  and  commanding  the  respect  of  the 
people. 

ALEM  HIGH,  farmer;  P.  O.  New  Portage; 
son  of  William  High,  who  was  born  Feb.  18, 
1796;  he  of  Josiah  High,  a  native  of  Berks 
Co.,  Penn.  William  was  mari'ied  to  Elizabeth 
Reninger  Sept.  10,  1822;  she  was  boi-n  Jan. 
6,  1801,  and  died  Sept.  3,  1872;  they  had 
thi-ee  childi-en — Alem,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  born  June  1,  1823;  Isaac,  June  21, 
1825;  Anna  Eliza,  Dec.  18,  1828;  all  of  whom 
are  living,  the  latter  the  wife  of  Rev.  L.  C. 
Edmonds,  married  Feb.  1,  1850,  and  located 
in  Adamsburg,  Snyder  Co.,  Penn.;  Isaac  was 
married  to  Mary  Jane  Ludwig;  the  second 
marriage,  to  Jane  Moore,  with  whom  he  is  still 
living  in  Medina;  he  engaged  in  the  hardware 
and  gi'ocery  business  at  that  place.  Alem  was 
married  to  Leah  Wildi'oudt  May  30,  1850,  she 
dying  April  6, 1851 ;  second  marriage,  to  Mary 


l9 


884 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Weirick,  Aug.  29,  1854;  expired  July  21, 
1868;  third  marriage,  to  Elizabeth  Daily, 
Nov.  2,  1805.  By  all  maiTiages,  he  has  had 
teu  children:  By  first  wife,  one,  who  died  in 
infancy;  second,  four  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy;  those  living  are  Amasa  Mil 
ton,  born  Oct.  10,  1859;  Sarah  E.,  Sept.  26, 
1861;  third  marriage,  five — Leora,  born  Sept. 
4,  1866;  U.  G.,  July  9,  1868;  Milo,  Feb.  26, 
1870:  Lvdia  A.,  Oct.  23,  1871,  died  May  10, 
1875:  and  Joshua,  Jan.  8,  1875.  William 
High  came  to  Springfield  Township  in  the 
spring  of  1882,  where  he  lived  and  worked  at 
the  car})enter  and  joiner's  trade  for  aliout 
eleven  years,  then  came  to  the  farm  upon 
which  his  son  now  lives,  and  upon  which  he 
has  carried  on  a  general  farm  life  since,  secur- 
ing a  district- school  education.  Our  subject 
has  held  the  various  township  offices  of  trust; 
is  a  liberal  supporter  of  all  the  enterprises  of 
the  township,  and  watchful  in  the  advantages 
of  education  for  his  family. 

ELMER  HOUSEL,  Weighmaster  at  Sweit- 
zer  Shaft,  Akron;  is  a  son  of  Martin,  born 
Nov.  20,  1794,  in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn., 
and  died  Sept.  30,  1856,  in  his  63d  year;  he 
is  a  son  of  Jacob  Housel.  Martin  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  in  Coventry  Township;  his 
first  wife  was  Charlotte  Brewster,  a  sister  to 
Alexander  Brewster,  whose  sketch  appears  in 
another  place  in  this  work.  By  this  marriage 
there  were  thi'ee  children — Hiram,  Jacob  and 
Lydia;  second  marriage,  to  Margaret  Viers, 
by  whom  he  had  twelve  children,  eight  of 
whom  are  living;  they  were  as  follows:  Char- 
lotte, Sarah,  Martin,  Liverton,  Harrison, 
Nancy,  Martha,  James,  Alice,  Elmer  (the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch),  Benjamin  and  Oscar.  All 
are  maiTied — Charlotte,  wife  of  C.  L.  Good- 
win, engaged  in  prospecting  coal;  residence, 
Girard,  Trumbull  Co..  Ohio;  Martin,  a  mill- 
wright in  Middlebury;  Harrison,  mail  agent 
on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Rail- 
road; Martha,  wife  of  James  Kilfoyle,  who  is 
connected  with  the  railroad  at  Niles,  Ohio; 
James,  foreman  in  sewer-pipe  company  at 
Middlebmy;  Benjamin,  a  carpenter  in  North- 
field,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio;  Oscar,  car[)enter 
in  Galesburg,  111.  Our  subject  was  born  Feb. 
25,  1846;  attended  school  and  worked  on  a 
farm  until   1 6  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to 


Girard,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  in  a  flouring- 
mill  eleven  years,  then  engaged  in  the  coal 
business  in  difl:erent  ptu'ts  of  the  Mahoning 
Valley,  continuing  in  the  same  business,  prin- 
cipally, until  the  present  time.  He  was  mar- 
ried, Oct.  3,  1871,  to  Rachael  A.  McCartney, 
daughter  of  A.  W.  and  Mary  A.  (Dunlap) 
McCtu'tney,  of  Girard,  Ohio.  They  have 
three  childi'en — Guy,  born  June  16,  1873; 
Mary,  Feb.  28,  1876;  Elizabeth,  Jan.  17, 
1879.  In  November,  1880,  after  the  opening 
the  new  shaft  of  an  extensive  coal-mine  on 
the  Sweitzer  farm,  he  accepted  his  present 
position — that   of  Weiglunaster. 

HOUSTON  KEPLER,  faiTaer;  P.  O.  New 
Portage;  is  a  son  of  Jacob  Kepler,  who  was 
born  about  1797,  in  Center  Co.,  Penn.  His 
father  was  John,  a  native  of  Bucks  Co.,  Penn., 
but  moved  with  his  family  to  Green  Town- 
ship, in  1802.  The  early  ancestry  were  fi'om 
Switzerland.  John  and  a  valuable  horse  were 
instantly  killed  at  a  cider-press  by  being 
struck  with  a  heavy  lever  which  became  de- 
tached. Jacob  remained  with  his  father  until 
18  years  of  age,  when  he  began  woi'king  for 
himself,  returning,  however,  at  harvest  time, 
to  assist  his  father.  At  about  25  years  of  age, 
he  was  man-ied  to  Susan  Marsh,  daughter  of 
Adam  Marsh,  an  eai-ly  -settler  of  Franklin 
Township.  Jacob  was  always  a  hard-working 
man,  with  a  gi-eat  desire  for  the  acquisition  of 
wealth,  which  he  afterwju'd  possessed.  In 
1822,  he  settled  on  the  fann  where  his  son 
Houston  now  lives,  which  at  that  time  was  a 
vast  wilderness,  bu.t,  by  clearing  and  gi'ubbing, 
he  became  the  possessor  of  more  than  1,100 
acres  of  land  in  Coventry  Township.  They 
had  thirteen  children — foiu-  sons  and  nine 
daughters;  six  are  living — two  sons,  both  rep- 
resented in  this  work;  and  foiu"  daughters — 
Mrs.  Thomas  Baughman,  Mrs.  Hemy  Wise, 
IVIi-s.  Andi-ew  Oberlin  and  Mrs.  Solomon  Ren- 
inger.  Huston  was  born  Aug.  25,  1889;  he 
stayed  with  his  father  on  the  fann  until  his 
marriage,  which  occvirred  April  2,  1868,  to 
Catharine  Foust,  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Elizabeth  (Mauery ),  daughter  of  Frederic  and 
Catharine  (Hillygoss)  Mauery,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  In  1850,  the  Fousts  came 
from  near  the  southern  line  of  the  State  of 
Wisconsin,  whither  they   had   gone,   a   short 


I>^ 


COVENTRY    TOWNSHIP. 


885 


time  before,  from  their  native  State,  to  Green 
Township,  where  they  purchased  the  place 
known  as  the  "  Old  Foust  Farm."  The  old 
people  there  died — the  father  on  his  birthday, 
Oct.  20,  1875,  aged  ()G  years;  the  mother, 
Aug.  18,  1872,  aged  5(5  years.  Houston  has 
four  children — Clara  Alice,  born  Feb.  24, 
1864:  Lam-a  Jane,  Aug.  11,  1867;  Maggie 
Elizabeth,  Oct.  18,  1872;  and  Nelson  Eugene, 
May  16,  1877.  He  was  elected  Clerk  of  the 
township  in  the  spring  of  1864,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  for  six  successive  terms,  and  two 
terms  thereafter  was  .Treasiu'er  one  year,  and 
for  the  last  fifteen  years  has  held  the  office  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  eleven  years  member 
of  the  School  Board,  taking  an  active  interest 
in  the  progress  of  education.  His  life  upon 
the  farm  is  more  especially  devoted  to  the  rais- 
ing of  grain,  the  products  of  his  farm  being 
from  twelve  to  fifteen  hundi'ed  bushels  of 
wheat  alone.  He  and  family  ai'e  members  of 
the  Refonned  Chm'ch,  and  liberal  givers  to 
the  cause  of  religion  and  the  building  of 
chm'ches. 

SAMUEL  KEPLER,  fai-mer:  P.  O.  New 
Portage ;  is  a  son  of  Jacob  Kepler,  a  brief  his- 
tory of  whom  appears  with  that  of  Houston 
Kepler,  in  this  work.  Samuel  was  born  April 
17,  1830,  and  received  the  educational  advan- 
tages of  the  old  log  schoolhouse  of  those  pio- 
neer days,  with  its  puncheon  floor  and  Con- 
gress stove,  with  holes  bored  in  the  logs  of  the 
building,  and  wooden  pins  driven  in  to  support 
their  writing-desks,  etc.  At  21  years  of  age, 
he  engaged  in  farming  on  his  present  location, 
which  was  a  part  of  the  land  owned  by  his 
father.  He  was  married,  Sept.  12,  1851,  to 
Suannah  Swigait,  daughter  of  George  and 
Elizabeth  (Daily)  Swigart,  she  a  daughter  of 
John  Daily,  who  was  supposed  to  have  been 
the  first  settler  in  Franklin  Township  They 
were  natives  of  Bucks  Co.,  Penn.  By  this 
union  there  were  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living — Uriah  A.,  born  in  1852;  Anna, 
in  1855;  Jacob,  July  19,  1859;  Samuel,  Dec. 
9,  1865;  Minnie  May,  Dec.  5,  1871.  Uriah 
A.  married  Mary  Lamb,  daxighter  of  Nathan 
Lamb,  formerly  a  prominent  business  man  of 
this  county.  They  are  farming  at  Chanute, 
Kan.;  Anna,  wife  of  Hon.  Hugo  C.  Preyer, 
formerly  of  the  Ohio  Staats  Zritnng,  at  Canton, 


now  editor  of  the  Great  West,  an  independent 
paper  published  at  Denver,  Colo.  He  is  also 
President  of  the  Stonewall  Mining  Company. 
The  mines  of  this  company,  four  in  number, 
are  situated  near  Crosson,  on  the  line  of  the 
Denver  &  South  Park  Railroad,  about  forty- 
eight  miles  from  Denver.  The  camp  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  in  the  State,  with  a 
capital  of  $1,000,000.  He  is  also  Secretary 
of  three  other  mines.  Jacob,  second  son  of 
Samuel  Kepler,  has  advanced  to  a  considera- 
ble degree  of  prominence  as  a  township  pol- 
tician  and  a  business  man.  He  received  a 
district-school  education,  with  the  additional 
advantages,  for  a  short  time,  of  the  high 
schools  and  College  of  Canton,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  also  engaged  for  a  time  as  solicitor  upon 
the  Ohio  Staats  Zeitung.  When  a  lad  of  but 
16  years,  he  became  very  much  interested  in 
public  matters,  and,  at  21  years  of  age,  was 
appointed  by  the  Trustees  to  canvass  the  town- 
ship for  election  purposes,  on  account  of  the 
great  niunber  of  transient  men.  He  has 
been  for  a  considerable  time  a  regular  corre- 
spondent of  the  Aki'on  City  Times,  and  is  at 
present  living  upon  the  farm  with  his  father. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  held  the  various 
township  offices  of  trust  since  his  marriage — 
those  of  Trustee,  Treasurer,  and,  in  1880,  was 
Assessor  of  real  fistate. 

JOHN  P.  KEPLER,  Aki'on;  projn-ietor  of 
the  Farmers'  Coal  Bank,  Coventry  Township 
Ohio,  which  was  started  in  1874,  opening  a 
mine  of  coal  of  a  superior  quality,  with  a  vein 
averaging  about  four  and  a  half  feet,  and  em- 
ploying at  one  time  neai4y  forty  men.  His 
machinery  consists  of  two  engines,  one  of 
•4ghty-five-horse  power,  the  other  of  twenty- 
horse  power;  being  a  practical  engineer,  he  is 
able  to  run  his  own  power,  as  well  as  the  gen- 
eral superintendency  of  his  mine.  In  1878, 
he  began  utilizing  his  power  by  engaging  in 
wood-tm-ning  of  all  kinds,  and  light  sawing; 
but,  on  the  18th  of  February,  1880,  his  build- 
ing, 86x46,  was  destroyed  by  fire,  entailing 
upon  him  a  heavy  loss.  He  was  born  March 
5,  1849,  to  John  A.,  the  son  of  Andi-ew  and 
^Iaria  Kintz,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  John 
Kintz,  of  Chippewa  Township,  Wayne  Co., 
Ohio.  His  boyhood  was  spent  in  Green  Town- 
ship, where  he  was  born,  working  on  a  farm 


t)  ^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


and  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  afterward 
went  to  Alu'on,  where  he  learned  the  machin- 
ist's trade,  having  before  had  some  experience 
in  that  branch  of  machinery,  so  that  he  is  now 
able  to  biiild  an  engine  complete.  Afterward, 
for  abont  a  year,  he  kept  a  meat  market,  and, 
since  being  engaged  in  the  business  of  mining, 
has  devoted  some  time  to  prospecting  for  coal 
and  the  stxidy  of  geology.  He  was  married, 
Jnly  27,  1865,  to  Lovina  Stroman,  daughter 
of  John  Stroman,  of  Springfield  Township. 
They  have  two  children — Clara  M.,  born  Jnne 
9,  18r5<l:  and  Hem'v  Edgar,  Feb.  4,  187U. 

JOHN  KITTINGER,  retired  farmer;  P.  O. 
Akron;  was  born  east  of  the  city  of  Lancaster. 
Perm.,  Aug.  28,  1809.  His  father  was  Abra- 
ham, son  of  Casper,  whose  father  came  from 
Germany  abont  one  hundred  years  ago.  His 
mother,  Elizabeth  Hunsicker,  a  native  of 
Switzerland,  came  to  this  coiuitry  in  about  the 
year  1800.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  has 
spent  his  life  in  farming  and  fancy- coverlet 
weaving,  being  at  present  engaged,  to  a  lim- 
ited extent,  in  the  latter  occupation,  his  ap- 
j)renticeship  being  completed  when  not  quite 
21  years  of  age,  so  that,  for  more  than  half  a 
century,  he  has  plied  his  trade.  In  the  year 
183H,he  came  from  the  land  of  his  nativity  to 
New  Portage,  where  he  resided  for  about  two 
years,  then  returned  to  the  East  to  pxu'chase 
machinery  for  weaving  purposes.  He  was 
married,  in  the  spring  of  1885,  to  Soj)hia 
Babb,  daughter  of  George  Babb,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Springfield  Townshij^;  five 
childi'en  blessed  this  union,  three  of  whom  are 
still  living — Jacob,  born  Feb.  19,  1887; 
George,  Sept.  23,  1888,  died  in  infancy; 
David,  Oct.  25,  1840;  Levi,  May  26,  1842; 
and  Amanda,  Sept.  28, 1850.  All  thi-ee  of  his 
sons  served  in  the  cause  of  their  country — 
Levi  in  the  14th  Ohio  Battery,  under  Ca})t. 
BiuTows,  (lying  April  15.  1852,  of  a  fever 
which  he  contracted  at  Pittsbm-g  Landing: 
David  served  three  years  in  the  29th  O.  V.  I., 
imder  Col.  Buckley,  and  was  discharged  after 
the  battle  of  Atlanta;  retm-ning  home,  he  en- 
gaged in  work  at  the  wagon-maker's  trade  at 
Hammond's  Corners,  Bath  Township,  this 
county,  where  he  still  resides;  Jacob  resided 
in  Randolph  Co.,  Ill,,  with  his  family,  where 
he  joined  a  regiment  and  entered  the  service; 


being  taken  prisoner  soon  after,  he  lay  at 
Richmond  until  that  city  was  taken  by  the 
Union  forces;  he  is  now  residing  at  Pmis 
Landing,  engaged  in  coopering  and  carpenter- 
ing. Mr.  Kittinger's  wife  died  March  2(5, 
1870.  He  is  a  stanch  old  Republican,  and 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Gennan  Reformed 
Church  f(jr  nearly  fifty  years. 

CHARLES  F^  KOHLER,  Akion;  the  old- 
est of  a  family  of  five  sons  and  one  daughter; 
born  Sept.  6,  1855,  to  Andrew;  he  of  Andi-ew 
and  Sarah  Fisher,  daughter  of  John  Fisher. 
He  is  of  German- English  descent.  Charles' 
father  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  gene- 
ral merchandising  at  Richfield  and  Jersey 
Shore,  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  where,  in 
Jtmiata  Co.,  Charles  was  born,  and  received 
all  the  educational  advantages  of  his  commu- 
nity; then,  after  moving  to  Akron,  in  the 
spring  of  1870,  he  completed  the  high  school 
term  and  took  a  coiu'se  at  the  Ol^erlin  Commer- 
cial School,  where  he  received  a  diploma  for 
proficiency.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1879, 
he  accepted  the  position  of  Weighmaster  and 
book-keeper  at  the  Sunnnit  Mine,  formerly 
the  old  Steese  Mine.  He  was  married,  April 
10,  1879,  to  Alice  Brittain,  daiighter  of  John 
T.  Brittain  whose  history  appears  in  the  bio- 
grai)hical  department  of  Springfield  Township, 
of  this  work.  They  have  one  child — Burt  B., 
born  Feb.  4,  1 880.  Charles'  only  sister,  Mrs. 
Ferdinand  Diebold,  residing  in  Cleveland;  his 
oldest  brother,  John,  stiidying  medicine  with 
Dr.  Leight;  the  others  ai'e  attending  school, 
the  father  being  careful  that  his  children  im- 
prove their  educational  advantages. 

SIMON  P.  MARSH,  teacher  and  farmer: 
P.  O.  Akron.  The  ancestors  of  this  estimable 
gentleman  were  natives  of  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, near  Williamsport:  his  father,  George 
L.,  was  born  Feb.  7,  1808,  and  died  April  18, 
1870,  the  son  of  Atlam,  a  car]>euter  by  trade, 
who  came  to  Franklin  Townshi}),  this  county, 
about  1819,  and  died  in  1862  or  18(58,  aged 
about  82  years.  George  L.  received  a  very 
limited  education  on  account  of  the  early  re- 
moval of  his  father  to  the  above-named  town- 
ship, and  the  prevailing  idea  of  those  early 
times  that  work  was  more  necessary  than  edu- 
cation; his  services  were,  at  a  tender  age, 
demanded  ui)on  the  fann.     He  was  married 


^w 


COVENTRY    TOWNSHIP. 


887 


to  Elizabeth  Hane.  Dec.  1, 1881 :  she  was  born 
July  20,  IcSll,  and  died  Nov.  2,  1867.  By 
this  union  there  were  six  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters— George  Adam,  born  Dec.  8,  1882;  John 
Jacob,  Dec.  80,  1883;  Samuel  Christian.  Aug. 
25,  1885;  Nancy,  April  4,  1887;  Lovina,  Jan. 
8,  1889;  Elizabeth,  April  8,  1840;  Sarah, 
April  7.  1842;  the  two  last  are  dead — the  lat- 
ter, wife  of  John  Myers,  by  whom  she  had 
one  child  Ida  Elizabeth,  born  June  22, 
1862;  William  Henry,  Jan.  22,  1844;  Hiram 
Franklin,  Nov.  28,  1845;  Simon  Peter,  April 
5,  1848:  Harriet,  May  8,  1850;  and  Amanda, 
Sept.  16,  1852.  Mr.  Marsh,  before  his  mar- 
riage, entered  160  acres  of  land,  which  he 
afterward  cleared  up,  and  raised  the  large 
family  mentioned  above,  ten  of  whom  are  still 
living,  all  the  sons  having  been  teachers, 
George  teaching  and  farming  in  Marshall  Co., 
Ind. ;  William  teaching  and  carpentering  in 
Tallmadge  Township;  John  farming  in  Stark 
Co. ;  the  others  are  residents  of  Franklin 
Township ;  the  daughters  are  wives  of  the  sons 
of  the  earliest  and  most  prominent  early  set- 
tlers of  that  township.  Simon  P.  began  teach- 
ing at  16  years  of  age,  having  received  h  s 
certificate  to  teach  when  but  1  5  years  of  age; 
he  has  now  taught  his  twentieth  term  of  dis- 
trict school.  He  was  married,  Oct.  15,  1872, 
to  Sophia  E.  Young,  born  July  21,  1848,  in 
Franklin  Township,  daughter  of  Samuel,  the 
son  of  Abraham  Yoiuig;  her  mother  was  Sarah 
Shook,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Ven- 
sall)  Shook,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but  early 
settlers  of  Franklin  Township.  They  have 
had  four  childi-en,  one  dying  in  infancy :  those 
living  are  Ellery  Leroy,  born  Aug.  1,  1874; 
Charles  Gilbert,' March  1,  1877;  and  Etta 
Elizabeth,  March  26, 1 879.  He  pui-chased  the 
beautiful  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives  in 
March,  1 874,  and,  in  the  spring  following,  his 
removal  to  the  township,  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  TowTiship  Clerk,  which  position  he 
has  held  to  the  present  time,  except  the  year 
1879.  He  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Reformed  Church ;  a  prominent  Democrat,  and 
an  enterprising  yoimg  man. 

SAMUEL  W.'  MILLER  (deceased);  was 
bom  in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn.,  Dec.  6, 
1812,  and  died  Jan.  28,  1881,  suddenly,  of 
heart    disease;  his   parents   were   Jesse    and 


Elizabeth  (Weaster)  Miller,  both  of  whom 
lived  to  a  great  age — she  about  106  years. 
They  came  from  Venango  Co.,  Penn.,  to  the 
farm  on  which  the  widow  now  lives,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1865,  after  having  resided  in  many  difier- 
ent  places  in  ttieir  native  State,  he  being  a 
stone-mason  by  trade,  but  afterward  engaging 
in  farming;  his  father,  Jesse,  was  a  miller  by 
trade,  and  a  school-teacher  of  considerable 
prominence.  Samuel  married  Elizabeth  Seger 
June  11,  1888,  daughter  of  John,  he  of  John 
and  Ann  (Rhodenbush),  she  of  Jacob  and  Ann 
Rhodenbush.  They  had  eleven  children, 
fom-  of  whom  died  in  childhood;  those  living 
are  William  J.  M.,  born  March  8,  1884; 
Mary  Caroline,  Dec.  12,  1886;  John  H.,  May 
12,  1889;  Sarah  Ann,  Nov.  80,  1841;  Eunice 
C,  July  2,  1847;  Hannah  M.,  Jvme  4,  1856; 
and  George  W.,  April  28,  1859.  William 
married  Elizalieth  Honn,  who  was  born  in 
Philadelphia;  they  have  two  children — John 
L.  and  Sarah  A.,  who,  at  this  wi-iting,  reside 
in  Venango  Co.,  Penn.  William,  being  called 
here  by  the  death  of  his  father,  is  contem- 
plating a  removal  to  this  State  to  assist  his 
mother  in  the  management  of  the  farm;  the 
second  is  Mrs.  James  Graham,  living  in  Wood 
Co.,  Ohio;  the  third,  to  Amanda  Gregg;  they 
reside  in  Aki'on;  the  fourth,  a  Mrs.  Samuel 
Foster,  who  is  a  mechanic  in  the  knife-works 
at  Akron:  the  fifth,  a  Mrs.  Earnest  B.  Teits,  a 
tailor  at  Akron.  The  two  youngest  are  at 
home.  Mr.  Miller  was  a  man  respected  by 
the  ]ieo|)le  of  his  commianity,  and,  with  his 
wife,  members  of  the  chmx-h,  and  gave  liber- 
ally of  their  means  for  the  support  of  the 
cause  of  religion  and  the  advancement  of  the 
people. 

SAMPSON  MOORE,  Jr.,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Akron;  the  youngest  of  six  childi-en — four 
sous  and  tAVO  daughters — of  Sampson  Moore, 
who  came  from  the  County  Antrim,  near  Bal- 
lymena,  Ireland,  in  May  1822,  landing  at 
Fairport,  Ohio,  and  going  fi'om  there  to 
Painesville.  Lake  Co.,  Ohio.  Sampson,  Sr., 
died  nine  days  after  landing  at  Fairport,  and 
his  widow  afterward  married  one  James  Hall, 
and,  in  March,  1826,  moved  to  the  farm  upon 
which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  now  lives. 
The  ste})-father  died  about  two  years  later, 
and   the  mother   Sept  7,    1855,   at   about  68 


<s~ 


■  v^ 


M'. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


years  of  age.  She  was  Jane  Kerr,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  and  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mar- 
garet (Boyd)  Kerr,  who  was  a  sister  of  Gen. 
Boyd,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  who  died  in 
New  York  City.  The  Kerr  family  was  form- 
erly of  Scotland,  but  moved  into  Ireland,  and, 
like  the  Boyd  family,  became  very  wealthy 
and  of  considerable  prominence.  Mr.  Moore 
was  married,  Jan.  10, 1864,  to  Mary  E.  Shutt, 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Catharine  (Gregg) 
Shutt,  who  were  natives  of  Maryland — the 
Greggs  of  Pennnsylvania.  They  have  four 
children — Jane  C,  born  Feb.  21, 1865;  Emma 
T.,  Nov.  26.  1869;  Louisa  M.,  Oct.  17,  1871; 
and  James  S.,  May  26,  1875.  The  Moores 
were  of  English  descent,  Sampson's  grand- 
father being  sent  from  England  to  Ireland  as 
legal  agent  for  an  estate.  James  Moore,  a 
brother  to  Sampson,  is  probably  responsible 
for  the  p  appearing  in  that  name;  he  was  a 
jeweler  at  No.  68  High  street,  Belfast,  and, 
upon  the  face  of  an  "old  bull's-eye"  watch, 
which  he  presented  to  his  brother,  he  used  the 
letters  of  the  name  to  mark  the  hour,  instead 
of  figiu-es  or  other  characters,  and  supj)lying 
the  deficiency  in  the  number  of  letters.  Mr. 
Moore  is  a  member  of  the  Disciples'  Church, 
a  stanch  Republican,  and  a  man  of  considera- 
ble prominence  in  the  township  in  which  he 
lives. 

GEORGE  PROEHL,  farmer;  P.  O.  Aki-on; 
was  born  April  9,  1822,  to  George  and  Chris- 
tine (Boedchel)  Proehl,  who  were  natives  of 
Saxe  Altenburg,  Germany;  his  father  was 
a  grain-dealer  in  that  country,  dying  when 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  at  a  very  tender 
age,  probably  about  1825,  at  about  50  years 
of  age.  George  is  the  youngest  of  six  chil 
dren,  all  of  whom  are  dead  except  an  older 
sister,  who  still  resides  in  their  native  coun- 
try. He  received  his  education  under  the 
compulsory  laws  of  the  country,  was  a  soldier 
from  1842  to  1846,  serving  the  required  time 
as  a  regular;  then  went  on  the  reserve  force 
for  two  years,  after  which  he  received  his 
freedom.  In  the  fall  of  1848,  he  came  to 
America,  shipping  from  Bremen  to  New  York, 
where  he  landed  after  a  forty-three  days'  voy- 
age; he  immediately  came  to  Akron,  where  he 
worked  the  first  ten  years  at  his  trade,  that  of 
stone-cutting  and  masonry.     In  1858,  he  pur- 


chased the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives, 
moving  to  the  same  in  the  spring  of  1859,  and 
has  been  working  at  his  trade  and  farming 
since  that  time.  He  was  married,  July  1, 
1849,  to  Louisa  Loose,  who  was  born  May  21, 
1825.  to  Gottfried  and  Elizabeth  Loose,  who 
were  also  natives  of  Saxe  Altenburg,  Ger- 
many. She  came  to  America  without  her  par- 
ents in  the  year  of  her  marriage.  They  have 
had  eight  children;  one  died  in  infancy;  the 
oldest,  Louis  J.,  born  July  18,  1850;  George, 
March  8,  1852;  William,  May  14,  1854; 
Maria  Matilda,  April  18,  1856;  John  Frank- 
lin, Aug.  8,  1861;  Emma,  Aug.  17,  1864,  and 
Sarah  Ida,  Jan.  29,  1867.  Loiiis  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  college  at  Lebanon,  Ohio;  also,  .n 
1879,  graduated  from  the  Ohio  Medical  Col- 
lege at  Cincinnati,  and  is  now  practicing  with 
Dr.  Underwood,  in  the  city  of  Akron.  George, 
Jr.,  married  Amanda  Burgner;  William  mar- 
ried Allie  S.  Vandersall  Dec.  7,  1879,  by 
whom  he  has  one  child — John  Martin,  bom 
Sept.  6,  1880;  he  is  engaged  in  farming  in 
Coventry.  Maria  M.  is  the  wife  of  John  R. 
Davis,  who  is  teacher  of  a  graded  school 
started  by  himself  at  Brecksville;  he  is  also  a 
graduate  of  Lebanon,  Ohio.  They  were  mar- 
ried April  18,  1880.  Mr.  Proehl  and  family 
are  members  of  church,  and  he  a  liberal  sup- 
porter of  religious  and  educational  privileges. 
ISAAC  ROMIG,  farmer;  P.  O.  New  Por- 
tage; is  a  son  of  Jesse  Romig,  a  native  of  Le- 
high Co.,  Penn.,  who  died  in  1867,  in  his  85th 
year;  he  was  the  youngest  of  five  children — 
four  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  of  whom  are 
dead.  Isaac  was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio, 
March  14,  1827.  Jesse  came  from  his  native 
county  to  Wooster  in  the  fall  of  1826,  where 
he  lived  four  years,  then  removed  to  Thomp- 
son Township,  Seneca  Co.,  where  he  died. 
He  was  the  father  of  thirteen  children,  all  of 
whom  lived  until  after  21  years  of  age;  there 
are  at  present  two  sons  and  five  daughters  livr 
ing,  our  subject  next  to  the  youngest.  Their 
residences  are  as  follows:  John,  a  farmer  in 
Marshall  Co.,  Ind. ;  Susannah,  widow  of 
Michael  Kern,  Thompson  Township,  Seneca 
Co. ;  Polly,  widow  of  Samuel  Shirk,  living  in 
the  State  of  Michigan;  Juliana,  a  maiden  liv- 
ing with  the  last- mentioned;  Catharine,  wife 
of  John  Good,  a  farmer  of  some  official  ])rom- 


COVENTRY    TOWNSHIP. 


'lU 


inence  in  Stark  Co.,  Ind. ;  Martha,  wife  of 
George  Collier,  a  farmer  in  York  Township, 
Sandusky  Co.,  Ohio.  Our  subject  received  a 
very  limited  education,  attending  the  district 
school  about  six  months,  his  time  being  occu- 
pied upon  the  farm  with  his  father  until  20 
years  of  age,  after  which  he  worked  by  the 
month  for  a  time.  In  February  1850,  he  was 
married  to  Lucy  Ann  Good,  daughter  of  Ad- 
am Good.  By  her  he  had  two  children,  she 
dying  in  June,  1855,  in  Stark  Co.,  Ind., 
whither  they  had  gone  shortly  after  marrige. 
His  second  marriage  was  to  Mary  Good,  in 
December,  1856,  a  cousin  to  his  tirst  wife;  by 
the  latter  marriage  there  were  eight  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  childhood;  those  living 
are  Sarah  Matilda,  born  March  21,  1851,  now 
the  wife  of  Robert  Paul,  the  present  County 
Sui'veyor,  living  in  Akron;  Mary  Magdalene, 
born  Oct.  23,  1853,  the  wife  of  Moses  Werley, 
a  carpenter  and  cabinet-maker  in  Wadsworth, 
Ohio.  Emma  L.,  born  Aug.  28,  1862;  Hiram 
F.,  Aug.  31,  1865;  George  W.,  July  4,  1868; 
Clara  A.,  Oct.  6,  1871;  Charles  N.,  Sept.  12, 
1875;  Archie  H.,  Aug.  16,  1878.  Mr.  Romig 
has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board  of 
his  township,  taking  an  active  interest  in  the 
education  of  his  family;  his  business  is  grain 
and  stock  raising.  He  and  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Grace  Reformed  Church.  After 
ten  years'  life  in  Indiana,  and  meeting  with 
many  reverses  in  trying  to  secure  a  home,  he 
sought  a  new  field  in  Siunmit  Co.,  Ohio,  were, 
after  many  trials  and  hardships,  he  has,  by 
diligence  and  perseverance,  secured  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  homes  in  Coventry  Township. 
RILEY  ROOT,  farmer;  P.  O.  New  Portage; 
is  the  youngest  of  eight  sons,  one  daughter 
being  younger;  he  was  born  June  30,  1807, 
his  parents  being  Reuben  and  Sarah  (McMil 
lin)  Root,  natives' of  Canaan,  Conn.,  but  came 
to  Coventry  Township  in  the  winter  of  1818, 
and  engaged  in  farming,  at  time  when  the 
city  of  Akron  consisted  of  only  three  log  cab- 
ins, Cleveland  and  Canton  being  the  nearest 
markets.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received 
a  very  limited  education,  his  time  being  em- 
ployed in  farming  and  at  odd  jobs  of  clearing. 
He  was  married,  Sept.  27,  1827,  to  Lucinda 
Manning,  who  was  born  Jan.  29, 1812,  to  John 
and  Sophia  (Cogswell)  Manning.     They  have 


had  five  children — Fannie,  born  Jan.  11,  1828, 
married  Jan.  24,  1847,  to  Orson  Moore,  and 
died  Jan.  19,  1875;  Orpha,  born  Dec.  27, 
1829,  married,  July  1, 1852,  to  John  Meredith, 
a  resident  of  Bath;  Harriet,  born  Sept.  21, 
1833,  married  Sept.  2,  1852,  to  N.  C.  Minor, 
a  resident  of  Johnson's  Corners;  William, 
born  Dec.  27,  1835,  married,  Oct.  6,  1859,  to 
Rosetta  Bunker,  who  died  Oct.  23,  1872;  he 
re-married  March  20,  1873,  to  Mary  Ann 
Smith  (McCune);  Olive,  born  Sept.  1,  1839, 
married,  Nov.  10,  1859,  to  Charles  Ingersoll. 
They  have  lived  on  their  preseent  homestead 
for  forty- four  years,  clearing  up  all  the  land 
and  making  progress  with  the  times.  Mr. 
Root  was,  in  his  you.nger  days,  an  expert  with 
the  rifle,  having  at  one  shot  killed  two  deer, 
and  on  several  occasions  two  tmrkeys;  he  has 
been  an  honest  and  industrious  farmer  all  his 
days,  and,  with  his  noble  wife,  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Chui-ch. 

FRANKLIN  E.  RENINGER,  farmer;  P. 
O.  Akron;  is  a  son  of  Solomon  Reninger, 
deceased,  born  Sept.  26,  1830,  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Coventry  in  the 
spring  of  1831,  he  a  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Spotts)  Reninger.  Mr.  Reninger  was  a  man 
of  many  pleasing  characteristics,  and  his 
death,  which  occm'red  April  1,  1870,  after 
nearly  fifty  years  of  life  among  the  people  of 
Coventry,  was  greatly  lamented  by  the  people 
of  many  years'  acquaintance.  His  wife,  who 
is  still  living,  is  Lovina  Kepler  (see  sketch  of 
Kepler  family).  Franklin  was  born  July  10, 
1855;  being  second  son  of  a  large  family, 
his  educational  advantages  were  limited ;  how- 
ever, he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  differ- 
ent enterprises  of  the  township.  He  was  mar- 
ried, June  22,  1874,  to  Catharine  Ries,  born 
May  25,  1858,  to  Henry,  a  son  of  Nicholas 
Ries,  who  were  natives  of  Hesse-Cassel,  near 
Unter-Haun,  Germany;  he  came  to  America 
in  1845,  in  his  17th  year.  Her  mother  was 
Elizabeth  Brehm,  daughter  of  Conrad  and 
Elizabeth  (Karr)  Brehm,  natives  of  Bavaria, 
Germany;  she  came  to  this  country  in  1846, 
in  her  14th  year.  By  this  mamage  there 
were  three  childi*en  born — Lizzie,  Dec.  18, 
1875;  Clara,  Oct.  5,  1879;  and  one  who  died 
in  infancy.  IVIr.  Reninger  carries  on  gene- 
ral farming  and  stock-raising ;  is  a  member  of 


"r>" 


890 


BIOGKAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


the  Coventry  Center  Cornet  Band,  and  Clerk 
of  School  Board,  taking  a  lively  interest  in 
the  advancement  of  education. 

SAMUEL  STEFFEE,  farmer;  P.  O.  Sum- 
mit: was  born  Jan.  2,  1819,  to  Adam,  a  son  of 
Leonard  Steftee  who  were  natives  of  Hunting- 
don Co.,  Penn.,  where  they  resided,  and  were 
engaged  as  tillers  of  the  soil.  The  father  of 
oTir  subject  died  in  1878,  in  his  84th  year. 
Samuel's  mother  was  Sally  Stroup,  daughter 
of  Adam  and  Eve  Stroup,  who  were  also 
natives  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  He  ob- 
tained his  education,  which  is  moderate,  by 
carefully  utilizing  the  spare  moments  which 
he  had  from  labor,  the  whole  time  that  he 
spent  in  school  being  but  one-half  day,  his 
father  having  moved  into  Venango  Co.  as  one 
among  the  first  settlers,  and  when  the  schools 
were  more  than  five  miles  distant.  He  as- 
sisted his  father  on  the  farm  until  about  21 
years  of  age,  when  he  engaged  at  the  charcoal 
works,  at  which  employment  he  was  engaged 
nearly  thirty  years.  He  was  married  about 
1844,  to  Margery  Allen,  daughter  of  Gen. 
George  Allen,  who  was  one  of  seven  brothers 
engaged  in  the  war  of  1812,  but  returned 
home  at  the  close  of  the  war,  having 
passed  safely  through  many  hair- breadth 
escapes  with  the  Indians.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  were  seven  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living — Thomas,  Louisa,  Narcissa 
and  Samuel.  The  three  oldest  are  married 
and  living — Thomas,  in  Coventry  Town- 
ship; Louisa,  wife  of  Charles  Carpenter, 
in  Portage  Township;  Narcissa,  wife  of  John 
Nichols,  a  farmer  in  Copley;  Samuel,  at 
home.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Sarah 
Jane  Manross  (Manson),  daughter  of  George 
and  Sarah  (Burdick)  Manross,  who  were 
natives  of  York  State;  she,  by  her  first  mar- 
riage, had  five  children — Louis,  Robert,  Eu 
phemia,  Mary  T.  and  George  Washington,  all 
living,  the  four  oldest  married;  by  her  mar- 
riage to  Mr.  Steffee  she  has  two  children — 
Jesse  and  Elmira.  Jesse  Manross,  who  was  a 
relative  or  Mrs.  Steffee's,  was  also  engaged  in 
the  war  or  1812,  and  captured  by  the  Indians, 
with  whom  he  lived  a  short  time,  sharing  the 
life  of  a  prisoner  with  other  comrades  among 
the  Indians,  but  finally  made  a  very  narrow 
escape.     Mr.  Steffee  came  to  Coventry  in  the 


spring  of  1865,  where  he  has  since  been  a 
prominent  Kepublican  and  grain-raiser,  also 
taking  part  in  all  the  different  enterprises  of 
his  township. 

AUSTIN  A.  SPICER,  fcU-mer  and  coal- 
dealer;  P.  O.  Akt'on;  son  of  Avery  Spicer, 
whose  history  appears  in  the  part  devoted  to 
the  city  of  Akron;  was  bom  Feb.  27,  1834, 
and  spent  his  early  years  in  securing  a  good 
common-school  education  sufficient  to  qualify 
him  for  teaching,  which  he  engaged  in  while 
traveling  tlu"0Ugh  the  States  of  Michigan  and 
Illinois  in  the  year  1855,  and  a  part  of  1856. 
In  the  year  1857,  March  19,  he  was  married 
to  Julia  A.  Lantz,  born  Nov.  22,  1835,  to 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Albert)  Lantz,  the 
mother  being  a  native  of  Hagerstown,  Md., 
the  father  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  but 
among  the  early  settlers  in  the  southern  part 
of  Springfield  Township,  this  county.  They 
have  foTir  children — Julia  Mav,  born  July  5, 

1859,  and  died  Sept.  15, 1860; ' Ernest,  Albert 
K.,  Lizzie  Beatrice.     Mr.  Spicer,  in  the  year 

1860,  went  to  California,  where  he  intended 
making  his  futm'e  home,  and  engaged  in  min- 
ing for  a  time,  but,  on  account  of  the  death  of 
his  daughter,  he  returned  to  Coventry  and 
engaged  in  the  stock  business  and  farming. 
Since  1875,  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  coal 
business,  mining  fi'om  his  own  fann,  and  in 
running  a  coal- dock  in  the  city  of  Akron,  where 
he  is  now  doing  business.  Mrs.  Spicer  has 
an  old  German  Bible,  printed  in  1727,  and 
handed  down  to  her  fi'om  her  great-grand- 
mother;  also  several  other  relics  of  antiquity. 

ELIAS  L.  THORNTON,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Akron;  son  of  David  Thornton,  who  came 
from  the  land  of  his  nativity,  Snyder  Co., 
Penn.,  to  Coventry  Township  in  1836,  his 
father,  Jolin  Thornton,  following  in  1839. 
Elias,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
April  25,  1850,  on  the  fai'm  where  he  now  re- 
sides, receiving,  in  his  eai'lier  life,  a  very  lim- 
ited education,  on  account  of  not  being  able 
to  iinderstand  the  English  language,  so  that 
the  success  with  which  he  has  met  is  due  to 
his  own  energy  and  business  tact.  In  about 
the  year  1 870,  he  began  ranning  a  restaurant, 
belonging  to  his  father,  in  the  city  of  Aki-on, 
in  which  business  he  continued  about  two 
years,  the  latter  half  of  the  second  yeai"  for 


^  (■ 


hL 


BOSTON    TOWNSHIP. 


891 


himself,  having  purchased  the  business  of 
his  father,  who  died  April  23,  1874,  since 
which  time  Elias  has  had  charge  of  the  large 
farm  contained  in  the  old  homestead,  in  addi- 
tion to  a  53-acre  lot  adjoining,  which  he  pur- 
chased a  few  years  ago.  He  has,  also,  in  con- 
nection with  his  large  farming  interests,  em- 
ployed men  as  blacksmiths  and  harness-mak- 
ers in  shops  on  his  own  farm,  and  extensively 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  furnishing 
from  his  own  land  timbers  fc-r  the  different 
coal  mines  in  Coventry  Township,  and,  in 
partnership  with  the  Swartz  brothers,  pur- 
chased several  acres  of  timber  land  near  Man- 
chester, Franklin  Township,  which  was  fur- 
nished in  ties  to  the  railroad  company.  In 
the  early  part  of  the  centennial  decade,  he  en- 
tered into  partnership  with  the  Motz  brothers, 
at  Uniontown,  in  the  tannery  business,  which 


they  continued  for  about  two  years,  when  they 
sold  the  stock  and  retired  from  the  business, 
retaining  the  real  estate,  which  they  hold 
jointly  at  the  present  time.  He  has  charge, 
on  the  old  homestead,  of  one  of  the  finest 
pleasure-grounds  in  Summit  Co.,  it  being 
finely  located  on  the  reservoir,  where  can  be 
found  the  best  of  boating  and  fishing,  and 
having  every  modern  convenience,  makes  it  a 
most  popular  summer  resort.  He  is  now 
building  a  store-room  on  his  farm  adjoining 
the  mines,  for  the  pvu'pose  of  supplying  the 
farmers  and  mining  trade.  He  was  married, 
Sept.  7,  1S75,  to  Alice  Stahl,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Catharine  (Sholley)  Stahl, 
formerly  of  the  city  of  Akron.  They  had 
three  children;  two  are  living — Dora  Belle 
and  Grace  Leona. 


BOSTON     TOWNSHIP. 


HIEAM  Y.  BRONSON  ;  Peninsula  ;  is  a 
son  of  Harmon  and  Molly  (Hickox)  Bron- 
&on,  who  were  natives  of  Wateibury.  Conn. 
Harmon  was  born  Dec.  18, 1774  ;  his  wife  Dec. 

17,  1777.     They  were  united  in  marriage  Dee. 

18,  1795,  and,  with  his  father's  famil}-,  came  to 
Ohio  in  1809.  Harmon  settled  in  Cleveland 
with  his  famil}',  wbile  his  father  went  on  to 
Cohimbia,  Lorain  Co.,  where  he  resided  until 
his  death  in  1816.  Harmon  Bronson  was  by 
trade  a  carpenter,  and  was  occupied  in  this 
business  during  his  residence  in  Cleveland,  the 
place  at  that  time  scarcely  meriting  the  name 
of  village.  Upon  the  breaking-out  of  the  war 
of  1812,  he  sent  his  wife  and  family  to  Connec- 
ticut, but  the}'  only  reached  a  town  in  New 
York  State,  however,  when  their  money  was 
exhausted,  and  she  remained  there  all  winter, 
working  in  a  hotel  ;  and,  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
she  took  a  presented  opportunity  to  ride  back 
to  Cleveland  in  a  lumber  wagon.  In  1815, 
Harmon  removed  to  Lorain  County,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming,  remaining  there  until  1821, 
and  then  returned  to  Cleveland.  He  remained 
there  but  a  short  time,  however,  moving  to 
Boston  Township  and  locating  at  Peninsula, 
where  the  remainder  of  his  days  were  passed. 
He  became  a  large  land-owner,  and  was  largely 


interested  in  developing  the  business  interests 
of  the  township.  He  erected  the  first  saw  and 
grist  mill  at  that  place,  which  he  successfully 
conducted  for  some  3'ears.  His  death  occurred 
upon  the  anniversary^  of  his  birth  and  mar- 
riage, Dec.  18,  1853.  His  wife  died  Feb.  18. 
1858.  Hiram  Y.  Bronson  was  born  in  Cleve- 
land in  1811,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 
Peninsula  in  1824,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
Upon  the  death  of  his  father,  he  succeeded  him 
in  his  milling  and  various  enterprises.  He  has 
been  an  active  participant  in  all  public  enter- 
prises ;  has  striven  to  promote  all  measures 
conducing  to  the  best  interests  of  the  com- 
munit}',  and  has  been  instrumental  in  securing 
for  Peninsula  such  advantages  as  will  last  as 
long  as  does  the  community.  He  has  served 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  as  Assistant  T'nited 
States  Internal  Revenue  Collector  for  four  years, 
and  as  Postmaster  for  eight  years.  He  is  now 
pleasantly  situated,  retired  from  active  life,  but 
alwa3s  finds  time  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to 
an}'  enterprise  which  tends  to  promote  the  wel- 
fare of  the  community  with  which  he  has  been 
so  long  identified.  To  the  fund  of  reminis- 
cences and  historical  facts  which  he  has  gath- 
ered during  his  life  of  nearly  7(1  3'ears,  the 
historian  of  Boston    Township   is   chiefly   in- 


j^ 


Al, 


892 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


debted  for  the  material  of  his  sketch.  Mr. 
Bronson  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1835,  to 
Miss  Ruth  L.  Ranney,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
daughter  to  Comfort  and  Betsey  (Hubbard) 
Ranney,  pioneers  of  Boston  Township,  a  more 
complete  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  else- 
where in  this  department.  Of  the  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bronson,  Lucy,  born  May 
1,  1838,  married  P.  H.  Dudley,  C.  E.,  Dec.  12, 
1871.  Mr.  Dudley  is  the  inventor  of  the  "  dyna- 
graph  " — a  car  so  constructed  that  by  passing 
over  a  road  he  can  give  an  accurate  chart, 
showing  its  exact  condition  as  to  the  rail,  road- 
bed, natui-al  resistance,  speed,  amount  of  coal 
and  water  used  by  engine,  grade,  etc.  This  is 
one  of  the  most  intricate  and  valuable  inven- 
tions of  modern  times.  Mr.  Dudley's  first  car 
was  constructed  for  the  Victorian  Grovernment 
for  the  railways  of  Australia.  He  is  now  con- 
stantly employed  in  examining  the  railroads  of 
this  country,  and  can  be  found  most  of  the 
time  with  his  family  in  his  car,  which  is  fitted 
out  with  elegant  appointments.  Mr.  Dudley  is 
also  the  inventor  of  an  electric  clock,  which  is 
making  a  sensation  in  scientific  circles.  Emily 
v.,  born  May  7,  1843.  was  married  to  Hon.  A. 
L.  Conger,  of  Akron,  Nov.  1,  1864.  Mr.  Conger 
is  one  of  Akron's  most  prominent  citizens,  of 
whom  an  extended  sketch  will  be  found  else- 
where in  this  work.  Harmon,  born  Aug.  15, 
1846,  has  traveled  extensively,  and  is  a  prom- 
ising young  business  man,  at  present  living  in 
Philadelphia,  engaged  in  business  connected 
with  the  electric  clock  of  Mr.  Dudley's  inven- 
tion. 

FREDERICK.  N  BOIES,  retired  farmer, 
Peninsula.  Perhaps  none  of  the  older  settlers 
of  the  township  have  passed  through  such  a 
varied  and  interesting  career  as  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  New  Hampshire 
in  1800,  and  remained  with  his  father,  who  was 
a  farmer,  until  he  was  17  years  of  age,  when  he 
engaged  in  lumbering  upon  the  St.  Croix  River 
for  three  years.  He  then  returned  home,  and 
for  a  year  engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade,  after- 
ward in  the  stock  business,  and  finally  in  lum- 
bering, which  he  continued  for  four  years,  and 
then,  after  a  few  months,  devoted  to  various 
occupations,  he  went  to  Portland,  Conn.,  and 
farmed  three  years.  While  there,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Elizabeth  Lewis,  who  was  born  in 
1805.  They  were  married  Jan.  5,  1830.  After 
his  marriage,  Mr.  B.  was  boss  teamster  in  the 


famous  freestone  quarries  of  Portland  for  three 
years.  In  the  fall  of  1834,  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Ohio,  and  bought  a  piece  of  land  in 
Northampton  Township,  remaining  there  three 
years,  when  he  removed  to  Stow  Township,  and 
started  a  blacksmith-shop,  which  he  conducted 
for  some  time,  bis  family  enjoying  the  superior 
school  advantages  of  that  township.  He  traded 
his  shop,  after  a  time,  for  80  acres  of  land,  upon 
which  he  remained  one  year,  and  then  bought 
and  located  upon  110  acres  of  land  in  Boston 
Township.  In  1849,  he  went  to  California,  l)ut 
returned  in  about  one  year,  and  resumed  farm- 
ing and  dairying.  One  day,  while  milking,  he 
was  stricken  with  paralysis,  from  which  be  par- 
tially recovered,  and,  exposing  himself,  caught 
cold,  which  resulted  in  the  loss  of  bis  eyesight. 
Since  June,  1876.  he  has  not  been  able  to  see  a 
ray  of  light.  Mentally,  Mr.  Boies  is  as  vigorous 
as  he  was  in  his  prime,  and  relates,  with  minute 
dates,  interesting  reminiscences  of  the  former 
days  of  his  busy  life.  Himself  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  be 
is  Senior  Warden.  They  are  now  living  in  Pe- 
ninsula, and  enjoj^  the  satisfaction  of  having 
raised  a  worth}-  family  of  children,  viz.,  Mrs. 
Ann  L.  Cole,  Peninsula,  Ohio  ;  Mrs.  Mary  Wor- 
thington,  who  died  in  Connecticut ;  Chai'les  E., 
Fred  W.,  Mrs.  Effie  A.  Worthington,  of  Portland, 
Conn.,  and  Helen,  who  died  at  the  age  of  14,  in 
Boston  Township. 

CHARLES  E.  BOIES  is  a  young  and  promis- 
ing business  man  of  Peninsula.  He  was  born  in 
Stow  Township,  in  1840.  At  about  the  age  of 
15,  he  went  to  Connecticut,  from  which  place  he 
took  passage  upon  a  coasting  vessel.  In  Au- 
gust, 1862,  be  enlisted  in  the  20th  Conn.  V.  I., 
and  was  in  active  service  during  all  the  rebellion, 
after  wliich  he  again  went  to  sea  for  a  year.  In 
the  fall  of  1867,  he  came  to  Peninsula,  and 
started  a  meat  market,  after  which  he  engaged 
upon  the  canal  a  year ;  and,  in  1872,  went  into 
partnership  with  bis  brother,  F.  W.  Boies,  who 
was  engaged  in  milling  at  Peninsula,  which 
business  they  operated  together  until  January, 
1880,  when  be  sold  out  to  bis  brother,  who 
afterward  disposed  of  the  business  to  George 
Thomas  &  Son,  with  whom  Mr.  Boies  is  now 
engaged.  He  was  married,  in  1868,  to  Miss 
Alice  A.  Warburton,  of  Northampton  Townsbip. 
They  have  two  children — Edith  M.  and  E.  Rice. 
Charles  is  now  serving  as  Township  Trustee, 
and  as  a  member  of  the  Council,  and  has  served 


"7]< 


-^ 


BOSTOI^    TOWNSHIP. 


893 


as  Constable  two  terms.  He  is  a  member  of 
Meridian  Sun  Lodge,  No.  266,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.  of 
Richfield. 

FRED  W.  BOIES  was  born  in  Stow  Township, 
Sept.  17,  1842,  and,  until  21  years  of  age,  was 
an  assistant  upon  his  father's  farm.  In  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  the  115th  0.  V.  I.,  and  served  for 
three  years  in  all  the  engagements  of  his  regi- 
ment. Upon  his  return  to  his  home,  he  engaged 
in  business  upon  the  canal,  and  followed  boat- 
ing for  himself  six  j-ears,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  time  he  engaged  at  farming  for  two  years, 
and  then,  with  his  brother  Charles,  followed 
milling,  at  which  he  devoted  his  time  exclusively 
up  to  February,  1881,  when  he  sold  out  to 
George  Thomas  &  Son.  He  is  a  young  man, 
possessing  good  business  qualifications,  and 
will  succeed  at  whatever  he  undertakes. 

FRANK  BUTLER,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Penin- 
sula ;  is  a  young  and  extensive  farmer  of  the 
township.  His  parents  are  Thomas  and  Catha- 
rine (Brennan)  Butler,  both  of  whom  are  natives 
of  Ireland.  The}'  emigrated  to  America,  and 
subsequently  settled,  in  1849,  upon  the  farm 
which  Frank  now  owns.  Frank  was  born  in 
Northampton  Township,  in  1851,  but  has  re 
sided  in  Boston  Township  since  the  removal  of 
his  parents  there,  being  engaged  in  farming  and 
lumbering.  He  now  owns  280  acres  of  land, 
which  he  previously  shared  in  partnership  with 
his  brother  John.  He  has  improved  the  place 
with  buildings,  and  has  the  farm  under  good 
cultivation.  He  is  an  industrious  and  deserv- 
ing yonng  man,  and  is  highly  respected  by  his 
fellow  townsmen.  John  Butler  was  born  in 
Northampton,  in  1848,  and  has  been  farming 
for  the  greater  portion  of  his  life.  His  health 
is  such  that  he  goes  to  the  Southern  States  to 
spend  the  winter  months,  but  tlie  remainder  of 
the  time  is  identified  with  Boston  Township  as 
one  of  its  most  respected  inhabitants. 

EDWARD  BLAKESLEY,  retired  farmer; 
Peninsula  ;  is  a  son  of  Edward  and  Rhoda  (Dag- 
gett) Blakesley.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Hartford,  Conn.;  his  mother,  of  Schenectady,  N. 
Y.,  where  they  were  married.  They  emigrated 
to  Ohio,  in  1835,  locating  in  Richfield  Town- 
ship, where  they  resided  for  many  years.  His 
father  was  an  extensive  land-owner,  owning 
land  in  Hinckley,  Granger,  Royalton  and  Brecks- 
ville  Townships.  He  died,  Jan.  14,  1876,  in 
Ro3'alton.  His  mother  died  at  his  home  in 
Peninsula,  Feb.  11,  1879,  at  the  advanced  age 


of  92  years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Onondaga  town  and  count}',  Jan.  11, 
1815,  and  has  been  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  his  entire  life.  He  commenced  farm- 
ing for  himself  in  Richfield  Township,  remain- 
ing there  nearl}'  nine  3'ears  ;  from  there  he  re- 
moved to  Boston  Township,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  has  now  disposed  of  his  land,  and 
is  living  in  retirement  in  Peninsula.  He  is 
naturall}'  endowed  with  a  genial  and  liberal 
spirit,  and  is  a  respected  and  progressive  citizen. 
Mr.  Blakesley  was  married  to  Miss  Ellen  Robin- 
son, of  Richfield,  in  1844  ;  they  had  three 
children,  but  one  of  whom  is  now  living — Ellen 
Tate.  His  wife  died  Feb.  14,  1857.  July  5, 
1879,  he  was  married  to  a  second  wife,  Mrs. 
Betsev  McBride,  widow  of  John  McBride. 

JOHN  CONGER  (deceased).  Job  and  Roby 
(Potter)  Conger,  were  married  in  Vermont,  and 
settled  upon  his  father's  farm,  at  St.  Albans. 
He  was  one  of  eleven  children,  all  of  whom 
were  Methodists  and  took  a  great  interest  in 
the  church.  His  father  is  believed  to  have 
been  the  progenitor  of  all  of  the  name  in  the 
LTnited  States.  He  was  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  she  of  Vermont.  To  them  was  born,  at 
St.  Albans,  Vt.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch — 
John  Conger — in  September,  1805,  who,  as 
soon  as  he  became  old  enough,  worked  upon 
the  farm  at  home,  and,  they  having  a  brick- 
yard, he  learned  to  manufacture  brick.  He  was 
married  to  Hannah  Reals,  a  daughter  of  Enoch 
and  Hannah  (Hurlburt)  Beals,  she  being  a  na- 
tive of  Massachusetts.  Her  father  was  a  farmer, 
and  lived  a  mile  and  a  half  from  St.  xilbans,  at 
which  place  he  and  his  wife  lived  and  died.  Of 
their  daughters,  but  one  other  than  Mrs.  Con- 
ger survives  ;  her  name  is  Mar}'  Ann  Beals, 
and  her  home  near  Avon,  in  Wisconsin.  Mrs. 
John  Conger  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  in 
1805.  After  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Conger, 
they  remained  in  St.  Albans  five  years,  where 
he  was  employed  on  the  farm  and  in  the  brick- 
yard. In  1833,  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  for  one 
season  clerked  at  Cleveland  for  one  Ira  Jewell, 
when  he  was'  joined  by  his  family,  wliich  then 
consisted  of  his  wife  and  two  children — Sidney 
P.  and  George  S.,  an  infant,  who  died  when 
3  years  of  age.  Subsequently,  they  moved  to 
Boston,  Ohio,  where,  in  company  with  one  Silas 
Eaton,  he  established  a  yard  for  the  manufacture 
of  brick,  at  which  occupation  they  continued 
for  some  time.     In  1844,  Mr.  Conger  went  into 


:^ 


3  L>^ 


804 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


partnership  with  one  Erastus  Jackson,  with 
whom  he  was  associated  until  the  time  of  his 
deatli,  and  wiio  was,  from  tlie  date  of  their  co- 
partnersliip,  his  fast  friend.  Seven  children 
were  born  to  him,  viz.,  Sidney  P.,  Sandford  L., 
George  S.,  John  C.,  Arthur  L.,  and  Lucy  Cole, 
wife  of  Dr.  A.  M.  Cole,  of  Peninsula.  He  was 
Postmaster  under  Polk  and  Pierce  ;  was  also 
Constable.  Trustee,  and  frequently  called  upon 
in  settlement  of  estates  and  arbitration  of  dif- 
ferences between  parties.  He  was  Captain  of 
Artiller3',  in  Vermont,  and  was  deeply  interested 
in  the  militia  service  in  his  adopted  State.  He 
died  Nov.  30,  1 853. 

SIDNEY  P.  CONGER,  deceased  ;  was  born 
in  Vermont  in  1829,  and  came  with  his  parents 
when  the}'  removed  to  Boston  Township,  where 
his  early  life  was  passed.  He  was  married 
Nov.  6,  1853,  to  Miss  Bridget  I.  Codey,  of  Bos- 
ton Township  ;  she  died  in  Januarv  1861,  leav- 
ing two  children — Lucy  Jeanette  Warburton, 
living  in  Peninsula,  and  Sidney  John,  a  resi- 
dent of  Akron.  He  married  a  second  wife,. 
Miss  Rose  Mcllwain,  of  Boston  Townsliip, 
April  10,  1862.  Mr.  Conger  was  a  prominent 
business  man  of  the  township,  engaged  in  vari- 
ous enterprises.  He  was  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  brick  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
also  owned  180  acres  of  land  which  he  operat- 
ed, making  a  specialty  of  dairying.  He  served 
one  term  as  County  Commissioner,  and  held 
various  township  offices  of  trust.  He  was  a 
member  of  Meridian  Sun  Lodge,  No.  266,  A.,  F. 
&  A.  M.  His  death  occurred  in  August,  1874, 
in  his  life's  prime,  and  was  a  severe  blow  to 
the  business  interests  of  Boston.  Mrs.  Conger 
is  living  in  Boston  Village  ;  she  has  three  chil- 
dren living — George  C,  Mary  Belle  and  Allie 
Blanche. 

JOHN  C.  CONGER,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Penin- 
sula;  was  born  in  Boston  Township  in  1835. 
His  early  days  were  passed  engaged  in  home 
duties,  receiving  a  good  district-school  educa- 
tion. He  first  left  home  and  was  gone  one 
season  with  Lieut.  Reynolds  upon  a  topo- 
graphical surve}'  of  the  lakes.  Returning  to 
Boston  Township,  he  engaged  at  farming  and 
brick-making  until  the  breaking-out  of  the 
war,  when  he  enlisted  Aug.  16,  1861,  in  Co.  A. 
2d  0.  V.  C,  and  was  in  active  service  until 
April  8,  1863.  He  returned  to  Boston  Town- 
ship and  engaged  in  farming,  at  which  he  has 
continued  up  to  the  present  time.     He  has  135 


acres  of  land,  commandingl}-  located  a  short 
distance  from  Peninsula,  and  well  improved. 
As  a  citizen,  Mr.  Conger  ranks  as  one  of  the 
most  intelligent  and  honorable.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  September  1867,  to  Miss  Eunice  M. 
Stillman,  who  was  born  in  Rhode  Island  in 
1844.  The}'  have  been  blessed  with  five  chil- 
dren—Fanny S.,  Luen  J.,  Elmer  B.,  Pamela 
P.  and  Mary  G.  Mr.  Conger  has  served  as 
Township  Clerk  and  is  a  member  of  Meridian 
Sun  Lodge,  No.  266,  and  of  Summit  Chapter  of 
Twinsburg  A.,  F.  '&  A.  M. 

A.  M.  COLE,  merchant.  Peninsula  ;  is 
a  son  of  Edmund  H.  and  Ann  L.  (Boies) 
Cole.  Edmund  H.  Cole  was  born  in  Niagara 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1824,  and  came  with  his  parents 
to  Ohio  at  the  age  of  8  years.  His  ventures 
for  himself  commenced  at  an  early  age,  first 
engaging  in  school-teaching,  and  then  buying 
and  shipping  stock.  In  1856,  he  commenced 
his  mercantile  career,  at  which  he  continued 
until  his  death.  He  first  associated  himself 
with  F.  &  T.  Wood,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Wood,  Cole  &  Co.,  continuing  until  1863,  when 
he  bought  out  his  partners  and  continued  in 
business  alone  in  the  same  localit}',  which  he 
carried  on  until  his  death,  Jan.  11,  1876.  He 
was  a  man  prominent  in  all  objects  of  charity, 
enterprising  in  all  movements  tending  to  the 
growth,  the  advantages  and  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity, foremost  in  educational  and  township 
affairs,  and  taking  a  leading  interest  in  agri- 
cultural fairs,  serving  as  Marshal  at  the  fairs 
in  Akron  each  year.  Throughout  the  excite- 
ment prevalent  during  the  war,  he  was  found 
most  loyal  and  patriotic,  aiding  with  all  the 
means  within  his  power  to  protect  and  save 
the  Union.  He  opened  in  1868,  the  stone 
quarry  south  of  the  town  to  give  employment 
to  laboring  men,  and  was  one  of  the  incor- 
porators of  the  Put-in-Bay  Grape  and  Wine 
Co.,  which  he  was  successfully  connected  with 
for  several  years.  His  death  was  a  severe  loss 
to  the  business  interests  of  Peninsula  and  vi- 
cinity. He  was  married  in  1848,  to  Miss  Ann 
L.  Boies,  daughter  of  Frederick  N.  Boies,  of 
Peninsula.  Mrs.  Cole  is  living  in  Peninsula, 
educating  her  younger  children.  Four  chil- 
dren now  living  were  the  result  of  this  mar- 
riage—A. M.,  H.  W.,  Nellie  and  Fred. 

Dr.  a.  M.  Cole  was  born  in  Everett,  July  6, 
1850.  His  education  was  common  school  and 
Commercial  College.     For  several  years  he  was 


*:^. 


'K. 


BOSTON    TOWNSHIP. 


895 


assistant  in  his  father's  store.  He  then  entered 
upon  the  study  and  practice  of  medicine.  He 
commenced  his  studies  in  the  office  of  Dr. 
Morton,  of  Peninsula,  and  finished  with  Dr. 
Pixley,  who  was  at  that  time  in  practice 
at  Cleveland.  He  graduated  in  the  IMed- 
ical  Department  of  Wooster  University,  of 
Cleveland,  in  1873-74  ;  attended  two  courses 
of  lectures  in  Cleveland,  and  one  course  at  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  New 
York.  He  then  returned  to  Peninsula  and  was 
urged  to  remain  there  by  his  father,  who  was 
in  ill  health.  He  practiced  there  two  years, 
the  last  year  in  company  with  Dr.  Pixley. 
Upon  the  death  of  his  father,  he  entered  upon 
a  mercantile  career,  at  which  he  is  now  engaged. 
In  1879,  in  company  with  his  brother,  H.  W. 
Cole,  who  conducted  the  business  there^  he 
opened  a  store  in  Deerfield,  Portage  Co.,  which 
was  carried  on  to  a  successful  termination,  by 
the  disposal  of  the  stock.  His  brother  then 
came  to  Peninsula  and  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  him  under  the  firm  name  of  Dr.  A. 
M.  Cole  &  Bro.  They  carry  a  large  and  well- 
selected  stock  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  drugs, 
medicines,  etc.,  and  have  built  up  a  large  and 
still  increasing  trade.  Dr.  Cole,  although  not 
in  active  practice,  has  an  office  in  his  store,  and 
does  a  good  office  business.  He  is  a  prominent 
Mason,  and  takes  a  leading  interest  in  all  the 
political  issues  of  the  day.  He  has  served  as 
School  Director  two  years,  and  has  been  Treas- 
urer of  the  School  Fund  for  three  years.  He 
is  an  advocate  of  temperance,  and  is  ready  to 
aid  any  movement  for  the  advancement  of  the 
business,  social  and  intellectual  good  of  the 
community.  He  is  a  director  and  one  of  the 
principal  ownei's  of  the  ■'  Tri-Union  Telegraph 
Co.,"  which  runs  from  Chagrin  Falls  to  Medina, 
and  which  is  a  good  paying  investment.  Mr. 
Cole  was  united  in  marriage  in  1876,  to  Mrs. 
Luc}'  J.  Truscott,  of  Cleveland,  a  widow  with 
two  children — Harr}'  and  Jessie.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cole  have  one  child — Sam. 

H.  W.  Cole  was  born  in  Peninsula  in  1857, 
received  a  good  education,  and  for  some  time 
acted  as  a  commercial  traveler  from  Cleveland. 
He  is  now  the  junior  partner  of  the  firm,  and 
brings  to  the  business  good  commercial  at- 
tributes. 

H.  H.  CASSIDY,  grocer.  Peninsula ;  was 
born  in  Boston  Township  in  1850.  His  par- 
ents are  Patrick  and    Margaret  Cassid}^,  who 


located  in  the  township  in  1820,  where  they 
still  reside.  Our  subject  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  at  the  age  of  18  ;  he  sold  osage- 
orange  hedge  for  two  years,  and  then  engaged 
in  the  lightning-rod  business  for  five  years. 
He  next  engaged  at  farming  for  two  years,  and 
still  owns,  with  his  brother  James,  a  farm  of 
170  acres  in  the  township.  In  December,  1880, 
he  in  connection  with  John  Ilusseil  opened  a 
grocery  store  in  Peninsula,  and  are  now  en- 
gaged in  trade  there  under  the  firm  name  of 
Cassidy  &  Russell.  Mr.  Cassidy  also  owns 
and  is  operating  a  saw-mill  in  the  village.  He 
is  now  serving  the  third  year  as  Township 
Trustee,  and  is  a  pushing  and  enterprising 
business  man.  He  was  married  in  1877,  to 
Miss  Anna  Cody,  of  Boston  Township.  They 
have  one  child — Archimedes. 

ANDREW  R.  CASSIDY,  hotel.  Peninsula; 
was  born  in  Boston  Township  in  1844,  and  is  a 
sou  of  Patrick  and  Margaret  Cassidy  ;  he  at- 
tended school  until  he  became  16  years  of  age, 
after  which  he  engaged  for  several  years  in 
teaching — in  all  about  eighteen  terms — in  dif- 
ferent portions  of  the  county  ;  in  1866,  he 
started  for  the  West  and  was  gone  about  eight 
months,  visiting  many  different  localities  ;  upon 
his  return  home,  he  taught  school  one  term  in 
Hudson  ;  he  then  engaged  in  farming  in  Boston 
Township,  at  which  he  continued  about  seven 
years,  still  owning  the  farm  ;  in  1875,  he  rented 
the  hotel  where  he  is  now  living,  in  Peninsula, 
and,  in  1878,  bought  the  property,  which  he  has 
carried  on  up  to  the  present  time,  but  devoting 
most  of  his  time  to  cheese  and  butter  making, 
at  which  he  has  been  largely  engaged  for  the 
past  five  years  ;  he  owns  one  factory  and  rents 
two  others,  and,  during  the  season  of  about 
eight  months  yearly,  makes  upon  an  average 
1,700  pounds  of  cheese  and  250  pounds  of  but- 
ter daily  ;  two  of  these  factories  are  located  in 
Boston,  and  one  in  Richfield  Township.  Mr 
Cassidy  has  served  the  township  as  Assessor 
for  seven  years,  as  Township  Clerk  for  three 
years,  and  the  past  year  as  Real  Estate  Asses- 
sor. He  was  married  in  1869,  to  Miss  Agnes 
Doherty,  of  Cleveland  ;  they  have  three  chil- 
dren— Grace  E.,  Helen  M.  and  Andrew  H. 

CHARLES  FISH,  farmer;  P.  0.  Boston. 
The  Fish  brothers,  Charles  and  Buel,  own  362 
acres  of  land  in  Boston  Township,  which  they 
are  rapidly  clearing  and  improving  ;  at  the 
time  of  its  purchase,  a  few  years  ago,  it  was 


^  ^ 

TT^ 


896 


BJOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


covered  with  underbrush  and  timber  ;  now  they 
have  over  50  acres  in  a  good  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, and,  being  young  and  industrious  men, 
they  will  in  a  few  years  have  a  large  portion  in 
cleared  and  fertile  fields.  Charles  was  born 
in  Cuyahoga  Co.  in  1842  ;  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Campbell  in  1865  ;  they  have  two 
children — Willis  and  Millie.  Charles  has  asso- 
ciated with  him  in  his  farming  enterprise,  a 
cousin — Deming  B.  Pish — who  was  born  in  Cuy- 
ahoga Co.  in  1846,  and  is  an  enterprising  and 
industrious  3'oung  man.  Buel  Fish  was  born 
in  Cuyahoga  Co.  in  1847  ;  he  was  united  in 
marriage,  in  1868,  to  Miss  Lela  HoUister,  of 
Cu3-ahoga  Co.;  they  have  two  children — Nellie 
and  Lida.  Charles  and  Deming  were  both  vol- 
unteers in  the  late  war,  serving  long  and  faith- 
fully in  the  defense  of  their  country  ;  Charles  was 
a  member  of  the  7th  Ky.  V.  C,  and  served  over 
three  years  ;  Deming  was  a  member  of  the  52d 
0.  V.  I.,  and  also  served  three  years,  during 
which  time  he  was  once  a  prisoner   for  five 

WGGks 

A.  W.  HANCOCK,  farmer  ;  P.  (3.  Peninsula ; 
was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1832,  and  came 
to  Ohio  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Rich- 
field Township,  their  sketch  appearing  in  that 
township  history.  He  passed  his  early  days 
upon  the  farm  until  he  became  20  years  old, 
when  he  engaged  in  various  occupations — 
farming,  droving,  etc.,  until  1857,  when  he  was 
married  to  Miss  L^dia  M.  Humphrey,  who 
is  a  daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Almira  (Waite) 
Humphrey  ;  her  father  was  born  in  Connecticut 
in  1807  ;  her  mother  in  Massachusetts  in  1809. 
Her  father  came  with  his  parents  to  Twinsburg 
at  an  early  day.  He  was  a  lawyer  bj'  profes- 
sion, and,  after  his  mari'iage,  resided  a  number 
of  years  in  Twinsburg,  engaged  at  his  profes- 
sion, subsequently  removing  to  Boston  Town- 
ship, where  he  bought  a  farm,  dividing  his  time 
between  the  two  vocations.  He  died  in  1877  ; 
her  mother  is  still  living  in  the  township,  upon 
her  fiirm.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  H.  worked 
upon  his  father-in-law's  farm  for  two  years,  and 
then  enlisted  in  the  64th  0.  V.  I.,  Co.  G.  He 
was  in  active  service  all  through  the  war,  and 
rose  from  a  private,  through  all  the  different 
grades  of  merit,  to  that  of  Major,  as  which  he 
was  mustered  out  in  1865  ;  his  regiment  par- 
ticipated in  a  great  many  severe  battles — Stone 
River,  Chickamauga,  Pittsburg  Landing,  Nash- 
ville, and  the  siege  of  Atlanta  being  the  most 


memorable.  Through  them  all  he  passed,  and 
only  received  a  slight  wound  in  the  leg  at 
Chickamauga.  Our  space  forbids  an  extended 
notice  of  his  military  career,  and  suffice  it  to 
say  that  his  duty  to  his  country  was  performed 
most  honorably.  After  his  return  home  he 
removed  to  Cleveland,  where,  for  four  years,  he 
was  engaged  in  training  horses  upon  the  Cleve- 
land Driving  Park.  He  then  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  American  Express  Company  as 
messenger,  and  had  the  route  from  Cleveland 
j  to  Erie  for  a  short  time,  after  which  he  acted  as 
their  agent  at  Vernon,  Ohio  ;  from  there  going 
to  Mansfield,  being  the  messenger  from  thereto 
Toledo  for  two  years,  and  from  Cleveland  to 
Columbus  four  years.  In  1877,  he  returned  to 
Boston  Township,  where  he  has  since  resided, 
engaging  in  farming.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hancock 
have  two  children — Sylvia  E.  and  Harry  H. 

ERASTUS  JACKSON  ;  James  Jackson, 
a  native  of  New  York,  was  born  near 
King's  Bridge,  now  New  York  City,  and,  in  A. 
D.  1800,  he  went  to  (then)  Hollwell,  C.  W., 
where,  eight  ^^ears  after,  he  married  one  Celia 
Whitney,  who  was  visiting  her  sister,  a  Mrs. 
Palmer,  at  that  place.  Miss  Whitney  was  a 
native  of  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.  Her  mother 
was  a  near  neighbor  and  acquaintance  of  Israel 
Putnam,  and,  previous  to  her  death,  could  re- 
member many  events  which  have  since  become 
matter  of  history.  Two  years  after  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Jackson  and  Miss  Whitney,  they 
moved  to  New  York  State,  settling  where 
Brockpoi't,  N.  Y.,  now  is.  The  same  year,  1810, 
the  subject  of  these  lines  was  born  to  them. 
Mrs.  Whitney  Jackson  died  in  1827,  leaving 
eight  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Milina  McBride, 
of  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  is  the  only  one  living  ex- 
cept our  subject.  James  Jackson,  of  Kalama- 
zoo, Mich.,  Mrs.  E.  Gardner  and  Willett  Jackson, 
Brockport,  N.  Y.,  are  now  living.  Mr.  E.  Jack- 
son passed  his  minority  on  the  farm.  In  1832, 
he  started  Westward  for  the  purpose  of  paying 
a  visit  to  his  aunt,  Mrs.  Palmer,  who  had  moved 
to  Marietta,  Ohio,  stopping  on  his  way  at  Bos- 
ton, Ohio,  where  he  clerked  in  a  grocer}^  one 
summer  ;  the  ravages  of  cholei'a,  and  the  con- 
sequent stagnation  of  business,  inducing  him  to 
discontinue  the  clerkship,  when  he  made  the 
visit  to  jNIarietta,  and  returned  to  his  native 
State,  where,  the  following  winter,  he  began 
school-teaching,  which,  in  connection  with  other 
vocations,  he  followed  until  1837,  when  he  re- 


^ 


BOSTON    TOWNSHIP. 


897 


turned  to  Boston.  At  the  ''  Lock  "  in  Boston, 
be  clerked  in  a  grocery,  teaching  school  the 
first  winter,  and  the  following  spring  he  went 
into  business  at  that  place  for  himself,  continu- 
ing for  four  years,  when  he  started  a  furnace  at 
the  same  place,  which  now  is  existent  at  Hinck- 
le}' ;  he  conducted  its  business  about  two  3'ears, 
when,  in  1844,  in  partnership  with  Mr.  John 
Conger,  he  went  into  the  brick  business.  They 
manufactured  the  bricks  for  all  the  first  brick 
buildings  of  Akron,  man}'  of  which  are  stand- 
ing, and  among  which  may  be  mentioned 
the  Empire  House,  P.  D.  Hall's,  Baldwin's, 
Exchange,  Gardner  &  Hanscome's,  M.  W. 
Haney,  William  Upson's,  and  Perkins  & 
Cumming's  Block.  During  their  partnership, 
they  invested  their  mone}'  in  land — some  of 
their  purchases  being  169  acres,  for  which  they 
paid  in  bricks,  which  the}'  sent  to  Cleveland, 
134  acres  of  Sheldon  C.  Leavitt,  where  the  Con- 
ger homestead  now  is  ;  McBride's  farm  of  150 
acres,  and  409  acres  from  the  C,  C,  C.  &  I.  R.  R. 
Co.,  west  of  Boston  Village,  Ohio.  By  putting 
their  money  directly  into  land  they  made  a  sure, 
steady  progress  toward  affluence.  His  partner, 
Mr.  Conger,  died  on  Nov.  30,  1853,  and,  for  two 
years,  he  conducted  the  business  in  partnership 
with  the  sons  of  the  deceased,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  withdrew  and  commenced  farm- 
ing, which  occupation  he  has  since  followed. 
Commencing  in  life  as  a  poor  clerk  he  has 
grown  to  be  one  of  the  wealthiest  land-owners 
in  the  township,  and  his  success  is  due  to  his 
own  energy,  and  perseverance.  He  has  served 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  about  twelve  years, 
as  Township  Clerk  five  years,  and,  for  some  time, 
as  Township  Treasurer.  He  was  Postmaster  of 
Boston  from  1848  to  1852,  and  is  present  Post- 
master of  Peninsula,  having  held  the  position 
since  Hayes'  administration.  On  June,  1854, 
he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Conger,  widow  of  his 
former  partner. 

HENRY  KERST,  coal  dealer,  Peninsula; 
was  born  in  Germany  in  1840  ;  his  parents 
emigrated  to  x\merica  in  1854,  and  first  settled 
in  Cleveland,  remaining  their  one  3'ear,  and  in 
1855,  removed  to  Boston  Township,  remaining 
there  until  their  deaths.  Henry  began  life  as 
a  boatman  upon  the  canal,  and  finally,  in 
partnership  with  another  gentleman,  bought  a 
boat  and  began  business  for  himself;  he  sub- 
sequently disposed  of  his  share  of  the  boat 
and   bought    one    alone,   continuing    in    that 


business  for  a  number  of  years  ;  he  began  his 
coal  operations  b}'  bringing  up  a  boat  load  in 
the  fall  and  selling  it  during  the  winter  :  in 
1880,  he  disposed  of  his  boat,  and  started  a 
coal-yard  in  Peninsula,  at  which  he  is  now  en- 
gaged. He  was  married  Dec.  25,  1879,  to  Mrs. 
Esther  Noah,  of  Boston  ;  she  has  two  children 
— Andrew  and  George.  Mr.  Kerst  is  a  popular 
and  deserving  citizen  with  progi'essive  business 
habits  ;  he  is  a  member  of  Hudson  Lodge,  No. 
510,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. 

LEWIS  LEMOIN,  station  agent  Valley 
R.  R.,  Peninsula  ;  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Priscilla  (Pray)  Lemoin  ;  his  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  Massachusetts,  and  his  mother  of  Con- 
necticut. The}'  were  married  in  Pittsfield, 
Mass.,  in  1821,  and  in  1827,  they  emigrated  to 
Ohio,  locating  first  in  Medina  Co.,  but  only  re- 
mained there  one  year,  when  the}'  removed  to 
Massillon,  where  for  ten  years  he  was  engaged 
in  the  tailor  and  clothier  business  with  Charles 
Skinner  ;  about  1838,  he  reihoved  to  Akron, 
and  worked  at  the  trade,  for  Jacob  Allen,  for 
two  years,  when  he  removed  to  Brandywine, 
Northfield  Township,  when  for  eight  years  he 
was  employed  in  a  woolen-mill ;  he  has  served 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  as  Township  Trustee, 
and  has  always  been  prominent  in  educational 
affairs,  and  in  all  movements  toward  the  ad- 
vancement of  humanity.  He  is  now  living 
with  his  son  at  Macedonia,  and  is  in  the  87th 
year  of  his  age.  His  wife  died  in  the  summer 
of  1876.  Lewis  was  born  in  Pittsfield,  Mass., 
Dec.  24,  1822  ;  when  18  years  old,  he  com- 
menced driving  on  the  canal,  and  passed 
through  the  several  gradations  from  driver  to 
packet  Captain,  his  experience  in  that  line 
covering  about  twelve  years  ;  he  next  became 
connected  with  the  railroad  business,  and  com- 
mencing at  Cuyahoga  Falls  with  the  C.  &  Mt. 
V.  R.  R.  Co.  as  switchman,  going  thence  to 
Clinton  as  station  agent,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  and  thence  to  Macedonia,  where, 
with  the  C.  &  P.  R.  R.  Co.,  he  served  seventeen 
years  as  station  agent ;  he  was  next  employed 
two  years  at  Columbus,  as  night  watchman  of 
tiie  Treasury  ;  he  is  at  present  in  the  employ 
of  the  V.  R.  R.  Co.  as  station  agent  for  Boston 
and  Peninsula.  Mr.  Lemoin  was  united  in 
marriage,  Feb.  28,  1853,  to  Miss  Lucinda  Post, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  A.  (Clark)  Post, 
who  were  natives  of  Connecticut  and  pioneers 
of  Boston  Township.     Mr.   Post  came  to  the 


<a_ 


898 


BIOGR APHICAI.    SKETCHE.S : 


township  in  1804,  but  shortly  afterward  re- 
turned to  Connecticut  and  was  married  ;  return- 
ing with  his  wife,  he  built  the  ftrst  log  cabin  in 
the  township,  and  cleared  the  first  10  acres  of 
land  ;  he  served  through  the  war  of  1812,  his 
wife  remaining  in  the  township  alone,  sur- 
rounded by  dangers  of  almost  every  description, 
as  Indians  and  wild  beasts  were  numerous  ; 
however,  she  passed  safel}'  through  all,  and, 
with  her  husband,  lived  through  the  various 
changes  of  pioneer  life  to  the  days  of  modern 
improvements  ;  she  died  in  October,  1859  ;  her 
husband  survived  her  several  years  ;  he  served 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  was  a  progi'essive 
and  respected  citizen  ;  he  was  finally  killed  by 
the  cars,  Jul}-  4,  1865,  at  Macedonia,  while  on 
a  visit  to  his  daughter.  Mrs.  Lemoin  was  born 
in  Boston  Township,  Jan.  11,  1827.  They  have 
four  children,  viz.  :  Theodore,  now  station  agent 
at  Macedonia ;  Lew  D.,  S3dvia  E.  and  Dollie  0. 
Mr.  Lemoin  served  Northfield  Township  four 
years  as  clerk  ;  he  is  a  prominent  Mason,  being 
a  member  of  Hudson  Lodge,  No.  510,  and 
Akron  Commandery,  No.  25  ;  he  is  P.  H.  P.  of 
Summit  Chapter,  and  P.  M.  of  Hudson  Lodge. 

HIRAM  LEE,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Peninsula ;  is 
a  son  of  Hiram  and  Ann  Lee,  who  came  to 
Boston  Township  in  1861.  Hiram  has  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  a  farmer  from  the  age 
of  16  years  up  to  the  present  writing,  and  is 
considered  one  of  the  best,  most  practical  and 
most  industrious  farmers  of  the  township.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  in  December,  1865,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Gillsou,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  John  H.  and  Hannah  (Schofield)  Gillson. 
He  was  a  native  of  England,  his  wife  of  New 
York.  They  were  married  in  Ohio,  and  came 
to  Boston  Township  in  1841.  Mr.  Gillson  set- 
tled in  the  southern  portion  of  the  township, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred Feb.  1,  1877.  His  wife  still  resides 
upon  the  farm,  which  consists  of  116  acres  of 
finely  located  and  well  drained  land,  and  is  one 
of  the  best  cultivated  and  improved  farms  in 
the  township,  being  conducted  by  Mr.  Lee. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lee  have  four  children — Herbert 
G.,  Parker  A.,  Corda  31.  and  Edwin  H.  He  is 
one  of  the  enterprising  and  progi'essive  spirits 
of  the  township,  and  is  a  deserving  and  re- 
spectable citizen. 

VOLNEY  MILLER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Hud- 
son ;  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Sally  (Ozmun) 
Miller.     Samuel   Miller    was   born    in  Orange 


Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  his  wife  in  Tompkins  Co.,  where 
they  were  married.  Thej'  were  pioneers  of 
Boston  Township,  locating  there  in  1810,  upon 
the  State  road,  where  he  purchased  150  acres 
of  unimproved  land,  and  where  for  some  3'ears 
the}'  resided,  their  lives  being  replete  with  the 
toil  and  hardships  to  which  the  "  advance 
guards  "  of  the  army  of  civilization  are  sub- 
ject. They  next  removed  to  Hudson  Town- 
ship, disposing  of  part  of  his  farming  interests 
in  Boston.  Here  he  resided  for  twenty-five 
years,  engaged  in  farming,  and  then  removed 
to  Michigan,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  77, 
his  wife  having  died  in  Summit  County  many 
years  previous.  Volney  is  the  only  child  of 
this  union  living.  He  was  born  in  Boston 
Township  July  20,  1811,  and  has  been  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  for  the  most  of  his 
life.  He  has,  with  the  exception  of  three 
3^ears'  residence  in  Hudson,  lived  at  the  old 
homestead,  where  his  parents  first  settled. 
His  property  now  consists  of  314  acres  of 
land,  a  good  portion  of  which  is  improved. 
He  has  improved  the  farm  since  it  came  into 
his  possession  with  a  fine  brick  residence  and 
in  commodious  outbuildings  until  it  is  a  most 
desirable  home.  Mr.  Miller  has  served  the 
township  as  Trustee  and  Constable.  In  educa- 
tion and  its  interests,  he  has  always  been  for- 
ward, and  as  a  citizen  is  respected  and  trusted. 
He  was  united  in  marriage,  June  4,  1835,  to 
Miss  Susan  Thompson,  a  daughter  of  Abram 
Thompson,  one  of  Hudson's  first  settlers, 
where  she  was  born  June  3,  1813.  They  have 
had  two  children — Louisa  S.,  who  died  at 
home,  and  Virgil  T.,  who  resides  with  his  par- 
ents upon  the  old  homestead.  He  was  mar- 
ried, July  3,  1862,  to  Miss  Helen  S.  Danforth, 
of  Hudson  Township.  She  has  borne  him 
three  children,  viz.,  Millie  L.,  Minnie  M.  and 
Ora  V. 

D.  McBRIDE,  butcher.  Peninsula  ;  is  a  son 
of  James  A.  McBride.  who  was  born  in 
Youngstown,  Ohio,  in  1816.  He  came  with 
his  parents  to  Boston  Township  at  an  early 
day,  and  has  been  a  resident  there  since.  He 
began  life  by  working  out  by  the  month,  as  the 
death  of  his  father  left  a  large  family.  He 
then  worked  on  the  canal  about  two  3'ears,  and 
then  started  a  groceiy  at  Boston  with  one  Mr. 
E.  Jackson,  which  they  run  for  several  years. 
He  married,  in  1842,  Miss  Melina  Jackson,  sis- 
ter of  his  partner.     She  was  born  in  Brock- 


BOSTON    TOWNSHIP 


fki^ 


port,  N.  Y.,  in  1818.  Thej-  are  now  living  in 
Peninsula,  where  Mr.  McBride  is  engaged  in 
boat-building.  D.  McBride  was  born  in  Bos- 
ton Township  in  IS-IG.  He  first  began  life  for 
himself  as  a  butcher,  in  1872,  at  Peninsula, 
where  he  has  since  successfully  conducted  the 
business.  He  runs  a  wagon  through  the  coun- 
tr}'  during  the  summer  months.  He  erected  a 
building  in  1875,  in  Peninsula,  which  is  one  of 
the  finest  business  buildings  in  the  town.  A 
lower  storeroom  he  now  rents  to  W.  W.  Whit- 
ing for  stoves,  hardware,  etc,  and  occupies  the 
upper  room  himself,  which  is  admirably  fur- 
nished, for  his  business.  Mr.  McBride  has  a  fine 
commencement  for  a  young  man,  all  the  result 
of  his  energy  and  business  qualifications.  He 
has  been  Corporation  Marshal,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent serving  as  Councilman.  He  was  united  in 
marriage,  in  1872,  to  Miss  Lucy  Fitts,  daugh- 
ter of  Roswell  Fitts,  an  old  and  respectable 
citizen  of  the  township.  They  have  one  child 
— Chrissie. 

JAMES  A.  McBRlDE,  boat-builder,  Penin- 
sula ;  was  born  in  Youngstown,  Ohio,  in  1816. 
He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Agnes  (Duncan) 
McBride,  who  were  early  residents  of  Boston 
Township,  coming  there  about  1822.  His 
father  was  by  trade  a  millwright,  and  built, 
for  the  Wallace  famil}',  the  Brandvwine  grist 
and  flouring  mill,  one  of  the  pioneer  industries 
of  Summit  Co.  Wm.  McBride  died  in  Boston 
Township,  about  1829  ;  his  wife  lived  to  be 
about  65  years  of  age.  James  A.  McBride  has 
been  a  resident  of  Boston  Township  the  greater 
part  of  his  life,  engaged  in  different  occupa- 
tions, but  has  devoted  the  major  part  to  boat- 
building and  repairing.  For  several  years,  he 
was  in  partnership  with  Erastus  Jackson,  Esq., 
in  the  grocery  trade,  at  Boston,  and  also  em- 
barked in  an  edge-tool  manufactor3",  at  Boston, 
for  several  years.  He  removed  to  Peninsula  in 
1861,  where  he  has  since  resided,  and  has  been 
working  at  his  trade.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Melina  Jackson,  sister  of  E.  Jackson  ;  she  is  a 
native  of  Brockport,  N.  Y.  The  members  of 
this  family  now  living  are  Harriet,  Mott, 
Duncan,  James  and  John,  all  living  in  Boston 
Township.  Mr.  McBride  has  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Corporation  Council  for  two  or  three 
3'ears.  His  gi-andfather,  James  Duncan,  a 
Presb3'terian  clergyman,  was  one  of  the  earliest 
writers  against  slavery,  and  was  the  author  of  a 
book  which  was  published  many  years  before 


the  war,  and  awakened  a  great  interest  for  the 

cause. 

O.J.  MOTT,  blacksmith.  Peninsula;  was  born 
in  Franklin,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1841.  He 
commenced  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade  with 
L.  Beei-s,  at  Peninsula,  Ohio,  when  he  was  16 
3ears  of  age.  He  remained  with  him  for  four 
years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  en- 
listed in  the  2d  0.  V.  C,  and  was  in  the 
service  for  more  than  three  years.  Upon  his 
return  to  Peninsula,  he  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  his  former  employer,  L.  Beers,  which 
continued  for  ten  years.  In  1875,  he  erected 
the  large  and  commodious  shop  where  he  is 
now  located,  and  where  he  is  doing  a  lucrative 
and  leading  business.  Mr.  Mott  is  a  skilled 
workman,  and  one  of  Peninsula's  representative 
and  honored  men.  He  has  served  the  town- 
ship as  Treasurer  for  four  years,  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Corporation  Council  several 
times.  He  was  married  in  1868,  to  Miss  Phoebe 
McArthur,  who  died  in  June,  1879,  leaving 
four  children — Arthur,  Sylvia,  Jessie  and  Le 
G-rand.  He  was  united  to  a  second  wife.  Miss 
Marv  Lightfoot,  in  June,  1880. 

FRANKLIN  OZMUN,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Hud- 
son ;  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Maria  (Neumau) 
Ozmun.  His  father  was  born  in  Orange  Co., 
N.  Y.,  in  1785,  and  his  mother  in  Pennsylvania, 
in  1787.  They  were  married  in  Tompkins  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  they  settled  upon  a  farm,  remain- 
ing four  years,  during  which  time  Franklin  was 
born,  in  1807.  In  1811,  they  emigrated  to 
Ohio,  and  in  October  of  that  year  located  upon 
59  acres  of  timbered  land  (where  subject  now 
resides),  and  possessing,  like  most  pioneers,  in- 
dustrious habits,  they  became  large  land-own- 
ers, adding  to  their  land  until  they  possessed 
about  400  acres,  which  they  divided  among 
their  children.  He  served  the  township  as  Trus- 
tee and  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  twenty-one 
years,  as  Township  Treasurer,  and  held  various 
offices  of  trust  and  honor.  He  was  also  greatly 
interested  in  the  militia,  in  which  he  ranked  as 
Captain  and  Major.  He  died  May  26,  1866. 
His  wife,  aged  94  years,  still  lives  upon  the  old 
farm  with  her  son  Franklin  (our  subject).  The 
children  of  this  worthy  couple  are  as  follows  : 
Margaret  Grossman,  of  Michigan  ;  Hector,  who 
died  in  Boston  Township ;  Polly  M.  Carter,  of 
Richfield  ;  Catharine  Ashley,  of  Strongsville  ; 
Abram  N.,  who  was  born  Jan.  26,  1827,  and 
married,  on   July  3,  1862,  Miss  Eliza  Veers. 


i    'V 


900 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


He  commenced  life  farming  in  Nortlifield  Town- 
ship, but  returned  to  Boston  in  1866,  where  he 
has  since  resided  ;  he  lias  three  children — Laura 
A.,  Mary  M.  and  Charles  V.  Franklin  has  re- 
sided upon  the  farm  where  his  parents  settled, 
during  his  entire  life  ;  he  has  alwa3's  followed 
farming,  and  now  owns  about  170  acres  of  im- 
proved land.  He  is  considered  one  of  the  solid, 
substantial  citizens  of  the  township. 

HECTOR  OZMUN,  deceased;  was  born 
Feb.  19,  1815,  in  Boston  Township  ;  was  a  son 
of  Isaac  and  Maria  (Neuman)  Osmun,  pioneers 
of  Boston  Township.  He  married  Aug.  24, 
1840,  Miss  Nancy  Long,  who  was  a  daughter 
of  Christian  Long,  an  early  settler  of  Summit 
County,  and  a  resident  of  the  county  until  his 
death.  Nancy  was  born  in  Northumberland 
Co.,  Penn.,  Jan.  1,  1822.  After  their  marriage, 
they  removed  to  the  western  part  of  Boston 
Township,  where  she  still  resides.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  interested  in  dairying  ;  he  died  May 
19,  1879.  Mrs.  Ozmun  still  resides  upon  the 
farm  of  236  acres  of  improved  land,  which  is 
cultivated  by  her  sons.  The  children  are  as 
follows  :  Isaac  and  Andrew,  both  married  and 
farming  in  Michigan  ;  Mary  Viall,  of  Boston 
Township ;  Margaret  and  Lucius,  at  home ; 
Augusta  Peach,  living  in  Boston  Township  ; 
Edward,  a  resident  of  Hudson ;  Sarah,  at 
home  ;  Henry,  in  Michigan  ;  and  Lincoln,  at 
home.  Mrs.  Ozmun  has  a  sister  living  in  Bath 
Township,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Huntlej^  ;  and  two 
brothers  in  Indiana,  Andrew  and  Christian 
Long. 

DR.  SUMNER  PIXLEY,  Peninsula;  is  a 
son  of  Stephen  Pixley,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Richfield  Township.  Dr.  Pixley  was  born  in 
Massachusetts  in  1816,  and  was  not  quite  1 
year  old  at  the  time  of  his  parents'  settlement 
in  Richfield.  His  early  days  were  passed  upon 
the  farm  there.  After  deciding  to  make  the 
medical  profession  his  life-work,  he  entered 
the  office  of  Drs.  Trask  &  Leonard,  of  Strongs- 
ville,  remaining  with  them  about  two  years, 
also  studying  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Munson,  of 
Richfield,  one  and  a  half  years.  He  then  at- 
tended the  Western  Reserve  College,  graduat- 
ing in  the  medical  department  in  1846  and 
1847.  He  also  took  a  full  course  of  lectures 
at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
New  York,  and  at  the  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege of  Philadelphia.  He  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  where  he 


continued  ten  years.  He  then  removed  to 
California,  where  he  practiced  in  Marysville 
about  eighteen  months.  In  1854,  he  returned 
to  Richfield,  where  he  remained  until  1869, 
when  he  removed  to  Cleveland,  where  he  prac- 
ticed until  1876,  at  which  time  he  I'emoved  to 
Peninsula,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Dr. 
Pixley  has  an  extended  practice,  and  occupies 
an  elevated  rank  among  his  professional 
brothers.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State  Medi- 
cal Association  and  of  the  Northeast  Medical 
Association.  He  also  served  as  Surgeon  of  the 
110th  0.  V.  I.,  and  was  in  field  and  hospital 
service  nearly  two  years.  He  was  married  in 
April,  1847,  to  Elmira  A.  Tupper,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Julia  H.  (Briggs)  Tup- 
per, natives  of  Vermont,  and  early  settlers  in 
Strongsville,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  where  they  resided 
up  to  the  time  of  their  deaths.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pixley  have  two  sons — Chelius  S.,  who  gradu- 
ated from  the  Cleveland  Medical  College  in 
1873,  and  is  now  engaged  in  practice  in  Elkhart, 
Ind.;  Will  H.,  a  promising  young  law  student, 
now  in  the  office  of  Gen.  Wildes,  of  Akron.  He 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Peninsula 
when  21  years  old,  and  is  now  serving  as  such. 
JORGEN  PETERSEN,  painter,  Peninsula  ; 
was  born  at  Elsinore,  Denmark,  within  a  short 
distance  from  the  castle,  made  celebrated  by 
Shakespeare  in  his  "  Hamlet."  His  father  was 
a  sailor,  and  served  in  the  Danish  navy  many 
years.  He  afterwaixl  engaged  in  fishing,  at 
which  occupation  our  subject  passed  his  earlier 
years.  At  the  age  of  15  he  served  on  an 
English  collier,  remaining  upon  it  four  3'ears  as 
a  sailor.  Next  upon  an  English  vessel  for  four 
years,  and,  in  1842,  shipped  upon  the  American 
bark  "  Richmond,"  of  Plymouth,  and  landed 
in  New  Orleans.  After  serving  as  a  sailor  for 
six  years,  sailing  from  American  ports,  he 
engaged  with  a  firm  in  New  York  and  learned 
the  painter's  trade,  remaining  with  them  five 
years.  He  then  worked  at  his  trade  three  years 
there,  and,  in  1855,  emigrated  to  Ohio.  He  locat- 
ed in  Peninsula  in  1864,  and  was  first  engaged 
as  a  painter  of  canal-boats,  afterward  building 
the  boat  "  Scandinavia,"  which  he  conducted 
for  fifteen  years,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
following  his  trade.  He  was  married,  in  1849, 
to  Miss  Marie  Y.  Miller.  The}-  have  seven 
children  living — Chai'les  M.,  Emma  C,  Francis 
E.,  Albert,  Ada  M.,  Lizzie  and  Edith.  Mr. 
Petersen  has  always  been  an  industrious  and 


^ 


:k* 


BOSTON    TOWNSHIP. 


901 


respected  citizen,  and  has  been  Township  and 
Corporation  Clerks.  He  has  a  most  entertain- 
ing fund  of  reminiscences  of  his  varied  life, 
which  makes  him  an  interesting  companion. 
He  is  also  familiar  with  several  languages. 

LYMAN  C.  POST,  former  ;  P.  0.  Hudson  ; 
is  a  son  of  Henry  Post,  Jr.,  and  Lucy  A. 
(Curtis)  Post.  His  father  was  the  first  white 
male  child  born  in  Boston  Township.  His 
mother  was  born  in  Hudson.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  lived  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
township  the  most  of  the  time  until  their 
deaths.  He  died  in  September,  1879,  and  she 
in  November  of  the  same  year.  The  grand- 
parents of  our  sulyject  were  the  first  settlers  in 
the  township,  and  an  extended  sketch  of  their 
lives  and  pioneer  experiences  will  be  found  in 
another  portion  of  this  work.  Lyman  is  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  six  children — Minerva 
Hine  (of  Twinsburg),  Lydia  Warrell  (of  North- 
field  Township),  Mary  A.  Clisby  (Trumbull 
Co.),  George  H.  (of  Michigan),  Sophronia  John- 
son (a  resident  of  Macedonia),  and  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  who  is  a  native  of  Boston 
Township,  born  in  1850,  a  resident  of  the 
township  and  of  the  old  homestead  up  to  the 
present  time.  He  has  followed  farming  for  the 
most  of  his  life,  and,  in  connection  with  his 
farm,  he  erected,  in  November,  1879,  a  steam 
saw-mill,  to  the  operation  of  which  he  devotes 
a  part  of  his  time,  and  which  is  proving  a 
profitable  enterprise.  He  was  married  in  1873, 
to  Miss  Ella  Johnson,  of  Geauga  Co.,  who  died 
May  22,  1875. 

ANTON  PFAUS,  shoemaker,  Peninsula  ;  is 
a  native  of  Germany,  where  he  was  born  in 
1847.  His  parents  emigrated  to  America  when 
our  subject  was  only  5  years  of  age,  they 
locating  in  Cleveland,  where  they  remained 
until  the}'  died.  Anton  learned  his  trade  in 
Cleveland,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  nearl}' 
three  j^ears,  after  which  he  worked  at  the  trade 
there  about  one  3'ear.  In  1867,  he  came  to 
Peninsula,  after  a  few  months  in  Hudsun, 
where  he  located,  and  has  since  followed  his 
chosen  trade.  It  is  now  his  intention  to  add  to 
his  business  b}'  placing  upon  sale  a  line  of 
boots,  shoes,  etc.,  and  carry  on  a  first-class 
boot  and  shoe  store.  Mr.  Pfaus  was  married 
to  Miss  Laura  McClure,  of  Peninsula,  in  1870. 
The}'  have  one  child — Herman. 

LUTHER  B.  BANNEY.  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Hud- 
son ;  is  a  son  of  Comfort  and  Betsey  (Hubbard) 


Banney,  both  natives  of  Connecticut.  Comfort 
was  born  March  20,  1788,  and  Betsey  April  2, 
1790;  they  were  married  in  Connecticut,  Dec. 
25,  1808,  and  came  immediately  to  Hudson. 
The  same  year,  accompanied  "by  his  father  and 
brother  Jacob,  they  started  from  Connecticut 
and  his  father  died  upon  the  way,  and  Jacob  fol- 
lowed him  soon  after  reaching  Hudson.  Com- 
fort Ranney's  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revo- 
lution, and  owned,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  a 
tract  of  land  in  Richfield.  Comfort  located  in 
Hudson  ;  he  was  a  ship-carpenter  by  trade,  and 
soon  after  moved  to  Cleveland  and  followed  his 
calling  there.  But,  because  of  poor  health,  his 
stay  there  was  brief  and  he  soon  after  returned 
to  Hudson  and  engaged  in  running  a  saw-mill, 
which  was  finally  burned,  when  he  removed  to 
Boston  Township  about  1820,  and  purchased  a 
piece  of  land  where  he  resided  only  a  few  years, 
when  he  died  July  14,  1823.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  until  Jan.  4,  1868,  when  she  died, 
aged  78.  Of  the  children  born  to  them  the 
following  are  now  living :  Luther  B.  ;  Julia 
A.  Shields,  residing  in  Kansas,  and  Eliza  S. 
Shields,  of  Boston  Township ;  Ruth  L.  Bron- 
son,  of  Peninsula ,  Betsey  J.  Hurlburt,  living 
in  Cleveland,  and  Moses,  of  Northfield  Town- 
ship. Mrs.  Ranney  was  subsequently  married 
to  Mr.  Colliei',  by  whom  she  had  two  children 
— Capt.  M.  J.  Collier,  of  Cleveland,  and  Fred 
M.  Collier,  of  Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ranney 
were  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
Luther  B.  Ranney  was  born  in  Hudson  Nov. 
28,  1809.  After  the  death  of  his  father  in 
1823,  their  farm  was  sold  and  our  subject,  with 
the  laudable  ambition  to  regain  it,  worked  by 
the  month  for  Deacon  Hudson  at  $5  per  month, 
and  was,  by  industry  and  perseverance,  finally 
the  happy  owner  ;  the  farm  is  located  upon  the 
State  road,  and  now  consists  of  well-cultivated 
fields  and  is  improved  with  good  buildings  and 
all  modern  comforts.  Mr.  Ranney  is,  essen- 
tially, a  self-made  man,  having  begun  life  un- 
der many  difficulties.  He  is  a  most  intelligent 
and  well-informed  man.  Mr.  Ranney  has  served 
in  various  offices  of  township  trust,  and  ranks 
as  one  of  the  citizens  par  excellence.  Mr.  Ran- 
ney was  married  in  1833,  to  Miss  Sally  M.  Car- 
ter, who  died  July  29,  1846,  leaving  five  chil- 
dren, three  now  living — Comfort,  of  Michigan; 
Harriet  S.  Leach,  of  Michigan,  and  Sarah  M., 
living  in  Akron  ;  he  was  married  April  6,  1847, 
to  a  second  wife,  Miss  Caroline  Clapp,  daughter 


rv 


902 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


of  Richard  and  Anna  (Alvord)  Clapp,  natives 
of  Massacluisetts,  and  early  settlers  of  Brecks- 
ville ;  she  was  born  in  Massacluisetts  Ma}'  3, 
1821.  Their  children  are  three  in  number  — 
Julia  Ann  Criss,  of  Akron;  Luther  K.,  and 
Carrie  M.  Evans,  also  a  resident  of  Akron.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  llanney  resided  in  Akron  three  3'ears 
to  secure  for  their  children  superior  school  ad- 
vantages. Luther  K.  entered  for  a  classical 
course  at  Buchtel  College,  of  Akron,  but  on 
account  of  ill  health  was  forced  to  leave ;  he  is 
now  studying  at  home  where  he  has  a  well-se- 
lected library  of  books.  Mr.  Ranney,  during 
the  gold  excitement  of  1 850,  went  to  California, 
where  he  remained  for  four  years,  mining  with 
good  success.  He  relates  many  stories  and 
reminiscences  of  the  pioneer  days  of  his  par- 
ents ;  he  has,  in  his  possession,  a  wooden  bottle, 
which  was  carried  by  his  great  grandfather,  and 
by  his  grandfather  through  the  Revolution,  and 
which  descended  through  his  father  to  himself 

W.  W.  RICHARDSON,  merchant,  Everett  ; 
is  the  principal  representative  of  the  mercan- 
tile business  of  Everett,  and  was  born  in  Lick- 
ing Co.,  Ohio,  in  1840.  His  parent^  were  Will- 
iam and  Jane  Richardson,  his  father  being  a 
native  of  New  York  and  his  mother  of  Ver- 
mont. They  first  settled  in  Licking  County, 
where  his  father  followed  the  carpenter  and 
joiner's  trade.  He  died  while  living  in  Illinois 
where  he  was  practicing  medicine.  His  mother 
is  still  living  in  Delaware  Co.,  Ohio.  Our  sub- 
ject began  his  business  ventures  upon  the 
canal  being  the  owner  of  a  boat,  and  was  en- 
gaged for  three  years  in  the  transportation  of 
stone  to  Cleveland,  the  most  of  which  was  used 
by  the  A.  &  G.  W.  Railroad.  He  next  turned 
his  attention  to  fiirming,  following  that  occupa- 
tion in  Boston  Township  for  three  years,  and 
for  the  next  ten  years  in  Bath  Township.  In 
March,  1879,  he  removed  to  Everett  Station, 
where  he  has  since  devoted  his  attention  to 
the  mercantile  business.  His  store  is  located 
upon  the  banks  of  the  canal,  and  his  stock  con- 
sists of  groceries,  dry  goods  and  a  general  line 
of  boat  supplies.  He  was  married  Feb.  25, 
1863,  to  Miss  Sylvia  Myers,  who  was  born  in 
Portage  County  in  1840.  They  have  three 
children — Margaret  A.,  Dora  B.  and  Eva  P. 
Mr.  Richardson  is  the  owner  of  the  celebrated 
chestnut  stallion  "Sunshine." 

WILLIAM  RICHARDSON,  farmer  ;  P.  O. 
Boston  ;  was  born  in  Bucks  Co.,  Penn..  in  1814. 


His  father  was  a  mechanic,  but  subsequently 
became  a  farmer,  and  our  subject's  early  life 
and  experience  was  in  the  care  and  cultivation 
of  his  father's  land.  He  remained  at  home  un- 
til he  was  27  3'ears  of  age,  and  then  engaged 
in  farming  in  Bucks  County  for  himself,  con- 
tinuing there  three  years,  and  one  year  in 
Philadelphia  County  ;  he  then  rented  another 
farm  which  he  cultivated  for  two  years,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  time,  he  was  engaged  as  a 
drover  for  a  3'ear.  In  185(J,  he  removed  to 
Brooklyn.  Cuyahoga  County,  and  engaged  in 
milling  there  for  a  few  years,  after  which  he 
again  resumed  farming,  continuing  until  1864, 
when  he  removed  to  Boston  Township,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  His  farm  consists  of  200 
acres,  about  two-thirds  of  which  is  in  cultiva- 
tion. He  has  improved  the  place  in  buildings 
and  erected  a  neat  and  desirable  residence. 
Like  the  most  of  his  neighbors,  he  is  making 
the  dair}'  business  a  specialty.  Mr.  Richard- 
son was  united  in  marriage,  in  1840,  to  Miss 
Mary  M.  Hagstoz  in  Philadelphia.  They  have 
an  adopted  son — Franklin  E. 

LEWIS  B.  ROSWELL,  Marshal.  Peninsula  ; 
was  born  in  Lake  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1832.  His 
parents  were  Ambrose  and  Elizabeth  (Van 
Looven)  Roswell  ;  his  father  was  a  native  of 
New  York  and  his  mother  of  Pennsylvania. 
The}'  were  married  in  Canada,  and  subse- 
quently removed  to  the  States,  locating  in  Lake 
County,  v?here  they  remained  about  three 
years,  then  removing  to  Hudson  where  they 
were  residents  for  the  remainder  of  their  days. 
Lewis  started  out  in  life  for  himself  at  the  age 
of  15,  working  upon  a  farm  for  over  a  year. 
He  then  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  at 
Twinsburg,  and  followed  that  trade  in  ditt'erent 
localities,  chieil}'  Hudson  and  Peninsula,  for 
many  3'ears,  since  which  time  he  has  engaged 
in  various  occupations.  He  is  at  present  serv- 
ing the  corporation  of  Peninsula  as  JNIarshal. 
He  was  married  in  1873  to  3Iiss  Nettie  Wilson. 

GEORGE  STANFORD,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  B  s- 
ton  ;  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  now  living  in 
Boston  Township.  He  was  born  in  Beaver  Co., 
Penn.,  Oct.  9.  1800.  His  parents  were  James 
and  Polly  (Johnston)  Stanford.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Ireland  ;  his  mother  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  emigrated  to  Ohio  and  settled  in 
Warren,  Trumbull  Co.,  about  1802,  where  they 
remained  about  three  years,  moving  thence  to 
Bristol,  remaining  one  year.     His  father  then 


^ 


:^ 


BOSTON    TOWNSHIP. 


903 


joined  a  survejing  party  to  locate  and  survey 
Boston  Township,  and  lie  removed  his  family  in 
March,  1806,  taking  169  acres  upon  the  west 
bank  of  the  Cuyahoga  River,  near  Boston. 
Here  they  resided  for  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  Many  of  their  pioneer  incidents  and  ad- 
ventures appear  in  the  township  histor}'.  She 
died  in  July.  1814,  and  James  in  January,  1827, 
leaving  nine  children — George  being  the  only 
one  now  living — who  has  been  engaged  in  agri- 
culture, and  has  resided  upon  the  old  homestead 
farm  since  his  parents'  death.  He  furnishes 
many  of  the  dates  and  reminiscences  of  pioneer 
days,  found  in  the  township  histor}'.  The  farm 
(which  now  consists  of  284  acres)  has  been 
greatly  improved  b}'  him.  He  has  served  in 
various  offices  of  township  trust,  having  been 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  six  years.  He  is  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
He  was  united  in  marriage,  Jan.  17,  1828,  to 
Catharine  Carter,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  Carter,  early  settlers  of  the  town- 
ship, locating  there  about  1819,  and  remaining 
there  during  their  lives.  Catharine  was  boi'n 
in  Ireland,  in  1804  ;  she  departed  this  life  Dec. 
20,  1872.  Eight  children  were  the  result  of 
this  marriage — Emily,  who  died  an  infant ; 
James  M.  and  Ellen,  both  of  whom  died  at  20 
years  of  age  ;  William  Irwin  (deceased)  ;  Per- 
kins W.  Stanford,  who  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
the  2d  0.  V.  C,  Co.  A  ;  he  was  subsequently 
promoted  to  Sergeant  ;  was  finall}-  captured  a 
prisoner  in  1864,  and  died  in  Andersonville 
Prison  ;  Eliza,  who  died  at  the  age  of  3  years, 
and  Greorge  C,  born  April  18,  1839.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Lida  Wetmore,  Dec.  23,  1869. 
They  have  three  children — Ellen,  Perkins  W. 
and  Clayton  J.  George  is  now  serving  as 
Postmaster  of  Boston. 

ANDREW  STUART,  grocer.  Peninsula  ;  was 
born  in  Ireland  in  1850.  In  1852,  his  parents 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  Norton 
Township,  Summit  Co.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
and  our  subject  remained  at  home  until  lie  be- 
came 14  years  of  age.  He  then  went  out  to 
work  upon  a  farm,  at  which  he  continued  nearly 
four  years,  and  then  went  to  work  upon  the 
canal,  boating  about  four  years  ;  and  then  upon 
a  farm  again  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  was  engaged  upon  public  works  at  Ak- 
ron one  season.  In  1871,  he  began  clerking  in 
a  grocery  at  Everett's  Station,  working  there 
about  a  jear,  and  from  there  to  Peninsula,  and 


engaged  in  the  same  occupation  for  D.  Peck, 
with  whom  he  remained  some  three  years  or 
more  ;  after  which,  for  a  few  years,  he  engaged 
in  different  occupations.  In  1879,  he  returned 
to  Peninsula  and  purchased  the  stock  of  his  old 
employer,  D.  Peck,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in 
trade  for  himself  He  keeps  a  general  line  of 
groceries  and  boat  supplies,  and  is  doing  a 
flourishing  business.  Mr.  Stuart  has  by  indus- 
try and  hard  work  effected  a  good  business 
commencement,  and  will  doubtless  become  one 
of  the  successful  business  men  of  Peninsula. 

DANIEL  TILDEN,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Peninsula  ; 
was  born  in  Vermont  in  1790.  His  parents 
were  natives  of  Connecticut,  where  they  were 
married  ;  the}'  then  removed  to  Vermont,  where 
they  resided  for  some  years,  moving  from  there 
to  Massachusetts,  where  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  were  spent.  Daniel,  at  the  age  of  16,  left 
home:  and,  in  1817,  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in 
Hiram,  Portage  Co.,  w^here  he  bought  a  piece  of 
land  and  began  the  task  of  clearing  it.  He  re- 
mained there  about  two  years,  and,  after  dis- 
posing of  his  land,  returned  to  ^lassachusetts, 
where  he  remained  about  six  ^-ears  farming. 
In  1824,  he  returned  to  Hiram,  and,  after  one 
year,  came  to  Boston  Township,  where  he  ac- 
cepted a  job  upon  the  canal.  He  was  also  en- 
gaged several  years  at  milling.  He  then  entered 
upon  his  farming  operations,  locating  upon  the 
McBride  farm,  where  he  remained  four  years  ; 
after  which,  he  liought  160  acres  of  land,  located 
in  the  western  part  of  the  township,  where 
he  has  lived  since,  1837.  He  was  married  in 
1832  to  Nancy  Mather,  who  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont in  1792.  and  died  in  Boston  Township  in 
1849.  Thej'  had  two  children — Nanc}^  who 
died  when  an  infant,  and  Daniel  W.  Mr.  Tilden 
commenced  life  with  no  pecuniary  assistance, 
and  has  accumulated  .a  handsome  propert}'. 
He  has  served  as  Townsliip  Trustee,  and  was 
elected  Justice  of  Peace,  but  did  not  serve. 
Daniel  W.  Tilden  was  born  in  March.  1836.  in 
Boston  Township,  of  which  place  he  has  since 
been  a  resident.  He  has  always  followed  farm- 
ing and  lived  upon  the  old  homestead  since  his 
father  removed  there.  Tiiey  have  450  acres  of 
land,  whicli  is  of  good  quality  and  under  good 
cultivation  ;  and  they  have  also  been  consider- 
ably interested  in  dairying  and  cheese-making. 
Daniel  W.  was  married,  in  1857.  to  Miss  Harriet 
Hall,  who  was  born  in  New  York  in  1839.  Her 
parents  subsequently  removed  to  Summit  Co., 


"5)  ^ 


Ml 


901 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  days. 
They  have  but  one  child  living — Pearlie  M. 
Daniel  W.  has  served  the  township  as  Trustee 
for  many  years,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens. His  ftither  is  past  90  3'ears  of  age,  but 
still  retains  vivid  recollections  of  his  early 
struggles,  and  relates  many  reminiscences  of 
pioneer  life. 

BURRILL  VIALL,  farmer;  P.  0.  Penin- 
sula ;  was  born  in  Hanover  Township,  Chau- 
tauqua Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1821.  He  is  a  son  of 
Burrill  Viall,  who  was  born  in  Bennington  Co., 
Yt.,  in  1793,  and  removed  to  New  York  in  1814, 
settling  in  Chautauqua  Co.,  where  he  soon  after 
married  Sarah  Ferguson,  who  was  born  in 
Cooperstown,  N.  Y.  They  removed  to  Ohio, 
and  first  settled  in  Middlebury  in  1831,  remov- 
ing from  there  to  Northampton,  and  residing 
there  until  1850,  when  the}-  removed  to  Jack- 
son Co.,  Iowa,  where  they  resided  until  their 
deaths,  his  occurring  Dec.  23,  1862,  and  hers 
Jan.  4,  1864.  They  were  both  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  The}"  had  twelve  children, 
six  boys  and  six  girls.  Burrill,  Jr.,  has  always 
followed  farming.  He  remained  with  his  pa- 
rents until  20  years  of  age,  and,  in  1841,  bought 
50  acres  of  land,  which  is  a  part  of  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides.  He  is  a  self-made  man, 
having  commenced  the  struggle  of  life  with 
small  means,  and,  by  industry  and  practical 
ability,  accumulated  a  large  farm,  which  is  or- 
namented by  an  elegant  residence,  finely  ap- 
pointed. His  is  one  of  the  model  farms  of  the 
township,  and  his  system  consists  in  dairying 
and  general  farming.  He  ranks  as  one  of  the 
township's  most  valuable  citizens,  having  served 
as  Trustee,  and  taken  an  active  interest  in  its 
educational  matters.  He  was  married,  Dec.  24, 
1843,  to  Miss  Jane  White,  who  was  born  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  Feb.  7,  1823.  Her  father, 
Solomon  White,  was  a  native  of  Vermont  ;  her 
mother,  Hannah  (Bronson)  White,  of  Connecti- 
cut, he  served  as  baggage  boy  in  the  war  of 
1812,  at  the  age  of  14,  under  Gen.  Harrison. 
Her  mother  was  taken  to  Connecticut  by  her 
mother,  to  avoid  the  danger  of  warfare.  Her 
parents  remained  at  Cleveland  until  she  was  10 
years  of  age,  when  they  removed  to  Brooklyn, 
living  there  four  yeai's.  He  was  the  Cuyahoga 
Co.  Pork  Inspector.  They  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Boston  Township,  and  finally  emi- 
grated to  Jackson  Co.,  Iowa,  where  they  both 
died  ;   his  death  occurred  Jan.  24,  1864  ;   his 


wife  died  March  15,  of  the  same  year.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Viall's  family  are  as  follows  :  Sarah 
J.,  deceased  ;  Mattie  J.  Humphrey,  living  in 
Richfield  ;  Mary  A.  Carr,  of  Cuyahoga  Falls  ; 
Julia  F.  Oviatt,  Boston  Township ;  Lucy  K. 
Clark,  residing  in  Middlebury  ;  Kittie  E.  and 
Jennie  M.,  at  home. 

B.  J.  VIERS,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Hudson ;  is  a 
son  of  Charles  and  Laura  (Patterson)  Viers. 
Charles  Viers  was  born  in  Jeft'erson  Co.,  N.  Y., 
in  1806,  and  was  married  to  Laura  Patterson 
in  1827.  She  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1810. 
He  was  the  son  of  a  farmer  and  pioneer  of 
Jefferson  Co.,  and  subject  to  the  toil  and  pri- 
vation of  that  life  from  his  childhood.  After 
his  marriage,  he  farmed  in  that  county  for 
some  years,  and  then  emigrated  to  Ohio,  set- 
tling in  Northfield  Township  in  1831,  where  he 
still  resides.  His  wife  died  in  October,  1877. 
Their  children  are  as  follows  :  Bazzel  J.; 
Theda  E.  Holt,  of  Northfield  ;  Eliza  J.,  the 
widow  of  George  Lamb,  now  the  wife  of  A.  N. 
Ozmun,  of  Boston  Township  ;  Samantha,  de- 
ceased ;  Charles  Albert,  of  Hudson,  and  Laura 
M.,  deceased.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Jefler- 
son  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1829  ;  he  remained  with  his 
parents  until  20  years  of  age,  receiving  a  com- 
mon-school education.  He  taught  school  one 
winter,  at  the  age  of  19.  His  occupation  for 
many  years  subsequently  was  that  of  a  laborer. 
About  1864,  he  began  farming  operations  for 
himself,  purchasing  a  piece  of  wild  land,  which 
he  cleared  and  worked  for  two  years,  when  he 
disposed  of  it  and  bought  land  in  Norton 
Township,  farming  there  about  seven  years. 
In  1874,  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  where  he 
now  resides,  in  Boston  Township.  His  farm 
consists  of  218  acres  of  improved  land,  located 
upon  the  "  State  road."  Mr.  Viers  is  a  practi- 
cal and  industrious  farmer,  and  stands  high  in 
his  township  and  county.  He  was  married,  in 
November,  1856,  to  Miss  Lovena  Ford,  daugh- 
ter of  Marvin  Ford,  of  Northampton.  She  was 
born  in  Northampton  in  1839.  They  have 
eight  children  living,  and  one  deceased  (Clara 
A.,  died  at  6  years  of  age) — Laura  E.,  Marvin 
F„  Charles  E.,'^Lydia  A.,  Albert  B.,  Linda  M., 
Rose  I.  and  Lillie  I.  (twins). 

FREDERICK  B.  WADHAMS,  ftirmer ;  P.  0. 
Hudson  ;  was  born  in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  in 
1804.  He  is  a  son  of  Seth  and  Lucy  (Davis) 
Wadhams.  His  mother  died  when  he  was  about 
2  3'ears  old,  and  his  father  subsequently'  mar- 


BOSTON    TOWNSHIP. 


905 


ried  her  sister.  His  fatiier  died,  leaving  five 
sons  and  one  daughter.  Frederick,  who  was 
but  4  years  of  age,  lived  with  his  step-mother 
until  he  was  IG  years  old,  and  then  went  to  live 
with  Gen.  Abernethy,  at  Torrington,  Conn.,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  he  attained  his  major- 
ity, working  in  the  mercantile  business.  In  the 
fall  of  1825,  he  went  to  South  Carolina,  and 
was  in  the  eraplo}'  of  Wadkins  &  Birge  for  six 
years,  in  the  mercantile  trade,  having  charge  of 
one  of  their  stores,  located  at  Lawrence.  After 
severing  Ids  connection  with  them,  he  engaged 
in  business  for  himself  there,  peddling  dry 
goods  and  notions,  at  which  he  continued  for 
five  years,  meeting  with  good  success.  He  then 
returned  to  Connecticut,  where  he  was  married, 
September,  1830,  to  Miss  Cornelia  Phelps.  He 
then  bought  the  Mansion  House,  of  Litchfield, 
which  he  owned  for  several  years,  but  which 
proved  an  unfortunate  investment,  and  in  1835, 
he  started  for  Ohio,  with  but  little  mone}',  but 
rich  in  hope,  perseverance,  industrious  habits 
and  good  business  qualifications.  He  located 
in  Boston  Township,  purchasing  150  acres  of 
timbered  land  at  $16  per  acre,  borrowing  most 
of  the  money  to  pay  for  it.  Mr.  Wadhams  has 
resided  in  the  township  from  that  day  to  the 
present  time,  and  has  been  so  largely  engaged 
in  various  enterprises  that  our  space  will  hardly 
afford  a  complete  history.  His  farm  at  present 
comprises  about  400  acres  of  as  fine  land  as 
there  is  in  the  township,  with  superior  improve- 
ments in  buildings,  and  with  a  location  un- 
equaled  for  a  commanding  view  of  the  land- 
scape for  miles  around,  together  with  good 
drainage,  and  a  stone  quarry  of  superior  grade  ; 
he  has  also  engaged  in  dairying.  His  business 
transactions  for  many  years  were  extensive. 
He  interested  himself  largely  in  the  lumber 
trade,  during  which  he  ran  saw-mills,  cooper- 
shops,  canal-boats,  etc.;  he  also  owned  at  one 
time  about  1,400  acres  of  laud,  and  has  done 
much  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  town- 
ship. Beginning  life  as  he  did,  without  money, 
it  is  a  great  source  of  satisfaction  for  him  to 
review  his  past  life,  and  reflect  that  to  his  per- 
severance, honesty  of  purpose,  and  industry 
alone,  is  due  all  of  his  well-deserved  prosperit}' . 
He  was  married  again,  Sept.  16,  1846,  to  Miss 
Jane  Jones,  who  was  born  in  New  York  in  1816, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Bees  and  Jane  (Wright) 
Jones,  early  settlers  of  Northampton,  in  which 
township   history  a  sketch    of   them  appears. 


Her  grandfather  Wright  was  also  one  of  North- 
ampton's pioneers.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wadhams 
have  three  children — George,  Ellen  and  Charles, 
all  at  home.  Mr.  Wadhams  has  a  son,  Frede- 
rick B.,  by  his  former  wife,  living  in  Cleveland. 
The  Wadhams  family  are  of  English  descent, 
tracing  the  line  back  to  1680,  and  were  the 
founders  of  Wadhams  College,  in  England. 

F.  WOOD,  merchant,  Peninsula.  Prominent 
among  the  business  interests  of  Peninsula  is 
the  general  mercantile  store  of  F.  Wood.  Mr. 
Wood  was  born  in  County  Wicklow,  Ireland,  in 
1828.  His  parents  were  Nesbitt  and  Eliza  (Mor- 
ton) Wood.  His  father  resigned  a  commission  in 
the  English  army,  and,  with  his  family,  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1835,  locating  in  Michigan. 
In  1838,  they  removed  to  Boston  Township, 
where  they  resided  for  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  His  father's  death  occurred  in  1863,  and 
his  mother's  in  1868.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
began  his  mercantile  career  at  the  age  of  18, 
when  he  entered  the  store  of  Arthur  Layton,  at 
Boston  Village,  with  whom  he  continued  about 
three  years,  and,  in  the  same  store,  with  his 
successor,  J.  D.  Edson,  for  over  four  years.  In 
1853,  he  came  to  Peninsula,  and  started  in  busi- 
ness for  himself,  purchasing  the  stock  of  Charles 
Curtis.  In  1863,  he  removed  to  his  present 
location,  where  he  has  since  been  successfully 
engaged  in  trade,  with  a  general  stock  of  dry 
goods,  groceries,  etc.,  and  also  a  line  of  drugs 
and  medicines.  He  has  also  devoted  consider- 
able attention  to  other  business  interests  and 
enterprises,  for  many  years  being  the  principal 
owner  of  the  stone  quarr}^,  south  of  the  village  ; 
and,  in  1872,  when  it  became  a  stock  concern, 
he  retained  an  interest  until  1879,  when  he  dis- 
posed of  his  stock  to  F.  Schumacher,  of  Akron. 
He  held  the  office  of  Deputy  Postmaster,  and 
that  of  Postmaster  for  twent3--one  years.  He 
has  also  served  in  various  township  offices  of 
trust.  He  is  a  member  of  Richfield  Lodge, 
Meridian  Sun,  No.  266,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.  Mr.  Wood 
was  married,  Feb.  16,  1854,  to  Miss  Charlotte 
M.  Barnhart,  who  was  born  in  Peninsula,  June 
19,  1836,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Barn- 
hart  and  Rhoda  (Bronson)  Barnhart.  Jacob 
Barnhart  was  born  in  New  York,  in  1804,  and 
emigrated  to  Cleveland  in  1832,  and  from  there 
to  Peninsula,  in  the  following  j^ear,  when  he 
became  engaged  in  the  boat-building  business, 
in  which  he  was  a  pioneer  in  that  section.  He 
was  a  respected  and  enterprising  citizen  during 


V 


906 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


his  entire  life,  taking  a  prominent  position  and 
active  interest  in  tlie  enrollment  of  volunteers 
during  our  late  war  ;  his  patriotism  being  so 
sincere  that,  although  nearl}-  60  years  of  age, 
he  enlisted  in  the  2d  0.  V.  C,  but  was  not 
allowed  to  serve.  He  died  Jan.  26,  1874.  His 
wife,  Rhoda  Bronson,  was  born  in  Middlebury, 
Conn.,  Oct.  9,  1800.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Hermon  and  Molly  (Hickox)  Bronson,  a  more 
extended  sketch  of  whom  is  given  elsewhere. 
She  w'as  married,  in  March,  1816,  to  Willis 
Payne,  who  died  in  Akron  in  1828,  leaving  two 
sons — H.  B.  Payne,  lawyer  at  Richmond,  Ind., 
and  William  H.,  a  boat-builder  at  Akron.  She 
was  married  to  Jacob  Barnhart,  in  March,  1833, 
and  survived  him  nearl}'  six  years.  She  died 
in  September,  1879,  Charlotte  M.  being  the  only 
child.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood  have  had  four  chil- 
dren— Annie  C,  who  died  at  the  age  of  20 
months  ;  Stella  A.,  the  wife  of  H.  L.  Cross,  of 
Cleveland,  who  have  a  son  Charles  Wood  ; 
Minnie  E.,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Fred  C. 
The}-  have  an  adopted  daughter — Miss  Julia  E. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood,  together  with  their  family, 
ai'e  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
they  have  been  prominently  identified  for  many 
years.  Mr.  Wood  is  the  superintendent  of  the 
Sabbath  school,  and  his  wife,  for  many  years, 
was  the  organist  and  leader  of  the  choir. 

F.  C.  WETMORE,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Peninsula. 
The  Wetmore  family  in  America  are  descend- 
ants from  Thomas  Whitmore,  who  came  from 
the  West  of  England  to  Boston,  Mass.,  in  1635. 
Judge  William  Wetmore  was  born  in  Middle- 
town,  Conn.,  in  1771,  and  came  to  Ohio  in 
June,  1804,  with  his  family,  as  agent  of  the 
Western  Reserve  Land  Company,  for  the  sale 
of  their  lands.  He  located  in  Stow  Township 
and  built  the  second  house  in  that  township. 
He  was  a  general  counselor  of  law,  and  served 
during  the  war  of  1812,  acting  as  Commissary 
of  Supplies.  In  1825,  with  his  sons  Henry 
and  William,  he  made  the  first  survey  of  Cuy- 
ahoga Falls,  and  commenced  the  improvements 
and  laying- out  of  the  town.  They  also  started 
saw,  flouring  and  oil  mills  in  company  with 
John  Stow.  He  was  a  prime  mover  in  giving 
life  and  impetus  to  business  interests  there. 
He  died  Oct.  9,  1827.  William  0.  Wetmore 
was  born  Sept.  5,  1796.  Married,  Oct.  2,  1822, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Wallace.  He  resided  for  a 
number  of  3'ears  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  where  he 
was   extensively   engaged    in    manufacturing. 


He  built  the  first  paper-mill  in  Ohio,  on  the 
wet-felt  plan.  He  removed  to  Boston  Town- 
ship in  1850,  and  bought  a  large  tract  of  land 
and  was  beginning  extensive  business  opera- 
tions there,  when  he  was  taken  suddenly  ill 
through  exposure,  and  died  Jan.  12,  1852.  He 
represented  the  counties  of  Portage  and  Sum- 
mit in  the  State  Legislature  in  1844-45.  His 
wife  died  Oct.  9,  1875.  Children  as  follows  : 
Henry,  now  living  in  Boston  Township  ;  Ed- 
win, of  Northampton  ;  Mary  Collier,  in  Indi- 
ana;  Frederick  C.;  Julia  Wood,  of  Boston 
Township,  and  Eliza  Stanford,  of  Boston 
Township.  Frederick  C.  Wetmore  was  born  in 
Stow  Township  March  6,  1835.  Upon  the 
death  of  his  father,  he  engaged  in  various  oc- 
cupations until  the  spring  of  1866,  when  he 
bought  the  saw-mill  at  Peninsula,  which  his 
father  had  built,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
engaged  in  farming  and  lumbering  in  Boston 
Township.  He  has  160  acres  of  valuable  im- 
proved land,  and  gives  the  dairying  business 
considerable  attention.  Mr.  Wetmore  has 
served  the  township  in  man}'  offices  of  trust, 
as  Trustee,  Town  Clerk,  Constable,  Mayor  and 
Councilman  of  the  corporation,  and  as  Justice 
of  the  Peace  one  year,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  he  resigned.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, Oct.  23,  1860,  to  Miss  Emily  Wetmore,  a 
descendant  of  the  same  family  as  himself 
Her  father  was  Nathaniel  D.  Wetmore,  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  who  embarked  earl}'  in  life  in 
business,  which  led  him  to  reside  severally  in 
Canada,  Dover  and  Rochester,  N.  H.,  and  Cuy- 
ahoga Falls  and  Cleveland,  where  he  is  now  in 
business  in  connection  with  Brainard's  Sons. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
New  Hampshire  in  1846-47-48,  and  is  a  cor- 
rect an  extensive  business  man.  His  wife  was 
Lydia  Mcintosh,  who  died  in  Cuyahoga  Falls 
in  1865.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wetmore  have  two 
children — Ethelbert  and  Lida.  A  daughter, 
Mildred,  died  at  4  years  of  age. 

ALFRED  WOLCOTT,  fai^mer ;  P.  0.  Hud- 
son ;  is  a  son  of  Alfred  and  Margaret  (Craig) 
Wolcott,  pioneers  of  the  township ;  Alfred 
Wolcott  was  born  in  Connecticut,  his  wife  in 
Wheeling,  Va.  He  was  a  surveyor  and  was 
employed  by  Perkins  to  survey  most  of  the 
land  of  the  Western  Reserve  ;  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Youngstown,  Ohio,  about  1806,  and  in 
the  fall  of  that  year  bought  the  land  where 
Gen.    Sanford    now   resides ;   but    thinking  it 


BOSTOX    TOWNSHIP. 


907 


would  be  unhealthy  on  account  of  the  river, 
sold  to  Stanford,  and  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
where  Alfred  Jr.,  now  resides.  He  bought  115 
acres  and  built  a  cabin  upon  it  and  began  the 
clearing  of  the  land.  He  raised  a  large  family 
of  children,  three  girls  and  six  boys — Melinda, 
the  eldest,  was  the  first  white  female  child 
born  in  the  township  ;  only  three  of  the  chil- 
dren are  now  living — Alfred,  Ji*.;  Darius,  a  res- 
ident of  Geauga  Countv,  and  Mrs.  ]Mary  Gay- 
lord,  of  Stow  Township.  He  followed  his  occu- 
pation of  surve3'or  man}'  years,  la3'ing  out 
many  of  the  township  roads,  and  most  of  the 
land  adjacent.  He  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  eighteen  3'ears,  and  in  other  minor 
offices,  taking  a  deep  interest  in  educational 
matters,  teaching  school  man}'  terms.  He 
died  in  1835  ;  his  wife  in  February  1863.  Al- 
fred Woleott,  Jr.,  was  born  Jan.  28,  1812,  in 
Boston  Township,  and  remained  at  home,  as- 
sisting in  clearing  land,  as  most  bo^'S  of  that 
period  did,  until  he  became  of  age.  He  was 
married,  April  18,  1836,  to  Miss  Mary  Scovill, 
who  was  born  in  Connecticut,  in  1821  ;  her 
father  died  in  Connecticut  and  her  mother  sub- 
sequently married  Thomas  McCauley,  and  in 
1832,  they  removed  to  Summit  County  ;  they 
now  reside  in  Hudson.  After  his  marriage  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Northfield  Township,  which 
he  soon  afterward  traded  for  the  old  home- 
stead from  his  brother.  Here  he  has  resided 
up  to  the  present  time,  making  many  improve- 
ments and  adding  to  his  possessions,  until  he 
now  owns  257  acres,  the  major  portion  of  which 
is  under  cultivation.  He  has  made  a  specialty 
of  the  dairj'ing  business.  He  was  elected  a 
State  Representative  from  his  district  and 
served  two  years  ;  has  also  served  as  Assessor 
and  interests  himself  generally  in  all  enter- 
prises and  improvements  of  merit.  ^Ir.  and 
Mrs.  Woleott  have  five  children  living — Simon 
P.,  a  graduate  of  Western  Reserve  College,  and 
now  practicing  law  in  Kent,  Ohio ;  John,  of 
Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Mercantile  College  of  Hiram  ;  Anna  A.  Bis- 
sell,  living  in  Michigan,  a  graduate  of  Paines- 
ville  Female  Seminary  ;  Alfred,  Jr..  also  a 
graduate  of  Western  Reserve  College,  soon  to 
go  to  Cincinnati  to  stud}-  Law  ;  Fremont,  at 
home  ;  Andrew  A.  enlisted  in  29th  0.  V.  I. 
and  died  in  service. 

ALLEN  WELTON  (deceased) ;  was  born  in 
Vermont,  July  18, 1809.   He  was  for  many  years 


a  prominent  farmer  and  dair^-man  of  Boston 
Township.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the 
owner  of  two  cheese  factories  in  the  township,  and 
was  for  man\' 3'ears  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Ohio  Dairymen's  As.sociation,  in  which  he  was  a 
leader.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  dair3'men  of 
the  Western  Reserve,  starting  the  second  factor}' 
within  its  limits.  He  was  a  man  of  extraordi- 
nary energy  and  possessed  great  executive 
ability.  Commencing  life  a  poor  bo3',  one  of 
his  first  enterprises  proved  a  disaster  ;  he  had 
chopped  400  cords  of  wood  in  New  York  State, 
which,  b3'  a  sudden  uprising  of  the  stream,  was 
all  swept  away.  He  was  of  very  industrious 
habits,  which,  coupled  with  good  judgment, 
made  his  later  enterprises  successful,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  he  left  a  handsome  prop- 
ert3^  He  was  a  popular  citizen  and  was  ver3- 
patriotic,  taking  a  leading  interest  in  all  efforts 
to  carry  on  the  late  war.  He  was  married  in 
New  York  State  to  Miss  Sarah  Striker,  by 
whom  he  had  five  children — Francis  (deceased), 
George  W.,  now  a  resident  of  Bradford,  Penn., 
who  was  in  the  service  nearly  three  years  ; 
William  H.  H.,  of  Akron,  who  served  in  the 
"Squirrel  Hunters  ;"  John  A.,  of  Bath  Town- 
ship, who  was  in  the  service  over  three  years, 
and  Ellen  E.  Ozmun,  who  is  living  in  Michi- 
gan. He  was  married  to  a  second  wife.  Louise 
Thompson,  March  17,  1852.  She  was  born  in 
Hudson,  in  1831,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Mills 
and  Catharine  (Allen)  Thompson,  who  were 
early  settlers  in  the  county.  Five  children 
were  the  result  of  this  marriage — Cora  A.,  Em- 
ma C,  Hattio  J.,  Iva  J.  and  the  eldest,  a  son, 
Frank  E.  Mr.  Welton  died  in  Boston  Town- 
ship, April  3,  1878.  and  in  his  death  the  com- 
munity lost  a  A'^aluable  citizen  and  one  of  its 
progressive  business  men.  Mrs.  Welton  is  liv- 
ing upon  the  homestead,  which  consists  of  180 
acres  of  valuable  land,  finely  located  and  im- 
proved. 

W.  W.  WHITNEY,  hardware,  Peninsula  :  is 
a  young  and  promising  business  man  of  Penin- 
sula. He  was  born  in  Akron  in  1856;  com- 
menced to  learn  his  trade  as  tinsmith  at  the 
age  of  19,  with  D.  E.  Sheppard,  of  Richfield, 
with  whom  he  remained  four  years  ;  he  then 
worked  a  short  time  for  Green  Lease,  at  Penin- 
sula, thence  to  Hudson,  whore  he  worked  four 
months  for  G.  H.  Grimm.  In  November,  1879, 
he  returned  to  Peninsula,  and,  in  July,  1880, 
commenced  his  present  business  venture.     He 


908 


BIOGKAPHTCAL    SKETCHES: 


purchased  a  new  and  complete  line  of  hard- 
ware, stoves,  tinware,  agricultural  implements, 
etc.,  and  is  doing  a  promising  and  growing 
trade.  He  is  a  skillful  and  experienced  work- 
man in  tinware,  in  which  line  he  does  general 
repairing.  His  business  location  is  centi'al,  and, 
as  he  is  a  popular  and  deserving  young  man, 
will,  doubtless,  grow  into  a  fine  trade. 

C.  S.  WHITNEY,  shocTnaker ;  Peninsula  ; 
is  a  native  of  New  York  Slate,  having  been 
born  in  Oswego  Co.,  in  1829.  His  father  died 
in  New  York  State,  and  his  mother  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Ohio,  locating  about 
1835,  in  Parma.  Cuyahoga  Co.  Our  subject 
commenced  to  learn  his  trade  at  the  age  of  20 
years,  in  West  Cleveland,  and  has  followed  that 
calling   all    his   life.     He   came   to  Peninsula 


about  1860,  where  he  has  since  remained.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  in  1854  to  Miss  Melissa 
Washburn  ;  they  have  three  children — William 
W.,  Daniel  L.  and  Nellie  V.  Mr.  Whitney  is 
considered  one  of  the  best  citizens  of  Peninsula, 
and  is  an  industrious  and  proficient  workman. 
FRANK  B.  WELTON,  farmer  and  dairying ; 
P.  0.  Peninsula ;  is  a  son  of  Allen  and  Louise 
(Thompson)  Welton.  He  was  born  in  Boston 
Township  Dec.  9,  1853.  He  is,  by  occupation, 
a  farmer,  and  is  a  rising  young  dairyman.  He 
has  been  interested  in  cheese- making  for  the 
past  eight  years,  and  is  carrying  on  the  factor}' 
located  upon  their  farm.  He  was  married  Dec. 
28.  1875.  to  Miss  Ella  Hancock,  daughter  of  E. 
D.' Hancock,  Esq.,  of  Richfield  Township.  They 
have  one  child — Park  E. 


SPRIS^CFIELD     TOWNSHflP. 


ROBERT  L.  ATCHISON,  merchant,  Mog- 
adore,  Ohio.  This  gentleman  was  born  in 
Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  April  15,  1813,  being 
the  son  of  Humphrey  and  Betsey  (Loury) 
Atchison,  who  were  natives  of  Washington 
Co.,  where  he  (Humphrey)  was  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1816,  he  moved  to  Steubenville, 
Ohio,  where  for  a  short  time  he  was  proprietor 
of  a  hotel.  Becoming  dissatisfied,  he  moved 
to  Yellow  Creek,  where  he  became  interested 
in  procuring  and  selling  salt,  at  which  busi 
ness  he  was  very  successful,  and  had  contracts 
in  many  parts  of  Ohio  and  West  Virginia. 
He  died  in  March,  1876.  The  subject  of  these 
lines  lived  at  home  imtil  he  was  14  years  of 
age;  he  was  then  engaged  to  drive  a  stage, 
the  route  being  from  Wheeling  to  Janesville, 
which  occupation  he  followed  for  seven  years. 
In  1884,  he  came  to  Akron  and  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  stoneware,  at  first  as  jour- 
neyman, and  subsequently  as  proprietor,  which 
business  he  has  carried  on  up  to  the  present 
time.  He  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
in  1855,  with  a  small  capital,  which  business 
also  he  successfully  controls.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Fannie  Purdy  on  Jan.  10, 1841, 
from  which  marriage  three  children  were  born 
to  them,  viz.:  Alfred  P.,  Charles  C,  and 
Emma,  wife  of  Norton  Atwood  (deceased).     A 


son  of  the  last  named  lives  with  him,  and  is  a 
musician  of  considerable  note.  Mr.  Atchison 
is  an  active  Republican. 

ABRAM  BRUMBAUGH,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser;  P.  O.  North  Springfield;  is  a  son 
of  Jacob  and  Susan  (Ditch)  Brumbaugh. 
Jacob  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  came 
to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1810,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Susan  Ditch  in  1828 ;  she  was  a  native 
of  Germany,  and  came  to  Summit  Co.  with  her 
parents  at  an  early  day.  There  were  nine 
children  in  the  family.  They  were  members 
of  the  German  Baptist  Church.  The  subject 
was  born  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  April  21,  1835. 
He  lived  at  home  until  he  was  of  age,  attend- 
ing the  district  schools.  In  1857,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Sarah  Shoner,  daughter 
of  P.  H.  and  Dorothy  Shoner,  who  were  natives 
of  Germany,  and  early  settled  in  Springfield 
Township.  The  result  of  that  marriage  is  an 
interesting  family  of  six  children,  viz. :  Emma 
J.,  Monroe  A,  Caroline,  Amanda,  Minerva 
and  Laura.  In  1860,  he  took  charge  of  his 
father's  farm  and  threshing.  He  jiurchased  a 
farm  of  100  acres  in  Lake  Township,  where 
he  remained  for  two  years,  afterward  exchang- 
ing it  for  a  grist-mill  in  Springfield  Township, 
known  as  the  Tritt  Mill.  He  settled  on  a 
farm  of  146  acres  in  Springfield  Township, 


IZ 


:^i 


SPlUNGriP:LD    TOWNSHIP. 


909 


where  he  now  resides.  He  has  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  buying  and  shipping  stock.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Brumbaugh  are  active  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  Mi'.  Brumbaugh  has 
always  voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  has 
held  many  offices  of  trust,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  successful  business  men  in  Springfield 
township. 

JOHN  T.  BRITTAIN,  farmer;  P.  O.  Brit- 
tain.  This  gentleman  was  born  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  in  Colmnbia  Co.,  Penn.,  Aug. 
16,  1823.  His  parents  moved  to  Springfield 
Township  in  1832,  and  settled  on  the  farm 
he  now  occupies.  His  early  days  were  spent 
on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  21  years,  he  mar- 
ried Hannah  Rogers,  daughter  of  Gerdon  and 
Sarah  Rogers,  of  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  and  the 
following-named  children  were  born,  viz.: 
Amanda,  wife  of  Wesley  Corp,  of  Northamp- 
ton Township;  John;  Sarah,  wife  of  Herman 
Newbower;  and  Hannah,  wife  of  Thomas  Gil- 
crest,  of  Springfield  Township.  Mrs.  Brittain 
died  in  March,  1852,  aged  24  years.  His  sec- 
ond wife  was  Catharine  Potts,  of  Suffield 
Township;  eight  children  were  born  to  them, 
six  of  whom  are  living,  viz. :  Olive,  Lemuel, 
Alice,  Cora,  Grace  and  Edith.  Mr.  Brittain 
is  comfortably  situ.ated  on  a  fine  farm  of  200 
acres,  which  is  valuable  because  of  the  amount 
of  ore  it  contains.  He  takes  an  active  part  in 
the  welfare  of  the  township,  and,  when  the 
people  of  Springfield  petitioned  for  a  post 
ofiice  to  be  located  where  Brittain  is,  it  was 
their  desire  to  have  it  given  his  name.  Mr. 
Brittain  has  always  voted  the  Republican 
ticket,  and  has  held  many  township  ofiices. 

EDWARD  BERRY,  Postmaster  and  mer- 
chant, Brittain;  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
Berry;  was  born  in  Union  Co.,  Penn.,  April  4, 
1832.  At  an  early  age,  he  left  home  and 
commenced  to  drive  mules  on  a  canal,  run- 
ning between  Pittston,  Penn.,  and  Baltimore, 
Md.,  and  followed  that  occupation  for  four 
years.  He  then  engaged  with  the  Captain  of 
a  schooner,  for  whom  he  worked  four  years, 
sailing  principally  along  the  coast.  He  ar- 
ranged to  take  passage  on  a  vessel  that  was  to 
sail  around  the  world,  but,  before  leaving, 
returned  home  for  the  purjiose  of  bidding  his 
parents  farewell,  and  was  taken  suddenly  ill, 
being  sick  for   about  three  months;  abandon- 


ing his  sailor's  life,  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
shoe-maker  to  learn  the  trade;  at  the  expira- 
tion of  his  apprenticeship,  he  began  as  jour- 
neyman, working  and  traveling  extensively 
for  three  years.  In  1853,  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio, 
he  started  a  boot  and  shoe  store  and  custom 
shop,  doing  business  until  1856,  when  he 
began  to  sell  other  articles.  In  1869,  he  pur- 
chased the  property  now  occupied  b  him  and 
started  a  general  store,  conducting  the  busi- 
ness ever  since.  In  February,  1880,  he  was 
appointed  Postmaster  at  Brittain.  On  April 
23,  1853,  he  married  Maria  Leib,  daughter  of 
John  Leib,  of  Stark  Co. ;  four  children  were 
born  to  them,  three  of  whom  are  living — 
Sarah  E.,  Martha  A.  and  Henry  L.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  principle,  and  has  held  many 
township  offices. 

JAMES  BREWSTER,  coal  operator,  Mid- 
dlebury;  is  the  son  of  James  G.  and  Mar- 
tha Brewster,  and  was  born  in  Coventry,  this 
county,  Jan.  11,  1834.  He  lived  on  the  farm 
with  his  father  until  he  was  21  years  of  age, 
when  he  went  to  California,  where  he  remained 
twelve  years,  engaged  in  mining.  In  18(37, 
he  returned  home  and  began  farming.  Then, 
in  company  with  his  brothers,  he  began  oper- 
ating the  coal  mine  which  was  located  on 
their  farm,  and  has  been  in  that  business  up 
to  the  present  time.  They  also  own  an  inter- 
est in  the  Buckeye  Sewer-Pipe  Works  of  Mid- 
dlebiuy,  and  a  gi'ist-mill  in  Coventry  Town- 
ship, and  other  property.  In  May,  1870,  he 
was  married  to  Mary  Davies,  daughter  of  Rev. 
David  Davies,  of  Portage  Co. ;  they  have  six 
children,  viz.:  Albert,  Martha.  Mary,  Laura, 
Rose  and  Modena.  Mrs.  Brewster  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Akron. 
Mr.  Brewster  is  a  stanch  Republican,  always 
having  voted  with  that  party,  and  is  consid- 
ered one  of  the  stalwarts. 

BENJAMIN  COLDREN,  miller.  Lake, 
Stark  Co.  The  subject  was  born  on  his  fa- 
thers' farm  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  May  5, 
1821.  His  parents,  Abram  and  Mar}-  Coldi'en, 
wei'e  natives  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  where 
they  were  engaged  in  farming  up  to  the  time 
of  their  death;  he  died  in  1866,  aged  75 
years,  and  she  in  1845,  aged  40.  The  subject 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  imtil  he  ar- 
rived at  the   age  of    18,  when  he  left    home 


4. 


ly- 


910 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


and  worked  on  another  farm  for  two  _years; 
biit,  being  dissatisfied  with  this  work,  and 
having  a  desire  to  become  a  miller,  he  ap})ren- 
ticed  himself,  two  years  later,  to  a  miller  in 
Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  serving  three  years. 
He  then  took  charge  of  a  mill  and  followed 
that  business  three  years.  In  1847,  he  rented 
another  mill,  where  he  successfully  carried  on 
business  for  thirteen  years.  In  ISGO,  he 
moved  to  Springfield  and  purchased  the  mill 
property  known  as  the  Phoenix  Mill,  where  he 
has  continued  in  business  up  to  the  present 
time.  He  has  made  many  improvements,  and 
it  is  now  one  of  he  first- class  mills  of  Spring- 
field Townshi]).  In  connection  with  that 
property,  he  owns  a  farm  in  Springfield. 
In  1858,  he  was  married  to  Ann  Sheets, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Sheets,  of 
Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.  Their  children  were 
Mary,  wife  of  John  Myers;  Samuel,  deceased; 
Caroline  E.,  wife  of  Adam  Swinehart;  and 
Pansy.  Mr.  Coldren  is  Democratic  in  princi- 
ple, and  has  voted  with  that  party  since  its 
organization. 

CIEORGE  CARPER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Mid- 
dlebury ;  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Ester  Young, 
who  came  to  Stark  Co.  from  Pennsylvania  at  an 
early  day,  where  they  settled  on  a  farm  of  160 
acres,  where  they  lived  until  their  death, 
the  mother  dying  in  1864,  and  the  father  in 
1868.  The  subject's  early  life  was  spent  in 
assisting  his  father  on  the  farm.  At  the  age 
of  21,  he  left  home  and  worked  on  a  farm  for 
three  years.  On  Dec.  22, 1861,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Elizabeth,  the  only  child  of 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  Young.  Five  children 
were  born  to  them,  as  follows:  Amanda,  Mar- 
garet, Samuel,  Ruben  and  Henry  (deceased). 
Mr.  Carper  settled  on  a  farm  after  his  mar- 
riage, and  has  continued  in  that  calling  up  to 
the  present  time,  in  addition  to  which,  having 
been  licensed  to  preach  in  1872,  he  has  accept- 
ably tilled  the  pulpit  of  the  German  Baptist 
Church.  He  owns  250  acres  of  valuable  land, 
and  also  has  an  interest  in  a  clay  bank. 
He  lives  with  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Young, 
who  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn., 
where  he  was  born  in  1819,  and  came  to 
Springfield  at  an  early  day.  Being  a  cooper 
by  trade,  he  followed  that  calling  for  several 
years,  until   about  1842,  when  he  engaged  in 


farming,  and,  by  his  industry  and  economy, 
has  become  one  of  Springfield's  wealthiest 
men.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
GFerman  Baptist  Church. 

HENRY  CRAMER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Moga- 
dore;  is  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Catharine 
(Myers)  Cramer,  and  was  born  in  Uniontown, 
Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  15, 1822.  In  his  early 
life,  he  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm.  At 
the  age  of  21,  he  left  home  and  purchased  80 
acres  of  land  in  Green  T(3wnsliip,  and  worked 
at  chojjping  and  clearing  for  three  years,  when 
he  discontinued  the  same.  He  was  married  to 
Elmira  Stall,  daughter  of  Simon  and  Deb- 
orah Stall,  May  6,  1846,  and  six  children  were 
born  to  them,  viz.:  Calviii,  Melancthon,  Sy- 
bella  (deceased),  William  H.  (deceased),  Mar- 
tha E.  and  Cora  A.  After  his  marriage,  he 
settled  on  208  acres  of  land  in  Springfield 
Township,  where  he  labored  diligently,  until 
he  has  one  of  the  best- improved  farms  in  the 
township.  Subsequent  to  the  death  of  his 
first  wife,  he  married  Isabella  Jones,  daughter 
of  William  and  Jane  Jones,  and  she  bore  him 
two  children — Jennie  B.  and  Arthur  H  (de- 
ceased). His  wife  died  March  1,  1880,  and 
her  loss  was  keenly  felt  by  neighbors  and 
friends,  who  greatly  esteemed  her. 

WILLIAM  F.  CROTZER,  retired  farmer; 
P.  O.  Mogadore.  Among  the  early  settlers  of 
Summit  Co.  is  the  subject,  who  was  born  on 
his  father's  farm  Oct.  30,  1799.  His  father, 
John  Crotzer,  came  to  Springfield  in  1816, 
the  subject  accompanying  him.  In  his  youth, 
he  assisted  in  clearing  the  farm,  obtaining 
such  education  as  the  early  schools  afforded. 
On  Dec.  28, 1820,  he  was  married  to  Margaret 
Diuibar,  daughter  of  Alexander  Dmibar,  of 
Pemisylvania.  They  had  no  children,  and  his 
wife  died  on  June  5, 1872.  He  settled  on  his 
present  farm  at  an  early  day,  and  did  the  first 
plowing  done  at  Brittain.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mrs.  George  Rehard,  formerly 
from  Peimsylvania;  her  maiden  name  was 
Sarah  A.  Degarmo.  They  are  both  active 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  he  hav- 
ing been  a  member  for  a  number  of  years.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  Democrat. 

JOHNW.  CHAMBERLIN,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Krumroy;  son  of  Joseph  and  Agnes  (Deal) 
Chamberlin;  was  born  in  Springfield  Town- 


"x: 


SPRINGFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


911 


ship  March  22,  1845.  He  remained  at  home 
until,  and  for  several  years  after,  his  marriage, 
which  occurred  Oct.  21,  1869,  the  lady  being 
Elizabeth  Wise,  daughter  of  Samuel  Wise,  of 
Stark  Co. ;  there  were  three  children.  In 
1877,  he  purchased  of  the  heirs  83  acres  of 
the  homestead  farm.  He  has  made  many  im- 
provements, and  his  is  considered  one  of  the 
pleasantest  homes  in  the  neighborhood.  Mx. 
and  Mrs.  Chamberlin  are  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Chvu-ch.  Joseph  Chamberlin,  his 
father,  soon  after  settling  in  Springfield 
Township,  built  the  grist-mill  known  as  the 
Chamberlin  Mill,  and  conducted  business 
therein  for  several  years,  when  he  again  fol- 
lowed farming.     He  died  in  1873,  aged  64. 

DAVID  ELLET,  school-teacher,  Akron. 
This  gentleman  is  the  son  of  David  and  Sarah 
(Fite)  Ellet,  and  was  born  in  Springfield, 
Smnmit  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  7,  1827.  His  parents 
died  when  he  was  young,  and  he  lived  with 
his  grandparents.  At  the  age  of  11,  he  went 
to  Findlay  and  lived  there  a  year,  when  he 
retm-ned  to  Springfield  Township  and  lived 
with  Jehu  Ellet  until  he  was  17,  when  he 
attended  school  at  Middlebury ;  from  there  he 
went  to  Wadsworth,  where  he  entered  Wads- 
worth  Academy,  subsequently  attending  the 
institute  at  Twinsburg,  where  he  remained  for 
some  time.  In  order  to  acquire  a  more  com- 
plete education,  he  attended  Franklin  College, 
where  he  remained  until  his  health  began  to 
fail.  He  was  considered  one  of  the  best- 
infonned  students  in  the  college,  and  was 
especially  noted  for  his  proficiency  in  the 
Latin  language.  On  June  14,  1849,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Keziah  Ellet,  daughter 
of  Jehu  Ellet,  of  Springfield  Township. 
There  were  three  childi'en,  viz. :  Lucinda  E., 
Minnie  J.,  Ai'thiu*  L. ;  Sarah  E.,  is  deceased. 
Since  his  marriage,  he  has  been  engaged  in 
fanning  and  teaching.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  School  Examiners  of  Summit  Co. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellet  are  devout  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

K.  J.  ELLET,  farmer;  P.  O.  Middlebury;  is 
a  son  of  Jehu  and  Elizabeth  Ellet.  His 
father  was  from  Hartford  Co.,  Md.,  and  came 
to  Tnunbull  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1802  with  his  par- 
ents, where  they  remained  until  1810,  when 
they  came  to  Springfield  and  settled  a  f  ai'm  of 


640  acres.  His  mother's  parents  were  from 
Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in  Trumbull  Co., 
Ohio,  in  1820.  After  their  marriage,  they 
lived  on  a  farm  up  to  the  time  of  their  death; 
he  died  March  23,  1860,  aged  66  years,  and 
she  in  September,  1865,  aged  73  years.  The 
subject  was  born  in  Springfield  Dec.  27, 1831. 
He  lived  at  home,  doing  farm  work  and  at- 
tending district  school,  until  March  16,  1854, 
when  he  was  married  to  Lu.cinda  E.  Norton, 
daughter  of  Lester  Norton,  who  came  to 
Springfield  from  New  York  State  in  1808. 
Three  children  were  born  to  them,  viz. :  Mat- 
tie,  wife  of  Milo  White,  of  Springfield;  Cora 
J.,  wife  of  Frank  Weston;  and  King  Fred. 
Mr.  Ellet  lives  on  the  homestead  farm,  consist- 
ing of  132  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  has  held  many  town- 
ship olfices. 

ROBERT  GILCREST,  miller,  Brittain. 
The  subjcet  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington Co.,  Penn.,  Feb.  28,  18 lO.  He  lived 
at  home  until  he  was  22  years  of  age,  working 
on  the  farm  during  siimmers  and  attending 
school  in  winters.  At  the  age  of  22,  he  left 
home  and  went  to  Wellsburg,  Va.,  where  he 
began  working  in  a  boat-yard,  remaining  for 
four  years.  In  1838,  he  came  to  Stark  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  became  engaged  in  the  mill- 
wright's trade,  which  he  continued  eight  years 
in  different  parts  of  Ohio.  In  1849,  he  came 
to  Springfield  and  purchased  the  mill  prop- 
erty known  as  the  Western  Reserve  Mill,  in 
which  business  he  has  been  engaged  ever 
since.  In  1832,  he  was  married  to  Mary  Mar- 
tin, daughter  of  Robert  Martin,  of  Brooke  Co., 
Va.  Mrs.  Gilcrest  died  in  1838.  His  second 
wife  was  Rebecca  Myers,  of  Springfield. 
They  have  five  childi-en — Caroline,  wife  of 
Frederick  Schnee;  Thomas;  Matilda,  wife  of 
Benton  Adams,  of  Aki-on;  Mary  A.  and  Anson. 
IVIi-.  Gilcrest  is  a  stanch  Democrat. 

A.  W.  HALL,  stoneware  manufacturer, 
Mogadore;  is  the  son  of  Robert  and  Mary 
(Warner)  Hall;  born  in  Portage  Co.,  Ohio, 
Aug.  15,  1843,  on  his  father's  farm,  where 
his  boyhood  days  were  spent.  At  the  age  of 
7,  he  came  to  Mogadore  with  his  mother,  at- 
tending school  imtil  he  was  14  yeai-s  old,  when 
he  began  to  work  on  a  farm  in  Portage  Co., 
continuing  for  two  years,  when  he  went  to 


912 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Oshkosh,  Wis.,  remaining  but  one  year,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  was  working  on  a  farm. 
Returning  to  Ohio,  he  went  to  Tallmadge, 
where  he  again  attended  school,  remaining 
until  the  breaking-out  of  the  war,  when  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  F,  7th  O.  V.  I.,  remaining  in 
that  company  but  three  months,  when  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  G,  29th  O.  V.  I.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Chancellorsville  May  3, 1868, 
being  released  on  the  1  st  of  June  of  the  same 
year.  He  served  through  many  battles,  and 
was  with  Sherman  while  on  his  march  to  the 
sea.  He  returned  home  in  1866  and  engaged 
in  the  pottery  business,  the  firm  name  being 
Martin  &  Hall.  Their  works  were  destroyed 
by  tire  in  1868,  and  he  then  bought  more 
extensive  works.  The  tirm  is  now  Myers  & 
Hall,  and  are  doing  a  flourishing  business. 
In  March,  1867,  he  was  married  to  Helen 
Warren,  daughter  of  William  H.  and  Phcebe 
Warren.  From  their  union  two  children  were 
the  issue — Harry  R.  and  Eva.  Mr.  Hall  is  an 
active  Republican,  and  enjoys  the  confidence 
of  all. 

HARLIN  HILL,  farmer;  P.  O.  Mogadore; 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Eunice  Crane  Hill. 
John,  the  father,  was  born  in  Rhode  Island, 
but  removed  to  Clarence,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming;  he  remained  there  but  a 
short  time  when  he  removed  to  Allegany  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  settled  on  a  farm,  where  he  lived 
for  several  years.  At  the  breaking-out  of  the 
war  of  1812,  he  volunteered  his  services  and 
was  engaged  in  the  battle  in  which  Gen.  Brock 
lost  his  life,  and  after  the  war  he  moved  to 
Canada,  where  he  remained  until  the  time  of 
his  death.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Clarence,  N.  Y., 
in  the  year  1810,  and  his  early  life  was  spent 
on  his  father's  farm.  At  the  age  of  18  years, 
he  learned  to  manufacture  woolen  goods  in 
Canada,  and  was  engaged  in  the  same  for  ten 
years,  when  he  sold  out.  In  1 844,  he  came  to 
Summit  Co.,  settling  in  Tallmadge  Township, 
remaining  there  eight  years.  He  then  pur- 
chased the  farm  he  now  lives  on,  consisting  of 
300  acres  of  land.  In  May,  1835,  he  was 
married  to  Mary  M.  Church,  daughter  of  John 
K.  and  Mary  Chxirch,  who  were  natives  of 
Vermont,  and  settled  in  Summit  Co.  at  an 
early  day.     From  that  marriage  there  were 


six  children  born,  as  follows:  John  H.,  Hiram 
C,  both  killed  in  the  late  war;  Franklin  F., 
William  E.,  Eugene  H.,  and  Edith  P.,  wife  of 
Albert  Kent,  of  Mogadore.  Mr.  Hill  has 
always  been  identified  with  the  Republican 
party. 

JOHN  S.  HART,  contractor,  Middlebury; 
was  born  in  Middlebiuy,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio, 
Dec.  5,  1833,  to  John  C.  and  Margaret  A. 
(Sterling)  Hart,  and  lived  on  his  father's  farm 
imtil  he  was  16  years  of  age,  when  he  entered 
the  high  school  at  Abingdon,  Mass.,  where  he 
remained  one  year,  and  then  attended  the  high 
school  at  Winchester,  Mass. ,  where  he  remained 
for  a  short  time,  and  then  returned  home  and 
assisted  his  father  at  farming  and  other  busi- 
ness. On  March  12,  1856,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Zilpha  M.  Tinker,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Tinker,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  Two 
children  were  born  to  them,  viz.:  Louise 
Sumner  and  Hiram  S.  (deceased).  In  Sep- 
tember, 1873,  his  wife  died,  and  on  the  19th 
of  July,  1874,  he  married  Rose  Henry,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Henry,  of  Pittsburgh.  They  have 
no  childien.  In  1856,  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, which  business  he  followed  imtil  1861, 
when  he  adopted  the  stoneware  business,  in 
company  with  William  E.  Smith,  at  which  he 
continued  until  1873.  In  July,  1875,  he  was 
engaged  by  the  Akron  Strawboard  Company 
— the  lai'gest  establishment  of  its  kind  in  the 
State — as  contractor,  which  business  he  is  now 
engaged  in.  In  addition  to  this,  he  carries 
on  the  old  homestead  farm.  Mr.  Hart  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  always  having  A'oted  with 
that  party. 

AUSTIN  M.  HALE,  farmer  and  nursery- 
man; P.  O.  Mogadore.  Among  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Portage  Co.  was  the  subject's  father, 
Thomas  Hale,  who,  in  1806,  left  his  home  in 
Suffield  Co.,  Conn.,  for  the  State  of  Ohio. 
Uj)on  his  arrival  in  the  new  country,  he  was 
engaged  to  teach  school,  which  business  he 
can-ied  on  for  several  yeai's.  In  1810,  he  was 
united  in  mandage  to  Laura  Moore,  who  was 
a  native  of  Vermont.  The  subject  has  in  his 
possession  a  letter  written  by  his  father  to 
Mr.  Moore,  asking  his  approval  of  their  mar- 
riage. Thomas  Hale  came  into  possession  of 
1,800  acres  of  land  in  Portage  and  Medina 
Cos.  at  the  death  of  his  father.     He  served  as 


.  yg 


-=# © 


^ 


SPRINGFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


913 


Justice  of  the  Peace  for  upward  of  forty  years. 
His  death  occuired  in  June,  1841.  The  sub- 
ject's early  life  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm. 
At  the  age  of  17,  he  moved  on  the  farm  which 
he  now  occupies.  On  Jan.  I,  1838,  he  was 
married  to  Samantha  Bellows;  four  children 
wei'e  born  to  them — Thomas,  Albert,  Laura 
and  Mary.  His  wife  died  in  1870.  He  mar- 
ried his  second  wife,  Laura  Brown,  on  Feb.  6, 
1871,  and  of  that  marriage  there  is  one  child 
—Nellie  May. 

PETER  HILE,  farmer;  P.  O.  Mogadore: 
is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Maria  Hile,  and  was 
born  Nov.  11,  »824.  When  but  5  days  old, 
his  mother  died  and  left  him  in  charge  of  a 
brother,  where  he  lived  until  he  was  10  years 
of  age,  when  he  commenced  to  work  on  a  farm 
in  the  summers  and  attending  school  during 
the  winters,  which  life  he  led  for  seven  years. 
He  then  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  serv- 
ing three  years  as  an  apprentice;  he  worked 
in  company  with  his  brother  for  two  years, 
when  they  dissolved  partnership  and  he  con- 
ducted the  business  alone  for  a  time.  On  Feb. 
25,  1846,  he  was  married  to  Olive  L.  Boyd, 
who  bore  him  two  childi"en,  viz.:  Emily  R., 
wife  of  Quinn  Monroe,  of  Texas;  and  Sarah 
L.,  wife  of  Henry  Weimer,  of  Springfield, 
Mr.  Hile  began  life  a  poor  boy,  but,  by  his 
industry  and  economy,  has  acquired  a  fine 
property.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hile  are  members  of 
the  Disciples'  Church. 

GEORGE  W.  HART,  farmer;  P.  O.  Mid- 
dlebury;  is  the  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Dun- 
bar) Hart,  who  were  natives  of  Penosylvania, 
where  they  were  engaged  in  farming.  In 
1819,  they  came  to  Springfield  and  settled  on 
a  farm.  In  1889,  they  bought  and  settled  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  George,  where  they 
lived  until  their  death.  The  father  was  a  sol- 
dier of  the  war  of  1812,  and  died  at  the  ripe 
age  of  82;  and  the  mother,  at  the  age  of  66. 
The  subject  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Springfield,  March  17, 1833,  and  is  the  young- 
est of  a  family  of  feven  children.  His  younger 
days  were  spent  on  the  fai'm  and  attending 
school.  In  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  4th 
Battalion  O.  V.  I.,  and  served  100  days.  On 
Nov.  23,  1856,  he  was  married  to  Rebecca 
Myers,  daughter  of  John  D.  Myers.  There 
were  three  children,   as    follows:    Arilda    J., 


wife  of  Oren  Swinehart;  Ira  L.  and  Luther 
E.  Mr.  Hart's  gi'andfather  was  a  soldier 
imder  La  Favette,  serving  seven  yeai'a. 

JONATHAN  HOOVER,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Lake;  is  the  yoimgest  of  a  family  of  eight 
children  born  to  Samuel  and  Susan  Hoover, 
who  were  natives  of  Huntington  Co.,  Penn., 
where  they  followed  farming  until  their  death. 
The  subject  was  born  in  Himtingdon  Co., 
Penn.,  Feb.  8,  1818,  and  lived  at  home  imtil 
he  was  10  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  with  John  Harley.  When 
he  reached  his  18th  yeai%  he  began  to  learn 
the  shoemaker's  trade;  served  thi*ee  years  as 
an  apprentice,  and  then  started  in  business  for 
himself  in  Lake  Township,  where  he  contin- 
ued for  twelve  years.  In  1851,  he  bought  and 
settled  on  a  farm  of  113  acres,  where  he  lived 
until  1867,  when  he  sold  his  farm  and  bought 
the  one  he  now  lives  on,  consisting  of  155 
acres  of  valuable  land.  In  1843,  he  mairied 
Catharine  Fouse;  nine  children  were  bom  to 
them,  viz.:  Franklin,  William,  Elizabeth, 
Priscilla,  Sarah,  Ellen,  Daniel,  Wilson  and  Ida. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoover  are  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  Chiu-ch.  Mr.  Hoover  is  a  stanch 
Republican. 

SAWYER  M.  miSH,  farmer;  P.  O.  Mid- 
dlebmy;  is  the  third  of  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren born  to  Jonas  and  Sallie  (Sawyer)  Ii'ish. 
They  were  natives  of  Rutland,  Yt.,  and  moved 
to  New  York  State  in  1810,  settling  on  a  farm, 
and  afterwai'd  moving  to  Knox  Co.,  Tenn.,  in 
1866,  where  he  engaged  in  fanning,  which  he 
continued  until  his  death,  which  occiuTed  in 
1873,  his  age  being  73.  His  companion  died 
in  New  York  State  in  1860,  her  age  being  65. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July 
12, 1820.  Here  he  assisted  his  father  at  fann- 
ing imtil  he  attained  his  majority,  when  he 
left  home  and  worked  on  another  farm.  In 
1 842,  he  came  to  Siunmit  Co.  and  began  farm- 
ing in  Springfield  Township,  where  he  re- 
mained for  some  years.  He  afterwai'd  pur- 
chased 40  acres  of  land,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  In  1842,  he  was  imited  in  mam  age 
to  Julia  Decker,  daughter  of  John  Decker,  of 
Orange  Co.,N.  Y.;  foiu-  childi-en  were  born  to 
them,  viz.:  Melvin,  Elizabeth  (wife  of  H. 
Crosier,  of  Portage,)  CaiTie  (wife  of  H.  Neli, 


^3* 


..s> 


914 


BIOGUAPIIICAL    SKETCHES: 


of  Springfield),  and  Hattie  (wife  of  J.  K. 
Kimes,  of  Portage  Co.).  Mr.  Irish  lias  been 
successful  in  his  pursuits.  His  wife  has  been 
a  member  of.  the  M.  E.  Church  for  several 
years.  Mr.  Irish  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
and  has  voted  the  Repiiblican  ticket  for  sev- 
eral years. 

WILLIAM  H.  JONES,  farmer;  P.  O.  Brit- 
tain;  son  of  John  and  Lucy  C.  Jones,  was 
born  in  Lodi,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  3,  1841. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  young,  and  he 
lived  with  his  grandparents  until  he  was 
twelve  years  of  age,  when  he  left  them  and 
worked  in  different  parts  of  the  county.  In 
1858,  he  began  working  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  serving  his  apprenticeship,  afterward 
continuing  at  the  trade  until  1862,  when  he 
enlisted  in  the  120th  O.  V.  I.,  and  served 
three  yeai's.  He  was  with  his  company  in 
Texas  the  greater  part  of  the  time.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  returned  home,  and,  in 
1866,  came  to  Akron  where  he  again  worked 
at  his  trade  and  at  contracting.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1862,  he  was  married  to  Sarah  A.  Sum- 
merton,  of  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  she  bore  him 
five  children,  viz.,  Ora  A.,  Beiiies  E.,  Frank 
E.  (deceased),  John  V.  and  Lucy  E.  J.  In 
1878,  he  purchased  a  farm  of  90  acres  on  which 
he  now  lives.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  is  among  the  stalwarts  of  the  township. 

ALFRED  KREIGHBAUM,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Lake;  is  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  fom-teen 
childi-en  born  to  William  and  Sarah  Kreigh- 
baum,  who  were  natives  of  Lancaster  Co., 
Penn.,  and  came  to  Stark  Co.  at  an  early  day, 
where  they  settled  on  a  farm  of  235  acres. 
The  father  was  engaged  in  farming  until  his 
death,  which  occuiTed  in  1869.  His  wife  sur- 
vives him  and  lives  in  Greentown,  Stark  Co., 
at  the  present  time.  The  subje.ct  was  born  in 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  April  14,  1835,  on  the  farm, 
where  he  remained  until  1858,  where  he  was 
married  to  Mary  A.  Pontius,  daughter  of  Sam. 
uel  and  Catharine  Pontius,  of  Stark  Co.  From 
that  mai-riage  there  were  three  children — Sa- 
die C,  Emma  L.  and  Louise  D.  (deceased). 
Soon  after  his  marriage  he  bought  a  farm  of 
45  acres,  where  he  resided  for  five  years,  and, 
in  1870,  bought  and  settled  on  the  present 
farm,  consisting  of  154  acres  of  valuable  and 
well  improved    land.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kreigh- 


baum  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Mr.  K.  is  Democratic  in  principle, 
and  has  always  voted  that  ticket. 

ELIAS  KURTZ,  farmer;  P.  O.  Lake;  Is 
one  of  eleven  childi-en  born  to  Jacob  and  Cath- 
arine (Gibble)  Kurtz,  who  settled  in  Portage 
Co.,  Ohio,  in  1856,  on  a  farm  where  he  still 
lives,  his  wife  having  died  in  1873.  They 
were  natives  of  Lebanon  Co.,  Penn.,  where 
the  subject  was  born  in  May,  1833.  He  lived 
at  home  until  he  was  18  years  of  age,  when  he 
began  to  learn  the  carpenter  trade,  serving  two 
years  as  an  apprentice,  and  working  at  it  in 
Pennsylvania  until  1856,  when  he  came  to 
Portage  Co.  with  his  parents,  where  he  con- 
tinued at  his  trade  for  several  years.  He  was 
also  engaged  in  contracting.  In  1854,  he 
married  Catharine  Kunse,  daughter  of  John 
Kunse,  of  Dauphin  Co.,  Penn.  There  were 
twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living.  In 
1868,  he  bought  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  140 
acres,  where  he  lived  three  years,  and  then 
bought  1 02  acres  of  valuable  and  well-improved 
land  where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kurtz  are  members  of  the  German  Baptist 
Church  of  Springfield,  which  they  have  at- 
tended for  many  years.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
successful  farmers  in  Springfield  Township. 

SIMON  LAUDENSLAGER,  retired  mer- 
chant, Mogadore.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Snyder  Co.,  Penn.,  Oct.  18,  1819. 
His  father,  John  Laudeuslager,  owned  a  farm, 
and  Simon  spent  his  youthful  days  thereon. 
In  the  month  of  September,  1839,  he  in  com- 
pany with  his  family  left  his  native  home  to 
seek  a  more  desirable  one  in  Ohio.  They  jour- 
neyed in  wagons  and  reached  here  after  twen- 
ty-tlu-ee  days  of  driving,  settling  in  Magadore, 
where  our  subject  worked  at  the  tailor's  trade 
for  fifteen  /ears,  first  as  a  journe  man,  and 
subsequently  carried  on  the  business  for  him- 
self. In  1854,  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  with  R.  L.  Atchison  (whose  sketch 
appears  in  this  work),  and  continued  in  the 
business  for  eight  years,  when  he  sold  his 
interest  to  his  partner.  His  ambition  would 
not  allow  him  to  remain  idle,  and,  in  1868,  he 
again  started  a  general  store,  and  caiTied  on 
business  until  1874,  when  he  sold  his  interest, 
since  which  time  he  has  lived  a  retired  life. 
He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Green,  daughter 


-®  \ 


<2 


^ 


SPRIXGFIELD    TOWXSHIP. 


915 


of  Benjamin  and  Lucy  Green,  May  30,  1844. 
There  were  no  children;  his  wife  died  in 
1878,  aged  54  years.  He  has  since  his  retire- 
ment fi'om  business  traveled  extensively 
through  the  United  States,  and  takes  an  act- 
ive part  in  the  erection  of  the  Connotton  Val- 
ley Railroad.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Disciples*  Church  since  1848,  and  Elder 
in  the  same  since  1854.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  held  many  offices  in  his 
township,which  is  Democratic. 

PETER  LEPPER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Middle- 
bury.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
Oct.  6,  182G,  in  Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio.  He 
lived  with  his  parents,  Adam  J.  and  Mary 
tStine)  Lepper  until  he  was  12  years  old, 
when  he  began  life  as  a  mule  driver  on  the  Ohio 
&  Pennsylvania  Canal,  his  route  being  from 
Cleveland  to  Youngstown,  which  employ- 
ment he  followed  for  three  seasons.  At  the 
age  of  15,  he  was  engaged  by  a  stage  route 
company  to  drive  a  stage  from  Erie  to  Con- 
neaut,  which  he  did  for  one  year.  He  then 
engaged  as  steamboat  hand  on  board  a  steam- 
er running  between  Cincinnati  and  Nachez; 
gi'owing  tired  of  that  life  he  returned  home, 
soon  afterward  coming  to  Akron,  where,  for 
three  years,  he  worked  by  the  day.  By  his 
economy  he  saved  money  enough  to  purchase 
a  team  and  wagon,  which  he  did  and  began 
peddling,  dealing  principally  in  cigars  and 
notions,  which  he  carried  on  successfully  for 
two  years.  In  1850,  he  purchased  and  settled 
on  60  acres  of  land  in  Suffield  Township, 
Portage  Co.,  where  he  remained  for  several 
years.  In  1869,  he  bought  and  settled  on  his 
residence  farm  which  consists  of  254  acres 
of  well-improved  land;  he  also  owns  a  farm 
of  140  acres  in  Brimfield  Township,  Portage 
Co.  In  1880,  he  started  the  Bohemian  oat 
meal  mill  at  Middlebury,  where  he  is 
doing  a  thriving  business.  In  connection 
with  this  business  he  is  extensively  engaged 
in  the  sale  of  farming  implements,  and  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  and  most  successful 
business  men  in  Springfield  Township.  In 
1850,  he  was  man-ied  to  Catharine  Sausaman, 
daughter  of  John  Sausaman,  of  Portage  Co., 
Ohio.  Seven  children  were  born  to  them  as 
follows:  J.  H.,  T.  F.,  Louisa,  Maggie,  Liz- 
zie, Catharine  and  Jefferson.     Mr.  and  Mrs. 


Lepper  are  members  of  the  German  Baptist 
Church  of  Aki'on. 

JACOB  IVnSHLER,  farmer  and  civil  engi- 
neer; P.  O.  Mogadore.  This  gentleman  was 
born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Pemisylvania  Feb. 
24,  1828.  His  father,  Samuel,  and  mother, 
Elizabeth  (Beecher)  Mishler,  had  nine  chil- 
dren, the  subject  being  the  eighth.  In  1883, 
his  father  came  to  Springfield  Township, 
where  he  settled  on  140  acres  of  land.  Here 
the  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days,  and 
obtained  such  education  as  the  common 
schools  afforded.  At  the  age  of  1 9,  he  taught 
and  continued  teaching  for  ten  years.  About 
this  time  he  saw  in  the  New  York  Trib- 
une an  advertisement  of  the  sale  of  sui'veyor's 
instrmnents.  He  procured  a  set,  and,  un- 
aided, set  to  work,  the  result  being  consid- 
erable notoriety  as  a  surveyor.  In  Suffield 
Township  he  owns  103  acres  of  land,  upon 
which  he  is  to  erect  some  buildings  on  the 
Connotton  Valley  Railroad,  and  in  the  deeds 
of  conveyance  are  the  articles  prohibiting  the 
sale  of  intoxicating  drink  to  any  person.  In 
1851,  he  was  married  to  Louise,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Susan  Myers.  There  are  six  chil- 
dren— Menno  S.,  Milton  B.,  Maria,  wife  of  J. 
W.  Wise:  Lizzie,  Frank  J.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mishler  are  devout  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  Church,  with  which  they  iinited  twen- 
ty-six years  ago.  His  first  voting  was  with 
the  Frfee-Soilers.  He  was  elected  by  the  Re- 
publicans to  the  office  of  County  Surveyor, 
which  office  he  held  for  several  years. 

PHILIP  MYERS,  retired  fai-mer;  P.  O. 
Lake,  Stark  Co.  Is  the  son  of  Michael  and 
Agnes  Myers,  who  were  among  the  fii'st  set 
tiers  in  Green  Township,  settling  there  in  1812. 
They  were  natives  of  Center  Co.,Penn.,  where 
Michael  was  engaged  in  blacksmithing,  which 
business  he  had  followed  for  several  years. 
Owing  to  the  newness  of  the  neighborhood  in 
which  he  settled,  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  his 
trade  for  some  time,  and  tm'ned  his  attention 
to  farming;  he  purchased  100  acres  of  land, 
cleared  it,  and  i-esided  upon  it  to  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1847;  his  wife 
died  in  1852.  The  siibject  was  born  in  Cen- 
ter Co.,  Penn.,  February,  1809,  when  but  3 
years  of  age  he  was  brought  to  Green  Town- 
ship, Summit  Co.     He  remained  on  the  farm 


:^ 


/,  K 


i^ 


916 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


assisting  his  father  until  he  was  21  years  of 
age,  when  he  settled  on  88  acres  of  land,  which 
he  now  owns  in  connection  with  another  valua- 
ble farm  and  some  town  property,  all  in  Spring- 
field Township.  In  1831,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Rosana  Buchtel,  daughter  of  Pe- 
ter Buchtel.  There  were  ten  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  living — Urias,  Rebecca,  Thomas 
Jefferson,  James  M.,  Malinda,  Susan  and  Jen- 
ning.  Mrs.  Myers  died  Nov.  27,  1880,  aged 
70  years.  Mr.  Myers  has  voted  with  the 
Democratic  party  since  its  organization. 

GEORGE  MARKLE,  potter  and  grocer, 
Brittain;  sou  of  Adam  and  Barbara  Markle, 
was  boni  in  Springfield  Township  Sept.  11, 
1846.  He  attended  school  until  he  was  17 
years  of  age.  In  1864,  he  entered  Co.  D,  1st 
Ohio  Light  Ai-tillery,  and  remained  for  eight- 
een months.  In  1865,  he  was  engaged  by 
Whitmore,  Roberson  &  Co.,  of  Aki'on,  as  sales- 
man. In  1866,  he  began  learning  the  potter's 
trade,  working  as  an  apprentice  until  1868, 
when  he  removed  to  Manchester,  Iowa,  where 
he  engaged  in  that  business  for  two  years, 
when  he  returned  to  Summit  Co.,  and,  in  com- 
pany with  James  Viall,  of  Middlebury,  engaged 
in  the  manufactiu'e  of  stoneware.  They  are 
now  doing  a  thriving  business.  He  is  engaged 
with  his  brother,  Lewis  E.,  in  the  grocery 
business.  In  1867,  he  was  man-ied  to  Carrie 
Swartz,  and  two  childi'en  were  liom  to  them, 
viz.,  Archie  and  Grace.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
Democrat. 

D.  W.  MARTIN,  farmer;  P.  O.  Akron;  is 
one  of  a  f.imily  of  eleven  children  born  to 
Andrew  and  Rebecca  (Way)  Martin.  He  was 
born  in  Springfield  Township,  Ohio,  February, 
1841.  During  his  early  life  he  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm,  and  attended  common 
schools  and  the  seminary  at  Greensburg, 
remaining  at  home  until  he  was  21  years  of 
age.  In  November,  1861,  he  was  married  to 
Rebecca  J.  Henderson,  daughter  of  William 
and  Jane  Henderson,  of  Springfield,  who  were 
formerly  fi'om  Pennsylvania.  Six  children 
were  born  to  them  as  follows:  Luella,  wife 
of  William  Yerrick,  of  Springfield  Township; 
Ida  C,  Florence,  Herman  H,  William  A.  and 
Jennie.  In  1860,  he  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Springfield.  He  now  owns  and  resides  on  a 
farm  of  117  acres  of  valuable  land.     He  was 


a  Colonel  in  the  late  war.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  and  has  held  many  offices  of  trust. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order,  Lodge 
No.  83,  Aki'on.  Rebecca  (Way)  Martin,  mother 
of  the  subject,  was  born  in  Suffield  Town- 
ship, Portage  County,  Ohio,  April  29,  1804, 
and  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  that 
township.  Her  parents,  David  and  Rebecca 
(Baldwin)  Way,  were  natives  of  Connecticut, 
and  came  to  Portage  Co.  in  1802.  Mrs.  Mar- 
tin's early  days  were  spent  at  her  home  in  the 
woods,  where  she  remained  until  she  was  18 
years  of  age,  when  she  married  Andrew  Mar- 
tin, who  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
settled  in  Springfield  at  an  early  day.  Eleven 
children  were  born  to  them,  five  of  whom  are 
living.  Mr.  Martin  died  June  11,  1878,  at 
the  ripe  age  of  83  years.  Mrs.  Martin  still 
lives  on  the  old  homestead,  and  is  highly  es- 
teemed by  her  neighbors  and  friends.  She 
is  a  devout  member  of  the  Refoimed  Presby- 
terian Church. 

JACOB  METZGER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Mid- 
dlebui-y;  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Lancaster  Co.,Penn.,  Jan.  2,  1841.  His  par- 
ents, Henry  and  Mary  (Geibe)  Metzger,  were 
natives  of  that  place.  In  the  year  1855,  they 
came  to  Lake  Township,  where  they  settled 
on  100  acres  of  land,  and  farmed  until  1872, 
when,  selling  the  farm,  they  moved  to  Union- 
town.  IVIrs.  Metzger  died  in  1875  at  the  age 
of  65.  In  1879,  he  mai'ried  again.  After 
coming  to  Ohio,  om*  subject  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  serving  two  years  as  an  apprentice, 
and  afterward  working  at  the  trade.  At  the 
breaking-out  of  the  war,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  E, 
115th  O.  V.  I.,  serving  until  its  close.  He 
assisted  in  building  the  block-houses  at  Mur- 
freesboro,  and  was  one  of  the  thirty  men 
closed  in  by  the  rebels  for  seventeen  days.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  he  retiu-ned  to  Stark  Co., 
and  began  working  at  his  trade.  In  February, 
1868,  he  was  married  to  Leah  Wise,  daughter 
of  George  and  Barbara  Wise,  of  Stark  Co. 
Thi-ee  childi'en  were  born  to  them,  as  follows: 
Aerman  H.,  Mark  E.  and  Floyd  J.  In  April, 
1878,  he  bought  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  146 
acres  where  he  now  resides,  and  is  orle  of  the 
most  successful  farmers  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship. Ml-.  Metzger  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. 


IK 


SPRINGFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


917 


WILLIAM  McCLELLAN,  f aimer;  P.  O. 
Mogadore.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Trumbull  Co., 
Ohio,  July  4,  1807.  His  parents,  Robert  and 
Rosana  McClellan,  were  among  the  first  set- 
tlers there.  The  subject's  early  life  was  spent 
in  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm  and  attend- 
ing school.  In  1818,  he  came  with  his  father 
to  Summit  Co.,  where  they  settled  on  100  acres 
of  land.  Here  it  was  that  William  worked 
and  spent  his  younger  days.  At  the  age  of 
26,  in  1833,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Jane  Cmnmins,  of  Trumbull  Co. ;  from  that 
union  three  children  were  the  issue — Robert 
A.,  Jane  E.  (wife  of  Urias  Cramer,  of  New 
Philadelphia);  and  William  A.  He  now  owns 
65  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Chiu-ch 
for  several  years.  He  has  discontinued  farm- 
ing, and  is  paying  his  attention  to  sheep-rais- 
ing. His  son,  R.  A.,  is  carrying  on  business 
on  the  farm,  making  it  his  home.  He  has 
gained  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 

LEWIS  E.  MARKLE,  grocer,  Brittain; 
the  son  of  Adam  and  Barbara  Markle,  was 
born  at  Brittain  May  10,  1855,  where  he  at- 
tended both  district  and  high  schools.  At  the 
age  of  17,  he  was  engaged  by  one  of  Akron's 
merchants  as  clerk,  where  he  remained  one 
year,  and  then  engaged  with  J.  Park  Alexan- 
der as  foreman  and  collector  of  his  fire-brick 
works.  He  afterward  withdrew  and  clerked 
for  Viall  &  Markle,  where  he  remained  one 
year.  In  1876,  he  traveled  through  the  East- 
ern and  Western  States.  In  1877,  he  pui'- 
chased  IMr.  Vi all's  interest  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, and  engaged  in  the  same  in  company 
with  his  brother.  Although  a  young  man,  he 
has  rare  business  qualifications.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  Wurtemberg.  Germany,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica at  an  early  day,  settling  in  Medina  Co. 
He  came  to  Brittain  and  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery business,  which  he  conducted  until  his 
death,  in  1858. 

F.  W.  MYERS,  stonewai'e  manufactm'er, 
Mogadore;  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Susan 
(Winger)  Myers,  who  were  natives  of  Lancas- 
ter Co.,  Penn.,  where  they  were  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1838,  they  removed  to  Wayne 
Co.,  Ohio,  settling  on  a  fai'm;  in  1876,  remov- 


ing to  Mogadore.  The  subject  was  bom  Dec. 
4,  1830,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.  He  at- 
tended district  schools,  and,  at  the  age  of  1 5, 
left  home  for  the  pm-pose  of  obtaining  a  bet- 
ter education.  At  the  age  of  18,  he  was  ap- 
prenticed to  the  potter's  trade;  after  serving 
his  apprenticeship,  he  continued  at  the  trade 
for  several  years.  In  1864,  he  began 
business  at  Mogadore,  on  a  small  scale,  pm-- 
chasing  a  shop  which  he  afterward  enlarged 
to  those  now  standing.  He,  in  company  with 
A.  W.  Hall,  are  doing  an  extensive  business, 
employing  from  forty-five  to  fifty  men.  The 
pay-roll  amounts  to  $1,600  per  month.  In 
1852,  he  was  married  to  Lydia  Mishler,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Mishler.  There  were  five  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  living,  viz.,  Maria  L., 
wife  of  Dr.  Steele,  of  Mogadore;  and  Grace 
Eugenia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  are  members 
of  the  Disciples'  Church.  Mr.  Myers  is  a 
Republican. 

LEVI  H.  RHODES,  contractor.  North 
Springfield;  is  the  oldest  of  seven  children 
born  to  Joseph  and  Rosana  (Housley)  Rhodes, 
natives  of  Stark  Co.,  where  his  father  engaged 
in  fai'ming.  The  subject  was  born  in  Summit 
Co.,  Ohio,  May  14,  1847.  He  lived  at  home 
on  the  farm  until  his  marriage,  which  oc- 
cm'red  at  the  age  of  18,  to  Mai'tha  E.  England, 
daughter  of  George  England,  of  Medina  Co. 
From  that  marriage  three  children  were  bom 
to  them,  viz., Minnie  V.,  Martha  A.  and  George 
E.  After  his  marriage  he  learned  the  miller's 
trade  in  Wayne  Co.,  at  which  he  worked  for 
some  time,  when  he  was  obliged  to  discontinue 
it  on  account  of  his  health.  Then  he  farmed 
in  Medina  Co.  for  two  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  came  to  Springfield  Township 
and  engaged  as  contractor  for  the  Middlebmy 
Clay  Company.  In  1872  and  1873,  he  was 
engaged  in  the  stoneware  business.  He  after- 
ward re-commenced  contracting,  which  busi- 
ness he  has  been  engaged  in  up  to  the  pi'es- 
ent  time.  He  invented  what  is  known  as  the 
miner's  drilling  machine,  which  is  valuable. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rhodes  are  both  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  IVIi-.  Rhodes  has 
always  voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  has 
held  manv  township  offices. 

HENRY  RITTER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Krumrov; 
son  of  John  S.  and  Elizabeth  (Hendricks)  Rit- 


918 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


ter;  was  born  in  Union  Co.,  Penn.,  March  11, 
1834.  When  he  was  1  year  old,  his  parents 
came  to  Ohio  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Snm- 
mit  Co.,  where  the  subject  spent  his  younger 
days.  He  lived  at  home  until  he  was  26  years 
of  age,  and  obtained  such  education  as  the 
district  schools  afforded.  In  February,  1859, 
he  married  Louisa  Kepler,  who  were  for- 
merly from  Pennsylvania.  They  have  seven 
children,  viz.,  William,  John,  Charles,  Nor- 
man, Elsie,  Harry  and  Earnest.  In  1861,  he 
purchased  and  settled  on  80  acres  of  land,  and, 
by  his  industry  and  economy,  has  accmnulated 
a  handsome  property,  also  owning  a  valuable 
farm  in  Green  Township.  He  commands  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  all.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  is  ranked  among  the  stal- 
warts. 

ABRAHAM  SNYDER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Lake. 
The  subject  is  the  fourteenth  child  of  a  fam- 
ily of  lifteen  children  born  to  Jost  and  Sa- 
loma  Snyder,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. Jost  Snyder  was  a  weaver  by  trade,  and 
followed  the  business  until  1819,  when  he 
came  to  Summit  Co.,  settling  in  Green  Tojvn- 
ship  on  a  fann  of  68  acres.  It  was  on  this 
fai-m  the  subject  was  born  May  4,  1888,  and 
where  his  early  days  were  spent.  He  obtained 
such  education  as  the  district  schools  afforded, 
and,  at  the  age  of  18,  he  left  home  and  woi'ked 
on  a  farm  for  two  years;  followed  threshing 
for  twenty-two  years  in  Summit  and  Stark 
Cos.,  where  he  gained  a  notable  reputation. 
In  1858,  he  man-ied  Catharine  Cranable,  of 
Portage  Co.,  who  bore  him  live  childi'en  as 
follows:  William,  Stephen  D.,  Sarah  S.,  Eli  as 
A.  and  George  P.  He  now  owns  140  acres  of 
well  improved  lands,  and  a  comfortable  prop- 
erty in  Portage  Co.  Mr.  Snyder  has  always 
voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  has  held 
many  offices  of  trust.  He  was  1  st  Lieutenant 
of  a  company  diu-iug  the  war,  l)ut  was  never 
called  out. 

WILLIAM  J.  SCHROP,  potter,  Krumi-oy; 
was  born  in  Berks  Co.,  Penn.,  April  19,  1838. 
His  parents,  Michael  and  Maria  (Giesler) 
Schrop,  were  natives  of  the  same  place,  and 
came  to  Summit  Co.,  settling  in  Springfield 
Township  in  1839.  The  father  was  a  tailor 
by  trade,  and  continued  the  business  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.     The  subject  of  this  sketch 


lived  at  home  until  he  was  17  years  of  age, 
gaining  his  education  at  such  schools  as  the 
neighborhood  afforded.  At  the  age  of  18,  he 
was  apprenticed  to  the  potter's  trade  with  F. 
&  G.  Purdee,  of  Mogadore,  serving  two  years, 
and  continued  with  the  company  as  journey- 
man for  some  time.  Subsequently  he  was 
engaged  by  J.  Ebberling  as  foreman  of  the 
pot-shops,  and,  in  company  with  his  brother, 
E.  G.  Schrop,  bought  the  Brown  pottery,  which 
they  rebuilt  in  1871.  They  are  now  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  stoneware.  They  also 
own  an  interest  in  the  clay-mill  at  Mogadore. 
He  is  a  first-class  workman,  and  Mobile  serving 
his  apprenticeship  made  the  smallest  perfect 
jug  ever  turned  on  a  wheel,  its  dimensions  not 
exceeding  the  size  of  a  kernel  of  corn.  He  is 
the  oldest  correspondent  on  the  Beacon^  con- 
tinuing through  all  its  changes  of  ovpnership. 
On  Dec.  25,  1854,  he  married  Louisa  Hender- 
son, daughter  of  William  and  Jane  Henderson, 
of  Springfield.  They  have  three  boys — Ed- 
ward H.,  who  is  in  business  with  his  father, 
and  a  music  teacher  of  considerable  note; 
William  G.  and  Perry.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schrop 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Chiu'ch. 

HENRY  STEIN,  retired  farmer;  P.  O. 
Brittian;  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  Aug. 
10,  1818,  and  is  one  of  the  eight  childi'en  born 
to  Daniel  and  Catharine  Stein,  who  came  to 
Coventry  To'svnship  from  Germany  in  1832, 
where  they  lived  on  a  farm  for  many  years. 
In  1845,  our  subject  left  home  to  earn  a  liveli- 
hood, and,  being  industrious  and  economical, 
he  was  enabled  in  1856,  to  piu'chase  a  farm  of 
100  acres  in  Green  Township,  where  he  resided 
until  1878.  He  i3urchased  a  pottery  known 
as  the  Bm-n's  pottery,  but  did  not  conduct  the 
business.  In  July,  1844,  he  was  married  to 
Mary  Kramer,  daughter  of  Henry  Kramer,  of 
Dauphin  Co.,  Penn.  Six  childi'en  were  born 
to  them,  viz.,  Lavina,  wife  of  John  Sell,  of 
Alo-oii;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Benjamin  Holland, 
of  Indiana;  William  H. ;  Amanda  A.,  wife  of 
E.  Killinger,  of  Green  To^vnship;  and  Daniel 
P.  Mr.  and  Mr,~.  Stein  are  members  of  the 
German  Reformed  Church.  In  politics,  he  is 
a  Democrat,  and  has  held  many  offices  of 
trust. 

J.  B.  SWITZER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Brittain;  is 
the  son  of  Charles  and  Mary  R.  Switzer,  who 


— ?l\ 


t 


Ll^ 


SPEINGFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


919 


settled  in  Coventry  Township  and  engaged  in 
farming,  the  father  also  working  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade.  Mr.  Switzer  was  a  native  of  Peun 
sylvania,  and  his  wife  of  Connecticut.  He  has 
an  interest  in  a  very  valuable  coal  mine  in  Cov- 
entry. The  subject  was  born  on  his  father's 
farm,  in  Coventry  Township,  Siunmit  Co.,  Ohio, 
Aug.  8,  1848,  where  he  remained  until  he  was 
21  years  of  age,  when,  with  others,  he  was 
engaged  prospecting  for  coal.  He  afterward 
took  charge  of  his  father's  farm  for  foiir 
years.  In  July,  1874,  he  was  married  to 
Rebecca,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Catharine 
Yerrick,  of  Springfield.  Three  children  were 
born  to  them,  two  of  whom  are  living.  In 
1875,  he  pxu'chased  and  settled  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides,  which  consists  oi  105 
acres  of  well  improved  land.  For  ten  years 
he  taught  singing  school  in  different  parts  of 
Summit  Co.     In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican. 

JAMES  A.  STETLER,  farmer;  P.  O. 
North  Spring-field;  is  the  only  child  of  Will- 
iam and  Sarah  (Reichely )  Stetler,  and  was  born 
in  Union  Co.,  Penn.,  May,  1840.  At  the  age 
of  10  years,  his  parents  moved  to  Green 
Township,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  set- 
tled on  a  farm.  He  remained  at  home  doing 
farm  work  and  attending  school,  until  Sep- 
tember, 1860,  when  he  was  married  to  Lavina 
Koons,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Esther  Koons. 
Four  children  were  born  to  them,  viz.,  Will- 
iam H,  Charles  E.,  Marion  T.  and  Clarence 
O.  In  1879,  he  purchased  120  acres  of  valu- 
able and  well  improved  land,  where  he  now 
resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stetler  are  members 
of  the  Evangelical  Association.  Mr.  Stetler 
is  Democratic  in  principle.  His  father  and 
mother  are  comfortably  settled  on  one  of  the 
best  farms  in  Green  Township. 

FRANCIS  WESTON,  retired  farmer;  P. 
O.  Middlebury;  is  the  son  of  John  and  Mar- 
garet Weston,  who  were  natives  of  Litchfield 
Co.,  Conn.,  and  who  came  to  Springfield  in 
March,  1814,  where  they  settled  on  a  farm  of 
260  acres,  and  lived  there  until  the  father's 
death,  which  occurred  in  September,  1887,  at 
the  age  of  82.  The  mother  died  in  1864, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  93  years.  The  subject 
was  born  in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  April  20, 
1790.  In  1814,  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Springfield,  and,  in  company  with  his  father. 


purchased  the  farm  where  he  now  lives.  In 
1817,  he  was  married  to  Amanda  Hinman, 
daughter  of  Caleb  Hinman,  formerly  from 
New  York  State.  There  were  five  childi-en  as 
follows:  Celestia,  wife  of  Mathias  Rhodes, 
of  DeKalb  Co.,  Ind. ;  Margaret,  wife  of  Ly- 
man Brown,  of  Springfield;  Louisa,  wife  of 
Henry  Bellows;  Lydia,  wife  of  Martin  Bick, 
of  Michigan;  and  Salmon,  who  married 
Mary  J.  Fox,  of  Springfield,  and  is  settled  on 
a  farm  near  the  old  homestead.  Mrs.  Weston 
died  Oct.  17,  1859,  aged  57.  Mr.  Weston 
married  in  October,  I860,  Elizabeth  McGowti, 
daughter  of  Dr.  John  McGowi^,  of  Orange  Co., 
N.  Y.  She  was  the  widow  of  John  Decker,  to 
whom  she  was  married  in  1807.  Mr.  Weston 
owns  160  acres  of  well-improved  land,  and  is 
the  oldest  man  in  Springfield  Township. 
Mrs.  Weston  is  a  lady  of  high  cultui-e,  and 
has  now  reached  the  ripe  age  of  91.  They 
are  both  active  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Chiu'ch.  Mi-.  Weston  has  voted  the 
Republican  ticket,  since  that  party  was  organ- 
ized. 

ABIA  WHITE,  farmer;  P.  O.  Mogadore; 
son  of  Jacob  and  Rachel  (Brittain)  AVhite, 
was  born  in  Luzerne  Co.,  Penn.,  Oct.  18, 1816. 
His  father  and  mother  were  natives  of  New 
England,  and  settled  in  Luzerne  Co.  in  an 
early  day.  In  1824,  his  father  moved  to 
Summit  Co.,  and  settled  on  a  farm,  afterward 
moving  on  another  of  150  acres  near  North 
Springfield.  He  died  on  May,  25,  1858,  and 
his  wife  on  April  8,  1855,  aged  76.  At 
the  age  of  21,  otu-  subject  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  at  which  he  worked  a  few  years, 
and  then  turned  his  attention  to  farming, 
which  business  he  still  engages  in.  On  Feb. 
21,  1844,  he  was  married  to  Martha  Hagen- 
baiTgh,  daughter  of  Christian  Hagenbaugli,  of 
Medina  Co.,  of  which  marriage  there  were 
five  childi-eu,  fom-  deceased.  The  only  child, 
Milo,  is  living  on  his  father's  farm.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  White  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Wliite  has  always 
voted  the  Republican  ticket. 

JOEL  F.  WEBB,  farmer;  P.  O.  Mogadore. 
Among  the  wealthy  farmers  of  Springfield 
Township  ranks  the  subject,  who  is  the  son 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (McDermoth)  Webb. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  York  Co.,  Penn., 


920 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


where  the  subject  was  born  Nov.  10,  1823, 
where  his  early  life  was  spent,  and  whence  he, 
in  company  with  his  father's  family,  came  to 
Portage  Co.,  where  they  settled  on  a  farm  of 
125  acres,  which  the  subject  now  owns.  In 
1863,  he  was  iinited  in  marriage  to  Marion 
Anderson,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Sarah 


Anderson.  She  bore  him  four  children,  three 
of  whom  are  living — Mary  Grace,  Martha  L., 
John  F.  (deceased)  and  Joel  William.  He 
owns  184  acres  of  valuable  and  well-improved 
land,  and  in  addition  considerable  town  prop- 
erty. He  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat, 
and  an  admirer  of  Democratic  principles. 


TALLMADCE      TOWNSHIP. 


WILLTSTON  ALLING,  architect  and  build- 
er, Tallmadge  ;  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Maria 
(Clark)  Ailing,  who  were  natives  of  Connecticut, 
and  came  to  Trumbull  Co.  in  1807,  where  the}' 
settled  on  a  farm  ;  he  was  engaged  in  farming 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1878,  at  the 
age  of  86  years ;  his  widow  died  in  1880, 
at  the  age  of  80  years  ;  they  were  the  parents 
of  five  children,  the  subject  being  the  young- 
est. Our  subject  was  born  in  Trumbull  Co., 
Ohio,  Oct.  26,  1842  ;  at  the  age  of  12  3'ears, 
he  left  home  and  worked  in  a  saw-mill  for  four 
years  ;  he  came  to  Tallmadge  in  1858,  and  began 
working  at  the  carpenter's  trade  ;  he  has  been 
engaged  in  building  and  working  at  his  trade 
up  to  the  present  time.  He  entered  the  office 
of  Mr.  Snyder,  the  architect  of  Akron,  where 
he  remained  about  four  years.  He  is  consid- 
ered an  architect  of  considerable  note.  In 
1868,  he  married  Emily  Carter,  daughter  of 
Horatio  L.  Carter,  of  Brimtield,  Portage  Co.; 
there  are  three  children  of  that  marriage — 
Julia,  Walter  and  Ruth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ailing 
are  members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
He  is  a  strong  Republican,  and  has  held  many 
offices  of  trust. 

SYLVESTER  BARNES,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Tallmadge  ;  is  the  third  of  a  family  of  twelve 
children  born  to  Phineas  and  Abigail  Barnes, 
his  birth  occurring  Feb.  28,  1805,  in  Granville, 
Mass.  His  parents  came  to  Ohio  in  1815,  set- 
tling in  Trumbull  Co.;  after  remaining  there 
for  several  years,  they  removed  to  Norton 
Township,  Summit  Co.,  where  they  lived  until 
removed  by  death.  Our  subject's  early  life  was 
spent  on  the  farm  of  his  father,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  was  21  years  old  ;  he  obtained 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
neighborhood,  and  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  working  at  the  same  for  several  vears  ; 


in  1831,  he  bought  a  farm  east  of  the  center  of 
Tallmadge,  where  he  lived  until  he  removed  to 
the  present  farm.  Oct.  27,  1831,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Esther,  daughter  of  Maj.  John 
Treat,  of  TaUmadge,  who  still  lives  to  share  his 
happiness  ;  from  that  marriage  there  have 
been  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living, 
viz.,  Sidne}-  C,  Sylvester  E.,  Francis  N.  and 
Clark  B.  Mr.  Barnes  united  with  the  M.  E. 
Church  tift3'-six  years  ago,  and  is  one  of  its 
most  proficient  members  ;  Mrs.  Barnes  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  uniting 
with  the  same  when  a  girl. 

J.  E.  BiVLDWIN,  carriage  manufticturer, 
Tallmadge  ;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  Bald- 
win ;  they  were  natives  of  Milford.  Conn.;  Mr. 
John  Baldwin,  while  young,  was  apprenticed  to 
a  carriage-maker  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  working 
for  a  Mr.  James  Brewster,  who  built  tue  first 
carriages  in  the  United  States  ;  after  serving 
his  apprenticeship,  he  soon  after  began  busi- 
ness for  himself,  which  he  carried  on  for  twenty- 
five  years  ;  he  died  in  1867  ;  his  widow  sur- 
vived him  and  still  lives  in  Milford.  There 
were  ten  children  in  their  family,  the  subject 
being  the  oldest.  J.  E.  was  born  in  Milford, 
Conn,  Oct.  24,  1827  ;  he  attended  school  until 
he  was  17  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  his 
father's  factory  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  carriage- 
maker  ;  after  working  in  his  father's  shop  for 
four  years,  he  went  to  New  Haven,  where  he 
worked  for  one  3-ear  in  order  to  get  a  thorough 
understanding  of  his  trade  ;  he  came  to  Tall- 
madge in  1848,  and  worked  for  Oviatt  & 
Sperry  for  ten  years  as  a  wheelwright  ;  he  then 
contracted  to  furnish  wheels  for  their  work,  and 
furnished,  while  in  connection  with  them,  1,950 
sets  of  wheels  ;  in  1859,  he  engaged  in  business 
for  himself  on  the  northeast  corner  of  tiie  pub- 
lic square  in  Tallmadge,  where  he  carried  on 


^1 


TAl.LMADGE    TOWNSHIP. 


921 


business  extensively,  at  one  time  employing 
thirty  men  ;  his  works  were  destroyed  by  fire 
soon  afterward,  from  which  he  suffered  a  loss 
of  $3,000  ;  he  rebuilt,  and  carried  on  business 
until  1871,  when  he  suffered  the  second  loss  by 
fire  ;  in  1872,  he  built  the  works  he  now  occu- 
pies. In  September,  1852,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Harriet  S.  Wright,  daughter  of 
Francis  H.  Wright,  of  Tallmadge ;  from  that 
marriage  there  were  six  children,  all  of  whom 
are  living. 

C.  C.  BRONSON,  Tallmadge;  the  eldest 
child  of  Jarius  and  Irena  (Mallory)  Bronson  ; 
was  born  in  Woodbury,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn., 
July  5,  1804.  Soon  after,  his  father  moved  to 
Middlebury,  New  Haven  Co.,  his  native  place, 
where  young  Bronson  spent  the  first  fifteen 
years  of  his  life.  In  February,  1819,  the 
father,  in  company  with  a  brother,  Augustus 
Bi'onson,  and  Ebenezer  Richardson,  with  one 
horse  and  wagon,  left  for  the  West,  arriving  in 
Tallmadge  the  following  March.  Here  the 
father  selected  Lot  1,  in  Tract  4,  and  his  brother 
Lot  2.  Going  immediately  to  work,  they 
cleared  and  planted  six  acres,  and  in  June 
Jarius  returned  for  his  family,  leaving  his 
brother  to  build  a  log  house  and  care  for  the 
crops.  On  the  25th  day  of  August,  with  his 
family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  seven  chil- 
dren, together  with  the  wife  of  Augustus  and 
Dan  Saxton,  Jr.,  left  with  two  yoke  of  oxen 
and  a  wagon  for  their  new  home  on  the  Western 
Reserve.  On  the  road  they  were  attacked  with 
dysentery,  resulting  in  the  death  of  two  of  the 
children,  a  boy  of  5  years,  in  Oneida  Co.,  and 
one  of  3  3'ears,  in  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.  On 
the  3d  of  October,  they  arrived  in  Tallmadge. 
Jan.  21,  1820,  the  family  moved  into  their 
newly  constructed  log  house,  which  was  with- 
out fire-place  or  chimney.  Thus,  at  the  age  of 
15,  was  C.  C.  Bronson  brought  face  to  face 
with  the  stern  realities  of  pioneer  life.  Their 
lot  had  been  cast  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  forest, 
out  of  which  they  had  undertaken  the  task  of 
making  a  home.  But  with  that  sturd}^  will 
possessed  b}'  most  of  pioneers,  the}^  pressed 
forward,  and,  in  time,  became  surrounded  with 
comfort  and  plenty,  and  Mr.  Bronson's  father 
and  mother  lived  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their 
toil.  The  former  died  April  7,  1857,  and  the 
latter  April  7,  1863,  each  at  the  age  of  78 
years.  The  farm  which  Mr.  Bronson  assisted 
his  father  to  carve  from  the  forest  has  been  his 


home  until  this  day,  where  he  still  lives  in 
comparative  health  and  comfort  a  respected 
citizen. 

JOHN  CHAPMAN  (deceased);  was  born 
in  Cornwall,  Eng.,  in  the  year  1812.  He  lived 
at  home  until  he  was  19  years  of  age,  when  he 
came  to  America,  settling  in  Oswego,  N.  Y. 
He  had  worked  in  a  flouring-mill  before  leaving 
home,  and  had  a  good  knowledge  of  his  trade. 
He  was  engaged  in  one  of  the  mills  in  Oswego, 
where  he  remained  until  1832.  He  then  came 
to  xikron  for  the  purpose  of  putting  the  stone 
mill  in  operation  which  was  being  built.  The 
owners  not  being  pi'epared,  he  went  to  Middle- 
bury  and  worked  for  McNorton  &  Noble,  where 
he  remained  for  some  time.  He  then  returned 
to  iVkron  and  finished  the  stone  mill,  and  in 
June,  1832,  he  made  the  first  fiour  ever  made 
in  Akron  proper  ;  he  continued  to  run  the  mill 
for  about  a  year.  In  1833,  he  went  to  Rochester 
and  worked  at  his  ti'ade  for  about  a  year.  He 
returned  to  Akron  and  took  charge  of  the 
stone  mill,  where  he  remained  for  a  short  time. 
He  was  a  practical  mechanic  and  miller,  and 
many  of  the  earl}'  mills  built  in  Summit 
Co.  were  erected  under  his  supervision.  He 
purchased  a  farm  adjoining  Akron,  where  he 
lived  several  years,  then  bought  the  farm  his 
widow  now  lives  on.  In  1857,  he  married 
Phebe  Budd,  daughter  of  Solomon  Budd,  of 
Akron,  who  bore  him  four  children — John  L., 
Nellie,  Caroline  and  Cora.  Mr.  Chapman  died 
in  April,  1881,  after  a  short  illness,  at  the  age 
of  69  years.  He  was  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him  for  his  integrity  and  gentlemanly 
qualities.  His  widow  and  son  John  L.  conduct 
the  farming  on  the  farm  where  Mr.  Chapman 
had  made  man}'  improvements. 

H.  S.  CARTER,  retired  merchant,  Tall- 
madge ;  is  a  son  of  Adoniram  and  Arilla 
(Sackett)  Carter.  They  were  natives  of  Litch- 
field Co.,  Conn.,  where  Adoniram,  the  father, 
was  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  connected 
with  the  company  who  had  the  contract  to  dig 
the  race  from  Cuyahoga  Falls  to  Akron.  He 
furnished  part  of  the  capital,  and  sent  his  son. 
H.  S.,  to  look  after  his  interests.  He  never 
moved  from  his  home  in  Connecticut,  and  died 
in  1842,  while  on  a  visit  to  some  friends  living 
in  Illinois.  After  his  death,  his  widow  came 
came  to  Tallmadge,  where  she  died  in  1848. 
H.  S.  Carter,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  was 
born  in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  in  the  year  1817. 


TT 


922 


BIOGKAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


He  lived  on  the  farm  until  he  was  21  years  of 
age,  and  attended  the  seminary  at  Warren, 
Conn.,  and  was  about  to  enter  Yale  College, 
when  his  classmate,  to  whom  he  was  much  at- 
tached, died.  He  then  abandoned  the  idea.  He 
was  then  sent  by  his  father  to  look  after  his 
interests  in  the  company  of  which  he  was  a 
member.  H.  S.  was  to  bring  considerable 
mone}^  with  him  to  put  into  the  enterprise,  but 
upon  his  arrival,  he  not  being  satisfied  with  the 
manner  in  which  the  business  was  conducted, 
refused  to  furnish  the  mone3\  He  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  in  Tallmadge,  in  company 
with  W.  A.  Hanford,  which  firm  did  business 
for  three  j'ears,  when  E.  V.  Carter  purchased 
Mr.  Hanford's  interest.  This  partnership  con- 
tinued until  1846.  He  then  took  in  as  part- 
ners C.  and  B.  D.  Wright,  with  whom  he  con- 
tinued in  business  until  1872.  He  owns  con- 
siderable real  estate,  including  a  small  farm. 
In  1846,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Martha 
Wright,  daughter  of  Alpha  Wright,  of  Summit 
Co.  From  that  marriage  seven  children  were 
born,  five  of  whom  are  living — H.  W.,  a  prac- 
ticing physician  of  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis.;  Mar}^  A., 
at  home  ;  H.  H.,  studying  music  in  Leipzig, 
Germany ;  Starr  V.  V.  and  Charles.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Carter  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church.  In  1846,  was  appointed  Postmaster 
at  Tallmadge,  holding  the  office  until  1872. 

JAMES  CHAMBERLAIN,  farmer  ;  P.  0. 
Tallmadge  ;  is  a  son  of  Luther  and  Caroline 
(Davenport)  Chamberlain,  who  were  natives  of 
Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.  The  father  was  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  and  worked  at  the  same  for 
several  years.  In  1811,  he  came  to  Ohio,  set- 
tling in  Tallmadge,  where  he  settled  on  a  farm 
north  of  the  center  of  the  town.  After  remain- 
ing there  two  years,  he  purchased  a  farm  east 
of  the  center,  and  worked  at  his  trade  in  con- 
nection with  farming.  He  was  called  out  in 
the  war  of  1812,  but,  owing  to  ill  health,  was 
dismissed  from  the  service.  He  died  in  1870. 
at  the  I'ipe  age  of  89  years  ;  his  wife  died  in 
1839,  at  the  age  of  57  years.  Our  subject  was 
born  in  Tallmadge,  May  10.  1817.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  he  was  of  age,  and  then 
worked  his  father's  farm,  which  he  inherited 
and  lived  on  until  1867.  He  purchased  forty 
acres  of  well-improved  land,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. In  1844,  he  was  married  to  Harriet 
Heath,  of  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had  no 
children,  but  took  George  H.  Chapman  to  raise, 


to  whom  they  gave  a  good  education,  and 
cared  for  him  as  if  he  were  their  own  child.  He 
is  now  a  practicing  ph^^sician  at  Grand  Cross- 
ing, 111.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chamberlain  are  de- 
vout members  of  the  Congregational  Church 
of  Tallmadge. 

P.  C.  CARUTHERS,  farmer,  P.  0.  Tall- 
madge ;  is  the  eighth  of  a  famih'  of  ten  chil- 
dren boi'n  to  John  and  Nancy  (Allen)  Caruthers. 
John  Caruthers  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Penn., 
where  he  lived  until  1811,  when  he  came  to 
Ohio,  settling  in  Tallmadge  Township.  He 
was  a  tanner  and  shoemaker  by  trade,  and 
worked  for  several  years  at  the  same.  Upon 
his  arrival  in  Tallmadge,  he  purchased  a  farm 
in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township,  where 
he  lived  until  he  died.  He  was  in  the  war  of 
1812,  for  a  short  time,  and  died  Dec.  14,  1853. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  Tallmadge,  Ma}'  1, 
1818.  His  childhood  was  spent  on  the  farm, 
obtaining  his  education  in  the  schools  of  his 
neighborhood.  At  the  age  of  21,  he  began 
farming  the  homestead,  which  he  afterward 
purchased,  where  he  lived  until  1870  ;  he  then 
sold  it  and  purchased  the  farm  he  now  occu- 
pies, consisting  of  83  acres  of  well-improved 
land.  Oct.  21,  1840,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Cynthia  N.  Clark,  daughter  of  William  L. 
Clark,  of  Akron.  From  that  marriage  there 
were  three  children,  as  follows  :  Elmer  P., 
Charles  Clark  and  Lois  N.,  wife  of  Pai'k  John- 
ston, of  Akron.  Elmer  was  a  graduate  of  the 
Western  Reserve  (vollege,  of  the  class  of  1865, 
and  was  employed  as  Principal  of  the  Deaf 
and  Dumb  Asylum,  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  where 
he  remained  for  seven  years.  He  was  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  successful  teachers  in 
the  country.  After  remaining  there  for  seven 
years,  he  took  a  trip  across  the  plains  for  his 
health,  but  received  no  benefit  therefrom,  and 
died  Sept.  3,  1876,  at  the  age  of  37  years. 
Charles,  the  younger  son,  was  a  graduate  of  the 
Western  Reserve  College,  studied  medicine 
and  attended  lectures  at  the  Starling  Medical 
College.  He  enlisted  in  a  company  attatched 
to  the  60th  0.  V.  I.  He  was  with  Grant  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  being  wounded  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Petersburg,  and  was  oflfered  a  discharge, 
but  would  not  accept  it.  He  returned  home, 
and  after  three  months  again  joined  his  com- 
pany. After  his  return  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
he  lived  at  home  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred May  10,  1871,  at  the  age  of  24   years. 


rrx: 


!.£ 


TALLMADGE    TOWNSHIP. 


923 


NEWTON  DUNBAR,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Tall- 
madge ;  was  born  in  Springfield  Township, 
Summit  Co.,  Nov.  10, 1853.  His  parents,  John 
and  Fanny  (Hostler)  Dunbar,  were  natives  of 
Summit  Co.,  and  lived  there  several  years. 
John  Dunbar  was  a  plasterer  b}'  trade,  and 
worked  at  the  same  until  1856,  when  he  engaged 
in  the  stock  business,  in  Iowa.  He  was  very 
successful,  and  was  considered  a  thorough  stock- 
man. He  removed  to  Springfield,  where  he 
died  in  1859  ;  Mrs.  Dunbar  died  in  1856.  Our 
subject's  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  and 
attending  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood.  At 
the  time  of  his  father's  death,  he  being  then  but 
6  3'ears  old,  he  went  to  live  with  Sherman  Pet- 
tibone  (whose  sketch  appears  in  this  work), 
where  he  remained  on  the  farm  until  1877.  In 
1877,  he  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Pero,  daugh- 
ter of  Jasper  and  Elizabeth  Pero,  of  Tallmadge. 
From  that  marriage  there  have  been  two  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  is  living.  Although  a  young 
man,  Mr.  Dunbar  has  accumulated  considerable 
property.  Upon  the  death  of  Mrs.  Dunbar's 
father,  she  inherited  the  homestead,  consisting 
of  156  acres  of  well-improved  land. 

DR.  D.  E.  FENN.  dentist  and  farmer  ;  P.  0. 
Tallmadge  ;  is  the  eldest  of  a  famil}'  of  twelve 
children  born  to  Wyllys  and  Hannah  (Root) 
Fenn.  The}'  were  natives  of  Connecticut.  The 
father  was  from  Milford,  and  came  to  Ohio  in 
1819,  settling  in  Tallmadge  ;  he  was  a  carpen- 
ter, and  worked  at  his  trade  for  several  years 
after  his  arrival.  He  built  many  buildings  in 
the  Sixth  Ward  of  Akron.  In  1838,  he  bought 
a  farm,  and  settled  on  the  same,  where  he  lived 
until  he  died,  his  death  occurring  in  1880,  at 
the  age  of  78  years.  Hannah  (Root)  Fenn  was 
a  native  of  Waterbur}',  Conn.;  she  died  in  1870, 
at  the  age  of  62  years.  Dr.  D.  E.  Fenn,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Tallm.adge 
March  16,  1828.  His  early  life  was  spent  at 
home,  where  he  lived  until  he  was  34  j'ears  of 
age.  He  obtained  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  neighborhood.  In  1852,  he  purchased 
the  farm  he  still  occupies.  In  1861,  he  began 
the  stud}'  of  dentistry.  He  was  an  apprentice 
but  a  short  time,  when  he  opened  an  office,  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  profession.  He 
is  a  skillful  workman,  and  has  gained  a  repu- 
tation which  is  a  credit  to  any  one.  He  owns 
215  acres  of  well-improved  land  well  stocked 
with  cattle  and  horses  of  excellent  pedigree. 
Oct.  12,  1851,  he  was  united  in  marriage   to 


Charlotte  A.  Wolcott,  daughter  of  Guy  and  An- 
nis  Walcott,  of  Connecticut,  formerly.  From 
that  marriage  there  were  three  children,  as  fol- 
lows :  Wilbur  W.,  associated  with  his  father  in 
business  ;  Annis  E.  and  Harriet  W.,  both  at 
home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fenn  are  devout  members 
of  the  Congregational  Church,  of  Tallmadge; 
the  two  oldest  children  are  members  also. 

T.  H.  FENTON,  pipe  and  stoneware  manu- 
facturer ;  Tallmadge  ;  was  born  in  Mogadore 
Oct.  22,  1847.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  at- 
tending the  school  of  his  native  town.  At  the 
age  of  18,  he  began  learning  the  potter's  trade 
in  his  father's  works  at  3Iogadoi-e.  After  work- 
ing in  his  father's  shop  five  years,  he  started 
the  works  he  now  manages,  in  compain'  with 
H.  H.  Stahl.  At  the  close  of  one  year,  he  pur- 
chased Mr.  Stahl's  interest,  and  conducted  the 
business  alone  until  1876,  when  he  took  in 
as  partner  his  brother,  Curtis  Fenton,  who  is 
still  connected  with  him.  The  shop's  capacity 
is  about  6,000  gallons  per  week,  and  about 
150,000  pipes.  In  1870,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Mary  Stahl,  daughter  of  A.  M.  and 
Laura  Stahl,  of  Trumbull  Co.,  who  bore  him  two 
children.  His  brother  Curtis  married  Katie, 
daughter  of  Dr.  James  Ferguson,  of  Mogadore. 

C.  GUISE,  farmer  ;  P.  6.  Munroe  Falls  ;  is 
a  son  of  Elias  and  Christiana  (Marsh)  Guise, 
and  was  born  in  Manchester,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio, 
Jan.  28,  1849  ;  he  attended  the  schools  in  his 
native  town  until  1865,  when  he  entered  the 
grammar  school  at  Akron,  and,  one  year  later, 
the  high  school  of  the  same  city,  where  he  re- 
mained for  twelve  consecutive  terms.  After 
completing  his  education,  he  retui'ned  to  his 
father's  farm  and  remained  one  year.  In  Jan- 
uar}-,  1871,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Viana, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Thornton,  of  Akron,  Oliio. 
and  from  whom  he  received  117  acres  of  well- 
improved  land.  There  are  two  children  from 
that  marriage — Nellie  Bell  and  Newton  H. 
Elias  Guise,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Snyder  Co.,  Penn.,  where  he  lived  until 
1835.  He  learned  the  tailor's  trade  while 
young,  and  upon  his  arrival  in  Summit  County 
in  1 835,  he  opened  a  shop  in  East  Liberty  and 
one  at  Johnston's  Corners,  and  conducted  the 
business  successfully  until  1845.  He  then 
disposed  of  it  and  settled  on  a  small  farm  in 
Franklin  Township,  where  he  lived  five  years. 
He  then  moved  on  his  father-in-law's  farm  and 
remained  nine  years,  and,  in  1865.  purchased 


924 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


and  settled  on  65  acres  of  land,  where  he  still 
resides.  There  were  five  children  in  his  family, 
two  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guise 
are  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church  of 
Akron,  Ohio. 

ALVAN  A.  HINE,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Tallmadge  ; 
son  of  William  and  Phila  (Root)  Hine,  whose 
sketch  appears  in  this  work,  was  born  in  Tall- 
madge in  September,  1831.  His  youth  was 
spent  on  his  fathei's  farm.  He  obtained  his 
education  in  the  common  schools,  and  the 
academy  at  Tallmadge.  After  leaving  school 
he  returned  to  the  farm,  where  he  lived  until  he 
was  22  years  old.  In  1853,  he  went  to  Knox 
Co.,  111.,  and  engaged  in  the  clothing  business 
in  compan}^  with  Mr.  Atwood.  They  were  en- 
gaged in  business  for  eighteen  months,  when  he 
returned  to  Portage  Co.,  and  lived  there  but  a 
short  time.  He  then  removed  to  Mogadore, 
where  he  remained  one  year,  and  while  there  he 
was  engaged  by  J.  Welsh  as  clerk  in  a  general 
store.  In  1859,  he  removed  on  his  father's 
farm  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1852,  he 
was  married  to  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  Philo  At- 
wood, of  Springfield  Township.  From  that  mar- 
riage there  has  been  five  children — Elton, 
Arthur,  Frank,  Leora  and  William.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hine  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 

WILLIAM  HINE,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Tallmadge. 
This  gentleman  was  born  in  New  Haven  Co., 
Conn.,  his  birth  occurring  July  22,  1801.  He 
lived  at  home  until  he  was  9  3'ears  old,  and 
then  went  to  work  for  a  farmer  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, where  he  remained  five  j^ears,  and  then 
returned  home  where,  for  about  two  ,years,  he 
attended  school  during  the  winter  season,  and 
worked  on  the  farm  in  the  summer.  In  1820, 
his  father's  family  came  to  Ohio,  and  with  them 
came  our  subject,  who  worked  for  his  father 
until  1823.  when  he  began  clearing  a  piece  of 
land  of  50  acres,  a  part  of  the  farm  he  now  lives 
on.  He  now  owns  about  235  acres  of  well- 
improved  land.  Dec.  24,  1823,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Melia  Root,  who  was  a  native  of 
Waterbury,  Conn.  From  that  marriage  there 
were  three  children — William  E.,  of  Livingston 
Co.,  111.;  Alvin  A.,  of  Tallmadge  ;  and  Melia  A., 
wife  of  T.  F.  Metlin,  of  Akron.  Dec.  24,  1873, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hine  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anni- 
versary of  their  wedded  life  ;  about  seventy  of 
their  friends  assembled  at  the  home  of  Mr. 
Hine,  where  thev  showed  the  love  and  esteem 


they  cherished  for  the  pioneer  couple.  Jan.  25, 
1881,  Mrs.  Hine  departed  this  life  at  the  age  of 
75  years.  She  was  a  Christian  lady,  a  kind 
mother,  and  a  loving  wife.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hine 
were  members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

DANIEL  HINE,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Tallmadge  ; 
was  born  in  New  Haven  Co.,  Conn,  May  23, 
1806.  At  the  age  of  14  3^ears  his  parents  came 
to  Ohio,  settling  in  Tallmadge,  Daniel  assist- 
ing in  clearing  and  working  the  farm  until  he 
was  27  years  of  age,  when  he  purchased  a  piece 
of  new  land,  which  he  cleared  and  occupied 
until  1837  ;  then  selling  his  farm,  he  went  to 
Kentucky,  where  he  remained  the  winter  of 
1838-39  ;  when  he  returned  to  Tallmadge  and 
settled  on  the  farm  he  now  occupies.  Soon 
after  he  settled,  he  started  a  vineyard,  carrying 
on  the  same  successfully  for  several  3'ears.  In 
1830,  he  was  married  to  Sally  Caruthers,  of 
Tallmadge,  with  whom  he  lived  happily  until 
1869,  when  she  died,  at  the  age  of  62  years. 
He  married  for  his  second  wife,  Sarah,  widow 
of  Caleb  S.  Clevis,  of  Yarmouth,  Me.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hine  are  members  of  the  Congi'egational 
Church,  of  Tallmadge.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  always  been  identified 
with  that  party.  He  served  as  Coroner,  and 
was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff.  His  father, 
Abraham,  was  a  native  of  New  Haven  Co., 
Conn.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming.  In 
1820,  he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm  in 
Tallmadge  ;  he  lived  on  the  farm  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1856,  at 
the  age  of  81  years.  Mrs.  Abraham  Hine  was 
born  in  Hartford  Co.,  Conn.,  and  lived  until 
1864  ;  she  was  88  years  of  age. 

MICHAEL  HAWK,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Middle- 
bury  ;  son  of  Philip  and  Margaret  Hawk.  They 
were  natives  of  Germany,  where  thej^  were  en- 
gaged in  farming.  In  1839,  they  came  to  Ohio, 
settling  in  Portage  Co.,  on  a  farm  ;  they  lived 
on  the  farm  up  to  the  time  of  their  death.  The 
father  died  in  1862  ;  the  mother,  in  1874. 
There  were  five  children  in  the  family,  our  sub- 
ject being  the  youngest  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, Sept.  27,  1835,  and  came  to  Portage  Co., 
Ohio,  with  his  parents,  in  1839.  At  the  age  of 
21  3'ears  he  began  farming,  first  working  the 
homestead.  In  1870,  he  bought  the  farm  he 
now  lives  on.  He  began  life  a  poor  boy,  but, 
b}'  industr}'  and  economy,  has  accumulated  a 
nice  property,  owning  144  acres  of  well-improved 
land  in  the  southern  part  of  the  township.     He 


V  <s ^r- 


TALLMADGE    TOWNSHIP. 


935 


was  married  to  Albertenia  Bletcler,  daughter 
of  Michael  Bletcler,  of  Randolph,  Portage  Co. 
They  have  two  children — x\lbert  and  L3'dia. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawk  are  members  of  the  Grace 
Church,  of  Akron. 

C.  A.  JOHNSTON,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tall- 
madge ;  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  John- 
ston, whose  sketch  appears  in  this  work.  The 
subject  was  born  in  Green  Township,  Summit 
Co.,  July  16,  1842.  His  earl}^  life  was  spent 
on  the  farm  and  attending  school.  In  1860,  he 
entered  Mt.  Union  College,  when  he  remained 
three  years.  After  leaving  college,  he  engaged 
in  the  oil  business,  in  Pennsylvania  and  Medina 
Co..  where  he  conducted  business  successfully 
for  two  years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  coal 
business,  in  company  with  W.  G.  Johnston, 
which  they  carried  on  for  six  years.  He  then 
carried  on  the  milling  business,  in  the  State 
mill,  for  one  year.  In  1876,  he  bought  the 
farm  he  now  lives  on,  of  104  acres  of  well- 
improved  land.  In  1870,  he  was  married  to 
Sarah  A.  Swartz,  of  Franklin  Township  ;  from 
that  marriage  there  were  three  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living — Lizzie  M.  and  Clara  B. 

CAPT.  J.  A.  MEANS,  Ex-County  Clerk, 
Tallmadge;  was  born  in  Allegheny  Co.,  Penn., 
in  February,  1811.  He  obtained  his  education 
in  the  common  district  schools,  and,  at  an  early 
age,  was  apprenticed  to  the  tanner's  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  until  he  was  22  years  old. 
In  1833,  he  came  to  Summit  County,  settling  in 
Northfleld  Township  on  a  farm  of  unimproved 
land,  and  by  hard  work  and  econom}' ,  accumu- 
lated a  fine  propert}^  In  1836,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Deputy  County  Survej'or.  He  remained 
on  the  farm  until  about  1860,  when  he  was 
elected  Clei'k  of  the  county.  After  serving 
part  of  his  term,  he  organized  Company  C, 
115th  0.  V.  I.,  of  which  he  was  made  Captain, 
serving  his  countr}'  three  3^eai's  ;  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  he  returned  home  and  again  engaged 
in  farming.  In  1870,  he  was  re-elected  Count}- 
Clerk,  holding  the  office  for  three  years,  and.  at 
the  expii-ation  of  his  term  of  office,  he  was 
elected  Clerk  of  the  cit}-  of  Akron,  serving 
three  years.  In  1877,  he  pui'chased  12  acres  of 
land  adjoining  Tallmadge  Center,  upon  which 
he  has  made  some  very  fine  improvements.  In 
1835,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Eliza  Cha- 
pin,  daughter,  of  A.  Chapin,  of  Northfield. 
From  that  marriage  there  were  six  children, 
two  of  whom  are  living — Nathan  A.,  of  Akron, 


and  E.  A.,  wife  of  W.  B.  Marsh,  of  Tallmadge. 
In  September,  1879,  his  wife  died  at  the  age  of 
68  years.  In  October,  1880,  he  married  Mrs. 
M.  V.  Walton,  widow  of  Dr.  L.  C.  Walton,  of 
Tallmadge.  Mr  and  Mrs.  Means  are  members 
of  the    Congregational  Church  of  Tallmadge. 

C.  B.  MAURER,  barrel  manufacturer,  Tall- 
madge ;  is  a  son  of  John  J.  and  Sophia  Maurer, 
who  were  natives  of  Prussia ;  they  came  to 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1833.  John  J.  was  a  barrel- 
maker,  and  worked  at  his  trade  previous  to 
his  coming  to  Rochester,  where  he  was  one  of 
the  largest  manufacturers,  doing  business  there 
for  several  years.  He  died  from  the  effects  of 
a  wound  caused  b}'  the  explosion  of  a  sky 
rocket,  while  celebrating  the  da}-  the  Atlantic 
cable  was  first  laid.  After  his  death,  his  oldest 
son  carried  on  the  business.  C.  B.  was  born  in 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  May  14,  1842,  and  obtained 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city. 
At  an  early  age,  he  entered  his  father's  shop 
and  worked  there  until  he  was  of  age.  In 
1864,  he  went  to  California  and  worked  at  his 
trade  for  about  one  j'ear,  when  he  returned 
home,  where  he  remained  but  a  short  time, 
when  he  went  to  Sandusky,  Ohio,  and  thence 
to  Da3'ton,  where  he  was  engaged  as  leader  of 
an  orchestra  in  a  concert  troupe.  He  traveled 
about  six  months,  when  he  abandoned  the 
troupe  and  came  to  Akron,  where  he  has  since 
been  engaged  in  business,  at  first  working  at 
his  trade.  In  1868,  he  built  a  factory  which 
has"  since  been  enlarged.  He  employs  about 
fift}^  men  and  manufactures  about  180,000  bar- 
rels per  year.  In  1873,  he,  in  company  with 
Commins  &  Allen,  built  a  large  stave  factory  in 
Union  City,  Penn.  In  1870,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mai-y  A.  Dunnigan,  of  Akron,  Ohio,  who 
bore  him  four  children.  He  purchased  the 
property  known  as  the  Francis  H.  Upson  prop- 
erty, in'  1880,  where  he  still  lives.  By  his  in- 
dustry and  econom}-,  he  has  accumulated  con- 
siderable property. 

MORRISS  SISTERS,  farmers  ;  P.  0.  Middle- 
bui-y  ;  are  the  daughters  of  Aaron  and  Sarah 
(Tsbell)  Morriss.  Mr.  Morriss  was  a  native  of 
Winstead,  Conn.,  where  he  lived  until  he  reached 
manhood,  in  the  meantime  learning  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  and,  at  the  age  of  21,  left  home, 
and  in  company  with  l*eter  Hepburn  went  to 
Georgia.  Mr.  Hepburn  returned  home  soon 
after,  leaving  Mr.  Morriss  in  a  strange  city  among 
strangers.     He  was  not  among  strangers  but  a 


« 
.^^ 


926 


BIOGKAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


short  time,  for  his  gentlemaiil}'  bearing  and  con- 
duct made  him  many  friends.  He  was  engaged 
in  contracting  and  Imilding.  and  contributed 
$50  toward  the  erection  of  every  church  being- 
built  in  the  vicinity  in  which  he  lived.  After 
an  absence  of  thirteen  years,  he  returned  to 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  where  he  married  Sarah 
Isbell,  widow  of  Capt.  Fregift  Coggeshall.  From 
that  marriage,  there  were  two  daughters  — 
America  and  Corene.  After  his  marriage,  he 
came  to  Tallmadge,  settling  on  a  farm,  where 
he  lived  until  he  died  in  1871,  aged  74.  He 
was  one  of  the  best  workman  in  the  country, 
and  made  part  of  the  furniture  in  Yale  College 
and  other  pul)lic  buildings.  Mrs.  Morriss  lived 
on  the  farm  until  she  died,  her  death  occurring 
in  1879,  at  the  age  of  78  years.  America  was 
born  in  Tallmadge,  in  1835,  and  Corene  in  1836. 
The}'  attended  school  at  Hudson  for  some  time, 
and  then  entered  the  Ontario  Female  Seminary 
at  Canandaigua,  N.  Y.,  where  they  remained 
until  they  were  about  to  graduate.  Tiiej'  have 
lived  on  the  farm  ever  since. 

L.  B.  PIERCE,  nursery-man  and  florist ;  P.  0. 
Tallmadge  ;  is  a  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Minerva 
(Sanford)  Pierce,  whose  father  was  a  native  of 
Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  1839. 
The  mother  was  born  near  Burlington,  Vt.  Our 
sul)ject  was  born  in  Tallmadge  Township,  April 
30,  1840.  He  lived  at  home  until  he  was  20 
years  of  age.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  the  academy  at  Tallmadge, 
and,  when  18  3-ears  of  age,  was  prepared  to  enter 
college.  After  completing  his  education,  he 
returned  to  the  farm,  and  there  remained  until 
1864,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  164th  0.  N.  G. 
At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned  home,  and, 
in  1866,  purchased  40  acres  of  the  old  home- 
stead, and  began  improving  it.  He  soon  after 
turned  his  attention  to  fruit  growing  and  nur- 
sery business,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the  same 
pursuit  up  to  the  present  time.  For  ^ears,  he 
had  been  carefully  reading  works  on  landscape 
gardening,  and,  in  1880,  he  put  his  knowledge 
on  the  subject  into  practical  use.  He  is  con- 
sidered a  proficient  landscape  gardener,  and,  in 
1881,  opened  an  office  in  Cleveland,  where  he 
still  visits.  In  1873,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
E.  M.  Bradley,  of  Kent.  From  that  marriage, 
there  is  one  child.  In  1857,  he  united  with  the 
Congregational  Church  at  Tallmadge. 

MRS.  JASPER    PERO,  Tallmadge,   is  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  five  daughters  born  to 


John  and  Susan  Gareheart,  who  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in  Middlebury  in 
1836.  The  subject's  father  was  a  stonemason 
by  trade,  and  worked  at  the  same  for  several 
years.  He  moved  to  Portage  Co.,  remained 
there  a  short  time,  then  moved  to  Indiana, 
Mdiere  he  died.  Our  subject  lived  at  home 
until  1849,  when  she  married  Jasper  Pero,  who 
was  a  native  of  France,  and  came  to  Ohio  in 
1832,  settling  in  Springfield  Township,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  farming.  He  learned  the 
potter's  trade  and  worked  at  the  same  for  sev- 
eral years  in  connection  with  farming.  By  his 
industr}'  and  economy  he  accumulated  consid- 
erable money,  and  with  it  purchased  a  farm  in 
Portage  Co.,  which  he  afterward  exchanged  for 
the  one  now  owned  by  Newton  Dunbar,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  under 
very  distressing  circumstances.  He  was  a 
great  lover  of  horses,  and  every  opportunity 
afforded  him  he  would  be  found  around  them. 
March  16,  1877,  while  working  about  them, 
was  kicked  and  instantly  killed  by  one  of  his 
horses.  He  was  the  father  of  two  children — 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  Newton  Dunbar,  and  Flora, 
wife  of  Daniel  Beal,  both  of  Tallmadge. 

HERBERT  A.  PECK,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Tall- 
madge ;  is  a  son  of  Anthony  and  Harriet 
(Clark)  Peck,  who  were  natives  of  Milford, 
Conn.,  and  came  to  Summit  County  in  1822, 
settling  on  a  farm  of  200  acres  in  Tallmadge 
Township,  where  he  lived  until  he  died.  His 
death  occurred  in  1845.  His  widow  survives 
him,  and  lives  with  her  son  Herbert.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Tallmadge 
Township  Nov.  13,  1842.  His  childhood  was 
spent  on  his  father's  farm.  He  attended  the 
schools  of  his  neighborhood  and  the  academy 
at  Tallmadge,  where  he  procured  a  good  edu- 
cation. He  then  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing, which  business  he  is  still  engaged  in.  He 
owns  310  acres  of  valuable  land,  situated  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  township.  He  has 
always  been  identified  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  been  Treasurer  of  the  Summit 
County  Agricultural  Association  for  several 
years. 

SHERMAN  PETTIBONE,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Middlebury  ;  is  a  son  of  Norman  and  Amelia 
Wetmore  Pettibone.  They  were  natives  of 
Connecticut,  where  they  were  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Norman  died  in  1814,  at  the  age  of  45 
3'ears.     His  widow  married  for  her  second  hus- 


TALLMADGE    TOWNSHIP. 


927 


band  Simeon  Hart,  of  Burlington,  Conn.  There 
were  six  children  from  her  first  marriage  and 
two  from  the  latter.  She  died  about  the  year 
1860,  at  the  age  of  84  years.  Our  subject  was 
born  in  Burlington,  Conn.,  in  1809.  His  child- 
hood was  spent  on  the  farm  and  attending  the 
schools  of  his  neighborhood  and  the  academy 
at  Burlington.  After  leaving  school,  he  worked 
on  a  farm,  and,  at  the  age  of  18,  was  employed 
by  a  New  York  merchant  as  clerk,  for  whom 
he  worked  two  years.  In  1830,  he  was  em- 
ployed by  Jerome  &  Darrow,  clock  manufact- 
urers, of  Bristol,  Conn.,  as  salesman,  traveling 
for  that  firm  five  j'ears  through  the  Southern 
States.  In  1835,  he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in 
Tallmadge  Township,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  owns  150  acres  of  valuable  land, 
situated  in  the  southern  part  of  the  township. 
Ma}'  20,  1835,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Sarah  B.  Lambert,  who  was  born  in  Orange, 
New  Haven  Co.,  Conn.  From  their  union  there 
were  three  children,  as  follows  :  Fanny  E., 
widow  of  Philo  Wright,  of  Detroit,  Mich ; 
Sarah  V.,  deceased,  and  Sherman  B.,  who  is 
associated  with  his  father  on  the  farm.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church  of 
Tallmadge.  Mr.  Pettibone  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican. 

J.  B.  RICHARDSON,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Tall- 
madge ;  was  born  in  Tallmadge  April  5,  1834. 
His  childhood  was  spent  at  home  on  the  farm, 
his  education  being  obtained  in  the  common 
schools  and  the  Academy  of  Tallmadge.  When 
21  years  of  age  he  began  life  for  himself,  first 
working  for  his  father  on  the  farm.  In  1856, 
he  went  to  Iowa  and  Illinois,  where  he  remained 
for  a  short  time,  but  returned  in  1858  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  he  now  occupies,  80  acres  of 
well-improved  land.  In  1860,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Frances  Evans,  daughter 
of  D.  N.  Evans,  of  Portage  Co.  The  subject's 
father,  E.  Richardson,  was  born  in  Middlebury, 
Conn.  In  1799,  he  lived  at  home  on  the  farm 
until  1817,  when  he  started  across  the  country 
on  foot,  arriving  in  Tallmadge  Township,  where 
he  worked  at  chopping  for  one  year.  Before 
leaving  home  he  promised  his  parents  to  return 
in  one  year  :  he  did  so,  walking  the  whole  dis- 
tance. He  returned  to  Tallmadge  and  worked 
for  Squire  Whittlesey  for  two  years,  he  then 
settled  on  50  acres  of  land,  where  he  remained 
the  greater  part  of  his  life.  In  1822.  he  was 
married   to    Elizabeth   Porter,  who  was   from 


Waterbur}^,  Conn.  From  that  marriage  there 
were  three  children — Mary,  wife  of  S.  H. 
Cooley,  of  Oneida,  111. ;  Charles  P.  and  J.  B. 
Mrs.  Richardson  died  in  1858,  at  the  age  of  55 
years.  In  1862,  J.  B.,  our  subject,  married 
Lauretta,  widow  of  Amos  Parker,  of  Geauga 
Co.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richardson  are  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church,  of  Tallmadge. 

GEORGE  RIPLEY,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Middle- 
bury  ;  is  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Rip- 
ley, of  Yorkshire,  England,  and  was  born  in 
Yorkshire  in  September,  1822.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  young,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
work  in  a  mine,  serving  until  he  was  21  years 
of  age  as  an  apprentice,  for  which  he  received 
his  board  and  clothes.  In  1850,  he  came  to 
Ohio,  settling  in  Clinton,  where  he  worked  a 
short  time.  He  then  removed  to  Coventry 
Township,  where  he  worked  for  about  two 
years.  In  1852,  he  operated  a  coal  bank,  which 
he  was  engaged  in  for  ten  years,  meeting  with 
good  success.  In  1861,  he  purchased  the  farm 
he  now  lives  on,  consisting  of  160  acres  of 
well-improved  land.  In  1844,  he  was  married 
to  Martha  Marsden,  who  was  a  native  of  York- 
shire, England.  From  that  marriage  there 
were  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  living, 
viz.  :  William,  Charles,  John  and  Eli.  Mr. 
Ripley  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  and  b}'  his 
industry  and  economy,  has,  from  a  poor  bo}-, 
become  a  wealthv  man. 

C.  A.  SACKETT,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Tallmadge ; 
is  the  seventh  of  a  family  of  nine  children 
born  to  Clark  and  Laura  M.  (Akin)  Sackett,  his 
birth  occurring  May  15,  1837,  in  Tallmadge 
Township.  His  father  was  a  native  of  War- 
ren, Conn.  He  remained  at  home  until  he  was 
21  years  old,  working  on  the  farm  and  in  his 
father's  distillery.  In  1814,  he  left  home  for 
the  purpose  of  making  a  new  home  in  the 
West  ;  he  made  the  journey  on  foot,  and,  after  a 
wearisome  tramp,  reached  Tallmadge,  and 
bought  the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
our  subject.  He  lived  on  this  farm  until  a  few 
years  before  he  died.  He  united  with  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  at  Tallmadge,  while  young, 
and  was  a  devout  and  faithful  member,  and 
was  also  Deacon  of  the  above-named  Church 
for  several  years.  He  was  twice  married  ;  first 
to  Cynthia  Preston,  who  lived  but  about  six 
weeks  after  their  marriage.  He  married  for 
his  second  wife,  Laura  M.  Akin,  who  bore  him 
nine  children.     She  was  a  Christian  ladv,  and 


d=^ 


928 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


by  her  death  the  Congregational  Church  lost  a 
proficient  member.  She  died  March  30,  1846. 
Mr.  Sackett  died  May  14,  1862.  Our  subject's 
early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm,  and  he  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  common  schools  and 
the  Academy  of  Tallmadge.  After  completing 
his  education,  he  returned  to  the  farm,  where 
he  remained  until  1864,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  B,  164th  0.  N.  G.  He  was  gone  but  about 
100  days,  and  upon  being  released,  he  returned 
to  the  farm,  where  he  has  since  lived.  At  the 
time  of  his  father's  death,  he  purchased  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides.  In  1861,  June  25, 
he  was  married  to  Catharine  Ashman,  daughter 
of  Russell  and  Marcia  Ashman,  of  Tallmadge. 

B.  W.  SKINNER,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Tallmadge ; 
is  a  son  of  Solomon  and  Caroline  (Waldo) 
Skinner,  who  were  natives  of  Hartford,  Conn. 
At  the  age  of  18,  the  father  of  our  subject  en- 
listed in  the  war  of  1812,  and  served  his  coun- 
try in  such  a  manner  as  becomes  a  true  soldier. 
Soon  after  the  war  he  came  to  Ohio,  and,  set- 
tling in  Bath  Township,  he  bought  a  farm  of 
unimproved  land,  and,  after  many  months  of 
wearisome  labor,  he  converted  it  into  a  pleas- 
ant home.  He  remained  there  until  1860, 
when  he  removed  to  Milan,  Ohio,  and  there  he 
died  July  22,  1880,  at  the  advanced  age  of  91 
years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Bath  Township,  April  6, 1835,  his  youth  being 
spent  on  the  farm,  where  he  obtained  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  his  neighbor- 
hood. He  worked  on  the  farm  until  he  was  18 
years  of  age,  and  then  came  to  Tallmadge 
Township,  and  worked  at  the  same  business 
for  several  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time  he  had  accumulated  considerable  monej^ ; 
he  then  rented  a  farm,  and  soon  after  bought 
33  acres  of  land,  where  he  now  resides,  now  in- 
ci'eased  to  97  acres.  In  1864,  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  D.,  164th  0.  N.  G.  At  the  close  of  the 
war,  he  returned  to  the  farm,  and  has  remained 
there  ever  since.  In  1856,  he  was  married  to 
Laura  Dickinson,  of  Northampton  Township, 
who  bore  him  five  children,  as  follows — Laura 
E.,  Carlton  B.,  Olive  A.,  Lucy  R.  and  Minnie 
M.  Rev.  0.  S.  Skinner,  brother  of  our  subject, 
was  a  3' oung  man  of  bright  prospects.  He  was 
much  attached  to  him,  and  b}'  his  death  the 
Church  lost  a  proficient  and  active  worker. 

WILLARD  S  PERRY,  stock-dealer  and 
farmer  ;  P.  0.  Tallmadge  ;  is  a  son  of  Adna 
and  Julia  (Wilcox)  Sperry.     The  father  of  our 


subject  was  a  prominent  man,  and  came  to 
Tallmadge  about  the  year  1808,  and  engaged  in 
farming,  settling  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Willard.  He  was  extensively  engaged  in  buy- 
ing and  shipping  stock,  and  carried  on  the 
same  successfully  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  Tallmadge  Township, 
Oct.  4,  1851.  He  remained  on  the  farm  until 
he  was  14  3'ears  of  age.  He  then  went  to  live 
with  his  uncle.  Dr.  Sperr^^,  of  Tallmadge,  with 
whom  he  lived  until  he  was  20  3'ears  of  age, 
when  he  went  to  Colorado  and  remained  one 
3^ear.  He  then  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  re- 
maining there  for  some  time.  While  there,  he 
acted  as  superintendent  of  a  large  lumber  es- 
tablishment. In  1877,  he  settled  on  the  farm 
he  now  lives  on.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the 
stock  business  extensivel3'.  In  1874,  he  was 
mai'ried  to  Flora  A.,  daughter  of  Weems  Caru- 
thers,  of  Tallmadge  Township. 

J.  S.  STROMAN,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Munroe 
Fal!s  ;  is  a  son  of  Henr3'  and  Catharine  (Stine) 
Stroman  ;  was  born  in  Springfield  Township, 
Summit  Co.,  JUI3'  30,  1845.  His  youth  was 
spent  on  the  farm  of  his  father,  obtaining  his 
education  in  the  meantime  in  the  schools  of  his 
neighborhood.  In  1876,  he  settled  on  a  farm 
of  117  acres  of  valuable  land  in  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  township,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. In  1872,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Maggie,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Ellis,  of 
Thomastown,  formerl3'  of  Wales.  From  Mr. 
Stroman's  marriage,  there  has  been  one  child. 
Mr.  Stroman,  although  a  3^oung  man,  has  accu- 
mulated a  handsome  property.  He  has  always 
been  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 
Henr3'  Stroman,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
boim  in  Union  Co.,  Penn.,  in  1818,  and  came  to 
Ohio  with  his  parents  in  1824.  He  remained 
at  home  until  he  was  25  3^ears  of  age,  when  he 
settled  on  a  farm  ;  he  then,  worked  at  day's 
work  for  about  three  3'ears.  In  1850,  he 
bought  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  40  acres,  which 
he  increased  to  160.  He  has  been  an  industri- 
ous man,  and  for  his  industr3^  he  has  been 
rewarded.  He  is  now  a  well-to  do  farmer. 
There  have  been  born  two  children  in  his  fam- 
ily, J.  P.  and  W.  H. 

H.  H.  STAHL,  stoneware  manufacturer, 
Tallmadge  ;  was  born  in  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio, 
May  9,  1847,  his  parents,  A.  M.  and  Laura 
Stahl.  being  natives  of  Ohio,  the  father  of  Co- 
lumbiana Co.,  and  the  mother  of  Trumbull  Co. 


^L. 


TALLMADGE    TOWNSHIP. 


929 


The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  farmer,  and 
conducted  the  business  successfully.  In  1880, 
he  removed  to  Ashtabula  Co.,  where  he  still 
resides.  His  wife  died  in  1852,  at  the  age  of 
35  years.  Our  subject's  early  life  was  spent 
on  his  father's  farm  and  in  attending  the 
schools  of  the  neighborhood.  At  the  age  of  15, 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  M.  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  serv- 
ing until  the  close  of  the  war.  At  the  close  of 
the  war,  he  returned  to  Ashtabula  Co.,  and  at- 
tended school  for  about  one  3'ear,  and  finished 
his  education  in  his  native  town.  In  1866,  he 
came  to  Mogadore,  this  count}^,  and  began  to 
learn  the  potter's  trade,  serving  as  an  appren- 
tice one  year.  He  then  worked  as  journeyman 
for  one  3'ear,  and,  in  1868,  in  company  with  J. 
Lee,  operated  a  shop  in  Mogadore.  This  com- 
pan}'  lasted  about  two  and  a  half  3'ears.  He 
then  worked  as  journeyman  for  about  one  and 
a  half  years,  and,  in  1870,  he,  in  company  with 
T.  H.  Fenton,  began  the  manufacture  of  stone- 
ware in  Tallmadge,  the}'  making  man}- improve- 
ments, and  carrying  on  the  business  success- 
fully for  about  one  year.  In  1876,  he  pur- 
chased the  works  he  now  manages,  and,  having 
made  man\'  improvements,  has  now  one  of  the 
best  shops  in  town.  In  1869,  he  was  married 
to  Laura  Hale,  daughter  of  A.  M.  Hale,  of 
Springfield,  whose  sketch  appears  in  this  work. 
From  that  marriage  there  has  been  one  child — 
Howard  Austin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stahl  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Tallmadge. 

IRA  P.  SPERRY,  sewer-pipe  manufacturer. 
Tallmadge  ;  is  a  son  of  Lyman  and  Lydia 
(Peck)  Sperry,  the  father  being  a  native  of  New 
Haven  Co.,  Conn.,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1819,  he  came  to  Tallmadge  Town- 
ship, settling  on  a  farm  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  the  township,  where  he  lived  until  he  died, 
his  death  occurring  in  1858,  aged  86  years. 
Mrs.  Sperr}'  died  in  1836,  at  the  age  of  52  years. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  Waterbmy,  Conn.,  in 
the  year  1818.  He  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents  in  1819,  and  lived  on  his  father's  farm 
until  he  was  14  3'ears  of  age,  when  he  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  blacksmith  to  learn  the  trade, 
serving  three  and  one-half  years ;  he  then 
learned  the  carriage-ironing  trade,  which  occu- 
pied three  years ;  he  worked  at  the  latter  for  one 
year.  At  the  age  of  21,  attended  school  at 
Cu^'ahoga  Falls  for  about  one  vear.  Then  en- 
gaged with  William  C.  Oviatt,  of  Tallmadge,  as 


a  carriage-ironer,  working  for  him  for  two  years. 
In  1844,  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  works 
of  William  C.  Oviatt,  of  Tallmadge,  where  they 
did  a  successful  business.  Their  work  was  in 
use  in  ever^'  section  of  the  State  and  many 
other  States.  They  had  a  carriage  depository 
in  Cincinnati  for  fourteen  years,  where  they 
did  business  to  the  amount  of  $300,000,  but 
sold  his  interest  in  1871.  In  1870,  he  engaged 
in  sewer-pipe  manufacturing,  in  company  with 
S.  J.  Ritchie  and  Dr.  Sperry,  of  Tallmadge. 
They  did  an  extensive  business  until  1879, 
when  their  shops  were  destroyed  b}'  fire,  which 
proved  disastrous  to  the  village  of  Tallmadge. 
The  works  were  valued  at  $150,000,  and  were 
the  best  of  the  kind  in  the  State.  Sept.  27, 
1841,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Clarissa 
Carlton,  daughter  of  Peter  Carlton,  of  Portage 
Co.,  and  from  that  marriage,  the}-  had  six 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living  ;  their  names 
are  as  follows  :  Willis  C,  George  P.,  Francis 
L.  and  Henry  B.  The  first  named  is  a  practic- 
ing physician  in  York  Co.,  Neb.  Mr.  Sperry  is 
a  stalwart  in  the  Republican  party.  In  1858, 
was  elected  by  the  Free-Soil  party  as  their 
Representative  in  the  Ohio  Legislature.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sperry  are  active  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church. 

JESSE  SPRAGUE,  farmer;  P.  0.  Middle- 
bury  ;  is  the  eighth  of  a  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren born  to  Jonathan  and  Sarah  Sprague ; 
they  were  natives  of  Sharon,  Conn.,  where  thej' 
were  engaged  in  farming  ;  the  father  was  a  tan- 
ner and  currier  by  trade,  but  worked  very  little 
at  it,  learning  the  shoemaker's  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  several  years  ;  in  1805,  he  came  to 
Ohio,  first  stopping  in  Canfield,  Mahoning  Co., 
where  he  remained  three  years  ;  in  1808,  he 
came  to  Tallmadge  Township,  settling  on  a 
farm  ;  this  family  was  the  fourth  family  in  the 
township.  Mr.  Sprague  died  in  1837,  at  the 
age  of  70,  his  widow  dying  in  1843  at  the  age 
of  64.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Tallmadge, 
Oct.  13,  1809,  and  lived  at  home  until  he  was 
21  years  of  age  ;  he  then  took  charge  of  the 
farm,  where  he  lived  fifteen  years  ;  in  1851,  he 
purchased  the  farm  he  now  occupies.  In  1836, 
he  married  Sallie  Y.  Lane ;  from  that  marriage 
there  were  two  children — Rhoda,  wife  of  David 
Foote,  of  Portage  Co..  and  Heman,''who  is  as- 
sociated with  his  father  on  the  farm.  Mr. 
Sprague  has  alwaj'S  voted  with  the  Republican 
party. 


'k. 


930 


BIOGKAPPIICAL    SKETCHES: 


DENNIS  TREAT,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Tallmadge  ; 
sou  of  Samuel  aud  Alice  (Westou)  Treat,  whose 
sketch  appears  in  this  work,  was  boru  in  Tall- 
madge May  28,  1831  ;  his  youthful  daj's  were 
spent  on  the  farm  ;  he  obtained  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  the  academy  of 
Tallmadge  ;  he  lived  on  the  farm  until  he  was  of 
age  ;  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death  he  pur- 
chased the  old  homestead,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  In  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  164th 
0.  N.  Gr.,  aud,  while  in  service,  was  stationed  at 
Arlington  Heights  ;  after  his  release  from  the 
service  he  returned  to  the  farm,  where  he  has 
since  resided  ;  he  owns  200  acres  of  valuable 
land,  which  he  has  farmed  successfully.  In 
1874,  he  was  elected  President  of  the  Summit 
Co.  Agricultural  Society  ;  he  had  previous  to 
this  date  acted  as  Vice  President  of  the  same 
society.  In  1857,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Rhoda  H.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Philo  Wright,  of 
Tallmadge  ;  from  that  marriage  there  have  been 
four  children,  viz.,  Alice  W.,  Florence  S.,  Hiram 
B.  and  Henry  W.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Treat  are 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Tall- 
madge. 

HARRIET  E.  TREAT,  fiirmer  ;  P.  0.  Tall- 
madge ;  is  the  widow  of  Lemuel  P.  Walcott, 
who  was  born  in  Tallmadge  Aug.  18,  1831;  his 
childhood  was  passed  on  the  farm,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  had  grown  to  manhood  ;  he  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  common  schools, 
the  Windom  Academy  and  the  Nelson  High 
School ;  after  completing  his  education,  he  re- 
turned to  the  farm,  and  there  lived  until  it  was 
divided  between  himself  and  brothers.  In 
November,  1856,  he  married  Harriet  E.,  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  and  Amoret  Treat,  who  shared 
his  happiness  until  death  separated  them  ;  he 
died  Nov.  10,  1876,  at  the  age  of  45  years  ;  he 
was  a  man  much  missed  in  the  surrounding- 
community  in  which  he  lived,  for  his  amiable 
disposition,  gentlemanly  bearing  and  devotion 
to  his  church.  He  was  the  father  of  three 
children — Mary  E.,  Flora  I.  and  Bryan  T. — all 
at  home.  Mrs.  Wolcott  still  lives  on  the  farm, 
is  comfortabl}'  situated,  with  hosts  of  sympa- 
thizing friends,  who  with  her  share  the  loss  of  a 
kind  husband  and  loving  father. 

PHILIP  THOMAS,  coal  operator,  Tall- 
madge ;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Rachel  Thomas, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Wales,  where  the 
subject  was  born  in  1825,  in  the  shire  of  Mon- 
mouth.    AYhen  8  years  old,  Philip  went  to  work 


in  a  coal-mine  and  was  thus  employed  until 
1851,  when  he  emigrated  to  America.  Coming 
direct  to  Ohio,  he  settled  in  Summit  County, 
Tallmadge  Township,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided, with  the  exception  of  two  years  he 
passed  in  the  township  of  Coventry.  For  a 
short  time  he  worked  in  the  coal-bank  of  W. 
H.  Harris,  and  then  came  to  the  Upson  banks 
which  he  and  Wm.  T.  Owen  leased  in  1868. 
Four  years  later  he  secured  his  partner's  inter- 
est and  is  doing  a  good  business,  employing 
some  forty  men,  and  mines  about  15,000  tons 
annuall}'.  Mr.  Thomas  has  b}^  industry  and 
econom}'  secured  a  position  in  life  that  reflects 
credit  on  himself  and  shows  what  can  be  ac- 
complished, even  under  adverse  circumstances 
by  a  determined  will.  His  marriage  was  cele- 
brated in  1849,  Miss  Sarah  Williams  becoming 
his  wife.  Their  union  has  been  crowned  with 
twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living,  viz., 
John,  Mary,  Philip,  Llewellyn,  Henry,  Mor- 
gan, Frank  and  Willie.  Mrs.  Thomas  is  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Welsh  Congregational 
Church.  He  is  a  Republican. 
•  ANDREW  TREAT,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tall- 
madge ;  was  born  iu  New  Haven  Co.,  Conn., 
Dec.  22,  1799.  He  spent  his  youthful  days  on 
the  farm ;  he  obtained  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  the  academ}'  of  his  native 
town.  In  1823,  he  came  to  Tallmadge  Town- 
ship, and  settled  on  a  farm  of  109  acres  of 
partly  cleared  land,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  now  owns  about  525  acres  of  well-improved 
land.  He  has  given  his  attention  to  farming 
exclusively,  and  by  his  industrious  and  eco- 
nomical habits  has  become  the  wealthiest  man 
of  his  township.  April  24,  1823,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Marrietta  N.  Treat,  who  was  born  in 
New  Haven  Co.,  Conn.  From  that  marriage 
there  has  been  two  children — Joseph  A.,  of 
Cleveland,  and  Julia  E.,  wife  of  F.  F.  Fenn,  of 
Tallmadge.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Treat  are  members 
of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Tallmadge, 
uniting  with  the  same  over  sixty  years  ago. 
April  24,  1823,  they  celebrated  the  fiftieth  an- 
niversary of  their  marriage  day. 

S.  C.  TAYLOR,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Middlebury  ; 
was  born  in  Tallmadge  Oct.  29,  1837,  and  is 
the  only  child  living  of  a  family  born  to  Elijah 
and  Betsey  (Clinton)  Taylor.  Elijah  Taylor 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  his  birth  occur- 
ring in  1796.  He  lived  on  the  farm  until 
1816,  when  he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Portage 


-©K 


TALLMADGE    TOWNSHIP. 


931 


Co.,  where  he  remained  ten  ^ears,  and  while 
there  was  engaged  in  farming.  In  1826,  he 
I'emoved  to  Tallmadge  and  settled  on  a  farm. 
He  was  a  thrifty  farmer,  and  b}-  his  industry 
and  economy  accumulated  a  large  amount  of 
property.  He  died  Feb.  10,  1872,  at  the  age  of 
76.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  Trumbull  Co., 
Ohio,  her  parents  settling  there  at  an  early  da}'. 
She  bore  him  two  children — S.  C.  being  the 
only  surviving  one.  His  early  life  was  spent 
on  the  farm.  He  obtained  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  neighborhood.  He  has  always 
been  engaged  in  farming  on  the  farm  on  which 
he  was  raised.  In  1860,  he  was  married  to 
Sarah  Hagenbaugh,  of  Tallmadge,  who  bore 
him  one  child,  viz.,  Albert  VV.  She  died  Dec. 
7,  1864.  He  married  for  his  second  wife  Sarah 
3IcNeal,  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  McNeal, 
who  are  residents  of  Pennsylvania.  From  the 
last  union  there  has  been  three  children,  viz., 
Minnie  E.,  Charles  C.  and  Howard  H. 

STANLEY  TREAT,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tall- 
madge ;  is  the  third  of  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren born  to  Samuel  and  Alice  (Weston)  Treat, 
who  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  and  came  to 
Tallmadge  in  1818.  Samuel  Treat  obtained 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  New 
Haven  Co.,  where  he  remained  until  he  came  to 
Ohio.  In  1818,  he  walked  across  the  country, 
reaching  Tallmadge  after  a  long  and  tiresome 
tramp.  He  purchased  300  acres  of  land  in  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  township,  upon  which 
he  settled  the  year  following.  In  1820,  he  was 
married  to  the  above-named  lady,  who  bore 
him  six  children,  five  sons  and  one  daughter. 
Three  of  the  sons  died  after  reaching  manhood. 
Samuel,  Jr.,  was  a  prominent  law^^er  of  Will- 
iams Co.,  and  by  his  death  the  county  lost  one 
of  its  most  enterprising  men.  Henry  was  a 
farmer  of  Northampton  Township,  and  H.  B., 
a  graduate  of  the  Western  Reserve  College 
and  a  proficient  scholar,  died  in  Mississippi 
after  a  short  illness.  While  there  he  was 
engaged  in  school-teaching.  The  father  of  our 
subject  lived  on  the  farm  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  a  leading  man  in  church  and 
societ}-  circles*^  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Tallmadge  June  6, 
1826.  He  obtained  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  at  the  Tallmadge  Academy. 
After  completing  his  education  he  returned  to 
the  farm,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  25 
years  of  age.     He  then  bought  a  farm  of  160 


acres  in  Northampton  Township,  where  he 
remained  four  j-ears.  He  then  returned  to  the 
homestead  and  lived  there  a  short  time.  In 
1868,  he  bought  the  farm  he  now  lives  on  of 
155  acres  of  valuable  land.  In  1852,  he  mar- 
ried Eliza  Stilwell,  of  Portage  Co.,  who  bore 
him  one  child — Arabella.  Mrs.  Treat  died  in 
1861.  He  married  for  his  second  wife  Charity 
M.  Kent,  daughter  of  Martin  Kent,  of  Moga- 
dore.  From  that  marriage  there  are  two  daugh- 
ters, both  at  home. 

D.  B.  TREAT,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Tallmadge  ; 
is  a  son  of  Calvin  and  Jane  Treat.  The  father 
was  a  native  of  Orange,  Conn.  ;  he  came  to 
Ohio  in  1824,  settling  in  Tallmadge  Township, 
on  a  farm  of  300  acres.  He  cleared  the  farm, 
and  sold  about  90  acres  ;  the  remainder  he  kept 
and  occupied  until  1864.  Mrs.  Treat  died,  and 
he  married  for  his  second  wife  Elizabeth,  widow 
of  Harvey  Hinman.  After  they  left  the  farm, 
they  took  up  their  residence  at  Tallmadge  Cen- 
ter. Our  subject  was  born  in  Tallmadge,  in 
December,  1836,  and  attended  the  schools  of 
his  neighborhood,  the  academy  at  Tallmadge, 
and  the  college  at  Hudson.  After  leaving  col- 
lege, he  began  teaching  school,  being  engaged 
in  that  occupation  for  several  years.  In  1863, 
he  enlisted  in  the  5th  Independent  Company  of 
0.  V.  S.  S.,  and  was  with  Sherman  through 
Georgia.  He  was  gone  two  years,  and  after  he 
returned  engaged  in  farming,  being  engaged  in 
the  same  up  to  the  present.  In  1861,  was  mar- 
ried to  Catharine  Price,  daughter  of  Cyrus  and 
Jane  Price.  They  have  four  children — Calvin, 
Fannie,  Edward  and  Elizur.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Treat  are  members  of  the  Congi'egational  Church 
of  Tallmadge. 

DANIEL  A.  UPSON,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Tall- 
madge. This  gentleman  was  born  in  Worth- 
ington,  Franklin  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  17, 1821,  where 
his  youth  was  spent.  His  parents  moved  to 
Tallmadge  while  he  was  3'oung,  and  there  en- 
tered the  Academy,  and  at  that  institution  he 
received  the  greater  part  of  his  education. 
After  leaving  school,  he  attended  to  the  farm 
duties,  and  there  remained  for  several  3'ears 
preceding  the  death  of  his  father,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death  he  inherited  the  old 
homestead,  where  he  still  resides.  In  addition 
to  his  farming  interests,  he  has  a  large  in- 
terest in  the  coal-banks  known  as  the  Upson 
banks.  In  1859,  he  conducted  a  fair  in  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  the  fii'st  one  of  the  kind  ever  held 


"e)  \> 


^ — ^t^ 


932 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


there,  and  spared  neither  time  or  funds  to  make 
it  a  success.  He  had  the  fleetest  horses  of  his 
day  on  the  grounds,  such  as  Flora  Temple  and 
other  horses  of  like  pedigree.  He  has  many 
interests  in  Akron,  among  them  are  the  oat- 
meal mills,  etc.  Mr.  Upson  never  married,  but 
is  living  on  his  farm,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
active  men  in  church  or  society  circles.  Feb. 
17,  1881,  he  was  surprised  b}-  over  100  of  his 
many  friends,  who  assembled  at  his  house  for 
the  purpose  of  showing  the  friendship  they 
cherished  for  him.  The  parents  of  our  subject, 
Dr.  Daniel  and  Polly  (Wright)  Upson,  were 
natives  of  Connecticut,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  an 
early  day.  Dr.  Upson's  youth  was  spent  on 
the  farm  and  in  attending  the  schools  of  his 
neighborhood,  where  he  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation. He  was  engaged  in  teaching  school 
for  several  years,  and  at  the  same  time  study- 
ing medicine.  He  graduated  in  medicine,  and 
then  sought  a  home  in  Ohio  ;  he  first  located 
in  Trumbull  Co.,  where  he  remained  several 
years,  and,  in  1818,  he  removed  to  Franklin 
Co.,  settling  in  Worthington,  and  there  remained 
until  1832,  when  he  removed  to  Tallmadge. 
He  was  elected  Representative,  b}'  the  people 
of  Franklin  Co.,  several  times.  After  his  re- 
moval to  Tallmadge,  he  discontinued  his  prac- 
tice, paying  special  attention  to  his  coal  banks. 
He  married  Polly,  daughter  of  Deacon  Elizur 
Wright,  of  Tallmadge,  but  formerly  of  Connecti- 
cut. She  was  a  Christian  ladj',  an  amiable 
wife  and  kind  mother. 

WILLIAM  UPTON,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tall- 
madge ;  was  born  in  the  County  of  Kerry,  Ire- 
land, June  24,  1814.  At  the  age  of  16  j-ears, 
he  took  passage  on  a  vessel  bound  for  Quebec. 
When  out  about  sixteen  da}' s,  and  off  the  coast 
of  Nova  Scotia,  the  vessel  was  wrecked,  having 
on  board  303  passengers,  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren. The  captain  ordered  the  women  and 
children  to  be  taken  ashore  (which  was  two  miles 
distant)  first,  then  the  older  men.  and  by  that 
time  the  vessel  was  fast  going  to  pieces.  Our 
subject,  with  eleven  other  young  men,  was  ad- 
vised by  the  captain  to  swim  the  distance.  They 
undertook  it,  and  eleven  of  them  reached  shore 
in  an  exhausted  condition.  He  saved  nothing 
from  the  wreck,  and  went  three  days  without 
food.  He  started  off  in  search  of  food  or  a 
settlement,  and,  after  traveling  for  some  time, 
saw  a  small  boat  belonging  to  a  fishing  smack. 
He  told  the  occupants  of  the  disaster,  who  took 


them  aboard  of  the  smack,  and  brought  them 
to  Louisburg,  N.  S.  The  passengers  of  the  ill- 
fated  vessel,  with  the  exception  of  our  subject, 
were  taken  to  Quebec.  He  remained  in  Louis- 
burg for  three  months.  He  then  worked  his 
way  to  Boston,  on  board  a  coal  vessel.  From 
there  he  went  to  Albany  and  Schenectady,  N. 
Y.,  where  he  remained  a  short  time.  In  1833, 
he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Summit  Co.,  and 
engaging  in  shoemaking  for  six  ^^ears  at  Tall- 
madge Center.  He  then  settled  on  a  farm  of 
220  acres,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1836, 
he  married  Maria  Sprague,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Sprague,  of  Tallmadge.  From  that  marriage, 
there  were  six  children,  one  of  whom  is  living — • 
Rev.  J.  S.  Upton,  of  Bridgewater,  N.  Y.  Mrs. 
Upton  died  in  1873.  He  married,  for  his  second 
wife,  Mrs.  Kate  Murphy,  of  Akron.  The  father 
of  our  subject,  Capt.  John  Upton,  had,  from  a 
boy,  followed  the  seas.  His  mother  was  Mary 
Fuller,  who  was  a  consistent  and  earnest  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  of  England. 

A.  A.  VIALL,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tallmadge; 
was  born  in  Harrisburg,  Penn.,  Nov.  29,  1848. 
He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  16  years  of 
age,  receiving  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  neighborhood.  In  1864,  he  en- 
listed in  184th  0.  V.  I.,  where  he  remained  un- 
til the  close  of  the  war.  After  his  return  home, 
he  was  engaged  as  engineer  on  a  steamboat. 
He  then  worked  on  the  Pittsburgh  &  Cleveland 
Railroad,  where  he  fired  a  locomotive.  He  was 
then  engaged  by  J.  A.  Caruthers  to  take  charge 
of  machinery  in  his  mill.  In  1878,  he  purchased, 
in  company  with  C.  D.  Caruthers,  the  mill  he 
now  operates.  In  1879,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
I'iage  to  Helen  Caruthers,  daughter  of  J.  A. 
Caruthers,  of  Tallmadge,  whose  family  settled 
there  in  an  early  day  from  Connecticut.  Mr. 
Viall  is  a  strong  Republican,  and  has  always 
been  identified  with  that  part}'. 

DR.  AMOS  WRIGHT,  physician,  Tallmadge  ; 
the  first  white  male  child  born  in  Tallmadge 
Township,  and  his  birth  occurred  Oct.  5,  1808 ; 
his  parents.  Dr.  Amos  and  Lydia  (Kinne}') 
Wright,  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  he  coming 
to  Trumbull  County  in  1801,  where  he  remained 
until  1802,  when  he  returned  to  Connecticut 
and  married  the  above-named  lad}',  who  was 
the  daughter  of  Rev.  Aaron  Kinney.  After 
his  marriage,  he  came  to  Trumbull  County, 
where  he  remained  until  1808  ;  he  then  came 
to  Tallmadge  where  he  remained  until  he  died. 


(a" 


NORTHFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 


933 


He  was  the  first  practicing  ptiysician  in  this 
section  of  the  State,  and  his  practice  was  ex- 
tensive. Our  subject  attended  the  academy  in 
Tallmadge  until  he  was  14  years  old,  and  then 
went  on  the  farm  where  he  remained  until  he 
was  19  years  of  age.  Tn  1827,  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  in  his  father's  office,  where 
he  remained  two  years ;  he  then  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati and  attended  lectures  in;  1829  and  1830. 
In  1831  and  1832,  he  attended  lectures  at  Yale 
College.  He  returned  to  Tallmadge  in  1833, 
and  opened  a  drug  store  in  Middlebury,  con- 
ducting the  business  for  one  year,  then  re- 
moved to  Trumbull  County  and  practiced  medi- 
cine for  two  years.  He  returned  to  Tallmadge 
in  1836,  and  has  remained  there  ever  since. 
He  has  an  extensive  circuit  of  practice,  visiting 


patients  in  Portage,  Stark  and  Summit  Coun- 
ties. On  the  31st  day  of  March,  1831,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Clemence  C.  Fenn,  who 
bore  to  him  nine  childi'en,  six  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing— Stella,  Celia,  Ellen  M.,  Julia  I.,  Darwin 
E. ;  Samuel  St.  John  associated  with  his  father 
in  his  practice ;  H.  M.,  Sarah  E.  and  Alice  are 
the  names  of  those  deceased.  Alice  was  w